Feb 9th, 2023

The Marlin Chronicle

Cheer, Men’s Volleyball join athletics

BY MK MORRIS LARKIN mmorrislarkin@vwu.edu

Mural paints new perspective

Students enrolled in the Public Art course during January Term replaced the “Selfie” mural in the Jane P. Batten Student Center with colorful hands depicting VWU.

BY TORI HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu

A new mural depicting hands forming “VWU” and a heart replaced the “Selfie” mural in the Jane P. Batten Student Center’s Harbor Grille towards the end of January Term.

The new mural was designed by freshman Sarah Richards and painted by VWU students who took Professor of Art and Director of Undergraduate Research and Curator of Exhibitions for the Neil Britton Art Gallery John Rudel’s Public Art course over J-Term.

However, the change, especially with little forewarning, upset some students.

“I wanted to focus on this sense of coming together, with the VWU love and especially the symbol of the heart,” Richards said. Richards plans to major in psychology and is considering studying art as well. She said the mural was designed to show Virginia Wesleyan’s sense of community and the fact that everyone is welcome here.

The new mural shows hands, painted in different colors of the rainbow, forming the

Fire trucks, nearby shootings shake sense of security

BY LILY RESLINK lbreslink@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University presents security measures more intensively than many other institutions, but a string of recent events has emphasized the inherent need for these types of safety procedures.

According to the VWU website, “Virginia Wesleyan believes that a safe, secure environment is essential to learning and to the peace of mind of our students, their parents and our faculty. For this reason, we employ a staff of full-time security officers available 24/7 to assist our campus community.”

To further expand their safety resources, VWU security enlists off-campus help. The Norfolk branch of the FBI will hold an active threat training on campus on Feb. 9 in the Brock Room. Discussion topics for this event include the “Run, Hide, Fight” method, situational awareness and the “See Something, Say Something” policy.

Krystal Kawabata, Public Affairs Specialist with FBI

Norfolk, said the FBI considers community education part of their role. “We respond both in a time of crises, as well as help the community prepare ahead of time for real-world scenarios, such as active-shooter presentations,” Kawabata said.

While this is not the first time VWU has offered these types of training opportunities, the number of tragedies this one follows has boosted its prevalence.

A 14-minute course entitled “Active Shooter: Run, Hide Fight for Students” landed in the email inboxes of VWU community members on Nov. 21, a time

See SECURITY Page 3

Black History Month offers opportunities,

events, reflection

Leaders of the Black Student Union and a history professor discuss what inspires them during Black History Month. Page 3

VWU Counseling hosts peer support mental health training

Bandana Project session with student organization leaders teaches mental health support strategies.

letters V, W and U, followed by two hands forming a heart. The V and W are in American sign language, while the U is formed with the thumb and forefinger held in parallel some distance apart.

The replaced mural, titled “Selfie,” was an image of five important historical figures taking a selfie on a phone that had a pear on the back. It was designed by Caitlyn Hogge, a VWU student who graduated in 2017, and featured Bob Marley, Mahatma Gandhi, Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King Jr. and Frida Kahlo.

Virginia Wesleyan University adds a new coed Cheer team and Men’s Volleyball team to the list of sports for the 20232024 season. This expands the number of sports at the school to 24 programs.

Cherrelle Artis will be the head coach of the new Cheer team, and her assistant will be Elise Fabregas. They are both alumni of the university.

“The change was made with sub-optimal planning and little to no foresight,” junior Matty Taylor said. He said that the old mural was a highlight feature of the Batten Student Center.

Taylor said that the decision was made without considering the impact it would have on students. Also, he noted that the sign was not correct sign language. He said this was another reason he thought there was a lack of consideration in the repainting of the wall.

Richards said the mural was

See ATHLETICS Page 7 See

Ethics Bowl commands attention, students debate digital media

The VWU Ethics Bowl team won three of their four debates while analyzing cases revolving around social and digital media.

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges held their annual Ethics Bowl at VWU on Jan. 29 and 30. During that time, VWU’s Ethics Bowl team competed with 15 other Virginia schools for the Batten Trophy, which was awarded on the first day.

The primary team competing for VWU was made up of sophomore Casey Bennett, junior Kainaat Trehan, sophomore Christian Palmisano and freshman Andrew Steiner.

Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, a VWU professor of Communica-

tion, led the team as the faculty advisor. As a whole, the VWU team won three of their four competitions over the course of the Ethics Bowl.

Bennett said the Ethics Bowl “was a challenging and rewarding experience.” Despite their one loss, Bennett said, “We left it all out there and I am very proud about that.”

As a team, the four “were sharp and placed necessary trust in each other,” Bennett said.

This trust is learned, as is the study of ethics. “The study of ethics puts doing the right thing on your radar and gives you useful tools for navigating issues

J-Term thrills, educates

BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu

While the VWU campus is less populated during January Term, there is no lack of activities, events and excitement with the reduced traffic. During J-Term, students have the opportunity to earn four credits by taking a single class over a span of three weeks.

Out of the thirty courses being offered, freshman Anika Valentine chose to take HE 201: Safety and First Aid. Through this course, students learned how to properly bandage wounds and

and conflicts in daily life,” Jackson said.

Andrew Steiner championed a quote from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, who said, “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.”

With this in mind, the teams competed in a variety of demonstrations to debate ethical cases that surrounded the central theme of Ethics and Digital Media.

For Bennett, the theme of digital media is of utmost importance in the realm of ethics. “There is an increasing amount of digitally

Athletic Director Andrea Hoover-Erbig said of the new head coach, “She is a real go getter. She’s excited and enthusiastic and I think passionate about the cheer program and rebuilding the cheer See ETHICS Page 2

take care of a person in the event of an emergency.

Valentine’s favorite part was learning how to do CPR. She emphasized how the class “was a lot more fun” than a regular semester course because of how interactive and engaging it was.

“I would definitely recommend the class if you like hands-on activities,” Valentine said.

Classes were not the only things occupying students’ time over the 2023 January Term season though. Student Activities and Off the Hook worked hard to ensure there were a variety of events for students to participate

in or attend.

A Mario Kart Video Game Tournament, ice skating at the MacArthur Mall, a Norfolk Admirals hockey game and a

Carley Tantlinger|Marlin Chronicle

The mural represents VWU love and replaces “Selfie,” a mural that featured Bob Marley, Mahatma Gandhi, Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King Jr. and Frida Kahlo near the Grille in the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

Sophomores Christian Palmisano and Casey Bennett, freshman Andrew Steiner and junior Kainaat Trehan confer during the fourth round of the Ethics Bowl against Shenandoah

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

Aidan Foley|Courtesy

Lighthouse enters new era for new year

BY HOUDA TOUCHEN htouchen@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan’s Lighthouse, located in Clarke Hall, is a vibrant environment for career development and international opportunities. It hosts events for students that offer connections within the workforce and resources for entering the workforce.

In addition, the Lighthouse deals with the inclusion of international students and the processes for study abroad trips within and outside the U.S.

Virginia Wesleyan University’s Lighthouse hosts a recurring Working Wednesdays event for students to get first-hand information from a panel of employers. The event has a goal of connecting the student community with potential companies for recruitment and job opportunities.

On Feb. 1, a panel of employers spoke about necessary skills and available opportunities for students seeking jobs.

“Know who you can work with and who you can’t; it’s really important to be comfortable to give your best… Also, to land the job, it’s really important to do your homework and research the company, its history and mission to show your interest to recruiters,”

Director of Human Resources for the Norfolk Botanical Gardens

Amanda Wells said.

Working Wednesdays is one of several activities the Career Development Program (CDP) of the Lighthouse will host this semester as career exploration opportunities for students. The CDP shares the Lighthouse space with its other sub-departments: Global Engagement and Wesleyan Engaged.

Alice Jones, Director of Ca-

ETHICS

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reer Development, explained that the main mission of the office is creating an environment for students to be visible to employers and discover a range of career options.

“My intention is to be a resource for students that they can use to help them get from point A to point B in terms of job interviews and positions, and I guess it's all about the transition and being ready,” Jones said. She said the office “thinks ahead about how students will succeed after graduation.”

Through instructional workshops, job and internship search assistance, career fairs, graduate and professional school preparation and online tools and resources, the CDP aims to assist VWU students to discover their academic and professional goals. The program offers an array of resources, one-on-one career coaching sessions and customized programming to facilitate career development.

Although the office provides many benefits to students, it faces significant challenges.

“Awareness is a big challenge, students don’t know about the office and how it can contribute to their professional involvement, and that makes it hard for us to communicate our services and opportunities to the community,” Jones said.

The challenge is mainly about finding that balance of interacting in person and interacting online.

Transitioning between the two requires retraining people to communicate face-to-face again and explore all the opportunities that are available.

Another office that resides under the umbrella of The Lighthouse is the Global Engagement

sues,” Emmanuel said.

based ethical dilemmas that are just now being introduced to our society,” Bennett said, “Not shying away from tackling these debates before they blindside us is of the utmost importance.”

At the conclusion of the Ethics Bowl, the team from Randolph-Macon College was awarded the Batten Trophy and the runner-up was Mary Baldwin University.

VWU professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities Dr. Steven Emmanuel is the Statewide Faculty Coordinator for the VFIC Ethics Bowl and serves on the executive committee.

For the Ethics Bowl, this committee oversees all aspects, “including the case development and assessment,” Emmanuel said.

Emmanuel commented on the importance of Digital Media as a theme for the proposed cases. “The nature of the digital medium itself creates new kinds of ethical problems — not least because of its reach and the speed at which information is disseminated,” Emmanuel said.

The teams focused on various aspects of digital media and how it is presented and used in society. “We all need to pay more attention to the ethical implications of how we create and consume digital content,” Emmanuel said.

While discussing the ethics of digital media, students are also exercising logic. “What the teams are demonstrating for the judges (and the spectators) is their ability to reason clearly and well about moral is-

Office led by Director Mandy Reinig.

“[The] Global Engagement Office works with international students through supporting them with their big immigration piece and making sure they maintain their status, but also supporting them to achieve academic success and integrate into not only the campus culture, but into American culture,” Reinig said.

The office works on both bringing foreign students to VWU’s campus and orchestrating study abroad opportunities for all students.

“The goal is getting students to not only go on those things, but at least consider them. That is the best way to get cultural integration and language learning,” Reinig said.

As for the challenges of participation, finances and possible valuable experiences concern students the most when debating if they should study abroad or not.

Along with its career and study away opportunities, the Wesleyan Engaged office of the Lighthouse focuses on serving the community.

“Wesleyan Engaged has a twofold aspect; it has both service learning/volunteering and civic engagement. I think both of them go towards the greater goal of getting to know who our community is, how we can help them, and how we can become better in tune with the community outside of VWU,” Director of Wesleyan Engaged Bethany Tsiaras said regarding the office’s mission statement.

Wesleyan Engaged provides continual service learning opportunities including Marlins Read, a student-led, one-on-one mentoring program aimed toward

As a professor of philosophy at VWU, Emmanuel studies and teaches ethics to his students. “Good moral reasoning is one of the most important skills that our students will need in life,” he said.

In teaching ethics, Emmanuel focuses on all the necessary background information and skills for practicing ethics.

The practice of good moral reasoning “is one of the most important skills that our students will need in life,” Emmanuel said, as it “requires the ability to consider all the different aspects of a case, to listen carefully to other points of view, to expand the options for finding creative solutions and, where substantive points of disagreement remain, discovering points of common ground.”

These are skills that the VWU Ethics Bowl team has practiced with Jackson. In a compliment to the team, Jackson said, “In just minutes, they composed articulate arguments in response to ethical questions.”

In doing so, the team “identified the crux of a case, the stakeholders involved, the possible solutions and the ethical reasons for the best path forward,” Jackson said.

For students interested in studying ethics or competing with the team, Jackson suggests Dr. Emmanuel’s Philosophy 212: Practical Ethics course during January Term, or to register for INST 351: Ethics Bowl Workshop.

“Those who practice ethical behavior make better family members, friends and citizens of a community,” Jackson said.

helping elementary age students reach their literary proficiencies, Oyster Bagging with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and social events at the Gardens of Virginia Beach Retirement home such as Cookie Decorating on Feb. 22. Other activities include Emergency Meal Kit Packing and Emergency Food Packing in partnership with the non-profit, humanitarian organization Operation Blessing. The office’s civic engagement component relates to voter engagement, LGBTQ+ identities and awareness training.

Similar to Career Development, Wesleyan Engaged has their own share of hurdles.

“The biggest obstacle is getting students to participate, not necessarily because they don't want to, but because I'm learning how to connect with them. I'm learning the ways in which students now are actually getting their information,” Tsiaras said.

Communication with students remains a prominent challenge that not only delays the work process, but also the advantages that could be brought to the community.

“I really want students to feel comfortable coming to me about their ideas, because, yes, I offer the things that I offer, but really, I just want to offer what the students want,” Tsiaras said.

Rhian Tramontana|Marlin Chronicle

From left: Sophomore Christian Palmisano, sophomore Casey Bennett, freshman Andrew Steiner and junior Kainaat Trehan receive feedback from judges.

Carley Tantlinger|Marlin Chronicle

Top: Working Wednesdays guests join Lighthouse event; Bottom: Guests discuss workplace environments and opportunities.

Community finds expression in Black History Month

BY CYRIL COEFIELD ccoefield@vwu.edu

Black History Month can offer freedom of expression to communities and have a variety of meanings to different people.

On campus and as a whole, it is much more than just another month, as said by the Black Student Union Advisor and Residence Life Village Assistant Jalen Anderson. When asked how this month feels compared to others, Anderson said, “It’s very empowering. You can just feel the difference for this whole month.”

The power of Black History Month is evident in the events being planned to celebrate. On Feb. 24, the Black History Gospel Choir is hosting a motivation worship service.

The Black Student Union and the Africana Studies program are also planning events to honor this month.

This month is not only about the events, but also how some students and faculty on campus think about Black History Month and Black history as a whole and what it means for the campus community.

Senior and President of the Black Student Union Jordan Gilliam said, “During Black History Month, we’re all a little happier and we’re joking more; we see each other more just around the campus even today.” For Gilliam, the sense of community is incredible.

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when mass shootings at University of Virginia and Club Q, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado, had all occurred within the last 10 days. Coincidentally, the Chesapeake Walmart shooting happened the day after and the pair of Virginia Beach Food Lion shootings happened just two days after.

According to 13News Now, the Hampton Roads area saw a 7% increase in homicides from 2021 to 2022. Virginia Beach in particular rose from 14 to 22 police-reported homicides, as reported in 13News Now articles.

Nationwide, the Gun Violence Archive reports a total of 648 mass shootings in 2022 alone.

Although less prominent, human violence is not the only factor that has kept the community on their toes in recent months. On the night of Jan. 21, an entourage of emergency vehicles flocked to VWU in response to a smell of smoke within the Honors Village (Village IV).

“I was woken up by really loud sirens and a red light beaming in my face,” freshman Ryleigh Taylor said.

Taylor said that when she went outside to investigate, she only noticed those inside nearby houses who were also curious about the havoc outside and firefighters on the scene. She said that she does not recall seeing security on the scene.

Freshman Anna Greenleaf, whose house

“I’m talking to somebody by people whose names I don’t know, just off the top of my head, like I don’t have a personal relationship with him,” Gilliam said, “But we started having conversations today, just because there’s Black History Month events going on today.”

The Black Student Union not only wants to help give the Black community a voice, but also to support Black students and boost their sense of community on an already community-centered campus.

“We are another group that can be another ally for you know we can be the extra study buddy for you,” Anderson said. “We can be the extra friend you need to talk to if you need it but also it could be the support group as a culture of being Black Student Union.”

The leadership of the Black Student Union has a goal of leading young African Americans to a better future on campus and within society, which requires strong and passionate leaders.

“What it means to be the president for me is that I get to lead my generation of African Americans into what we hope to be the better future that we all kind of look forward to,” Gilliam said.

Anderson agreed as he described the passion needed to lead in the Black Student Union. “You’ve got to have a passion for people, gotta have a passion for what the cause is,” Anderson said, “Building the

is across the sidewalk from Taylor, said that the source of the smoke smell likely came from another house in her hall. However, those who responded to the scene left most residents without a clear explanation of what happened.

While the first responders did confirm no one was at risk, the incident was enough to put students on edge. In days following, freshman Elena Lichtenwalner said that steam coming from her townhouse due to a running dryer evoked messages of concern from neighbors who evidently felt anxious about a repeat of that weekend.

Despite the confusion that the event spurred, the response was at least effective in assuring that nothing would be set on fire. Additionally, no smoke problems have since been reported and Honors Village residents have slept relatively siren-free.

Although security measures at VWU have proven fairly successful, students have observed areas where security is thinner. “They don’t typically ID older adults,” freshman Liese Hazelwood said about the gatehouse entryway.

Hazelwood wonders about the procedures on that matter, saying she is not sure if security simply views those older than the typical college-aged students as less of a concern.

Other students have shared experiences where VWU security went the extra mile for them. According to junior Oliver Chauncey, security has been diligent in responding to the safety needs of individuals.

Chauncey said that when they were a

name ‘Black Student Union’-- just that in itself is a very empowering thing.”

The Black Student Union is not the only program empowering and educating people on campus.

The Africana Studies program offers many different classes and courses teaching students about literature, history, political science and sociology, all relating to African American history, Africa and the African diaspora.

Author and Professor of African American History Dr. Kathleen Casey discussed how she felt learning more about this topic and how it gave her a better understanding of not only herself but history as well.

“Somewhere along the way, I also realized that, for me, my place in life did not really make sense without this historical context. I found a sense of community in learning about people in the past,” Casey said.

Casey acknowledged her own privilege and hardships. “I am white and very privileged in many ways, but as a queer woman, I was interested in how marginalized and minoritized people came up with strategies to survive and thrive in oppressive circumstances,” Casey said.

Casey also spoke on how African American history is American history. She said that it is important to realize that it’s impossible to get the full idea of American history without understanding the impact that Black people had on it.

Casey said, “Honestly, I’m glad people are finally catching on that this is the case.

It is impossible to understand American history without centralizing the experiences of people of color and for way too long, most people didn’t seem to get that. But however you identify, this is your history, and you’re depriving yourself of something critical if you ignore that.”

freshman, security got them through the very first time they had a seizure. Chauncey said that despite the inability to even form coherent sentences over their phone call to security, “they were able to dispatch somebody to me and get the EMTs over.” They also noted how security effectively coordinated with the Office of Residence Life during all of this to get a hold of Chauncey’s emergency contacts.

Chauncey said security made sure they had everything they needed out of their room before leaving for the hospital and even went as far as picking them up from the hospital to ensure a safe return back

home.

Although security might not have training specific to every individual situation, Chauncey said that “they are specifically trained in how to respond to an emergency.”

Chauncey has undergone emergency training of their own, and plans to attend the upcoming active threat training. They referenced the statistic of 39 mass shootings nationwide last month alone, along with the recent ODU shooting, to emphasize the importance of college students being informed about handling life-threatening situations.

Child shooter captures media attention

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

On Jan. 6, communities were shocked to read breaking news reports of a 6-year-old boy at Richneck Elementary School who shot his teacher. Abby Zwerner, a 25-yearold teacher at the Newport News school of Richneck, was shot through her outstretched hand and upper chest. Zwerner was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

13News Now reported that during a virtual town hall meeting, Superintendent Dr. George Parker III said that the boy’s backpack was searched upon arriving at school because he was late that morning and

someone reported he may have a weapon. The search did not reveal anything, as the boy kept the 9mm gun on his person. WUSA9 reported that the gun was legally purchased by the boy’s mother.

The family has not been identified in an effort to protect the child, but they released a statement regarding the shooting. In the statement, the family said, “The firearm our son accessed was secured.”

In addition, the report described how the boy “suffers from an acute disability and was under a care plan at the school that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.”

The report said that after the incident,

their son was taken “under hospital care and [was] receiving the treatment he needs.”

Zwerner, after being released from the hospital, filed a lawsuit against Newport News Public Schools. Diane Toscano, Zwerner’s attorney, said, “The administration could not be bothered,” as she described the three warnings that teachers gave the administration on the day of the shooting.

Toscano said that Zwerner went to administration the morning of the shooting to report how the child threatened to beat up another student. Shortly after, another teacher reported that the child was suspected to have had a gun. Then, a third teacher told the administration that the child showed another boy his gun at recess and threatened to shoot the other boy if he told anyone. Further reports of Toscano’s words in the press conference can be found on 13News Now.

Richneck Elementary School reopened on Monday, Jan. 30, but questions remain about the future of the child shooter, his family and Zwerner’s lawsuit.

Virginia prohibits children under 11 to be in a juvenile detention facility, but the law allows for children under that age to be in an approved foster home, a facility operated by a licensed child welfare agency or some other suitable place designated by the court.

In addition, Virginian law prohibits leav-

ing a loaded gun where a child under 14 can access it. That alone is a misdemeanor crime punishable by a maximum prison sentence of one year and a fine of $2,500. No charges have been brought against parents as of yet.

Junior Allen Shaw, a Criminal Justice major, discussed the complexity of the cases for courts and judges. “It’ll put stress onto them to make sure they get it right when they charge someone or they try to administer help to the child, whether it is through a juvenile mental facility or prosecution of the parents for negligence,” Shaw said.

Prosecution must also consider the wellbeing of the child. “Putting a kid in a detention facility and not teaching is not the proper way to do it, and just sending the parents away may not be the right way either,” Shaw said.

Instead, this could be an opportunity for the courts. Shaw said, “It could be a serious reflection to see how they could use this as an experimental path to try a new way of thinking to help the situation.”

There are many factors to be considered, including the mental problems that may arise from improper sentencing, Shaw explained.

The case continues to draw the media and public’s attention as developments arise and lawyers speak out for the various parties involved.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle

Students attend “Soul Food Night” in Boyd Dining Center, organized by BSU.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

The MARLIN CHRONICLE

Editor-in-Chief

Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu

Managing Editor

Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu

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Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu

Community Editor

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Carey Seay clseay@vwu.edu

Opinions Editors

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Illustrations Editor

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Backpacks, bandanas promote awareness

Mental health awareness and suicide prevention campaign, the Bandana Project, attracts interest and welcomes new members.

BY BREANNE BESSETTE bebessette1@vwu.edu

The Bandana Project is a public health initiative focused on mental health for college students. The goal of the project is to prepare students through training sessions to be able to support their peers in instances of mental health distress. The project also seeks to connect students with mental health resources that can be shared with others.

The project is organized for students to attend the training sessions and subsequently receive both a lime green bandana and printed cards with a list of mental health resources to give out. The purpose of the signature lime green bandana is to serve as a signal that a student is a mental health advocate.

Participants in the project are those who are open to talking about mental health challenges that students may be facing, and the bandana is a simple yet recognizable representation.

An attractive feature of the Bandana Project is that anyone can participate. Any student, staff or faculty member can sign up to attend one of the training sessions which tend to be about an hour long, and at the end bandanas and resource cards are distributed.

Training sessions review communication and active listening skills; they also provide instruction on how to help someone in an emotionally vulnerable state and supply resources that can be used to direct students.

These training sessions do not provide any sort of mental health licensure, but they allow students to better support their peers that are dealing with mental health challenges.

One of the characteristics that make the project so inclusive is that the bandana, which is carried as a symbol of mental health advocacy, can easily be removed. Students have the option to publicly display their involvement in the project or if they do not have the mental capacity to be an advocate they can remove the bandana until they feel ready.

“Everyone has times where they’re struggling too much to have those talks,” participant and junior Alex Cain said. “If you’re ever in a position where you have too much on your plate, you just take your bandana off and you

services can attend without feeling pressured to be a public mental health advocate.

“The only thing we ask is to take a pledge of ‘I’m going to take care of my own mental health while supporting someone in a non-judgmental way,’” Director of Counseling and Student Health April Christman said when asked what is required to participate.

The Bandana Project was started in January 2016 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. According to the Bandana Project website, the initiative was originally started by a student to complete their Master’s project. Since then, the Bandana Project has become one initiative among the “SAVE” family of programs that are available for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

In 2021, Christman searched for mental health programs to introduce on campus. She came across the Bandana Project and instituted the program that same year. Student and faculty response and turnout for training sessions have been so encouraging that the project continues to develop here at VWU.

Since the project started, participation has grown and attendance at training sessions is required for residential assistants and many sports teams or club leaders. These trainings provide preparation for student leaders in the case that another student seeks their support.

“I originally had to go because it’s required if you’re leading a club here but I really liked the

message and I have been involved since,” leader of the Ukulele Jam Club and junior Makenna Good said.

The Bandana Project not only raises resource awareness but also reminds students that everyone struggles and that sometimes people just want someone to listen to them.

The green bandana doesn’t only function to signify that a student is available to talk but also acts as a representation of fighting the social stigma surrounding giving or receiving mental health support.

Many college students are often unaware of their options regarding mental health services and may be intimidated due to the negative stigma that prevails around receiving professional help regarding mental health. The Green Bandana Project seeks to bridge the gap between student concerns and receiving help.

“It’s kind of like fighting that stigma and being the most important link of the chain to get someone help,” Christman said.

Building a community that actively supports each other in their individual mental health journeys has been proven to be essential, especially during transitional times such as college. Initiatives like the Bandana Project serve as a way to build that support and allow students to recognize that everyone faces challenges.

“It’s kind of cool walking around seeing a bunch of people with green bandanas on their backpacks, it shows that you’re not alone,” Student Government Association President Eddie McDonald said.

The distinguishable symbol of the green bandana provides a sense of unity among students who may not even know each other.

Since its initial introduction at VWU in 2021, the Green Bandana Project has had 102 people participate in the training. The general hope for the project is that involvement will continue to grow and that students will become more aware that there is help available allowing them to be advocates as well.

Training sessions continue to be held every semester including one that recently happened at the beginning of the semester and another that will occur later.

The Bandana Project serves to provide students on campus with multiple resources to rely on during mental health challenges. It seeks to create a safe community in which seeking help is not stigmatized and mental health issues are not ridiculed or judged but considered with sympathetic concern.

Concert honors Black History Month

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.

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BY KAMAL WOMACK krwomack@vwu.edu

The professional vocal ensemble the Virginia Chorale performed a concert on Feb. 5 at Virginia Wesleyan University’s Susan S. Goode’s Fine and Performing Arts Center. The program, titled “Lift Every Voice: Music of Black Women Composers,” included 22 vocalists who performed to a packed house. The singers were accompanied by a pianist and a person on djembe, an African drum. The crowd was a mix of local adults and families as well as some VWU students. Each song was met with an energetic and positive crowd reaction, with applause between each number and a standing ovation at the end of the show.

Prior to the show, their soprano soloist Bianca Jackson served as a guest speaker. When asked about the concept of the show and the importance of Black History, Jackson stated that she wanted to show the public different elements of African American music and culture. Jackson related her mission to W.E.B. Dubois’s poem “Credo” on racial equality and felt that her efforts were aligned with Dubois. She also discussed the importance of the djembe drum to African American music and how the community historically would “use their body to make rhymes for music when their instruments were taken from them.” Jackson is also an Assistant Professor of Music at Norfolk State University.

The concert’s director, Charles “Chuck” Woodward, said that he was introduced to music by studying piano for most of his life and also has prior 11 years of experience directing a

church choir. Woodward said that he came to the Virginia Chorale because the job of director was open and he has been successful with them ever since he came on in 2012. For all of his performers, past and present, Woodward said that he “hopes to show them how to strive for greatness in music.”

Overall, the singers, all high school age, enjoyed their performance. One performer, Miles Pifer, a senior at Granby High School in Norfolk, said that he liked the way he sang and had an enjoyable time, but also felt he can always do a bit better as he strives for greatness under the instruction of Woodward. Another singer and sophomore at Granby, Galvin Altim, said that he had been singing for five years and that his mother originally pushed him to do it.

“This is the best group of young singers we have had,” Woodward said. He enjoys seeing the “lightbulb moment” in his students, the moment that when everything

clicks in their minds and they believe that they can master the songs. Woodward also said that working with the singers is the best part of his job.

According to Woodward, his inspiration for the program was Women’s History Month and Black History Month, which are both in March. Similar to Jackson, he said that a large part of the inspiration was W.E.B. Dubois’s poem Credo, which begins with the line, “I believe in God who made of one blood all races that dwell on earth. I believe that all men, black and white, are brothers, varying through time and opportunity.”

“I thought it would make a significant statement, particularly in the time we’re in right now,” Woodward said.

Woodward was not alone in this performance–he had help from mentors who worked with students, encouraging them to strive for excellence.

Carley Tantlinger|Courtesy

Student Health held a Bandana Project training event Thursday, Jan. 26 from 12 to 1 p.m.

The Virginia Chorale|Courtesy

Founded 38 years ago, the Virginia Chorale visited and performed at VWU Sunday, Feb. 5.

The Bandana Project|Courtesy

Destination Hawaii: Steel toes and surfing

BY KAZA DAYTON mbdayton1@vwu.edu

The last thing I expected to be doing on our one-week trip to Maui was bullriding and line dancing in Texas, but after the FAA glitch, there was no shortage of flight delays and cancellations throughout the world. However, the professor of my J-Term class, Dr. Doug Kennedy, certainly made sure that the twelve students on his trip had a blast, no matter what state we were in. Anyone on the trip would confirm that of all the places to be “stuck” for two days, Dallas was definitely not a bad option.

The day we landed in Dallas was mostly spent in the airport, but the second day was full of exploring the western bliss of Fort Worth and the Stockyards Station. After a hotel breakfast of massive, Texasshaped waffles (apparently, everything is Texas-sized in the Lone Star State), the group visited the Dallas Museum of Art for a few hours. Next, we headed to Fort Worth, where we explored the exciting activities around the downtown area, such as the World’s Largest Human Maze and the

Texas Trail of Fame. After visiting the local shops, we ran to the streets where every day at 4:00 p.m., there is a “parade” of long-horn cattle and horses.

Before leaving the area, freshman Hannah Wright and I decided that we couldn’t leave Texas without riding a true, Texas mechanical bull. I rode first, staying on for 50 seconds as the tour group and people passing by rooted us on. “You own that thing!” Doug exclaimed, clearly entertained by our shenanigans.

Once returning back to the hotel from our group outing, freshman Bailey Brown, sophomore Kylie Brown, Hannah and I decided that to fulfill our western experience, we absolutely had to attend the famous Cowboys Red River.

We started the night off with line-dancing lessons underneath the bedazzled saddle disco ball. Thursday night was the twostep partner dancing, where we danced with people from all over the world. After about an hour and a half, we took a break from dancing to play pool and take another ride on a mechanical bull.

After we finally arrived in Hawaii, we immediately started our adventure due to our delay in Dallas. One of my favorite activities from Maui was hiking the crater and

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rubber duck race were just a few of the opportunities offered.

Sophomore Hana Akanbi, an Off the Hook student worker, talked about what the student activities scene was like over January Term. Although there were less people on campus, activities were still fun and well-attended.

Akanbi’s favorite event from January Term was the dive-in movie night.

“It was such a great idea and execution,” Akanbi said. “I loved it.”

“The Waterboy” was played on the wall of the swimming pool room, and students watched the movie while floating in the water.

January on campus was also a time to recognize and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On Jan. 16, Virginia Wesleyan hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemoration Ceremony.

Virginia State Senator Aaron Rouse was the keynote speaker, and through the sharing of his personal life experiences, he called listeners to follow their own paths, to be leaders even when opposition confronts them.

Junior Edward McDonald, Student Government Association president and a member of the swim team, talked about the importance of holding ceremonies like this on campus.

“It was really inspiring, and I was excited to see the community show up like that,” McDonald said.

Student athletes were also encouraged to attend the ceremony.

After giving his speech, Rouse was given the Wesley Award to recognize his service to the community. Follow-

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inspired by a source image from the Baltimore Love Project. The Baltimore Love Project featured hands spelling out love in 20 murals across Baltimore, forming letters naturally, not in sign language. She said that the hands in the artwork are modeled from the hands of Virginia Wesleyan students.

Rudel, who teaches the course, said that the Grille wall is not repainted on a schedule. The old mural was painted in 2016 by the Public Art class at the time. When it was painted, there were plans to either repaint it or find a different spot for a new mural.

Rudel said that the Grille wall is part of the daily life of students, which is part of why the mural was placed there.

“This image is intended to signify a sense of community. The hands are posed into the shapes of V, W, U and a heart to represent VWU love,” Rudel said.

To some students, though, the mural is underwhelming or unclear in the message it sends. Caleb Smith, a senior, said that the old mural had a lot of meaning but that the

Mt. Haleakala. I would argue hiking in the bamboo forest was the most difficult part because it was challenging to walk over the fallen bamboo and navigate through the stalks. After arriving at the 400-foot waterfall, the challenge of the hike was all worth it.

Snorkeling and surfing were unforgettable experiences, as well; the coral reefs and aquatic life at the Natural Area Reserve were so clean and vibrant. This experience specifically enabled me to recognize the cruciality of environmental conservation, a core value of Virginia Wesleyan University. Although we didn’t see any sea turtles while snorkeling, we did get to see one when we were surfing, in addition to lots of whales.

The most impactful experience from Maui for me was the time we spent with the Kīpahulu Ohana, a non-profit organization that aims to preserve the environmental and cultural integrity of Maui. At first, I was not looking forward to being in the mud for hours pulling weeds, but I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to volunteer in the taro fields. Meeting with Auntie “Tweetie” Lind, one of the founders of

ing that, one of Virginia Wesleyan’s very own students was presented with the 2023 Mavis McKenley ‘11 Award, named after the alumna and Board of Trustees member Mavis McKenley. It is an award that is presented to a student each year who represents the values of Martin Luther King Jr.

This year’s recipient, senior Zion Purvis-Allen, was recognized for his active community involvement both on and off campus. When asked about what he believed the importance of an award like this is, Purvis-Allen said “I think it’s amazing to be able to have an award for students… because it lets you know that faculty and staff do care about the students.”

He was humbly honored to be presented with such an award and expressed how meaningful it is for the campus community to truly “notice all the little things you do.”

As a part of the campus recognition of MLK Jr. Day, students were encouraged to participate in service activities throughout the weekend leading up to the official day. Details on how to get involved with various on and off campus service opportunities were provided by Wesleyan Engaged. Some of the advertised events were meal-packing for homeless shelters, disaster relief kit assembling and the creation of wildflower seed bombs for a local creek.

Sophomore Evelyn Weaver participated in a tree planting event at a Virginia Beach Teen Shelter. Volunteers from a variety of organizations, not limited to the student body of Virginia Wesleyan, came together and ended up planting 64 trees.

Two of those trees were oak trees, and Weaver expressed her excitement for how they “live for 700 years, so they are going to be around way, way past when we’re gone.” She said the importance of combining service activities with the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day was how it fosters community building, a value that King

new one forwent a lot of that for a message about loving VWU.

“I create art to make an impact, whether big or small,” Hogge said, according to the descriptive sign in the Grille. “My art aims to bring people together by mixing paint and popular culture.”

Hogge said she designed the mural to showcase diversity among people, not just among races but among their different careers and disciplines.

Also involved in the creation of “Selfie” were Josh Cherry ’17, Catalina Jones ’19, Mary McLaughlin Seys ’17, Matt Springer ’17 and Jennifer Taylor ’17.

“It’s so cool to have all these figures throughout so many diverse cultures all together, taking a little selfie on a pear,” Sam Gazala, who is in his fifth year at Virginia Wesleyan, said.

“This just doesn’t invoke the same kind of wonder,” Gazala said.

Designing the mural was a very collaborative process, according to Rudel. The class discussed and edited the mural in order to improve and ensure the mural was as good as possible.

One of the points of discussion was the color of the hands, between natural skin

the organization, was the highlight of the trip. Her desire to advocate for Hawaiian sovereignty and her passion for the work on the farm are admirable and I hope to embody her same qualities in my own life.

From working in the Taro Fields to surfing to interacting with locals who were eager to “talk story,” every aspect of this adventure served to better inform me of Maui’s culture and environment. I am thankful for the awe-inspiring sights and the impactful opportunities we were presented with on the island.

To any student looking towards the possibility of pursuing a study away experience, I highly recommend it. I firmly believe in the value of fully immersing oneself in a different culture.

Ultimately, I am grateful that I took the Maui course because it opened my mind to the possibility of any adventure, waiting to be discovered. My only regret from this experience is that had I only known that we would end up in Dallas, I would have made sure to pack my cowboy boots, bedazzled country belt and cowboy hat... I’ll make sure to bring it just in case on the next Hawaii trip!

embodied and lived out.

Overall, the 2023 January Term was full of learning, fun, recognition and service.

tones and the rainbow color that was eventually decided on. The eventual decision, rainbow colored hands, was made to give a sense of diversity and inclusivity, Rudel said.

“This group was a terrific group that was really supportive and engaged to make this project the best it could be,” Rudel said.

“It’s kind of magical when a group chal-

lenge turns into a singular idea, which then turns into an actually meaningful mural.”

The new mural is designed to bring everyone together, especially given how it occupies a gathering place in the university, Richards said.

“It’s commentary on how everyone’s welcome at Virginia Wesleyan,” Richards said.

A planned trip to Maui, Hawaii was delayed due to an unexpected layover in Dallas, Texas.

Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle “Selfie,” designed by Caitlyn Hogge ’17, was located in the Grille and replaced in 2023 by the new mural that represents VWU love.

VWU Flickr|Courtesy

Left to right: Virginia State Senator Adam Rouse congratulates senior Zion Purvis-Allen, who received the Mavis McKenley ‘11 award.

Doug Kennedy|Courtesy

Students enrolled in Travel’s Impact on Culture & Enviroment January Term course take surfing lessons at Ukumehame Beach Park in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Doug Kennedy|Courtesy Students in Kennedy’s course work in the Taro Fields at the Kīpahulu Ohana.

How far is too far: Punishment in college athletics

BY SYDNEE WASHINGTON sawashington2@vwu.edu

Physical punishments have been a common practice for athletic coaches since the creation of organized sports.

Running after a loss, pushups for mistakes, suicides for missing practice–these are all, but not the only, practices that coaches swear by to whip their athletes into “shape.”

Some coaches take it too far.

This year alone, there have already been two instances in which coaches have abused the practice of physical punishments for athletes.

On Jan. 9, Concordia University Chicago had to cancel two basketball games after five players were hospitalized as a result of a strenuous workout, which was a punishment for curfew violations.

On Jan. 12, several football players in Texas were hospitalized after their coach forced them to do 400 pushups within an hour as a punishment.

Clearly these coaches and many others do not believe in the phrase “too far” when it comes to punishments. Their goal is to make the athlete feel the repercussions of their actions in the harshest way possible, but why does it have to be this way?

Simply being an athlete already takes a huge toll on the body. Athletes practice nearly every day with games in between those practices and maybe one rest day a week.

This alone can risk injury, so why do coaches feel the need to further the risk

by adding physical punishments to this strenuous schedule. Why can’t coaches use game suspension as a punishment instead?

Athletes do not practice just to practice. They practice to play in the game; therefore, making them sit out for a game or two will be just as effective.

Cheers for Hofheimer Library

BY BREANA MAHONEY brmahoney@vwu.edu

As a little girl, one of my favorite places to visit was the library.

After-school library visits were the highlight of my week in elementary school. Though I largely fell off in middle school with my regular library visits, as a college student, my love for the library has returned just as strongly as it was in my early years.

You can easily find me in the library on campus on a school night– not just as a patron but as an employee.

I spent a month or two over a year ago working in the library from my childhood in Richmond, Virginia, and really enjoyed it.

The relaxing atmosphere and routines of shelf reading, retrieving holds and reshelving books are incredibly pleasant ways to spend my hours and make some spending money.

Unfortunately, despite the love I have for it, the library seems to be a largely untapped resource!

I’ve only worked at Virginia Wesleyan’s Hofheimer Library for a little over a semester now and it’s an incredibly peaceful job.

Between the hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, the library is a relatively quiet place.

My interactions with patrons are often seldom, as I can go an entire four-hour shift without someone ever approaching the desk.

The liveliest time of the semester is the days approaching finals week. The library has so much to offer! There are study rooms to study in. The open area is also a great place to work, as being around other students hard at work might boost your morale.

The research librarians available are great people to go to if you need guidance for a research paper.

If the academic merit of the library doesn’t pique your interest, perhaps another thing will: the money.

With every new semester comes a list of books to read for reading-heavy courses that might not be cheaply obtained or easily found through online libraries.

A personal tip from me is to add the library to your list of alternative sources to buying expensive course-required books.

The Hoffheimer Library has over 200,000 books (including online resourc-

es) available for students. If VWU’s wide range of books doesn’t offer the boom you need, there’s a magical little thing called an InterLibrary Loan (or ILL) that might be able to help you out.

Though some may be well-adept in finding alternative sources for their necessary texts, some others may not be too eager to try to figure out which dubious website offering free PDFs won’t give them a virus.

Through the Virtual Library of Virginia Consortium or VIVA, students can borrow books from the various libraries across Virginia that VWU is partnered with. This has saved me loads of money on expensive books for my courses and research projects.

Aside from the convenience, there’s something incredibly satisfying about picking up a book from the top of the hold cart by the front desk and quickly being on my way.

Ask the student assistants for help if you need it when scanning a book with our ScanNx system or printing through WebPrint.

Schedule an appointment with a research librarian to get an extra eye on your research proposal so they can recommend sources that might be up your alley.

Put a book or two on hold so you can pick them up later, and don’t be afraid to stop by the desk and say hello. Libraries are here to help. Visit the library!

This is great for infractions such as missing practice, breaking curfew or anything along those lines; however, when it comes to things such as a loss, not meeting gameday goals, making a mistake in practice, and more, punishment should be out of the question.

I read an article written by John

O’Sullivan from the organization Changing the Game Project, in which he made an interesting point about how silly it is for coaches to punish mistakes.

He said, “Would you do sit-ups for misspelling a word in class? Would an archer or golfer do push-ups for missing the target? Would a baseball player run laps for swinging and missing?”

There may be people who disagree with me and may think I am soft for having this opinion. Some people think that because they grew up with this type of coaching, everyone should be subjected to it because it is the right and only way to do things, but the fact of the matter is that it’s not.

We need to break this cycle of tradition. If you want your athletes to get better and meet gameday goals or reduce mistakes (even though mistakes are bound to happen no matter what), use practice time for drills that will achieve this. Just as Sullivan says, your motor skills will only get better through repetition.

If you want your athlete to understand the severity of their actions, make them sit out for a game or two. That is the reason why they play the sport so when you take it away, it will deter the athlete from any future infractions. If it doesn’t, then that athlete is simply not fit to be on the team.

In my experience and the experience of many others, punishments, like running, only create animosity towards the coach, risk injury and induce anxiety and stress.

Athletes are more than puppets in a coach’s scheme. It’s time that we start treating them as humans.

Deficiencies of public transit

BY EVELYN WEAVER erweaver@vwu.edu

Public transit is an environmentally conscious means of transportation that works in favor of those living in nonwalkable communities. It benefits people who want or need to save money on travel costs. It supports people who, for whatever reason, are unable to drive themselves.

Accessible and affordable public transportation is a vital part of a wellfunctioning society with respect for all of its members and the environment.

We do not have to travel far past the boundaries of campus to see that the area we live in is not walkable. Riddled with five lane highways and constant heavy traffic, traveling by foot is risky. The safety of the community is inherently valuable, and public transportation assures safer relocation from point A to point B.

Public transportation makes up for unsafe and unrealistic pedestrian conditions.

We live in one of many areas that are heavily dependent on motor vehicles for getting around, but that does not mean everyone living in those areas can afford their own car.

This becomes a matter of socioeconomic justice. People need money to buy cars, and people need to work to make money. If they cannot yet afford a car to get them to their place of employment, then they are rendered unable to work and

consequently unable to make money.

Public transportation gives people of a lower socioeconomic status the opportunity to improve their conditions.

Using public transportation is substantially more affordable. People who use public transportation save the money it takes to buy a car. They also do not have to pay for car insurance, gas or vehicle maintenance; these costs add up quickly.

On a related note, some people can not drive for reasons unassociated with affordability. For example, some people are unable to drive themselves because of medical conditions. These people still deserve to safely and reliably get from one place to another.

Taking public transit instead of driving cars is also environmentally beneficial.

Cars contribute to global warming as they release carbon dioxide, the most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Furthermore, they release other pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide which harms human health, harms vegetation and causes acid rain.

Using public transportation reduces energy use and the emission of damaging pollutants.

Public transportation benefits community members and the environment; it is a valuable resource and should be regarded as such. In order to capitalize on these benefits, public transportation should be implemented in a way that is safe, affordable and dependable.

Madelyn Yale|Marlin Chronicle Junior Breana Mahoney works at the front desk at Hofheimer Library.

The unacknowledged truth behind collegiate sports comes to light.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

Increased demand for public transit following changes in climate and the economy.

Watts rewards Softball with new locker rooms

BY JOSH HELLER jmheller@vwu.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan Softball team recently started to undergo a gratifying change as evidenced by their new locker room. The completion date is set for the end of the Spring 2023 season into early summer. The program is stoked for the new change.

A new locker room seemed to be a very fitting reward for the most successful team in Marlin history. The program has appeared in 12 NCAA tournaments, 10 since 2011 and are currently three-time national champions as well. Building their resounding resume has now led to a reward and big changes in the environment which has made Head Softball Coach Brandon Elliott proud.

Elliott has led the Marlin’s to a 543-1271 record in his 16 years as Head Coach. He attributes the new locker rooms to the success of his Softball team.

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“It’s been a long time coming for our program and certainly for the women. It’s really more of a reward for what the women have done here in the last 16 years. As far as building this into a perennial national power and the women who were here before gave us the opportunity to build it,” Elliott said.

This advancement in the program has the Marlin team excited. According to junior Emily Halloway, Infielder from Chesterfield, Va., the team cannot wait to see the new locker room.

“Overall, having a space that’s exclusively ours will continue to help our team chemistry grow. I think being able to have that just outside of our facility is amazing and I just can’t wait to see it all come together,” Halloway said.

The new locker room will have bathrooms available to the public as well, which is an important new addition due to the walk guests had to make in seasons prior.

The recruitment process for the team has been going well, with the coaches going with local talent. There will also be a tryout in the fall for students who already go to the school and would like to join the team.

If students are interested, they should email cheer@ vwu.edu. It will be a combined men’s and women’s team. The decision to add the Cheer team was intended to help expand the athletic department and offer more chances to have the students participate in sports.

The Cheer team will be competing and will start in 2024. Coach Artis hopes to compete down at Daytona, Florida where the main competition for collegiate level cheerleading is held.

To enter the Daytona competition, the team will need to get a “bid” from the competition, which means to gain a place in the competition.

Coach Atris said, “You have to have a bid to enter into that competition. So we’re going to be competing in some of those local competitions here. And also we can submit a routine to get a bid as well.”

The Cheer team will be cheering during both the Men and Women’s Basketball games and performing during half-time. They also hope to add more sports teams for the team to cheer for in their program in the coming years.

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON sawashington@vwu.edu

“Typically the first thing spectators ask is ‘where’s the bathrooms?’” Elliot said, “From an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standpoint, somebody that’s handicapped not having access to a restroom will now be able to use something that’s clean and sanitary.”

Andrea Hoover-Erbig, executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics at VWU, talked on the importance of the locker rooms to the community and the team as well.

“The women will be excited to have a locker room close to their field. The locker rooms for teams are a really nice space, a community space where they can talk and prepare and get ready to play. I really think they’ll love it,” Hoover-Erbig said.

The newly-placed spot is also convenient for future injuries, seeing as the space is right next to the field and athletes can call for a quick examination from the training

The team will also participate in more than just sports events; they will make appearances at Alumni Weekends and Homecoming.

Coach Atris wants to get a big local community outreach on her own team, the school and the community around the university. It is important for her and the team to have a big outreach and be seen in the community.

Coach Artis said, “I think a camaraderie, that sense of bringing back that fun, that community, you know, seeing the seats filled at the games, seeing everybody just excited to go to the games.”

The Men’s Volleyball team will be coached by Karissa Cumberbatch, who coaches the Women’s Volleyball team. She will be coaching both teams next season. They have not named an assistant to help Coach Cumberbatch with the men’s team, but one has been picked.

Cumberbatch has coached Men’s Volleyball teams before, but this will be her first time as the head coach of a Men’s team. She is excited to get started and build the team.

“I’ve been recruiting coordinators and practice coaches and all of this, but I’ve never got to like just take it solely under my wing and make it my own, so I’m excited to do that for sure,” Cumberbatch said.

Six men have already committed to the team for next year. The goal set for the number of players was six to eight.

“I think she feels pretty confident that she can meet or exceed that goal. That’s exciting,” Hoover-Erbig said.

staff.

Despite getting a massive new addition to the Marlin Softball program, their goal has not changed. The program still shoots high in hopes of bringing home their fourth National Championship.

“We just hope to go out and enjoy the game and grow together as a team everyday. Of course I have high expectations for the season, we plan to give our all everyday. Obviously our end goal would be to win it all again and I think that it is possible. I’m very excited about the accomplishments we could achieve as a team this season,” Halloway said.

The VWU Softball team will open their 2023 season at home at the Tom and Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park with a doubleheader against the Avenging Angels of Meredith College on Feb. 25. The first pitch is set to start at 1:30 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball is a growing sport in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The VWU team will be joined by Eastern Mennonite, Randolph Macon, Roanoke and Randolph.

On Feb. 1, Averett University announced their plan to add Men’s Volleyball to their list of sports for the 2023-2024 academic year. With there being six schools with programs it now means that the ODAC can host a conference tournament.

The main difference between men’s and women’s volleyball is the height of the net, other than that the equipment for both teams is the same. There is also a difference in the plays for men and women, with men’s teams typically being more offensive.

When asked if she was concerned about the workload, Cumberbatch said, “It’s just that now I can focus on Virginia Wesleyan and the place that I love and making this something special instead of building it elsewhere.”

There is no set amount of games the men’s team will have to play. The plan is to play twenty games next season. The women’s team in the previous season played thirty games. There are a few weeks of overlap with both teams, but the men’s team will mostly play in the spring, with the Women’s team playing in the fall.

In her ending point, Cumberbatch said, “I want to reach out to those who aren’t playing sports and figure out what it is about how do we get them in the seats? You know, so that’s what I would like to focus on in the next two years getting more kids in the stands.”

Marlin Highlights

Alysse Scripter|Courtesy Geni Roberts (center) of the VWU Track and Field honored at halftime on Feb. 1 for his accomplishments in the field.

Alysse Scripter|Courtesy Freshman Khai Seargeant dribbles ball against ODU on Nov. 14.

Alysse Scripter|Courtesy Julia Hathaway sprints down the track in the 60m dash.

Josh Heller|Marlin Chronicle

Site preparation for the new softball locker rooms and public restrooms is underway at the Tom and Betty Broyles Field at TowneBank Park.

The new softball facility will be situated towards the entrance of the field and named the D. Henry and Eleanor Watts Field House.

Senior Geni Roberts, jumper on the VWU Track and Field team, was honored at halftime at the VWU vs HampdenSydney Men’s Basketball game on Feb. 1 with a banner recognition for his National Runner-Up finishes in the Indoor Long Jump and Outdoor Triple Jump during

the 2021-2022 season. This adds to the list of All-American awards that he has accumulated over the four years, bringing the total to five All-American honors. Roberts also has seven ODAC individual championship titles.

Freshman Khai Seargeant amassed a career-high this past weekend against the Generals of Washington & Lee University. Seargeant picked up 27 points for the Marlins win against the Generals, 84-72, to break a three-game losing streak.

VWU athletics attends NCAA Convention

BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu

The 2023 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Convention took place Jan. 11 - 14 in San Antonio, Texas and Virginia Wesleyan University had three representatives attend. Those attendees included President Scott D. Miller, Chair and Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions and Faculty Athletic Advisor Dr. Jill Sturts and Executive Director of Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig.

The yearly convention is always held in January and this year it returned to being fully in-person. It was attended by more than 3,000 people representing their respective schools and conferences.

According to the NCAA website, a variety of awards and events are held during the four-day conference. Events included the NCAA Honors Celebration in which four awards were given out.

First was the Theodore Roosevelt Award, which is the highest award of the conference. The second award given out was the Inspiration Awards, which, according to the NCAA website, is given to someone who overcame a lifethreatening situation with perseverance and determination. The third award given out was the Silver Anniversary Awards, which honors a group of athletes celebrating 25 years of completing their collegiate career. The last series of awards handed out was the Today’s Top 10 Awards, which are handed out to 10 senior student athletes from the previous academic year.

The NCAA Women of the Year luncheon where the NCAA Woman of the Year award was handed out at the convention for the first time. The winner, selected out of a nine women field, was Karenna Groff, an All-American soccer player from Massachusetts Institute of Technology who majored in biological engineering.

Other events at the convention included a NCAA State of College Sports and the NCAA Saluting Excellence Luncheon where three more awards were given out. This year’s convention also served as the introduction for incoming NCAA president and former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, who was named NCAA president in December of 2022. His role with the NCAA will begin March of 2023.

Miller said he attended the convention mainly for Presidents Agenda Day, “in which 85 Division III presidents come together to discuss critical issues impacting the division and the NCAA as a whole.”

Miller also mentioned how Division III presidents sat down with incoming NCAA President Charlie Baker. “My work at President’s Agenda Day is to continue to advocate for Division III institutions and student-athletes for equitable treatment among the three divisions,” Miller

said.

Hoover-Erbig said it was an NCAA requirement for each school to have a voting delegate, so she served as the delegate for VWU. “The big reason why we were there was for the business session, there were 12 proposals that we voted on as members of Division III,” Hoover-Erbig said.

She also mentioned how before she went to the convention, she met with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in regards to the new legislation. Hoover-Erbig also sat down with the Athletic Management Council which includes Dr. Miller, Dr. Sturts and Dr. Lawrence Hultgren who is a philosophy professor at VWU. SAAC leader and Junior Men’s Soccer Midfielder Alex Moody also sat in on those meetings. “Obviously, our vote wants to be representative of our coaching staff and our student athletes,” said Hoover-Erbig.

Hoover-Erbig mentioned how she enjoyed the awards luncheon where she heard from Muffet McGraw, former Women’s Basketball coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1987- 2020. “I enjoyed hearing her talk, she

the Scoreboard

had some remarks about the current state of the NCAA,” said Hoover-Erbig. She also enjoyed hearing from incoming NCAA president Charlie Baker as he talked about how excited he is about his new role at the State of College Sports session.

Some results of this convention will affect student athletes immediately. “There was a slight deregulation of social media public communication, as it stands right now, coaching staffs can’t publicly communicate via social media with prospective student athletes that have deposited until May 1, so now effective immediately as long as student athletes has deposited by January 1st that communication can start,” Hoover-Erbig said.

The other change coming to Division III is a new practice and playing structure which, when changed, will be the same structure as during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 academic year. “We will count days instead of weeks, but there is some structure to it, it’s not straight days, there is a start date and an end date, I think it allows coaches and student athletes to train together with more flexibility,” Hoover said. This new rule will take effect this August.

the Schedule

@prezscottmiller on Instagram|Courtesy

From left: President Scott D. Miller, Director of Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig and Chair of Sport and Recreation Professions Dr. Jill Sturts stand together at the 2023 NCAA Convention held Jan. 11 - 14 in San Antonio, Texas.

Shore Drive Shuffle

From trivia night to karaoke night, Shore Drive has it all.

BY KYLEA MCCAREL ksmccarel@vwu.edu

Waiting around for the weekend to have a fun night off campus can make the week feel like it’s crawling by. If you need a little music, a break from the typical dining hall food or even want to join in on some fun competition, then Shore Drive is the perfect place to look!

Restaurants and bars such as Chicks Oyster Bar, CP Shuckers, ShoreBreak Pizza & Taphouse and Central Shore are the top places to find a quick escape from your typical week night.

Instead of sitting in your dorm, CP Shuckers, located just beyond the Lesner Bridge, offers Monday night karaoke to kick those Monday blues. DJ Casey Jones has just about every song you can think of to sing your heart out.

With classics like “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi and newer pop hits like “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, CP Shuckers draws in a tremendous judgment-free crowd. “My friends and I love to come here after work and de-stress by singing like we’re in the shower,” Victoria Dessoffy, a local patron, said.

“DJ Casey is a pretty cool guy and always has what song I want,” Dessoffy said. Friendly bartenders like Caroline and Manny provide outstanding service.

If you’re feeling like you need to test your extra stored knowledge and want the chance to win a prize, then Tuesday trivia nights at Chick’s Oyster Bar is the place to be. Starting early this January,

Chick’s decided to join in on the weeknight fun. With teams of six or less, you and your friends can enjoy an extended happy hour with $6 signature orange crushes and $10 appetizers while competing for restaurant gift cards.

“We’ve had a really great turnout lately,” Front of the House Manager Dylan Cake. Hosted by Beach Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. in the “Marlin Room” of the bar-restaurant, teams can win gift cards priced up to $100.

“It’s been really fun and people really get into it,” Cake said. Question categories can range from sports, to general knowledge, science and entertainment. There is a category for every style of person so creating a team with just about anyone can put you on the road to victory.

For the middle of the week, ShoreBreak Pizza & Taphouse offers something just for the ladies. If you’re looking for a more low-key relaxed and less competitive evening, then free ladies pool night is the way to go! “A lot of people don’t know about it,” waitress Kenzie Morgan said. Whether you know how to play or not, ShoreBreak offers multiple pool tables with a variety of pool stick sizes.

“It’s a nice night to just hang out with friends,” Morgan said.

There’s always plenty of room for you and your group to share a large pizza and play. On top of the exclusive free ladies pool, Wednesday night is also 99 cent wing night. Whether you like boneless or traditional, all wings are 99 cents.

In the midst of weekly activities, Central Shore offers a monthly

way to boot scoot your heart out. Held on the first Wednesday of every month, Central Shore offers a country karaoke night. DJ’d by the one and only, familiar friendly face of Shore Drive, DJ Casey Jones; you can sing your heart out to your favorite country tune.

In celebration of facing your fears and having courage, Central will even buy you a shot for your first song. “It’s free parking and entry with a fun-filled atmosphere,” owner Brandon Dearborn said. The country-themed karaoke night is accompanied by beginner line dancing as well.

“We wanted to do something different so line dancing and karaoke turned into Country Night,” Dearborn said. By mixing different ideas and offering liquid courage, Central Shore’s country nights have been an incredible success.

Waiting around for the week to crawl by to do something fun is no more. By taking the short drive down Northampton Blvd to Shore Drive, a diverse nightlife of fun opens up. Instead of sitting in your residence halls after a long day of classes, a few appetizers and stress relieving song and game nights are the best way to change it up. The only question now is, which will you attend?

All restaurants and bars listed above can all be found on Instagram through the handles @cpshucker_shoredrive, @chicksoysterbar, @shorebreakpizza and @centralshoredrive and have corresponding pages on Facebook as well. Each page provides more information, extra details on happy hours and updates on all fun event nights.

Close call on cookie competition

By MADISON DZWONKOWSKI mkdzwonkowski@vwu.edu

With the modern trend of cookie franchises, storefronts are popping up everywhere. Lately, competition has surged for the number one cookie spot and, for the students on Virginia Wesleyan’s campus, the battle continues to brew between Crumbl Cookies and Insomnia Cookies. The qualitative results were close, as many students held similar feelings and opinions.

To collect the perspectives of Marlins in real time, a poll was posted on Instagram, allowing VWU students to vote for which shop they preferred and to voice their opinions. In total, 47% of students who answered preferred Crumbl while 53% preferred Insomnia.

A stack of opinions piled up for Crumbl, far more than for Insomnia, as the topic seemed to polarize the community. Some comments that were left include: “The surprise menu is so fun and I love it,” “The cookies taste better, and the icing is more enjoyable” and “Insomnia sucks,” which was said multiple times by students

Some comments made in regards to Insomnia were: “[Insomnia] does not have all the extra toppings, [which] makes it more savory” and “More cookies for a cheaper price.”

With this information in mind, both franchises had to start somewhere. Before jumping into the tea, knowing how these companies came about is super important.

Crumbl is a family-owned business, founded by two cousins, James McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley. Rapidly earning fame for being the world’s best-created milk-chocolate chip cookie inspired them to work for something bigger. The brand has now created their own niche approach to the humble cookie, focusing on developing highly unique and delicious cookies.

In 2018, the cousins established their weekly rotating menu, showcasing four iconic cookie flavors at a time. Inspiration for their creations comes from all types of food, treats and desserts. The brand is also known for its iconic pink packaging, helping the cookies be “Instagram-able.”

Crumbl has made a huge impact on the dessert community. Despite only being open for a little under five years, they have opened over 600+ bakeries in 47 states, nationwide. The brand offers the

M3GAN slays on screen

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

following: two different-sized cookies (regular and mini), cookies that can be shipped and a minimum of 10 cookies per flavor.

Aside from their famous cookies, Crumbl also offers ‘Crumbl Cream,’ essentially ice cream. The Crumbl Cream flavors include brownie fudge, cookie dough crunch, peanut butter brittle, raspberry cheesecake, snickerdoodle and classic vanilla bean. Virginia Wesleyan junior Avary Smith said, “I like Crumbl because they always have different flavors every week. It creates a bonding experience for my mom and I. We will text each other the flavors, and rate them by which ones we think we will like the most.” Insomnia Cookies, on the other hand, has a very different origin story and upbringing. The idea found roots in a college dorm room at the University of Pennsylvania, simply because college student Seth Berkowitz and his roommates were hungry one late night. This brand was meant to redefine late nights, food delivery and staying focused. It is the sweet reward for the insomniacs and the

By RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu

“M3GAN,” directed by Gerard Johnstone, depicts an inventor at a toy company, Gemma (Allison Williams), creating a doll with artificial intelligence, the titular M3GAN. M3GAN is brought to life by two actresses, with the physical performance for the character being done by Amie Donald and the voice work being done by Jenna Davis.

M3GAN is initially meant to help care for Gemma’s niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), who falls under Gemma’s care after the death of her parents. However, as the film progresses, M3GAN’s programming goes haywire, causing the character to go on a killing spree.

Thanks, in large part, to a clever script from Akela Cooper, “M3GAN” is entertaining throughout, as both the film and its titular character successfully alternates between being scary, funny and even heartfelt. This contributes to the unpredictability of M3GAN, which causes her to be a menacing and compelling villain, who immediately joins the ranks of other iconic horror villains.

The film’s approach to the creation of M3GAN is also notable, as it initially portrays her creation with a sense of wonder and as a scientific feat, before showing the horrors that she is capable of. This portrayal of scientific discovery is comparable to the depiction of science in film franchises such as “Jurassic Park” and “Terminator.”

Once the flaws in M3GAN’s programming begin to show, a race against the clock begins as Gemma tries to protect Cady and the world from her creation. This culminates in an outstanding conclusion for the film, which caused the audience to applaud multiple times during the film’s finale during my viewing of the film.

While M3GAN is undeniably the star of the show, both Allison Williams and Violet McGraw give strong performances. Williams’ Gemma is a complex character, due to her drive for scientific discovery and her struggle to balance caring for McGraw’s Cady with

party goers.

Established in 2003, Insomnia Headquarters has found a home in college towns across the nation. Its menu is overloaded with fun options, offering far more than Crumbl. It includes different classic and deluxe cookies, brownies, ice cream, ice cream cookie sandwiches, cookie cakes, combo packs, boxes of up to 500 cookies, vegan and gluten-free cookies and catering opportunities.

Sophomore Kayleigh Turner, president and panhellenic delegate of Sigma Sigma Sigma, however, was able to comment on her terrible experience with Insomnia.

“The last time I went, I ordered a salted caramel cookie. The staff, however, gave me a peanut butter cookie, and I have an anaphylactic nut allergy,” Turner said.

For a brand that clearly tries to cater to food allergies and dietary restrictions, this was more than a faux pas. “As soon as I took a bite, I knew immediately. My friends had to not only call 911, but stab me with my epi-pen. I rode in an ambulance to the hospital, where I stayed there for four hours being monitored,” Turner said.

This sweet treat turned into a medical emergency and when one of Turner’s friends alerted Insomnia workers of the situation “they did not care, just responded with ‘oh,’” Turner said.

This instance was not the only altercation students on campus have had with Insomnia. Smith also expressed that the staff were rude. An important question addressed in the interview process, besides memorable experiences, was if there was any recommendation the student could give to the company.

Smith said, “Crumbl should have later hours, as well as being open on Sundays.” Turner recommended that Crumbl should add more accommodating desserts to the menu, as allergens are common in today’s society. She also wished Insomnia could take up labeling their cookies better, as well as adapt a protocol for allergic reactions–ensuring the safety of their consumers.

Desserts are a huge hit, especially close to college campuses, and it is so important to get feedback from the population whose late night cravings fund these organizations. Who do you think steals your vote, Crumbl or Insomnia?

her work. While being the creator of M3GAN could have doomed Williams’ Gemma to be disliked by audiences, Williams’ performance overcomes this hurdle. Her performance successfully conveys the character’s genuine passion for innovation and discovery, allowing the audience to empathize with her grave mistake in creating the movie’s villain. Likewise, Williams’ performance also shows that while she struggles to care for Cady, Gemma still clearly loves and wants the best for her.

Just as with Williams’ Gemma, Violet McGraw’s Cady also features complexities that could have caused her to come across as unlikeable. This is due to the character being troubled by the death of her parents and latching on to M3GAN, causing her to lash out at points in the film. However, thanks to McGraw’s strong performance, Cady remains a sympathetic character throughout the film.

The relationship between Williams’ Gemma and McGraws’ Cady is the beating heart of the film, which stands out even in the shadow of the film’s uncanny villain.

Overall, “M3GAN” is a crowd-pleasing horror-comedy that truly stands out thanks to its spine-tingling modern villain, clever script and strong performances from Williams and McGraw.

The three winners (left to right) from this past Trivia Night at Chicks Oyster Bar, in order from first to third place.

With Valentine’s day right around the corner, Zia Marie is the perfect destination for a romantic dinner or a galentines date. Zia Marie is an Italian restaurant located on 2272 West Great Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, only 14 minutes from Virginia Wesleyan’s campus.

This homey restaurant is dotted with numerous fireplaces. Its wooden walls act as a frame to the picturesque hostesses greeting you with a genuine smile. The waiting staff form an unformidable and knowledgeable team equipped with the skill to help customers understand the menu and keep them comfortable. The overall atmosphere can aptly be described as cozy. Fire and dimmed lights illuminate the restaurant, providing patrons with a romantic backdrop, which is perfect for a dinner date.

After moving to a new location within the last year,

Zia Marie

Zia’s has gained popularity. Their previous location could be found down Lookout Road–a hidden gem which many individuals mistook for just another Italian restaurant and locals fervently frequented.

Zia’s has been the source of inspiration, the standard to which local Italian restaurants are measured, for nearly a decade. It is even known as Virginia Beach’s slice of Italy. They strive to have a restaurant that welcomes, nourishes and entertains customers. With that passion, they have achieved a loyal clientele, numerous families who choose Zia’s to help them celebrate everything from birthdays to a mundane Monday night.

Once a customer tries Zia’s, their delectable menu soon becomes a checklist for repeat visits. Personally, I have visited Zia’s around twenty times in the past two years. The innumerable selections have kept me coming back again and again, staying with them through their new location and business changes.

Despite their expansive menu, they make a commitment to excellence. Their dishes cater to every palette, with seafood, chicken, eggplant, veal and beef for those special occasions. Zia’s provides dishes for anyone who walks through their door, with variations and customizations available so everyone can enjoy a perfect Italian dinner.

Like a traditional Italian family meal, not only does Zia’s serve entrees, but craveable traditional homemade desserts as well. Unctuous cannolis, weekly special cheesecake and smooth tiramisu make perfect sweet treats to satiate customers. Zia’s honors the classics while updating their menu with a new seasonal dish every week–highly

recommended by waiters.

For those ladies wanting a special galentines night, or friends looking for a place to hang out, they do offer a pizza menu with prolific customizations.

Zia Marie is open Monday through Wednesday, from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. For the weekend, they are open Thursday through Sunday, 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Typically, they are busiest around 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., if you are considering a casual visit. They can be reached through their phone number, (757) 460-0715, or website, https://www.ziamarie.com/, for reservations. Be sure to follow them on instagram @ zia_marie, and facebook at ZiaMarieVB.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu

Mikayla Moscatelli|Marlin Chronicle Zia Maries’ famous shrimp fra diablo is served.

Amalia Houff|Courtesy

A sunset illuminating the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the Virginia Wesleyan Quad, from sophomore Amalia Houff.

Cecilia Aten|Courtesy

A stunning sunset from Ganoga Lake Benton in Pennsylvania, sent in by junior Cecilia Aten.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

A sunset snapshot from senior Mel Lhuillier, from East Beach in Virginia Beach.

Amalia Houff|Courtesy

A colorful sunset from Honolulu, Hawaii, sent in by sophomore Amalia Houff.

Amalia Houff|Courtesy

The sunset from Ambergris Caye in Belize, on a VWU study away course, from Amalia Houff.

Dorothy Yanku-Palmer|Courtesy

A picture of Greer during a gorgeous sunset, captured by junior Dorothy Yanku-Palmer.

Hannah Carmona|Courtesy

Beautiful clouds near Greenbrier Mall, from senior Hannah Carmona. Brianny Ocampo|Courtesy Freshman Brianny Ocampo’s sunset from the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.