February 17th

WEDNESDAY | 2.17.2016| MACEANDCROWN.COM Vol. 59, Issue 5

WHAT’S

INSIDE

A Green Dot is a behavior, choice, word or attitude that promotes safety for everyone and communicates utter intolerance for bullying, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or child abuse.”

- Stacey Parks

MY BODY,

MY TRUTH A5

COURSEHERO CEO ANDREW GRAUER

D2

ANTIBEYONCE PROTEST PLANNED E1

ODU TO LAUNCH GREEN DOT STRATEGY TO REDUCE CAMPUS VIOLENCE STORY ON A4

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Face in the m ace

Hashtag #ODU to see your face in the m ace

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mace & Crown 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 High Hat, the paper became the Mace & Crown in 1961.The Mace & Crown is a primarily 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Amy Poulter Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@maceandcrown.com

Ross Reelachart Technology Editor technology@maceandcrown. com

Stef Wasko Copy Editor swask002@odu.edu

Matt O’Brien Sports Editor sports@maceandcrown. com

Jonah Grinkewitz News Editor news@maceandcrown. com

Sabrina Brooks Senior Graphic Designer sbroo029@odu.edu

Adam Flores Arts & Entertainment Editor artsandentertainment@ maceandcrown.com

Jason Kazi Social Media / Advertising Manager advertising@maceandcrown. com

Joshua Boone Photography Editor photo@maceandcrown. com

Jugal Patel Digital Editor jpate016@odu.edu

STAFF WRITERS Alex Brooks Shannon Jay Ben Maxie Zachary Moeller George Plank Elizabeth Proffitt Megan Snyder

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jonathan Harding Shamon Jones Naomi Luking Jomar Pablo Schyler Shafer

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NEWS

For even more campus crime information, visit Maceandcrown.com.

CRIME LOG

LOCAL NEWS

FEBRUARY 1ST

A hit and run incident was reported at this approximate location on February 1st between the hours of 4:48 p.m and 4:49 p.m.

HUMANITARIAN ALAN GROSS TO SPEAK AT PRESIDENT’S LECTURE SERIES Alan Gross, former Cuban hostage and humanitarian aid worker, will speak at the Constant Center on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Big Blue Room.

Gross spent more than 25 years doing humanitarian aid work before he was unjustly imprisoned by Fidel Castro’s Cuba. After spending five years in prison, he was eventually released on humanitarian grounds on Dec. 17, 2014.

FEBRUARY 6TH

An assault was reported at this approximate location on February 6th between the hours of 9:39 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. The case is closed.

FEBRUARY 8TH A hit and run incident was reported at this approximate location on February 8th between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The case remains active.

“THE HIP HOP AND OBAMA READER” KEYNOTE ADDRESS Two professors who examined the influence of hip-hop on politics during President Barack Obama’s tenure will deliver the keynote address during Black History Month at Old Dominion University. The event will take place on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Big Blue Room of ODU’s Ted Constant Center. This free event examines how Obama embraced hiphop in his campaign and the effect it has had since.

OUT OF THE BOX WITH PAUL SHUGRUE AT THE SANDLER CENTER The Sandler Center’s “Out of the Box” emerging artists series takes place every Wednesday from January 13-March 2, 2016 in the Miller Studio. This Wednesday, Feb. 17, will feature the band Gina Dalmas and the Cowtippin Playboys. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Live music starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

UBER NOW SERVING PASSENGERS AT THE NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The Norfolk Airport Authority and Uber have reached an agreement, which will allow the chauffeuring service to pick up and drop off passengers at the airport. The airport had previously contended that Uber would have to pay the same fees Lyft does, but this new agreement only includes a $2 fee for each pickup and drop-off. Uber services will begin immediately, the airport stated.

FEBRUARY 12TH A burglary was reported to have occurred on February 12th at 12:52 p.m. at this approximate location.

FEBRUARY 5TH A hit and run incident was reported at this approximate location on February 5th at 9:06 p.m. The suspect was cleared by arrest.

FEBRUARY 1ST

A burglary was reported to have occurred on February 1st at 8:00 a.m. at this approximate location.

Courtesy of Mace and Crown

Date/ Time Reported

Date/ Time Occurred

Location

Category

Incident Number

Disposition

02/08/2016

02/08/2016 12:25AM - 12:38AM

1000 Blk. W. 39th Street

Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle

2016-ODU-000157

Clear by Arrest 02/09/2016

02/08/2016

02/08/2016 12:25AM - 12:38AM

1000 Blk. W. 39th Street

False ID to Police

2016-ODU-000157

Clear by Arrest 02/09/2016

02/08/2016

02/08/2016 12:25AM - 12:38AM

1000 Blk. W. 39th Street

Disorderly Conduct

2016-ODU-000157

Clear by Arrest 02/09/2016

02/08/2016

02/08/2016 12:25AM - 12:38AM

1000 Blk. W. 39th Street

Resist Arrest

2016-ODU-000157

Clear by Arrest 02/09/2016

02/08/2016

02/03/2016 7:30PM- 02/06/2016 9:00AM

1000 Blk. W. 39th Street

Destruction of Property

2016-ODU-000158

Active 02/09/2016

02/08/2016

02/08/2016 7:03PM

4700 Blk. Elkhorn Ave. - France House

Narcotics Violation

2016-ODU-000162

Judicial referral 02/09/2016

02/08/2016

02/08/2016 10:10PM

4700 Blk. Powhatan Ave. - Student Recreation Center

Larceny

2016-ODU-000163

Active 02/09/2016

02/09/2016

02/08/2016 8:00AM - 2:00PM

4200 Blk. Powhatan Ave. - Lot 43

Hit and Run - Property Damage

2016-ODU-000165

Active 02/10/2016

02/09/2016

02/09/2016 3:52PM

4700 Blk. Elkhorn Ave. - France House

Narcotics Violation

2016-ODU-000167

Judicial referral 02/10/2016

02/10/2016

01/21/2016 9:00AM 02/09/2016 9:00AM

5200 Blk. Hampton Blvd. (Rollins Hall)

Fraud

2016-ODU-000168

Active 02/11/2016

02/10/2016

02/09/2016 7:00PM - 8:00PM

1300 Blk. 49th Street - Webb Center

Larceny

2016-ODU-000169

Active 02/11/2016

02/10/2016

02/10/2016 10:32PM - 10:50PM

1000 Blk. W. 41st Street - Village 10

Narcotics Violation

2016-ODU-000170

Judicial referral 02/11/2016

02/10/2016

02/10/2016 8:00PM - 10:50PM

4700 Blk. Powhatan Avenue Lot 49

Destruction of Property

2016-ODU-000172

Clear by Arrest 02/11/2016

02/10/2016

02/10/2016 9:40PM - 9:45PM

4800 Blk. Powhatan Avenue

Shoplift: Concealing or taking possession of merchandise; alter price tags

2016-ODU-000171

Active 02/11/2016

02/11/2016

02/08/2016 - 02/11/2016 08:30AM - 10:00AM

400 Nlk Killam Ave

Destruction of Property

2016-ODU-000174

Active 02/12/2016

02/11/2016

02/11/2016 09:27PM

1400 Blk W 49th St

Harassing Communication

2016-ODU-000181

Refused to prosecute 02/12/2016

02/12/2016

02/09/2016 01:32PM

4700 Blk Powhatan Ave

Harassing Communication

2016-ODU-000176

Refused to prosecute 02/12/2016

02/12/2016

02/11/2016 03:22PM

1700 Blk W 48th St

Larceny from a Building

2016-ODU-000178

Active 02/12/2016

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NEWS

Follow Green Dot on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.

ODU to Launch Green Dot Strategy to Reduce Campus Violence Jonah Grinkewitz News Editor This semester, ODU will launch Green Dot, a nationally acclaimed violence prevention strategy for colleges.

Originally developed at the University of Kentucky, Green Dot works to establish two cultural norms on campuses. First, power-based violence will not be tolerated.

Second, everyone has a role in maintaining a safe campus.

Student Body President Christopher Ndiritu first introduced the initiative to associate Dean of Students Don Stansberry, who employed Wendi White of the ODU

Women’s Center to implement the program on campus.

“I knew it would work,” White said. “It’s not just putting up posters, it’s about building relationships across the community and finding

effective bystander, and what barriers bystanders face,” Stacey Parks, an academic advisor, said about the training.

Parks also heads the Green Dot rollout on campus.

“A Green Dot is a behavior,

dents. There will be two, sixhour bystander training sessions this semester comprised of student leaders on campus who can impact the campus community.

“The research shows that after four years of implementing this strategy, according to the CDC, there can be up to a 50 percent reduction in violence on campuses, and that is our goal,” White said.

The Green Dot strategy has three objectives for bystanders. The first is direct intervention, such as speaking directly to a person you feel

... power-based violence will not be tolerated. out who the opinion leaders are and shifting the cultural and social norms.”

This past October, ODU staff members participated in four days of Green Dot training.

“They made us aware of issues that campuses face, and strategies of how to be a more

choice, word or attitude that promotes safety for everyone and communicates utter intolerance for bullying, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or child abuse,” Parks said.

Now that the faculty instructors have been trained, the next step is to train stu-

is in danger and trying to get them out of the situation. The second is distraction, such as committing a party foul or interrupting the momentum of an action before it happens.

The third is delegation–when you don’t feel comfortable taking action and find someone else to step in. This can be asking a friend, the host of the party or calling the police.

“I want to see less people get hurt, and finish their schooling and achieve their dreams, because we have some big problems to solve in this world right now, and we need all the human potential we can muster to address those problems,” White said.

5-7 p.m. Egg Drop by Theta Tau Participants will attempt to build a nest strong enough to protect a precious egg dropped from the top of the engineering building. The teams whose eggs successfully make it to the ground unharmed have a chance to win.

Photo from Webb Center Facebook

SWE at the Spring Organization Fair.

Engineers Rev Up for Geek Week 2016 Stef Wasko Copy Editor ODU’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) will spearhead the third annual Council of Engineering Student Organizations’ (CESO) Geek Week packed with engineering games, scholastic competitions and networking events throughout the week of Feb. 20-27. This year, several other CESO organizations will participate in hosting their own Geek Week event.

“Uniting these student organizations in this week-long event will not only unify the student organizations, but also develop interdisciplinary skills as they compete with and against students from other STEM

majors,” Maryam Amer, president of SWE, stated.

Amer gave Mace and Crown the lineup for Geek Week 2016:

and student engineering clubs and societies will be present. Students will also have their projects, such as the Mini Baja Buggy and Scale Formula One Racer, on display for the event.

| TUESDAY, FEB 23 | 12-1 p.m. Robotics Competition by VEX Robotics Team The VEX Robots recently returned from competition. Come play on their robotics practice course.

7-9 p.m. Family Feud by American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) & National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) It’s a night of engineering Family Feud, where you’ll laugh the night away with questions about your favorite engineering professors, classes and organizations. The event will be hosted by our very own Steve Harvey impersonator.

| SATURDAY, FEB. 20 | SWE at the Spring organization fair at ODU. Photo from Webb Center Facebook page 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Open House by Batten College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Meeting at the Kaufman Atrium, ODU will welcome high schoolers to the campus to introduce them to the field of engineering. Engineering lab tours will provide the opportunity for attendees to witness demonstrations of exciting research in the college.

Representatives from professional

| MONDAY, FEB. 22 | 2015 Geek Week Photo from Old Dominion University Society of Women Engineers Facebook 12-1 p.m. Giant Jenga by Environmental Engineering Society of American (EESA) & Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Don’t hit the 2×4’s too hard or your tower may come tumbling down!

Come out to the three-game giant jenga tournament for a chance to beat the reigning champion.

| WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 | 12-1 p.m. Battle of the Sexes Races

by Society of Automotive Engineers – Baja Team You have the chance to drive the Baja team’s newest model on a practice course built for precision and speed. The battle of the sexes is on. cherub norva 12-1 p.m. Washer Stacking Competition/Corn hole Competition by Society of Automotive Engineers – Formula Team

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“We don’t need people getting sidelined by sexual and personal violence.”

“The focus is shifting the culture on this campus,” White added. “But after college, students go out into the world. So by starting here we will end up creating a shift eventually everywhere.”

The official unveiling of Green Dot ODU will be on March 29 at the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event sponsored by the Women’s Center.

Students can search Green Dot ODU on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more information on bystander intervention and Green Dot events at ODU.

| THURSDAY, FEB. 25 | 12-1 p.m. Build a Bridge Workshop

by American Society of Civil Engineers & Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Test your ability to build the strongest, longest and most intense KNX Bridge. Bring your biggest textbook and test your loads.

Boat Race- evening by Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers Competitors will build a boat using only aluminum foil, scotch tape and straws, and then race them in the civil’s hydraulics lab. | FRIDAY, FEB. 26 | 7-9 p.m. Engineering Gala by Society of Women Engineers The formal, which will take place on the Spirit of Norfolk, will serve for open discussion between students and professionals, promotional exposure to recruiting companies and opportunity for networking. Limited tickets are available for a student price of $25. Last ticket sale will take place on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Kaufmann Atrium. | SATURDAY, FEB. 27 | Monarchs Hack the Campus- 38 hours by Association of Computational Machinery Details still to come.

The week will be the biggest Geek Week yet, and Amer and SWE hope anyone interested in engineering at ODU will come out for the events.

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NEWS

For a full listing of Black History Month events, visit bit.ly/1ThxFRI. felt and his decisions, which made it hard for him to discover where he belonged.

Kicked out of his home multiple times by his mother, Coleman found himself living on the streets and crashing with various girlfriends at times. He discussed how he went through a period where he thought he was lesbian, because that’s what those around him expected from him when he began to transition.

“I was always attracted to men,”

about such a unique experience,” ODU senior Sarah Mann said. “You always hear about stereotypical homosexual males who transition and I thought this was a really unique perspective.”

During Coleman’s speech, he explained FTM– female-to-male transgender individual–and how this specific community of transgender individuals do not get as much support or attention as those transitioning from male to female. He also

“I was basically running away from myself...”

Kayden Coleman in the Hampton/Newport News Room on Feb. 10.

Photo by Joshua Boone

My Body, My Truth: The Journey of a Once Pregnant Transgender Man Erin Sudek Contributing Writer

Kayden X. Coleman came to ODU on Tuesday, Feb. 10 to tell his story of his transitioning, being a transgender man and his pregnancy while bringing more awareness about the LGBT community. An overwhelming crowd attended the dinner and speech, which illustrated the campus’s level of support for Coleman’s story and the LGBT community on campus.

Coleman is 29 years old and lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his husband, Elijah Coleman, and

their 2-year-old daughter, Azaelia.

Coleman is the founder of a bodypositive movement called “Loving My Transgender Body,” which provides mentors and support for those in any stage of transitioning.

“You can do whatever you want with your body and that is okay,” Coleman said in discussing the message of the movement.

Coleman also helps transgender individuals with interview and resumé tips, workshops and other resources to help find jobs at Equality PA, an organization that deals with the legal

More than 100 people attended Coleman’s talk on Feb. 10.

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side of LGBT rights and equality. His YouTube channel, TheShadyColemans, also promotes body positivity, LGBT awareness and shares Coleman’s life in a more personal way.

Coleman told the audience about his rocky transition and the different phases of his life that brought him to where he was ultimately happy. His family was extremely Christian, reserved and unsupportive of his personal decisions. As a result, Coleman found himself isolated and confused as a child. As he grew up, he said he was often discouraged about how he

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Coleman said, “but I always thought I had to like women because I wanted to be a man.”

His struggle with identification and judgment from others left him with severe depression, denial and a serious drinking problem.

“I was basically running away from myself,” Coleman said.

After years of searching for what worked and fully accepting himself without outside approval, Coleman found happiness.

He received major media attention for his pregnancy. Coleman found out he was pregnant in Sept. 2013, and gave birth on Jan. 9, 2014. In 2013, Coleman had top surgery requiring him to stop taking testosterone for six weeks, which allowed him to be impregnated. He shared how he was very open about his pregnancy, but many people didn’t take him seriously or didn’t understand.

When Coleman was giving birth, he described the feeling of being a “science project” to the doctors and nurses. He said “there was a constant train of being misgendered and disrespected.” His requests for a C-section were ignored time after time. Coleman suffered from PTSD and anxiety for many months after he gave birth because of his experience at the hospital.

“It was really interesting hearing

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explained gender dysphoria, or identifying with the sex opposite to the one biologically born, and how people cope in different ways. For example, one individual may be satisfied with only changing their name, clothing and look, but to another, this may not be enough, and they will have medical intervention to make them feel best.

“I work in student affairs and higher education, and this really opened my eyes to different issues and hot button topics that are happening in the world of student affairs,” ODU grad student Christina Clark said.

“We’re really becoming a field that is more inclusive and this was just another avenue for us to be educated and learn more about student issues.”

The office of counseling services has presented a new group, a LGBTQ+ counseling group, which is held in room 1526 in the Webb Center on Thursdays from 3-4:30 p.m.

There are private and confidential group counseling sessions where the LGBTQ+ community can share experiences, connect, learn and gain support. ODU has also introduced a new LGBT+ mentoring program anyone can apply for, whether you want to be a mentor or mentee. To apply, contact the office of intercultural relations.

Photo by Joshua Boone.

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Arts &

Visit maceandcrown.com for concert coverage.

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

BITS OF A&E NEW HARRY POTTER BOOK REVEALED

According to author J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” picks up the story of Harry, Ron and Hermione. The new book tells of Harry’s youngest son, Albus, who struggles with keeping the family legacy he doesn’t want. Rowling’s new book is also the script of a play by the same name, opening this summer in London.

VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS

AMPHITHEATER

ANNOUNCES CONCERT LINEUP

ODU’S DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC PERFORMANCES The ODU brass choir, directed by Mike Hall, will perform in Chandler Recital Hall in the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The program will consist of works written specifically for brass as well as arrangements of choral, orchestral, jazz, pop and show music.

The ODU wind ensemble will be performing literature from the standard band repertoire on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. in the Atrium of the Diehn Center. Conducted by Dennis Zeisler, the ensemble will also perform music of emerging composers written for modern wind band.

By Sarah Zucca [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The ODU concert choir, directed by Nancy Klein, will perform as part of “Symphonicity: Rule Britannia” on Sunday, Feb. 21, 3 p.m., at the Sandler Center, 201 Market St. in Virginia Beach. Tickets range from $21-$42 and are available through YNotTix. com or by calling (757) 385-ARTS. The ODU jazz orchestra, directed

by Doug Owens, will be performing on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Chandler Recital Hall in the Diehn Center. The program will feature music honoring traditions of jazz while introducing new arrangements and original compositions.

By Moses (Dave Matthews 3) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS EDWARD BURTYNSKY: ‘WATER’

Internationally acclaimed photographer Edward Burtynsky’s exhibition, “Water,” focuses on six themes. The display of 58 large, high-definition photographs took five years and visits to nine countries to complete. His exhibition, organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art, opened on Feb. 12 at the Chrysler Museum of Art and runs through May 15. Admission is free.

Jason Kazi Staff Writer The Veteran United Home Loans Amphitheater (formerly Farm Bureau Live), managed by Live Nation, has recently announced their near-full lineup of artists and bands coming to the venue this summer and fall.

A new, four-year sponsorship deal started on January 12. Speaking about the deal, Aaron Giarrana, branch manager of the local Hampton Roads office stated, “Veterans United Home Loans of Hampton Roads is honored to sponsor this great local venue. Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater is a place where the surrounding community, including a substantial number of veterans, come to be entertained. We’re excited to be a part of that experience.”

On April 16, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will perform as part of Buffett’s “Workin’ n’ Playin’” tour for 2016.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band to Virginia Beach this summer for the opening concert of our season,” Tabatha Webster, the general manager of Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, said.

“Jimmy Buffett always delivers the best outdoor party of the summer and we look forward to the festive atmosphere he brings. Don’t miss out!”

Tickets start at $36.00 and are now on sale online and at the box office. The tour is sponsored by Landshark Lager and Margaritaville Tequila.

On June 17, Dave Matthews Band’s 25th anniversary tour will stop in Hampton Roads.

“Dave Matthews Band delivered another terrific summertime gem at Blossom…It’s physiologically impossible not to have a great time at these shows,” the Cleveland Scene said in a 2015 live review.

Tickets start at $32.50 and are now on sale online and at the box office. The tour is sponsored by Citi, DirecTV and Pepsi.

On June 22, Weezer and Panic!

At the Disco co-headliners will also perform at the amphitheater. The tour will feature songs from Weezer’s most recent eponymous album and Panic! At the Disco’s “Death of a Bachelor.” The show will feature Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness as a special guest.

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Michael W. Pendergrass (Cropped from Image:Jimmy Buffett 1 uncropped.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tickets start at $18 and are now on sale online and at the box office.

On August 10, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas’ “Future Now” tour will come by Hampton Roads.

About the collaboration, Jonas explained, “We’ve kind of come to a place in our careers individually where, I feel like, where we hit that zone where we said, ‘Why don’t we team up together? We’re business partners on the label-side of things,’” Jonas said about the collaboration. “[Let’s] team up and get out on the road together and make this thing bigger and better– to kind of combine forces.”

Tickets start at $22.95 and are now on sale online and at the box office.

Throughout the summer, a number of country artists will perform as part of the 2016 Mattress Warehouse Country megaticket. Performances include: Miranda Lambert on May 20, Luke Bryan on June 9, Kenny Chesney on June 23, Toby Keith on July 8, Florida Georgia Line on July 15, Dierks Bentley on July 24, Rascal Flatts on August 14, Keith Urban on August 20, Darius Rucker on September 9, Jason Aldean on September 16 and Brad Paisley on September 22.

Megatickets, which start at $269.00, give access to all eleven concerts and will only be available online at megatickets.com.

Other officially-announced concerts at the amphitheater include the “Outcry” tour featuring Hillsong Worship, Kari Jobe, Martin Smith, Jesus Culture and Brian Houston on April 24, Journey & The Doobie Brothers on July 1, Dixie Chicks “DCX World Tour MMXVI” and Heart with both Joan Jett and Cheap Trick on Sep. 13.

The amphitheater is also holding a job fair on March 12 from 9 a.m.1:30 p.m. at Landstown Middle School in Virginia Beach. They are hiring for seasonal and part-time positions including crowd control, ushers, ticket takers, guest services, housekeeping, merchandise, parking attendants, production personnel and more.

Tickets for all shows are available on livenation.com or at the box office. The Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater is located at 3550 Cellar Door Way in Virginia Beach and has an audience capacity of 20,000.

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Arts &

Stream these albums on our website.

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

MONARCH MUSIC MINUTE Hell YES!

I’ll Listen to it Twice, Even.

ADAM FLORES, A&E EDITOR

We’re Getting There...

Eh...

Face Palm.

Lissie

‘My Wild West’

Lissie – “My Wild West”

Elisabeth Corrin Maurus, known as Lissie, delivers her third studio album, “My Wild West,” released on Feb. 12. Her debut EP, “Why You Runnin’,” in 2009, saw the sultry folk singer-songwriter recognized

by Paste Magazine as the No. 1 best new solo artist of 2010.

Born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois, Lissie’s Midwestern aesthetic saw her interested in music singing from a very early age. After getting expelled from high school over what she described as “something stupid I did,” she received her diploma from an alternative outreach center.

She went on to Colorado State University for two years and during that time, honed her musical skills opening for musicians who visited the city.

Lissie’s earthy alto voice lends itself to many emotional themes on “My Wild West.” Her mature pop-rock grace is a culmination of her country, folk and rock influences. As she shows a mastery of control in her musical delivery, songs such as “Together or Apart,” “Stay” and “Sun Keeps Risin’” demonstrate her simple to soaring approach in her power-ballad arrangements.

“Hollywood,” the album’s second

track is Lissie’s ode of her broken heart. As she continues on the rest of the record, tracks like “Shroud” showoff her folk-rock foundation accompanying her yearning voice that can draw you in, yet fill a room effortlessly.

“My Wild West” is a bildungsroman, coming-of-age introspection of the disillusionment in her California dreams and the loss of innocence. Her 12-track offering reflects on her life and emotions with the delicate balance of a gentle ripple on the water to a tumultuous thunder.

Datin

‘The Roar’ Christian hip-hop rapper Datin dropped his debut release, “The Roar,” Feb. 12 on Bizzle’s God Over Money record label. As R.O.A.R. stands as the acronym for The Rise of a Revolution, the record enlists help featuring Sean C. Johnson, Dre Murray, Beleaf, Bizzle, Sevin and others, with production from Tee-Wyla, Courtney Orlando and Wit among others.

In a world influenced by money and power, Datin’s faith and past affiliation with Eminem’s Shady Records saw him turn down offers from Ja Rule and Swizz Beatz. Datin deeply struggled in saying “no” with every

bit of his being to every offer that would sacrifice his Christian message through his music.

“It took every bit of my being,” Datin said. “My whole life was based around my music, my hopes and my dreams. To say no was like chopping off my arm.”

After seeing Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” back in 2004, Datin came to faith. At the time, his rap career still took priority over his newfound faith.

Datin continued to work hard rapping in the underground attracting attention, battling and defeating heavyweights Swave Sevah and Iron

Solomon. Upon signing with God Over Money, Bizzle stated, “Lyrically [Datin] can compete with anybody, Christian or secular.”

“The Roar” sees Datin mixing different universal themes and the battle of good over evil. He preaches in a highly syncopated rhythm leaving little doubt of his fight to get his message across. With songs “Hallelujah All Day,” the album’s title track, and a controversial album cover, Datin demonstrates his confidence preaching God’s message within the world of hip-hop.

Datin – “The Roar”

STATIK KXNG ‘STATIK KXNG’

STATIK KXNG – “STATIK KXNG”

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“STATIK KXNG” is the collaborative effort featuring Slaughterhouse emcee KXNG Crooked and prolific producer/DJ Statik Selektah released on Feb. 12. With a brief guest verse by Statik’s fellow New Englander, Termanology, on the track “Lets Go,” Statik and Crooked control the rest of the record showcasing their oldschool new-school spin on hip-hop.

Their exposition “I Hear Voices” opens with the magnetic phase of a classic cassette tape that quickly evolves into their brand of hip-hop, a culmination of East and West Coast styles. Their real-world message, por-

trays throughout the record with a taste of classic and new musical elements. Samples, beats, and production shine throughout the album.

While retaining the basic energy and release of the hip-hop genre, STATIK KXNG presents a surprising complex element within their first single “Dead or in Jail.” With a light mix of soul and R&B, a light, energetic beat and sparse Fender Rhodes piano riffs and fills, the track offers a fresh and new direction revisiting a smooth and sensual Soul Train groove of the ‘70s.

Hints of this unique sound can be

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found throughout the album. Occasional background vocals offer laidback accents to syncopated hip-hop rhythms, hard-edged rap lines and themes ranging from the church to the street. The random record static that adds the old-school ambience to many tracks keeps the old and new school convergence such as the track, “Good Gone Bad.” “STATIK KXNG” is a fresh take that offers a multidimensional musical approach and offers new sonic directions while offering truth and reason lyrically. This project, announced over a year ago, was worth the wait.

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VEER Music Awards Recognizes Local Music and Industry Shannon Jay Staff Writer The Naro Expanded Cinema was packed to the gills for the 5th annual VEER Local Music Awards on Feb. 10. The yearly award ceremony honors the best in local music and industry, with winners decided by a 50/50 split. Half the ballot is based on votes cast online, while the rest is decided by an array of judges that participate on the local scene.

with Best Music Video winner Skye Zentz on ukulele with Best Gospel nominees The Chosen Few’s warm and deep harmonies backing her up.

Nate Sacks and Jacob Fallard of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra played a lovely acoustic tribute to David Bowie with a cover of “Life on Mars?”

National Blues Competition finalist and Best Blues winner Bobby “Blackcat” Walters had the crowd singing along by the end of “HRBT Blues.”

The Lonely Teardrops brought

...stripped down to showcase their raw talent.

Under the theme “Acoustic and Unplugged,” all live acts were stripped down to showcase their raw talent.

The night of performances started off

their taste of Norfolk punk rock. The final performance of the evening was given by the legendary Snuff who was honored that evening with the Veer

Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Thank you so much for being apart of our lives and letting us be apart of yours,” the band said as they accepted their award.

Snuff, who has been active since 1971, was not the only band who had been deep in the Hampton Roads music scene for several decades. Best Metal winners Funhouse have been together for over 30 years and called for the audience to continue to “throw your horns up” at local shows.

Industry Award winner Brenda Barkley has been booking shows in the area since she was 17-years-old.

50 years later, she claimed, “Success is not worrying about getting credit for something, it’s about getting it done.”

All winners are set to play a Towne Point Park event in 2017.

VEER MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS:

Best Venue: Charlie’s American Cafe Best Media Program: Out of the Box, WHRV-FM with Paul Shugrue Best Hip-Hop: D.R.A.M. Emerging Artists: Who We Are Not Best Americana: Big Virginia Sky Best Indie Pop: The Dahus Best R&B: Myra Smith For a complete list, check out VEER Magazine online.

ODU Gets Some Philly Style with Rapper PnB Rock Terrod Dillard Contributing Writer The dream-come-true for aspiring rappers nationwide, PnB Rock is one of the youngest emerging rappers in the music industry. Recently signed with Atlantic Records at the age of 23, he has hit the scene with several singles and collaborations and has been described as a combination of Drake and Fetty Wap. The freshman rapper made a stop on the campus of Old Dominion

For our readers who haven’t heard of you before, how would you describe your style of music?

PnB Rock: “I had this guy ask me the other day how I would describe my music in two words. I told him trap and love. I like talking to the ladies and keeping it street at the same time.”

Thinking back to your childhood, what made you want to get into the music industry?

“Philly is a hardcore city known for its violence and its bad stuff.”

University on Feb. 8 as part of his radio promotional tour. We had the chance to sit down and talk, to understand where he has come from and where he plans to go.

PnB Rock is a unique name and it has been said it reflects your style of music. What is the true meaning behind your name?

PnB Rock: “PnB pretty much– it just came about from my Instagram name. It comes from the intersection of Pastorius and Baynton of my neighborhood where I grew up at. Everybody puts it in their name so my entire group has PnB in their name.”

What got your foot into the door as well?

PnB Rock: “I honestly never knew what I was going to do. When I was 19, I got into some trouble and started to become more attuned with myself. That was when I realized that I could write music. I got famous through my videos on Instagram because people really liked my sounds and the things that I have recorded.”

I hear that the music scene of Philly is vibrant and diverse.

Was that influential at all in pursuing your career?

PnB Rock: “Well, yeah it was.

Philly is a hardcore city known for

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its violence and its bad stuff. But that is where I get my street stuff from as I know a lot about the struggle, the police brutality and just things of that nature. A lot of stuff goes on in Philly, which I reflect in my music.”

Your latest mixtape, “RnB 3,” has been described as ranging from “gritty street rap to melodic pop jams.” Would you say it’s accurate?

PnB Rock: “Yeah, I think it’s great people think that even if they are two different things. I feel that I can give others a lot of different stuff. I can talk to the ladies. I can talk to the street people. I can talk to the kids. I’ve been through a lot of street situations and I’ve been in love like a regular person.”

Did anyone or did something in particular influence you?

PnB Rock: “I’ve had a lot of things influence me. I have a daughter who is two and being around her everyday helps me make songs. My friends and family in particular have influenced me. Musically, a lot of people influence me such as Tupac and Baggie including other rappers from that era. Drake and Future are two as well.”

Often songwriters have meaning in their songs. Are there any messages of themes you want to get across in your music?

PnB Rock: “Pretty much depends how I feel at the time and what the beat says to me. If the beat

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has an up-tempo or good vibe, then I will base myself off that. If it is sad, then I will take a story about something that is sad. Essentially, I just go off on the beat.”

Even though your career is just starting, have there been any defining moments so far?

PnB Rock: “I can’t say anything has stuck out to me yet. Things have just been moving really fast for me.

I’ve just been meeting and working with a lot of people. It is just moving fast.”

You’re only in your early 20s and already emerging on the scene. How does it finally feel to be getting your breakthrough, and what can fans expect from you in the future?

going hard and I’m going to break the barrier by putting Philly back on the map and to bring it a better light.”

What’s the motto or advice you live by?

PnB Rock: “I’ll just say, be real.

Try to be as real as possible and stay true to yourself.”

It can go without saying that the city of Philadelphia has a lot to be proud of from this young artist who is beginning to make a name for himself and putting the city back on the map. From hardcore urban music describing the trials and tribulations of the streets, to pregame music, to starting a wild night out, to romantic songs you play when alone with your significant other,

“For my fans, expect to see a lot of me.”

PnB Rock: “It feels really good, man. I’m really starting to branch out to other places. Philly, Delaware, Jersey are places I have pretty much locked down. Now I’m going to places like Los Angeles and New York City. People are starting to notice me more and want to take pictures. It feels great seeing fan reactions when they see you and get the chance to meet you. For my fans, expect to see a lot of me. 2016, I’m

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PnB Rock’s music can match any occasion.

With high expectations and an ambitious drive directing the beat of his heart, we can expect the artist to hit 2016 with an unprecedented start. His latest mixtape, “RnB 3,” is currently available for download.

Stay tuned to this artist as he begins to make his mark in the rap industry.

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Chuck Ragan: Changing the Sound of Soundtracks Lindsey Lanham Contributing Writer

Chuck Ragan – “The Flame and the Flood” Soundtrack

the soundtrack. The entire album is a collection of music that consisted of a bunch of friends who sat down and wrote together. The atmosphere the album creates is one that sets up camp in the middle of nowhere, with the stars shining overhead.

The album takes one through an adventure of camping along the river and a story of self-discovery.

The songs are about survival and, though it is a soundtrack, the album is a well-organized collection of folkrock songs, each one of them showing just how much Ragan enjoys writing music.

It’s a traditional Ragan classic and should not be downsized purely because it is dubbed as a soundtrack.

The song “The Flame in the Flood” shows that Ragan sticks true to his musical roots. He doesn’t stray too far from what he knows best. He keeps the basic sense of folk with a rock undertone.

The title track then leads into

Singer-songwriter Chuck Ragan released music for his debut soundtrack recording, “The Flame in the Flood,” on Feb. 4. The soundtrack was written for the wilderness survival video game, “The Flame in the Flood,” which is set in post-apocalyptic America.

At first glance, the Chuck Ragan/ wasteland America collaboration doesn’t sound like the best mashup, but something about Ragan’s soulful croon makes the duo a perfect match.

The game takes the player through a river in America where one would forge for food, create remedies and do their best to survive. Chuck Ragan has caught the essence of the game with an earthy, folky tone. He has claimed that a lot of the music was actually written outside, camping by the river.

Ragan recruited his friends, The Camaraderie, and others to help write

Video Game – “The Flame in the Flood”

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“Gathering Wood,” which keeps a simple, upbeat tempo. The strong lead vocals backed by the easy going strumming of the guitar and the occasional help from the fiddle is featured in “Spanish Moss.” The entire album is artfully constructed, one song following the other in a careful fashion.

There’s a sort of antique feeling in Ragan’s music, a feeling that takes the listener back to a time when music didn’t need flashy lights and unorganized bridges to impress their audience. He makes the album personal, ensuring each song has his signature touch.

The songs all have their own base familiarity and the true Ragan sound, but are all individual songs in their own right. They’re all distinct without straying to far from the original sound. The pure sound of a guitar with lyrics that are meant to encourage, not diminish, is impressive enough on its own. Ragan doesn’t need anything else.

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Watch the trailers online at maceandcrown.com.

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MONARCH MOVIE MINUTE Mind Blown

A Must See

Add to my Queue

MEGAN SNYDER

Well, there goes 2 hours of my life

Straight to DVD

‘Tangerine’

2015 | R | 88 min.

After a 28-day stint in jail, transgender sex worker Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) is back on the streets of Hollywood. It’s Christmas Eve, and she and her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor), also a transgender sex worker, catch up over a donut in the opening scene of “Tangerine.”

When Alexandra accidentally reveals that Sin-Dee’s boyfriend and pimp, Chester, has been cheating on her, the girls’ holiday meal abruptly ends and Sin-Dee’s wild manhunt begins. Like any loyal friend, Alexandra reluctantly joins Sin-Dee on her mission for retribution.

Audiences may be stunned to learn

that due to budget constraints, “Tangerine” was filmed entirely on three iPhone 5S’s. Director Sean Baker uses this technique to his advantage by artfully capturing the erratic movements of the characters, but also creating several of the film’s most tender moments.

In the scene where Sin-Dee delicately applies makeup to Chester’s mistress after violently dragging her into a bar bathroom by her hair, Baker uses the camera’s instability to simulate the exhausted, meth-induced swaying of the characters.

Stillness, however, is also expertly utilized in one of the film’s final and

most poignant scenes. Waiting for her urine-drenched clothes and wig to dry, Sin-Dee sits in an empty laundromat, half-naked and defeated. The rhythmic whir of the dryer is interrupted by Alexandra entering, removing her wig and offering it to her friend.

“Tangerine” gets its name from the distinctly orange filter that permeates the film. Baker was inspired by the vividly colored cityscape in which the movie was filmed, along with the diversity of the cast.

This film is available on Netflix.

Courtesy of EMA Films. Image reflected on vertical axis.

‘Harbinger Down’ 2015 |R | 82 min.

Courtesy of Tarnol Group Pictures

Like any self-respecting sci-fi flick, “Harbinger Down” begins in space. A single-passenger Soviet vessel hurtles into Earth’s atmosphere, nearly incinerating, piercing a mass of clouds. In a flash, the pod vanishes somewhere in the Arctic Circle.

Decades later, Sadie, a graduate student, brings her research partners aboard the crabbing ship Harbinger.

The team hopes to study the migratory patterns of beluga whales and the effects of climate change in the Arctic.

Captain Graff (Lance Henriksen) is Sadie’s doting grandfather. When she discovers a mysterious blinking light encapsulated in a chunk of ice

floating in the water, Captain Graff brings it aboard.

As the ice chunk melts, it is revealed that the source of the light is the long-lost Soviet vessel. A Russian crewmember translates the markings on a test tube: “water bear.”

The water bear, or tardigrade, is a microscopic organism that can survive the radiation and freezing temperatures of space, but apparently not without mutating. Upon thawing, the slimy critter devours unsuspecting crewmembers, adapting along the way.

A rip off of 1982’s “The Thing,” “Harbinger” offers nothing innova-

tive. Many of the characters are cliché placeholders, and the special effects are trite at best.

Audiences may be disappointed to learn that they never get a good look at the tardigrade, which lacks consistency in form. This incongruity may be explained by the tardigrade’s fastevolving DNA, as it adopts the genes of its victims. Still, this thriller fails to excite.

Furthermore, the use of found footage serves no purpose and is abandoned relatively early on in the film, leaving audiences even more confused.

This film is available on Netflix.

‘Little Boy'

2015 | PG-13 | 106 min.

“Little Boy” Pepper (Jakob Salvati) has always been small for his age, hence the cruel names the other school children call him. But his relationship with his father (Michael Rapaport) is so close that nothing can dampen Pepper’s spirit. That is, until his father is drafted into World War II. Desperate to bring his best friend home, Pepper becomes enthralled by a famous magician, who can move inanimate objects with his uncanny powers. Father Oliver teaches the boy faith, not magic, is the most influential force in the world.

Convinced that he can end the war

through his faith alone, eight-year-old Pepper does everything Father Oliver tells him to do, often literally and innocently. When Father Oliver warns the boy his faith will be useless if he continues to hate his Japanese neighbor, Pepper is conflicted.

Reluctantly, Pepper befriends Mr. Hashimoto, who in turn teaches the boy how to stand up to his bullies.

Pepper also learns to reconsider his perception of the Japanese people and his enemies in general.

“Little Boy” has the sincerest of intentions and even delights audiences on the surface. Salvati brings undeni-

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able charm to the screen, and former Disney Channel actor David Henrie, who plays Pepper’s brother, claims that working on the film renewed his own faith in God. With all of that said, however, “Little Boy” is unoriginal and at times incredibly offensive. The film whitewashes U.S.-Japan relations during World War II, severely undermining the effects of the bombing of Hiroshima, the code name for which was “Little Boy.” This film is available on Netflix.

Courtesy of Netflix , Accelerated Matter and RLJ Entertainment

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Watch the Oscars on February 28 at 8 p.m. on ABC.

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Three Things You Don’t Know

About Netflix’s ‘Making a Murderer’ Megan Snyder Staff Writer One of Netflix’s most recent and successful original programs is the jaw-dropping docu-series “Making a Murderer.” While there are impressive theories circulating the Internet regarding the truth of Stephen Avery’s innocence, audiences seem to agree that the answer is still a mystery.

Here are three things you may not know about this captivating “whodunit” saga (SPOILER ALERT):

1.

There may not be a second season.

Fans of the addictive, true, crime series wonder if the Avery story will continue. Is there more to be said of his cases? What about his nephew?

Could a second season possibly explore the making of an entirely different “murderer?”

According to Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, nothing

has been decided yet. Creators Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi are not actively preparing for any future episodes either, though they have spoken to Avery several times since the series debuted on Dec. 18.

2.

The show’s creators were there as the trial was unfolding.

Speaking of Demos and Ricciardi, it took them 10 years to make the series. They first read about Avery’s fight for freedom in 2005 when they were graduate students in film school in New York. They then flew to Wisconsin to fully immerse themselves in the project.

When they arrived, Demos and Ricciardi attended Avery’s preliminary hearing and gained access to past courtroom documents. They were about to head back home when Manitowac County officials held their infamous press conference accusing Brendan Dassey of being an accomplice to the Halbach murder.

“At that point, we knew that this was going to be more than we had thought,” Demos said. It would be the first of many twists in the compelling series. That’s when the filmmakers decided to stay in Wisconsin for the duration of the trial.

3.

Dean Strang and Jerome Buting have become Internet gods.

Sites like Tumblr, Etsy and Pinterest have been bombared by StrangButing memes, hashtags and collectible merchandise in celebration of this justice-seeking duo. The series clearly painted both defense attorneys as favorable characters in the Avery trial.

Similarly, special prosecutor and head of the investigation Ken Kratz became the butt of a slew of Internet jokes after emerging as the villain in the series. As if it were even possible, his reputation took an even bigger blow in 2010 when he was accused of sexting a client in a separate case.

Oscar Spotlight: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ George Plank Staff Writer On Feb. 28, the 88th Academy Awards will honor the greatest films that 2015 had to offer. The most successful movie of 2015 was “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” earning a total of over $900 million in the U.S. and $1.1 billion internationally, making it the third highest grossing film of all time. The film is nominated for a total of five Oscars in the categories of Film Editing, Original Score, Visual Effects, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing.

The movie begins in the same way every “Star Wars” movie has since 1977, with a title crawl and the John Williams main theme. The John Williams score does a wonderful job of complimenting the mood of the film throughout the course of the plot.

The music becomes more bombastic when action rises and then more subdued when introducing a character or leading to major plot points.

In his total career, John Williams has been nominated for 50 Academy Awards and has won five, including the 1978 Oscar for Best Score for the original “Star Wars.” He has com-

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posed music for over 150 films and has a career in movie music spanning over 50 years. With “The Force Awakens,” he brought the same aptitude and elegance with which he handles every movie, and it helps the film to become a complete and rewarding experience.

2015 saw a resurgence of practical visual effects being used in big budget movies. Films such as fellow Oscar nominee “Mad Max: Fury Road,” shows viewers not every effect and stunt has to be accomplished with the help of computer-aided assistance. Aditionally, “The Force Awakens” became the first Star Wars movie in decades not filmed, primarily, in front of a green screen.

Nearly every scene was filmed on location or had intricate sets built for the film. Nearly every alien, droid or other character was created without computer animation, but instead utilized puppeteers, stilt walkers and talented engineers to create the feeling of realism.

The film does a remarkable job in blending real actors with heavy science fiction elements. Everything the actors react to feels present, and

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the audience also gets the sense of urgency and special awareness in every shot.

One effect which had everyone talking was the droid character, BB-8, who is a half dome that sits on top of a rotating sphere. Despite many people’s first assumption of the character being made with computer animation, most of BB-8’s time was on screen, the droid was being remote controlled off screen.

The dedication to BB-8, and every character, having a physical presence in the real world has been rewarded with the films nomination for Best Visual Effects.

The film assaults the audience with both exemplary visual stylization, making everything seem very natural, and still having an air of wonder, along with exceptional audio. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was a passion project by people who loved the films when they first came out and wanted to do everything to see the film succeed.

The sci-fi installment earned its nominations, and come Feb. 28, we’ll see if their dedication will be rewarded with an Academy Award.

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Oscar-Nominated ‘Inside Out’ Introduces Audiences to the Voices Inside Their Heads Megan Snyder Staff Writer Disney’s Pixar does it again with another sensational production bound to tug at your heartstrings.

“Inside Out” is nominated for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Writing/Original Screenplay at the 2016 Academy Awards.

Complete with complex characters voiced by an ensemble cast, dazzling animation and a heartfelt lesson at the end, “Inside Out” ventures inside the emotional headquarters of 11-year-old Riley. After moving to San Francisco with her parents, she is naturally having a hard time adjusting to her new life.

But that’s what Joy (Amy Poehler) is there for! A vivacious, blue-haired pixie, Joy prevails over Riley’s emo-

tions and leads the team that responds to the everyday happenings of the young girl’s life. From a control panel, Joy, along with Fear, Disgust, Anger and Sadness can see everything Riley sees and react appropriately (or not).

According to Joy, Fear (Bill Hader) keeps Riley safe. Easily panicked and quick to jump the gun on awkward social situations, Fear takes over whenever Riley runs too fast or makes any questionable decisions as tweens do from time to time.

The verdant prima donna known as Disgust (Mindy Kaling) regulates what goes in Riley’s mouth and what comes out. She makes sure Riley doesn’t eat anything foreign, like the broccoli her dad offers her as a toddler, or says anything embarrassing in front of the cool girls at her new school.

Anger (Lewis Black, of course) speaks up for Riley, protecting her from the injustices of life. When Riley’s dad insists she at least try the broccoli, Anger takes over the control panel, prompting little Riley to let out a mighty wail and fling the plate of broccoli across the room. Problem solved!

Joy admits that while all of the other emotions serve an important purpose in Riley’s happiness, she doesn’t quite know where Sadness (Phyllis Smith) fits in. She just seems to make Riley sad, so Joy gleefully warns Sadness not to interfere with day-to-day operations. Cue sigh from Sadness.

By relegating Sadness to the background and not valuing her role in Riley’s emotional wellbeing, Joy inadvertently jeopardizes Riley’s mental health. Together, Joy and Sad-

ness must maneuver Riley’s train of thought and the memory dump to get back to headquarters and restore Riley’s bubbly personality.

Pixar continues to produce films with dynamic female protagonists.

2012’s “Brave” was the first. Now with “Inside Out,” audiences relish in the character of Riley and her multidimensionality. She is soft, sweet and in touch with her emotions, but all at once goofy, athletic and playful.

“Inside Out” also provides a fresh and creative commentary on mental health, equipping children and adults alike with a new perspective on what it means to suffer from depression.

All too often, mental illness is seen as a choice victims can simply “snap out of ” at their own will. The film firmly challenges that notion, offering audiences a set of clever concepts and

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key terms to use in discussing their emotions freely.

The film also acknowledges how difficult recovery can be, especially for young girls who are expected to be cheerful all the time. “Inside Out” forewarns of the potential dangers inherent in stigmatizing mental illness and emphasizes the importance of family, friends and support systems in treating disorders.

An absolute joy to watch, “Inside Out” introduces audiences to the voices inside their heads. It quells any anxieties one might have about his or her emotional shortcomings.

Life-affirming and inspiring, “Inside Out” reassures audiences that they are not broken.

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Sports

For updated Monarch sports coverage, visit maceandcrown.com.

SPORTS RECAP WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Lady Monarchs will take on conference foe Western Kentucky Thursday, Feb. 18. Last week, the ladies cruised to a 65-48 win over the North Texas Mean Green.

ODUWBB trailed for just 52 seconds this entire contest and were led by forward Gianna Smith who racked up 15 points.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

On Thursday, Feb. 18, the ODU Men’s Basketball team will travel to take on Western Kentucky. This is on the heels of a 20-point rout of North Texas. Forward Brandon Stith led the way with a career high of 17 points. The Monarchs seek their sixth straight victory.

GOLF

ODU Golf will compete in the Desert Invitational starting Thursday, Feb. 18. Last week, senior Seth Sweet finished runner-up in the Farms Invitational in Sante Fe, California.

Sweet posted a score of -5 under, including a round he finished with 69.

SOCCER

ODU Soccer inked five on signing day last week. The club’s newest members consist of three defenders and a midfielder. One Forward, Shaun Brooks, hails from Chesapeake, and comes to the Monarchs after playing with local club Beach FC for the last two seasons.

BASEBALL

ODU baseball will begin their season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at the Caravelle Resort tournament.

They open the season against no. 10 N.C. State. This is former reliever Turner Bishop’s first action in the outfield. Bishop hit six home-runs in the Fall.

ODU AND UVA AGREE TO 3-GAME SERIES

The ODU and UVA football teams have inked a deal on a three-game series over the next six years. The two teams have never played each other, but that will soon change. The first game will take place on Nov. 17, 2018 in Charlottesville. The second game will be played on Nov. 20, 2020. The two teams will meet in the last game on Sept. 17, 2022.

Nik Biberaj during the game against the North Texas Mean Green on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Photo by Joshua Boone

THE STORY BEHIND THE BIBERAJ Brendan Abban Contributing Writer Nik Biberaj is one of Old Dominion’s most interesting basketball players, that arguably most people know little about. The 6’8, 245-pound forward from Fairfax Station has seen his role increase this season.

Last season, Biberaj averaged eightand-a-half minutes of play per game.

This year, he has seen that number more than double to 20 minutes per game, but there is more to this Monarch than numbers show.

Biberaj’s journey to play for the Monarchs has been long, but also fulfilling. He initially played for Christopher Newport University.

“It was always my dream to play division one and coming out of high school, I didn’t have any offers,” Biberaj said. “I had some looks, some letters but I had no offers so I went to Christopher Newport, which was a great experience for me for two years which is what helped develop my game this far.”

Biberaj’s game was shaped during his time at CNU. Before he left, he was the second leading scorer on the team, averaging 15.9 points per game and led the team in rebounds at 9.5 rebounds per game. Two years in, though, Biberaj knew he still wanted to make his dream of playing division one come true.

“I told my coach after my sophomore year that I might still try to play division one and my coach called coach Jones to tell him, and [Jones] told me I could come do a workout,

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and after said he saw no reason why [I] can’t play at this level,” Biberaj said.

Coach Jones telling Biberaj that he should make the jump is what has him donning a Monarch uniform today.

The move from division three to division one can be a big one for many players, but Biberaj detailed it in his own words.

“The skills are the same but the size is different,” Biberaj said. “Guards are stronger and more athletic, and the bigs are seven feet tall and can jump out of the gym.”

Even though he sat out during his first year at ODU due to NCAA regulations, he credits the tough practices and competitiveness of his teammates and coaches for making him consistently better. cherub norva The physicality of Biberaj’s game at CNU translated to his play at ODU. He was used to posting up on the block at CNU and having to hold his own in the paint.

As a result, he is accustomed to the bruiser mentality of a big man. Playing for ODU has forced Biberaj to expand his game along with his range, becoming more of a perimeter, pickand-pop player. He bases his game on being extremely fundamental, similar to his favorite basketball player, Tim Duncan.

When talking about why he models his game after Duncan, Biberaj said, “I like how he’s fundamental, and you don’t have to be too athletic to be successful”.

One of Biberaj’s most memorable moments during his time as a Mon-

arch came when the team traveled to Madison Square Garden for the National Invitation Tournament semifinals.

“It was a great experience” Biberaj said. “It was a huge arena, like twice the size of the TED and once the lights turned on, it was game time and they darkened everything else so all we could see was the court. It was pretty tight.”

Last year, the Monarchs were second in Conference USA and finished the season with a record of 27-8 and a Conference USA record of 13-5. This year, things have gone a little differently. The Monarchs are fifth in the conference with an overall record of 14-11, and a conference record of 7-5. The loss of an array of players has contributed to the team’s differences this year.

“We have a lot of new players that are contributing a lot,” Biberaj said.

“We lost Richard Ross and Jonathan

Arledge. They were big for us, but I think we are definitely going to keep getting better, game by game.”

Basketball has taught Biberaj many lessons, but most importantly, the value of hard work. The Fairfax native, who didn’t pick up a basketball until the age of nine, has gotten far in his collegiate career due to his hard work and dedication to the game. Biberaj has plans to pursue his passion beyond college.

“I want to play overseas, play as long as I can,” Biberaj said. “But my main focus is on the season, but I won’t close any doors. I’m open-minded.”

Biberaj’s story with the Monarchs is coming to a close soon, but it will be interesting to see where his journey takes him. As for the Monarchs, their next game is Feb. 18 against conference rival Western Kentucky, where Biberaj looks to leave his mark in a game that would prove to be a big win for the Monarchs.

ODU versus CNU Captains, Nov. 5, 2015.

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ODU MEN’S BASKETBALL V. NORTHERN TEXAS

ODU Monarchs best Mean Green by 20 points on Thursday, Feb. 11.

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Jordan Baker going for the shot on Saturday, Feb. 13.

Photo by Joshua Boone

MONARCHS FALL TO RICE, SNAP FOUR GAME WINNING STREAK Jordan Baker looks for a shot against North Texas on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Photo by Jonathan Harding

STITH SCORES 17 IN 67-47 VICTORY OVER NORTH TEXAS Matt O’Brien Sports Editor Old Dominion men’s basketball (14-10) took on the North Texas Mean Green on Thursday, Feb. 11..

Brandon’s Stith’s career-high of 17 points helped propel the Monarchs to a 67-47 win, marking the fourth straight win for ODU. It was a tale of two halves with a slow start for the Monarchs. The team went into the half down by three and only put up 21 points. The offense was sluggish and out of sync. North Texas was getting on the boards and out-rebounded the Monarchs 20-13 in the first half.

Mean Green forward Jeremy Combs proved to be an early difficult matchup. Combs scored seven points in the first half and grabbed eight rebounds. Four of his boards were on the offensive glass.

“Coach Jones gave us a nice little pep talk at half time. He let us know that we came out flat and he really challenged us,” Stith said. “Fortunately, we answered.”

Stith and the rest of his teammates seemed to take Coach Jones words personally.

“To allow North Texas to get so many offensive rebounds it kind of got to me a little bit,” Stith said.

ODU responded to North Texas outscoring North Texas 46 to 23 in the second half.

“In that second half, it was nice to see a bunch of different guys play really well, and Trey didn’t have to carry and go on a run much like our last few games,” Jones said.

Along with Stith’s 17, forward Zoran Talley contributed 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. Forward Nik Biberaj had seven points and four rebounds including a crucial

and only shot 5-15 from the field.

Despite having an “off” night, Freeman still sported a wide smile at the postgame presser.

“I’m smiling because everyone stepped up in the second half. It was pretty fun out there. I can’t have a big night every game, then I would get complacent. It’s time to go back to work,” he said The determining factor in the second half was points in the paint.

ODU outscored the Mean Green 26-2 down low. Stith could not miss, shooting a perfect 6-6 from the field.

“Brandon played really well. When

The Monarch big men had a field day... put-back in an early run in the second half. The Monarch big men had a field day down low, which Coach Jones attributed to guard play and specifically Aaron Bacote.

“Our big guys had some success, but it was because of our guards taking the ball to the basket. Aaron had some nice drives when he was attacking in transition and was able to find our guys for open looks,” Jones said.

Guard Trey Freeman had a quiet night while still putting up 13 points

they went man we tried running some specific plays to him to get the ball to the rim and it worked very well,” said Jones.

The Monarchs will seek their fifth straight win at 2 P.M. Saturday against Rice. Rice is a conference foe, a team that doesn’t have much size and plays a matchup zone. Fans will get to see freshman Marcus Evans take the court for Rice–a Chesapeake native and Cape Henry Collegiate grad.

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Lyndsey Fields Contributing Writer The weekend didn’t hold much for Old Dominion men’s basketball, as they fell to Rice University and snapped their four-game winning streak in a 75-66 loss during Alumni Day in the Ted Constant Center on Saturday, Feb. 13. It was a tough loss late in the season, but it’s being looked at as a learning experience and will hopefully prompt the Monarchs to work even harder going into their last few games.

“I don’t think we can just shrug this off,” said head coach Jeff Jones. “We need to feel the pain of this and then hopefully that will serve as a motivator when we get together on Monday.”

Both teams came in hot, going shot-for-shot in the first half and tying the game five times in the first period. ODU did a great job of closing the lane. However, they struggled with overall shot selection. Rice saw the defense and began shooting long range shots, making them 5-8 in three-pointers in the first half.

Aaron Bacote fired off threes early in the game but came out with little to show for it in the first period, going 1-4. Despite the struggle to find their rhythm, ODU held the lead for the majority of the first half. Rice gained the upper-hand late in the period due to free throws, which they shot more than 90 percent in the half and almost 80 percent overall.

“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves,” Bacote said. “We’re going to finish these last games off strong heading

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into the post season and try to make a run.”

The Monarchs continued to struggle not only with shooting but their defense began to lag as well. Rice kept them out of the lane with effective defense causing the Monarchs to take a step back and try to make baskets.

Rice made sure to come in and make ODU shoot jumpers. Unfortunately for the Monarchs, Rice’s approach worked.

“I think that they were packing it in and we settled,” said guard Trey Freeman. “We definitely did settle. I settled. It was more than just that, it was about the heart. We didn’t bring it to the table but they brought it. We fell short on that.”

The last stretch of the game called for many substitutions and even more foul shots. The Monarchs had been racking up fouls since the game started, but by the time they needed their star players, they already had three or four fouls. Forward Brandan Stith ended up fouling out of the game late and team mates Nik Biberaj, Trey Freeman and Jordan Baker had four.

Overall, the game was a constant battle of a struggling defense and inability to hit long range shots that usually aren’t a problem for the team.

“We were getting good looks. It was just one of those games,” Bacote said when asked about how he felt about the team’s shot selection.

The Monarchs plan to regroup and will go on to play Western Kentucky University in their next conference game on Thursday, Feb. 18.

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Technology

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ODU GAMER PROFILE

A BRIEF

MOMENT IN TECH NEWS GRAVITATIONAL WAVES DETECTED

Laser interferometers in Hartford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana have detected the minute gravitational waves from the collision of two black holes more than a billion light-years from Earth. This is a major discovery confirming the final piece of Einstein’s theory of general relativity and opening up a new way to observe the universe.

THE MOTIVATION FOR GAMERS CHANGES WITH AGE

According to a study conducted by Quantic Foundry, with a sample of over 140,000 gamers, the motivation to play games changes as players age. Competitive gaming is of more interest to younger gamers, while the strategic motivation remained the most stable over all ages.

AMAZON “LUMBERYARD”

Internet mega-store Amazon.com has released its own game development engine “Lumberyard” for free.

Based on the existing “CryEngine,” “Lumberyard” can create games for Xbox One, PS4, PC and mobile platforms. It also has built-in Amazon Web service and Twitch integration.

Picture provided by Robert Younger

Courtesy of Nintendo

ROBERT YOUNGER Ross Reelachart Technology Editor In ODU Gamer Profiles, we get to know a student on campus and what makes them a gamer. In this first profile, we get to know Robert Younger.

Younger is a communications major at ODU with a focus on film studies. He got his first taste of video games in the 90s with the Nintendo 64. It was with this much-beloved console he found he had a particular interest in role-playing games, especially ones with a fascinating story to tell. Between games like the “Final Fantasy” series, “Knights of the Old

Republic” and “Persona,” it seemed Younger has always been in pursuit of a good story with great characters.

He mentioned this desire for stories is also probably why he enjoys studying films.

One of Younger’s all time favorites game particularly illustrates his attraction to games with thoughtful, unconventional narratives– “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.” The story of how he came to get “Majora’s Mask” is a familiar one for many gamers. He wanted a “Legend of Zelda” game for his birthday, and his mother ended up getting the “wrong” one. It turned out to be a happy accident as he soon immersed himself in a game,

which some consider to be the best Zelda game as opposed to “Ocarina of Time.”

Where “Ocarina of Time” was a straight-forward, classic hero’s tale, “Majora’s Mask” had a more dark and complex story, which intrigued Younger. He found the themes of mortality, loss and mourning captivating.

As a gamer who puts a lot of stock into the story and narrative aspects of a video game, Younger finds the current state of the game industry to be troubling. As the biggest publishers in the industry try to find more ways to squeeze money out of gamers’ wallets to finance the ballooning costs

of AAA development, he predicts an industry backfire in the near future.

Younger has since turned to the indie game scene for his fix of games that care about story, as well as modest budgets.

While “Majora’s Mask” would be an obvious recommendation from Younger, he also suggests a few other games for gamers looking for a good story. The recent indie darling “Undertale” is a great addition to the role playing genre, and the classic “Silent Hill 2” is considered one of the best horror games in the industry.

CHINA’S “ARTIFICIAL SUN”

Scientists at the Institute of Physical Science in Hefei, China have managed to produce hydrogen gas at 50 million degree Celsius for 102 seconds.

Previously, Germany was only able to produce higher temperature for a fraction of a second. This reaction could be the next step toward the holy grail of energy production: nuclear fusion.

TESLA’S $35,000 MODEL 3

Average consumers curious about an electric car will soon have the opportunity to reserve Tesla’s new Model 3 on March 31st. At a price of $35,000 before electric vehicle incentives, the Model 3 is within the price range of most car buyers.

Courtesy of YouTube

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Technology

To enter CourseHero’s giveaway, visit coursehero.com today.

Education in the Information Age: CourseHero An Interview with CEO Andrew Grauer Ross Reelachart Technology Editor

Course Hero CEO Andrew Grauer.

Photographed by Eva Kolenko.

If you are a student who needs a little help with assignments, or an online space where someone can explain a tough subject, then CourseHero may be an appealing alternative to the usual options. CourseHero is a website where students and teachers can share study materials, knowledge and even help each other one-on-one.

The idea for CourseHero began simply enough in a situation that many university students could probably relate to: missing a class.

As a sophomore at Cornell University in 2006, Andrew Grauer was struck with an injury that required the use of crutches. While still able to get around and get to class, his inability to get around campus fast enough hindered his ability to attend every class. Knowing that classes were important and feeling that there were other students who found difficulty in getting to the education they wanted, Grauer conceived of a way for teachers, students and tutors to connect with one another easily and effectively.

“My best analogy was Wikipedia,” Grauer said as he recalled the initial idea of CourseHero. “What if I could build this online library of online resources and documents with the help of the students and teachers themselves?”

Much like many of ODU’s own stu-

dent entrepreneurs, Grauer admitted that he “had never done anything like this before.” He pushed forward with his idea regardless. Grauer started a club of engineers and designers, whom then moved to Silicon Valley in 2007. In the beginning, it was rough. Grauer stayed in the basement of his parents’ place during the early phases. At the time, he was trying to find “the best way to build and improve the ability to share knowledge.”

CourseHero would be the end result, as a way to connect people and their knowledge. It was a realization of Grauer’s vision that “life is the exchange of questions and answers.”

As a startup in 2006, Grauer was already aware of the power that the Internet could lend to his new idea.

Like any other resource available online, the strengths of CourseHero were accessibility and connectedness.

Grauer likened it to a “library of the future.” The goal was never to replace or supplant traditional educational resources, but instead to be a supplement to it that lowered the barrier of access to stores of knowledge.

“As a student then, and even now, I understand that being able to get good help when you need it is still often hard to find,” Grauer said. With CourseHero, it’s possible to connect and collaborate with tutors and experts within 15 minutes, and it can be done whenever the student has time and an Internet connection.

Grauer is also aware of the fact that CourseHero is not alone on the Inter-

net. Between Wikipedia and Google, students seemingly have access to the entire collective knowledge of humanity. Grauer is confident that CourseHero will be able to continue to stand out among its contemporaries because CourseHero aims for specificity. By being relevant to specific classes and even by sorting resources by schools, CourseHero is able to provide resources, documents and knowledge pertaining to the exact class a student may be taking.

Grauer said another strength of CourseHero is how it allows for more of a “down-up” education model. Since students and teachers are able to upload information and documents to the site themselves, it “creates a grassroots-like movement because the students are driving the education.”

CourseHero is an effective supplement to the education that students are already receiving, with the added bonus of being accessible according to your schedule. It takes what happens traditionally in education and uses technology to improve it.

“Familiar, but better,” Grauer said.

With other 200,000 students and teachers visiting the site daily, it’s easy to say that the goal of CourseHero is being met. In the spirit of allowing all students of all backgrounds access to private tutors and educational resources, CourseHero is conducting a giveaway on the site. Until May 2, CourseHero is giving away $1 million in online tutoring to 10,000 entrants.

Google’s Self-driving Car May be Considered a Legal Driver Morgan Engelhardt Contributing Writer Artificial intelligence may be considered a designated driver now, as Google’s self-driving cars may be street legal without the presence of a physical driver. Last November, Google submitted a design for a car that needs no driver since it drives itself. The car’s design includes sensors around the car that detect what’s around it — including curbs, pedestrians, cyclists and other people — or things that a normal driver would

avoid in the car.

The Google Self-Driving Car Project also talks about how its software will “predict what all the objects around us might do.” This same software then determines what the speed limit is and drives passengers to their destination. This software would not only bring convenience to the general public, but would also be useful to citizens with disabilities or those unable to drive.

The design for Google’s SelfDriving car have been approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, there are still some legal issues with the car’s

design before it is allowed on the road. Federal regulations have stated that “equipment like steering wheels and brake pedals” would have to be completely redesigned in order for the car to avoid malfunctions without a human driver. Google has even suggested that the design not have a steering wheel or brake pedals at all since a drive will be missing from the driver’s seat. The Department of Motor Vehicles from several states all agreed that even if the design didn’t have these parts, there would still need to be extensive testing to make sure the car operates safely.

Google also has concerns about

their own design that doesn’t have to do with the car, but the passengers that would be inside of it. Google has said that “the car might malfunction with an actual human being in the car, given that someone might attempt to override the AI within the car.” This error may occur because with the design of the car a human is allowed to sit in the “driver’s seat,” but cannot drive it themselves.

Some states’ DMVs have said that along with this issue, the possibilities of faults within the mechanics is another big issue. California has had the biggest issue with this car’s design. The California DMV has stated

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that “cars absolutely need a driver” and “insist that a fully licensed driver must be behind the wheel.”

This hasn’t stopped Google from production however, given that Google has expanded its search for engineers on Google.com. According to Chris Woodyard at USA TODAY, Google has posted “36 new jobs” to their site in the hopes of filling them for the self-driving project. Most of the jobs involve manufacturing, mechanical engineering and marketing.

Google is even searching for new areas for new working locations, which could mean an expansion of the project and even more new hires.

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Anti-Beyoncé Protest Planned after ‘Formation’ Performance at Super Bowl 50 Destiny Webb Contributing Writer Millions gathered on Sunday, Feb. 7 to watch the two best teams of the year face off at Super Bowl 50. Watching the war-like game is great, but the halftime show is where the real excitement takes place. Beyoncé, as usual, gave an electrifying performance, which thrilled the crowd, but not all viewers were happy about it. Some believed the singer’s performance was disrespectful and tasteless because of its underlying political connotations.

An unknown person created the anti-Beyoncé protest rally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 16 outside of the NFL headquarters in New York City. Rally guests are requested to wear all blue to rep-

resent police enforcement, which they believe Beyoncé was attacking.

Former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, also stated that Beyoncé “used her platform to attack police officers” in an interview with Fox and Friends. The outfits of the dancers were also criticized, because of the all black attire, afros and berets, similar to the Black Panther Party.

Raven Symone spoke about the performance and music video calling it “hilarious.” She said she wishes Beyoncé would sing more ballads and wear dresses. Raven tends to make ridiculous comments, but to call a video celebrating black culture “hilarious” is absurd. Sure, Beyoncé could sing love songs all day and live in a fairy tale, but that is just

people are oppressed and have been for hundreds of years. AfricanAmericans have fought through slavery and Jim Crow laws. We have a black president, but even with those accomplishments, not much has changed.

Black men and women are sent to prison and the cemetery, and no one wants to do anything about it.

“Black lives matter” does not mean “anti-white.”

Beyoncé supporters, the “BeyHive,” have come forth with a counter protest called the pro-Beyoncé rally.

In recent years, Beyoncé has evolved as an artist and has changed her sound to a more edgy and fiery version of her former self. Usually, she is good at keeping herself out of political issues, but now she is diving right in.

not how the world works. There are real problems going on that need to be addressed, and Beyoncé did the right thing by using her voice to get her message across.

The political aspect of the performance is relevant to everything happening in America today. African-Americans are often ridiculed and criticized for everything. Black

The Black Lives Matter campaign, like the Black Panther Party in the 1960s, is being shunned because it spreads awareness about the treatment of African-Americans, and the country is still not ready to hear what they have to say.

Instead of listening, some try to say African-Americans are using “reverse racism.” “Black lives mat-

ter” does not mean “anti-white.” It means “pro-black.” The movement isn’t about black people’s lives being better than others, but about their lives not being disposable. Black people do not want to be statistics.

Black people want to live, love and learn just like everyone else.

People are offended by the song and performance because it makes them uncomfortable. How can hearing a song about someone being proud of their culture make you uncomfortable, but knowing young black men and women are being murdered and beaten doesn’t? It makes black people very uncomfortable, and that is why Beyoncé performed “Formation.” It brings attention to the problems black people face everyday, and reminds everyone that their lives have meaning and that black lives do, in fact, matter.

By Cornel Pex [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

How to Get Educational Accommodations to Help You Through College Star LaBranche Contributing Writer Educational accommodations are given to students who have a documented disability, which can impact their education. Although the process of obtaining accommodations is quite simple, many students don’t realize they are available or how they can help them get through school. As a graduate student with bipolar disorder, I started my master’s degree at ODU not realizing I was eligible for educational accommodations. When I talked to another student, he told me how important it was to register with the office of educational accessibility, get accommodations and use them when I needed help.

I started by asking my doctor for documentation of my mental illness, and together we brainstormed what would best help me complete my school work when I’m impacted by my disorder. I then went into the office and gave them my documenta-

tion to start the process. Soon after, I was contacted by the friendly staff to come in for an appointment with a counselor. During the meeting I gave a brief history of my mental illness and together we discussed which accommodations would best help me through school work when I’m having symptoms of my bipolar disorder.

We decided that while I was being impacted by my disorder, having extensions on assignments and unexpected absences would help me to complete my course work and ensure

to my professors for them to sign in acknowledgment of what the office of educational accessibility had allowed. Before this, I had already arranged meetings with my professors to inform them of my disability and that I was working to get educational accommodations for class. My professors signed my forms and I turned them into the office.

For every new semester, you can request a new form online, print it out, get it signed and turn it back in. No additional meetings with the coun-

only to be derailed by my mental illness each time. This time, I was able to use my accommodations. I got some extra time to complete my work and finished the semester. I didn’t fall behind. I didn’t get so overwhelmed that I thought the only options I had was giving up, and all it took was an extension on a paper and staying home from class one night.

When it comes to mental illness, many people don’t realize it qualifies as a disability. Issues like depression, anxiety and others can have a huge

I was terrified...

I could stay in school. Educational accommodations are not meant to change the content of the course or be used as a way to avoid class work.

Instead, they work around a disability to ensure that it doesn’t stop a student from being successful in college.

After the meeting, I sent in a request for a letter about my accommodations. I then took the letters

selors are needed, unless you need to make adjustments to the accommodations themselves.

My first semester at ODU was wrapping up when I started experiencing symptoms of my bipolar disorder. I was terrified it would be the death knell for my master’s degree.

In the past, I had started my graduate degree on two separate occasions,

impact on school work. Although is more awareness of mental illness and a great deal more compassion toward those who have these disorders, some still believe physical illnesses are real and mental illnesses are inventions of hypochondriacs and people looking for attention. This ableist attitude can be incredibly hurtful to students who live with these conditions and stop

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them from seeking help. Accommodations are not about making college easier. It’s about giving students with disabilities a fair chance to meet the challenges of college.

Attending college with a disability can be incredibly difficult, but the office of educational accessibility is there to help students complete their degrees. If you have a documented disability that can impact your school work, it’s important to make sure the university knows about it and if it does impact you during your time here, you have a plan in place.

Dealing with a disability is challenging as it is. You don’t need the added stress of school work when you’re already struggling. Even if you feel fine now, you never know when your illness may politely give you a semester off. Talk to your professors and arrange accommodations. You might never need to use them, but if you do, you will be incredibly grateful you have them.