Is your energy running out by the time 2 p.m. rolls around? Is it all you can do to make it through your day until you crash into your bed exhausted? If this sounds like you, read on for natural ways to boost your energy levels.

Most important on the list is a good multi-vitamin. You just can’t get all the vitamins you need with the way we eat these days—especially as college students. But we shouldn’t deny our bodies nonetheless.

After you have incorporated a multi-vitamin, add B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A. B vitamins are crucial for long-term energy. Vegetarians especially need to make sure they take B vitamins as their diet threatens them with deficiency.

Adding green tea to your diet by way of beverage or capsule is another easy way to promote good health and energy. Besides the benefits it has on energy levels, it also helps to promote a healthy heart, stimulate your metabolism and burn fat, fight infection and balance blood sugar levels.

Ginseng is a wonder food with many benefits.Ginseng has been proven to help lower toxin levels in the body, increase energy and immune function as well as mental and physical capabilities and much more. There are different types of ginseng, but panax and Korean ginseng are the most prevalent. If you are brave, you can eat ginseng root raw. But a more logical way to obtain ginseng and its benefits is through capsule form.

Germanium in ginseng is responsible for detoxification properties. Every cell and organ in the body is affected when the blood carries impurities. Germanium helps to eliminate impurities in the blood. You function better and feel more energized when your body has to fight and counteract less.

‘You are what you eat’ holds much truth to your level of health and vitality. If your diet is high in simple carbohydrates and fatty foods, you are most likely struggling to fight fatigue and low levels of energy. Gravitate towards complex carbohydrates, which take longer to digest than simple carbohydrates and are packed with fiber and vitamins.

Red Bull is not the ideal option for sustainable energy levels. The high sugar content rushes to your bloodstream and leaves you more tired than before. Though some energy drinks have good ingredients like ginseng in them, the bad ingredients overcompensate to create a negative result. Sure, in a rare emergency situation it is okay, but don’t drink these often.

Highly caffeinated beverages can only give you a cheap version of energy. Caffeine becomes addictive and causes stomach and headache problems in many. Withdrawal from caffeine also causes many undesirable symptoms, so withdraw gradually.

Increase the amount of lean proteins you eat. Lean proteins include chicken, fish and eggs. Proteins are greatly responsible for good brain and body function. Eat more fruits and vegetables (complex carbohydrates) as well as nuts. Stay away from sugar as much as possible.

Exercise plays a large part in consistent energy levels. Work yourself up to a good workout regimen. Try to walk or do cardio a couple times a week and do some weight bearing exercises. Try yoga, swimming, golf or whatever works for you. Exercise will increase endorphin production, which correlates with serotonin levels. This directly affects your mood and energy for the better.

Stretch and breathe often. Stretching helps loosen up tension from stress as well as bringing more oxygen to muscles. It is more tiresome to go throughout your day with tension and tightness in your muscles.

Managing stress will help to keep negative situations from draining you. Emotional or consuming tasks and situations can really suck the life out of you if you are not careful. Find what works for you to wind down and manage stress. Put it into regular practice.

Sleep is so very crucial for all good things to happen. Try to get six to eight hours of sleep a night if possible. Plan ahead so you don’t have to cram and stay up late studying or finishing assignments. This creates a cycle of dependency and need for caffeinated substances and increases stress because of the pressure to finish and the lack of sleep.

Think smart. Be conscious of what you do and eat. If it is beneficial, do it. Help aid your body instead of being an extra force working against it. Be on the same team as your body. It is special, unique and God given. Be good stewards of the vessel you were given. Serve and worship the Lord with your body.

Planned Parenthood director Abby Johnson of Bryan, Texas, resigned on Nov. 4 after eight years of helping women end the lives of their unborn children.

Johnson made the decision to resign after witnessing an ultrasound of an abortion for the first time.

“I could actually see it was a 13-week-old baby and I could actually see the side profile of the baby on the ultrasound,” Johnson said.

As Johnson watched the procedure in horror, she witnessed the baby attempting to move away from the probe.

“That was just life changing for me,” she said. “I had never seen that done before.”

The issue of abortion hits close to home for the majority of the North Greenville campus. Charity Yost, senior English, shared why she has a pro-life stance.

“In my hometown, a 16-year-old girl went to a doctor to schedule an abortion,” Yost said. “The doctor convinced her to carry her baby, promising that he would adopt the child. The adopted child was my best friend throughout high school.”

Johnson publically revealed that Planned Parenthood insisted that she convince more women to have abortions, due to the current financial instability of the organization.

The non-profit organization has switched its focus from prevention to pushing for abortions.

“It seemed like maybe that’s not what a lot of people were believing anymore because that’s not where the money was. The money wasn’t in family planning, the money wasn’t in prevention, the money was in abortion and so I had a problem with that,” Johnson said.

Johnson has been attending an Episcopal church recently and states that her decision to leave Planned Parenthood was based largely on her involvement with the church.

“I feel so pure in heart. I don’t have this guilt. I don’t have this burden on me anymore. That’s how I know this conversion was a spiritual conversion,” Johnson said.

Johnson is now an avid supporter for the Coalition of Life, meeting with the pro-life director Shawn Carney and publically praying on the sidewalk with other supporters outside of the Planned Parenthood.

The pro-life supporters were issued a restraining order on Nov. 6, prohibiting them from praying outside of the clinic.

“We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff; however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary,” Planned Parenthood said in a statement.

Dr. Thomas Allen, dean of science and mathematics, helped establish the first infertility lab in Kentucky and later moved to Charleston to test out the first test tube baby in the state. After 15 years, Allen changed his mind.

“It got to be so crazy – I didn’t think that’s what God wanted me to do,” Allen said. “God created life. Abortion is wrong. Human life begins at conception.”

Allen’s point of view is widely shared by others in his department.

“Within six weeks all fingers, toes, and eyes are fully functional,” Allen said. “The other eight months, the baby is just getting bigger and better.”

The hearing concluded that Planned Parenthood did not have reasonable grounds to submit such warrants.

Johnson said in an interview after the hearing that she was “pleased with the ruling because it allows me to speak more openly about my time at Planned Parenthood and the circumstances surrounding my departure.”

Lights, Camera, Action!

Nathan Willis, graduate of North Greenville University with a BA in Broadcast Media, co-directed and was the director of photography of a short film called All the Missing Pieces.

Willis, co-owner of A Beautiful Friendship Productions, is an award-winning director and cinematographer for the short film After Noon. Willis has worked on the crew of numerous films including Appalachian Dreams and Elizabeth Guinness. Healso produced and directed a series of AIDS awareness films with William Aughtry in Lilongwe, Malawi.

“The film was 15 minutes long. At the premiere we had over 250 people,” Willis said.

The movie was about Adam, a young man leaving home to start a new adventure. Adam recounts his life as a child, growing up without a grandfather as he is searching through his belongings with his best friend.

Every time Adam would get caught taking something that used to belong to his grandfather, he’d get a lecture from his grandmother, which would usually devolve into a story about his grandfather. As a grown man, he walks the streets of his hometown for the last time, and the stories about his grandfather begin to come to life. Adam recalls the stories he has heard from his grandmother and the old men in the barbershop, stories about how his grandfather was a great man who lived life in a grand way. In an attempt to live life the way his grandfather did,

Adam decides before he leaves he must endure his greatest fear: telling Megan he loves her.

“We [Willis and I] decided the film needed to be about change, which in one way or another every good story is about,” Aughtry, director, said. “Only then did the idea of paralleling my life with that of my grandfather arise.”

“The first day of shooting I got a call that my grandmother had died. I realized she would want me to be doing what I loved: making movies,” Willis said. “I directed with a different mindset for the remainder of the shoot.”

All the Missing Pieces was filmed over an eight-day period in Greer, Greenville and Landrum.

“The film was well put together and the story line was touching,” Lindsay Ross, senior theatre, said.

“We are now in the process of entering the film into film festivals around the world, but we’re mostly concentrating on film festivals in the south. After we run the festival circuit we will begin selling the DVD,” Willis said.

“As far as next projects go, we are finalists for the South Carolina Film Commission Production Grant,” Willis said. “The grant gives $100,000 to the winner to make a film about whatever they want to.”

If you weren’t able to make it to the premiere they will be holding random screenings here and there in the upstate within the next couple of months.

“This film is dedicated to the grandfathers of the World War II generation,” Aughtry said.

The NFL season is already at the midway point, and it is time to hand out some mid-season awards. With rookies and veterans alike playing at the top of their games, the decisions for these awards were not easy. The following awards are my own picks for which players should receive the trophies at this point in the NFL season.

MVP: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints and Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (tie)

Each signal caller has led his team to an undefeated record, which speaks volumes of his leadership abilities. On talent alone, these two players are practically equal, which makes this decision even harder. To choose one player over the other would just not be fair. If either the Colts or Saints fade in the second half of the season, then one player may pull ahead of the other.

Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Johnson is stuck on one of the most disappointing teams in the league, but that has not slowed down his production. In only his second year in the league, Johnson leads all rushers with 1,091 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He has also amassed 262 receiving yards with one touchdown. Johnson’s versatility as a receiver and runner make him one of the most valuable players in the NFL today.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings defense has been a main reason why this teams is playing so well. Allen is the leader of the defense, playing with passion on every play. He has totaled 34 tackles through eight games as well as a league-leading 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Elvis Dummervil is a close second, but Allen is the undeniable leader of this Minnesota team.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings

Harvin fell further in the draft than most expected, so it is safe to say that the Vikings got a steal when he fell into their lap. His speed and versatility allow him to be used in almost every facet of the offense. He has 422 receiving yards, 889 return yards, 46 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. If he continues to stay healthy, Harvin will be the unanimous Rookie of the Year at season’s end.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills

Most NFL fans have never heard of Jairus Byrd simply because he plays for the Buffalo Bills. Byrd is a playmaking defensive back who has picked off eight passes in his first nine career games and is the lone bright spot on a dismal Buffalo team.

Most Improved Player: Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

Cedric Benson was a forgotten player just a few years ago, but since he signed with Cincinnati, he has broken out and made noise with his stellar play. Benson has rushed for more 100 yards four times this season, including twice against the powerful Ravens defense. In all, he has 859 rushing yards and a career-high six touchdowns in only nine games.

After playing a tough preseason schedule, the North Greenville men’s basketball team feels confident going into the regular season.

“We are expecting to win and break records this year,” forward Kyler Vitko, junior business administration said. “Getting 20 wins is our lowest goal. We are too good this year to set our goals low.”

The Crusaders tipped off the regular season on Monday against Toccoa Falls in Hayes Gymnasium. Results from this game were not available at press time.

In the last preseason game, the Crusaders were not able to hold on to their halftime lead as Kennesaw State rallied in the second half to capture an 89-79 win. North Greenville led most of the first half and part of the second half but was unable to steal a win on the road against the Owls, who recently completed the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I status.

Head coach Chad Lister said he was impressed with his team’s performance and believes his players did some promising things on Friday night.

“We were able to lead for a good part of the game and we played with a lot of intensity,” Lister said. “Kennesaw is a very talented team, and we were able to hold our own against them.”

North Greenville was led by center Paul Harrison, sophomore health promotion and wellness, who had 31 points and nine rebounds in the contest. Other top scorers included forward Luke Lattimer, sophomore sport management, who netted 16 points, and Vitko, who finished the game with 14 points.

“We were pretty confident going into the game because everyone has had some college experience,” Vitko said. “We played well the first half, but we were not able to come out with the same intensity in the second half.”

Another impressive scoring night for Harrison has the Crusaders believing that they have a go-to guy on offense. Harrison, who led the Crusaders in scoring last season, said that he wants to do whatever he can to put North Greenville in a position to win.

“I don’t view myself as a scoring leader,” Harrison said. “I just want to do whatever it takes for the team to win. If that means scoring a lot of points, getting rebounds or assists, that’s what I have to do.”

Lister believes that Harrison is going to play a key role in the offense this year, and that he will be a big part of North Greenville’s success.

“Paul has matured a lot since last season,” Lister said. “We are looking to get the ball into Paul’s hands on each possession and do a good job of utilizing him on offense.”

North Greenville has also been getting quite a push from their lone senior in this pre-season. Vitko, who is surrounded by freshmen and sophomores on this young Crusader team, believes he needs to step up and be a leader this season.

“Being the only senior on the team, I need to step up and lead by example,” Vitko said. “ I don’t need to tell them what to do, but I can’t let the younger guys see me slacking (on the court).”

We will all on occasion suffer from a night of tossing and turning, with sleep being the goal and restlessness being the victor. This article is not for those who normally have no trouble venturing into dreamland. It is for those who struggle on a long-term basis to fall or stay asleep despite great efforts.

First, you need to figure out if your sleeplessness is coming from an actual modifiable force in your life. For example, avoid having the television on when going to bed. Sometimes dorm life and having roommates can make it hard to fall asleep because of the obvious noise distractions. In this case, an eye mask and ear plugs work wonders.

A few simple things you can do to help you sleep at night include getting extra exercise during the day, stretching or doing yoga, practicing a variety of different relaxation and breathing techniques and music therapy.

Listening to calming music can really help you fall asleep faster and sleep deeper. You can find cheap relaxation and spa CDs at the Dollar Tree. Pandora radio online has a few stations that work great for this too.

Stress and worry can make it really hard to fall asleep. Try to eliminate and avoid extra stressors in your life. Learn ways that help you manage and control your stress levels. While lying in bed, try to clear your mind and relax your body.

Before you decide to go on a prescription drug, consider some natural solutions that could help regulate and balance your body’s own natural sleep cycle. Natural treatments will not make you feel groggy in the morning and they are not addictive. As with anything, first consult with your doctor. Long-term insomnia can itself be a red flag for another condition or illness.

Take a look at your diet. Make sure you are eating healthy. Your body needs a variety of foods in order to obtain the proper vitamins and minerals it needs in order to function properly. Sleep is one of these functions.

Cut out caffeine. Caffeine can cause insomnia and restlessness, especially if ingested after 7 p.m. Avoid sweets; eating them close to bedtime can cause blood sugar to spike, plummet and result in uneven levels. This can cause a disruption in sleep during the middle of the night as blood sugar levels fall.

Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can, among other things, also cause sleeplessness. For example, a magnesium deficiency can cause irritability, fatigue, constipation, sleeplessness, anxiety, muscle tremors or cramps and pain. Magnesium is a critical element in more than 325 biochemical reactions in the human body. Taking magnesium at night is an easy way to regulate your body’s functions.

Foods naturally rich in magnesium include dark leafy greens and vegetables, almonds, cashews, legumes, seeds and whole grains. Foods that contain the crucial amino acid tryptophan include turkey, dairy products and red meat. The amino acid is a precursor to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin.

Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body. This hormone produces sleepiness and is essential to the balance and regulation of our circadian rhythms. The hormone is regulated by the pineal gland in our brain that makes serotonin. Serotonin is then converted into melatonin at night when exposure to light decreases. Small doses of melatonin can be taken 30 minutes before bedtime.

If you are taking any prescription medications or are pregnant or nursing, please check with your doctor before taking any vitamins, supplements or herbs. If you have a kidney disease or condition, please check with your doctor before taking magnesium.

Do some of your own research and see what works for you. What do you have to lose besides sleeplessness?

With classes wrapping up and finals just around the corner, most students’ blood pressure is as high as their stack of unfinished papers and assignments. When each day seems to add another paper, reading assignment, project or presentation to the never-ending list, the stress can become overwhelming. While end-of-the semester stress can’t be eliminated, there are a few things you can do to manage it.

To reduce stress and maintain focus, it is often helpful to slow down and refocus after class. Instead of attempting to dive right into your assignments after class, take a quick break. Sit back, take a few deep breaths and listen to a few of your favorite relaxing songs, chat with a friend for a few minutes, or take a quick walk to get rid of some stress. If you give yourself just a few minutes to breathe, you will get more done in the long run.

If you want to keep your stress level down, make sure you give your mind a break from thinking about school. When you are taking a shower, driving your car, or walking to class, leave the stress behind. When you cannot be working on your assignments, do not stress over them.

Maintaining some kind of balance during the few weeks preceding finals is very difficult, but it is crucial to managing stress. Try taking 20 minutes to do some light exercise, sleep in one or two extra hours on Saturdays and try to keep your study snacks as healthy as possible. Small investments of time like a few minutes at the gym or an extra hour of sleep during the week can help you keep going strong for longer.

To make studying a little more fun and a little less stressful, try studying with friends. Bring your laptop to a friend’s room or take a trip to Waffle House. If you mix a little socializing in with the cramming, it may help you feel a little less overwhelmed.

Although socializing while studying is a great strategy, make sure to take some breaks from studying as well. Set goals for yourself. When you reach them, reward yourself by stepping away from the schoolwork for a little while. Make sure to plan your study breaks well so you do not end up making your breaks too long or too frequent.

Also try to plan something fun for the end of each week. Take a couple of hours to hang out with a friend, go down town, watch a movie, or go out for coffee. Giving yourself an enjoyable non-academic activity to look forward to can help you stay focused and diligent throughout the week.

For the last few weeks of the semester, try to manage your stress and treat yourself right. If you do, you will have a better chance of finishing the semester well.

Switchfoot set new goals and showed exciting growth with Hello Hurricane. The alternative group took huge steps forward as a band in this seventh album, released Nov. 10. What was different about this particular record? Everything changed when they separated from their mainstream label, Columbia Records, to found their very own indie label called lowercase people records. But status as an indie band turned out to be deceptively freeing.

The making of this album was in itself a huge struggle. Working with dozens of songs and essentially no deadline led this record to have the most difficult creative process yet. But what the band intended with Hello Hurricane can be summed up in a statement by lead vocalist Jon Foreman: “If you don’t believe it with every ounce of your being, then why are you singing it?”

The band demonstrated its passion for music on this album. Switchfoot’s members questioned everything about their music during the making of it. They had to figure out where they wanted to go with the music and what they wanted to say. But they came together and worked through all the difficulties to make songs that could move people.

The stirring album opener, “Needle and Haystack Life,” has lyrics full of hope and promise: “In this needle and haystack life/I found miracles there in your eyes/It’s no accident we’re here tonight/We are once in a lifetime.”

Living with this kind of urgency seemed to be the main theme of Hello Hurricane, something that could also be heard on the first single “Mess of Me.” The heavy rocker track conveys the need to spend the rest of life truly living. The changes described in this song can illustrate the shifts in Switchfoot’s sound.

While this record did not feature the band completely changing its sound, there is an impressive new intensity to these tracks. The album has exquisitely layered harmonies that include powerful bass lines and the usual strong vocal styling that the band is known for. While Hello Hurricane definitely features a new kind of sound, the classic Switchfoot sound has not disappeared. It has simply been reinvented with an urgency and focus that only make the music better. Maybe the conflict and uncertainty that the band struggled with while making this album was actually a positive thing. In any case, it translated into a truly great record.

Many elements added to the album to make it more dynamic and relatable. Balance is a quality that was used well. While Hello Hurricane showcases Switchfoot’s heavy, rock-oriented side, it also reveals a gentler one. This softer side is featured well in the sounds of tracks like the warm romance of “Enough to Let Me Go” and the sweetly mingled regret and hope of “Always” and “Yet.” “If it doesn’t break your heart/It isn’t love,” Foreman sings on the latter track. These kinds of powerful emotions were found at the forefront of the songs on Hello Hurricane. It was the perfect storm.

Manuel Izquierdo fights for possession in the Crusaders' 5-1 victory over Chowan Friday. (Photo by Timor Kamilov)

The men’s team battled through an emotional week and secured a berth in the NCCAA regional tournament with a 5-1 win over Chowan Friday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.

“Really we didn’t play our best game today, so hopefully we’ll pick up the intensity and the speed of play on Friday,” North Greenville coach Chad Gfeller said. “We kinda got out of our style of play, but we came out in the second half and possessed and played more of our style of soccer, and that made a big difference.”

Last Tuesday, midfielder Thomas McGill, freshman undecided, was taken to intensive care after being involved in a car accident on I-26 near Newberry, S.C. McGill has since been released from the hospital.

On the pitch, Juan Carlos Aguilera, senior economics, gave North Greenville (9-7-1) the lead in the fifth minute, and Jonathan Restrepo, senior international business, added the first of three goals on an assist from Chandler Patterson, sophomore media ministry.

In the first half, goalkeeper Justin Braddock, freshman sport management, collided with a Chowan player and was carted off the field in an ambulance. Braddock was taken to the hospital and suffered a broken nose and a concussion.

Max Duarte, senior marketing, volleyed the ball toward the goal, but a Chowan defender tipped it into the net for an own goal. Restrepo scored again in the 79th minute, but Chowan’s Jonathan Potter scored less than a minute later.

The Crusaders will travel to Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga., for the regional tournament on Friday and Saturday.

“It’s all about momentum and going into Friday’s game with the right mind-set,” Gfeller said.

King College downed the women’s soccer team 1-0 Thursday night at Pepsi Stadium in the final match of the regular season. North Greenville (11-7) faced Truett McConnell in the play-in game for the NCCAA regional tournament last night, but the score was unavailable by press time.

“It’s obviously frustrating to lose a 1-0 game here at the end of the year, but I was really proud of some of our girls who stepped up,” North Greenville coach Jesse McCormick said. “We had a couple good looks at goal, but we are still missing some players.”

The Lady Crusaders played without starters Leah Ward, junior sport management, and Emily Pittman, junior sport management. Jade Salle, freshman undecided, and Sarah McCorkle, junior, stepped into starting roles, and nine players were on the pitch for nearly all 90 minutes.

“I was happy with the players that stepped in,” McCormick said. “We had some players playing the whole game, and we were getting a little tired at the end not having as much depth for this game.”

The Tornadoes’ Morgan Shelton scored in the 35th minute on an unassisted goal in breezy, chilly conditions in Tigerville. King (Bristol, Tenn.) controlled much of the possession and outshot North Greenville 17-5 on the night. The Lady Crusaders have lost two straight games for the first time all season. The NCCAA regional tournament begins Friday at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga.

“I’m excited about the opportunity for regionals,” McCormick said. “We feel that we can beat any team there, but from here on out, we have to come out and be ready to play to the best of our ability.”

After riding the success of their first album for four years, Flyleaf is back with the long-awaited sophomore release Memento Mori. Their self-titled debut put the quintet on the world’s radar and the band literally became a sensation. That album spent an incredible 133 weeks on the Billboard 200, so coming back with music to top that would be a daunting task for any band. Flyleaf, however, didn’t seem fazed by their immense success and made Memento Mori into yet another unforgettable album.

Throughout the album, the band reminds its listeners to enjoy the life they have and to not take it for granted. The phrase Memento Mori is Latin for “be mindful of death,” which is what the band portrays continuously. While their last album seemed to be about healing, this one focuses on hope. Before the album was released, the band performed acoustic concerts for troops stationed in Afghanistan, offering the soldiers a glimmer of hope through their music.

“These troops were so thankful that we were there and that they could just enjoy life for a minute. That’s exactly what Memento Mori means. Life’s important, and it’s brief. You never know when it’s going to be over for you or the people around you. You have to make the most of every opportunity you’re given,” lead singer Lacey said on the Flyleaf website.

The 13-track album reflects this theme through songs that are intricate both lyrically and musically. Flyleaf continues to be a grungy alternative band with sometimes screaming and throaty vocals, but Lacey’s haunting voice sets the band apart from the other alternative bands in the market.

Perhaps more importantly, the band’s lyrics reflect the hope that it never loses sight of. “Swept Away” is particularly beautiful; the chorus says, “Time for surrender/Spread out your open hands/And He will raise you up.” Lacey has always been open about her faith, and it really shows in this particular song of surrender. “Set Apart This Dream” is a power ballad all about dreams and hopes. The album’s current single, “Again” seems to present the picture of hope the best with lyrics that say, “Only surrender will help you now/I love you see and believe again.” Not only are the lyrics refreshing in a world with so many shallow songs, but the song as a whole is incredibly infectious.

Flyleaf does an exceptional job of combining meaningful lyrics with hard-hitting music throughout Memento Mori. Actually, this album is more musically diverse than the band’s freshman release. It balances out the number of ballads with straight rock songs worthy of head-banging. “Missing” has a popish sound, while “In the Dark” is reminiscent of “I’m So Sick” with its screaming vocals.

As a whole, Memento Mori succeeds as a sophomore release following an explosive debut album. Fans are sure to enjoy the band’s variety in both lyrics and musical styles. Flyleaf might have grown up in four years, but the music they make certainly hasn’t gotten boring.

The Lady Crusaders had two more tune-up games to get ready for their first game of the season against Newberry. The first of the last two exhibition games was against Converse in Hayes Gymnasium last Wednesday. The Crusaders had no problem scoring against Converse and went into half time with a 35-22 lead.

The Lady Crusaders came out hot in the second half, stretching their lead to 20. Head coach Jayne Arledge substituted younger players onto the floor for most of the second half, and the Lady Crusaders went on to defeat Converse 80-68.

Four Lady Crusaders finished in double figures. Nikki Wood, senior sport management, led all scorers with 23 points, with 15 of those points coming in the first half.

The Crusaders’ final exhibition game came against USC Upstate, and this time the Lady Crusaders didn’t look as sharp as they had just a few days before. North Greenville came out ice cold in the first half, mustering only 14 points and shooting 23 percent from the floor.

North Greenville shot only 20 percent from the free throw line went into halftime trailing 44-14. In the second half, the Lady Crusaders played significantly better, more than doubling their point total in the first half, but they could not pull any closer as USC Upstate went on to win 78-47.

The Lady Crusaders are looking to avoid a repeat of last year when they lost 10 out of their 15 road games. They play their first game at home against Newberry on Nov. 17, but seven out of their next eight games and 16 out of their next 25 games will be played away.

“I’m looking forward to the road games we have, and I know we will do better than we did last year,” Wood said.

Wood finished third on the team in scoring last season with 331 points, averaging 12.3 points per game. She also led the team in steals with 48. The Lady Crusaders will definitely have to be road warriors for the upcoming season, and they start their four-game road trip on Nov. 20 at Augusta State at 7:30 p.m.

America’s armed forces suffered a blow on Nov. 5 when a fellow soldier opened fire at Fort Hood, a military base in Killeen, Texas.

Thirteen people were killed–12 soldiers and a civilian–and 43 others were injured.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a military psychiatrist for the Army, was shot four times by two civilian officers to end the deadly rampage. He is in critical but stable condition in Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and is now paralyzed from the waist down.

One of the officers, Sergeant Kimberly Munley, was injured in the shootout but is expected to make a full recovery.

“My wife and I were heart broken,” said Lt. Col. William Maddox, professor of military science for both the Furman and North Greenville University ROTC. “We have been a part of the Army family for 22 years. The Army is really not that big and we have several friends and former colleagues in the Fort Hood Community.”

The attack on Fort Hood was the deadliest mass shooting on a U.S. Army base in modern history.

“The Army is a real people-centric organization,” Maddox said. “It really strives to take care of soldiers and their families. The fact that this shooting occurred at a center where soldiers come together to help take care of personal/family issues prior to deploying overseas is particularly troubling.”

President Barack Obama has called for a thorough investigation of the shooting and of the possibility that Hasan had terrorist connections.

Hasan had communications with Pakistan and also became belligerent when discussing the war on terrorism.

Stephanie Patton, sophomore interdisciplinary studies, moved to South Carolina from Texas four years ago.

“I personally know people who serve in the military and to think that it could happen here in the US, especially near my hometown, is very upsetting,” Patton said.

The possibility of having soldiers attacked on home soil makes the shooting even more disturbing.

“Being wounded or killed in the line of duty is always possible in the Army, but the soldiers killed at Fort Hood were home—which also had a tremendous impact on the Army community,” Maddox said.

Many of the fallen soldiers were laid to rest on Saturday, Nov. 15, as the Fort Hood community began the healing process.

North Greenville midfielder Thomas McGill is recovering from injuries sustained during a car accident on Interstate 26 near Newberry, S.C., last Tuesday. McGill, freshman undecided, was immediately rushed to the hospital. He remained in intensive care until Friday and was released from the hospital on Saturday.

McGill experienced cerebral edema, or swelling in the brain. The edema has since been relieved, and he is currently recovering at his home in West Columbia, S.C. The news came as a shock to the men’s soccer team, which had recently wrapped up the 2009 regular season.

“The guys were very worried about him,” said North Greenville men’s soccer coach Chad Gfeller. “You get so close to any teammate, and you’re like brothers. It was a scary thing, and it’s been tough on them, but it’s been neat to see how the Lord has been in control the whole time.”

McGill has seen action as a substitute in one game this year, and doctors have told him that he will be unable to participate in athletic events for three to six months.

“In a way, I think it helped to bring us together this time of year,” Gfeller said. “We realized how fragile life is and how it doesn’t take much not to be out there playing.”

North Greenville (9-7-1) responded by defeating Chowan 5-1 in the play-in game of the NCCAA regional tournament. In the first half, goalkeeper Justin Braddock, freshman sport management, collided with a Chowan player and was carted off the field in an ambulance.

At the hospital, doctors determined that Braddock suffered a concussion and a broken nose. Surgery may be required to repair the broken nose, but Gfeller was optimistic about his recovery.

“He got hit in the face pretty good, but he should be okay,” Gfeller said. “The injuries are nothing too serious. They were just taking some precautions.”

Braddock is at home and will miss the regional tournament Friday and Saturday at Emmanuel College. If the Crusaders were to win the tournament and advance to nationals, Braddock would have a possibility of making the trip with the team.

The North Greenville University theatre department will be helping students get into the Christmas spirit through an evening of fun, laughter, entertainment and music. At 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 20, 21 and Dec. 1, the NGU theatre department will be presenting the musical comedy A Sanders Family Christmas.

A Sanders Family Christmas is the sequel to the popular musical Smoke on the Mountain. A Sanders Family Christmas is set in Mount Pleasant, N.C. in 1941. In the play, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and the Sanders family gather to enjoy the Christmas spirit before sending their boys off to fight in World War II.

“We’re a family that is putting on a show for a church, so it’s a performance of a performance. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Thomas Sieberhagen, freshman theatre, who plays the character of Dennis Sanders.

The play features more than two dozen carols and Christmas songs, including energetic bluegrass melodies and a cappella performances of “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Away in a Manger.” The catchy songs and humorous Christmas tales will keep the audience laughing and singing along from start to finish.

The cast for A Sanders Family Christmas includes Kyle Stelling, junior theatre; Bethany Sarazen, senior theatre; Thomas Sieberhagen, freshman theatre; Angie Toole, senior theatre; and Lindsay Furrow, sophomore theatre.

Faculty members Dale Savidge and Andy Stevens will also be featured in the production.

In addition to the NGU cast, the Young Appalachian Musicians will be making an appearance.

“They’re children the ages of eight to 12 or 13 and they are incredible. We have four of them playing with us and they are going to do a song by themselves…It’s brilliant,” Sieberhagen said.

For students looking for hearty laughs, good music and a taste of Christmas cheer, A Sanders Family Christmas fits the bill.

For the added bonus of cultural event credit, students should bring a current student ID with them to Turner Chapel for the performance.