Things blow up. Tall buildings crumble like stepped-on crackers. Yellowstone National Park becomes a giant volcano. Los Angeles slides into the ocean, and a huge tidal wave wipes out Washington, D.C. The only thing that 2012 doesn’t have is a shot of the Statue of Liberty cracking into a thousand pieces.

The movie chronicles the end of the world which, according to the Mayans, will occur in the year 2012. In 2009, geologist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) visits fellow scientist Satnam in India, where he finds out that increased solar activity is gradually cooking the earth from the inside out. Their theory is that the earth’s crust will begin to crumble, causing the continents to change shape and shift location. This will of course result in mass catastrophe.

Helmsley returns to the United States to inform Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt), the White House Chief of Staff, of the situation. Anheuser immediately puts Helmsley in touch with President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover).

Fast forward to 2012. Los Angeles resident Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is awakened by a brief earthquake and the sound of a news correspondent reporting on a mass suicide in a Mayan community in South America. Curtis, a struggling, divorced writer who balances his job as a chauffeur and his responsibilities as a father to Noah and Lilly (Liam James and Morgan Lily, respectively), realizes he is late for picking the kids up for a camping trip.

While on the trip to Yellowstone, Curtis happens upon a radio broadcast where a radical-sounding man is discussing the earthquakes, the cracking of the earth’s crust and how they are related to the end of the world. Curtis and the children then meet Helmsley—and some members of the U.S. Army—after they climb a fence into a restricted area.

Curtis realizes something is really wrong when his ex-wife Kate (Amanda Peet) asks them to come home after a grocery store she was in with her boyfriend cracked in half. The next day, he takes his boss, a Russian millionaire, to the airport so he can get on a flight to escape the end of the world.

Curtis then goes on somewhat of a rampage in an effort to get his family out of Los Angeles. After dodging crumbling streets, speeding over large cracks and dodging falling freeway bridges—all in a limousine—Curtis gets everyone to the airport. Kate’s boyfriend, an inexperienced student pilot, manages to fly them out of the city while performing complex maneuvers between falling buildings.

Meanwhile in Washington, D.C., the government has been working with other countries to organize a way to save humanity. Their plan: build arks and sell tickets costing one billion euros.

Curtis and his family, Curtis’ boss, and Helmsley and the government then struggle to find their way to safety.

2012’s main focus seems to be on special effects, which are incredibly realistic. However, the plot structure seems to crumble a bit. Literally everything is destroyed and because of this, the rising action takes up an unnecessary chunk of the movie’s two-and-a-half hour running time. I kept checking my watch, wondering when the climax would occur.

In contrast, the acting is decent. Curtis ends up being the group’s leader, and Cusack does an excellent job portraying the character’s strength and fear. The iconic Danny Glover shines in his role as President, while Ejiofor plays a fantastic scientist.

In general, 2012 is an interesting study on the “what ifs” of the end of the world. The premise of the movie is interesting enough, and the special effects are outstanding. Its long running time is definitely a downside though, I felt like I was stuck in another Cast Away during the last 45 minutes. I also found 2012 humorous at times because of some trite moments.

If you are more interested in great special effects than you are in plot, see 2012 in the theatre. Otherwise, wait for its DVD release and head to a RedBox. Whatever you do, give yourself about three hours to enjoy the movie.

2012 is rated PG-13 for disaster and language.

With exams coming up just around the corner, it is important to do everything possible to be prepared. Here are five easy steps to get you on your way to exam success.

The first step may seem like common sense, but it is very important nonetheless: study. Studying is the best thing you can do when preparing for an exam. If your professor has given you a study guide, make sure you review all of the material.

However, too much studying can be harmful.

“If possible, study no more than 30-40 minutes at a stretch. Many students retain more by studying for short periods with breaks in between. It all depends on what you’re trying to study, but generally, after a period of study, take a break,” Dr. Bob Kizlik, a professor at the University of Virginia, said.

The next step is to get a good night’s sleep before you take the exam. The average college student needs seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

“You can’t do your best work when you’re sleep-deprived,” Pamela Thacher, a psychology professor at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., said.

While you sleep, your brain processes all of the information that you have studied. So instead of pulling an all-nighter, turn out the lights and go to bed.

The third step is to eat a healthy breakfast. Students who eat well-balanced breakfasts perform better on exams. A study at Blinn College revealed that of the 65% of students who had eaten some kind of breakfast, 72% made a C or better on their test. Healthy cereal, waffles, oatmeal and a glass of orange juice are some foods that have been proven to boost academic performance.

Step four is to prepare an outline for essay exams. Writing an essay or two within the time limit can be a daunting task if you do not know what you are doing.

First, go through all of the topic choices and choose one that you know a lot about. Then, make a short outline in order to gather your thoughts together.

Once you have a general outline for your topic, start writing. Make sure you give yourself enough time to go back through your essay and edit any spelling or grammar mistakes you may have made.

Last but not least, be smart when taking the exam. When the professor gives you the exam, write down everything you can remember if you are allowed to write on the exam.

Next, go through the test and answer the questions that you know the answer to. After you have answered all of the ones you know, go back through the test and reread the questions. Then answer the ones you think you know the answer to and guess on ones that you cannot figure out.

After answering all the questions, go back through the exam and check your answers. Remember, keep track of time and do not panic!

As the holidays approach, so many people are concerned only about themselves. Thanksgiving has become a holiday where you stuff yourself until you are too fat to do anything, and ladies are preparing to rip each others’ eyes out the next day to get Christmas presents.

Selfishness defined is looking after one’s own desires. It seems as if holiday events bring out the worst in people. Family members cut in line to get the first piece of turkey and forget what Thanksgiving is all about because of their own desires.

Thanksgiving began in 1692 as the Plymouth colonists and Indians gathered to give thanks for the bounty of crops. Now it seems Thanksgiving is a commercialized day of gluttony. How can we be thankful and get rid of our selfishness? Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

My opinion concerning Thanksgiving is that it is a special day that we should give to God. He does so much for us throughout the year; therefore, we should give thanks for our health, family and blessings.

If people think it is too hard to give thanks on a national day of thanks, how can they be thankful any other day? We can consume our stomachs full of food, but cannot thank the God that provided all that food. We push and shove through stores to buy the best Christmas present, but cannot remember why we celebrate Christmas. We might say what we are thankful for, but we cannot seem to remember to thank God. God is someone to be thankful for. He created you, the food you eat and the people that prepared it.

As for me, I am giving thanks for the many blessings he has given me. I recently received a job and found out that I can receive another scholarship. And I have people who love me and food to eat. For this Thanksgiving I had many things to be thankful for, but most of all I am thankful for a God who saved me and has blessed me.

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” I Thessalonians 5:18 says.

The Blind Side conveys the astonishing true story of Michael Oher, played by Quinton Aaron. When Leigh Touhy (Sandra Bullock) sees him interacting with her young son on the grounds of their Christian school, she becomes slightly alarmed at Michael’s towering height.

Michael’s past consists of homelessness and a broken home and it is evident that he is uncomfortable in his new school.

On the drive home one cold night, Leigh sees Michael walking alone outside. Realizing that he has nowhere to go, she invites him to her home.

His stay soon becomes permanent. The Touhys soon discover Michael’s full potential with academics and football. As they guide and help him, they make incredible self discoveries in return.

The truth behind the script supplies the movie with a truly amazing story. The movie dealt with several social issues including race, money and family.

With Tim McGraw as Sean Touhy, the cast is perfect. Bullock plays her character with passion and enthusiasm. This is by far one of her best performances.

“A feel-good movie that never stops feeling good. The film is based on a true story (it was adapted from the nonfiction best-seller by Michael Lewis), but you never honestly feel that Hancock has captured what’s true about it,” said Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly.

There is honestly nothing bad to say about the movie. Men will love the sports and women will love the heartwarming story.

Some viewers may find the movie to be a little too dramatic, but one can rest assured that they will leave the theatre with a smile.

After the phenomenon that was Twilight, the pressure was on for the second installment of the saga. The differences between the first film and sequel, New Moon, make for an interesting lesson in contrasts.

The biggest change from the first film to the second was the shift in directors that occurred. Twilight was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, while New Moon was directed by Chris Weitz. While Hardwicke’s approach was that of an intimate love story, Weitz attempted an epic scope with this film. His methods were to incorporate more action and bring out the fantasy element. And where Hardwicke allowed the story to unfold, Weitz comes across with a more pragmatic telling. The directors’ choices of endings were also very different. Hardwicke gave completeness to Twilight’s ending, while Weitz chose a shocking cliffhanger for the final scene of New Moon.

Another difference in the two films is the absence of Robert Pattinson’s presence in the second. This absence is in perfect keeping with Stephenie Meyer’s book, which mostly depicted Edward Cullen, Pattinson’s character, as a missing piece. Pattinson still manages to impress in this film. His chemistry with Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella Swan, is better than ever. But the biggest component in this film was Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. Lautner has grown with his character and managed to more than hold his own in this film.

The cast of the Twilight franchise has settled into their characters well, and all were able to reprise their roles in this second film. Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg was also brought back for this installment. Her adaptations of Stephenie Meyer’s work are consistently faithful; there were some minor detours, but overall her translation of Meyer’s vision is accurate. This precision in transmitting Meyer’s story from book to screen is vital. Twilight fans know every nuance of the series, which is probably why many of the lines were verbatim from Meyer’s book.

The elements of Meyer’s story are all intact here, including the Romeo and Juliet theme woven throughout. This film had a moodier feel to it that is also consistent with the dark quality of the book. An important part of the story is the growing friendship and hinted romance between Bella and Jacob.

After Edward leaves Forks presumably for good, Jacob is the only thing that keeps Bella going. He brings her out of her depressed state to something more alive. But his feelings for her are different than hers for him, and Bella is torn between maintaining her desire to be only friends and allowing herself to love him the way he loves her. The lines between the two blur tantalizingly—that is, until Bella hears that Edward mistakenly believes she is dead. She goes to find him in Italy with Alice Cullen, Edward’s adopted sister, leaving Jacob behind. The developing love triangle set up here will be explored more deeply in Eclipse.

While New Moon was consistent with the book and satisfying for fans as a film, it did not have the same flow and sense of unity that characterized Twilight. Weitz’s pacing comes across a touch heavy-handed, making the New Moon experience distinctly different than the more quietly told love story that was Twilight. What Twilight may have lacked in production value, it made up for with a raw, sensitive quality that embodied Meyer’s vision beautifully. New Moon comes across as too polished. But the fans will definitely be too distracted by Jacob to mind.

New Moon is rated PG-13 for some violence and action.

The men’s soccer team was eliminated in the first round of the NCCAA regional tournament with a 3-0 loss to Southern Wesleyan Nov. 20 at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga. The Warriors netted two goals in the first half and added one more in the second half to halt the Crusaders’ postseason run.

North Greenville (9-8-1) tied 1-1 with Southern Wesleyan in the teams’ regular season meeting on Sept. 23. The Crusaders outshot the Warriors 15-9 but could not find the back of the net.

“The intensity was there from our guys, but it was one of those games where the ball just wouldn’t go in the back of the net,” said North Greenville coach Chad Gfeller. “The stuff that has been clicking all season just wasn’t clicking for us, and that was frustrating.”

The Crusaders had several opportunities in front of goal. Juan Carlos Aguilera, senior economics, fired a ball off the crossbar in the third minute.

“They took advantage of their opportunities, and that was the difference,” Gfeller said.

Max Duarte, senior marketing, and Justen Braddock, freshman sport management, were both named to the NCCAA All-Region team, and Aguilera, Snyder and Manuel Izquierdo, senior biology, were each awarded All-Scholar awards. The award was Duarte’s third of his career.

“Max has been great for us all year, and Justen has been impressive as a freshman,” Gfeller said. “He’s worked hard and done a great job.”

The Crusaders finished the regular season with an 8-7-1 record, recording wins over Toccoa Falls, Truett McConnell, Warren Wilson and Brevard, among others. Aguilera, Duarte, Snyder and Izquierdo all played in their final games for North Greenville.

“We’re going to miss all those guys,” Gfeller said. “They’re all keys to the way we’ve played, and I’m not looking forward to replacing them next year.”

Midfielder Thomas McGill, freshman, returned to campus Nov. 23 after being involved in a car accident earlier this month on Interstate 26. McGill spent several days in the hospital.

“Thomas is doing well, and he’s set for a full recovery, thank the Lord,” Gfeller said.

“Be respectful and courteous and remember you are a guest,” reads the handout on rules for using Furman’s library.

Due to frequent violations of library guest policies, Furman University requested that North Greenville University’s library issue a reminder of Furman library rules for NGU students.

Students should ask for permission before using library services such as computer workstations and reference assistance, avoid using study rooms and 24-hour study rooms and refrain from using computer workstations during mid-terms and finals.

Students should also identify themselves as NGU students when speaking to Furman library personnel.
“Let them know you’re a North Greenville student; that way if there is any confusion about the rules they can explain them then,” Carla McMahan, NGU library director, said.

McMahan explained that by identifying themselves as NGU students, students can avoid accidentally violating rules and taking librarians’ time away from Furman students.

“If you let them know you are a North Greenville student, then as soon as you need help they can direct you to the right place,” McMahan said.

Students who continually violate the rules will be banned from the Furman library.

“We don’t want you to lose the resource sharing privileges,” McMahan said.

In addition to following the rules, NGU students should be respectful and courteous when using off campus resources.

“Whether you are off campus or on, you are a North Greenville student and everything that you say or do, every action of yours, is going to reflect on the school. So you need to make sure that you are behaving in a way and that you’re speaking in a way that would bring honor to our school and not bring shame…. This is a Christian school and…[your] behavior is going to reflect not just on our school but on the church, on Christians in general,” Leslie Brown, NGU evening reference librarian, reminds students.

Brown also encourages students to check the NGU library for resources before visiting Furman.

“Before you decide to go to another library, check here and make sure whether we have the material or not,” Brown said. “If we don’t, I will request them on interlibrary loan for you.”

“If you do need to go to another library, make sure that you remember that you are a guest and that using their services is not a right that you have, it is a privilege,” Brown continued.

For further information on Furman library policies and interlibrary resources, talk to one of the NGU library personnel or visit http://library.furman.edu/about/policies.htm.

Ward, junior sport management, and Henderson, sophomore outdoor leadership, each scored for North Greenville in the first round against Southern Wesleyan to send the Lady Crusaders to the final. The regional final was the first in the program’s history.

“It was great to make it to the regional final, and we were right there at the end of the game,” said North Greenville coach Jesse McCormick. “The ladies put everything into it, and that’s all you can ask.”

North Greenville (13-8) took the lead when Ward scored in the 29th minute and carried the 1-0 lead into halftime. The Sailfish scored just after halftime to tie the match and scored the game winner in the 52nd minute.

“We played a strong first half and were really able to frustrate them,” McCormick said. “They came out in the second half, and the early goal helped them a lot.”

Ward, Hayley Williams, junior linguistics and early childhood education, and Jessica Binkley, senior health and wellness, were named to the NCCAA All-Region team.
“We are certainly looking forward to next season,” McCormick said. “We will need to fill key positions, but I’m excited for the progress we’re making and all the new players. We’re looking to bring in players who love the game, work hard, and want to do well.”

North Greenville will graduate four seniors—Binkley, Kaleigh Meara, sport management, Beth Morgan, health and wellness, and Danielle Duff, sport management.
“Our goal was to make it to nationals, and we came really close,” McCormick said. “We keep taking bigger steps, so hopefully we can take it another step next season.”
North Greenville won three out of their first four games. From Sept. 17 to Oct. 22, the Lady Crusaders won six out of eight games.

North Greenville’s only losing streak came towards the end of the season when the Lady Crusaders fell to Palm Beach Atlantic and King College in the final two games of the regular season.

The Lady Crusaders then defeated Truett McConnell 1-0 in the regional play-in game to book their place at the regional tournament.

North Greenville avenged a 2-1 loss to Southern Wesleyan on Sept. 5 to advance to the regional final against Palm Beach Atlantic.

“I was happy with how we played [against Southern Wesleyan], especially with how we were able to capitalize on our opportunities,” McCormick said. “We also possessed for the majority of the game, which was nice to see.”

Binkley and the Lady Crusader defense recorded nine shutouts on the year.

Christen Sasscer, senior outdoor leadership, found a way to show the love of Christ and do her part to alleviate poverty by selling bracelets for Threads of Hope.

Threads of Hope is a nonprofit organization founded by Christians in the Philippines in response to widespread poverty and prostitution. Threads of Hope provides at-risk Filipino families with supplies to make bracelets, then sends the bracelets to the United States where youth groups, church groups and Christians like Sasscer sell the bracelets. The proceeds from the bracelets are sent back to the Philippines and distributed among the families to provide them with a steady income.

“Threads of Hope gives a job to the women and children there who would normally be in either poverty or sell themselves into prostitution or something like that just to make enough money to put food on the table,” Sasscer said.

Threads of Hope specifically aims to help these Filipino families by providing them food, medical care and education. Through the ministry, more than 80 families have been given employment and freedom from hunger and poverty. Some families can even afford their own successful businesses after Threads of Hope helped them get on their feet.

In addition to providing employment for at risk families, Threads of Hope also has several other stated goals. Its most important goal is to share the love of Christ with the Filipino people by meeting their physical needs. Threads of Hope also endeavors to use bracelet sales in the United States to raise awareness of poverty and oppression. Additionally, the ministry tries to give Christians in the U.S. the opportunity to connect and reach out to those in need by selling the bracelets.

Christen Sasscer’s connection with Threads of Hope was formed through her sister, Rachael Sasscer. Rachael discovered Threads of Hope while she was serving at a missionary school in the Philippines for two years. When she returned to the United States, Rachael brought back a supply of Threads of Hope bracelets. Christen Sasscer began selling the bracelets on North Greenville University’s campus while her younger brother and business partner Stephen Sasscer sold bracelets at his high school in Georgia.

Christen and Stephen have continued representing Threads of Hope at their respective schools over the past three years.

Christen sells Threads of Hope bracelets for $2 apiece.

With the end of the semester coming up quickly, many students are already thinking about ways to make money over Christmas. But there are also several ways students can be saving money now.

Changing just a few of your daily habits can make a big difference. Cutting back on things that are unnecessary can put a little extra change in your pocket.

For example, limit runs to Starbucks; brewing your own coffee can save you much more money. Also limit late-night fast food trips. When you do go out, choose local places that offer college student discounts. Also, many restaurants offer great discounts or birthday coupons for a free dessert or entrée if you sign up for monthly emails.

Keeping healthy, affordable snacks in your dorm room will save you food and gas money. Collecting grocery store coupons is also a great way to save money. Saving 50 cents here and there will add up quickly. Buying things you use often in bulk is other way to save. Bulk buying may seem unnecessary for just one person, but the savings will add up.

Saving money on entertainment is just as easy. Downtown Greenville and local parks offer tons of creative ways to get outside and spend time with friends. There are also many free events offered in nearby Greenville and Spartanburg. Check the local newspapers and radio station websites for information on upcoming events, such as free concerts and festivals. Some of the best fun can be had playing cards in the student center.

Going to a matinee showing of the newest movie will save you money. Stopping by the grocery store to pick up snacks before heading to the theater will save you several dollars. Take advantage of free movies shown during on-campus events. Local libraries also have a great stock of movies and memberships are almost always free. If you have unwanted DVDs or CDs, you can check out the local shops to see if they give credit for used items.

Decorating your dorm room can be fun, but students can easily spend too much money. Instead of buying the first item you see, shop around for a better price. You can find great deals on used furniture by shopping at discount stores or thrift stores.

Buying used textbooks is always a great way to save cash. Many times you can share books with friends taking the same class. EBay’s Half.com and Amazon are the best places to find used textbooks. Start looking now for discounted books for the spring semester.

Always watch your money and do not overuse your credit card. To avoid late fees, keep up on insurance, phone and credit card bills to make sure they get paid on time.

Having and sticking to a budget will help you not to overspend. It helps to make a list of things you need when going shopping; just be sure to only buy what is on your list.

College students can always benefit from saving a little money here and there. Even just putting forth a little effort into saving money on small things will make a difference to your wallet.

Photo by Elizabeth Wood

Every family has its own traditions, but for the Sanders family, we get to experience it.

A Sanders Family Christmas was held Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 1 at North Greenville University.

Sitting in the audience, people become a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. The entire play is about the Sanders family’s last Christmas singing as a family before World War II starts.

The play is set in the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in 1941. The Sanders’ family consists of Burl Sanders, played by Andy Stevens, mass communications professor; Vera Sanders, played by Lindsey Furrow, sophomore theatre; June Sanders, played by Bethany Serezan, senior theatre; Dennis Sanders, played by Thomas Sieberhagen, freshman theatre; Denise Sanders, played by Angie Toole, senior theatre; and Stanley Sanders, played by Dr. Dale Savidge, professor, theatre chair and also director of A Sanders Family Christmas. The play also includes the pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, the Rev. Mervin Oglethorpe, played by Kyle Stelling, junior; and the Young Appalachian Musicians, made up of kids from the area.

Photo by Elizabeth Wood

This show is a performance made up of Christmas music sung and played by the cast. Each character arrives with his or her own story to tell.

Unlike most plays, A Sanders Family Christmas has no distinct plot line. Its focus is mainly on the personalities of the individual characters.

The music in this production is bluegrass combined with southern gospel. Mandolins, guitars, basses, violins, harmonicas, banjos, spoons, wash boards, hand bells, sleigh bells and even a mouth harp are among the peculiar assortment of instruments to bring this musical to life.

“The music made the story feel real and I really enjoyed the interaction with the audience,” Andrew Turner, junior theatre, said.

A special quartet makes an appearance at the church and is brought on stage to perform some songs. The quartet included Dr. Steve Crouse and Dr. Jimmy Epting.

Next semester the theatre department will be putting on Pilgrim’s Progress and The Importance of Being Earnest.

It was a night of celebration for North Greenville athletes and coaches, as the fall sports season officially came to an end. The athletic banquet for fall sports was held in Hayes Ministry Center on Nov. 19.

Assistant athletic director Micah Sepko said that the athletic banquet was a great way to recognize the players for their accomplishments and congratulate them on a great season.

“The banquet is a way to give back to the student athletes for all of their hard work,” said Sepko. “We just want to show them respect for what they do for North Greenville.”

Each team gave out its share of awards, and there were plenty to go around.

“Its great to get the teams and their families together to honor their accomplishments not only as a team, but as individuals as well,” said head football coach Jamey Chadwell.

Andre Bernardi, who racked up three awards on the night (Captain Award, Iron Crusader Award, and Crusader Award), was celebrating many different individual accomplishments.

Bernardi tied the record for most sacks of all time in Division II football history (42). He also recorded five unassisted tackles and two sacks in the East Coast Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Chadwell believes that Bernardi represents what a North Greenville student-athlete should exemplify.

“He earns everything he gets,” Chadwell said. “He is first class, and hopefully he will be able to continue to play football at the next level.”

The banquet was full of awards, but the athletes were also able to showcase their academic achievements as well. Men’s soccer head coach Chad Gfeller recognized his team for an average grade point average of 3.3.

“The seniors and upperclassmen set really good examples for the rest of the team,” Gfeller said. “Having guys that work hard on the field as well as in the classroom is awesome for our program.”

Gfeller believes that the fall sports banquet is a great way to recognize his players, as well as the rest of the North Greenville athletic teams.

“ It’s always good to give honors and recognize the players for what they accomplish,” said Gfeller.

The North Greenville women’s basketball team opened the 2009-10 season against Newberry College on Nov. 17 in Hayes Gymnasium. Newberry used a high-scoring offense to outscore the Crusaders 88-66 for the victory.

In the game, Nikki Wood, senior psychology, led the offense with 16 points and four rebounds. Karly Stache, sophomore mathematics, scored 13 points and Raven Wamer, freshman biology, came off the bench to contribute 10 points.

“We played a pretty good game tonight,” said head coach Jayne Arledge. “We played hard and kept it close we just couldn’t pull ahead and put the game away.”

On Nov. 20, the Crusaders began a four-game road trip when they traveled to Augusta, Ga., to play against the Jaguars of Augusta State. Stache hit eight three-pointers and scored 28 points to lead North Greenville to their first victory of the season, 73-65.

Wood scored seven points and dished out six assists and Krisceda Cotton, freshman sport management, finished with six points and six rebounds.

The Crusaders held a late lead against USC-Aiken on Nov. 21 but were unable to hold on as they fell 56-44.

“It was a defensive battle,” Arledge said. “I feel like we played pretty well and battled hard but we were forced to foul and they made their free throws.”

Wood and post player Erin Gray, freshman business administration, led the team with eight points each. Christina Carlis, freshman business administration, scored seven points in the game and Cotton scored six points and led the team with 12 rebounds.

On Nov. 23 North Greenville tried to can consistency after a shaky start to the season by downing in-state rival Southern Wesleyan University in the NCCAA Classic. The Crusaders overcame a 20-point deficit, thanks to a career-high 35 points from Whitney Smith, senior accounting, but fell in overtime, 100-92.

Stache made three shots from long range to finish with 13 points while Wood and Carlis scored 10 points each.

Looking to rebound from two straight losses, the Crusaders took on Emmanuel College in the second day of the NCCAA Classic. Gray and Carlis combined to score 24 points and the Crusaders outrebounded the Lions 36-34 but North Greenville fell to Emmanuel 55-47.

Gray and Carlis scored 12 points apiece while Smith scored six points and pulled down five rebounds.

“After playing four games in five days I think our girls were just tired and their legs were dead,” Arledge said. “On the bright side, we won the rebounding battle, but we just couldn’t get anything going offensively.”

The Crusaders played against Limestone last night and their next game will be tomorrow against Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, N.C.

There were several leaders on the team this season, including Kaitlyn Pierce, sophomore undecided, Kaitlyn Harris, sophomore sport management, Kayla O’ Kelley, sophomore health promotion and wellness, and Gabbrielle McKinley, senior elementary education.

The Lady Crusaders had four players on the NCCAA All-Region team, including two first team selections in O’ Kelly and Charlotte Swain, junior. McKinley was a second team All-Region selection, and Harris was an honorable mention.

Harris also was named to the all-tournament team along with freshman standout Sara Beth White, freshman mathematics education, who had 15 kills in North Greenville’s match against Southeastern in the NCCAA regional tournament.

“The ladies had their ups and downs, but they still managed to play with integrity and with lots of intensity throughout the 2009 season,” said head coach Lauren Axson. “I am exceptionally proud of these ladies. They gave it their all.”

Elizabeth Wood/The Skyliner

A small restaurant in Greer, S.C., Daisy Mae’s Home Cooking & Catering, satisfies all who choose to eat there. You can find this restaurant at 803 West Poinsett Street in downtown Greer.

The restaurant, named after owner Mrs. Daisy Mae Ellis herself, attracts local customers who want to eat a delicious home-cooked meal in a simple atmosphere. When you walk into this restaurant, you will quickly find that there is also a great family atmosphere, considering that it is a family owned restaurant.

“I love my homemade cakes and I love the customers that come in too,” Ellis said. She, her husband and her children all cook the fresh food themselves. Ellis even bakes homemade cakes that disappear as fast as she makes them.

I went to eat lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The menu consisted of meatloaf, ham, fried chicken, turkey and dressing with gravy, rice and gravy, macaroni and cheese, green beans, turnip greens, crowder peas, steamed cabbage, whole sweet corn, lima beans, potato salad, fried okra, fried squash, yams, and yeast rolls or cornbread.

A meal costs $6.95, and includes a meat, three sides, yeast rolls or cornbread and sweet tea. I ordered turkey and dressing with gravy, cornbread, lima beans, fried squash, yams and sweet tea.

Then, to finish off the meal, homemade cakes are cut by the slice. The four homemade cakes are red velvet cake, coconut cake, german chocolate cake and key lime pie cake with homemade cream cheese icing.

The family and friends who work at this restaurant always welcome customers with a friendly face and attentive service.

“I like that it’s a family owned restaurant. And there’s a spirit about that restaurant. They are Christians and you can tell,” Jane Hannon, customer, said.

Daisy Mae’s daughter, Shaneka Hines, a freshman at Greer High School, waits tables. Shaneka said that her favorite thing about working at the restaurant is the customers’ “smiling faces.”

Daisy Mae’s Home Cooking & Catering also offers its catering service for parties, churches or family events.

The only downside to eating at Daisy Mae’s is that there is limited space for seating, especially at night or on Sundays for lunch.

In reference to the quality of food and service, I give this restaurant an extremely high rating of excellence. You will get an amount of food that is worth the money you pay. Most customers are not able to finish their meals and have to take a good portion of them home. The restaurant is also clean and well kept.

If you have not tried Daisy Mae’s Home Cooking & Catering, you are missing out on a very delicious meal. Hurry in before the cake runs out!

This year the Baptist Student Union at North Greenville University is doing international missions during the Christmas season.

The two trips most of the students are going on are China and Uganda.

“These trips were designed to provide exposure in ministry in an international context and with cultural and linguistic boundaries,” Jody Jenkins, BSU director, said. “Teams will minister to a variety of people and in mixture of ways, ranging from children, villages and cities.”

The Christmas in China trip is with the International Missions Board. The trip is from Dec. 18, 2009 to Jan. 2, 2010. They will first go to Los Angeles to do some training and then arrive in China.

China is considered a closed country and a level three, which is the highest in security. They are not allowed to openly talk about Christ and salvation, so the students who travel with this Light team will be building relationships and waiting for the important question from the people about Jesus.

“This is my first overseas trip and I am very excited to see the culture,” Laura Wise, junior early childhood education, said.

The Uganda trip will be lead by Jenkins. Not only is Jenkins leading the group, he also used to live in Uganda.

The trip to Uganda is from Dec. 9 to 23. Students going on this excursion will work hands-on with nationals to train them in evangelism and discipleship, trying to provide reproducible models when they leave so that others can use them the next time.

Katie Potter, junior early childhood education, is going on the trip to Uganda.

“This is also my first mission trip overseas, and I am excited about experiencing a different language and culture and to see how the Lord is going to teach me,” Potter said.

If you are interested in being a part of a Light team for upcoming trips, see Dr. Allen McWhite or contact him at Allen.McWhite@ngu.edu.

The North Greenville men’s basketball team proved that a tough preseason schedule can lead to positive results after posting an impressive win over Toccoa Falls on Nov. 16 in Hayes Gymnasium. In the first game of the season, the Crusaders were firing on all cylinders as the defeated the Eagles 94-53.

After struggling through a tough exhibition schedule, many wondered just how good this young Crusader team could be. They answered that question and many more by forcing 29 turnovers in the game and shooting 41 percent from the field. The Crusader bench, another aspect of the team that was questioned, quieted critics by combining to score 38 points.

Leading all scorers was post player Paul Harrison, sophomore sport management, scoring 21 points while also pulling down five rebounds and blocking two shots. Kyler Vitko, senior sport management, posted 14 points on the night to go along with a team-leading seven rebounds. Off the bench, Tim Franklin, freshman sport management, and Jamaal Pryor, freshman sport management, each contributed eight points. Franklin also had a team-high four steals.

The Crusaders’ took on a tough Anderson squad in their second game of the season. The Trojans, one of the most potent offensive teams that North Greenville will face this season, left Tigerville with an 88-81 victory on Nov. 17 after shooting 53.1 percent in the second half.

North Greenville kept the game close the entire way but was never able to pull ahead at any point. Harrison had his second consecutive big game, scoring 21 points and grabbing six rebounds. Vitko posted the season’s first double-double, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Pryor was impressive once again, scoring 13 points off the bench to go along with eight rebounds. Millan Rodrigo, freshman sport management, and Luke Lattimer, freshman sport management, each chipped in 12 points.

“I feel like our team played hard the entire game,” head coach Chad Lister said. “We kept getting close but [Anderson] hit some key shots down the stretch and we couldn’t pull it out.”

In the Crusaders’ third straight home game, they took on the Brevard Tornadoes. The Tornadoes, known for their scoring ability, shot 57.6 percent in the game and came away with a 97-88 victory over North Greenville.

Vitko continued his strong early season play as he lead the team with 21 points and nine rebounds. Harrison was once again a dominant low-post presence, scoring 17 points to go along with two blocks. Lattimer had his best game of his college career, going 4-8 from three-point range and finishing the game with 16 points, while Zack Shields, sophomore accounting, scored a career-high 13 points.

On Nov. 23, the Chargers from Atlanta Christian University traveled to Tigerville to take on the Crusaders. In a game that was expected to be exciting, neither team disappointed. Kyler Booher, junior broadcast media, stole an Atlanta Christian inbounds pass and hit a layup with 2.5 seconds left on the game clock as North Greenville came away with a 95-93 victory in the most exciting game of the season so far.

Booher came off the bench to have the best game of his three-year career, scoring 19 points while Harrison led the team with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Vitko chipped in 12 points for the Crusaders, while guards Jimmy Ellis, freshman business administration, and Matt Hunter, freshman sport management, both gave North Greenville a spark off the bench, scoring nine and seven points respectively.

The Crusaders used a strong second half performance to defeat Montreat 68-49 on Nov. 24. This was the second consecutive win for North Greenville and their third in five games.

Harrison recorded his second straight double-double finishing the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 12-13 from the free throw line. Lattimer was hot from long range once again, hitting four three-pointers and finishing the game with 14 points and seven rebounds. Vitko contributed eight points in the game while Rodrigo and Pryor each scored six points off the bench.

The Crusaders played against Limestone College last night to cap off their six-game home stand and will travel to Asheville, N.C., to take on Warren Wilson College on Dec. 10 before returning home on Dec. 15 to go up against Johnson and Wales University.

In the seasonal hit of the year, A Christmas Carol, Robert Zemeckis adapts Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas novel. The man who brought us such films as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and another holiday film, The Polar Express, tastefully recreates England in 3-D and uses motion capture technology to make the animation look essentially human.

Although one would argue that a live action film would have been better, the movie in 3-D is really a lot of fun. The ghost of Christmas past flies Scrooge through England like it is a roller coaster, taking the audience with him.

If you do not know the story of A Christmas Carol, it is about a miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge who is stingy and all around unpleasant, whether it is to his own nephew, or to his impoverished employee Bob Cratchit. Seven years after the death of his business partner and friend, Jacob Marley, Scrooge is visited by his ghost, who tells him he will be visited by three spirits, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come. Each one takes Scrooge through their respective time periods to remind him what the spirit of Christmas really is.

This is the first film Jim Carrey has ever done with Walt Disney Pictures. Jim Carrey and Cary Elwes do most of the voice acting in the movie, covering 13 voices between them, although it also features Bob Hoskins, Gary Oldman, and Colin Firth. The film is a Walt Disney Pictures movie, but be cautious if you have younger siblings or relatives, as there are some scary sequences throughout A Christmas Carol.

Most of the movie remains true to the novel. There are only a few scenes that change a little bit. A lot of the dialogue throughout the movie is direct quotations from the novel. It is definitely recommended that this movie be seen in 3-D, as it truly enhances the experience of a Christmas film. In scenes where it is snowing, this is especially true.

Overall, A Christmas Carol is a great film, not to mention a well done rendition of a classic Christmas tale, of which there are already many films. The Christmas carols sung throughout the movie really add to the joy of watching a Christmas film. A Christmas Carol is rated PG for scary sequences and images.

Picture this: an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ one-on-one with a very large community of people. Not many people would turn that down. Now imagine if it were completely free. Does that sound too good to be true? No way!

The opportunity is right in front of you, right down your own street. It is very possible to do mission work within your own community. We hear that all the time from our classes, church and chapel services. But how applicable can that really be? Is it possible to reach people by smacking them in the face with the truth? Probably not.

The best way to go about this is simply by loving people. The community all around you right now is lost, and not enough people feel the need that is there. Far too many people die everyday without realizing that they are loved and cared about. The United States has plenty of lost people that need to be shown the love that Christ fills His people with and they need to hear how they can be saved.

I had the opportunity to meet a man named Vick while I was filming a movie for one of my classes with a friend of mine. We weren’t meaning to speak to anyone, let alone pray with him. We were in downtown Greenville, not paying attention to the people around us.

A man with a shaved head, tattered clothing and an odd odor approached us with his friend, curious as to what we were doing. We explained to him that we were filming a movie based on a Bible verse, and he asked what the verse was. It was Romans 12:1-2, which says, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.”

Through that opportunity, we were able to hear his story, speak to him and eventually pray with him. It was nerve-wracking, without a doubt. We did not know this man or what he was capable of. He had nervous twitches and was drinking some kind of alcohol out of a Mello-Yello bottle. Our nerves were calmed as we were talking to him, though. It was easy to speak to this man and we felt as if we really got through to him. These feelings of fear did not set in until we were already halfway to the car and recapping our experience.

We did not go up to this man and smack him in the face with the truth. We didn’t stand on the sidewalk yelling that everyone we could see was a sinner.

It is difficult to reach the people in America these days through those ways because there is a vast likelihood that they already have heard the Gospel, and have made the decision to not follow through with it. The only way to reach these people is to prove that you are trying to be like Christ, not like the Christians that have already turned them off.

The best evangelizing technique is just to love them. It is best to not treat them like charity, but to do nice things for them just as you would do nice things for your family. Listen to their stories and tell them about yourself. Plug into their lives and find out how you can cater to their needs. They will see something different in you if you humble yourself. The most common problem that nonbelievers have with Christians is that they do not act on what they believe. Going out into the lost community will prove that stereotype wrong. It will change both your life and theirs.