After a three-year Comatose state, Skillet “awakens” with its new album, appropriately titled Awake. Released on Aug. 25, 2009, Awake is a follow up to the 2006 release Comatose, which effectively launched the members of the band into mass popularity inside the Christian music sector and out. Awake has been a highly-anticipated album and impressively debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts.

Skillet has been around since 1996, but the band didn’t gain widespread popularity until the release of 2006’s Comatose. Since then, the band has gained fans of all ages; ranging from kids in junior high to college students to middle -aged adults. They also gained a new drummer after Lori Peters left in 2007; she was replaced by gifted powerhouse Jen Ledger at the beginning of 2008. Ledger has proven to be an excellent addition to the band in both her drumming and vocal skills. Now, Skillet has made more changes in the right direction with the release of Awake.

Although Awake still has the gritty hard rock sound and signature throaty vocals of front-man John Cooper, the new album switches it up a bit.

“We never want to make the same record twice and that’s why Awake keeps it fresh and surprising. We’ve built off several of the epic elements, orchestration, piano parts and male/female vocal tradeoffs on several songs, but there’s also a balance of straight up rock stuff and tunes that are a little bit stripped down in comparison,” Cooper said on the band’s Myspace page.

Indeed, most of the tracks on the album do have a more raw sound than Comatose did.

The current singles from the 12-track album are the infectious “Hero” and “Monster,” which debuted earlier this year during the Comatose tour. These tracks are two of the hardest tracks on the album, in addition to “Awake and Alive,” “It’s Not Me It’s You,” and “Sometimes.”

“Awake and Alive” is probably the most intricate track, which has the addition of strings throughout the whole song and drummer Jen Ledger’s vocals.

“Don’t Wake Me” is a sweet power ballad of a love lost.

“One Day Too Late” reminds listeners to live meaningful lives and “Forgiven” seems to be a prayer asking for forgiveness.

Overall, Awake doesn’t disappoint. The album includes a good mix of hard-hitting, catchy rock numbers along with just the right amount of lyrical power ballads. To live up to the greatness of an album like Comatose would be hard for any band, but Skillet accomplished the feat with the release of Awake. Only time will tell what the future holds for this amazingly talented quartet, but fans can be assured that Skillet is heading in the right direction regardless.

Love is on the Move is the latest album from the Texas-based band Leeland, which gets its name from the lead singer, Leeland Mooring.

Since releasing its first album in 2006, the Grammy-nominated band quickly became a fan favorite with its unconventional style of music and inspiring lyrics.

Leeland keeps its original sound from its earlier two albums, but it is not a boring repetition. As in the previous releases, the band brings inspiring lyrics and fresh melodies to its third album.

The band gives its fellow believers something to think about with the lyrics of these new songs. It challenges its listeners to show their love by actions and service. The new songs also speak about many of the common struggles Christians face daily.

“Follow You,” performed with special guest Brandon Heath, is a powerful song about the importance of service and showing Christ’s love to people of all walks of life. The lyrics speak of how Jesus did not hesitate to hang out with sinners to show His Father’s love.

This song truly captures what a Christian’s mission should be like; we should be willing to go anywhere to share the gospel.

With the lines “All my needs You have supplied / When I was dead You gave me life / How could I not give it away so freely,” the song speaks of Christ’s love, and how it should move us to serve others without question.

“Via Dolorosa” is another song that speaks about Christ’s love. This song paints a vivid picture of Christ’s death on the cross. It helps us remember what Christ did for us, and how much he sacrificed.

The title track “Love is on the Move” talks about the power of holy love. The song talks about how God’s love does not discriminate, and how “anyone can run/ into the arms of God/Love is on its way/ and it will find you.”
One of the more up-temp songs on the album is “Learn to Love.” This is more of a corporate worship song that challenges those worshipping to love each other. Leeland recognizes the struggles facing those in the church today, and how believers can easily get caught up on petty issues.

With “Learn to Love,” Leeland wants to remind Christians to put their differences aside and love one another as Christ taught.

The entire album Love is on the Move will inspire and challenge those who take time to listen.

If you are already a fan of Leeland, you will enjoy this new album just as much as the previous two.

Leeland begins its “Follow You” tour with Brandon Heath and special guest Francesca Battistelli on Sept. 23.

If you are interested in seeing Leeland live, the “Follow You” tour will be stopping in Charleston, S.C. on Nov. 4, and Darlington, S.C. on Nov. 5.

Chris Timmons/The Skyliner Richard Harb drops back for a pass in the Red and Black game.

Armchair quarterbacks, rejoice. Crusader fans got a taste of interactive football at the Red and Black spring game Saturday morning at Younts Stadium as the offense topped the defense 71-60.
First-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, decked in a suit, tie and fedora reminiscent of famed Alabama coach Bear Bryant, spent three quarters of the game in the stands allowing fans to call plays and change personnel on the field for a small donation that benefited a local needy family.
“We wanted to play the first quarter like a real game, but I also wanted the fans to be able to associate with me and let them put a face to a name,” Chadwell said. “I wanted to get them involved and let them know that I’m gonna try to do things in a different way. We’re gonna try to have a team that they can be proud of.”
Mission accomplished, said assistant sports information director Dr. Fred Battenfield.
“I think it was a great idea to get the public involved, and I think it will pay off for him,” Battenfield said. “He’s trying to build his image and reputation, and it was a great way to start.”
Lest Crusader fans think that North Greenville has turned into the Indianapolis Colts over the offseason, the scoring system gave points to the offense for touchdowns, plays that gained over 12 yards and first downs. The defense gained points for turnovers, sacks, tackles for loss and fourth down stands. Quarterbacks Richard Harb, junior business management, and C.T. Morton alternated on offense for the black team.
Harb started the game with a bang, finding a wide-open Sean Wright streaking down the home sideline for a 75-yard touchdown pass play. Harb and Wright hooked up for five completions for 156 yards in the first quarter.
“We’ve been working together a lot in the offseason, and the defense was giving us that option today,” Harb said. “I don’t know if it will always be like that, but he’s a great player who works really hard.”
Harb also scrambled 29 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and finished with no interceptions. Morton struggled to find a rhythm and was picked off twice by Jamarius Robinson and Darius Horlback.

Chris Timmons/The Skyliner

Chadwell has introduced a mild version of the spread offense, often using three wide receivers and one running back with Harb in the backfield. The goal is to create space between defenders and allow offensive players to use their speed to make plays.
“It’s definitely more spread out and more fast-paced,” Harb said. “It gives us a chance to change things up.”
The defense stuck to its typical 4-3 lineup, and lineman Joe Novotasky and linebacker Doug Wilson impressed, coming up with several tackles. Chadwell had talked about switching to a 3-4 but has decided to stick with last year’s formation.
Michael Sears handled the kicking duties, converting all extra points but missing a 37-yard field goal. Fred McMoore turned in a solid performance at running back.
“There were some positives,” Chadwell said. “Too many penalties and turnovers, but we tried to make it fun, and I think they guys came out and had a good time. No one got injured–that was the number one goal.”
Since stepping in as head coach, Chadwell has earned the respect of his players.
“He’s a very good coach,” said defensive back Chandler Bailey. “He’s been working us really hard and disciplining us. He’s a very fundamental-based coach, and we can definitely look to the future for success.”
The game was not all about football. The estimated 400 fans who gathered at Younts Stadium brought dozens of canned goods to the stadium to benefit a local food bank. Aramark provided a barbecue lunch afterwards as fans soaked up the sun.

On Thursday, April 23, the theatre department opened its major spring production, The Miracle Worker. The compelling story of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller is both lighthearted and touching. This production is the third play to appear on the North Greenville University stage under the direction of associate theatre professor Corrie Eddleman. 

The Miracle Worker tells the story of Sullivan, a young, impudent graduate of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, played by senior theatre major Leah Thomas. Her first pupil is  Keller, played by Becca Kosobucki, sophomore theatre.

“The Miracle Worker has been such a beautiful challenge that has solidified my love of theatre and life,” Thomas said. “It’s unforgettable.” 

Sullivan, who was also blind before a number of operations, is boldly confident, stubborn but insecure in her lack of experience. Her brash personality is a challenge to her relations with most people but proves to be an asset when dealing with Keller.

Keller was left blind and deaf by a disease at eighteen months of age. The Keller family is torn between love for their child and the inability to cope with her tantrums. On the verge of giving up and sending Keller to an asylum, the family summons  Sullivan to help them with their disabled child. 

Sullivan arrives and declares Keller the tyrant of the house. The Kellers treat her like fragile glass. She has never been disciplined or made to obey. Sullivan finds Keller living more like a wild animal than a human child. 

The ensuing confrontation between the two stubborn women results in Sullivan moving Helen from the Keller home.  She requires Keller to depend upon her for everything she needs.  In the end, she succeeds in teaching the girl obedience, but more importantly she gives the girl language. 

The last scene is the most moving and heart-wrenching of all. Keller wrecks the table for her homecoming supper, and Sullivan makes her fill up the water pitcher she knocked over. As they pump the water, Keller starts to try to talk. Sullivan keeps spelling into her young pupil’s hand ‘water,’ and Keller starts to say “wa wa.” They both hug, and Keller starts to understand everything.

“It’s gone very well, and it’s been an experience unlike any other. It has been a learning and fun experience,” Kosobucki said.

“The set was based off of the original Keller home, Ivy Green,” said Ted Thomas, scene designer and technical director. “It was a challenge because the set had to be skewed thirty degrees to see in the house.” 

“This show has been an amazing experience as my senior project,” said Daniel Reith, senior theatre. “It took a lot of work, and the end result has been amazing. I used a quote from Matisse, a French painter, guiding me as a light designer, ‘my choice of colors result on any theory, only observation, feeling, and experience.’ This is the basis for everything I have learned as a light designer.” 

“It’s been a huge challenge to portray real people,” Lindsay Ross, senior theatre, said.

James Turner
Staff Writer

Sometimes, in the midst of the artistically deprived, desolate wasteland of aristocratic decadence known as Hollywood, a very good thing springs up out of nowhere. When that happens, one can’t help but sing its praises—or perhaps play them on a cello, outside and under a bridge.

The film is based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a brilliant classical musician suffering from schizophrenia and wandering the streets of Los Angeles with his cart of worthless possessions and his two-string violin. Opposite of Foxx is  brusque Los Angeles Times reporter  Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) who helps him put his life back together. Foxx wields Ayer’s character powerfully and held back nothing in his performance. Having already been classically trained on the piano as a child, Foxx studied strings for the production of The Soloist and learned to play the cello as beautifully as if he had been playing his entire life. 

“The guy who shows up to show me how to play the cello is nothing like what I expected,” Foxx commented about his instructor, Ben Hong of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, “I thought it would be a stiff guy. But my guy is like a Ninja cellist.”

The film is saturated with imagery, some of it more apposite than the rest. When the world fades away around Ayers as he absorbs into his music, or when he fills the clamorous streets of Los Angeles with peaceful harmony, the lowly puts the proud to shame, and the audience is given a brief glimpse into the soul of a true friendship. There were no absurd plot devices, no dues ex machina, just characters—real, believable characters dealing with real situations the way real people would deal with them. Then, out of all the tedious reality rises a remarkable, almost unrealistic, and sometimes hilarious experience as the chaotic whims of fate bring together two unlikely people who, through grace, patience and understanding, become closer than any human expectations would permit.

Unfortunately, every great work has its weak spots, and The Soloist is no exception. If anything bad had to be said about The Soloist, perhaps it would be about the arbitrary light show during Ayers’ and Lopez’s special trip to the recital hall. Granted, the abstract colors and patterns take the mind off the action and help it to focus on the music, but a psychedelic Windows Media Player style visualization was a poor substitute for genuine imagination for the short time it lasted.

Aside from its drawbacks, as few and far between as they are, The Soloist was a stunning movie and a moving experience. With the combined power of Director Joe Wright’s vivid imagination, and the masterful performances of Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., the movie surges too deep for any “who plays who” trivia game; instead it weighs on the heart and opens the mind to hardship, to commitment, and to indisputable friendship.

While students are busy studying for exams, the staff in the college bookstore is working hard to set up and run the end-of-semester textbook buyback.

Many students are frustrated with the prices they receive for their used books. But they are not always told why some book prices seem low or why some books are not bought back at all.

New editions of textbooks are what usually keep the prices of textbooks up. And when publishers decide to come out with a new edition of a textbook, students are almost always stuck with their old edition.

Unfortunately, the bookstore itself does not have any control over when new editions will be printed. Printing new editions is how publishing companies make most of their money.

Because new editions are printed frequently, it is better to buy used copies of textbooks whenever possible.

If a textbook is being used again, but not the following semester, students will receive a wholesale value for the book. Wholesale prices are less than if the book is being used in the immediate future, but it is better than having to wait until after the next term.

If the textbook is being used for the following semester, the bookstore can buy back students’ used copies until they have reached their needed quantity. Some quantities are reached quickly, and the value of certain books may drop. It is suggested that students sell their books back immediately before or after their exam.

There are a few conditions that must be followed in order to for a book to be bought back by the college store or wholesalers.

Any CDs, booklets, or other additional material that came with the textbook must be returned with the book in order to receive the current buyback value. Even if your class did not use the supplemental material, the next class may use it and will need the material that normally comes with the text.

Also, keeping your textbook in good condition will ensure you get a fair price if the book is being used again. All original binding and covers must be intact, and pages should not be torn or missing. Books that are water-damaged cannot be bought back because they cannot be resold the following semester.

One tip is to keep your book in the condition that you would prefer to buy it in.

International and instructors’ editions are not allowed to be resold and therefore are not able to be bought back at the end of the semester. The alternate editions can be found online for a cheaper price and may seem like a good idea at the time. But more than likely you will be stuck with the textbook at the end of the semester.

Buyback is simply an example of supply and demand, and there are few guarantees when you buy a textbook at the start of classes. But if you keep your books and supplemental material in good condition, then you have a good chance of getting up to half of the original price back if the book is being used again.

Book buyback at the North Greenville College Store starts on Thursday, April 30. Buyback will continue on the following Friday, and then pick back up on Monday, May 4, and go until Tuesday, April 5. The bookstore will be open for buyback from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm with a break for lunch between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm.

Quaker Steak and Lube, located at 10 Chrome Drive in Greenville, is not your normal sports grill restaurant. Quaker Steak offers an expansive menu which includes many of the normal foods you would find in a sports grill restaurant such as burgers, chicken fingers, sandwiches, salads, fries and chicken wings. 

The layout of the restaurant is extremely automobile oriented, with seating inside booths, inside of classic cars. There are racing posters and vintage memorabilia everywhere. Also, televisions are turned to sports channels and located throughout the restaurant, even in the restrooms. 

Quaker Steak’s food is set apart from other sports grills because it is delicious and served in large portions. Even the kid’s meals are sure to satisfy adults. This is definitely the place to go when you are looking for a big meal and a good time with friends. The burgers, chicken, and fries are all good, and the menu items have clever names for meals like chicken tenders. 

“I was gonna get the wings, but when I saw the menu, I couldn’t help but turn away from the words ‘Chicken Fenders,’ they even come in a little box car.” said Taylor Wooten, freshman, math. 

The highlight of Quaker Steak and Lube is Tuesday nights, when for $11.99 one can eat endless wings in any flavor they like, and with more than 20 flavors, every wing is a new taste that never gets boring. I am originally from Buffalo, New York, so I am a wing snob, but at Quaker Steak, the wings are fried to perfection, never too fatty, and the sauces are all delicious and they are definitely better than Wild Wings, Wing Zone or any other low quality wing place you will find around Greenville. 

As for flavors for the wings, you have your usual mild, medium and hot. The hot flavor is very good, with just the right amount of heat and flavor. Other than the basic flavors, there are other ones like Teriyaki, Cajun, Chipotle, Vinegar, and a personal favorite, Thai-R-Cracker. Thai-R-Cracker is ridiculously tasty, almost like a dessert wing. The sweet spiciness makes it a favorite among the many wing flavors at Quaker Steak. For the people willing to go out on a limb, Quaker Steak has a flavor so hot that one has to sign a waiver to eat it. Good luck.

Quaker Steak is also a clean restaurant with really good customer service. With reasonably priced meals that are sure to fill you up and an all-you-can-eat wing night, you really cannot go wrong with Quaker Steak and Lube for any occasion. Just make sure you get there at a decent hour on Tuesday nights.

Kyle Quinn, sophomore Christian studies“This summer I will be travelling to Greece and Italy with some friends from school, then working at Chick-Fil-A for the rest of the break.”

Tara Sheffield, freshman elementary education
“I was invited to lead worship at Camp Lakewood in Myrtle Beach this summer with Joyful Sound. It’ll be a really great way to serve and get to know some of my future team mates!”

Jamal Quattlebaum, sophomore youth ministry
“I am working at Lookup Lodge this summer, where I will be working with kids and doing recreation with them. I am so excited about using my spiritual gifts to glorify Christ!”

Allyson Powell,  junior psychology
“For the month of May, I will be travelling as much as possible. Then in June, I will be starting work at Pine Hill Baptist Retreat.”

Autumn McAbee, elementary education
“I am going to do the first session of summer school, then I will be competing in the Miss South Carolina Pageant the first week in July. Also, I plan to rescue at least one helpless baby animal!”

Andrew White, junior biology
“I am taking the medical school acceptance exam, then serving the Lord by working with North Hills Community Church.”

Tina Tillotson, junior english
“My friend and I are going to NY for my 21st birthday to visit my sister for five days. When I get back I’ll be working as a nanny in Spartanburg, S.C. I’ll also try some reading for fun.”

Infielder David Frazier, freshman sport management, knocks in a run with a sixth inning triple against Emmanuel College. (Photo by Cory Guinn)

The Crusader baseball team continued their long road trip on April 21 when they traveled to Mars Hill, N. C., to play against Mars Hill College. MHC was on fire from the beginning putting together 20 hits en route to 17-7 victory over NGU.

The Lions scored the first run of the game in the first inning but North Greenville was able to tie the game in the top of the third when Derek Fulmer, freshman undecided, hit a solo home run. In the bottom of the inning Mars Hill erupted for five runs and continued to score at will through the rest of the game. Fulmer hit a three-run home run in the top of the eighth to cap off the scoring for NGU.

Fulmer led the offense for the fourth straight game going 3-for-6 from the plate knocking in four RBI and scoring three runs. Dayton Lupton, junior sports management, went 4-for-5 in the game and Tyler Callicutt, junior accounting finished the game 2-for-5 from the plate.

Making just his third career start at the college level pitcher Drew Provence, freshman marketing, threw six innings and struck out nine while allowing only six hits and three earned runs in the final game of the season on April 27 against Emmanuel. (Photo by Cory Guinn)

North Greenville ended the road trip on April 22 in Dahlonega, Ga. in a doubleheader against North Georgia College. NGC defeated NGU 6-0 in the first game and fought back to rally for a 8-5 victory in the second game of the day.

In game one, the Crusaders bats were shut down and the team was unable to get any momentum going on offense, leading to the shut out by the Saints.

Game two provided the entertainment for the night as the two teams battled back and forth for the lead with North Georgia pulling away in the late innings. Callicutt was the leader on offense in the game finishing 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Chris Harbit, sophomore biology, went 1-for-4 and had one RBI. Fulmer was 2-for-4 in the game and Rand Stegall, junior business, finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

North Greenville returned home on April 24 to play against Atlanta Christian College in the next to last game of the season. Devin Vance, senior business, pitched his last game as a Crusader and he made it a game to remember. Vance pitched a complete game allowing only six hits and striking out 10 batters as NGU came away with a 9-1 victory.

The offense was able to help out the pitching staff by pounding out 10 hits and nine runs in the game, including seven runs in the fourth inning alone. Callicutt finished the game 3-for-4 from the plate and Fulmer went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Stegall had a double in the game as well along with two RBI and Anthony Foulk, freshman sports management, had two RBI and scored two runs of his own.

The Crusaders’ final game of the season was played on Monday against Emmanuel College in Tigerville.

Cory Guinn
Staff Writer

(Photo by Cory Guinn)

The North Greenville softball team looked to end their season on a high note when they played a doubleheader against Spartanburg Methodist College on April 22. The Crusaders split the two games with the Pioneers, winning the first game 2-1 and losing the second 9-1.

In game one, the pitchers for both teams were in total control. Crusader pitcher Taylor Roof, freshman health and wellness, pitched a complete game allowing only one run on seven hits leading NGU to the victory. On offense, Bridgett Watson, senior business, smashed a solo home run in the fifth inning to put the game away. Watson finished the game 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

“It was a good day for us to play softball,” head coach Jan McDonald said. “It was a great day for our seniors. Bridgett Watson hit a home run to win the first game and we were able to get everyone in to play, so it was a good day all around.”

Lindsey Eargle, senior sport management, led NGU going 2-for-3 from the plate. Allison Bailey, junior undecided, went 1-for-3 with one RBI and Watson finished the game 1-for-3.

“We are looking forward to working hard as a team and individually in the offseason to get ready for next year,” McDonald said.

The Crusaders ended the season with a 19-19 record and ranked ninth in the final NCCAA national poll. After losing only three seniors this season, the softball team will be much more experienced heading into next year.

Scholarships are vital to a student’s academic career. Thankfully, there is a voice for independent higher education in South Carolina.

Every year, several independent South Carolina colleges unite to rally for the consistent support of various scholarships and grants. Students travel to Columbia to personally thank the state’s Representatives for their aid in providing scholarships.

South Carolina Independent College and Universities is directed by a board of trustees. Leading citizens represent a cross-section of the business, civic and educational leadership community.

The South Carolina Tuition Grant, the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE and HOPE scholarships are all offered yearly to students thanks to the Education and Public Works Committee.

This year, Braden Hall and Katie May traveled to Columbia to thank the Representatives.

“North Greenville usually puts out a notice to all students receiving a S.C. tuition grant to go by financial aid and fill out a thank you card to be given to a representative,” Hall said. “Not only does this show South Carolina statesmen that students appreciate receiving the money, but the colleges are all in a competition to see who sends in the most thank you letters.”

While the future of the somewhat dormant Mandeville, Ala.-based band As Cities Burn is unknown, one thing is known, ACB pulls out a whole new sound on the new album Hell Or High Water. This is As Cities Burns’ third full length release and is completely different than both of their other albums.

Their first album, “Son, I Love You At Your Darkest” was a good mix of indie rock and post-hardcore. Two years after the release and touring in support of that album, vocalist T.J. Bonette decided to leave the band for personal reasons. After his departure from the band, brother and guitarist Cody Bonette stepped up to take over all vocal responsibilities while still doing guitar work as well. 

In 2007 the band released their second album Come Now Sleep, which was a unique blend of indie rock with some post rock at times and still a few of those post-hardcore elements from the first album. That brings us to the here and now, Hell Or High Water.

Hell Or High Water is so different from anything this band has put out before, but not in a bad way at all. It is musical fusion of blues, jazz and indie rock and in a few tracks, though very subtle, you can still hear some of their post-hardcore roots. The tone of the guitars and the structure of the guitar work is undoubtedly heavily blues influenced. This can be seen best on the tracks “Petty” and “Daughter.” 

“Petty” is one of my favorite tracks on this album. The song deals with shedding your pride and it talks about those who claim to stand for something just for the fame. 

Another lyrically rich track is “Made Too Pretty,” which deals with vanity and not taking joy in what God has created. “And if we are the body, how’d the pretty man get so ugly? How’d he get all these spaces between each limb? And if there is one thing bigger than my head, that’s the distance I’ve been mislead.” These are my favorite couple of lines from this album. I see so many people caught up with vanity, and Cody hits the nail on the head with this song.

Another awesome thing about this album is that former vocalist T.J. Bonette still makes two appearances on this album. He does the screams on “84 Sheepdog” as well as the screams and some singing on the iTunes exclusive bonus track “Gates.” It’s awesome getting to hear T.J. again, because his raw and emotionally charged vocals were my favorite thing about As Cities Burn before he left the band.

As Cities Burn is one of the fewinventive major label bands out there and they proved it once again. A unique blend of blues, jazz, indie rock, and even some post-hardcore makes this album one to check out. And as I mentioned at the open of this review, the future of this band is not know. There are rumors floating around that this album marks the end of As Cities Burn because they don’t have any tours or CD release shows booked in support of the album, but as you know, rumors are sometimes just rumors. So regardless of the future of this band, checking out this album would be wise and if you like what you hear, I would highly recommend picking it up at your local Best Buy or record store.    

School’s out for the summer! 

Almost. Although I can already hear that classic anthem playing in my mind, this final week is certainly a long, stressful one. Papers, projects, presentations, papers, exams, notebooks…and papers. Behind every corner is another menacing due date swinging bats with graduation fees and move-out requirements. That sweet breath of sunshine summer just can’t come fast enough.

Throughout this semester, I have no doubt that everyone reading this article has changed in some way. Maybe you’ve met new people, even a new friend or two. Or maybe you’ve bonded even more with your best friends, your comrades, the characters in your lifelong college stories. You may have lost some friends, lost a relationship, or made decisions you may not have been ready for.  

Regardless of where they fall on the spectrum, certain moments of the last few months occurred, and they will forever change who you are. Some of us who are graduating in a matter of days especially took a precious hold of the memories we have here at school. These memories have certainly become a part of our makeup, a part of our past that we must never lose. Most importantly, we must understand that all of the events of this past semester happened for reason; whether they were painful or wonderful, they must always remain unforgettable. We should always remember that if God’s eye is on the sparrow, He certainly watches over us.  

Now that we are all embarking out into the open summer, bound in a million different directions, two things become absolutely clear. Not only must we always remember our Savior and follow His call for our life but we should also stay true to ourselves, no matter what the cost. Always, always, always be yourself; if not, you are robbing the world of something they can’t find anywhere else. Unfortunately, the world tries to encourage us that who we are isn’t enough, that we must constantly seek to adapt to its ever-changing standards of acceptance. Don’t buy it. Just be you.  No one in the world can play it better than you, nor could they ever reproduce it. God made each of us to be somebody, to be a threat to the devil’s earthly kingdom. He made each of us truly, unabashedly unique, and to waste our life trying to be someone else is a crying shame.  

As we all prepare to leave this place for the summer, always keep in mind who you are and why you’re here. Like his twelve disciples, Christ handpicked you for His kingdom and will never let go of you. He wants so much for you.  You must only accept who He made you to be and run as fast as you can with it. Don’t disgrace God by trying to be someone you’re not. No matter where you find yourself in the next few weeks, months, and even years, always be yourself. As long as there is life to live, be sure you live it in first person.

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter, the book is about to close, the end is incredibly close and I am about to leave North Greenville. I cannot believe that in a little over a week I will be graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree—I think that this qualifies me as a real adult. The saying that time flies when you are having fun really does ring true right now. 

I came to North Greenville with long blonde hair not knowing a soul. My first big memory here was when Jessi Hardin saved me one September day while walking to the cafeteria in the rain without an umbrella. She said we should be friends and drove us to eat Mexican, that day started my social existence on campus. My sophomore year I joined The Skyliner staff as an elective and I found my home within the print media department. I spent countless hours writing, learning design, selling advertisements and coming up with headlines. In my time here I have also learned that I do not make plans, God does. Looking back I can now see how His hand has been guiding me and I can also see Him laughing at me as I got frustrated as He changed my plans. 

My journey here at North Greenville has been nothing short of memorable. I am so happy with how things have turned out and what I have accomplished. I started out as broadcasting major and look at me now, I managed this paper this year and hopefully you have enjoyed every article, picture, photo caption, headline and page design that has gone out. 

Thanks to North Greenville, I am leaving as a confident short haired brunette who pledged herself faithful to The Skyliner and who thinks that once you go Apple you never go back. I love all of the people I met here and would not trade any of the memories or experiences I have had. I will miss laying out the newspaper every Monday evening and the thrill of holding the finished product in my hands on Wednesday mornings. I am leaving The Skyliner in the hands of Joseph Huntley, he will continue the work that was started with it long ago. Make sure you pick up every issue next semester coming to a rack near you every Wednesday morning after chapel. 

College goes by faster than you think, so take it all in. If you still have not decided on a major, pray about it. God has a funny way of directing his children and not giving us a heads up about what He wants makes us trust Him. 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him,” Ecclesiastes 3.11-14. 

Make sure that you say yes to every opportunity that arises, take a million pictures so you will remember it all because afterwards comes the workforce and who wants to do that anyway? 

Side note: I have had my fair share of time on the swings around campus, from the first meeting swing to the break up swing and all that lie between. I also want Dr. Epting to know that I expect a full refund, as I never did get a ring in any of the four spring semesters that I attended. Well, I did meet my friend soul mates so I guess a refund is not necessary.

Dedicated North Greenville University cadets are able to participate in the ROTC program on Furman University’s campus. The program involves physical training three days per week, military science class two days per week and a once a week field lab.

In military science class, cadets are instructed on various military related topics, such as land navigation. Cadets also learn important leadership skills in class.

Field lab involves learning infantry tactics. Both the field lab and military science class are aimed at preparing ROTC cadets to become successful officers in the military.

The physical training aspect of ROTC helps cadets achieve and maintain excellent physical condition so that they can capably complete the strenuous tasks involved in military service. Physical training also serves to help cadets learn discipline.

Physical training is a very challenging aspect of the ROTC program. It involves sit-ups, push-ups, 2-5 mile runs and a variety of other exercises. The fact that physical training is held from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. lends the training an additional challenge.

Jonathan Kyle, sophomore broadcast media and second year ROTC cadet, says that the difficulty of the ROTC program provides the cadets with a special sense of camaraderie. 

“When you go through something difficult together, you stay together,” Kyle said. Intense dedication is required to remain and succeed in the program. From that dedication and hard work overcoming obstacles as a group, the ROTC cadets have developed a community that mirrors the community found in the military.

The ROTC program offers many benefits to its members. Among the benefits offered is the availability of scholarships. According to Kyle, cadets are offered full tuition or full room and board scholarships for their involvement in the program.

The ROTC program not only offers scholarships but also provides job opportunities in the military for cadets after graduation. Captain Henry Anderson says that upon graduation, a cadet can be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the army.  

For Kyle, the opportunity to be commissioned as an officer is the fulfillment of a dream. “I have always wanted to be in the military,” Kyle said. He especially desired to join the military as an officer. Through ROTC, he will be able to realize his dream after graduation.

Anderson says that the main goals of the ROTC program are to ensure that cadets graduate with proper training and to provide them with the commission as 2^nd Lieutenant.

Through the ROTC program cadets can graduate with excellent training, experience, discipline and excellent career opportunities.

Wait. You mean it’s over?

I graduate next week, and I’m not sure whether to dread the day or celebrate, as I have yet to find gainful employment. The demand for journalists who won’t slant their stories to the left is about as big as the odds of Cubs winning the World Series ever again (a.k.a. very small).

Amidst the apprehension and jubilation, time has flown and crawled. I have made some great friends and even great enemies who turned into pretty good friends. I have made some great choices and some really, really, really stupid choices.

I have also had the opportunity to be the sports editor for the Skyliner for the past three years after just one semester on staff. The experience I’ve gained through writing and editing sports as well as some news here and there at a God-centered institution of higher education has been invaluable to giving me a sneak peak at the often dubbed “real world” before it punches me in the face.

But enough about me. Let’s talk about you. You, dear readers, have made writing my Screaming at a Wall column worth writing. I suppose I owe you people quite a lot. So, thank you.

Thank you to the people who supported me and always had my back, to the random people who high-fived me or told me what guts it took to write a certain piece. Thank you to the people who disagreed with me to varying extents and did everything from spurring discussion on a topic to giving me funny looks to yelling at me from halfway across campus (twice) and confronting me in tears (once).

As I depart from this small school in the middle of nowhere, I want to leave you with a couple more quick thoughts.

To those of you at NGU: You have no reason to not excel. Your education is what you make of it. The majority of people I’ve talked to that say a degree from North Greenville isn’t worth anything have put no effort into, well, anything.

To those of you who have enjoyed this column: I will still be writing. Shoot me an e-mail or Facebook message.

And finally, to everyone, even if you don’t agree with me: Don’t admit you’re wrong or say sorry unless you mean it. Never compromise your beliefs, and never back down from them. The world will thank you for it in the long run.

That is all. It’s been fun.

Semper fi. Carry on.

Missed the most recent Crusader softball game? Or forgot when the next golf tournament is going to be? The Crusader Sports Weekly Review is a show devoted to keeping Crusader fans informed of all NGU sport events that happened the previous week.

Micah Sepko, sports information director, began the idea of developing a better way of managing the advertisement of the athletics department, through coaches hosting shows that can be uploaded to Facebook and YouTube.

It all started in mid-February with hopes of not only updating fans, but also getting the name of NGU on the internet.

With the progression of the coaches’ shows, Sepko figured that there are even more advances to be made in advertising NGU athletics.

Young female host Leah Ward does an outstanding job presenting the most recent updated information. Ward is a freshman sport management major who also plays soccer.  

“My favorite part of the show is actually shooting,” Ward said. “We have such a great time just goofing off and it’s hilarious.”  

She likes hosting the shows because it helps her get involved with other sports.

In some shows, bloopers have been added to the end, giving fans a substantial laugh. 

“She gives us a fun, fresh look, and her bloopers are worthy of American’s Funniest Home Videos!” Dr. Fred Battenfield, assistant sports information director, said.

With the Crusader Sports Weekly Review being broadcasted on YouTube, high school students and parents of these students considering in administering their athletic career can see what the department holds.

“The YouTube/Facebook show gives potential Crusader recruits a chance to see what NGU is all about, what our coaches look like, and what they would experience by coming to our amazing corner of God’s world,” Battenfield said.

The Crusader Sports Weekly Review gives multiple clips of what happened during the games, and Sepko has given variety to the show since it first began in February. The show times range from 3 minutes to 5 minutes, all including reviews and clips.

The show includes scores, statistics and quotes from head coaches from all sport events that happened over the last week. Also included are any schedule changes. 

It helps spread the news of games to the public and to fans that may have missed an email sent by Micah Sepko. 

The most amazing thing is that the expenditure of budget funds has been negligible. All the hosts volunteer their time and write their own scripts with the main goal being to gain external exposure for NGU athletics.

In the fall, the show plans to cover clips from football, soccer and cross country. And towards winter they will begin basketball. When spring sports are in season they will produce clips from the end of basketball, and then softball and baseball. 

“We try to give each of our athletic teams an equal amount of coverage as well as the players,” Robbie Gawrys, writer and producer, said.

North Greenville University’s Downtown Impact Team spends two days each week working with the homeless in downtown Greenville.

“I was so used to doing VBS with kids and typical youth group activities,”  Bethany Mustin, junior English, said. “I wanted to do something that was more community oriented and get out of the Christian norm.” 

The team, which consisted of only four students in 2006, has grown tremendously in three years. The group originally went on Thursdays only but has since expanded to Tuesday and Thursday evenings.  

“In the beginning, we would cook food and we had a storeroom of clothes and blankets, but we can’t use church buildings downtown anymore. So it’s just us and a van. We do what we can,” Mustin said.

The Tuesday group works with Food for Life, a ministry led by Paul Bulmer and located at Triune Mercy Center. The impact team takes this time to eat with the homeless, invest into their lives and live relationally with them.

Mustin has been a part of the team since her freshman year. She says her ministry is very relational. On Tuesday nights, she helps with Food for Life but mainly spends time with her homeless friends, both new and old.

“If I see people that I’ve known, then I sit with them and see how they are doing. Because we have a friendship, we don’t talk about deep stuff. We don’t talk about what struggles they might have on the streets because I already know those. It’s more of just how they are doing on a daily basis,” Mustin said. “If I meet someone new for the first time, sometimes they’ll share what’s going on. Sometimes they’ll let me pray with them, and we can talk about deeper things. But sometimes it’s just to hang out and keep up with the people I do know.”

The impact team has had the opportunity to meet many of the homeless, and many of them have kept in touch over the years. One example Mustin gives is Lewis, a man she met her freshman year.

“I love Lewis because we really do have a friendship. It’s not just the awkward I’m trying to minister to you kind of thing,” she said. “We took a picture together, our impact team and him, at the end of freshman year. Every time he sees me, he tells me he looks at it every morning and remembers us.” 

Mustin acknowledges the widespread needs located within the downtown Greenville area. She says everyone is on the streets for different reasons, and those reasons must be addressed.

“Some of them are addicts and need rehab. Some are from rough situations and can’t work. There are a lot of war veterans on the streets. Some have made a mistake and have a criminal record, so they can’t get a stable enough job to get off the streets. Some of them have mental disorders, and they can’t work, so they have no way of getting medication,” Mustin said.

As for Mustin, her experience ministering to the homeless has changed her view, both locally and globally.

“It has given me such an awareness. I can’t go downtown and  have fun and completely block out everything that is going on in the world around me. Even if it’s with friends, I see homeless people I know, or I see places where I know people are struggling. It’s very good to keep you grounded in what reality is.  When you’re involved in something like this, you can’t pretend that there isn’t pain in the world, and you can’t pretend that you don’t have a part in causing it or a potential in helping it.”

Many other impact teams serve in other capacities throughout the week. Seven weekend teams travel to local churches and assist in their ministries, and community teams minister in local venues. The community teams include: Palmetto Boys Home, Hospice, Pendleton Street Baptist Church, Good News Club at Tigerville Elementary, Augusta Heights Baptist Church, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Downtown Greenville, Tyger Baptist Church, Berea House at Buncombe Road Baptist Church, Centerquest, Spanish Team, Connection Fellowship Church and Nursing Home. 

If you would like more information on how you can serve through the NGU impact teams contact Jody Jennings in the Baptist Student Union office.

North Greenville began a five game road trip on April 14 when the team traveled to Greeneville, Tenn., to take on Tusculum College in a doubleheader. The Crusaders continued their strong hitting, but their pitching was not as strong as it has been and NGU dropped both games by scores of 5-1 and 11-5.

In game one, Tusculum pitcher Taylor Rakes pitched a four-hitter and North Greenville’s offense was unable to get any momentum going. Derek Fulmer, freshman undecided, led NGU going 2-for-3 from the plate including a third inning double that drove in the only run of the game for the Crusaders. Rand Stegall, junior business, scored the run for NGU and also stole a base in the game.

In the second game head coach Travis Henson allowed reliever Drew Provence, freshman marketing, to start the first game of his college career. Provence, who struck out four batters in the game, pitched well through the first four innings, and NGU took a four-run lead into the bottom half of the fifth. Provence, not used to pitching for long periods of time, tired quickly and the Tusculum bats heated up scoring six runs in the inning and four more in the six to take control and come away win the victory.

“We have shown a lot of improvement on offense,” Henson said of his team’s effort against a tough Tusculum team. “Devin Vance pitched a great first game but just had a little bit of control problems. We also decided to start Drew Provence in game two and he had a lead going into the late innings, so we were proud of his effort. We also made some very good defensive plays and shown poise in some tough spots.”

Fulmer once again had a strong game and finished 2-for-5 from the plate. Tyler Callicutt, junior accounting, had a double in the game and went 2-for-5 and Anthony Foulk, freshman sports management, was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Stegall went 1-for-2 and scored a run.

“The team is working extremely hard,” Stegall, who reached base six times in the two games, said. “Hopefully all of this hard work day in and day out will pay off for the postseason and we can make a run in the NCCAA. Right now though, we are just focusing on our next game.”

On April 20 North Greenville (8-36) continued the road trip with a game against Catawba College. The Indians’ scored five runs in the second inning and four in the third as they defeated NGU 13-7.

Fulmer had another strong game finishing 3-for-4 from the plate with four RBI including a third inning home run. Chad Drosieko, junior elementary education, had a solo home run in the sixth inning and Rob Dobbins, freshman secondary education, had a pinch hit two-run home run in the ninth.

The Crusaders played against Mars Hill last night and their next game will be tonight against North Georgia at 6 p. m. North Greenville’s next home game will be April 24 against Atlanta Christian at 3 p.m. in Tigerville.

Matt Huff
Staff Writer

If you have not had a chance to hear Susan Boyle’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream,” please look it up and watch it as soon as you put this paper down. She is an unemployed, unmarried, forty-seven year old woman that had a dream to sing in front of a large crowd, and her result is simply unreal.

The song she sings is from Les Miserables, one of the most celebrated stories in the Western canon.  A major theme rampant in the novel is the power of dreams, the desire to become something better. This specific song is in reference to Fantine, an abandoned mother who is forced to survive on her own. She desperately pleas for a better life, lamenting that “life has killed the dream I dreamed.”

How many of us give up on our dreams? Naturally, not many of us would admit that we have hung our dreams and ambitions at the door, never to don again. We like to look at our many years ahead and pretend we will always have time. Unfortunately, we tend to settle, to reduce our once extravagant dreams of life and ambition to a mere matter of convenience. We rest in the habits of accepting something less than what we wanted, excusing it in the name of “becoming an adult.”

What happened?  Why must we put down our child-like dreams and wonder with every passing year? It is so crucial that we keep a firm grasp of our young dreams, refusing to let them drift through our fingers like sand. As we grow older, those memories and dreams we once cherished so tightly seem to become silly in the coming of age. We lose sight of those castles in the sky, burying our noses to the ground and minding only the next step we’re taking.  

We are a poor generation to believe that we must settle. Life is full and it is out there for the taking, only we must believe it will be there when we reach for it. So often we can’t grab the stars because we pretend to be content with sticks. We must learn to reclaim our childhood dreams; we must take back what we stole from ourselves. Remember that castle in the sky, dust off the blueprints and build.

As summer approaches, recall those June days of the past. Climb trees, blare songs with the windows down, hold someone’s hand; remember the beauty of life and the beauty of dreaming. We cannot allow the self-worth enemy to win any longer, persuading each of us that we are not good enough and must settle for something less. Big dreams come from big hearts and to believe that that means nothing is a shame. Stretch your heart out and follow every dream, no matter how far or impossible it may seem. Don’t let life kill your dreams; don’t you dare.

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

On Wednesday, April 15, after several months of planning and preparation, the Spanish department hosted a ceremony to initiate the North Greenville chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Hispanic Collegiate Honor Society.

Summer is nearly upon us, and for those of us who have no jobs, no classes and (dare I say it) no friends, vacation days can get pretty boring. But luckily, there is always the proven time-devouring Internet, and blogging’s recent rise in popularity has given way to some pretty great ways to stay entertained. Here are five of the best blogs to make you smile while you’re trying to stay cool this summer.

Cake Wrecks

The Web site describes a cake wreck as “any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy or inappropriate.” But aside from finding pictures of cakes that have gone hilariously wrong, Cake Wrecks also displays some of the most amazing and professional-looking pastries you won’t find at your local Bi-Lo. Blog author Jen Yates (a cake designer herself) was inspired by a cake made for a friend that had a word misspelled in the icing, and so she created Cake Wrecks to show more bakery mishaps. Not only are the pictures of the cakes funny in themselves, but Yates’ captions are equally as humorous.

FAIL Blog

One of my favorite blogs, FAIL Blog gathers the funniest and most cringe-inducing pictures and videos from users and the internet, all with one common theme: epic failure. FAIL Blog is updated on a daily basis and includes pictures and videos from around the globe of people, signs, animals, restaurants, products, etc. that in some way have screwed up in a hilarious way. Users can also send in their own “fail” pictures and vote on their favorites. And if some of the jokes seem a little too inappropriate, viewers have the option of implementing a filter that shows only G-rated pictures and movies.

Picture Is Unrelated

A miniature pony wearing scuba diving gear? Check. Darth Vader filtering his drinking water on the beach? Check. Pictureisunrelated.com allows users to upload pictures of peculiar, ridiculous and bizarre human behavior. Most of the pictures make absolutely no sense, so a unique sense of humor probably goes far with most of the site’s content. The blog’s author proclaims, “We strive to find the strange moments of human life captured in photographic form and showcase them on our site as a testament to the absurdity of life.” I guess sometimes funny doesn’t have to make sense.

Pigeon Blog

As you may have already guessed, Pigeon Blog is a blog… updated by a pigeon. Hailing from London, Brian Pigeon is the self-proclaimed “premier blogging pigeon,” and has been maintaining his site for nearly four years. In his blog, he discusses the day’s adventures, complete with pictures and witty commentary. Brian Pigeon even has his own Facebook and Twitter (@brianpigeon), and the site includes links to some YouTube videos featuring pigeons. Also, be sure to check out the merch section where you can get Pigeon Blog shirts, mugs and messenger bags.

Ask a Ninja

In 2005, Kent Nichols and Doug Sarine created Ask a Ninja, a video blog about a mysterious ninja who answers viewer e-mails. The ninja makes hilarious commentary on everything pop culture—from global warming to Pirates of the Caribbean to ninja poetry. Part of what makes Ask a Ninja so entertaining is the actor who plays him, as well as the erratic film editing that makes the ninja’s wildly overemphasized movements that much more hilarious. Serious fans can also download Ask a Ninja podcasts on the go.

Kaelyn Pfenning
Copy Editor

If you listen to contemporary Christian music, you are living in sin.

This message, clearly conveyed through one of my high school piano teachers, shook my faith and caused tears to flow down my cheeks as I rode home with my mom. During the ride home, my mom encouraged me to examine the impact of the music on my life.

As I seriously evaluated contemporary Christian music, I recalled the many times God had used those very songs to penetrate my heart and to transform my life into His image, and I knew the music itself could not be sinful. God cannot use sinful means to transform lives, but He does convict us to remove sin in our lives.

Through my experience, I became careful to distinguish between an amoral tool used for good or evil and truly sinful actions. God created music and entrusted this gift to all people. As any other gift from God, some people abuse it while others choose to use it to honor and glorify God.

Romans 14:6 says, “He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord, He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”

With tools given by God, the issue is not the style of music, the day of the week or the eating of meat, but the important issue is the attitude of the heart. Believers ought to desire to please God in everything, including music.

2 Corinthians 5:9 says, “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”

In a survey distributed in the North Greenville University cafeteria at dinner on Wednesday, April 15, many students indicated a wide range of tastes. Almost half of the completed surveys indicated a desire to listen to contemporary Christian music the most when the students are on their own.

“The [contemporary Christian] music lifts up God and lightens my spirits. Also, they tend to be easy to sing and enlightening to all,” said Amie Prahl, sophomore biology.

Along with contemporary Christian music, about five out of 65 students preferred classical Christian music or hymns.

“I like singing classical Christian music because the notes are clearer and easier to hit than the crooning lyrics of contemporary Christian music,” said Braden Hall, senior history.

These two categories name only a couple of genres. A number of other students ranked country, rock, gospel and a variety of other styles of music as their favorite. Regardless of the genre of music, the important matter remains to glorify God.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Although sitting in classes during the summer hardly seems like an ideal way to spend vacation, the benefits of summer school far outweigh the cons. It may slightly interfere with work or vacation plans, but the end result will be rewarding.

Many students find it is easier to complete a class in five weeks rather than a class that spans a whole semester. Since the summer courses are divided into two sections, the classes are at a quicker pace, allowing students to complete one project and quickly move to the next.

All students are encouraged to take summer classes. In high school, the threat of spending a summer in classes seemed like a cruel punishment. Now, it enables students to get a jump start on classes they will need in the near future.

High school seniors should consider taking classes this summer to help them enter college with a few of the basic level courses out of the way. For college juniors and seniors, summer school ensures their graduation date.

Dr. Linwood Hagin, chair of the mass communications department, is teaching an introduction to mass communications course online over the summer. This is the first year North Greenville University will be offering summer courses online.

This summer is the official start of using Blackboard for undergraduates. Blackboard is a tool that allows faculty to provide students with resources available online.

Dr. William Stuermann, chair of the foreign languages department, is the leading advocate for the University to begin using Blackboard during the fall and spring semesters.

“This summer, online courses will be 100 percent online, meaning students will not have a face to face meeting with the professor,” Stuermann said. “The plan is to move all the instructors and courses to Blackboard to have hybrid courses for next school year.”

Roughly 22 courses are available online this summer through the University. Dozens of on-campus courses are offered as well. Students are able to look at their options on the student portal. Summer classes are $210.00 per credit hour. Online courses have an additional one time fee of $120.00.

Tackling an entire summer of classes is no easy task, however. Hagin warns students against taking on too heavy of a load.

“A student has to be disciplined. They cannot do something the night before. It takes research,” Hagin said. “Consider with online courses the problems that could occur with a computer. The work is due even if your computer is not working.”  

Pamela Farmer, registrar, is happy to help any students with questions concerning summer classes. She encourages students to be familiar with the summer course schedule in case summer classes are necessary.

“A lot of students wait until they receive their final grades to apply for summer classes,” Farmer said. “There is a week between the end of the semester and summer school that students can register. See what is offered and become familiar with the schedule.”

Whether you are a senior desperate to see graduation or a freshman trying to be a few steps ahead, summer classes offer students a great advantage.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered last Friday in Greenville to protest the current state of affairs. (Photo by Daniel Jamison / The Skyliner)

At 6 p.m. on Friday, April 17 at the Bi-Lo Center plaza, thousands rallied to cheer, boo and chant on a variety of political issues dealing with government fiscal responsibility. 

They called it a Tea Party. The Tea Party was organized by Upstate Young Republicans and marked the final protest of the week. The “tea” in Tea Party stands for “taxed enough already.”

Along the same lines as the Boston Tea Party, they both are representative of the fact that Americans are not willing to submit to unnecessary and unethical government demands on the people.

With the sight of American Flags, Colonial Flags, personally made posters and other anti-spending messages, you could tell that patriotism was in the air. One sign said, “Forget the Tea, Throw Congress Overboard” and another said, “political pirates are stealing my country.”

“Our goal at the Greenville Post-Tax Day Tea Party was to create a non-partisan event where the Silent Majority could express our collective dissent against the Bailouts and unchecked Federal Deficit spending,” the Upstate Young Republicans said.

Gov. Mark Sanford spoke at the rally. He talked about overspending by state government, and the crowd roared with approval.

“If you look back at history, you will see civilizations that have spent themselves into oblivion,” Sanford said.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer told the crowd that there are many ways to save money, including not hiring architects for each school built across the state but maybe one to design a model that all can use.

“Going to the Tea Party renewed in me a sense of loyalty to my country and inspired me to cease being a member of the silent majority,” Whitney Owens, junior elementary education, said.

U.S. Congressman Gresham Barrett, R-SC, who is running for South Carolina governor in 2010 and voted in favor of the bailout legislation passed last October, was drowned out in boos as he stood before the crowd “to be held accountable” and defended what he said was a strong conservative voting record.

Other speakers included U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, Mike Gallagher, Russ Cassell, Bob McClain, and North Greenville’s Dr. Tony Beam, vice president of student services.

“I went because I’m tired of people complaining about the government and the economy and not doing anything. I feel that getting organized and showing support are the first steps in taking action,” Jason Lockaby, senior English, said.

 The North Greenville golf team traveled to Etowah, N.C., on April 13 to play against 15 other colleges and universities from around the South in the Independent Collegiate Invitational.

On the first day of competition the Crusaders face tough weather conditions with overcast skies and scattered showers. The weather did give NGU a few problems but after day one of the two-day tournament, the team sat in seventh place overall, only 14 shots behind leader Brevard. However, the inclement weather cut the tournament short and only the first day of play was allowed.

“The weather conditions and the wet course made it tough on all the players in the first round,” head coach Jeff Patillo said.

North Greenville had two players place in the top 20 out of 86 players in the tournament. Brandon Coggins, junior elementary education, and Richard Smith, junior undecided, each shot an opening round 75 to tie for 15th overall with eight other golfers.

Other individual scores for NGU in the tournament were Brad Caldwell, junior sports management, who shot a five over par 77, Harrison Martin, sophomore undecided, who shot a six over par 78, and Andrew Beck, sophomore undecided, who shot a seven over par 79.

This was the final tournament for the Crusaders in the 2008-2009 season and with no seniors on the team, look for North Greenville golf to work hard over the summer and improve going into next season.

America is one of the top countries known for obesity. The Centers for Disease Control states that 63 percent of Americans are considered overweight or obese according to measures of body mass index.  

Why is our nation in such an epidemic? In many cases obesity is related to low incomes and lack of education. Eating unhealthy is much more affordable than eating a healthy balanced diet and in reality, many people are uneducated about the effects of improper diets. 

Consuming a diet of only fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats can be very costly; so many people do not do it. But how can we eat healthy and still be able to afford it?

First off, if bread is constantly in your diet, change to whole grain bread. 

Also try to consume about five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Add variety by picking different colored items. There are certain fruits and vegetables that are very affordable and healthy such as: onions, potatoes, tomatoes, yams, cucumbers, carrots, raisins, blueberries, strawberries and bananas. Watermelon, pineapple and strawberries are the best fruits to eat because they have the least amount of natural sugars. 

Secondly, eggs are very affordable and are a great source of protein. They provide about 5.5 grams of protein and only 68 calories. Also, some studies have shown that individuals who consume an egg breakfast are 83 percent more likely to see a decrease in waist circumference. 

Beans are also a very tasty and affordable way to get protein. Black beans, kidney beans, and lima beans can be bought canned in the grocery store for a little over a dollar. All beans are high in fiber and can help decrease cholesterol, which, when high, is a risk factor for heart disease.  

Lean meats such as turkey and chicken can be very beneficial to our health as well. In only four ounces of chicken we can consume about 60 percent of our daily recommended value for protein. It is much leaner than red meat and has more unsaturated, heart healthy fats.  

Lastly, if you like to drink teas or any other beverages that need sweeteners, you can substitute sugar with honey and cane juice. Evaporated cane juice is healthier than pure sugar. Cane juice has not been processed as much as white sugar and reduces the risk of adult onset diabetes and colon cancer, unlike white sugar. 

So next time you want to run by McDonald’s and grab a quick bite to eat, remember that there are delicious, healthy and affordable foods at your local grocery store.

When looking at the growth of the Internet, the access is much easier in researching news.

As technology advances, many newspapers are finding it more cost efficient and productive to transfer all articles to an online database.

The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (“New Zurich Newspaper”) is Switzerland’s most prestigious newspaper. It was first published in 1780 and is one of the oldest German language newspapers still in existence. Recently, they have stopped the printing of the paper and moved all articles to NZZ online.

The advantages of newspapers being online are intriguing.

First, the paper products are cut back in circulation and it can save money for each small newspaper company.

Increasingly, saving paper seems to be a huge issue; however, when does the advantage of saving money overcome the demand of the consumer?

When considering the reason behind the technology out spurt, many times the latest generation seeks to keep up with the technology through twitter or facebook and can find all the proceeding articles needed to do research.

Amy Bennett, freshman early childhood major, says her family never had a subscription to the local newspaper, so it was uncommon for her to pick up a newspaper and read it. “You can find more information on reading online. I never get the newspaper,” said Amy.

“I read most of my stuff online, just usually because I can’t find a newspaper though,” said Eledridge Beaufort,  junior math major. If newspapers brought about a new way of circulation, more consumers would consider reading the articles. Brian Stephens, a junior Christian studies major states reading the newspaper online is much easier. “I never read the newspaper, because it is easier for me to find what kind of news I like by searching the certain topics.” said Stephens.

One disadvantage to moving all newspapers online is the inability to look up news if you do not have a computer, or access to the internet. Yes, news will still be broadcasted on television, but the careers of Journalist and Free-lancers can be put out of place.

“It is easier for me to look at the newspaper, because I don’t look at the online articles much.” said Jaleesa Gladden, a junior Health and Wellness major. Technology can be complicating to those who do not “surf” the net all the time. Tyler Hovis, a senior Business major, minor in marketing, prefers to read the print version of newspapers because it is too much to hassle with online. “When you look at the online articles, you pull up too much stuff, and its annoying.” said Hovis.

Many love the scenery of the newspaper, each article arranged in the fashion, in which, all flow.

“Newspapers are much more easier, because you get so much more information out of it.” said Joshua Putnam, a junior marketing major with honors.

With newspapers articles moving online, the faster the news can be portrayed. Newspapers usually take a few days to be printed, and can slow the processes of informing the public of news that happened at that moment. But with the use of articles being submitted online and print, news can be portrayed more effectively. The NGUskyliner.com offers a newsfeed where not only students can access the latest issues of the newspaper, but also look up the old issues and make comments about them. As newspapers considered the transitional movement from print and digital, it is important to keep the consumer happy. The pros seem to outweigh the cons in the technology department, however each consumer of news should have the ability to choose to subscribe to the a newspaper online, or continue to read the printed version.

The newest album for singer-songwriter Dave Barnes has girls swooning over him for what may be good reasons. The rising musician released his five song EP, You, The Night, and Candlelight on February 3 in anticipation for Valentine’s Day. 

“It’s just an all around pleasant CD,” Valerie Miller, junior psychology, said. “One that’s good for a lazy afternoon or background music for a romantic candlelit dinner. I would give the CD five stars. It’s Dave, he’s great!”

Typically, Barnes’ plays an upbeat set of acoustic pop songs, but this EP is a calm and peaceful alternative to his previous records; however, the piano-driven, love-song CD is nothing short of what Barnes always offers in his music. This intimate record has substance and quality along with catchy lyrics and great melodies.

The EP contains five love songs, including revised versions of the previously recorded songs “Until You” and “I Have and I Always Will,” new songs “Loving You Loving Me” and “Home” and a cover of the Temptations’ “My Girl.” 

Barnes’ begins the album with “Loving You, Loving Me.” This romantic, piano-pop song, comparable to John Mayer, is a jazzy tune with a chorus you will find yourself singing along to. Barnes’ says in the song, “I can’t get enough of you; And every little thing you do.” 

Barnes strips down the song “Until You,” a track from his record Brother, Bring the Sun. His acoustic hit is transposed to a soothing piano ballad. The soft remake does a sufficient job at being as good as the original version.

The Temptations should be proud of Barnes’ remake of their classic song “My Girl.” While Barnes does change the song to suit his own style, he does not disrespect the original artist. Barnes adds his own flair while keeping the authentic melody. It’s a brilliant choice and a well done recording.

“Home,” an older song, was officially recorded for the first time for this album. Primarily piano, this slow, simple song says, “wherever you are is home.”

Amy Grant accompanies Barnes on the remake of his wedding song, “I Have and I Always Will.” This acoustic song featuring beautiful harmonies begins by saying, “Darling, we’re both scared, but where love is, fear won’t tread.” This song sums up Barnes’ message of love throughout the entire EP.

Barnes, born in Columbia, S.C., grew up in Mississippi and currently lives in Nashville, Tenn. The recent release is his fifth album. Barnes’ first album, Three, Then Four, was released in 2002. Others include Brother, Bring The Sun in 2004, Chasing Mississippi in 2006 and Me and You and the World in 2008.

“Comparing this album to previous ones doesn’t seem quite fair. It’s completely different,” Miller said. “His other albums have more swing to them. This album is much more pleasant and the songs have more of a sway to them rather than a swing.”

You, The Night, and Candlelight is available on iTunes and on his website, www.davebarnes.com.

Staff Writer

At 6 p.m. on Friday, April 17 at the Bi-Lo Center plaza, thousands rallied to cheer, boo and chant on a variety of political issues dealing with government fiscal responsibility. 

They called it a Tea Party. The Tea Party was organized by Upstate Young Republicans and marked the final protest of the week. The “tea” in Tea Party stands for “taxed enough already.”

Along the same lines as the Boston Tea Party, they both are representative of the fact that Americans are not willing to submit to unnecessary and unethical government demands on the people.

With the sight of American Flags, Colonial Flags, personally made posters and other anti-spending messages, you could tell that patriotism was in the air. One sign said, “Forget the Tea, Throw Congress Overboard” and another said, “political pirates are stealing my country.”

“Our goal at the Greenville Post-Tax Day Tea Party was to create a non-partisan event where the Silent Majority could express our collective dissent against the Bailouts and unchecked Federal Deficit spending,” the Upstate Young Republicans said.

Gov. Mark Sanford spoke at the rally. He talked about overspending by state government, and the crowd roared with approval.

“If you look back at history, you will see civilizations that have spent themselves into oblivion,” Sanford said.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer told the crowd that there are many ways to save money, including not hiring architects for each school built across the state but maybe one to design a model that all can use.

“Going to the Tea Party renewed in me a sense of loyalty to my country and inspired me to cease being a member of the silent majority,” Whitney Owens, junior elementary education, said.

U.S. Congressman Gresham Barrett, R-SC, who is running for South Carolina governor in 2010 and voted in favor of the bailout legislation passed last October, was drowned out in boos as he stood before the crowd “to be held accountable” and defended what he said was a strong conservative voting record.

Other speakers included U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, Mike Gallagher, Russ Cassell, Bob McClain, and North Greenville’s Dr. Tony Beam, vice president of student services.

“I went because I’m tired of people complaining about the government and the economy and not doing anything. I feel that getting organized and showing support are the first steps in taking action,” Jason Lockaby, senior English, said.

Last week students dropped in to Einstein Bros. Bagel Shop to show their support of WNGR 95.5 The Vibe as they were wrapping up their first spring tour. During the event, attendees were able to enjoy food, video games and Christian music. The spring tour also made its way to Furman and Moes. The Vibe hopes to continue the tradition of the spring tour in the years to come. (Photo by Chris Timmons / The Skyliner)

Whether you like country, soul or rock and roll, any kind of music you can possibly imagine is readily available. All you have to do is turn a couple of knobs or push a button or two and your favorite station is pumping noisily through the speakers or flowing softly and gently through the room. 

It is no wonder music is such a phenomenon in today’s society, and the North Greenville University subculture is no exception. NGU’s own radio station competes every day with other Christian radio stations. Its listener base is primarily composed of North Greenville Students, but lately 95.5 The Vibe has been reaching out to the local community.

The station took its first spring tour last week. April 8 found them at the Hello Love Tour with Chris Tomlin in Furman University’s Timmons Arena. On April 13 The Vibe was a little closer to home at Einstein’s Bagel Shop from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and finally on April 14 they traveled to Moe’s in Greer and stayed from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

During the second night of their tour, The Vibe was set up in a tent outside Einstein’s Bagels where you could pick up free food and listen to the music or sign up to win tickets to the Skillet concert while you eat it. Anyone who walked inside was handed a free CD of their choice and offered the chance by station manager David Watkins, who manned the game table, to play Madden NFL 09 and other games against each other. Winners could pick any 15 CDs they wanted and take them home. 

“CDs we have.” Watkins replied when asked what fans had to choose from, “We’ve got Rebecca Saint James, Julian Drive—CD and DVD—Jimmy Needham, Chris Sligh, Rush of Fools and a whole lot more.”

The Christian rock culture is exciting and passionate for some. 

“I had a great time,” Ashley Renkovish said after she won her fifteen CDs playing a game on the Xbox she could not identify. “Probably the best ones 

I got were John Foreman, Disciple, Lincoln Brewster and Sevenglory.” 

Other students, however, such as Ashley Renkovish’s older brother Adam, a senior at NGU who came along to see what was happening, seemed less than enthusiastic. “I don’t listen to The Vibe,” the older Renkovish said. “They don’t cater to me or anyone else who likes other styles of music. It doesn’t look like their tour was very well publicized either. The only people who are here are the people in the mass comm department.” 

The Vibe pulled out all the stops on their final trip to Moe’s in Greer. Entertainment, food and lots of uplifting, Christian music was given away. Now that the tour is over and life is returning to some degree of normality, the staff of 95.5 The Vibe is looking forward to April 18 when they will be airing live interviews from GMA week in Nashville.

Paul Conner
Staff Writer

Elizabeth Wood/ The Skyliner

The women’s tennis teams wrapped up the regular season by defeating Lenoir-Rhyne 5-0 overall, 3-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles, Saturday afternoon at the Greer Tennis Center. The win was their second of the week, the first coming at home against USC-Lancaster 9-0 last Wednesday, and North Greenville finished with a 7-6 record on the year.

North Greenville may play more matches if Elliot is able to reschedule some of the matches that were postponed in March due to rain.

With the win, the Lady Crusaders put themselves in position to participate in the NCCAA National Tournament May 9-12 in Marion, Ind. A formal announcement came last Monday after publication.

Lenoir-Rhyne needed to return to their campus in Hickory, N.C., and requested to play first-to-five. At number one doubles, Salem Erni, junior interdisciplinary studies, and Katherine Shaw, freshman undecided, handled their opponents 8-4.

Cherie and Cassie Curtis, senior elementary education and freshman secondary education, defeated their opponents 8-2. Courtney Lynn, senior psychology, and Natalie Stewart won 8-2.

At number one singles, Erni defeated her opponent 6-4, 6-2, and at number six singles, Stephanie Tyrpak, senior broadcast media, cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory. Shaw’s singles match was interrupted because North Greenville reached five-match wins first. Lynn continued her match despite the result, coming back to win 4-6, 6-0, (11-9) in the tiebreaker set.

“The girls had been playing well coming into the match, so it was good to see them keep that going,” Elliot said.

The men’s team had similar success against Lenoir-Rhyne, defeating the Bears 5-0 overall, 3-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles. The Crusaders also triumphed against USC-Lancaster 8-1 earlier in the week to improve to 4-9.

At number one doubles, Gabriel Altmayer, senior international business, and Timur Kamilov, freshman undecided, rolled to an 8-3 victory. At number two, Guilherme Vasques, senior business administration, and William Ho, senior business administration/marketing, won their match 8-4. At number three, Thomas Clack and Jacob Rogers, senior Christian studies, cruised to an 8-0 win.

At number one singles, Kamilov fought for a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory, and Clack topped his opponent 7-5, 6-1.

The Crusaders were without Juan Carlos Aguilera, senior economics, who suffered a broken right wrist last Saturday before the USC-Lancaster match. As he was warming up, Aguilera tripped over a rake on the court and fell backwards. He tried to catch himself with his right arm but broke his wrist in the process.

Aguilera went on to play the match but later found that his wrist was indeed broken. He will have surgery Monday and will wear a cast for eight weeks. Aguilera, who also plays soccer for the Crusaders, expects to be at full strength for the fall soccer season.

The college-attending Christians of America are missing out on something extremely important. Many of them are not regularly attending a church. Students who claim to be Christians, but are then nowhere to be found in a church service on Sunday mornings may be starting the downfall of our generation of Christians. Too many times, college-aged Christians do not attend a church or fellowship.

At North Greenville University, a possible explanation of why some students do not attend a church regularly is the fact that we are required to attend chapel twice a week. Chapel is all fine and well; it gives us a good message and worship; however, this is not what church is all about. It is not a sufficient fellowship for our Christian lives. It is important for a Christian to plug himself or herself into a fellowship and to both give and take from that fellowship for the betterment of his or her spiritual health, not to mention to help out other Christians within the group.

Many students on North Greenville’s campus, myself included, do not own a car. For some students this is an excuse not to go to church. I still find a way to get to church most Sundays. Plenty of people around campus would gladly carpool in order to get their friends to church. 

Another excuse students have is not getting out of bed. While getting a good night’s sleep is important, there is an answer to this reason for missing out on church. Many churches now offer late morning and evening services, so the excuse that you were too tired is no longer valid. 

Homework is another roadblock on the road to going to church on Sunday. This justification for skipping church usually, but not always, coincides with the “sleeping in” excuse. Students often times leave projects, homework and studying for that big test until the last minute. I know this because I, myself, am a professional procrastinator. There is a very simple solution to this problem. Just plan ahead to get your work done, whether it is setting up a schedule for your weekend, or simply doing your homework when it is assigned. Either way, homework is no reason to miss out on church.

All this is simply a reminder that no matter what, we have the chance to be a part of the body of Christ. Giving up on that chance for something as trivial as homework, not owning a car or sleep is really discouraging, especially with the times we are living in. Put forth the effort to be a part of a church, it will not only help you in your life, but it will also help in others.

Cory Guinn
Staff Writer

Now that the NBA season has come to a close and the playoffs are in full swing, we must not forget about the individual players who draw the most interest in the league. For much of the season there had been debates about who the Most Valuable Player is. In the next few lines you will see my pick for MVP along with predictions of who should receive other awards from the NBA.

Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

-This season Rose, O. J. Mayo and Russell Westbrook have each had moments where they seemed to be the ROY. However, the numbers do not lie (16.6 ppg, 6.2 apg) and he has done the most to state his case by being a true floor general while being the star of his team, leading them into the playoffs and becoming a future star in the league.

Sixth Man of the Year: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks

-No other player this season has had more of an impact off the bench than Jason Terry. He averages more points per game, 19.7, than most players in the league and his ability to provide a spark for the Mavericks is one that is hard to match.

Coach of the Year: Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavaliers

-The Cavaliers have finally lived up to potential and possess the league’s best record while playing stifling defense. He has surrounded his star with the right mix of players and Cleveland is poised to make a run at the championship crown.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

-Howard is the most dominating presence in all of basketball. Period. He averages 13.9 rpg and 2.92 bpg while anchoring the league’s seventh best defense. He has been the main ingredient in turning around the Orlando Magic.

Most Improved Player: Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets

-Harris is no doubt the most improved player in the NBA this season. He is averaging career highs in minutes per game (36.1), steals per game (1.7), rebounds per game (3.7), assists per game (6.7) and points per game (21.3). Such dramatic improvements over the course of one season provide enough evidence to show Harris truly deserves this honor.

Most Valuable Player: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

-Most would argue that Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade should get this award but no one can compare to the numbers King James has put up this season. James season averages of 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.2 bpg show that he does everything on the court for the best team in the NBA.

Trey Lancaster
Photo Editor

“Hell must fear me! Hell must fear us all!” If you have been to a hardcore or metal show in the past couple months, then it is likely that you have seen a shirt with this printed on the back. No, it’s not the shirt of an emergent church; it’s an Impending Doom shirt. Impending Doom is another member of the Facedown Records family that is hitting the music world with everything they have and their new album The Serpent Servant proves this. 

Hailing from Riverside, Calif., the members of Impending Doom were immersed into the heavy metal and hardcore music scene growing up. This is very easy to see in their musical structure. Hard-hitting, crushing and brutal are just a few adjectives that I would use to describe their sound. 

Each track is filled with blazing fast thrash parts, brutal breakdowns and a few face melting leads here and there. Not only is the music amazing, but also the vocal work of front man Brooke Reeves is amazing. His vocals are very low and have a guttural growl to them at times and are very reminiscent of Bruce Fitzhugh of the legendary Christian metal band Living Sacrifice. Brooke’s vocals have matured a lot since the band’s debut album. On the first album his vocals were straight gutturals the entire album and near impossible to understand even with the lyrics in front of you, but on this album he stepped up and did some of the best vocal work I have heard in a very long time from a band in the death metal scene.

The new album is not just great music and vocal work, but the lyrical content of this album is amazing. This album deals mostly with defeating hell and the devil’s minions. Many of the songs have a theme of battle or of a spiritual struggle. One of my favorite tracks on this album is “Storming The Gates Of hell.” In this song, Brooke is basically giving hell a warning that this battle will not be won by them and that we are coming to tackle hell and its minions head-on. One of my favorite lines comes in the middle of the song, “Here we are. Storming the gates of hell. Our whispers will silence your roars and our roars will wreck your lives. So here we come.” This song is also one of the fastest and heaviest tracks on the album, which is always a good combination. 

Another track that really stands out to me on this album is “When I Speak.” This track talks about how there will be many things at the end of days that will be extraordinary and challenges listeners to rise up and question everything. The end times will be filled with deception and Impending Doom chooses to warn others about this inevitability. This track is also a really good musical mix of thrash parts and very sludgy doom metal parts.

Overall, this album has just about everything: brutally crushing music, astonishing vocal work and amazing spirit-filled lyrics. If you are a fan of brutal metal then you should definitely give this album a listen.

I did not expect much going in to this film. The reviews on Rotten Tomatoes certainly were not among the best of the year, so I went in to this film with moderate expectations. Let’s just say that I was mildly impressed.  

The film begins with a mother and her son, riding around Connecticut, and looking for a new home. The son has cancer which requires several treatments, and his mother wants the family to move closer to the hospital. She purchases the first house that is available. From the moment we see this place, we know that it is probably not the best idea. However she makes an executive decision, and does not even think to scope it out beforehand.  

Almost immediately, the son starts having disturbing visions and nightmares. He moves into the lower half of the house, because it’s spacious, and he thinks it looks cool. Big mistake. This is where the movie actually starts and things get intense. The use of atmosphere is probably the finest element in the film. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the acting or the direction. The herky-jerky style of editing gets annoying after a while, and at times the film seems unfocused. There were a few scenes that made little or no sense at all within the context of the story. The acting was mild, to say the least. Virginia Madsen (Sideways) portrays the mother, and she is the only one who manages to show the least bit of range. 

Also, the film is very derivative of other haunted house films, and anyone who has seen The Others, The Shining, or The Amityville Horror will know exactly what I am talking about.  

The film manages to pack in quite a few scares, and since I scare easily, it got to me. There were even a few subtle spiritual messages scattered throughout, and I thought that this was a nice touch. I only wish that it could have been a bit more original. Overall, I feel it deserved a C+ on the movie grading scale. 

The Haunting in Connecticut is rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of terror and disturbing images.

Summer has always meant one thing when it comes to television: dreaded reruns. 

Granted, this was at one point useful because it gave some of us a chance to catch up on episodes we may have missed. Many television shows now post aired episodes on the internet to be watched anywhere and anytime. 

Recently though, new television shows have aired during the summer. This can be attributed to many causes, but the biggest one is last year’s Writers Guild of America strike, which pushed a lot of shows behind schedule. Here is a look at some of the promising summer shows.

The Unusuals

This new “cop” show comes with a crazy plot and a good mix of comedy. The Unusuals is about the supposed weird homicide cases that go down in New York City’s second precinct. 

The show revolves around Detective Casey Shraegar, who is promoted from vice to homicide and into the abnormal cases of second precinct. Amongst the strange cases the second precinct has to investigate, the police in the precinct have some oddities about themselves. Detective Eric Delahoy tries to get himself killed in the line of duty and is quite unsuccessful at it. Delahoy’s partner, Leo Banks, is alert in every way, even sleeping in his bulletproof vest. 

The show stars Amber Tamblyn as Casey Shraeger, Jeremy Renner as Jason Walsh, Adam Goldberg as Eric Delahoy and Lost’s Harold Perrineau as Leo Banks. The Unusuals debuted with its pilot episode on ABC last week and airs on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m.

Monk

Probably USA’s biggest and most popular show, Monk returns for its eighth and final season. 

Monk has been America’s favorite obsessive-compulsive since 2002, and this last season is no different. Adrian Monk will be fighting crime as a police consultant and fighting his fear of, well, everything as usual. Helping Monk are his two assistants Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) and Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram). Monk’s character has always been the underdog, but he rises above it to become the hero. 

Monk stars Tony Shalhoub. USA will end the series after this summer’s sixteen episodes.

Wipeout

The show in which contestants compete in an insane obstacle course, Wipeout, returns to ABC for its second season. 

Each week, $50,000 is up for grabs among 24 contestants. The same obstacle course as last year, “The Qualifier,” remains, but there are a few new additions. 

Wipeout is going to be an all-out fun show to watch. Last year, Wipeout was rated the number one series among all the networks. Wipeout premieres, May 27 at 8 p.m.

North Greenville students, Mountain Laurel staff and writers and literature and art enthusiasts gathered at the Leopard Forest Coffee Company on Monday, April 6 to preview this year’s Mountain Laurel publication. Writers and artists presented some of the poetry, fiction, nonfiction and art that will be featured in this year’s edition of The Mountain Laurel.

Daniel Stockwell, sophomore secondary education, and Melissa Weaver browse through archives of the Mountain Laurel at this year’s pre-release event. Next year, under newly appointed editor Christopher Gianakas the publication will undergo some design changes. (Photo By Elizabeth Wood)

The works presented were colorful and diverse expressions of time, person, relationship, location, emotion and experience. Several writers based their work on cross-cultural experiences, some on internal conflict and others on biblical themes.

There were several breaks from literature and art presentations for audience members to mingle and enjoy Leopard Forest coffee and refreshments. The event was so well attended that every table in the café was filled.

Lindsey Culbert, senior English, and editor of the Mountain Laurel, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. She described this year’s journey from staff selection to publication.

One of the developments Culbert described was the reorganization of the Mountain Laurel. In previous years, fiction, nonfiction and poetry were all intermingled. This year the Mountain Laurel will be separated into individual sections for each genre. Culbert said that the new classification system was inspired by the seasonal nature of life. “Everything goes in cycles. Everything comes in a spring, summer, fall and winter,” Culbert said. The new layout expresses this cyclic pattern.    

Culbert said that editing the Mountain Laurel was a growing experience for her personally. “I have learned a lot. I have grown a lot. Not just in knowledge, but spiritually as well. I learned not only to be a leader, but to be a follower and a servant as well. That is probably the hardest lesson I have learned,” Culbert said.

Katie Player, senior interdisciplinary studies and featured writer, told of her experience with the Mountain Laurel. “It’s helped me gain the confidence to put my stuff out there. I didn’t think I was a good writer,” Player said, “Dr. DeCiantis and Dr. Bruce encouraged me to pursue my dream of writing.”

Mountain Laurel staff member Melissa Weaver, sophomore secondary education in english language arts, put together a collection of student work from Blue Ridge High School that was specially featured at preview night.  A class that Weaver observed in her studies wrote poems about what made them who they are called “I am From” poems. Nine of the poems were selected to be featured. The poems were displayed at preview night as a tool to generate interest in North Greenville as well as to show that Blue Ridge students produce quality work.

A closer look of previous editions on display at Leopard Forest Coffee Company. (Photo by Elizabeth Wood)

 

Next year’s Mountain Laurel editor was announced at preview night. Christopher Gianakas, senior interdisciplinary studies known as “Gia,” is the new editor. “I am very excited. I have most of my staff already picked out,” Gianakas said, “I think we have a great staff. I think it is going to be a great expression of all our diverse personalities.”

Gianakas wants to continue the good work Culbert did this year. He also plans to make some changes, including a new logo for the Mountain Laurel. “We want to make this a precedent for future publications,” Gianakas said.  

The men’s tennis team dropped a 5-4 decision overall, 1-2 in doubles and 3-3 in singles, to Tusculum on a sun-soaked afternoon at the Greer Tennis Center last Saturday. The women’s team had a more difficult outing, falling 9-0 overall, 0-3 in doubles and 0-6 in singles, to Tusculum, who are ranked eighth overall in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association southeast region.

Trailing 1-2 entering singles play, North Greenville (3-9) came back to tie the game and had two chances to win the game, but Tusculum held on for the victory.

Jacob Rogers, senior Christian studies, and Juan Carlos Aguilera, senior economics, fell 5-8 to Thomas Rees and Drew Kiser at number one doubles. Timur Kamilov, freshman undecided, and Gabriel Altmayer, senior international business, were defeated 4-8 against Leo Guaycurus and Henrique Rodrigues at number two. Guilherme Vasques, senior business administration, and William Ho, senior marketing/business administration, defeated Steven Lin and Hunter Beal 9-8, 7-2 at number three.

In number one singles competition, Kamilov lost the first set 5-8 to Rees but took the second set 6-4, forcing a tiebreaker, which he won 6-1.

Kamilov, a transfer student born in Uzbekistan who played a year at Lander (Greenwood, S.C.), has emerged as a top player on a Crusader team that is laden with seniors. Vasques has tabbed Kamilov for a strong finish to the season.

“He started the season slowly, but he’s playing some of his best tennis now,” Vasques said. “He’s in shape, and he’s ready to go.”

“He’s really picking it up,” added Altmayer.

Aguilera fell 4-6, 3-6 to Rodrigues at number two, but Altmayer topped Beal 6-3, 6-1. Ho defeated Guaycurus 6-0, 6-4 to give the Crusaders the lead overall. Vasques fell 6-7, 1-6 at number five to Lin, and Rogers fell 6-3, 2-6, 3-6 in the tiebreaker match against Kiser.

“I felt good after the doubles match, but not so much after the singles match,” Vasques said.

The Crusaders dropped their mid-week match 2-7 last Tuesday at Wingate. 

North Greenville will take on Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Greer Tennis Center in their home finale.

The women’s team, which dropped a close 5-4 match against Wingate five days earlier. They struggled against a quality Tusculum side. Salem Erni, junior interdisciplinary studies, and Katherine Shaw, freshman undecided, fell 8-1 to Caroline Crowe and Katelyn Doss at number one doubles.

Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, and Cherie Curtis, senior elementary education, were defeated 8-5 by Amanda Pike and Jennifer Sparks. At number three doubles, Courtney Lynn, senior psychology, and Natalie Stewart fell 8-5 against Heidi von der Lage and Jessi Smith.

Erni fell 6-1, 6-2 to Jennifer Sparks at number one singles. Shaw fought from a 4-6 first set loss, winning 6-2 but falling 10-5 in the tiebreaker set. Pike handled Cherie Curtis, senior elementary education, 6-3, 6-4, and Lynn fell 6-2, 6-2 to von der Lage. Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, was defeated 7-6, 7-5 by Crowe, and Stephanie Tyrpak, senior broadcast media/Spanish, fell 6-1, 6-1 to Blake Thompson.

The Lady Crusaders (5-5) will face Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Greer Tennis Center.

The Crusader baseball team continued their four game road trip on April 8 when they traveled to Jefferson City, Tenn., to take on Carson-Newman University in a doubleheader. NGU split the two game series winning the first game 9-4 but losing the second game 10-3.

In the first game, Devin Vance, sophomore business, had his second strong outing in a row pitching a complete game allowing only five hits and striking out five batters. Anthony Foulk, freshman sports management, led the offense going 3-for-4 including two doubles and driving in three runs. Tyler Callicutt, junior accounting, had a double and three RBIs in the game while Chris Harbit, sophomore biology, hit his second homerun of the season and Perry Foster, sophomore business administration, drove in two runs.

“The main key for our team for getting consistent hitting is that we have to be mentally focused and want it more than the other team.” Foster said of the team’s offense in game one. “Against Carson-Newman we were prepared and we had it in our heads that they were not going to beat us and it paid off.”

The Eagles scored four runs in the first inning and led the whole way for a victory in game two. Justin Williamson, sophomore business, was the outstanding pitcher for the Crusaders pitching 1 1/3 innings and only allowing one hit. At the plate, Harbit finished the game 2-for-2 and Dylan Fulk, freshman education, went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

The Brevard Tornados pounded 16 hits and scored 13 runs to take game one of a doubleheader with North Greenville 13-4, and then held off a last inning rally by the Crusaders to sweep the series with a 7-6 win in game on April 11 at Ashmore Field in Tigerville.

NGU was unable to stop the Tornados from putting together big innings on offense.

Brevard scored six runs in the first inning and five in the fifth and led the whole way despite 12 hits from the Crusaders. Rand Stegall, junior business, finished the game 2-for-4, including a double, and one RBI. Jacob Goetze, freshman business management, and Cory Hinton, junior sports management, each went 2-for-3 at the plate and knocked in one run apiece.

Game two was a much closer affair as each team went back and forth for much of the game. The game was tied at four runs each until the sixth inning when North Greenville committed two costly fielding errors and Brevard went ahead by three runs. NGU made a late game rally by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning but came up short. Dayton Lupton, junior sports management, led the offense by going 2-for-4 at the plate including a home run and a double, adding four RBIs. Stegall finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI’s and two runs scored.

The Crusaders traveled to Tusculum, Tenn., yesterday to play a doubleheader against Tusculum College. The team’s next game will be on the road on April 21 against Mars Hill.

 With wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour and low temperatures outside, the Crusader golf team played in North Greenville’s annual BMW Intercollegiate golf tournament on April 6-7 at Cherokee Valley Country Club in Tigerville.

On day one NGU golfers Brandon Coggins, junior elementary education, and Brad Caldwell, junior sports management, both shot an impressive 73 in the tough conditions. Other Scores for NGU were Harrison Martin, sophomore undecided, who shot a 76, Richard Smith, junior undecided, who shot a 79 and Andrew Beck, sophomore undecided, who shot an 81. All of these players helped lead NGU to a tie of first-place at the end of the first round of the tournament.

“I am very pround of the way my team performed despite the extreme conditions,” head coach Jeff Patillo said.

North Greenville faced cold weather once again on day two of the tournament but the weather was unable to stop the Crusaders from getting hot.

The NGU golf team was able to finish the tournament in first place while every player on the team shot under 80 for the day. Beck and Caldwell led the Crusaders in the final round each posting a 74 while Coggins shot a 75 and Martin and Smith both shot 79.

North Greenville finished eight strokes ahead of second place Limestone College and Spartanburg Methodist College came in third, 29 behind the Crusaders. Caldwell was a tournament medalist and an All Tournament performer and Coggins was also an All Tournament performer honoree.

“I think course knowledge helped us tremendously,” Coggins said of the team’s reason for winning. “When the weather is bad, you just have to maintain your focus and grind it out on every shot. In the wind, there is no doubt that bad shots are going to come, you just have to keep grinding and play it shot by shot.”

The Crusader’s final tournament of the 2009 season will be April 13-14 in Etowah, N.C., at the Independent Intercollegiate Invitational.

Many students enjoy going to state parks such as Caesars Head during the warm months to relax. (Web Photo)

Looking for somewhere to go when the weather finally gets warm? A lot of people around here like to go hiking or exploring in the waterfalls.

Mark Robertson, sophomore elementary education, loves to hike with his friends. Some of his favorite places to explore are Pisgah National Forest, Caesar’s Head and Table Rock Park.

Pisgah National Forest, which is roughly 45 minutes away, has beautiful trails, waterfalls and a fish hatchery. 

Raven Cliff Falls and Bald Rock are on Caesar’s Head, which is 25 minutes away. Caesar’s Head provides beautiful waterfalls that are well-worth the six mile hike.

“It has a beautiful sight towering over Lake Lure,” Robertson said about Table Rock Park. 

Alan Dry, senior broadcast media, loves to go to Pretty Place.  

“It is about one hour away but it’s worth it!  It has a beautiful view,” Dry said.

Lance Skipper, junior outdoor leadership, loves to go to three different places.  

First is Rainbow Falls, which is about thirty to forty minutes away.  

“It has an awesome waterfall and has a pretty easy hike,” Skipper said.  

Second is Poinsett Bridge.  

“The bridge is really cool and there is an awesome cave to check out,” he said. Poinsett Bridge is about five to 10 minutes away. It is said at night that there are ghosts out on the bridge. Unless you like really scary places, you shouldn’t go there at night.

The last place he recommends is White Water Falls, which is about 45 minutes away.  

“There is a trail to a big waterfall called Foothills Trail. It is near [Lake] Jocassee,” Skipper said. You can also camp there with a big group on the weekends.

Jason Lockaby, senior English, likes to go to Double Falls near Jones Gap. It is about 35 minutes away. He says it is the best waterfall around. A lot of people get married under the waterfall there.

So if you’re bored and itching to get out and do something in the spring warmth, go to one of these great places with your friends and go hike or take a picnic and look out at the waterfalls. You could also go hang out in the cave at Poinsett Bridge. Whatever you do, go out and have some fun and take a study break out in the warm weather.

Attention, terrorists. Do not mess with us.

Freighter Capt. Richard Phillips was rescued Sunday by Navy snipers from Somali pirates who had hijacked his 17,000-ton ship. The action was approved by President Barack Obama twice, according to Associated Press.

Phillips had jumped overboard and tried to swim away, but the pirates easily caught up to him in their own boat and tried to hold him as a bargaining chip.

“I share our nation’s admiration for Captain Phillips’ courage and leadership and selfless concern for his crew and I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of (piracy) in that region,” Obama said. “We have to ensure those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable.”

Though I find an issue with the President’s stipulation that Phillips had to appear to be “in imminent danger” before the Navy could act (Come on. He was being held by pirates with AK-47s.) and the fact that these ships can’t be armed themselves because of ridiculous international laws preventing people from protecting themselves, the message is clear.

We negotiate with terrorists with bullets.

It boils my blood when people rail on deadly force on terrorists and violent criminals. That is all they understand, and that is the only way they know how to communicate. These are not rational people. They are out for not just money but for blood as well. They will stop at nothing and have all or nothing negotiations – Give them what they want, or they’ll kill everyone.

There’s something huge pacifists miss when they denounce deadly force on pirates and terrorists. When they decide to attempt to take lives and violate the rights of innocents, they forfeit their own. This is not only common sense, it’s Biblical. Note that Jesus told his apostles to even sell their coats to buy a sword (Luke 22:36).

I’ve heard it called a tragedy that these pirates died. I say those three perfectly timed headshots made the world a little safer. The pirates may be pledging revenge, but the thought that they may not be able to actually obtain their booty will be in the back of their heads. As the military saying goes, “A distracted soldier is a dead soldier.”

So, in essence, this action has made preventing Somali piracy as well as freeing the dozen ships currently being held hostage a lot easier.

We are trying to prove to the terrorists that we are not going to give in. I hope President Obama will heed Winston Churchill’s words when he said, “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack.”

Staff Writer

David Jackson senior elementary education presenting Jared Snead senior media ministry with the award for the best 3-minute film entitled The Tune of the Caged Bird. Snead's film was inspired by the Jon Foreman song, 'My Love Goes Free.' (Photo by Trey Lancaster)

Last Monday, the NGU Film Club held its first annual Red Carpet Film Festival, an event created to display and award exceptional achievement in amateur filmmaking. The festival was held in Hayes Ministry Center at 7 p.m., and coffee and desserts were served.

The Jazz Ensemble opened the evening’s festivities, and alumnus Chris Hecke was present to host the event. Autumn McAbee, the newly crowned Miss NGU, was also in attendance to present one of the awards. Mrs. Elena Lee’s Painting I class from the Art department also provided artwork for the Hayes foyer.

This year’s Red Carpet awards saw nine entries from NGU and other nearby schools. The films ranged from five minute, 10 minute, and 30 minute films, as well as documentaries. The films were judged by Nathan Willis, an NGU Broadcast Media alumnus, Jesse Contreras, a graduate of renowned film school Full Sail University, and Dr. Linwood Hagin, Mass Communications Chair.

“Impressively, the event came out very well,” Carmen Miller, Film Club president, said. “We had about 50 attendants including the presenters and filmmakers.”

Awards were presented to Justin Robinson for his five-minute film Fear and Heidi Ferster for her 10-minute film Lost in translation. Craig Sanders won an award for his documentary Legacy: The Reservation Legend, and Jared Snead took home the for award his 30-minute film The Tune of the Caged Bird, which was one of the highlights of the night.

“The overall inspiration [for the movie] was from the song ‘My Love Goes Free’ by Jon Foreman,” Snead said. “There were also some different stories that had happened to some of my friends, and I took those stories, combined them with a few things that have happened to me, and then made what is in the movie.”

The film also resonated with Miller, who believes Snead’s film has a healing quality to it.

“I know that we have been through some rough times this semester due to losing loved ones, and the message of his film has especially comforting for me,” Miller said. “The message of The Tune of the Caged Bird is that no matter how bad life’s circumstances become, God is always there for us. Life is not fair, but through those tough times we become stronger and He is our strength through difficult times.”

Miller says that the Film Club’s goal is to collectively learn, teach and pursue a passion in the film industry. She believes that the Red Carpet awards helped convey this goal and hopes that through more events like it, filmmaking will one day become a concentration at NGU.

Shawn Stom and Carmen Miller formed the Film Club this past semester specifically for students interested in the film industry and movie making. The club currently has 25 members and has held three meetings, two of which consisted of interviews with Scott Derrickson, writer and director of The Day the Earth Stood Still, and John Hendon, camera operator for WYFF.

Miller expresses excitement for next year’s Red Carpet awards, as well as two Film Club productions and an interview with Phil Cooke, a Christian media consultant and producer. She encourages any students interested in filmmaking or producing to get involved and to check out the NGU Film Club.

The NFL Draft just around the corner, I cannot help but to be excited. Almost every sports fan in the nation follows the hype leading up to the Draft whether he’s a football fan or not. Each team in the NFL has the chance to improve their team by hand picking a player from a large pool of the top athletes from the college ranks who have made themselves draft eligible.

People all over the country, including ESPN experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are forming their own predictions of how the draft will shake up and I am no different. The following is my own personal mock draft with a breakdown of each player and his abilities as an athlete.

1. Detroit Lion (0-16): QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia

-The “Golden Rule of the NFL Draft” is that unless you already have a franchise quarterback you do not pass on one and the Lions do not have one. Matthew Stafford is the type of player that you can build a team around. He has everything you look for physically along with top-notch intangibles. If, for some reason, the Lions do not select Stafford here it would be a monumental mistake.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): OT Jason Smith, Baylor

-A great athlete and former tight end, Smith is still somewhat raw but he has a world of potential and also possesses a hard work ethic to maximize it. With Orlando Pace out of the picture, left tackle is a major concern. The Rams are leaning toward selecting an offensive tackle with this pick and the only question is which one will they choose.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14): LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest

-Almost everyone seems to agree that Curry is one of the best prospects in this draft and it is pretty rare to see such a wide spread agreement on one player. Curry’s ability to play outside or inside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme only adds to his appeal. There are plenty of playmakers in this draft and Curry may just be the best one of them all.

4. Seattle Seahawks (4-12): OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia

-For a while, everyone thought that Seattle would choose a wide receiver with this pick but the team addressed that problem with the signing of veteran T. J. Houshmanzadeh. Monroe is not flashy but he shows a tremendous upside and is a solid, all-around left tackle with a level of talent that should make him a staple on the line for years to come in Seattle.

5. Cleveland Browns (4-12): OLB Everette Brown, Florida State

-Last season the Browns got a grand total of eight sacks from their outside linebackers (just five from the starters) so it is obvious they need to bring in a pass rusher. Even though Brown played defensive end in college, most feel that he is better suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. While there are questions about his position, there is no question about Brown’s ability to get after the quarterback.

6. Cincinnati Bengals (4-11-1): OT Andre Smith, Alabama

-To say the Bengals had offensive line issues last season would be an understatement. In fact, Cincinnati finished 29th in the league in rushing and 30th in sacks allowed. On talent alone, Smith is one of the best players in the draft but there are questions about his height, conditioning, and maturity. However, the Bengals has shown that they are willing to ignore those types of flaws and take a player on how they perform on the field not off of it as well.

7. Oakland Raiders (5-11): WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

-There is always a surprise or two on draft day and this could be one of them. Most feel that Michael Crabtree will be the first wide out chosen but due to off season foot surgery that may not be the case. Maclin is an all-around great play maker who has the ability to score every time he touches the ball. His speed and ability to play on both offense and special teams make him a smart choice for the lowly Raiders.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

-Crabtree is the best wide receiver in this draft but his off season surgery could cause his stock to drop a bit. There is no question that he has the best hands and best stats but teams are concerned about his speed, something most wide outs need to be successful. Crabtree has shown that he can put up numbers without blazing speed and he should be an immediate threat in the Jaguars passing game once the season starts.

9. Green Bay Packers (6-10): DE/OLB Brian Orakpo, Texas

-The Packers are making the change to a 3-4 defense this year and it seems as though they will use this pick to acquire a piece to aid in that transition. Brian Orakpo is often referred to as a “Workout Warrior” but he gets it done on the field as well. He is a physical specimen who was dominant for the Longhorns last season as is sure to do the same in Green Bay.

10. San Francisco 49ers (7-9): QB Mark Sanchez, USC

-A local guy with elite intangibles, Sanchez has all the tools to be a great quarterback in the NFL and he is the type of guy that you can build a team around both on and off the field. Having only started 16 games in his college career, experience is a concern for Sanchez but his talent and upside override any suspicion that he can get the job done at a very high level.

Stephanie Amanda Gayle sophomore English is already starting to prep for her exams by studying in the Tingle Student Center. (Photo by Daniel Jamison)

With the end of the semester closing in fast, students at North Greenville are scrambling around trying to finish up projects and prepare presentations.

From freshmen to fifth-year seniors, all students will soon be reminded just how stressful the end of the semester can be. But several have found ways to combat stress during this time.

Many students take advantage of the great spring weather and relax outside. The many parks in the area provide an escape for students looking to take a break from studying and spend time with friends.

Taking a drive down one of the scenic mountain highways is a great way to clear your head and relieve stress.

A few students shared their tips on how they cope with stress during the final weeks of the semester.

“For me, it’s getting off campus and finding a really good spot to just kick back and relax … I take a book and my iPod and kind of forget about everything else. But if I don’t feel like driving anywhere, I like to go running, too,” Marley McDonough, freshman health and wellness, said.

“I go outside and take a deep breath of Tigerville air. It helps me get a better perspective on all my schoolwork,” Sam Holt, junior marketing, said about his stress relieving techniques.

Many students find that staying organized is the best way to not get too stressed. Time management is essential when you have a lot of work that is due all at once. Making a calendar and keeping a studying schedule are beneficial ways to manage time effectively.

Brooke Thomason, senior elementary education, shares several tips that she has used throughout her college career to minimize stress.

“During exams, it usually helps me if I make a schedule in my mind. It helps if I set aside particular times to study for particular exams. Then, I am able to focus on one subject at a time, instead of all of them at once. During the last few weeks of school, it helps me to make a list of all the assignments I need to get done. Then, I check them off as I finish them.

Checking off assignments I have completed helps release my stress,” Thomason said.

Even during the busiest time of the semester, it is important to still find time to have fun. Even if you just take a half hour to play cards with friends in the student center, short breaks will help you relax and avoid over-stressing later.

If a professor provided a study sheet for a class, some students find it helpful to split up the study sheet and work together to find the answers. Then they can get together and go over the answers all together. This provides extra study time for the whole group, and members of the class can help one another out with problems they may be having.

Over-stressing about assignments and exams can be easily avoided with proper time management and relaxation techniques.

Next time you feel yourself getting overwhelmed by all the end of semester work, do not be afraid to take a break and enjoy time with friends.

Dee Dee Dill, a familiar face around the post office, has been called to voice her opinion on the importance of recycling. She is the Woman’s Missionary Union director at Blue Ridge Baptist Church. 

The church has decided to partake in recycling in a humongous way through collecting cans and paper. 

“We were interested in doing cardboard and plastic, but all the recycling centers I contacted said you would need a tractor trailer load before you would get any money from them,” Dill said. 

Since the church does not have that much room to hold all the bottles, they keep a four ton recycling bin on the church property. Every week the church puts an announcement in the bulletin, reminding all members to bring their cans and paper, and spreading the environmental involvement to friends and family. 

After the church has been collecting for only three weeks, the bin has filled up half way. This recycling effort will be ongoing, because the church is committed to recycling, and will continue this from now on, as long as there is not any unforeseen problems. 

“I will continue to explore avenues to see if we can expand our efforts to card board, and plastic in the future,” Dill said.

A four ton recycling bin is relatively large—it holds 8,000 pounds of paper and cans. A case of paper weighs up to 50 pounds. Therefore, if each member or student brought Dill a box of old used papers, the recycling bin would be filled in no time. 

Many students have become lazy in doing their part as to keeping not just their dorm rooms clean of trash, but it is even worse to see a student not even pick up their trash from the student center. We often complain about seeing trash everywhere, but feel that it is not our duty to clean it up. 

Old class notes, paper towels, can be recycled for a good cause. 

First, students can keep the environment clean, but also help Blue Ridge Baptist Church raise money to pay off a new sanctuary. They currently owe a principal balance of $249,000.00. 

Dill and her husband have felt that this is their call to not only keep the environment clean, but also raise money for the church to build a new sanctuary. 

“My father had Alzheimer’s and died a year ago last December. His favorite pastime in the last months of his life was to go and pick up cans on the side of the road. He could no longer work, so he thought picking up his cans was his job,” Dill said.

Every time they drove by the road and saw a can he would yell to stop so he could pick it up. Because Dill’s father was committed to recycling, she and others were greatly impacted. Therefore Dill has set a goal for herself to become that same impact to others, and wants students at NGU to get involved. 

Any time a student goes to the post office, Dee Dee wants you to bring by any paper or cans. Her goal is to bring a box of paper from NGU every time she goes to church. This goal is easily approachable if students will make it a point to pick up their cans and used paper products. 

“God has created us such a wonderful place to live and look how we treat it. I definitely want to do my part,” Dill said. 

All proceeds of the recycled products will be used to pay off Blue Ridge Baptist Church’s sanctuary. She has already impacted the lives of many church members to recycle, and believes in encouraging many more. 

Students can have this same impact on their fellow colleagues by starting off with this outreaching project to help a local church. Bring all cans and paper to the NGU post office, and Dill will bring them to the recycling bin at church.

Charity is not just for the rich and famous to donate their Jeopardy winnings to. Anyone and everyone can be involved, and it is certainly not all about money donations—which is good news for the average poor college student.

For every person who happens to be reading the Skyliner today, a worthwhile charity, somewhere close by, reaches out for support so it can continue serving the unserved masses. That means anyone and everyone—even college students—can somehow be involved. 

What makes it that easy? Well, for one, North Greenville University’s athletics department makes it that easy. From the first week of every athletic student’s freshman year, coaches and faculty encourage them to be involved in some sort of worthy charitable effort or organization. 

Assistant Athletic Director and cross country team coach Micah Sepko believes it is the duty of the athletic staff to open students’ minds and hearts to the boundless possibilities that exist to help others who have greater needs than their own. 

“It’s a good marketing tool for the school, for one thing,” Sepko said when asked why athletic students were encouraged to participate in charity. “Most schools encourage their athletes and coaches to get out in the community because it broadcasts what the school’s doing.”

According to Sepko, NGU’s women’s basketball team has already been involved with the American Cancer Society to help raise support and awareness for victims suffering from breast cancer, but his view of charity encompasses more than health and homeless organizations.  

“The football team went on a missions trip last summer,” Sepko explained. “And I know that they’re going again.” Sepko referred to a week-long trip NGU’s football team took to Mexico where they worked with another university’s football team and shared Christ’s love with the players and coaches. In a video on www.ngcrusaders.com, team member Patrick Norr, who ventured to Mexico with the team, describes the trip as a unique opportunity for football players to help out other football players.

NGU’s head basketball coach Chad Lister has been involved with leading groups of athletic students involved with charities in the past. Any athletic students interested in being involved in charity work should contact him. 

News and multimedia videos telling all about the athletic department’s missions and charity work can be found at www.ngcrusaders.com under the Youtube link on the left.

So what opportunities are in store for the near future? Sepko said that “the cross country team has looked into going to Africa either next Christmas or next summer.” 

Whether raising support for cancer or taking the gospel to unreached parts of the world, the athletic department sees charity as a vital part of the Christian faith and a liberal arts education. 

“We’re always encouraging students to get involved in as many missions trips and charities as they can,” Sepko said. “We encourage our coaches to do the same—to get involved with outreaches for our school.”

North Greenville’s softball team came into Wednesday’s game against Montreat College rolling on a four-game winning streak. The Crusaders were hoping to extend that winning streak along with sweeping their third series in a row, which was another season high. The pitchers for both teams kept both teams in check, and the game was scoreless until extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Montreat Cavaliers put the first runs up on the board and went ahead 2-0 off of a sacrifice bunt.

The Crusaders tried to match the Cavaliers but could only muster one run and suffered their first loss in five games. Crusader pitcher Kristyn Smith, sophomore biology, threw a season high 10 strikeouts.

It is very rare that a pitcher will have the chance to avenge a loss in a series, let alone the same day. Smith was given that chance and took full advantage. She struck out six batters and gave up only three hits to shut out Montreat 3-0. Smith finished with 16 strikeouts and only gave up five hits in the two games.

Allison Bailey, junior studio art, Hope Brewer, junior sport management, and Lindsey Eargle, senior sport management, combined to go 5-for-9 with all three RBIs that helped the Crusaders win the second game.

The team evened their record at 15-15 after winning the second game of the doubleheader. The Crusaders have seven games left to play and need five more wins to surpass their entire regular season and postseason total wins from a year ago.

NGU is on the road until April 22 when they come home to face Spartanburg Methodist College for their last series of the year.