The academic departments at North Greenville are constantly improving and expanding to draw more students to the university. The Fine Arts department is the latest academic division to go through expansion, specifically the Visual Arts field.

Added this past August, a bachelor of arts degree in studio art is one of the newest majors at North Greenville. Ceramics, drawing, graphic art, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture are the areas of emphasis in the studio art core curriculum.

Before the bachelor’s degree in studio art was offered, a minor in visual art was the only option for students wishing to study art and art history.

Studio art majors will take a variety of classes including Drawing I and II, Design I and II, Art History I and II, Digital Imagery and Twentieth Century Art History.

Students receiving a degree in studio art will “declare an area of emphasis and take nine hours related to that discipline,” Zac Buser, visual arts department chair, said. Eight other studio art courses will count as art electives to complete the major requirements.

Already, there are almost 20 students pursuing a degree in studio art this semester, with more expected to enroll in the major next fall.

Full-time professors currently teaching in the visual art department include Buser, Elena Lee and Blake Smith. Tommy Hance serves as an adjunct professor.

The new classrooms and studios belonging to the department are either being used currently or nearing completion. Classes are being held in the Rosti Building, also referred to “The Studios at ‘Ole 414.” The Rosti Building also contains both sculpture and ceramics studios that are being used for classes.

Next door to the Rosti Building, the Runion Building is almost complete. Shortly after installation of an elevator, the building should be ready for use.

The Runion Building will provide room for several studios, including ones for design, drawing, graphic art, painting, printmaking and photography.

The Runion Building will also have a special “exhibition space named after Lisa and Rip van Riper who generously donated funds to help the project,” Buser said.

These new classrooms and studio spaces will be a huge benefit to the department. The expansions should draw in more potential art majors to the programs.

The improvements will be a benefit to those students looking to perfect their talents here at North Greenville.

North Greenville University’s head football coach of nine years, Mike Taylor, has resigned from his position, as announced to the team by athletic director Jan McDonald on Tuesday, Jan. 13.  

“Coach Taylor has had a good tenure at North Greenville as our football coach and we would like to thank him for his dedicated service to our student-athletes,” McDonald said on to www.ngcrusaders.com. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

“In the field of sports, in a general sense, if you don’t produce then you lose your job,” said offensive linemen Patrick Knorr, senior interdisciplinary studies. “I was a bit surprised by the fact that he resigned because at the end of the season he assured the team that he would be back… Obviously though, the school and Coach Taylor wanted to go in two different directions”

The team played the toughest schedule in school history and ended the 2008 season 2-9.  The Crusaders had wins against Edward Waters College and Kentucky Wesleyan College. The 2007 season ended with a 5-6 record.  

“I honestly feel that this program can reach potential that this school has only seen glimpses of,” running back Matt Moore, senior business administration, said. “We have lost a great person for the school but there is good in all bad.”

Taylor started the football program at North Greenville in 1988, left in 1992 to coach at Newberry College, and returned in 2004. In his years as head coach, Taylor had a 55-35 record at NGU. He was inducted into the NGU Hall of Fame in 2001.

“He was a tough, hard-nose, old-school coach,” Knorr said. “One thing remains true for my career… He never abandoned us even when the times were tough and would fight for our guys if they were to get into a tough situation.”

Taylor helped move the team into a brand new stadium in 2005 and led the Crusaders to their most successful season of school history in 2006. The team led in NCAA Division II offense, with a 10-2 record and a championship over Malone College in the Victory Bowl.  Taylor was named 2006 SC Coach of the Year by The State newspaper. 

“Honestly, I was okay with [the resignation],” said defensive linemen Mark Smith, freshman secondary education. “The assistant coaches are doing a great job of leading the team. Overall I think we have just as much potential, probably even more than last season.”

According to Knorr, the athletic department is currently interviewing coaches from various levels of experience.  

“This is also an exciting time for the NGU football program,” said Knorr. “Our program has a very talented group of underclassman; so it will be interesting how the new head coach will use the talent in his scheme.”

For more information on Coach Taylor or the search for a new football coach, contact McDonald or visit ngcrusaders.com.

Film is sometimes seen solely as a source of entertainment. However, a group of students at North Greenville University have taken it upon themselves to expose cinematography as the elaborate art form it can be.

Jan. 21, 2009 ushered in the first gathering of NGU’s new film club. Directed by Carmen Miller, junior broadcast media, the club staff intends to provide film enthusiasts across campus with a much needed outlet for their creative thinking and artistic endeavors.

“Shawn Stom came up with idea, so he would be considered the founder,” Miller said, “and he just had this idea and I thought, ‘that’s really cool!’” 

The idea sat with them for some time, but by the end of fall semester, Stom and Miller decided it was time to take action. They worked with Professor Shurajit Gopal, Brad Cole, Christopher Timmons, Gloria Hiatt, Heidi Ferster, Michael Gibbons and Erica Leon to create an original organization where students could learn about, discuss and even produce movies.

According to Miller, the club will meet once every two weeks for about an hour at a time. She plans to dedicate the first half of the meeting to group interaction; different students experience different things and Miller hopes the film club will be a place where everyone can share tips and techniques that they have learned and used in their school and recreational film projects. During the latter part of the meeting, Miller plans to bring in guest speakers with jobs and experience in the film industry.

As focus develops within the group and interest from without increases, Miller’s plans for the group include a collaborative Christian film production including every member of the film club in some way or another.  She hopes to accomplish this production next fall.

“In the spring we’ll be showcasing students’ works,” Miller said.

One long term goal for the film club is the development of a new film major at North Greenville University.

“For now, we’re just trying to get some more interest and help each other out,” Miller said.

Tiffany Huff

Tiffany Huff, senior music education, pulled onto Route 25 around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, and a car smashed into the driver’s side before her father’s eyes. A simple errand to pick up book money from her parents became a heart-wrenching tragedy for many who knew Huff personally.

“Dr. McManus called me out of class and took me to student services. He, the personal counselor Ms. Sue, and Mrs. Green told me. I just started crying,” said Huff’s roommate Jackie Joyner, elementary education.

Dr. Bill McManus, counselor supervisor, received a call from Lori Green around 8:40 a.m. He dismissed his class early and offered his help to Student Services. Honoring the request of Huff’s father, McManus informed Joyner of the accident before allowing any public announcement.

“The very essence of who [Tiffany] is and how she embraced her faith in Jesus Christ echoes throughout the places where she walked,” said McManus. “She did not waste her years on trivial pursuits of pleasure; she invested her life in relationships.”

At noon, Huff’s friends and classmates gathered in the choral practice room to share memories concerning Tiffany and to encourage each other.

“They talked of her vocal talents, her love of color coordination, of her last facebook entry [salvation of her grandfather], her vibrant personality, her infectious smile and her faith directed worldview,” said McManus.
Later on Thursday night, President Jimmy Epting gave a memorial speech during a faculty dinner in the Hayes Ministry Center in honor of Tiffany Huff. The nature of the speech cast a somber mood as Epting spoke.

“I started praying as soon as I heard there was an accident at 414 and 25,” said Susan Kahl, associate professor of sociology and department chair for interdisciplinary studies, “I prayed more specifically when I had more details about the student, her family and her friends.”

Even as family and friends mourn the loss of a daughter and friend, they remember the impact of her life.
“I met Tiff our freshman year,” said one of Huff’s close friends Bethany Settlemyer, junior early childhood education. “I was visiting my friend Emilie Bartholomew when Tiff walked in. The first thing she said to me was, ‘Who are you?’ I told her my name and she said, ‘Oh ok, Hi!’ I laughed so hard. She was so sweet.”

Along with memories of first meetings, Huff’s friends treasure the blessings of fellowship with Huff.
“My best memory was one night when we were in our room goofing off, and she was making a noise like a duck, and we couldn’t stop laughing,” said Joyner.

In this time of heartache, family and friends recall the joy Huff brought to the lives which touched hers.
“She was always positive and happy no matter what the circumstance,” said Jessica Boyle.

In addition to her lighthearted and gentle nature, Huff won hearts and uplifted spirits through her facial expressions.
Settlemyer said, “One of my most recent memories with Tiff was when we were in an ensemble for the Miss NGU Pageant. All the girls would be practicing over and over again until we were tired and unhappy, and she would make us laugh with the funny faces, gestures, and singing she did.”

Others recollect not only her optimistic attitude but also her talents and gifts which she shared with those around her.
“She’s an extremely talented musician and so pretty and beautiful,” said Sharon Roach, junior secondary English major.

Huff capitalized on her strengths by singing in choir both at college and at her home church, Clearview Baptist Church. Singing in the choirs allowed Huff to share Christ as well.

“She loved southern gospel and being able to worship and spread God’s gospel in that way,” said Joyner.
Along with her musical talent, Huff possesses a quiet and sweet demeanor which blossoms with a deepening relationship.

“Quiet but sweet, shy but fun when you get to know her some. I remember her smile the best,” said Anna Adams, freshman music.

Huff’s smile touched the lives of more than one friend as she exuded her love for Jesus Christ.

“Tiffany had a great smile and beautiful voice,” said Settlemyer. “She was caring and full of God and her faith which radiated from her all the time.”

“I remember her smile and her hair, because she always looked so cute,” said Sharon Adair, December 2008 graduate.
Though there is a time to mourn, Huff’s family and friends recognize the hope of heaven and draw comfort by looking forward to seeing her again one day.

“She was one of my best friends and best lovers of Christ I’ve ever known,” Settlemyer said. “I will miss her so much, but I know that she is in a better place and singing her heart out in Heaven.”

Carolina First Bank and Einstein Bagels are now open for business! The bank offers a convenient location for students attempting to maintain their finances while Einstein Bagels provides hot coffee for those who are seeking warmth on cold winter days.

The building housing all of the university’s recent improvements, the Eddie Runion Creative Arts Center, is also anticipating the opening of the second floor. Construction was slightly delayed due to elevator complications. The elevator, set to be installed on Jan. 26, will complete the Runion building and open the second floor classrooms.

Directly next to the Runion building stands the 3,000 sq. ft. Rosti building. The building is being renovated to become the new art studio for students. It will provide a gallery in which students will be able to display and sell their pieces.

The generous grant for the building was provided by Zelda Rosti, who requested the building be called Studio at ‘Ole 414. A few of the university’s art classes have been moved into the Studio at ‘Ole 414 but most of the equipment necessary for the students has not yet been purchased.

The theatre students will be excited to discover a new theatre is in the works to be completed by the end of this year. Alex Miller, vice president for university advancement, referred to the new building as a “black box theatre.”

The old Tigerville elementary school will be completed at the same time as the Billingsley Theatre. The renovated building will provide classrooms and special areas for theatre students to build sets.

Preliminary drawings have been presented to Architect Bob Cashion for the Christian Worldview Center. The new building, which is scheduled to open in 2010, will hold classrooms for Christian Studies and provide new offices for Dr.

Tony Beam, vice president for student services, and Dr. Allen McWhite, director for global missions.
McWhite is enthusiastic about the new building because it will provide necessary training procedures to prepare students and local church mission teams for evangelism.

“It is going to enable us to do more in preparing our students cross culturally. It is going to enable us to develop a research center here where hopefully it will place North Greenville as a leader in the southeast in training and equipping missionaries,” McWhite said.

Rev. Joe Hayes, Jr., executive director for development, is the brain behind all of the operations going on throughout campus.

“We’re going to continually build in Tigerville. We’re praying about it, about the possibilities,” Hayes said.

Over 30 students signed up for the trip to Ski Beech which extended from 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 to around 2:15 a.m. early Friday morning. 

“It was very spontaneous, a few friends mentioned it as we were walking by the sign up sheet and thought it would be fun,” Michael Anderson, business alumni, said.

Setting off in two buses and a couple of cars, the journey began with excited chatter. The car that student body president Josh Putnam was driving broke down about an hour into the trip. Diane Turner, Director of Student Activities, had to turn around and pick up Putnam and the others who were in the car.

Kately Wilson and Joanna Ward with varying degrees of experience, enjoyed the trip to Ski Beech. Check out the Student Services calendar as they are sponsoring events for each week until the end of the semester. They are planning to host more ski trips in the upcoming winter months. (Photo by Kaelyn Pfenning / The Skyliner).

“The worst part was one of the [campus secutiry] cars broke down on the way, so some of the people got there later,” said Marty Height, senior psychology. “Apparently, the car was possessed and just started turning off and then the windshield wipers went crazy.”

Despite the delay for some students, everyone remained safe on the trip to Ski Beech and back. While everyone returned safely, a number of students became well acquainted with the snow through numerous falls due to ice, challenges and other factors.

“I fell one time, and it was to help Joanna. She fell ahead of me, and I tried to stop to see if she was okay but couldn’t stop the way I wanted to because I was going too fast, and the snow was really slick,” said Katelyn Wilson, sophomore early childhood education.

“I hit an ice patch that flipped me over and that was the only time I fell,” said Wayne Hope, sophomore mathematics/business.

“I would get going fast, and a few times I fell to stop myself,” said Hope Cagle, elementary education.

“I fell twice attempting jumps, but those are the only times I fell,” said Nick Everett, [2008 English alumni].

Many students with previous experience joined the adventure, but a few students observed snow for the first time ever.

“My friends from South Africa came with us on the trip,” said Jessica Bradburn, freshman. “It was the first time they’d ever seen snow, so my favorite part was watching them get used to everything and being able to hang out with them.”

Several students participated in the trip primarily to fellowship with friends;  others primarily looked forward to skiing or snowboarding.

“It is a huge rush to ride the ski lift to the top and then get off and just fly down the mountain,” said Emily Gillespie, sophomore elementary education.

Various students skied down the mountain as others snowboarded to the bottom of the slope. Each student chose equipment based on past experience and preference.

“I like skiing better. Two feet strapped to one board equals death for me,” said Kyle Phillips, broadcast media.

“I like snowboarding better because I extremely dislike ski boots with a passion,” said Hope.

Whether skiing or snowboarding, most students particularly enjoyed the opportunity to hang out with friends.

“My favorite part of the ski trip was bonding with the students from North Greenville and being able to have fun while skiing,” said Kristina Rabon, junior early childhood education.

Kyler Booher, sophomore broadcast media, pulls up for a jump shot against Brevard on Saturday. (Photo by Antwan Glenn/The Skyliner)

The North Greenville University men’s basketball team put in hard work over the Christmas break, and it paid off on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The Crusaders took on Montreat College in Hayes Gymnasium and came away with a convincing 93-81 victory.

NGU dominated in the paint and on the boards throughout the game. They also got to the free throw line on a consistent basis and shot 56 percent from the floor. The key for the Crusaders was head coach Chad Lister’s decision to confuse the Cavalier offense by switching up defenses almost every time down the floor.

“Coach Lister switched it up on defense to keep them off balance and cause some turnovers which worked for us,” forward Zach Babbitt, sophomore business administration, said. “We kept up the intensity and did a good job down the stretch which helped us pull off the win.”

Babbitt led the team scoring a career high 27 points and adding five rebounds. Forward Kyler Vitko, junior sports management, had a double-double finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while center Paul Harrison, freshman sports management, scored 20 points. Jason Wray, freshman biology, came off the bench to score six points and dish out five assists.

The North Greenville women’s basketball team worked hard over the break as well and put their work ethic on display against Southern Wesleyan University on Nov. 20. The Lady Crusaders played a back and forth game against the Lady Warriors and came away with a close 67-65 victory thanks to Amanda Milner’s, senior psychology, go ahead shot with 10 seconds left in the game.

Milner finished the game with 23 points and Christina Carlis, freshman undecided, scored 14 points for NGU.

On Jan. 22, the men traveled to Sumter to take on Morris College. The Crusaders ran into a Hornets team that shot 54 percent from the field and hit 12 three pointers in the game. NGU was unable to get any momentum going on offense leading to a 91-64 loss.

North Greenville was led by Harrison, who finished the game with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Vitko and Babbitt followed close behind with 15 and 10 points, respectively.

The Lady Crusaders played Morris College on Jan. 22 with hopes of putting together two wins in a row. North Greenville shot just 24 percent in the first half, which led to a large halftime deficit. NGU put on a furious second half rally but came up short losing to MC 80-67.

“We couldn’t throw it in the ocean in the first half,” NGU head coach Jayne Arledge said. “We dug a really big hole and did everything we could to get back in it, but just couldn’t get it under 10 points. We just had an off shooting night.”

Karly Stache, freshman undecided, led the way offensively with 18 points while Milner had 15 points and guard Nikki Wood, junior psychology, finished with 10 points.

The North Greenville men matched up against Brevard in a weekend match up on Jan. 24 in Hayes Gymnasium. A poor shooting effort by NGU led to a 66-44 defeat at the hands of their in-state rivals.

The inescapable truth of life is in its ending. By no means do I wish to sound morose or despondent, but it is the truth nonetheless. Part of the universal human experience is aging, the bittersweet feel of birthday after birthday as we watch that person in the mirror change on us. With every passing moment, we are collectively growing older. Unfortunately, Barrie’s play is fictional, and Neverland will always be just a little farther past our fingertips.

So how do most of us handle this? We discover how simple it is to reduce our life simply to what we tell strangers—“What’s your name?” “Where do you work?” “When do you graduate?” “Are you dating?” Whereas the answers to these numbing questions are important, they cannot become the identities that make up our life. The beauty of life is in the process, the things we embrace to get us from one photo album to another. Anyone can hold on to the big moments—graduation, promotion, championship, engagement—but the gift of life is so much larger. It has to be. 

I often laugh at myself for relaying my goals and ambitions to people in the form of a personal bucket list, a seventy-year checklist of dreams. Though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, what I fail to realize is the extreme importance of those seemingly little moments: that night I couldn’t fall asleep or the time my best friend made me laugh so hard I choked on something. But the best part of these “everyday” moments is the surprise of God. Somehow we expect that God’s presence is at an all-time high during our celebrity moments, the times we feel exceptionally accomplished. We are tempted to believe that He is to thank when we feel great, and He is absent when we do not. But this is wonderfully wrong. Life is a race that we are ever finishing at a pace that is always uncomfortably fast. It’s easy to tell ourselves where we’re running, but the how is where we get caught. God is always willing to guide us through each big moment in our life, but the “everyday” is God’s playground for miracles, His behind-the-scenes workshop. 

Of course the trophies, the diplomas and the diamond rings are enormous moments to be excited about, but we should never lose the music, the midnight drives and the out-loud prayers. We should never attempt to escape the everyday moments by way of that second star to the right; rather, we should learn to find the adventure in the little things. Of course, the daily process of life can be painful and overwhelming, but even if at times we feel it’s in circles, we should always keep running.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop was released on Jan.16, and has since stayed on top at the box office. Directed by Steve Carr (Daddy Day Care), Paul Blart: Mall Cop stars Kevin James (King of Queens, Hitch).

Blart is a simple man who happens to be a mall security guard, who aspires to be an actual policeman. However, Blart’s hypoglycemia prevents him from completing the physical exam to become a police officer. He lives with his mother and his daughter; whereas, his wife, who was an illegal immigrant, left him the moment she received her citizenship. 

Blart’s life could probably not get any more depressing. But his daughter reminds him of his promise that she could set him up on an internet dating site since he had not found a girlfriend.

Blart is not hopeless, however. He has a crush on Amy (Jayma Mays), who works at one of the mall’s kiosks, and she is not necessarily disinterested in him. Also, Blart takes his job as a mall cop seriously and seems to enjoy it at the same time.

He is given the chance to prove himself after the mall is broken into by a group of hoodlums led by Veck Sims (Kier O’Donnell), who was originally a partner of Blart’s in the mall cop force. The mall is evacuated except for a select few, including Amy, who  that are used as hostages. As Blart is leaving the mall, he sees Amy’s car still in the parking lot and puts two and two together. From here on out, duty calls for Paul Blart. He manages to not be seen and attempts to thwart the heist that follows.

The thing that makes this movie funny throughout is Kevin James’ original comedy. The fact that his character is so devoted to a job most people do not even respect is funny throughout the film, not to mention that, through most of the movie Blart rides awkwardly around on a personal transporter. Without James, this movie would not have been nearly as funny as it was. 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a good comedy, but not a great one. Like a security cop at a mall, it is a bit cheesy. However, it is fun for all ages. Paul Blart: Mall Cop is rated PG for some violence, suggestive humor and language.

Cody Fields

Is it just me, or does President Barrack Obama not understand how national security works?

The New York Times reports that Obama signed executive orders Thursday to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, close secret overseas CIA prisons and restrict the CIA’s interrogation methods to those in the Army Field Manual.

“What are we to do with these people, bring them to the very place they hoped to attack: The United States?” Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.), the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee said on nytimes.com. “What do we do with confessed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his fellow terrorist conspirators, offer them jail cells in American communities?”

And thats just the problem. Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.) has offered to house former Club Gitmo detainees in his district, according to foxnews.com.

“We’re looking for some jobs down here and Congressman Murtha has been exceptional with helping us with that,” said Brad Geyer, a councilman in Connellsville, Pa., when asked about Guantanamo prisoners. “My constituents … would probably err on the side of enjoying the possibility of some new jobs.”

And that’s just the problem. The government doesn’t see the fact that these prisoners are being held 90 miles away from the United States for a reason. They want to kill every single one of us, and bringing them here would only provide their colleagues with a chance to break them out, costing anywhere from dozens to thousands of American lives in the process.

Shutting down our secret prisons will not help us either. In the name of “full disclosure” (which is Obamanese for free shots on the Bush administration), it seems President Obama wants everyone to know exactly where every jihadist we have captured is being kept, since that matters.

While we citizens deserve the truth, there are some things in the War on Terror that are better kept unsaid until a later time, especially where Osama bin Laden’s buddies are being held. Obama has failed to account for the fact that making information available does not just give it to your friends. Rather, it will put it a Google search away for our worst enemies.

And only allowing the CIA to gather information how our Army regulars can is comparable to making a cop kindly ask a third grader if he stole his friend’s glue stick.

The entire point of aggressive interrogation (and there is a difference between that and torture) is to make the subject feel like he has lost all control. It induces a sort of “freak out” state where the subject, now “broken,” will give up information. The Bush administration often said these enhanced interrogation methods gave us intelligence required to thwart numerous plans to kill Americans.

It almost seems that with the entire system of fighting terrorism undermined, it’s more of a question of when than if an attack on our homeland will occur. While I hope and pray that does not happen, look for the Obama administration to once again blame George Bush and seek to “understand” why it happened, rather than actually doing something about it.

On Jan. 20, 2009, millions of people tuned in to watch Inauguration Day as former Illinois Senator Barack Obama was sworn into office, becoming the 44th U.S. president.

A record-breaking 1.8 million people were present in Washington, D.C. as the inaugural festivities took place, which included the inaugural parade, luncheon and various balls and concerts. Following the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol building, President Obama delivered his inaugural address and laid out his plans for his term in office.

North Greenville University student reactions toward the inauguration and Obama’s presidency were fairly positive.
“I think the inauguration represented a clean break from the ideologies of the past eight years. It also signaled a possible change in race relations in the United States. Only time will tell, however, if this is a change that we can ‘believe in’ or if it is just the sparkling rhetoric of politics,” Alex Reynolds, junior media ministry, said.

“Obama is the leader of our country, and we cannot expect him to succeed if only half the country is supporting him. So we as Christians need to obey the Word by praying for the leadership of this nation,” Bethany Sarazen, junior theatre, said.

“I heard the announcers stating that it was a controversial decision for Obama to choose [Saddleback Church’s Rick] Warren to pray, but personally I liked that Warren was picked to pray. Rick Warren is an evangelistic Christian preacher that stood for his convictions even as he prayed before millions of viewers, and I am thankful for that,” Josh Gibson, sophomore Christian studies, said.