THURSDAY 12.7.23 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Marlin turns simple notes into magical sensations With years of violin-playing under their belt, senior June Richardson began writing their own music in high school. BY GABRIELLE BARNETT gabarnett@vwu.edu
June Richardson|Courtesy Senior June Richardson plays their violin at the beach.
A whispery voice right behind your ear, ghostly and tingling. The sharp, acrid smell of smoke clogging in the air. Dark shadows floating in and out of the corner of your vision, somebody grabbing you sharply on the shoulder or a slightly metallic taste on your tongue. All are different types of sensations that are difficult to explain to others. But June Richardson, a violinist and composer at Virginia Wesleyan University, takes a different approach. Instead of using words, they focus on conveying these ideas and emotions through music composition.
“The purpose of the piece and the performance is…to evoke emotions. It’s just to tell a story and to make some kind of emotional impact,” Richardson said. In addition to music composition, Richardson also studies mathematics, computer science and data science. “It just blew me away,” Justin Stanley said. Stanley is the conductor of the Virginia Wesleyan University orchestra and has been teaching music for 13 years. He’s worked with Richardson for 3 years and smiled proudly as he talked about them. “Not only are they a genius in the math department
Students advise on Anti-hazing Norfolk Airport travel BY CHRISTIAN PALMISANO clpalmisano@vwu.edu
Adam’s Law was borne out of a horrific incident of hazing, in which Virginia Commonwealth University freshman Adam Oakes died of alcohol poisoning as the direct result of pressure from members of a fraternity. Since his death, many have fought valiantly for hazing to become considered a more serious crime, with more serious penalties. But the manner in which the law was written has had consequences that go beyond addressing the problems of hazing, harming those who wish to join any student organization, not just fraternities or sororities, where hazing is more likely to occur. One of the main faults of this section of the Virginia State Code and the way in which it has been implemented is that the term “student organization” seems to exclude athletic organizations on campus, an environment where a student is more likely to come into contact with hazing than other student organizations.
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After receiving the ranking of fifth most canceled arriving flights, students speak on their experiences navigating ORF. BY LILY RESLINK lbreslink@vwu.edu
Students travel from near and far to attend Virginia Wesleyan, and for those who live beyond a driving distance away, the Norfolk International Airport (ORF) has become a familiar place. According to The Virginian Pilot, the airport recently received the ranking of fifth worst in the U.S. for canceled arriving flights. Ricardo Rosas, junior and an employee at the Norfolk Airport, said that based on his observations, this does not need to warrant any worry from the Marlins flying with ORF this winter. Rosas’s job consists primarily of assisting passengers in wheelchairs, so he interacts frequently with ORF travelers. Rosas said that while delays and cancellations do
Men’s Lacrosse intersquad game energizes team BY ROWAN STUART rwstuart@vwu.edu
See JUNE Page 9
Opinion
workshops need more inclusion
Raven Denton|Courtesy Grad student Mark Sprague poses from the field at the Battle of the Beach.
Molly Brennan|Courtesy Sophomore Molly Brennan reunites with her godsister at the Norfolk Airport for Thanksgiving. occur, he has noticed that this most often revolves around weather issues and is not usually on Norfolk’s end. “There could be some issues going on with other states’ airports’ departures,” Rosas said. Holiday season or not, Rosas emphasized arriving
at the airport an hour early at the very least. “TSA can be very packed,” Rosas said. As holiday travel season commences, seasoned travelers of the airport share experiences, as well
As players for the Men’s Lacrosse team waited in Pearce Suite, the anticipation was high for the draft of their Battle of the Beach intersquad game. This is hardly a new concept; in years past, this has been an annual tradition for the team. “In the past prior to Covid, there had been an annual tradition of having intersquad scrimmage,” junior attacker Carter Dukes said. The team knew that only seven players would be chosen for one of two Battle of the Beach teams, with the remainder being placed in the bucket to be randomly distributed. No player was left out of the 48 student roster, with undrafted students being distributed based upon their position. Slowly the numbers dwindled down until all players were separated into their respective teams, Team Jones and Team Faiella, each named for their respective coach. To add to the event, alumni, coaches and special guests called the remaining drafts. Celebrations were heard with each new announcement, before they settled down in anticipation of the next and final announcement. Those not able to attend were invited to follow along through the team’s social media. With the teams divided, all eyes turned to preparation for the upcoming match. Volunteer Assistant Coach Sam Jones and the rest of the coaching staff organized this scrimmage with the intention of
See LAX Page 7
See ORF Page 2
Meta lawsuit concerns social media harm BY COY CAMISCIOLI clcamiscioli@vwu.edu
All it takes now is a few clicks to learn everything about the lives of others on social media. With rising concern about how this impacts younger generations, legal action is being taken. 41 U.S. states, Virginia included, and the District of Columbia are filing a lawsuit against Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and more. The
lawsuit alleges that Meta designed Instagram and Facebook in ways that harm young users. An article from The New York Times explained that the complaint said Meta had “designed psychologically manipulative product features to induce young users’ compulsive and extended use.” The complaint pointed out issues found within the company’s algorithms. The basis of the claim is that Meta intentionally implements
Inside Look:
addictive features “designed to push children and teenagers into rabbit holes of toxic and harmful content.” The claim specifically highlights features such as “infinite scroll,” saying that these are meant to “hook young users.” Expert studies substantiate concerns about the amount of time young people spend on social media. Studies from scientificamerican.com show that social media use lowers self-esteem, mood and body
Poetry, publishing introduced by new professor
image. This can be partially attributed to comparisons teens make between themselves and others, such as models. The issue is amplified through the use of photo editing. According to the Child Mind Institute, depression among teenagers and adults has increased over the last decade, while the usage of social media is also increasing. Sophomore Molly Brennan
See META Page 3
Deveaux: ‘Heart and soul of the team’
Coffee shop roundup for studying, tasting
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Sara Ryan|Courtesy
James Hill|Coutesy
Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle
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Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
News
Academic Symposium spurs controversy, discovery With students such as senior Sandra Abdellah producing valuable research all year round, community members express concern over a loss of emphasis on the Fall Academic Symposium. BY LILY RESLINK lbreslink@vwu.edu
For as long as current students can remember, the Academic Symposium, previously known as “Port Day,” has dismissed students from class for the day. This served as an incentive to participate. This fall, however, classes continued during the Symposium. Professor John Rudel, director of Undergraduate Research, said this decision stemmed from the university’s shift of emphasis to the Spring Symposium. He said it is common for esteemed universities to only have one large research presentation near the end of the academic year in the spring. According to Rudel, VWU initially organized two of these symposiums per year to give more opportunities for students to participate in the institution’s experiential learning requirements. In addition to research, this includes outsideof-the-classroom experiences such as internships and study abroad. In pursuit of aligning with the practices of other universities, the research department has decided to drop the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Fall Symposium and save the limelight for the Spring Symposium. This still has posed logistical concerns, causing some to voice their reactions to the change. Sophomore Anna Greenleaf had a poster to present which summarized
the semester’s worth of research she performed for her analytical chemistry class. Greenleaf said she struggled to fulfill all of her responsibilities that day with such a packed schedule. After learning about the change in procedures around classes, senior Brooke Underwood expressed, “I think it’s unfortunate for the people who use it the way it’s intended.” Regarding the shift of attention away from the Fall Symposium, Underwood pointed out that it is unfair to the people who won’t be here in the Spring due to reasons such as studying abroad or fall graduation. “I would be ticked off if I was graduating this semester and my research was pushed under the rug,” Underwood said. Despite the decreased emphasis on the event, Rudel said that he is impressed by the quality of work for this Fall Symposium. Notable projects include those of student premiere speakers: Sandra Abdellah, Alex Cain, Dahlia Perez and Sasha Saxon. Senior and chemistry major Sandra Abdellah presented her research on medicine testing strips. Her research, entitled “Amisulpride Determination through Paper Analytical Device,” involved paper-based analytical testing devices geared toward pharmaceuticals. She described the devices as small pieces of paper that can be used for specific chemical experiments. “They eliminate waste, they eliminate the cost of completing certain chemical experiments
Laila Jones |Marlin Chronicle The premiere speaker panel listens to biochemistry major and senior Sasha Saxon present her research to an audience in Brock Commons.
ORF CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
Shirell Washington|Courtesy After landing at ORF, travelers navigate to their next stop. as provide tips and tricks to navigating the trip home and back. Junior Lauren Bible said she has used the Norfolk Airport at least 20 times. Bible resides in California, spanning three time zones away from Virginia. Despite needing to travel often, Bible is not a fan. “Most experiences aren’t great in general because of possible delays, long lines and long travel time,” Bible said. As for ORF, Bible said, “I think a couple of times my flights have gotten delayed from the Norfolk airport, but most airlines have delayed flights so it’s not out of the normality.” Bible also emphasized double-checking gate numbers. Bible expressed the inevitable exhaustion that comes with coastto-coast travel, as it takes nearly an entire day. “It’s definitely hard with the time difference and the amount of time it takes to travel from Virginia to California,” Bible said.
As for tips, Bible said, “I like to pack as little as possible, so security is faster for my turn, and it’s not too much to carry.” After so many trips, Bible has experience in packing efficiently. “I normally try to bring layers, because it can get cold on a flight, and always bring charger cords and portable chargers, because sometimes they don’t have outlets,” she said. Andrew Taylor, alumnus and graduate student at VWU, said he has used the Norfolk Airport upwards of 30 times and has little negative feedback. Taylor also expressed his surprise at its ranking for canceled flights. According to Taylor, ORF’s biggest issue is “ground crew and baggage delivery.” Taylor broke down the experiences he’s had, particularly surrounding luggage problems. “There are times where your luggage won’t come out [from the luggage carousel] for an hour or two depending on the time of day and ground crew,” Taylor
and overall they’re just more efficient,” Abdellah said. For her pharmaceutical testing strip, she explained that people could “take a little piece of that pill out and they could put it into the PAD and they could see what color it turns and theoretically, they would be able to know exactly what they’re taking.” Abdellah said that this technology has both pharmaceutical and household applications, as it is a sure way to know the exact potency of a drug. She said that the existing process for this kind of testing takes a significant amount of time, requires expensive materials and is inaccessible to most of the population. Without this more accessible technology, Abdellah said that the options when it comes to uncertainty around a pill consist of discarding the pills or paying a medical professional to identify it. She said that this kind of testing is necessary for safely administering certain medications because “there’s discrepancies between labeling and the actual chemical composition of drugs.” Abellah has broken ground by developing the tools for a more streamlined process. Being the first of its kind, Abdellah’s findings have entrepreneurial potential that she plans to pursue.“The next step in publishing is potentially getting a patent out. There are currently only a few patents out in existence in the world right now for paper analytical devices. And there is absolutely no method for detecting Amisulpride on paper right now besides mine,” Abdellah said. Amisulpride is a medication that treats postoperative nausea and vomiting, and it can require different concentrations depending on its intended purpose. “It’s just a way to make analysis a lot faster, cheaper, more flexible, it’s more replicable.” Abdellah also spoke on the technology’s potential as a learning tool, in classrooms and beyond to countries that previously lacked the resources. She expressed her passion for the field of chemistry that she channels into her work as a TA. Abdella said that she hopes these devices, given their portability, can serve to widen the reach of chemistry knowledge. With unprecedented research such as this arising from Virginia Wesleyan students, concerns about undercrediting the work in the Fall Academic Symposium persist.
said. When departing from Norfolk, he said, “If you have connecting flights, your bags may not make it to your destination when you do.” However, Taylor offered advice on how to avoid the stress. “During the holidays, if you can help it, don’t check a bag unless you are taking a direct flight. If it is a connection, it may cause you some stress,” Taylor said. He said that “a backpack and a nice carry-on duffle” should be sufficient in fitting the essentials. Sophomore Leif Simons offered his insight as a student who travels to and from his home in Wisconsin. “I normally go home for fall and Christmas breaks so I’ve flown through ORF a handful of times,” Simons said. “It’s a relatively small
Sandra Abdellah |Courtesy Paper testing strips, called MicroPADs, appear blank prior to treatment.
Sandra Abdellah |Courtesy A MicroPAD is set up with the reagent that allows it to be used for testing.
Sandra Abdellah |Courtesy MicroPADs display color after applying treatment, in which hue indicates the results.
Sandra Abdellah |Courtesy Abdellah made this MicroPAD over the summer for the course, Analytical Chemistry.
airport compared to the other ones I’ve experienced and I think it’s one of the easiest airports to navigate. Every time I’ve gone, the USO staff and security have been friendly and I don’t think I’ve ever encountered an issue at ORF.” He said he prefers traveling by plane over car or train. “I save a lot of time, and they can be similarly priced when thinking about gas costs,” Simons said. Simons echoed the advice of the others. “Make sure to account for a wait through the security checkpoint and make sure to frequently check the screens as sometimes flights change gates last minute,” Simons said. In other news for the airport, WAVY reported on its long-term plan of implementing a new terminal and adding destinations.
The article explained that construction will begin mid-2025 for this large-scale project. Other notable changes include the airport’s approval for an onsite hotel, which is predicted to break ground within a year, as reported in September by WTKR. Rosas also said that ORF plans to bring back the moving walkways that they removed years ago due to maintenance issues. The same WTKR article said that this was a highly requested feature and is predicted to be completed in 2024. Based on information from WAVY, the airport is on track to surpass its all-time passenger record this year, and these expansion plans intend to reflect their growth.
Shirell Washington|Courtesy Travelers wait for their belongings to at ORF around an empty conveyor belt at the baggage claim
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News
Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Limited facilities hours evoke concerns Campus facilities, especially the Sentara Health Clinic, have elicited questions about their ability to serve students given limited open hours. BY ELLIOT FYLSTRA egfylstra@vwu.edu
The facilities on campus provide students with services ranging from medical care, food and postage. The Jane P. Batten Student Center holds many of these resources and more. While the Batten Student Center as a facility is open early for collegiate sports, many places open between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and close around 4 p.m. These are based on building and office hours. Director of Student Health April Christman said, “Counseling Services hours are based on the University’s operating hours; however, there are provisions in place for emergency situations, such as those that may be life-threatening, through Campus Security and Residence Life.” The one facility with a very different schedule is the Sentara Health Clinic, located in Allen Village. The clinic is open 10 a.m to 2 p.m, Monday through Friday, allotting a four-hour window for students to get treatment. A clinic is a useful resource for sustaining the well-being of campus residents, but limited hours have made this resource difficult to access. The exact reason for these abridged hours is unknown. The clinic’s staff said that “the school told us to use these hours,” as that is what they are contracted for. Christman said that the Student Health Clinic “truly is a Sentaramanaged facility, and they are bound by their own policies and practices.” Christman mentioned that a survey put out by the clinic has seen positive responses. “The results of their practice survey that has been available to students who receive their services since their arrival on campus years ago have been favorable,” she said. When the staff is available, junior Clay Yokom has found the Health Clinic to be effective in treatment. “They gave me a great idea of what was wrong when I tore a muscle in my arm,” Yokom said. Yokom said appointments generally run around half an hour, but it can extend significantly over that if the clinic is busy. “Waiting is hard because you never know if there will be two people, no people or five people. And if there’s too many, there’s no way I’ll be able to have an
appointment before I have a class,” Yokom said. Yokom also pointed out that going to the clinic in his limited free time between the 10 a.m to 2 p.m period would mean sacrificing lunch if there was any kind of long waits. Although the Health Clinic does not treat emergencies, the VWU website states that it does “basic labs” along with “evaluation and treatment for routine illness and injury.”
The mail room is another service that some students wished was open longer. “The mailroom is hard to access sometimes due to my class hours,” Aufderheide said. Balancing the needs of staff with the needs of students creates challenges when it comes to creating these hours. While the Batten Student Center itself is open until 11 p.m, the duplication center closes at 4 p.m.
Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle
Students, professors break down attendance BY CECELIA CANDELARIA crcandelaria@vwu.edu
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle A student stands outside the Sentara Student Health Center in Allen Village at 2:15 p.m., after it had closed. For example, first-year Jack Aufderheide, Batten Center employee, utilized the Health Clinic to get diagnosed with a sinus infection and receive the proper care and medication to relieve it. The need for treatment along with the short hours may cause students to avoid getting the help they need due to time constraints. “I actually have classes during the hours. I have a two-hour window on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. But it’s not always easy. The first time I went, they weren’t even there. I made a big plan to go, then I showed up and there’s a sign that said it was closed for the day,” Yokom said. To communicate these closings, Aufderheide suggested a “collective online account that could share when facilities are closed or have unexpected shutdowns, such as an Instagram.”
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Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle voiced her thoughts on the maturity levels of kids using social media. “I have noticed that kids younger than me seem to look a lot older on social media in the ways they dress and act, but they are super emotionally immature,” Brennan said. Social media tends to highlight the more popular people and mainly shows how happy lives are, when in actuality, that is not realistic for anyone.
Dining services such as the Harbor Grill and Starbucks close at 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and are not open on the weekends. Security, on the other hand, has 24-hour availability. They can help students with a range of issues from emergencies to locked rooms. “Security helped me to open a room in Greer for a study group when it was locked late at night,” Aufderheide said. Most facilities can be accessed by students on some days, as the usual six or more hour schedule is flexible enough to accommodate day classes. Ollie Long, also an employee at the Batten Student Center, said, “My class schedule lines up with the hours in a way where I can go to any office if I need to.” To gain more student opinions, it may be prevalent to survey students to see if hours could be adjusted.
“Kids see these models and influencers on social media and they want to look like them, but they are only 12 years old or so,” Brennan said. While Brennan believes that parents should have more restrictions set for their kids on social media, it is tough when introducing kids to social media at such a young age is more widely accepted now than ever. “It feels like social media is being forced upon kids, in a manner that if you do not have social media, you are missing out,” Brennan said. According to the Common Sense Census, about 56% of U.S. youth aged 8 to 18 have their own social media accounts and the average age for a child getting their first account is around 12.6 years. In contrast, the average required age that social media platforms enforce is 13. Instagram and Facebook, two of Meta’s most prominent platforms, are seen as two of the less restricted social media apps available. First-year Bryce Folmar shared his opinions on younger kids accessing social media. “Kids are getting on social media at a younger age at a time where I believe they are not mature enough,” Folmar said. According to Tom Huddleston Jr. of CNBC, some experts advise against kids under 13 using social media and kids, especially without limited access and other screen time monitoring, waiting until they are at least 16 years old. Folmar also described some of the
Virginia Wesleyan requires professors to take attendance for record-keeping purposes, but each staff member’s attendance policy varies based on what they see fit for their class. The rules indicate that taking attendance is required, but penalization is not. “Whether or not a particular teacher chooses to penalize absences, we are supposed to take attendance regularly because there are attendance conditions on most types of student financial aid, and we have to give accurate accounting for such,” Media and Communication Professor Stu Minnis said. Senior Jazlyn Delance has seen changes in the care given to attendance throughout her years. “My professors are way more lenient compared to my first year here. At some point in my freshman year, I know there was a limited amount of excused absences I could have,” she said. First-year Alex Lesnik said she felt she would not attend class less if professors were not required to take attendance. “I don't think I’d attend less, I think it would be about the same. If I need a break, I listen to myself because when I get overwhelmed,” Lesnik said. With that being said, Lesnik still keeps herself accountable. “I try not to [take these breaks] too often,” she said. Because attendance policies vary for each professor, it falls to the students to check each individual policy. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students who actively attend school have been shown to achieve at higher levels than those who don’t attend as regularly. However, according to Minnis, students not showing up to class is not necessarily a big issue. “It does seem like attendance
benefits of social media. “You get to share ideas on different topics and viewpoints, which is great when there are people from all around the world on social media, so it is cool being connected with all different types of people,” Folmar said. Folmar said he is thankful his parents taught him about the dangers of social media at a young age, as this can have a major impact on one’s experience. First-year Luke Arters shared that he was using social media at a relatively young age, but not below most platform’s guidelines. “I was 13 years old when I was introduced to Instagram,” he said. Arters is a prime example of someone who has not let social media dictate their lives. “Being on social media at a younger age has not impacted me a lot because I was not fully invested in it. I kind of just had it for fun,” Arters said.
is slightly worse than it was pre-COVID, but it isn’t a huge difference, at least not for me. The bigger problem I’ve seen is students not doing work on time or at all,” Minnis said. Dr. Sara Ryan, a professor in the English department, was also willing to share her perspective on the situation and the work completion of students. “This [work completion] is where I’ve seen the most drastic change,” Ryan said. “Now, having students turn in work on time is much more of a concern than it has been for me in the past.”
“I think, ultimately, organization and time management and self-responsibility are things that students are struggling with.” English professor, Dr. Sara Ryan She elaborated on her related academic concerns for her students. “I think, ultimately, organization and time management and selfresponsibility are things that students are struggling with. This is something that I think all college students inevitably struggle with, but perhaps it's more of an issue than it was in the past. All these struggles directly affect attendance and completed work, so I think they’re all connected.” Community consensus points to attendance and academic success showing correlation, although other factors may be in play regarding student participation and engagement.
All kids grow up with different levels of maturity, but Arters was prepared to have social media. “I would say that there are a lot of people that have access to content that they should not at such a young age because the internet is fairly unrestricted,” Arters said. This level of restriction pertains to not only what the user can access, but what information the platform can access about the user. According to CBS News, Meta is crossing serious boundaries with its users. The 233-page complaint states that “Meta's business practices violate the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), as well as other state consumer protection laws.” Meta will continue to attempt to fight the lawsuit filed against them by 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, as the lawsuit could threaten their profits and reputation.
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle Out of a sample of 48 VWU students, the average daily phone screen time over the course of a week came out to nearly six hours.
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Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
The
MARLIN CHRONICLE
Community Poetry, publishing introduced by new professor Dr. Sara Ryan joined the English Department at the beginning of this semester.
Editor-in-Chief Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Managing Editor Carey Seay clseay@vwu.edu News Editor Lily Reslink lbreslink@vwu.edu Community Editors Victoria Haneline vfhaneline1@vwu.edu Carey Seay clseay@vwu.edu Opinions Editors Samantha Silvia sgsilvia@vwu.edu Madelyn Yale mgyale@vwu.edu Sports Editor Colette Kearney cmkearney@vwu.edu Weekender Editors Mikayla Moscatelli mamoscatelli@vwu.edu Sasha Saxon ansaxon@vwu.edu Photography Editor Ross Winner rawinner@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Mars Johnson ibjohnson@vwu.edu Online Editor Josh Pepper jjpepper@vwu.edu Copy Editor Kirkland Butler kwbutler@vwu.edu Engagement Editor
Sara Ryan|Courtesy BY CHLOE BOOHER crbooher@vwu.edu
This year, the English Department added Dr. Sara Ryan to the team as an assistant professor of English. Before joining the Marlin community, Ryan attended Texas Tech University (TTU) where she received her PhD in English and Literature with specialties in creative writing and poetry. Ryan had the opportunity of teaching at TTU as she worked towards her PhD. “I have focused on poetry, but I also focus a lot on digital writing and image text writing,” Ryan said. “That’s kind of what I’m going to be working on here, establishing the editing and professional writing kind of portion of our creative writing track.” While at TTU, Ryan published her first book of poetry, “I Thought There Would Be More Wolves.” Along with the publication of her book, Ryan also published various poems and essays. Despite the many accomplishments she yielded while at TTU, Ryan was ready for a change after receiving her doctorate. “Texas Tech is in Lubbock, Texas, which is about as big as Norfolk is, maybe like 200,000, but really dusty. There’s a lot of cattle and farms, and not a lot going on,” Ryan said. “I was really excited to be in a vibrant place, and Virginia Wesleyan just seems like a very kind of creative-minded school that’s really studentfocused.” Ryan hopes to bring new ideas and
Sara Ryan|Courtesy Dr. Sara Ryan at the launch of her book of poetry, “I Thought There Would Be More Wolves.” opportunities to the Marlin community. Alongside other members of the English Department, she plans to add an Editing and Professional Writing track for English majors and minors, as well as a digital literary journal to help students get work published. “We are excited for Dr. Ryan to bring her expertise in poetry and publishing into the classroom,” Associate Professor of English Gavin Pate said. “Her own poetry is at turns reflective, serious, quirky and passionate, and we know she’ll inspire our students in whatever direction their creativity takes them.” Very few professors at VWU have focuses in creative writing and poetry. However, Ryan will be teaching ENG 310: Distinctive Voices in Contemporary American Poetry, a class on innovative experimental poets using contemporary American poetry, next semester. Nodding towards the future digital literary journal, she will also be teaching WES 200: “Make This Go Viral:” BookTok, Instagram Poetry, and Viral Literature in Spring 2024. If your TikTok “For You” page is all about books, she recommends taking this class. Ryan is currently teaching a few classes, and some students have wanted to share their
favorite moments. Sophomore Emma Polk is currently taking ENG 298: Introduction to Poetry Writing with Ryan. “My favorite part has been the amount of group discussion that we do. It gives us the opportunity to share our poetry with each other and hear feedback,” Polk said. “Dr. Ryan is great at leading discussions and encouraging us to give suggestions and praises to our fellow classmates.” Ryan is excited to continue sharing her ideas with the Marlin community and can’t wait to see where the next years take her. “Students at VWU should take her class because it doesn’t just adhere to students who are majoring in English, any student can take it and actually enjoy it,” Polk said. “I’m a Computer Information Systems major and I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the class, but I’ve found that it’s been one of my favorites because of how inclusive and supportive Dr. Ryan is.” If you’re interested in the poetry, publishing or creative writing sides of English, or if you’re just looking for something different to add to your class schedule, consider taking one of Ryan’s classes in the upcoming semesters.
Kylea McCarel ksmccacrel@vwu.edu Marketing Directors Andrew Steiner alsteiner1@vwu.edu Rowan Stuart rwstuart@vwu.edu Advisor Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu
Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle
Hailey Benders|Marlin Chronicle
Classroom natural light lessens electric bill The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Virginia Wesleyan University. Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Virginia Wesleyan University. The Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757.455.3311
“As a former collegiate student newspaper editor, professional journalist and long-time advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, I understand the role and value of student media at a liberal arts institution. Virginia Wesleyan University proudly supports the editorial independence and press freedom of student-edited publications. We believe that student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.” --Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President
BY CALEE LUKOWSKI crlukowski@vwu.edu
Natural light in classrooms is a popular topic in plenty of academic settings. On campus, there are several examples of buildings with great natural lighting and some that offer less natural lighting. One such building that offers large amounts of natural light is the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. This building boasts many features that make it sustainable, such as a geothermal system for heating and cooling, photovoltaic panels and an array of native plant life incorporated into the landscaping around the building. The front of the building is covered in floor-to-ceiling windows, thus reducing the amount of electricity being used. Aside from the many windows on the front of the building, all of the classrooms boast large windows as well. Dr. Maynard Schaus is a professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences as well as the director of Accreditation and coordinator of Sustainability Management. In 2015, during the initial construction of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center, Schaus served on the design team. The building follows a theme of what Schaus described as “science on display.” This relates to another unique feature of the building. The lab areas in the building all have windows surrounding them. This lets in natural lighting to the labs, which would otherwise be lit only by synthetic lighting due to the central location of the lab areas. During the design, VMDO Architects, an architectural firm in Charlottesville with a focus
on sustainable designs, highly encouraged the large amounts of natural light. Schaus commented that the light gives the building a “welcoming and inviting” feeling, and it allows students and faculty working and studying in the building to have a stronger “connection to natural areas” that are just outside the glass. Schaus, who previously had an office in Blocker Hall, expressed that buildings with large amounts of natural light, such as the Greer Environmental Sciences Center, certainly have their perks when put up against buildings with less natural light. Schaus shared that if the electricity goes out in buildings such as Blocker Hall, students and faculty have to rely on the emergency lighting that sometimes doesn’t last long. Buildings such as the Greer Environmental Sciences Center do not have to rely on emergency lighting because of the large amounts of natural light. Jason Seward, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management, also spoke about natural lighting in some of the buildings on campus. While Seward said that there are no plans to renovate or redesign some of the buildings with little natural lighting, he did say that “the focus moving forward on new construction is that we follow suit with what we’ve done in recent construction builds with the use of natural light.” One example of this is the new addition to the Blocker Youth Center which has “huge windows,” which allow for “a ton of natural light.” While the natural lighting aspects of many of the buildings on campus are aesthetically pleasing and good for sustainability purposes,
many students also like to take advantage of these areas to study and work on assignments outside of class. First-year Ava Gerstemeier said she likes to study “typically somewhere with lots of light. I like to study in the library, in the study room, because there is lots of glass.” Gerstemeier is not the only student with this opinion. Students can be found at all hours of the day working hard in places such as the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the H. C. Hofheimer Library due to the large amounts of natural light. Gerstemeier said that she feels more productive in spaces with natural light, a sentiment which Schaus expressed is not a universal feeling. When asked about students’ productivity in the classroom with large amounts of natural lighting versus little natural lighting, Schaus said that if there was any difference, it was “unclear.” “I don’t want to speculate,” Schaus said. Although there may not be any direct relationship between natural lighting and the productivity of students, natural lighting is still a favorite of many students and staff. Not only is the natural lighting aesthetically pleasing, it also has many benefits and can make buildings more sustainable. “When we look to new buildings or new construction, whenever we have an opportunity to further commit ourselves to our sustainability efforts, then it’s something that warrants our attention,” Seward said. Although there are many unknowns, VWU hopes to incorporate more natural lighting into campus buildings and classrooms in the future.
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Thursday, December 7
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‘Religion in Outer Space’ meets diversity Dr. Eric Mazur explore what religion in the U.S. Space Program has to say about diversity back on earth and on campus.
BY VICTORIA HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu
OPINION
Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Eric Mazur gave a talk called “Religion in Outer Space” on Nov. 16 in Blocker Auditorium. Mazur discussed the ways in which the space program went from entirely white, Christian astronauts to the diverse group it is today. These changes are mirrored on a smaller scale on campus. The presentation was based on a book, “Religion and Outer Space,” co-edited by Mazur and Dr. Sarah Taylor. “I think that there were a number of factors that made the Apollo program the way that it was, which is to say all white, all male, and all Christian,” Mazur said. One factor is the pool that potential candidates are being drawn from. “When you limit the astronaut pool to American military test and fighter pilots, you’re limiting the pool–at that time, in the 50s and 60s—to white, Christian men,” Mazur said. Interestingly, though, even at its most white and Christian, the space program still had some religious diversity. Humorously, Mazur described his entrance into studying religion and outer space as a kosher corned beef sandwich, brought on to Gemini 3 by John Young. A corned beef sandwich is a religious symbol here only because it’s kosher, which means it adheres to Jewish dietary restrictions, and it was sold by a Jewish store. “Specifically corned beef sandwiches were prohibited from the space program until John Young went back into space,” Mazur said in his talk. He mentioned that the sandwich is still preserved in a museum. Many small religious trinkets were brought to space by astronauts, mostly at the behest of friends or colleagues. Several holy books or parts of holy books were brought into space, for example. One moment of diversity in the Apollo program that was particularly impressive wasn’t an example of religious diversity, but rather one of cultural diversity. “We had a program where the American space program, an Apollo rocket, docked with a Soviet spacecraft,” Mazur said. “It didn’t solve the problems of the world, but it was evidence that Americans and Soviets could, you know, engage in a program together without killing each other.” “That’s a good thing, given a world where people love to kill each other,”
Mazur said. Given the tense political climate at the time, the ability of science to unite, even briefly, two opposed groups is very unique and important. Learning often has that ability: scientists collaborate worldwide, even when tensions are high between countries. Virginia Wesleyan takes advantage of this ability. The sister campus in Japan and student study abroad programs offer students the opportunity to travel and study, even in nations that the United States is at odds with, like China. Stories of astronauts taking sandwiches into space, while often funny, are nevertheless important to keep in mind. Religious diversity isn’t always visible, but it’s almost always present. As the space program grew steadily more expensive, the space shuttle was proposed as a reusable, cost effective alternative to the previous missions. It wasn’t just for the finances it was sold as, though.
“If we’re going to go into space, it’s going to require everybody.” Dr. Eric Mazur “The shuttle was sold to America as a program that was for all Americans,” Mazur said. While most people will likely never go into space, the group of people that are being selected from is much broader, notably including scientists, more so than soldiers. In this broader group there is naturally more diversity. The astronaut program was no longer being selected from the largely white, Christian male fighter pilots; instead applicants came from a much larger and more varied group of scientists and researchers. “The changes in the shuttle program were driven by people who realized that they needed a broader pool of participants because you needed to get broader support for the millions of dollars that were being
spent on it,” Mazur said. The inclusion of a more diverse group of people came with the creation of a new story around the space program. Seen on TV and in culture with series’ like “Star Trek,” the idea of space exploration being done by all kinds of people, of all groups, is finally reflected in the US space program. While it may seem like just a story, the stories surrounding diversity are important. “I think as humans, we always function with some sort of story to explain how we understand the world,” Mazur said. Whatever this story is based on and what, if any, religion it includes, everyone sees the world through stories. “I’m not at all suggesting that the stories that narrate these programs explain these changes,” Mazur said, referring to the increase in diversity from the Apollo program to the Artemis program. “They went along with the changes to help organize a way of understanding the changes.” A story, then, is important to understand a change or changes in something, whether that story is informed by a religion or not. It informs how we think about what we encounter. The space program increased the diversity of people who could become astronauts because they knew that would get support from the people they needed. In doing so, they changed the story. Virginia Wesleyan has done similarly. The school has students of many religions on campus, many of them involved with student ministries. Christians, Jews, Muslims and atheists attend Virginia Wesleyan, despite it being a Methodist school. The University accomplishes this through increasing the pool it appeals to and having a story of diversity backed up by real acceptance. The school ministry is a great example. Instead of being Methodist, it is much broader. It is open to and has members from varied religions. The students and school tell a story of a welcoming campus that treats everyone equally, and while occasionally it falls short, like disability accommodation, it in general is great at that, especially in terms of religion and LGBT people. Increasing diversity in one area generally increases diversity in many areas. “When you expand different kinds of diversity, particularly in the world today, ethnic diversity, it’s almost certainly going to include religious diversity,” Mazur said.
Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle Dr. Eric Mazur during his “Religion in Outer Space” talk. “So you bring in the first Asian American and it turns out he’s a Buddhist.” As Mazur discussed in his talk, the third woman and first American woman in space, Sally Ride, was the first known LGBT astronaut in space. This wasn’t known to the program at the time, but it nevertheless accompanied the increase of women in space. This net increase in diversity can be seen on campus. With student ministries and most of the students at a remove from the Methodist church in the interest of religious diversity and acceptance, the school has managed to avoid getting embroiled in the United Methodist Church’s conflict over LGBT clergy after a 2019 decision upholding a ban on LGBT clergy. The school last year was on the Campus Pride Best Colleges list, receiving five out of five stars. Diversity is important in the space program, and it’s important here on earth. It’s a lot easier to accomplish anything if all available talent is used, rather than restricting access based on anything inane like skin color, religion or gender. “If we’re going to go into space, it’s going to require everybody and it’s going to require that we’re not slugging it out down here,” Mazur said.
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Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
WES 300 invades humanities courses BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu
The majority of college and university curriculums require general education courses. At Virginia Wesleyan, 128 credits need to be taken by all students in order to be eligible for graduation, a third of which include general education requirements. 12 of those credits here at Virginia Wesleyan constitute the infamous Wesleyan seminars, those quintessential embodiments of what a liberal arts education is all about. The goal of such courses is to promote intellectual discourse and to enhance academic writing skills. The three courses, WES 100, WES 200 and WES 300, build upon each other. The effort required increases as you go from one to the next, deepening the students’ capacity to articulate, express and discern varying perspectives and sources. English, Art, History, Religious Studies and Philosophy represent the typical majors tasked with hosting the Wesleyan seminars. The pre-existing seminar style of many of those courses provides the structure for vibrant conversation and discussion amongst professors and their students, making them line up perfectly with the goals of the Wesleyan seminars. The majority of WES 100 and 200 courses are offered as their own, separate and distinct classes. The only people taking the WES 100 and 200 courses are
HAZING CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Another criticism of the language of the law is that the term “student organization” can include such academic memberships as honor societies. One is much more likely to experience behaviors that constitute the legal definition of hazing in an organization like a fraternity/sorority or a sports team than an honor society, which often have meetings that are held and attended by professors and members of faculty. To hold these organizations to different levels of scrutiny, especially when honor societies are held to a higher standard of responsibility when it comes to hazing training than athletic associations, seems negligible when it comes to tackling the problems represented by the presence of hazing on campus. It is somewhat dishonest of this institution to claim on its tours and in its advertising that student organizations are easy to found and subsequently run when such barriers to the creation and function of those student organizations exist on college campuses. The way in which the law is written and implemented does less to counter the problems associated with hazing and more to prevent college students from getting involved on campus. I would like to see more done at every level of this institution to change the wording of this section of the Virginia State Code, so that the state and institutions of higher education still do their best to crack down on offenders and prevent hazing in the first place, while simultaneously encouraging the growth and health of its student organizations, including Greek life, athletic teams, both varsity and intramural/club, honor societies and other organizations that students seek to create for their own and others’ enjoyment. College students and their families should be able to expect a safe environment on campus, but they should also be able to share in their academic and recreational pursuits while attending a college or university. Christian Palmisano is a junior History major. He is involved in Ethics Bowl and enjoys reading in his free time. He can be contacted at clpalmisano@vwu.edu.
Christian Palmisano|Courtesy
the ones who are fulfilling their general education breadth requirements. However, in regard to the WES 300 courses, many of them are offered in conjunction with the associated major course. What this means is that an upper level History course, for example, can be listed on WebAdvisor twice: once as a 300 level History course and once as a WES 300. As a result, professors in the History, Religious Studies and Philosophy departments are often required to teach the same 300 level course to a mixture of students who are there either for their general education requirements or for their major requirements. This means the professor has to navigate the complexities of educating a group of students that can be both familiar with the subject material and completely unfamiliar with it. The professor then has to decide between teaching on par with a WES 300 course or on par with the major, rendering an outcome from one of two options: The WES 300 students will be confused and lost while the major students are challenged and engaged or the WES 300 students will understand and be involved while the major students are bored and unmotivated. As a senior History major with minors in Religious Studies and Business, I have taken many courses combined with WES 300 and have been frustrated with the outcome that happens every time. Every
one of those upper level courses I have taken, with the exception of my capstone History class, has been offered as a Wesleyan seminar. In order to make sure that everyone understands and is able to participate, the professors have always had to teach at a general studies level, educating with the knowledge that not everyone has experience taking an upper level humanities or social science course. Because of this though, I, as a History major, have felt unchallenged by the majority of my major’s coursework during my collegiate experience. It’s hard to find the motivation to do my readings for class when I know the discussions in class are only going to skim the topic’s surface level. I do not blame the students for this. Being unfamiliar with science as a whole, if I had to take an upper level science class with a bunch of other STEM students that was taught as a class for STEM majors, I would be completely lost. It wouldn’t make any sense to require me, as a non-STEM major, to be in that academic environment. And it wouldn’t make any sense to force the professor to lower the course’s challenge level for me or anyone else like me. So why is that the case with humanities and social sciences classes? Why do History, Religious Studies and Philosophy professors have to teach at a general education level in their upper level
courses? Why are History majors and Religious Studies minors like me forced into this outcome? It is unfair for both the professor and the student, and I think it would be better if the WES 300 courses were offered as their own, separate and distinct courses, just like the WES 100 and 200 courses. Phoebe Cox is a senior in the Batten Honors College, majoring in History, with minors in Religious Studies and Business. She can be reached at pecox@vwu.edu.
Phoebe Cox|Courtesy
Decorations raise spirits
Stephanie Clark |Courtesy Honors Village Townhouse 310 prepared for the holidays with assorted decorations and lights including a crocodile. BY STEPHANIE CLARK sjclark@vwu.edu
With the holidays rapidly approaching, students at Virginia Wesleyan are brimming with anticipation and excitement for a much-needed break and a time to celebrate with their families. While students prepare to return to their homes, some students in V4 have chosen to follow one of the most cherished traditions by adorning their porches with festive outdoor decorations, such as lights and inflatables. Likewise, during the warmer months, students put up hammocks and plants. Recently, ResLife has been cracking down on the removal of these outdoor adornments. However, I believe this could not be more wrong, as adornments actually provide a sense of community, allow students to express themselves and encourage students to come to campus. Outdoor decorations like hammocks and lights have the power to transform a simple townhouse or apartment into a warm and inviting atmosphere, providing a strong sense of community. The sight of twinkling lights and cute, playful inflatables reminds students of the holidays while uplifting spirits and allowing joy to be passed on throughout the campus. Seeing friends spending time outside in hammocks with plants around them shows others that the community here at Virginia Wesleyan is strong and amiable. These outdoor adornments bring students together and allow others to
appreciate the festive displays, while encouraging them to express themselves. Everyone knows that college is a time of self-exploration and self-expression. While being away from home, it can be difficult to find ways of displaying your personality to others. Decorating outside allows students to showcase their unique personalities, and encourages them to be creative. Not only does this allow students to relax and feel more comfortable where they reside, but by allowing students to express themselves and decorate as they please, their overall mental health can be improved. This furthers the quality of the experience at Virginia Wesleyan. Outdoor decorations are also an artistic expression of who the students at Virginia Wesleyan are, and present to potential, future students the engaging and collaborative environment on campus. While ResLife views outdoor decorations as unprofessional and off-putting to prospective students, many students at Virginia Wesleyan disagree and believe that their outside adornments are actually inviting and encourage potential students to come. When I first came to Virgnia Wesleyan University to visit my friend, I noticed the hammocks and outdoor signs. They were alluring and brought me a sense of community. College students would sit outside in their hammocks with music playing, and it encouraged me to apply to the university. I believe that outdoor decorations showcase how campus life here at Virginia Wesleyan truly is: friendly and
welcoming. These creative displays of diverse personalities can actually be highly influential in the college decision-making process, capturing the hearts of potential students and making them more likely to apply to the university. Outside decorations present a sense of community in college campuses, allow students to showcase their diverse personalities and encourage prospective students to apply by creating a welcoming and homey environment. Adornments reveal the inviting community at Virginia Wesleyan and stimulate joyful spirits throughout the campus. Decorations also assist in students’ overall mental health by reducing stress and depression. Outdoor decorations encourage potential students to apply by leaving a lasting positive impression and sparking their interest. It is essential to recognize the positive impacts that these decorations have on campus, and embrace their presence to enhance every students’ overall collegiate experience. Stephanie Clark is a first-year double major in International Studies and Hispanic Studies. Her two favorite decorations on her V4 porch are the Hanukkah lights and the Christmas crocodile. She can be reached at sjclark@ vwu.edu.
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Sports
Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Field Hockey hosts first craft fair BY KARA HOPKINS knhopkins@vwu.edu
The Virginia Wesleyan Field Hockey team hosted a craft fair on Sunday, Dec. 3. The fair brought together local vendors to support the team and their own small businesses during the start of the holiday shopping season. This event has been in the works for a while. The Finance Office and the Field Hockey team have been planning the event since the end of last semester. Gwen Mikeals, Student Accounts Coordinator, attends many craft fairs and thought it would be a good idea to have the school host one. She passed the fundraising idea to the Field Hockey team. The team began organizing the event by placing flyers around the local Virginia Beach area asking for vendors to participate in the event by renting a space in the Cunningham Multi-Activity Center (CMAC). Emily Moniz, a junior on the team, participated in the creation and distribution of the flyers and emphasized the time the team has take to prepare for this event. “We have been looking for vendors for at least six months,” Moniz said. The team also took to social media to advertise the event. Ava Stauch, a first-year on the team, said, “We have been advertising it on our Instagrams even.” The event had a large turnout for its first year. A total of 32 vendors were registered, and the proceeds from rented spaces and tables were donated to the Field Hockey team. However, this event did not only benefit the Field Hockey team. Individual sales from customers during the event profited the vendors, as well. This event brought together a wide variety of vendors, including retired community members sharing their skills to make some extra money, or teenagers selling their art to afford school trips. Small businesses and amateur crafters also attended the fair. Many vendors sold unique, handmade jewelry, as well as handmade bags, knitted hats, lanterns, pens, potholders and laptop sleeves. There were crafts made out of tree logs, recycled yarn, old fabric and oyster shells from the eastern shoreline. Services were offered as well; one vendor set up a table putting tinsel in customers’ hair. The team also hosted a raffle for items vendors donated. On the raffle table were donated goods like ornaments,
Raven Denton|Courtesy Students gather around vendors at the Field Hockey team’s inaugural craft fair on Dec. 3 in the CMAC. hats, frames and paintings. Moniz’s grandmother made and donated a quilt to be included in the raffle as well. The team sold refreshments like hotdogs, chips and baked goods as an additional way to fundraise. They took time working shifts at different stations during the event in a combined effort to raise money for their team. Head Coach Ryley van der Velde is passionate about this event and believes it is going to provide the team with more funding to buy new equipment. The team has many items they need, like new practice goals, game goals, travel bags, backpacks and a second set of pennies. “I think we need to get these women just one outfit that’s provided from our program and then to give them travel bags and backpacks that we keep within our program. That takes a couple hundred dollars off of these families and their plates,” van der Velde said. This will make it easier for players on the team like firstyear Breanna Gable, who attested that her parents had to pay for most of her gear at the beginning of the year. For van der Velde, it’s more than just equipment the
team is gaining from this fundraiser. She feels the team is gaining potential to increase their experience. “This year, these kids doubled our wins. They’re putting themselves on the map. And so you know, I think that to be competitive, we need to give these kids the gear and the experience they deserve,” van der Velde said. This event became more than a simple fundraiser to the coach and team. Van der Velde finds this work personal. “It’s not a job. It’s a lifestyle. And I think if it’s not personal, then I probably need to find a new job,” van der Velde said. The team has had fundraisers in the past, such as prospect clinics. This is where staff and members of the team hold a clinic for the current field hockey recruits. Each recruit pays $50, and, along with any gear sales, the money goes to the team. Events like clinics and the craft fair help the team keep the cost off the players and their families. Van der Velde hopes to make this event an annual occurrence, bringing in more vendors next year to support the team and their families, along with the local community.
Injured athletes overcome adversity BY ISSAC FICK ihfick@vwu.edu
With athletics, there comes the risk of being injured, whether it is a contact sport or otherwise. Students shared their experiences of being injured and their processes of getting through injuries. Men’s Soccer player and junior Hunter Edwards tore both of his ACLs and was unable to play for the past two seasons. Edwards shared the effect that his injuries have had on him. “It’s more of a physical toll, like just not being able to jog or run or really do anything athletic,” Edwards said. “I’m just not able to really play and do everything that is involved in soccer.” A serious injury can affect a player’s long term career. “It probably negatively affected my career,” Edwards said. To Edwards, however, the injuries have not entirely ruined his experience. “I still enjoy being a part of the team and everything that comes along with it,” Edwards said. Sophomore Men’s Basketball player Austin Smith also shared his experience with his injury. Smith’s injury consisted of a tendon rupture in his toe, which has put him out of commission for around a year. Smith explained the struggle that such an injury has placed on his life. “My whole life, basketball has been a place where I can go and get away from life, but I’m just being fully immersed in it since I haven’t had basketball in my life for about a year,” Smith said. He also shared how his perspective
LAX CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 building energy. “We were planning to set up some fun things to look forward to in the fall,” Jones said, “Reigniting an old tradition seemed like a great option.” With all minds aligned, Team Jones and Team Faiella met separately to talk strategy and practice. Each team organized several sessions where they could go in and work on their strengths and weaknesses. Both coaches noted that this was a unique situation. The focus shifted away from what each team could capitalize on in the other team and more focusing on what they could control. Team Jones found this preparation paramount in their performance. “We walked through plays and scenarios. This
towards basketball changed due to his injury. “Getting injured really puts everything in perspective. I feel like getting hurt, you kind of can see the game from a different level and you can appreciate the game in a way that you haven’t really appreciated before,” Smith said. Smith has turned his injury into a positive experience in some ways. “I feel like I take in every game and every moment as its own and I think that’s what I’ve learned to do since I’ve gotten injured,” Smith said. He worked hard on and off the court. “I really realized that when I got hurt and I started to watch games, I started to see the game and I started to understand the game. I felt like I took it for granted when I was healthy,” Smith said. Smith utilized meditation throughout his recovery. “Everything’s running through my head at one time, it’s racing. So meditation has been really helpful,” Smith said. His teammates and their support have also been a big assistance for Smith in his recovery process. “Being around my teammates has helped so much. I’ve gotten a lot closer with them since I haven’t been able to play,” Smith said. Smith mentioned his current problematic situation and why he believes he remains injured. “When they told me I’d be out for like nine to 12 months, I wasn’t really focused on asking the right questions. And I think if I asked the right questions earlier, maybe I wouldn’t be in this position that I’m in now,” Smith said.
led to us being coordinated as a team,” junior attacker Jackson Dinger said. On game day, each team was chanting and hollering, creating an exciting atmosphere for the face-off. The same energy swept across the teams and spectators with the start of the match. Team Jones came out strong, putting in six quick and decisive goals, supported by sophomore Jeremiah Madriaga, who was dominant on the face-off. The Team Faiella countered with an unrelenting onslaught, but were continually denied for the majority of the first half by Team Jones goalie junior Zack Tucker. Despite great strategy and strong plays, Team Faiella only scored three points in the half. “Things looked desperate at first,” Assistant Coach Tom Faiella said. “But we didn’t flinch in the face of adversity leading
He offered advice on how to prevent this. “I believe [in] weighing all your options, asking the right questions, and honestly just wanting to recover and rehab because you’re going to have a lot of days that you don’t want to do it,” Smith said. Adding to this, Smith shared his positive outlook on the situation. “My foot was in extraordinary pain when I first started rehab and I still have days today, a year and some change in, that I still have lots of pain, but I just have to push through it because I know one day I want to get back on the basketball court,” Smith said. Audrey Roberts, a junior on the Women’s Swim team, shared her perspective on this situation. Roberts had three tears in her labrum, which is part of the soft tissue or cartilage surrounding a joint. “I wasn’t able to use my left arm at all for about two months, and I couldn’t work out, couldn’t do anything. So I was completely out of shape when the season started,” Roberts said. She added it’s necessary to get help in the right ways. “Don’t ignore it, for sure. I put it off. I swam on an injured shoulder for two months and then obviously it got worse. So I definitely don’t think ignoring it is a solution at all,” Roberts said. Roberts also shared the positive outlook of her injury and it benefited her experience. “It’s been continually getting better. I got cleared about a week into the season so being able to swim again was a huge deal to me, and it just really just amplified my love for the sport,” Roberts said.
into the second half.” Team Faiella found themselves tackling the overwhelming odds of a 10-3 deficit, but with new strategies and a will to win, they steadily closed the gap on Team Jones. Goal after goal was put in, as Team Jones struggled to score their own. But, as time dwindled and the score settled at a close 13-10, Team Jones emerged victorious. The teams found themselves in mutual celebration over a fun and successful event, with more lessons learned about each other and a fresh energy to bring with them into the spring. The team hopes that in the future there can be more university-wide involvement. “The event has already been planned for next year looking to engage all manner of students, faculty, staff and alumni,” Jones said. Jones hopes that this will
Smith emphasized that the situation is what an athlete makes of it. “As much as the process is gonna kill you, I’d just say enjoy it as much as you can. When it first happened I was really down on myself and I was really down on others and it kind of affected my relationships in a way,” Smith said. There’s always lessons to be learned when injured, which is something Smith figured out while being sidelined. “So I believe I’ve learned to just compartmentalize my feelings toward my injury and my life and just try to enjoy it as best as I can,” Smith said. Student-athletes are always putting themselves in tough positions for the love of a sport, and an injury doesn’t have to stop the commitment.
continue running well into the future and is excited to see what it could look like in 10 years. The Men’s Lacrosse team starts their season next semester
Hailey Benders|Marlin Chronicle on Feb. 10 when they head up to Washington, D.C. to play in a scrimmage against Catholic University.
Raven Denton|Courtesy First-year George Psaltis and Volunteer Assistant Coach Sam Jones pose with a jersey during the Battle of the Beach draft.
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Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Deveaux: ‘Heart and soul of the team’ BY MARIA VITTORIA CHESSA mchessa@vwu.edu
In the heart of the basketball court, where passion, skill and hard work collide, there stands a player whose journey reflects dedication, family influence and a commitment to both personal and team growth. Omari Deveaux, a standout player on the Men’s Basketball team, embodies the essence of leadership, resilience and a love for the game that extends beyond the court. Deveaux’s journey into the world of basketball was practically inevitable, as he hails from a family deeply rooted in the sport. “I grew up in a basketball family. My parents both played. So everybody, cousins and other family members, play basketball. It’s kind of mandatory,” Deveaux said with a smile. At the age of four, Deveaux’s love of the game began under the guidance of his father, who not only introduced him to the league but also became a significant source of inspiration. “My dad just went out and taught me what he knows,” Deveaux said. As the years rolled on, Deveaux’s family continued to be his steadfast support system, making sacrifices and facilitating trips for him to compete. “My parents and my best friends have been my biggest fans,” Deveaux said. Motivation for Deveaux is deeply personal, centered around his younger brother, who looks up to him as a role model. “He watches my every move, and he’s my little guy. I want to be a role model to him,” Deveaux said. As a leader on the team, Deveaux embraces his role with a sense of purpose. “Just the leader, you know, the vocal guy. Making sure guys are in the right spots, just talking, communicating, getting other guys to communicate, and just bringing the energy,” he said. However, recent challenges have thrown a curveball into Deveaux’s season. An unfortunate injury of a hyperextended
the
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Crawford named All-American
James Hill|Courtesy
James Hill|Courtesy Junior Omari Deveaux maneuvers a shot over two defenders in a game against Salisbury University on Friday, Nov. 10 in the Townebank Tipoff Tournament. knee during a game sidelined him temporarily, presenting a hurdle that he faces with a mature outlook. Reflecting on the possibility of the season ending prematurely, Deveaux said, “I wouldn’t be mad. You know, things happen. You’ve got to have acceptance.” His resilience and determination shine through as he plans on making a comeback and continuing to contribute to the team’s success. Teammate Miles Wallace, a graduate student, shed light on Deveaux’s impact, and described him as a star player who leads the team through thick and thin. “When guys aren’t playing as well as they’re supposed to be, he’s the guy that tells us to lock in, focus and just regroup as a team,” Wallace said. In the face of adversity, Wallace envisions a scenario where Deveaux’s leadership extends beyond the court. “If he’s not playing, I would say not that [he’s] an assistant coach, but that kind of responsibility, making sure everybody’s
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doing what they’re supposed to be doing, everybody’s locked in all the time,” Wallace said. Graduate Intern Joey Lee, who transitioned from being Deveaux’s teammate to his coach, highlighted Deveaux’s positive influence on the team. “He’s the heart and soul of the team. He’s a leader, he’s super vocal, and he just brings it every day on the court,” Lee said. Reflecting on Deveaux’s future, Lee sees a path towards professionalism. “I see him playing basketball somewhere, whether it’s overseas, or if he makes it to the NBA G League, anything like that,” Lee said. Looking ahead, Deveaux sees a future beyond the college courts. “I definitely want to play overseas if I can get there. And then when I’m done, I definitely want to stick around basketball,” he said. His aspirations include contributing to the development of young talents, passing on the knowledge he’s gained through years of dedication to the sport.
BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu
On Thursday, Nov. 30, the United Soccer Coaches named graduate student Sam Crawford as an All-American player. During her five year soccer career at Virginia Wesleyan, she played a total of 7,423 minutes and started 82 out of her 88 games. She has been a member of three straight NCAA tournament appearances, which includes a Sweet Sixteen appearance and a trip to the Final Four in 2022. Crawford is a two time ODAC tournament champion, three time all region member, has won ODAC Player of the Year three times and was ODAC Rookie of the Year in 2019.
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Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu
On Friday, Dec. 1, the Pacific-12 (PAC12) conference held its last ever football game before the conference disband at the end of the academic year. The schools in the conference will join either the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big 12 or the Big Ten. The main reason for the collapse of the conference that has been around for over a century is TV rights. The conference has been struggling in recent years. They have only won national championships in lowerviewed Olympic sports like Swimming and Diving, Water Polo, Rowing, Men’s Gymnastics, Skiing and Beach Volleyball. They were not winning in football, which is one of the most viewed college sports. When the PAC-12 named its new commissioner, George Kliavkoff, there was hope that he would be able to solve the problem left behind. However, a wrench was thrown into the plan when three weeks after Kliavkoff was hired, the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma announced they were leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. Down two schools, the rest of the Big 12 asked the PAC-12 to merge, causing the PAC-12 to consist of 20 teams and reducing the number of power conferences from five to four. A subcommittee of three presidents and three athletic directors from PAC12 schools was formed to discuss the merger of the two. University of Southern California president Carol Folt was against the merger and was even surprised it was brought up. In June 2022, the PAC-12 was unprepared when USC and UCLA announced they would leave the “Conference of Champions” for the Big Ten. At the start of the 2024 collegiate football season, the Big Ten will comprise 17 schools across all time zones. The fall of the conference hurts the teams that don’t have TV revenue or ticket sales the most. Those teams are now forced to fly across the country–more than likely on a commercial flight– for a game or practice and then, not even 24 hours later, fly back to the west coast. Traveling not only takes a lot out of athletes mentally, but they also miss more classes and have to deal with jet lag. It is sad to see a conference with so much history and memories fall right before our eyes. It also is sad to see the PAC-12 fall after its most successful football seasons in recent history.
Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
THEWEEKENDER
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Marlins celebrate Christmas early
BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu
Alyssa Lane|Courtesy The entrance to Christmas Town is lit by hanging wreaths to spread holiday cheer from the first moment.
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle Gingerbread men and actors accompany the Copeland Queen School of the Arts float to interact with guests.
Mikayla Moscatelli|Marlin Chronicle Blue lights dangle from trees in the Botanical Gardens to give guests an immersive experience as they stroll.
Busch Gardens
Christmas Parades
Botanical Gardens
Busch Gardens brings Christmas to all individuals early, serving sweet Christmas fun for everyone. From Nov. 10 through Jan. 7, they open Christmas Town. While having numerous setups exclusive to Christmas, they still have a few rides still being operated. Christmas Town is a special place to go with family, friends and significant others to spend time together and enjoy the holiday season. Most days they are open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., but starting the week before Christmas they change to being open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Sundays they are open 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. through the whole month of December and on Saturday they are open 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Christmas Day, they have special hours from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. for those who enjoy an active day with their family.
The Norfolk and Virginia Beach Christmas parades are fun to do before heading home for the semester. While this year’s festivities have both passed, they are good to keep in mind for next year. Many individuals crowd the Oceanfront to witness the spectacle, with just about 100 parade units making their way down Atlantic Avenue covered with giant balloons, marching bands and much more. This year, the 37th Annual Grand Illumination Parade took place in Downtown Norfolk. Each year, they have a different theme; this year was Gingerbread dreams. Just like the Virginia Beach parade, they have marching bands, dance performances and many walking units that help keep everyone on their feet. Both parades include an appearance the big man himself, Santa.
Each year, starting early November and ending Dec. 31, the Botanical Gardens have their Walk the Garden Aglow. Prices range from $20 to $25 depending on if it is a value or premium night. For food, they provide Bear House Coffee every evening and since Nov. 24, they have had Duck Donuts from Wednesday through Sunday. The lights fill the entire park and the walk takes approximately 30 minutes to an hour, depending on if you take constant stops for pictures. The lights end up showing everyone a beautiful creation and unique set up that will have everyone wanting more.
Abby Moyers|Courtesy Juniors Abby Moyers and Grace McGhee pose in front of the iconic Busch Gardens Christmas tree.
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle Sophomores Abigail Villacrusis and Sydnee Washington pose in front of a gingerbread house.
Mikayla Moscatelli|Marlin Chronicle The highlight of Walk the Garden Aglow, the tall tree made of lights, is crowned with a glowing star.
JUNE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 (already being published in books before even graduating), but [they’re] taking the time to work on composing their own music in addition to playing the violin.” Richardson started as a piano player, learning to tap the hard, smooth ivory keys at 3 years old. At 7, they switched to the violin to play a more portable instrument. Their family has been a big part of their musical background, by supporting and guiding their musical journey. Their love for music grew from there, leading them to become concertmaster, or lead violinist, in the Virginia Wesleyan University Orchestra. In addition to playing here, they also play in a local orchestra, Symphonicity. The Symphonicity group provides them with a way to network with many other musicians in the area, and to learn and grow from them. “The way they play the music is exactly how it’s meant to be,” Claire Holman said, expressing her admiration of Richardson’s skill. Holman is a fellow violinist and classmate of Richardson. Holman enjoys listening to Richardson’s music and performance; she explained that she’s even gone to musical performance opportunities just to hear Richardson play. But playing music is no longer Richardson’s main focus. “Music is a big part of my life and violin is only a portion of that,” they said. That was okay with them, they explained with a cheerful shrug, because they had found a new focus for their musical studies. “It was 10th grade in high school when I realized that my passion for writing music had surpassed my passion for performing
on the violin. And that was simply because, I know it sounds weird to say, but my technical abilities on the violin had kind of plateaued around that time,” Richardson said. While the music Richardson first composed might have been, as they said, “very boring” and sounded like a typical classical piece, their skills have evolved since then through practice, a feat that impresses many teachers and classmates alike. “Personally, I find composing to be one of the most difficult projects a musician could do,” Stanley said. “You have to create something that is uniquely your own. Not a copy of something someone else has already done. You have to find your own voice.” Richardson works with this idea as well, using music composition as a creative outlet to stand out from other composers. Currently, they’re working on their longest and most personal piece yet: “Images.” “[Images] is the most emotionally involved piece I’ve ever written in my life,” Richardson said with a thoughtful nod. They explained the basis for it: a piece about the five senses and how it feels to be deceived by them by hallucinations, as interpreted by Richardson. The piece is divided into 5 movements, entitled “Apparition” for sight, “Provocation” for sound, “Stench” for smell, “Clasp” for touch, and “Savor” for taste. Based on Debussy’s work of the same name, Richardson’s “Images” is an impressionistic piece aimed at conveying how each of these hallucinations might feel to the audience, based on Richardson’s own experiences. “Apparition” takes the dark shapes dancing at the edges of your vision and becomes a slow, eerie movement filled
June Richardson|Courtesy Senior June Richardson realized their passion for composing while in high school. with creeping, haunting sounds. A bright voice tingling in your ear transforms into an explosion of sharp, bright notes in “Provocation.” “Stench,” Richardson’s personal favorite, becomes a short, slow, cascade of notes that might remind you of familiar, unpleasant scents hanging in the air, while “Clasp” conveys the idea of unfamiliar, unwelcome touches through a flurry of unexpected, frenetic notes. Finally, “Savor” ends the piece with a sweet, “cute” movement of pleasant notes that can remind you to savor the moment. Richardson intends to make “people feel ‘wow’ while listening to it.” “It’s powerful,” Richardson said. While responses might be positive or negative, Richardson has filled the piece with enough emotion to leave a lasting impression. While “Images” is not finished yet, it already stands at 61 pages. Richardson
explained that the piece would probably end around 65 pages, with each movement standing as a musically distinct, independently performable piece. Richardson plans to perform the piece in its entirety for their graduation recital, as well as hosting a composer’s talk on campus to perform the piece and discuss their compositional style. “I think it will be a monumental way to leave a lasting mark on the music department and the school, even more than they already have,” Stanley said with an excited smile. “I do have some other plans for the future,” Richardson said, hinting at more symphonies and compositions to come. “I’m really intrigued to see what they’re going to do,” Holman said. For now, the world can only wait for the curtains to rise and Richardson’s compositions to fill the stage.
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Thursday December 7, 2023 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
THEWEEKENDER
Study spots and coffee shops Coalescence Coffee Company
BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu
Coalescence Coffee Company is speckless and spacious, two features that qualify this establishment as a studying oasis for students who enjoy quiet and calm environments when preparing for finals. Coalescence substitutes typical cafe charm with cocktail-inspired espresso drinks; however, they do offer all of the latte classics with a scientific flair. Virginia Wesleyan senior John Wampler is not a regular coffee drinker, but enjoyed a more complex iced espresso concoction with lemon, blueberry and Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle bitters. Unfortunately, their food menu leaves The minimalist interior of Coalescence Coffee Company something to be desired for customers that may centers around the barista bars surrounded by tables.
Cafe Stella
Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Customers enjoy the food, atmosphere of Cafe Stella.
Cafe Stella is an eclectic hubbub with a homelike ambience. Open from 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday until 10 p.m., it functions as both a coffee roaster and bistro. Behind the counter is a ten foot chalkboard menu, which covers affordable, popular and unique flavor profiles. A full day of studying could easily be fueled by breakfast shakshuka, Korean beef tacos and a slice of cake with a latte. They appease a plethora of palates with coffee customization, with over a dozen different flavorings and milk substitutes. As they are open late, they serve drinks and
Mea Culpa Cafe
Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Mea Culpa Cafe servesvarious plates, inclusing a savory corn pancakes with a runny egg and cilantro.
Operating out of an old Victorian home, Mea Culpa Cafe is quaint–a quintessential local business located twenty minutes from campus. On the front porch lives a community fridge and just inside the door is a small bookshelf of secondhand books in what used to be the front stairwell. In addition to the speed of their service, the most impressive aspect of the cafe is the caliber of food they serve. While their prices border a college student’s level of affordability, they do not skimp on portions or flavor. Such
plan on staying all day. Locally made pastries are available, but nothing more. Most importantly, there is plenty of seating and table space for study groups. The atmosphere invites hushed tones with no aggressive music playing in the background. A large study room composes most of the back of the shop, with even more seating and open whiteboards. If the main area is ever too loud or crowded, the study room is an excellent option. Coalescence is only twenty minutes from campus and is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day aside from Sundays when they are closed. Like many businesses in the area, parallel parking is the only option available. charcuterie. The atmosphere definitely caters to those who best focus with ambient noise, the lull of conversation and overhead music, and enjoy plenty of study snacks. Diverse seating is available from massive dining tables to tables in the outdoor atrium. However, due to the community presence, the cafe is typically busy. Virginia Wesleyan junior Kaitlyn Duswalt is a supportive patron. “Cafe Stella is my personal favorite get away study place. It is about 20 minutes away so I do tend to go to it more as a treat and for longer assignments and sittings. But the atmosphere is so helpful in enhancing my productivity,” Duswalt said. Important to note, parallel parking is the most available option.
a small establishment dishes out lemon curd waffles, savory corn pancakes with a runny egg and their iced strawberry and coconut latte. As for the atmosphere, natural lighting and plenty of small tables provide a cozy ambience for students to nestle their textbooks alongside mugs of coffee and plates of pancakes, as if in their own home. Unfortunately, this cafe’s hours are extremely limited, only open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. However, during its hours of operation, the cafe is typically uncrowded and quiet. Like many small businesses, parallel parking is the only option available.
Horror films spread holiday fear
BY SYDNEE WASHINGTON sawashington2@vwu.edu
The holidays, a time of joy, cheer and…fear? Holiday themed horror movies look to turn the happy holidays into a nightmarish tale. The most recent edition of this twisted horror sub-genre is the movie “Thanksgiving,” which was released on Nov. 17. The film begins with a seemingly normal Thanksgiving Day, following two different Thanksgiving dinners where friends and families come together and enjoy each other’s company. It quickly takes a dark turn when town members rush to get in line for the supermarket’s Black Friday sale. The crowd ultimately gets out of control and storms the supermarket, breaking the barriers and smashing through the locked glass sliding doors. The incident results in the death of four people, and becomes the motive of a demented serial killer to take revenge against those responsible for the deaths. “Thanksgiving” is an average
Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Reviewer Sydnee Washington gave “Thanksgiving” 3.5 out of 5 stars.
slasher film with violence, gore, mystery and suspense. It received decent reviews with a 7/10 rating from IMDb and an 83% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. “I thought the movie was insane,” junior Eythan Moreira said. “It was outlandish but also very intense for a film of that caliber.” He noted that the movie was “cheesy” but fun. “The drama and acting are over the top, making for an intense and silly film. I give this movie a solid 8/10,” Moreira said. The oxymoronic holiday horror genre has the unique ability to spoil holiday cheer and create holiday fear. Eli Roth, the director of “Thanksgiving,” talked with the entertainment website Polygon about his love for
horror films as a child and how he dreaded the horror film dry season between Halloween and the new year. “I wanted to fill the November void. There was a desert with no horror films. I wanted to fill it with a Thanksgiving slasher film,” Roth said. First-year Mikayla Bryant disagreed. She said that filmmakers should leave the holiday season to cheerful movies. “Horror movies should not be tied with holidays because it’s too scary. Christmas should not be scary,” Bryant said. On the contrary, senior Emma Lankford shared her support for holiday horror. “I think that having scary
Christmas movies allows people to have fun with it, and it’s a great way to expand upon traditional holiday values,” Lankford said. First-year Madison Mellon reflected on the role of holiday horror. “I think they can be a good form of entertainment if it is something people enjoy,” Mellon said. “I understand why some people think it can be inappropriate, but that’s how it is with many horror movies. For example, I thought ‘Krampus’ was a great movie and it gave some light onto the Central European folk tale it was based off of.” Nevertheless, for students who are overwhelmed and need a break from the excessive jolliness of the holiday spirit, there are plenty of well-rated holiday horror movies to cater to your spooky needs. Rotten Tomatoes lists the top five horror holiday movies as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (95%), “Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale” (89%), “Better Watch Out” (89%), “Gremlins” (86%) and “Anna and the Apocalypse” (77%).
Kaitlyn Duswalt|Marlin Chronicle