BY LILY RESLINK, SYDNEE WASHINGTON & ISAAC FICK lbreslink@vwu.edu, sawashington2@vwu.edu & ihfick@vwu.edu
& Field and Cross Country teams brought forward concerns about experiences on the team and the effectiveness of reporting channels in Athletics. At a Student Government Association
(SGA) meeting on Feb. 17, attendees discussed the policies for reviewing concerns from student-athletes.
The topic became relevant after studentathletes began sharing testimonies and organizing to seek changes. These included incidents beginning in the fall of 2024.
At the SGA meeting on Feb. 17, junior
track and field team member Zantia Durand attended to facilitate conversation on the topic during the meeting’s open forum and gauge SGA’s ability to react.
Student Senator Daryl Tucker, a senior, spoke at the meeting as a track and field team member and an SGA Student Senator.
“We’ve gone to our AD [Athletic Director], we’ve gone to our coaches and nothing is being done, but at this point, we are trying to get as many people to know our side of the story and to rally with us as we try to fix this problem,” Tucker said.
“This is not just a situation where it’s athletes mad at a coach,” Tucker said. “We are having people quit the team. We are having people transfer, and that’s just showing how deep the situation is.”
Regarding the role of SGA, “We know what we can and cannot do in the scopes of our regulations and our [SGA] Constitution,” Tucker said. “At the end of the day, we are a voice to the student body.”
“There’s only so much we can do with SGA, but SGA is supposed to be a place for our students to be able to come when they feel like something is not being done or that something needs to be fixed,” Tucker said.
The state of the Associated Press
BY ISAAC FICK ihfick@vwu.edu
An executive order titled, “Restoring names that honor American Greatness,” signed on Jan. 20 said, “within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall … take all appropriate actions to rename as the ‘Gulf of America’ … the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico.”
The executive order explained its reasoning, being “in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people.”
The Associated Press (AP) decided to maintain its stylistic guidelines in reference to the body of water, known internationally as the Gulf of Mexico.
According to AP’s announcement, the reasoning for this decision is the “order only carries authority within the United States. Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change.”
A leader, a mentor, a force for change
President of the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads, Susan Boré, shares her passion toward advocating for women in business.
BY DUDA BERNARDO mdefreitasbernardo@vwu.edu
Stepping into the office in Clarke 109, her energy and enthusiasm immediately draws attention. That office is home to the World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads (WACGHR) and their president, Susan Boré. She sits at her desk by the window admiring the view, wearing her striped black and white shirt and her glasses for work.
The boxes on the floor hint their recent relocation to campus, but her sense of purpose goes beyond the physical space.
As she speaks, she expresses herself with gestures, a sincere smile and a soft tone of voice.
Boré just turned 58 years old. She enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking and spending time with her family. She’s also a mother to her 13-year-old daughter and 3 stepchildren whom she loves like her own.
“Being a mom is the most important job—and the most joyous—I’ve ever experienced. Raising the next generation with time, patience and love is to me the greatest duty with which we are entrusted,” Boré said. Boré served in the Marine Corps for 27 years and retired in 2016. As a Colonel, she commanded two battalions and served in several overseas combat operations.
See Boré Page 3
Students shiver through three record-breaking snow days
As the federal government reviews existing government grants, a grant that Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and director of Sustainability, secured last year has been paused.
In reaction to the grant being paused, senior and Environmental Studies major Jessica Wilson said, “It’s already directly impacting us.”
The grant would go toward studying and targeting solutions for urban heat islands in Portsmouth. Urban heat islands are areas with increased heat compared to their surroundings resulting from urban development.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle
Susan Boré sits in her Clarke Hall office.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
LEFT & BOTTOM: Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle TOP: Sarah Reich|Courtesy RIGHT: Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Lora Young|Marlin Chronicle
Photos depict scenes around campus during the snow days on Feb. 19, 20 & 21.
Local bird flu cases flag concerns
A local veterinarian, Hunt Club Farm and Sodexo employees share the impacts of increased cases.
BY MIA DIEHL mjdiehl@vwu.edu
As of March 13, there have been over 166 million reported poultry affected by an outbreak of the H5 Bird Flu that began in late 2024, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bird Flu is a virus that affects poultry and cattle that, although rare, can be transmitted to humans through exposure to the mouth, eyes or nose, as well as inhalation.
The CDC has said that the current spread of the disease is at low risk and there is no known person-to-person spread. According to the CDC, the best way to steer clear of the Bird Flu is to avoid contact with contaminated surfaces. The CDC has said some symptoms of Bird Flu are: eye redness, mild flu, Pneumonia and fever.
Food in the United States is monitored to avoid contamination. “We have one of the safest supply systems in the world. Part of that is due to inspections. Whether it’s poultry, cows or any meat animal, it gets inspected fully, multiple times throughout the process, to make sure they’re not showing signs of any disease before they go to slaughter. Only birds that test negative for influenza are allowed to leave the farm to go to the processing plant,” Dr. Charlie Broaddus, a veterinarian, told
WDBJ television station.
Since the Bird Flu is a disease spread by the migration of birds, Broaddus recommended keeping cattle or birds away from ponds. Broaddus also said that even if infected supplies were to make it to people’s homes, once the product is fully cooked, the virus is deactivated.
When it comes to the food supply, according to Coop Food Store, it is possible that egg prices will rise. There has already been a rise in prices because of contributing factors like increased demand which leads to the question of whether or not panic-buying similar to what was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic will occur.
“I think the difference here is between a perishable good and a non-perishable good,” Landon Rockwell, a senior Biology major and student Sodexo employee, said. “When it comes to getting protein, there are alternative resources, vegetable proteins and other meats that are less affected.”
The Bird Flu outbreak is currently being closely monitored by the CDC. As for VWU, those who provide food services on campus are also putting a careful eye on the issue.
“Thus far, dining services at [VWU] have not seen a significant impact associated with poultry and egg shortage concerns that the country is experiencing at
this time,” General Manager of Dining Services Tim Lockett said. “Of course, being in food service, we are closely monitoring information and guidance around this issue and will address it accordingly if and when necessary.”
The Bird Flu has also affected Hunt Club Farm in Virginia Beach. Co-owner Randi Vogel said in a recent article that some of their birds had begun to die. “It was really alarming to me because we had a goose die, and our geese typically don’t die,” Vogel said.
The infected birds at Hunt Club had to be euthanized. Their petting farm, which was a popular attraction for visitors, is now temporarily closed. Vogel gave some advice for other bird owners–to monitor their animals and keep the area as clean and sanitized as possible.
Since the CDC considers the current Bird Flu outbreak highly pathogenic, the Environmental Protection Agency has provided guidance on proper carcass removal and biosecurity to prevent the disease from spreading. According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Bird Flu has the potential to disrupt ecosystems and food chains and this disease can wipe out entire flocks in a matter of days.
“I think this will reduce the effects of factory farming on
to eggs. “I think it is likely
“Of course, being in food service, we are closely monitoring information and guidance around this issue and will address it accordingly if and necessary.”
General Manager of Dining Services
Tim Lockett
high number of birds that have been dying,” Jocelyn Kaelin, a freshman Environmental Studies major, said. “Also, as a result of the decreasing supply and increasing prices, consumers will have the incentive to search for cheaper substitutes for eggs and will move away from purchasing them.”
Kaelin spoke about exploring the opportunity of alternatives
that egg alternatives like tofu and egg imitations will see an increase in sales, and since many egg substitutes are plant-based and require less resources, the environmental impact stands an even greater chance of decreasing,” she said.
To follow the flu’s status, the CDC website is updated Monday through Friday after 4 p.m.
GRANT
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
It is unknown whether the grant will be reinstated, though its resources have already progressed research and efforts. Before funding paused, the project produced heat maps and collected volunteers interested in mitigating urban heat islands.
Malcom spent the first year of the grant connecting with the community and measuring the temperature conditions in the area.
“We haven’t done any planning yet, but we did the heat map, so that’s where I got paused.”
Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm
The grant allowed Malcom to hire a graduate student, Faith Bush, to manage volunteers collecting data.
Volunteers collected data by driving heat sensors throughout Portsmouth and recording the temperature at different areas. They sent this information to an external company, CAPA Strategies, which used the data to map these areas and identified where urban heat islands were the most severe.
The second year of the funding was intended to pay for trees to lower the impact of urban heat islands. “We haven’t done any planting yet, but we did the heat map, so that’s where I got paused,” Malcolm said.
Funding from the grant is received when the university submits the receipts for expenses related to the program. Currently, over $56,000 have been reimbursed from the first year of the grant. Malcolm said this money will be paid back to the university, but it is possible that funds will not be available for the second year of the program.
The Virginia Department of Forestry funded the grant with federal support from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant came from a state organization, but federal payment pause also impacted it.
Grant recipients were informed by Rob Farrell, director of the Virginia Department of Forestry and a state forester, that the Virginia Department of Forestry, “recommends grantees stop incurring additional expenses as soon as you are able.”
Students showed concern for the grant being paused by arranging a walk out on March 7 to protest scientific endeavors being interrupted on the federal level. This demonstration, “Stand up for Science,” occurred at locations nationwide including Virginia Wesleyan’s campus.
“It feels really hard to hear that kind of news and then just move on with the lesson about the super specifics of nutrient and carbon cycling without addressing how the possibility of it being applied is on hold,” Wilson said.
Despite the unknown status of the grant, the funding and work put into the research have already produced results for Portsmouth and Virginia Wesleyan. Students are still involved with the data collected with this project through independent research.
Virginia Wesleyan University|Courtesy VWU students using a thermal imaging camera for heat mapping.
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle
Kyla Robberecht|Marlin Chronicle
CAPA Strategies|Courtesy
The heat mapping results indicated that developed areas tend to be warmer than less developed areas on average, due to the urban heat island effect.
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
OVAL OFFICE
On Feb. 11, an AP reporter was barred from an Oval Office event, following the demand for AP to adhere to the Gulf’s name change, according to an AP article: “Later, a second AP reporter was barred from a late-evening event in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room.” The article said the ban “could have constitutional freespeech implications.”
In another Jan. 20 executive order, titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship,” it was decreed that “The First Amendment enshrines the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference.”
The order said the previous administration, “Under the guise of combatting ‘misinformation,’ ‘disinformation,’ and ‘malinformation,’ the Federal Government infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights … in a manner that advanced the Government’s preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate.
“Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society,” the order said.
The previous AP article referred to a statement from Julie Pace, AP’s senior vice president and executive editor. “Limiting our
“It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America. And I’m not sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that, but that is what it is.”
White House Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt
access to the Oval Office based on the content of AP’s speech not only severely impedes the public’s access to independent news,” she said. “It plainly violates the First Amendment.”
“Nobody has the right to go into the Oval Office and ask the president of the United States questions,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a White House press conference on Feb. 12. “That is an invitation that is given. We reserve the right to decide who gets to go into the Oval Office.”
A reporter asked if this response is retaliatory to reporters who do not use the government’s preferred language.
“If we feel that lies are being pushed by outlets in this room, we are going to hold those lies accountable,” Leavitt said. “It is a fact that the body of water off the coast of Louisiana is called the Gulf of America. And I’m not
“As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
The Associated Press
sure why news outlets don’t want to call it that, but that is what it is.”
“Apple has recognized that. Google has recognized that. Pretty much every other outlet in this room has recognized that body of water as the Gulf of America,” Leavitt said.
“It’s very important to this administration that we get that right,” Leavitt said. “Not just for people here at home, but also for the rest of the world.”
“The White House cannot dictate how news organizations report the news,” the White House Correspondents Agency’s President Eugence Daniels said. “Nor should it penalize working journalists because it is unhappy with their editors’ decision.”
AP reiterated its reasoning in the announcement. “The Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. The Associated Press will refer to it by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences.”
An AP article reported Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s response to Google’s adherence to the Gulf name change. She said in a Feb. 13 news conference that Mexico’s government won’t count out filing a lawsuit against Google if it continues this choice.
The article referred to a X post from Google, which said Google has a “long-standing practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”
While the Google change refers to the Gulf as, “Gulf of America”
in only the United States, Sheinbaum Pardo said, “the entire Gulf of Mexico cannot be called the Gulf of America.”
MOUNT MCKINLEY
The name change executive order also contained a change regarding North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley in Alaska.
“Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall … reinstate the name ‘Mount McKinley,’” formerly known as Denali, however, “The national park area surrounding Mount McKinley shall retain the name Denali National Park and Preserve,” the executive order said.
With the goal of honoring 25th President of the United States William McKinley, the country named the peak Mount McKinley. In 2015, the name was changed to Denali by former President Barack Obama, with the goal of honoring the Alaska Natives and current resident preferences.
“The Associated Press will use the official name change to Mount McKinley. The area lies solely in the United States,” and the “president … has the authority to change federal geographical names within the country,” according to the same AP announcement.
AP BARRED
As a result of the Gulf’s name change disagreement another AP article said that on Feb. 13, “An AP reporter was prevented from entering a news conference where President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi answered questions.”
The article referred to a statement from Pace. “This is now the third day AP reporters have been barred from covering the president — first as a member of the pool, and now from a formal press conference — an incredible disservice to the billions of people who rely on The Associated Press for nonpartisan news.”
In an article, CBS News paraphrased a Feb. 14 announcement from a top White House official, saying “The White House is barring all [AP] journalists from accessing spaces such as the Oval Office and Air Force One.”
CBS referenced a quote from White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich. She said AP’s decision to retain the name, Gulf of Mexico, “is not just divisive, but it also exposes the
Associated Press' commitment to misinformation.”
Budowich said that while their decision is protected by the First Amendment, “it does not ensure their privilege of unfettered access to limited spaces, like the Oval Office and Air Force One.”
“Going forward,” Budowich said, “that space will now be opened up to the many thousands of reporters who have been barred from covering these intimate areas of the administration.”
LAWSUIT
The AP filed a lawsuit against White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Budowich and Leavitt, according to a Feb. 21 AP article.
Filed on Feb. 21, the lawsuit assigned to the 2017 appointed U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, claimed that “Because the White House has made those spaces available to other members of the pool, it cannot constitutionally deny the AP’s access without due process of law, and cannot deny access so arbitrarily or for anything other than legitimate, compelling reasons.”
The lawsuit referred to a Feb. 18 email from Wiles to the AP, alleging, “Wiles wrote that the White House was targeting the AP because its Stylebook ‘is used by many as a standard for writing and editing,’ and that it ‘advises journalists, scholars and classrooms around our country.’”
Wiles said “we remain hopeful that the name of the [Gulf] will be appropriately reflected in the Stylebook where American audiences are concerned,” which the lawsuit said implies “that the AP could change its guidance as to American audiences to resolve the issue and restore its access.”
AP’S INFLUENCE
The CBS article said “The AP is a regular representative in the White House press pool,” and “The AP estimates 4 billion people read its news every day, and it has journalists in nearly 100 countries.”
According to the Purdue Online Writing Lab, “Many newspapers, magazines and public relations offices across the United States use AP style.”
“Although some publications such as the New York Times have developed their own style guidelines,” the Writing Lab said, “a basic knowledge of AP style is considered essential to those who want to work in print journalism.”
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Regardless of AP’s stylistic decision, The Marlin Chronicle uses and will continue to use its style guide, which includes the return to Mount McKinley and the retention of the Gulf of Mexico.
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Google|Courtesy Google Maps changed the Gulf's name when viewed in America.
The MARLIN CHRONICLE
Editor-in-Chief
Lily Reslink lbreslink@vwu.edu
Managing Editor
Victoria Haneline vfhaneline1@vwu.edu
News Editor
Isaac Fick ihfick@vwu.edu
Community Editor
Aiden Croghan accroghan@vwu.edu
Opinions Editor
Isaac Fick ihfick@vwu.edu
Sports Editors
Coy Camiscioli clcamiscioli@vwu.edu
Sydnee Washington sawashington2@vwu.edu
Weekender Editor
MJ Matthews mjmatthews@vwu.edu
Photo Editor
McKenna Howenstine mrhowenstine@vwu.edu
Illustrations Editor
Mars Johnson ibjohnson@vwu.edu
Online Editor
Josue Maradiaga jmmaradiaga@vwu.edu
Copy Editors
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MK Morris Larkin mmorrislarkin@vwu.edu
Victoria Haneline vfhaneline@vwu.edu
PR Director
Isabella Grosswiler idgrosswiler@vwu.edu
Marketing Coordinator
Bryant Cotterell bccotterell@vwu.edu
Engagement Editor
Sarah Czapp sczapp@vwu.edu
Advisor
Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
Showing her commitment to the community, she used to be a youth swim coach at the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA and as a volunteer, she won an award and recognition for keeping kids safe and strong in the water in 2022.
She is also an active member of the board of directors of Valor Run, which honors the women who gave their lives during combat operations since 9/11, and provides scholarships to the children of women who have served.
Boré didn’t expect to take a leadership position after she retired, but she loves a good challenge. The Marine Corps looked very different in 1989 than it looks now, with fairly male dominated organizations. “But that challenge fed me,” Boré said.
Boré leads with passion. She is proud of her work but remains humble.
Boré has been the president of the WACGHR for the past two and a half years. She first joined the council while in the Marine Corps, and officially became a board member in 2021.
The WACGHR has been in this region since 1969, providing programming, information, education and dialog about international issues.
It was only about a year ago that President Scott D. Miller extended the offer for them to move their office to campus. Boré says she is delighted to have their office at Virginia Wesleyan.
“You have an excellent international affairs program, but also you’re very centrally located in the Hampton Roads region,” Boré said.
The WACGHR hosts many events right here on campus. A program called Great Decisions happens every Saturday from January to March at Blocker Hall. They provide speakers to topics chosen by the Foreign Policy Association in
have confidence in it and yourself.”
The more one talks to people around her, the more one finds how humble she is.
Lucie Six, who is interning at the office this semester, is French and an International Business major at Concordia University. According to her, Boré is like a renaissance woman, good at so many things, surprising in so many ways.
Six thinks that all the experiences Boré had in her life could have turned her into a tough, stern woman, “but for some reason, I feel like it just made her even sweeter, more appreciative of people around her,” Six said.
“She’s sweet, yet she knows how to get things done. And for a woman in business, it’s
New York.
The events consist of a reception, an expert speaker and an Q&A period, which is Boré’s favorite part. What Boré loves about the council is that it provides a safe space for people to talk about political issues, global issues, international policy and American policy.
“We want to provide a safe place for dialogue, a place where the facts exist in the room with our experts, and we can have conversations around that,” Boré said.
Passionate about having interns and young people on their staff, Boré said she would love for VWU students to join their team as interns.
“In addition to learning, you know, about foreign affairs, international global issues, really, in our office, you learn how to run a business or a nonprofit,” Boré said.
Boré always had a natural interest in global affairs and what is going on in the world.
Her deployments abroad and her marriage to a French person have influenced her international perspective. “It is probably what inspires me to ensure that others have the opportunity to have an insight in other ways of doing things,” Boré said.
Boré said it has been fascinating to learn from the inside how two countries that are very similar in Western Democracy handle political, human and society issues differently.
“When you only know the United States it is different to even think outside of the box about other ways that we could do it,” Boré said.
With a passion for mentoring young women, she empowers them so they don’t feel the same way she has felt earlier in her career.
Boré said she had to figure things out by herself while in the Marine Corps. “There were not a lot of people that looked like me,” she said. There was nobody to tell her if she was doing things right.
Looking back at her story, she believes that a lot of energy was spent asking herself whether her contributions were making a difference or not.
so inspiring, ” Six said.
Corinne Hatfield, JMU graduate and office coordinator for WACGHR, started as an intern and was hired less than a year after.
With a unique relationship between them, Hatfield says Boré is her boss and mentor, but also very nurturing. Hatfield sees her as a role model who helped her multiply her skills. “I’ve learned so much in a relatively short time, and I’ve become really much more confident in my skills,” Hatfield said.
Six said that working with such knowledgeable women in the office creates a nice atmosphere, and that they deserve the same opportunities as any men. “But we don’t always have that opportunity, and she gives it to us because she acquired that respect and leadership through a long line of work, and she’s able to give it to us now,” Six said.
Hatfield said that as a woman in a leadership position, Boré makes her feel like she can do it all. She said Boré found a good balance between work, family and life, and Hatfield hopes to find a similar model there in the future. Hatfield respects the fact that Boré focused on her career and took a mother role later in life; she feels like she will follow a similar path. Boré is interested in the thoughts and ideas of those around her. She says she is a consensus leader. Six sees her as a mother figure. Hatfield sees her as a hands-off and supportive leader. Six said that Boré is very adaptable, “she knows how to lead people, depending on who they are.” She can be firm or soft depending on how people will respond the best.
Hatfield said Boré likes to let them make things happen. Boré is supportive and willing to help, but very confident in her and Six, “she knows that we’re smart young women and we’re capable. And she really wants us to kind of see that as we do our work,” Hatfield said. Boré said she values all young people equally, and that she believes the different genders bring different problem-solving techniques.
“I have a small place in my heart to lead and work with women because I believe there are still vestiges of women bringing less confidence in themselves to the workplace, and I would like to improve that. Introspection about where one fits in an organization is extremely important--it leads to self-improvement and growth, however when one spends an inordinate amount of time concerned about whether they measure up, that’s lost energy,” Boré said. “Women don’t understand their worth as well as men do.”
She said that when women look for a job they are thinking of the things they cannot do, which leads to them asking for less and being less confident. “It comes more naturally to men to have a bravado about what they can do,” she said.
Even though she is humble, she believes in her own strength. She believes that the young people she mentors will have a leg up on their peers with some very distinct skills, “because I’ve been through it all and I take the time to share that with people,” she said.
Boré is confident, driven and committed to the council’s mission of promoting international understanding and dialogue. As a generous woman leader, she feels fulfilled helping lessen the divide in our country.
As the nation celebrates Women’s History Month, Boré’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that the path to success can have its obstacles. Boré’s ability to be a loving mother, a retired Colonel in the Marine Corps, a leader in the non-profit sector and a mentor for the next generation of female leaders, underscores the many contributions women continue to make in the world around them.
have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.” --Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President
“If you’re working hard and you believe in the mission, the best self you can bring is yourself,” she said. “You are going to bring a perspective to that organization that no one else can bring. So own it, and be proud of it, and
Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle
Boré poses with intern Lucie Six (left) and Office Coordinator Corinne Hatfield (right).
Susan Boré|Courtesy Boré (second from right) with (from left to right) Dr. Richard Maass, the Chair of the Norfolk NATOfest committee, Polish ambassador Marek Magierowski, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Philippe Lavigne of France, Lithuanian ambassador Audra Plepytė, and Romanian ambassador Dan-Andrei Mararu.
Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle
Intern Lucie Six (left) and Office Coordinator Corinne Hatfield (right) working in the WACGHR office at VWU.
SGA proposes Student Leadership Council
The council would aim to open new lines for communication and collaboration between student organizations, according to SGA President.
BY MEENA LENNON mjlennon@vwu.edu
Joy Bowden, a junior student senator in the Student Government Association (SGA) and sophomore Miles Pifer, the SGA president, have proposed a new student leadership council (SLC), also referred to as the Council of Club Presidents. This new initiative is an attempt at increasing student engagement and collaboration, according to Pifer. The planned SLC will consist of the leaders within groups and organizations on campus and will be open for the rest of campus also who may want to share their ideas or insights, according to Pifer.
Pifer said that they are hoping to introduce the new initiative in fall of 2025, but this is optimal thinking and it may come later. Pifer serves as the foremost liaison between the student population and university faculty. He said that his goal with this new initiative is to ensure that the communication on campus between various organisations and clubs is more prominent and more official. Pifer said that with this initiative he wants to create a “campus experience that feels very much like a family.”
Bowden helped foster the initiative also. She said that she wanted to contribute more to the school. She wanted to offer her skills and knowledge but struggled to find opportunities in which to do so, therefore she adopted the idea of the Student Leadership Council as a way of formally bringing together clubs on campus to offer more opportunities for collaboration and involvement in the campus community.
She said that there’s currently a disconnect within clubs, with some clubs needing resources or simply support which they aren’t getting. “If we set up a line of communication between the various presidents, they’d be able to help each other,” Bowden said.
Both Pifer and Bowden said that a lot of people on campus aren’t informed about some clubs. They both used the example of the SGA, saying that not many students are familiar with the organizations, and therefore by creating a Council of Clubs they are hoping to increase awareness within the community of various organizations which can become hidden.
Specifically, Pifer said that his reasons for wanting to organise a Student Leadership Council, are primarily to increase student engagement and communication on campus. He described it as a conference rather than an organization, in a town hall setting which he hopes would create a space for staff and students to bring to light issues they are concerned about. He said in an ideal world “it would look seamless.”
Bowden said that sees the initiative as a way of enhancing the social side of college. She also sees it as a springboard for collaboration and communication on campus, however she highlights that for some students social activities need to be formalized in order for them to be widely accessible. She said she struggled with her schedule as a commuter, travelling 52 miles to school. She said that it could be hard to find opportunities to contribute to the campus community, but this was extremely important for her.
Bowden said she would swing by different events when she was free, and the overriding theme she would hear was that they needed support, supplies, funding or new
ideas. She then was inspired by this to want to create a collaboration between clubs to help each other and work together. She said it is clear that if clubs worked together it would benefit everyone.
“Collaboration creates opportunities to be better. Bettering the community or bettering yourself, collaborating furthers those opportunities,” Bowden said.
“Communication is never going to be perfect, but it can always be improved,” Pifer said. This idea that communication can be improved has been the stepping stone to the creation of the SLC, Pifer said, elaborating that increased communication is one of the goals of the SLC’s formation.
“I am so excited for that, there’s huge potential to create much more energy on campus,” Jessica Wilson, senior and president of Marlins Go Green, said.
Wilson noted her anticipation and increasing optimism about the initiative, saying how communication on campus is low and a lot of the time she feels ill informed of events on campus. Similarly to this, Bowden said, “I never know something is happening until it’s basically happening.”
Wilson said that this new collaboration could therefore help create more awareness of other clubs events which will in turn increase participation rates. Wilson also talked about an idea of collaborating with Marlins Go Green with the Athletics Department. She said she wanted to create signs and posters for sports games made out of cardboard, showing already that there is an interest within club presidents for collaboration.
Wilson said that one of the biggest challenges for most clubs is student engagement, and if clubs could help each other by spreading the word more it will benefit us and connect people who are interested in various things to each other.
“If it doesnt turn out perfectly, or if it doesnt turn out the way we intended, it’s perfectly okay. We just want to further the communication, that is the beginning and the end,” Pifer said. The initiative, headed by Bowden and Pifer, could be used to better allocate club resources between organizations, and increase involvement between clubs.
Students ‘Stand Up for Science’ at walkout
Students congregated in front of the Hofheimer Library in protest of Trump Administration policies concerning scientific funding and regulations.
BY VICTORIA HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu
Almost two dozen people attended a “Stand Up for Science” walkout on March 7 at noon to “support science, education and equity.” This walkout was headed by Landon Rockwell, a senior majoring in Biology, and coincided with a larger walkout occurring at the same time in DC and several other large cities.
The walkout was in protest of several federal policies enacted by the recently inaugurated Trump administration, including threatening to close down several scientific agencies generally regarded as vital to the health of the American people, like FEMA, and firing thousands of people, notably those involved in the park service.
“I’m hoping that this can foster conversation about the changes we can make,” Rockwell said. Rockwell gave a speech and said she hoped to collect support on campus, the reason that she did not go to DC for the main protest, which she had considered. Several students and faculty members spoke as well at the event when it was opened for discussion, sharing their fears and demands.
Rockwell said that she hoped the walkout would foster a community “here at Wesleyan,” and have a space to “support and uplift each other.”
The event was advertised through posters throughout Greer and Blocker (permission to post notes in Batten was not received).
On the list of threatened organizations are the Health Department and several other departments aligned with causes the Trump administration considers “political.” These departments have been forced to take down several pages and funding for further research has been threatened, including a study in Portsmouth on heat that Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, associate professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science,
and several students have been working on, previously funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Students and faculty at the event signed a poster that Rockwell provided with their demands for the government, including protecting research and keeping vital staff on the books. Rockwell said she would attempt to get permission to put the poster in a public space.
Most to all attendees were science majors or science faculty, likely due in part to the posters being placed solely in the buildings used for science.
To watch interviews with attendees and our more in-depth reporting on this issue, please see the video on our website/Instagram, with footage from Marlin Chronicle staff edited by Isabella Grosswiler.
Anna
Emilie Dajc|Marlin Chronicle
Student senators vote on legislation during an SGA meeting. The senators (from left to right) are Grace Harriman, Will Flanders, Daren Abramaitys and Lucas Gordon.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
RIGHT: Organizer Landon Rockwell (right), senior, and chemistry major Anna Greenleaf (left), a junior, at the walkout.
LEFT:
Greenleaf signing the poster, seen completed in the other photo.
Warped Tour is back, so what? Croghan’s Corner
BY AIDEN CROGHAN accroghan@vwu.edu
Warped Tour was once one of the most highly successful cultural events for bands in music genres that went under the mainstream radar. The lineup featured punk, pop-punk, ska, metalcore and hardcore bands. Bands like Paramore and My Chemical Romance, now household names, were given platforms through Warped Tour.
Warped Tour was steeped in controversies during its existence, injuries, lawsuits and numerous allegations of predatory behavior of bands while on the tour. It may have been better that the tour came to an end in 2019, but it’s undeniable that the tour was a special thing for people who attended. It gave kids a chance to see many of their favorite bands perform on one day, for a cheap price point, and discover new,
Aiden is a sophomore studying Media & Communication. They are the Community Editor for the Marlin
smaller bands in the process. Attendees could take music lessons from band members on the tour and meet band members.
Small bands had the chance to perform on the tour through the Warped Tour’s “Battle of the Bands” competition.
The price for one-day tickets to Warped Tour one-day events in 2019, the last year that the tour ran, were $50. The tour has come back now, as a two-day event only happening in three cities: Washington, D.C., Long Beach, California and Orlando, Florida. Warped Tour now seems to be more of a traditional festival than anything, with prices for general admission tickets starting at around $150 for two days, and being very limited in geographical scope. The areas where the tour is going already have festivals, and with the price of Warped Tour now being similar to that of a festival, what’s the point at all of bringing it back?
The tour seems to have abandoned its values of accessibility regardless of location and income in order to sell a lazy nostalgia-fest to maximize their profits. With the controversies surrounding Warped Tour and the gradually increasing exclusivity of it, it seemed better that it ended, and bringing it back now with even more degraded values, seems to spit on the already-tainted legacy of the tour.
Music fans have access to festivals, regular tours and their local music scene. Warped Tour is no longer providing a unique contribution to this ecosystem, so the return of it just seems to be a manufactured ploy for increasing profits.
‘People ask me why I smile so much’
what motivates me is the people I work with. I’m content.”
Brennan is a junior studying History. Isaac is a sophomore studying Media & Communication. He is the Opinions Editor for the Marlin Chronicle. This article was inspired by a class assignment, where they found this story.
“I feel a lot of love,” a lone construction worker shoveling dirt said. While building a road, the worker referred to the opportunity of love as a blessing.
“I don’t have all the answers, but I know one thing I can say,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be able to love people.”
Kenneth Brown, a laborer working for Chesapeake Contracting Group, doesn’t consider construction his passion, but he is grateful for the work. “This isn’t something I love to do, but it’s a blessing to be doing it,” he said. “I have a job, and
Faith plays a central role in Brown’s life. He spoke with conviction about his belief in God and the importance of staying humble. “So much is going on in the world today. We have to know who our Creator is, where our help comes from,” he said. “Without God, we can’t do anything. He gives us strength to wake up in the morning. Somebody didn’t wake up today, but I did, and I’m grateful.”
Having overcome personal hardships, including a battle with cancer, he carries an outlook rooted in gratitude and love.
“People ask me why I smile so much,” he said. “I smile because I woke up this morning. Somebody didn’t. I’ve been through a lot, but God brought me through it.”
For him, the message is simple: “Life aint gonna be easy. It all depends on how you make it, how you choose to live your life…stay humble.”
Isaac Fick
|Marlin Chronicle
Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle
Isaac Fick & Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Chronicle.
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
Men’s Basketball bounces back
BY SYDNEE WASHINGTON sawashington2@vwu.edu
After a 20-point victory over Randolph College on Feb. 17, Men’s Basketball concluded their season with a 12-4 record, improving upon their previous conference record of 9-7. They headed into the ODAC tournament as the No. 4 seed, facing No. 5 Guilford College in the first round of play on Feb. 26. The Marlins had bested the Quakers in conference play back in January, with a near 20-point victory. However, the Quakers came to play, handing the Marlins a very shocking loss.
“It didn’t feel good, and we probably had one of our worst games of the season”
Head Coach
David Macedo
The first half of the game set the tone, as Guilford jumped the gun, scoring 40 points and shooting nearly 60% from the field and 50% from the three. Contrarily, the Marlins had an abysmal start, scoring only 17 points in the first 20 minutes, shooting 24% from the field and 14% from the three. The Marlins gathered their bearings in the second half, shooting 50% from the field and 55% from the three; however, the comeback effort fell short, ending with the score 61-74.
Head coach Dave Macedo commented on the early loss. “It didn’t feel good, and we probably had one of our worst games of the season,” he said.
The Marlins also missed out on an at large bid to the NCAA tournament this year. “We came up a bit short to get in the NCAAs. I think we were short by two
New sport alert: Flag Football joins VWU athletics
BY BRIAN MADDEN bvmadden@vwu.edu
Women’s flag football has made headlines recently after the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics recommended its addition to division I, II, and III sports. After this recommendation, it is in the hands of college programs in all three divisions to move the sport forward collegiately.
There are five sports currently in the Emerging Women’s Sports Program, with flag football hoping to be the sixth. The program is intended to help schools provide more athletics for women and create more sponsorship options for schools. The
Committee “will review updated statistics, current sports sponsorship numbers, financial considerations, potential timelines and other relevant topics before making a final decision,” Gail Dent said on NCAA.com.
This recommendation comes along with the growing popularity of flag football in women’s sports. The National Federation of State High School Associations have seen the number of young women playing football or flag football rise recently.
“Women’s Flag Football is an increasingly popular sport that has exploded worldwide to more than 20 million participants in over 100 countries — including about 500,000 girls under the age of 17 in the U.S,”
spots, but the guys have had a really good year. We’re just not satisfied,” coach Macedo said.
The program still has another shot at a championship after being invited recently
according to vwuathletics.com.
There are a lot of people fighting for this sport to reach championship status. “The Committee on Women’s Athletics wants to thank RCX Sports Foundation and USA Football for submitting the application,” Ragean Hill, chair of the Committee on Women’s Athletics and executive associate athletics director at Charlotte, said.
“It’s really cool to see more opportunities for girls in athletics, and I am excited to watch” Sophomore Madison Mellon
At least 65 schools are sponsoring flag football for women at the varsity or club level, with more expected to join in 2026 according to NCAA.com. Flag football has also made its way into the Olympics in 2028. After getting the program
to the 2025 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament.
“We’re treating it like it’s a chance to win another championship. So we got a chance with a No. 1. We’re going up to Maryland on Friday, and we’re just going to prepare the right way and see if we can get a couple wins and hopefully have a championship next Saturday at our place. So we look forward to it,” coach Macedo said. In the first round, they were matched up with No. 8 Franciscan University of Steubenville. The Marlins dominated the Barons from the start of the game, leading at the half by 14 points and refusing to let up, ending with a final score of 73-51.
Advancing to the semifinals with the hopes of booking their ticket to the championship, Marlins faced No. 5 McDaniel College. In the match, leading scorers Omari DeVeaux, for the Marlins, and Jonas Sujeta, for the Green Terrors, took charge in the fight for a spot in the finals. DeVeaux scored a career high 27 points to Sujeta’s 22, pushing the Marlins ahead with a final score of 75-62.
The Marlins now face a familiar opponent, No. 2 Salisbury University, in the championship game. The Marlins competed against the Seagulls at home in January, and the close matchup ended in a five-point victory for the Marlins. The key for this matchup is shutting down Salisbury’s leading scorer Jordan Oates. In the semifinals matchup against New Jersey City, Oates scored 24 points to lead the Seagulls to victory. In the January contest, the Marlins held Oates just under his season scoring average. As long as the Marlins play their fast-paced, physical game, this should not be an issue.
The championship is scheduled for Mar. 15 at 6 p.m. in Townebank Arena. Tune in to watch the Marlins battle the Seagulls for the ECAC tournament title.
approved, “a sport must have 40 schools with the sport at a varsity level and meet minimum participation requirements (as reflected in the NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Database) to be considered for championship status,” according to NCAA.com. Virginia Wesleyan has decided to add Women’s Flag Football making it the 26th sport offered at VWU. “We are excited to offer opportunities for women to participate in flag football at the collegiate level,” Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at VWU, Andrea Hoover-Erbig, said.
This movement is all about growing women’s sports and giving them an opportunity to play football. “It’s really cool to see more opportunities for girls in athletics and I am excited to watch,” sophomore Madison Mellon said.
“I used to play flag football and realized how fun it really is, so I think it’s cool that we will have a real team to watch,” sophomore Adriana Paci said.
Everything lies ahead for the future in women’s flag football. Virginia Wesleyan is somewhat early to the women’s flag football scene, but with more schools adding a team, the competition will increase.
Swimming with Epilepsy, defying the odds
BY COY CAMISCIOLI clcamiscioli@vwu.edu
Junior Cael Long finished the swim season, earning an All-Conference nod as the Marlins finished sixth in the ODAC championship meet.
Long has had a successful career so far with the Marlins, as he currently holds the men’s team records in multiple events with aspirations of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Nationals in his best events.
It has not been an easy process for Long to have earned such a decorated career as the swimmer faces challenges that most athletes could never endure.
“I was formally diagnosed with a rare form of nocturnal epilepsy when I was two years old, and I am also on the Autism Spectrum. I spent a lot of time in children’s hospitals, but nothing ever worked with any of the anti-seizure medicines,” Long said.
Against all odds, Long continues to prove why he is one of the best in the ODAC.
“I had another seizure in my sleep this year at ODACs the night before my best event, the 100 butterfly. I felt very sick with severe pain in my joints and muscles and migraine symptoms,” Long said.
Despite all of the obstacles, Long made the A finals and placed fifth overall.
Every day is a process for Long that needs to be taken carefully to be in a position to succeed while also staying healthy.
“I have to be very careful with my diet and sleep schedule. It is extremely challenging to travel to big swim meets and stay overnight,” Long said.
These challenges also affect Long’s social life outside of swimming.
“I cannot stay in the dorms on campus due to my epilepsy and it has been very hard to fit in and make friends. I have severe short-term memory issues related to my epilepsy,” Long said.
Long is an inspiration to other younger athletes who have been diagnosed with epilepsy as he continues to defy the odds.
These challenges helped spark an interest for Long after college as he plans to pursue a career as a recreational therapist, who plans programming for people with disabilities.
“Spending time at the Epilepsy Camp for kids on Lake Erie doing recreational therapy-type activities was the only thing that made a difference in my life socially and mentally which led to me choosing recreational therapy as my major,” Long said.
Long expressed his gratitude towards the Disability Office and Learning Center for helping him through daily tasks.
“They support VWU students with disabilities every day and have helped me so much with accommodations,” Long said.
While most athletes who have epilepsy are advised to stay on the safe side and avoid activities that can potentially lead to
overexertion, Marlin’s swimmer Cael Long has proven statistics wrong while emerging as an elite swimmer at the collegiate level.
Emilie Dajc|Marlin Chronicle
Photo collage from ODAC Tournament loss against Guilford College.
James Hill|Instagram
Photo of Cael Long taken by James Hill. Graphic designed by Sydnee Washington.
Durand said she was scheduled to meet with the President’s Council for Inclusive Communities (PCIC) on Feb. 20 to voice her concerns. Junior Student Senator Joy Ramsey confirmed plans to accompany Durand to this meeting. Ramsey is a member of the Women’s Lacrosse team.
“The PCIC spearheads efforts to understand and address key issues while providing resources and support for students who bring diverse experiences and perspectives,” according to the Virginia Wesleyan website.
This PCIC meeting was canceled due to inclement weather that shut down the university. Durand said she was unable to reschedule because of conflicting track meets.
Ramsey initiated a discussion on how to know whether reports go through these channels and result in change.
“It’s a certain point where so many athletes are complaining about something to someone that some type of action needs to be taken,” Ramsey said.
Director of Student Engagement and Deputy Title IX Coordinator Jen Cohen serves as an SGA adviser.
At the meeting, Cohen compared these scenarios to the protocol surrounding a student conduct piece. “If you’re not the students involved, you don’t know what that outcome is, because that’s protected information,” Cohen said.
Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward serves as an adviser for SGA, and summarized the channels of reporting at the meeting. “If a student-athlete talks to a coach and doesn’t feel like something’s happened with the coach–that they haven’t been heard–then the next step would be to the Athletic Director,” Seward said.
“If something’s brought to the Athletic Department that would be a potential violation of NCAA policy or university policy, then it goes under review, first by the Athletic Director, and then if need be, it would go next to the Senior Vice President,” Seward said.
Seward said, from there the Senior Vice President Keith Moore would meet with individuals if warranted and examine evidence of the claim to determine the outcome.
Seward emphasized that evidence must be rooted in fact. “The way someone feels about something or dislikes someone, that’s not grounds for discipline or violation,” Seward said.
He said usable factual evidence would consist of specific dates, incidents and violations.
“If it was a personnel matter, where someone was disciplined or filed, that’s protected information; that’s not something that we would share,” Seward said. “Legally, you can’t.”
Seward said the best way he can help students with concerns “is to put them in the right channel.”
Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig said in an email to The Marlin Chronicle, “As the Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, all issues or concerns brought to my attention are carefully reviewed. The matter reported last semester was examined thoroughly by University officials according to policy and procedures, and determined to be without basis.”
Former track and field team members and current VWU students, senior Amia Barnes and sophomore Anisah Kersey, shared their experiences in reporting their
concerns.
Barnes left the team before coming back to school for J-term. Barnes said when she came back, the team atmosphere had changed since last year. “We went from being like a family team to being a team that [is] based on only winning,” Barnes said.
ODAC announced coach Stephen Register as the new director of Men’s/ Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field on July 23, 2024.
“Virginia Wesleyan University has championship DNA flowing through its veins. Our goal for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at VWU is just that: to win championships and win them quickly,” Register said in the announcement.
Ryan Koval, junior and captain of the cross country team, spoke to Register’s coaching style. “He’s disciplined and doesn’t let a lot of things slide that have slid in the past,” Koval said. In the past, he said students who skipped practices and had failing GPAs competed in events. “Register is not like that. He does not take that,” Koval said.
He said Register “wants us to have good grades, but also not skip out on practice.”
Koval said the discipline “is something that I believe we have desperately needed in this program.”
Barnes explained the circumstances that led to her first one-on-one meeting with Register. She said the first incident “was when he wanted me to run the [distance medley relay] (DMR). The DMR has four different events in one.”
“At first I agreed to it,” she said. “As I thought about [it], I was like, ‘no,’ I can’t do it because I’m already doing the 400 open, the open 800, the four by four, and you want me to do a DMR. That’s too much.”
“I’m gonna stick to my three that I’ve been doing,” Barnes said. “It’s my senior year. That’s what I want to do.” She said this led to a disagreement over whose decision it was.
Barnes said she took issue with more specific coaching approaches. In another meeting with Register, Barnes said, “I told him how he should talk to people and me. And when you want to critique somebody, acknowledge the good that they’re doing and then say, ‘Hey, you should work on this.’”
Barnes said after hearing the experiences of Kersey and other team members, “I think I just kind of hit my breaking point with some stuff.” She said this led to her departure from the team. Barnes said this happened quicker than she planned, as she intended on first meeting with Register and Hoover-Erbig.
Barnes shared concerns in an email to President Scott Miller, which led to a meeting with Moore. Barnes said, “He was just really open to listening…and I think that at that moment, that’s what we wanted—to be heard.”
According to Barnes, Hoover-Erbig later emailed, asking to have a meeting with Barnes and another member of the womens’ team to discuss the matters contained in her email to Miller. Barnes said that despite language used toward her that expressed understanding, she said she felt she was not being heard.
“That meeting I was bawling, crying…” Barnes said. “Everything I said had a rebuttal.”
She said she felt the second half of this meeting “was them portraying this narrative that I’m not being accepting of a new coach, and that’s why this whole incident is the incident.”
Barnes said she is familiar with the process of getting a new coach. “If anyone had been accepting of [a] new coach, it’s me,” Barnes said. “I’m not accepting of
disrespect.
“I feel like the school did what they were supposed to do, but I feel like Athletics didn’t do what they were supposed to do,” Barnes said.
Barnes said the situation would have been improved had Register addressed it differently. “If he took accountability… to me that goes a long way,” Barnes said.
Kersey joined the track and field team in her freshman year and was removed by the coaches her sophomore year.
She first missed a mandatory practice due to oversleeping. Kersey texted her coaches that it wouldn’t happen again.
Unexcused absences result in a penalty of missing a track meet, according to team rules, which Register informed her of.
According to Kersey, other team members had missed practice or were late and were still allowed to run in the meet.
At a meeting shortly after the incident, Kersey said Register initiated conversations with her about having an attitude, which she said she felt was unjust.
“I didn’t care that I was benched the first meet. My issue was the way he was talking to me, and the inconsistency in the rules,” Kersey said.
Due to missing practice and a mandatory study hall, she was suspended from the team. Kersey said “it wasn’t inherently clear” that she was supposed to attend study hall.
Kersey and her father went to HooverErbig, which led to a meeting that resulted in no change.
This conversation led to a meeting with Moore, in which “we didn’t really get to say what we wanted to because he wanted us to take the proper route and talk to Hoover,” Kersey said.
Kersey has observed the size of the team decrease. “I’m thinking about transferring so I can run somewhere else,” she said, and she knows others who have already transferred.
Former team member sophomore Anthony Stewart transferred to another school this year.
Stewart said that team members receive four mental health days. “If you miss one day of practice, he’ll take you out of a meet for every day you miss,” Stewart said. “Even if you communicate.”
When Stewart could not make it to practice due to a class, Stewart said he was instructed to use his mental health day or say it was unexcused.
“There’s people coming out to practice an hour late and he won’t say anything to them,” Stewart said.
Koval said that while he was not present
during J-term, “From what I’ve seen in the couple weeks that I’ve been back and have been at practice, I really have not seen any favoritism there.”
Upon request for an interview, Register declined to comment.
He provided an email statement: “While I am unable discuss the specifics of my private communications with athletes or internal departmental affairs, I must express, for the official record, that multiple Track and Field and Cross Country athletes have reported to me that the newspaper’s disruptive approach to questioning and the apparent framing of its article have caused them significant discomfort and imposed unnecessary psychological strain. I bring this to attention to fulfill my commitment to the mental health and well-being of our student-athletes, which is of primary importance; and, further, to highlight the potential negative impact that the baseless and meritless bias of the story—which your team is constructing—may be having on their welfare.”
Junior track and field team member Opeyemi Kareem-Ojo had a meeting with Register in response to the alleged team issues.
“I went in his office talking about how the issues with the team have been getting a little out of hand, and I feel like he owes–even if he won’t give certain individuals an apology–but just the team, he owes them an apology for a lack of accountability and a lack of empathy also,” Kareem-Ojo said. Kareem-Ojo said he has recently observed how the situation has resulted in more cautious coaching.
“A bunch of us wrote letters to the [President’s Council for Inclusive Communities]…and sent emails to various people that we think could fix things,” Kareem-Ojo said. “I don’t know if things are working in the background, but it feels like things aren’t moving forward.”
Kareem-Ojo feels the team atmosphere is primarily centered around winning. “To me… it just seems like he only cares about winning ODACs and taking people to nationals, and yes we do care about that stuff, but we don’t want to be just treated like a machine,” Kareem-Ojo said.
“We used to be one of the biggest teams on campus and now we’re average, which is not a bad thing, but knowing the circumstances of why the team has become so small, it’s understandable to know why things have changed like the energy and attitudes,” Kareem-Ojo said.
Kareem-Ojo said he plans to remain on the team but he would like to see changes in transparency, accountability and empathy.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Checking in: women-owned, community driven
BY LORA YOUNG llyoung@vwu.edu
This Women’s History Month, the Weekender is taking a look back at some of the women-owned businesses highlighted in the past, how they’ve grown and what’s new with them. From local cafes to innovative shops, these businesses continue to inspire and thrive.
Less than 15 minutes from campus is the 2D Cafe and Eatery. This cafe is known for having Turkish food, as well as flavors from Asian, European and Latin American cuisine. As you step inside, the space welcomes you with a minimalist, artistic ambiance, featuring monochromatic furniture and striking two-dimensional artwork on the walls. The atmosphere is both enchanting and unique.
The owner, Monica Kiraly, last spoke with The Marlin Chronicle in Nov. 2022. When asked about what the cafe has achieved since the past interview, Kiraly said, “We’ve been busy. We changed the menu during the winter. We added Turkish items and the menu was very, very popular.” 2D will reduce their menu for the summer, but will still be including some beloved Turkish items. Kiraly expressed her pride in her business.
“I love creating new drinks and seeing the customers’ positive reactions,” Kirlay said. The cafe is perfect if you’re craving a sweet treat, coffee, tea or a meal. They have so many different options. In addition to their menu offerings, they also host book clubs and Ladies Latin nights. They are hoping to have more in the future.
The 2D Cafe has been thriving ever since opening this past year. It continues to be welcoming and the food and drinks are always served to perfection. You can find them at 1102 Atlantic Ave #102 on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Another standout women-owned business making waves is Pure Lagos. Located in downtown Norfolk, this African gallery and boutique has built a following with its paintings, clothing, spices, herbs, handmade baskets and jewelry. When asked about how the business started, Sia Alexander, the owner of Pure Lagos, said, “I started this business in order to bring the creativity and beauty of Africa back to my hometown, Norfolk, Virginia.” She did just that. Upon walking in you are greeted with bright colors, music and soothing aromas. You’re immediately drawn in by the gorgeous authentic African art, fashion and artifacts of Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Kenya.
Online shopping has caused a lot of stores to lose business rapidly, creating competition for places like Pure Lagos. Alexander expressed how important it is for the shop to maintain an active online presence to bring in more sales. She has set several goals for her company in the coming year, including expanding and improving the website, as well as making a greater, deeper foundation in the business so they are on track for long term growth. If you’re interested in beautiful, unique artwork or artisanal goods, check out the Pure Lagos website at purelagos. com, or visit them in person on 251 Bute St. Maison Soleil, a fair trade boutique, is a great place to go to if you’re looking for jewelry, trinkets, homegoods, clothing and much more. The moment you walk in you’re greeted with bright colors and welcoming employees.
The owner, Lindsay, wants the shop to attract people of all ages and hopes to see more college students coming in the upcoming year. In the future, Lindsay has hopes to expand their community space, as well as hosting more events and workshops.
The boutique makes it their mission to stay connected with the community by having many events. This month, they’re hosting Int’l Women’s Day Sip and Shop, Yoga Flow into Spring Class and Crochet 101 Workshop, among others. You can go to their Facebook, or Instagram to see the full list (@maisonsoleilnfk).
If you want to shop for some eco-friendly, sustainable items, stop by this boutique. It’s located at 1611A Colley Ave, Norfolk.
In speaking with these three owners about Women’s History Month, all of these women had one thing in common: their determination for women to do what they believe in. When asked about how it feels to be a women-owned business, Alexander said, “It feels amazing because women—our feminine energy is so strong and is so magnetic, and it’s been underrated.” She believes that women think that they often need men to be successful, but it’s not true in her eyes. Kiraly felt similarly. She said, “It’s a natural reaction because I am young and a woman people think I am just a cashier.” These businesses continue to exemplify strength and resilience, as shown by the progress they’ve made since our last interviews. Their ongoing success is a testament to their determination and the power of women in business.
Parlor Doughnuts hits Virginia Beach Boulevard
Josiah Hayden, son of the owner of Parlor Doughnuts, took on his first time managing a Parlor Doughnuts location with business partner Ben Low at a recently opened store on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
“I’ve been involved with 20 plus other locations, helping them open up and train staff and things like that, before I decided to do it on my own,” Hayden said.
Parlor Doughnuts is a new twist on the classic doughnut shop. The decor is inspired by American heritage featuring red, white and blue and combining cozy vintage aspects with a modern design.
“What we offer doughnutwise is a little different than the traditional way. We have our famous layered doughnut— layered with butter. It’s a lot more airy than a traditional cake donut,” Low said.
Parlor Doughnuts has been offering its different “Famous Layered Doughnut” since the opening of its first location in Evansville, Indiana in2019. It comes in various flavors, including french toast, maple bacon, cookies and cream, churro, coconut cream filled and bourbon caramel.
“I’d say it fills you up a lot more, and they’re a lot bigger than what you see normally,” Low said.
Other breakfast items have been added to the menu like acai bowls, avocado toast, breakfast tacos, sandwiches and biscuits. There are gluten-friendly and keto-friendly options too, and any
of these items can be paired with a specialty coffee or iced matcha.
“It was great. I got the campfire doughnut, and the service was quick and they were very friendly,” VWU freshman Erynn Turner said.
Hayden said his dad, the owner, loves America and strongly supports it. This patriotism is evident when walking into Parlor Doughnuts. A love for America and doughnuts collide, from the bald eagle placed in the logo to the American flag and patriotic color scheme. The brown leather seating, gold accents and navy blue and white tiled floorings create the classic feel of a traditional parlor, making it a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a treat.
“We’re big on having the customers have a parlor experience, so it’s just where the community can come together, have some doughnuts and coffee, hang out and have a good time,” Low said.
Parlor Doughnuts wants to provide customers with more than just a quick place to grab a doughnut. Its decor is inspired by the parlor rooms of old American homes, or what now many consider a living room, where families gather to entertain guests.
It is the room families decorate and furnish nicely to be welcoming. Similarly, this environment is what Parlor Doughnuts strives to create for customers, according to its website under the ‘Parlor Story’ tab.
“It’s not just like a doughnut shop that’s been there for years and just the same old thing. It’s something new. A lot of people like that,” Hayden said.
Hayden said Parlor Doughnuts is not only passionate about relationship-building within the shop but is driven to support the community from the outside.
“This Christmas, we did a Toys
for Tots doughnut, so it was a little bit more expensive than the normal doughnut, and all the proceeds for that went to charity. I think we raised, like, over $30,000 for charity,” Hayden said.
Every Parlor Doughnuts location starts off the day at 4 a.m. in order to serve fresh batches of doughnuts. This early morning shift is called the “fry shift,” according to Hayden. “We like to go above and beyond with our customer service,” Hayden said.
A staff member comes in, turns on the fryers and starts making the doughnuts so they are fresh for customers when doors open at 6:30 a.m. The frying process is repeated throughout the day when doughnuts start running low. “We like to go above and beyond with our customer service,” Hayden said.
Parlor Doughnuts has two locations in Virginia Beach, one on Virginia Beach Boulevard
and the other on Pacific Avenue. There are plans to open several more, according to Hayden. It is looking for people to join in on serving the community with the “Parlor Experience,” with contact information available on the specific locations website. The homey atmosphere Parlor Doughnuts creates through design and American pride lets customers slow down and take in their visit, connecting with others. Visitors can grab a treat and sit down and chat, maybe even striking up a conversation with someone new. You can find Parlor Donuts at 3229 Virginia Beach Blvd Suite 100, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, or on their website, parlordoughnuts. com/shops/virginia-beach-va-
Kami Whisenhunt | Marlin Chronicle Parlor business partners Josiah Hayden (left) and Ben Low (right) stand proudly at their new location.
Lora Young|Marlin Chronicle Maison Soliel shines with bright colors and positivity.
Lora Young|Marlin Chronicle 2D Cafe serves babka, a sweet braided bread originating from Jewish communities of Poland and Ukraine.
Lora Young |Marlin Chronicle Handcrafted goods inspired by African creativity at Pure Lagos.
Mars Johnson |Marlin Chronicle
Where to find Dubai chocolate in Hampton Roads
BY ABEE CASSIDY & MJ MATTHEWS arcassidy@vwu.edu & mjmatthews@vwu.edu
This issue, The Weekender hopped around Hampton Roads, taking the opportunity to try out some of the viral TikTok Dubai chocolate recipes. For those unfamiliar, “Dubai chocolate” is milk chocolate filled or mixed with sweet pistachio cream and kataifi, a thin, nutty pastry dough shredded and toasted to sweet crunchy bits. This dessert has gone viral on social media, especially Tiktok and Instagram, with many dessert shops taking their spin on the trend.
For this issue, 2D Cafe & Eatery, Lily’s Crepes and KOCO Korean Fried Chicken and Croffles were the three places visited and reviewed for their delicious Dubai sweets. These eye-catching places aren’t far from here at all— 2D Cafe is a 25-minute drive and Lily’s Crepes is a 26-minute drive from Virginia Wesleyan. KOCO is just 15 minutes away. These places are worth the drive, their Dubai chocolates are worth the hype.
Linda Tran runs KOCO Korean Fried Chicken and Croffles. A short drive from VWU, KOCO's fun and cozy atmosphere welcomes everyone. While this business only opened a few years ago, the menu is 17 years in the making.
“We did the yogurt trend, we did the pizza place, and then ‘build your own pizza’, but none of it was my passion, per se,” Tran said. Tran started KOCO with influences from all over the world. Dubai chocolate serves as the newest trendy addition, found via Tiktok. KOCO’s specialties include Dubai chocolate croffles (croissantwaffles) and a Dubai chocolate strawberry
Marlin Chronicle
Linda Tran and her daughter Taylor Tran keep KOCO going in store and on social media (@kocoskorean757).
BY MJ MATTHEWS mjmatthews@vwu.edu
chocolate strawberry cup.
cup—both of which were absolutely todie-for.
“It was a restaurant that incorporated everything that I love to eat, like lumpia, pancit, Korean fried chicken, croffles— which nobody had at the time” Tran said. KOCO makes their pistachio cream sauce in house, making their version of Dubai chocolate that much more special.
“Everybody loves it because it’s something different,” Tran said.
2D Cafe & Eatery is owned by Monica Kiraly, located down by the Virginia Beach Oceanfront area. Kiraly has many Dubai chocolate inspired treats, such as Dubai chocolate covered strawberries, Dubai chocolate bars, Dubai chocolate hearts and a now new Dubai chocolate latte.
“Next week, Monday, I’m starting the Dubai latte,” Kiraly said. Kiraly’s most popular Dubai chocolate treat that is sold is her Dubai hearts.
“People are curious to try them...the heart shape looks fun also,” Kiraly said. She believes they’re selling the most because they’re more on the small side so if people enjoy the Dubai chocolate, they can get a larger Dubai chocolate bar she also sells.
Kiraly was inspired to sell her own Dubai chocolates after being curious and trying one in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
“They started to be very popular maybe a year ago, and I’ve seen them there and tried them, and I liked them,” Kiraly said. Unlike many other businesses, she wasn’t influenced by social media. Kiraly makes this treat because she liked how it tasted when she first tried a Dubai chocolate herself.
Lily’s Crepes is also an amazing spot to grab some Dubai chocolate treats in
the Hampton Roads area, specifically in Chesapeake. This establishment is owned by Hassan Hajama, who’s selling viral Dubai chocolate strawberry cups and soon some Dubai chocolate inspired milkshakes and crepes. “We’re going to have a crepe, just inside it’s filled with only the crunch, and we’ll make milkshakes out of that,” Hajama said.
Hajama got inspiration to start selling his version on the Dubai chocolate’s by someone asking him if he has heard of this new Dubai chocolate trend. Lily’s already had sold chocolate covered strawberries, so they decided to add a Dubai strawberry cup to their menu.
“We started selling the strawberry cups and published it over eight months ago, then we heard about Dubai and got on the trend… we started to also sell Dubai bars,” Hajama said. Lily’s Crepes has a chocolate fountain they use for the strawberry cups.
Lily’s makes everything from scratch: “we make the kataifi and roast our pistachios for blending, then we add our stuff like chocolate to make it smooth,” Hajama said. Hajama also said that he had a local influencer reach out to them to try this Dubai treat they offered. That video got 231,000 views. After that viral video they gained more popularity and their business
boomed.
All three businesses created their own recipes for their Dubai treats, not fully following along with the Tiktok-viral traditional recipe. They both also went through some struggles to perfect their recipes that make them unique and original. It is exciting to see local businesses build their success from something as small as a chocolate bar, and the local benefit is yummy, to say the least. If you want your own taste of these Dubai chocolate treats, visit Lily’s, 2D, KOCO and other businesses. All addresses can be found in the infographic above. See more in our extended version of this
Advanced screening of 'Mickey 17'
Advanced movie screenings are usually an A-list celebrity event, but this type of program was flipped on its head here in the 757 with an advanced screening of director Bong Joon Ho and actor Robert Pattinson’s latest film, “Mickey 17.” Offered completely free to local college students from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg, this experience was wholly unique and exciting.
Hosted at the AMC Hampton Towne Center on Feb. 27, college students filed into an IMAX theater. With no previews, the audience jumped right into a movie that can absolutely be described as bizarre. Set in 2054 AD, “Mickey 17” centers around Mickey Barnes, who signs up to be an “expendable” on the next spaceship traversing the sky.
Played by “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson, Mickey dies for a living, being used as a test dummy for those on the ship finding new technology to survive—don’t worry, Mickey is reprinted with a bio-printer every time he dies. After 16 copies of Mickey meet their demise comes Mickey 17. Due to various complications, Mickey must find a way to create peace in his new world, to save himself and everyone else.
In planning events like this, Antonio Jones from Allied
Advertising curates experiences made for communities. This particular showing was for college students, but others are geared towards localities or other organized groups. Jones and his team work to make these screenings open and inviting to everyone in the audience, “I used to say, back in the day, this is one time where you can pretend that you’re in your living room,” Jones said.
Jones spoke to how much he values these advanced screening experiences: “It’s really easy for us to get kind of like, you know, our little world of streaming, our TVs are getting bigger…However, though, there’s still something about that experience of seeing a movie together,” Jones said. “When I can see people coming out, and they’re laughing, or people having a good time I just tell that they probably are laughing way more because the people around them are laughing, or there’s a sad moment and they’re getting even more emotional.” Jones said he appreciated the sense of community.
After the screening, several college students gave their opinions on the experience and the movie. College of William & Mary senior Madeline Burdge said, “It kind of felt like an anarchist ‘Star Wars.’” Burdge and other William & Mary film club students buzzed about how neat it was to see a Bong Joon Ho film prior to its release, and about how much they enjoyed the movie experience. “This was a unique opportunity. I really, really enjoyed it. I had been waiting for this movie to come out, and it did
not disappoint. I thought it was really bizarre, but pretty awesome,” Burdge said.
While this film is comedic and adventurous, it also holds deeper messages about societal structures, specifically anticolonial narratives. “I feel like Koreans, especially Korean Americans, tend to forget about the Japanese occupation and the fact that this [film] is a parable for any colonial narrative, [written and directed] by a Korean, I think, is really powerful. And hopefully reminds people of things going on in the world and that colonialism still exists today,” William & Mary junior TJ Manfuso said.
When asked who he hoped would see this film, Manfuso encouraged Korean Americans and anyone exploring their heritage to take part and reevaluate their histories.
“I hope Korean Americans see this movie … it’s still, I think, a narrative that is important to us. It speaks to our history. Otherwise, I do hope anybody whose family or family heritage has been under colonial occupation sees this. I think it’s a very empowering narrative,” Manfuso said. “Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re not human or worthy of existence… you are always trying to be made lesser by the oppressor, but you are, in fact, equal in more ways than one.”
Special thanks to Max Berkey for making this experience possible.
Landon Crooks
|Marlin Chronicle
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle
McKenna Howenstine|
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle KOCO puts a trending twist on their signature croffle, paired with a Dubai
Abee Cassidy|Marlin Chronicle 2D Cafe's Dubai chocolate heart stuns in a new photo.
