02 19 2014 final 2

WEDNESDAY | 02.19.2014 | MaceandCROWN.COM | Vol. 56, Issue 16

Old dominion university

Mace & Crown FEATURED ODU WRITES A BOOK How knowledge is related to virtual and physical space

A3

CHILD OF WAR Le Ly Hayslip with the Fifth Annual Ryan C. Crocker Global Citizen of the Year Award

B1

MONARCHS TAKE TEXAS ODU Rebounds with Road Win

C1

The last of them Naughty Dog Wins Big at 17th Annual DICE Awards

E3

Sean Davis| M & C

judge rules in virginia marriage equality case

va same sex marriage ban nullified By: Sean Davis News Editor Mace & Crown

Advocates for marriage equality have reason to celebrate as the State’s ban on same-sex marriage has been ruled unconstitutional.

Federal District Judge Arenda Allen Wright issued a ruling in the case of Bostic v. Rainey that gay and lesbian couples do have the right to marry in The State of Virginia under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Wright issued a stay in the decision at the request of Solicitor-General Stuart Raphael pending appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond.

“We are excited and pleased. If you read the judge’s entire opinion, it illustrates that no matter what else, the ideals upon which this country was founded and the fundamental rights of people still matter,” plaintiff Tim

Bostic, assistant professor of English at ODU, said. “Justice and fairness, while unfortunately not as prevalent as I would hope, do sometimes win when people are willing to take a stand. In the end, we are very happy for our family.”

The stay, a temporary stopping of judicial proceedings, was issued to avoid what happened in Utah when a federal court briefly allowed gay marriage. The state scrambled to get a stay as it appealed a similar decision, finally going to the Supreme Court to do so. As many as 1300 same-sex couples rushed to get married in the weeks it was allowed, however the future legality of those marriages is unclear as the state refuses to recognize them, according to The New York Times.

“While the appeal process advances, same sex couples in VA will not be permitted to marry… while I deeply understand that it is difficult and unfair to ask loving couples to wait even a day longer to exercise their funda-

Don’t Panic

By: Alyse Stanley Technology and Gaming Editor Mace & Crown

While other horror games put the player’s focus on stealth, evasion and simply surviving the horrifying monstrosities thrown at them, “Nevermind” forces players to not only confront their fears, but remain calm while doing so.

Through biofeedback technology, the game monitors how scared the player is becoming and amps up the difficulty as negative reinforcement. Though still in beta, the game recently posted its Kickstarter goal of $250,000 to fund the creation of a full-fledged game that not only provides entertainment as a narrative, but also acts as therapy for stress management, anxiety and psychological disorders.

Erin Reynolds, game developer and creative director of “Nevermind,” began work on the project that would become “Nevermind” in 2011 as part of her master’s thesis project at the University of Southern California.

Her work on previous projects had given her a taste of the possibilities of biofeedback technology in games, but it wasn’t until she began work on “Nevermind” that the technology had evolved enough for her to being sculpting her true vision: “I wanted to make a game that’s really fun to play but also gives back to the player. It feels like stress management is something that almost all of us feel like we could work on more…so I was really excited about making a game that could help out a lot of people especially in such a significant way,” Reynolds said.

After spending a summer searching for biofeedback monitors and finding that many were either too expensive or didn’t work reliably enough with the gaming software, they finally found one that would work with the immersive gameplay she had in mind. Their final decision – the Garmin heart-rate monitor. Reynolds described her reaction upon seeing it in action for the first time, synching perfectly with on-screen gameplay as simply “magical.”

CONTINUED ON E2

mental rights, our commitment to the rule of law dictates that this process moves forward in an orderly way that a stay will provide,” Attorney General Mark Herring said in a press conference Friday. “It’s important that the case move expeditiously. People’s fundamental rights are being infringed upon.”

“The decision issued by federal district Judge WrightAllen appropriately issued in the cover of darkness is a syllabus of errors, a compendium of ineptitude, and a farce-claiming authority. Legislating through the Courts against the will of the people is lawless disregard for our representative form of government,” State Delegate Bob Marshall, one author of the ban, said in a statement.

The decision comes a day after a similar ruling by a Federal District Court in Kentucky in which the court ruled that the state must recognize gay marriages from out of state. According to The Associated Press, The Virginia Attorney General’s office had asked the judge to

“consider the Kentucky ruling as she prepare[d] to make her own.”

With the ruling, the Virginia case joins over 40 other similar pending cases around the country, any of which supporters hope the Supreme Court will select for review. It also makes the Commonwealth the first state to overturn a gay marriage ban approved by referendum.

“As I have pointed out in court filings, the arguments raised by those supporting Virginia’s ban on Same-sex marriage were essentially the same arguments my predecessors used years ago to justify Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage, and to justify segregated schools. The injustices of Virginia’s position in those cases are not being repeated this time,” Herring said. “As Attorney General, I’m proud that the commonwealth is on the right side of the law in this case.”

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | A1

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

NEWS

EDITOR: SEAN DAVIS | NEWS@MACEANDCROWN.COM

Mace & Crown Staff : Derek Allen Page

Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@maceandcrown.com Sean Davis News Editor news@maceandcrown.com Adrienne Mayfield Arts & Entertainment Editor Copy Editor artsandentertainment@maceandcrown.com copy@maceandcrown.com Nate Budryk Sports Editor sports@maceandcrown.com Ellison Gregg Photography Editor photo@maceandcrown.com Jonathan Kwok Senior Graphic Designer layout@maceandcrown.com Jason Kazi Advertising Director advertising@maceandcrown.com Sean Burke Webmaster webmaster@maceandcrown.com Alyse Stanley Technology & Gaming Editor astan023@odu.edu

Senior Writers: Jasmine Blackwell Brian Saunders Pamula Floyd

Staff Writers: Veronica Singer Mark Fulton Dri MayField Zakeya Murphy Joshua Stanton Mathew O’Brien Kema Effiong David Bash Symmion Moore

Staff Photographers: AJ McCafferty Claud Dargan Ari Gould

Chris Ndiritu

Mace & Crown is a newspaper published by and written for the students of Old Dominion once a week throughout each semester and once in the summer.

Originally founded in 1930 as the The High Hat, the paper became the Mace & Crown in 1961. The Mace & Crown is a primarily self-supporting newspaper,maintaining journalistic independance from the university.

All views expressed in this collegiate paper are those of the author, not of the University, Mace & Crown, or the editors.

Sean Davis| M & C

Black History Month Events Spark Discussion By: Sean Davis News Editor Mace & Crown Over the last week Old Dominion University hosted a series of events to discuss topics pertaining to AfricanAmericans and people of color in general, ranging from black womanhood and leadership to the inequities in education in underprivileged communities. Each event sparked discussion and reflection amongst the attendees.

Teach For America and Minds About Progress hosted a presentation and discussion on what is known as the “school-to-prison pipeline” on the evening of Feb. 10.

“We don’t say that, you know, children being black and getting pushed through the education system is leading them into prisons, but that’s the reality of the situation… Schools rely on suspension, expulsion, citations, summonses and arrests to handle disciplinary problems like bringing cell phones and iPods to school,

smoking cigarettes and skipping class.

Students who might easily be disciplined through a visit to the principal’s office end up in jail cells. This is the essence of the Pipeline,” MAP president Ariel Branch said, citing a New York Civil Liberties Union report.

According to the presentation, only 8 percent of kids who grow up in lowincome communities graduate college by age 24, compared to 80 percent in higher-income communities. Similarly, 70 percent of U.S. prisoners fall into the lowest two reading levels, illustrating a connection between education and incarceration.

While African Americans and Hispanics make up about a quarter of the overall U.S. population, according to the NAACP, together they comprise a majority of the prison population.

The topic, which has galvanized prison and education reform advocates for years, was hotly discussed amongst the attendees.

Feb. 11 saw the annual NAACP-spon-

sored “State of the African American Woman,” in which a panel of distinguished “super women” from the community discussed struggles, obstacles and triumphs.

Asked to describe incredible women whom they look up to, the panelists each named, among others, their mothers, illustrating strong family ties and the importance of having reliable role models.

Several also pointed to faith and religious beliefs as direction and encouragement.

“I consider myself a lowly servant,” Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Co Chair and community leader Chloe Jones said.

“I’m not [a super woman], I know help is needed… The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few.”

The panel discussed the obstacles associated with being both AfricanAmerican and female in a white maledominated world.

“We know it’s not an even playing field, no matter how much they say it is. You gotta roll up your sleeves and

go to work,” panelist Jody Nelson, who works with the ABC Community Empowerment Center, said. “Having to prove yourself as an African-American woman… is a huge obstacle.”

“Some male leaders have a problem hearing a strong woman challenge them,” Jones agreed.

“But women are obstacles to women too,” Jones continued, “we are some catty mean-spirited people… we are our worst enemies.”

The panelists stressed the importance of surrounding oneself with encouraging individuals and finding a “partner that believes in you, your dreams and your goals,” as well as loving others and oneself.

The discussion saw performances

by Cierra Wilson, who danced to Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman,” and India Tyree who sang Leanna Hava’s “Lost and Found.”

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | A2

MACEANDCROWN.COM

ODU Remembers Brown v. Board By: David Bash Staff Writer Mace & Crown

Old Dominion University welcomed Dr. Charles H. Ford to speak as part of its month-long celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 11.

Marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka case in 1954, Ford presented “Sixty Years After Brown -- The Triumphs and Tragedies of Public School Segregation.”

Ford, Norfolk State University professor and chair of the history department, is also the co-author of “Elusive Equality: Desegregation and Resegregation in Norfolk’s Public Schools.” His presentation featured research from the book which illustrates data he has compiled over the past eight years regarding some of the “myths” of school

integration, why these political movements were met with much enduring hostility and why some of the alleged implementations of progress in Norfolk public schools are difficult to reconcile with the city’s apparent disparity in relation to race and class.

Sponsored by ODU’s Office of Intercultural Relations, the event took place at 11 a.m. in the Future Monarch Presentation room. Ford advanced a compelling lecture, paired with a slideshow, scrutinizing the stories of participants. He told the story of Ilene Black, a chemistry teacher who brought her case to the Supreme Court. Black was given a wage lower than the school’s white janitor, despite her outstanding qualifications, raising criticisms of America’s public image.

Ford said that Norfolk received its heaviest level of racial backlash during the ‘50s in what is known as “Massive Resistance,” a policy declared by former Virginia Senator Harry F. Bird. Many of the city’s schools were

shutdown, a testament to the intersecting economic factors within the local community that complicated the fight for educational equality.

Norfolk is often overlooked in the history of school desegregation, due to what Dr. Ford refers to as the city’s “selective memory” when it comes to reconsidering some of its previous stigmas. Ford believes the fight for equal educational opportunity is an enduring struggle.

He claims the movement’s loss of vitality is an unfortunate circumstance of what happens when a group becomes satisfied with its political aims. However, the current state of school integration is a definite landmark improvement compared to the 1950s.

Ford followed his seminar with a signing of his book “Elusive Equality.” His talk is one of many events hosted by the Office of Intercultural Relations to celebrate the beauty of Black History Month.

Sean Davis| M & C

One Billion Rises at ODU By: Sean Davis News Editor Mace & Crown Valentine’s Day saw more than cards and candy as Old Dominion University students and volunteers with the Women’s Center gathered on the quad late in the afternoon on Friday to dance.

The international movement to end violence against women, V-Day, held its part-awareness-campaign, partflash mob, part-worldwide dance party “One Billion Rising” to bring attention to the global epidemic of sexual assault and abuse.

According to the campaigns website, events were held in as many as 207 countries over 48 hours.

“We are rising with women around the world today to demand justice and an end to violence against women which diminishes human potential,” said Wendi White, Women’s Center Prevention Education Coordinator, who opened the event.

“Have a great time dancing! And let’s make violence

against women history,” she yelled to a, small but enthusiastically cheering crowd as the DJ cued Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.”

The campaign itself is named for the estimated one billion victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. That comes out to about one in three women.

“In the us national college community, the statistic is [that] one in five will experience sexual assault during their college years. It’s the highest risk time of their life…

ODU is no different than any other campus,” White said.

“If you thought that your sister had a one in five chance of getting hit by a bus, you would most likely not want her to be in that situation. This is unacceptable and we need to address and end the violence that is going on against women, both here nationally, and internationally.”

The organizers of the event had tables set up and encouraged participants to take shirts, pins and pamphlets, as well as sign a letter to their congressional representatives asking them to support the International Violence Against Women Act.

The act would strengthen and encourage equal rights, education, economic growth, legal reforms and programs for victims of violence, according to Women’s Center volunteer, Natalie Buehler.

“Internationally, more needs to be done, and the United States can play a leadership role in that. We are obviously an international leader; we provide aid and military support to many countries so we can require that our partnerships require human rights for women in the countries that we work with,” she said.

Participants included women and girls from many different age groups and walks of life, as well as a number of men.

“The reason why [it’s important for men to get involved in women’s issues] is we lead as examples for our younger peers, our children, our kids, and our actions have important connection to the future,” explained event volunteer, Wes Bernadel. “So if we support women that we’re with, I think it’s a better place for women and men.”

Let’s Talk About Sex

By: Kema Effiong Staff Writer Mace & Crown

Old Dominion University hosted an insightful event on Feb. 11 called “Let’s Talk About Sex.” Sponsored by the Women’s Health Center and the ODU Student Health and the Residence Hall Association, the event saw a major turnout of students and provided free intimate accessories, as well as raffles for multiple prizes.

The lecture was led by Dr. Justine Marie Shuey, who earned her Ph.D. in human sexuality as well as her masters degree in human sex education who teaches that “individuals are sexual beings from birth until death and sexuality is completely normal.”

Shuey elaborated on this matter as she expressed the

importance of “communication, consent and sexuality” with present or future partners and the differences between “lust, attraction and attachment” when seeking out long-term sexual partners.

Topics such as sexual communication, sexual decision-making, dating and healthy relationships and sexual pleasure and behaviors were discussed. Most of the presentation was sensitive to various levels of sexual lifestyles and experiences and provided a variety of relative advice pertaining to the different levels of communication men and women share with one another.

For example, Shuey expressed that mentioning sexual discomfort or any preference under conditions where you and your partner are engaged in a complementary activity with one another, such as exercising or even cooking, work perfectly for men in particular because they do not feel “attacked” or uncomfortable. It is also

important to make contact with your partner during these discussions.

Shuey added a fun twist to the edgy topics by engaging the audience to participate and gain better understanding of the use of non-verbal cues. The audience was made to stand and communicate with one another in ways that were non-verbal. After rearranging themselves so that they were in chronological order of 12 months (January until December) Dr. Shuey pointed out that they successfully used the method of using non-verbal cues and correlated the idea that we use these everyday even more than words.

Since sexuality is still considered somewhat taboo, it leaves a lot of unanswered questions and perpetuated misconceptions. Despite this, Shuey shareed one fact that is easily shared among the masses, “If it feels good keep doing it, if not, then try something else.”

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

CRIME LOG

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | A3

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

ODU Writes a Book

By: Pamula Floyd & Veronica Singer Senior Writer & Staff Writer Mace & Crown

Faculty and staff gathered in person and virtually last week to write a book with the theme “You are (w)here: how knowledge is related to virtual and physical space.”

Two hundred and eighty four individual usernames were used, but with some people having both student and faculty and staff accounts, that would be a minimum of 250 unique individuals.

“As we review the data, we’ll be able to get more accurate information,” said project co-leader George Fowler,

associate university librarian for information resources and technology.

With there being no precedent for an experiment of this nature, Fowler had no clue what to expect about participation. He had dreams of 25,000 student, faculty and staff engaging and nightmares of only five people attending.

“To have over 250 individuals create over 670 documents, totaling over 420MB of space far exceeded my reasonable expectations,” Fowler said. “And, in reviewing the contributions, I have been inspired by the thought, effort and creativity that went in to the contributions.”

Though there were questions about the theme, the main snag was the technology.

Considerations for next time include preparing more participants for the technology that will be used, as this seemed to be a considerable barrier to participation. The plan is to involve more people earlier in the process, provide more resources from across campus to encourage and enable more participation and better highlight resources available in and through the University Libraries.

“It was new to most people and therefor inhibited their participation, sometimes even prevented their participation,” Fowler said. “Because this was a novel experiment, many people didn’t know what to think about it,

and apparently currently regret not having participated.”

Contributions to the joint-authorship, multimodal, digital text took many forms – scholarly research-based writing, personal reflections, photos and audio.

“I even got the one type of submission I really wanted – choreographed dance,” Fowler said. “The concept was to challenge everyone’s conception of what is a book and what is an author.”

Fowler anticipates having both a print and electronic “book” available. That is as specific as he can get about the formats, considering they don’t know any more than that yet. “As for when, the hope is to have it done by the

end of the semester, definitely by graduation, but it is too early in this phase to know for sure,” Fowler said.

The book closed its final chapter with a concluding reception in the Perry Library’s Learning Commons.

Speakers at the reception included co-leaders of the project, George Fowler and Dylan Wittkower, who gave a brief summary of the 24-hour experiment that began on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. and continued into Feb. 12, concluding at 1 a.m.

John R. Broderick, president of Old Dominion University, also made a special appearance as he congratulated Fowler and Wittkower for “launching this project,” and further elaborated on the positive attention the 24-hour experiment had received. “The fact that it has captured not only regional, but national news, over the last several days indicates that a lot of people think this is a project worth following.”

Alongside Fowler and Wittkower, the president acknowledged and congratulated the participants and contributors of the book. The president also mentioned a previous book written nearly ten years ago that was based solely on Old Dominion’s history for the University’s 75-year anniversary. With the 85-year anniversary approaching in 2015, President Broderick expressed to the audience “what a splendid opportunity this kind of approach could have to really broaden that university history…and bring in perspectives, and stories, and ideas that we wouldn’t even have any idea existed without this kind of transfer of information.”

Graduate student Erica Williamson spoke about her personal experience participating in the event. As part of a group project for her class, Foundations and Assessments of Education, Erica discussed her group’s contribution to the book and how they used the theme.

“We did an analysis of…physical emotions versus virtual emotions. So, emojis and how you express… feelings of anger, or sadness, or sarcasm over Facebook or over an email,” said Williamson. “The analysis included photography, using a chart that compared physical facial movements to a specifically selected emojis. The group also incorporated an open summary where they discussed different situations, like a break-up or a vacation, and how font or emojis would convey a certain type of emotion in a virtual space.”

Although the context of the book is completed, it is far from finished. “ODU writes a book in 24-hours. It’s not published in 24-hours. It’s not publically available in 24-hours,’ Fowler affirms. “We’ve got the content, now we have to edit it.” An editorial board has been created and a timeline will be made, but the finished publication is still unknown due to the amount of content that was

created and submitted. Fowler confirms however, that the ODU community will be actively informed about the progress of the book and an estimated time of arrival will be made soon.

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | B1

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: ADRIENNE MAYFIELD | ARTSANDENTERTAINMENT@MACEANDCROWN.COM

Dri Mayfield| M & C

Child of War: Le Ly Hayslip By: Adrienne Mayfield Copy Editor Mace & Crown “This outfit is traditional. I never get to wear it,” Le Ly Hayslip said, adjusting her floral embroidered áo dài (dress) and purple shawl for a photograph. A slight woman whose voice rings beautifully with the sounds of her homeland, Hayslip was preparing to return to the reception being held in her honor.

The World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads with Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker presented Hayslip with the Fifth Annual Ryan C. Crocker Global Citizen of the Year Award at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Va. on Feb. 13.

Named after Career Ambassador Crocker, the award recognizes individuals who have displayed outstanding acts of personal sacrifice and public service.

Born in Danag, Vietnam, Hayslip is a refugee turned American Citizen who fought for the Viet Cong alongside some of her family members. She is also a humanitarian and the author of “When Heaven and Earth Changed Places,” a look at the Vietnam War

from the perspective of a Vietnamese teenager.

Hayslip has given her life to the education and health of her people, both in and out of country, with establishments like the East/ West Foundation, which provides education and health services to people in Asia, and the Global Village Foundation, which focuses on the education and self-empowerment of the Vietnamese. She also serves as a counselor for American Vietnam veterans seeking emotional healing from the horrific war.

Crocker was honored to present her with the award, saying, “I feel that honorees like Ms. Hayslip are far more worthy of this distinction than I am. There is hardly a persona alive who has experienced more personal sacrifice.

Rather than react with bitterness and animosity, she came to the US and immediately established a foundation to help those of her countrymen who were still suffering with health services, with education and with humanitarian assistance.”

Hayslip describes her life as a poor villager saying that during the day Republican troops would visit telling the villagers to fight alongside them for freedom. The Viet Cong

came to do the same at night. The villagers, who were mostly illiterate, uneducated and confused about the cause and issues of the war, went along with whichever troops were there at the time.

By the age of 15, Hayslip had been arrested several times and tortured for collaborating with the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong had begun to suspect her of being a traitor and her father petitioned for her and her mother to be moved from Danag to Saigon for protection.

In Saigon she became pregnant at 16; a situation severely looked down upon in Vietnamese culture. She was a single mother working as a cocktail waitress when she met her first husband and entered into a marriage of survival instead of love.

At 20-years-old and with a third grade education, she emigrated from her war-torn Vietnam to the United States in 1970 with her husband and two children. Shortly after, Hayslip was widowed for the first time, leaving her a single mother in a world that she describes as “Mars” in comparison to her homeland.

“I struggled a lot. Most of my jobs when I come to the US after I became a widow

were house cleaning to raise my three sons as a single mother. I was jobless and skill-less, with no background of education. It was very hard.” Hayslip said.

She would not be able to see or speak to her family in Vietnam for 16 years. In those years, she was widowed twice and raised three biological children and seventeen Vietnamese refugee foster children.

Hayslip was eventually allowed to return to Vietnam to reunite with her surviving mother and siblings. Although she felt culturally shocked and lost upon her return, viewing her homeland through a new perspective as a Viet-American citizen, raising her children in America. She was heartbroken to find that her country hadn’t changed much over the years. What bothered her most was the state of the education system.

“The school system just cannot help the children. When I returned to Vietnam, the children there were no different than when I was young.” Hayslip said. “How can I turn my back and walk away and not help the children? The children are the future of Vietnam, or any country…They need to have some form of education.”

Moved by the plight of Vietnamese chil-

dren, Hayslip has helped set up schools and libraries as well as train teachers in modern methods. She has also taken many American Vietnam veterans back to Vietnam to begin the healing process by witnessing the forgiveness and respect that the Vietnamese have for them. She believes that through a relationship and help from America, Vietnam’s educational and health facilities can improve and American can heal from the war.

“It is very moving for me and very touching for someone to acknowledge what I have done. I found a way to bring America and Vietnam together. Not for myself so much, but for humanity and the family of mankind.

You fought. You won. You lost. You shake hands and you start all over again in new stages,” Hayslip said.

“Looking back at a quarter of a century that I’ve given my life to work for humanity, and to serve the community of Vietnam there and here, or wherever is needed, we can see that the only thing we have is each other. The only thing we can give and contribute is to give one another what you have with a smile and enjoy the moment of life.”

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | B2

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Jason Kazi| M & C

By: Jason Kazi Advertising Director Mace & Crown

Blend of East and South Asian Culture Wows Crowd

What do you get when you cross the elegance of East Asian theater with the bubbly songs of South Asia? Jhoom!

Feb. 15’s Jhoom Culture Show, presented by the Asian Pacific American Student

By: David Thornton Contributing Writer Mace & Crown When comedian Kim Durfee takes the stage the audience chuckles in anticipation.

She resembles a cartoon character come to life with her animated face, wide eyes and two-tone blonde and pink hair.

And that’s good because all she wants to do is make you laugh.

Durfee has been a regular on the Hampton Roads comedy circuit for four years.

Laughs are her life. She has performed at more open-mic nights than she can remember, was a regular at the Pembroke Cinema Cafe’s free comedy night and even works at Cozzy’s Comedy Club in Newport News where she waits tables and performs. She has also done a few charity events,fundraisers and a few paying gigs, like Norfolk’s Art

Union in cooperation with the ODU Office of Intercultural Relations at the University Theater, was a pleasant blend of themes from modern films such as the Hunger Games and an age-old Bollywood-type love story.

The love story revolved around characters Kunal and Sam, a team who after two years since their last fiasco, have been recruited by the Secret Service to take down the very

dangerous, Don Pappu. In the midst of mission, Kunal, is searching for a perfect suitor for his daughter, Simran. He met with four gentlemen who had to complete a variety of tasks in a obstacle course-type competition.

As the plotline progressed, the audience reacted to the performance with giggling and tittering at the flirtatious characters in the production.

Between scenes, MCs An Pham & Christine Gausin gave away promotional materials from the evening’s events as raffle items.

At one point in the performance, Dominique Grayer, president of ODU’s comedy club, Stand Up Monarchs, took the stage to do what he does best - tell jokes.

Nicky Ong, a freshman engineering sciences major, said that he decided to get on

Make ‘Em Laugh

Month.

Her material is largely observational, stemming from her relationships with family, her jobs and her dog. “I like to take something everyone loves and twist it, make people think about it in a new way and then make fun of it,” Durfee said.

Performing at The Venue on Feb. 10, she did just that, parodying the classic crowdpleaser “Let It Be” by The Beatles. In a lighthearted dig at her new husband, she debuted “Leave Me Be,” singing “when I’m on the toilet/ that’s when you decide to pee/ use the other bathroom/ and leave me be.”

Durfee got into comedy four years ago at 37th and Zen, a Ghent pub that closed a few years back. They were having an openmic night and her mom said, “You’re funny.

I dare you.”

Not one to shy away from a dare, Durfee took the stage. “I had two jokes prepped, and

I improved the rest. It was the scariest three minutes of my life,” Now a seasoned amateur comedian, Durfee describes Hampton Roads local comedy scene as being very supportive of newcomers. Comedians will often help each other write their material, trading jokes that would work better for another’s routine than their own.

She met her husband, another stand-up comedian, through the scene, and he eventually proposed to her onstage. Although she says they’re very competitive, they’re also very supportive of each other and often critique each other’s material.

Her comedy is often self-deprecating, making herself the subject of most of her jokes. While she’ll say almost anything about herself to get a laugh, there are a few places she won’t go.

“I don’t like extreme racial humor. I also

don’t like insult comedy. I’ll say horrible things about myself, but I won’t say anything directly to the audience. You say something like that and you can’t apologize, you can’t hesitate. You have to own it. And I’m not prepared to own something like that,” Durfee said.

There’s another topic she is hesitant to touch – rape.

“I do actually have one joke about rape, but it ridicules rapists, and I would never mention a victim,” Durfee said, fearing that if she did, she could be dredging up hurtful memories for members of her audience.

“The last thing you want to do, in any situation, but especially in this business, is hurt someone. I’m here to make them laugh.”

Aside from her regular stand-up material, Kim has also been working on a collaborative act with local magician Joseph DePaul.

“It’s pretty awesome, he’s really funny, and

board with the performance because “it’s a great way to meet people and I just love the new experiences and making memories with new people.”

The audience will surely be on the edge of their seats awaiting the announcement of the sequel to Jhoom in upcoming years.

I’ve been learning some magic, and it’s turned out to be a great act.”

The collaboration has seemingly stirred up a good deal of controversy in the local magic scene.

“A lot of other local magicians are upset that I’m actually a part of the act. I’m not up there in a dress, I’m not quiet. I actually perform some tricks, and we bicker back and forth the whole time,” Durfee said.

If you’re not lucky enough to catch her at one of her sporadic open-mic night appearances, your next chance to experience her act will be at Cozzy’s Comedy Club, March 9, on their Sunday Funnies night. “It’s great, I love performing there. The owner, Lorraine Cosgrove, is so supportive, and incredibly helpful to comedians,” Durfee said.

If you can make the trip to Newport News, be prepared to laugh with Kim at Kim.

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | B3

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Students “Get Naked” with Harlan Cohen By: Hannah Morgan Contributing Writer Mace & Crown College students are faced with many challenges when searching for meaningful relationships. As Valentine’s Day loomed close, SAC brought Old Dominion University students together on Feb. 13 to hear New York Time’s best-selling author on family and relationships, Harlan Cohen, shed some light on the dating.

Cohen spent an hour and a half engaging the audience with down to earth advice on dating and sharing personal stories about his relationship experiences in college. He encouraged the audience to ask questions saying, “I want to help you!” and even provided a phone number for students who wished to anonymously text their question.

ODU is one of 30 stops for Cohen on his “Getting Naked” tour. He has written five other books including “The Naked Roommate” and “Campus Life Exposed.” An advice columnist for several years, he has had time to think about how to help students find happiness in their relationships.

Cohen shared a personal theory with ODU called, “The Universal Rejection Truth of Dating and Relationships.” According to this theory, in order to be accepted you have to be able to face rejection.

Essentially, in order to learn to be open and comfortable sharing our feelings without

fear, we have to essentially unlearn what we have always known.

“The first thing we learn is that sharing our feelings is stupid. Until you can handle no, you’re not ready for yes,” Cohen said, challenging his audience to “give one person permission to like or dislike you.”

Cohen pushed his audience to “learn to live in a world of options,” emphasizing the importance of friendships. His advice was to develop your personal life so that you are more interesting to the people around you because, the more friends you have, the greater the possibilities.

“It’s out there! You guys have SO many options!” Cohen said.

In the past, Cohen himself combated unrequited love, being desperately in love with someone and too blind to see all the other great options that come and go in his daily life.

“This is why I do this, so I can see that it’s not just me,” Cohen said.

He dug deep into his personal life and opened up to the audience, sharing his story and proving that nobody is alone. Everyone who has tried to find a relationship has been through hurt and feelings of rejection.

What does Harlan Cohen do? He helps his audiences to “get comfortable with the uncomfortable” because he knows firsthand that life and relationships can strip you bare.

Everybody Needs a Cozy Corner By: David Thornton Contributing Writer Mace & Crown

The Venue on is one of Norfolk’s many hidden treasures. Tucked away in the middle of a strip in the Park Place neighborhood, it is a surprisingly homey haven for artists of all mediums. The Venue features many events, including open-mic nights twice a week, acting classes, playwright workshops and burlesque, hip-hop and comedy shows.

In 2005, Patti Wray, founder of the Playwright’s Forum, and her investment partner, Lucy White, decided to purchase a building with the purpose of fostering the arts in Hampton Roads. In 2007, the Venue on 35th officially opened and has been a home for all performance arts ever since.

The Venue’s website lists a series of admirably lofty and idealistic goals. These include providing a space for artists to showcase their talents, helping to revitalize the Park

Place neighborhood through the arts and “to encourage the use of the arts as a means to build community, to embrace diversity and to foster peace and all good things known to humankind.”

Once inside, cozy is the best word to describe the atmosphere. A small stage dominates the front wall, next to the door with a small café area in back, where water, coffee, soft drinks and assorted snacks are sold for about $1 each. In between, the area is littered with chairs and a few tables.

The room fills up fast for a show; it’s best to come 45 minutes before a performance begins, although the owners try to accommodate as many people as possible, going so far as to line the back of the stage with chairs and placing audience members behind the performers. Once the room is full, a sign is placed on the front door stating that capacity has been reached, and no one else is allowed in.

The acts run the full range of performing

arts. One recent night saw several stand-up comics try out new material, and refining some older jokes. A woman raised the temperature of the room by several degrees with a passionately racy poem expressing her appreciation to an exceptionally talented lover.

An aspiring actor mumbled an introduction into the microphone, and then belted out an intense monologue taken from the movie Training Day. A magician transformed the crowd into delighted children with card tricks.

Musical acts abound as well. A young man sang some bluesy pieces accompanied by an acoustic guitar, and two brothers performed a duet of to which the crowd was delighted.

The audience is just as diverse as the acts.

Aged veterans of the performance art world sit side by side with the young and eager.

Residents of the impoverished neighborhood snap their fingers to a poignant verse alongside college students. Everyone is sup-

portive. Everyone is respectful. More than half of them will be onstage at some point in the night.

Comedian Kim Durfee gave some insight into the crowd: “For some of these people, this is the highlight of their week. They look forward to this for days, and then they literally pour out their hearts and souls on stage.”

Performers sign up for time slots on the way inside with Jorge Mendez, the director of Open Events. One moment he is on stage introducing a performer, and the following moment he’s weaving through the crowd to notify the next artist. He cultivates a real connection with the audience and is passionate about his work.

The Venue at 35th offers an intimate and refreshing alternative to loud, sloppy bar scenes with a “minimum donation” cover charge of only $2. Bring cash; there are no registers or credit-card machines. Donations are collected in a basket by the door.

won the privilege of having his piece performed by the orchestra during the winter program. Schade recently graduated from ODU where he studied music composition and has since been accepted into the United States Army Band program.

“Excelsior” was introduced by Dr. Paul S. Kim who is serving in his second semester as conductor of the ODU symphony orchestra. His arrangements have been featured on NPR’s “Performance Today,” as well as at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Aspen Music Festival. “‘Excelsior’ represents the fast pace of life we live in the United States. You will hear

a lot of lower sounds [in the piece], which may not be an accident since Lance plays tuba,” Kim said.

“Excelsior” was followed by “Rainbow Body”, composed by Christopher Theofanidis on commission for the Houston Symphony in 2000. The piece’s primary melody is based on a chant which praises Mary for bringing an end to suffering from sin through the birth of her son, Jesus.

The concert concluded with American composer Howard Hanson’s best known symphony, “Symphony No. 2 Romantic.”

Of the piece, Kim and Schade said “The directness of expression is reflected in part

by the symphony’s cyclical nature: its primary themes pervade all three movements of the work…The lyricism of his melodies and the ‘manifestation of emotion’ underlying these melodies help characterize the ‘Romantic’ sensibility that gives the symphony its nickname.”

If you are looking for more music on the campus of ODU, the ODU Wind Ensemble will be performing on Sunday Feb. 23rd at 3p.m. in the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts.

“The American Spirit”

By: Joshua Stanton Staff Writer Mace & Crown

The atrium of the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts was transformed into a concert hall on Sunday Feb. 9 as the Old Dominion University Symphony Orchestra presented “The American Spirit” for a crowd of about 100.

The first piece of “The American Spirit,” named “Excelsior,” was composed by Lance Schade over the course of three years. He submitted his work to the Old Dominion Young Artists Competition in 2013 and

Korea On Campus By: Brianna Teal Contributing Writer Mace & Crown

Robotic prison guards, 24 hour fast food delivery, Boryeong Mud Festival and maybe even Dennis Rodman are a few of the things to keep you talking after a visit to Korea.

With Korea currently holding the title of the second happiest country in the world and the United States coming in absolute last, it’s hard to believe that any Korean would want to leave and take on the American ways.

Hayan Anna Helsel, the president of Old Dominion University’s Korean American Student Association (KASA) did just that.

Helsel moved to America with her family when she was 12-years-old for a better education and is now making it her duty to bring awareness of the Korean culture to campus.

KASA put on “Global Café Korea” Feb. 13 as part of ODU’s “Asian Seasons,” which is nine days of Asian cultural awareness.

Walking into Global Café Korea, students were immediately welcomed with warm smiling authentically dressed women in Hanbok. Students were welcomed to indulge in Korean tacos, side dishes and candy while socializing and learning about the culture. They also had the opportunity to have their names painted in Korean characters and try on a Hanbok and have their pictures taken in it.

“It’s very important to share our culture because Koreans don’t really like to bring their cultural aspects out, and are very isolated. I believe we need to bring the culture out to educate people and let them know about us.” Helsel said.

A presentation was given to help educate ODU students on Korean meals, houses, pop culture and clothing. Before and after the presentation, questions were asked about the country and students that answered correctly were given gifts.

Students learned that the country was devastated after the Korean War and depended on international help for years. A few decades later, Korea was back on its feet and now has the highest IQ globally and is home of the second largest metropolitan city, Seoul. South Korea even has its first female president in office, Park Gen-hye.

Many students enjoyed hearing about Korean pop-culture, also known as Hallyu or “The Korean Wave,” and watching the UKISS and Girl Generation music videos.

UKISS could be compared to Americas NSYNC and Girl Generation is a 9 member group who easily gets more than 86 million views on a single YouTube video.

“I want people to know that Korea is similar to America, it’s not the country they saw during the Korean War” Helsel said.

Five things you may not know about Korea: • Not all sushi is the same, Korean sushi will never have raw fish in it.

• Korean houses are designed to “smile” and harm nature as little as possible, so homes are built without using any nails, only wooden pegs.

• It is believed that if you leave an electric fan on overnight it will kill the person sleeping.

• Christianity and Buddhism are the main religions.

• Every meal is served with kimchi.

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | B4

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Xavier Jackson

Inside Joke with Micah Davis By: Adrienne Mayfield Copy Editor Mace & Crown Micah Davis wants to let you in on an inside joke.

A junior at Old Dominion University, the title of his newest album, “Inside Joke,” is set to release this summer. What would be an amazing feat for anyone is surprisingly the least interesting thing about Davis. Gifted to play several instruments by ear at age eight, proficient in software and inspired by “The Social Network,” he has an infectious desire to learn, create and make connections with people.

Today, at 20-years-old, Davis, who performs by the moniker “Masego,” describes himself as someone who “just naturally creates.” He writes, plays, mixes and produces all of his own music and videos, while also working with artists who approach him.

His interests branched from music into software and he is developing an app, due this spring, that uses search engine optimization (SEO) and social networking to connect artists, musicians and communities with their local music scene and venues.

Although, for Davis, music began as a solution to a problem, it quickly transformed into a vehicle he is using to arrive at his

greater ambition of affecting change in the world through production, technology and connectivity.

Davis’ creative journey began when he was eight. His parents, who are pastors, were having a hard time finding dependable musicians to lead their worship services. He hated to see his mother upset over something as wonderful as music. As a child who was used to knocking out beats using pens and the like, he thought that with some real drumsticks, maybe he could play and solve his parent’s problem.

After sitting in on a rehearsal and listening to a simple beat, he said, “Show me what playing this actually looks like,” and watched his mother tap out the song for him on the piano. He immediately began to play along on the drums, and never stopped.

Soon after realizing his natural abilities, Davis branched into playing the saxophone and the piano, also by ear. Since then he has led many performances, in churches and other venues, including ODU. Although he’s never had formal training and doesn’t know all of his scales, he has continually built upon his talent by practicing along to the radio and learning from the musicians he meets.

“It just progressed. There’s not really a rule to it. I just naturally started playing,” Da-

vis said. “As I hear someone better than me I just say, okay, sponge from that and get better exponentially.”

His describes his current music as a mixture of jazz fusion, EDM and alternative R&B with tracks that display his singing and rapping abilities. “Inside Joke” is Davis’ second album and most serious project to date.

It was conceived from a trend he noticed among himself and his friends. He realized that their favorite songs were the ones thatmade them feel connected to the music by slipping in little nuances that they could later turn into inside jokes.

“Nowadays, the albums I enjoy are the ones where it’s just something that only me and my group of friends can understand.

Like, ‘oh you sampled Kevin Hart’ or ‘you did “Oh kill ‘em” there.’ Stuff that just makes us feel like we’re a part of it,” Davis said.

“I want the album to be something serious; more than ‘here, this is what I have to say.’ I really want it to be where the people that hear it feel a part of something greater.

I’m such a nerd when it comes to production stuff. I really want to take the time to make it an experience. I produce music but I also want to involve people.”

In addition to being a musician and producer, Davis is also a lover of software with an interest in using technology to solve so-

cial issues, much like one of his inspirations, Mark Zuckerburg, the creator of Facebook.

“I want to affect change… He [Zuckerburg] saw a need for change and knew how to fix it. I’m not going to create Facebook.

That’s the goal though, so I need to start doing stuff like that,” Davis said.

He has taken his first step towards doing that in developing an app called “Network,” which is designed to help musicians and artists make connections with their communities. “Network” uses a database that gets information about venues and shows through social networking sites, accessing the places that locals love.

“I just made it where the database is what you want to hear. When you search ‘open mic night,’ Google brings up whatever spots are best SEO’d. The people that you don’t hear about are these local places, these hot spots in town that everybody is raving about on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook,” Davis said.

“So what I did was, I made it where the database gets information from social networking sites. What we’re talking about, which is what you want to hear about if you’re a musician.”

After this semester, Davis plans to take a hiatus from his formal education at ODU in pursuit of more hands on experience

and perhaps a program focused tightly on music production in cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta. His long term vision includes continuing to make and produce music, technological entrepreneurship via apps and websites and travel to teach the valuable skill of networking to other people.

“If you have an idea there are people to help you get it done. My phrase of the year is ‘making connections and building relationships.’ If you can display yourself as, ‘Hey, I’m just eager to learn, eager to get better. I don’t think I’m the best at all.’ People are just like okay, I’d like to teach you this,” Davis said.

“People should stop being in cliques. Everybody’s in a clique. I would rather have it where we can have our close knit group of friends but still coexist and create and make something better. If I can just relay that message to people as I travel, that would be awesome.”

You might see Micah Davis around campus playing a saxophone or occasionally leading a musical event. An easy going guy with an invested interest in networking, he would love to connect with you. To learn more about him and his music, visit his SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/ MasegoMusic.

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | C1

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

SPORTS

EDITOR: NATE BUDRYK | SPORTS@MACEANDCROWN.COM

Marlie DeClerk

ODU Rebounds with Road Win By: Brian Saunders Senior Writer Mace & Crown

The Old Dominion University Monarchs (12-13, 6-4) looked like a completely different team in Denton, Texas, Thursday against the North Texas Mean Green (11-13,2-8), in a 72-62 victory.

In a previous game against UTEP, the Monarchs shot a meager 25 percent.

Feb. 13, the Monarchs scored on 44 percent of its baskets, including 57 percent from behind the 3-point line.

The biggest reason for the change? Am-

brose Mosley, the freshman from Jacksonville scored 21 points; all five of his field goal were 3-pointers.

Mosley averages just 5 points per game and his previous career high was 16 points vs. UAB, Jan. 30.

According to the Virginian- Pilot, “It was a hard zone to get into because I was in foul trouble in the first half,” said Mosley, who had three first-half points. “I knew I had to get hot quick because my team needed me.”

This game was key for ODU, it had been streaking in the wrong direction, after starting Conference USA play 4-1.

The Monarchs had lost three out of four

games, including two consecutive road losses.

For North Texas, it was also spiraling downward, losing four-in-a-row.

The first half of the game was a seesaw, the biggest lead was 23-19 ODU, after Dimitri Batten knocked down a 3-pointer on a Richard Ross assist.

The Monarchs led 35-32 at the half.

The lead changed several times in the second half, the Mean Green took a five-point lead with 7:22 remaining.

Mosley got scorching hot from the threepoint line, in 46 seconds he knocked down three consecutive treys.

ODU took a 54-51 lead, but North Texas did not shy away, reclaiming a one-point lead 58-57 with 3:39 remaining in the game.

With 3:19 on the clock, Ross knocked down a jumper to give ODU the lead and it would keep it from then on.

After North Texas scored on a Maurice Aniefiok three, the Monarchs outscored the Mean Green 15-8 in the final 5:23 of the game.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, “The last few games we haven’t played well as a whole,” Mosley said. “This was a big win for us.”

Aaron Bacote also scored 20 points while

Batten and Keenan Palmore each added 11 points.

Denzel Taylor blocked a career high five shots and Ross added three of his own.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, “It’s hard to win on the road, but when you have an opportunity to position yourself for a win late in the game, you need to take control and win,” ODU coach Jeff Jones said. “This was big. It was a game of streaks, and when it looked like North Texas was going to take control, we were able to make big shots.”

Wrestling Looks to Continue Win Streak at Seasons End By: Matt O’Brien Senior Writer Mace & Crown After an early season slump, Old Dominion University wrestling (8-8) is gaining momentum by putting together a string of victories and currently sitting at third place in the WAC. “It was a rough first part of the season. I think we’re still adjusting to the tough schedule we have. Everyone is starting to come together as a team, and individually, when you face tough schools like this we are going

to have to grind some victories out,” Chris Mecate said.

Mecate is the fourth ranked wrestler in the 141 weight division. He has quickly made an impact on this program, posting a 58-16 career record in less than 2 seasons.

He won his match in the 22-15 victory against Ohio.

“It was a good win, it was good to go there and wrestle like we did. It was a rowdy hostile crowd, one of the worst I’ve seen, but that’s just the start we got two top 10 teams coming up,” he said.

The team’s success is coming as a unit and

from an individual standpoint as well, Senior Billy Curling, and sophomore Alexander Richardson are both on impressive streaks on the mat. Curling has won eight of his last nine, while Richardson has won 10 matches in a row.

Richardson’s continued success is being recognized as he was last week’s MEAC Wrestler of the Week in light of last week’s performance.

“It’s great for him. He’s been wrestling hard and he has gotten the best of a lot of guys who are ranked some being in the top ten rankings,” head coach Steve Martinsaid .

While the individual awards are well deserved, the focus remains upcoming matchups and the squad’s success as a whole.

“He really earned that award he has been working at it and has been knocking guys off. Stuff like that is also great for recruiting it helps put us on the map. But at the same time you have to take accolades in stride and take it for what it’s worth,” Mecate said.

The Monarchs are looking forward to a big matchup against Northern Iowa who is the fifth ranked team in the country. The matchup with the Panthers will mark the twelfth time this season the Monarchs have

faced a team who has been in the top 25 this season.

“It’s a big one for us. The mindset is simple, we are there to win and we believe we will. We have a good streak going and we want to keep it up,” Martin said.

With four straight wins the team is more confident in the final stretch of the season “Everyone is realizing what is ahead of us won’t be easy I think guys are really starting to be more aggressive and wrestle tougher during the heart of our schedule. Morale is definitely good and we are staying positive,” Mecate said.

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | C2

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Zachary Chavis | M&C

Over the Line: Fans Crossing the Line at Sporting Events By:Brian Saunders Senior Writer Mace & Crown Before sporting events, no matter whether amateur or professional, the public address announcer delivers some type of creed, asking for fans to behave themselves and keep in line.

With the rise of the social age and the development of countless social media outlets, fans and athletes are able to interact on a level like never before.

What was once left up merely to imagination is now reality.

Add that to the fact that fans can pay to sit up close and in person at these games to see said athletes.

It is no surprise that fans can get nasty.

See the Palace of Auburn Hill circa 2004, a brawl including multiple fans, and players from the NBA’s Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.

A vulgar and violent exchange, just because they pay the big bucks.

In addition to that, Texas Tech’s super fan Jeff Orr, screamed “You’re a piece of crap,” amongst other debated slurs, discussed ad nauseam by news outlets towards Oklahoma State player Marcus Smart.

Smart, unable to keep his composure, acted out of frustration and shoved the middle aged Orr. Heck, you do not have to go any further than Norfolk’s own Ted Constant Convocation center, during an ODU men’s basketball

game. Monarch fans were exasperating officials and UTEP basketball players, because of what they felt were bad calls.

Obscene gestures and abrasive, uncut language filled the Ted as the police ejected multiple fans.

What gives these fans the right to talk to players any kind of way?

They pay big bucks, so it is justifiable.

Nope, guess again.

Grown men and woman should know how to detach themselves from classless behavior.

Hey now, I am a serial from-the-sideline coach, yelling, jumping and screaming.

My parents often remind me, “You are not getting paid, calm down.”

No harm in a little booing or getting upset

at the opposing teams players, but being respectful goes a long way.

I am the loudest one in my section at plenty of games, but I am talking strategy and rooting for my team.

These fans are filthy and malicious, oh the things you hear from the rafters.

People take things excessively far.

Moreover, they feel they can hide behind the fact they are fans.

Enough is enough; there’s only so much one can take.

Violators, who continually exhibit volatile behavior, need to face the consequences.

I am not condoning Smart’s decision to shove a middle aged man, nor Stephen Jackson or Ron Artest throwing deadly punches at fans in 2004.

Nevertheless, one can justify the decisions.

However fighting does not solve anything, you both end up paying the price.

After all, they are just words and you have to know how to use restraint.

I think the ability to show poise and walk away is the best route, let the authorities and officials handle it.

Then again, I am as thin as a toothpick and do not look as threatening as an athlete in tip-top shape.

Compassion and humility go along way; freedom of speech is not free and it is about time these folk pay the price.

After all, it is just a game, right?

Is the NFL Ready for a Change?

Michael Sam is the first openly gay NFL prospect

By: Jasmine Blackwell Senior Writer Mace & Crown Michael Sam is an All-American defensive lineman, NFL prospect, Southeastern Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year and he recently revealed to the world that he is also a gay man.

“I just want to make sure I could tell my story the way I want to tell it. I just want to tell my own truth,” Sam was quoted saying in reports posted by ESPN and the New York Times.

Sam’s story is one of bravery and strength and says something about social acceptance in the hard-hitting, testosterone-driven world of football. Sam will be the first

openly-gay player to attend the annual NFL scouting combine.

“It took a lot of courage to televise his announcement. If he shows half as much strength on the field as he did with this announcement, then any team would be lucky to have him,” said Old Dominion University junior, De’Johnna Clark.

While this would seem like a milestone to many, it isn’t for Sam who has dealt with much harder trials in his personal life. He has three siblings who died and two brothers in prison, not to mention his briefly living in the back seat of his mother’s car. Anyone who knows the story of Sam’s childhood would never question whether or not he has strength.

The question that is on everyone’s mind is

whether or not the NFL is ready for its first openly gay player. This will not be the same environment as a college locker room in which there are a number of student-athletes there on scholarship. A number of analysts have stated that there may be major disapproval from teammates in the locker room, as well as strife due to increased media coverage of the team.

“If any NFL team can’t ‘handle the media coverage’ of drafting Sam, then your team is already a loser on the field,” former NFL wide receiver, Donte Stallworth wrote in a series of tweets.

ODU junior, Demetrius Whipple, viewed Stallworth’s series of tweets and completely agrees with him.

“I understand being uncomfortable to a

degree, but I think that this is being blown out of proportion. If he adds value to your team [then] he’s welcome,” Whipple said.

There has been a wide range of reactions from former and current NFL players when asked how they would feel playing alongside a homosexual teammate. While a few reactions have suggested that players would be reluctant, most responded saying they would pay no attention to his sexuality as long as he is performing on the field.

“Having a gay person on the field or in the locker room shouldn’t matter because it [is] about who they are and what they bring to the table,” ODU sophomore, Anissa Bennett said.

Sam certainly has a lot to bring to the field as he led the SEC with 11.5 sacks and 19

tackles for loss in a 12-2 season as a senior at the University of Missouri, in which the team went on to win the Cotton Bowl in 2013. Scouts at the NFL combine will be grading him strictly on ability and statistics.

Sam is projected to be a mid-round pick, but he does face the possibility of everything being equal with him and another player, yet getting passed up due to off-the-field issues.

Whether or not Sam is drafted into the NFL, his story will remain as one of the most remarkable in the history of professional sports for years to come. At the end of the day, the most important thing is how he produces on the field, not his sexual orientation.

MACEANDCROWN.COM

TO THE WEBB CENTER STAFF

for keeping the Webb facility and grounds safe during and after the snow storm.

Roderick Allmond · Alan Davis · David Davis · Nic Turner · Mario Peters · Christopher Gray · Patricia Futrell · Amanda Thomas · Wendell Cruz · Arlethia Clay · Wayne Gatling · Kiwana Pitman · Patricia Harvey · Shelia Setzer · James King · Lenrussell Bracey · Joanne Turner · Dellareese Trotter · Sherrod Davis · Christopher Gray · Ernest McFadden · Gregory Scott · Dyann Johnson · Eric Warren · Patrick Sullivan · Kevin Letourneau · Alan Campbell · Lee Lockamy

Your friends in Monarch Dining

MACEANDCROWN.COM

the virginian-pilot networking lunch u-center/Webb center @12:30pm President's lecture series:

Christine brennan MUST rsvp/Webb center @7:30pm river rooms/webb center @7:00pm yours for the taking: a Future of media

jeremy coleman river rooms/webb center @7:00pm [FYI] WODUSTUDIOS.COM FACEBOOK.COM/WODUSTUDIOSOFFICIAL TWITTER: @WODUSTUDIOS 757.683.6391

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | D1

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

OPINION MACEANDCROWN.COM

EDITOR: ADRIENNE MAYFIELD | ARTSANDENTERTAINMENT@MACEANDCROWN.COM

Get Your Head in the Game Sword Art Online

By: Kimberly Joy Ward Contributing Writer Mace & Crown A fantasy, action-adventure, based on a dramatic science fiction premise, Sword Art Online, lovingly known by fans as SAO, is a deeply character-driven narrative with a few well-choreographed fights and an intriguing romance.

The series has 25 episodes, split into two distinct seasons, the first having 14 segments and the second having 11.

The story begins with a commercial for Sword Art Online, a fictional video game that is this world’s first to incorporate Full Dive technology. Full Dive technology utilizes the brain to immerse a gamer into a virtual world through wearing a helmet plugged into an online console.

With this new massively multiplayer online role-play game (MMORPG) launched, the protagonist with the gamer moniker “Kirito,” finds himself (and 10,999 other players) trapped in Aincrad, a floating iron tower in the virtual world he loves so much.

SAO is a thickly-plotted narrative with a culmination of literary devices that create numerous pay-offs for the attentive viewer.

It subverts expectations from both narrative and creative literary standpoints. Every plot twist or reveal are subtly foreshadowed or referenced in a previous episode without the proper context, making this a very rewatchable anime. Similarly, many themes are seeded in the first episode in understated ways.

These themes, moral dilemmas and psychological issues are the major sources of conflict in SAO, so characterization is deeply integral to the narrative with each episode entangled with multiple character arches.

In a typical episode, there are two char-

acter arches; one being Kirito’s while the other is the dual protagonist of that specific episode. Each dual protagonist’s character is fully realized by the end of the episode; consequently, when that dual protagonist has his or her opportunity for change, the viewer has ridden an emotional roller coaster with them. This helps viewers appreciate their perspective and its thematic implications.

SAO uses the elaborate scenario of being trapped in a videogame to spawn many philosophical discussions about an extensive list of topics including self-worth, the definition of living, death and its consequences, the implications of love, marriage’s relation to expectation, human behaviors in regards to integrity and morality and the effects that videogames have on society.

As an anime with a video game themed premise, SAO uses gamer language, but does it in a contextual way that makes the message clear without bogging the viewer with jargon.

The dialogue flows quite naturally from situation to situation, even when it is an interior monologue close to an episode. A few curse words weave their way into the dialogue, but are rare and placed in a way that does not detract from the narrative.

Most of the story is told within the realm of a virtual world, so it might be expected that the first few episodes would be weighed down with expositional video game logic.

However, SAO subverts these expectations by having two characters gloss over the rules with video game commentary in the first episode. The characters are two experienced gamers: one experiencing Full Dive for the first time and the other a Beta tester for the original console.

This technique allows the rules to be explained through the actions and behaviors of the characters as situations come up. This is

a chance for them to face the different limitations and permits afforded by this virtual reality. Not having to constantly explain the world lets the narrative take its time to set a pace for the action and character studies.

Pacing, a very important narrative aspect, applies to SAO in such an unconventional way that it is impressive how successful and coherent the narrative is. Each episode is plotted months apart, with Kirito carrying the story through the pinnacle points of this virtual entrapment.

Efficiently utilizing an occasion for story without relying on the initial premise, each episode centers around an event that contributes to Kirito’s experience; thus, he goes through a character arch nearly every episode. This provides the serialization of the narrative in a way that assures the viewer that they have not missed anything between episodes.

Later in the series, a two-year time jump furthers the narrative, bringing the remainder of the stories in two parts with little to no time in between. The episodes begin to layer into the overarching plot which helps the narrative to pick up the pace, instilling a sense of urgency in the viewer as the stakes and consequences become more tangible.

This also helps transition the first season into the second. Due to the intensely personal nature of the second season’s conflict for Kirito, this pace endures until the last few minutes of the final episode, allowing the intense emotional torment that Kirito goes through to become personal to the viewer as well.

SAO captures all the subtleties that an animated series can. The animation is simply gorgeous. All of the landscapes and environments are incredibly detailed with a color scheme that effectively adds to the thematic implications of the story.

This is especially true of the real versus reality motif. The real world has a duller and dreary color palette, especially when compared to the vibrant, lively palette of virtual reality.

The subtext of the animation provides an extension of the narrative’s thematic implications with nuanced maneuvers. For this reason, when each character has his or her thematic interior monologue or soliloquy, it does not detract from the narrative nor does it take the viewer out of the literary world.

With an interesting style of “camerawork,” SAO captures the perspective of Kirito playing the game the same way an omnipresent camera would. Seamlessly switching between the two perspectives, the viewer sees Aincrad through Kirito’s eyes without being taken out of the narrative.

Each scene is framed out to add the right amount of perspective, emotions and elements of the virtual world. The dramatic shifts in perspective add much to the fights and personal moments.

In episode 9, Kirito fights the level boss, Gleam Eyes. After the fight ends he has a smidge of HP, and the viewer switches to his perspective. While seeing his fight screen, the viewer has a close up on his HP gauge, and then zooms out as he falls on his back, passing out. This is done beautifully to engage the audience and provide the overwhelming sense of relief paralleled in Kirito, as he realizes that he survived the battle.

The music is also encapsulating with beautiful scores of piano, violin and complex orchestra pieces. There are a few J-pop songs interwoven into the backdrop, but not in a jarring way. The Gaelic undertones bring the music to a thematic cohesiveness, permitting a range and breadth of musical styles.

SAO’s soundtrack is the kind a viewer might expect of Japanese video games and

anime. It pulls of the combination and juxtaposition of the two mediums very well.

The dubbing is well done, which is an important factor in any anime. All of the dubbing voice actors seem to enjoy their roles, which reflects in how straight they play each scene. The wording matches each character’s personality and the flaps, or mouthing/facial expressions of the animated character. Since there aren’t lot of talking heads, flaps are not a major issue.

Dubbed by ANIPLEX of America, none of the comedic and thematic implications are lost in translation. Usually partners with FUNIMATION for a number of bigger projects, ANIPLEX does an outstanding job of bringing this to a wider demographic in North America.

A drama-filled anime that provides as much literary depth as it does entertainment value, Sword Art Online contains well-developed, relatable characters and a thrilling ride through various genres within the fantastical science fiction premise.

Even with weird lapses in logic, the ending is very satisfying. I have high regards for SAO as an enjoyable and re-watchable anime, fairly accessible to anyone.

Love Anime? The Mace & Crown are looking for anime review suggestions from readers. If interested in giving input, please send an email with “Anime Request” in the subject line. The message should include the title of the anime, the number of episodes, and a brief description of the premise. I am only able to review completed anime, so please do not suggest anything that is ongoing or discontinued.

Please send an email to Dri Mayfield with idea’s for reviews or other features you’re interested in reading about.

Contact Dri Mayfield: amayf003@odu. edu

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Wednesday 02.19.2014| MACE & CROWN | E1

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

TECHNOLOGY & GAMING EDITOR: ALYSE STANLEY | astan023@odu.edu

“The Last of Us” Dominates 17th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards

By: Noah Young and Alyse Stanley Assistant Webmaster & Technology & Gaming EditorMace & Crown

The annual DICE (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, an annual gathering of video game executives and home to the Entertainment Software Association’s Interactive Achievement Awards, happened in Las Vegas earlier this month.

The event opened with multiple tournaments in which attendees could participate, while the remaining days were full of talks held by industry professionals. At the end of the final night, the winners of this year’s DICE awards were revealed.

Unlike other gaming award shows, the DICE awards focus on innovation and trends in the industry and how individual developers have impacted the market.

Voting is limited to developers so, much like with the Oscars, DICE is an award ceremony to honor the best picked by the best.

Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us,” received the most awards with a total of 11. The only other games to receive multiple awards were Irrational Games’ “Bioshock Infinite” for Best Action Game and Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition, and Popcap’s “Plants vs Zombies 2,” receiving both the Mobile Game of the Year and Casual Game of the Year awards.

“The Last of Us” was nominated for 12 awards including Adventure Game of the Year and many Outstanding Achievement awards. The Last of Us received every award it was nominated for, excluding Online Game of the Year, which went to Wargaming.net’s “World of Tanks.”

Competing with “The Last of Us” for Game of the Year were Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag,” “Bioshock Infinite,” Rockstar’s “Grand Theft Auto V” and Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.”

Other winners this year were “Link Between Worlds” with Best Handheld Game, Nintendo’s “Super Mario 3D World” with

Best Family Game and Starbreeze Studios’ “Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons” with Downloadable Game of the Year.

“Injustice: Gods Among US” by Netherrealm Studios took home Fighting Game of the Year, with Turn 10 Studios’ “Forza 5” receiving Racing Game of the Year. Finally, Firaxis Games’ “XCOM: Enemy Within” won Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year and Blizzard Entertainment’s “Diablo 3” won Role-playing/Massively-Multiplayer Game of the Year.

President and Vice President of Rockstar Games, Sam and Dan Houser, as well as Grand Theft Auto Lead Developer, Leslie Menzies, were inducted into the Academy

of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Valve’s Gabe Newell, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Blizzard’s Michael Morhaime.

The DICE Summit marks one of the final award ceremonies for the games of 2013, a year that saw some of the most blockbuster releases and indie cult hits of this decade. With two new consoles and the Steam series of consoles soon to be released, one can only hope that this year’s line-up proves to be as impressive.

Brace Yourselves: The PS Vita Slim is Coming By: Symmion Moore Staff Writer Mace & Crown Last week, the PS Vita Slim released in the United Kingdom, with only rumors circulating about a U.S. release. That news has now become official. At a Los Angeles press event on Feb. 10, Sony’s U.S. division vice president of marketing John Koller announced that the slim model will be coming

stateside in spring.

Koller also announced that a Borderlands 2 Vita bundle will be released at the same time for only $199.99. The bundle will include a black Wi-Fi enabled Vita, an 8 GB memory card, and a downloadable copy of “Borderlands 2” with six downloadable content packs. A price for the standalone PS Vita Slim was not announced at the time.

“Borderlands 2” was released in fall of

2012 for the Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 to overwhelmingly positive responses.

The developer of the game, Gearbox Software, has since released multiple pieces of DLC including more story content, customizable skin options and two new characters.

The Vita version of the game can do everything the console versions can but it comes with six downloadable content packs including Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate’s

Booty, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, the Psycho and Mechromancer character classes, Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 1 and the Collector’s Edition Pack.

Players can transfer their save files from the PlayStation 3 version as well as use a crosssave function, allowing “Borderlands 2” to be played on the go.

Putting “Borderlands 2” on the Vita and including in a bundle is one of Sony’s newest strategies to get gamers to the buy the

handheld system. Even without the DLC, the game can take almost 30 hours to beat.

That coupled with a price of $199.99 and an 8 GB memory card makes the new PS Vita Slim Bundle a deal compared to the current price of other systems. Anticipating a high demand, Amazon has already opened preorders for the bundle and handheld.

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN |E2

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Holy Game Breaking Bugs Batman By: Symmion Moore Staff Writer Mace & Crown “Batman: Arkham Origins” was released last year on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U as a prequel to the Arkham series of games. It was popular enough to receive two spin-off games, one for the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS and one for iOS and Android.

“Arkham Origins” received positive reviews overall, but common complaints were that the developers did nothing to fix the multiple, sometimes game-breaking, bugs and how the multiplayer was mutually unimpressive and unwanted.

Reports of players experiencing glitches flooded online forums after the game’s release. Gamers reported such errors as the game freezing and crashing, audio cutting out, game saves becoming corrupted, save files not being recognized, falling through the world and the story failing to continue.

One hilarious bug in the system causes Batman to be swept up by a magical wind and thrown around the streets of Gotham like a ragdoll. Not even the Dark Knight has a gadget to fight that.

While some of these problems have been addressed by the developer, Warner Bros.

Montreal, many in-game issues still exist.

Warner Bros. Montreal knows of these problems but has since stated that they maintenance on “Batman: Arkham Origins” is not their priority since they are working on downloadable content for the game.

The Garmin heart-rate monitor straps around player’s chests and through the use of a USB hook-up connects wirelessly to the computer. After monitoring the player’s heart rate, that information is sent to Nevermind, where the game tweaks the scare factor depending on how consistently the player’s heart is beating.

If a player begins to become freaked out, the screen distorts and the environment starts to break down, making things even more difficult. Freak out too much, and its game over. The only way to continue through the game is by remaining calm despite the stressful environments.

In the game, players assume the role of an employee of the Neurostalgia Institute

where they have to delve into the minds of patients and uncover the traumas causing their afflictions. Each surreal level uses different environments and triggers to exemplify particular psychological disorders or fears that the patient, and subsequently the player, may have. To ensure that all the psychological trauma and psychotherapeutic components were as authentic as possible, the team had a psychiatrist and formally trained psychology on-call.

Instead of helpful hints about enemy weak points and hidden treasures at the start of gameplay, “Nevermind” dispenses tips about how to practice calming techniques, whether that be visualization, breathing exercises or whatever else the player might need to manage his or her

anxiety.

But why mix video games with therapy and psychology?

“With game design, when you’re trying to get into the state of mind of the viewer, you can’t help but think about what’s going on in their head why they’re making this decision. And so you create this world for them that will influence them in this specific way. You end up kind of playing with people’s minds inherently,” Reynolds said.

In trying to construct the surreal atmosphere of “Nevermind,” the development team turned to more than just video games for inspiration. Film, fine arts and music all had a hand in influences the aesthetics and immersive gameplay.

“We drew inspiration from everywhere,

whatever we could get our hands on in terms of how can we visually present these abstract and really dark concepts that will provoke a physiological reaction in the player,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds, a veteran fan of the horror genre, admitted that one of her personal influences was her favorite video game “Eternal Darkness,” along with fellow horror cult classic “Soul Reaver.” She also studied games such as “Flower” to learn how to construct immersive atmospheres.

The current version of “Nevermind” focuses on domestic dangers in the home, though Reynolds explained how the dynamic of the game, with each level providing a new patient with a new disorder and a new environment to scare the pants off of players, means that additional levels can be added easily to the hub already built into the game.

“We’re taking the opportunity to create a little something awful for everybody,” Reynolds said.

Reaching its Kickstarter goal of $250,000 won’t just mean adding more levels. If given the resources, the team plans to open more lines of communications with academic researchers and medical professionals to improve the quality and realism of “Nevermind.” Reynolds also expressed her excitement about expanding the game to more interactive platforms, such as the Oculus Rift and the Xbox One’s Kinect.

While the game has not been tested in a clinical setting yet, the team hopes to partner with academic researchers, clinics and medical professionals during development to test the effectiveness of the game and learn exactly how it impacts player.

Recently it was announced the game would receive a story DLC that speculations indicate will feature the villain Dr. Victor Fries, more commonly known as Mr. Freeze.

Warner Bros. Montreal said that while they are hard at work on the DLC they have still not forgotten about the bugs and glitches. A patch may happen in the future, but they have announced that “the issues that are not progression blockers will unfortunately no longer be addressed.”

Another blow came to Wii U owners with the announcement that the new story-based DLC will not be available for the Nintendo console due to lack of demand. In addition, the Wii U version of “Batman Arkham Origins” also lacks the multiplayer available on other systems.

This is not the first time a game has been released with bugs and glitches. “Battlefield 4” was released with an enormous amount of problems that are still being combatted. But unlike Warner Bros. Montreal, the developers of “Battlefield 4” are constantly fixing the problems and giving players free items, such as weapons and item kits, that will hopefully satisfy them until the problems are fixed.

With such a staunch refusal to fix bugs in “Batman: Arkham Origins,” fans of the series, still lingering on whether or not to purchase the title, may ultimately decide it’s not worth it. In that case, new DLCS won’t be enough to entice players who’ve already lost faith with Warner Bros. Games Montreal.

This way, they can design future levels to maximize therapeutic benefits, and, as Reynolds put it, “to make the final product as awesome as it can be possibly be.”

So far, the “Nevermind” team has had to rely on feedback from play testing on whether or not the game provides any therapeutic benefits, but responses have been mostly positive. Many players have reported that they feel as if they can resolve their reactions more quickly and have an easier time managing daily stress after playing “Nevermind” for an extended period.

“The example I always like to use is that in Nevermind you’re exposed to a sense of dread all the time. I know there’s something behind that door, and I really don’t want to open it, but…I have the tools to manage my reaction so I can do this. If you can practice that in the game, then you can…manage it in real life,” Reynolds said. “Obviously in Nevermind it’s a lot more abstracted… you’re going through a twisted and stressful maze and in the real world it might be you’re dealing with rush-hour traffic, but I think the underlying feelings and the way you resolve it are still the same across the board.”

Eventually, the staff hopes to create levels for treating specific psychological disabilities and anxiety disorders and implement them into therapeutic programs. Plans for creating a more child-friendly version of the game to assist in child therapeutic settings are also in the works.

“The world of psychological trauma provides such an exciting opportunity for rich, diverse narratives that I would love to be able to continue building levels for as long as they’ll let me,” Reynolds said.

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN |E3

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Are You Sexting?

By: Rashad McDowell Contributing Writer Mace & Crown

Smartphones and other mobile devices are meant to simplify the lives of their users.

Included in this simplification is the ability to sext, or send provocative text messages, and a survey by McAfee released on Feb. 4 titled “Love, Relationships and Technology” exposed just how common this phenomenon is.

The survey is the second time that McAfee has taken a look consumer sharing and storage via mobile phones. More specifically, intimate data storage and sharing was examined. The study revealed several trends in the overall prevalence of sexting.

Of the 98 percent of respondents that used their phones for capturing photos, 54 percent were likely to send or receive explicit photos. The 18 to 24 age demographic represented the largest percentage overall. From that demographic, men were more likely than women to send or receive intimate photos. Of the photos and sexts sent, 50 percent of adults saved the content received.

Photos were shared most often between significant others, though 16 percent of respondents did admit to having sent explicit content to complete strangers.

The survey also took stock of security measures taken by consumers, such as passwords. Twenty seven percent of respondents admitted to neglecting to use of a passcode for their device. Another 38 percent share their passcode with their significant other.

This type of behavior is viewed as risky by some when relationships end. In spite, bitter exes have been known to share what would have once been private media, with the world.

The McAfee survey isn’t the first to try to get a handle on how prevalent sexting has become. A 2008 survey of 1280 teens and young adults by Cosmogirl.com found that 20 percent of teens and 33 percent of young adults have participated in sexting activity. More specifically, those numbers corresponded with those who had sent nude or semi-nude photos electronically.

Currently, there are a whole host of apps that cater to text and picture based interactions. Apps such as Snapchat and Kik were

created as a means to share messages without having to utilize phone based messaging services.

Snapchat caters more to those who wish to share pictures and places temporarily, with a timer on said pictures counting down to when they disappear. But with many smartphones allowing users to take screenshots, snaps never truly disappear. Even with such loopholes, Snapchat has become a very popular app, a favorite for some who participate in sexting activity.

Kik, on the other hand, focused on text messaging. Some sexters flock to the app because of the anonymity that it provides. Users are not required to provide any personally identifiable information and it doesn’t connect to any other social networks of its own design, instead creating a unique profile and username.

Sexting in and of itself is a result of technological advances enhancing actions that have existed for decades. Sexual content has been sent through all forms of media sharing. The only big difference is the speed and ease with which the behavior is facilitated.

Ellison Gregg | M&C

GIGAOM.COM

West Coast Catches Some Rays with World’s Largest Power Plant

By: Sean Burke Webmaster Mace & Crown

Americans move one step closer into an age of clean electricity as the world’s largest thermal power project, Ivanpah, reaches maximum output on the boarder of Nevada and California after formally opening on Feb. 13. The thermal power project is jointly owned by energy companies NRG Energy, BrightSource Solar and search engine juggernaut, Google.

Though Google seems to be the odd duckling of the group, it is entirely possible that it is heavily investing in clean energy as a form of research in long term sustainability for its own worldwide array of server farms.

“At Google we invest in innovative renewable energy projects that have the potential to transform the energy landscape and help provide more clean power to businesses and homes around the world. Ivanpah is a shining example of such a project and we’re delighted to be a part of it,” Rick Needham said, Google’s director of sustainability con-

gratulating the project.

Activist group Greenpeace estimates that “Google’s eight current and planned server farms could consume 476 megawatts of electricity if they were operating at full capacity. That’s enough to power all the homes in San Diego.”

Ivanpah creates 392 megawatts at full capacity with virtually no carbon footprint.

Three towers and a vast array of computer controlled mirrors occupy more than five square miles of desert with the soul aim to generate steam and create power for the

population of California. Each tower is 459 feet tall and rival the Statue of Liberty by 150 feet.

Power from the new plant will create “enough electricity to power 140,000 homes in California and will avoid enough electricity to provide 140,000 California homes with clean energy and avoid 400,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, equal to removing 72,000 vehicles off the road” according at a press release on Feb. 13 from NRG Energy.

The plant currently accounts for 30 percent of all solar thermal energy in the United

States and is the largest project of its kind in the world, bringing the US to center stage in green technology. A feat not possible without a $1.6 billion loan from the US Department of Energy.

The plant achieved initial operation at minimal capacity in December but has recently reached maximum output and thus sealed its place in energy history.

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | F1

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: ELLISON GREGG | photo@maceandcrown.com

Sean Davis | M&C

Sean Davis | M&C

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | F2

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Dri Mayfield | M&C

Dri Mayfield | M&C

Nicole Michonski | M&C

Nicole Michonski | M&C Anthony Alston

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | G1

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

SUNDRY

EDITOR: JONATHAN KWOK | layout@maceandcrown.com

CROSSWORD

Sudoku

ACROSS 1. Spanish lady 5. Largest continent 9. Nile bird 13. False god 14. Dings 16. Plateau 17. Head covering 18. Fable writer 19. Friends 20. Something of value 22. Rebels 24. Quaint outburst 26. Informs 27. A small fireproof dish 30. Stoppage 33. Scholarly 35. Macedonian monetary unit 37. Bother 38. Chopin composition 41. 7 in Roman numerals

42. Daughter of a sibling 45. Tropical evergreen tree 48. One eighth of a fluid ounce 51. Kitchen set 52. Sweep 54. Indian music 55. Echoed 59. Wood shaping machine 62. Chocolate cookie 63. Praise 65. Fastened 66. How old we are 67. Splines 68. Ripped 69. Accomplished 70. If not 71. Nameless

DOWN 1. Opera star 2. Poems 3. Horn 4. Asserted 5. American Dental Association 6. Clairvoyant 7. Map within a map 8. Makes amends 9. Stalemate 10. Tiny sphere 11. Small island 12. Back talk 15. Hardy wheat 21. Give and ____ 23. Happy 25. 10 cent coin 27. Shower 28. Bitter 29. Louse-to-be 31. A request to attend

32. Good person 34. Slice 36. Go on horseback 39. Father 40. Arab chieftain 43. A car on a freight train 44. Beige 46. A Freudian stage 47. Sailing competition 49. Toots 50. A self-contained component 53. Award 55. Street 56. Therefore 57. Observed 58. Specks 60. Protagonist 61. Biblical garden 64. South southeast

MazeintheMace

Wednesday 02.19.2014 | MACE & CROWN | G2

WORDSEARCH

abode apartment bleach board branch business caravan choice daisy employ event extra fable family frozen guests innovation

COMICS

journey local mire peat place plane possible prize remove return rope salmon sent valve weekend window wort

MACEANDCROWN.COM

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWSPAPER

MACEANDCROWN.COM

PAW Spring 2014 Calendar January Thursday

16th | Thursday

23 | rd

Saturday

25 | th

Thursday

30 | th

Friday

31 | st

Spring Into Action Concert North Café | 8pm Speedpainting w/ Tim Decker MGB 102 | 8pm Think Fast Legends in Whitehurst Hall | 7pm To Write Love on Her Arms MGB 102 | 7pm Friday Night Live: SpringGlow North Café | 8pm-12am

March Thursday

20th | Friday

21st | Thursday

27th | Friday

28th | Sunday

30th |

1 | st

Thursday

6 | th

Cosmic Climb SRC Climbing Wall | 8pm-11pm Dormtainment North Café 8pm

Thursday

3rd | Saturday

5th | Friday

Thursday

13th | Friday

14 | th

Getting Naked Tour w/ Harlan Cohen MGB 102 | 8pm Anti-Valentine's Day Movie: Delivery Man North Café | 7:30pm

11th | Saturday

12th | Thursday

17th | Friday

Friday

21st | Thursday

27 | th

Friday

28th |

Friday Night Live: Viva Las ODU North Café | 8pm-12am "Ain't I A Woman: My Journey to Womanhood" w/ Laverne Cox University Theater | 7pm

18th | Saturday

19th | Thursday

24th | Friday

25th | African Culture Show North Café | 6pm

Friday Night Live: Monarchs Wild N'Out Webb Center | 8pm-12am Style Your Soul Student Recreation Center | 6pm Fagbug w/ Erin Davies North Café | 5pm International Festival Ted Constant Center | 12pm-5pm

April

February Saturday

Dog Day 5k Walk & Yappy Happy Hour Starts in front of SRC | 5:30pm

Saturday

26th |

Discover Your Inner Champion w/ the Redefined Athlete Trish Downing MGB 102 | 7pm Monarch Madness

Quad, Whitehurst Beach, Kaufman Mall | 12pm-4pm

Relay For Life Webb Center | 7pm-7am Spring Fest Quad | 4pm to 6pm Retro Video Game Night North Café | 7p-11pm Water Olympics SRC Pool 5pm to 9pm WODU Studios Hip-Hop Showcase North Café | 7pm Diversity Celebration Night North Café | 8pm Arrive Alive Tour Kaufman Mall | 11am-4pm Movie Night on the Quad Quad | 7pm

PAW is presented by the Division of Student Engagement & Enrollment Services. For more information Call 757-683-3446 or Visit http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/paw Residence Hall Association | Office of Counseling Services | Student Activities Council | Recreation & Wellness | WODU Studios | Safe Space Committee | Intercultural Relations | Outdoor Adventure Program ODU Out | African Student Association | Women's Center | Colleges Against Cancer | Leadership & Student Involvement | Military Connection Center | Office of Health Promotion | Filipino American Student Association Asian Pacific American Student Union | Filipino American Center | Starving Artists | Educational Accessibility | Spanish Club | Gay Cultural Studies | Department of English | Club Sports Program Department of Theater | Sports Management Club | Department of Communications | Park, Recreation & Tourism Studies | Department of Counseling & Human Services.