April 26, 2018

The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 4.26.18 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU ||

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

l Alex Powers

Janice Marshall-Pittman l Courtesy

nicle Marlin Chro

Coach Joanne Renn, who first came to Wesleyan in 1995, is retiring this June.

The Monumental Chapel bell tower expecting makeover this May.

Janice Marshall-Pittman l Courtesy

History facing possible threats due to changes in general studies requirements

Navigating new changes Coach Renn retires after 25 years

Renovation to begin on chapel tower

BY CAMILLE BENZ

BY MICKELLA RAST

BY LUKE CHIASSON

cebenz@vwu.edu

lachiasson@vwu.edu

mjrast@vwu.edu

After 25 years of dedication to Virginia Wesleyan, Executive Director of Athletics Joanne Renn will be retiring in June. President Miller and Coach Renn announced the decision in front of the athletic department on April 19.

“Several months ago, Joanne came to me and told me she thought she was ready to retire, naturally, I said ‘no, go back to your office and get to work…’ but in all seriousness, I asked her to think about it for a few more weeks and get back to me. She did just that, but she came back with the same conclusion,” said President Miller at the retirement announcement.

“A friend, a mentor, and a great leader. Joanne will be deeply missed by everyone in the department,” said Coach Macedo, who has worked with Coach Renn for 20 years.

While this is the end of Coach Renn’s tenure as Athletic Director, she will still be a friendly face around campus.

“I’m a Marlin, [President Miller] assured me that I’d be always be welcomed back on campus...I’m not leaving, until they tell me I can’t come back,” Coach Renn said.

Expect to see Coach Renn around the fall once she returns to Virginia Beach in September after completing her duties as a Field Educator at Shenandoah National Park, which is a temporary duty assignment.

“I will be racing home to watch soccer and field hockey,” Coach Renn said. Coach Macedo also expects to see her at Marlin basketball games in the future, “Coach [Renn] has the bug, I definitely expect to see her around campus and at games when she can make it,” Macedo said.

Although Coach Renn will no longer be occupying an office in the athletic department, Virginia Wesleyan will

The Monumental Chapel bell tower, officially known as the Frank E. Brown bell tower, will soon be undergoing a restoration and renovation process due to structural insecurity. Plans for the process began in October, structural work will begin in May and work on the outside of the tower will begin this summer.

Bands will be put around the outside of the tower, which will connect to each other and pull the tower together.

From there, non-corrosive steel crossbars will be inserted through the middle of the tower. The bands will later be covered by the new façade, which will include elements from the current and new designs.

The first 25 percent of the tower, starting at the bottom columns, will be white sandstone with capstones. Wesleyan red brick will cover the rest. A beacon with a light will be placed near the top of the tower, which will also include the sound and chime system. The cross will be moved to the peak, in the same position that it currently sits.

President Miller said that the two most important aspects of the plan were to make the tower structurally secure and create an aesthetic design that matches the rest of campus.

“It will be restoring and renovating, not tearing down,” Miller said. “Memories from the past, celebration of the current, and looking to the future is the best way to put it.”

Greg West, the current chaplain for the university, looks forward to the change. He said that though the tower may change in appearance, what it symbolizes for the campus will remain the same.

“Above all, this is who we are, this is where we started,” said West. “It’s our roots.”

He expressed a wish that the new designs would take into consideration his idea for ‘baptism from above,’ which would involve West standing at the top of the tower and

SEE RENN Pg. 7

Are you in the third?

According to a new report, one-third of college students suffer from housing insecurity and food shortages. Are you in the one-third?

BY SARAH TUCKER smtucker@vwu.edu

SEE CHAPEL Pg. 2 Alexa Ledari, staff writer for U.S. News and World Report, wrote a report “More Than OneThird of College Students Don’t Have Enough Food.” According to Ledari’s report, results from a new survey, conducted by researchers from Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab, show “that more than one-third of college students in the United States were not able to get enough food in a given month and 36 percent faced housing insecurity issues.” These researchers “surveyed 43,000 students and 66 institutions, including 35 four-year universities and colleges, as well as community colleges, in 20 states and the District of Columbia.”

In the report, Ledari states, “of the students who said they suffered from insecurity, most…said they couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals.” Ledari also wrote about the study saying, “thirty-one percent of two-year institution students and 25 percent of fouryear institution students said they cut the size of their meals or skipped meals entirely because they didn’t have enough money for food.”

When students here at Virginia Wesleyan University were asked if they could afford other dining options outside of their meal plans, about half of the students said they could while the other half said they could not. For example, freshman Shannon Harris said, “I can barely afford food off campus…I’m struggling.”

SEE REPORT Pg. 2 1Front.indd 1

New requirements impact history New changes to Virginia Wesleyan’s general studies program, effective beginning fall 2019, will directly affect the future of the history department.

The first component, supported by many faculty, are called Wesleyan Seminars. These are a combination of the writing courses and Senior Integrative Experience (SIE). Instead of the seminars being exclusive to seniors, they will now be required freshman, sophomore and junior year.

The second component is replacing letter courses with the requirement that students take two courses from each school (natural science, humanities, and social science). This is what will most directly affect the history department. Since students only have to take two courses, there is no explicit requirement for history in the new program, which means that those courses may be passed over in favor of others in the social science school.

History professor Clayton Drees attended the meeting where this two-fold program change was passed. “Faculty and the history department have very mixed emotions about it. We fought in the social science school to have our requirement of two courses.

One can be in history, one in anything else,” said Drees.

Despite the department’s attempt to get the history requirement as part of the two social science courses, the proposal lost by one vote resulting in a divide between social sciences.

Though Drees admits that their opinions might be biased, he stresses that this will be an important change for history department. “We don’t believe that a true liberal arts education is being offered to students

SEE HISTORY Pg. 2

Last founding Board of Trustees member Robert F. Boyd passes COMMUNITY Page 3

How rumors spread on campus and what they mean OPINIONS Page 5

Review of hit horror film ‘A Quiet Place.’

WEEKENDER Page 10 4/26/2018 10:12:47 AM

2 Thursday April 26, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News

Facebook privacy scandal

BY ALLAINA BOGGS arboggs@vwu.edu

Facebook users recently faced a large invasion of privacy, as approximately 87 million users’ information was stolen and sold by a company called Cambridge Analytica. Personal information such as names, phone numbers and email addresses was taken from a multitude of users, then sold on the “dark web,” a portal for criminal behavior known for the selling of information taken from data breaches.

Users of many social media platforms have been quick to privatize their accounts after the outbreak of this news. Many have taken to their settings to see exactly what information is being shared.

After messing around with his Facebook settings, freshman Max Peters found out that he had been sharing his information with an app that he hadn’t used in months.

“It was crazy to realize just how many companies have full access to my personal information. I’m going to be sure to be more careful with who I allow to access my social media accounts,” Peters said.

The stealing and selling of personal information from Facebook has caused students to be wary of what they share on the Internet. While many do not use Facebook as their main social media app, they have taken this scenario as a lesson to be careful on other social media platforms.

Freshman Holden Forbes said that he would “recommend actively treating personal information as the most important thing to you online.” Following in Peters’ footsteps, he also made a vow to be more private with what information he shares on the Internet.

“The beauty of the Internet is that your private information, unless given out freely, gives you a sense of freedom. In no way should privatizing your information inhibit you from expressing yourself, but a measure of caution should be used,” Forbes said.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder of Facebook, was called upon by Congress to

attend two hearings about the invasion of privacy and potential election meddling.

This breach was in violation of a 2011 privacy agreement with the Federal Trade Commission, which was set to last for 20 years. However, Zuckerberg claimed to not know the full details of the FTC agreement he signed.The agreement came about after a previous disregard of user’s privacy

by Facebook, as the company told users that their information was to be kept private, but continuously allowed for the information to be made public. According to this agreement, as posted on the FTC’s official website, Facebook was “required

that Facebook has violated the decree, the company could face charges of $40,000 a day since the day the agreement was signed, Nov. 29, 2011, a total that is nearing $1 billion.

This invasion of privacy was not detected by Facebook’s April 2017 privacy audit, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.Pricewaterhouse Coopers reported Facebook’s privacy settings to be “operating with sufficient effectiveness.” The company continued by claiming that the “performed test procedures to assess the effectiveness of the Facebook privacy controls implemented to meet or exceed the protections required by [the FTC agreement].”

While no harm came to Zuckerberg during the Congressional hearings, Congress is still working to protect users’ private information on the Internet.

An example of this is the creation of the Honest Ads Act, an attempt to provide more transparency when it comes to political advertisements online.

Data was able to be taken through the use of Facebook’s now retired search tools, a feature that could have been blocked by users, though many were not aware of this privacy setting. The deVal Miller| Marlin Chronicle fault setting, which was widely applied to most profiles, allowed the search tool to to establish and maintain a comprehen- access user’s profile information, includsive privacy program designed to address ing their friends list. Facebook discontinprivacy risks associated with the develop- ued this service after they gained knowlment and management of new and existing edge of the breach. products and services, and to protect the The company behind the information privacy and confidentiality of consumers’ breach, Cambridge Analytica, was the information.” same company hired by the Trump adminZuckerberg claimed to have failed to istration during the time of the election. bring the privacy invasion by Cambridge This is leaving Facebook users to wonder Analytica to the attention of the FTC be- if their information was used to manipulate cause he had “considered it a closed case.” voters, as some believe the information However, the FTC is still investigating was used to build psychological profiles of to see if this breach violates the terms of the 2016 voters during the campaign. the agreement that Zuckerberg previously agreed to. If further investigation shows

HISTORY CONTINUED FROM FRONT to populate all history classes. The required amount of students to have a class is 8-10 if history is not required at some level,” he said.

Professor Kathleen Casey was also disappointed. “We cannot predict what will happen students, any less results in the cancellation of the class. This has led to the fear that many with any certainty, but in the new General Studies program I suspect far less students will history classes will be cancelled.

The history department’s objection is on two planes: the first is that they believe deopt to take a history course once such a class is no longer required,” Casey said.

She also expressed regret that many students would not see the difference between high mand for history classes will dramatically decline, the second is how they don’t believe school and college-level subject material. “Many students come to college feeling alien- the education offered without history reflects a true liberal arts school. Other courses such as philosophy, religious studies, classics and ated by high school history classes that focused on political science may suffer as well. rote memorization of facts and dates. But learning to “I teach history because I genuinely believe that learning to The history department also believes it will sufthink historically can be, and often is, a transformaask hard questions about the messiness of the past while atfer because history requires a lot of reading and tive experience. I think that’s especially true for stutempting to understand people who saw the world very differwriting while other courses would demand a less dents whose own histories have been left out of more ently than we do is key to becoming a critical thinker and an intense workload that often appeals to students. traditional narratives about the past,” Casey said. empathic person. I would like to see every Virginia Wesleyan Regarding faculty, all history professors on “I teach history because I genuinely believe that student challenged to do these things.” campus have tenure and will keep teaching unless learning to ask hard questions about the messiness of Kathleen Casey there is a claim of financial exigency. This is not the past while attempting to understand people who a current problem, but when history professors resaw the world very differently than we do is key to becoming a critical thinker and an empathic person. I would like to see every Virginia tire or leave they most likely will not be replaced. The president also offered a phased retirement plan which will reduce teaching load and pay.

Wesleyan student challenged to do these things,” Casey said.

Senior Travon Nimmo said he dislikes the change. “It’s incredibly problematic because Chair of the History Department and the American Studies Program Daniel Margolies also believes that history cannot be neglected. “It’s the most important major that trains history is tied with everything,” Nimmo said. He is the president of Phi Alpha Theta, the people the best to be successful in the competitive global economy,” Margolies said. “I’m national history honor society. “You have to take history or you don’t know the context… not happy about eliminating history because I think no one can be educated unless they History is more than dates and battles, it’s bigger than that. It’s thoughts and concepts.” have an understanding of history.”

Another problem with this change, according to Nimmo, is that “the process wasn’t Despite this, Margolies says the need for the general studies change has been long transparent.” As a student he receives daily emails from the campus community but he standing. “There was an interest in changing it to make it theoretically more compre- admits he did not know this change was occurring because it was not communicated. hensible and also give it a lighter footprint in the overall student requirements,” he said.

Although he believes opportunities for the history department are being taken away, So what does this mean for history at VWU? Nimmo has faith that the department will not vanish.

About 25 students are history majors, but such a small group of students is not enough

CHAPEL

REPORT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT pouring water balloons on people standing below.

“I haven’t pressed it, but maybe I could talk to them as they design the new thing and have a little perch for me,” he joked.

The tower does currently have a ladder that leads to the top, although the ladder is only used for maintenance purposes.

“I am kind of glad they’re changing the design,” said senior Aaliyah ChearsBurton. “It always looked a bit dingy, in my opinion. Then again it’s been around for a while so that grimy look is to be expected after so many years.”

The structural problems were first noticed in 2015, when a $350,000 planning grant that included a facilities condition assessment noticed that the metal on the inside of the tower was badly rusted and the connecting bolts were corroded.

The initial analysis stated that the tower would need to be fixed within five years, while a secondary analysis gave a threeto five-year period.

The 10-year master plan that was released a year later included a plan for corrective maintenance. This plan, among other documents, was released to the Board of Trustees and a select number of donors.

One of these donors expressed an in-

2News.indd 1

CONTINUED FROM FRONT terest in funding a restoration and renovation of the tower. Though the donor wishes to remain anonymous, President Miller revealed that he or she is “somebody who’s had a long relationship with Virginia Wesleyan, and really wants it to be done nicely to match with the architectural integrity of the campus overall and be something there for future generations to benefit from.”

The last time the tower underwent construction was in the late ‘90s, when an anonymous donor sparked a revival of musical selections for the tower. One student reported hearing famous tunes from “Oklahoma!” while others recognized more traditional church hymns.

Music was first introduced in 1975 when a carillon was gifted to the thencollege. A carillon is a set of cast bells that play chromatic scales. According to a past Marlin Chronicle article, the original carillon was a tube-type amplicator donated by the Mutual Federal Savings & Loan Association in memory of the bank’s former president.

According to Ledari, the report about the survey “also examined the demographics of [the students] who experienced food or housing insecurity.”

When asked if they would eat healthier if they had more options than that which the grille and dining hall offer, senior Sheril Steinberg an-

swered saying, “For sure. There is no doubt that I would have a healthier diet if there were appetizing healthy food options.”

According to Ledari’s report, the study said, “The bottom line is clear: Educational attainment in the United States is being hindered by neglect…Students’ basic needs must be secured if they are to learn at any level.” The study also said, “For more than a decade, researchers have demonstrated the need and explained its scope and dimensions. The next and very necessary step is action.”

Junior Brandon Foster said, “I think I have enough [meal swipes] but prices need to go down in order for me to eat comfortably.” Researchers from this study suggest; “funds for living expenses in scholarships, expanding public benefits access for students and create more food pantries at colleges and universities.”

Val Miller| Marlin Chronicle

4/26/2018 11:04:27 AM

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Community The

MARLIN CHRONICLE

Thursday April 26, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

New traditions for alumni weekend

Editor-in-Chief Justin Smith jrsmith2@vwu.edu Managing Editor Hayley Heath hrheath@vwu.edu News Editors Mickella Rast mjrast@vwu.edu Amanda Archer acarcher@vwu.edu Community Editors Cynthia Griffin clgriffin@vwu.edu

Allaina Boggs|Marlin Chronicle The alumni weekend consisted of a pie eating contest and performances at Seafood in the Dell.

Brianna Kidwell bnclarkson@vwu.edu

BY EMILY VIAL

Opinions Editor

esvial@vwu.edu

Ashley Kline aakline@vwu.edu

The spring Pig Pickin’ Picnic on Saturday April 14 was a new tradition added to the alumni weekend festivities and preceded Seafood in the Dell in the day full of traditions. Set up and smoking away at barbeque on Trinder Center lawn, the lunchtime event was perfectly placed for student, faculty and alumni to enjoy a fun lunch and spectate the afternoon lacrosse game that took place just across Smith Drive on the Birdsong field.

Swarms of faculty with their families and dogs, and alumni in nostalgic VWC gear took their place at picnic tables and on the grass to feast on barbeque pulled pork, chicken, potato salad, and cookies. For the 21 and over crowd there was a truck for beer sale across the lawn and while the event remained lowkey and tasteful, the truck was a big hit among the alumni who clutched their plastic cups and relaxed with friends. For the younger crowd, children of faculty and alumni alike, a couple of bounce-house inflatables stood off the the side of the picnic area for the kids to jump and entertain themselves while their parents relaxed.

Senior Stephanie Norwood said the event was a “10 outta 10. Would recommend.” Between the bumping music, and the playful pups, the focus of the afternoon was on fun.

The weekend was also a big hit with former athletes who returned for their teams alumni games in good-hearted competition. Madison Smith who graduated last year, returned for the alumni weekend to catch up with old teammates and

Sports Editors Corey King ckking1@vwu.edu Luke Chiasson lachiasson@vwu.edu The Weekender Editor Julie Ainsley jmainsley@vwu.edu Photo Editor Allaina Boggs arboggs@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Valerie Miller vgmiller@vwu.edu Alex Powers ampowers@vwu.edu Online Editor Nel Hart nlhart@vwu.edu Copy Editor Tara Truax tmtruax@vwu.edu Business Manager Justin Smith jrsmith2@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Jasmine Demir jkdemir@vwu.edu Podcast Manager Brenna Will bcwill@vwu.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Virginia Wesleyan University.

Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:40 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Virginia Wesleyan University.

The Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757.455.3311

“As a former collegiate student newspaper editor, professional journalist and long-time advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, I understand the role and value of student media at a liberal arts institution.

Virginia Wesleyan University proudly supports the editorial independence and press freedom of student-edited publications. We believe that student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.”

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D

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friends and to play in the alumni field hockey game.

Attending the picnic was a chance for her to relax and have a good time off the field. “For those of us who did play sports, it’s our way to be able to put on our gear again and do what we always love to do.” Smith said. She also recognized the alumni weekend as important for alumni who don’t have the opportunity to come back to campus otherwise.

“I love it ‘cause it’s the only way to connect with people you don’t see anymore.”

In anticipation of the impending hot dog and pie eating contests, a small crowd of alumni and faculty gathered on the lawn near the designated tables for participants. Dr Linda Ferguson of the Business department and President of the Alumni Council Mavis McKinley ‘11 were buzzing with excitement and chatting off side of this group. Stopping to speak for a moment between chatting with other alumni and grabbing a bite to eat, McKinley had a moment to speak about her pride and hopes for the weekend of events. When asked about her thoughts on the growing calendar of events for the traditional weeked McKinley said, “Having all of the alumni games, it just seemed fitting to kind of mash all of the old and the new together to get a little bit more energy on campus.” McKinley said that she is lucky enough to be local enough to enjoy the campus when she wants but sees the weekend of festivities as an opportunity to get more alumni involved with fun events and build the events up more and more every year.

Virginia Wesleyan loses a good friend

BY MARLYN SILVA mhsilva@vwu.edu

Earlier this past month, the last founding member of the Virginia annual gathering of pastors mostly. That’s named in his honor to kind of Wesleyan board of trustees, Trustee Emeritus Robert “Bob” Friend Boyd recognize his many years of work.” passed away April 7 at the age of 90, while leaving behind a long lasting Aside from this annual gathering, Boyd has particularly influenced and memorable legacy. As reported by President Scott Miller in his Nota West and his job as Chaplin here at Virginia Wesleyan. “I told him at Bene, Boyd was a lawyer and a partner of the Boyd & Boyd, P.C. law firm. one point a few years ago it would be great to have an intern to kind of He was active within the United Methodist Church and earned a Bachelor help work with me, I don’t have a secretary, but not just for that work but of Arts and Juris Doctorate degree from the College of William and Mary. somebody that could be a right-hand person. So, Bob gave some money to He later went on to secure various leadership roles including being on the establish that and we have named that position in his honor. I hire a Boyd boards at the College of William and Mary, the Regent University school Fellow,” said West. of law and Randolph-Macon Academy.

Boyd had many responsibilities as a member of the board of trustees.

His involvement with the university dates all the way back to the 1960s “He was instrumental in attracting some of the business people to the as Boyd was heavily involved in making Virginia Wesleyan what it is original board of trustees here and he was instrumental in attracting people today. with significant wealth that would give money to build the campus that we “Bob was an instrumental have today,” said Miller. leader in the church and By being a part of raising community who felt that money to help the school it was important to have a thrive and succeed, Boyd Methodist affiliated college was heavily immersed with somewhere in the Princess the fundraising department Anne county and Norfolk here at the university. area,” said President Miller.

Senior Vice President for Robert Boyd had initially the Office of Advancement, helped establish Virginia Mort Gamble, expressed Wesleyan University back how valuable his presence in 1961. “Bob was a part of truly was. “We worked with drafting the original articles of him on finding support for incorporation and bylaws for various projects including the university that ended up the Boyd Dining Center being the original documents and Marlin Ministries as that were submitted to the well. So, his commitment commonwealth of Virginia,” to the institution was not explained Miller. just spiritual and not just as Aside from taking part in a trustee but also somewhat founding Virginia Wesleyan, financial.”

Boyd also had a part in a few Regardless of having Janice Marshall-Pittman|Courtesy more of a behind-the things that Virginia Wesleyan is known for within the Pictured with his wife, Sara, Robert Boyd was the last founding trustee member.

-scenes presence, Boyd community, specifically the had a great and meaningful dining hall. impact to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.

“He’s had a tremendous impact on Virginia Wesleyan. Of course, the “I admired him very much. I did not know him well, I’ve only been here Boyd Dining Center was named after him and his wife Sara,” said Greg no more than two years myself but his name and the Boyd Family’s name West. West is the University Chaplain and was a close friend to Robert was one of the first names I heard mentioned when I arrived as being Boyd. important to our heritage and our history as an institution,” said Gamble.

Boyd was also fundamental to the erection statue of John Wesley that “I always enjoyed talking to him, he was a very humble man, a man of stands outside the dining hall, which he commissioned to be forged in quiet strength but strong conviction and I gathered that from the few times England.

I was able to meet him.”

“He commissioned the artist to make that statue and if I remember right, West had only good things to say when talking about his bond with he told me it ended up being four trips to England to research it, to find Boyd. “We had a friendship that was faith centered or faith oriented that the right artist, and then they do kind of the preliminary work to say is this was a big passion of his. At the funeral, his grandchildren that spoke and what you want,” said West. his son spoke as well, that’s how they described him. A man of great Other than the John Wesley statue and the dining hall, West also knows generosity, a man of faith, a man who cared for his family and a man of about a few other things that were named after him in his honor. “Every great integrity.” spring we have what’s called the Robert F. Boyd Institute. This is an

4/26/2018 11:05:17 AM

4 The Marlin Chronicle |

CAMPUS countdown April 27 Feathers in your cap

Time: Location: Hofheimer Library This celebration will take place for faculty to assemble and share published articles, authored books, art works, grants, and other artifacts that represent faculty accomplishments.

For more info: contact the Library.

April 30 Take Back the Night

Time: 8 p.m - 9 p.m.

Location: Godwin Hall

This is a walk around the VWU campus to support the survivors of sexual, relationship, and domestic violence. Contact wrc@vwu. edu for more information.

May 4 Spring Honors Convocation

Time: 1: 30 p.m.

Location: Jane P. Batten Center Student’s academic and leadership accomplishments will be recognized .

May 19 49th Commencement Ceremony Time: 11 a.m.

Location: University Commons

Celebrate the graduates of the 2018 school year at the VWU 49th Commencement Ceremony.

Thursday, April 26, 2017

Little dog, big job

BY: BRIANNA KIDWELL bnclarksonl@vwu.edu

For Lesley Richardson, the idea of dogs being a woman’s best friend has a lot more meaning behind it with her 5-year-old Yorkshire Terrier Baylee. Baylee has been a service dog for Richardson for the last three years, and provides her with more than just companionship.

Richardson struggles with anxiety and bipolar disorder. Baylee is an alert service dog that provides Richardson with a form protection when she participates in the university classes.

“Baylee has a job every day we are on campus. She makes sure that I am alive during some of the most stressful times during school. She is a working dog, not just a pet,” Richardson said.

Although Baylee is a cute Yorkshire Terrier, students need to be aware that when she is at Virginia Wesleyan University campus, she is working. Her role is very important in the process of keeping her owner alive. Baylee’s main responsibility to keep focus on her owner to make sure she does not have any panic or anxiety attacks during school hours, and if multiple people are grabbing, petting, yelling at Baylee it can cause her to become confused.

When you notice Baylee in the halls of the VWU campus or any other service dog for that matter, there are some things to keep in mind. Service dog etiquette is important in making sure the dog is still focused on his or her owner, and is overall polite.

First, take into consideration the service dog’s owner. The dog is working to keep that owner alive and safe. Be sure to always interact with the owner before you interact with the service dog.

Second, always ask permission to pet and approach the service dog.

This is true in any situation that involves a pet. Permission should always be asked before petting an animal that is not yours. “If you would not hug a person you work with during work hours, think of that when you decide to over pet, hug, or grab a service dog. They should be treated as you would a coworker at work,” Richardson said.

If you are given permission to pet the service dog, make sure that the time you spend petting him or her Lesley Richardson | Courtesy is brief. Never Richardson graduated from Tidewater Community College in 2017. offer the dog a treat or piece of close to their face when engaging with them. food.

These dogs have an important role in the life of their owners, and If you have a are not just pets. dog of your own “Three important things I would want people to know when they with you, do not see a service dog are first, always acknowledge the dog’s owner first, allow the dogs secondly remember that the service dog is working, and thirdly, never to interact, and try to make your own dog a service dog in hopes to receive special never let children perks.

This has a major impact on the people who truly need the under the age of service of a service dog,” Richardson said.

13 interact with a Remember, when you see cute little Baylee in the halls of Virginia service dog.

Wesleyan, that even small service dogs have a big job to do. After Never look Richardson and Baylee graduate from Virginia Wesleyan, they will directly into a Lesley Richardson | Courtesy be making their way to Old Dominion University for their Master’s. service dog’s eyes Baylee helping Richardson study for final exams.

Paws off to them. or get extremely

2018 Senior Showcase

BY BRIANNA KIDWELL bnclarkson@vwu.edu

CRIME BLOTTER

Courtesy|Thinkstock April 19 6: 13 a.m. |Vandalism Honors Village Townhouse Egged

Correction: 04/12/18, Community, page 3, “Watch your words”: Jason Seward was titled as dean of students. Seward is the assistant vice president of Student Affairs. The dean of students position no longer exists.

4Community.indd 1

Dalton Henderson is a Virginia Beach native who is graduating this May with degree in Political Science.

Q: Why did you choose to attend VWU? A: I thought that it was a great school and I was familiar with the school from me participating in wrestling camps and leadership workshops.

Q: Favorite Professor?

A: Dr. Schwennicke Q: What is one of your favorite memories at VWU? A: Not knowing that my academic advisor, Dr. Schwennicke was going to be my first professor Q: What would you tell freshmen?

A: Enjoy college because you only get to go through it once. Don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people, and find that balance between schoolwork and being a college kid

Cassetty Howerin is a Dover, Delaware native who is graduating this May with a degree in Recreation and Leisure studies.

Q: Why did you choose to come to VWU? A: The softball program is amazing Q: What is your favorite memory at VWU? A:Winning the National Championship for softball Q: Favorite Professor?

A: Professor Collins Q: What was your favorite class?

A: Safety and First Aid Q: What would you tell incoming freshmen?

A: Make adjustments early and don’t put your work off til the last second

Marco Cabral is Virginia Beach native, who is graduating this May with a degree in Business focusing in Managment.

Q:Why did you choose VWU? A: It was local and my brother is a graudate of VWC Q: Who is your favorite professor?

A: Professor Dessouki Q: What is your favorite memory here at VWU? A: Not dropping out.

Q: What was your favorite class?

A: Accounting Q:What advice would you give incoming freshmen?

A: Do not drop any class, you will begin to fall behind quickly.

4/25/2018 3:15:25 PM

5

Opinions Rampant rumors restored as a result of foundational instability.

However, there are no plans of converting the school’s iconic bell tower into a lighthouse.

However, there will be a light installed as well as an updated look. Chaplain Greg West also said that he’s been told the bell tower will have still feature a cross.

I personally am a passionate person as it pertains to issues I care about. I was outraged by the news of our mascot change along with many others. However, what outraged me more was how off-base this information was. This is the same thing that happened with the bell tower rumor. I was prepared to actively protest change should it be transitioned into a lighthouse and felt silly to find out it was nothing but a rumor. The one thing that outraged me more than all these potential changes was finding out they were all nothing but rumors.

It is easy for false information to permeate the environment of a small campus, filling all unnecessary angst and frustration. Many people hear information and judge it as fact, not taking the time to confirm information with the proper authorities. I will admit I have contributed to Val Miller|Marlin Chronicle this pattern of behavior. However, I have now adopted the attitude of not contributing to unrest based purely on speculation, but only based on

BY ASHLEY KLINE fact. Yes, I believe it is important that students aakline@vwu.edu take an active role in disseminating important inLife on a small campus has many benefits, in- formation regarding major changes at the school. cluding smaller class sizes and a greater sense However, we should focus on spreading factual of community as one can’t walk across campus information as opposed to speculations. Let us without at least three people saying “hi.” How- use the critical thinking skills that got us here to ever, a drawback to living on a small campus, not take all information at face value. Again, I rampant rumors that have the tendency to cause emphasis that this is article is partially addressed to myself as well. uproar within 24 hours.

As college students, we already have a lack of Earlier this year there was a rumor about the school’s mascot changing from the marlin to the energy. Let’s not spread rumors that will cause lighthouse. A marlin was mysteriously removed others to use their scarce sources of energy getfrom a campus fountain and after the transition to ting upset over things that are not true. Instead university the school saw new marketing, much of taking information and spreading it to othof which incorporated a lighthouse. It turned out ers, let’s take the time we would normally spend that the mascot was not changing and the marlin spreading these rumors and find out the truth. was simply being removed for cleaning.

Most recently a rumor spread that the famous Monumental Chapel bell tower, a landmark on our campus, was going to be transformed into a lighthouse. It was confirmed by President Miller, that the bell tower is going to be renovated and

Thursday April 26, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Historic changes History department impacted by new general studies requirements.

BY JONATHAN JOYNER jrjoyner@vwu.edu

As a liberal arts institution, we should pride ourselves on offering a variety of subjects to current and prospective students. Recently, Virginia Wesleyan University’s administration decided to implement a general studies system to fully replace the system currently in place.

This involves taking a few classes in each of the schools (School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Humanities, and School of Social Science) that Wesleyan’s academic departments were split into following the upgrade to university status last year.

In the recent weeks, a vote was made to decide the fate of one subject: history. The vote concluded that history was no longer going to be required as part of general studies. To me, this idea, though there may be some logic behind it, is insane for many reasons.

First of all, without it being a general study requirement, history will not be as noticeable as many of the other majors. History is not a subject that many people consider majoring in in the first place. At least being a general studies requirement encourages students to explore the subject, even if they wouldn’t otherwise. These days, most people see history as nothing more than a boring lecture on things that have already happened. If they take at least one history class, it could change

Females in the spotlight respond to hate

BY MARLYN SILVA

mhsilva@vwu.edu

should be a bad thing?

In today’s society, Why should her child women in the media be seen as something are heavily judged, negative when it examined and critishould be considered cized for anything a blessing? they do, and it certainGiven what these ly seems they’re also two ladies have dealt criticized for being with, it’s relieving who they are. Women to see that they’ve who receive a lot of fought back. They backlash within social didn’t let comments media and society are celebrities like singers here and there bring and actresses. Given them down, but intheir strong and crazy stead started using following across all them to their advantheir social media actage or asking their counts, it’s no wonown questions. I beder they receive the lieve by showing that criticism that they do. it doesn’t affect them They spend most of and voicing their their time broadcastopinions helps them ing their lives for influence their many millions of people to fans and admirers in a Val Miller|Marlin Chronicle see and, unfortunatepositive way. They are ly, there are negative creating a positive imrepercussions. age not just for the public, but for themselves as However, a few celebrities that have turned de- well. They are only confirming with themselves structive and damaging situations into something and the rest of the world that they are able to rise positive, such as singer Demi Lovato, rapper above all the bad and the ugly.

Cardi B and actress Priyanka Chopra. Demi LoAside from being judged by the public, women vato is no stranger to the heavy comments people are being judged by the industry they work for leave on her accounts, whether its Instagram or as well. Actress Priyanka Chopra is most recogTwitter. Since she has struggled with her weight nized for her work on the ABC show Quantico and mental illness, being in the spotlight hasn’t and her work on Bollywood films. She has only always been a great experience for her. Recently, just branched into the American acting scene she took matters into her own hands and posted and said she has a harder time securing jobs due many pictures on her Instagram account detail- to her skin color. In an interview, she recalled a ing how she doesn’t care what people say about situation in which she had not gotten a part in a her appearance. Each of these pictures featured movie due to her not having the physicality that Lovato showing skin and stretch marks. Regard- they wanted. Again, Chopra is known for many less of what society may think about these little things, including her status in the Indian enterdetails, she still loves herself and what she looks tainment industry. If she is being criticized for like. By posting these pictures, she hoped to what she looks like, then it’s definitely because show that women and girls should embrace who she’s naturally darker than other actresses. they are and what they look like. Lovato’s open It’s crazy to think that even within the industry approach was received well by her fans and the you work with such as the entertainment induspublic, all praising her for the overall approach of try, some women can’t escape from being chaschoosing to talk about her faults and putting them tised for who they are. It’s a shame that Priyanka on display, rather than hiding behind a phone Chopra had to lose her chance at a job because screen. she looks a certain way, that Demi Lovato has to Rapper Cardi B is also no stranger to negative continuously reaffirm that it’s okay to love yourcomments. Given the release of her new album self and that Cardi B has to prove that her career earlier this month, she has all eyes on her. What shouldn’t be put in the same category as her own has also caught people’s attention is the fact that baby. Fortunately, with women like these three she’s pregnant. At the height of her career, Cardi ladies in the media, they can only bring an optiB is being told that having a baby at this point in mistic outlook for others to hopefully follow. time would only hinder her livelihood more than anything else. She hit back by asking why a baby

5Opinions.indd 1

Alex Powers|Marlin Chronicle their minds. History is one of those subjects that bored most of us to tears back in high school, but in college it’s different. In college, you can explore multiple categories of history and different subjects within those categories. You can study the history of almost any part of the world. New students may not realize this fact if they are not required to at least try history out for a general study.

Second of all, even if history is not disappearing as a major right now, not requiring at least some level of history takes away from the liberal arts education that we constantly brag about having here at VWU. How can we call ourselves a liberal arts institution, if we do not require classes in all the basic foundational areas? History itself may not be the only subject in the field of social sciences, but it is a subject that is vital for every student to take. I respect that the school is trying to make some changes to pave the way for a new future for us, but this might be going a bit too far. We cannot forget the basic foundation that this school was founded on so many years ago.

Finally, it allows us to become more well-rounded students. It gives a look into events that have happened before and we see the mistakes and accomplishments of those who came before us. Ironically, society has grown throughout its history because we knew history in the first place. It is a vital subject that helps to further perfect ideas or concepts because we see what errors in judgement were made before. Learning about the histories of specific parts of the world can also be good for those in major because if you want to specialize in working with a specific group of people then it would help to know the history of that group.

Like I said, history is not disappearing as a major right now nor is it popular, but it’s a subject that does not need to fall through the cracks and disappear. We need to preserve and maintain it. Though it may not be the most popular major, we currently have only around 25 people majoring in it, but that is not enough justification to slowly put the program behind all these other big name subjects in the social sciences. We need to give credit where credit is due. I may be biased in saying this because I am a history lover, but I do not care.

This is a big decision that the school has made and none of us should take it lightly. This could mean the end of the history department one day because if no one thinks about history, then who will take these classes? I even heard there’s a possibility that if a professor retires or leaves, they will likely not be replaced. This could mean that, eventually, the history department will fade away and dissolve. I sincerely hope this does not happen, but it is a depressing possibility. Please take this information to heart and spread this news to all who will listen.

4/25/2018 3:16:18 PM

6 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

The future of teachers

BY SABRINA LEMONS smlemons@vwu.edu

We can all agree that teachers have an important job that has become more difficult with the moral decay that has invaded society. What are we supposed to do to compensate her teachers?

The solution to most if not all societal ailments is change within the community. So, what is it that schools and parents, accompanied by the community, can do to bring about change in schools to foster an education-rich environment? The news, public at large, communities and many sideline cowboys think the solution is paying teachers more, but this is only part of the solution. It does not solve the behavior problems, attendance problems, graduation problems, drug problems and violence. We are still human, so we must address the human factor when considering the problems of our society, including our school system.

Every time there’s an increase

Maybe the situation with public school teachers is the first visible display that public education is not for everybody and should not be so forcefully regimented. It is clear, and many historians can support the fact, that our education system was structured when our country was in great turmoil and coming into the boom of the industrial revolution.

Our education system right down to classroom design is set up for cookie cutter results and cookie cutter behavior; however, we all know that humanity cannot be regimented the way that machines are designed or programmed.

Before we throw money from our taxpayers at teacher salaries, maybe we should reinvent, redesign re-structure, re-evaluate and revitalize our public school system.

In today’s society, businesses minimize employees’ hours down

“

Maybe the situation with public school teachers is the first visible display that public education is not for everybody and should not be so forcefully regimented.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Senior reflections Experiencing senioritis

BY FARAH HAIDARI fahaidari@vwu.edu

Graduation is in a couple weeks.

I am also always trying to work I will miss my friends and the my hardest because everyone in faculty, but I am excited to get my family works their hardest out of here! and they expect me to do the Even though I have been same. I also see all of my trying to work my hardfriends giving their all to est this year, I still can’t things they’re passionate help but think, “It’s my about. This makes me last year and I can relax want to do my best. a bit. It won’t hurt.”

I am grateful that In reality though, if I I have a community don’t try my hardest, where I see people even now, I will regret that are passionate. If I it later. By the time didn’t have this type of that graduation hits, influence, then I would I would rather know not be working this that I tried my hardest hard. rather than just being This year, I felt even lazy for a semester. Not lazier inside but I didn’t only would it be a waste let that stop me from tryof time, but it would also ing my hardest. Trust me, be a waste of money.

I would rather go out every In two-three years, I would day than study, but at the end like to get my Master’s deof the day then I would be furigree in Journalism. If my GPA ous at myself for not trying my is not strong, then it will be diffihardest. By giving it my all, I also cult for me to get into Farah Haidari|Courtesy feel as though I’ve truly earned grad school, which will my Bachelor’s degree. make me regret not trying harder when I had the chance.

SABRINA LEMONS

in salary for a firefighter, police officer, judge, city worker or teacher, it comes at taxpayers’ expense. We agree many of these positions are necessary to maintain a civil society. Making education available at the expense of taxpayers does not mean it has been truly absorbed and utilized.

Students and children no longer see the value in doing well, since the media has shown them how they can get rich by debasing themselves and making a spectacle out of what once was their character. Additionally, the public education system does not offer an outlet for creativity skills, or gifts beyond reading, writing, arithmetic and other forced academic agendas.

As a person who has been educated by, taught in, and encountered recent examples of those educated in the public school system over the last 40-plus years, it is clear that increasing teachers’ salaries will not address the real problems in the public school system, no matter what state you live in.

6Opinions.indd 1

to part time, so they don’t have to pay benefits, medical, dental and life insurance. So maybe it is time to take a playbook from the business world and streamline our education system so that our teachers are not hobbled by a 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. job 10 months out of the year, with summers off and can pursue more lucrative employment opportunities.

At some point, the school system stopped providing the services or the quality end result they are paid to provide. Since when do we pay bonuses when somebody does not meet their expected goal?

This article took a different turn than I had expected, because I am a great champion of teachers and the hard work they do.

I have also learned and realized over the years that the students of today may not respect their teachers the way I respected my teachers when I was growing up and many parents are not involved in the schools the way some parents were when I was growing up.

How high school did not prepare me for college

BY WYNTER BOND wcbond@vwu.edu

Do me a favor and flash back to the last couple thing our professors deprive us of, but rather months of high school. Do you remember how something that professors include in their lessons excited you were? How anxious you were about because they know that’s what’s interesting to us. starting college and potentially being completely One other thing I remember being told is that, on your own? I can imagine my fellow seniors “Your professors in college are there to teach you, feel something like that right about now. There’s not to be your friend.” There are professors here a certain uneasy but comforting feeling of know- who probably have that mentality. But none of ing a chapter is about to close. the professors I ever had were like that.

Do you remember all of the Some joke about following them things your teachers said on social media, but they during your four years of will definitely be #Teamhigh school to try and FollowBack if you do. prepare you for colI have such great lege? There were relationships with so many “don’t”’s my professors and that were said and would definitely repeated so as to consider them to bore them into our be friends. I’ve brains so that they bumped into some could say, “At least outside of campus I told you.” and, even though Here’s the thing, it’s still weird to bethough. I have realized lieve that teachers have that just about all of those lives outside of class and things I was told were comare actual human beings with pletely wrong. lives, it was always a great expeI remember teachers used to rience. There are definitely Wynter Bond|Courtesy always tell my fellow classsome professors that I will mates and I that we wouldn’t maintain a friendship with be able to use technology after graduation. all the time when we got to college. There are Since graduation is near, I just want to tell all some classes where I am told to bring my laptop of you seniors how proud I am of you. Even if or pull out my phone. I used to have a professor we’ve never or barely talked, I know how hard that would start to go off topic during class about you’ve worked to get to this point. There are alsomething completely random, then ask someone ways obstacles in front of us, and we knocked to Google something about it. For at least half of down each and every one of them. We’ve made the classes I have taken here at Wesleyan, I’ve it. We’re finally at the end of our undergraduate used my phone or laptop in some sort of fashion journey. Some of us don’t know what’s next, and that proved to be beneficial to the class. Shoot, that’s okay. It’s time to, as my first favorite teachthere was a whole class on the cell phone that er Miss Frizzle used to say, “Take chances, make I should have and would have taken if I hadn’t mistakes, get messy!” found out after the fact. Technology isn’t some-

4/25/2018 3:16:46 PM

7

Sports

Thursday April 26, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

the

Renn

DUGOUT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

always be her home and she will miss her fellow Marlins.

“When I leave the place I have my mail come to, I come home, I consider my workplace home. My colleagues have been so special in so many ways, i would put them up as one of the finest athletic staffs in the nation, they won’t be outworked, they are grinders,” Coach Renn said.

Coach Renn, a Virginia Beach native, first came to VWU in 1995 as the head women’s tennis coach. She then became the head women’s basketball coach in 1997 and led the Marlins until 2003. In 2007, Renn was named the first female Athletic Director in the history of VWU, along with being the first female Athletic Director at a coeducational institution within the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Virginia Wesleyan, under Renn’s guidance and leadership, has won a total of three National Championships. The 2006 Men’s basketball team was the first National Championship in school history, while Evan Cox captured the DIII individual golf National Championship as a Marlin in 2016, while the softball team took home the title in 2017. The women’s soccer team made a Final Four appearance in 2006, while the men’s basketball team returned to the Final Four in 2007. The school has won numerous ODAC titles and many student-athletes have garnered All-America team honors under the direction of Coach Renn.

Along with success on the field, Coach Renn has been instrumental in making the facilities the best that they can be for the student-

LUKE CHIASSON is a junior majoring in communication

Changes on horizon for Marlin athletics

Janice Marshall-Pittman | Courtesy Coach Joanne Renn has dedicated the last 25 years to Virginia Wesleyan Athletics. athletes at Virginia Wesleyan. Renn has been influential in the following projects: Birdsong Field, Betty S. Rogers Track and Field Center, Kenneth R. Perry Field, Jane P. Batten Student Center, the new East Gate campus entrance, and the new softball softball stadium that will be named TowneBank Park at Broyles Field.

Renn also played a role in the establishment of the Batten Honors College.

Current Randolph Director of Athletics Tina Hill was named Coach Renn’s replacement on

April 20. Tina Hill has spent 28 years within Division III athletics with stops at Cornell College, California Lutheran University, and Elizabethtown College. Hill is expected to start her tenure at Virginia Wesleyan over the summer. An official start date is expected to be announced soon.

“We thank Joanne for her years of service to Virginia Wesleyan, and we offer our warmest wishes to her in retirement and this new phase of life,” said President Miller.

Allaina Boggs | Marlin Chronicle Brandon Kussmaul recieves high fives from the team as he returns to the dugout after hitting a homerun.

Baseball having best season since 2010

BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan baseball team has made its presence known nationally this season and it has the resume to prove it. The team boasts a 14-3 ODAC record, which currently puts the squad in second place in the ODAC.

the Marlins captured two road wins. In these two games, pitchers Jay Crusemire and Nick Bay each fanned six batters and both picked up a win. Sophomore Jacob Pilarski and senior Glen Pizzanello have also both helped fuel the team’s success -- Pilarski from the start of the game, and Pizzanello at the end. Pilarski currently sits in first in the ODAC with most wins with nine, and also leads the conference in ERA with a 1.45, while Pizzanello occupies the second-place slot for most saves in the conference at four.

Brandon Kussmaul, senior shortstop, spoke highly of his pitchers.

“Our pitching has been really good, thankfully.

We need that.” Kussmaul said.

Kussmaul has been a leader at the plate.

As the leadoff batter, he leads the team in RBIs, home runs, runs and walks. He has also consistently played well against some of the top teams in the country. In the team’s second game against ranked Methodist, Kussmaul went 2-3, drew two walks Allaina Boggs | Marlin Chronicle and finished the game with two RBIs. In the Brady Fallon sees a pitch against Lynchburg College on April 21 wins against Roanoke, ranked fourth nationally at the time, KussThe Marlin bullpen is extensive, which is maul went 2-3 in the first game and 1-1 in the why pitching has been an essential part to second in addition to two walks drawn and the Marlins’ success. In the latest road trip two runs batted in. to nationally-ranked number 17 Methodist, From the middle of March to the middle 7Sports.indd 1

of April, VWU baseball won 11 straight games. Nine of those games were conference wins that positioned them at the top of the ODAC standings. However, after two losses to fourth-ranked Randolph-Macon and one to Lynchburg.

During that span of 11 wins, the bats came alive, scoring 25 runs in a single game against Tufts.

“Eleven straight wins. We were just cooking in all cylinders. We as a team were just competing together and we’re all going the same direction. Bats came to life, pitching was really good and defense was spectacular,” Kussmaul said.

Head coach Chris Francis accredited the team’s wins thus far to their work ethic. “If you were trying to describe our ball club, they’re resilient. We talk about that all the time…what we do is we show up to the ballpark every day and just grind through adversity, and it’s a resilient bunch and they do a good job of staying together,” Francis said.

Two road wins over fourth-ranked Roanoke were the epitome of the quality baseball that the Marlins were playing. Senior Randy Neisz had a successful trip; as he went 3-5 in the first game and 3-4 in the second. Senior Chance Pauley and Jacob Pilarski both tallied a win at the mound from the doubleheader.

“Our two wins against Roanoke were huge.

They were ranked pretty high and we just did what we needed to on the road,” Kussmaul said. “For the end of the season I want to make a World Series appearance, and I think we’ve got the team to do it.”

The Marlins have six more games that will close out the regular season. They travel to Hampden-Sydney on April 26 and host Shenandoah on April 28 for a doubleheader, the final home stand of the season.

The Marlins have already clinched home field advantage in the first round of the ODAC Tournament as the team looks to advance to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2006.

There is no doubt that Virginia Wesleyan athletics are on the rise on the national level, with women’s soccer making backto-back NCAA tournament appearances, softball claiming the 2017 National Championship and holding the #1 ranking in the country for over a calendar year and, men’s golf claiming an individual National Championship, but now under new leadership, it will be interesting to see the direction that Marlin athletics takes.

There have been rumblings that the brand of Marlin athletics will also be changing as a new, revamped logo is rumored to be released to the public in the upcoming months. The new Athletic Director, Tina Hill, will join forces with President Miller in order to continue the growth of the athletic program. But what is next? There is a new AD, new logo, could there be a new sport in the future of Virginia Wesleyan?

I think there is. While this is total speculation, I believe it is worth at least bringing up and raising attention to.

It is no secret that President Miller’s goal is to expand Virginia Wesleyan and increase enrollment, you can already see his vision coming to fruition with the graduate programs in place and new buildings like the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and new partnerships being announced quite often. All of these partnerships and events from outside organizations on campus bring in money to the school, which is another reason President Miller’s goal is to expand the student enrollment by about 300 to get the total enrollment around 1,700. He is even quoted in a Virginian Pilot article posted on Dec. 28, 2016, saying the increase of students will create an “ideal financial model.” This is where the potential new sport comes into play.

Football.

Football is the largest revenue sport the NCAA has to offer.

While VWU would not be on the scale of Alabama football, it is a potential revenue stream for VWU. President Miller knows the money football can bring into a school as he has experience with it during his tenure at Wesley College.

The multipurpose stadium at Wesley College is named after him, Drass Field at Scott D. Miller Stadium; he knows the potential it has, and I would not be surprised to see him lead the effort to bring football to Virginia Wesleyan.

The addition of the team would also help with the enrollment, as it is a normality to see a DIII football roster carry upwards of 90 people. That would solve about a third of the goal to bring it 300 more students. It would also promote the graduate program, as many DIII football assistant coaches are graduate assistant positions, meaning they are graduate students while coaching football.

Obviously there are logistic questions that arise, like where would the team play? The Trinder Center. The Trinder Center is in need of upgrades as the sound system is outdated and broke this past fall right before Virginia Wesleyan hosted the 2017 ODAC Women’s Soccer Championships. The press box, while suitable, has its flaws and still does not compare to other press boxes around the ODAC. Updates need to be made to Trinder so why not go big with it and turn it into a multipurpose stadium, similar to Miller’s previous project at Wesley College.

If football is brought to VWU or if it is not, the athletics program is well on the rise and as a student, I am excited to follow Marlin athletics after graduation.

4/25/2018 3:17:21 PM

8 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

AT A GLANCE

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Softball K’s cancer... again

ODAC Baseball Rankings

1. Randolph-Macon: 16-2 2. Virginia

Wesleyan: 14-3

3. Roanoke: 14-4 4. Shenandoah: 12-5 5. Guilford: 7-10 6. Hampden- Sydney: 7-10 7. Lynchburg: 7-11 8. Bridewater: 7-12 9. Emory & Henry: 4-13 10. Eastern Mennonite: 4-13 11. Washington and Lee: 4-13

ODAC Softball Rankings 1. VIRGINIA

WESLEYAN: 17-1

2. Randolph-Macon: 16-2 3. Lynchburg: 12-6 4. Roanoke: 11-7 5. Emory and Henry: 9-9 6. Eastern Mennonite: 7-11 7. Randolph: 7-11 8. Guilford: 5-13 9. Bridgewater: 3-15 10. Shenandoah: 3-15

ODAC Women’s Lacrosse Rankings 1. Washington and Lee: 7-0 2. Randolph Macon: 6-1 3. Shenandoah: 4-2 4. Lynchburg: 4-2 5. Bridgewater: 3-3 6. Roanoke: 3-4 7. VIRGINIA

WESLEYAN: 1-5

Eve Large| Courtesy (Left to right) Brandon Elliot, Ryan Glaubke, Mike Glaubke, Coach Joanne Renn, Madison Glaubke holding a check given to the Strike Out Cancer fundraiser from the Marjorie Glaubke Memorial Fundraiser that was held at Rudee’s.

JENNA WHITENER jjwhitener@vwu.edu The Virginia Wesleyan University softball team held their annual Strikeout Cancer Day during a double header against Emory and Henry College on April 22.

All proceeds from the games, which were originally scheduled for April 7 but were rescheduled due to rain, were donated to the American Cancer Society to fund research to end cancer.

Coach Brandon Elliot adopted the game, which was created by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, in 2009 after his mother passed away in 2008 from cancer. He saw the event as a way to honor his mother’s fighting spirit and her desire to help others in any way possible, as well as offer support to those affected by the disease.

“Cancer may have taken her life, but I wasn’t going to let it take her fight,” Elliot said.

The team sought to raise $3,000 the first year that the event was put on at VWU and since then has raised over $100,000 for the cause. Each year that the event has been held, the Marlins have increased their goal by almost $5,000.

After securing their goal of $20,000 last year, the Marlins’ goal for the 2018 Strikeout Cancer Game was raised to $25,000.

Because of the rescheduling, Coach Elliot feared that the cooler weather and new date might affect the amount of donations the team collected. But before the games even took place, the Marlins had received about $5000 in donations.

To meet their goal, the Marlins raised money through accepting donations, selling t-shirts and tickets to the game, and putting on a silent auction.

Before game day, the Marlins softball team put in their fair share of fundraising work by manning a table in the Marlin Grille where they sold shirts for $15 and $20 as well as tickets for $5 that permitted entry into both games on Sunday.

The silent auction was held Sunday and included over 70 diverse items. Many of the items available were donated by members of the community, businesses, and even those who had never been involved in the event before.

Items that were auctioned off included Norfolk Tides tickets, Spirit of Norfolk Cruise Passes, golf outings, Ocean Breeze Water Park season passes, a Yeti Cooler basket, a mini football helmet signed by Eli Manning, and camps held by VWU sports teams.

Genesis Church, CiCi’s Pizza, and others from the community also donated food to keep the crowds at the games happy.

Customers did not have to pay for the food, instead it was asked that they donate what they could to the cause in place of strict menu prices.

To show support for those affected by cancer, the team also sported yellow shirts in place of their usual jerseys.

Last year the shirts read “Play Hard, Glaubke Strong” in honor of Marlins softball player Madison Glaubke’s mother

who passed away from the disease in 2017.

This year, Coach Elliot and the Marlins chose to honor head coach Bari Mance of St. John Fisher College, the team the Marlins defeated in the national championship last year, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. The 2018 shirts read “Play Hard, Bari Strong”.

The Marlins had a successful day of softball, defeating Emory and Henry in both games. Game one was a close call, with the Marlins only leading the Wasps by two runs and winning the game 3-1 in front of a crowd of over 300 fans.

Channeling the energy of the large crowd, the Marlins then swept past Emory and Henry 6-1 in the second match up of the day. The win was a truly a team effort and was the last win for the Marlins during the regular season.

However, the wins were not the sweetest victory of the day for the team. “My favorite part of the day was the pinning ceremony where we got to go into the stands and pass out caregiver/survivor pins to the people affected by the disease,” senior Cassetty Howerin said.

What started as a Virginia Wesleyan softball event to raise money to fight the disease and its effects, has become a community wide effort to raise money to support research that will defeat cancer once and for all. As of now the total is roughly 18,000 dollars. Offical announcement will are expected soon.

8. Guilford: 1-6 9.Randolph: 0-6

ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Rankings 1. Washington and Lee: 7-0 2. Hampden-Sydney: 7-1 3. Roanoke: 7-2 4. Lynchburg: 5-2 5. Randolph-Macon: 4-4 6. Guilford: 3-4 7. Shenandoah: 3-5 8. Bridgewater: 2-6 9.VIRGINIA

WESLEYAN: 1-7

10. Randolph: 0-8

FOR MORE SPORTS FOLLOW: @MarlinSports

8Sports.indd 1

Sports Information| Courtesy (Left) Sophomore Jayla Cross running her 200m race. (Right) Quentin Webert during his field event at the ODAC meet.

Track makes history at final ODAC meet

COREY KING ckking1@vwu.edu The men’s team had first place finishes by freshman Jordan Ard in the 100m and Keyontae Norfleet in the 200m. The men’s team also had many top 10 finishes, Armon Ardila and Curtis Dudley both finished top 10 in the 100m and the 200m. This ODAC meet had many highlights for the men’s team.

“The highlight would have to be winning the 4x100 championship. That’s the first 4x100 championship in school history,” said senior Antonie Boone.

This fourth place finish in the ODAC places the team second in school history.

With this year in the books, the team is looking to continue this success next year, starting with indoor season. “We mainly just need to keep building on what we have right now as a foundation. Our 4x100 team

is one of the top teams in the country right now, and we have a few guys individually that are ranked high in the nation, so we just need to keep building with that and keep moving forward.” said Boone.

The women’s team also finished the weekend in the top five, finishing fourth in the ODAC. Senior Rolonda Taylor finished sixth in the 100m, while sophomore Jayla Cross finished third in the 200m.

Cross later finished second in the 400m followed closely by fellow sophomore Alizae Dollins.

Senior Marissa Coombs continued her amazing career with a first place finish in the 1500m and second place in the 800m.

The women’s 4x400 team of Kwonsha Washington, Cross, Coombs and Dollins placed first. The team of Cross, Dollins,

Taylor and Terra Caple placed second in the 4x100.

“It was a little upsetting to us because we really wanted first, but we were running against one of the anchors, she was a national champion, so we were really proud with how we did.” said Dollins This also was one of the best finishes in school history and they look to continue this success next year. “Next year we are trying to bring in people because we are losing so many people that are impactful to our team. We are looking for new people that are willing to work as hard as we do and are willing to bring something special to our team. We are just looking to make sure we can keep the same tightness within the team and keep the same dynamic of the program” said Dollins.

4/25/2018 3:18:38 PM

April 26, 2018

THEWEEKENDER

POST-GRAD MUNCHIES

PAGE 9

Do you need somewhere to go and impress your parents after graduation? The Marlin Chronicle has researched some nice Virginia Beach and Norfolk places that are worth moving your celebration to after graduation.

JULIE AINSLEY jmainsley@vwu.edu

456 Fish $$ Alex Powers| Marlin Chronicle

456 Granby Street Norfolk, VA Variety: Seafood

Bubba’s $$

3323 Shore Drive Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Burgers, Seafood

Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant $$$ 1956 Laskin Road Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Seafood buffet

Freemason Abby Restaurant $$

209 W Freemason Street Norfolk, VA Variety: Traditional American Fare

Monastery Restaurant $$$

443 Granby Street Norfolk, VA Variety: European style foods

No Frill Bar and Grill $$ 1620 Laskin Road Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Burgers, Sandwiches, Seafood

Ruth’s Chris Steak House $$$

205 Central Park Avenue Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Upmarket steaks

Surf Rider $$

928 Diamond Springs Road Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Freshly caught seafood

Terrapin Restaurant $$$

3102 Holly Road Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Menu changes daily

Texas De Brazil $$$

300 Monticello Ave Norfolk, VA Variety: Freshly carved meat, extensive salad bar

Waterman’s Surfside Grille $$ 415 Atlantic Avenue Virginia Beach, VA Variety: Seafood and grill fare

9Weekender.indd 1

4/25/2018 3:19:12 PM

PAGE 10

THEWEEKENDER

BY WYNTER BOND wcbond@vwu.edu

OH NO

BEY...

I understand that everyone has their celebrity fandoms that they are a part of.

You have your Arianators (Ariana Grande fans), your Beliebers (Justin Bieber fans), your Barbz (Nicki Minaj fans), your Rih Navy (Rihanna fans). But I have never seen a fanbase more diehard and arguably vicious than the Beyhive.

In case you have no idea what the Beyhive is (and if you don’t, than I encourage you to let me know what desolate town you’ve been hiding out in so I may set up residence there as well), it is the name bestowed to all that worship Beyoncé.

Yes, I say “worship” instead of “fans of.”

Beyhivers are exactly like the animal they are named after. They truly worship their Queen Bey with everything in their bodies, like they serve no other purpose. And don’t let anyone attack her or show any kind of ill will. The Beyhive swarms their victim and attacks viciously with bee emojis.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Beyoncé. Okay, that’s a lie, I kind of do.

But hear me out before you surround my house with torches and pitchforks. It’s not her, per se, that I can’t stand. It’s a

April 26, 2018

combination of things.

First, like I mentioned before, her fanbase is out of control. Beyoncé could dangle her kids out of the window just as Michael Jackson did in 2002 and she would be showered with exaltations like, “YASSS BEY #BESTPARENTEVER” and “THIS IS HOW PARENTING IS DONE.” To her fanbase, she can do no wrong. Everyone else is wrong unless they are her. That’s a creepy mentality.

I get being a fan and being all diehard about it, but Beyhivers take it to a completely new level. I mean, there have been instances where she is clearly lipsynching at a performance. There’s no denying that she did that one time while singing the national anthem and it was pretty obvious that for about 60% of her recent Coachella performance she was lipsynching, save for some ad libs here and there. But Beyhivers will hear nothing of it.

Honestly, I just think Beyoncé is overrated. Her glory days are over. I miss her music that actually sounded like music. In my opinion, Beyoncé hasn’t had

a good album since her self-titled album in 2013. Since then it’s just been a bunch of nonsense. Some music just sounds like producers just follow her around with mics and attempt to make songs out of anything she says.

I miss the artistry from her postDestiny’s Child days. Those songs made me just wanna dance and have fun.

Also, her tours are outrageous. Yes, the shows she does are very entertaining and captivating, but why are even the bad seats hundreds of dollars? I can’t think of a single performer, band, or group that I would spend that much money on concert tickets for.

I love how Beyoncé is an advocate for the empowerment of females and rights for everyone. If I can say anything else about Beyoncé, it would be that she definitely uses the immense power that she wields for good. She is truly fearless, and makes sure that everyone else knows it. She seems to be extremely diplomatic and genuinely caring. I may think she should just chill and capitalize on her current wealth (which is a lot), but at least she has a good heart.

In the midst of all that has gone wrong, they are hit with a tragedy that turns into a blessing but somehow back to a tragedy.

She went from having not much financially with a strong family behind her to being financially stable but not having her biggest supporter anymore.

Robert is the definition of a what most like to call “no good.” He’s been no good the whole movie and everyone sees it except for Melinda (Taraji). He does her wrong the whole time and throughout the whole relationship. Even when she took him back, he turned around and did the same thing. The last strike for everyone was when he lost them their biggest deal ever. The deal was going to help Melinda and her sisters out so much but instead of handling that, he gets a call from “the other woman” and drops everything else.

Director and producer Tyler Perry made this movie and it’s not far off from his other movies. Another Tyler Perry film, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” is very similar to “Acrimony.” Both movies display black women who give their all to someone who they love just to turn around and have it all thrown in their face. The only big difference is how each movie ends.

There are multiple questions that should be answered on how “Acrimony” ended.

There were many other ways to end it.

It definitely did not end how one would expect it to end. The ending of the movie is what gave the movie a 4.2 rating in my opinion. There will be no spoilers of what happened. You will have to watch for yourself and see.

A REVIEW: ‘ACRIMONY’

BY CAIMAYA ASHTON clashton@vwu.edu

“Acrimony,” released on March 30, has been grabbing quite a bit attention. The movie is based on a woman who falls in love and when she loves, she loves hard.

However, this movie is not your typical love triangle nor is it your typical cheating scandal.

Taraji P. Henson has the leading role of Melinda and she did a great job at playing the character. Lyriq Bent plays the role of her love interest, Robert. The movie showed the typical dollar and a dream relationship. He sold her a dream about his ideas that would make millions one day and she bought it. Little did she know that her whole life would be turned upside down dealing with him.

Taraji’s character Melinda was so sincere and caring for her husband even when no one else liked him. Her two older sisters tried to tell her multiple times to leave him alone but when you are in love, no one can tell you anything. When it was all said and done, the character Melinda should have listened to her mom and sisters.

She was the definition of what a rideor-die girlfriend should be and he did not appreciate that, or her, at all. She did everything and anything for him to be happy and set for life. He was everything to her, especially when she went through her worst times. He was the only man she ever loved, literally.

The portrayal of her life from her childhood up to her adult years showed what she had been through growing up. One of the scenes in the movie played a huge part to what was to come. She encounters every female or male’s worst nightmare when it comes to their significant other.

Britani Daley| Marlin Chronicle

A REVIEW: ‘A QUIET PLACE’

BY AUSTIN EDMONDS acedmonds@vwu.edu

*Story contains spoilers* John Krasinski’s second feature film as a director was an interesting one indeed.

Almost a completely silent film.

“A Quiet Place,” the Paramount distributed horror thriller, premiered in theatres April 6, 2018 and came in at number one in the box office bringing in over 50 million dollars in one weekend.

Krasinski did a magnificent job of capturing the tone and the creepy feeling he wanted viewers to get during the film.

The characters in the movie do a great job of portraying their uneasiness and letting the audience know their fear. Celebrities have raved over the film as A-list actor Ryan Reynolds took to Twitter to announce that actor John Krasinski and co-star and wife Emily Blunt are his new mother and father because he loved the film so much.

Actor Chris Pratt also took to Twitter and urged fans to see the film, saying “I can not tell you how freaking dope that film is.” Horror author Stephen King said, “A Quiet Place’ is an extraordinary piece of work, terrific acting, but the main thing

is the silence, and how it makes the camera’s eye open wide in a few way few movies manage.”

One thing that many people don’t know is that “A Quiet Place” was actually inspired by the Spielberg film “Jaws.” What Krasinski liked the most about “Jaws” and what he implemented the most into his film was that in the “Jaws” movies, the shark itself is rarely seen. Krasinski said, “The less you see, the scarier the monster.”

One thing Krasinski has been lauded for is for selecting the younger, lessexperienced Millicent Simmonds to play his daughter, Regan. Millicent is deaf in real life as well as in the movie.

Krasinski says that Millicent actually made him cry on set by saying that he should change the last scene in the movie from him saying, “I love you” to signing, “I’ve always loved you.”

Many people like many different things about the film. Junior Sara Solomon said, “A Quiet Place’ is a movie that is worth seeing ass it incorporates the deaf community very well. It shows society

how difficult life can be when you’re deaf while at the end of the day you’re still the same and are just as able to help in certain situations that others may not.

I highly recommend the film.”

If you genuinely love film and you want to sit down and appreciate the film, for everything that makes it a good film then “A Quiet Place” is a good movie for you. If you’re a casual movie fan who wants to be wowed, then “A Quiet Place” probably isn’t for you. To some, the film may come off as boring. If you aren’t paying close attention to every detail and every scene, then you may not fully understand the purpose of the scene.

Each scene holds important details that lead to the next scene.

However, the movie does have its flaws. For example, If you don’t understand sign language or watch the film with subtitles, you will almost always not know what the characters are saying. The film can also be so quiet that it’s distracting. The biggest draw back from the film is how quickly it ends.

The movie builds up to the climax of

the film rapidly. Their surviving children are lost away from the home, the mother gives birth with scary creatures in the house and Krasinski’s character does everything he can to rescue his kids, which results in Krasinski dying quickly so that his children can make it back to the family home.

After Krasinski’s death in the film, there is just one more scene where the creature is in the same room as before and their daughter Regan uses her ear piece to fend off the beast.

The film ends with Emily Blunt’s character cocking a shotgun. There is a lot of build-up for a rather quick ending.

Despite the flaws mentioned above, “A Quiet Place” is still a spectacular film and should be highly recommended. The film is rated PG-13 for terror and bloody images. The detail put into every second of the film is second to none and can only be applauded.

THE MARLIN UNDERTOW / By Julie Ainsley GO TO THIS:

WATCH THIS:

LISTEN TO THIS:

Pink-O de Mayo

“New Girl”s Last Season

“KOD” by J Cole

Pink-O de Mayo is a night of music, cocktails, Mexican cuisine and philanthropy benefiting Komen Tidewater. There will also be a silent auction with over 100 items. The event is May 4 at 7 p.m. A $50 ticket will get you a night of fun.

10Weekender.indd 1

Jess, Nick and Schmidt are leaving our screens at the end of the newest season that premiered Apr. 10. “Friends to the End” leads the cast poster.

Viewers are going to miss this gang and all of thier shenanigans. If you want to binge the show before it ends, it is available to stream on Netflix.

Jermaine. Cole. The Ville is back. The Real is back. This woke odyssey into the inner workings in the mind of J Cole explores the struggles of everyday reality and the struggles with his inner demons. Listen to it on all streaming applications.

4/26/2018 11:15:37 AM