October 26, 2017

Page 1

Wesleyan’s first swim meet SPORTS Page 7

The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 10.26.17 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU ||

Students and staff discuss anthem controversy

Ashlei Gates|Marlin Chronicle A referee, goalie and players from the men’s soccer team stand while the national anthem plays. BY AMANDA ARCHER acarcher@vwu.edu

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu

National anthem protests have engulfed the lead storyline in the news for over a year now. However, recent tweets by President Donald Trump have put an even more pervasive spotlight on the situation. Across the country professional athletes have been kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem as a form of protest against racial discrimination. Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, began the movement in 2016 claiming that he would not stand for a flag that represented the oppression of people of color and the ongoing concern of police brutality. “I believe that people should have a right to stand up or “kneel” for what they believe in. I don’t think they are trying to disrespect the flag or even America, they just want to be heard and everyone deserves to have that right” said Kiersten Richardson, a senior student athlete. After recently becoming a national story, colleges have begun to put into action plans or responses to kneeling within college athletics. Florida State’s football coach Jimbo Fisher proclaimed that people have the freedom to express themselves. Currently nothing has formally come from the university’s administration or athletic administration on their standpoint of whether or not they feel kneeling is appropriate within Virginia Wesleyan University’s athletics. “I think for me as an athletic director, we as a department and the student athletes have always been able to communicate pretty well together and understand for the most part about how people feel about things. The anthem, I think, is a bit more personal for a variety of reasons,” said Joanne Renn, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Sophomore tudent athlete Madison Glaubke agreed with Coach Renn but reinforced the idea that people are allowed to express their opinions. “I think that it’s disrespectful only because people fight for our freedom so that we are able to participate or attend college sports. Yes, I believe people are entitled to do whatever they please, but people go out risking their lives to protect us and make sure that we are safe” said Glaubke. Renn was adamant that protest during the National Anthem only makes the issue worse. “Here is the most important thing: I think it strengthens the negativity and the divide that is in our culture. It is part of the divide not part of the solution. And as I lead the athletic department, that is what I try to stand on. Whatever the issue is are we trying to solve it or are we perpetuating the problem,” Renn said. Renn emphasizes that she does want to offer help for the issue. She uses a reference to the Kent State Men’s Basketball team.

SEE ANTHEM Pg. 2

1Front.indd 1

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Goodbye Mickey: rats vacate dorms BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu

Complaints about rats arose recently from residents primarily in Bray Village (also known as Village I), who said they had witnessed rodents in their dorms and halls. Robert Solomon, a freshman on Old hall in VI, was one such resident. He first came into contact with the unwelcome guest late at night last month. “I honestly [didn’t] know what it was, I just knew it was a critter,” he said. “Out of the corner of my eye I saw just this little brown thing darting across the floor.” After investigation, he and his roommate found a hole in the corner Brandon Foster|Courtesy The body of a rat thrown into a trashcan in Bray Village of their HVAC unit, which they then (Village I), nicknamed ‘Mickey’ by some of the students. covered by “jerry-rigging a water bottle.” Solomon contacted his RA, junior provider for pest control, surveyed Brandon Foster, who instructed him to Villages I and II in order to ascertain submit a work order listing the problem where and how the rats were getting as a health hazard. into dorms. Workers cut back the brush “It took them a good 24 hours, I’d around residence halls, put traps in the say, and they just came with this little rooms that had reported rat sightings tiny trap that had glue on it and food,” and foamed and steel-wooled holes in said Solomon regarding maintenance’s HVAC units to prevent entry or exit. response. In the meantime, he and his Ralph Chittams, the director of roommate continually played Netflix Residence Life (ResLife), also known in the hopes that the noise would as “RJ,” said that though this is not the discourage any visitors. first time the university has encountered Mickella Rast|Marlin Chronicle “For a few days, we kind of ran up rats, he is “cautiously optimistic” that An example of one of the rat traps placed the school’s electrical bill,” Solomon the problem has been solved. by Orkin, here shown in RA Brandon Foster’s joked. “Through wintertime is really going room. Orkin, VWU’s contracted service to be the big test,” Chittams said. SEE PESTS Pg. 2

Campus culture examined after Weinstein scandal BY JOSHUA DAVIS jwdavis@vwu.edu

More than 30 accusers have come forward with charges of harassment against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. These allegations come after the producer reportedly ruled his industry with an iron fist, using his power to exploit and abuse his colleagues and employees for decades. Virginia Wesleyan students find the importance of a positive culture on campus as an integral part of their safety. “Even though the act of sexual assault is sexual, it is not about sex, it is all about control. It is about having power over someone else,” said student Denise Fitzgerald. “I feel like it speaks to a cultural issue more than anything. I think our school has great policies on sexual misconduct, but I don’t know how effective they are, because I haven’t been in that situation,” said senior Marie Lerch. Alex Addy spoke from the viewpoint of a freshman but still agreed.

“It’s a good community here, I feel like students understand their responsibilities and know right from wrong,” Addy said. “When we speak about sexual misconduct on campus, we speak on a basis of consent, what our policy is as an institution, ways to get help for victims, and bystander intervention. It is important that we have a community that takes care of one another. That when they see something that is not right, they address it,” said Dean of Students Jason Seward. Seniors Becca Winslow and Marie Lerch both cited social media campaigns, such as “#metoo” and “#HowIWillChange” as a way to spread awareness about sexual abuse and misconduct. “Some people think that if it isn’t a violent crime, then they don’t have to say anything about it,” Lerch said. The “#metoo” campaign was created when actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘me too’ as a status, we might give

SEE WEINSTEIN Pg. 2

Meet the mini Marlins

Jeff Toussaint|Courtesy

COMMUNITY Page 3

Changing names

Ashlei Gates|Marlin Chronicle

OPINIONS Page 6

A glimpse of Halloween

Valerie Miller|Marlin Chronicle

WEEKENDER Page 10

IT Services releases new student Portal BY AMANDA ARCHER acarcher@vwu.edu

On October 17, Information Technology Services released an email on the new Portal that is available for students, faculty, and staff. The Portal is a secure single sign on site for both academic and administrative services. The term single sign on means that once you’ve logged into the Portal, you’re logged into anything else you may need to access through Portal. Students will be able to access their emails, Web Advisor, Financial Aid, and many other services to come. Pages on the Portal will range anywhere from Student Activities all the way to Security. “The site is as secure as online banking. It is a very secure site. All the information in there won’t go external. You can also access your Financial Aid Self Service. You can look at your balance. You can pay your tuition. I just think it’s everything that student’s need all in one area,” said Ember Jenison, who is the Help Desk Analyst for IT Services. It is recommended that when using the Portal to access it

through Microsoft based websites such as Chrome or Internet Explorer because of its Microsoft originality. Currently the Portal is accompanied with admittance to Microsoft Office 365. As long as you’re a student at Virginia Wesleyan University, you will receive a downloadable version of Microsoft to any computer. There will be a six-month grace period for students who are graduating and will have to convert their VWU emails. “It has a Microsoft Office feel to it. Even on the administration side. So it is really user friendly. And as departments get used to using it and we start growing, and more offices will start adopting that,” said Terry Critser, Systems Administrator and Helpdesk Supervisor. For now, the site does not have specific departments listed. However, students will no longer have to worry about their emails being filled with countless amounts of information. “It’s really going to be open right now. The only things that have gone through for now are the notices from the President’s Office.

SEE PORTAL Pg. 2 10/24/2017 10:59:05 PM


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.