Reagan Visits LB C For NR B

I t was another ordinary Friday in Lynchburg Another ordinary Friday at Liberty Baptist College, with one exception—presidental candidate Gov Ronald Reagan was coming totown

LBC's campus hadbeen transformed andasense ofexpectation seemed tohang in the air.

The parking lotshadbeen emptied androped off. Thefamiliar sight ofyellow buses wasgone,and security guards stood posted atevery corner and building entrance O n theroof of the Multi-Purpose building armed guards walked back and forth ready todeal with any danger.

Classes had been cancelled and the excitement among the student body washigh Students crowded the cafeteria todiscuss Reagan's visit and theupcoming election

Inside the General Education Hall classrooms had been turned into press rooms and reporters scattered inside and outside thebuilding

Young Americans for Freedom members were busy outside directing cameramen and reporters,and giving outinforma- tion to visitors.

Long lines formed in front of the Multi-Purpose building with students wearing buttons saying: "Reagan Country," "Christians for Reagan" and other slogans

It was the second National Religious Broadcasters Conference and the Republican nominee for thepresidency of the United States was speaking

For those crowded inside the building on bleachers and chairs,thewaiting was intense.

The moments before Reagan would enter the buildin g seeme d to stretch into hours.

Then the moment came. The crowd rose to its feet, as cheers and screams of excitement filled the air. Signs with bold-face "REAGAN" letters waved back and forth Reporters and cameramen rushed close to the platform clicking cameras and recording the event on paper.

As Reagan walked onto the platform the cheers and whistling faded ashe leaned slightlytowards thepodium and said, "It ismy honor to share my thoughts with thereligiousbroadcasters today who bring the message of Judeo-Chriatian values into the homes of tens of millions of Americans."

The crowd listened carefully as Gov. Reagan spoke with confidence about the responsibility of the regligious broadcasters in helping shape and change the world, and of ordinary citizens in bringing peace to America.

For a brief hour Liberty Baptist College had seen and heard the former governor ofCalifornia inliving color.

After the motorcade of carsand press buses left and the Multi-Purpose building had been cleared, Reagan's last words to the crowd seem to linger on . .. "In all we do we must truly be peacemakers, for ourselves and for our children, for our nation and for the world."

-Carole Smith