Dec 2nd, 2021

THURSDAY 12.2.21 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

COVID-19 cases remain low, Spring policies under review

BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu

Looking back throughout the semester, Virginia Wesleyan has had a much lower amount of COVID-19 cases in comparison to the last academic year. With the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, cases have remained low and have definitely been mitigated. Even with the introduction of the vaccine, masks were required upon the return of students for the Fall 2021 semester.

Many students felt frustrated by the “promise” of returning to normal for the new semester. This is largely in part due to the relinquished mask mandate over the summer and the reinstatement of it just before students moved in.

For the most part, students have had a positive outlook on campus life with the return of some of their favorite activities and being able to socialize in a more

frequent fashion.

In regard to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, faculty and staff were given until the end of their contract year while students were given a specific date for compliance of this policy. President Miller elaborated on the campus’s success and triumphs over the pandemic. He stated that 41 students chose to unenroll for the Fall semester due to the university’s vaccine requirement. “We really don’t apologize for that [unenrolled students] because we wanted to contribute to the safety of everyone and not just the few,” Miller said.

Further, he stated, “We have 438 employees and all but two cooperated with our vaccination requirement. Those two essentially self-terminated.” President Miller hinted at the divisiveness that comes along with making decisions concerning COVID19 mitigation. “No matter what

you do, 50% of the people agree with you and 50% don’t,” Miller said. In general, the nation has seen increasing divides and backlash with the introduction of government policies, vaccination requirements and mitigation efforts.

Dr. Keith Moore, vice president for campus life and operational management and appointed campus COVID-19 coordinator, said, “I think things have been going exceptionally well.” For the Fall 2021 semester, there have been 14 cumulative COVID-19 cases. This is a sharp decrease from the approximately 50 cases from the last two semesters. He noted that this was in line with the surges occurring at those times.

He nodded to last year’s mitigation efforts as being “exemplary” and even the “best in the state” upon meeting with other colleges throughout the Commonwealth.

Dr. Moore elaborated on the

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Data from VWU CovidSafe shows campus progress over the year. masking policy for this year by stating that “masks are the only thing we have been told we need to continue to do. Local public health has said we have been the best community to work with, especially with our high vaccination rate, superseding public schools, universities and senior living facilities.”

In addressing last year, Dr. Moore stated, “We know last year was difficult for everybody, particularly the students, and knowing that, we wanted this year to be the safest normal possible.”

When asked about a COVID19 booster mandate and continued masking, President Miller

Campus projects remain on schedule

BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Instructor Julia Rodgers and senior Caroline Tryfiates work with glass (left to right).

VWU discontinues glassblowing course

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University is proud of its label as a liberal arts school. It offers a variety of courses and immersive experiences for students to learn from, all of which serve to open students to new opportunities. VWU has a history of supporting the arts in all forms, and one of those is the glassblowing course at the Perry Glass Studio at the Chrysler Museum.

The studio was built ten years ago, at which time Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Tim O’Rourke worked with Dr. Philip Guilfoyle to create the course in the $8 million glassblowing facility.

Recently, the decision was made to no longer continue offering the course. Guilfoyle, who is a professor of arts and led the glassblowing course, cited budget concerns as a major reason why. The course has room for twelve students, and the spots are not always filled. “That hurts

when you’re under a budget kind of watch.

We have been since this pandemic,” Guilfoyle says.

According to Guilfoyle, after refunding room and board money to the students, the budget took a hit. “We operate on that budget,” Guilfoyle says. “It pays for everything that you students see.”

Guilfoyle discussed hopes that a benefactor could fund the program, but for now that is not a reality. Without a benefactor, and with students not showing enough interest in taking the course, it had to be cut from the list.

“You’re the people that need to be in it,” Guilfoyle says about his arts students, “and all the time to be engaging there and keeping our enrollments healthy.” But the challenges of being a small school prevail.

Guilfoyle mentioned the difficulties may arise from not being able to fit the course into their schedule.

IT updates explained

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

See GLASSBLOWING Page 2

Over the last six years, Virginia Wesleyan has done $110 million in privately funded construction. These projects have contributed to residential life, academic resources and aesthetic upgrades across the campus.

There are currently a number of ongoing construction projects on campus. These include the new DeFord Manor, Clarke Hall upgrades and the Brock Commons addition.

DeFord Manor has made significant progress over the past few months and VWU will soon be the last of the universities in the Hampton Roads area to add a presidential residence. The funds were contributed through private donations for DeFord Manor.

Once DeFord Manor is completed it will allow for guest entertainment space for President Miller. Additionally, it will allow the president to attend more on campus events throughout the week leading to better campus engagement.

Clarke Hall has also undergone major renovations, adding new technology and opportunities for students as well as faculty. Beyond that, the university has begun to offer a workforce development program that helps displaced workers in the Hampton Roads area take courses at VWU to reintegrate into the workforce.

“A lot of technology has been added, and Business Administration as a major has grown here, the graduate program also,” Miller said. “And so through private funding, we acquired the money to modernize the building number one and then to put modern technology in it.”

Senior business major Katie Costin is excited to end her senior year on a high note while using the newly renovated space.

Bobzin’s golf journey

Ashlee Bobzin|Courtesy

responded, “It depends… we will be taking a look at it between the end of the semester and the start of J-term and the beginning of the second semester.”

He alluded to the changes occurring in Richmond on Jan. 15 with incoming Governor Glenn Youngkin bringing in different statewide mandates and regulations for the state. These are all things that must be considered when charting a path forward for VWU. Both Dr. Moore and President Miller noted that the positivity rate in the immediate

See COVID-19 Page 3

“It is nice because we are one of the biggest majors on campus and we finally have an area designated for our studies,” Costin said. “The updates are an amazing addition to our resources that make the major even more attractive to students as well as prospective applicants.”

Last but not least, the biggest ongoing project on campus remains the Brock Commons expansion that has been a part of the Jane P. Batten Student Center and Boyd Dining Hall renovation plans.

Brock Commons is a huge new addition to the campus community, adding gathering space and common areas for faculty, staff and students. The construction of Brock Commons has taken creative ingenuity in efforts to impact student life in the least disruptive way possible.

“Where normally we would have started with the addition off the front of the building first, we did it in flip order,” Miller said. “Because we were taking advantage of the time when students were not around to do the things that would be tremendously disruptive to that.”

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Construction of Brock Commons, which will include a multipurpose room.

In reference to the Brock Commons addition, President Miller had a lot of exciting updates. The Brock Commons construction is set to be complete by February 2022 and will add multipurpose space to the Dining Hall.

“There will be large screen monitors in there and good technology and it’s designed as a multi-purpose area,” Miller said. “So it would be nice events like an Athletic Hall of Fame induction or it could be the Marlin Chronicle wants to do their annual awards dinner and they want to have everybody together.”

See CONSTRUCTION Page 2

Adventures in Estonia

Faith Macwana|Marlin Chronicle

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SPORTS

WEEKENDER

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Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News

SGA Update: Restoring and adding traditions

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

For students, one avenue of making their voices heard and being a part of the hierarchy on their college campuses is through the Student Government Association (SGA).

This semester, SGA was headed by President Joseph Mueller, a junior in the Batten Honors College. As Mueller heads to Italy to study for the Spring semester, his position will be filled by Interim President Jack Palmer, who currently serves as the vice president on the Executive Board.

SGA began the semester by rewriting their constitution for the first time since any current students arrived at VWU, Mueller noted. “Doing so has made us more able to adapt to change in the organization and function in a way that is more focused on governing,” Mueller said.

The sentiment was reiterated by Edward McDonald, who is the finance advisor for the sophomore class. “We’ve made a deliberate decision to shift from an activity planning committee to a functioning student government,” McDonald said.

SGA hopes to continue its advances to benefit students. “As an organization I think developing a legislation process is the next step in creating a legitimate and functioning student government once we can prove to ourselves that we can succeed in campus improvement projects,” McDonald said. His statement highlights the commitment SGA is looking to bring

to next semester.

Changes during this semester have included open SGA meetings, where the student body is invited to speak their mind and discuss ideas for the future. “The SGA open meeting was a step in the right direction,” McDonald said. “Participation was limited, but we’re definitely looking at a variety of ways to get the Student Body more invested in their student government.”

This semester has also seen important events from SGA, including the 9/11 memorial stair climb, the walk to recognize World Suicide Prevention Day and the turkey trot to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. All of these events are intended to continue annually, along with other events to recognize the importance of people in the community. “I’m optimistic that SGA will develop a relationship with [the Virginia Beach Fire Department] that will allow us to give back to our local heroes,” McDonald said.

Additional goals for the coming semester include finalizing a plan to update the 24-hour study lounge in the library and building another Marlin Meadow near Beverly Hall to provide a lounge space for arts students in particular.

Mueller states that he is proud to have “shifted the culture of the group towards making change on campus to benefit the students.” With continued support from the administration, SGA hopes to keep improving conditions for students and offering them a voice in the system.

VWU|Courtesy Students stand in silence during the memorial ceremony for Sept. 11, 2001.

GLASSBLOWING

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Glassblowing student Katherine Adams practices heating glass during class.

When asked about the course, President Miller also expressed concerns about the price. “ The cost for that compared to the return has been rather expensive. And by return, I mean the number of students who are registered for it,” he said. “And rather than passing a cost on to the students, that was not generating a good return, we decided that we would use the out option on our agreement. We still have a wonderful relationship with the Chrysler Museum.”

Students who would like to learn the art of glassblowing can still take classes at the Perry Glass Studio or visit to look at the works on display with no charge for admission. Their educational mission is beneficial to students in the area with opportunities such as these.

According to Guilfoyle, the Chrysler

Museum is also in the process of expanding their glass studio, which could lend itself to a new partnership. “That’s my dream,” Guilfoyle said. “That we can continue the partnership after maybe a short break.”

Until then, another option for students who want to learn glassblowing is to register through Old Dominion University if their classes have space.

The reaction from students over cancelling the course has been overall negative.

Alison Coutu, a student who has taken the glassblowing course, is disappointed. “Everyone deserves to experience the magic that is working with glassblowing,” Coutu said. “I’m so sad that people won’t be able to experience it.” Coutu would like to be a glass artist, so the opportunity was integral for her.

Guilfoyle agreed. “People are drawn to that facility like a magnet,” he said. “We don’t have that here on our campus.”

Marlins ALL IN for voting VDOT construction hopes to

BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu

On Nov. 8, 2021, Virginia Wesleyan University was recognized for its excellence in voter engagement on campus. The award was given by ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to nonpartisanship.

The goal of the challenge is to give colleges an incentive to promote voter participation by offering nationally recognized awards. VWU was given a “Silver Seal” award, meaning that 60 to 70 percent of the student population participated in the 2020 election.

Additionally, Virginia Wesleyan was recognized as “Best in Class” for private four-year universities in Virginia. President Miller also received recognition for his participation in the “President’s Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation” and was one of 332 collegiate presidents to make the list.

The ALL IN Challenge has multiple different categories in which schools can participate for awards. These categories include athletic challenges, state challenges, HBCU communities of practice and president’s commitment. The organization also provides resources that schools, coaches and individuals can use to encourage voter participation.

Adam Smedley, a senior at VWU, sees the positive impact that civic engagement makes on his college experience.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 This new space can be utilized for formal events, student activities and even dining hall seating. Miller went on to explain how the Marlin Business Conference could utilize the space for most of their activities in this new space.

“As a business student who has participated in the Marlin Business Conference, I can see how the new gathering areas will be a great addition to our campus,” Costin said. “In the past, it could be difficult to go

“I am proud of my fellow Marlins for getting out to the polls and voting,” Smedley said. “It’s great to know that people care about their future and what is happening in our country.”

In order for a university to be eligible for an ALL IN Challenge award, there are a handful of steps that must be taken.

First, the school must sign up and establish a campus-wide voting coalition. Next, the school must develop and implement a campus action plan. Lastly, the school must participate in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement.

Hunter Nordberg, a senior political science major, is extremely active in local politics.

“It’s evident that Marlins care about voting and who is representing us,” Nordberg said. “I’m sure we’ve all been asked if we were registered to vote as we walked into the Cafe, and those efforts have paid dividends. Even in odd-numbered years when enthusiasm for elections is typically down, Marlins have bucked that trend and continued to care about issues affecting us everyday.”

There is still room for improvement when it comes to the political participation of our student body. Going forward, Virginia Wesleyan has the opportunity to advance their voter engagement and reach a Gold Seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.

from one conference location to the next, so a central gathering space was much needed.”

After delays in steel production due to supply chain issues, the construction project has finally become a reality and has made quick progress.

According to President Miller, there are a few plans in the works that could lead to even further campus enhancement after the conclusion of the current construction campaign.

These plans include renovating Village 2 and the addition of another row of townhouses in Honors Village.

smooth student commutes

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

In a city where traffic is inevitable at any given point of the day, it is also common to see construction happening simultaneously. A new project proposal from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plans to focus on sections of I-64.

The project plans to have work done on I-64 from 0.150 miles east of Patrol Road to 1.036 miles east of I-264. Currently ,there are three General Purpose lanes and shoulders. They will be converted into one part-time high-occupancy express shoulder lane and three General Purpose lanes.

The current bridges over Tidewater Drive will be widened and rehabilitated while the bridges over Chesapeake Boulevard will be replaced. Other bridges will be included in the rehabilitation and some spots along I-64 will be widened. Ideally the improvements will serve to make for smoother and less congested traveling.

Dissatisfaction with the roads and traffic around Virginia Wesleyan is evident in the conversations between students. Accidents are too frequent, students are late because of traffic and complicated merges and yielding lanes make driving confusing.

But the road rage and complaints to friends do nothing to fix the roads.

VDOT recognizes the importance of public input with the two public hearings

that will be held to discuss the new projects. The virtual hearing requiring registration will be held on Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., and the in-person hearing will be on Dec. 2 from 4-7 p.m. This will be conducted at the Residence Inn Norfolk Airport.

During these hearings, VDOT representatives will share information about the proposed construction and will be open to answering questions. For those going to the in-person meeting, COVID-19 precautions will be followed.

Registration for the online meeting can be found at https://www.virginiadot. org/projects/hampton_roads/virtual_public_involvement_i-64_hampton_roads_express_lanes_norfolk_segment_1a-1b.asp.

The website will also have the same information and presentation given at the hearings.

For those not interested in attending the hearing, comments can be given in through a survey on VDOT’s website, as long as they are submitted before Dec. 12. Comments can also be emailed to Claudia.

Walsh@VDOT.Virginia.gov with the subject line “I-64 Hampton Roads Express Lanes Segment 1A/1B VDOT Design Hearing Public Comments.”

Information regarding specifics of the proposal can be found at https:// www.64expresslanes.org/under_design/.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle DeFord Manor will be open for use during the coming Spring Semester.

Science & Technology

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Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

COVID-19 CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 region was approximately seven percent.

When asked about the rising mental health concerns of young adults with the pandemic, President Miller expressed concern by saying, “It is definitely on our radar and we have expanded staffing in those areas, specifically April Christman, who addresses student health, both physical and mental.” Proactively, the school looked at these concerns in the summer before the Fall 2020 semester. Suicide awareness has also been more prominent on campus, as well as increasing access to counseling.

President Miller stated, “We have been tracking the mental health of students by monitoring nonattendance in class, progress reports, meeting resident assistants and asking athletic coaches to closely monitor students.”

Heads of departments and deans have also been specially asked to monitor these signs in both faculty and students alike.

For the past two weeks, the university has reported zero confirmed cases. This is compared to the previous two weeks on campus of the Fall 2020 semester, five and four cases respectively, to the previous two weeks of this semester, zero cases for both weeks. The future

COVID-19 information from www.vwu.edu/coronavirus/vwu-covidsafe.php.

brings much uncertainty with COVID-19. As much as students would like to have a solidified answer on how the university will move forward, one is not available yet.

Recently, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 emerged from southern regions in Africa. It is proving to be more

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

contagious than Delta. This will certainly play a part in how decisions are made in the future as well, especially with the recent introduction of the variant to the United States.

Instructional Technology announces changes

BY WILL ZIMMERMAN-FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu The coming year will see big changes in the Instructional Technology Office, and leading up to it, students are receiving educational training to help educate them on the best safety practices to interact with new programs and technology. Among these are significant changes to the learning management system (LMS), Blackboard.

Beginning with J-term classes, the “Ultra” interface will be incorporated in Blackboard, enhancing student and professor experiences and abilities.

The Ultra interface will include a new, sleek design and improved content layout. Maegan Cook, VWU’s instructional technologist, is responsible for implementing this change, as well as providing support for students and faculty. She foresees the new Ultra interface will help save time with a new design and simpler features.

“Users will notice a consolidated view of the most important information from all their courses in the new Activity Stream area,” Cook said.

“Blackboard has improved its accessibility and mobile responsiveness providing people with a better user experience regardless of which type of device they are using.”

Maegan Cook Instructional Technologist Cook aims to foster innovative learning and teaching on campus with the help of new technology and programs like this, while continuing to find efficient and userfriendly resources to incorporate in pre-existing programs.

Along with the updates to Blackboard, the IT department has been hard at work completing renovations

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle to Clarke Hall, with upgrades including new computers, interactive projectors and a recording studio. Chief Information Officer Greg Skinner expects the new devices to arrive within the next few months so students can begin using these new features in upcoming semesters.

“I’m kind of bummed out that I had to change the way I walk because I do have a class in that hall, but I can’t wait to see what gets done in the building,” first year Kendra Gomez said.

To prepare for these new upgrades, students have been receiving emails with training videos to complete, instructing them on cyber safety practices to help ensure the safety of devices and information campus-wide.

Topics include device security, ransomware, tailgating and social engineering. From the beginning of the semester, students have been expected to complete one each month, but with October being recognized as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the department decided to send out weekly learning modules to emphasize the importance of this information.

“Our campus IT security relies on everyone being educated and committed to following safe computer security practices,” Skinner said. “Students make up the

largest population of our VWU community. We are at our strongest when we are all working together for a common good.”

Information Security Officer and Network Manager Marcia Williams pointed out that the topics covered by these trainings were selected because of their relevance to everyday cybersecurity, noting that they “touch every aspect of our lives and that cyber criminals are still using [them] every day to exploit our weaknesses.”

Each training includes at least one video, while some include more and many include quizzes to be completed. Upon completion, students receive a certificate documenting this training. The videos portray scenarios with potential cybersecurity threats and explain what one should do when faced with these.

“While not all of the IT training sessions we have been asked to complete are totally pertinent to students, I think keeping up with basic cybersecurity training is necessary,” junior Debbie Buckalew said. “Technology is constantly changing and evolving, as are hackers and scammers, so it’s important to refresh what to do to protect ourselves and our information.”

However, not everyone shares this sentiment. While the information security trainings are intended to educate students and prepare them for potentially dangerous scenarios, some students see them as a nuisance. Students like Gomez have expressed anxiety over the consequences of not completing trainings and potentially receiving randomized testing on the training topics that they will be expected to pass.

“I feel that sometimes the trainings are annoying,” Gomez said. “I get wanting to educate students, but I feel like a lot of the topics are self-explanatory or common sense. On top of that, some of my friends and I are worried about getting in trouble for not being smart enough or not answering questions the way we’re expected to.”

Additionally, emails from the Malbon Center for Technology with the subject “Start your security awareness training” are being sent to students at 3 a.m. on weekdays to complete the tutorials.

System maintenance is another crucial part of these upgrades. Skinner explained that there have been no major outages with the wireless network, nor do they expect any in the future, so if students are experiencing significant issues, they should contact the Help Desk immediately.

Students research algal effects in Greer stormwater ponds Students enrolled in CHEM/EES 270 - Environmental Chemistry place an emphasis on the research process under the tutelage of a faculty professor.

This project is overseen by Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, professor of ocean and atmospheric sciences.

BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu Benjamin Counsel, Juwon Seaborne, Brynn Vandergriff, Tiffany Warren and Christopher West conducted a research project entitled “The Removal of Metals by Algae in Stormwater Using Phycoremediation.”

Their findings were presented in a poster format and featured in the poster fair at Port Day, organized by The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery.

The abstract of their research is as follows: “Water quality impairment by heavy metal contamination is significantly impacting aquatic ecosystems and human health. Phycoremediation, the removal of heavy metals by algae, provides a low-cost and environmentally safe method. Laboratory analysis was conducted to evaluate the uptake of the following metals: cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Pb) from algae samples collected from stormwater ponds by Greer that had been placed in mesocosm tanks.”

The research group was able to conclude that there was a strong positive correlation between heavy metal removal and bioconcentration factor for algae. Phycoremediation using algae with high metal removal capacity provides an energy-efficient and cost-effective approach for reducing nonpoint source pollution in surface waters at a large scale.

To provide background as to what phycoremediation is, the group provided this, “Phycoremediation is an environmentally friendly method that uses algae for the removal of water pollutants. Algae are photosynthetic, aquatic organisms that have an intrinsic property of nutrient, metal and organic compound removal from wastewater. It is an entirely biological process that has no chemicals required. Metal removal by algae in natural

Benjamin Counsel|Courtesy Juwon Seaborne prepares a sample for the microwave digestion oven. A balance is pictured to measure precise amounts of sample to be digested. water bodies can assist in water quality improvement and restoration initiatives.”

When asked about the effects of heavy metals, the group provided this, “A considerable part of the heavy metals

deposited on watersheds are from anthropogenic activities linked to adverse human health effects. Accumulation of toxic metals such as Hg, Cu, Cd and Cr in humans has several consequences related to growth and developmental abnormalities, carcinogenesis, neuromuscular control defects and mental postponement. Moreover, the standard physical or chemical treatments of natural aquatic ecosystems are not feasible for the remediation of nonpoint source pollution at a large scale.”

Benjamin Counsel, a senior in the group, discussed his thoughts on the overall project and how they conducted their research. “I felt like our overall research expanded my understanding of the facilities available within our school’s laboratory, as well as furthering my understanding and appreciation for the processes of analysis that we explored,” he said.

An important part of all scientific research is the ability to better an experiment for replication and address possible sources of error. When asked about how he would change his experiment if it was to be done again, Counsel said, “We had a large array of samples, but unfortunately some of them burned in the process and became unusable. If we could redo it, that would definitely be a change.”

Juwon Seaborne, a senior on the project, said, “The research and conclusions from this project can greatly improve the health of the ocean and increase the longevity of many fragile ecosystems.” As many know, the rich biodiversity of Earth’s oceans is on the line and threatens to be diminished in the next 30 years.

When asked about possible sources of error, Seaborne was quick to note human error. He elaborated with, “Our data collection methods were not always the most systematic. Data and samples were not recorded, which greatly affected continuity and precision.”

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The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu News Editors Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Katie Yeager kayeager@vwu.edu Science & Tech Editor Jack Palmer jrpalmer@vwu.edu Opinions Editor Teresa Jones tmjones2@vwu.edu Sports Editors Steven Serrano Cruz sdserranocruz@vwu.edu Shirell Washington sawashington@vwu.edu Weekender Editors Sasha Saxon ansaxon@vwu.edu Tiffany Warren tawarren@vwu.edu Photo Editor Ross Winner rawinner@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Emily Uzzle ebuzzle@vwu.edu Online Editor Ash Dobrenen akdobrenen@vwu.edu

Community Port Day highlights student experiential learning

BY JADE EAST

jseast@vwu.edu

Port Day was held on Nov. 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Virginia Wesleyan University in the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and other locations on campus. This event was coordinated by the campus Lighthouse: Center for Exploration and Discovery.

Port Day celebrates the achievement of students who have completed a variety of academic experiences. These academic experiences included research projects and internships.

During this event, there were three concurrent sessions that took place where students were able to share their work with oral, poster or panel presentations. A total of 25 students gave oral presentations in the Premier Speaker and Concurrent sessions that happened throughout the day and 50 students presented posters during the academic fair.

The three sessions included the honors seminar presentations, internships in communications presentations, the music major performance concert, Brock school internship and research presentations, curtain-up staging collaborative research and visual art open studio revelation.

Junior Brooke Morris presented a group project from her Analytical Chemistry class on the comparison of two colorimetry techniques: Paper microPADs and UV Spectroscopy. They tested each technique on its ability to detect chromium levels.

The group took two different samples, one from the new retention pond next to DeFord Manor and a stimulated sample they created in their lab. They learned how to compile different methods and adapt analytical techniques from other studies.

Morris explained how being a part of this project helped her. “The ability to pull data from other research studies will be incredibly useful in my future endeavors. Going past my undergraduate degree is going to require a lot of reading of case studies and this was a fantastic learning experience,” Morris said.

Advertising Manager Alyssa Lane amlane@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 5:30 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Virginia Wesleyan University.

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

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

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

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

not occurred in person since the fall semester of 2019.

“The event returning to an in-person format is a terrific thing, and I believe it promotes direct engagement and collegiality in an important way,” Professor of Art and Curator of Exhibitions John Rudel said.

Rudel has had his own students participate in this event in previous semesters and has hosted a session himself before. He has also served on the undergraduate research program committee.

He expressed what he hoped students would take away from attending or being a part of Port Day. “This is an event where students are exposed to novel information, interesting people, and for many, it is an opportunity to be energized and recognize future opportunities they might pursue themselves,” Rudel said.

There were also tickets given to those who attended premier and concurrent sessions throughout the day. These were later eligible raffle prizes that were drawn during the academic fair and poster session that was held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Students should check their school emails for Virginia Wesleyan Lighthouse updates on Spring 2022 semester regarding Port Day events.

Ross Winner |Marlin Chronicle

Devin Calpo, first place premier speaker, presents his undergraduate research on Port Day.

Copy Editor Grace Rietscha glrietscha@vwu.edu

She also expressed what she wishes other students would take from this. “I hope other students, primarily the students in lowerlevel chemistry classes or those interested in a chemistry major, see how many different techniques there are to find similar results,” Morris said.

Another presentation was given by junior Devin Calpo. He talked about the behavior of asian needle ants and if bait influences capture.

This was used to determine its geographic distribution and relative abundance around Virginia.

To study this he experimented by “using a pitfall trapping method using two solo cups placed in a fitted hole and wire mesh placed above,” Calpo said.

He set these traps up in different locations in Virginia Beach, Richmond, Chesapeake, Surry and Williamsburg using different bait that included hot dog, tuna and honey. In the end, he found no significant difference on the behavior of the asian needle ants and the type of bait he used.

This day was a conference-style event that has been a campus tradition since 2016. This event is typically held at the end of each semester.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, this event has

Henry West finds inspiration through surfing

BY MASON SPIEGEL jmspiegel@vwu.edu

Growing up in the small town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England, Henry West had very limited time in the ocean. Outside of family trips to Cornwall, one of the most popular beaches in England, West hardly ever felt the sand between his toes while listening to the waves crash along the beach.

At 18 years young, West decided to “see if it was like the movies” and attend college in the United States. Knowing very little about Virginia Wesleyan other than the tennis program and the fact that it is a 20 minute drive to the beach, West decided to be a full time student very far from home. After a few months at Virginia Wesleyan, he realized he might have found a passion that matched his love for tennis: surfing.

Always open for an adventure, West decided one day to join two friends for a trip to the beach, not knowing he would be sitting on a surfboard in a lineup of 40 surfers nearly an hour later. “It’s not as easy as some guys make it look, but the first time you stand up on a wave it’s incredible, something you remember for a while,” said West.

Surfing not only took up some of his free time, but then also started to become a lifestyle.

Watching videos, reading articles and looking for used surfboards began to become an everyday activity for West. It also had a lot to do with his friends already being deep into this lifestyle. As time went on, West fell more and more in love with it, and bought his first surfboard a month later.

Surfing when he had the chance quickly changed to surfing everyday and scheduling everything else around the tides and waves.

Morgan Spiegel, a friend who got West involved in surfing, said, “I wish he could drive here so that I didn’t get texts every 20 minutes asking to surf.” West’s skill and addiction for the sport quickly grew with each other.

Virginia Beach is notoriously known for its spotty waves and long flat spells. So with that comes surfers being out of the water for long

Junior Henry West surfs Atlantic waves near Virginia Wesleyan University.

periods of time. West quickly learned that when the ocean was quiet, the skateboards came out. Only with a little skate experience, West quickly fell in love with this sport as well. “Although they have similarities, skateboarding brings a whole new set of challenges that I had to overcome,” said West.

One similarity is that both sports involve a lot of falling, but the big difference is one falling on water and the other one falling on cement.

“Skateboarding and surfing are so rewarding and they’re really so sick because you can always learn a new trick or work on something new every session,” said West’s friend Collin Innes.

West’s time in America has not only been spent surfing and skating, as West has excelled in the classroom as well as the tennis court. As a member of the Batten Honors College, West focuses on staying ahead in classes. Tennis being a year round sport keeps him busy as well.

Being a three-year starter for the competitive Virginia Wesleyan Marlins has been no easy

Henry West |Courtesy

task. After an incredible sophomore year where the Marlins lost in the ODAC finals to Washington and Lee University, the Marlins returned everyone with some great additions to the team as well. “Surfing and skating are so much fun, but when it’s time for tennis that will always be my top priority,” West said.

Spending most of his childhood in and around tennis, West also plans to stay involved in the sport after college. Working alongside his lifetime tennis trainer, Peter Russell, West plans on starting a business that mainly focuses on finding coaching jobs in America for tennis coaches all around the world. West wants to stay involved in tennis, but also has expressed that living near a beach might be a must in the future.

“America has brought me so many good friendships and memories, both in and out of the water,” West said. With a year and a half left in his college career, West plans to enjoy it and continue to do what he loves: surfing, skating and playing tennis.

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The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, December 2, 2021

BY LAUREN FAULKNER

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lafaulkner@vwu.edu

Christmas Tree Lighting Virginia Wesleyan’s Christmas Tree Lighting tradition is coming back to campus on Friday, Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m.

Students are encouraged to take part in this tradition returning to campus as the tree outside of the Monumental Chapel and Beazley Recital Hall is lit and decorated for Christmas.

Students can enjoy not only the tree lighting but also the 12 Days of Christmas sing-along that Marlins Off the Hook is hosting, another Christmas tradition at Virginia Wesleyan.

Clubs, Greek Life and Sports organizations on campus, such as Alpha Sigma Alpha and the softball team, are Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle registered to participate in the performance.

After this performance from the VWU community, the 14-foot Leyland Cypress tree will be lit for the holiday season. Students are invited and encouraged to join the Off the Hook team in the Boyd Dining Center for a holiday feast after the festivities.

Melina Cabral, a member of the Marlins Off the Hook team and student at Virginia Wesleyan, has experienced the adjusted version of the tradition that was held indoors last year with face coverings and is ready to be a part of the full tradition.

“For the Christmas Tree Lighting, what is different about it this year from last year, is that we will actually be able to light the tree outside like normal. We will also be able to bring back past traditions back to normal such as drinking hot chocolate and singing the 12 Days of Christmas! Students can look forward to a fun Marlin Christmas tradition bringing school spirit and Christmas joy,” Cabral said.

Glow Party Sparks Fun Event

Glow Party, a traditional event hosted for incoming freshmen during Marlin Nation Orientation, made a comeback to the campus on Friday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. in the Cunningham Multi-Activity Center.

Now hosted for all Virginia Wesleyan students on campus, students were able to grab a set of headphones that can switch between three different stations planned by one DJ that was welcomed to campus. Throughout the night, students can change between the different types of music that the different stations were playing, whether it be on channel red, green or blue.

In order to attend the event, students were reminded that they would be required to wear facial coverings for the entirety of the event as well as to bring their student ID. Once at the event, students were handed a headset and headed into the dark CMAC where different types of strobe lights were being used throughout the venue.

Some students, including Erika Eichelberger, a current sophomore, struggled to pick between one DJ since so many great and current songs were played on different channels. If students had a particular song in mind, they could request a song by text to the DJ to add to the playlist.

“Glow Party was a great experience back from last year where the event was cancelled to COVID-19. It allowed me to reconnect with my friends and experience a great tradition here on campus,” said Devin Calpo, a current junior at Virginia Wesleyan, who was able to attend the event with multiple friends.

Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle

Late Night Breakfast Late Night Breakfast, a Virginia Wesleyan tradition hosted before finals week, is back on campus on Wednesday, Dec. 8 starting at 10 p.m. Students are invited to join the rest of the Virginia Wesleyan Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle Community to be served a breakfast meal by staff before their finals week begins to end the semester.

The event, hosted on Reading Day, which is a day dedicated to studying for students and involves no classes, is a late night refresher for students to enjoy before starting their final exam periods the next day. Final Exams are scheduled for Dec. 9 through Dec. 14, concluding with Residence Halls closing on Dec. 14 to start the winter break.

In 2020, students had to take their breakfast in to-go containers; however this year, due to lessened COVID-19 restrictions, students will be able to enjoy their time in the Boyd Dining Center with their friends, enjoying plenty of breakfast treats.

During the event, students can look forward to bacon, eggs, sausage, french toast sticks, fresh fruit and other treats that are prepared and served by faculty and staff.

Music, games and other activities to relieve stress are also hosted in the Boyd Dining Center.

“I am very excited that I will be able to go to Late Night Breakfast this year with my friends. This event continues to build the community sense our university promotes and is truly a part of the culture here at Virginia Wesleyan,” said Criofan Shaw, a current junior at Virginia Wesleyan.

This year, late night breakfast returns as a much needed gathering opportunity for Marlins during arguably the most stressful time of the semester.

VWU Orchestra ends fall semester on a high note

BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan’s Music Department hosted an Orchestra Concert on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Justin Stanley. The community was invited to attend the concert to hear a variety of music including a Wizard of Oz Medley

by Steven Brook, a Christmas Concerto by Corelli and other traditional holiday music.

June Richardson, Emily Geis, Makenna Good, James Gray, Stuart Reyes, Joseph Bray, Evelyn Weaver and Daevid Wright all performed during the concert on Nov. 18 as members of the student orchestra.

June Richardson began the concert with a solo violin sonata that they learned on their own and was requested to perform for this performance by Director Stanley.

Richardson has been playing the violin since they were in 2nd grade and had looked forward to opening this concert.

“This was a piece my violin teacher gave to me to work on independently, alongside the more challenging piece I worked on in my private lessons with her,” Richardson said.

Prior to the concert, Richardson noted that although they had practiced during the

cult music. This was my first concert I conducted with this Orchestra and they definitely exceeded my expectations and I’m excited to start planning for the next concert after seeing how quickly they learned difficult music and how much passion they put into their playing...I am very proud of them and excited to be conducting this Orchestra at Virginia Wesleyan University” said Stanley, director of the Virginia Wesleyan Orchestra.

Senior orchestra member, Emily Geis, has been a major contributor to the group for years and is looking forward to making more memories with the crew.

“It was the most enjoyable concert that I have yet to take part in,” Geis said. “Every Ryan Abraham|Marlin Chronicle member is a part of our tight knit commuThe orchestra department performs their final concert of the Fall 2021 semester. nity and it made the experience so much fun because we make up an entire friend weeks leading to this performance, there the upcoming years, since that is where group. Going into the next semester, I am were still nerves up until the start of the I’ve found my gift primarily lies,” Rich- looking forward to more challenging muconcert. “Many of us, myself included, ardson said. sic so that we can grow our skills.” were quite nervous going into the concert, Attendance was fairly good for the event For more information about upcoming but there was no need. I think everyone as it was filled with plenty of friends and orchestra or art performances, check out sounded fantastic,” Richardson said. family of the different performers in the the Goode Performing Arts schedule on the Regarding future events with the orches- show.

VWU website. tra, Richardson shared their plans. “I’ll still “I thought it was a very professional and be playing the violin of course, but I want mature sounding concert! The students to focus more on the writing of music in worked very hard, and were playing diffi-

Marlin Business Conference returns to in-person events

BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu

Held during the Fall and Spring Semesters of every school year, the Marlin Business Conference allows Virginia Wesleyan University’s students and faculty, along with members of the community, to engage in workshops, presentations and interactive activities over the span of a week.

This semester’s conference was held between Nov. 15-19. Following last year’s streaming-only conferences, this year’s was in person, with the theme being “Commerce in the New Normal.”

“This year’s conference was digitally streamed live. It was also able to be attended in person and recorded,” VWU lecturer in business, management and economics, and “conference coach” Frank Futyma said. “We have never streamed live. Additionally, we have never offered all three options for viewing it.”

For more than a decade, the Marlin Business Conference has been a studentled event, and this semester’s was no different. Students from the VWU business course MBE 301 Principles of Management, including Chief Executive Officer Ryan Nicholson and Chief of Staff Marlese Boyer, all worked together to make the

conference a success.

“The mission of the Marlin Business Conference is to acknowledge the hard work of business students at Virginia Wesleyan University by allowing them to compete in professional challenges, and to provide a platform upon which business leaders can share their knowledge and experience,” Boyer said.

This semester’s conference incorporated a wide range of events and activities spread between Monday and Friday. Some of the events that were held included the conference’s biannual Shark Tank competitions, a resume workshop presented by VWU’s Director of Career Development Jessica Harrington and several presentations by entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“My favorite presentation [was] Will Spiegel Frye’s talk about his journey as an Amazon Systems Engineer. Even presenting through Zoom, he was well-spoken, kept the audience engaged, and was eager to share his life experiences which got him to where he is today,” Boyer said. “It was most fascinating to hear how he became a Systems Engineer with virtually no experience in the field and graduated college with a religious studies degree.”

The conference began on Monday, Nov. 15, with its opening ceremony at the Hive

Jake Peterson|Courtesy

Business scholars display their work during the biannual Marlin Business Conference.

in the Town Center of Virginia Beach.

Moving on, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were characterized by a variety of competitions, guest speakers and group presentations. The conference ended on Friday, Nov. 19, with an awards ceremony that was followed by a closing ceremony.

Overall, this semester’s Marlin Business Conference proved to be a huge success.

Next semester’s conference has already been scheduled and is in the process of being put together as well.

Opinions

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Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Alumnus transitions to postgraduate work

BY DALTON POWERS dmpowers@vwu.edu

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Kennedi Anders, Camryn Terry and Samantha Crawford hold the second ODAC championship trophy after 1-0 victory.

Senior soccer captain pens message to sport, teammates

BY CAMRYN TERRY cnterry@vwu.edu

Dear Soccer, Thank you for giving me almost every opportunity I’ve ever had in my life.

From traveling the world, to meeting so many different people, what more could I ask for? I have always loved being part of the team even if I was a bench warmer or the starting captain. The love for the game was always there.

I was blessed with the opportunity to be able to lead this Virginia Wesleyan team for three years and it taught me more than just about soccer. This role taught me so much about life, leadership and just the type of person that I want to be in the future.

I am thankful for my teammates because without them none of what we did this year would have been possible. Going to the National Collegiate Athletic

Association (NCAA) tournament was just gravy. The real work we did showed in our regular season.

We fought in every single match this season, there were no gimme games, and that just made the victories even more sweet. We were seeded first in conference and won the conference tournament, honestly even though it was almost a month ago it still does not feel real. Virginia Wesleyan is finally on the map.

To the seniors who walked on this journey with me, thank you for all the support, advice and friendship you guys have given me. I would not have been able to do this without you guys by my side. Thank you soccer for adding so much to my life.

Signing out, Camryn Terry #17 Camryn “Cam” Terry is a senior biology major and Soccer team captain.

Calisthenics improves brain-body connection

BY GREGORY OSIPOV gcosipov@vwu.edu Calisthenics is a great method of bodyweight training that has made a foothold in the fitness industry today.

It is a bodyweight type of training that helps you improve your movement IRL and hits every single muscle in your body.

Calisthenics is a functional training program that forces you to move in a space with your body instead of the resistance of a weight in a unilateral direction. Most importantly, it improves your joint strength instead of damaging it.

Most resistance training results in imbalances in the body due to improper form and compensations from doing too heavy of a load. Using your bodyweight only builds muscle in size in accordance

with your body to retain mobility for movement.

It will improve your brain-body connection, as calisthenics requires fine motor coordination when doing complex as well as basic bodyweight movements to stay balanced and to retain proper form during movement.

With that being said, calisthenics is a training program that people should consider adding into their workouts and fitness routine. I have been doing calisthenics for two years and have saved my wrists from severe carpal tunnel, improved my shoulder mobility, improved my posture and improved the coordination of my upper body as a whole.

Gregory “Greg” Osipov is a recreational therapy major and aspires to be a strength coach and physical therapist.

Gregory Osipov|Courtesy Gregory Osipov (left) competes for American Ninja Warrior with calisthenics.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Camryn Terry leads team to a 1-0 victory and ODAC championship title.

About six months ago, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus in accounting. Transitioning from being a college student to being a full-time employee is a very big change. You go from having a variable schedule each day based on your classes to being on a regular work schedule. As a student, I tended to always be looking forward to the next step and was constantly looking for opportunities to relate my education to my realworld experience gained through internships and extracurricular opportunities, such as my experience as an editor for the Marlin Chronicle.

Now that I have graduated, I have found myself still using the methods that I found in college to get my bearings in the working world. My job specifically is a role in which employees generally come in with little to no experience in the field and are taught everything they need to know throughout the training program over the course of two years. They are teaching us everything from job specific calculations and policies to customer communication and project management skills. This means that in the day to day I am handling projects on a lot of different levels which is something that I find myself well prepared for following my experience at Virginia Wesleyan.

Additionally, since graduating I have “returned” to Virginia Wesleyan virtually in the form of working toward my master’s degree in business administration. Given that I have a full schedule with work, I have taken advantage of the ability to take it one class at a time. The flexible virtual format has made it a stress-free and seamless experience since I do not have to commute to a nearby school.

This program is also something that I have constantly been able to relate to my experiences at work and have found that this connection generally enriches both.

Therefore, I would recommend pursuing a similar virtual master’s degree program to anyone who has an interest in continuing their education but is also ready to start working.

Dalton Powers graduated in May 2021 as a business major and speaks candidly about working and graduate school.

Good exercise is outside the gym

BY ERIC O’DEA emodea@vwu.edu Everyone should try out as many methods of exercise as they can. Our culture has taught us that the only way that you can be in shape is to get a gym membership and either lift heavy weights or hop on a treadmill. However, there are so many other ways in which people can challenge themselves physically and learn self-discipline. To date, I have dabbled in yoga, rock climbing, calisthenics, swimming, soccer, basketball and Taekwondo. Doing so has tremendously helped me both physically and mentally, and I hope to learn even more disciplines.

There are several reasons why experimenting with different methods of exercise can be beneficial. First, each individual method has its own unique challenges to learn to overcome. Second, changing up one’s fitness routine is key in avoiding burnout and maintaining motivation. And third, having an arsenal of ways to workout is key in both avoiding and recovering from injury.

Each method of exercise has its own unique challenges. Sparring in Taekwondo and squatting don’t have very much in common, but they do force the participant to learn new skills and overcome different hurdles. Sparring teaches you how to read an opponent, become aware of your whole body at once and learn how to make decisions extremely quickly.

However, you can apply skills across disciplines and improve one by actively training another. The coordination that you must learn in order to rock climb can be applied to any sport. You learn how to shift weight minutely and build plenty of core strength at the same time. The mental fortitude you need to exert the last of your energy in the final five minutes of a sports game when already exhausted is a skill you can apply to any solo exercise.

People when working out by themselves do not fully exert themselves because they do not need to. But the pressure and intensity of an overtime playoff game can teach someone to surpass the limits they thought they had.

Changing up the way you workout can help to avoid burnout and maintain motivation. Any form of exercise performed

safely and within one’s ability is extremely rewarding when committed to for an extended period of time. However, subjecting yourself to the same intense regimen for over six months can become repetitive and especially if you’re not seeing the results you want, it is easy to miss a day, or a week, or eventually just quit. That is why it is important to have options when it comes to exercise.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle When weight training became very repetitive a few years ago and I lost motivation, I took up rock climbing/bouldering for six months. It was a huge breath of fresh air. I was a beginner again and my expectations for myself were at the floor. I had something to learn and progression as a beginner is always fast. I actually looked forward to getting on the wall and trying new things. At the end of my time getting into bouldering, the burnout from weight lifting was completely gone and I was ready to get back to it.

Having an array of workout methods to choose from is vital in avoiding and recovering from burnout. Sports and weight training are two disciplines which overload the participant and have a high risk of injury. Being somewhat versed in swimming and yoga is a perfect supplement to high stress, high impact sports like soccer and basketball. Shin splints, bad knees and bad backs are almost inevitable for athletes and weightlifters. But taking short breaks to work in swim workouts and yoga can do wonders in rehabilitating problem areas.

Eric O’Dea is a junior biology major with interest in philosophy and fitness.

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Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

SportsHead

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

sawashington@vwu.edu

Mental health in student-athletes has become a serious topic. However, for student-athletes, it is difficult to talk about their mental health due to the stigma surrounding it.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Junior Stephanie Hoke helps on the defensive line against the Eagles of Bridgewater College during Homecoming game.

Field Hockey head coach resigns after lackluster, 4-10 season

BY JOSH HELLER

jmheller@vwu.edu The Virginia Wesleyan Field Hockey team finished their 2021 season with a 4-10 record, marking their 15th losing season in a row. The season ended with Head Coach Christina Walker leaving her position after nine years. The team is starting to look into rebuilding and finding answers to this drought, as the search for a new head coach is among one of the goals.

Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Andrea Hoover-Erbig, got to briefly speak with Christina Walker about her recent resignation from head coach.

“Coach Walker didn’t share a whole lot with me about her reasoning. She just resigned and shared that she would be moving on to work at Field Level, which is actually a recruiting platform for college athletics. She still has her hand in the collegiate athletics world, but she really didn’t share a whole lot with me other than that she was taking that job and ‘I’m moving on,’” Hoover-Erbig said.

Coach Walker led VWU Field Hockey to the ODAC tournament back in 2016, which has served as their best campaign as far as ODAC tournaments. The team knows that losing Christina Walker as a head coach will be a pretty sizable roadblock, but are ready to continue their push forward.

“Right now we are working on a search

BY STEVEN SERRANO

sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

for our next Field Hockey Head Coach and I’ve met with the Field Hockey team several times. I believe we want to find a coach who’s going to lead them in a good direction and help build a more competitive program and continue to have a positive environment for our Field Hockey student athletes to be part of,” Hoover-Erbig said.

Efforts to hire a new coach will continue through the spring semester, when the team also recruits for the 2022 season.

The beginning of the season was quite rough for Wesleyan Field Hockey, losing all four of their first starts. “The start of the season was just a little rocky with not everybody knowing how to communicate with one another, but apart from that it’s getting better,” first year player Suzzane McFetridge said.

The bulk of the Field Hockey team’s success was in the middle of the season when they won back-to-back games twice.

Outside of that, VWU’s success was pretty short-lived in 2021. The team is hopeful to bring in some talented players for next season. “As a college coach, recruiting is huge. It is really the lifeblood of a program, to go out and identify student athletes who are going to come in and really be competitive with the players that you have and be competitive against your opponents. So recruiting is a big part of being successful as a college coach,” Hoover-Erbig said.

Though the team did struggle for a large stretch of the season, there is still optimism.

“Oh, 100% I feel like we are going to develop as a team. Since this season, we started off kind of rocky, but I think we got really strong towards the end. We did a lot better than last season. So that was good.

But I think there’s a lot of potential in this team,” McFetridge said.

The Field Hockey team’s lack of talking was a factor for the team’s losing and will be a talking point for next season.

“Communication and figuring out other players and how they play and for example, passing the ball, some people say, ‘right,’ or some people show up with their stick. So, I guess just finding out what each player does efficiently,” McFetridge said.

VWU’s Field Hockey program has been trying to move on to avoid this losing culture. Meanwhile, certain players know what the team needs to improve in. “I think one element we need to improve is believing in our abilities. I feel a lot of people think we aren’t as good as we are.

So we doubt ourselves,” McFetridge said.

This challenge to break a now 15-year losing streak as well as the doubts the team faces will be quite the mountain for the next head coach to climb. Virginia Wesleyan Field Hockey will face the 2022 season with a new head coach, new recruits and the ambition to win consistently.

Balancing school, work, extracurricular activities and playing on a college sports team can be challenging for many studentathletes, and this can affect one’s mental health greatly. Mental health can include one’s emotional, psychological and social well-being.

There is the constant pressure of performing successfully on the field and off the field that college athletes face from themselves and others. However, it has become increasingly hard for athletes to discuss their mental health because of the stigma surrounding it which prevents them from using any counseling services provided on campus.

The stigma surrounding mental health in student-athletes has been overlooked for too long due to the notion of “being tough.” Many believe athletes cannot show weakness because coaches and parents only focus on performance rather than personal growth.

As a student-athlete myself, I have dealt with being overwhelmed and mentally and physically exhausted all the time due to how much I have to balance and the demands that are put on me. It was a struggle in itself because I felt like there was nothing I could do about it, however, I got through it by reminding myself that I love track and field and always gave myself reasons why I decided to continue it in college. Track and field is my stress reliever and my outlet for everything.

Here at VWU, we are part of an organization called Morgan’s Message that advocates for mental health in intercollegiate sports. This organization brings light to mental health and these types of campaigns should be encouraged or provided by the NCAA. So, in my case, I helped myself, but for others, that is not always the case and we need professionals who are able to understand the daily life of a studentathlete because it is not always fun.

Marlins Highlights

VWU Women’s Soccer Team at the Headlines of ODAC Conference After their incredible season performance, the Women’s Soccer team earned various conference honors including Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year. Also, seven players from the team were named into the All-Conference first, second and third team.

Junior Sam Crawford earned Player of the Year after outstanding work in the defense line. She recorded 12 shutouts this season, earning the ODAC Championship All-Tournament Most Outstanding Player and All-ODAC first team player.

First year Breacain McClenahan earned recognition of Rookie of the Year selected by the league coaches.

McClenahan led the team with six goals and a pair of assists and two-game winners. She also earned the spot on the All-ODAC first team.

Earlier this season, Coach Jeff Bowers earned his 300th career victory against Lynchburg on Oct. 13. Now, in his 22nd season, he earned Coach of the Year after leading the team to the regular season victory and ODAC championship.

The other Marlins that were placed in the All-ODAC teams were senior Kennedi Anders for the first team, first year Kaitlyn Duswalt and sophomore Rachel Quigley for the second team and seniors Carleigh Van Reenen and Camryn Terry for the third team.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Senior Kennedi Anders mantains control of the ball against Lynchburg player.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Freshman Emma Claytor attacks the volleyball.

Freshman Emma Claytor wins AVCA All-Region R.O.Y.

First year Emma Claytor had an incredible season with the VWU Volleyball team. She was recognized as ODAC Rookie of the Year, named into the ODAC All-Tournament team and second-team All-conference Honors. She also was named the AVCA All-Region VI Rookie of the year. She is now the first Marlin to be named All-Region Rookie of the Year Honors for VWU. With an incredible performance this season, Claytor made a total of 216 kills on the season averaging 2.35 per set, finishing the season with a .323 hitting percentage with only 60 errors on 483 attempts. In the semifinal match against Randolph-Macon, the Marlins took the victory 3-2 and Claytor made an amazing performance establishing a career-best of 18 kills in the five sets.

Claytor was placed fourth in the league in hitting percentage. She was ranked fifth in the league in blocking and second on her team, with 82 total blocks with 67 assisted blocks and 15 solo blocks. In the final eight games of the season, she appeared in all 30 sets putting down 97 kills and 37 blocks.

Although Claytor stands as the lone Marlin in the program to earn All-Region Honors, other Volleyball players stood out in a great performance earning AllODAC first and second team. Junior Haley Sutton was placed in the All-ODAC first team and first year Isabelle Gaudet, first year Emma Claytor, senior Sydney Collins and sophomore Morgan Ludovici were placed in the AllODAC second team.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Junior Jordan Crump at the free-throw line against Marymount University.

Men’s Basketball Players career high points The Marlins Men’s Basketball team crushed the Saints of Marymount University 89-57 on Nov. 13. On this victory, various Marlins stood out with their performance that night. Jordan Crump, who is a swingman for the Men’s Basketball team, scored a career-high of 28 points that night, adding to that three steals, five rebounds and a perfect 5-5 on 3-point field goals.

Other players such as fifth year senior Tim Fisher and fifth year senior Corey Pelham, were of great help for the Marlins to take the advantage of 32 points against the Saints of Marymount University. Fisher added a double-double with 19 points, ten rebounds and six assists and Pelham contributed with eight points, three assists, three steals and three rebounds.

Nine days after the game against Saints of Marymount University, the Marlins faced the Falcons of Pfeiffer University and lost 64-67. Despite the loss, senior Tim Fisher scored a career-high of 31 points. Fisher ended that night contributing to the team a double-double with 31 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a 68% from behind the field.

However, Fisher was not the only one with double digits that night. Sophomore Eric Rowland contributed with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

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Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Bobzin shares perspective as only VWU Women’s Golf player

BY STEVEN SERRANO sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

The VWU Women’s Golf program consists of the coach, assistant coach and one member, which is senior Ashlee Bobzin. Bobzin has been in the Women’s Golf program since 2018 but this is the first time that she is by herself on the team.

“It’s already an individual sport so it’s not the end of the world, I already compete by myself and my scores count individually. I just wear the Marlin name and as much as I support the Marlins golf program, in golf you are playing for yourself,” Bobzin said.

Nonetheless, she expressed that being the only player in the women’s program has been stressful and challenging.

“Being the only player in the Women’s Golf program is definitely stressful, there are a lot of decisions that I have to make that I didn’t think I had to make myself. I had to take a step up from what previous women on this team had to do in order to complete the seasons that I want to,” Bobzin said.

There have been some places where Bobzin can’t go to compete because she can’t travel with the men’s coach.

Despite this and other changes, she always has found a way to work around that and been able to compete and complete games for the season.

As of right now, the Women’s Golf program counts with three separate coaches, Coach Shane Kohler who is also the assistant coach for the Men’s Soccer team, Women’s and Men’s Golf Assistant Coach Pam Fisher and Coach Jeff Butler who is also the assistant coach for the Men’s Baseball team.

“Coach Butler has been with us for the past semesters and he’s been amazing stepping up and taking on that role.

Coach Shane is only with us in Spring because Men’s Soccer is in Fall and we also have Coach Fisher who is an alumna and has been with us for a while helping us

William Bobzin|Courtesy Senior Ashlee Bobzin drives the ball off the tee at the Chick-Fil-A Collegiate Invitational in Rome, GA. coordinate the program,” Bobzin said.

The competitions are normally two-day tournaments and sometimes it can be both teams in competition or just her. “For tournaments we travel out there and we stay there for the practice round so we can know what the course looks like,” Bobzin said. “Before competition I just keep my head down and concentrate on doing my own thing. As long as I can focus on what I want to do, I’ll get it done.”

In the fall, Bobzin represented VWU in a couple of tournaments against other universities. She placed second out of four golfers against Chowan University with a total score of 86 and she placed 11th out of 23 golfers at the VSGA Intercollegiate Tournament with a total score of 176.

“I am excited for next season, I have a lot to prove considering COVID-19 and the fact that we weren’t able to finish our season. In my family, I am a first time college student, neither of my parents went to college out of highschool and neither of my parents were athletes in college. So, I feel that I have a lot to prove even though I started this sport in my junior year in highschool. I’ve been able to come this far and I know I can do better,”

Bobzin said.

Bobzin said that golf has brought memorable moments to her life, including that she has met most of her best friends golfing. “When you are out there for five hours with strangers that also have the same interests that you have, it is easy to connect, even though they played for other schools,” Bobzin said. “I still keep in contact with them, some of them have graduated, with some of them unfortunately I won’t be playing again but meeting them has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”

Bobzin is very satisfied with the job that she has done and the job that will continue next semester here at VWU. However, she expressed that she wants to graduate on time and is not staying for a fifth year.

“I plan on going into the workforce, I have an internship next semester and I would love to go into finance; my passion is economics. This school has a way around teaching economics. It really hones in on people’s attitudes which is why I love golf, too. Your performance, just as in any sport or economics, depends on your attitude,” Bobzin said.

She also added, “I love the many life lessons that I have learned from golf.”

SAAC promotes diversity and inclusion The Virginia Wesleyan Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) begins their efforts towards a more diverse and inclusive environment for athletics by participating in the NCAA diversity and inclusion campaign week.

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON sawashington@vwu.edu

At VWU and many other NCAA member schools, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is made up of student-athlete representatives from each sport who assemble to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. They also offer input on rules, regulations and policies that can affect student-athletes’ day-to-day life.

This year, SAAC has prioritized its mission towards a more inclusive environment for athletics on college campuses. For the past four years, SAAC has been promoting its campaign #NCAAInclusion. This is the fourth year the NCAA is doing #NCAAInclusion week.

The campaign ran from Tuesday, Oct. 19 through Thursday, Oct. 21, with each day having a theme of its own.

Day one focused on student-athletes being able to talk about their own identities and perspectives and experiences surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion. Day two’s theme was about being able to outline any personal or institutional action steps to achieve inclusivity. Finally, day three was focused on the definition of “belonging.”

Through Oct. 20-22, Virginia Wesleyan’s SAAC participated in the annual NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Week to discuss and promote diversity, equity and inclusion and provide efforts on how to create a more inclusive athletic community.

“VWU SAAC has been promoting diversity and inclusion on campus by informing the students when and where certain diversity events are happening. Some of the students in SAAC are also involved with the diversity and inclusions group,” sophomore Cecelia Aten, a member of SAAC, said.

“SAAC participated in the NCAA diversity and inclusion week social media campaign where we utilized different media outlets to showcase how our teams and athletic department embraces diversity,” said senior Mackenzie Kerns, Chair of SAAC. Here at VWU, studentathletes and SAAC contributed to the campaign by posting on their Instagram (@vwu_saac) for days two and three.

VWU SAAC for day two provided a message from VWU Athletic Director, Andrea Hoover-Erbig, and on day three

they provided a compilation of VWU student-athletes to talk about what it means to be a part of their respective teams. This campaign will become an annual tradition, as VWU participated in it last school year, as a way to kick-start VWU athletics efforts towards a more inclusive community.

Another way student-athletes are able to voice their opinions and perspectives is through their teammates that serve as SAAC representatives, who then are able to go to meetings and express concerns from the student-athlete community.

“Student athletes are able to bring any ideas or opinions to their team representative, to the executive board directly, coaches, or to athletic director, Coach HooverErbig,” Kerns said. There are routine meetings that happen

“SAAC participated in the NCAA diversity and inclusion week social media campaign where we utilized different media outlets to showcase how our teams and athletic department embraces diversity” Mackenzie Kerns, SAAC Chair on Thursdays where members of SAAC go and discuss any topics that may arise during these meetings that are sometimes attended by the Athletic Director Andrea Hoover-Erbig, Assistant Athletic Director Jeff Bowers or the coaches.

The past year and a half has been challenging for athletes, but VWU SAAC continues to support NCAA’s initiatives for diversity and inclusion because they understand that

Marlin Nation

it is important to provide a platform for athletes to voice their concerns and opinions about diversity, equity and inclusion.

They make sure that the Marlin community is able to get involved with their initiatives and forums as much as possible. “During SAAC meetings, members are always made aware of the events happening on campus. SAAC promotes being involved within many of these different groups,” Aten said.

SAAC also encourages panels that are held on campus that discuss the topic of diversity, and that these panels and other events are going to appear in the future. “There have been diversity panels held on campus that were sent out to student athletes from their team representative,” Kerns said.

Kerns stated that all athletic teams have representatives in SAAC and have plans laid out for future endeavors hosted by SAAC for student-athletes. “We are currently working on planning future events for the student-athlete body and with student government on a few things,” Kerns said.

ODAC|Courtesy

Catch up on Marlin Sports by following @MarlinChronicle on social media.

Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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Roll Up To Your Local Game Cafe

Roll With It Board Game Cafe and Bar|Facebook Owner Quan Truong with a patron at the grand premiere of his establishment, the board game library with over 600 games and a selection from their vast food menu.

BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu

College game nights need an upgrade. Rather than sitting on the floor playing that eleventh round of Cards Against Humanity and snacking on stale chips, why not take a short trip to the locally owned Roll With It Board Game Cafe and Bar within 20 minutes of campus, just off Lynnhaven Parkway. Owning even a few of your favorite bulky board games is neither affordable for a Virginia Wesleyan student nor compatible with tiny dorm room storage, but at the cafe, a customer has affordable access to a game library of over six hundred selections.

With a small five dollar fee (per person, per visit), you obtain unlimited access to their display of games and assistance with game instructions and set up. Their range is fantastic, featuring games under every genre: spicy adult, horror mystery, strategy-based, artistically designed, cheesy romance, story-building, team against team or even games geared towards children. Regardless of if you want to play a popularized party game, a nostalgic round of Monopoly or an elaborate ninety-piece strategy game, their supply has you covered. If you just so happen to particularly favor a certain board game, there are often copies that are on

sale, upon inquiry.

The sleek and modern establishment maintains a varying schedule—open weekdays, 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m until 11 p.m. Whichever time you choose to visit—by walk-in or by reservation, you’ll be greeted by their team of ultra friendly staff and the store’s calming atmosphere. In addition to game play, the cafe doubles as a restaurant, serving a plethora of inexpensive appetizers, sandwiches, salads, desserts, craft beer and wine. If a customer only wishes to dine, they’re not required to pay the game fee.

The owner, Quan Truong is a board game connoisseur, Virginia Beach resident and young entrepreneur of a small business. He envisioned a space “where people could come together to enjoy each other’s company over board games.” Inspired by his own passion for board games, Truong knew there must be other fanatics in the Hampton Roads area and created Roll With It in the absence of any business like his. Thus far, the cafe has experienced unbridled success, with 4.9 stars on Google reviews and a historically successful range of planned events since its opening in Sept. of this year.

Weekly, every Monday at 5 p.m., they offer a Board Game Mix & Mingle for patrons to meet both new people

and new games. On Tuesdays at 7 p.m., the cafe hosts a trivia night, with new topics every time. This New Year’s Eve, the cafe is excited to celebrate 2022 with a party. For those who purchase tickets through the website, there will be unlimited appetizers, desserts, and alcohol for those eligible.

Many students are unaware of the hidden gem that lies just seven miles down the road from Virginia Wesleyan.

Junior Amruta Karkare had never heard of the cafe, but was ecstatic to hear word about its existence.

“Board games are such a fun part of our childhood that we tend to leave behind when we become adults,” Karkare said. “I am really excited to check Roll With It out and see for myself what they have to offer. I think I might bring some friends there during finals week for a study break.”

If you’re the type that plans game nights, has a competitive spirit or just wants to try a new trend, Roll With It Board Game Cafe and Bar has all the potential to become your go-to spot off-campus. With the ever-changing and technology driven society that we live in today, take a break from the screens and enjoy the face-to-face fun that Roll With It offers its customers. If you’re looking for timeless and nostalgic fun, hop in the car and roll down the street to your local board game cafe.

Hawkeye Hits the Red Weather Debuts Emo Album Mark as Holiday Viewing

BY RYAN ABRAHAM

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

rsabraham@vwu.edu

Despite having only aired the first two of six episodes at the time of this review, with the following four dropping weekly on Wednesdays, Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” on Disney Plus appears to be another strong original series for the streaming service. This is in large part thanks to the chemistry between Jeremy Renner’s character Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, and Hailee Steinfeld’s character Kate Bishop. Steinfeld’s Kate idolizes Hawkeye, and is eager to enter the world of superheroics and take on crime in New York.

Meanwhile, Renner’s Clint simply wants to enjoy Christmas with his family but is roped into having to help Kate. The difference between Kate’s enthusiasm and Clint growing increasingly tired of the job is a large part of both the comedy and the tension of the show. However, there are also some truly inventive comedic situations that the characters are placed in, including Clint’s family seeing “Rogers: The Musical,” a musical theater retelling of the first “Avengers” film.

These episodes lay the groundwork for an intriguing story as Kate and Clint are investigating a murder mystery. To make matters worse for Kate, her mother Eleanor, played by Vera Farmiga, and Eleanor’s love interest, Tony Dalton’s Jack Duquesne, appear to be tied to the murder in some capacity. On top of this, Clint and Kate are being pursued by a group of criminals known as the Tracksuit Mafia. Clint and Kate’s run-ins with the Tracksuit Mafia are the primary source of action in the show so far, which is more grounded than the fighting generally seen in Marvel products due to the nature of the characters, but still very enjoyable.

The series also makes good use of its Christmas setting, as viewers will be hard-pressed to find a scene that does not feature some form of holiday cheer. This is thanks to the set design of the show, which depicts a snow-covered New York City full of Christmas lights and decorations.

On top of this, these first two episodes feature numerous Christmas songs. These elements, combined with the overall quality of the show so far, makes it perfect viewing for the holiday season.

Red Weather|Instagram Tim Ilardi and Mike M., the two guitarist/vocalists for the band Red Weather, performing at Riff House Pub.

BY ALEX CAIN

atcain@vwu.edu

Student Review

On Saturday, Nov. 13, I had the pleasure of seeing a local band, called Red Weather, play the release show of their first album, “Wish You Well,” at the Riff House Pub in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Composed of bassist/vocalist Tim Ilardi, guitarist/vocalist Mike M, guitarist/vocalist Chris Cornell and drummer Brian Bassette, Red Weather is an energetic emo-rock band with pop-punk influences from bands like Taking Back Sunday. Most of the band has grown up in or near Virginia Beach, with only Brian having moved to the area a few years ago.

While they don’t have any more show dates planned just yet, they said to be on the lookout for a live recording which they have in store. Additionally, when asked about their plans for a new EP or album, they said that they were already working on another EP that they are “really excited about. Who knows, maybe it’ll be released by a record label,” they teased.

As far as “Wish You Well” is concerned, Red Weather hit it out of the park. From melancholy, but never subdued tracks like “Bend” and “Sinking” to energetic, riff-heavy emo tunes like “Fall Apart” and “Counting Seconds,” Red Weather delivers emotionally charged lyrics without sacrificing too much musicality, an issue which many indie emo bands struggle with.

In my opinion, the shining gem of the album is “Save My Breath,” as it is an exceptional combination of catchy guitar hooks, emotional vulnerability and lyrics full of venom.

Overall, Red Weather is also a solid entry point to emo rock music for those who are interested in making a foray into the genre. This is due to some of their pop-punk influences making them more accessible than some of the more hardcore bands on the scene. Keeping in mind that “Wish You Well” was Red Weather’s first album release, they have done exceedingly well for themselves.

You can find Red Weather on Facebook and Instagram @rdwthr as well as on Bandcamp.

Thursday December 2, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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Animal Lovers Find Refuge in Pet Friendly Spaces

BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu

It’s the final stretch of the fall semester, as upcoming final exams and papers approach closer with the rush of feeling stressed.

Then, topping it off with the holiday season, the winter blues, making travel plans and gift shopping overwhelms more people. De-stress with furry companions to lift your spirits and feel better all fall and winter long, no matter how short the days end or how low the temperatures drop.

Catnip Cat Cafe is proud to be the very first cat cafe in Hampton Roads since July 2017. At Catnip Cat Cafe, they live by their motto, “Adopt, don’t shop.” 751 cats have been adopted and found happy homes after leaving from their care. Their local shelter partners, Feral Affairs Network and Billy the Kidden Rescue, provide them with lovable rescued felines in hopes that their environment can help them find a home quicker.

Ivy Barnes, a staff member at Catnip Cat Cafe, shared about the adoption process. “[You] put in an application for whichever cat you’re interested in and turn that in here or you can text it to the owner. Then, a few days after that, either the owner or someone from the rescue [center] that the cat is from will be in contact with you. It would be about a 20 minute phone conversation to talk about if you have other pets or if you have roommates,” said Barnes.

20 adoptable kitties roam free around guests, play with a plethora of toys and take cat naps in their favorite spot. The age range of the cats at Catnip Cat Cafe is between five months and fifteen years old and up. Catnip Cat Cafe facilitates adoptions of adult and senior cats who are passed over in potentially finding a home.

Barnes added, “I hope guests experience some bonding with at least one of the cats by getting to play with them and cuddle with them. And in general, just having a good time.”

Reservations are highly encouraged as Catnip Cat Cafe has the limited number of 10 spots available per hour. All Catnip Cat Cafe guests are required to acknowledge their waiver before spending time with the kitties. Guests are not allowed to chase or mistreat the Catnip cats. The most popular times for visiting Catnip Cat Cafe are on the weekends and late afternoons in the day after work.

At Catnip Cat Cafe, 30-minute visits for guests cost $7 and one hour reservations cost $12. If you have a cat loving group of four or more, then visit to earn a discounted rate at $10 per person for the hour. The safety guidelines for guests at Catnip Cat Cafe are that hands must be sanitized, wear a mask regardless of vaccination status and sign the waiver before entering the cafe.

Barnes shares how guests can support them. “Posting about us and getting the word out because we did actually move our location earlier this year, so I think posting about us and talking about us online is always helpful,” said Barnes.

Visit their website at www.catnipcatcafe. com to make a reservation and their social media on Instagram and Facebook @ catnipcatcafe for more information about them. Catnip Cat Cafe is located at 1611 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23517 with feline friends waiting to be petted and ready to be adopted.

For our dog loving friends in the Wesleyan Community, visit Salty Paws to grab an ice cream or bakery treat with your canine friend. Michael Griffon, coowner of Salty Paws, decided to pursue the

Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle The Catnip Cat Cafe provides seating and toys for guests to interact with the cats. dog friendly franchise opportunity in Sept.

2020 and have its grand opening on April 3. Griffon shared how it came to fruition in Hampton Roads to bring a fun and unique experience for local residents and tourists with their dogs.

“We were looking for a franchising opportunity for us. My daughter and wife were in Annapolis looking at different shops and boutiques for ideas. Then, they saw the Salty Paws there, and they went in,” said Griffon. “Right away they knew that was the right business for us because we love dogs so much, and we wanted to have a place where we really enjoyed being at our place of business every day.”

Salty Paws offers lactose free, dog friendly ice cream, cookies and treats.

It also serves as a venue to host your doggie’s birthday party, ice cream social,

breed meet-up or fundraising events. For this holiday season, Salty Paws is hosting a Santa paws ornament event for dogs to make a holiday paw print in clay for $5, so owners can have a keepsake for a lifetime.

Griffon added, “It’s always a good time to give your dog a good time, and just spread the word too. We rely a lot on word-of-mouth and advertising. We’ve had overwhelmingly positive experiences and reviews, so when people see that or they hear personal recommendations from their friends, that’s really big for us.”

For more information on Salty Paws, visit www.saltypawsvabeach.com or @ saltypawsvabeach on Facebook and Instagram. Dog owners can call Salty Paws at (757) 233-2792 to reserve a party or celebration with their dog located at 352 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach.

Estonia Offers a Unique Study Abroad Trip

BY FAITH MACWANA fpmacwana@vwu.edu

When most people think of Europe, they immediately think of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Greece etc. These are pretty popular destinations in their own right, but may be just a tad bit overrated. Nestled between the Baltic Sea on the left and Russia on the right lies the hidden gem of Estonia. Slightly larger than Massachusetts, Estonia is filled with palaces, castles and plenty of forests all waiting to be explored.

About a two-hour drive from the capital, Tallinn, is Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu. Also known as the City of Good Thoughts, Tartu is a vibrant, bustling, university city with museums on every corner, cobblestone streets and scenic views. The Emajõgi River cuts through the city, providing visitors and locals alike with a beautiful promenade lined with benches, bars and restaurants.

A perfect location to have a meal is in a lively floating restaurant built on a boat.

Directly across the river is Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square in English). Here you will be greeted by a giant yellow National Geographic window that showcases the amazing architecture from buildings built in the late 18th to early 19th centuries. Raekoja Plats is surrounded by a variety of many different cafes and restaurants, all

Faith Macwana|Courtesy Faith Macwana studies abroad at Tartu, Estonia. featuring unique cuisine.

The most iconic landmark in Town Hall Square is the Kissing Students Fountain. Legend goes that one day, two students, who were lovers, were kissing under an umbrella while caught in a fierce rainstorm. Just as they kissed, they were struck by lightning turning them into stone forever in each other’s arms. Behind them is the main Town Hall building which is also the Tartu Welcome Center.

Rüütli, one of the oldest streets in Tartu, is the main area where students, locals and visitors can find the yummiest

places to eat. One of Tartu’s distinguishable features is that it has a large international student population. Thus, a lot of the cuisine found on Rüütli is from different corners of the world.

Located inside the main building is the University Art Museum which features plaster cast copies of statues from Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Greece. It is also home to two real life mummies. If that hasn’t drawn your attention yet, then another noteworthy aspect is that the museum is free to University of Tartu students.

Estonia is one of the greenest countries in the Baltic region with approximately 50% of the country covered in forests and bogs. Tartu is home to many parks and you will often find people going for walks, reading or cycling throughout the day. One of these parks, Toome Hill Park, is the best spot to go for the perfect blend between a walkthrough history and a quiet place to relax. The park is filled not only with benches and scenic overviews, but it also has plenty of statues and monuments dedicated to influential figures of Tartu.

With plenty of things to do, see and eat, Tartu has something for everyone. Maybe the next time you are planning your dream European vacation, look a little further east. After all, it is quite easy to fall in love with the City of Good Thoughts.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens Lights the Night

Norfolk Botanical Gardens |Facebook Tickets are on sale to visit Norfolk Botanical Gardens’s Million Bulb Walk event.

BY KIM DEHART

kmdehart@vwu.edu

The Norfolk Botanical Gardens, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is offering a dazzling light show called the “Million Bulb Walk” every night from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Nov. 12 to Jan. 2.

The Dominion Energy Million Bulb Walk is their largest fundraising event of the year, and ticket purchases help them fulfill their mission for visitors to immerse in a world of beauty, lead through environmental action and inspire through education and connection to nature. The holiday light walking event is sponsored

by Dominion Energy, The City of Norfolk and ABC 13 News Now (WVEC).

Kelly Welsh, Norfolk Botanical Gardens’s director of marketing and communication, who has been working there for the past nine years, shares her thoughts about the Million Bulb Walk.

“It’s an incredible experience to walk through such a beautiful place, and the garden is full of lights. And all of Virginia can immerse in one of the biggest tree canopies there is in the area,” Welsh said.

“There will be some fun surprises and new technology to look forward to.”

Value nights at Norfolk Botanical Gardens are Mondays - Thursdays, and premium nights are Fridays - Sundays.

Guests will not be allowed to walk into the garden from the main entrance road after 5 p.m. The walk is about a mile long with a concession stand in the beginning to grab yourself a hot cocoa to keep yourself warm.

It is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs and mobility assistance devices with a limited number of manual wheelchairs available on a first come, first served basis in their Visitor Center.

Skyler Lattuca, a 2021 Wesleyan alumnus and horticulturist for Norfolk

Botanical Gardens and VWU, shared about his volunteership and involvement.

“I was officially hired by Norfolk Botanical Garden in May of this year and have been here for about six months now. I got involved because I was always fascinated with gardens and sustainable landscape design, so this was a perfect fit,” Lattuca said. “I also had worked with Norfolk Botanical Garden to design the ‘Marlin Meadows’ extension of the gardens the year prior, so it seemed like a good fit.”

Ticket prices range from $15 to $25 for adults and $10 to $15 for kids aged 3 - 17. It is advised that visitors should buy their tickets online before arriving at the gardens to avoid crowding at the front desk, and walk-in ticket purchases incur an additional $5 fee per adult every night.

Welsh added how Norfolk Botanical Gardens adapted to COVID-19 impacting small businesses and organizations in Hampton Roads. “We were one of the only places in the area that were able to stay open because most of it is outside and people are able to social distance better,” said Welsh.

“The walk takes about an hour give or take and you wanna make time to stop for pictures. The purpose of the time slot tickets is to reduce crowds in the area.”

Taylor Glacier, a junior at Virginia Wesleyan, attended the event and shared about her experience at the Million Bulb Walk. “I love how there’s not just Christmas lights but also all types such as palm trees and mushrooms and the big spider which has been my favorite. I would definitely recommend going with people to share the experience with.”

Lattuca added, “I love the light show that Norfolk Botanical Gardens puts on. It

easily outcompetes the other light shows in the area, and this year they managed to make it a much more immersive experience than ever before. My favorite part of the light show was an area with a series of massive blue icicle lights.”

“Setting up can always be intense and hard work, but with the help of our volunteers; we are able to make magical things happen. It’s amazing to hear people say this is the best ‘thing they’ve ever seen’ or just the sheer wonder of how we make some of our lights work. At the end of the day people’s reaction to the light walk is what makes all the hard work worth it,” said Welsh.

On Jan. 2, Norfolk Botanical Gardens is offering a one-night only event for dogs to attend Barks and Bulbs. The fido fee is $5 for visitors to bring their dog to the illuminated gardens. Visitors can pick a time slot to invite their dog to the event.

If you are looking to brighten up your night this holiday season, then attend the light walk event at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Visitors can buy tickets online at www.norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/millionbulb-walk-2021/ or at their location on 6700 Azalea Garden Rd.

Norfolk Botanical Gardens |Facebook Million Bulb Walk offers more lights and a new route.