The Marlin Chronicle
‘Go farther than the headlines’
Following changes to Meta’s fact-checking, community members discuss its implications on social media usage and strategies for seeking truth in news.
BY LILY RESLINK
Meta platforms have dropped external fact-checking services in a decision that followed the 2024 election.
A New York Times article said Facebook, Threads and Instagram will “instead rely on users to add notes to posts.”
The article from January said, “Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it would now allow more speech, rely on its users to correct inaccurate and false posts, and take a more personalized approach to political content.”
The article referred to how Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, made the announcement. “It described the changes with the language of regret, saying it had strayed too far from its values over the previous decade.”
Dr. Stu Minnis, chair and professor of Media and
Communication, provided perspective on social media as a news source.
“If you’re getting your news from social media, you’re almost certainly being misled,” Minnis said. Minnis cautioned against using social media for news altogether.
“I feel like at some point we’ve got to, as a society, figure out that this is not a good way to get our information,” Minnis said.
See META Page 3
In-Class Connections
Professor Terry Lindvall applied Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to social media. The allegory creates a scenario of an individual bound to a cave, with a perspective limited to the shadows cast upon the walls.
Narcan training aims to save lives
BY CLAY YOKOM kayokom@vwu.edu
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) held a naloxone training session in the Pierce Suite on Jan. 30 to teach protocol to community members. Naloxone–sometimes referred to by a
brand name of Narcan–is a medication that can temporarily block an opioid overdose and revive someone suffering from an opioid overdose.
The training was twofold, with a short session from the VDH on general naloxone use and a college-focused presentation
from the counseling center.
The VDH emphasized that administering naloxone may take more than one nasal spray to revive someone, as it depends on the amount of opioids a person has taken.
DEI uncertainty surrounds higher ed
BY MIA DIEHL mjdiehl@vwu.edu
Recently, the debate over DEI initiatives has become a primary focus in the United States, as President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order that requires institutions to “enforce our longstanding civil-rights laws and to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.”
DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion,
originated in the 1960s antidiscrimination legislative movement. The intention of the initiatives was to remove discriminatory practices and policies within organizations.
Trump has begun dismantling DEI initiatives; according to the U.S. Department of Education, the Department has “removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports, and training materials that include mentions of DEI from its outward-facing communication channels.”
These actions correlate
with Trump’s commitment to end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the board. The call for DEI initiatives to be carefully reviewed is extending into the private sector with encouragement from the President to end illegal discrimination and preferences within institutions.
“We constantly held this idea of equality, with this refusal to do the work of equity,” an advocate of DEI and CEO of Justice Informed, Xavier Ramey, said to WTTW
See NARCAN Page 4
“We constantly held this idea of equality, with this refusal to do the work of equity”
Xavier Ramey, CEO of Justice Informed
Nevermind the Super Bowl, here’s the Ethics bowl -- Page 4
Celebrating emerging Black artists -- Page 10
“Art is ... a statement, a challenge, and a way to build a more sustainable world.” - Mars Johnson
Letter from the editor -- Page 6
DEI Page 2
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Beyond the trails of the Wesleyan Woods, the dock overlooks an ice-covered Lake Taylor on a still January term afternoon.
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle Image background generated by Google.
Michelle DeRosa|Courtesy
To provide the community resources that may prevent opiod overdose fatalities, the counseling center plans to host more naloxone trainings on campus.
Kathy Merlock Jackson|Courtesy
Antisemitism discourse education,promptsdiscussion
Following Harvard’s definition of antisemitism, students and professionals react.
BY AVERY BELISLE agbelisle@vwu.edu
Antisemitism, regarded as one of the oldest recorded forms of prejudice, has increased in prevalence in America following the Oct. 7 attacks according to the Anti-Defamation League, with misinformation fueling a rise in harassment and violence. University campuses have seen growing tensions as debates over Israel and Palestine escalate into hate speech and discrimination.
In response to these tensions, Harvard University has moved toward strengthening its campus policies related to antisemitic discrimination and hate speech.
As part of a settlement resolving two federal lawsuits, the university has agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, a comprehensive and specific definition which includes certain forms of stereotyping, antiZionist and anti-Israel rhetoric.
Harvard’s decision has sparked conversation among students, faculty and legal experts across the U.S., reflecting a broader national discussion about where the separation between political expression and hate speech lies.
Although the issues stemming from the Middle East are complicated to discuss due to the extensive history in the region, junior Nathan Prince emphasized open, respectful discussion to address major conflicts.
“If no one talks about the difficult subjects, then nothing will change,” Prince said. Prince is a member of the Simcha Club, the Jewish chapter of VWU’s campus ministries.
“Unfortunately, in many cases, what is happening on campuses goes beyond political debate and becomes targeted harassment,”
senior Emma Wehr, an initial founder of Simcha Club, said.
She pointed to instances of antisemitism that reached the news at universities such as UCLA, University of Rochester and Columbia, all of which have experienced rising tensions, protests and incidents of hate speech surrounding the conflict.
“Meaningful discussions can only happen in an environment where all students feel safe and respected,” Wehr said. “Free speech should encourage thoughtful discussion, not harassment or intimidation.”
Dr. Eric Mazur, professor of Religious Studies, discussed the complexities of discussion and debate when it morphs into hatred. “Much of the present debate–wherein much of the harassing rhetoric is directed at Jewish students, faculty members or campus guests–conflates identities in a racist dimension,”
Mazur said.
“The conflation of Zionism with support for the policies or actions of the government in Israel is itself a racist act.”
He equated the importance of Zionism to the safety of the Jewish people.
“Zionism is the long-held hope of the Jewish people for a homeland where they are free to live their lives as Jews,” Mazur said. “Opposing Zionism is the equivalent of telling Jews that you support the continuation of the centuries-long history of violence against Jews.”
Mazur explained his perspective on the hypocrisy in
“[Trump’s] attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t about a particular program or some acronym — they’re just a sanitized substitute for the racist comments that can no longer be spoken openly,” President of the Southern Poverty Law Center Margaret Huang said to The New York Times.
According to Inside Higher Education, we will unlikely see an immediate effect on higher education as any change will require agency action. However, Ivy League schools are being put under the microscope.
“Dear Ivy League universities, you are officially on notice. President Trump has declared that any race-based discrimination, including DEI-style discrimination, is now a violation of civil rights law and will put your federal funding in jeopardy,” senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, Christopher Rufo, tweeted. “Abolish DEI, or get wrecked.”
Although Ivy League schools are not the only ones at risk, they are being examined following a report published by the Equal Protection Program (EPP) that found Ivy
these discussions of blaming all Jewish people for the decisions of the Israeli government, which is elected by a “diverse population of citizens, only approximately 75% of whom are Jewish.”
Mazur said, “This would be like condemning … all Christians for the actions of the United States (where nearly 70% of the population is Christian).”
“Having a clear definition of antisemitism in the campus policy against discrimination can help better protect students by clarifying what constitutes antisemitic hate and ensuring that concerns are taken seriously,” Wehr said.
Currently, Virginia Wesleyan University has a policy against discrimination, but no institutional definition for what constitutes hate speech, harassment or discrimination which Wehr said has the potential to leave students vulnerable to certain forms of harassment and reduce the efficacy of disciplinary proceedings.
“As for the university’s current anti-discrimination policy, while it provides broad protections, adding more specific definitions of what discrimination looks like for different groups could help ensure that no student feels overlooked or unprotected,” Wehr said.
“Free
League Universities sidestepping the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action. At Virginia Wesleyan University, students express concerns beyond budgetary funding.
“I don’t think it should affect here, but in the broader sense, especially with schools that have historically not been diverse groups, it’s going to affect more than we would wish to,” sophomore and Student Government Association President, Miles Pifer, said.
Accessibility to higher education for marginalized groups is a concern among students.
“It would make it harder for Black students to have the courage/motivation to go out there and put the effort in,” junior and President of the Black Student Union, Daryl Tucker, said.
There is also concern about accessibility to education in terms of scholarships and aid. “Those policies are in place to help people who cannot or do not have the opportunities in place to go to college or university, using myself as an example, I had to dig for a lot of the ones that would apply to me as someone who is on an autism spectrum,” Pifer said.
“It could make it harder for Black students to access resources and feel supported, potentially leading to lower enrollment and retention rates,” Tucker said.
Prince spoke on expanding definitions for discrimination and harassment for many forms of hatred, not just antisemitism. “If some definitions are changed to be more specific, then all of the other ones need to be changed as well,” Prince said.
Mazur pointed to the difficulties of encapsulating a concept such as antisemitism into a definition which would be included in university policy.
“The history of antisemitism is far too long and far too complex for the concept to be contained in a single definition; we could take an entire semester (or year) exploring all of its roots and ramifications,” Mazur said.
Prince and Mazur said there are more ways to address antisemitism on campus than to include a specific definition in university policy. For example, Prince spoke about forming cultural bonds and educating students on the Jewish experience.
“Universities could bring
Jewish speakers in to speak about Judaism as a whole to teach people about what it means to be Jewish,” Prince said. “By sharing with people what it means to be Jewish, students may feel a connection to certain beliefs and/ or viewpoints, and this could bring unity.”
“A university has a primary mission–to educate–and institutions fail when they falter in the pursuit of that primary mission,” Mazur said.
He pointed towards taking a firm stand against offenders on campus. “Anyone who in any way creates any kind of impediment to that mission should risk removal from that institution,” Mazur said.
The conversation around antisemitism on college campuses brought on by Harvard’s restructuring of its policy reflects a wide range of perspectives on how best to address discrimination while protecting freedom of expression on college campuses.
speech should encourage thoughtful discussion, not harassment or intimidation.”
Senior Emma Wehr
Advocates against DEI initiatives believe DEI policies are not advancing the cause of the civil rights movement. “I’ve long argued that affirmative action needed to be race-neutral and that DEI policies created conflict and turmoil in the workplace and on college and university campuses,” political scientist and former Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University, Carol Swain, said in an article.
In this same article, Swain discussed how ending DEI initiatives and policies will not end diversity and instead lead to domination by white-privileged males, as pre-existing anti-discrimination laws “will ensure a healthy diversity of bodies, minds, and talents.”
“A decade into Proposition 209’s effect, only 96 of the 4,800 first-year students expected to enroll at UCLA were Black,” James Moskowitz, a Batten lecturer in Political Science, said. “The UC system reported one of its most racially diverse classes this past year.”
Proposition 209 is California’s constitutional amendment that prohibits the use of race, gender and/or ethnicity by state agencies for public employment, education and contracting. According to this, a school like UCLA removing consideration of race during the admissions process does not end diversity in the long term.
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
The Peace Garden serves as a memorial to the Robert Nusbaum Center’s Director, Dr. Catharine Cookson, who passed away in 2004. The garden represents the goals of the center, being inclusivity, diversity and civil dialogue.
Marie Porter|Courtesy
Campus Ministries hosted a Hanukkah party at Haygood Church where students baked a traditional Jewish pastry, Sufganiyot.
Concerning fact-checking policy decisions from the platform, Minnis used the word “amoral” to describe Zuckerberg. “I don't think that he has much interest in what's good for society or what's bad for society. I think he has a very pragmatic, libertarian outlook about strategy, about the company, and if public opinion is moving one way, he'll follow it there,” Minnis said.
Minnis elaborated on what he presumed to be Meta’s motivations. “When they do seem to be making trust and safety efforts, fact-checking and various other mechanisms for hopefully reducing misinformation, they seem to be mostly empty PR efforts,” Minnis said, adding that the same concept applied for when they removed them.
“We might make fun of grandma for always posting cat memes, but she's not destroying democracy, right?”
Dr. Stuart Minnis
X is often looped in with Meta in these criticisms. “I think right now this shows how much we cannot trust those in power and those who run things like Instagram, Meta, X,” junior Meadow Schmitt said. “I think no matter how accurate they are, it is always the best to look into it for yourself.”
Alumnus Shawn Grimmer (‘94) vouched for alternatives to Meta and X. Grimmer advocated for Virginia Wesleyan to use Bluesky, a rising social media platform that compares to X. Grimmer’s background shaped his stance on fact-checking. In delivering prescriptions to AIDS patients, Grimmer encountered the impact of misinformation throughout his career. His career in sports journalism and broadcasting strengthened his
passion for accuracy.
“The fact that Meta has decided to remove their fact checkers or reduce the number is very dangerous to me,” Grimmer said.
He spoke on the online migration of different parties. “Especially after the elections, a lot of science groups and scientists were leaving X and coming over to Bluesky,” Grimmer said.
looked forward to seeing posts that celebrated Wesleyan’s accomplishments, especially in sports. “I reposted them with pride,” Grimmer said.
To Grimmer, social media means a lot to the alumni network. “It’s something I’m missing a lot more that I didn’t know that I would miss,” which he said motivated his outreach to
“There are ways to check facts about the world. The question is ‘can a social media system effectively implement that?’ And unfortunately, I think the answer is no,” Minnis said.
Senior Judah King said that it is common that “people take what is being put out to us at face value.”
He suggested that it often takes further research to distinguish
Grimmer reached out to VWU’s Office of Marketing & Communications to pitch the usage of Bluesky. In this correspondence, Grimmer said the department “didn't really indicate that they were showing much concern, just based on the low numbers there.”
Grimmer said that he was not necessarily asking the university to leave platforms they currently use, but he felt that Bluesky “would be a good platform to at least seek some claim.”
Grimmer personally chose to abandon X and Meta platforms.
“I completely dropped off of all Meta.” One thing Grimmer misses from these platforms is the connections. He said he
the university.
Minnis said this recreational use of social media is separate from relying on it for factual news. He said, “We might make fun of grandma for always posting cat memes, but she's not destroying democracy, right?”
Minnis pointed to the logistics of mass content management. “Let's say you're in charge of ‘trust and safety’ of Facebook. You've got literally billions of posts being put up per day. How do you fact-check that?” Minnis explained that as “a mechanism for information that's designed for ordinary people to put their letter in,” content moderation for social media is “fantastically difficult.”
between fact and bias. He said this is important as a college student, with higher education institutions serving as a hub for topical discussions.
“I think we as a culture have been so eager to rush away from the institutions of legacy media, that we failed to realize the cost that's been paid for that now that the information we get is completely uncurated,” Minnis said.
Minnis pointed to the differences from when print media was the predominant news source and broke down the operational differences of print publications. “There were reputational, financial and possibly legal repercussions for
publishing outright falsehoods for sure, and there was an editorial team that could know exactly what was getting published,” Minnis said.
According to Minnis, the cultural impact of social media as a platform for news is “destructive,” and has “been a problem since the beginning of social media, arguably, since the beginning of the internet as a public platform in the 90s.”
Minnis referenced legislative attempts at statewide content moderation policies. “Texas and Florida both passed laws that actually made it illegal for social media platforms to do any content moderation. Those two laws collectively got struck down because that's a different kind of censorship,” Minnis said. He explained that the Supreme Court rendered these as unconstitutional.
Minnis pointed out existing strategies for fact-checking on social media, including a team of people with the role of filtering, AI algorithms and user moderation (i.e. report systems).
Regarding these systems,
“Journalism as an institution has been undermined.”
Minnis said, “It's not just that they're never going to be perfect. They're never going to get anywhere close to perfect, even in the best possible circumstances.”
Among other institutions, Minnis said that “journalism as an institution has been undermined.” He connected the quality of journalism to the quality of life. “I think it's been bad for journalism, and that's been bad for everybody.”
“Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part, but I kind of have this feeling that eventually we’ll figure out how bad this is as a way for getting our information about the world, and we'll change course,” Minnis said. In the meantime, he said that society must adopt a system for getting accurate information, because it does not exist anymore.
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle
The Marlin Chronicle's table polled passerbys at the Student Involvement Fair on Feb. 7. Out of 17 participants, 15 answered "no" and two answered "yes."
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Dr. Stuart Minnis
The MARLIN CHRONICLE
Editor-in-Chief
Lily Reslink lbreslink@vwu.edu
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Illustrations Editor
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Josue Maradiaga jmmaradiaga@vwu.edu
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Nevermind the Super Bowl, here’s the Ethics Bowl
BY DUDA BERNARDO mdefreitasbernardo@vwu.edu
Virginia Wesleyan’s Ethics Bowl team debated the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) at the 25th annual Ethics Bowl on Feb. 7 at the University of Richmond, after holding a live demonstration for the VWU community.
Sponsored by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), the annual collegiate Applied Ethics Bowl connects student teams from 17 VFIC member institutions every year. Students come together to debate real-world ethical dilemmas that increasingly impact people’s lives.
Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, professor of Media and Communication and faculty coordinator for the team, said VWU’s team “did an amazing job” at the competition.
They arrived home undefeated after winning rounds against multiple schools, including Hollins University, last year’s Ethics Bowl champions. However, the team did not have enough points to qualify for the championship round.
“Virginia Wesleyan, though, was the only school to win all of its rounds,” Jackson said.
VWU has won twice since the competition’s inception, and it was twice the runner-up. Over the past four years, VWU’s team won thirteen of its rounds and lost three.
This year, the competition’s format changed. Instead of receiving only a topic, students were given four case studies in mid-November to prepare for the February debate. The advance notice allowed them to conduct prior research and be better prepared for the competition.
The Robert Nusbaum Center hosted a debate demonstration for the team to practice in front of judges and an audience before the statewide event. The team gathered the VWU community at the Lighthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 4 for the demonstration.
For the debate demonstration, participants were split into two teams. Team one, which traveled to Richmond on Friday, included seniors Abigail Villacrusis, Casey Bennett and Christian Palmisano, along with junior Andrew Steiner. Team two consisted of juniors Anna Greenleaf and Lily Reslink and sophomore Avery Belisle. The team was accompanied by advisor Jackson.
Philosophy, Dr. Kellie Holzer, professor of English, and Attorney at Law Henry “Hank” Howell, III.
The teams engaged in discussions on this year’s topic, “Ethics and Artificial Intelligence,” and proposed solutions for one of the four case studies they were given in advance.
Students elaborated on ethical principles and engaged in questioning and answering with the opposing team.
This year’s focus on AI challenged students to explore various ethical issues arising from the use and application of AI. The topic allowed students to consider the ethics behind this evolving technology.
Jackson said people should consider the ethics of any new technology. “We just think about how our lives are going to be made better, easier, and not really what the ethical dimensions of that will be,” she said.
She said AI has the potential to be life and society changing. “I think it would be a mistake not to consider the ethical implications for that, along with the technical side of it and the practical side of it too,” Jackson said.
Villacrusis said AI is like a calculator, a helpful but not reliable tool. “Before you use a calculator, you have to learn the formulas,” she said.
“No matter what you do, no matter what career you have, there’s gonna be some sort of AI to use, whether it’s Google Translate or ChatGPT or even just advanced Grammarly,” Villacrusis said.
AI has been making its way into higher education, prompting discussions about its potential benefits, challenges and now
ethical implications.
Bennett said that AI has become popular very quickly and is something we are incorporating in our lives, despite the unexplored ethical ramifications of its use. “We’re using it, incorporating it, but there are still a lot of ethical questions unanswered,” Bennett said.
Villacrusis said the demonstration provided practice for performing in front of an audience. “While our team is experienced, there’s plenty of people and in past years that haven’t had to speak in front of an audience before, and that can be absolutely nerve-wracking,” she said.
At the competition, students must be prepared to ask and answer questions within short time frames, typically one to two minutes.
Jackson, who began coaching the team in 2012, said the demonstration is like having a dress rehearsal for a play. It gives students “the opportunity to perform before an audience, to see what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are, to look the part,” she said.
Jackson believes this is the most valuable way for students to prepare days before they leave. Students “have the opportunity to argue a case before an audience, and they get really good feedback, and they’re able to kind of modify their performances after that, given the comments people in the audience make and the judges make,” she said.
Bennett and Villacrusis said they were unsure what to expect with the new format. Villacrusis mentioned the importance of
getting feedback from the judges as a way to prepare.
“It is hard to prep because a lot of Ethics Bowl involves bouncing off the other team,” Bennett said. While they can prepare their opening and questions, they may still need to adjust their approach during the debate.
Students, faculty and members of the community gathered to support the team during the demonstration.
“I think it makes me and my view of the world a little more round than you know, the one discipline I might be focused on,” senior Sam Silvia said.
Katie Baker, a senior, said she has attended as many practices as possible over the years to support her friend, Palmisano. “It’s more about being supportive because you know that they are probably stressed and I just want to be there for him,” she said.
“I’ve helped with the deliberative dialogues that are put on by the Nusbaum Center before, and those really give people a chance to think critically and respond to each other,” Baker said. She added that events like this offer a space for people to share their opinions.
Since its inception in 2000, the Ethics Bowl has presented more than 156 different cases based on ethical dilemmas in contemporary life.
With almost half of the participants graduating this year, the team hopes the demonstration will inspire more students to join the Ethics Bowl.
Bennett has been a part of the Ethics Bowl team since he was a freshman. He said he was excited to pass the torch going into his fourth year in the competition.
Judges for the Ethics Bowl demonstration included Dr. Steven Emmanuel, professor of
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
The VDH also informed attendees that naloxone would have no effect on those without opioids in their system, including no negative reaction, and that naloxone could be used to treat a pet that had ingested opioids.
The VDH discussed how Good Samaritan laws apply to those administering naloxone and the person needing medical attention.
While purchasing naloxone from a pharmacy over the counter costs about $50, the VDH makes naloxone available for free to anyone who goes to a health department run by them.
“I’m really grateful that the university is providing students with this opportunity,” junior Kaza Dayton said after participating in the training.
The event coordinators intend on repeating the hour-long training semesterly as a cooperative event with the VDH and the counseling center, with more in-depth training being held as
interest develops.
Michelle DeRosa, the director of Counseling and Student Health, spoke about groups on college campuses that are at high risk for recreational drug use and the possibility of these drugs being contaminated with fentanyl. DeRosa also discussed patient confidentiality in the counseling center.
“This is what makes movement and change happen,” DeRosa said during the training.
According to DeRosa, the counseling center will potentially work with the VDH to host “train the trainer” classes to educate participants on teaching others how to administer naloxone. These courses would allow VWU to not “rely on the Virginia Beach Department of Health to come and coordinate,” DeRosa said.
DeRosa said that alongside education, the counseling center is attempting to make naloxone available to students in the case of an emergency. Security, the Counseling Center and the Student Health Clinic will have naloxone available for use if needed.
DeRosa emphasized making Narcan accessible “in a way that makes sense to our student body.”
“The challenges of getting it on campus was mostly just trying to coordinate schedules and see where we’re going to carry the Narcan,” DeRosa said.
“I think that giving students the resources to do something about an emergency situation is really important,” Dayton said.
“I’m really happy how it turned out. I can’t wait to provide more access,” DeRosa said. During the first week of classes, 22 people attended the training.
Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle
The VWU Ethics Bowl team practices during the demonstration hosted annually in Clarke Hall.
Aiden Croghan|Marlin Chronicle
Students highlight J-term experiences
BY AIDEN CROGHAN accroghan@vwu.edu
January term is a divisive time for many students at Virginia Wesleyan. Some students dread the extra time spent in classes on campus rather than at home with their families, while some students are excited about taking more classes and spending more time with their friends at school.
Three students, Jocelyn Kaelin, Brevin De Jesus and Quinn Spitzer, used their J-Term to take classes that differ significantly from the classes offered during the regular semester.
Kaelin, a freshman, went to Maui as part of the class, “Maui: Sea to Sky,” a 300-level Sports and Recreation Management course. The class looked at adventure tourism and its impact
on the environment. The class spent seven days on the island on the trip, led by Dr. Doug Kennedy. The group did service learning, hiking expeditions and recreational activities, like learning to surf.
“We hiked across a stream that’s called 13 Crossings. We had to cross it 13 times to get to a waterfall. That was incredibly cool. We got to swim under the waterfall which was crazy, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Kaelin said, talking about one of the hikes the group went on.
On one of the group’s service learning trips, they picked weeds so that a new taro field could be planted. “We worked in the mud for this charity organization that is aiming for Hawaiian kids to go back to their culture and learn
about the traditional agricultural practices,” Kaelin said.
The trip also had time for leisure. “We got to learn to surf, which was probably my favorite part, because that’s like a lifelong dream of mine that I’ve wanted to do. I saw Teen Beach Movie when I was six and I was like, I want to be like that,” Kaelin said.
De Jesus, a freshman, took “EDUC 408: Field Experience in Education,” taught by Dr. William McConnell, which took him to Costa Rica to learn the environmental lesson plans taught by the Stroud Water Research Center and the services of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, as well as additional organizations.
“We did a multitude of things. A lot of it was environmental education, so we were consistently out working with different organizations, learning about how they bring groups of kids to these different areas. They’ll go snorkeling, they’ll go to the national parks there and they’ll get to learn about the local species, the environment, what macroinvertebrates live within the streams in that area, what might cause harm to them and what might threaten these locations and the environment down there,” De Jesus said.
Spitzer, a sophomore, took the course, “Scanning Electron Microscopy,” taught by Dr. Victor Townsend, which kept her on campus for J-term.
This class was an instructional class on operating the scanning electron microscope, referred to as “driving it,” and preparing samples for it. The class was more focused on individual instruction than most classes taught at Virginia Wesleyan.
“We’d have this little sheet of paper, our ‘driving instructions,’ and then Dr. Townsend would sit
Students speak their mind at Black History Month events
BY MEENA LENNON mjlennon@vwu.edu
Every February serves as a month to educate people on the struggles and accomplishments of African Americans throughout history and honor their ongoing achievements. This month, people celebrate those from the Black community in both our student and faculty bodies. Departments across the university hosted events such as Soul Food Night, Black Karaoke and Black History Trivia. All of these events aim at spreading awareness of Black culture and educating our campus on the history of Black people.
According to US News & World Report, Virginia Wesleyan was No. 19 in Ethnic Diversity in 2019 among national liberal arts colleges.
Opeyemi Kareem-Ojo, a junior, attended the Black Karaoke Event. Kareem-Ojo said that this event made him feel empowered.
“It’s not about talking about slavery all the time, it’s saying okay, we’re smart, we’re athletic, we can be doctors, we can be basketball players, we can be musicians,” Kareem-Ojo said. “We can be whatever we want to be, and no one can take that away from us, so that’s why we celebrate.”
Jacob Little, a freshman, said that he thinks these events are important for educating and raising awareness around Black History Month (BHM). He said that being in a predominantly white institution can mean that those from black communities get overlooked and ignored. Little attended the Soul Food Night on campus and said the food was a “good representation of what the culture is.”
“It was really soul food night that
brought everybody out of their rooms,” Marquez Glover, a sophomore, said. “I saw faces I’ve never seen before.”
Black Student Union (BSU) President Daryl Tucker said she hopes that all students have a safe place on campus. She added that in BSU, Black accomplishments are celebrated.
“It is empowering to learn the good and inspiring parts of your culture, and being able to do so in a safe place is even more empowering,” Tucker said.
Virginia Wesleyan’s Website says “Virginia Wesleyan does not discriminate on the basis of race.” Kareem-Ojo, when asked if the school was representative of Black people, said, “I think they could do more.”
Little expressed a similar sentiment.
Kareem-Ojo said there had been experiences on campus where students had felt as though there had been microaggressions such as racist comments or gestures which he said, “show what you actually feel about us.” Kareem-Ojo said he feels that there are members of the campus community who are “outright racist.”
“I think the school is working towards being inclusive but some students and faculty comments or behaviors would say otherwise,” Tucker said, noting that she felt student concerns were inadequately addressed.
Concerning community events, Little and Kareem-Ojo expressed that the BHM events were inclusive to everyone on campus but acknowledged it can be intimidating for non-Black students to feel welcomed. They said the school does aim to be inclusive and BSU welcomes students of all races.
right behind us and direct us for the first two weeks, and then the last week, we went on our own a little bit,” Spitzer said, on the structure of the class.
To prepare the samples for the microscope, samples had to be completely dried out and covered in a gold plating, which would reflect the electrons back that give the microscope its function.
The microscope can show clear images at magnifications in excess of 50,000x.
Spitzer, Kaelin and De Jesus recommended that students take courses like these to broaden their educational horizons. Microscopy classes can also help students to earn certifications that may help them find jobs in the future.
“It is easy to be saddened by our history, but this month is a time to celebrate all of the wonderful pioneers that have come and to come,” Tucker said. Regarding the role of campus during
BHM, Little mentioned that an emphasis on inclusivity is important as it can help educate students by giving them insight
Laila Jones|The Marlin Chronicle
Students attending the BSU Karaoke event on Feb. 4.
Jocelyn Kaelin|Courtesy
Jocelyn Kaelin, freshman, riding a wave while learning how to surf in Maui.
Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle An artistic recreation of students snowball-fighting during J-term.
Victoria Haneline|Marlin Chronicle [TOP] Closeup photo of L. politum, commonly known as a daddy long-legs. [BOTTOM] Closeup photo of an intel motherboard. Both photos taken with a scanning electron microscope.
Letter from the Editor
I could not have ever imagined the changes that would take shape in my life when I joined The Marlin Chronicle. That could sound stupid without the full story. Unfortunately, for anyone intrigued, I am not here to tell that story.
I am in this role to tell stories that are not my own. At the heart of journalism is uplifting voices and sharing knowledge of others. This is something I find myself called to do. Even before joining as a staff writer my first semester, the impact of storytelling has captivated me.
As my fleeting years on the Chronicle pass, I only grow more thankful for every opportunity provided and more proud of everything accomplished. I feel beyond honored to now fill the Editor-in-Chief position. Each day I seek to meaningfully uphold the standards of a news publication rooted in truth.
True journalism harbors powerful potential. Rather than division, it should encourage connection. It circulates stories of humans told by humans for other humans.
I recently lived in a place very far from home for an extended period of time. One thing that taught me is that authenticity is the bridge between you and anyone. The more that the world learns about each other, the closer we become. The divide begins to disappear.
Our stories are what make us human. Sharing them is what makes us a collective humanity.
If you have a story to tell, I know some people who might be interested. Reach out.
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Lily is a junior studying Media and Communication. Upon returning from a semester abroad, she has stepped into the Editor-in-Chief role.
Communiqué: A call to communication
BY ISAAC FICK ihfick@vwu.edu
As the News Editor and newly the Opinions Editor of The Marlin Chronicle, I value communication in full and the results thereof. I believe that every voice deserves to be heard, even by those who are not directly affected. As a campus community, we can do a better job of fulfilling our duty of communicating with one another. This is something that I have seen in the world at large, not just at a small scale. We can do better. We can start here.
In my time so far at Virginia Wesleyan, I have noticed many students take issue with certain changes or events they consider negative. From what I have seen, these discussions take place among students and remain limited to this. Students need to speak up to professors and administrators, not just to each other.
I believe that this can be assisted by increased attentiveness from administration. In my position as a student, it is evident that I am not fully aware of the ins and outs of what administrators do in reference to this. This recommendation is in no way attacking or degrading the work that the administrators at VWU perform. Administrators should always be attentive to student complaints, and if they are already, I invite them to explain in detail how they do this, because it seems unclear to many students
including myself.
As an example, I often hear students complain about parking on campus and how the construction of the Virginia MOCA has affected this. Whether administrators actively view this as an objective issue or not, I am certain that students would appreciate an in-depth explanation of the situation.
We are all people. Our positions should be irrelevant in reference to our feelings. All it takes is respect, effort and time from everyone to ensure that communication takes place. Communication and transparency are key. Every individual on this campus should feel that they are on the same team, including anyone not affected by a particular issue. I encourage students to share their concerns with the people who can make change occur. I encourage administrators to do the very same thing, along with helping students find the safety they need to make their voice heard.
This university should be a two-way relationship, equal on all levels. Even though everyone has occasional conflicting interests, whether you are studying, teaching, instructing, administrating, cleaning or keeping the campus safe, we all want the same thing: the best experience possible.
I am not assuming a side of this story. I side with the lesson of communication. We can all win if we compromise.
“Communication and transparency are key.”
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
BY LILY RESLINK lbreslink@vwu.edu
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Owen Davis|Courtesy
Isaac is a sophomore studying Media and Communication. As of spring 2025, he is both the News Editor and Opinions Editor for The Marlin Chronicle.
Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle
Men’s Volleyball finds their bearings
BY BRIAN MADDEN bvmadden@vwu.edu
In 2024, the Marlins Men’s Volleyball team went 8-18 for the season. In their first year of ODAC competition, they seemed to figure it out. The Marlins went 6-2 overall in their first eight games. After winning their first two games of the season against University of Lynchburg and Hood College, the Marlins had two players earn ODAC Players of the Week honors.
For the tournament weekend, the Marlins opened 3-1.
Sophomore JaMarhe Wills earned ODAC offensive player of the week, accounting for 56 points powered by 49 kills.
Wills started the season against Lynchburg on Jan. 21 with 11 kills, 1 assist, 3 digs and 2 blocks. In the Marlins win over Hood College on Jan. 24, Wills recorded 6 kills with 0 errors. Wills added 19 winners, 2 assists, an ace, 3 digs and a block in a 3-2 loss to Marymount University on Jan. 24.
Sophomore Matthew Sheppard was selected for ODAC defensive player of the week. In the team’s first four matches, Sheppard recorded 12 total blocks, 22 digs, 37 kills and 5 aces.
In the 3-0 win over Lynchburg, Sheppard pushed the Marlins to a win with 3 blocks, 8 digs, 7 kills,
1 assist and an ace. In the win against Hood College, Sheppard had 2 blocks, 1 dig, 7 kills and 2 aces. Sheppard then recorded 9 digs, 2 blocks and 13 kills in the close loss to Marymount. To cap off the week, Sheppard added 5 blocks, 4 digs and 10 kills in a 3-2 win over St. Norbert College.
Following a 3-2 start to the season, the Marlins defeated Wilkes University, in which Wills led the Marlins in kills, aces and digs. The Marlins went on to win two more matches against King’s College and Fisher College. It has been an impressive start to the season for the Marlins, as they have nearly reached their win total from all of last season in just eight games.
Director of Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Karissa Cumberbatch believes the biggest change this year is depth and experience.
“We brought in two transfers and two freshmen that are contributing at a high level,” Cumberbatch said.
Adding effective players has helped the Marlins start the season off strong and build on the experience they had last year.
“With a year of experience behind us, and an understanding of what the season will look like for us, we are able to put more effort into improving ourselves individually to benefit the group as a whole,” Cumberbatch said.
After a rough season in 2024, the Marlins had work to do in the offseason to prepare for a 2025 campaign.
“Last year we worried about chemistry and being prepared as a team to break skills down and drill more often,” Cumberbatch said.
Hoping to continue this success, the Marlins look toward the future. “Our success this year will help in future recruiting classes and bringing in talent that wants to continue to compete at a high level,” Cumberbatch said.
As the team continues to develop, the Marlins expect to keep winning. “It will build a sense of pride within our culture as a team,” Cumberbatch said.
The Marlins have matches on Feb. 14 against Immaculata University and Feb. 15 against Eastern University and University of Valley Forge. Following those matches, the Marlins have five straight ODAC matches.
SportsHead|Eagles dismantle Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025, 40-22, to break up the possibility of a
3-peat for the Chiefs. In what seemed to be a battle of two juggernauts going into the game, the Eagles dominated from start to finish as the Chiefs were shut out in the first half trailing 24-0. With this win for the Eagles, they officially got their revenge after a heartbreaking 38-35 loss just two years ago in Super Bowl 2023 against the Chiefs.
The big difference between the two Super Bowls was the defensive pressure from the Eagles. Two years ago, when the Eagles lost to the Chiefs, they recorded 70 sacks in the regular season, which was a franchise record, but they did not sack quarterback Patrick Mahomes once in the Super Bowl. This time around, the Eagles generated 16 pressures and sacked Mahomes six times, all while not blitzing Mahomes once on his 42 dropbacks.
Mahomes has now lost two Super Bowls, and in both of those games, the opposing defenses had constant pressure to not allow Mahomes to have time. Edge rusher Josh Sweat headlined the Eagles’ defense, recording two and a half sacks to go along with six total tackles.
It was not just the defensive front that was causing issues for Mahomes as defensive back. Cooper DeJean made the play of his life intercepting Mahomes and returning it for a touchdown to give the Eagles a large and early lead. Linebacker Zach Baun also recorded a crucial interception inside the Chiefs 20-yard line to boost the lead even more for the Eagles.
This will go down as one of Mahomes’ worst wcareer games so far, but the Eagles dominating defense wasn’t the only factor. Their overwhelming offense
could not be stopped by the Chiefs. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts threw for 221 yards and two passing touchdowns while also rushing for a touchdown.
Hurts broke a Super Bowl record in rushing yards by a quarterback with 72, previously held by himself two years ago.
After being criticized for years on whether he could win the big game, this Super Bowl victory has finally given Hurts the respect of sports analysts around the world . The one thing that the Chiefs did well in this game is that their defense completely bottled up Saquon Barkley as he rushed for just 57 yards on 25 carries.
It was clear that the game plan was to try and eliminate Barkley from the game and force Hurts to beat the Chiefs with his arm.
Saquon Barkley broke the alltime rushing yards record in a
season, including the postseason, with 2,504 yards.
Hurts now becomes just the third quarterback to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs, joining Tom Brady and Joe Burrow. The Eagles will have a realistic shot at getting back to the Super Bowl next season, as they might not lose any key players to free agency.
As for the Chiefs, they still have three rings already with Mahomes and just made it to three straight Super Bowls, but it will be tough to get back to the big game with the limited salary cap and exposed weaknesses on the offensive line. I don’t doubt Mahomes will get back there soon.
The Eagles have now won their second Super Bowl in eight years while beating the two potentially greatest quarterbacks of all time, Brady and Mahomes.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle Sophomore JaMarhe Wills spikes the ball over defenders.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Men’s Volleyball celebrates a point scored at match against Randolph-Macon on Feb. 5.
Women’s Basketball shows progress
BY ELI CASEY emcasey@vwu.edu
The Virginia Wesleyan’s Women’s Basketball team has struggled this season. The Marlins currently sit in second to last place of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, with a 5-15 overall record, 1-12 in conference play. With only four games left in the season, and currently No. 12 in conference, the Marlins will not qualify for the postseason.
The team is working to keep morale high. “We’re actually in a really good place with each other,” Keagan Schwab, a graduate transfer who currently leads the team in scoring, said. Despite the tough season, the team has found ways to celebrate their wins, both on and off the court. One of the ways they have done this is by looking back to last year. In the 2023-2024 season, the Women’s Basketball team finished with an overall record of 3-22, 1-17 in conference. Their only ODAC win came against Hollins University in overtime.
“Compared to last season, I feel like as a team, we’ve been doing really well,” Brianna Long, a freshman, said. Currently, Long is the second team leader in scoring and tied for first in rebounds and steals.
The Marlins have been able to compete with some of their opponents, but the challenge is closing the games out. “We can come in high to the third and like, that last few minutes of the game is where we start making mistakes,” Long said. Freshman Breyona Robinson agreed.
“Some of the games we play, we let them come into the game. We could have done better,” Robinson said.
With team morale still high, the goal of the final four games of the season is to finish hard and with pride. “Now that I feel like we’ve learned more, it’s getting to the end of the season, we can pick it up at the end,” Jaiden Hunter, a freshman, said.
“I feel like we could get at least a couple more,” Schwab said. “A win to end the season would be wonderful.”
Even in the face of adversity, the Marlins have been able to learn and improve. “There’s definitely been a lot of growth
along the way,” Schwab said. “There’s pieces that are building together.”
With a roster consisting of several new players, including six freshman and a graduate transfer, the Marlins have had to adjust to playing together.
“We have to learn. We have to work together more. You know, play as a team. Some of us haven’t played with each other, transfers, freshmen, fifth years. We all have to learn how to work together and play as a team for real,” Hunter said.
For the freshmen, the transition from high school to college has been an adjustment, but one they have embraced.
“There’s definitely been a learning curve, like there’s definitely been an adjustment,” Long said. “It’s like, okay, you’re coming out here, this chick is 6 foot. She can body me anytime. I’m only 5’8”. How do I do it?”
The Marlins have placed a strong emphasis on mental toughness and rebounding from adversity this season.
“When we get punched, sometimes it can be difficult to get back, but we still fight hard,” Robinson said.
“I try to look at the stats in the game, or the film of it, and be like, okay, that was my fault, or that was my point,” Long said. “Then going into the next game feeling sorry for whoever we’re playing, because now I have something to prove and make up.”
Remaining focused on the game after halftime is critically important for the Marlins.
“We need to stay focused. Our focus sometimes goes down, or you know, we could be in it, and then as soon as they get their little boost or the little run of points, that’s when we fall down,” Hunter said. “We can definitely pick that up.”
The Marlins may not be heading into the postseason, but they’ve laid the foundation for a stronger season, one they are excited for. “I feel like it’ll be so much better next year, and everything will just go better,” Robinson said.
With a young core of talent and a season of experience under their belts, the Marlins are looking ahead to brighter days.
Spring sports preview
BY SYDNEE WASHINGTON & CROSSON MILLER sawashington2@vwu.edu & lcmiller@vwu.edu
Marlins spring sports are upon us once again, and we may see some of the same dominance we saw in the fall. Softball is coming off another dominant performance in 2023-24, and they look to continue their NCAA
Tournament appearance streak. Baseball had a turnaround season last year and hope to improve upon their record once again.
Men’s Volleyball inaugural season left something more to be desired, and their early performance this season looks like they have something to prove. Men’s Tennis is No. 3 in the ODAC preseason poll and hopes to continue their dominance from last year, despite losing major
contributors. Women’s Tennis aims to improve upon their last season and extend their playoff berth. With their second year under coach Heck, Women’s Lacrosse is set on making the playoffs again, and furthering their season. Men’s Lacrosse aims to turn things around under newly hired head coach Sam Jones and end the 10 year playoff drought. In all, the spring sports of Virginia Wesleyan are a team to watch within the state, conference and country.
Sydnee Washington|Marlin Chronicle
Emilie Dajc|Marlin Chronicle
Women’s Basketball graduate student Keagan Schwab posts up in a game against Roanoke.
Emilie Dajc|Marlin Chronicle
Women’s Basketball freshman Mia Alexander plays tight defense in a game against Roanoke.
Marlins on ice
Virginia Beach’s winter wonderland is just around the corner.
website, this origin story was only a local legend until a founding member stopped by and confirmed it during a recent remodeling project.
they are unsure of their footing at first. This increases accessibility for people of all ages, allowing them to feel included.
“A lot of people come out and, you know, they watch people skate, and see how beautiful it is and just want to try it. Once they learn how to balance certain elements they just continue on. Some of them just do it for recreation, or fun and exercise,” Appleby said.
The busy atmosphere of the rink during public sessions can allow a more comfortable space for a beginner on the ice or let a seasoned skater sharpen their skills. Staff are on the ice too, to ensure safety and to be attentive to anyone who is struggling.
VWU freshman Gabrielle Christos visited the Iceland Family Skating Center. She is new to ice skating but gave it her best shot.
“I would say once I got the hang of it, it was very calming. Especially since being an Education major, all the kids there, and just of course seeing other people learning definitely made it more fun,” Christos said.
Iceland Family Skating Center, a 12 minute drive from VWU, can be a day trip or a new hobby. The rink is open year-round, and is inclusive of all skaters and skill levels through its public skating, hockey leagues and figure skating programs. Iceland has become an anchor for the ice skating community of Hampton Roads.
“We teach anybody, we start at three years old, and teach anyone at any age. It just doesn’t matter whether they’re a boy or girl, they can figure skate, they can play hockey and we’re just friendly,” Manager Vickie Appleby said. She has been managing the rink for about 26 years.
Iceland began with a group of parents, about five families, who started the rink to create a hockey league for their kids. They were able to transform a former storage building and roller rink using personal mortgages, later getting repaid. The Hampton Roads Youth Hockey Association renovated the facility in the late ‘80s and now owns it. According to the association’s
Iceland’s website has a weekly session schedule found on the right side of its main page under a heading called “Today.” It includes details about their $10 public sessions, learn-to-skate classes, hockey leagues, figure skating freestyles and private lesson times.
Ice skating coach Mary Sue Gidaro has been teaching at the rink for 18 years. She teaches hockey and figure skating, focusing on beginner learn-to-skate group lessons and offering private coaching for more advanced skaters.
“Private lessons are usually for those who have gone through the group lessons and then they’ve kind of graduated, got to where they’re doing all the jumps and spins now, so then they need a private coach. There’s a number of private coaches here that teach,” Gidaro said.
The public sessions and learn-to-skate classes are meant to help people try ice skating out and get interested before becoming more advanced. Walkers, adultsized and kid-sized, are lined up beside the ice for people to use and hold onto in case
Iceland Family Skating Center is open for birthday parties, private ice rentals and summer camps. It also has a Champion’s Choice pro shop located inside that sells ice skates, kids hockey gear, skate accessories and so much more according to the website.
While Iceland has been growing significantly in their number of figure skaters, Appleby thinks the hockey teams have soared. It now has about 38 adult hockey teams and numerous kids’ teams.
“There are a lot more girls who play hockey now these days. We also have a lot of people who are in the military, or that move in this area for one reason or another. A lot of them have lived up north and had been on hockey teams or skated when they were younger, so they get their kids involved in skating,” Appleby said.
The Hampton Roads area isn’t the only
place where girls hockey is seeing growth. The USA Hockey website confirms manager Appleby’s findings.
“Hockey has nurtured the growth of female hockey since the 1970s, and today, girls hockey is among the fastest-growing youth sports in the United States. Over the past fifteen seasons, girls hockey in the United States has seen a participation increase of 65%,” USA Hockey said on their website.
Iceland Family Skating Center continues to see growth in participation of ice sports through its diverse programs and skaters, building a community and ensuring there’s room for everyone on the ice. Appleby describes Iceland as feeling more like a family.
Afterglow’s Winter Market matters
self-care items.
Many farmers markets are more generalized with their offerings for consumers. Most have baked goods, crafts and pottery. But at the Winter Market, they try to focus on food from local farmers.
The market supports over 70 small businesses and farms. Most of the vendors are first generation farmers who are just beginning in the business and have a tremendous amount of passion for the job.
Walking around the market, Jordan pointed out a booth that had young farmers in their twenties. I spoke with the couple, Nick and Morgan Bautista. I was curious about what motivated them to get into this business.
They said they had friends who were farmers and after seeing their enthusiasm, their passion in cultivating their land grew from there. But the market does not just support new farmers. They also have some farmers that have been in operation for over 100 years. “We work with small farms that preserve land and agriculture use, instead of being developed,” Jordan said. To these vendors, this is not just work but something they genuinely enjoy doing.
Allison Cook, owner of Talli Designs, said, “I just like to make people happy and spread joy.”
The vendors all have such passion for what they are doing. When you walk up to any of these vendors, you can always expect a full explanation of how and why things are made.
“It’s about preserving farmlands but it’s also about keeping dollars in the local community instead of giving it to Home Depot,” Jordan and Ascher said, referring to the most important reason for having farmers markets.
so feel free to bring your (leashed) furry friend. There are multiple booths selling dog treats and one with dog clothing. Their next upcoming market is Friday, Feb. 22, along with a few dates in March.
So, next time you’re looking to support local businesses and enjoy fresh, sustainable produce, head down to the Winter Market at Afterglow Brewery. It’s more than just shopping, but connecting with your community, making a real impact on your local economy and trying new things.
I had the opportunity to visit the Winter Market at Afterglow Brewery this past weekend. At only 20 minutes away, this farmers market is a fantastic way to get out during the winter and spend time with friends while supporting local businesses.
The Winter Market is managed by Amy Jordan and her sister Michele Ascher. Jordan’s interest began as a vendor. She noticed that there was a lack of farmers markets in the Virginia Beach area so she got the idea to start her own. The first market was held at Boulevard Shepherd in 2018. In 2019, a second market was established.
In 2020, they took over an existing market in the East Beach Neighborhood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery stores experienced major food shortages, but farmers and other home based food preparers were still working. To remain contactless, they decided to start a winter market using an online ordering system with a drive-through pickup.
This system was a success, and after the pandemic, they switched the market back to normal and have remained a staple every winter since. The market began in a small parking lot, but with its rapid growth, the market has continued to move to larger parking lots as it has expanded over time.
Jordan and Ascher focus on offering a wide range of items. At its inception, the focus was more so on food items, but over time they have expanded to include some non-food items such as jewelry, dog accessories, soaps and
“Local food markets allow people to know the origin of their food and support local farmers who are passionate about their community. This ensures that the food is fresh, has not had anything sprayed on it and hasn’t had extensive travel days,” Ashley Livermore, a farmer for Livermore Vertical Produce, said.
The market offers many food options and other items to purchase. There are multiple food trucks with a variety of menus available at the market to appease the consumer who gets hungry while walking the market. On this particular Saturday, there was the Big Belly food truck, which offered Asian/Pacific Islander inspired street food.
If you are looking for a sweet treat, then you can walk right next door to the Mr. Yummy Buns food truck which offered cinnamon buns with customizable toppings. Since the market is located behind the Afterglow Brewery, anyone over 21 may walk inside and get a drink or a snack there as well.
If you’re interested in attending one of these markets, I highly encourage you to check them out. They have summer markets, harvest markets and East Beach/EOV (Ecological Outcome Verification) markets. Despite the gloomy weather while we visited, we were greeted by the vendors with smiles shining bright, as they were happy to be there and share their passion for their business. The market operates rain or shine, so this can be the perfect way to get out on a rainy day. This is a pet friendly market,
Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle
Iceland Family Skating center hosts beginner and experienced skater opportunities, hockey and figure skating.
Lora Young|Marlin Chronicle Flowers, locally grown and artfully designed by One Community Museum and Micro-Farm, color a rainy day at Afterglow Winter Market.
Lora Young|Marlin Chronicle
Top: Vendors sell a variety of goods, such as dog bandanas by Talli Designs. Bottom: A local vendor’s dog takes part in showing off their family’s small business.
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle Whisenhunt rates Iceland Family Skating five out of five snowflakes!
Tia Durant|Courtesy Sophomores Tia Durant and Julie Zamor skating at Iceland.
Celebrating emerging black artists
Hampton Roads up and coming artists present at exhibition during Black History Month.
BY VICTORIA HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu
Art shows are a great way for upcoming artists to make a name for themselves in the community, and a great way for the community to find new artists and to see art that they might not have seen before. They are almost always enjoyable for those with a taste for art, and they come in a variety of forms. The Black History Month Emerging Artist Exhibition at Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay is an open-admission event that showcases graduate and undergraduate Black artists, and is now in its fourth year running.
The Emerging Artist Exhibition opened on Feb. 6 and is running until Feb. 28. The event is coordinated largely by Solomon Isekeije, the professor of the Art Department at Norfolk State, and Ellen Duckworth, the sales director at Westminster-Canterbury. Most students there were from Norfolk State, but submissions were open to any Black undergrad or grad students. There were artists there from other colleges, including at least two from Virginia Wesleyan.
Westminster-Canterbury is a “life plan community,” according to Timothy Tivvis, the executive director and vice president of campus operations. It would more generally be referred to as an elder care home or retirement living facility.
“When you bring this intergenerational
group together, there’s a transfer of knowledge,” Isekeije said. “I would say it goes both ways.”
In his speech and in talking with him after, he said that this transfer of knowledge is common in Africa, where he grew up, because the elders lived with the family.
Iyonna Valentine, a sculptor at the event and a senior at Virginia Wesleyan majoring in art, was showcasing a selection of pottery she had created. The most impressive, in my opinion, was a cup with a beautiful firing pattern. She used a technique for firing called Raku over a traditional kiln, a process she described as similar to a “trash can on fire,” as the pieces are placed directly into the fire instead of into a kiln.
“You’re never quite sure how the colors will turn out,” Valentine said. She used her own glazes for the pieces, one of which she told me was named the Black Pearl. The firing pattern looked unique and the colors in the pieces with the same glazes often differed substantially, at least to my novice eye, for a rather pleasing effect.
Mars Johnson, a Virginia Wesleyan Art major, showcased several paintings on cardboard, all of which were abstract.
They own a business crafting nickel-free jewelry. Johnson is the Illustrations Editor at the Marlin Chronicle.
“Art is … a statement, a challenge, and a way to build a more thoughtful and sustainable world,” Johnson’s bio said. By the time the event on opening night ended, they had already sold one of their pieces—I believe it was “Water”—to a man I think was Tivvis.
Johnson said they weren’t a mercenary painter—“I didn’t make it to be sold”—and had some difficulty pricing their pieces, as well as letting go.
“I’m kind of glad I didn’t sell it—I think I would have cried,” Johnson said, referring to “Fire,” a separate piece in the same series as “Water.”
The Westminster-Canterbury residents were not present on opening night, as this evening was more for the artists and their families, but Bet Cake, a marketing ambassador for Westminster-Canterbury, said that the residents could view the pieces as they are on exhibition for the rest of the month, and that it was a popular event with the residents, as well as the staff. “This is so creative and imaginative and beautiful,”
Cake said.
There was a substantial scholarship for several artists, determined by a panel of judges, which was awarded at the opening ceremony. There is also a “People’s Choice” award, to be determined at the end of the exhibition.
The artwork was selected well, in my opinion, with most to all of the pieces being visually striking and mechanically well-executed. Prices were allowed to be set entirely by the artists, another positive, and the event itself was well done. There were speeches from Duckworth and Isekeije, provided food, and a well laid out space that portrayed all of the art without feeling too cramped. The room itself had a gorgeous view over the beach.
A word of caution, though. If you would like to see this art or an art show going on in the future, I would highly recommend it. It’s good to be prepared, though, and dress nicely. I wore to this show a collared shirt and a decent pair of pants, which is usually enough for events like this, but nonetheless I felt a bit underdressed when the security guard at the door informed me that I could drop my car off at the complimentary valet.
‘Heart Eyes’ scares theaters
the Heart Eyes killer.
BY ABEE CASSIDY arcassidy@vwu.edu
February can be celebrated by sharing love. This year, a “masked maniac” with red heart shaped eyes terrorizing and stalking couples can be a part of that. The film, “Heart Eyes,” directed by Josh Ruben is a slasher horror movie with a dash of romantic comedy.
“Heart Eyes” was released on Feb. 7 from the producers of “Scream.” This film follows Ally McCabe, played by Olivia Holt. Her love interest is a man named Jay Simmons, played by heartthrob Mason Gooding. Both characters are stalked and possibly become victims to the town’s serial killer, Heart Eyes.
A shared kiss to make an ex jealous was enough for these co-workers to get on the Heart Eyes killer’s radar, despite the masked maniac only killing couples each Valentine’s Day. As the two co-workers figure out their feelings, they must also outsmart this killer terrorizing Seattle, with many plot twists you won’t want to miss out on. The film “Heart Eyes” leaves the viewers guessing who Heart Eyes is.
Detective Jeanette Shaw, played by Jordana Brewster, was the main suspect throughout the film. Her presence at moments of each investigation, often appearing after or near the scene of an attack feels a little too convenient to longtime horror fans. Making audiences question whether she is just dedicated to stopping and finding the Heart Eyes killer or if she has a deeper connection to the masked killer, keeping viewers on the edge as a suspect of being
Brewster’s character wasn’t the only one that stood out. David Shaw, played by Yoson An, was also deemed as suspicious. Shaw had access to technology giving him a potential advantage in tracking the victims, allowing him to stay one-step ahead of the investigation on the Heart Eyes killer. He is projected as a background character who randomly hits on Ally. In many horror films, this type of character ends up being revealed as the mastermind, making him look like a potential suspect.
This movie overall is not your average classic slasher horror movie. What makes this film stand out from the others is the plot taking place on Valentine’s Day and the
mix of the two genres. This film is filled with humorous jokes and scenes that keep us on the edge of our seats. Valentine’s Day normally is a day couples go out to eat or stay in and watch a movie, not having to worry about a masked serial killer on the loose. A movie with a concept never seen before is worth the watch.
AMC theaters host $5 movie nights on Tuesdays. The movie “Heart Eyes” is an attention grabber and seemed like it was worth the watch to quite a few people. “Heart Eyes” is unique in it being a ’s Day horror movie.
There is an AMC theater on 1001 Lynnhaven Mall Loop, just 20 minutes away from Virginia Wesleyan’s campus. If you have the chance to see this movie do not miss the
A promotional movie poster for the 2024 Valentine’s Day horror film: “Heart Eyes.”
Landon Crooks|Marlin Chronicle
Clay Yokom|Marlin Chronicle
Artists showcased work of various media at Westminster-Canterbury’s exhibition.
Clay Yokom|Marlin Chronicle
Virginia Wesleyan senior Iyonna Valentine uses Raku firing to create pottery such as the cup pictured above.