Hunter Buchanan, junior broadcast media, takes time to goof off with Jody Jennings, the BSU director, before the service begins. (Photo by: Candace Mackie)

The prayer chapel, complete with stained glass and wooden benches, will open soon. Photo by Elizabeth Pirkle.

North Greenville University is responding to student growth by implementing a slew of new construction projects. Some projects are near completion, while others are still awaiting government approval before construction can begin.

The Craft-Hemphill Mission, Evangelism, and Christian Worldview Center and the 24-hour Todd Prayer Chapel are two projects that are almost ready to be opened.

Temporary occupancy permits for these buildings were gained on Jan. 20, but the surrounding grounds and landscaping must be completed before permanent permits can be granted. The inside of the buildings, however, are close to being completed.

Tony Beam is already settling into his new office in the Missions and Worldview Center. While the Prayer Chapel is only lacking six custom-made wooden prayer benches.

Both the Prayer Chapel and the Missions and Worldview Center promise to be important parts of university activity.

Joe Hayes, the director of development for North Greenville, emphasized the importance of prayer on campus. Hayes said of the Prayer Chapel, “If that building is used like it’s intended to be used, it will be the most important building on campus.”

The Missions and Worldview Center will also play an important role in the fulfillment of one of the founding goals of NGU.

“When the school was founded in 1892, it was founded by the North Greenville Baptist Association to be a school to train up young people in this area, to go spread the light of Christianity to the dark corners of Greenville county,” said Hayes, “but now North Greenville is a light to the world.”

This center will not only serve as the mission and Christian Worldview center on campus, but it will also offer an important service to local churches, providing weekend training opportunities for church mission teams.

Groups will be able to communicate with the missionaries in the area where they will be serving, partake of a meal similar to what they will be served overseas, and receive basic language and cultural training.

The university will also offer a commissioning service, either on campus or at the team’s church.

Another project will soon begin to take shape behind the Crain Science Building. An addition to the current structure is waiting to be built that will double the size of the current science building. Plans for this new addition include more labs, classrooms, and office space.

There are also plans for a nursing school and a study break room, a space complete with computers and snacks where students can hang out and study. This new building will connect with the old one, which will be receiving internal and external updates as well as modernizations.

An architect is currently working out details of this project, and construction is set to begin as soon as the university can obtain the proper building permits, which will hopefully be between March and May of this year.

Hayes said the new science building should be open by the fall semester of 2013 but added, “That’s just a rough guess.”

Also in the works are projects like a new tennis facility and the Wood Store. The tennis facility will be built near the football complex and will include a locker room and refreshment area in addition to 14 new tennis courts.

The Wood Store will be located near the post office and will house an old-fashioned soda fountain and Papa John’s Pizza with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a gas pump.

Both the tennis facility and the Wood Store are projected to be completed by fall 2012.

Christina Carlis brings the ball up the court against Lees-McCrae College. Photo by Josh Landrum.

The 2011-2012 school year has been a year of firsts for the North Greenville University Athletic Department, a first berth into the playoffs for the football team, first time in a conference, to name a few.

The Crusader Women’s Basketball team is looking to continue this year of firsts. Led by Erin Gray, senior business,  Karly Stache, senior math and Christina Carlis, senior business, the lady Crusaders have battled through the 2011-2012 season so far and earned an impressive record of 13-4 with a conference record of 8-1.

The 2011-2012 team consists of much depth with three players averaging double figures in points and rebounds. Their offensive attack has been balanced and efficient with the rotation consisting of more than 8 players each game.

The lady Crusaders have seen one player, Crisceda Cotton, junior sport management, receive two player of the week nods this season and Carlis receive the honor once so far this season.

Though accolades are not the objective in their season, the Crusaders welcome the attention because it proves their relevance to those who doubted their abilities at the beginning of the season.
Statistics aside, this fast-paced start to the season comes as a surprise to many, for the Lady Crusaders were chosen to finish in the bottom of the conference according to a preseason poll.

Attempting to prove their toughness and ability to succeed, the Crusaders have purposefully committed to defense with their opponents shooting just below 36 and 25 percent from the floor and three-point line, respectively.

Furthermore, the lady Crusaders have also amassed more steals and forced more turnovers than their opponents this season, while moving the ball more effectively and having a more efficient assist-to-turnover ratio.
With three of their four losses coming by a margin of less than seven points, the lady Crusaders are well on their way to a great season, but they still have a long way to go.

On the road to the end of the season are a slew of sure to be physically and emotionally taxing battles between conference foes, including the conference’s East Division leader, Mount Olive, and an in-state rival in Limestone, who not only beat the Crusaders in heartbreaking fashion but also leads the West Division standings.
Needless to say, the Crusaders have a daunting task ahead but as the team’s motivatonal quote on the back of their t-shirts says, “Nothing great is ever achieved without sacrifice.”

The Lady Crusaders will travel to King College on Thursday and will host Coker College on Saturday Feb. 4, 2012 at 2 p.m.

The next hopeful TV hit Smash is set to debut Feb. 6 following the Superbowl, and it could pull NBC out of fourth place in the lineup of major networks.

While Smash should please its most obvious audience, the solid Glee fan base, the Steven Spielberg-produced venture could turn out to be an even bigger hit if it lives up to its ambitious premise.

The show is set in the New York theatre scene and built around the writing and casting of a new musical, the next would-be smash on Broadway. It’s not just any musical, though: Smash’s hook is that the new show is about the life of the beautiful, talented, tragic Marilyn Monroe.

Featuring splashy, star-turning numbers galore, Marilyn: The Musical could be the next big hit, and everyone wants in on it, including aspiring Broadway stars Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty). While blond, voluptuous Ivy is the most obvious choice for Marilyn, it’s Karen that embodies the freshness and vulnerability of Marilyn at her best. The two actresses competing for the role of a lifetime makes for entertaining television.

Hilty and McPhee both shine onscreen, standing out even among the talented cast. The ensemble also includes Debra Messing and Christian Borle as the show-within-a-show’s ambitious writers, Jack Davenport as a sleazy but talented choregraphor, and Anjelica Huston as the cynical producer.

Smash’s stylish, mostly believeable musical numbers and focused writing are a refreshing change of pace from the camp of Glee, and the theatre shop talk used in the show reveals that its writers did their research. The best thing about Smash is that it lets its audience into another world, the one of New York theatre. It isn’t always pretty, but that’s show biz. As Huston’s character says, “There’s a broken heart for every light on Broadway.”

New head football coach Carroll McCray speaks to members of the media at a press conference on January 18. Photo by Billy Watson.

After North Greenville’s breakout 2011 season and head coach Jamey Chadwell and several assistant coaches departed to take over at Delta State University (MS), to whom the Crusaders lost in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs, the NGU football program found itself where no program ever wants to be.

NGU was then in a full-fledged coaching search to try and fill the coaching vacancy as quickly as possible. After getting countless phone calls and emails from coaches around the country and conducting a full fledged coaching search NGU had found its man.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, in front of a packed president’s boardroom President Jimmy Epting introduced Carroll McCray as the new head football coach.

“It is an exciting day for us at North Greenville,” Epting said. “We’re very proud of what our football team did this season, and this is another beginning for us.  Carroll McCray is a man of faith and a more than qualified football coach.”

McCray comes to NGU after being an assistant coach at numerous division I schools, including South Carolina, Mississippi State, Furman and most recently, Mercer. McCray also served as the head coach at Austin Peay from 2003 to 2006.

“I welcome the opportunity to come alongside President Epting and Jan McDonald and help the young men on the team continue to take steps forward in all areas of their lives,” McCray said. “I want to improve the guys on the team spiritually, mentally, physically and socially. I want them to grow in their walk with God. Walk across the stage and graduate after four years. Finally, be diverse socially so when they leave North Greenville, they can communicate with others in a job atmosphere and provide for their family,” added McCray.

When it comes to x’s and o’s, McCray has a plan in mind. “We are going to want to stretch the field horizontally and vertically, but we will always want to run the football. We’re not going to be a true option team but I think we need to have that threat,” said McCray. “On defense, I think a 3-4 is great, but we have to be sure that our personnel continues to lean toward that,” added McCray.

McCray’s first priority is to get on the recruiting trail and try to get as many men as possible before signing day. He will then begin assembling his staff.

“As I start looking, I’m going to ask people about their faith. Some won’t know how to answer, and I will know they’re not right for this job,” McCray said. “I want to see a transformation in the players that come in from the time they’re recruited until they graduate and I need a staff that will encourage that.”

It is an exciting time to be a fan of NGU football. With the Crusaders coming off one of the best seasons in school history and now with a coach who has the passion to have his players succeed, not only on the field but also off the field the Crusaders are poised to have another great season in 2012.

McCray has a wife, Angel, a son Trey and a daughter, Meredith.

“Biblical service is an overflow of showing Christ’s love,” says senior Will Broadus. And that is what he strives to live upon and offer here on campus every day. Will is an Interdisciplinary Studies major with concentrations in Christian Studies and Business. He is a resident coordinator, a work-study for the admission’s office, and is involved with running the 24 hour prayer.

Fellow senior classmate, Colin Walters, refers to Will’s faith as being “an encouragement to all who encounter him day in and day out.” In having a positive attitude towards acts of service, he advises, “Anyone can serve!” In this way, he believes that anyone can make a difference. With thoughts of graduation, possible plans for seminary, and a wedding in May to Becca Carter, Will is savoring his experience of fellowship with Christ, as well as with those around him.

Paul Harrison dunks over defenders from Fayetteville State University in a game last week in Hayes Gymnasuim. Photo by Josh Landrum.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 is a day that Paul Harrison, senior sport management, will never forget. Harrison a fifth year senior from Alpharetta, Ga. did what few people that play basketball at the collegiate or pro level can say that they did. Harrison became the schools all time leading scorer just two minutes into the contest against Conference Carolinas foe Lees-McCrae University. The team honored Harrison with a commemorative ball during a timeout to a standing ovation from a packed Hayes Gymnasium.

Harrison finished the game with 16 points putting his total at 1,791 a number that continues to grow from game to game as he takes his place in NGU basketball history. Harrison is not only the all time leading scorer at North Greenville, but he also owns the record for the most rebounds in a career with 880.

“It’s really more of a shock than anything,” said Harrison. “It just shows you what hard work and dedication will get you.” Harrison is currently second on the teamin points per game (17.8) and leads the team in rebounds per game (10.8). Something that five years ago Harrison himself may not have expected.

The 6-8 forward has made his presence known on the court and will be remembered for the emphatic dunks and blocks he has made over his years as a Crusader, but Harrison also hopes that he has made an impact on people off the court.

“It would be nice to be remembered in the record books for sure,” Harrison acknowledged. “But it would mean a lot to me if I was remembered for who I was as a person rather than what I did on the court.”

As much as Harrison is honored to be the all-time leading scorer he is more worried about the next game and trying to help the team win its first ever conference championship in its first year in Conference Carolinas.

Quotes used with permission from ngcrusaders.com

Kayla Rease
Managing Editor

All right ladies, it’s the New Year. It’s the season for renewal and time to start things off right. For us North Greenville University girls, it’s time to battle that dreadful cold air as we make our way around campus. Instead of walking around reeking of the cold, dry winter musk, how about exuding a new perfume? During the fall and winter seasons, fragrance lines love putting new perfume scents out on the shelves, making them a must-have on your shopping list. Most of you probably have a scent already picked out just by smelling the little samples department stores put in their sales papers. Word to the wise: not a good idea. Fragrances say a lot about what kind of person you are, from what scent you pick to how much you put on. So before you go and spend a wallet load, here are the basics of what you need to know when it comes to perfume and you.

How do I pick the right scent for me?
Just because something smells fabulous on your best friend doesn’t mean it will smell as fabulous on you. That’s the cold hard truth, ladies. The manner in which fragrance oils interact with your natural scent and body oils varies. We each have our own unique body chemistry and pH balance, which affect this interaction. When you go to pick a perfume, test it on your skin and allow it to soak in for 10 minutes or so before making a final decision. It’s also a good idea to only test two at a time, or else your senses will be on overload. If you have no idea which perfume you want to try, tell the salesperson two scents you love, such as vanilla or jasmine, so he or she can help narrow your choices down. Finally, bring a friend to give you a second opinion.

How much is too much?
When I was in sixth grade, many of the boys in my class started wearing cologne. The boys would literally drench themselves in their dad’s cologne. The smell of about 12 different fragrances was pungent, to say the least. Needless to say, I remember Ms. Ervin finally telling the class, “Less is more.” To this day, I couldn’t agree more.

Where shall I spray?
It’s really a matter of personal choice. However, professionals would argue that the best place to apply perfume is on your pulse points. These are areas on our bodies where blood vessels are closer to the skin’s surface. When blood vessels are near the skin’s surface, they give off more heat. As heat emits from these points, fragrance is pumped outward as well. Pulse points include the inner wrist, the inside of the elbow, behind the ears and knees and the base of the throat. I usually spritz a bit on each wrist. Then, I spray it twice about a foot in front on my body and immediately walk through it just to give my clothes a little hint.

How do I make it last?
This is a matter of body chemistry. Generally, perfume lasts anywhere from four to eight hours. However, this time limit differs based on your skin type. Fragrances are basically oils that are absorbed by our skin. People with lighter complexions typically have dryer skin, which causes a fragrance to soak in faster. On the other hand, scents last longer on those with darker skin tones and oilier skin. If you’re looking for a longer lasting fragrance, pick something with a greater concentration so the oils will evaporate slower. Also, it’s important to know that citrus-based fragrances fade faster than musky scents. So when it comes to making your perfume last, I suggest you shop wisely and pick something with an oil concentration that fits your skin’s needs. Another factor that affects the intensity of your perfume is diet. If you consume a lot of fats and spicy or hot foods, fragrances will register more intensely. Interesting, huh?

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

Student-Led Renewal will be held Feb. 6-8. This annual event will span both bonus and regular chapel services and serves to encourage student leadership and involvement in spiritual life on campus.

Local

TRAVELERS REST SHOOTING

James Brock, 26, was shot and killed outside a Travelers Rest home the evening of Jan. 26. Brock was reportedly shot after trespassing and participating in a violent argument with a female at the house. No one has been charged so far in this incident.

FAFSA DEADLINE

Due to changes in FAFSA procedures, students should file their FAFSAs by June 30 to ensure eligibility for South Carolina tuition grants.

National

CLOAK OF INVISIBILITY

Scientists at University of Texas have allegedly managed to create a cloak that is capable of concealing three-dimensional objects.

FAST FOOD CHANGES

McDonalds will no longer use “pink slime” as an additive to its burgers due to widespread criticism. This filler is made of beef trimmings mixed with ammonium hydroxide to supposedly kill bacteria and enhance flavor.

International

NUCLEAR DISCUSSION

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims that he is open to discussing his nuclear program with the West.  This comes after the European Union placed a ban on importing Iranian oil.

The most annoying part of higher education for many college students is the exorbitant cost of textbooks. The average cost of textbooks can be several hundred dollars per semester.

Despite the fact that college students are the most tech-savvy segment of society, the textbook industry has resisted making e-books widely available to students nearly as much as some churches resist electric guitars. At North Greenville, for example, only a few required textbooks have an e-book equivalent available.

While the textbook industry continues to make excuses for not providing more convenient and affordable electronic versions of textbooks, it is obvious they are mainly concerned about losing the large profit margin that paper textbooks provide.

The publishing industry at large, however, has seen that the e-book is nearly today’s equivalent of the Gutenberg printing press. Many publishers publish their books through the immensely popular Nook and Kindle ecosystems. The ability to instantly publish a book and simultaneously eliminate the production costs of paper books allows publishers to sell an e-book at a lower cost while maintaining a healthy profit margin.

During an education-centered media event on Jan. 19, 2012, Apple Inc., a company known for dramatically altering the cell phone and music industries, introduced a plan to revolutionize the textbook industry. This plan uses the well-established iOS ecosystem to allow publishers to distribute low-cost e-books to students.

Publishers and writers can use Apple’s iBooks Author application to create interactive e-books that incorporate pictures, video and review material, which are then distributed through the iBooks application on Apple’s portable devices. Apple also revealed updates to its iTunes U service, which allows universities to post lectures and other course material in an easily accessible format.

Although these services are new, they have earned significant attention from publishers and educators alike. Several prominent publishing companies, such as McGraw Hill and Houghton Mifflin, have already pledged to provide e-books through Apple’s platform. Additionally, iTunes U will host lectures from major universities, such as Yale and MIT. While Apple’s offerings are only one service among many that allow publishers to provide e-books to students, the massive publicity that accompanies any Apple announcement has given the iBooks platform a distinct advantage.

What, then, will be the ultimate effect on college students? For now, because the iBooks service is new, its selection is still rather narrow. As time passes, however, publishers will likely see the benefits of electronic distribution, whether they choose to use iBooks or another method. When they understand that students are more likely to use e-books than heavy, overpriced paper books, the publishers will begin to embrace the electronic publishing trend.

Last November, the South Carolina Baptist Convention recommended five members to serve on North Greenville University’s Board of Trustees. They included 1957 NGU alumnus Daniel Boling, decorated U.S. Navy F-14 pilot Lee Capell, business owners David Edwards and Mark Ells,  and the former President of the Baptist Women, Lucile Sullivan. Their purpose, along with the other 20 members of the Board of Trustees will be to oversee the business of the school, said LaVerne Howell, NGU’s director of Public Relations.

NGU President Jimmy Epting added that their main purpose is to set the policies for the school. “Their second purpose is to hire or fire the president. We hope that they will donate significant funds and promote the school in every way,” he said. “These people on our board see this as an opportunity to serve Jesus Christ and to allow him to make a difference in their lives.”

Let’s face it—most people hate politics. Politics are messy. Politics are dramatic. And often, they’re just plain confusing. It doesn’t matter if the choices made by legislators impact us. We’re too busy to keep up.

A lack of interest in politics is especially a problem in the youth (18-29) demographic. The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) found that while youth voter turnout rose by two percentage points from the 2004 presidential election, the turnout was still only 51 percent.

This apathy toward voting is somewhat understandable. After all, we are the generation of instant messaging, hashtags, Google and a constantly updated Facebook newsfeed. We’re used to getting almost anything with a click; waiting in lines is not our specialty. But the political cycle has come around again, and it’s time we stepped up. When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, I was still a senior in high school. Now I’m a senior again—in college. Things have changed. I’m planning to graduate in May, and the thought of finding a job in this shaky economy terrifies me. But knowing that I’ll have to go out into the real world soon makes me even more determined to understand the issues.

Here are three reasons why you should vote in the next election. They won’t be in 140 characters or less, but at least they’re better than reading all 2,409 pages of the health care bill. Be sure to tweet while you’re standing in line.

1. The most immediate reason to vote is the need to repeal Obamacare. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which will require Americans to have health insurance or pay a fine, was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010.  Most of its provisions have not come into effect yet, but they will in 2014. To put this into context, it will become effective around the time when most of us are graduates looking for jobs. While provisions in the bill allow children to stay under their parents’ policy until age 26, health care reform will still cost us. It will add around $1 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, and we will be the ones paying for it. The bill will affect future students through its overhaul of student loans, which requires student loans to be originated by the government. Beyond its fiscal problems, the bill is also unconstitutional, allowing the government to take away our freedom to choose when it comes to health care.

2. Another reason to vote is the ongoing economic crisis. According to an article in the Oct. 21 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, the number of unemployed Americans is 14 million—twice what it was four years ago. What will it be in the next four years if fiscal policy, which is taxing and spending as decided by Congress, doesn’t change? Our government has been fiscally irresponsible, spending far more than it has taken in. Check out the U.S. National Debt Clock at usdebtclock.org to watch the numbers go up. As of this writing, national debt is at nearly $15 trillion, which comes to around $133,000 per taxpayer. This debt has weakened the economy by lowering GDP. If the government continues to spend money it doesn’t have, it will have to raise taxes, affecting our personal income. It’s going to be hard enough trying to find a job when everyone is cutting back, but faulty government policy will make it even more difficult to get by.

3. As a Christian, both my faith in God and my belief that He put authorities in place to govern us are the most important reasons to vote. Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” It is our duty as Christians to be involved in the government placed over us. Should we continue to allow a president who denied that America is a Christian nation and left out the words “under God” from the pledge of allegiance to be in authority?

We’re safely inside the bubble of being college students right now, but I believe we need to pay more attention to what’s happening in our country. The next presidential election is in less than a year. Vote this election season to have a voice in our future.

Miracles do happen, ladies, and I know of one that can happen with a little help from a dress. This simple and oh-so-chic dress, designed by Stella McCartney, is known throughout Hollywood as the “miracle dress” because of its instant slimming effect.  A-list celebrities like Kate Winslet, Liv Tyler and Lala Anthony have favored this dress and debuted its elegance on the red carpets this season. This stretch cotton sheath dress features ultra-flattering black side panels which give any body type the illusion of that coveted hourglass figure.

Kate Winslet has one of the most flattering figures in Hollywood, but even she gets a little help looking slim sometimes. She looked stunning at the Carnage premiere in Paris wearing the tan and white version of the dress. She looked so sleek, so retro and so slender.

The only problem is that the media-dubbed “miracle dress” by McCartney retails for a cool $1,595. I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t have that sort of cash just lying around for a date-night outfit splurge. Don’t check out just yet, girls. I’ve got the perfect solution for you. I found a “miracle dress” knock-off at ASOS.com in two gorgeous colors – plum and blue. The dress is color blocked in an hourglass shape, just like the McCartney dress, but features a classier draped cowl neckline for a softer finish. Oh, and did I mention it’s priced at $82.33? That’s a mere 5 percent of the price of McCartney’s creation. Cha-ching, ladies! And, as an additional bonus, ASOS.com has free shipping both ways with no minimum purchase required. A dress that slims you down about two sizes and costs nothing to ship? I’ll take two, please.

Now, I bet you’re wondering what kind of shoes to match up with this glamourous ensemble. If you want to model Winslet’s red carpet look, slide into a pair of black open-toed pumps.

The 2011-2012 North Greenville University men’s basketball team has reached the midpoint of its season and what a season it has been so far. The Crusaders are 10-6 at the halfway point; they are 4-4 within the conference and 6-2 out of conference.

The Crusaders have been almost unbeatable at home, winning seven of their nine games at home, while getting big wins against the likes of Toccoa Falls, Saint Andrews, and Fayetteville State. The Crusaders dominance at home has started on the defensive end where they have stymied opposing teams, giving up just 66 points a game.

The Crusaders are winning by an average of 15 points while at home and Chris Dean, sophomore sport management and Paul Harrison senior sport management, have been a key part of that success. Dean has been the team’s leading scorer this season averaging 18.5 points while shooting 56 percent from the field; Dean has also averaged 6.2 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. Harrison is making the most of his senior season. The reigning NCCAA Player of the Year is averaging 17.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, all while shooting 54 percent in an average of 32 minutes per game.

The one down side to the Crusaders’ season so far has been their inability to win on the road; The team is just 3-4 so far on the road and the defense that is so good at home has struggled on the road, giving up an average of 84 points a game.  The Crusaders will look to Luke Lattimore, senior sport management, Jonathan Bozymowski, senior sport management, Jason Wray, senior biology and Zack Shields senior sport management, to help turn it around on the road.

Lattimore has been averaging 8.1 points per game while shooting 42 percent this season but has only appeared in 10 of the teams’ 16 games. He’ll have to find a way to stay healthy and stay on the floor to help the team turn it around. Bozymowski, Wray, and Shields have made appearances in all the Crusaders’ 16 games this season and have played admirably, providing the team with much-needed depth and a variety of scoring and rebounding as well as providing leadership and experience.

The Crusaders seem primed for a tremendous second half and will look to build on their first half success at home and improve their play on the road to make a run in the conference tournament.

Being on a budget and staying on that budget is a difficult process for anyone, but giving a Major League Baseball general manager a low budget and telling him to beat the Yankees’ billion dollar franchise is nearly impossible.

Oakland Athletics’ GM Billy Beane turned the unlucky odds and low-budgeted season into a super team that had a 20-game winning streak and set a new American League record in 2002. In Moneyball, which was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture, director Bennet Miller not only captured the hearts of baseball fans but also gave a new understanding of the business behind baseball to those who aren’t a fan of the game.

Known for Capote and his documentary, The Cruise, Miller portrayed this heroic story of Beane with great skill. The historic highlighted clips of the Oakland A’s were shown, but cut at perfect times so it wasn’t like watching a documentary. Along with the concise flashbacks of Beane’s failing baseball career, Miller develops a plot line that keeps the audience intrigued and entertained through scenes which portrays not only the struggles Beane faced, but also the joy he has for the art of baseball.

Brad Pitt is nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Beane. He captures the audience’s attention by depicting Beane with great charisma as he aspires to make a team that wins, and not only wins one or two, but wins it all. Beane hires his trusty “numbers guy” Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), and from that moment the film shows the growing bond between the two.

Hill, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, plays the pudgy, smart youngster Brand phenomenally with his nervous responses to the outlandish, bold attitude of Beane. The bond between Brand and Beane is shown to the audience with laughs that are less provoked by funny lines and more by the humor underlying in the characters’ personalities.

With little knowledge of the 2002 Oakland A’s season, I watched Moneyball with new eyes and ears, astounded that there could be a mathematical equation for picking baseball players. Brand sorts all the players’ stats of past seasons into a computer generated equation and through that he picks what players would be best for the Oakland A’s at the lowest cost.

Baseball is a business and Beane’s business was to make money by taking a low-budgeted, losing team to the World Series. While fans can only see baseball from the outside looking in and appreciate it as a sport, Beane had to do the opposite by cutting, trading and training players to ensure a game-winning season. Anyone can appreciate the tactics of business and love for baseball shown in Moneyball.

College students across the country often complain that keeping up with the political scene during the school year can be inconvenient.  It’s no surprise that voting trends among college students have diminished over the past few years.  The low turnout of college students at last Saturday’s primary election was proof; yet while students may lack the passion to get to the polls, they are not short of opinions.

North Greenville’s Christian Worldview Center created a straw poll to probe students’ political convictions.  The survey was given during spring 2012 check-in, and was completely optional.   More than 1,200 students completed the survey, representing more than half of the student body.   While some students found the survey “uncomfortable,” many were grateful for the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Students took the survey nearly a week after Michele Bachman, Minnesota Representative, had withdrawn from the race, yet the creators of the poll agreed to leave Bachman’s name as an option to gauge how closely students follow the campaigns.  When asked who they would most likely choose for the next President of the United States, 6 percent of those surveyed (70 students), chose Bachman, seemingly unaware of her withdrawal.

Following the trend among college-aged  South Carolinians, most NGU students were strongly in favor of Texas Representative Ron Paul, who won nearly a quarter of the respondents’ loyalty.  Surprisingly, recent South Carolina primary winner Newt Gingrich scored the lowest, with only 9 percent (109 votes) of the straw poll votes in his favor, prompting one to wonder what the outcome of the recent primary would have been had more students made arrangements to vote.

Though students are typically not active voters, they represent a sector of the population that is thought to be open-minded and accepting.   Within the Republican Party, college students have seemingly few qualms with any of the GOP candidates.  True to their reputation, many students who did not identify themselves as supporters of Former Massachusetts Governor and outspoken Mormon Mitt Romney, admitted in individual interviews that if Romney were to win the nomination, they would enthusiastically support him in spite of religious differences.

In addition to questioning students about Republican candidates, the poll also asked for students’ opinions on incumbent Barack Obama’s possible re-election, vice presidential nominations, and issues such as the national debt and the creation of jobs.  According to students, economic recovery should be the next president’s main focus.  Pro-Life Advocacy was second with 19 percent of the votes.

The Christian Worldview Center welcomes anyone interested to view the results of the recent poll on its website, which can be found through a link on the NGU website.  The creators of the straw poll are also welcoming ideas for future polls.

Katelyn Drake, freshman undecided, serenades Unit A with her lovely guitar. (Photo by: Jessicah Peters)

Kyle Phillips, senior broadcast media, operates a camera in his Broadcast Studio Directing class as part of Mr. Steven's lecture. (Photo by: Candace Mackie)

Marcus Fuller, senior Intercultural Studies and Travis Leasure, junior Christian Studies hang lights in style before BSU! (Photo by: Candace Mackie)

The NGU Jazz Band perform Monday night at 7:00 in Turner Chapel presenting students with a night of enriching music. (Photo by: Taylor Webb_

Christina Carlis, senior business administration, found herself in the zone as her 27-point night gave the Lady Crusaders their first win of the season last Friday, Nov. 11 in Spartanburg, S.C.

North Greenville cruised to a 75-57 win over Division I opponent USC Upstate behind a strong offensive effort.

“This was a great win and I am very proud of the girls and the way they responded,” said head coach Jayne Arledge in an interview with ngcrusaders.com “This should surely go down as one of our biggest wins in the last few years.”

A win did not come easy as the Lady Crusaders had to battle through a first half that saw five lead changes.

After leading by eight at one point during the first 20 minutes, North Greenville was only able to manage a single-point advantage going into halftime.

Both teams battled in the second half, but it was the Lady Crusaders that pulled away in the end behind a 26-6 run and a massive offensive night.

Four Lady Crusaders finished in double figures, including Carlis, Karly Stache, senior mathematics, Krisceda Cotton, junior sport management, and Erin Gray, senior business administration, who had 11, 12, and 10 points respectively.

Carlis, who led all scorers with 27 points, went six for nine from the field and buried 15 out of 18 free throws in the victory.

As a team, North Greenville shot an impressive 43 percent, and managed to out rebound Upstate 45-34.

Arledge says this is exactly the kind of night she wanted to see from her team to start a new season.

“I was very pleased with how we played,” she said. “The teamwork was awesome and we played together.”

North Greenville took on Johnson C. Smith College yesterday, and will return to Tigerville early next week with games against Emmanuel College and Southern Wesleyan University.

Tip off against Emmanuel is set for 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21 in Hayes Gymnasium.

A breakout season and some new faces are turning the cross-country teams into a force to be reckoned with.

A year full of firsts saw North Greenville finish on top in two of their six regular season meets, setting quite individual records along the way.

“We were very fortunate to bring in some strong runners to go with a good core group of kids that we already had at North Greenville,” said first year head coach Michael Bayne. “This season we were able to set several personal records and some school records as well. The fellowship of the team together is something I would not trade for anything.”

Many of the runners on both teams were able to set personal bests this season including John Shealy, sophomore undecided, who set a school record with an 8-Kilometer time of 27:07, and Brandon Southern, junior health and wellness, who recorded the school’s second fastest 8-kilometer time, finishing in 27:55.

Girl’s team member Kelly Knutson, freshman secondary education, was also able to set the schools best 5-kilometer time, finishing in 21:13.

Bayne says his team put in some serious work over the offseason, and it paid dividends over the course of the year.”

“Some of our runners were running 60-80 miles a week over the summer,” said Bayne. “As a coach, I always worry about messing up the chemistry from one team to another, but the chemistry was awesome this year

Not only did the Crusaders set some personal records, but the program reached some milestones as well. North Greenville hosted its first ever home meet in school history.

Bayne says he believes this was a big step for the University

“We were put in the most difficult cross country conference in the nation,” said Bayne. “There are some unbelievable teams in this conference and we were very excited about how well our kids did.”

For the first time in school history, the North Greenville football team has a chance to bring a NCAA Division II National Championship back to Tigerville.

The 23^rd ranked Crusaders received an at-large bid to the Division II tournament last Sunday, capping a historical day for the North Greenville athletic program.

“It was an emotional moment,” said head coach Jamey Chadwell. “At a place like ours, this is a once in a lifetime experience. Being able to see them [the players] realize some goals and dreams was pretty awesome.”

The Crusaders will face Albany State in the first round, hosting their first ever Division II playoff game in Younts Stadium. Although it is a time for excitement, Chadwell says his team will have their hands full.

“They’ve probably got the best program in Georgia,” said Chadwell of his first round opponent. “It’s going to be a huge challenge for us, but we’re excited about having it here.”

The way the brackets are set up, North Greenville could possibly face a rematch with Mars Hill in the second round. Both teams finished with identical South Atlantic Conference records, and Chadwell says a rematch would be enticing.

“I don’t think we could have drawn up [the seedings] any better,” said Chadwell. “I know if we can get to that game our guys will be excited about playing them [Mars Hill].”

Quarterback Willy Korn, senior broadcast media, says the team has been dreaming bigger this season, and the teams goals are finally within reach.

“Last year was a productive year with the Victory Bowl, but this year we’ve had our sights set on something bigger this year,” said Korn. “We set a goal to make the Division II playoffs. That’s something that’s unheard of around here, because the school’s never been there.”

President Jimmy Epting says he hopes to have support from the entire state going forward.

“I think the alliance with the South Atlantic Conference gave us some good credibility,” said Epting. “We’re the only school in South Carolina that’s in the NCAA Division II playoffs so its’ time for the community and the state to get behind us. Lets whip those Georgia boys.”

“We expect to be playing on December 17 in the Division II championship game,” said Korn. “We’re not overlooking the first round game, but we’re ready to win this thing. It’s not enough just to be in the playoffs, we want to win the whole thing.”

Kickoff for round one is set for 12 p.m. this Saturday in Tigerville.

Nick Rosamonda (29) and the Crusader defense held Notre Dame College to just 78 total yards in North Greenville's 62-0 victory on Saturday. With the win, the Crusaders secured themselves a spot in the Division II playoffs beginning on Saturday, Nov. 19 in Younts Stadium against Albany State (Ga.) at noon.

No, not that Notre Dame. North Greenville amassed a school record 720 yards of total offense and also set a scoring record as the Crusaders dominated Notre Dame College of South Euclid, Ohio 62-0 on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day at Younts Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Tigerville.

The Crusaders finished the regular season with a 9-2 record and seven consecutive victories.

Quarterback Willy Korn, senior broadcast media, completed 20 of 23 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns, and NGU had eight different players score touchdowns.

North Greenville’s 720 yards were the most since the 2006 season and the 62 points were the most in school history as well. (NGU defeated Ohio State Newark last season 63-0, but Newark was a club program and the statistics did not count toward the NCAA marks).

Teryan Rucker, sophomore secondary education, rushed for 93 yards, Kyle Peck, sophomore mathematics, had a career best 91, Idris Anderson, sophomore undecided had 43 and Aaron Seigler, junior business administration, had 40 yards for NGU.

Freddie Martino, sophomore accounting, caught six passes for 165 yards. In a game that marked probably the most complete game in NGU’s short history as a Division II program, the Crusaders limited the Falcons to 78 total yards and dominated time of possession 36 minutes to 16.

North Greenville set the tone of the game immediately by scoring on a seven-play, 76 yard drive when Korn hit Harold Small, junior art, with a 12-yard touchdown. Anderson scored on a two yard run, and Martino caught a 27-yard touchdown pass to put NGU up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The scoring parade continued when Justin Gravely, freshman business administration, kicked a 30-yard field goal, Sean Wright, junior secondary education, caught yet another circus-like touchdown catch and Gravely added a 24 yard field goal with 1:11 left to give North Greenville a 34-0 halftime lead.

Korn, who wrapped up his collegiate regular season by leading NGU to a school-best two-year 18-5 record, connected with Taylor Malphrus, junior business administration, for a 15-yard touchdown that put NGU up 41-0 with 11:24 left.

Korn gave way to Siegler, who scored his own touchdown on a five-yard run that made it 48-0. Marcus Wilson, sophomore biology, broke four tackles and scored on a 30 -ard run with 11 seconds left in the third to make it 55-0.

Troy Jones, junior sport management, completed North Greenville’s scoring parade with his first career touchdown on a 23-yard run after a pitch from freshman quarterback Joseph Carter, sophomore biology.

“This really added a big exclamation to a very good season,” said NGU head coach Jamey Chadwell. “I have to give all the credit to our seniors, who bought into what we threw at them three years ago. They stuck it out and have really been the true leaders who made this happen. The sophomores who were with us three years ago hung in there and made a major difference in our success. We added a few transfers like Willy [Korn] and Daniel Adderley, but you have to truly applaud the seniors.”

The Crusaders’ next game will be another first for the football program as North Greenville will host Albany State (Ga.) in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Division II playoffs in Younts Stadium at noon.

Guard Chris Dean goes up for a dunk during pre-game warm ups against Toccoa Falls on Saturday, Nov. 5. The Crusaders opened the 2011 season with a convincing 102-74 victory over the Eagles in Hayes Gymnasium.

The North Greenville University men’s basketball team began the 2011-2012 season on a high note with a 102-74 victory over Toccoa Falls College on Saturday night in Hayes Gymnasium.

The Crusaders’ home opener was an exciting one from the beginning as North Greenville and Toccoa Falls traded baskets until a three-pointer by Chris Dean, sophomore sport management, put the Crusaders ahead for good.

North Greenville built a commanding 21-point lead with 2:28 left in the first half and went into half time leading 59-40 after shooting 61.5 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from beyond the arc, while holding the Eagles to 45.8 percent shooting in the first half.

After intermission, head coach Chad Lister and the Crusaders continued to push and opened the second half with an 18-7 run. The second half was highlighted by a high-flying slam dunk by Jason Wray, senior biology.

The Crusaders shot a stellar 55.1 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from three-point range, while the defense held Toccoa Falls to 41.5 percent shooting in the game and forced 17 total turnovers.

Dean led North Greenville with a career-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-5 from long range, with three rebounds in 24 minutes.

Paul Harrison, senior sport management, dominated in limited time on the floor as he finished the game with 19 points and a team-high seven rebounds in just 15 minutes of play, while Jonathan Bozymowski, senior sport management, was the only other Crusader to score in double-digits with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The bench played a crucial role for Lister as the Crusader reserves outscored the bench players of Toccoa Falls 35-13 in the game.

Jimmy Ellis, junior biology, led all bench players with eight points in the game, while Zack Shields, senior sport management, finished the game with seven points and five rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.

Jamaal Pryor, junior sport management, had the most complete game of any Crusader as he finished with four points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in the contest.

The Crusaders (1-0, 0-0 in conference) will host their second straight home game tonight, Nov. 16 when they tip off against South Atlantic Conference member Brevard College at 7 p.m. in Hayes Gymnasium.

In last season’s game between the two schools, Brevard downed North Greenville 99-83 in Brevard, N.C.

In the game, Harrison recorded a double-double while leading the team with 25 points on 12-of-19 and 11 rebounds.

Anna Mitchell, senior print media, holds baby Anna Fisher at Wednesday night bible study at Eddie and Andy Fisher's house. (Photo by: Candace Mackie)

As Internet connected devices become more popular, the concept of continuous computing is becoming a reality.

Continuous computing is the idea that a person can have a seamless experience between all devices. In other words, a person could open a file on a laptop, pick up a smartphone and see the exact same file.

Continuous computing hinges on constant Internet connectivity and the cloud. With the advent of 3G wireless technology and smartphones, the Internet suddenly became available in a small, portable package. Since that time, smartphones have essentially become small computers, allowing many users to leave their full computers at home.

Although smartphones have been very popular, a large number of people have been wishing for more since these devices have limited power and space.  Many were sacrificing features for convenience. Recently, however, that began to change.

Services such as Dropbox and Apple’s recently announced iCloud have made continuous computing a viable option. Instead of storing documents and photos on a computer hard drive, these services allow the user to store items in a virtual locker, which can be accessed from any device with an Internet connection.

This innovation has allowed smartphones, tablets and computers to be constantly updated and synchronized. It eliminates the need for flash drives or other forms of physical media. A person could write a paper, save it to the cloud, revise it on his tablet and then print it out from his smartphone.

Some services, like Dropbox, can store any type of file, making it an online file cabinet, while others, such as iCloud, serve specific purposes. iCloud is a new service from Apple that allows users of its mobile operating system to synchronize their portable devices. The system stores music, photos, calendars, contacts and application data, allowing a user to have a continuous experience across all devices.

The cloud is a very good solution for continuous computing, but there are some problems that need to be fixed. For many, the biggest problem with the cloud is security. Since files are stored on the Internet, it is possible that someone with malicious intent could access these files. Dropbox recently dealt with a security flaw that allowed hackers access to private user data. Secondly, many fear that their data could be lost somehow. If a server was to crash, or if the person lost Internet connectivity, his or her files could be inaccessible. To prevent the latter issue, one would be wise to implement smart backup procedures.

The current age is one of technology, and the innovations made in just the last five years have changed the way people think about technology. Despite its flaws, the cloud is well on its way to becoming yet another indispensable part of the connected life.

The travesty of human trafficking occurs around the world, but sometimes we forget just how close to home it happens as well. Experts at the Polaris Project/National Human Trafficking Resource Center estimate that there are a minimum of about 5,100 to 60,500 people trafficked into and within the U.S. each year, and an estimated 100,000 American children who are prostituted within the U.S. each year.

Human trafficking, whether for forced labor or commercial sex, is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world, and traffickers reap billions in profits. According to Janice Crouse, Senior Fellow at the Beverly LaHaye Institute, the think tank for the Concerned Women for America, sex trafficking is the number two crime worldwide. The number of people, 30 million, who are in slavery now is greater than at any other point in human history. The victims are beaten down both through psychological terrors and physical brutality. Even after being rescued, scars both literal and metaphorical can last forever.

After developing a special passion for stopping human trafficking, NGU student Bethany Stoddard, senior church music, started a Greenville chapter of Love 146 this past August. Love 146 is an organization whose mission is the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Being a part of Love 146 involves joining a task force, a group of people who meet monthly and commit to fighting human trafficking.

“What we do is educate people about sex trafficking, both worldwide and in the U.S., and what we can do about it,” Stoddard said. “Basically, in Love 146 you commit to raising a certain amount of money each year as a group. You meet once a month. Your group should be active, which means you brainstorm ideas or organize projects that can help raise money.”

Stoddard became aware of the issue in her senior year of high school and wanted to help.

“I was searching online for something I could do for a speech, and it had to be a cause,” she said. “Nothing was coming to mind. I ran across a site that talked about the sex trafficking issue. I had never heard of it before, and I was appalled by it. I immediately wanted to do something to help. I didn’t find any way to get involved from where I am until the Love 146 option became available. [Then] I decided to start a task force here in Greenville.”

Cecelia Alfonso, freshman interdisciplinary studies, worked over the summer with Redeem the Shadows, an organization that fights sex trafficking in the U.S.

“We cannot distance ourselves from this issue no matter how hard we try,” Alfonso said.

While preventing human trafficking and rescuing its victims are essential, sometimes the importance of healing is forgotten.

“Most of what I’ve been able to tell is that what these girls need most is Jesus,” Alfonso said. “They’ve been horribly abused, and they have terrible psychological issues, and they no longer know how to think of men. Jesus is the only person who can heal them completely.”

William J. Watkins, Jr., an assistant attorney with the U.S. General Attorney’s Office in South Carolina, works on human trafficking cases. Both forced labor and sex trafficking occur right here in Greenville.

“Attorneys in this district come across a couple of human trafficking cases a year. That’s only the ones that we locate; there are a ton more going on, unfortunately. It’s just getting worse,” Watkins said.

“You have young girls who are either unaware or meet somebody who seems like a friend. It’s really force and intimidation. Their will to resist is beaten down, and they do as they’re told.”

Young girls are often ensnared through the Internet, believing that social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace and ads published on Craigslist and Backpage.com are safe.

“You would think it’s something Third World, but I think a lot of it is the Internet,” Watkins said. “It’s easier for people to reach out and contact. It’s more common now to have friends on Facebook that you don’t even know, and I think a lot of that contributes to it. People have lowered their guard.”

According to the 2010 state rating by the Polaris Project, the lead organization focused on human trafficking in the U.S., South Carolina was among the “Dirty Dozen,” 12 states in the bottom tier with 0-2 statutes addressing human trafficking. This year, only nine states remain in the bottom tier—South Carolina included.

State legislators are working to bring more awareness to the issue of human trafficking. According to a South Carolina 2011 Legislator’s Brief for H3757, also known as the Human Trafficking Bill, “lack of awareness about the crime of human trafficking by the public and law enforcement in South Carolina drives a continued increase in human trafficking.” The bill defines terms pertaining to human trafficking more clearly, and key to this bill, it provides for forfeiture of trafficker assets and restitution for victims of human trafficking.

The bill went through a hearing in May and is currently being revised in anticipation of the reconvening of the legislature in January.

If you encounter a human trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1-888-3737-888.

To join the Greenville task force, contact Bethany Stoddard at bethanymuse89@gmail.com.

A show with a real Prince Charming Who could not be a fan? ABC’s Once Upon a Time is a combination of fantasy and drama bundled together and thrown into the present day. This concoction is what has the masses of this decade swarming to the midnight showings of movies like Harry Potter and especially Twilight.

The show is another example of good versus evil, in a family friendly way, and will most likely bring lots of twists, turns, and interest. Nothing less could be expected from the writers of Lost, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Compared with the other new arrival on prime time, NBC’s Grimm, Once Upon a Time is a refreshing way to bring fantasy to television. Grimm is the same old detective story, except now the killers are fantasy beasts, à la “Little Red Riding Hood.”

Once Upon a Time, instead of giving you terrorizing, child-killing beasts in the woods, gives you instead a feeling much like the one you get after watching Disney’s Enchanted.

The relation to Disney is not imagined. The characters in the show can almost all be found in a past Disney movie. There is Maleficent, the archenemy in Sleeping Beauty, the Evil Queen, the actual Prince Charming from Snow White, and even Jiminy Cricket from Pinnochio, who ends up a shrink. How does he become a shrink? The Evil Queen comes up with a horrendous curse, sending all the fairy tale characters to our world, to a little town called Storybrooke, Maine.

All of the characters take on new identities. Snow White is a lovely teacher named Mary Margaret Blanchard, and The Evil Queen gets to be the mayor. She is also the only one who remembers where they came from. The Queen has in her possession a little adopted boy named Henry, played by a very talented Jared S. Gilmore.

Henry happens to be the son of Snow White and Prince Charming’s daughter, Emma, who was able to escape the curse through a magical tree as a newborn. She was sent to our world alone and has grown up to be a tough and lonely bounty hunter. She also is the only one who can break the curse.

Emma is brought to Storybrooke when Henry comes to find her. She takes him home, and everything is set in motion. The interest of the show lies more in the characters than it does the story. It is the characters that will carry the show and flesh it out.

Lines like Henry’s speech to his mother, “It’s okay. I know why you gave me away. You wanted to give me my best chance,” the delivery of which almost makes you shed a tear, reveal there is more to this show than just fantasy and action. It is about exploring human beings and their relationships with each other.

If for nothing else, Once Upon a Time deserves a chance for being the only show of its kind, and more importantly, an entertaining and fun show the entire family can watch together.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, at about 12:30 a.m., several North Greenville University students were aroused by an unsettling noise from outside their house on Chinquapin Road. Two Blue Ridge High School students, Benjamin Lindsey, 17, and Christopher Howard, 18, were inside a vehicle that had crashed into the neighboring house. Lindsey, the front-seat passenger in the car, died Thursday, Nov. 3, while Howard is still in critical condition.

Bradley Barnes, senior biology, and Marcus Fuller, senior Christian studies, were two of the NGU students who heard the crash. As medical personnel were notified, Barnes and Fuller entered the vehicle to reach the boys. They wasted no time securing the area, checking vital signs and praying with other students on the scene.

“It was comforting to have a band of brothers come together to bathe the situation in prayer,” said Barnes. “Even in the midst of this terrible tragedy, God’s love and grace was evident.”

Rick Morris, Chief of Campus Security, responded to the accident that night. He is proud of the courageous students who helped the boys in the accident.

“I commend the students who ran over there,” said Morris. “It’s refreshing to know that our students are willing to help others, even if it puts them in danger.”

Barnes, Fuller and the other NGU students not only showed true heroism that night but also put the love of Christ into action.

Students, like Barnes, consider it a blessing from God that no NGU students were harmed. This accident marks the second car crash into the house in the past two weeks. The house is located just around a sharp curve on Chinquapin Road that has been a factor in both accidents.

Some NGU students that live around the area on Chinquapin have seen the sharp curve as a potential danger for years now.

“There definitely needs to be a yellow curve arrow sign to alert people that it is a very sharp curve,” said Ben Wofford, senior youth ministries. “There is a 25 mph sign telling people to slow down, but those signs can be very relative and this particular one is simply not enough warning.”

Morris agrees with Wofford and, along with the entire Campus Security department, wants to stress to students how important safety is and how serious accidents like this one can be prevented.  According to Morris, the state of South Carolina will be putting up guard rails soon, and police officers are looking into putting up more warning signs. Morris hopes students learn to be more cautious from accidents like this.

“Students need to know that just because they drive up and down a road three or four times a day, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be attentive,” said Morris. “As easy as it is to get distracted while driving, students should always be alert and cautious.”

Will (Justin Timberlake) and Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried) flee with a bounty on their heads in an action sequence from In Time.

In Time is set in a world where, like the Poor Richard saying, time is money. Only literally.

Written and directed by Andrew Niccol, the dystopian thriller begins on a novel concept: Time to live has become the currency. People are genetically engineered to stop aging, but when they reach 25, they get only one more year of life and have to earn any more time they get. The rich can live forever, while the poor barely survive from day to day. Survival is about getting more time before it runs out.

The premise is interesting but flimsy; with a more well-crafted plot, In Time could have been a truly clever and innovative offering to the science fiction genre. As it stands, In Time is purely entertaining, never requiring its audience to think too hard, but rewarding them with plenty of action and romance.

Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) stars as Will Salas, a factory worker from the ghetto who has become accustomed to living from one day to another. He lives with his 50-year-old mother, Rachel, ironically played by Olivia Wilde, who in real life is actually younger than Timberlake.

They are happy in spite of never having much, until Rachel tragically dies when she runs out of time trying to get home one night. Meanwhile, Will has unexpectedly gained incredible wealth: more than a century in time. It was given to him by a man named Hamilton who had lived for more a century in real time already. “Your mind can be tired even if your body’s not,” says Hamilton. After Will rescues him from the Minutemen, a gang that steals other people’s time by force, Hamilton gives Will his time and “times out” on purpose.

Having all the time in the world for the first time in his life, Will sets off for New Greenwich, the time zone where the absurdly rich live virtually forever. He meets a beautiful heiress named Sylvia (Amanda Seyfried) after winning time from her father, Philippe (Vincent Kartheiser of Mad Men). Sylvia is the poor little rich girl who has never really gotten to experience life.

“The poor die, and the rich don’t live,” Sylvia says, summing up the dichotomy of their world. The two end up on the run after Will is accused of murder by a Timekeeper named Raymond, played by Cillian Murphy (Inception, Batman Begins).

Will and Sylvia’s adventures come over something like a cross between Bonnie and Clyde and Soylent Green as they set off in Niccol’s brave new world.

Timberlake and Seyfried are believable enough to pull of the requisite love story, and their banter adds some humor along the way whenever things get too serious. There’s a lot of Timberlake looking intense, Seyfried running in impossibly high heels, and Murphy stalking about in a long black coat.

Niccol creates a world that the audience can live in for a while, complete with its own culture and catchphrases. The stylish but sometimes incredulous tale works well as entertainment.

Was it meant it to be anything more? Perhaps. The film also works as a parable about today’s world. We may not have unlimited time, but the truth that some have nothing while others have more than enough still stands.

PSI CHI
The North Greenville University chapter of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, will be inducting eight new members on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

LITTLE WOMEN
The casting list for Little Women, next semester’s musical, will be posted Friday, Nov. 18 in the School of Theatre building.

ML SUBMISSIONS
The submission deadline for the 2012 edition of The Mountain Laurel has been extended one week.  Submissions are now due by Monday, Nov. 21 in the White Hall.

NGU 5K
The annual Health Promotion & Wellness 5K will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8:30 a.m.  Students can register in the fitness center for $10 or 10 canned goods.

College football is not just about who wins the championship anymore; it has everything to do with “swag.” When it comes to uniforms, college football took it to another level this fall. Although the season is halfway through, uniforms are still the hottest topic.

ESPN correspondent, Erin Andrews recently appeared on Joan Rivers’ weekly show Fashion Police to talk about not only the most favored college football uniforms, but also the less captivating and outrageously ugly “outfits” teams were wearing.  Rivers addressed what most women were really thinking: how great a player’s butt looked and the other physical features shown off in the uniforms.

Every die-hard fan is going to say his or her team has the best uniforms, no matter what a player’s gluteus maximums looks like, but should there be a so-called fashion police when it comes to what is worn on the field? Nike, Under Armour and Adidas have disregarded all the rules the fashion police enforce and have no limit in their imaginative minds when creating a team’s uniform.

So why design outlandish, vibrant uniforms? Recruiting. Besides giving him food and letting him play video games, a good way to capture the heart of 17 year-old athletic boy is offering a “swaggerific” image that will have all the sorority girls looking. ESPN.com columnist, Paul Lukas said in an interview with Robert Siegel, Nation Public Radio News host, “What we really see is the uniform being used as a recruiting tool to attract high school talent. And the idea being that if you’re after a hot quarterback or a running back out of high school and he’s trying to decide between a couple of different schools, the uniform could be the tiebreaker. And if you’re a hot running back out of high school, it means you’re 17. And 17-year-olds respond to shiny objects, more or less.”

Which teams do the best of making the uniform shine and grab the attention of the female fans? Navy. From head-to-toe the uniform is unique, yet classy. The players’ numbers shine with gold accents, and the artistic detail on the helmet’s anchor is what fashion experts call “couture.”

The most popular accessory items to the uniform are gloves, and Navy’s are elegant, if that’s possible for gloves used to catch pigskin. The gloves are pure white, embellished with a gold anchor, making the sailors’ uniforms resemble what the players wear off the field. Navy’s designers completely win my vote for creating the best uniform of the season.

There are a few teams that make me wonder. If the designer was stuck in a dark closet while picking the colors, the absolute worst uniform goes to Maryland. Whoever made Maryland’s flag must be colorblind because no one else would mix red, white, black and yellow and think it looks amazing. If the team was going for the worst uniforms ever, it definitely achieved that goal.

While uniforms don’t help a team put points on the board, they do go along with the mentality if you look good, then you feel good, and if you feel good, then you’ll play well. College football is still about whom wins the SEC championship and BSC bowl game, but also now it is who looks good while winning. As for me, I’m ready to see which team will win “best dressed” next year.

Faith without a clear worldview is incomplete. Lisa Van Riper, president of South Carolina Citizens for Life and director of the North Greenville University Honors Program, illustrates this truth well. From her extensive work in the pro-life movement to her dedication in the NGU Honors Program, Van Riper has shown her Christian faith and worldview throughout her career.

Van Riper, a graduate of Furman University with a B.A. in political science, has had an interest in politics from an early age, something that led to her work in pro-life legislation as well as a teaching career. She has worked with S.C. Citizens for Life for more than 20 years now and has been president for the past eight.

The classes she teaches at NGU show her integration of politics and faith, including courses in political science and state government. The freshman honors seminar she instructs—and first suggested to the honors committee—focuses on a Christian worldview.

Both through her work in legislation and in the classroom, Van Riper influences others for Christ. Warm, energetic and self-effacing, Van Riper describes her life and career with style and humility. Her Christian journey has not been without its ups and downs, but the lessons she learned are some we can take to heart as well.

Where did your interest in politics come from?

I became interested in politics in third grade by watching the Today Show. I’m the same age as the Today Show [laughs]. I vividly remember the election of John F. Kennedy when he and Nixon competed in the first televised debates. I lived through the assassination of JFK, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, and then the student uprisings on campuses because of the Vietnam War. I remember clearly Nixon’s trip to China when he opened relations. I realized at an early age that government can have an impact on your life, particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was in the fifth grade, and I realized  we could be attacked by a foreign government.

How did that translate into legislative work?

I think I’ve always been politically aware. I majored in political science, and I went on to do graduate work in political science and public administration. I got a job with the Greenville County Council when I was in my mid-20s, and that brought me into contact with some men who were on County Council at that time. They eventually became state legislators.

When I got involved with pro-life work in the late 1980s and early 1990s, those men were at the state house and they introduced me to other people. The contacts I made working for County Council helped me to work for specific pieces of legislation.

Talk about your work in the pro-life movement.

I became involved in the pro-life movement as a social justice movement, realizing that the most basic civil right is the right to life. Equal rights would have no meaning for me, as a woman, if there were no equal rights to birth for the unborn child. I started looking around to find a way to help.

I heard the executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life was coming up to the Greenville County library to show a pro-life movie. The executive director said he just needed one contact in Greenville. Having grown up Baptist, I understood an altar call when I heard one. I went up and said, “I’ll be your contact,” and here I am some 22 years later. I’ve now been president about eight years.

The freshman honors seminar on worldview was your idea. How did that come about and when did you become so passionate about that topic?

The Honors Program used to have one seminar offered every semester, and every honors student from the freshmen to the seniors would take it. But we began to see that the freshmen needed a different seminar; they shouldn’t be competing with seniors their first semester.

We had to have a topic for the freshman seminar. I suggested worldview, and the committee approved it. I first became interested in worldview when I started working with the pro-life issue. I realized there had to be a breakdown somewhere in culture.

To protect the unborn and to protect women from being harmed by abortion, I not only had to work to restore protective legislation, but I also had to address the moral deficit in the structures of culture. I read Chuck Colson’s How Now Shall We Live, and I saw clearly that every one of us has a worldview, the way we look at the world.

What do you have to say to the next generation?

We have to begin to focus on the major principles. We are an over-entertained society that is easily diverted and often driven by emotions. Reason has given way to sound bite. It takes mental work to get beyond the sound bite and to get to the point where we think and don’t just feel. Our feelings can always deceive us.

As I tell my students, if you’re going to claim that you’re a Christian, then live boldly as a Christian. Remember there is meaning and purpose in life, and there is hope for life after death. I think people need to understand that ideas have consequences and that your ultimate value is what matters most.

Linzy Laird, junior psychology, is doing her part to change the world one step at a time. She is currently an intern at Piedmont Women’s Center, a crisis pregnancy center. Laird completed her six training sessions this semester, which taught her how to explain options to women as well as share the Gospel.

Laird is trying to use her experiences and situations she has been through to minister to other women. She is doing her part in the world through many activities, including leading Bible studies, being a youth group leader, mentoring underclassmen,and praying with friends regularly.

Since she has began these activities, Laird says, she is viewing people more the way Christ does. After she graduates, Laird would like to open up her own crisis pregnancy center, work with the youth at a church and go on a lot of mission trips.

“Linzy is very outgoing and knows exactly what she believes,” said Holley Chapel, junior intercultural studies. “She loves being involved in people’s lives so she can love on them.”

Laird is caring and loving, following the Scripture in everything she does.

“I am so honored and surprise to be the difference maker. I didn’t know I was even noticed,” said Laird.

Timothy Roberts, junior of broadcast media studies, spends a rainy Tuesday afternoon working on some graphics for his video project. (Photo by: Kesha Seldov)

Savannah Webb, junior mass communication major, and Alicia Rosslee, junior art major, dive into some Stud food for dinner before heading back outside into the cold north Greenville weather. (Photo by: Taylor Webb)

University students at a cultural event in Hamlin Recital Hall waiting for guest vocalist Jennifer Whitehead to perform. (Photo by: Taylor Webb)

Nicole Cox, junior early childhood and youth ministry, stops to pose before heading backstage to work Wednesday's chapel. (Photo by: Candace Mackie)

Alaina Mullinax, junior broadcast media, adds a touch of lace to her ensamble.

Cold weather has arrived with a bang.. With the beginning of this new season, a shopping trip for the latest fall and winter fashions is a must, but it isn’t always easy. Keeping the dress code in mind, I’m here to offer some stylish tips.

1. Mustard and Navy: The dynamic duo

For this fall, mustard is the must-have color. I don’t really see it as the highlight color for most outfits, but more of an accent. So, don’t go too crazy with this color. Instead, try a mustard peacoat or cardigan to throw over your favorite fall color or try mustard accessories like a cashmere scarf or handbag.

Mustard goes surprisingly well with wine tones as well as this winter’s color, navy blue. Navy blue and mustard complement each other very well by bringing a warm chic look to an everyday outfit. Mustard also pairs well with the obvious earth tones: browns, olive greens, beige, etc. Navy, on the other hand, can be paired with whites and reds, if you’re into the nautical look which is another popular trend this winter. These two classy colors are very dynamic, but when you bring them together, they are like two peas in a pod.

Where to find it: Forever 21, Target and Belk

How to wear it at NGU: Match a cute tea-length navy dress with a mustard colored cardigan and throw on some brown or neutral colored tights.

2. A touch of lace

It’s no big news that lace is a classic, but this season it becomes polished too. It’s also one of this season’s most romantic trends. Lace comes in a great amount of different versions, from simple and soft to printed and colorful. Used mostly for gowns and blouses, lace oozes femininity. Lace looks exceptionally pretty on cardigans and sweaters by adding just enough “sweetness” to your look. Dresses with a touch of lace are also in this season. Lace clothing and accessories can be found in almost every department store. Jewelry, scarves and even handbags that incorporate lace are perfect ways to add a touch of femininity.

Where to find it: Old Navy, Target and other department stores

How to wear it at NGU: To have the classic and polished look, try a neutral lace scarf that you can find at any Target and match it with a striped or other patterned top. Lace accessories are your best bet. They add just enough without going overboard.

3. Oxfords: Adding a little antebellum

Oxfords are my favorite shoes for this season. I wear them all the time because they are comfortable for walking around campus and they go with a variety of clothing.

Vintage is in this season and oxfords will definitely bring out the “old-timey” look in your outfit. Oxfords are very colonial in design because they age back to the 17^th century when mostly men would wear them. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of your grandparents have a pair of their own up in their attic.

Oxfords are a must-have for vintage lovers, but they are also perfect for adding a little flair for those who do not want to travel too far back in time. They come in a variety of colors and designs. Flat oxfords are perfect to wear with denim skinny jeans while oxfords with heels are cute to wear with dresses, skirts, or trousers. From browns and neutrals to floral and glitter, oxfords come in an array of styles to fit your personality.

Where to find it: Target and Forever 21

How to wear it at NGU: Oxfords look great with skinny jeans or even trousers or slacks. If you want to dress it up a bit, match a pair of oxfords with a cute vintage dress and leggings. Make sure to wear a pair of oxfords that bring out a low-toned color in your outfit. That will make your look pop.

4. Novelty sweatshirts: Bummin’ it with style

You’re all about looking fashionable, but admit it, there are some days where you just don’t feel like trying to put together an outfit. We all have those days where we want to pull up our hair and throw on some sweatpants and a hoodie. What if I told you that you can “bum it” while still being a “fashionista”? Yes, you heard me correctly. This season, yesterday’s classics are back. Novelty sweatshirts are perfect for the days you want to be laid-back and comfortable.

Sweatshirts are perfect for fall and winter, especially if you get them with classic characters on them. Stores like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe have a whole line dedicated to vintage novelty. Forever 21 has a separate Disney line featuring 12 classic Disney movie sweatshirts. These sweatshirts can be mixed and matched with jeans and sweatpants, which make them perfect for the cold weather expected this winter.

Where to find it: Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe

How to wear it at NGU: Match a Lion King novelty sweatshirt from Forever 21 with your favorite pair of jeans, colored pants or sweatpants and make it to those 8 a.m. classes just in time.

5. The Big Bag Theory

I think we should all step aside and take a lesson from Mary Poppins this fall and winter.  Big bags compliment even the dullest outfit. Bright bold colors like red, mustard, blue and magenta add that splash of color to your fashion ensemble. The greatest feature of big bags is that they are versatile. You can carry one with whatever you are wearing and still feel fashionable.

Where to find it: Belk and Forever 21

How to wear it at NGU: Put your big bag to use and stuff a few snacks from the Stud in there on your way to class.

6. Chic it up a notch: The pencil skirt

Need a professional look for your presentation on Friday, but don’t feel like emptying the wallet? You don’t have to. This fall and winter the fashion trends are screaming professionalism, which favors college students entering into the working world. This season’s trend is all about pencil skirts. They are perfect for making you look and feel powerful. How to wear it at NGU: Match your tea-length pencil skirt skirt from Dots with a solid ruffled blouse and add a blazer, and you’ll be ready for that class presentation.

7. Feathers, feathers, and more feathers

From feather hair extensions to feather jewelry to feather covered shoes, it’s no secret that feathers are in this season. Quail feathers are in this fall because of their rustic colors. They look absolutely stunning with this season’s color, mustard.  Feathers are diverse and can be put with an assortment of outfits. So go on out and feather it up these upcoming seasons.

Where to find it: Ulta Beauty and Target

How to wear it at NGU: Match a cute pair of pastel colored feather earrings or necklace with a solid black top.

I was told the editors did not want to run two papers in a row with beauty queens on them (as last week’s paper contained Miss NGU) because they want to appeal more to the students. Homecoming queen is based solely off of student votes, so how could this not appeal to the students?

I was also told by a student staff member they did not even know  NGU had homecoming queens, and from another that the writers and editors probably just “forgot.” This is unfair because the paper should have contained memories we could have saved for the rest of our lives, but it was ripped from us because it was put at such a low level of importance.

The whole week was for everyone to have fun and create memories that will last a lifetime. Each one of these girls on homecoming court worked hard all week long building up to this day, and for it to hold such insignificance to The Skyliner is very disheartening.

I believe the editors should re-run an article about Homecoming 2011 and put up more meaningful pictures. I also believe the staff, the majority of whom are students, should get more involved in what is going on around campus so that they can truly know what “appeals” to the students.

Erin Gray, senior business administration

The volleyball team wrapped up their season with a strong weekend at home, improving their overall record to 16-18.

The Lady Crusaders picked up wins over Erskine College and Converse College last weekend, sending the seniors out in proper fashion. With the victories, North Greenville concluded its first season as a member of Conference Carolinas in a tie for ninth place.

A slow start to the week had the Lady Crusaders itching to get home, as they took a tough loss to King College on November 2. The trip to Bristol was all but memorable for North Greenville, and the Lady Crusaders departed with a 3-1 loss.

To no ones surprise, Rebekah Mayes, sophomore undecided, and Kaitlyn Pierce, senior health and wellness, led the offense with a combined 25 kills on the day. Abigail Frame, junior elementary education, recorded 39 assists in the contest.

A return to Tigerville seemed to remedy the problems for North Greenville. The Lady Crusaders managed to pull out two wins on senior night and alumni night last weekend.

The weekend opener against Erskine was a hard fought match, but the Lady Crusaders maintained composure and took home a 3-2 win.

Fittingly, Pierce led the Crusaders with 16 kills on the night, while fellow senior Kaitlyn Harris, senior sport management, added 32 digs to the defense effort for North Greenville.

After a gutsy performance on senior night, the Lady Crusaders wrapped up the season by dominating Converse College in a 3-0-shutout victory.

Everything was going right for North Greenville, and the ladies took all three sets by scores of 25-10, 25-17 and 25-12.

Pierce led the team with 11 kills in her final regular season game and Mayes also contributed eight of her own to the effort. Frame concluded her season with a solid 29 assists.

The weekend wins gave the Lady Crusaders a final conference record of 6-12, and a positive end to an up and down season.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, North Greenville University will be hosting Military Appreciation Day (MAD). MAD is a day when NGU does its part to recognize and honor the veterans who have served and those who are currently serving to protect and secure our nation’s freedom.  MAD also serves as a day to raise awareness for the Army ROTC program and its cadets on the campus.

This year, NGU ROTC wants to welcome all students, faculty and staff to come and enjoy various activities planned for the afternoon. There will be a paintball arena where teams of four can battle each other in a round of paintball for $10 per team.

Also featured will be a rock climbing wall, where given donations will go towards the Blue Star Mothers program, a society that sends supplies to troops overseas. These events will take place on the field in front of the football stadium.

At 1 p.m., NGU’s football team will play Ohio’s Notre Dame College. There the Army ROTC program at NGU will be hosting a special half-time ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Gilleran, professor of military science, and NGU President Jimmy Epting will make special remarks  and be followed by a patriotic performance by the NGU Marching Crusaders. This ceremony will be held to honor those who serve and have served in the military.

Drew Brogden, junior Christian studies, holds MAD close to his heart and sees it as a very important event. As a member of NGU’s Army ROTC program and a Simultaneous Membership Program Cadet with the Furman Paladin Army ROTC, he wants to stress the importance of this day to the NGU family.

“MAD is important because our freedom to have events such as football games, and even private educational institutions, was bought with the blood and effort of warriors who fought, fight, and will continue to fight to keep this nation free,” said Brogden.

Brogden also sees MAD as a day to honor the ROTC cadets on campus.

“This gives us an opportunity to be put on display and for people to come ask us about what we’re all about,” said Brogden. “A lot of NGU students do not realize the sacrifices we make. While most of the student body is sleeping, we are up early in the morning running and training.”

While MAD has exciting activities in store, Brogden does not want the purpose of this day to be overlooked.

“The purpose of MAD is first and foremost to recognize the individuals who sacrifice their lives for us as Americans every day and to give them the honor that they deserve,” he said.

Brogden and the rest of the NGU ROTC encourage the NGU family to come and enjoy a time of fun and fellowship, while honoring those who serve our beloved country.

VALUES VOTERS BUS TOUR
In an attempt to educate Republicans on the value of voting, the Values Voters Bus will be stopping on campus Thursday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students who are not registered to vote will be able to do so regardless of what state in which they live.

LITTLE WOMEN AUDITIONS
The North Greenville University theatre department will be hosting auditions for its spring musical Little Women. Students should prepare 16 bars from a song from a musical, preferably not from Little Women, and should bring their own sheet music for the accompanist. Also, students should be prepared to read from provided scripts. Open to both men and women, auditions will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 in the School of Theatre building.

MOUNTAIN LAUREL SUBMISSIONS
Final submissions for The Mountain Laurel are Monday, Nov. 14. Submission boxes can be found in the White Hall lobby.

Local

“FISCAL FITNESS” PLAN
President pro tempore of the South Carolina Senate, Glenn McConnell, stopped in Greenville last week to gain feedback from local residents concerning his “fiscal fitness” plan.

National

CAIN ALLEGATIONS
Another woman came forward last week with decade-old sexual harassment accusations against GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain. This was the second charge of this nature brought against Cain, and he denies all allegations.

Senior forward Paul Harrison, a two-time NCAA Division II Independent Player of the Year, needs just 243 points to become the school's all-time scoring leader. Harrison has already claimed the top spot as the school all-time career rebounds leader with 722 and is second in school history with 80 career blocks.

Cory Guinn
Sports Editor

After recording a 22-7 record in 2010, the best in team history, the North Greenville men’s basketball enters its first season as a member of Conference Carolinas ranked ninth overall in the pre season coaches poll and fourth in the Western Division with a renewed energy and great level of experience.

“As a team, we have a good nucleus returning,” said head coach Chad Lister. “We will lean heavily on our seniors for leadership on and off the floor.”

The Crusaders return five seniors from last year’s squad that finished second in the NCCAA South Regional Tournament.

Among the returning seniors is the reigning two-time NCAA Division II Independent Player of the Year, Paul Harrison, senior sport management, who led the team with 18.4 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game on 61.2 percent shooting from the field.

The other seniors returning for Coach Lister include Luke Lattimer, senior sport management, the team’s second-leading scorer in 2010 with 10.4 points per game, and Jonathan Bozymowski, senior sport management, who is the Crusaders most versatile player in terms of being involved of every area of play. In 2010, Bozymowski average 5.4 points per game on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 41.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc along with 2.8 rebounds per game and 2.2 assists per game.

Seniors Jason Wray, senior biology, and Zack Shields, senior sport management, will be relied on for production off the bench and with opportunities to be in the starting lineup. Wray, the Crusaders emotional leader, averaged 4.1 points per game on 51.1 percent shooting from the floor, while three-point specialist Shields overcame early season injuries to finish with 6.1 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting from long range.

“Obviously our seniors will dictate our success.  Paul is a tremendous post presence.  He has the potential to be one of the premier players in our conference.  I have been very impressed with his off-season work,” said Lister. “If Lattimer can stay healthy, he will have an opportunity to turn heads in our league.  Shields, Bozymowski, and Wray continue to be very steady for us.  Their effort and leadership is tremendous.”

Other returning players who will be counted on for immediate impact include starting point guard Tim Franklin, junior sport management, and reserves Jamaal Pryor, junior sport management, Jimmy Ellis, junior biology, and Chris Dean, sophomore sport management.

Franklin is the team’s unquestioned floor leader on offense and dictates the tempo of the defense on the majority of the possessions. During last season’s campaign, Franklin average 6.3 points per game and a team-high 4.1 assists per game. He also led the team with 1.6 steals per game, while pulling down 3.6 rebound per game.

Juniors Pryor and Ellis provide sparks for the Crusaders in two opposite areas of the floor. Pryor is a low post presence who has consistently improved in his first two years and in 2010 averaged 7.7 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting a team-high 61.7 percent from the floor. Ellis is another long range shooter that will come off the bench and provide an energy boost on offense as he finished last season with a career-high 7.1 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting from three-point range.

Dean, a member of the 2010 NCAA Division II All-Freshman team, averaged 7 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the floor and 2.2 rebounds per game.

“Chris Dean really came on strong at the end of last season.  He will have an opportunity to be a major contributor this season.  Freshmen Vince Lewis and Wesley Armbrust are two new faces to our program that have a chance to make an early impact.  Both have done good things in the pre-season,” said Lister. “I would not trade any of our 16 roster spots.  They have all worked very hard to get to this point.  We would love to make a run at the conference title in our first year as a member of Conference Carolinas. “

As a team, the Crusaders will focus on making the most of their offensive opportunities and look to improve on the defensive end of the floor against much tougher competition in the new conference.

There aren’t too many politicians I would say have courage, heart, integrity, authenticity or the gumption former U.S. Senator and Presidential candidate Rick Santorum exudes. Charm and the ability to speak are great attributes in politicians, but there also needs to be meat and substance to their ideas.  Santorum is a candidate who doesn’t speak the words “change” and “hope” without telling us exactly what the change and hope actually are. He speaks about plans of action and actual modifications to what’s not working—and he has a record of doing just that.

Santorum is a man who demonstrates humble character and sound priorities. When questioned for saying he didn’t have a burning desire to be President, Santorum responded, “I’d be very careful of someone who says they have a burning desire to be President… I feel it is more of a calling than it is a desire of mine. I’ve served in Washington and I’ve seen… it’s a huge responsibility, particularly given the situation our government is in right now, and you better feel like this is something you are called to do, that this is something that is a mission, that’s for the country, not for you. Not for personal gain but for what’s in the best interest of the country.”

Santorum would say his favorite accomplishment is being a husband of 20 years and a father to seven.  (His book, It Takes A Family, is a New York Times best seller.) Santorum was a part of the “Gang of Seven” that exposed the colossal Congressional Banking and Congressional Post Office scandals, proving he is a leader capable of catching and stopping indignities. It was because of this reform that a Washington Post reporter said “Santorum was a tea party kind of guy before there was a tea party.”

In regards to this state of the economy and restoring jobs, Santorum’s job plan is solid and endorsed by the PA Manufacturers Association.  Frederick W. Anton III, President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, said, “Santorum clearly understands this value manufacturing has on our overall economy, and his plan is consistent with his strong, unwavering record in support of pro-growth public policy throughout his career – for which we are grateful.” This plan would eliminate the corporate tax for all U.S. manufacturers, eliminate burdensome regulations and expand domestic energy exploration.

Santorum also has experience serving on the Armed Services Committee for eight years and made waves of change during that time. Before the attacks of September 11^th, 2001, he led the fight to transform our military from a Cold War force to meet today’s threats. Sadly, this fight wasn’t fully heard and accomplished until after the attacks on our country. A leader in US-Israeli relations, he authored both the “Syria Accountability Act” and the “Iran Freedom and Support Act,” which he also successfully fought to pass.

On other tough cultural issues, Santorum was able to write and pass legislation that outlawed the procedure known as Partial Birth Abortion as well as the “Born Alive Infants Protection Act,” the “Unborn Victims of Violence Act” and the “Combating Autism Act.” Santorum believes every single individual has value, and we must protect the most vulnerable in our society. If these issues are worth fighting for to you, Santorum is your Presidential candidate. Santorum can think on both the grand scale, and the individualistic scale of America and its people.

He never wavered on his pro-life stand, on his no-child left behind stance, he didn’t waver or evade justice when exposing the Congressional Banking and Congressional Post Office scandals and fought to bring about the national security acts. All of these were brought about because he did not back down when opposition came. He believed these issues to be worthy of fighting for.

The subject of the presidential race and its candidates shouldn’t be taken lightly. I don’t believe charm and charisma are what we should primarily look for in our next president, though there is a certain tried-and-true genuine nature to Santorum that is humbling and honorable.

We need a leader who is courageous and able to stand up for the interests of our nation and its people.  Santorum’s slogan isn’t glitter and publicity. It is a simple statement that I believe he wants to follow through in every way and with all he is: Rick Santorum—“The Courage To Fight For America.” Is Rick Santorum the courageous fighter our country needs to stand up for and lead our nation? I believe he is.

Quarterback Willy Korn (15) threw for 303 yards and rushed for 81 more totaling five touchdowns in the Crusaders 54-7 victory over Wingate College on Saturday Nov. 5 in Wingate, N.C. Photo by Cory Guinn.

After a year long search for respect, it would probably be safe to say the Crusaders have found it.

A demoralizing 54-7 win over Wingate College on Oct. 5 gave North Greenville a seat atop the South Atlantic Conference, with an overall conference record of 7-1 on the season.

Of course, North Greenville is technically not part of the SAC, but the Crusaders cruised through the first year of their “scheduling alliance,” and claimed top honors among conference’s most elite teams.

“We’ve gone through a lot [this season],” said wide receiver Sean Wright, junior secondary education. “We set a goal at the beginning of the season to earn some respect, and I think we’ve made a statement. We just want to keep playing and keep winning.”

The Crusaders certainly kept winning last Saturday, dominating Wingate on both sides of the ball and coming away with a lopsided victory to add to their resume. North Greenville used a 300-yard effort from quarterback Willy Korn, senior broadcast media, and an aggressive running game to get their offense going in a hurry.

Wright led the offense with two touchdown catches on the day, while Idris Anderson, sophomore undecided, and Marcus Wilson, sophomore biology, added scores of their own. Kyle Peck, sophomore mathematics, Harold Small, junior art, and Daniel Adderley, junior international business, each recorded touchdowns in the game.

The Crusader defense was the story in this game, however, forcing six total turnovers and five first half takeaways.

After a day where nothing could go wrong for North Greenville, head coach Jamey Chadwell said he could not be more proud of his group.

“You can now spell ‘respect,’ NGU,” said Chadwell in an interview with ngcrusaders.com. “Prior to this season, we had never beaten a South Atlantic Conference team. Now, we’ve beaten seven of the eight schools.”

Chadwell says his offense is now clicking on all cylinders and it has everything to do with his veteran quarterback.

“Willy Korn had a big time performance,” he said. “We were able to use about every offensive weapon we have today and that was a very significant victory for our football program.”

After a 2010 season that resulted in a Victory Bowl appearance, North Greenville players and coaches say they want to move on to bigger and better things. A strong performance against SAC schools has put the Crusaders in a position to reach the Division II playoffs for the first time in school history, and it has coach Chadwell on the edge of his seat.

“Our ultimate goal is still the NCAA Division II playoffs, and with this win, we’re still on track for that,” he said. “Right now, if they were to end the season today, we would be in.”

Wright, who has picked up five touchdowns in North Greenville’s last three games, says this team will reach the goals their head coach has set.

“We want to go to the Division II playoffs and we’re going to stop at nothing,” said Wright. “We get another win and we should be in.”

North Greenville will wrap up the regular season at home against Notre Dame College this Saturday. Kickoff at Younts Stadium is set for 1 p.m.