WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM | Vol. 60, Issue 23
Geeked-Out Greeks Relay For Life
Ross Reelachart Technology Editor
Managing the technical intricacies of a fraternity or sorority can be a daunting task, but it can be made simpler by using a web-based online management system made and managed by two of ODU’s own student self-starters. With help from the Strome Entrepreneurial Center, Jon Henson and Dane Howard built the fraternity/sorority management system known as Greek Global. I sat down with the two to learn about them, Greek Global and what
it’s like growing their own start-up from scratch. Howard described himself as having been “entrepreneurial since high school,” and had honed his skills since then as well. Even before college, he had developed a system for a local insurance agency and a ride-sharing service. During his high school years, Henson was involved in DECA, an organization that “prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.” So he
was more than prepared to handle the business side of launching and running Greek Global. They both joined separate fraternities and eventually met over their shared entrepreneurial interest. Howard, as vice president and treasurer of his fraternity, had experienced firsthand what it was like managing a fraternity. “We used multiple sites to manage everything from recruitment to finance to file storage,” Howard said. Seeing how messy the manage-
ment was, Howard created an early prototype of Greek Global that allowed him to fulfill all of his duties from a single place. While Howard handled the development of Greek Global as a way to serve fraternity/ sorority management, Henson made sure it got in front of chapter leaders. Like many other start-ups have reiterated before, a product or service is just a cool idea if no one is using it. Henson got people to use it, Howard made sure it was good to use. see STARTUP, page D3
We've Got
SPIRIT Brittany Reigelsperger Contributing Writer The Old Dominion Spirit Squad Cheerleading Team made history on Friday. The team traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida for the two-day competition and returned as the NCA (National Cheerleaders Association) Intermediate All-Girl 1A National Champions. Head coach Carmen Harris and assistant coach Dr. Melvin Farland took over the Spirit Squad in 2013.
It has been the goal of both coaches to transform ODU’s Cheer and Dance team from sideline-based to competition-focused. They led the Cheer team to the national competition in 2015, but were eliminated after one day of competing. They would not return to Daytona Beach for the 2016 championship in part due to their poor performance at the 2015 competition and also not being able to obtain a higher paying bid at a championship qualifying
camp. Harris and her 26 studentathletes, however, worked tirelessly through the summer preparing for this moment in earning a Silver Paid Bid at the NCA college team qualifying camp. “Two years ago was very beneficial for them. They’ve been there and down that now and have a completely different outlook on the competition,” Harris said. The 26-member team range from
freshmen to veteran seniors with varying majors but despite their differences, they came out on top. On the first day of competition, the Lady Monarchs finished in third place with a score of 91.7 on a 100-point scale after losing a few points for dropping a few stunts throughout the routine. All routines are scored on the same aspects including pyramids, stunts, jumps and tumbling. see CHEER, page C1
Tracey Buyrn Contributing Writer There are approximately 15.5 million U.S. citizens who have survived the deadly grips of cancer since 2016. There are more people around you affected by cancer than you know, which is why Relay for Life is presented every year on campus to celebrate those survivors and be there for those still afflicted by the disease. The seventeenth annual fundraiser kicked off Friday night outside the Student Recreation Center. AJ McCafferty, Executive Director of the event, commenced the ceremony, followed by remarks from Dr. Ellen Neufeldt and President John Broderick. The event is sponsored in cooperation with the American Cancer Society to help raise money for cancer research, help find new treatments and support those who have been diagnosed. The event began at sunset, which has significant meaning. Hearing the words, “you have cancer” for the first time can feel like the sun is going down on you. The relay then lasts through the night to signify how fighting cancer, or watching others fight it, can often be lonely, dark and cold. Finally, the relay wraps up as the sun rises to represent when a survivor goes into remission. Before the first lap of the relay, Broderick spoke on how cancer connects those at the university more than we might recognize. There have been several professors, some who are currently fighting the disease and a few that have recently passed on. Relay for Life helps remember those who have survived and those who are still afflicted see RELAY, page A4
HELTPED WAN
see page A2
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M&C Mace & Crown is a student-run newspaper written and published for the students of ODU once a week throughout each semester and once in the summer. Originally founded in 1930 as The High Hat, the paper became The Mace and Crown in 1961. Mace & Crown is primarily a self-supporting newspaper, maintaining journalistic independence from the university. All views expressed in this collegiate paper are those of the author, not of the university, Mace & Crown or the editors.
EDITORIAL BOARD Adam Flores Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@ maceandcrown.com
Ross Reelachart Technology Editor technology@ maceandcrown.com Harry Howard Jr. Sports Editor sports@ maceandcrown.com Timothy Pace Graphic Designer tpace003@odu.edu
Morgan Engelhardt News Editor news@maceandcrown.com Kelsey Walker Arts & Entertainment Editor artsandentertainment@ maceandcrown.com Tayla Mallory Photography Editor photo@ maceandcrown.com Guillermo Rivera-Hernandez
Distribution Manager grive006@odu.edu
Emily Rogers Social Media Director social@maceandcrown.com Michael Abney Digital Editor webmaster@ maceandcrown.com
Advertising & Business Manager advertising@ maceandcrown.com
STAFF WRITERS Kim Bering Lindsey Lanham Tyler Passarge Audra Reigle Erin Sudek
Mace & Crown Now Accepting Editorial Board Applications
Positions are available for the Fall 2017 Mace & Crown Editorial Board. Interviews will be conducted in the Mace & Crown newsroom starting Thursday, April 13 at 12:30 p.m. Please submit your résumé to: editorinchief@ maceandcrown.com If you have already submitted a résumé, you will be notified via email when to be present for your interview. Openings to be filled: • Copy Editor • News Editor • Arts & Entertainment Editor • Technology Editor • Sports Editor • Advertising & Business Manager • Graphic Designer For more information, email us or stop by during our writers and general interest meetings held on Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m., in our newsroom located in Webb Center, office #1051, inside the U-Center.
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Carmen Harris
Corrections and Clarifications
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M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
Crime Log
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APRIL 3 Vandalism was reported to have occurred on Parker Avenue at 5:15 p.m.
APRIL 2 Public intoxication was reported to have occurred on Monarch Way at 12:29 a.m.
APRIL 5 Vandalism was reported to have occured on 42nd Street at 8 p.m.
APRIL 8 A vehicle break-in was reported to have occured on 44th Street at 8:30 a.m.
Courtesy Mace & Crown
Date
Category
Location
Agency
Incident Number
4/8/17
VANDALISM
1200 BLOCK 38TH STREET, NORFOLK VA
Norfolk Police
170408000035
4/8/17
LARCENY-PARTS FROM AUTO
800 BLOCK 44TH STREET, NORFOLK, VA
Norfolk Police
170408000058
4/8/17
LARCENY-PARTS FROM AUTO
400 BLOCK 35TH STREET, NORFOLK, VA
Norfolk Police
170408000077
4/5/17
DAMAGE PUB/PRIV PROPERTY (ORDINANCE)
1000 BLK W 45TH STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00406
4/5/17
PETIT LARCENY: <$200 NOT FROM A PERSON
4700 BLK ELKHORN AVENUE, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00407
4/5/17
MONUMENT: INTENTIONAL DAMAGE, VALUE >=$1000
1200 BLK BLK 42ND STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00409
4/5/17
GRAND LARCENY: $200+ NOT FROM A PERSON
1200 BLK W 43RD STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00402
4/4/17
GRAND LARCENY: $200+ NOT FROM A PERSON
4700 BLK POWHATAN AVENUE, NORFOLK ,VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00398
4/4/17
ASSAULT
1300 BLK 43RD STREET, NORFOLK ,VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00397
4/4/17
PETIT LARCENY: <$200 NOT FROM A PERSON
1000 BLK 49TH STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00413
4/3/17
LARCENY-PARTS FROM AUTO
500 BLOCK 37TH STREET, NORFOLK, VA
Norfolk Police
170404000054
4/3/17
MONUMENT: UNLAWFUL DAMAGE, NO INTENT TO STEAL
4500 BLK PARKER AVENUE, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00395
4/2/17
GRAND LARCENY: $200+ NOT FROM A PERSON
1000 BLK W 41ST STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00391
4/2/17
LARCENY (ALL OTHERS)
500 BLOCK GEORGIA AVENUE, NORFOLK, VA
Norfolk Police
170402000079
4/2/17
MALIC SHOOT OR THROW MISSILE IN/AT OCC. BLDG
1500 BLK W 41ST STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00389
4/2/17
SHOOT INTO OCCUPIED DWELLING
1500 BLOCK W 41ST STREET, NORFOLK, VA
Norfolk Police
170402000019
4/2/17
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
600 BLOCK 34TH STREET, NORFOLK, VA
Norfolk Police
170402000016
4/2/17
ALCOHOL: PURCH/POSSESS BY PERSON <21Y
1400 BLK W 42ND STREET, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00387
4/2/17
PROFANE SWEARING OR INTOXICATION IN PUBLIC
4400 BLK MONARCH WAY, NORFOLK, VA
ODU Police
17-ODU-00386
FOR MORE CRIME INFORMATION, VISIT MACEANDCROWN.COM/INTERACTIVE-CRIME-LOG
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'Relay for Life' Raises Thousands for Cancer Research Continued from front
Courtesy of ACevents.org
LOCAL NEWS Norfolk SPCA Looking for Male Models The Norfolk SPCA is looking for men who want to strike a pose with one of the organization’s adoptable animals and be featured in their upcoming 2018 Magic Mutt Calendar. Those featured in the calendar will also be invited to their debut party. Applications are being accepted until April 30 at 5 p.m. Anyone interested can go to https://norfolkspca.com to fill out an application. Unity Fest 2017 Coming Soon The Office of Intercultural Relations will be hosting this year’s Unity Fest on April 20 from noon to 2 p.m. on Kaufman Mall. Activities to celebrate Monarch unity will include games, a photo booth, unity stations held by organizations, outdoor inflatables and much more. Food will be provided for all who attend. For more information on Unity Fest, contact the OIR at 757-683-4406 or go to oir@odu.edu. ‘No Booza Palooza’ Join Health Promotions for their alcohol awareness event “No Booza Palooza.” The event will include snow-cones, popcorn, cotton candy and prizes for those who complete an alcohol awareness screening. The first 100 students to complete the “E-Chug” assessment will also win a free T-shirt. The palooza will take place April 13 on Kaufman Mall from 12:30 to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Cliff Winter from Health Promotions at cwinter@odu.edu. Final Information Session on Joining the Peace Corps Representatives from the Peace Corps will be coming to campus to share information about how to join and review employment options in their final session of the semester on April 18. Representatives will be discussing the general overview of how to successfully go through the application portion of joining the organization. The information session will be held in Room 9024 of BAL from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
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Not only has cancer affected faculty members, but the student body as well. Senior Gabby Mayfield, a marketing major, shared her story of learning what it was like to find out she had Lymphoma. In 2012, after working at a summer camp, she noticed areas around her neck that were lumpy, but her doctor dismissed it. Being a healthy eighteen-year-old, she didn’t really think much of it. Soon after, however, a lump formed under her arm that was painful and caused her to return. She was later diagnosed with stage two Nodular Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Just a few weeks after discovering she had cancer, her sister was diagnosed as well. Mayfield shared that there are two different types of Lymphoma. There is Non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is rarest. In 2016, there were 81,000 cases of both types of Lymphoma, where only about 8,500 cases were Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It is even more rare for women to be diagnosed with Hodgkin’s, which makes both Mayfield and her sister receiving the diagnoses shocking. After three years of treatment, both were declared in remission by their doctors. Unfortunately, this past fall, Mayfield’s symptoms have come back, and her cancer has officially relapsed. After she finishes her treatments, Mayfield will be going to VCU with the hopes of a stem cell transplant. She is still determined to finish strong and graduate this May. Relay for Life is about recognizing that cancer is all around us and can happen to anyone. It is estimated that almost 40 percent of people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. There are more than 100 types of the disease, the most common being breast, lung and prostate cancer. Mayfield also gave some advice on how to talk with someone about their diagnosis of cancer. She emphasized that it is important not to push them to talk about their feeling or what they want. “They just want it gone and for it
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to be over. Just let them know that you are there for them and make them comfortable and support them. Just recognizing and saying, “that sucks” is sometimes the most comforting thing to hear,” Mayfield said. Other things you can do to help support cancer patients are donating money to reliable charities or donating blood or bone marrow. After Mayfield’s testimony on her own diagnosis, Relay for Life 2017 officially began. Besides the relay itself, there were contests, games and many tables representing different types of cancer money was being raised for. Each organization partaking in the event had their own table with specific themes having attendees play games or selling various types of food and goodies. Gamma Sigma Sigma, who works with the American Cancer Society, raised approximately $3,000 at their carnival-themed table. Those who came by were able to partake in games and win prizes. “In the beginning, it was mostly the Greek organizations that had tables and displays. Now that has really opened up and more of the student body as a whole is represented,” McCafferty said when speaking about the growth of the event over the years. Relay for Life was originally held in Webb Center, but a year ago the volunteer team was able to work with the SRC in holding the event both inside and outside of the building. “They donate not only the building for the use of relay, but their staff as well,” McCafferty said. The event brings in over $50,000 annually for cancer research. There is usually around $35,000 raised before the relay, followed by approximately $15,000 being collected during the event. During the night, there is also a “Luminaria Ceremony,” which is a time to remember those that have lost
their battle with cancer. Candles are raised by those who have lost a family member or friend to the disease. As the candles went up in the air, it was clear that cancer affected almost everyone at the event. The ceremony is then followed by one lap held in complete silence in memory of those who have been lost. “I relay for my grandmother, who is a survivor and because I recognize the impact that cancer has on everyone,” McAfferty said when asked why he was so involved in Relay for Life. There was also the opportunity to donate hair for wigs to give to those who have lost their hair during treatment. Pantene's "Beautiful Lengths" offered free haircuts to those who wished to use their hair for the making of wigs for cancer patients. “I donated my hair in memory of my aunt who had Ovarian cancer,” freshmen Andy Brzoska said. “It’s only hair, I don’t need it as much as other people do, it will grow back, and it is for a good cause,” senior Nicole Riekers said. The Sigma Nu fraternity held “Skin-A-Snake” during the event, where several of the brother’s heads were auctioned off to attendees. Whoever bid the highest on a member got to shave their head. The catch? After their haircuts, they were banned from being able to touch up or fix their hair until Sunday night. By the time most of the members had gone through their hair transformations, Sigma Nu had raised $652. “I could not be more proud of what we have built here at ODU. Not only have we created the largest fundraising event on the campus of ODU, but we have created an event that is inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all who have been affected by cancer,” McCafferty said later on social media.
“I relay for my grandmother, who is a survivor and because I recognize the impact that cancer has on everyone.”
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'Say Something'
Speaks on Date Rape
Erin Sudek Assistant News Editor
One in 5 women and 1 in 16 men will be raped by the time they graduate college. This statistic is alarming, which is why conversations about the problem such as "Say Something” are important on college campuses. A discussion forum about date rape held for students in Webb Center on April 5 brought awareness about the topic and to discuss how to help prevent these situations. The presentation was sponsored by the Beta Alpha Chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc., the Eta Omega chapter
of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., M-POWER and the Women’s Center. During the first six weeks of the semester, otherwise known as the “Red Zone,” students are at the highest risk of being sexually assaulted. Students are more willing to try new things, meet new people and go to new places during this time period, increasing the chance of dangerous situations occurring. Adding alcohol into the situation only makes it worse, as it is the most common drug used in a date rape situation. Other drugs used by predators include Ketamine, GHB and Rohypnol, or “roofies,” which is the most commonly used drug.
“I knew about roofies, but I didn’t know that alcohol was the most common drug used in these cases,” senior Abizue Santos said. Warning signs associated with these drugs include dizziness, confusion, disinhibition, acting extremely intoxicated when only consuming small amounts of alcohol and other similar abnormal behaviors. It is recommended that individuals get to know their limits when drinking in an attempt to recognize when something strange is happening to them. There are many different ways to combat date rape. Tactics include keeping a close eye on your drink, using drug detection technology, always
using the “buddy system” and going with your instincts. It is extremely important to also be an active bystander and say something if you see a possibly threatening situation. The forum also included plenty of discussion from the audience. Students talked not only about the subject of date rape, but even shared their own personal experiences, applying each of the topics discussed to real world and personal examples. A conversation about the accidental perpetuation of rape culture was widely discussed. Various students explained that by giving women preventative measures against rape, we are now putting the responsibility on
them. In reality, it should be on the perpetrator. “Instead of teaching women not to get raped, we should be teaching men not to rape,” graduate student Angel Kearns said. The presentation also covered why so many victims of sexual assault do not report their case, which is often because of shame, guilt, victim blaming, lack of memory or other reasons. What we can do is make others aware, ask for consent each step of the way and be nonjudgmental and active bystanders in situations that can be potentially dangerous. Trust your instincts and say something if you see something.
‘Chit. Chat. Chew.’
Discussing Struggle and Survival of Indigenous Tribes Jade Dixon Contributing Writer History never ceases to repeat itself. This seems especially true when it comes to the protests that have come about to protect the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in Standing Rock, North Dakota. The Office of Intercultural Relations hosted “Chit. Chat. Chew.,” an event series to encourage conversation on this topic on April 6 in the Intercultural Center of the Webb Center. Associate Professor of American Literature Drew Lopenzina spoke about his involvement with the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and his experience with the indigenous tribe in the area. He also spoke on the story of ordained Methodist minister and
writer William Apess (1798-1839), a religious and political activist of mixed-race descent who was part of the Pequot tribe. “Pequot endured colonial abuse. The white community attempted to exterminate indigenous populations, in addition to enslaving and abusing women and children,” Lopenzina said. Lopenzina explained the turmoil that the white community cast upon Apess and the Native American communities, as well as what was done in order to survive and protect their land. He was considered one of the most well-known advocates at the time, encouraging nonviolent protest to defend his land. “I spoke to indigenous persons to seek out information about different indigenous communities and unveil
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the truth about what they withstood during this time of history,” Lopenzina said when describing the trauma Apess and his family suffered. In Lopenzina’s novel, “Through an Indian’s Looking-Glass: A Cultural Biography of William Apess,” he uncovers the dark secrets behind Apess’s family abuse and shares research about his life. Short passages from the first chapter of his novel were read to give the audience a chance to listen and visualize what Apess bore and how it influenced his actions. He further explained that the natives were a resilient group of people who refused to use violence as a solution, but instead used peaceful resistance to fight the power structure the white community put upon them. “Apess suggested to make this known to the white communities and
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publish the resolutions of the native people in "The Liberator," an antislavery newspaper,” Lopenzina said. Lopenzina emphasized how Native American actions were falsely publicized in newspapers. The media used terms such as “Indian War,” implying that the indigenous people wanted to start a violent resistance. “What influenced Apess's way of thinking?” graduate student Nevin Mapp asked. “It is hard to say, but I think since he was living in these communities and saw what they experienced it encouraged him to help. He had his own natural ability and charisma to carry out what no other native could,” Lopenzina answered. Towards the end of the presentation, Lopenzina spoke on his time as a “water protector” for the Dakota
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Access Pipeline protest in Standing Rock at the Chechi Sakowin Camp in November 2016. “They used the term 'water protector,' not 'protester,' because we were there to protect the natural resources,” Lopenzina said. He displayed many photos of his time in North Dakota, showing the camping sites, protests held in town and brutal police treatment towards protesters. “It’s amazing because it is the same colonial rhetoric referring to how they are treating the natives on their land,” Lopenzina said. He stressed how similar indigenous people are treated today compared to how they were treated in the past.
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‘13 Reasons Why’ Netflix Captures the Pain of Teen Suicide
BITS OF A&E Reception Honoring Amanda Kinzer The ODU Dance Program will host a reception to honor Amanda Kinzer’s 16 years as teacher and mentor. The reception will take place April 15 at the University Theatre from 6:30-7:30 p.m., followed by the University Dance Concert at 8 p.m., which is dedicated to Kinzer and will include two pieces of her choreography. The reception is free and open to all, but tickets for the concert must be purchased. Virginia MOCA Hosts Photography Open (C)all The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is asking for local artists to submit photography for their “Open (C)all 2017” exhibition. MOCA asks that submissions reflect an aspect of the photographer. Submissions can be made in person April 19-21 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Screening: ‘Gender Revolution’ The LGBT Center of Hampton Roads will host a screening of National Geographic’s “Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric” April 18 at 6:30 p.m. The film follows Couric as she sets out across America to meet with leading scientists, surgeons and experts of their field to answer questions about gender identity. An Evening With Jason Mraz and His Guitar GRAMMY® Award winner Jason Mraz will play at the Ferguson Center for the Arts on April 26 from 7:30-10 p.m. “The New York Times” has described Mraz as “part Jack Johnson, part Eckhart Tolle.” The San Diego-based artist is also a global social activist who’s work has been dedicated to LGBT equality and environmental advocacy.
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Courtesy Netflix Fatima Rivera Contributing Writer Suicide is a hard hitting topic that has been on the rise for years. TV shows and movies have touched on the subject, but don’t really show the impact it has on people unless it occurs in real life. Based on the 2007 bestselling novel by Jay Asher, “13 Reasons Why” premiered March 31 on Netflix. Many fans tuned in to see how they adapted the story, one that was on the rise throughout their middle and high school years. Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) is seen staring at Hannah Baker’s (Katherine Langford) locker, who committed suicide two weeks prior. The locker is now decorated with flowers and cards from fellow students who express their feelings towards her death. Clay goes through his classes looking at where she sat and how students are interacting around him. When Clay comes home, he discovers a package for him which contain 13 audio tapes and a map of the town. When he listens to the first one, Hannah’s voice comes on and explains that each tape states why she killed herself and that whoever is in possession of the tapes contributes to
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a reason. As he listens, he begins to piece together what was happening with her between his point of view and hers. Clay then starts to get justice for her by confronting the other people on the tapes, revealing to be other students who were once close to her. There were many differences between the book and show that helped the story become more immersive and deeper than it originally was. In the book, Clay went through the tapes in one night. In the show, it takes him a number of days to a week to get through them where he takes his time listening to each one and even putting off due to it being very painful. “13 Reasons Why” not only captured Clay and Hannah’s story but it also branched out to other characters to show what they were doing during that present time and how they were coming to grips with the truth of what they have done to Hannah. It also set a storyline for Hannah’s parents, who were barely in the book, giving them their own story. It showed how each of them grieved and tried to understand what went on in their daughter's life. The show also touches on the subject of self-harm and rape, which is seen occurring throughout the epi-
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sodes. There’s even an advisory before the beginning of the episode so viewers can brace themselves for the gruesome tragedy. At the end of the season, a special bonus is shown called “13 Reasons Why: Beyond the Reasons.” Each cast member, including Selena Gomez, talks about the importance of suicide awareness, where to reach help and how they can relate to each character. Universal Studios purchased the film rights to the novel and announced that Selena Gomez would portray Hannah Baker back in 2011. Later in 2015, Netflix decided to make it into a TV adaptation. Gomez decided to become an executive producer to help capture the true purpose of the story. Filming took place in Northern California in Vallejo, San Rafael, Crockett and Sebastopol, during 2016. Rotten tomatoes gave a 93 percent approval and Metacritic a 76 percent with “favorable reviews.” “13 Reasons Why,” captured every truth and emotion involving suicide and how words can impact a person’s life. Each character and scene was set to be realistic and stands out from many others. It is a must watch for anyone of all ages and a story that will evoke further discussion.
M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
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Monarch Style
How to Prep for Summer Kim Bering Staff Writer Promote a summer babe ambience by hitting the student recreation center before beach season starts, and continuing during the season. The people who tell you that you’ll feel better after working out are partially right and wrong. Working out physically makes you feel exhausted, but mentally it relieves stress and helps promote self-confidence. Any small amount of gym workouts will help with the summer bod and mindset. The next essential thing to check off the list is self-tanner. The fairer skinned lasses who still desire to look like tanned beach babes need reliable fake tanning products. A useful method of building a natural bronze look is by using a self-tanning lotion a few weeks before beach days, then by applying a tanning mousse every few weeks consistently. The lotion helps to keep the skin moisturized by build-
ing a base, while the mousse provides darker, long-lasting color. For an effective and healthy daily moisturizer, Jergens’ Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer promotes a healthy and natural looking tan. After a few uses, the bronzed glow gradually darkens naturally. For a more noticeable tan, Loving Tan’s Deluxe Bronzing Mousse Dark lasts up to two weeks. These two sunless tanners combined help promote the beach babe look without the sunburn. Another obviously important item for summer is a new swimsuit—or two or three. Pick and choose from trending bikinis, one pieces, halter tops and cover-ups for every kind of beach day or festival. To indulge yourself with a beach luxury, splurge and buy more than one swimsuit this summer. If not to save yourself from the same tan lines, it’ll spruce up the variety on your Instagram feed.
Courtesy Designinggal.ca Lily Closet online provides a wide range of every type of trendy swimwear, among other summer apparel options. Sexy one pieces, strappy bottoms, halter tops, high-waisted bottoms and even crochet bikinis are offered at affordable prices. This website enables you to shop smart while staying on top of trends so the beach babe look is attainable.
The next few necessary items you need are beach bag fundamentals. Sunscreen, sea salt spray for beachy waves, a straw hat to shield the sun occasionally and obviously, a water bottle and snacks. With all those essentials, your trip to the beach will leave you tanned, hydrated, relaxed and achieving the ultimate beach babe vibe.
Courtesy Lillycloset.com
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Taking time for yourself. Hitting the gym, trying new self-tanners, buying trendy swimwear and finding beach essentials will help prepare you for beach season. The time for summer self-indulgence is nearly here, so hang in there with all those final exams and assignments coming up. Start working out consistently and think about the pleasures of summer!
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The Monarch Music Review
Lindsey Lanham | Staff Writer
Andrew McMahon Blasts Off Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness Zombies On Broadway
Andrew McMahon made his initial mark on the alternative genre with the release of his self-titled, debut album. Securing a dedicated fan base with the hit track “Cecilia and the Satellite,” everyone was anxious to see what he would release next. “Fire Escape” is a radio-ready, pop hit that has an easy flow and fun lyrics. Being the first single dropped since his debut album, “Fire Escape” is reminiscent to McMahon’s original sound. “Brooklyn, You’re Killing Me” was the second track to be dropped off his new album. The song features a Twenty One Pilots-esque rap sequence but also showcases McMahon’s vocal range. Vastly different from his first album, this track alluded to the album being more of a contemporary alternative, hip-hop sound many artists have adapted to. “Zombies On Broadway” keeps up the energy that “Brooklyn, You’re
Killing Me” first introduces, but it’s by no means the Twenty One Pilots pop sound that fans were expecting. Rather, McMahon kept in touch with his original sound. Tracks like “So Close” sound like they came straight off his debut album. “Zombies” features typical McMahon lyricism in bubblegum pop choruses and honest verses. The height of the album is “Don’t Speak For Me (Truth).” McMahon is at the top of his game when he is emotional. “Zombies” is about as cathartic as it gets, giving the listener something relatable to listen to. A brutally honest track, “Dead Man’s Dollar” describes the troubles
McMahon sees his family go through as he’s on tour. McMahon croons “I know this isn't easy / You got that baby sleeping all by yourself / Feels like I'm always leaving / I swear to God, one day I'll be there to help.” “Zombies On Broadway” is fun, honest and a great record for road trips. Fans old and new will be able to sing along with the catchy hooks, but still get depth out of the complex, layered music. Andrew McMahon is bringing “Zombies on Broadway” to The NorVa on April 15. Notable Tracks - “Brooklyn, You’re Killing Me,” “Don’t Speak For Me (Truth)” and “Dead Man’s Dollar”
Courtesy Top Dawg Entertainment
Courtesy RCA Records
Courtesy Astralwerks
Courtesy Vanguard Records
Courtesy RCA Records Nashville
Courtesy Canvasback Music
Kendrick Lamar HUMBLE.
Bleachers Don’t Take the Money
Halsey Now or Never
Old Dominion No Such Thing as a Broken Heart
Alt-J In Cold Blood
“SIT DOWN. BE HUMBLE.” What may be everyone's official new slogan of 2017, “HUMBLE.” is the prelude of what we hope is Kendrick Lamar’s fourth full-length album. Accompanied with a music video for the ages, “HUMBLE.” is going to be Lamar’s song of the year. In typical Lamar fashion, “HUMBLE.” is unabashed and direct. Quips like “Show me somethin' natural like ass with some stretch marks” give the song a quirky, honest feeling that Lamar always excels at.
After major success with their debut album “Strange Desire,” Bleachers are back. “Don’t Take the Money” is a fun, anthemic song that I already find myself singing along to despite only being out for a few short days. Featuring Lorde on backup vocals, it seems frontman Jack Antonoff is back in a big way. Presumably a single off their new album, if the rest of the record sounds anything like this track, fans are in for a treat.
The queen of angst and drama has returned. Just like “Badlands,” “Now or Never” features the same starcrossed love story that much of her debut album does. “Now or Never” takes a turn musically, though, featuring some old school R&B with a lustful mood. Halsey also makes her directing debut in the accompanying music video, a story about a banished love. The indie pop star has definitely changed course and introduced a more low-key urban feel with “Now or Never.” Her second album, “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom,” is scheduled to be released on June 2.
Officially the first release off their second album, Old Dominion is back with a summer-ready track. “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” is your typical country-pop track, and will be on everyone’s summer playlist. There’s nothing too complicated about it, but that’s what makes it enjoyable. As lead singer Matthew Ramsey croons, “You gotta love like there's no such thing as a broken heart,” the song becomes everyone’s new Instagram caption. It’s fun and it’s easy, but in typical Old Dominion fashion, there isn’t much to say about it.
Three years after the release of “This is All Yours,” Alt-J have started releasing singles from their new album “Relaxer.” “In Cold Blood,” starts off with what we can only guess is binary code. As lead singer Joe Newman repeats a series of “zeroes” and “ones,” the song quickly builds from a simple beat to a complex mix of horns and guitar riffs. A big change from the slow pace of their first single off the album, “3WW,” this track is fast-paced and intense. The last line, “in cold blood,” is worthy of the mic drop it gets. Definitely more pop than the usual Alt-J style, “In Cold Blood” may be a turn in a new direction, but it’s definitely a good direction.
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Arts &
B4
Watch 'Passengers' in MGB 102 April 12, 14 and 15 at 8 p.m.
E N T ER T A I NM E N T
MONARCH MOVIE MINUTE TYLER PASSARGE STAFF WRITER Mind Blown!
A Must See.
Add to my Queue.
Straight to DVD
There Goes 2 Hours of My Life!
‘Tower’
2016 | Unrated | 96 min. To the inhabitants of Austin, Texas, the date of August 1, 1966 will forever be represented as a time of fear, survival and mortality. On this day, Charles Whitman, armed with a loaded sniper rifle, took position on top of the main tower at the University of Texas and fired at students, professors and other citizens in the area. During the hour and a half long attack, Whitman took the lives of 17 people while wounding 31 more. The story of that day lives on through images of the wounded and words of the survivors in the docu-
mentary, “Tower.” In this film, the interviews of those who were there during the shootings shape reenactments of that day that showcase each individual story. Some of the stories included in the film come from a victim who was pregnant at the time of getting shot and the officer who took down Whitman in the tower. Instead of recreating the events at UT using a live action setting, “Tower” incorporates animation that blends in live action elements in effective and haunting ways. Utilizing the animation, filmmaker Keith Maitland
is able to make stylistic choices that emphasize the violence and impact of the tragedy without getting too graphic. Although this is a documentary, there are times where the viewer can be so enthralled with what’s happening that it’s easy to mistake it as a traditional film. From minute one, viewers are thrust into the play by play of that day and the film never loosens its grip on the audience’s attention. This film is available on Netflix.
Courtesy Kino Lorber
‘The Discovery’
2017 | Unrated | 110 min.
The world is thrown into chaos when a scientist’s (Robert Redford) research is able to verify that there is, in fact, an afterlife. In order to “get there” as many in the movie say, many people in the world have gone on to commit suicide. Although the suicide rate is skyrocketing at an alarming rate, it doesn’t shake the scientiSt, Thomas, from digging further into the subject of the afterlife. At the two-year mark since the discovery, Thomas’s estranged and doubting son, Will (Jason Segel) returns home to his father who has since become reclusive. Will’s main goal is
to get his stubborn father to put an end to his research so the world can recover from the suicide rates. As Will is trying to convince his dad, he ends up falling for Isla (Rooney Mara), a survivor of a suicide attempt. The premise of “The Discovery” certainly makes for one of the more interesting ideas explored in film recently. Thankfully, the film’s script, for the most part, doesn’t shortchange its audience. The overall film is an inventive, and at times, even eerie picture of a world that is struggling to understand a world that is outside of their own.
That’s not to say, however, that the film’s script isn’t without some flaws that keep “The Discovery” from becoming great. For a film where the main theme is life and spirituality, there are times where characters can come off more hollow than natural. This rings especially true for the film’s forced love story which halts the movie's progress. The questions asked in the film are all fascinating ones and shows a lot of promise that the script falls short of living up to. This film is available on Netflix.
Courtesy Netflix
‘I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore’ 2017 | Unrated | 93 min. For her entire life, Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) has served as a doormat for everyone around her. Stuck in a nursing job she hates and bullied by everyone she comes into contact with, Ruth feels that she has lost all control of her life. Everything comes to a head though when she comes home one day to find that her house has been robbed. Some of the items that wind up missing include her laptop and family heirlooms. When Ruth tries to get assistance from the police, she quickly finds that they are of no help and that she has to take matters into her own hands.
Partnering up with her eccentric ninja weapon wielding neighbor, Tony (Elijah Wood), the two repeatedly find themselves in situations where the sense of danger heightens. However, fed up with the world and the people in it, Ruth is only determined to reclaim her property and her life. “I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore” is the directorial debut of actor Macon Blair, an actor who has frequented his career working with childhood friend Jeremy Saulnier. Their collaboration in unforgiving ultra-violent movies like “Green Room” and “Blue Ruin” has certain-
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ly rubbed off on Blair. Like his films with Saulnier, Blair has created a violent revenge story where the revenge is facilitated by characters who come across as incompetent. This is the basic formula that the film tries to follow and for the most part it works. The formula isn’t nearly as effective as it is in “Green Room,” but Blair still manages to create a clever and comedic film that never bores. It’s quirky and downright blunt presentation makes the film stand out enough to be worth a watch. This film is available on Netflix.
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Courtesy Netflix
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Clash Cup demonstration.
Floor-based basketball game.
Richard Pizza's Hungry Games
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Vendors were locate
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Collection of arcade cabinets.
Photos by Audra Reigle
ed throughout the library.
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Sports
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ODU Cheer Takes NCA Championship Photo by Megan Miranda
ODU Cheer posing with championship trophy. Photos by Carmen Harris
SPORTS RECAP Spring Football Weekend Festivities On April 15 the Monarch football team will host their annual spring game at 3 p.m. along with the 49th Annual Toyota Charity Bowl and fourth annual Big Blue 1K and 5K. The Big Blue 1K Kids run will be the first event of the day at 10 a.m. followed by the 5K at 10:30 a.m. Bobby Wilder will be the official race starter and runners will finish on the 50-yard line at Foreman Field. The Charity Bowl will begin at 1 p.m. and admission will be free. Bainbridge Wins C-USA Pitcher of the Week For the second straight week, a Monarch baseball player earned the C-USA weekly award. With a complete game shutout, senior Adam Bainbridge won C-USA pitcher of the week. It was the first complete game shutout by a Monarch pitcher since Ryan Yarbrough in 2013 and the first since ODU made the move to Conference USA. In his nine-scoreless innings Bainbridge allowed four hits, one walk and struck out a career high seven batters. Monarch Football Team Names 2017 Captains Head coach Bobby Wilder announced that Brandon Addison, Jonathan Duhart, Bunmi Rotimi and Oshane Ximines will serve as team captains for the upcoming season. “These guys have really represented our aim high philosophy, all four have been key players for us. Not only are they good leaders but productive players,” Wilder said. ESPN3 to Broadcast Two ODU Baseball Games The Monarchs upcoming Conference USA games against LA Tech on April 14 at 6 p.m. and against Marshall on April 30 at 1 p.m. will be shown on ESPN3. This will allow fans to stream the games on their computer and mobile devices via the ESPN app. They also have games on May 10 against VCU and May 12 against FIU that will be broadcast on the beIN Sports Network.
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Continued From Front “Coming off the floor knowing we just hit our routine at finals was one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. After we finished with the pyramid, the entire team started screaming with excitement. Some of us were even tearing up on the floor. When we ran off the floor to meet our coaches, we were all hugging and crying together out of relief and excitement. Hearing our coaches say how proud of us they were was truly an emotional moment, especially for me. Taking home the national championship trophy was the icing on the cake to mark the end of my cheerleading career,” senior captain Rachel Ayers said. In day two of competition, ODU Cheer surpassed eight other teams and scored a 93 sealing their first place finish. Other notable schools that competed in this division were The Ohio State University (second), Georgia Southern University (third),
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Michigan State University (fourth), and Texas A&M (fifth). ODU Cheer and Dance Squads will hold tryouts for the upcoming season later this spring. Contact ceharris@ odu.edu for more information. Congratulations to the 2016-17 Spirit Squad Cheerleading Team members on their magnificent accomplishments: Victoria Ashnault; Tashauna Augustine; Rachel Ayers; Jaimie Belch; Kenyatta Boddie; Cayla
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Boykins; Taylor Cross; Briana Davis; Meredith Fiskus; Kia Hill; Desa Horsford; Tabetha House; Kymeshia Jefferson; Melissa Kenny; Summer Lena; Sydney Martin; Madison McNicholas; Madison Permian; Ashley Porter; Cameron Prentiss; Morgan Rhodes; Diamond Rice; Briana Roberts; Courtney Rojas; Dari Sirles; Makhalia Taliaferro Bibbs; Jasmine Waller; Diona West and Markisha Woodley.
M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
Sports
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NCAA ENDS NORTH CAROLINA BOYCOTT Harry Howard Jr. Sports Editor North Carolina lawmakers repealed the state's House Bill 2 after receiving a deadline from the NCAA. The NCAA had already pulled championship events from the states this year and if not for the repeal, NCAA Championships would not have returned to North Carolina until 2022. "I'm glad they reconsidered," ODU women's basketball coach Karen Barefoot said. Pulled events included the ACC
Football Championship game and first and second-round games of the NCAA menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball tournament. An AP study found that the bill could have cost the state close to $4 billion over 12 years if events stayed away. "They minimally achieved a situation where we believe N.C.A.A. championships may be conducted in a nondiscriminatory environment," the NCAA said. The new bill repeals the year-old House Bill 2 which required that people at government-run facilities must use bathrooms and locker rooms that
correspond with the gender on their birth certificate. Under the new bill retains some of the old by leaving the bathroom regulation in control of the legislature. "For over a year now, House Bill 2 has been a dark cloud hanging over our great state. It has stained our reputation. It has discriminated against our people and it has caused great economic harm in many
of our communities," North Carolina Gov. Roy Copper said. Gov. Cooper came through with his campaign promise to repeal the law but it still may not be enough. "It's not a perfect deal and it is not my preferred solution." Gov. Cooper said. The new law is under scrutiny from LGBTQ groups because it still allows for discrimination against transgen-
"It's not a perfect deal and it is not my preferred solution."
der people. But it does eliminate rules about who can use which restrooms. LGBTQ groups have called the new bill "HB2.0" and factored in that the money the state lost from NCAA events influenced the appeal. "If we could have props in here, I would take a basketball covered in money and roll it down the middle aisle there, because that's what this is about, money and basketball," GOP Rep. Carl Ford said before voting on the repeal.
It pays to have COVA HealthAware! You can save up to 90% on your monthly premiums from the traditional PPO plan by selecting the COVA HealthAware Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) plan. Commonwealth of Virginia Employee Health Benefits Program Open Enrollment begins May 1st Visit www.covahealthaware.com/maceandcrown to see how COVA HealthAware can work for you!
Š 2017 Aetna Inc. Plans are offered by Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna).
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Technology
Do you run a business start-up on campus? Contact technology@maceandcrown.com
Just in Time for Registration
The Coursicle App
Courtesy Coursicle.com/odu
TECH IN A SEC Phony VPNs Capitalize on Privacy Repeal Riding on the heels of the president’s approval of the repeal of Obama-era FCC privacy rules, a number of false VPN services have begun to prey on American’s fear of their data being sold to the highest bidder. Nicholas Deleon, a Motherboard writer, was emailed by a pair of VPN services pretending to be affiliated with the streaming service Plex and a defunct company called Boxee. Before signing-up for any VPNs, research the company for validity and trustworthiness. Protecting Data at the Border Act Introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rand Paul (RKy.), the Protecting Data at the Border Act would require law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before searching the digital devices of Americans trying to re-enter the U.S. The legislation also states that Americans must be made aware of their rights before they agree to give up their passwords or hand over their devices to law enforcement. As it stands now, the practices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents thumbing through the personal data and devices of re-entering Americans presents a significant breach of personal privacy, a breach which reportedly spiked last year with nearly 25,000 cellphone searches. Amazon to Refund $70 Million of Children’s In-App Purchases When in-app purchases were made possible by Amazon and other app developers, it started a disturbing trend of children maxing-out their parents’ credit cards buying in-game items without permission. The FTC has clamped down on this predatory practice and Amazon has finally agreed to refund $70 million to affected parents, which a judge has ordered to come in the form of direct payments and not gift cards. “This case demonstrates what should be a bedrock principle for all companies-you must get a customers’ consent before you charge them,” Thomas B. Pahl, acting director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a press release.
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Ross Reelachart Technology Editor ODU may have access to a slick web interface for getting students registered for classes, but it’s not perfect and it certainly doesn’t keep students completely abreast of the availability of coveted seats in a class. Coursicle, a web-based online service with a mobile application component, is a way to have an edge in getting a precious seat in a popular class. I interviewed Coursicle co-founder Joe Puccio to learn about what his app could offer ODU students now that it has launched on our campus and also, what it’s like developing and managing your own app. Coursicle is an online service that “allows college students to easily browse classes and plan their class schedule,” with the ODU-specific class catalog being accessible at www. coursicle.com/odu/. While such class scheduling aids are not unknown to most students, Coursicle provides an extra bit of aid with its accompanying mobile application. Available on iOS and Android, the Coursicle app will immediately alert a student if a seat has opened up in a specified class via a push notification. So if a class is particularly quick to fill-up, a student can quickly pounce on the opportunity to get a seat once it becomes available.
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Plus, Coursicle offers a less tedious and visual way to search and plan classes that most schools don’t offer. First launched at UNC Chapel Hill in 2011, Coursicle was the result of Puccio only getting into one of the classes he needed during his first year at UNC. In response, he wrote himself a prototypical version of Coursicle that texted him whenever a seat opened up. A friend suggested he open this program up to other students. One partnership with cofounder Tara Aida and 1800 student users later, they decided that they needed to add a way to figure out a good class schedule to go along with a seat finder. Finally, when the volume of texts that their program was sending became so great that Verizon began blocking them, they moved to iOS and Android. From there it took off and saw usage across multiple campuses, and became the full-time job of both Puccio and Aida. From starting as a target solution to a niche problem to growing into the job of its makers, Coursicle can serve as an example for aspiring entrepreneurs and app developers at ODU. Puccio described the process of developing and managing Coursicle full-time. “[Our situation] is very exhausting and unique to [us] because our product is seasonal. It’s strange going between very busy
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times at the beginning of a semester and relaxed times after everyone has registered.” But despite their team of two handling everything, they liked it. The busy times let them gather usage data for improvements, and the down times let them prepare updates or work on small side projects. When asked if he had any advice for those looking to get into full-time app development, Puccio advised starting small. “Keep it as a side project for as long as possible, until you see a lot of traction. Only when you need to dedicate all your time to it should you develop full-time.” Puccio described how Coursicle was basically a weekend project at the beginning, and you shouldn’t immediately “jump into it full-time.” Puccio also offered advice on launching an app. “Find a small niche where [your app] might be useful, and focus on them.” He emphasized that “having ideas” isn’t enough if you can’t get your product in front of people, and then have those people use it. Coursicle can serve as both useful tool students, especially freshmen unfamiliar with course self-registration, and as an example for start-up app development and launch. Coursicle can be found on the web, iOS and Android. People interested in joining the Coursicle team can contact staff@ coursicle.com.
M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
Technology
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PixelFest Attracts Vendors, Hosts Game Jam
Photo by Audra Reigle
Daija Marrow Contributing Writer PixelFest, the rapidly growing, local video game convention held at Slover Library in Downtown Norfolk this weekend featured a family-friendly atmosphere welcoming guests to multiple floors of interactive workshops and games. It not only provided locals with fun activities to engage in over the weekend but was an opportunity for small businesses to show off their wares, as well as an event for local game developers to test their game design skills. For the first time, PixelFest invited vendors to sell merchandise on the library floors. As the word of PixelFest’s success last year spread through social media, the now annual event saw others invited in an attempt to
boost the festival’s popularity. There were companies ranging from locations as far as Durham, North Carolina to the neighboring city of Virginia Beach. If you were unable to attend, here are some of the businesses that displayed their merchandise to the excited visitors and gamers at PixelFest. A number of companies native to Richmond attended, one going by the name of Sweet-Fusion Bath Products. They specialized in delicious-looking bath bombs and keychains resembling treats such as cupcakes and brownies. Although they appear delicious, they are not edible. After practicing her craft for 14 years, Sarah, the artist, created her business two years ago. She learned about PixelFest a month ago and decided to set up shop. Her "confectionary toiletries" can make great gifts for others or yourself.
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From North Carolina, development company Solanimus, who participated in PixelFest last year, reemerged with great anticipation. “It was a good experience last year, great for exposure,” David, the founder of Solanimus said. “We just had to come back.” David and Daniel completed a rhythm video game called "Signal to Noise." The pace of the game follows the tempo of a chosen song, some of which come with the game or can be uploaded by the player. "Signal to Noise" is currently available on Steam for $4.99 and the developers welcome all to check it out. The idea originated during a game jam that occurred during the inaugural PixelFest convention last year. A game jam is when developers sit down for a period of time, three days
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being the usual cap, and create a game from the ground up. A fully playable demo, hopefully, should be the result at the end of time limit. Game jams can breed successful ideas out of the time pressure emulating the pressure of professional game development, which PixelFest hosted again this year. There was a competitive aspect to this game jam, allowing developers to create teams and compete for a cash prize. Given access to a room on the sixth floor of Slover Library Wednesday afternoon, teams began hatching plans and diving into lines of code. On Saturday, they displayed and pitched their game to judges, competitors and curious onlookers during the Dev Con, a portion of PixelFest that hosted professionals and guest speakers. Whether or not they
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won the competition, they left with a solid game idea, new connections and perhaps new friends following the experience. PixelFest is a gaming-centric event that brings fun and opportunities to the city of Norfolk. But the festivities aren’t limited to video games. It's growth the past year has now given small businesses the chance to gain exposure and connect with their community. Acquaintances are made through a common interest and laughs are shared over friendly competitions. If you didn’t get to attend this year, there is always next year! Take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the culture of Norfolk and support local businesses in the process.
M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
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Technology
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Student Startup Stories:
Greek Global
Ross Reelachart Technology Editor
From its initial launch in May 2016, Greek Global has grown in both usage and capability. As a free service, anyone can join Greek Global and make a profile with their interests and details. Individual chapters can then search through these profiles for prospective new members. As a paid service, however, Greek Global offers expanded features such as finance management, file storage, recruitment, event calendars, analytics and even instant messaging. All of these features are
protected by high-security measures. There is even a bundle package available for interfraternity councils that can provide the premium version to all associated chapters. Because of this structure, Greek Global is arranged by fraternity or sorority as opposed to college. When asked about how other students might start-up their own business endeavors, Howard and Henson were frank and truthful. “It all starts with an idea...Hold onto it, bring it to the Strome,” Henson said in regard to how a student might begin their start-up journey. He emphasized the
need to “build a realistic model” of your business before you get ahead of yourself and the importance of putting yourself out there in front of
people. “To be extraordinary, you have to be able to drop the ordinary,” Howard said frankly when it came to the work needed to build a business. “Maybe you’ll need to miss a party or pull an all-nighter.” Starting a business is a lot of effort, and Howard and Henson made it known that sometimes you’ll need to drop some things from your life to make room for the work. But both were living examples of the immense payoff that work can bring. Greek Global will be having a relaunch soon with a revamped website and a new app on iOS and Android, so
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fraternity management will be even simpler as well as mobile. From there, it will be “go time” for Greek Global as it will be able to be scaled larger for more members and with more features like full payment processing down the line. The Strome Entrepreneurial Center is also open to anyone looking for help and resources on getting their idea off the ground, with free food and presentations from business leaders every Tuesday.
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Technology
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Reminisce about your favorite games @Mace_CrownTech
Six Floors of Fun and Games at
PixelFest!
Photo by Audra Reigle
Audra Reigle Assistant Technology Editor Gamers and vendors united under one roof this weekend at the Slover Library in Norfolk. PixelFest 2017 was a free event going into its second year featuring game developers, a developer’s conference, music and game demonstrations. New to PixelFest this year were vendors. Found throughout the library, vendors set up and sold their wares. From T-shirts to buttons to jewelry, there were items for gamers and geeks alike. Some of the vendors included Micah Weltsch, emizart, Sweet-Fusion Bath Products,
Whimsical Wonderhaven and Cute N Spoiled. Video games weren’t the only type of game visitors to PixelFest could play. On the lower level of the Slover Library, tabletop games were set up for visitors to play. Trading card game (TCG) players also had a place to show their skills on the third floor. The third floor was also home to a demonstration of “Starship Horizons,” which can best be described as a starship bridge simulator. This game allows players to take one of five roles: captain, communications, flight, tactical or engineer. Players would work together to complete tasks using the unique abilities and responsibilities
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of their role before returning to home base. Also featured on the third floor were classes centered around teaching children and adults the basics of programming using Scratch, a free animation and storytelling program. Children’s activities were set up on the second floor. Children could play life-sized Pac-Man, or search for game characters that were hiding among the books. Activities themed around “Minecraft” were also found on the second floor. These activities included crafts, a play room with life-size Minecraft blocks and MinecraftEdu, an educational program that uses “Minecraft” to teach collaboration and problem-solving skills.
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Featured on the fourth floor were virtual reality headsets and classes demonstrating digital art and 3D printing for cosplay. Those interested could put on a virtual reality headset, take two controllers and soar through an environment to collect coins. Players took on the role of a bird, and all the player had to do was flap their arms as if they were trying to fly like a bird. If they crashed or ran into an object, they died and had to start again. Players who got a high score were able to enter their name and have it recorded. Only three VR headsets were set up, so players waiting for their turn could use tablets and phones to play other games like “Richard Pizza’s
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Hungry Games” and “Spirits of the Lost” designed by Intelligent Decision Systems, Inc. (IDSI). The fifth floor hosted the indie games. Developers brought games such as “Clash Cup,” “Peak” and “Signal to Noise” and allowed interested visitors to test games and ask questions about them. The first of its kind in Norfolk, PixelFest 2017 is a big event for gamers, even for those not interested in gaming. There was a lot to do on all six floors of Slover Library. It’s difficult to see and experience everything in one day, though. Even if you can go for only one day, it’s still a lot of fun!
M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
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Technology
Do you have 'Ocarina of Time' for N64? Our graphic designer wants it...
DevCon: Gamemaking 101
Concept to Creation seminar held by Epic Made Games. Photo by Brooke Nicholson
Brooke Nicholson Contributing Writer In its second year, PixelFest, Norfolk’s own gaming festival centered around the art of gaming and all its concepts, was held at the Slover Library from April 7-9. Fans and video gamers from around the area gathered to share their love and interest in everything gaming has to offer. Pixelfest offered amateurs and professionals alike some of gaming’s finest offerings. DevCon, a multitude of conferences hosted within PixelFest, let gamers and tech developers see how their favorite games are made, along with giving a bit of insight as to how they can begin making their own. Speakers from ODU, Epic Made, NATO, and many more let game developers, fans and tech developers peer a bit into the world of
how games are made, and what makes people come back for more. One conference, "Level Up: Going from Zero to Alpha," held by Anticia Macalou, gave a great overview and discussion about how to get your mobile game or app started on the basic level. She emphasized the importance of knowing where to start, sharing your idea with friends and family, building a good support system around your app and knowing exactly what you want to do with your mobile game or app. All of these concepts can give tech developers a great start to begin development. This gave game and tech developers an inside look into how someone who has developed their own app got started in the industry, managed their app and how it became successful. Her main advice was "think big but start small," and don’t expect your app to
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become as big as Snapchat unless you want it to be. Aside from the various professional conferences held at PixelFest,, some of the smaller classes from area-based game developers provided convention goers with ideas and information about where to start with story narrative, concept design and how to turn movies into possible video games. "Narrative in Games," a class held by William Hart, Ph.D., a professor at Norfolk State University, gave fans a few background notions and concepts developed over the years to help people create stories for video games and how a certain formula can help any game succeed or fail. Examples such as "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Die Hard," were shown to present the idea of how a story can be adapted from one type of media (books, movies) into another
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(games). He emphasized the idea of having all stories or narratives follow the concept of having a beginning, middle and end, or simply, Act I, II and III. This can really help create a smooth flow to the story and helps players follow along or play much better. Another class that revolved around these thoughts and ideas was held by two local tabletop startups from the company Epic Made, called Concept to Creation. Presenting some of their own designs and characters, they inspired students and tech developers about each aspect of what they were creating. The main part of the class talked about knowing exactly who your characters are, what their motives and goals were, how they looked and how every part of them had to mean something to the character. Drawings and early concept designs
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of their own work showed two main characters from two factions from their tabletop game, one being a huge tough brute while the other was a sly steampunk-styled assassin. Presenting fans with simple black and white drawings at first, colored drawings after and displaying the final product of the 3D design later gave everyone a good look as to how most video games or movies start out, and how they’ll end up looking. DevCon touched on plenty of basic subjects about everything within the modern entertainment industry. From building your story into being a movie/video game, knowing what people are looking for when using your app or how to take your characters from being a simple drawing to the final product, DevCon provided the knowledge for creators to be ready to market and sell.
M&C | WEDNESDAY | 4.12.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM
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PAW EVENT CALENDAR March 31 Monarch Madness Concert Ted Constant Center | 8:00pm
april 1 Monarch Madness Festival The Quad / SRC | 2:00pm 7 WODU Spring Concert The Quad | 6:00pm 7 Relay for Life SRC | 6:00pm 8 Throwback Movie: Juno Kaufman Mall / MGB 102 | 8:00pm 13 Rest, Relax & Recuperate North Café | 6:00pm 14 Dive Into the Deep SRC Pool | 7:00pm
14 ODU Adventures: A Paintballing Extravaganza Bus Trip Register on Monarch Link! | 2:00pm 15 The Beauty Behind the Print North Café | 6:00pm 21 SHAC Attack Kaufman Mall | 5:00pm 22 ODU Adventures: Great Wolf Lodge Bus Trip Register on Monarch Link! | 12:00pm 23 Petting Zoo Extravaganza The Quad | 2:00pm
PAW is presented by the Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services PAW is sponsored by National Society of Leadership and Success Student Activities Council, SHS Health Promotion, Monarch Wellness, Vietnamese Student Association, Recreation & Wellness, Housing & Residence Life, Resident Hall Association, Christian Leadership Club, Be[ YOU]tifully Natural, Sigma Lambda Upsilon, Senoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., Radical leaders for Christ, WODU Studios, Colleges Against Cancer, African Students Association, Student Health Advisory Committee, Pre-Veterinary Medical Association, and Leadership & Student Involvement For More Information: please visit http://www.odu.edu/life/gettinginvolved/programming/paw or call 683-3446
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