Photo courtesy of Biljana Kroll.

Having a new teacher on the NGU campus is definitely noticeable, considering how closely knit the campus life is. Biljana Kroll got noticed in the spring of 2011 when she joined the NGU faculty. She chose this school because she was looking for a job that fulfilled a greater purpose.

“I worked hard the past 10 or so years to immerse myself in learning and working in a variety of design fields,” Kroll said. “I felt I had a lot to share with younger generations; not just only graphic design skills but also skills to prepare them for the working world. The fact that I can do that in an environment where I can grow my relationship with Christ was a major plus.”

Kroll’s love for the Lord shows through her work as a professor. One of her students, Brooke Smith said,  “She is a really great professor who really obviously loves her students and genuinely wants them to do well and having that is such an encouragement.”

Kroll is originally from Macedonia, which is a small country on the Balkan Peninsula, and grew up in a town called Bitola, which is about 30 minutes from the Greek border.

Going from Macedonia to South Carolina is a big transition. North Greenville offers a similar sense of serenity compared to where she is from, a wonderful atmosphere and loving, godly people. Kroll, though, she likes the sense of community and the connection that students and teachers have through their spiritual outlooks on life.

When she was a child she always found herself interested in all art and design fields. She said she just wanted to create and draw. Her grandmother was a seamstress, so Kroll learned at an early age how to sew, which is where her interest in fashion began, which eventually led her to having an interest in drawing.

Two years before becoming a North Greenville professor, she worked as a full-time graphic designer and illustrator. She also taught at Mars Hill College where she attained her B.S. degree in Fashion and Interior Merchandising. She taught a class there that combined fashion and graphic design, which is partly why she was a good fit for the position at NGU as a Graphic Arts professor.

Kroll said, “Choosing a favorite class is like choosing your favorite child – impossible to do. I love every class I teach because together they teach students the fundamentals of art and design.”

Her goal as a professor at NGU is, “to encourage students to explore, not be afraid of solving problems, and achieve their own personal maximum level of creativity,” she said.

Outside of school, Kroll is a very outgoing and enthusiastic person. She is a vegetarian and she said she, loves veggies – roasted, steamed or raw, and has recently begun learning how to make variety of meals with phyllo dough. Phyllo dough is of Central Asian Turkish origin; crepes and pastries are on the top of her list.

She has one brother named Filip Bosevski who works as a car designer for Mazda in Germany.

Since she is from different places, speaking with her and talking to her about the things she likes can prove to be a very enlightening and fun experience.

North Greenville students may want to clear their schedules for the evening of Wednesday, April 17.

NGU will be hosting a debate on the topic “Is Christianity Good for America?”  The debate will take place at 7 p.m., in Turner Chapel and will be offered as a bonus chapel credit.

Alex McFarland

The debate will be between NGU’s own Alex McFarland and Edward Tabash, chair of the national legal committee of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

McFarland is NGU’s Director of Christian Worldview & Apologetics, a radio host, an award-winning author and former president of Southern Evangelical Seminary.  McFarland currently lives in Charlotte with his wife Angie, but the couple is planning on moving to the upstate next year to make his new position at NGU more manageable.

In addition to his work as an author and over the airwaves, McFarland is also an accomplished speaker with a passion for apologetics.  McFarland has spoken at more than 100 different colleges and 1,300 different churches, in all 50 states. He has also had speaking engagements in Canada, as well as various nations in South America, Europe and Africa.  For McFarland, debating an outspoken athiest like Tabash will be just another day at the office.

Edward Tabash

Tabash has spent much of his life working to further the atheist cause. He is a lawyer in the Los Angeles area and has argued before the Supreme court. Tabash has also been one of the official campaign speakers and debators for the presidential campaigns of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

In addition to being head  of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Tabash also leads the First Amendment Task Force for the Council for Secular Humanism. Like McFarland, Tabash is an experienced public speaker and debator.

With these two knowledgeable speakers and seasoned debaters, the upcoming debate will be an incredible event for students to experience firsthand.

S3 ROTC officer Drew Brogden trains on North Greenville's high ropes course. Photo courtesy of Drew Brogden.

North Greenville University’s ROTC program has experienced rapid growth this semester and has great opportunities for students.

This semester, ROTC officially opened its new on-campus office located underneath Hester Library right beside the Writing Center.

Drew Brogden, junior Christian studies, is an ROTC workstudy student who will be manning the office. He serves as the recruiting/retention officer for ROTC and acts as the liaison between the NGU and Furman University campuses. He believes this new office will bring advancement to the campus’ program.

“I hope that it will be the first step in getting ROTC on the North Greenville campus more recognition and more support,” said Brogden.

Although the office will not be open daily, its hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.

The ROTC’s new office isn’t the only resource available for students. Later on this month, ROTC will be hosting an event called ROTC-For-A-Day. It is a challenge that is open for all students on campus to watch and experience the everyday duties of an ROTC member.

“ROTC-For-A-Day is for those who have always wondered what it takes to be an Army ROTC Cadet,” said Brogden.

The event allows students to participate in activities such as Physical Training, Leadership & Tactics Training, Practical Leadership & Tactics Training or a combination of any of the three.

“Anyone and everyone is encouraged to come out and see if they have what it takes to be an ROTC cadet with no obligations,” said Brogden, “Who knows, they might like it.”

To learn more about ROTC, contact Drew Brogden at arbrogden@ngu.edu. or scan the QR code below.

DEDICATION CEREMONY

North Greenville will hold a ceremony to dedicate new buildings on campus, such as the Craft-Hemphill center and the Prayer Chapel, as well as other new additions to university property. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 26, at 11 a.m.

RELAY FOR LIFE PAGEANT

The Miss Relay for Life pageant of Travelers Rest will be held on campus as part of the North Greenville Relay for Life event. The Travelers Rest pageant will be held in Turner Chapel on April 21 at 4 p.m., and the NGU pageant will be held later in the evening at 7:30 p.m.

FINAL CULTURAL EVENTS OF THE SEMESTER

• 4/4 at 7 p.m. Alberto and Fabio Parrini Recital in Hamlin
• 4/9 at 7 p.m. Flute Choir Concert in Hamlin
• 4/10 at 7 p.m. Brass Ensemble in Hamlin
• 4/11 at 7 p.m. Katie Mahan Piano Recital in Hamlin
• 4/16 at 7 p.m. Concert Band Concert in Turner
• 4/19 at 5 p.m. Chamber Evening-Strings & Singers in Hamlin
• 4/23 at 7 p.m. Jazz Band in Turner
• 4/24 at 7 p.m. Orchestra Concert in Turner

National

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS CANCELLED AT STATE UNIVERSITY

State University of New York at Stony Brook decided to stop cancelling classes for certain Jewish and Christian holidays. The university said this decision was made to prevent some religions from being treated more favorably than others. Charles Robbins, vice provost for undergraduate education, said, “As a secular university, as a state-funded university our priority must be to maximize instructional opportunities for our students.” The Jewish and Christian holidays that will be affected are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Holy Week and Good Friday.

Paddy O’Conor
Staff Writer

Susan Kahl, associate professor of sociology, prepares a dish of fried rice for the Faith, Race, and Culture-sponsored event. Photo courtesy of Carlie McKinley

When the topic of race comes up, most think of white and black and tend to forget about the multitudes of cultures that exist in the world.

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. To celebrate this month, the North Greenville University Faith, Race and Culture committee put together an event called “Crossing Cultures: East Meets West.”

The event, held at 5:30 p.m. in Hayes Ministry Center, celebrated the accomplishments of Asians in the United States and their history.

NGU associate professor of English Hiewon Shin directed  the event, which included Asian foods and a viewing of select scenes from the film The Joy Luck Club.

Shin said, “The campus does not have many Asian-Americans. I wanted people to be aware of our existence and bring awareness to the Asian-American culture.”

One of the issues Shin wanted to address is the cultural differences between Asian-Americans and Caucasians.  Shin said that there are stereotypes about every culture and Asian-Americans are no different.  She noted the emphasis that Asian-Americans put on academic excellence is a stereotype which has emerged from that cultural difference.

Besides rice, the event features other Asian-influenced specialties like egg rolls. Photo courtesy of Carlie McKinley

Those who attended the event were encouraged to participate in the Q&A session afterward. Crossing Cultures was the third major event this semester for the Faith, Race and Culture committee, following a debate on racial labels and a Q&A portion on adoption which were featured last month.

For more information on the Crossing Cultures event or the Faith, Race and Culture committee, contact Hiewon Shin  or history department chair Paul Thompson.

Frank Turek spoke at the first chapel service for Christian Worldview week 2012.

“We need to understand what we believe and why,” said Alex McFarland, director of Christian Worldview, at North Greenville University’s Christian Worldview Week which was held March 19 – 21. Throughout the week, NGU’s Christian worldview department gave students the opportunity to learn from renowned apologists how to understand and defend their faith.

Speakers Frank Turek, Clayton King and Alex McFarland were invited to speak in Chapel and explain how to create a sound argument for Christianity, a topic known as apologetics. In addition to the chapel services, Christian Worldview Week featured three breakout sessions in the new Craft-Hemphill Center for Evangelism, Missions and Christian Worldview. There were six lecturers to choose from and around 20 attendees.

Tony Beam, vice president for Student Services and Christian Worldview, explained the reason for low attendance might have been lack of student availability, competition for their attention as well as a lack of advertising and information on the subjects. Beam pointed out the other events were in the evening when nothing else was going on, in addition to being bonus chapels.  Beam added, “We’ll make it more public next year.”

Beam stated the purpose of Christian Worldview Week when he said, “We wanted students to learn new ways to defend their Christian faith.” Beam added the intention included reaching out to those who have not yet met Christ and strengthening the walk of those who had.

Beam explained that McFarland and Turek were chosen as speakers because they are both excellent apologists that could reach college-aged students. Beam described Clayton King as a strong evangelist, saying, “Clayton tied apologetics and evangelism together.”

Kaitlyn Nealis, freshman undecided, said, “I think it’s important to know how to defend your faith.  I liked how [Frank Turek] showed the facts but Clayton King connected the intellectual part of us with the spiritual side of us. [King] spoke to Christians. People need more than facts; they need love and attention.”

How much work goes into putting on a Christian Worldview Week? “A ton: we have to go get sponsors and exhibitors, arrangements for food, a greenroom for the speakers to wait in, and we have to promote it. It’s advertising, getting posters up, announcing it in chapel… getting the word out,” Beam said.

“It’s a lot of coordination. Chrysta Johnson does an excellent job. She learned the market and how to promote and also has a God-given talent for organization,” Beam said. He also thanked Johnson’s workstudy students Emily Bain, senior interdisciplinary studies, and Hannah Jackson, senior mass communication.

Christian Worldview Week was a sponsored event. Beam explained that the sponsors had to be found. “We look for people and organizations interested in apologetics. We call them and ask if they would like to have a booth to promote their product. We go to other conferences, looking for other venders. We pick up cards and call people.”

This event had 10 sponsors and exhibitors: Logos Bible Software, Voice of the Martyrs, Palmetto Family Council, Baptist Bible College, Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of SCBA, Billy Graham Evangelism Association, South Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, The Vibe, Life Answers Team and Mentor Leaders.

According to the students, the invited band was perfect for Christian Worldview Week. Kenzie Madson, freshman health promotion and wellness, said of the lead singer, Chase Callahan, “His passion for Christ just stood out.”

Alex McFarland.

McFarland stated he was pleased with the overall outcome of Christian Worldview Week, especially the fact that 20 people claimed to have accepted Christ. McFarland said, “We had a great mixture of intellectual content and spiritual challenge.”

Cayce Hopper, sophomore biology, said, “It helped me to see that reaching out needs to be more of a priority in my life.”

Anna Moseley, freshman broadcast, said, “He [Clayton King] let it be controversial, nothing less than the gospel….I wish we had more of those opportunities in chapel – not preaching, but how to defend your faith.”

BIG BIRTHDAY ON CAMPUS

President Jimmy Epting’s birthday is this Sunday, April 1.

UPCOMING ETIQUETTE DINNER

North Greenville’s annual etiquette dinner will be held Monday, April 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. Students must register and pay the $10 fee for this event by Monday, April 6 at the Office of Career Services. This dinner calls for cultural event dress and is a requirement for most senior seminars.

MARCH SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES

There are several upcoming scholarships deadlines coming up. Download the applications from www.ngu.edu, look under the “Students” section and find the “Financial Aid” area. Some of the scholarships include:

• Friday, March 30- NGU Alumni Scholarship
• Friday, March 30- ACT II Scholarship
• Sunday, April 1- Champions for Christ (Deadline for Summer School)- Private Scholarship
• Monday, April 2- NGU First Year Experience Mentor Scholarship

NGU BUDGET

The Board of Trustees has approved a new budget for the 2012-2013 school year. On Jan. 19 the $4.5 million budget was set with a 4 percent increase in tuition, room and board. According to Randall Pannell, Vice President of Academic Affairs, tuition is the primary source of income.

FINAL TWO MOE’S NIGHTS

The Mountain Laurel is hosting its last two Moe’s Nights on March 28 and April 11. The benefit lasts from 4 to 9 p.m. All proceeds benefit The Mountain Laurel 2012 issue, which will be available April 13.

CREATION KIDZ AUDITIONS

Creation Kidz will be holding auditions for six TV episodes in the Mass Communication TV studio on March 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eight roles need to be filled, five male and three female. Those auditioning will need to emulate child-like behavior, sing, dance and portray a bright smile. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the Mass Communication bulletin board.

SUMMER SCHOOL INFORMATION

Students planning on enrolling in summer courses are encouraged by the financial aid office to complete their 2011 taxes as soon as possible. This tax information must be completed by students and their parents before the FAFSA can be filed or financial aid can be requested. In most cases, loans are the only financial aid available for summer semesters.

North Greenville University will be offering a criminal justice concentration in the fall of 2013. The criminal justice program, to be taught by new professor Angelia Turner, will be headed up by Gregory Bruce—the Chairman of NGU’s interdisciplinary studies program. Turner will definitely bring a great deal of much-needed help in the program’s development to Bruce as well.

The criminal justice concentration will function as a component of the interdisciplinary studies program. Interested students would enter into the interdisciplinary program and include Criminal Justice as one of their components of study.

With an ever-changing economy and job market landscape, demand is increasing for versatility from today’s graduates. “We are developing the criminal justice program from a holistic perspective within the interdisciplinary studies area, which gives it the critical liberal arts foundation necessary for a well-rounded collegiate education,” said Turner.

This program will offer an avenue for students looking to enter into a multi-vocational industry.

Turner received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina and brings 20 years of work in the field to this project. Her experiences include working with the Bureau of Prisons, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, various state and local offices on developing training for personnel, providing curriculum and researching and providing data and recommendations. Turner’s goal is to provide students with a complete, comprehensive education which will equip and prepare them to enter into any area of specialization within criminal justice.

When asked why she chose North Greenville, Turner said, “I did some research on the school because I wanted to work in an environment that is Christianity-based where I felt like I was part of a family and not just a person who came to work. I wanted to be in an environment that embraced your spirituality, your belief, and your faith and held that as one of its top priorities.

“I also wanted to work in a school where your work as a scholar is further developed and appreciated. North Greenville was high on my priority list. I wanted to have a chance to be a part of this great team.”

In spite of recent unstable economic conditions, criminal justice has continued to be a fruitful field. Many graduates, depending upon their credentials, can go on to be corrections officers or  work in law enforcement, as well as countless other areas that will interest those who will enter the program.

As the criminal justice program grows, it will also be able to increase its faculty. There is already a great deal of interest as word of the program is spreading. This will be another addition to the ever-growing and always expanding vision and focus of the North Greenville mission. Look for this program to take off this fall.

Bill Stuermann, chair of the Modern Linguistics department, is looking for more students who are interested in taking foreign language courses outside of  the traditional German, French and Spanish options. The alternative courses being offered are medical Spanish, American Sign Language, Hindi and Arabic.

Medical Spanish, which is being offered this summer, involves a trip to Honduras with a surgical team from the Baptist Medical and Dental Missions International. Students who take this course and are unable to go to Honduras will spend the week working with a medical mission team locally. This course is highly reccommended for pre-med students because it will help sharpen their resumes when applying for medical school.

Stuermann is also hoping to expand the American Sign Language program. “The purpose is to make this course available for students who want to go into deaf ministry, fine art students who want to interpret at cultural events and education students who want to have an advantage in the job market,” said Stuermann.

Hoping the program will eventually take off for missionary work in India, Stuermann is looking for more students to enroll in the Hindi language course.

Medical Spanish and Arabic are being offered this summer. Students who take the Arabic course will be studying the language in Ammon, Jordan, at a school sponsored by the Consortium for Global Education, a faith-based organization to which NGU belongs. Students can earn up to 12 credit hours for the foreign language.

Courses in Arabic will also be offered during the fall 2012 and spring 2013 semester to consolidate the student’s knowledge of the language.

If you are interested in any of these linguistic courses, contact Bill Stuermann at bill.stuermann@ngu.edu.  Keep in mind, the job market is tight and taking one of these courses may add an edge to your resume.

Team members showed God's love by playing with children from the "barrios" or slums while their parents visited the doctor. Photo courtesy of Will Belue.

North Greenville University students made an impact in Nicaragua over Spring Break.  An NGU L.I.G.H.T. team made up of five students and one professor spent their break working with natives in the third world country.

The L.I.G.H.T. team worked with a team from a Spartanburg church volunteering with Chosen Children Ministries, building local’s houses and improving existing houses and ministering to children.  The Spartanburg team ran a free clinic for the nationals, which gave NGU students the opportunity to spend time with the children of those waiting for medical attention.

Kortnee Stelly, sophomore intercultural studies, explained her part in the team’s ministry to Nicaraguan children. “We worked in barrios [slums] almost every day,” Stelly said. “I played and entertained tons of children while their parents were being cared for by the medical team. Man, did those children just want attention. I was constantly overwhelmed by tons of arms around me and faces smiling at me,” she said. “Cate Boulet, Will Belue and I painted their faces, did mini Bible schools, danced the chicken dance and ran the dusty barrio streets with them. We had a blast.”

Kortnee Stelly loved spending time with the Nicauragaun children. Photo courtesy of Will Belue.

Stelly said that out of all the work the team did in Nicaragua, sharing the Bible stories and the love of Christ with the small Nicaraguan children was her favorite memory from the trip.

“The best part was running through the barrio streets with children laughing and holding my hands,” Stelly said. “I could live in the barrios and love on those children day in and day out and bring joy and peace to them through Christ.”

Levi Smith, senior youth ministry, said, “The best thing about the trip was living a life for a week without a phone or without Facebook where the only thing that mattered was glorifying God.”

The team was originally a much larger group with a different destination.

Smith explained, “There were actually 20 of us and we were originally going to go to Brazil.  But the entrance fee got raised and we ended up switching to Nicaragua and lost most of the team on the way.”

Though their numbers were down, the team saw the opportunity for six people to share God’s love as a blessing.  Smith said, “It was a great experience.  I became really close to the other kids from NGU.  They were all great people.”

Tony Merida, along with his son Joshua, shares his story at the Q&A session. Photo by Allie Outhouse/The Skyliner.

The Faith, Race and Culture committee hosted a question and answer session on the topic of adoption with Tony Merida and Dan Cruuen on March 12. Both speakers have adopted biracial children, but they each came to the Q&A with experience in completely different areas of adoption.

Merida has a total of five children, all of whom are from two different international countries, while Cruuen has two domestic ethnic sons and a biological daughter. Both Cruuen and Merida agree that there seems to be an overall lack of racism in their younger biracial families, although the world may force racism on these adoptees later in life.

Cruuen said, “We have to be observant of how the world sees them [our children.]”

In regard to adopting four children from Ukraine and a fifth child from Ethiopia, Merida said, “I couldn’t have chosen countries further apart. Ukraine is a racist country…but my kids really don’t see race at this time.”

Merida mentioned that watching a family form as racial barriers are broken is like seeing a glimpse of God’s grace. Cruuen said “My kids adapt to diversity a lot faster than I can because they live in a diverse ethnic home.”

When the topic of favoritism towards one child or culture over another was mentioned, Cruuen talked about his identical joy-filled reactions upon the birth of his biological daughter and the arrival of his adopted sons.

Likewise, Merida related a discussion he had with his oldest son concerning the athleticism of his younger Ethiopian son. Merida had pointed out that both of his children were equally loved even though they were created differently.

Merida said, “You have to get your perspective from the gospel… Jesus came to bring many sons to Him. As Christians, that is our primary identity in any parentship…Adoption is a beautiful thing. It’s the world’s Plan B, but it’s God’s Plan A. That’s why we can’t take cues from the culture.”

Some hard questions were also raised concerning what ought to be done if an adoptee has a sense of displacement. Cruuen said “Every case is different.”  While Merida said, “I’m going to keep going back to that identity in God. Our dominant concern is that they know Christ. We want to send out little missionaries.”

Many of the students who attended seemed to have a genuine desire to adopt. One participant, Stephanie Nease, senior intercultural studies, even mentioned her desire to adopt instead of having biological children. Toni Marie Wilson, senior psychology, said, “I’ve always wanted to adopt. Oliver Twist changed my life.”

If someone is interested in adopting, Merida said the best advice is to begin planning now. The first question that should be asked is where is the child coming from? That decision will then shed light on which agencies will be able to offer aid in obtaining a new son or daughter based primarily on the prearranged budget.

Cruuen mentioned that domestic adoptions usually cost between $15 and 25,000, but he had heard of some international adoptions running up to $50,000 because of all the traveling.

Merida said the most economical option available is likely fostering to adopt. Merida also suggested getting involved in local orphan care programs. There are always ways to assist through volunteering, and organizations would love the assistance.

SUMMER AND FALL REGISTRATION

North Greenville students can begin registration for Summer ‘12 and Fall ‘12 this week. Seniors may register on or after March 19, juniors on or after March 21, sophomores on or after March 23, and freshmen on or after March 27. To register, students must make an appointment with their advisors and bring a tentative schedule to that meeting. The course offerings list is available on Student Portal.

CREATION KIDZ AUDITIONS

Creation Kidz will be holding auditions for six TV episodes in the Mass Communication TV studio on March 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eight roles need to be filled, five male and three female. Those auditioning will need to emulate child-like behavior, sing, dance and portray a bright smile. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the Mass Communication bulletin board.

WRITE2IGNITE CONFERENCE

The Write2Ignite conference will take place on NGU’s campus March 16-17. Students who attend will be able to recieve instruction from professional writers, editors, and literary agents about writing, editing, revising, marketing and contacting agents and publishers. The cost is $50 for students.

In honor of Black History Month, the Faith, Race and Culture Committee presented a debate between Paul Thompson, department of history and political science chair, and Curtis Horn, associate professor in the college of Christian studies, about the use of racial labels. The debate was sure to spark passion and questions as it dealt with a controversial issue.

“I believe it was needed and this was a huge step in moving forward,” said Cortani Mims, senior business administration.

The program began with a viewing of a segment of Race: The Power of an Illusion, which showed how the housing market contributes to racial labeling.

Horn then began the debate by asking, “What should we do as Christians about the issue?”

Thompson stated that the church is not leading in the area of breaking down racial barriers. As Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “It is appalling that the most segregated hour in Christian America is 11 o’clock on Sunday morning.”

Thompson also stated that we will never truly reach King’s vision, which is for people to be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. Horn then questioned Thompson, asking, “Should we surrender to the fact that Dr. King’s dream will never be reached?”

As the debate continued, the focus shifted on how racial barriers can be crossed. Opinions and personal experiences of students and faculty in attendance were voiced.

The program ended with a session of prayer that centered on bringing about change and helping everyone to see others as God does. Students were excited about the outcome of the program.

“I see it as the analogy of a rocket ship. This helps light the fire, but now, are we going to take off, or sit back in mission control acting as if we’re doing something?” said Nathan White, senior broadcast media.

Freddi Martino, sophomore business administration, said, “It gave people who think alike the chance to come in an environment where everyone is trying to achieve the same goal. We have some people that may try to shy away from it, knowing it exists. It feels good to have people who know it exists being able to discuss it.”

Bringing about change on such a complex matter as racism must begin with each individual.

Would you like some extra money to put towards your college education?

Scholarships could be the answer to your financial dilemmas, easing the burden of paying for tuition and other expenses.

At North Greenville University, where more than $30 million in financial aid is awarded each year, there are many resources and tools available to students seeking financial aid for the 2012-2013 school year.

Admissions counselors, like NGU’s Andy Ray,  are a valuable resource for students during their search for scholarships. Ray’s main focus is the Financial Aid section of the NGU website, www.ngu.edu.  The website has numerous links to various school-sponsored scholarships, information on both state and federal aid, and scholarships from organizations not affiliated with the university.

Ray urged students to browse all three sections and see what scholarships they might be eligible for, then select several that look promising and follow the steps to complete each one.  Popular scholarships include the Founder’s Scholarship, President’s Scholarship and the Dean’s Scholarship.

Ray said students should not be discouraged if they are not considered “the best student” or do not maintain a 4.0 GPA.

Ray said, “Start looking for the scholarships early.  Don’t let the deadlines go past.  Let’s say you’re a great student but you’re not at the top of your class.  I would recommend looking for scholarships that either have very long applications or require an essay, because that means that scholarship committee is looking at things other than your academic standing.”

He pointed out a tool on NGU’s website called the Net Price Calculator that helps students figure out what financial aid they are eligible for, based on questions similar to the FAFSA.  This device outlines the out-of-pocket expenses that may be involved in attending college, which is useful for both students and parents.

Also included in the Financial Aid section are links to nine reputable scholarship databases, such as scholarships.com, fastweb.com, and scholarshipsandgrants.us.

Ray said, “There are literally more than 100 scholarship databases out there, but these are the ones that we trust to give you the best information.”

One of these databases is www.scholarships.com, where, after answering simple questions regarding both financial and personal situations, students are able to view the scholarships available to them.  Some require essays either long or short, while others are random drawings or sweepstakes requiring no essay at all.

For instance, the Zinch Weekly “Three Sentence Essay” Scholarship, worth $1000, is exactly what it sounds like.  Applicants answer a question in 280 characters or less, enter a few pieces of information (name, college information, etc.), and contact information to be used in the event of winning.  As its title suggests, this is a weekly opportunity, so students do not have to rush to meet a deadline, there are multiple opportunities to win.

A scholarship that does not require an essay, or much work at all, is the College Prowler $2,000 No Essay Scholarship.  This opportunity is open to all students, current and prospective, and its monthly winner is announced via the company’s Facebook page.  All an applicant must do is submit both college and contact information.  Only one entry is allowed per person per month, but applicants may try again each month.

There are many more scholarship databases and opportunities than listed here or on the NGU Financial Aid website.  Different databases will yield different results based on the criteria and information required, and each student’s eligability will vary. Students are encouraged to do their own research and take advantage of the opportunities available because every penny counts.

On Feb. 29, North Korea agreed to freeze its nuclear weapons tests and allow international weapons inspectors into the country, reversing years of tradition under Kim Jong II, former leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea.

According to The New York Times, the Obama administration called the announcement by Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s new supreme leader, “important, if limited.”  The move shows that Kim Jong-un is, at the very least, willing to consider negotiations with the West.  In an area tense with military activity, this news is welcomed.

The Korean War has technically not ended; only a cease fire has been ordered.  American soldiers still patrol the no-man’s land between the countries. America has also agreed to send food to the deeply impoverished North Korean people, as part of the agreement to suspend nuclear weapons testing.

Mark Roeder, associate professor of political science at North Greenville University, commented on what may have been the reasoning behind the decision.

“Is it important for me to have a nuclear weapon that I will never use considering that I have no definite allies to back me up?” asked Roeder. “China wants to be a world player, so they would not help if I launched a nuclear weapon.  Or is it more important for me to watch after my people and get them the food they need?”

Roeder said we need to figure out what Kim Jong-un is after since we do not know a lot about North Korea.

For example, on March 4, Kim Jong-un visited the border of South Korea and reportedly stated, “If there is a fight erupting, our military and people will have the enemy kneeling before us to sign not a truce this time but a document of surrender.”

Kim’s father, Kim Jong II, was considered by many to be  mentally unstable. Time will only tell if Kim Jong-un is any better.

Joy Brown, Jimmy Epting and Steve Large sign an agreement for the production of Creation Kidz, a collaboration between Joy Brown and North Greenville University. Photo by Erin Chandler.

On Feb. 23, a signing ceremony was held for the partnership between Creation Kidz and North Greenville University.

The agreement entitles the NGU art, mass communication and theatre departments to have the opportunity to provide the creative talents to bring Creation Kidz to life through illustrations, music, marketing, a stage play and a television series.

NGU will receive a portion of the proceeds from the productions. NGU president Jimmy Epting believes that “it will get students involved and help them build their resumes and portfolios.”

Epting, author Joy Brown and her husband, Wayne, along with executive producer Steve Large and his wife Reneé, were able to be a part of this special signing ceremony.

Creation Kidz began as a Bible study written for a women’s class at church. It inspired much more than Brown could have asked for.

“It was never meant to be a book,” Brown said, laughingly.

Its publication in 2006 led to a few years of brainstorming, which led to the idea of writing a series of children’s books called Creation Kidz.

Creation Kidz interact within the seven days of Creation, rather than just being told the story. The goal is to insert readers into each day of the story of Creation, to let them interact with each new element as it is created and to acknowledge God’s presence in everything the world has to offer.

The characters are borne out of Galations 5:22 and Proverbs 6:16, with four protagonists, three antagonists and a mediator who is a Christ-like figure. With the overall theme of happiness, health and holiness, the intention is to teach creationism and encourage children to make wise decisions in those three areas.

In wanting to fulfill the vision of a children’s book and DVD series, there was only one association with whom Brown felt comfortable in working together.

“North Greenville University was specifically placed on my heart,” she says. “For the concept to come and to involve college students, it’s shown me just how amazing God is.”

Brown met with Epting and the school board on June 2 about making the ideas of Creation Kidz come together. Tony Beam, vice president of student services, agreed to be the campus coordinator between NGU and Creation Kidz.

According to Large, the first children’s book of the seven- book series is written and has been distributed to several NGU department chairs. The first TV pilot should be finished by the end of the spring semester.

Expecting an enjoyable journey, Brown said, “It is an exciting time to reach as many people as we can with the Gospel.”

The executive team hopes the finished product will be completed at the end of the 2013 semester. They are honored to be working alongside Epting, Beam,  and the NGU art, mass communication and theatre faculty.

ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE TRAINING

Training will be offered for anyone interested in learning how to teach English as a Second Language.  Mary Hensley will facilitate the training, which will be held Thursday and Friday March 15 from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. All sessions must be attended for the training to be complete. The cost is the purchase of a textbook, Teaching English Language Learners the Good News.  For more information, contact Mr. Tim Hendrix at Tim.Hendrix@ngu.edu.

Local

TAYLORS WOMAN KILLED

A woman in Taylors was shot multiple times in the head before her house was engulfed in flames.  The fire was reported early Tuesday morning, and the body of victim Alice Barber Owenby was discovered.  The case is being investigated as a homicide, and anyone with information concerning it is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.

National

SCHOOL SHOOTING IN OHIO

Four students were injured and one was killed after a gunman opened fire at Chardon High School in Ohio on Monday.  T.J. Lane, who is also a student at the school, had targeted specific people to shoot, some of whom he was friends with, according to other students.  Lane was described by his fellow students as a nice person, making the act he committed even more shocking.

MISSING SOLDIER’S REMAINS FOUND

The remains of the last missing soldier from the turmoil in Iraq has been identified.  U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ahmed K. Altaie had been missing since his kidnapping in October of 2006.  A Shiite website featured a video of a kidnapped man who was identified as Altaie by his uncle.

Hats in the Student Center and a Looney Tunes Homecoming were a couple of the ideas voiced by the  students who made suggestions at the Resident Roundtable meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Fifteen specific topics were discussed at the roundtable, and most dealt with one of the four main subjects related to North Greenville University: campus safety and maintenance, areas to hang out and exercise, comfort issues and student activities.

When students contribute ideas at the roundtable, student services listens and responds to the information found to the best of its ability.

Student Council President Bradley Barnes, senior biology, said, “What I would like to be able to share is my voice alongside fellow students with the intentions of improving overall student life and enhancing community on and off campus.”

Billy Watson, director of student services, said students come to have a voice.

“We may not always implement all of their ideas but we can try to answer why we can’t and look for ways to help,” Watson said. When asked how he is going to deal with these issues, Watson explained that student’s issues are not always under the jurisdiction of student services, so student services will go to other departments and let them know what students think.

There are some things that NGU’s Student Services can change. One of the many potential improvements might be correcting the squeaky swings around campus. Ansley Boltin, senior biology, and Hanah Hall, junior art, both agree that the squeaking is “pretty bad.” Watson agreed and said as the weather continues to warm up, more people will want to use the swings.

A more serious topic mentioned was the safety of the fire alarms in Roberson, a female resident hall. Callie Luckadoo, sophomore accounting, said the Roberson fire alarms went off 11 times last semester, six times so far this semester. She explained the disturbances were occasionally caused by the alarms’ sensitivity to hairspray and steam.

However, Luckadoo added that most of the alarms happen after midnight, when most of the girls are asleep. Luckadoo said that on Friday of exams last semester, it went off at 1 a.m. and then again at 1:30 a.m. Luckadoo said she was not happy because she had three exams that day. Her report also called into question the safety of allowing the system to remain as it is.

Luckadoo said, “Some girls are starting to take their time to get out, which could be dangerous because we wouldn’t know if it was real.”   Watson assured her that he would speak to maintenance about the occurrences.

There are some things that student services want to change but are not able to. One roundtable participant asked what could be done about the sewage smell that permeates the campus on occasion. Watson said, “It is a concern up to the highest of administration.”

Watson then explained that a nearby golf course owns the sewage lines. NGU’s administration has talked to the Cherokee Valley Golf Course’s executives and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, he said. Channel 7 News also did a story on it.

Will Broadus, senior interdisciplinary studies, suggested circulating a petition among the students and faculty. “Two thousand names would have to do something,” Broadus said.  Although the assembly agreed, nothing was made official.

Student Services also wants to provide students with activities to enhance the overall student satisfaction with their NGU experience, such as Homecoming Week. Possible homecoming themes were discussed for the fall.

Some suggestions were pirates, a tornado, a hurricane, Captain Planet and Looney Tunes. Many of the students in attendance enjoyed the concept of a Looney Tunes homecoming and narrowed the theme to the Tasmanian Devil. Watson suggested talking to more students before making an official decision.

After the meeting, Watson said, “The more participants come, the better ideas we have.” Students are encouraged to take advantage of the next opportunity to make a difference at NGU by contributing to the Resident Round Table on March 20 at 9 p.m. This session will focus on meeting the new activities coordinator and discussing student activities for the fall semester.

NEW CHEMISTRY COURSE

General education course Chemistry for Life is to be offered and will allow students to have more options for science requirements.

UPCOMING SPRING BREAK

Spring break starts March 2, and students are required to be off campus before 4 p.m. that day. The resident halls will re-open at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

Local

TR HIGH REQUIRES DRIVING COURSE

Next school year, students at Travelers Rest High School will not be allowed to park on campus unless they have completed the “Alive at 25” defensive driving course.  This class is intended to address dangerous driving behaviors, and the statewide program has resulted in success, deaths of drivers between 15-24 dropping 38 percent.

GREENVILLE REC DEPT. HIRING SOON

The Greenville Recreation Department is seeking seasonal employees to work at its four aquatic centers.  Job opportunities range from lifeguards to managers and admissions staff.  The Westside Aquatic Center will be offering lifeguard courses beginning March 13.  Anyone interested in applying can visit www.greenvillerec.com or call 679-SWIM.

World

DINGO CASE RE-OPENED

Thirty-two years after baby Azaria Chamberlain disappeared from her family’s tent in the Australian Outback, authorities are reopening the case.  It is uncertain if a wild dingo killed the baby or if her mother (who infamously screamed, “The dingo’s got my baby!”) is to blame.  Lindy Chamberlain was originally convicted of her daughter’s death, but the charges were overturned after new evidence surfaced.  This Friday will mark the fourth time this case has been opened.

Daniel McGaha, senior Christian studies, and Brittany Lybrand, senior elementary education, have fun at the residential hall event. Photo courtesy of Allie Outhouse

Students were invited to some of the female residential halls on Feb. 13. The event allowed students to spend time together in the halls.

Activities included eating snacks, watching movies and playing games. Some residences were decorated with hearts in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

North Greenville University desires to remain an institution where students receive a quality education in a biblically sound environment.

NGU has been selling property, which has been donated to the university, to raise funds to better equip the students, while also trying to be a blessing to someone else.  Properties being sold include an eight bedroom house on The Cliffs at Glassy, acres of land in Henderson County, N.C., lots at Cherokee Valley in Travelers Rest, and more.

Prices start at $1,495 for property. Joe Hayes Jr., executive director of development, has been doing his best to advertise the properties with integrity.

“We honor what the donor gave it for. When we sell it, that’s what it goes to,” said Hayes.

For instance, if NGU were given property to be used for a park, that is what it will be sold as. Proceeds from the properties will go toward projects like the expansion and renewal of the Crain Science building, the soon to be built athletic chapel arena, and athletic and academic scholarships.

Property has been purchased from the institution over the years, but due to the economic downturn, there have been few recent purchases.

In spite of this, Hayes continues to work diligently to sell the properties.

For more information regarding what properties are being sold and costs, contact Joe Hayes Jr. by phone at (864) 895-1367 or by email jhayes@ngu.edu.

As the primary election continues, voters need to ask three main questions before deciding on a candidate: Who can defeat President Obama?  Who is the most principled candidate?  Who do I most agree with?

When deciding on a candidate to support, voters need to know where each one stands. The current top three Republican candidates in the polls are former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

Santorum seems to be the “values voter” candidate in this race and is currently at the top of the polls.

According to Mark Roeder, North Greenville University assistant professor of political science, this quality can be both a strength and a weakness.

Santorum’s Roman Catholic values make it clear that he is a social conservative; however, the extent of his socially conservative views may alienate independent voters who are more socially moderate.

Santorum’s fiscal credentials have been called into question. He has unapologetically earmarked bills to bring money to Pennsylvania.

“Some can argue that this shows that he was doing what he was elected to do, which is to represent the state of Pennsylvania,” said Roeder.  “However, there is some worry that he will continue to be a big spender if he is elected president.”

When it comes to the income tax, Santorum’s plan would include only two income tax rates, 10 percent and 28 percent.  He would eliminate the estate tax.

In regards to Iran, Santorum would allow the classification of Iran’s nuclear scientists as enemy combatants.  He would also press for inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities.

Coming in second in the current polls is Romney. The former Massachusetts governor has been declared the strongest candidate since early in the race.

Reggie Ecarma, NGU professor of mass communication, says that one of Romney’s strengths is that the D.C. insiders consider him to be a safe candidate, which will allow him to receive more endorsements.

Roeder believes Romney’s biggest strength is that he is known as the “establishment” candidate.

Another one of Romney’s political assets is his experience.  He has run for president before, so he knows how to manage a campaign.  He also has executive experience, both as a governor and as the CEO of Bain Capital.

His time as the governor of Massachusetts may make it hard for him to convince conservatives that he is a true conservative. He was elected a Republican in a very liberal state and made various decisions that are not considered conservative, including his statewide healthcare plan.

As for his stance on the economy, when it comes to the income tax, Romney wants to keep the rates as they are right now.  He does, however, want to lower corporate tax rates and abolish the estate tax.  Some of his foreign policy decisions would be to maintain a strong naval presence in the Pacific and a strict anti-nuclear weapons policy on Iran.

Third right now in the race is Gingrich, the other conservative ideas candidate for 2012.

Roeder thinks Gingrich’s biggest asset is also his Achilles heel:  He is a career politician.  Gingrich knows how Washington works.  At the same time, the public’s mistrust of politicians could hurt him.  On the plus side, Gingrich has gained some leadership experience from his time as Speaker of the House. Gingrich is not afraid to speak his mind, which will help and hurt him.

Another problem with Gingrich is that he seems to be unable to make bipartisan compromise.  He refused to compromise with President Clinton, and this decision resulted in a government shutdown and eventually to the loss of Gingrich’s job as Speaker.  Also, Gingrich has been accused of being too idealistic.

An anonymous former Gingrich colleague was quoted in The New York Times, “[Gingrich] is absolutely brilliant.  He has 100 ideas a day. 97 [of them] are good; the other three will blow up the world.”

On taxes, Gingrich wants to move to an optional flat tax of 15 percent for everybody above the poverty line.  On Iran, he shares Santorum’s views.

To hear more of the candidates’ views, watch the next presidential debate Feb. 22 on CNN at 8 p.m.

NGU RECEIVES NEW BUS

The Udean Burke family has recently donated a 56-passenger tour bus to North Greenville. This new bus, the largest owned by the university, will be used to transport students for athletic events and other activities throughtout the year.

Local

EXPLODING METEOR IN THE UPSTATE?

Some upstate residents were awakened at 1:50 a.m. on Monday by a boom and flash of light in the sky.  Although the National Weather Service is not certain of the cause of this occurrence, it speculates that an exploding meteor is responsible.

THE CLIFFS FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY

The Cliffs, the popular golfing communities in the Upstate, have filed for bankruptcy.  Their financial woes are due to the housing market crisis.  While The Cliffs will remain a ritzy community for golfers, they will be taken over by the Texas-based Carlyle Group.

National

STATES TO EMPHASIZE READING LEVELS

Children who are not up to par on their grade’s reading level may face the prospect of being held back.  Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and Tennessee are ruminating over the pros and cons of this initiative.  Studies have shown that third grade students who do not meet reading standards are more likely to drop out of school at a later time.

‘UNDER GOD’ UNDER TRIAL

A Massachusetts family is asking a judge to remove the phrase “Under God” from the pledge of allegiance.  The atheist family claims that the words make their children feel “marginalized,” citing their state’s constitutional right of “equal protection.”  The family, who has chosen to be referred to as the “Does,” will have their day in court on Monday, in the trial of Doe vs. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District.

During Christmas break, North Greenville University installed a gate in Crusader Court. The gate was built to secure the maintenance area, which holds a great deal of expensive equipment, from future burglaries. Although the gate was established with good intentions, it has created some controversy.

Tony Beam, vice president of student services and director of the Christian worldview center, believes building the gate was a great decision.

“Break-ins happened during breaks,” said Beam. However, he added that since the gate has been installed,  no break-ins have occurred. He said some students see the gate as a problem. “It’s a change, it’s different,” said Beam.

The gate is locked for four hours from 6 a.m. until 2 a.m. In case of an emergency, Greenville County’s fire department and emergency medical service have been given a key to the gate. If students need to leave Crusader Court during hours the gate is locked, they can call campus security to unlock it.

Despite its purpose as a safety measure, some students believe the gate is unnecessary. They see it as a waste of time, creating a hassle for campus security officers as it pulls them away from their duties.

Students have created a petition for the removal of the gates, which has been signed by 53 people. One student said, “In the NGU Enlightener, it states though there is a curfew, students are free to come and go as they please. How can we come and go if there is a gate locking us in Crusader?” Other students and residents of Crusader Court had no knowledge of the gate.

“We’re not trying to make things hard, we’re trying to make it secure as possible, while least inconveniencing the students,” said Beam.

The gate may not be the final solution to secure Crusader Court.

“We’re still evaluating it. We’re looking at options,” said Beam. For the time being the gate is something that students will have to adjust to.

“One out of every four women will have an abortion by age 40. Our primary purpose is to spread the gospel with those women,” sad Tami Howell, director of Greer’s Piedmont Women’s Center (PWC). Howell spoke at the Feb. 7 bonus chapel held in Turner.

According to PWC literature, the pregnancy medical clinic’s staff has touched more than 4,000 lives,  saved 227 children from abortions and heard 181 confessions of faith.

In 1991, a number of local churches and doctors heard that two abortionists were coming to Greenville to start an abortion clinic.  Setting differences aside, the churches and doctors banded together because, in the words of PWC client advocate Linzy Laird, junior psychology, “We want to be there before they are.”

The original pregnancy medical clinic was so successful, PWC now has branched out into five locations. PWC’s primary clinic, on 1146 Grove Rd. in Greenville, is “literally right beside an abortion clinic,” said Laird.

One way PWC helps its clients is through an Abortion Recovery Assistance Bible study. The assemblage is devoted to studying what God has in store for all people, although it emphasizes how to deal with pre- and post-abortion distress for both men and women.

PWC also provides free pregnancy tests, limited OB ultrasounds, Miracle Hill vouchers for maternity garments and newborn bundles for returning mothers who seek parental advice.

Another way PWC is helping men and women is through peer-to-peer Christ-centered counseling relating to abortions, adoption referrals, abstinence and relationships.

Laird said, “We never say we’re professional counselors, because we’re not licensed and ultimately we are trying to share the gospel with them.”

Multiple opportunities for service are available and waiting for both men and women at Piedmont Women’s Center. Existing positions are available for client advocates, Hopeline advocates (24-hour phone service), receptionists, translators, maintenance staff, abortion recovery facilitators, Bible study leaders, and much more.

Laird described it as heartbreaking to hear the stories and to be told what’s happening, but it equips people to share the Gospel.

MARCH SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES

• March 1: NGU Teacher Education Scholarship and NGU Christian Ministry Scholarship
• March 15: SC Baptist Convention Scholarship
• March 30: NGU Act II Scholarship and NGU Alumni Scholarship

Contact the Financial Aid office for more information.

UPCOMING RESIDENTIAL HALL EVENT

NGU will hold its semi-annual residential hall event on Feb. 13 in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Female resident’s halls will be open for visitors from 6-10 p.m.

NGU ATHLETES ON HONOR ROLL

Conference Carolinas announced Jan. 31 that 171 NGU student athletes qualified for the 2011 Fall Presidential Honor Roll. Athletes must have aquired a 3.20 grade-point average in the fall 2011 semester to merit this honor.

National

FATHER KILLS CHILDREN IN FIERY EXPLOSION

Josh Powell started a fire in his Utah home Feb. 5 that set off an explosion, killing both himself and his two boys. Powell had lost custody of his children after being designated as a person of interest in his wife’s 2009 disappearance. The boys had recently been making statements incriminating Powell in the disappearance of his wife.

NEW GOOGLE PROJECT UNVEILED

On Feb. 6, Google revealed a website called Solve for X to brainstorm solutions to global problems. This discussion-based site may be linked to the mysterious Google X lab, a top-secret facility that is thought to be developing futuristic technologies like a driverless car and a space elevator.

Suyash Railborde, senior international business, meets children at at the Mukti orphanage. Photo courtesy of Christina Eddy.

During this past Christmas break, while most North Greenville University students were at home spending time with family and friends, a group of students and professors from the biology department were in India, working to potentially change the lives of thousands.

The 17-day trip was the biology department’s first-ever mission trip, but according to lead researcher Christina Eddy, associate professor of biology, the trip had been in the works for years.

“I’ve worked here seven years, and I was praying about combining missions and research since before I accepted the job,” Eddy said.

Eddy found the way to combine these two important aspects of her life three years ago when a missionary came and spoke at her church, sharing the news of what is known as “the miracle tree.”

Senior biology majors and India mission trip members Vanessa Smith, Chanel Bonds and Brittany Dixon hold out a Moringa pod. Photo courtesy of Christina Eddy.

A member at Pelham Road Alliance Church in Greenville, Eddy was intrigued by the miracle tree and immediately began her own research project on it.

The Moringa tree, as it is officially named, is an easily grown, drought-resistant plant native to India.  It is valued for its leaves, which are incredibly nutritious.  In comparisons based on weight, the leaves contain two times the protein of yogurt, three times the potassium of bananas, four times the vitamin A of carrots, four times the calcium of milk, and seven times the vitamin C of oranges.

The missionary who shared about the plant at Eddy’s church was in the process of taking the tree to Africa to battle malnutrition. But once Eddy began researching the tree, she found another use.   “What I found that’s even more amazing is that the seeds of the Moringa have water purifying capabilities,” she said.

For the past three years, Eddy and NGU students have been developing faster and easier methods to purify water using the Moringa seed.

“We started to work on it, and I continued to pray about it,” said Eddy.  The trip began to fall into place when Eddy’s pastor and India native Suhas Raiborde and his family got U.S. identity cards, which licensed them to take mission groups back to India.  Along with Eddy, Raiborde and his wife organized the trip as an opportunity for students and professors alike to research the Moringa and share the love of Christ.

Eddy’s dream, years in the making, came to fruition on Dec. 7, when the group of 15 headed to India.  Of the 15 team members, seven were NGU research students.  The team spent the 17-day trip researching the seed, and demonstrating its water-purifying capabilities to a local Hindu village.

“I wanted to use [the Moringa seed] in an area where there was no sort of clean water, not even running water,” Eddy explained.  The team’s main objective was to show the villagers how to purify water and by doing so, show them Christ.

“Our big research was to go to this village and demonstrate how to purify the water.  We just asked God to guide us,” Eddy said.

When the team arrived, the villagers were living on river water much dirtier than what most Americans can begin to imagine.

The villagers did not seem bothered by the state of their drinking water.  Though not ignorant of the benefits of clean water, the villagers were unconcerned about the state of their water.  One villager even remarked, “These people came all the way from the United States just to show us how to clean water?”

The group learned three Christian songs that they could perform for locals in the Hindu language.  Once the people realized that they were being sung Christian songs, the mood changed completely.

“They were just about as interested in Christianity as they were in clean water,” Eddy said.

When the team departed, they left the villagers with the ability to purify water and with the good news of Christ.

Research student and mission member Jessica Frasure, junior biology, reflected on the impact of the trip.

“I look at it now as more of a life-changing effect,” Frasure said.  “Seeing how [the seed] can change the lives of the people down there and to see how it can affect them personally.  Hopefully they’ll see the tree differently.  There’s a Moringa tree in the heart of the village and I think as they see it, they’ll think about what we showed them.”

Eddy hopes that with time, the villagers will accept the need for clean water and for Christ, saying, “I hope that eventually, they use the clean water and realize how important it is and realize that the people who showed it to them were Christians.”

Eddy has plans for another project in the near future.  The Moringa seed can also desalinate water.  Since well water in India is too salty to drink or cook with, Eddy is planning to develop the third use of the Moringa.

The protocol for desalinization with the Moringa seed is different than the protocol for purifying, which means that the biology department already has another mission project in the works.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

North Greenville University has broadened its horizons this school year. With 640 new students, NGU has no choice but to grow, and with that growth, comes change.

This semester, Todd Dining Hall and ’63-’64 Grill, also known as “the Grill”, have made significant changes in not only food choices,  but also in NGU’s overall dining experience.

The dining services on campus are controlled by Aramark Food Services. Aramark is a leading provider of dining, facilities and conference center management to colleges and universities.

This year, Aramark has brought a variety of different foods to Todd Dining Hall, and it has caught NGU students’ attention.

“I really like how they have more fruit and vegetable options at the salad bar, and the dressings are really good, especially the home-made ranch dressing and the poppy seed dressing,” said Meredith Lewellen, junior broadcast media.

Aramark offers NGU a wide variety of foods including salads, sandwiches, home-cooked meals, tofu, pizza and other options that change daily. Some students prefer the new healthier choices NGU now offers.

“I’m a big salad fan so when they put egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad out in the salad bar, I usually get that and make a sandwich,” said Lewellen, “It’s fast, healthy and really good.”

Just below Todd Dining Hall in the student center, the Grill has made even bigger changes. From the high definition television menus to the newly offered curly fries, the Grill has definitely improved, according to Lewellen.

“The Grill has really stepped it up this year. The food is so much better, and the overall atmosphere makes it feel like a real fast food restaurant,” said Lewellen.

With almost a completely different menu, the newly added foods have changed the meal plan values. Some of the prices of items have risen and the students have noticed. With students only getting a certain amount of Crusader Bucks, it is not easy to splurge on some of the new perks the Grill has to offer.

“The curly fries are so good, but I think it is crazy that you have to pay extra for them,” said Lewellen, “The same goes for the bacon cheeseburger. I wish we could either get more Crusader Bucks or have the chance to put food items like that on our meal plan so we can enjoy them.”

With all the changes to the dining services on campus, Aramark wanted the NGU family’s feedback. At the start of the year, Todd Dining Hall and the Grill offered a survey to students who would like to voice their thoughts and opinions on the new system. The survey ended earlier this week, and the results have not yet been released. The Aramark staff has declined to comment any further.

If you did not participate in the survey, both dining services have comment cards at the payment counters where you can leave questions, comments or concerns.

Students gather around to watch Coleman Woody, junior intercultural studies, try his hand at the mechanical bull outside the Tingle Student Center. Bull riding was one of many exciting homecoming activities last week. Photo by Abby Gregory.

Even the chilly fall air couldn’t hinder the Crusader spirit that brought students, families and alumni to Younts Stadium to celebrate Homecoming on Saturday.

“I like coming back and seeing my old friends and the community,” said Trevor MacPherson, 2011 alumnus.

Embracing this year’s Wild West theme, students dressed up as cowboys and indians and some even rode horses in the parade. Among the many events were pumpkin carving, mechanical bull riding, bowling, skit night and a float-decorating contest.

“I enjoyed seeing how creative the clubs were with their float decorations,” said Sarah Webb, freshman elementary education.

The festivities included various competitions that clubs participated in to win points. The club that accumulated the most points at the end of Homecoming was the RAs. The L’aMaet human video team took second place with the Biology Club in third and Campus Ambassadors in fourth.

“This was the best Homecoming as far as participation. There was the most participation from clubs in all the events,” said Billy Watson, director of student services.

Even the dining hall staff sported Wild West apparel to show their school spirit on Friday.

Casey Goodwin, sophomore psychology, sprays paints a cactus for one of the homecoming floats. Photo by Abby Gregory.

“I like how everyone gets so involved in the competitions,” said Marinn Brown, sophomore interdisciplinary studies.

In the midst of all the fun, however, students also participated in community service events. The annual homecoming week canned food drive took place and almost 2,000 canned goods will be donated to The Storehouse food bank. The first annual Soles4Shoes shoe drive was also initiated at NGU with about 300 pairs of shoes collected.

Following NGU tradition, Erin Gray, senior business administration, was named homecoming queen.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CONFERENCES
Beginning Monday, Nov. 7, North Greenville University will host Men’s and Women’s Conferences with worship pastor Travis Agnew and wife Amanda of North Side Baptist Church. The conferences will take place Monday and Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and will count as bonus chapel credit.

COURSE EVALUATIONS
The student evaluation of course instruction surveys, which are now required, will be administered beginning Monday, Nov. 14 and ending Monday, Nov. 28. Students must complete surveys for all of their courses in order to obtain exam passes.

MISS NGU FUNDRAISER
Currie Dickerson, 2011 Miss NGU, will be raising money this week in support of her platform. All funds raised will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Local

REPUBLICAN
This election’s first Republican primary debate will be hosted at Wofford College Saturday, Nov. 12. The debate will be hosted on CBS at 8 p.m.

National

PLANNED PARENTHOOD CHARGES
Planned Parenthood now faces more than 100 criminal charges filed nearly three years ago by Phill Kline, former district attorney of Johnson County, Kan. The charges include allegations that the organization was performing abortions on girls younger than 15 years old and that it forged client records.

Former North Greenville University baseball coach Tim Nihart is joining the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) collegiate level baseball team, the “Niagara Power,” for the summer of 2012.  Nihart retired from full-time collegiate coaching in 2008 after spending 10 years as NGU’s head baseball coach.

Nihart has spent the last seven summers directing Camp Marietta, a summer camp and conference center located in Marietta, S.C.  He will be parting from the camp ministry to return to the baseball diamond.

Nihart said, “The last seven years at camp Marietta have been simply amazing.  I have built relationships with staff members, campers and guests of the camp that will last a lifetime.  The Lord has taught me so much on the mountaintop of Camp Marietta; I am thankful.”

Since retiring from college baseball, many opportunities to join a professional league have surfaced for Nihart, from broadcasting, scouting, administrative work and even coaching.

“The timing was not right for those situations,” Nihart said. “We still had some unfinished work at the camp.”

But now all seems to be falling into place.  Camp Marietta is now a debt free ministry, much of the camp facility has been renovated, camp programming has been revised and a great team of staff members have been trained.

“Camp Marietta is alive and well,” said Nihart.

For the past year he has been working on transitioning away from the camp.  He feels that Camp Marietta is capable of continuing its success.

Nihart was hired by FCA baseball last month.

“Baseball has been a part of my life, all my life.  Using baseball as a vehicle to share the love of Jesus is my passion,” Nihart said.

Throughout the months of June and July, Nihart will coach on the field, teach community Bible studies throughout the week and share in many churches in and around the Western part of New York.

“I am very excited about the challenges with FCA baseball for the summer of 2012,” Nihart said, “though I will miss the campers and staff at Camp Marietta.”

On the second Tuesday of every month, Student Services hosts a round table meeting on campus called the Round Table. The meetings are meant to act as a forum allowing students to share their opinions concerning North Greenville University student life, from resident life to dining services.

Will Broadus, senior international business, is the resident coordinator responsible for helping Billy Watson facilitate the meetings.

“Student Services wants to ensure that you are having the best college experience that we can provide. In order to do this, we need your ideas and input on the things that we have done well and also, the things upon which we could improve,” said Broadus.

Ansley Boltin, junior biology, is serving as the round table representative of her dorm for the second year in a row. Boltin said changes are made due to the meetings’ discussions.

“The Metroplex Movie Night came out of the round table discussions. There has also been a lot of discussion and some plans put in place for providing more areas for girls and guys to hang out together on campus,” Boltin said.

Currie Dickerson, sophomore broadcast media, also spoke on changes from the meetings.

“At one meeting last year, we brought up that the campus is too dark at night, especially for a girl who is walking from the library back to her dorm. So, in response, Student Services put up more lights around campus and made sure that all of the bulbs were functioning properly,” said Dickerson.

Dickerson said that issues discussed are not limited to those affecting the students who attend the meeting. She explained, “We are asked to get feedback from students before each meeting about various issues regarding dorm life, the cafeteria, projects around school, and other issues involving the campus.”

Boltin added that the students are sometimes given questions to ask other students. The answers to those questions provide discussion topics for future meetings.

Hannah Hall, junior interdisciplinary studies, enjoyed the meeting she attended. “The information shared by Billy Watson gave the ‘bigger picture’ to some of the things happening around campus. [The information] also showed the students present the genuine concern felt for student input and opinions,” said Hall.

Though Hall feels that the meeting she attended was informational, she sees a greater need for student attendance. She said, in addition to herself, only about 10 other students attended the meeting.

Hall added, “If students don’t take the initiative to voice their needs and concerns in the appropriate context, it is impractical for them to expect results.”

When it came time to get approval for the Bachelor of Arts interdisciplinary studies in musical theatre program, “It was an easy sell,” said Corrie Danieley, assistant professor of theatre.

“We have the people in the music and theatre department to handle the classes, so it just made sense,” said Daniely.

“It’s not a pure theatre degree; we’ve collaborated with the music department. I don’t know any other school that’s done that in the same way,” said Dale Savidge, professor of theatre.

Currently North Greenville University doesn’t perform a musical on a regular basis. With the implementation of the new major, the theatre department hopes to create more opportunities.

“If we get a lot of excitement about [musical theatre] we’ll do musicals every year. Right now we’re doing them every other year just because we don’t yet have the students to cast. Musicals always are much larger to cast than plays,” said Danieley.

Lauren Shealy, sophomore theatre, said, “Musical theatre is one of my biggest passions. I’d love it if the musical theatre program meant that we’d get to do a musical every year.”

By having a major that focuses solely on musicals, the department expects to raise the bar from previous performances.

“We hope to do more and better work with our musicals. I think we’ll see that in February with the musical version of Little Women. When we’ve offered musicals in the past we’ve had actors who can sing; now we’re hoping to attract singers who can also act,” said Savidge.

A focus in musical theatre gives the department options to branch out from the current selection of genres when it comes time to put together a performance.

Students will take 36 hours in theatre and 33 hours in music that will also include private lessons in voice.

“It’s an interdisciplinary degree. So we feel very strongly about students getting exposed to both the music and theatre side of it,” said Savage.

Performers will be given opportunities to audition for fully staged musicals as well as musical revues and concerts. Students will be exposed to experienced faculty, facilities and production experience in both music and theatre. Training experienced, disciplined and Christ-like actors who can compete in auditions for roles and graduate programs is the goal.

“I’m very excited, and we hope that a lot of students come and take advantage of the major,” said Danieley.

Currie Dickerson, sophomore broadcast media and 2011 Miss NGU, North Greenville University President Jimmy Epting and Hannah Failoni, senior elementary education and first runner-up, pose after the Miss NGU pageant on Saturday. Photo by Carlie McKinley.

Currie Dickerson, sophomore broadcast media, was crowned Miss North Greenville University on Saturday, Oct. 22.

The runners-up include Hannah Failoni, senior elementary education, with first; McKenzie Wells, graduate student Master of Education, with second; Amanda Styles, junior early childhood education, with third; and Lauren Jones, sophomore business administration, with fourth.

With her “Your Voice, Your Vote: Make It Count” platform to interest students in politics and playing the piano as her talent, Dickerson won the title. Dedicating her full time and energy to this position is her main focus as Miss NGU.

“My goal,” said Dickerson, “is to be a servant of the students and faculty, while representing the school in any positive way I can.”

North Greenville University is having its very first Soles4Shoes Shoe Drive through Saturday, Oct. 29 with hopes of collecting 500 pairs of shoes. Collection boxes can be found in the lobby of Todd Dining Hall.

In light of this week’s campus events, North Greenville University will be hosting the Annual Homecoming Week Canned Food Drive. Collection boxes are also located in the lobby of Todd Dining Hall.

Leslie Brown, library faculty and sponsor of the International Students’ Club, hosted a “hangout”, Friday, Oct. 21 at her home. Students enjoyed exotic foods and music while mingling with foreign exchange students from various colleges in the surrounding area.

Local

Republican presidential candidates Rick Perry and Rick Santorum will be stopping in the Upstate this week as part of their campaigns.

This week T. Walter Brashier, local real estate investor, gave the former Steak & Ale restaurant building in downtown Greenville, appraised at $1.6 million, to North Greenville University.

National

Economists estimate the Commerce Department’s gross domestic product report this week to show a gain anywhere from 2 to 3 percent, up from last month’s report when analysts were bracing for recession.

It is heart that makes North Greenville University’s baseball team the force it is today. A strong bond combined with a hard work ethic helped bring NGU a National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) national championship in 2010, and a runner up finish in 2011.

Other than skill on the field, it was the coaching that helped them build success. Going into this season Reggie Reynolds will take over as head coach.

“We’re really excited about coach Reynolds taking the head coaching job. He’s been with me and this senior class for four years so we know him pretty well. He knows the game a lot, and I think he is the best candidate to replace coach Henson,” said Markus Duckworth, senior history and red shirt baseball player.

Reynolds has been the assistant under Henson since both of them took the positions in the summer of 2008. Reynolds, a high school friend of Henson, was an easy choice to bring along to assist in creating a winning team.

“It’s a great thing in that we have had the opportunity to put the [NGU] program together both ourselves. Naturally, there are going to be some differences. He is a great motivator. The flow that we do on a daily basis is pretty much just carrying on,” said Reynolds.

Henson’s faith led him to take the position as the Director of Athletic Missions and Community Relations.

“My main focus is not only ministering to student-athletes, but also ministering through student-athletes as we seek opportunities to serve our local community. We want every team and each student-athlete in our athletic program to be actively engaged in serving God and our community,” says Henson.

“Coach Henson is doing something he felt he has been called to do working with athletic missions. Coach Reynolds has been around the program for several years now and is very capable of leading the Crusader Baseball program. The players respect him and he has the experience and knowledge necessary to lead the baseball team into its first year in Conference Carolinas and further into the future,” said Micah Sepko, Assistant Athletic Director and Media Relations Director.

Reynolds says, “As far as the spring season, it is going to be huge for us. With the senior experience, I think we have the opportunity to do great things as a team. This will be the first time going through the Conference Carolina as a member. It’s going to be huge having the opportunity to take part in a conference tournament. We’ll see what happens. I anticipate being very, very competitive.”

Art by Christine Parks.

The Mountain Laurel staff is working hard this year to make the campus literary magazine the best it has ever been.

As a student-created and -designed publication, it includes forms of poetry, art, non-fiction and fiction pieces from students and alumni. Anyone can submit work by filling out the submission form on the website or at White Hall.

“It is an outlet for the students. It can be a chance to publish their work and share the gospel through it,” said Beth Godwin, senior interdisciplinary studies and editor-in-chief of The Mountain Laurel.

The Mountain Laurel has hosted three editing workshops this semester for written works. Students are invited to bring their work and get feedback and critiques before publication.

Some of the workshops are student-led, while some have special speakers. Many times the artists hear professional tips and participate in peer critique circles.

For those interested in submitting to The Mountain Laurel, submissions are due Nov. 15 in the boxes in the lobby of White Hall.

In an attempt to better the dining services on campus, Aramark has published an online survey for students to take at www.college-survey.com/ngu. Participants have the opportunity to win a $150 Ticketmaster gift card or one of three $50 Visa gift cards.

NGU will be hosting Apologetics Day Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will be hosted in the Fero Conference Room in the Tingle Student Center. More information has been sent to every student’s campus email.

NGU’s literary magazine The Mountain Laurel will hold a Moe’s Night fundraiser Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Moe’s Southwest Grill in Taylors from 4 to 9 pm. Proceeds will fund costs for this year’s publication.

Local

On, Saturday, Oct. 22, Dogwood Terrace Stables will host the 6th Annual Boo in the Barnyard from 11 am to 6 pm. The proceeds from this fall festival will benefit the stable’s rescue program and riding scholarships.

Herman Cain, GOP nominee for the 2012 presidential election, topped Mitt Romney this week in a S.C. poll.

National

Occupy Wall Street marks one month of protests this week as the movement has spread to more than 600 cities across America. Starting in lower Manhattan and marching up Broadway, more than 2,000 people rallied last month to protest bank bailouts.

Anita Perry speaks in the President's Dining Hall. Photo by Jordan Ecarma.

Anita Perry, wife of presidential candidate and Texas governor Rick Perry, visited the North Greenville University campus on Oct. 13.

Rick Perry’s campaign office contacted NGU on her behalf. Anita Perry was staying with a friend in the area and requested to come by the NGU campus for a visit. She had breakfast with NGU President Jimmy Epting and his wife as well as NGU faculty and staff in the president’s dining hall and spoke afterward.

Epting introduced Perry as “Governor Perry’s much better half” and warmly welcomed her to NGU. “Here you can talk about your faith as proudly as you want,” he said.

Perry took full advantage of Epting’s invitation to speak about her faith. She choked up when describing her Christian background.

“I’ve never told anyone that before,” she said after telling a story about her grandfather, who was a deacon in a Christian church and made sure she went to Sunday school every week. “Nothing made him prouder,” she remembered.

Perry was encouraged to be among believers at NGU.

“It’s been a rough month. We have been brutalized and beaten up and chewed up in the press to the point where I needed this day,” she said.

Her remarks focused on her family’s faith and its influence in their lives, even when it came to her husband’s decision whether or not to run for president.

“There was a nagging and pulling at my heart for Rick to run,” Perry described. While he did not want to run for president at first, she felt that God was directing him. “He needed to see that burning bush,” she said, comparing the circumstances to the sign God gave to Moses in Exodus. The entire Perry family discussed the decision and decided in May that it was something God needed them to do.

“Every door we thought would be closed was open,” said Perry. “We felt called to do this.”

Lisa Van Riper (right) shows Anita Perry the NGU campus. Photo by Jordan Ecarma.

Perry concluded her informal speech with a simple request. “Most of all, I ask you for your prayers,” she said.

When asked if she had a word for the next generation, Perry gave a straightforward response that highlighted the two main themes of her husband’s campaign.

“Another reason we’re in this is that we need to create jobs for the next generation,” she said. “When you have a job and have faith, you’re on the road to success.”

Perry’s warm presence and thoughtful remarks were encouraging to those who attended.

“She was very compassionate and moving in her message,” said Jenna Church, junior American studies. “I think she’s a good role model for any woman in the public spectrum.”

Perry’s visit is not the first time the NGU campus has welcomed presidential campaign members. George W. Bush visited during 2002, and Mike Huckabee came during the 2008 campaign. Most recently, Elizabeth Santorum, daughter of presidential candidate Rick Santorum, visited NGU on Sep. 20.