Mace & Crown - October 5, 2016

Page 1

WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM | Vol. 60, Issue 5

WHAT’S

INSIDE

39TH ANNUAL LITERARY FESTIVAL:

The Closure of ITT Tech

D3

ODU Football's 'Circle of Pride'

C1

A Taste of Heaven: Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint

B3

POLITICS AND LITERATURE READ MORE: A4 AND B1


A2

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Face in the m ace

Hashtag #ODU to see your face in the m ace

M&C 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.

EDITORIAL BOARD Adam Flores Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@ maceandcrown.com

Ross Reelachart Technology Editor technology@ maceandcrown.com

Zach Moeller Copy Editor zmoel001@odu.edu

Harry Howard Jr. Sports Editor sports@ maceandcrown.com

Morgan Engelhardt News Editor news@maceandcrown.com Kelsey Walker Arts & Entertainment Editor artsandentertainment@ maceandcrown.com Tayla Mallory Photography Editor photo@ maceandcrown.com

Timothy Pace Graphic Designer tpace003@odu.edu Kavita Butani Advertising & Business Manager advertising@ maceandcrown.com Emily Rogers Social Media Director social@maceandcrown.com

Guillermo Rivera-Hernandez Distribution Manager grive006@odu.edu

STAFF WRITERS Kim Bering Larenz Johnson Lindsey Lanham Matt O'Brien Tyler Passarge Audra Reigle Erin Sudek

maceandcrown

facebook.com/ maceandcrown

Jarell Perez Digital Editor jpere022@odu.edu

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS Jonathan Harding Shamon Jones Jomar Pablo

instagram.com/ maceandcrown

twitter.com/ linkedin.com/in/ maceandcrown maceandcrown

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown


A3

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

NEWS

Read more campus crime information at maceandcrown.com/interactive-crime-log CRIME LOG

LOCAL NEWS ODU Now Listed as Top Tier University U.S. News and World Report has recognized ODU as one of the top schools in their “Best Colleges” rankings. ODU has claimed No. 210 out of 1,800 universities across the U.S., making it part of the top 11 percent of schools in the nation. This is the first time ODU has been listed as a top tier school. Provost Austine Agho has praised the school, saying that he is glad that ODU has been commended for its amazing faculty and students. President’s Schedule

Lecture

SEPTEMBER 28 Vandalism was reported to have occured on Melrose Pkwy at 7:45 PM

SEPTEMBER 29 A vehicle break-in was reported to have occured on New Jersey Ave at 9:00 PM

SEPTEMBER 25 Aggravated assault was reported to have occured on Ferrys Rd at 12:55 AM

SEPTEMBER 29 A firearm brandishing was reported to have occured on 34th Street at 10:25 PM

Series

The President’s Lecture Series kicked off on Sept. 29 with CNN Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley. This lecture series will run until the spring semester in 2017. Pulitzer Prize Recipient Walter V. Robinson will be next in the series in October. Following him will be founder of The Race Project Michele Norris in February. The lecture series will end with the CEO of Pencils of Promise, Adam Braun, in February. Moms Stage Sit-in at VA Beach The Moms Clean Air Force staged a sit-in at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach to urge lawmakers to take action against climate change. People were also encouraged to bring their children and allow them to play, while the MCAF helped inform citizens about their cause. They also talked about the need for a light rail in Virginia Beach to reduce the carbon emissions that current public transportation causes. National Depression Screening Day is Oct. 6 Colleges across the country are offering free mental health screenings on Oct. 6 in an effort to help prevent suicides and identify people with mental illness. The campaign is focusing specifically on preventing suicide this year, due to the increase of suicide rates within the past few years since suicide has become the second biggest killer among 15 to 34-year olds. You can find free screening locations at http:// helpyourselfhelpothers.org/

Courtesy of Mace and Crown

Date 10/1/16 10/1/16 10/1/16 9/30/16 9/29/16 9/29/16 9/29/16 9/29/16 9/29/16 9/28/16 9/28/16 9/28/16 9/27/16 9/26/16 9/26/16 9/26/16 9/25/16 9/25/16 9/25/16 9/25/16 9/14/16

Category

Location

LARCENY-FROM AUTO VANDALISM VANDALISM LARCENY-FROM AUTO LARCENY-FROM AUTO

NA 800 BLOCK W 27TH ST 5700 BLOCK GRANBY ST 400 BLOCK DELAWARE AV 500 BLOCK NEW JERSEY AV ROBBERY-HOME INVASION 5500 BLOCK ALSON DR LARCENY-FROM AUTO 1400 BLOCK W 41ST ST BURGLARY-NONRESI4900 BLOCK HAMPTON DENCE BLVD BRANDISHING FIREARM 200 BLOCK 34TH ST VANDALISM 1300 BLOCK MELROSE PKWY LARCENY (ALL OTHERS) 3200 BLOCK OMOHUNDRO AV VANDALISM 700 BLOCK 35TH ST VANDALISM 800 BLOCK 35TH ST NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS 3400 BLOCK COLONIAL AV LARCENY-PARTS FROM 1000 BLOCK 35TH ST AUTO LARCENY (ALL OTHERS) 4100 BLOCK MONARCH WAY LARCENY (ALL OTHERS) 1500 BLOCK W 42ND ST VANDALISM 2700 BLOCK BOWDENS FERRY RD RAPE 3800 BLOCK BLUESTONE AV AGGRAVATED ASSAULT 2700 BLOCK BOWDENS FERRY RD VANDALISM 900 BLOCK E 29TH ST

Incident Number

Agency

161001000056 161001000036 161001000018 160930000016 160930000015

Norfolk Police Norfolk Police Norfolk Police Norfolk Police Norfolk Police

160929000116 160929000120 161092900007

Norfolk Police Norfolk Police Norfolk Police

160929000053 160928000117

Norfolk Police Norfolk Police

160928000108

Norfolk Police

160928000070 160927000028 160926000134

Norfolk Police Norfolk Police Norfolk Police

160927000048

Norfolk Police

160929900001

Norfolk Police

160926000104 160926000036

Norfolk Police Norfolk Police

161001201001

Norfolk Police

160925161401

Norfolk Police

160914000047

Norfolk Police

FOR MORE CRIME INFORMATION, VISIT MACEANDCROWN.COM/INTERACTIVE-CRIME-LOG

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown


A4

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

NEWS

Read more news at maceandcrown.com/category/news

President's Lecture Series: Douglas Brinkley T.J. Thompson

Contributing Writer The President’s Lecture Series at ODU has varied immensely through its 25 years, beginning in 1991 with segregationist writer James J. Kilpatrick to this year’s first speaker, CNN presidential historian and Rice University professor, Douglas Brinkley. Brinkley is recognized as one of the foremost scholars on the history of America's presidents. Commencing the 25th season of the PLS and 10th in conjunction with the campus literary festival, co-director and ODU professor Michael Pearson welcomed the abundant crowd for Brinkley’s discussion, titled "The Evolution of the American Presidency." Brinkley began by digging deep and finding a historical figure few

people know, Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress. Thomson maintained the minutes of meetings, detailing every discussion and squabble between the Founding Fathers. Thomson wished to publish these journals, yet opted to burn them after the presidential race of 1800 between rivals Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Emphasizing the intensity of the time by bumping his fists together when calling the campaigns fierce, Brinkley stated Thomson decided the public did not need to know the turmoil between the founders deciding to help develop a strong president instead. This introduction set the stage for an action packed, hour-long of sharing historical information on numerous presidents, detailing a few who have stood out, such as George Wash-

ington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Brinkley pointed out that presidents' legacies have been praised and scarred based upon their war efforts in office. One example of a president whose legacy is persevered is Lincoln, who fought a war of necessity. Due to Lincoln uniting a divided nation, he is typically considered the favorite among presidents. Presidents scarred by wars of choice are Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. Brinkley applied these thoughts to the 2016 election stating both candidates have distanced themselves from the U.S.'s most recent wars. Transitioning from war to executive power, Brinkley cited Teddy Roosevelt’s ushering of the era of the executive orders utilizing the

Antiquities Act protecting lands such as the Grand Canyon. This legacy is observable today with the National Parks Service celebrating their 100year anniversary and locally at Fort Monroe. Next was FDR welcoming the friendly federal government era. Roosevelt is responsible for the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration, programs which helped citizens. This era continued until Reagan. “Reagan is the revolution in 1980,” Brinkley said. This era created the idea that the federal government is not our friend. Brinkley then brought his knowledge of the American presidential evolution to the 2016 election. He stated that Hillary Clinton has made her candidacy base from being a hawk

in foreign policy. Donald Trump has shaped his campaign by isolating himself from the modern presidential eras. The lecture then turned to what could happen based upon results of the upcoming election. Brinkley said a Trump win will create a “revolutionary moment in American history,” enabling a segregationist mentality pushing socially conscious people to protest. If Clinton wins, Trump will immediately be her critic. Brinkley concluded by asking, “Is this the last gasp of white privilege, or a reclaiming of an older heritage and privileged class of American whites?” In his final thoughts he stated the importance of holding the president accountable and rallying behind her or him like Charles Thomson.

Monarchs Monitor Presidential Debate on Campus SaiJai Miller Contributing Writer

On Sept. 26 students gathered on the Old Dominion University campus to watch the first presidential debate of 2016. The debate was hosted and moderated by CNN veteran news anchor Lester Holt. This presidential debate marked the twentieth debate since 1988, according to the introductory remarks before the debate began. In previous election cycles, debates were held in-person before being available on the radio, and then on television. As technology changed, the mode of the debates also changed. The debate claimed the hashtag "#Debate2016," as relevant to social media outlets such as Twitter. A majority of the debate was displayed in splitscreen viewing which permitted the audience to see the opponent’s facial

response to the opponent, while having full viewing access of the candidates as the debate occurred. In what can be considered out-ofparty standards, Secretary Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, wore a red pantsuit, and Mr. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, wore a black suit, white dress shirt, with a blue tie. The Democratic Party recognizes its party color as blue; whereas, the Republican Party recognizes red as its party color. Political candidates, as a rule of thumb, wear their respective party’s color at such publicly viewed events. The presidential candidates stood at podiums in front of a blue backdrop with words, believed to be from the Declaration of Independence, printed in script. The College Republicans and the

ODU Democrats both hosted viewing parties in the Webb Center. Currently, there are no recognized student organizations for Third Party campaigns or Independent voters. Chelsi Klutch is the president of the College Republicans. Under her direction, College Republicans are engaging Monarchs on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Activity Hour registering students to vote in a non-partisan effort. Klutch looks to co-sponsor events, including the remaining presidential and vice presidential debates, in the future with the ODU Democrats and other student organizations. She advocates that all students are welcome to College Republican events regardless of party affiliation, including general meetings and special engagements. “Trump has alternative good ideas.

He is fresh as far as politics go and has not been in politics as long as Hillary has been. His experience with finance and jobs, his views on them both. People trust him and he will be able to help the country. It may be a close election, but it comes down to debates and volunteering,” Klutch said. The ODU Democrats played “Debate Watch Party Bingo,” a fun activity while listening to the presidential candidates speak on various issues. Eriq Mccleary is a grassroots organizer that works with the ODU Democrats and emphasized, “politics are far off and seem foreign to students. [We’re] not here to argue, [we’re] here to open doors.” Robbie Bradshaw is the president of the ODU Democrats and spoke about how the ODU Democrats have strong involvement and representa-

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

tion on campus. Jacob Dafoe is the organization’s vice president. Dafoe commented that watch parties are big events for their organization. When asked why he felt Clinton was a good presidential candidate, he said, “Most experienced candidate to run for president in decades. She has detailed policies and cares about people on an individual basis that Mr. Trump does not.” The ODU Democrats and the College Republicans both offer opportunities for their members to participate in local campaigns and internships which may be paid or unpaid. Both have offices located on the second floor of the Webb Center. Find out more about each organization and their upcoming events on their respective social media pages and on Monarch Link.


A5

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

NEWS

For more news follow us @ODU_MACENEWS

The Italian Wanderer: Federico Minelli

ing to him, his family moved about every three years due to his father’s position. He is a Northern Italian native, but has traveled to countries such as Belgium and France. He is fluent in both Italian and French. Minelli came to the U.S.A. with his parents and has been in America for four years now. His dad is the

coordinator for NATO scholarships for ODU. He is 20-years-old, and is majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in computer science and engineering management. When asked what drew him to this field, Minelli responded by saying that the high school system from his home country had three different

types of high school and the high school he attended was math and science based. He is also driven by his own curiosity and desire to figure out how things work. He chose to take the technological route because he preferred hands-on work. Minelli is just a regular ODU student, but he has seen a lot of the world already. Minelli feels that the school was tougher in Italy. There was not as much liberty and freedom when it came to choosing classes like there is in America. He likes how the American school system is structured to help students of all learning levels and that no student gets left behind. When asked if he experienced culture shock when he came to America, he said the culture was different from Italy, but he likes change. Minelli is a part of Model UN, which he joined in order to meet people and he ended up liking how dynamic it was. He has also attended a few sporting events at ODU. He has traveled a lot with his family across

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

Photo courtesy of Federico Minelli

Saamia Aslam Contributing Writer Traveling is an opportunity to see the world and experience different cultures. His father’s employment as a Commander in the Italian Navy has allowed Federico Minelli to travel and visit different countries. Accord-

the country to explore what America has to offer. He enjoys seeing new places and meeting people and experiencing things. He believes that by being exposed to a variety of places and cultures he has become a more open minded person. In Italy, traveling to America is a big deal for people. Minelli is truly grateful for having this opportunity. Not only did he get to visit the country, but he is able to expand his education here. When asked what advice he would like to give the ODU student body, he said to just enjoy the college experience and take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the university. Minelli’s goals include getting a master’s degree either here or back in Italy and then finding a stable job. He also hopes to travel to California and go to Silicon Valley. Overall, his American Experience was tough, but good. “It wasn’t easy to get where I am now, but it was worth it,” Minelli said.


A6

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

NEWS

Second annual student alumni ice cream and cake social on Oct. 14

Monarch Race 2 Ready Program - Being a Prepared Monarch Erin Sudek Staff Writer ODU students now have the opportunity to earn prizes by becoming aware, preparing themselves for severe weather and taking action through the Monarch Race 2 Ready Program. Representatives set up tables in the Webb Center Lobby on Sept. 27 to talk to students about upcoming events and how to become involved. This program is aimed to reduce severe weather risk and educate ODU students, faculty and staff members

about how to deal with events such as flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, snow and ice. “A lot of severe weather occurs here in the Norfolk area, especially flooding, so it’s very important for students and people who live in the area to be ready and prepared for the risks,” Eric Reed, Ph.D. student, said. There are only three steps to being a prepared monarch, including signing up, completing tasks and earning points to win prizes. Students, faculty and staff can register on the program’s website and begin racking up points by do-

ing numerous tasks that encourage members to be creative in their involvement. Tasks include activities like downloading the app Waze, attending events like Service Day at community garden or other volunteer work like creating emergency kits and identifying alternative parking locations. “Its super easy to become Monarch Ready, all you have to do is simple tasks like buy rain boots, go online and share things on social media, and things like that to be ready,” sophomore Briana Bullard said. Tasks values vary from one point

to five points each depending on the category, and there is a list of those along with how many points will be earned for each on their website. Some tasks will require evidence like a screenshot or picture, and those can be submitted to any Monarch Race2Ready social media site, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or e-mail. By earning points, members will move from ‘baby steps’ to ‘champion,’ and the higher the rank, the more likely one is to win a prize. There is even a leaderboard that will be posted for the members with the most points

and the “mover of the week” which will be posted on the website above. The Monarch Race 2 Ready Program is a great way to get involved with the community while helping the campus area be ready for the next flood, snow storm or any severe weather. This program was brought to the university by students in the GEOG 306T Hazards class, MPA Association, ODU Resilience Collaborative, Virginia Sea Grant and the Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency.

Big Blue Take Back: Taking a Stand Against Violence

Saamia Aslam Contributing Writer On Sept. 30, ODU hosted its third Big Blue Take Back event in front of

the Webb Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The purpose of the event was to speak out about all the possible crimes that can take place on campus

pertaining to violence and sexual assault, as well as others of the sort. The audience was reminded that ODU has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence and sexual assault. There were tables set up along Kaufman mall that represented all of the campus services and programs that are available to the students such as counseling services, The Women’s Center, Safe Space, ODU Police Department, ODU Out and more. There were representatives from each organization that spoke about the programs, services and upcoming events that they had to offer. ODU’s Safe Space organization table talked about how they offered ally training for people who wanted to help out the LGBTQ community. There were even tables available to sign up for The Green Dot training program, which trains and informs participants on how to be active bystanders and being proactive when it comes to preventing traumatizing acts of violence. The attendees were

given green glow sticks to represent that they were taking a stand against violence and assault on campus. Halfway into the program, there was poetry reading, interpretive dancing, singing by the Ebony Impact Gospel Choir, a video presentation of ODU’s cover of Lady Gaga’s "Til It Happens To You," and other prepared presentations by the talented ODU community artists. All who attended took a pledge to take a stand and put an end to on campus violence. Following the pledge, there was a moment of silence for all the victims who had to go through the traumatizing experience of being violated. There was a march lead by ODU’s Men’s Basketball Team and the Dynasty Dancers, where everyone chanted “Monarchs Unite, Take Back the Night.’ Following the march, the member’s the Ebony Impact Gospel Choir sang and afterwards, the floor was open for victims to come forward and share their story if they were comfortable

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

Photo by Kam Nedd

in doing so. Students came forward with their heartbreaking stories of relationship abuse, sexual assault and other experiences that left them broken, vulnerable and violated. Towards the end of the event, the topic of police brutality against the African-American community was brought up. The Black Lives Matter movement was mentioned and clarifications were made about how it wasn’t saying that other lives didn’t matter. There was emphasis on the fact that all lives do matter, but the fact is that currently an outrageous amount of crimes against the African-American community are taking place and innocent lives are being taken. The emphasis of the event was both on being proactive and preventing campus violence and on the fact that there is help for those of us who unfortunately had to experience violation. This included all members of the community regardless of what their gender, race, ethnicity, occupation or religion.


A7

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

NEWS SaiJai Miller Contributing Writer

Don't forget the FAFSA is now available at fafsa.ed.gov

The President's Task Force on Inclusive Excellence

ODU's Office of Intercultural Relations hosted the President's Task Force on Inclusive Excellence the first day of the semester. The task force was formed by ODU President John Broderick in 2011, yet the organization didn’t gain momentum until about two years ago The P.T.F.I.E. aims to address the needs of the Monarch community through dialogue and discussions focused around "promoting unity, respect, and inclusion," as outlined in the task force's motto. The goal of the task force is to encourage diversity and promotes anyone’s right to selfidentify. The groups vision statement is to focus on “student success, engag-

es civic and community constituents, and utilizes its strong relationships with a variety of state and national partners to provide solutions for real world problems.” Their most recent meeting, a conversation, titled "Racial and Ethnic Relations," was open to Old Dominion students and faculty members. When asked, students in attendance said they supported the continuation of such events in future semesters. Students voiced the importance of inclusive training, and recommended that it become mandatory here on campus. "I appreciate ODU having open events like this conversation,” senior Selah Coleman said. Largely, the students in attendance

agreed that the task force could help foster solutions to problems or concerns such as ethnic relations in the U.S. and on campus. However, Coleman also mentioned that "students who need to attend these events do not." The room divided into smaller groups gathered around tables to encourage group discussion on specific questions posed by group moderators. Dinner was served at the event, buffet style. At the end of the small group conversations, the committee members of the task force led the continued discussion by returning the room to one group. Group leaders summarized major group highlights and new ways of looking at race relations.

The Zika virus is an infection that results from being bitten by an infected species of mosquitoes known as Aedes. It can be passed from a pregnant mother to her child, as well as other methods such as through sexual intercourse, blood transfusion and lab exposure. The symptoms, if any do occur, include fever, rash, joint pain, muscle pain, headaches and red eyes. Diagnosis can be made through blood or urine tests. There is currently no vaccine for the disease. Once infected, a person is likely to be protected from future infections. New information on the disease is still currently being discovered. The virus has been occurring in many places across the world including Brazil and Guatemala, which were some of the ODU study abroad locations. The trips were cancelled because of the outbreak of the infection, but it inspired the beginning of the Zika Mosquito Control Project. The student and faculty response was to be more flexible and to find a solution to the issue,rather than focus on the problem. Students from ODU, EVMS and

CNU came together to conduct this project from June to August of 2016. It was a diverse group of participants including undergraduate and graduate students from the colleges of health and science, nursing, dental hygiene and public health departments. They connected with the National Institute of Health and attended a seminar where they were informed about the Zika virus and its effects. Ph.D. student My Ngoc Nguyen and Dr. Muge Akpinar came together and discussed how to address the Zika virus problem. Nguyen was the coordinator of the project and worked with Norfolk’s health department and figured out a way to work with mosquito control. The project consisted of students trapping mosquitoes and bringing them back to the lab where they were put in a freezer for twenty minutes and put into a petri dish to be examined and identified as a part of the surveillance and identification processes. The project provided students with hands-on experience with the integrated vector management systems. They also conducted backyard surveillance. One of the people associated with this project was Angelica Walker. She

was involved with the surveillance and control aspects of the project. She went out to retrieve mosquitoes from the traps they had set at specific locations. She described her experience as a very interesting and educational one. She had the opportunity to work in labs and work with professional equipment to learn how to properly identify mosquitoes. Walker said, "it is important to make connections with people in your field or fields similar to yours while you are in college." She also believed that the disease project is not limited to any certain major, it can affect anyone, so it is best if the majority are more aware about public health issues and how to deal with them. This project was a global health effort. It provided service learning for a variety of disciplines and showed how limitations can be turned into opportunities. Students learned about teamwork and collaboration. Not only were they able to complete their academic requirements, but they were able to give back to their local community by taking action against a global health issue locally in Hampton Roads.

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

issue. You might change one person, and that is enough," Lee said. The President's Taskforce Inclusive Initiative regarded the event as a good start and welcomes more Monarch community members to partake in future conversations. Participation as part of the discussion includes listening and learning while encouraging students, faculty and staff members to become part of the Monarch community.

This Week in History Justin L.C. Ross Contributing Writer

Zika Virus Mosquito Control Project Saamia Aslam Contributing Writer

Deja Lee, a junior studying political science, found the conversation enlightening because of the ability to be able to hear the thoughts of her classmates, who are pursuing various college degrees, have diverse mindsets and come from numerous ethnic backgrounds. "Some people are not going to get it. Educate the person in the most sane way possible. All I can do as a person is to help them understand the

History belongs to the people. The shared experiences of every individual transforms the very fabric of our culture and eventually history itself. When history is thought of, it has often been viewed as a stale and distant subject, which for many, could not be farther from the truth. The idea and concept of history is something to not only be learned from but also to experience, through contemplation on the past and how it affects our daily lives. Monday October 3, 1990 The nation of Germany reunites into one country after decades of separation as a direct result of the Potsdam Conference at the end of World War II. This monumental event in history highlights the de-escalation of the Cold War and a world beginning to heal old wounds. Tuesday October 4, 1957 The “Space Race” begins and a new era of the Cold War dawns with the successful launch of the Soviet Satellite Sputnik 1. This early model of space engineering circled the earth 96 times after being initially launched by a converted intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Wednesday October 5, 1962 For the first time in cinematic history, Agent 007, or James Bond, is portrayed by actor Sir Sean Connery in the film "Dr. No."

@maceandcrown

Thursday October 6, 1866 The first train robbery in the United States is perpetrated by the Reno Brothers after they successfully steal $10,000 in Seymore, Indiana. Friday October 7, 1849 The great American author Edgar Allen Poe tragically dies on this day after succumbing to a long struggle with alcoholism. Saturday October 8, 1982 The 18-year stint of the musical Broadway production “Cats” begins on this day and would become known for actress Betty Buckley’s Tony-winning performance of the song “Memory” as Grizabella the elderly cat. Sunday October 9, 1950 The spearhead of the combined United Nations forces, headed by the First Cavalry Division, crosses the 38th parallel in the Korean War, in an offensive thrust aimed at capturing the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. Monday October 10, 1911 A new age in international trade begins with the opening of the Panama Canal. Tuesday October 11, 2000 NASA successfully completes its 100th space mission.

Source: historynet.com


B1

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Arts &

Read more arts & entertainment news at maceandcrown.com/category/artsentertainment

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

BITS OF A&E Hall-O-Scream Returns to Busch Gardens Busch Gardens Williamsburg brings back the annual Howl-OScream event this year with a new haunted house, Circo Sinistro, and scare zone, Sideshow Square. After 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the park turns into a Halloween-themed scare-zone. Purchase a single-day ticket or Fall Fun Cards (Unlimited visits through Oct. 30) for $80.

SAC Presents Screening of ‘Bad Moms’ Catch a free showing of “Bad Moms” starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn. The film follows the three as they take a break from their busy and stressful lives to let loose. The film will be screening on Oct. 12, 14, 15 in the Mills Godwin Life Sciences Building at 8 p.m.

Hannibal Burress Makes Stop in Norfolk Emmy nominated comedian, actor and writer Hannibal Burress will perform at the Attucks Theatre on Oct. 8. Burress is widely known for his television roles on “Broad City” and “The Eric Andre Show,” as well as his appearances in the films “Neighbors” and “Neighbors 2.” He will also appear in the upcoming film “Spiderman: Homecoming.” The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Kick Off October with 'First Fridays' in Downtown Norfolk Every first Friday of the month, the Plot in Norfolk’s NEON District District turns into a packed-out block party. Enjoy live music, food trucks, merchandise vendors and a beer garden from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Karaoke with WODU Studios WODU Studios presents Karaoke Night every Thursday at Small’s Smokehouse & Oyster Bar. The night kicks off at 9 p.m. with drink specials, $5 burger specials and over 200,000 songs to choose from. Small’s Smokehouse & Oyster Bar is located at 2700 Hampton Blvd.

Writing and Politics With Colum McCann

Michael McCann Contributing Writer

Must an author be engaged with politics? Irish-American author, Colum McCann, posed that exact question on the penultimate night of the 39th Literary Festival at Old Dominion University. A packed house of Monarchs and members of the Norfolk community were treated to an insightful speech from McCann, a National Award Winning author, at the Chandler Recital Hall in the Diehn Fine & Performing Arts Center on Wednesday evening. McCann is an Irish immigrant. His most recent work is the award-winning short story novella, “Thirteen Ways of Looking.” According to his website, the collection was written both prior to and after he “was assaulted in New Haven, Connecticut, punched and

knocked unconscious after trying to help a woman who had also been assaulted on a busy city street.” At the time of the assault, he was working with a charity that shares stories between members to promote empathy. Empathy is something that he “briefly lacked” at the time, according to his extended author’s note. However, in his victim impact statement, he touched on the empathy he had for his attacker’s wife, who was the one assaulted in the street, and women like her. Janet Peery, an English faculty member and an author in her own right, introduced McCann to an audience of mixed ages, ethnicities, and nationalities. She paraphrased him by stating, “a book is only finished when it’s finished by the reader” and that reading is an “intimate democracy.” Indeed, it was as we were treated to many readings from his extensive bibliography.

McCann started with reading excerpts from the novella, “Everything in This Country Must: A Novella and Two Stories,” that took place during the political turmoil of his home country of Ireland in the 20th century. He discussed briefly his own coming to of political consciousness with news of a band being attacked in a skirmish at the Northern Ireland border in the 1970s. His father related him a parable that did not make much sense in his youth, but stuck with him as the years went on. The story was about a 15-year-old girl named Katie and the harrowing rescue of her family’s draft horse from a flood. Katie lives with her widower father, who lost his wife and son in a car accident with the occupying British army. Ironically, members of the British Army were there to help Katie and her father rescue the mare from the flooding waters. This

caused a rift between Katie and her father since she was grateful for their kindness, but the father could not let his grudge pass. McCann directly answered his question of authors and politics by invoking his experience during the 9/11 attacks in New York City. He found out about the attacks while in the city and heard that his fatherin-law was in the first tower, but was able to escape before it tumbled. That’s when he exclaimed, “that day, everything had meaning. If you look at a disused fire hydrant it had a meaning, if you picked up dust off your car it had meaning.” He saw a dog going across the Brooklyn Bridge by itself, a sight rarely seen. It was then that he realized the writer should be engaged with politics, but it must not be demanded of them.

The Illegal Ivory Trade In One Room Briel Felton Contributing Writer

After a trip to Kenya, San Diego native Wendy Maruyama felt compelled to create “The wildLIFE Project” at Chrysler Museum, an effort to bring awareness to how illegal ivory trade practices affect the animal kingdom. The process for this exhibit began with her analyzing photos of majestic elephants taken during her trip, taking in their grandeur size so she could clearly achieve her vision. The multi-sensory exhibition includes elephants eternalized in works eight to 12 feet high: “Maasai Nights,” the gray elephant, “Ghost,” the white elephant, “Orkanyawoi,” the map print elephant, “Sonje,” the burgundy

elephant, and “Lekuta,” the brown elephant. A Buddhist-style shrine offers incense and a bell that rings every 15 minutes to honor the animals lost to the $10 billion industry. There is also a chest of ivory tusks, creating a horrible vision of how many elephants have been slain for the selfishness of man. To create the structure of the masks, Maruyama utilized wood bark. She shaped the bark and then colored them with either paint or ink. She coated each panel three times with three different colors and then sanded the pieces down to reveal the change. Maruyama then used string to stitch the masks together. In her talk at the museum, Maruyama said that stitching the wood panels together was therapeutic for her because it

made her feel as if she was fixing the damage done by poaching. There is also a cenotaph, explained by the museum as “an empty tomb erected in honor of those whose remains are elsewhere,” that features a video memorial to these incredible creatures. All of these pieces are located on the first floor of the Chrysler Museum in the Glass Galleries. Located on the second floor in the back of the Arnold and Oriana McKinnon Wing resides Satao (c. 1968May 30, 2014), the black elephant with the bull’s-eyes on his ears. The elephant stands in at a whopping 12 feet. Once regarded as one of Kenya’s national treasures, Satao was one of the largest elephants at the time of his death. Known as a “tusker” with

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

massive 6.5-foot-long ivory tusks that nearly touched the ground, he was an exceptionally large target, hence the bull’s-eyes on his ears. “The wildLIFE Project” is worth the trip to Chrysler Museum. The exhibit opens the eyes of those who are blind to illegal ivory trade and the effect it has on elephants. The majestic masks will leave spectators speechless as they stare up at them, imagining the individual elephant that each mask represents. “The wildLIFE Project” is a sight to be seen and holds many lessons to be learned. The exhibit will be on display at the Chrysler Museum through Jan. 15, 2017. Admission is free.


B2

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Arts &

Catch your favorite movies, originals and documentaries on netflix.com

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

Horror Movie Review: 'The Witch' Alyssa Branch Contributing Writer

In this terrific New England folktale, a banished devout Christian family now resides on the edge of a daunting forest. The family slowly turns on one another, displaying their overwhelming fear of the devil. Thomasin watches her family be picked a part one by one, until she’s the only one left. The witch is introduced instantly, taking a newborn child to her home where she kills him, rubs his own blood on him and then eats him. The terrifying mystery in the woods is exposed immediately, which is an interesting yet considerable decision. Unlike most horror films, the movie is not about the scary thing waiting to be revealed. “The Witch” unveils the horror element and displays the effect it has on the family. Thus, the mystery becomes a question of whether it the family’s insanity or the supernatural forces which cause these inexplicable horrors. “Evil takes on many forms” is an evident theme throughout the film – portraying every character and many animals as the source of evil. Director Robert Eggers also provides insight Photo courtesy of Rooks Nest Entertainment

into the feministic aspect of this story. During this time period, men feared the power of women, convinced of their witchcraft. Women even began to believe themselves to be witches. In the end, Thomasin watches the death of her father and is forced to kill her hysterical mother in self-defense. She then makes an agreement with the demonic goat to wander into the woods to join the coven of witches. The final scene provides a phenomenal ending to the intense drama that has played out. The filming style drags you into this environment with slow moving frames and tall shots. The amount of detail put into the film furthers the realism. The set was built as a fully functional farm and the costumes are completely hand stitched. Cinematographer Jarin Blaschke reported that the film was shot using mostly natural light. “The Witch” sustains tension throughout, but rather than leading to jump scares it portrays a much larger unveiling of evil. Eggers has done exceptionally well at keeping this movie open to interpretation. There is not one concrete answer of what happened to the Puritan family. Anya Taylor-Joy is a remarkable ac-

tress who gave a unique performance in this film. Eggers said Thomasin was originally thought to be awkward and homely, but Taylor-Joy portrayed a mysterious and intense teenager ready to break out of the Puritan lifestyle. Ralph Ineson and Kate Dickie star as the parents, William and Katherine. Both stars of “Game of Thrones,” Ineson and Dickie provide an amazing performance of troubled, confused and absolutely terrified parents. Eggers’ extensive knowledge on the topic provides extreme accuracy and captivation for this film. He spent years researching the time period, folktales and even the language. Examining various documents, books and primary sources to structure speech and find specific lines. “The Witch” has even been endorsed by the Satanic Temple, which “facilitates the communication and mobilization of politically aware Satanists, secularists and advocates for individual liberty.” The temple believes the film to be “a transformative Satanic experience.” “The Witch" is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray.

Fuse Television's 'Clash of the Corps' stars Monarch Marshall Hallam

Larenz Johnson Staff Writer

Imagine looking forward to an event in life and watching it be snatched away. In most cases that is the point of giving up, but not for Marshall Hallam. Hallam is a junior at Old Dominion University and a rookie trumpeter for the Cadets, an elite drum corps team that will be featured in an upcoming Fuse television show entitled, “Clash of the Corps.” Hallam began playing trumpet at an early age, saying his inspiration stemmed from his want to attend the trips his school’s band went on. That all changed when Hallam entered high school and the school’s band director encouraged him to join the marching band, which Hallam reluctantly agreed to. “I really hated it for awhile until I started finding all these clips about the drum corps, so that got me pretty excited,” Hallam said. This led to Hallam’s decision to try his hand at joining the Cadets, beginning with a weekend group called Cadets 2 in 2012. For two

years, Hallam stuck with this group and in his senior year of high school, he went out for the Cadets. He didn’t make the Cadets his first two attempts, describing the experience as leaving him "really bitter." "In order to make the group, you have to fully commit to the idea of marching for a season. When that reality doesn’t manifest it turns into a spiraling depression that leaves you wondering if you can do anything right,” Hallam said. That didn’t stop Hallam, and after a lot of practice and perseverance, he made the Cadets first round this year due to a change in auditioning. Normally the audition consists of three parts, a visual component and two musical components. This year instead of performing one of the musical components in a group it was one on one, which Hallam says he “blew out of the water.” Following auditions, training begins towards the end of the school year. The team has 30 days to learn the show.

“The schedule works like this: you wake up at 8 a.m., you rehearse until about 10 p.m., and then you get about an hour to yourself. You do this for a total of 30 days, just to learn the show, and then we hit the road and kind of tour like rock stars,” Hallam said. Touring consists of inconsistent sleeping arrangements, rehearsals, and finally show time. Being taken out of a comfortable situation doesn’t have an effect on Hallam or the performance, though. “That’s part of the whole game, in order to be successful you need to be able to look past the unfortunate things that are happening. The circumstances aren’t ideal obviously, but what we pride ourselves in is being able to do all of that and put out a great performance,” Hallam said. The ideology of the Cadets has found a place in Hallam’s life on and off the field. Hallam stresses the objective in life is to be a good person and to carry yourself a certain way. “The objective leaving the organization is to just basically be the best version of yourself as possible,” Hallam said.

Hallam shared a few words of wisdom for anyone in a situation similar to his own before he made the Cadets. “My number one recommendation would be to join an activity, surround yourself with a peer group, just don’t be consumed with that one thing. When I first started music that’s all I wanted to do and I closed a lot of

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

doors because of it, so it’s important to not be so obsessive. Just get involved and attack it,” Hallam said. Hallam urges people to check out information on the teams featured in the series in order to uncover the unknown world of the drum corps. “Clash of the Corps” premieres Oct. 5 at 11 p.m. on Fuse Television.


B3

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Arts &

'Crafted indie arts and craft market' takes place Oct. 8 at O'Connor Brewing Co.

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

Photo by Jacie Litz

Take a Bite Out of Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint Jacie Litz Contributing Writer

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint may be small, but offers quality hamburgers and a huge selection of beer. With a rotating draft menu of eight beers, 12 seasonal beers and over 40 domestic and imported bottles, Jack Brown’s provides a beer for any palate. Though the 11-burger menu may be shorter compared to the beer menu, it still delivers a variety of fun toppings. The brick front located on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk has a Route 66-meets-hipster vibe. The wooden walls are covered with old license plates and other vintage signs. Yellow, gray, black and red metal stools are the only seating. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling and happens to be covered with feather boas

and female undergarments. A deer with a helmet and an antique bike also adorn the walls. Behind the bar, a wall is covered with signed dollar bills of customers and drafts are poured from the front of an old pickup truck. The front bay windows can open up to the street to furnish a modest patio with a wooden bar. Jack Brown’s uses American Wagyu beef for their burgers. American Wagyu is the cross between Japanese Wagyu cattle and Angus cattle. Known as the American-Style Kobe, the beef is prized for its intense marbling, or fat content, and tenderness. The cattle are raised with special care on Jack Brown’s own ranch in Idaho. This unique beef adds a deeper flavor to the burgers without being greasy. The burger menu, with 11 staple

burgers, gives a range of options. There is the simple cheeseburger, or for a more adventurous eater, the Elvis, which comes with mayo, Applewood smoked bacon, cheese and, of course, peanut butter. The Jack on Piggy Back comes with pickled jalapenos, cheese and a griddled hot dog. The Shocker is topped with fresh jalapenos, fresh habaneros, pepper jack cheese and shocker sauce. For something more comforting, try the Greg Brady. With a perfectly grilled beef patty topped with house made macn-cheese and BBQ chips, the layers of texture and cheesy goodness will have your inner child smiling. The joint also offers a daily specialty burger. On Mondays, the Chili Verde burger comes with roasted poblano chilies and pepper jack cheese.

The Popeye burger on Wednesdays is topped with house-made spinach and artichoke dip, pepper jack cheese and fried onions. Saturday is the freestyle burger, which will be a surprise topping. There are also the options of crinkle cut or sweet potato fries. Each burger also comes with their special sauce and a pickle spear. When asked about the special sauce, the waitress only knew it was cream based with onions, tomatoes and “magic.” The ingredients may be a secret, but the slightly sweet yet tangy sauce is a great dip for fries, or to even add on to your burger. While the mac-n-cheese burger may bring back childhood memories, the extensive beer menu will have any adult jumping for joy. Being fall, the seasonal menu provides a variety of

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

pumpkin and stout beers. The Bullfrog Lemon wheat gave a bitter hops taste in the front but ended with a refreshing lemon note. The beer list presented beer from California to Maine, Louisiana to Michigan, and England to Germany. There are even a handful of beers from Virginia. This large spectrum of beer listed fruit beer, pilsners, lagers, wheat ales, hefeweizen, saisons, ambers, IPAs, and pale ales. The staff is knowledgeable about all the beers and can recommend a cold one to go along with your hamburger. To keep up with events and specials, follow Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint on Facebook. Their website, jackbrownsjoint.com, also has menus for the Beer & Burgers. They are open daily from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.


B4

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Arts &

Email your ‘Tattoo of the Week’ story to artsandentertainment@maceandcrown.com

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

Kelsey Walker Arts & Entertainment Editor

Shape Shifting with Against Me!

For punk music, there’s always been a fine line between success and selling out. Against Me! has managed to walk that line masterfully. With music that is full of raw guitar riffs as well as slowed down, reflective ballads, the band has maintained a loyal fan base throughout their 14year career. In 2012, front man Thomas Gable shocked fans when he came out as transgender woman. Gable subsequently changed his name to Laura Jane Grace and began undergoing hormone therapy. Though some doubted whether the band would withstand the transition, Grace assured fans that Against Me! would

continue to make music (though two members did resign). On Sept. 16, Against Me! released their seventh studio album, “Shape Shift with Me,” a firestorm of pent up emotion. Opening with a rush, “ProVision L-3” is an angst-filled track we’ve come to expect from Against Me! Grace sings, “Culture of suspicion / For national security / Consent or coercion / The alpha, the omega / I know it’s an illusion but I can’t see through it.” The lyrics are few but draw on current issues that our society faces – a conversation punk bands have never shied away from. Things get more personal on the next track with Grace presumably touching on her 2014 divorce. She shouts, “Always tethered like a toy to your finger / You walk me like a

dog and I’m sick of rolling over” and “Whatever direction takes me away from you / That’s the direction I want to head in.” Despite the painful lyrics, the music itself is upbeat and danceable. The melodic drumbeat of "Boyfriend" grabs you in, and soon you’re drifting through the emotions of a breakup. The repetition of lyrics allows you to let the words sink in: “I don’t want to hang around the graveyard waiting for something dead to come back.” Grace continues to bang out the frustrations of short-lived, unsubstantial relationships, singing “It’s not love, it’s just adornment / Bathroom wall graffiti / A cliché sprayed on a T-shirt, fortune cookie poetry.” The album continues to leave

a mark with “Delicate, Petite & Other Things I’ll Never Be.” “Dead Rats” contains dark, creepy lyrics, but strangely balances somewhere between angry and sexy with humming guitar riffs. Things pick up with “Norse Truth.” Grace shouts, “Just forget I was here / Cut me out of your heart / Your body’s not a stranger to me / How can I look you in the eyes when I have known you so very intimately?” The words could be ripped right from a journal and show there’s no holding back when it comes to Grace’s songwriting. Coming to a close with “All This (And More),” the upbeat tune contrasts with Grace’s words: “I somehow ended up missing your kind of crazy more than the rest / All this and more to forget.” Though haunted by regrets,

she is moving on. In typical Against Me! fashion, the songs on “Shape Shift With Me” resonate like anthems. Listening, it's easy to visualize yourself watching the band perform live in a dark, damp club pushed up against sweaty people banging their heads with a beer in hand. The album takes the listener through a narrative of relationships from the perspective of Grace’s transition. Punk music has always been about going against the grain and calling out the truth, no matter how gritty or unappealing it may be to the masses. Laura Jane Grace’s public transformation is one of the most punk rock moves listeners have ever seen, and easily makes “Shape Shift With Me” worth a listen.

Monarch Style: Your Guide to Campus Fall Style Kim Bering Staff Writer

The time has arrived to pull out the sweaters, boots, scarves, hats and jeans. Fashion peaks in the cooling season of autumn, especially for students. Monarchs can walk all over campus in the crisp temperature with layers of knits and scarves, along with the quintessential pumpkin spice latte. Although classic sweaters and other pieces are key, the grungy aspect of fall radicalizes this season’s style. Popular model and celebrity Kendall Jenner commonly pairs mom jeans with a cropped sweater and black high ankle boots. Jenner, along with sev-

eral other fashion lovers, proves that showing a little bit of skin can still be tasteful. Many fashionistas even wear lacey lingerie tank tops for appeal but add a chunky cable knit sweater to keep warm. Conveniently stylish pajamas are now socially acceptable to wear to class! Accessories can add an extreme emphasis to a simple ensemble. If a plain, white sweater and black jeans aren't enough, the potential to be dazzled up with layered necklaces and a patterned scarf accessorizes the outfit to perfection. At your local H&M and Charlotte Russe at MacArthur Center, scarves retail beginning at $9.99. Chokers perfectly compliment the grungy trend. Loose sweaters

can sometimes drown the figure out in thick yarn, but including a fitted choker will bring much attention to the décolleté area while adding spice to a simple outfit. Chokers add a subtly sexy charm. Find several different styles at Francesca's Collections— also located at MacArthur Center. Now that the trendy pieces have been tackled, the classic pieces need addressing. Nothing says fall more than a thick woven sweater to throw on in a pinch. Wearing it with jeans, leggings or even skirts are all effortless possibilities. At least two or three essential sweaters in different colors make a fall wardrobe versatile and undeniably comfy. Next up, shoes. They can poten-

tially make or break an outfit. That’s why having one or two styles of boots comes in handy. Zip up a pair of black ankle boots when you’re feeling grungy or slide into a pair of classic riding boots for a more tailored look. An outfit changes completely between the two styles: whether it’s preppy and effortless or chic and trendy. When the weather cools down dramatically, having an extra layer makes all the difference to your warmth and the style of your outfit. Between classic leather, trench coats, bomber jackets and parkas, choosing the right one can be difficult. That’s why shopping at Forever21 makes the decision easy. So many choices exist to choose from with a cheap price tag.

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

Another quintessential piece is a flannel button up. Flannel is always a good idea. It has the potential to be worn in so many ways. It can be paired with leggings to be comfy, a vest for a more preppy look or distressed jeans for the grunge appeal. The same flannel button up easily transitions between all of these style genres, so it is an absolute necessity for the fall wardrobe. A few new styles exist to spice up the season every year, but fall style essentially remains untouched by trends. That includes the infamous pumpkin spice latte. Nothing beats a simple sweater, jeans, ankle boots and perhaps a scarf. The peak of classiness resides in the season of autumn.


B5

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Arts &

'American Horror Story: Hotel' streaming now on Netflix

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

MONARCH MUSIC MINUTE Hell YES!

I’ll Listen to it Twice, Even.

LINDSEY LANHAM,STAFF WRITER

We’re Getting There...

Eh...

Face Palm.

Grouplove ‘Big Mess'

Courtesy of Atlantic Records

Grouplove has brought back their wired, eccentric feel on their new album “Big Mess.” Known for quirky lyrics and standout chord progressions, Grouplove is kind of like the weird kid at school everyone seems to love. “Big Mess” is a perfect reflection of how the world views this band. Three years after the release of “Spreading Rumors,” featuring the hit single “Ways to Go,” Grouplove returned more powerful than ever. “Big Mess” was released on Sept. 9, and in the natural, Grouplove way, the album is a celebration of life. “Big Mess” starts off with track

“Welcome to Your Life,” opening the album up for the fans and immediately including them in the music. Lines like “you’re such a big mess / and I love you” make the listener feel like they have a connection with the band. Other buoyant tracks include “Do You Love Someone?” and “Good Morning,” both songs showcasing the unique vocals of Zucconi and Hannah Hooper. The song “Cannonball” brings a rock feel to the album, demonstrating how much range the band truly has. The album takes a turn with the

track “Enlighten Me,” which becomes a soulful ballad about broken hearts and uncertainty. With lyrics like “but I don’t feel my life is real / I’m on the fence with common sense,” the song is sorrowful, yet relatable. An explosion of sound and color, Grouplove has reminded us just how fun-loving they can be. The album shares optimistic feelings, something that everyone could use after some of the things that have happened this past year. “Big Mess” is big fun and doesn’t take things too seriously.

Token

‘Eraser Shavings' Getting his start at just 17, Token is already establishing himself in the hip-hop world. With his first fulllength album, “Eraser Shavings,” Token is about to make himself one of the most talked-about names in the industry. Token’s painfully honest lyrics mixed with layers of intense beats and synth add-ons make his sound interesting and fun to listen to. Growing up, Token was told that he wasn’t able to think like other kids and was put in special education classes for his learning disabilities. Now, he has proven

that nobody is going to hold him back. “Eraser Shavings” was released on Sept. 23. After many years of submitting songs to rap competitions hoping someone would give him a shot, his music is now on iTunes and Spotify. “Happiness” is his hit single off of the album. It’s a song about the kids in class who don’t get attention, and those who may be abused or bullied. He discusses his own battles with depression and the struggles he’s faced talking to his family about his issues. “Waist Down” is a more upbeat track. The outro even includes a

conversation between Token and a woman about how ridiculous the song actually is. It’s more of a radio-ready song and gives the listener something light-hearted to listen to after his heavier music. Even though “Eraser Shavings” is only his first full length, Token is already making great strides with his music. He’s proven how talented he is with his quick and sincere lyrics and has defied the odds by proving everyone wrong. Token is not a name that will be forgotten any time soon.

Courtesy of Token LLC

Beach Slang

‘A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings’

Courtesy of Polyvinyl Records

The Mace & Crown

Less than a year after the release of their freshman album, “The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us,” Beach Slang is back with their latest release, “A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings.” Released on Sept. 23, Beach Slang has compiled an album that is dedicated to the fans. “A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings” is a personal reveal of what’s been going through the band’s head for the past 11 months. Even though the lyrics are more than sympathetic, the album is presented with raw vocals and loud uproar.

As personal as it may be, “Loud Bash” is a loud mess of noise. A trademark punk-rock sound is filled with brash guitar riffs and stiff drum beats, yet with Beach Slang it’s as if there’s no direction. If garage grunge is what you're looking for, you’ve come to the right place. Opening track “Future Mix Tape for the Art Kids” starts the album off with that classic punk-rock feeling. Lead singer and guitarist James Alex takes a bold step with Auto-Tune. The effect makes his voice sound far away and like static, which only adds to the

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

harsh punk sound. With hit single “Punks in a Disco Bar,” Beach Slang has taken on a more radio-ready sound. It is easily the most relatable song on the album, with lyrics referring to adolescent angst and the hardships of growing up. “A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings” is, well, just that. A simple punk narrative backed by angst and raw emotion. Beach Slang has shown that their throwback punk anthems are going nowhere fast, and as harsh as it sounds, at least it’s earnest.


B6

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Arts &

Check out ODU students' short films on campusmoviefest.com

E N T ER T A I NM E N T

MONARCH MOVIE MINUTE Mind Blown

A Must See

Add to my Queue

TYLER PASSARGE, STAFF WRITER

Well, there goes 2 hours of my life

Straight to DVD

‘Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made’ 2015 | Unrated | 106 min.

After seeing the 1981 classic “Raider of the Lost Ark,” three young boys set out on a passionate journey to shoot a shot-for-shot remake of the film. What was originally meant to be a way to fill in the time during a summer vacation turned into a seven-year-long experience. As they got into their senior year of high school, the boys decided to part ways. They ended the long winded production of their film, despite the fact that they only had one scene left to shoot. Years after putting an end to their film, a video of the remake found

its way into the hands of fans of the original Spielberg movie, who were all blown away by it. This documentary follows the story of the three boys, now grown men, who reunite to film the last scene of their movie. Anyone who has ever attempted to make a movie knows that it can be a grueling task. There is a lot of work that has to go into articulating every scene and every shot in order for the process to work. There has to be a true love for the process in order to artistically express something through filmmaking and “Raiders!” captures that

struggle perfectly. Viewers will be left stunned over moments of sheer idiocy that capture how these boys reproduced some of the scenes from the original film (including lighting one of their friends on fire). However, there is a story in “Raiders!,” which captured the three boys' love for filmmaking and the personal and domestic struggles that came with holding onto that childlike magic. This film is available on Netflix.

Courtesy Off Jeremy Coon Production

‘Slow West’

2015 | Unrated | 84 min. In this fairy tale western, “Slow West” follows the character of Jay (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a young and naïve man, as he journeys through the harsh landscape of the wild west in order to reunite with the love of his life, Rose. As he stumbles his way through his quest, Jay finds himself being chaperoned by Silas (Michael Fassbender), an outlaw that has no problem putting down anyone in his way. As Jay and Silas cross paths with some unruly entities, they both constantly find themselves in positions where they have to dip their hands

in the cold-blooded darkness of the west. This leads to a bond that Jay and Silas share as Silas begins to show Jay the ways of being a murderous outlaw. However, Silas may be hiding an ulterior motive for helping Jay that could change everything. The western genre has been in desperate need for a revival, and if the recent success of the “Magnificent Seven” remake has proven anything it’s that there is interest in this form of storytelling. A movie like “Slow West” is a western that not only encapsulates the grittiness and adventure of the genre but also visually elevates the

western in ways that will please art house film fanatics. Director John Maclean and cinematographer Robbie Ryan take great advantage of their New Zealand set to capture beautiful shots that make the film look like a painting at every turn. With a criminally short runtime, “Slow West” is able to capture the bloody fun of a western film while showing it through a beautiful lens that’s very reminiscent of a Wes Anderson film. This film is available on Amazon Prime.

Courtesy SeeSaw Films

‘While We’re Young’ 2015 | R | 97 min.

Both entering their 40s, documentary filmmaker Josh (Ben Stiller) and his wife Cornelia (Naomi Watts) begin to fear the impending process of getting older. All of their friends are beginning to have children, settle down and begrudgingly accept life for the way it is. Josh and Cornelia are trying to figure out a way to avoid the change and remain happy together. Things begin to change for them when they befriend Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried), a much younger hipster couple who attempt to invite Josh and

Cornelia on many liberating excursions. To the confusion of their older friends, Josh and Cornelia join their new young friends in order to try to feel young once again. How far can they go before reality sets in? Director Noah Baumbach reunites with Ben Stiller (who previously worked on 2010’s “Greenberg”) to tell a very relatable story about generational gaps and the fear of aging. The entire cast (including Driver, who gives a great performance) are very likable and make “While We’re Young” a very enjoyable experi-

ence….at least for the first half. The ultimate problem with the film is that Baumbach decides half way through to drop what made the first half of the movie so good. Instead, he focuses on a subplot that involves a filmmaking war between Stiller and Driver’s characters. The problem with this is that it comes in so awkwardly and by the end has no repercussions. The film is aided by an interesting premise and great cast, but overstays its welcome. This film is available on Amazon Prime.

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

Courtesy Scot Rudin Productions

@maceandcrown


C1

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Sports SPORTS RECAP Men’s Basketball Games to be Broadcast on TV Conference USA officials announced that a total of eight men’s basketball games have been chosen to be televised. Five of them will be televised on the American Sports Network and the other three on the beIN Sports Channel. These eight televised games do not include the "Battle 4 Atlantis" Nov. 23-26, which will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and AXS TV.

Ken Brown Named New Deputy Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig has promoted Ken Brown as the New Deputy Athletic Director. Brown was previously the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs. Selig said, “Ken is a seasoned athletic administrator with over 30 years of athletic administrative experience. This announcement formally recognizes Ken’s role and his importance to the overall athletic department operations at ODU.” Tyler Compton Named SemiFinalist for Award Senior offensive lineman has been named a semi-finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The award is given to the best football scholarship athlete in the nation and displayed at the New York Athletic Club. Compton a two-time Conference USA AllAcademic selection earned his undergraduate degree in just two-and-a-half years with 3.92 GPA.

Men’s Golf Wins Intercollegiate Title

Patriot

In the final round of ODU finished 3-under par to overtake Eastern Kentucky for the Patriot Intercollegiate Title. All five Monarch golfers placed in the top 25 of the 110-person field. David Langley led all ODU golfers shooting -4 and finishing second overall. Antonio Cruz-Conde shot even par and Michael Bakker shot +2 over for spots in the top ten.

This Week in Club Sports Men’s Rugby will host Radford at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex on Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. The Men’s soccer team will play a match against Richmond on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. at Powhatan Stadium.

Read more sports news at maceandcrown.com/category/sports

Circle of Unity

Harry Howard Jr. Sports Editor

Ever since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to begin his protest of injustice in America, athletes across the country have joined him by also taking a knee or holding up raised fists. ODU football joined the protest by doing something that hadn’t been seen before. Prior to the football game against Texas-San Antonio on Oct. 24, the entire team and coaches gathered joining arms and raising them in what Coach Wilder later called, the “Circle of Unity." The team wanted to do something to join the cause and Wilder wanted it to bring them together. He met with the team captains David Washington, T.J. Ricks, Zach Pascal and Rashaad Coward and they came up with this idea that they will continue throughout the rest of the season. “We want to show that our country can be unified, that we can come together,” Wilder said.

Not only did the Monarchs form the “Circle of Unity,” but during pregame warmups players wore “Black Lives Matter” t-shirts. It caused a mix reaction from fans of the program but Wilder has his players' backs. “'Black Lives Matter' is a very powerful movement with a very strong voice with a number of players on our team. I told them it was their decision. I’m a 100 percent firm believer that this is the greatest country in the world and that freedom of speech is a right for everybody, and not just for the adults or politicians," Wilder said. Wilder reached out to Charlotte head coach Brad Lambert inviting his team to join the Monarchs in “Circle of Unity” prior to their game on Oct. 1. Lambert accepted and the two formed together in similar fashion to what the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons did on Monday night football. “The kids look up to and admire the NFL. I’m hopeful that Charlotte and Old Dominion aren’t the only teams in the country that do this. I hope that

a lot of high schools will do it. This is all about unifying our country. It’s about how much we love our country and how we want to bring people together,” Wilder said. Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston has been searching for a way his team could join the protest. Wilder reached out to Boston and he met with Monarchs while the team was in North Carolina for the Charlotte game. “We want to make sure we’re not disrespecting anybody. We have to figure out a way to show that not only will we play for you, we want to be with you in these times. We want to show

Photo courtesy of ODU Football

you that we recognize what’s going on,” said Boston. ODU will start a mentoring program called “Children 4 Humanity” for local youth at least twice a month. The first event will be held Oct. 13 from 3:305 p.m. The football team won’t be the only mentees as student groups will join them and ODU Police Chief Rhonda Harris has reached to law enforcement. Concerning "Children 4 Humanity," “We’re going to go as long as the weather holds up, then will try to figure out a way to keep it going during the winter. We’re committed to this,” Wilder said.

Field Hockey wins 2-1 thriller in OT Over Liberty

A two-goal game from senior Megan Byaz secured a 2-1 victory for Old Dominion Field Hockey against Liberty. Her second goal came with five minutes left of a thrilling overtime period. The victory puts the Monarchs at 6-3 on the season with a 2-1 mark in the Big East. “I was happy we were able to pull it out, but overall in this game, I thought we got outplayed. We can play much better than that, and we have. It’s all part of being a young team,” head coach Andrew Griffiths said. Griffiths knows his team needs to be more consistent if they want to contend in close games, especially with a team such as Liberty, who was

ranked No. 14 in the country coming in. “Our ball movement and defensive play have to improve. Liberty is a really solid team and they made it tough for us tonight,” he said. Both teams played a very tactical first half with little scoring chances coming from either side. Liberty had four penalty corners but they were all in quick succession and stifled by the ODU defense. Both sides ran well-executed presses making it very difficult to generate any offense. It was a chess match, however, and a loss of concentration by the Monarchs led to a quick opportunity for Liberty with just seconds remaining in the half. Liberty’s Alynn Richardson capitalized off a quick pass putting the Flames up 1-0 at the half. ODU was able to muster just one shot on goal. Liberty came out firing in the

second half, really testing the Monarch defense. “The second half was shaky at times. I had to call a timeout with 15 minutes left to get the team refocused,” Griffiths said. ODU’s offense became frantic. With just two minutes to go, Byaz created some separation on a penalty corner and found the back of the net. “It was an amazing feeling. Our corner play has really improved, that play was made possible by everybody,” Byaz said. Tied 1-1, the teams went into a 15-minute overtime period. Liberty was outshooting ODU 9-6 and both teams were looking fatigued. In OT, the Monarchs were led by goalkeeper Kealsie Robles game-saving performance, she played all 70 minutes and made three crucial saves to keep her team in the game. “Kealsie can certainly be a difference maker in a game and

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

Photo Courtesy of ODU Field Hockey

Matt O'Brien Staff Writer

it's nice to have that. In the last couple of years, we have controlled games better than this and come out on the losing end. Good goalkeeping play can really make a difference,” he said. Griffiths made a late substitution bringing in Alyssa Jones who was able to maintain her composure and get a penalty corner for the Monarchs. A good read by Byaz allowed her to get open and she found the back of the net once again with four minutes remaining. “I wanted that one really bad I was getting very tired at the end there,” Byaz said. The comeback win puts the Monarchs in a good position going into next weekend as they will face two tough opponents in Virginia and Maryland. “There is plenty talent on this team, but we have a tough stretch coming up. We have to get to playing better,” Griffiths said.


C2

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Sports

For more on ODU athletics, follow @macecrownsports

Lady Monarchs Stomp Roadrunners Harry Howard Jr. Sports Editor

Old Dominions women’s soccer (4-7-0, 2-1-0 C-USA) shut out UTSA (5-6-0, 1-1-0 CUSA) 3-0 at the ODU Soccer Complex. The Lady Monarchs had a rough start in the first part of their season but starting the Conference USA play has rebooted the bunch. It was the Monarchs second straight shutout and all three goals were the players first of the season. Coach Hind spoke about the goal and said, “You could see the excitement that’s when you know you have real together-

ness on your team when everyone’s so excited when someone scores. It was great for Maddie to get the first one and then Devin got on the score sheet. This environment and atmosphere is just fantastic.” The Lady Monarchs attacked early and often scoring twice in the first 15 minutes of the match. On their first goal Deirdre Bradley passed it up to defender Maddie Morningstar, who lofted it up from outside the penalty box. UTSA goalie Michelle Cole jumped attempting to save it, but Morningstar put in the perfect spot to take a 1-0 lead. Minutes later Iris Achter-

hof kicked in the corner that bounced off a defender before Kira Laurento kicked in the back of the net for 2-0 lead. “The two goals in the first half really set us up,” Coach Hind said. For the rest of the half, the score remained the same but the Lady Monarchs continued to attack, outshooting UTSA ten to four and taking four corner kicks to their two. After the halftime break, ODU continued to apply pressure and possessed the ball more than the Roadrunners. With a commanding lead, the Monarchs rotated in some fresh legs.

“We had so many players on the field a lot of freshmen got on the field and made an impact,” coach Hind said. At the 62nd-minute mark, Old Dominion scored the final goal of the game on another corner kick. Achterhof played it in crossing the ball to the other side of the goal to Natalie Johnson who headed it to Devyn Hannis to extend the lead to 3-0. For the game, the Lady Monarchs outshot UTSA 14 to six and held the advantage in corner kicks seven to five. ODU Goalie Krista Moisio is now 4-7 this year and had one save as completed her second shut-

out of the season. “It’s a scrappy one, there’s gonna be games like this. We can’t always win playing perfect soccer what we can take away from this game is our ability to battle, compete, and find a way to win the game,” Coach Hind said. On Oct. 9 the Lady Monarchs will travel to play Florida International in another conference matchup. At 2-1 in conference play, the Monarchs need these games to secure a spot in the Conference USA Tournament because only the top eight teams earn a bid. The tournament will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nov. 2-6.

Photo by Amal Bluh

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown


D1

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Technology

Read more technology news at maceandcrown.com/category/technology

TECH IN A SEC

Cable TV Projected to lost $1 Billion Next Year According to a study conducted by management consulting firm cg42, an estimated 800,000 cable customers will cut their cords in the next 12 months, amounting to $1 billion in lost revenue. If you need an incentive to join the trend of cord-cutting, cg42 also finds that cord-cutting saves you an average of $104 per month. SpaceX Unveils “Interplanetary Transport System” In a video released by SpaceX, the “Interplanetary Transport System” is the end goal of SpaceX’s current rocket launching and testing efforts. The rocket is proposed to be a two part system, with the top being a passenger craft, which separates from the booster half to “park” in orbit. Meanwhile, the booster will land back on the launch pad, just as the current Falcon 9 rockets currently do.

Photo courtesy of Androidcentral.com

Snapchat Announces its First Gadget “Spectacles” Snapchat, now called Snap, Inc., will begin selling Spectacles later this year at $130. Spectacles are circular, colorful sunglasses with embedded cameras that can record up to 30 seconds of video at a time. Both like and unlike the failed Google Glass, Spectacles intend to succeed by focusing on picture and video sharing and a lower price point. Google’s Machine Translators Nearing Human Levels In a post on its research blog, Google announced the results of its initiative to improve Google Translate. Using Google Neural Machine Translation, Google Translate is now able to achieve near human-like translations in terms of clarity and accuracy. Faster Internet without New Cables The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, or IEEE, has released a new standard for Ethernet that will allow for up to five-times faster internet speeds without requiring new cabling be laid. The standards set by the IEEE are the kind that almost all digital networks and electronics follow.

The Presidential Debate in the Digital Age Robert Williams Contributing Writer During the 2012 election season, the role played by the internet and digital technology in either presidential campaign was seen as revolutionary. This election season, the bar has been raised to new heights. Every major social media site had their own debate streams and several news outlets streamed the debate for free on their websites too. The debate that took place on Sept. 26 was just one of the major examples of how the internet and digital media interacted with, and influenced, the campaign trail. The first presidential debate between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump was broadcast on TV, live streamed over the internet and tweeted with its own presidential hashtags, #DebateNight and #Debates2016.

There has been much commotion about media and technology surrounding this debate with Donald Trump even mentioning hackers being “somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds.” This statement is obviously an untrue stereotype of computer scientists and engineers, but this is not the only false statement from either of the presidential candidates. For the first time NPR's politics team fact checked Trump and Clinton with live annotations of the debate. On NPR's website, there is a transcript of the entire debate with sources and quotes of both candidates about their political stances. NPR included extensive sources with links to news interviews, video and government documents. As predicted, there are many notable lies from Trump as well as some disconnect with Clin-

ton's statements. NBC also offered the debate in virtual reality. Using your Samsung Gear, Vive or Oculus Rift headset you could download ALTSpaceVR to join other people who were also watching the debate. The NBC VR debate set up was simple and plain with that did not take full advantage of VR technology. Last year, NextVR had broadcast an NBA basketball game with VR cameras in the stadium seats and on court side of the game. The ALTSpaceVR was more like a VR chat room. The debate played on a virtual television while you stayed in place in a room of other avatars chatting about the debate. On the PBS website it had an interactive video of the debate. People could sign up anonymously with their gender, age and political affiliation and then voted on how they felt

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

about the topics of the debate. It then took that information and charted it as the video played. There were a lot of good statistics for how men, women and people young and old felt about certain statements and the pace of the debate. When Trump insulted Clinton, women's favorability toward him dropped significantly. Between the youngest polled and the oldest polled, the younger audience liked the dispute Clinton and Trump had with one another and the moderator. With new technology and uses being developed for VR and 4K, streaming the 2020 election and campaign will probably be more innovative than ever before, both in terms of coverage and how it might influence the election itself.


M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Technology

The Mace & Crown

To keep up with more gadget news, go to maceandcrown.com

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

D2


D3

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Technology

Get up-to-date gamer news @Mace_CrownTech

The Closure of ITT Tech, and the Dangers of ForProfit Colleges Photo edited by Ross Reelachart Audra Reigle Staff Writer If there’s one thing college students can agree upon, it’s that the cost of attending college is high. However, for-profit schools, like ITT Tech, generally charge much more than the average university or college, and often prey on vulnerable potential students. After much investigation, ITT Tech was forced to close its doors to students in early September. The school closed as a result of an investigation by the U.S. Department

of Education discovering that most of the school’s funding, approximately 70 percent in 2015, came from federal aid, according to Gizmodo. While not a crime by itself, the gross misuse of tax payer dollars for profit, rather than education, was not viewed favorably by federal authorities. The school’s access to federal aid was blocked, and as a result, they stopped enrolling new students. Students and faculty were given no warning, and simply left to fend for themselves. A bachelor’s degree costs upwards of $77,000 at ITT Tech, and an associate degree cost upwards of $45,000. For comparison, the cost of an associate’s degree at Tidewater Community College (TCC) is $176.60 per credit hour for an in-state student, and $151.45 per credit hour at Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC). The cost of a bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion University is

$325 per credit hour for an in-state student. Assuming a student at one of the aforementioned community colleges completes an associate degree that requires 61 credit hours, a TCC student would pay $10,772.60, and a TNCC student would pay $9238.45. If a student were to get a bachelor’s degree at ODU that requires 120 credit hours, they would pay $39,000. These prices are based off of tuition rates for the 2016-2017 academic year and exclude any miscellaneous costs, such as for textbooks or room and board, or any extra courses a student may take that aren’t part of their degree plans. Even with those extra costs, they still fall far short of ITT Tech's costs. The students affected by the closure were at a loss of what to do. They were forced to start repaying their debt unless they could get loan forgiveness, and those that wanted to continue their education would have to start

over as their credits would not transfer to another institution. Students who got their degrees at ITT Tech felt as if they had wasted their time by going to the school, and by the time they realized it, it was too late. Many said that they ended up getting jobs that didn’t require degrees at all. Technology used at the school was also reported to be outdated, and served as an example of ITT Tech sacrificing education to save money. The school pre-assigned syllabi and course materials and distributed them to the instructors. The materials instructors received “were well over 10-years-old,” a faculty member at the Charlotte campus told Gizmodo. Students at the school told Gizmodo that “the teachers were students only a few semesters ahead of the others.” The students also said that the technology being taught to them was outdated, and many used YouTube as a way of

learning course material. While ITT Tech’s closure may seem sudden, the school has been under investigation for some time. A 2004 federal raid put ITT Tech, among other for-profit schools, on the radar, even though that case was closed, according to the New York Times. “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and 19 states have investigated ITT Tech,” the New York Times said. In addition, there have been private lawsuits, such as one by Rodney Lipscomb, a former ITT Tech dean of academic affairs who attempted to fix the school’s problems. It wasn’t until 2014 that the Department of Education had started to monitor ITT Tech’s finances.

'Paladins' Game Review: Slick Fun with Rough Edges Ross Reelachart Technology Editor A colorful cast of cartoonish characters face-off against one another in a hero-based first person shooter with MOBA-like elements. No, I’m not talking about Blizzard’s “Overwatch.” I’m talking about “Paladins” by HiRez Studios, a game that is in the unfortunate position of constantly being compared to “Overwatch” despite being in production for just as long. Currently in open beta, “Paladins” show some rough potential to be a fun hero shooter despite the somewhat unfair comparisons to “Overwatch.” As a game in the beta phase of development, everything said in this review is subject to change before the final release of the game. The world of “Paladins” is colorful and cartoony, which is an aesthetic choice that has seen great prominence in recent games as a reaction to the “brown and realistic” style that used

to pervade games a few years ago. This is also a world with seemingly no overarching narrative or backstory to explain why a mad scientist fox and a flamethrower knight are fighting against a magical treant and a goblin driving a mech suit. As a game that is online multiplayer-only, such a lack of story is forgivable or even a welcome change. Since there’s no explanation for why these random assortment of heroes are fighting over control point, the game is free to have any characters it chooses without tying them down with unnecessary backstory, or hindering future character additions with a need to tie them into the ‘story’. The gameplay of “Paladins” will be more familiar to MOBA players than FPS players. While the core gameplay loop is a five-versus-five shooter that relies on teamwork, the major differences between characters and their respective abilities make combat more about numbers than twitch reflex. To add even more complica-

tion, characters can customized with ‘cards’ in a loadout that augments their abilities further, usually by reducing their cooldowns or increasing their effectiveness by flat percentages. Combine such fiddly character management with damage numbers that fly off characters when hit and ‘ultimate’ abilities, and “Paladins” seems more like a first person MOBA than it does a competitive shooter. As a whole, “Paladins” is mostly

fun with a lot of enjoyable elements finding themselves marred by a few shortcomings. The combat is quick, but lacks punch. The art style is cute and inoffensive, but in motion that game is even harder to read than “Overwatch.” Customizing heroes to suit different playstyles is interesting as a set of ‘cards,’ but little is done to distinguish those cards as anything other than passive buffs. Customization itself keeps the game rewards

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown

Photo courtesy of YouTube over time, but it also involves far too many numbers and the abilities are not consistently easy to understand without thorough play. Hopefully, “Paladins” can be made more enjoyable before its full release, and hopefully it won’t be dragged down by its free-to-play pay structure. “Paladins” is available on Steam and Windows.


E1

M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

Creative

Submit your creative writing and satirical works to editorinchief@maceandcrown.com

E NC L AV E

Once Upon a Time by Briel Felton Here’s the thing She knows she isn’t perfect She isn’t hippy or breasty or orgasmic Once upon a time there was a time where beauty was determined by a smile quirky remarks intelligence if she could shoot a three or throw a punch What were expectations vs. reality? Flaws and all, got her the guy anyway because she offered more than tail and tits like a vocabulary or the skill to wrap a head scarf Where did we go with our girls? When did we switch up the story? Making them feel like they need to harbor “this” standard of beauty Let’s change it back Once upon a time You will wake up and know you are enough

The Mace & Crown

SUDOKU

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown


M&C | WEDNESDAY | 10.5.2016 | MACEANDCROWN.COM

The Mace & Crown

@maceandcrown

@maceandcrown


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.