THURSDAY 2.28.19 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU ||
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
California et al. v. Trump et al. United States of America Dept. of Defense Patrick Shanahan Mark Esper Richard Spencer Heather Wilson Dept. of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin Dept. of the Interior David Bernhardt U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen
Colorado Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Illinois Maine Maryland Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey Nex Mexico New York Virginia Oregon
BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu
Virginia has joined in a lawsuit with 15 other states to sue President Donald Trump after he declared a national emergency to fund and build a U.S.-Mexico border wall. The lawsuit argues that the President does not have the power to divert funds to build the wall, since Congress controls spending. It further claims that such an act is not within the scope of presidential powers during a national emergency. The suit, California et al. v. Trump et al., was filed in San Francisco’s Federal District Court. The “Plaintiff States” claim to bring the action forth in order to protect their residents, natural resources and
economic interests from the President’s “flagrant disregard of fundamental separation of powers principles engrained in the United States Constitution.” “I think declaring the national emergency was stupid and honestly a huge abuse of power,” senior Benjamin Astrum said. “He even said he could do it without declaring it, it would just take longer,” Astrum continued, referring to Trump’s admission during a conference that the emergency declaration was to hurry the progress of border construction. The lawsuit further charges that “the President has used the pretext of
a manufactured ‘crisis’ of unlawful immigration to declare a national emergency and redirect federal dollars appropriated for drug interdiction, military construction, and law enforcement initiatives toward building a wall on the United States-Mexico border.” “I also would like to see exactly what [the states] are suing for, because in a lawsuit what you say matters. A president hasn’t been challenged with this power because he has always used it legitimately, so no one has thought to challenge it,” Astrum said. Though this is not the first time an
Tennis welcomes Cambodian teammate BY ALEX CORTRIGHT akcortright@vwu.edu
individual state or a group of states has sued the executive administration, it is the first time a president has been challenged by states as a result of a previously-decided funding issue. “What’s rather unique about this case is that it centers around the President trying to do something Congress specifically denied him the funding to do, rather than neglected to act on via legislation,” VWU Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Science Department Leslie Caughell said.
SEE LAWSUIT Pg. 2
Sustainability major emerges BY FAITH AUAD fmauad@vwu.edu
Timothy Tep joined the Virginia Wesleyan tennis team this year all the way from Cambodia. Tep grew up in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, with the tennis gene from the multiple athletes within his family. His father, Tep Rithivit has quite the impact on the sport of tennis in his country as he helped bring it back to Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge period and the Cambodian Civil war in 1975. He is now the secretary-general of the Tennis Federation in Cambodia. The federation teaches 12,000 kids for free, half of whom are orphans. His father also won bronze medals and played in the Davis Cup, which is the premier international team event in men’s tennis.
Tep’s grandfather, Tep Khunnah, was also a tennis player. He was one of Cambodia’s best players during the 1960s. In addition to that, Tep’s maternal cousin, named Arnaud Boetsch, reached a singles ranking of World No. 12. Tep was born into tennis, as shown by his family ties. Tep grew up playing other sports such as soccer and racing motorbikes from a young age, but his ultimate passion proved to be tennis. Prior to Virginia Wesleyan, Tep had been to the United States twice. On his second visit, he attended a recruitment camp in Pennsylvania where he met VWU head coach Martin Perry.
SEE TEP Pg. 8
Bethany Walker|Marlin Chronicle Tep started at VWU this semester.
Unregistered pet crack-down on campus BY NICK MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu
Bethany Walker|Marlin Chronicle Luna is Alexi Baumgardner’s companion animal.
There has been a rise of unregistered animals on the Virginia Wesleyan University campus, and these violations can cost students their housing selection. Students can register either service animals or companion animals. Recently, there have been notes posted around campus reminding students that if they have a pet on campus to make sure that they are registered and are allowed to be here. Residence Life is starting to crack down on these violations. Virginia Wesleyan has had the same policy regarding animals for the past four to five years. Residence Life has been finding these animals through numerous ways on campus. There are two different types of ways of getting an animal registered on campus. The first is
as a service animal, which are trained to perform a certain job or task to someone that may need it. This refers to students who have a need for their animal because they have an certain impairment that the animal has been taught to help with. The second type of animals allowed on campus are companion animals, which are defined by the the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as “domesticated or domestic-bred animals whose physical, emotional, behavioral and social needs can be readily met as companions in the home, or in close daily relationship with humans.”
SEE PETS Pg. 4
Sea level rise is no secret. Coastal Virginia has seen a fourteen-inch rise in sea level since 1950. Norfolk is sinking at an approximate rate of one inch every four years. The sinkage is caused by two main catalysts: groundwater removal and shifts in the tectonic plates under the Earth’s surface. Virginia Wesleyan has long been on the frontlines of environmental action and it’s latest effort to combat sea level rise and other environmental issues may be its bestkept secret: the Sustainability Management degree. The degree is only in its second year of being offered, and merges together aspects of both business and science to give students the much-needed tools to help organizations achieve not only their financial goals, but also increase their environmental sustainability and social responsibility to future generations.
SEE DEGREE Pg. 3
Jam session Student musicians talk about where they go to play together. BY TANI MARTINEZ eamartinez@vwu.edu
Playing alone in your room can be fun on its own, but depending on who you ask, some may say playing with another person or at a store can be way more fun. We explore some of the various places on- and off-campus that you can go to play music.
SEE PARADISE Pg. 9
2 Thursday February 28, 2019 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
News
Virginia sues Trump “
Concocting a fake emergency to build a needless wall goes against the Constitution and the values America was built on.
”
VA Attorney General Mark Herring
“
We’re talking about an invasion of our country with drugs, with human traffickers, with all types of criminals and gangs.
”
U.S. President Donald Trump
Photo illustration
LAWSUIT
Mickella Rast|Marlin Chronicle
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 The Commonwealth of Virginia is represented by its Attorney General, Mark R. Herring. “We’re suing Trump because concocting a fake emergency to build a needless wall goes against the Constitution and the values America was built on,” Herring stated on Twitter. “If Trump redirects money to pay for his needless wall we could lose up to $131 million slated for military construction projects in Virginia.” This estimate was also included in Virginia’s Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, which states more specifically that Virginia stands to lose up to $131.7 million, or roughly 16 percent, in military construction funding. The complaint holds that “the use of funding for a southern border wall rather than for necessary maintenance and repairs to Virginia’s military bases harms the Commonwealth’s economy and the safety of Virginia’s service members.” Such funding is currently slated for use for projects at Dam Neck, Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Belvoir, Humphreys Engineer Center, Joint Base Langley-Eustis and the Pentagon. “Many of the funds redirected to build the wall will come from construction
projects already allocated in places like Hampton Roads and North Carolina. There are bipartisan constituencies for these projects, people of both parties have fought for the funding of those projects. Many won’t be keen to see Congress circumvented and their constituents hurt,” Caughell said. Furthermore, Virginia stands to lose an additional $3 million of federal drug interdiction and prevention funding. Such funding is regularly used to implement counter-narcotics and drug interdiction measures, and removing it to fund a U.S.Mexico border wall “would threaten the public safety of all Virginians,” according to the complaint. Caughell further stated that “all Virginia residents would see the effects” of such a loss in funding. “It would be a substantial economic loss to the state, and especially Hampton Roads,” she said. The Democratic majority in the House of Representatives voted on Tuesday, Feb. 26, to terminate President Trump’s declaration of national emergency. The bill was passed and sent to the U.S. Senate, amid criticism by Republicans and an indication from President Trump that he will veto it. Despite this vote, the lawsuit
is still expected to proceed. “I’m really hoping that it does not go through and [President Trump] has to call it off because it just is not the way this country works,” Astrum said. “We would be delinquent in our duties if we did not resist, if we did not fight back to overturn the President’s declaration,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told reporters. “What the President is saying about the border is mythology. It’s not reality, but this is not about the wall.” Protestors gathered in downtown Norfolk Feb. 19 to oppose the wall and President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. This protest was one of nearly 200 that took place across the country on Presidents Day. According to WAVY TV 10, whoich reported on scene, protestors held signs that read “Trump is the emergency” and “No housing detainees for ICE in Norfolk.” “I’m mostly here to protest the absolute idiocracy that is this border wall,” Virginia Beach resident Avanti Garedo said to WAVY reporters. “It is clearly not beneficial in any way. As a matter of fact, it is just a racist statement that should be completely eradicated from the United
Let’s break it down: an interview with Professor Leslie Caughell VWU Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Political Science Department Leslie Caughell further explains the circumstances surrounding the California et al. v. Trump et al. lawsuit and the possible path it could take through the legal system. BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu
Q: What is the relevance or importance of states being able to sue a federal entity? The states are currently “claiming to bring the action forth” in order to protect their residents, natural resources and economic interests. Is this enough basis for such a lawsuit? A: This is one of the basic checks and balances in our constitutional system. All power doesn’t reside with the president, nor does it reside with the federal government. States challenging federal entities provides them the opportunity to curb the power of the federal government relative to that of the states when they conflict. Q: The lawsuit brings into question control of funds and the scope of presidential powers during a national emergency. Are such concepts not explicitly defined, or are they more loose concepts that are left to be interpreted by each administration? There seems to be some overlap between these powers, so can you elaborate on that? A: The constitution is designed so that many powers overlap. The parts of the constitution that deal with presidential powers, including the vesting clause, are vague. This means that each administration comes in with some understanding of what they believe the executive can
do. What’s been relatively consistent across administrations, however, is that modern presidents have pushed the boundaries of what’s acceptable, especially when Congress has been unwilling to legislate in ways that they wanted. And Congress has been much more willing to allow presidents to exercise these executive powers that many consider overreach, even though they claim not to like them, because it keeps Congress having to legislate on hard issues, like immigration or war. Q: Can you provide a basic rundown of a procedural process the lawsuit may run through? The lawsuit between 16 states and President Trump, California et al. v. Trump et al., was filed in San Francisco’s Federal District Court, so what will happen next? A: It will go to the 9th Circuit. That court will determine if the plaintiffs have standing (that they can demonstrate harm) and then decide how to proceed. One interesting thing lost in this debate is a large check that will likely keep Trump from implementing his National Emergency as planned is Congress itself, that includes Republicans. … The court will then eventually have to decide on the merits of the case. From there, the losing party will appeal. It’s likely that this will
go to the Supreme Court and be an interesting test case if this new more conservative court will be willing to curb the excesses of executive power that have become quite common in the past few decades. Q: What are the basic components of a lawsuit? There seemed to be several different documents included in it, such as Complaints for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief and an Intradistrict Assignment. A: The reality of this suit, and many lawsuits, is that the plaintiffs have thrown in any potential legal complaint and method of slowing down the process of the president moving forward with this national emergency. It’s a common strategy to throw everything in the lawsuit and see what sticks for the court, maximizing your chances of convincing the court that you don’t have standing and slowing down the action that you don’t like. Q: Do you have any advice for people looking to further educate themselves on legal processes and other government actions? A: Follow the Virginian Pilot, Richmond Times Dispatch, and at least one local paper. This is indispensable for really understanding what’s going on.
States.” “You can’t just demonize a whole group of people and [think] you are just going to get away with it,” Garedo said. Astrum also pointed out that President Trump’s declaration may set a precedent for Democrats to do the same in the future, if a Democratic president wins the office. President Trump’s declaration has been called a “fake national emergency” and has been garnering ample amounts of attention on social media. The other 15 states joining Virginia in the lawsuit are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Oregon. Among the charged defendants, of which President Trump is the most publicized, is the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the United States of America. The link to the full lawsuit is available online in the New York Times article “16 States Sue to Stop Trump’s Use of Emergency Powers to Build Border Wall.”
What does it mean? Speak ‘Legalese’ BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu
Action: Also called a case or lawsuit. A civil judicial proceeding where one party sues another for a wrong done, or to protect a right or to prevent a wrong. Appeal: To ask a higher court to reverse the decision of a trial court after final judgment or other legal ruling. Case: A lawsuit or action in a court. Complaint: the first document filed with the court (actually with the County Clerk or Clerk of the Court) by a person or entity claiming legal rights against another. Declaratory relief: a judge’s determination of the parties’ rights under a contract or a statute often requested in a lawsuit over a contract. Defendant: the party sued in a civil lawsuit or the party charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution. Hearing: A proceeding, generally public, at which an issue of fact or law is discussed and either party has the right to be heard. Injunctive relief: a court-ordered act or prohibition against an act or condition which has been requested, and sometimes granted, in a petition to the court for an injunction. Lawsuit: a common term for a legal action by one person or entity. Malfeasance: Doing something illegal or morally wrong. Malfeasance includes dishonesty and abuse of authority. Plaintiff: the party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint with the clerk of the court against the defendant(s) demanding damages, performance and/ or court determination of rights. Provisional remedy: A temporary court order to protect someone from further or irreparable damage while further legal action is pending.
Sources: www.jud.ct.gov, www.uscourts.gov, usa.usembassy.de, www.americanbar.org
News
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Thursday February 28, 2019 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
DEGREE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
Wesleyan students get a ‘green’ degree
The degree and course requirements for the B.A. in Sustainability and the B.S. in Sustainability Management, respectively from top to bottom.
One of the driving forces behind the creation of the Sustainability Management Degree was Virginia Wesleyan alumna Ms. Sydney Covey, who graduated in December 2015. “I grew up in a small coastal town, Mathews, Va., where you either lived off the land or fished the Chesapeake Bay. So, from a very young age, I appreciated all that earth had to offer and I wanted to give it a voice in the best way possible,” Covey said. She explained that these were key factors in her career choice. The Sustainability Management Degree was not available during her time at VWU (then VWC), so Covey plotted her own course to earn dual degrees in business and environmental studies. Soon after, a conversation began between the different departments an interdisciplinary degree was developed. Thus, the Sustainability Management Degree was born. “I have always found peace in nature and see it as my personal kind of holy place and want to do everything I can to protect it. Initially I was going to go for a simple EES major but soon realized a finance/ business background can advance environmental initiatives much more effectively,” junior Hannah Allen said. Hannah and sophomore Skyler Lattuca are the only two students currently seeking a Sustainability Management Degree. Both students agreed that they would like to the degree advertised more, as they said students often express interest in environmental topics but are unaware the degree exists. The Sustainability Management Degree opens doors beyond just wanting to preserve and sustain nature. The industry is known for its involvement in climate change contributors, such as automotive industry, fossil fuels and other large scale manufacturers. However, a more holistic approach to the industry would expand concerns to address both industrial and commercial development. This would ensure that present challenges are met and solved, such as the rising sea level currently affecting the Hampton Roads area. “My biggest goal is to make the inflated housing market much more affordable using sustainable practices, as I’m from New York where housing is ridiculously expensive, so I’ve seen the struggles that it caused first hand,” Lattuca said. The average yearly salary of a Chief Sustainability Officer in the United States is $125,777. According to sealevelrise.org, there are four primary causes of sea level rise: glacial ice melting, heating of the ocean, slowing of the gulf stream and land sinkage. Of those, land sinkage is the primary concern for coastal Virginia. In response to the effects of sea level rise, local cities have begun to invest heavily in protecting their assets. Norfolk has over one billion dollars of proposed projects to protect the city from flooding by 2035. This is due in part to the 180 percent increase in tidal flooding the area has seen. Even on days with no
rain flooding has occurred due to the drainage systems which direct excess water to the ocean have backed up due sea level rise and higher tides. The City of Virginia Beach has allocated roughly $450 million dollars for storm water projects in the next five years. This is a response to recent studies that show storms which once were considered to be 100-year events will occur more
Did you know about these degrees? BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu
Wesleyan has many degree options to represent the wide variety of interests students hold. If the Sustainability Management degree caught your attention, but isn’t quite right for your academic career, check out these other great offerings below.
History and Social Science
A degree in History and Social Science prepares students to teach history or social studies at a secondary level. It emphasizes historical interpretation. In addition to history, areas of study include government, civics, international studies, economic and geography.
Layne Nooner|Marlin Chronicle Lattuca is one of two students pursuing the Sustainability Management Degree at VWU. frequently, as often as every ten years, causing record storm surges. President Scott D. Miller’s recent trip to Tempe, Az. to attend the 2019 Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit reaffirmed Wesleyan’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, especially in the Hampton Roads area. The attendees of the Summit issued a Call to Action: Guiding Principles for Accelerating Equitable and Just Climate Solutions. “The Generation Z students on our campuses today are the electorate of tomorrow, and they understand the imperative to act,” President Miller said in a news release about the Summit. “Ninety-four percent of them consider the environment to be one of our nation’s most important challenges. It’s up to our leaders in higher education and government to come together with our partners in the corporate non-profit sector to take action before it’s too late.” The call also establishes eight principles that provide guidance for institutes of higher learning regarding environmental initiatives with the help of local partnerships. In line with these principles, VWU has developed its own partnerships with local stakeholders such as the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Through this partnership students are able to carry out valuable research in sea level rise by working with the waterways surrounding the gardens. This year, the summit was hosted by the International Endowment Network (EIN) and Second Nature, two organizations committed to sustainability. President of Second Nature, Tim Carter said, “The respected scientific community has shown us that the window of opportunity to act on climate change is narrow and it is now.”
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Comprehensive Liberal Studies The Comprehensive Liberal Studies degree, also known as CLS, offers students the opportunity to design their own unique individual program of study. This degree reflects the flexible and interdisciplinary nature of a liberal arts institution by encouraging students to follow their academic interests through VWU’s three schools.
German Studies Germany is often considered the “economic backbone of Europe,” and as such continues to impact the European culture. A degree in German Studies, as the name suggests, explores the culture of Germany and other German-speaking countries.
Individualized Degree
What are you really passionate about? If it’s a well-defined area of interest or a problem that Wesleyan doesn’t address in its list of major and course offerings, students can develop an individualized major. According to the course catalog, this type of study requires “considerable initiative and imagination.”
Sociology A degree in Sociology gives students the ability to understand the social and cultural makeup of human behavior. Students will analyze real-life occurances and be provided with intellectual resources.
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Community
Thursday February 28, 2019 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
The
MARLIN CHRONICLE
PETS CONTINUED FROM PG 1
Editor-in-Chief Hayley Heath hrheath@vwu.edu Managing Editor News Editor Mickella Rast mjrast@vwu.edu Community Editor Cynthia Griffin clgriffin@vwu.edu Opinions Editor Jonathan Joyner jrjoyner@vwu Sports Editor Megan Sherman mrsherman@vwu.edu Weekender Editor Tony Tann tdtann@vwu.edu Photo Editor Bethany Walker brwalker@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Alex Powers ampowers@vwu.edu Val Miller v Online Editor Nel Hart nlhart@vwu.edu Copy Editor Tara Truax tmtruax@vwu.edu Business Manager Hayley Heath hrheath@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Jasmine Demir jkdemir@vwu.edu
Layne Nooner|Marlin Chronicle Sophomore Sarah Ramsey with her pet ferret, Haku. The increase of unregistered animals violations on campus could lead to severe consequences. “Our standard moving forward, if you are in violation of the unregistered animal policy then the level of probation that you go on is the disciplinary probation and that is our highest level of probation here at the institution. Ultimately it may result in you losing your housing selection opportunity for the upcoming year,” Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jason Seward said. “We have a process if a student has a real need to have a registered companion animal on campus then we encourage them to visit the student handbook and to understand that policy and go through the proper channels.” If a student is caught with an unregistered animal it could cost them an opportunity in the future of getting an companion animal. Numerous colleges across the United States have been seeing a rise of animals on campus. There is not just one cause from the recent increase. Reasons range from the increasing stress and anxiety that students are going through to many colleges allowing more and more students the ability to have pets on campus and in their dorms. There are many colleges that are becoming pet-friendly, though there are some that still do not allow animals to live on campus. Some colleges allow students to bring a pet on campus after one year. Some even allow students a pet
Bethany Walker|Marlin Chronicle Sophomore Alexi Baumgardner and her dog Luna.
Mickella Rast|Marlin Chronicle Residence Life’s official unregistered animals policy. after one semester. Unfortunately, there are some risks that are being carried with bringing an animal on campus that is unregistered. “There are multiple reasons why institutions restrict animals on campus everything from allergies of other students that from minimizing wear-and-tear on the building to the impact that the animal could have,” Director of Residence Life David Stuebing said. There is
a defined process for those students who wish to bring an animal onto campus legally. “For those that have a legitimate need, the process is actually outlined in the student handbook under the accommodations,” Stuebing said. If a student does register either a service animal or companion animal for the most part they are allowed to stay on campus for the rest of the student’s time here at Virginia Wesleyan. When a student brings a companion animal on campus the goal of the school is to prepare them for life outside of college and the counselling service helps with that. “For the emotional support animals, the way I phrase it to students is our hope is that we can all students be ready for the challenges that they’re going to face post-college,” Stuebing said. Although many people believe that there is little harm in having a pet, it can have limitations. “Needing an emotional support animal may limit where they can live or what they could do, and so ideally, in cooperation with counseling office, with just our various support resources, we could help them find tools in ways of handling anxiety or stresses or things that where they might not need an animal that it is a nice thing to have, but it is no longer required,” Stuebing said. The university is making a conscious effort to help students that have anxiety. Virginia Wesleyan is staying a pet-friendly college even though there is more of a watch over unregistered animals on campus.
Advisers Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu John-Henry Doucette jdoucette@vwu.edu
Freshman
Nickayl Williams, Math major The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Virginia Wesleyan University. Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:40 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 CYNTHIA GRIFFIN clgriffin@vwu.edu Q: Why did you choose to come to Virginia Wesleyan? A: I really liked the campus and how beautiful it was when I visited to do an admissions interview. It was also the college that offered the most scholarship money with the lowest out-of-pocket costs. Q: What is one of your favorite memories that you have made while at Virginia Wesleyan? A: Although it didn’t happen on campus, it would have to be the trip I took to Israel as one of the classes offered during a winter session course. One of the defining memories of that trip was learning to waltz and subsequently waltzing on a boat on the Sea of Galilee.
Nickayl Williams|Courtesy
Senior
Q: If you could change one thing about your college experience what would it be? A: I would definitely talk to upperclassmen in my major about what classes fit what I want to do and take more of those classes. Q: What piece of advice would you give to your freshman self? A: To get involved and connected before junior year! College is a lot more fun when there are people you can enjoy it with; friends make anything more enjoyable! Q: How do you think you have changed during the four years that you have been at Wesleyan? A: I definitely “came out of my shell” and got a whole lot more comfortable with who I am. I’ve learned to accept and embrace the weird quirks I have trust me I’ve got plenty and not try to hide those from people. Q: What is one thing that you will miss about the school after you graduate? A: I will definitely miss the friendly community here. The professors I’ve had have all been incredibly smart and easy to talk to, whether it be about class material or a casual conversation.
Nickayl Williams|Courtesy
Thursday, February 28, 2019
CAMPUS countdown March 4th
Nexus Interfaith Dialogue: Divorce, the Bible, and Religious Faith
Time: 7 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Location: Pearce Hospitality Suite Rabbi Michael Panitz, Jim Parke, Christa Springstead ’07, lead discussions on how people within their respective traditions understand the passages in Scripture that condemn divorce. Free and open to the public.
March 5th
True Black History Museum
Time: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Location: Pearce Hospitality Suite The True Black History Museum is a traveling museum that teaches True Black history through the use of rare and authentic artifacts. Sponsored by the Wesleyan Activities Council and the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.
March 7th On Deck Speaker Series: AUBREY WESTFALL- The Politics of the Headscarf in the United States Time: 11 a.m. Location: Blocker Auditorum She examines the practice of Muslim-American women wearing a headscarf and focuses on how wearing headscarves accentuates Muslim identity in uniquely American ways, engaging with ideas of democracy, civil rights and feminism.
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Fill out the bingo sheet to see how many things you have done while at Virginia Wesleyan
VWU BINGO Had a family member graduate from VWC/VWU
Went on a study away trip or a semester broad
Rented equipment from RecX
Received a free t-shirt
Watched a movie in Blocker Auditorium
Ate in the caf without swiping
Touched the John Wesley statue for good luck
Climbed the Alpine Tower/Rock Wall
Requested an escort from security
Went to the Learning Center for help
Pulled an all-nighter
Took a photo with Bob Marlin
Had trouble finding a parking spot
Received computer help from the help desk
Know the villages by their new names
Had to wade through flooded sidewalks
Filled out a work order
Trekked out to Lake Taylor
Read the Marlin Chronicle
Bought VWU merchandise
March 8th Dress A Girl Around the World - International Women’s Day
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Went to an annual VWU tradition or event
Used LiveSafe
Still refer to Bought a smoothie from the Villages as the Grille V1, V2, etc.
Did you get bingo? Show us on Twitter.
Time: 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. Location: Boyd Dinning Center East Dress a Girl Around the World provides girls in need with clothing in countries such as Uganda. Various stations for cutting and sewing will be set up to construct these dresses. For more info contact WRC Director Dr. Jennifer Slivka at wrc@vwu.edu
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February 16 12:44 p.m. |Controlled Substance Bray Village No description February 16 12:44 p.m.|Liquor Law Violation Bray Village No description
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Thursday February 28, 2019 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
A state of scandals
Val Miller|Marlin Chronicle
Recruitment done right BY JONATHAN JOYNER jrjoyner@vwu.edu
Extracurriculars are a valuable part of any student’s college career. They provide opportunities for growth, service, friendship and leadership and many others. The friends you make in extracurriculars usually share the same interests as you and can help you to grow in specific areas. There are basically extracurricular groups for almost anything out there. If one does not exist, then you can make one for yourself. All you need is five members plus an advisor who is free to help. However, being in an extracurricular group does prove to have some difficulties such as maintaining and increasing group membership. So, how does one increase their groups membership numbers? On a college campus, I am sure most people would probably say club fair (at VWU, it is the Student Involvement Fair). However, most people do not realize the inefficiency
that comes with relying solely on club fair for recruitment. First of all, club fair is a highly overwhelming event that creates a lot of chaos externally and internally for individuals. We are easily overwhelmed by the number of tables and varying groups that are participating. We feel the urge to sign up for every group that sounds fascinating to us, while only attending one or two interest meetings. I have come to call this issue the “sign-up syndrome,” which is a phrase used to describe the number of clubs we sign up for while only participating in a few. I have seen this multiple times with groups that I am a part of. We will get at least two pages of names and only two or three names show up to join. This is quite common for most groups, and it is not the fault of the clubs or the individuals signing up. It is just a simple fact that
club fair is overwhelming. Secondly, club fair does not exhibit what kind of activities extracurricular groups partake in. By this I mean that club fair does not actually show off what each group does. So many people rely on club fair for recruitment and forget that they really cannot show off any of what they do. At the fair, you usually are only explaining the group and hope that people take an interest. In this case, actions do speak a lot louder than words. Finally, relying on one event for recruitment, no matter what the event is, is not an effective method. You need to get the word about your group the oldfashioned way by taking to the streets and advertising. You can make flyers and posters, focus on word-of-mouth, or even do interest meetings or events to get the word out. This is the most valuable part of recruitment because, as stated
earlier, club fair is overwhelming, and it can prove difficult to display the depth of your passion for a club or group. True recruitment involves sharing your passion with those around you and also involves talking to individuals, not large crowds that create chaos. Extracurriculars can prove to be one of the most fun pieces of a college student’s story. You can join honor societies, clubs, sports groups, volunteer work groups, as well as many others. Sharing your passion and spreading the word about your favorite groups is also an important piece of a college student’s life. Joining others and pursuing your passions together is an amazing experience. So go and explore new options about how to do this. Live your college life, find new friends, find people to join you in your adventures. Do all you can to spread the word when you have a passion.
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Marlin Swim moves program forward in second ODACs
Sports Information|Courtesy Kyle Woolf swimming at the ODAC Championship meet for his second year. Woolf broke four school records Feb. 15-17. BY JOSH GRAY jagray@vwu.edu MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu
The men’s and women’s swim team at Virginia Wesleyan participated in the ODAC tournament from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17. As a team, the women finished in tenth place while the men finished in ninth. Many school records were shattered during ODACs in the swim program’s second year of competition. For the women’s program, senior Hayley Heath set new records in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley. She would then team up with junior Amanda Waller, sophomore Miah Kurtz and freshman Jordan McCowan in the 200 freestyle to top another school record. Waller also tops the 500 freestyle for the school. Junior swimmer Cherhon DavisPearson set personal bests of her own in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. “Our boys and girls team both beat several school records, dropped time to
set their own personal best records and maintained amazing sportsmanship during ODACs. I think we’re all guilty of probably not warming up or warming down enough. But it was a three-day event that started in the morning and didn’t end until 8 at night so we were all understandably tired,” Davis-Pearson said. Although there are some upperclassmen on the team who have been to the tournament before, there are also some underclassmen who made the trip for the first time this year. Freshman Shayna Anthony is among one of these swimmers. “It was exciting for me, but it was also really intense. I was super nervous because I had never competed in anything as big as ODACs before. Overall, I enjoyed my time there and it was a great learning experience. I grew closer with my team and I’m excited for next year,” Anthony
said. For the men’s swim team, multiple records were broken as well. Freshman Tyler Strong broke the school record in the 200 backstroke. Junior Kyle Woolf also got his name in the record books as he set the new high in the 100 breaststroke. The team of Woolf, Strong, freshman Grant Morgan and freshman Max Currens topped the program record in the 200 medley. Woolf, the team captain on the men’s side, topped another record when he teamed up with Currens, Strong, and junior Patrick McKneely in the 400 freestyle. “Overall, the whole team just worked really hard and I couldn’t be more proud of them, and we broke pretty much all of our records,” Woolf said.
Men’s basketball falls in ODAC quarterfinals BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu
The fourth-ranked Virginia Wesleyan men’s basketball team fell to fifth-ranked Washington and Lee University in the quarterfinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament on Feb. 21 in Salem, Va. The final score was 7769, and Lamont Steward led the Marlin’s scorers with 16 points with sophomore Tim Fisher following close behind with 15. Fisher would also log 10 rebounds, his eleventh double-double of the season. The Washington and Lee Generals took an early lead on the Marlins. Despite Fisher scoring two for the first points of the game, the Generals went on an 11-0 run, as they did not miss a single shot in the first three minutes and fifty seconds of play. The team battled against the Generals lead and turned a double-digit deficit into a tied game at 20-20. However, at the half the Marlins trailed by 12 points. The second half consisted of a comfortable Generals lead as the Marlins
could not seem to get within seven points. As a result, Virginia Wesleyan bowed out of the tournament to Washington and Lee. The two teams met twice in the regular season, each winning a game in their home courts. Both teams had two players earn All-Conference selections. For the Marlins, Steward was selected as an AllODAC second team honoree and Fisher earned third team. The Generals senior forward Roy McMillan snagged first team honors, and senior guard Devin Kearns was on the second team. “This one is different because I know for sure it’s my last one. I know I have to play every game like it’s my last because it could be,” senior Keijon Honore said. This quarterfinal was the final game for seniors Honore and R.J. Nicholson. Honore, the veteran point guard, led the team in assists with 3.6 per game and minutes per game with 32.3. Nicholson had a strong year offensively as he found
himself in the starting lineup and averaged 7.8 points per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field. Returning to the team next year is a strong current sophomore and junior class. They will return sophomores Corey Pelham and Tyree Golston in the back court and Steward and Fisher in the front court. Pelham led the team in made threepointers with 47, and Golston made a huge impact on the second half of the season after returning from an injury, where he averaged 8 points per game. In addition to the guards, All-Conference honorees Steward and Fisher return, the team’s two leaders in scoring and rebounding. Fisher finished the year with 13.2 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game, and Steward finished with 15 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Women’s basketball season ends in overtime BY JOSH GRAY jagray@vwu.edu
The women’s basketball ODAC tournament began on Feb. 22 in Salem, Va., and for the women’s basketball team, this tournament is something most of the players on the current roster are very familiar with. However, the team suffered an overtime loss to Randolph-Macon with a score of 72-66. Senior Amanda Gerni led all Marlin scorers with 20 points, and also logged a team-high 10 rebounds, in addition to sophomore Jada Lewis’s 10 boards. Senior Jayla Harris also contributed 19 points and three assists. In the previous season that the team traveled to Salem for the tournament, they were knocked out in the semifinals by RandolphMacon. The team was not able to exact revenge this year as the Yellow Jackets once again ended their season. Sports Information|Courtesy The women’s basketball team Harris looking to score in a home game against Shenandoah. clawed their way to a winning 14-12 record and were ranked fifth in the conference heading
into the tournament. Randolph-Macon finished fourth in the conference, whom they split the regular season series with 1-1. Senior guard Cecilia Billings said that they were completely locked in to the fact that it was a survive and advance situation. Harris was this season’s ODAC Player of the Year, and finished the season as the career leading scorer for the women’s basketball program with 1931 points. Gerni also earned conference recognition as she was selected to the AllODAC Third Team. “I think for all of the upperclassmen the sense of urgency really kicked in as we knew what not winning this game would mean. With Macon being our rivals, the game was even more important,” Billings said.
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AT A GLANCE Softball March 1 vs. Frostburg St. @ Salem, Va. 2:00 P.M. March 1 vs. Pitt.-Bradford @ Salem, Va. 4:00 P.M. March 2 vs. Fredonia @ Salem, Va. 10:00 A.M. March 2 vs. Kean @ Salem, Va. 12:00 P.M. Baseball March 2 vs. Rochester 12:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M. March 3 vs. Rochester 12:00 P.M. March 5 @ Salisbury 3:00 P.M. March 9 vs. Bridgewater* 12:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M. M. Lacrosse March 2 vs. Piedmont @ Savannah, Ga. 11:00 A.M. Mar. 3 vs. Berry @ Savannah, Ga. 1:00 P.M. W. Lacrosse March 2 vs. Methodist 2:00 P.M. March 3 vs. DeSales 1:00 P.M. M. Tennis March 2 vs. Emory and Henry* 12:00 P.M. March 10 vs. Averett 2:00 P.M. W. Tennis March 2 vs. Emory and Henry* 12:00 P.M.
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Sports
Thursday February 28, 2019 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
TEP CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Despite 12 other coaches from other schools attending the camp, Tep found himself choosing Virginia Wesleyan. “I had a very good connection with him so that’s how I ended up here [VWU],” Tep said. Junior Andreas Combos was one of the first to meet Tep on his arrival to Virginia Beach. Combos said that even though he didn’t get to speak with Tep’s father, he seemed to have a lot of tennis knowledge and has done a lot for tennis in Cambodia. Senior Paul Gladstone said, “Even though he hasn’t been here for that long, we gelled together pretty well. He was a nice guy and pretty passionate about tennis.” Tep has only competed in five matches so far, and currently holds a 1-4 record with a win against Goucher College. He played 4 singles and won 6-4 and then 6-3. He also picked up a doubles win as he teamed up with sophomore Anthony Wilson. Despite the slow start, Tep has already left a mark on his teammates. “The variety in his game, not a lot of people have that,” Combos said. He elaborated and said that Tep exhibited a wide range of skills such as moving the ball around the court and mixing up
the pace, which he executed with a polished technique. Tep explained that he’s been making progress since the first match. He felt at first that everything was new and it was hard to play his game. “Each week it’s getting a lot better. I get to know more of my teammates, my coach, my assistant coach. They’re all very nice. I get more comfortable in practices and in matches too,” Tep said. Tep stated that the weather is one thing quite different, and he is not used to this “freezing” weather as opposed to the 100 degree Cambodian weather. He also noticed that a lot more people drive places compared to walking. The schooling system is another cultural difference he found in America. He attended a French school in Cambodia called Lycée Français René Descartes de Phnom Penh and speaks French fluently. Tep said that the grading and ways of teaching were different here. “I found it way better the American way...it’s pretty positive,” Tep said. His next match will be March 2 against Emory and Henry College.
Timothy Tep|Courtesy Timothy Tep played matches in Cambodia before he came to Virginia Wesleyan.
Women’s track and field hits ground running at ODACs
Sports Information|Courtesy Hull pitching at the mound. She has 760 career strikeouts.
VWU pitchers named Preseason All-American BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu
Following successful seasons last spring, Hanna Hull and Jacob Pilarski of the softball and baseball teams both earned a spot on the Preseason All-America list. Both of these players are entering their junior seasons this year. “To me, earning the preseason title is just motivation to keep getting better. I feel very honored, however I try to stay focused on playing my hardest and continuing to improve,” Hull said. Hull was named to the Pre-Season First Team All-America by Fastpitch News. Prior to this season, Hull has back to back National Championships on her resume, and she is also the back to back National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Player of the Year. All of this national recognition for Hull stems from her elite ability to keep batters off of the bases. In her sophomore season, Hull led the nation in strikeouts as she logged 376. In addition to that, she also was the national leader for wins with 40. Last season, Hull also pitched a perfect game against Salem on Feb. 24 where she struck out 14, and then in the first game of the National Championship she pitched a no-hitter against Ithaca. This season the softball team jumped out to a 2-0 record with two dominant wins over Meredith. In the first game, Hull did not allow any hits and struck out 12 in just
four innings of play. “We need to stay focused on one game at a time. Coach Elliott always emphasizes the fact that we can’t take people for granted. Any team can come out and have a great day, we just need to stay focused on the present and worry about post season when the time comes,” Hull said. On the baseball side, Jacob Pilarski was named to the Pre-Season All-America Second Team by D3baseball.com. Pilarski found himself in the starting lineup last season and found success at the mound and in the batter’s box. “We had him start against Brockport last year, about this time a year ago, and he really dominated and it was outstanding. There was that jolt of confidence which carried him and propelled him through the rest of the year,” head coach Chris Francis said. Last season Pilarski had an ODACleading ERA of 2.05 through 92 innings pitched. In addition to that, he had a batting average of .304 and led the team with a .500 slugging percentage. For his efforts, Pilarski earned a spot on the Third Team All-America, First Team All-South Region, and on the All-ODAC First Team. The Marlins baseball team is not off to a favorable start as they sit with an 0-3 record, all of their losses to LaGrange thus far.
Sports Information|Courtesy Jake Pilarski throwing from the mound.
Sports Information|Courtesy Alizae Dollins leaping in the triple jump at the ODAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu
The women’s indoor track and field team competed in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 24 in Salem, Va. The team would end the day placed sixth. The bulk of the women’s points at ODACs came from the 400-m dash where three Marlin runners placed in the top ten. Senior Kwonsha Washington placed fifth with a time of 1:02.42, senior Alizae Dollins placed sixth with a time of 1:03.25, and sophomore Arianna Ward placed eighth with a time of 1:03.66. “As a senior and captain of the women’s track and field program I cannot even
explain how proud I am of my teammates. We have been through a lot this indoor season and have had to deal with adversity in so many ways,” Alizae Dollins said. Dollins, Washington, and Ward would then all team up with senior Terra Caple for the 4x400m relay, where they placed second with a time of 4:13.37. “We compete all year, most teams have already had their seasons or some are just beginning, but here we are still going at it. We’ve got one more season left and I will miss running, not for myself, but for my team,” Dollins said.
Cockrell leads way for men’s track BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu
The men’s track and field team yielded many athletes who found success. The team finished in fourth place with a first place finish in the weight throw and shot put by freshman Coby Cockrell. For Cockrell’s two-win showing, his toss of 47-11.25 in the shot put set the new school record. Another freshman who performed well at the ODAC tournament was Landry Mofo, who ran an 8.48 in the prelims which gave him a second-place finish. Senior captain Gavin Steel spoke highly of the freshman class. “They’re true competitors, true athletes, and they have a collective mindset as a freshmen class that they wanted to do well and it showed,” Steel said. The relay teams also placed well as the team of Steel, junior Michael Tres, and sophomores Eric Fisher and Skyler Lattuca finished third in the 4000m distance medley relay. They finished with a time of 10:51.18. “Myself and Michael Tres three years ago sat down and looked at each other and said we wanted to get our relay back up on the podium and bring that DMR back to its original success,” Steel said.
@vwumenxctf|Instagram Coby Cockrell winning ODAC Freshman of the Year and ODAC Field Athlete of the Year.
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STRUMMER’S PARADISE
Layne Nooner| Marlin Chronicle
Friends Justin Robins, Christian Gador, Coby Cockerel and Dylan Roberts meet in Roberts’ dorm for a late night jam session with both acoustic and electric guitars.
PARADAISE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Virginia Wesleyan actually has some official ensembles on campus that you could go to play music with other people. One of these is Jazz Ensemble, which can be taken as a course for the semester for one credit. The Jazz Ensemble is run by Dr. Squinobal from the music department. Some of the instruments played there include the guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone and flute. If you’re interested, you can send Dr. Squinobal an email and he can give a more in-depth rundown about the Jazz Ensemble. The second option is Orchestra. Orchestra appeals more to those who play classical instruments such as violin, viola, flute, trumpet, trombone, tuba and more. Just like Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra can be registered as a course for the semester as well, for one credit. Dr. Squinobal also runs the Orchestra. If you’re interested, email Dr. Squinobal for more information about Orchestra. Now, if you’re not interested in the on-campus options or not really interested playing with other people, there are other options available to you. One of the best places off-campus and not very far away is Guitar Center, right on Virginia Beach Blvd. Guitar Center is a chain music store that sells myriad of musical instruments, though the main focuses are guitar, drums and bass. They also sell pianos, acoustic guitars, and even banjos (and you can’t forget about the kazoos). What’s really cool about Guitar Center is that they even let try out the instruments on display. You could grab a guitar from the wall, new or used, and choose from many different amps and play
They even have a guitar techs that can modify your guitar, such as changing the pickups of your guitar or adding a coil split feature for your guitar. The staff are very friendly and if asked for help, will go out of their way to help you. Alpha Music also give musical lessons ranging from guitar, bass, drums, and even vocal lessons. Alpha Music is also located on Virginia Beach Blvd, but a little ways down the road, past Town Center and past the Train Store, but it is a really neat store that you should definitely visit. A third option is going to a store called Music Go Round, located near Lynnhaven Mall. Though not as big as Guitar Center and slightly smaller than Alpha Music, in addition to being even a little farther away, this is actually a really good music store. They primarily sell used gear, Layne Nooner| Marlin Chronicle which if you’re looking to buy a new instrument, could be the best place to start your search. They have a nice Robins and Gador rehearse chords together selection of used guitars, drum kits, drum parts, a lot of outside the caf. basses and a bigger selection of guitar pedals than Guitar through them. For drums, they have several kits set up and Center. All the instruments in store are decently priced even electronic drums kits, that come with various drum and they also will let you try out any of the guitars, basses kit presets. They’ve recently started giving lessons that and acoustic guitars. The staff are friendly and can answer range from guitar, drums and bass. This place is perfect any question you have. This place is the best place to go if for those who want to try out whole bunch instruments you’re looking to buy or sell an instrument. Overall, there are various places that you can go to get that you probably can’t afford because you’re a college your musical fix. Don’t just sit in your room alone playing student, but hey! You can always dream. your guitar or bass. They are a lot of places to go jam Another place off-campus is Alpha Music. It is not as freely. big a store as a big music chain. It is locally owned and they have nice selection of guitars, basses, and drums.
LIGHTHOUSE
SPOTLIGHT Q: What did you do? A: I completed an internship in Lisbon, Portugal at the Hospital de Santa Maria in summer 2017. Q: What did you do to prepare for the internship? A: I learned a few key phrases in Portuguese and read up on the specialties of the doctors whom I would be shadowing. Q: What was your most memorable moment? A: The most memorable moment was observing a total nephrectomy (surgical removal of one or both of the kidneys) during my rotation in urology. Afterward, the surgeons let me hold the kidney and tumor, which was amazing.
Poonam Patel ‘19 Chemistry Q: How did the internship experience help you with your future goals? A: Since I shadowed physicians in different specialties, I was able to learn more about each specialty. Learning about many specialties and shadowing physicians strengthened my desire to become a doctor. After the internship, I concluded that I wanted to follow a path in medicine and attend medical school. Q: What advice would you give other students who want to undertake an internship? A: Find an internship in a field in which there is a lot of interest or an internship that pertains to your future career path. Internships provide a lot of experiences to help you to decide if the field is a good fit for you.
Q: What surprised you most about the internship experience? A: It was very surprising to realize how different the European and Portuguese healthcare systems are from the US healthcare system. Q: What did learn from doing this internship? A: In addition to learning about different medical specialties, I learned about the Portuguese healthcare system and culture. Since I interned at a teaching hospital, I was able to observe many procedures up close, and the physicians always explained each step, which was helpful. Poonam at Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Portugal, May 2017
For more information on internships, undergraduate research, and study away, contact The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery.
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GRAMMYS GONE WILD Alex Powers | Marlin Chronicle
BY ASHLLEE SPURLOCK adspurlock@vwu.edu
After the Super Bowl, many of us anxiously watch the NFL fans settle their excitement so the music critics, movie watchers and binge watchers can come out to play for what seems to be a controversial season, from the Oscars to our favorite, the Grammys. “I looked up some of the outfits seen on the show, like Drake’s suit (...) Let’s just say there were some bizarre outfits,” senior Earle Sergeant said. On Feb. 10, the Grammys held their 61st Annual Grammy Awards, broadcasted live on CBS from Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca. It was hosted by the all-natural Alicia Keys, who holds 15 Grammy awards. Out of a night where there were many live performances, jokes, and horrible fashion choices, no one can figure out why Jennifer Lopez was selected for the Motown tribute. “J.LO aged but you cannot tell. Not from the way she danced or looked during her performance. I saw no problem with her doing the tribute.” junior Jeritza DeJesus said. Rapper Cardi B won Best Rap Album for her first album, “Invasion of Privacy.” This was her first Grammy Award. She beat out artists such as Mac Miller, Nipsey Hussle, Pusha-T and Travis Scott. DeJesus said, “It was clear Cardi B didn’t think she would win because her speech
wasn’t in the slightest way established.” “I thought the highlight of the Grammys was Cardi B,” sophomore Juliana Mushala said. “From her red carpet appearance to her acceptance speech. It was truly a great and such a beautiful experience watching a female rapper win a Grammy for the first time and also knowing that she came from nothing to something. I loved how she represented all the mothers up there by speaking about how much she loved baby Kulture.” Many people wanted the late Mac Miller to receive the award, however according to Pitchforks article, The Grammy Awards 2019, Cardi B dedicated her award to him backstage, saying, “Your family wanted me to win, so I’m sharing this Grammy with you m*****! Rest in peace.” Cardi B made history making her the first female solo artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Today the question stands if the Grammys are relevant in today’s culture. Now artists do not need a record label or award to make it in the music industry. With a social media account, SoundCloud and Spinrilla, it is now possible to make superstar status without a label backing you. Many students on our campus can attest to this due to our high streaming numbers and discounts on Apple
Music. Instead of going the traditional way with a normal acceptance speech after winning Best Rap Song at the Grammys, Drake delivered a speech in which he took an opportunity to stress to the world the blood, sweat and tears behind his success. He went on to say that the music industry is an opinion based sport, “...a business where sometimes it’s up to a bunch of people who might not understand what a mixed race kid from Canada has to say, or what a fly Spanish girl has to say.” He felt that if people are singing your songs, going to your concerts and downloading your music, there is no need for a Grammy award. “I like how Drake said you don’t need a Grammy to validate your work as an artist,” senior Terry Boasiako said. “People in the music industry tend to to chase an award to make them feel more accomplished. Yes, getting an award means you’re doing something right in your field, but shouldn’t be the only goal. It’s all politics now anyways. For instance, Will Smith is one of the greatest actors of all time, but he doesn’t have an Oscar. But that doesn’t take away from his greatness.”