Somewhere in the world, a young Christian teenager fears for her life. Her crime? Turning her back on her Muslim faith to embrace Jesus as her Savior and Lord, a decision punishable by death in the writings of Islam. And who are those she runs from in fear? Not the government, not assassins—but her own parents.  And in what country could we find such unbelievable religious persecution existing today? This frightened teen lives right here in America!

As a young Muslim growing up in Ohio, 17-year-old Rifqa Bary had the same typical high school experience that most of us have shared; that is, until she began seriously examining the claims of Christ. Gradually, the message of the Gospel grabbed hold of her, and—while other teens would be sneaking out of the house to meet friends for unapproved events—Bary would slip away without her parents’ knowledge to attend Bible studies.

For quite a while, young Bary was able to keep her growing faith hidden from her family. But then, something she did not anticipate exposed her. Her parents read about her abandonment of Islam on Facebook.

When her father and mother found out about her newfound faith from Facebook, they shoved her into Islamic classes in hopes to bring her back to her religious heritage.

For fear of death, Bary fled to Orlando, Fla. to a family she had met on the Internet that pastored a church there.

Bary fears for her life now.  According to her tangle.com video, her father is looking to have her back in order to murder her in a “honor killing.” This type of killing is not rare to the Muslim community.  This killing is seen, to Muslims, as killing to keep their families safe from unclean blood.

According to Islamfact.com, the Quran states in 9:123:  “Oh ye who believe! Murder those of the disbelievers and let them find harshness in you.” And in 5:33, “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution (by beheading), or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter.”

Bary is now claiming that all she wants is “religious freedom.”

A hearing was held on Aug. 21 for Rifqa’s testimony to be heard and to figure out where she would be placed. The judge ruled that for the time being she would be in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families, but ultimately, Ohio authorities will decide where the teen should live, FOX News stated.

The judge set the next hearing for Sept. 3 at 2:30 p.m., at which time a dependency petition will be argued.

The United Nations tabulates about 5,000 such “honor killings” annually around the world, and they have been documented even in the United States, according to worldnetdaily.com.

My first thought about Bary’s plight was its unfortunate commentary about the turning of America. Our country was founded on religious freedom, welcoming all; and now, some of those who have become a part of us are not able to enjoy that freedom.

But then the abstract gave way to the facts of her story, and I began wondering: how many young Christians today would have the commitment that Bary has exhibited?

In a random survey ten students were asked if they had ever been persecuted for their faith. The unanimous answer is very simple—no. It is evident that most Christians in America do not really know what it’s like to face serious persecution.

I suppose for each of us who are Christians, there may be times when we feel others look down on us or treat us differently. Some of us may even feel a bit inconvenienced for the sake of our faith sometimes. The next time that happens to me, I hope I remember the continuing story of Bary. My faith doesn’t cause me to look over my shoulder to see if my parents are trying to kill me. So what do I have to gripe about?

Pixar’s latest summer flick, Up, tells the tale of a 78-year-old man named Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner of Elf) who travels to Paradise Falls, South America not by plane, but by floating house.

The film begins with a brief timeline of Fredricksen’s lifelong love for his wife Ellie. The couple share a dream of visiting Paradise Falls, but they are never able to make the trip together. Lonely and somewhat grumpy in his now-empty home, Fredricksen realizes he needs a plan, especially since he accidentally injured the developer who is trying to run him off his property.

Fredricksen decides to keep his home and go on the adventure he and his wife had planned since they were children. He attaches thousands of balloons to his house and lifts off, eager to relax at Paradise Falls.

However, Fredricksen soon discovers that he isn’t alone on his journey—and therefore his journey will not be relaxing. Russell (Jordan Nagai), an 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer, was on Fredricksen’s porch when the house took off. Never quiet or without a question, Russell tests Fredricksen’s patience until there is almost none left.

The two soon land at their destination and discover a large exotic bird, who Russell names Kevin, and a talking dog named Dug (Bob Peterson of Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.). There are also many other talking dogs and a man who is hunting Kevin.

On their adventure at Paradise Falls, Fredricksen and Russell learn to get along with each other. They also learn from each other; Fredricksen becomes a fatherly role model for Russell and Russell teaches Fredricksen to never stop seeking life’s adventures.

Viewers will find that Pixar has once again created a memorable story with outstanding characters. In addition, the movie is also visually appealing not only for the 3-D effects, but also for the vivid colors and realistic landscapes.

It also seems that Pixar focused more on keeping the audience laughing. The antics of Russell, Kevin and Dug clash with Fredricksen’s grumpiness to create many hilarious moments throughout the story.

Up is sure to delight kids young and old. The movie is rated PG for some peril and action.

The Crusader volleyball team got off to a fresh start in their first tournament of the season at Anderson University on Aug. 28-29.

In the first match of the tournament, North Greenville faced Virginia State. The Lady Crusaders won the match in decisive fashion 3-0 (25-5) (25-17) and (25-13).

Charlotte Swain, junior, led the offense with eight kills and Gabbrielle McKinley finished with 27 assists. Mellissa Ragsdale, sophomore, and Kaitlyn Harris, sophomore, each had five aces in the game while Kayla O’Kelley led the defense with three blocks.

In North Greenville’s second match of the tournament, they played against host Anderson University. The Lady Trojans downed the Lady Crusaders in three straight sets (14-25) (23-25) and (27-29). O’Kelley was a force on offense, finishing with 10 kills to go along with 33 assists from McKinley. Ragsdale had 13 digs on defense.

The Lady Crusaders lost their third match to Mars Hill in three consecutive sets (25-19), (25-13), and (25-20). Swain led the Crusaders with 11 kills and McKinley added 24 assists.

North Greenville finished the tournament with a match against Armstrong Atlantic State. Once again, the team was unable to gain any offensive momentum and lost in three sets (18-25) (20-25) and (17-25). Swain continued her stellar play in the tournament with eight kills, and Kaitlyn Pierce, sophomore, added five blocks for the defense.

“There is no need for myself and my teammates to walk with our heads down,” Anjelica Wilcox, freshman, said. “This invitational tournament should give us motivation to go out Tuesday against Converse College and get a victory under our belt.”

“Anyone who thinks [our] old album is perfect will hate this [new] record.” These are strong words, spoken by vocalist of MuteMath Paul Meany, in regard to their new album, Armistice, which came out Aug. 18.

This New Orleans-based quartet has had a tight following since their debut in 2006 with their self-titled album. On the band’s Myspace, the genre is described as Other/Other/Other, and there is really no other way to describe their original sound. The tempos can be linked to bands like Mae, Radiohead and Switchfoot combined. And it works for them.

After receiving a spot in Rock Band 2, a Grammy nomination and a Gospel Music Award, this sophomore album has a pretty tough act to follow. Meany said Armistice would be vastly different from their original release, and he was not kidding. This new album flows much more fluidly between songs with more related, although not identical, sounds and rhythms. It is obvious that they are experimenting with brand new concepts and ideas of the direction they want to head in.

However, with the vast divide between the two albums, it leaves fans of “original” MuteMath slightly disappointed. The first album concentrated more towards the slower, chill-rock sounds, while this new one is centered around the upbeat tracks.

Armistice, which means “truce,” is a 12-track album. “Spotlight” was released originally on the movie Twilight’s soundtrack and “Typical” has been receiving a lot of airtime on local Christian radio stations. My personal favorite is “The Nerve,” the first track on the album. Filled with spunk, it is a genuinely fun song to crank up and sing along to.

A major disappointment to the Christian listener is the lack of God-centered lyrics in their new music. Meany has said that he is now a Universalist and is trying to distance himself from the Christian aspects of the first album. After listening to a worship CD with Meany and two other members of MuteMath, I have to say that it is a shame that he now wishes to go in a completely different direction, because Elevator Music (the worship CD that was released in order to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina) is beautiful, captivating and moving. I certainly recommend listening to it.

Armistice, while still moving, is directed to a more secular fan base. The spirituality of it is still evident, even with the change of faith. For new listeners to MuteMath and older fans with open minds, the album is certainly entertaining.

MuteMath’s live shows are quite renowned for being fun and active, so if you enjoy this album, or even if you’re just curious, MuteMath will be performing in Atlanta, Ga. at The Tabernacle on Nov. 6, and on Nov. 7 they will be in Charlotte, N.C. at Amos’ Southend.

From Audrey Niffenegger’s best-selling novel comes a movie that will be timeless for years to come.

The Time Traveler’s Wife stars Rachel McAdams playing Clare Abshire, a passionate and romantic woman who has been in love with Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana) her entire life.

The movie is set in modern day Chicago, yet Henry is constantly moving to different momentous occasions throughout his lifespan. Henry struggles with a genetic disorder that causes him to disappear at the most inopportune moments. As he time travels, Clare waits for him to return to her.

Henry appears to Clare the first time in a meadow behind her childhood home. He is in his mid-forties and she is a child. After he convinces her that he has the ability to time travel, she waits for him to return to the meadow. He comes a few more times, but then Clare waits several years before seeing Henry again.

She bumps into him at a local library one day. The problem is, Henry does not recognize her. He is only in his twenties when they meet again.

Clare allows Henry to see her diary, a detailed list of every visit they have shared in the meadow. He realizes that he has fallen in love with her and proposes. They discover that marriage may be the hardest thing they have done together.

Despite Henry’s unpredictable disappearances, Clare vows to wait for the man she was destined to love.

The movie contains romance and excitement, but make sure you have a box of tissues handy. The tragedy of Henry’s disease will leave viewers emotional towards the end of the movie.

The Time Traveler’s Wife is rated PG-13.

Photo by Jenny Farnham

About 30 minutes from NGU lies downtown Greenville, an area filled with exciting things to see and experience. Right across from Falls Park is a small, indoor mini-golf course.

Falls Park Golf and Games is an inexpensive way to hang out off campus and enjoy a night of fun.

The lobby is filled with arcade games and kid-friendly attractions. Dance Dance Revolution lights up the arcade area and music brings the place to high energy. A variety of refreshments are available for purchase, including pizza, candy and an assortment of sodas.

The quaint golf course offers challenging opportunities to score a hole-in-one. Most of the holes present typical mini-golf competition. A few of the holes, however, are separated from the rest in a dark room filled with neon lights. It is entertaining to watch your friends swing and miss in this fun room.

And like other golf courses, a hole-in-one on hole 18 is a prize at the end of a well played game.

Mini-golf is just $6 per person, and the complex is open from 11 a.m. until, but closed on Mondays. Parking is somewhat difficult, but two blocks from Falls Park Golf and Games is a local church that allows public parking on nights and weekends.

“The location is perfect. It is rather small, but each of the 18 holes seemed just right when we started playing. Take some great friends and you’re guaranteed a great time,” Amy Ellison, junior interdisciplinary studies, said.

Taylor Suppiger, sophomore Christian studies, agrees.

“Although it is an extremely compact course, it is an interesting setup and still challenging. Definitely a place I would take a few friends to hang out and have a good time. The location is great, right in downtown close to Falls Park and some great restaurants,” Suppiger said.

Within walking distance of the mini-golf is Falls Park. Known for its Liberty Bridge, Falls Park is a free place to enjoy the Reedy River and the beautiful waterfalls surrounding the bridge below.

The Crusaders’ offense lines up against Mars Hill Saturday night at Younts Stadium. (Photo by Ashley Herndon)

The North Greenville football team kicked off the 2009 season on Aug. 29 against Mars Hill as new head coach Jamey Chadwell led his Crusaders onto the field in front of a packed house of more than 5,000 fans dressed in black at Younts Stadium in Tigerville, S.C.

University of Georgia head coach Mark Richt was in attendance to watch his son, Mars Hill quarterback Jon Richt, lead the Lions against a tough Crusader defense. Richt tossed two touchdowns in the game, and running back Jonas Randolph rushed for 181 yards and one score as Mars Hill defeated North Greenville 28-0.

One of many changes to this year’s team is the new spread offense introduced by Chadwell in the offseason. The offense, led by quarterback Richard Harb, junior history, was unable to get much momentum throughout the entire game. They were in the red zone four times but were unable to put any points on the board. Harb finished the game 10-29 for 66 yards and one interception. Marcus Middleton, junior sport management, was the main target in the passing game finishing, with four catches for 43 yards.

“The passing game is hurting at the moment because we have injuries,” wide receiver Sean Wright, sophomore sport management, said. “One of our really good wide receivers, Taylor Malphrus, has been out with a leg injury for a couple months now, and I got hurt last night on the third play of the game.”

“But I’m very confident in the people we have playing, and I know they will get the job done,” Wright said. “The offense will work even harder in practice, and everything will fall into place.”

The running game continued to be the strength of the Crusader offense as running back Montez Hatten, sophomore business, rushed for 62 yards on 19 carries. Hatten also caught four passes out of the backfield and finished with 13 receiving yards.

“We have two great running backs in Marcus Wilson and Montez Hatten,” offensive lineman James Thurn, junior broadcast media, said. “Both are very explosive, and we are proud to have them. Running the football starts with the offensive line, and we have to improve.

“We had some pretty good runs, but we need to be more consistent,” Thurn said. “It is going to take work everyday in practice but we will do it and get better. The season is young and we will be a threat when it is over.”

A veteran Crusader defense forced three turnovers in the game but tired in the second half, which led to the Mars Hill victory. Linebacker Damien Wright, graduate student, led the defense with 5.5 tackles and one tackle for a loss.

Defensive captain and Pre-Season Second Team All-American in Division II Andre Bernardi, senior sport management, had 4.5 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for a loss.

Defensive lineman Johnell Bell, senior business administration, finished with three tackles and one sack. Linebacker Doug Wilson, junior marketing, had 4.5 tackles and an interception in the fourth quarter that he returned for 50 yards.

“I was pleased that we kept playing until the end,” Chadwell said after the game. “The effort was there. We did not give up and kept after it. The defense kept us in early, but we needed to score. We felt like if we could get a few points, we might have a chance.  Their running back (Randolph) is a good player and that made a difference.”

North Greenville (0-1) will travel to Wingate, N.C., next week to take on Wingate University in a 1:30 p.m. contest on Sept. 5.

Baptist Student Union is offering students the opportunity to grow, serve and plug in on campus this semester through Thursday night worship and impact teams aimed at serving Christ, the church and the community.

This semester, BSU director Jody Jennings and the BSU council chose to study the book of 1 Peter in Thursday night worship. In the past, BSU has generally used theme or topic driven messages rather than book studies, so studying 1 Peter is a new development for BSU.

“We want BSU to be a place where you can grow deep in your faith and connect as a community, and one of the best ways I know to do this is by working systematically through a book,” Jennings said.

BSU president Katie Potter, junior early childhood education, described BSU as an opportunity to worship in an environment specifically designed for college students.

“We can come together in the middle of the week and forget about studies and just worship,” she said.

“It’s really a great way to give students a chance to get involved, and it delivers spiritual nourishment,” Thomas Sieberhagen, freshman theatre, said.

Weekend impact team leader James Lind, sophomore Christian studies, described BSU as a chance to worship God and be amazed by Him.

“I can think of no better thing than to learn and then to give away,” Jennings said.

BSU offers students the opportunity to serve through two types of impact teams. The first type is the weekend team. Weekend teams minister by traveling to churches on the weekends to assist with various ministries such as youth retreats, children’s events, church functions and revivals.

The other group of teams, community teams, is designed to meet specific needs in the community. Community teams assist with after school tutoring, minister to at risk youth and children, visit nursing homes and help the homeless in addition to many other ministries.

Potter described impact teams as an opportunity to share the gospel and demonstrate love for others.

“I hope that’s why we exist, to not only share the gospel and live the gospel, but also to invest our lives in others,” she said.

After serving on a community team that visited hospice patients, Lind also said that love is a key part of impact team ministry. He said it was difficult trying to share the gospel with people who had less than six months to live and who were often mentally unsound.

“Without the love I gave them, those words were meaningless,” he said.

Mandy Kirkman, junior early childhood education, said that participating in an impact team helped her to not only serve Christ, but also to develop relationships with other Christians.

“They are a great way to get involved. They give you a chance to get to know fellow believers and serve with them in ministry,” she said.

“Our goal is to overcome together and interact with other believers in a way that we can learn and grow,” Lind said, referring to relationships developed through BSU. “We want to take opportunities to…invest in each other’s lives.”

“Community, internal growth, external connections” is BSU’s mission statement. This semester BSU is seeking to produce those three things in North Greenville’s student body. BSU begins at 7 p.m. every Thursday in Turner Chapel.

As college students live together in close quarters, share desks and other things, the flu and other illnesses can be spread easily. A cold for a student may not seem serious enough to miss a class or lecture, but they rarely consider that they may be spreading the illness to their peers. The Swine Flu is a serious illness that has even lead to some deaths. It supposedly started in Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, but many patients would confirm they received the Flu from Mexico, in which there were more than 150 deaths.

This virus is resistant to the antiviral medications amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine. Investigations of these cases suggest that ongoing human-to-human swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is occurring.

Many have made jokes concerning the flu, and say you will turn into a pig and have hog like appearances. While the jokes may seem funny at the moment, this virus is nothing to take lightly.

Some of the symptoms are: fever, cough, sore throat and mild respiratory illnesses. More serious symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, myalgia, headache, chills, fatigue and dyspnea. Pneumonia has also been connected to the Swine Flu.

The history of the Swine Flu was first recorded in 1976 at Fort Dix. However, it was not the same outbreak as this year. Doctors say the best way to prevent receiving the swine flu is the same as any other influenza which is through a vaccination.

Another way to prevent the flu is to avoid contact with it. Washing your hands, not touching your face, and avoiding anyone that has the Swine Flu within 48 hours is recommended. Some doctors even suggest using Tamiflu or Relenza to help prevent any symptoms. Most treatments include taking Tamiflu or Relenza for five days.

Swine Flu is diagnosed by the patients’ association with people known to have the disease. Usually a quick test, a swab sample of the nasal passage, is retrieved to see if the patient has influenza A or B. Doctors say if it is tested B it is most likely not the Swine Flu.

The best advice for preventing the Swine Flu from infecting us here at NGU is to be smart. Do the appropriate actions such as washing your hands and covering your mouth when sneezing and coughing.

If you are having flu-like symptoms, go to the local hospital or the clinic here on campus.

Dr. John Strange said students can prevent the Swine Flu by frequent hand washing or use of a hand sanitizer is the most important preventative measure that students can do.

“Everyone should practice good hygiene, such as coughing or sneezing into their sleeve, for example, and not on their hands. Getting plenty of rest and eating properly can also help your immune system stay healthy,” Strange said.

If you think you have the flu, you should be seen in the clinic so that they can determine whether you indeed have the flu, and once a determination has been made, take appropriate measures to treat the flu. If an individual comes to be seen within 48 hours of the onset of their symptoms, antivirals such as Tamiflu can be helpful.

“As always, rest and drinking plenty of fluids is important,” Strange said.

The school does have a protocol in place when a student is diagnosed. Students are being sent home, if possible, so the virus does not spread. Strange also said that a vaccine is being made; however, it is currently undergoing testing and won’t be available until mid-fall.

Students received an email by Billy Watson giving advice in preventing the flu. First, wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer; secondly, do not share food and drink with anyone; and also remember to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.

Please make sure to take time to read thoroughly preventions and advice sent in the email. We are trying our best to keep our school safe and healthy for all who attend.

Usually, being No. 154 on a list does not amount to much. But being ranked No. 154 out of the top 600 colleges and universities in the United States is something to talk about.

North Greenville is ranked third out of 14 South Carolina schools in Forbes magazine’s list of the top schools in the nation.

Students and faculty alike at North Greenville University are proud that their school is getting some positive recognition.

But like Dr. Jimmy Epting, president of NGU, said in one of the first chapels of the semester, God deserves the credit for making North Greenville what it is today.

The prayers, hard work and dedication of the godly administration at North Greenville have helped to further the university.

The writers at Forbes did their own research to determine where the best universities would rank on their annual list.

Specific criteria went into ranking the thousands of schools in the country.

According to forbes.com, the methodology that was used to rank schools in 2008 has varied some for the 2009 list, but for the most part the way schools were ranked remained the same.

Student satisfaction with courses offered and post-graduate employment success counted 25 percent each in the ranking. With increasing costs and economic strain of this year, the estimated average of a four year student loan debt was weighted 20 percent instead of only 16 percent in 2008.

Other factors such as faculty and student success at winning national academic awards and number of students achieving a degree in four years were given a smaller percentage weight when compiling data for the rankings.

The colleges and universities themselves did not provide the information that went into deciding their ranking. The majority of the information came from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Schools that receive financial aid from the government must report data to IPEDS each year. The information used is the most current publicly available data.

Forbes also gathered information from RateMyProfessor.com. Posting their own opinions on the Website is how students can become involved in the feedback concerning their college experience.

Dr. George Hopson, Jr., director of institutional research and effectiveness, was very pleased when he was told about North Greenville being ranked on Forbes’ list. Hopson was initially surprised because Forbes had made no contact with the university.

Being ranked in the top 200 out of thousands is “pretty impressive,” Hopson said.

While the administration at North Greenville does not put much stock in magazine rankings, Epting was pleasantly surprised when he heard the news.

Epting received a call in mid-August from a friend congratulating him on North Greenville’s recognition in Forbes. Since the magazine had not contacted him, he had to do his own research to find out what the magazine had to say about North Greenville.

“I already feel North Greenville University is number one in everything,” Epting said.

Epting also commented on how having a “biblically-sound, Christ-centered” educational program is underappreciated in today’s society.

Having a quality education founded in a Bible-based environment is “the best way and should be the only way to do it, and God is blessing this university because we are trying to stay focused on Him,” Epting said.

As Forbes pointed out, paying for college is potentially the second-largest expense most people will have in their lifetime. The magazine wants to keep people informed about the many choices and options involved in higher education.

Helping people make the right choice in choosing a college is the primary reason the people at Forbes decided to research and rank the top schools in the nation.

Students, faculty, and staff should be proud of the positive recognition that North Greenville has received, but realize that the university’s advancement has all been made possible by God.

It was a summer of so-so blockbuster sequels and a dazzling prequel. Most movie franchises furthered themselves by tacking on another piece of the saga. The problem with this method is that sequel efforts rarely live up to the original.

Perhaps director J.J. Abrams (co-creator of Lost) and his creative staff had this anomaly in mind when they decided to make the new Star Trek—a movie that went back to the beginning. Doing this allowed for a fresh, young cast and a chance to see the story before the story. The movie shows the birth of the important relationship between Kirk and Spock, as well as aspects of characters only referenced in the original Star Trek series. This brought new life and new fans to an old franchise.

When I went to see this movie, I had never watched a single Star Trek episode. I had vague ideas about the show itself, but did not know the characters. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying the movie.

The film was well-cast, featuring Chris Pine of The Princess Diaries 2, as young, brash, not-yet-captain Kirk; Zachary Quinto, of Heroes as the logical Spock; Zoe Saldana of Guess Who as Lieutenant Uhura and Spock’s love interest; and Eric Bana of Troy as the misguided villain bent on revenge. The actors worked well together, creating a chemistry that was natural and unforced.

In the special effects department, the film was also stellar, showcasing space ships, explosions and action sequences without inhibiting the story. Not overplaying elements of the film is perhaps one of director Abrams’ greatest strengths. Many movies that include special effects as a component hide superficial plots behind empty noise. But Star Trek doesn’t stoop to this. It even gives us characters that we can care about and maybe identify with.

The major themes of the film are loyalty and courage in the face of danger. The crew of the Enterprise sticks together and works through their differences. One scene features Kirk risking his life to save a crew mate. Another theme is the importance of staying true to oneself. Spock is ridiculed as a child by fellow Vulcans for being half-human. He is given the choice to “purge all emotion,” and essentially give up his non-Vulcan side. But he and his human mother (played by Winona Ryder of Mr. Deeds) have a loving relationship, and he decides to keep that connection to her, because it is part of who he is.

From a Christian perspective, the “religion” of the Star Trek world is distinctly humanistic, as we see in most movies and television shows today. However, I was able to relate to the themes of this film because they are values that are also important to me. The film is clean for the most part, with minor expletives, action/adventure violence and a couple (mostly humorous) sensual scenes.

Star Trek is a film for lovers of the franchise, but it is also a film that can be enjoyed by almost any moviegoer. “Trekkies” can enjoy a performance by Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock. And new fans can simply sit back and boldly go where so many have gone before. Star Trek is rated PG-13.

Usually the reason for a sea of black is death or tragedy, but this was not the case at North Greenville University this past weekend. The “blackout” on campus was due to the events spanning Thursday night until kickoff Saturday night, when a new football season was welcomed in.

Student Services came up with the name “Blackout” this summer, borrowing it from a Louisville, Kentucky team who used the same kind of event to boost morale and show support for their team.

Timmy Tyner, senior youth ministry, said the purpose of the Blackout was to create school spirit and unity. As far as he knows, this was the first event of its kind at the North Greenville campus. Apparently the event started small, but it grew into something more, with many campus organizations involved, including, but not limited to BSU, Campus Ministries and Student Services.
“The administration has really opened its doors for students to plan this out. I think it’s really cool that [they] are allowing the students to do that,” Tyner said. He also pointed out that this semester there is a new coach, new offense and a new freshman class, so it’s only natural that a new campus wide event would follow.
The festivities began with a pep rally at the tennis courts Thursday night. The band, cheerleaders, and football players were all there to get the campus riled up and ready for the upcoming game. Diane Turner, student activities coordinator, was also there giving away prizes throughout the night.
“I’m really excited to see all the different [campus] organizations coming together for this event,” she said.
On Friday night the festivities continued with the showing of “We Are Marshall” at Todd Dining Hall.
Saturday afternoon was the main focus of the Blackout, when student tailgating began at 3 p.m. There was an abundance of food, ultimate Frisbee, giveaways and straight up fun. School spirit wasn’t lacking at all, as the majority of students donned black “Crusader Crazies” t-shirts or some other form of black clothing, sticking with the “blackout” theme.
“I believe a new tradition will begin today at NGU,” said cheerleading captain Austin Barrett, junior sports management.

Rain threatened to ruin the event at one point, but it quickly subsided and the Crusaders were left with a beautiful rainbow to admire. As kickoff neared closer, excitement among students began to grow and was nearly uncontrollable as the Crusaders took the field for the first time this season. Support for the team was overwhelming between the many people wearing black, others with their faces painted, and a few that stood for the entire game.

Overall, the Blackout proved to be a success. Indeed, Barrett was right. A new tradition has begun at North Greenville University: one of vast support, loud fans and incredible school spirit.

Long lines, no parking spaces and no room in the cafeteria or chapel all point to one thing—record enrollment.  According to the office of admissions, 682 new students have enrolled at North Greenville University. However, the number is expected to rise to 684.

What has caused all the inconvenience and grumbling? No, it’s not the freshmen. Out of the 682 newly enrolled, 494 are freshmen. On average, NGU enrolls 500 freshmen every year.

Transfer students comprise the rest of the new crowd. A staggering 132 of them registered for the year.

At first glance, one would think that the reaction on campus would be positive. After all, North Greenville is earning a place on the map. However, the positive has been found nowhere. Many are fussing about how parking spaces are taken and how it takes forever to get in and out of chapel.

While everyone may be a little inconvenienced, it is important to remember the good in the situation. More students are involved on campus, more voices raised in worship to God during chapel and most importantly, there are more lives for God to work in and through. God is working mightily on campus, so put aside the complaints and get on board.

The men’s soccer team opened their season last Thursday with a 2-0 victory on the road against Toccoa Falls. Two days later, the squad dropped a 1-0 decision at Catawba in a tight match where North Greenville could not capitalize on opportunities in front of goal.

Jonathan Restrepo, junior international business, and Matt Sekuras both netted goals in the Crusaders’ opening day victory over the Eagles. North Greenville controlled much of the possession in the first half but could not find the back of the net. In the 60th minute, Restrepo nodded in a cross from Ben Bosco, freshman, to put the Crusaders on the board. Ten minutes later, Sekuras scored on a break-away to put the game out of reach.

“It was a good opening game for us,” Crusaders coach Chad Gfeller said. “We’ve only been scored on once in our two games and three scrimmages, so our defense is playing pretty well.”

Catawba’s Deon Cuffie-Joseph scored in the 37th minute on an assist from Daniel Bailey. North Greenville created opportunities to score but could not finish the equalizing goal.

“It was a well-fought game,” Gfeller said. “We had some young players on the field last night, and we had chances to tie the game, but we weren’t able to.”

Freshmen and sophomore players are expected to see significant playing time this season, especially in defensive positions. Despite the fact that the squad has only a handful of seniors, Gfeller feels confident in his team’s quality.
“This is probably the best team that I’ve had since I started coaching here,” Gfeller said. “Now it’s a matter of learning to play together.”

The Crusaders will entertain Coker tonight at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Stadium.

The women’s team defeated Lees-McRae 1-0 in Banner Elk, N.C., in their opening match of the season. Ashlyn Henderson, sophomore outdoor leadership, one of the team’s leading goal scorers last year, scored the only goal of the match.
The Lady Crusaders defense held off a furious comeback by the Bobcats in the closing minutes to preserve the victory.

“It’s a great way to start off the year,” North Greenville coach Jesse McCormick said. “The players were really working hard. We had opportunities throughout the game, and we were able to capitalize on one of those.”
Lees-McRae managed 11 shots on either side of halftime, but it was North Greenville who scored first. Henderson, one of the team’s top scorers from last year, collected a loose ball inside the box in the 51st minute and fired it into the net. Goalkeeper Jessica Binkley made eight saves to earn the shutout.
In his second year as head coach, McCormick has high hopes for his squad that was unexpectedly knocked out of the NCCAA Regional Tournament in the first round last season.

“The women’s team has never made it to Nationals, but that is something I think we have the ability to do,” McCormick said. “Our team has been improving each year, and as long as we bring in players who work hard and continue to develop as a team, that’s the key to success.”

North Greenville will host Converse tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Stadium.

North Greenville’s Jereme Greene (33) tries to wrap up Mars Hill’s Frankie Waters (21) Saturday night at Younts Stadium. (Photo by Ashley Herndon)

The North Greenville Crusaders started their season last Saturday against the No. 24 Lions of Mars Hill, N.C. The Crusaders have a new coach in Jamey Chadwell, who will be going into his first season as a college football head coach, having served recently as an assistant at Charleston Southern.

“I’m really excited about the season, and I’m anxious to see all the preparation our guys put into effect,” Chadwell said.

The Crusaders are looking to improve on last year’s record of 2-9. Even though the Crusaders have a very young team, a new coach and a new offense, the players are very optimistic about this upcoming season.

“I think all of our hard work that we put in the spring and summer will pay off and I’m excited,” defensive back Antwan Glenn, senior sport management, said.

“I think that we have worked a lot harder this summer and spring than we have worked since I have been playing here over the past four years,” kicker Michael Sears, senior business, said. “Almost more so than when we won the Victory Bowl in 2006. I’m hoping we can make it back to another Victory Bowl this year.”

The Crusaders are definitely optimistic, and it will be interesting to watch their new offense led by quarterback Richard Harb, junior history.

Harb struggled somewhat last year in his first season as a starter, throwing 14 interceptions to only seven touchdowns. He will look to turn those statistics around this year with the help of the offensive line and a somewhat new receiving corps.

The Crusaders head coach spoke at chapel last Monday and asked all of the students and those attending their season opener to dress in all black.

Let’s hope the Crusaders can showcase some of their new talent and their hard work they put forth through the spring and summer.

“Our theme for this year’s team is ‘Expect to Win’,” Chadwell said. “The players are believing that if you work hard and put in the effort, good things will happen.”

North Greenville will travel to Wingate for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. Sept. 12. On Parents Weekend, the Crusaders will host Wesley College under the lights at 7 p.m.