Sam Jackson Photography |Courtesy
Senior Softball Stars SEE SPORTS Pg. 9
The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 4.12.18 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU ||
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Break out the bedazzler, decorate those caps For the first time in Virginia Wesleyan history, graduating seniors will be allowed to decorate their graduation caps
Val Miller| Marlin Chronicle BY CAMILLE BENZ cebenz@vwu.edu
Glitter, rhinestones and flowers, oh my! Seniors can finally decorate their graduation caps. A student council headed by Heidi Brinker, Wynter Bond and Brittany Hockey crafted a mortarboard decoration proposal for Provost Timothy O’Rourke. After receiving researched information on how cap decorations functioned in other universities, O’Rourke and the students came to an agreement that seniors will be allowed to express their achievements through decorations for the upcoming graduation ceremony in May. Senior Carolina Jesse is excited for the change. “I think it’s a good idea. I would definitely do it. Students can be creative, we can express ourselves through our caps instead of them being boring,” Jesse said. “What better way to express yourself and the happiness of being able to say that you have made it? It’s a fun thing to do… There shouldn’t be limits to how one wants to celebrate their achievement unless the message is profane or vulgar.” Jesse wants to represent her biology major with the decorations. “I would decorate mine with a biology or chemistry pun, or a quote by a famous female scientist,” Jesse said. Fellow senior Ashantiana Jackson also welcomes the change. “Being able to decorate my graduation cap means the world to me. It means that I can express this overcoming joy of reigning victorious after nearly completing my undergraduate degree. Out of my six siblings, only three of us went to college,” Jackson said. Jackson wants her cap to symbolically represent her journey to graduation. “It also represents my first step in
my career and eventually going to medical school. I can’t wait to put my quote on my cap and just be able to keep it as a keepsake that will motivate me for future endeavors,” Jackson said. A full list of the rules about cap decoration will be sent to all seniors in a letter. Profanity and crude political messages are prohibited, among other things. Decorations can only be two-dimensional and may not rise above the mortarboard more than a half-inch. No loose glitter is allowed, and the caps may not make noise. The letter will also provide suggestions on what messages would be tasteful and kind. The Student Government Association (SGA) agreed to take responsibility and initiative on the issue. SGA members, including Hockey, will be responsible during the Commencement Ceremony to watch out for inappropriate caps. If such circumstances occur, two designated faculty members are to approach the student and replace the cap with a non-decorated one. “I value when students take responsibility for ensuring that any activity on campus fits within the spirit and values of the campus” O’Rourke said. While other campuses across the nation have been celebrating for years with bedazzling stations, students at VWU just beginning to enjoy this change. There have been petitions in the past for cap decorations, but not have been successful until now. SGA Vice President Brittany Hockey said that the committee was originally formed after a group of students came to the SGA asking for help changing the rules. The
FREEZES
Tuition for 2018-19 academic year BY SARAH TUCKER smtucker@vwu.edu
Thanks to a tuition freeze, full-time students at Virginia Wesleyan University will pay the same rate of tuition in the 2018-19 academic year as they did this year. During the freeze, tuition will remain at $36,010. According to a report from the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia, there is a predicted average increase of 5.4% or $422 for four-year institutions. The freeze will exempt incoming and current students from this increase, but not from other mandatory fees such as room and board, meal plans and technology fees. President Scott D. Miller said the freeze was approved by the Board of Trustees. In a press release, Miller said that he and the board “recognize that higher education is a substantial investment for students and their families.” He also said they “reaffirmed the importance of affordability and access to quality higher education. It is essential for us to work with our students and their families to make that possible.” The Virginia Wesleyan University administration shared the word about the tuition freeze through many forms of social media, including Facebook and Instagram. The university’s website has also made a formal announcement. You may have also seen it mentioned in
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one of President Scott D. Miller’s daily nota bene. “I saw the news about the tuition freeze on Twitter,” junior Alizae Dollins said. Sophomore Jayla Cross said she read about the tuition freeze in an email. Some are unsure about the relevance of the freeze, perhaps due in part to the fact that very little has been shared about it. “I don’t really know what this means or how it’s going to impact my life,” said freshman Shannon Harris. Not much is known about next year’s tuition freeze other than the obvious statement that tuition for the next academic year is going to remain the same as this current year. There has been no information released regarding whether other expenses, such as room and board or meal plans, will also be price-locked or if they will increase. According to an article published in “The Wesleyan Review,” Virginia Wesleyan hasn’t had a tuition freeze for 20 years. The last time was in 1998. When asked if this action should have been taken earlier, Dr. Miller said “It would be inappropriate for me to be critical of the past as a result of being a President in his third year.”
SGA voted in favor of the change. “We’ve been working on this since last fall and it came to its conclusion a week or two before spring break,” Hockey said. She emphasized the importance of the graduating class respecting the rules. “In doing this, the Class of 2018 will begin a tradition for all students at Virginia Wesleyan University.”
SEE CAPS Pg. 2
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Have a great idea for a graduation cap? Send in your suggestions and pictures to nlhart@vwu.edu or tag us on social media @marlinchronicle #gradcap for a chance to be featured in the next issue.
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