Mar 4th, 2021

The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 3.4.21 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Admin announces ‘21 commencement plans

BY BRIANNA SANDY bnsandy@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University administration has announced that Spring Commencement will be hosted in-person this May. In a Nota Bene sent Feb. 15, President Scott D. Miller announced that separate May 8 Commencement ceremonies will be held in-person for each of VWU’s academic schools. A separate May 15 ceremony will be held for graduates from the VWU Global Campus, which includes online and weekend students.

Dr. Miller described a variety of considerations that led to this decision in an Feb. 25 interview, including state progress on managing the coronavirus pandemic and opinions from the student body. Miller expressed that feedback from students who graduated in December said that the enthusiasm of being part of Commencement wore off the longer away it was from actual class completion and graduation.

Accordingly, “What we wanted to do was come up with dates and a format that, if you’re getting close to your graduation, it’s going to be close to your completion of classes so that the bubbliness and happiness of it all is right there and you’re not coming back eight months later, six months into a new job or in graduate school,” Miller explained.

He went on to say that the current plans “put graduates first.” The ‘platform party’ will be composed of President Miller, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Maynard Schaus, and the Dean of each academic school. Others will be limited to support staff for the ceremony: faculty, staff and Board of Trustees members will not be invited to Commencement in order to provide more guest capacity for graduates. Each graduate is currently expected to be able to invite 3 people to their Commencement ceremony.

Graduates will be divided up by academic school, so there will be four separate ceremonies on May 8 at different times: one each for the Birdsong School of Social Science, the Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, and the D. Henry Watts School of Professional Studies. Ceremonies will be held in the Towne Bank Arena of the Batten Center. Double majors will have the opportunity to choose which school they wish to attend the ceremony for, in order to minimize contact between groups.

Arrangements to take photos with faculty and facilities graduates have fond memories of will be available in the days surrounding Commencement, per Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Sue Larkin.

Larkin also explained that the decision to hold Commencement in the Batten Center was due to its size and easy-to-control flow; entrances and exits can be more easily managed, and the facility’s layout provides an easy way to air out the space between ceremonies. The names of guests will also need to be given in advance to facilitate any potential need for contact tracing.

President Miller also highlighted that the climate of the

Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle

See GRAD Page 4

Cumulative COVID-19 cases reach 29 for semester

Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle

Remembering

Colin Wolf

November 4, 1998 - February 18, 2021

COMMUNITY Page 2

Campus honors Black History Month

BY ISAAC GUZMAN imguzman@vwu.edu

During the month of February, Virginia Wesleyan University hosted both in-person and virtual Black History month events to honor revolutionary Black individuals, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations on-campus like the nine sororities and fraternities, Off The Hook, Black Student Union and others collaborated to provide a memorable Black History month.

The Robert Nusbaum Center hosted a virtual event titled “Norfolk 17” and highlighted a different AfricanAmerican leader every Tuesday. Norfolk 17 was about the seventeen young black students that on Feb. 2, 1969 were integrated into a former all-white school. These individuals were assaulted and abused by students, teachers and the police officers who were supposed to be protecting them.

Virginia Wesleyan University does have an active Black Student Union, and their Head of Public Relations, Jordan Gilliam said that “this group is meant for all students to be able to feel safe and also learn about culture and information.” Gilliam mentioned that for the month of February they were trying to showcase Black excellence in each of their events.

COVID-19 placed restrictions on the organization, but there were events hosted in-person such as the “Still I Rise poetry slam.” This slam was hosted as an open event to everyone so that they may speak their minds.

The Black Student Union also hosted their traditional soul food dinner via Sodexo on campus. The dinner consisted of green beans, fried chicken and gravy on mashed potatoes.

There was a lot happening on social media for Black History Month because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Off The Hook posted every day under the guidance of Nailah Alston-Iszard, a senior supervisor for Off the Hook. The three most liked posts on the Off the Hook Instagram were about Breonna Taylor with 41 likes, Vice President Kamala Harris with 31 likes, and Chadwick Boseman with 25 likes. Alston-Iszard believes that the posts were relevant because they provide vital infor-

BY CONNOR MERK ccmerk@vwu.edu

The most recent update provided by the University included the announcement of seven confirmed cases Feb. 5 - 11, one confirmed case Feb. 12 - 18, and two confirmed cases Feb. 19 - 25. This brings the total number of cumulative confirmed cases to 29, 26 of which have been cleared.

President Scott D. Miller and the Emergency Response Team are hopeful that come August, the stringent policies will be lessened. “That does not mean that we’re going to entirely let the guard down. You can anticipate that masks will be a part of the picture, going into the new academic year, but if everything trends, according to the way the state authorities are sharing with us, we could have the new normal by August,” Miller said. “There will still be safety precautions in place, but it should make college, once again, reasonably enjoyable.”

Men’s basketball season ends early, no ODAC tourney

He also commended the VWU community for following the guidelines and mitigation regulations in these unusual circumstances. “We have done much better than most of the institutions in the state, because true to the Marlin tradition, everybody, you know, knock on wood except for a few, most have been very cooperative and we do thank the student population for that,” Miller said.

According to the Virginia Department of Health as of March 2, Virginia has had over 578,000 total confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, over 24,000 confirmed and probable hospitalizations, and nearly 9,000 confirmed and probable deaths. Regarding localities near VWU, Virginia Beach has had 30,739 cases of COVID-19 and

See COVID-19 Page 4

Yoga: A Brief Escape VWU Volleyball|Instagram

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu

IT gives Campus Network update NEWS Page 5

See BHM Page 3

Hoover-Erbig earns role as new Athletic Director

SPORTS Page 8

WEEKENDER Page 9

Erin Highsmith|Marlin Chronicle Matt Hardy delivers his poem at the Still I Rise Poetry Slam.

Andrea Hoover-Erbig has been named the new Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Hoover is currently in her fifteenth season as the women’s volleyball coach. She guided the Marlins to their first ODAC title in program history in 2019. She also serves as

Senior Woman Administrator and Academic Integration Coordinator.

Joanne Renn, the current director, finishes up her second stint with the Marlins in July. She spoke on what made Hoover-Erbig the perfect candidate for the position, saying that “Hoover has a great approach to life to be an athletic director.”

Hoover-Erbig said that since the announcement, “It’s been an exciting time. I thoroughly enjoyed my coaching experience at Virginia Wesleyan. I love our staff and our athletic department. When Dr. Miller did announce it to the staff, it was just a really wonderful reception from their part. That made me feel really good.”

As Hoover-Erbig takes on the leadership role, she will have to relinquish coaching responsibilities, so the Marlins will be searching for a new women’s volleyball head coach. She talked about what

coaching has meant to her throughout her long tenure career: “I love coaching. Today we had morning practice at 6:30. My alarm went off at 4:20, and there has never been a day where I didn’t want to get out of bed and come to practice. Practice for me is my favorite part. I will miss just the daily interaction with my players.” said HooverErbig.

Hoover-Erbig has been described as much more than a coach. Haley Sutton, volleyball player, said that “Hoover has been way more than just a coach to me. She’s been a mom, a friend, a person of guidance, and a role model. She loves us and cares for us like we are all her daughters. I will always be grateful for the lessons she has taught me in volleyball and in life.”

Hoover-Erbig finishes up her final season as head coach in May, and begins as the new athletic director on June 1.

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Community

Student involvement wavers amid COVID-19 So you think you know the COVID-19 rules?

GRAPHIC BY EMILY UZZLE

BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@vwu.edu Clubs and organizations have begun to notice a decline in the level of student involvement this school year due to the COVID-19 restrictions for events and social gatherings.

Currently, events are restricted to only 10 total people without a faculty or staff advisor, and need to include at least 6 feet between every person involved. They also require the use of facial coverings.

All of these changes affect the feasibility of certain in-person events such as the regular club meetings and traditions that the VWU community is used to in a normal semester.

Even though in-person club meetings and events are fewer this year, that does not mean that those clubs are inactive.

Student-led organizations are still holding regular meetings, typically online where a virtual meeting link can be accessed through their social media or site. These organizations are still working on hosting events, whether those are in-person, hybrid or virtual.

“Campus engagement definitely looks different, but it is still happening, just in different forms,” Sarah Guzzo, Director of Student Activities, said. According to Student Activities statistics provided

by Guzzo, submitted event requests from student organizations went down by 40% between the unexpected end of Spring 2020 and the end of the Fall 2020 semester. However, events hosted by Off the Hook increased by 110%.

The Student Activities team has encouraged student organizations to “piggy-back” off of activities run by the office, simply by offering to join in a dual partnership.

Club and organization leaders participated in a student organization leadership workshop this past month that focused on engagement in students, coming up with creative solutions to previously planned events or creating new ones, and preparing them for the Virtual Student Involvement Fair. Student-led organizations are also given a Student Organization Manual that has been updated to take COVID-19 restrictions and new rules into consideration that the organizations will need to be aware of when planning their events.

In order to host an event, clubs and organizations must submit a request form and go through an approval process in order to ensure that the event follows CDC guidelines.

Despite COVID-19 restrictions continuously updating and making events harder to plan, Student Activities has noted that since the beginning of this spring semester, 55 events have been registered so far. As of the end of last March, there have been 11 new organizations welcome to campus, bringing the new total of active organizations and clubs to 51.

For students looking to get involved, active student organizations are listed on the VWU website under the Student Activities tab. Another way to get involved is to check the This Week emails sent out by the Student Activities office on Sunday nights, and by checking the Student Activities Event Calendar, which updates almost daily with new and approved events.

In Memory of Colin Patrick Wolf On the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 18, Colin Wolf, a young man and student here at Virginia Wesleyan University, took his own life.

Since this tragic event, the campus community has responded in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of Colin. Through gatherings, a prayer walk, and a memorial service, the Marlin community has shown an outpouring of support for Colin and his loved ones.

The Marlin Chronicle dedicates this section to the life and memories of Colin Patrick Wolf. Please take the time to read the words of those who knew him as expressed for him here.

“He would stop his own world just to keep others’ worlds spinning.”

“Colin was many things to many different people, but to me, he was my partner in crime. Ever since we first met freshman year, it was clear that we would be making big changes at VWU. We couldn’t always see each other, but whenever we were together we made the most of our time. He was one of the most supportive people I ever had the privilege of meeting. He always backed me up, conversed with me, and made my days brighter. He always went along with my horrible jokes, especially when I would tell him that he was ‘India-phobic’. He was a part of making me the person everyone knows me as today. I would have never gotten this far without him and his unwavering support. He’ll be my VP forever and always.” - India Khanna

“Even though I wasn’t a really close friend of his, I still considered him someone I looked up to and admired. I came to Wesleyan from a school where I had no LGBT+ allies on my side and thought my experience here would be the same. Though when I first met him at my first Spectrum meeting, that changed. He was so funny and so caring, that I genuinely felt like I had someone on my side now.

Even when I was having bad days of my own, he would still say hello to me in the halls. He’s done so much for not just Spectrum, but for the school.

And I hope that his family can be at peace knowing just how many lives he’s touched, including mine.”

- Carter Bernaquez

“He was a truly kind young man who believed in equality in his soul, and the ability to make friends with everyone he met. My ask for the community as a whole is to watch out for each other and check in with their family and friends and ask the hard questions. The world is an increasingly hard and complicated place, and not everyone asks for help or lets the world know they need help. Love each other, help each other, fight for each other so everyone can make it through.” -Mike Wolf, Uncle “I lived one door down from him and shared a kitchen and a bathroom with him for a semester and a half. My heart aches for his parents and friends and every day since last Thursday I have asked myself why didn’t I see something, what if I went out of my way to talk to him. What if I could have helped. I kept having this scenario play over and over in my head where I saw his parents and I just went up and hugged his mother. I cannot imagine anyone else who needs a hug more than she does.

I am beyond sorry for their loss and I will never forget him.” -Zach Hope “The only thing I really want to share is how helpful Colin was and how caring he was to his friends and everyone else he met. He always would put his life on hold to help someone else.”

-Kimberly DeHart

Left: A memorial for Colin built by students rests in the woods by Lake Taylor on campus. Middle: Colin works a table alongside friends for Spectrum during a Club Fair.

Right: The campus community gathers for a memorial service outside the Monumental Chapel.

To those struggling during this time, counseling services are available on campus and more information can be found by emailing cglover@vwu.edu or bbrown@vwu.edu. For immediate assistance, do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.

Wolf was a senior studying psychology aspiring to enter the mental health field. The Colin Wolf Foundation was established to continue Colin’s passions including LGBTQ+ rights, mental health, suicide prevention, homeless care, and education access.

Please consider providing support to the Colin Wolf Foundation at the following link: https://gofund.me/dcbac61d

Community The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Alex Powers ampowers@vwu.edu Managing Editor Nicholas Mundy namundy@vwu.edu News Editor Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu Community Editor Lauren Faulkner lafaulkner@vwu.edu Opinions Editor Dalton Powers dmpowers@vwu.edu Sports Editors Nicholas Mundy namundy@vwu.edu Anthony Wilson alwilson@vwu.edu Weekender Editor Faith Macwana fpmacwana@vwu.edu Photo Editor Erin Highsmith eehighsmith@vwu.edu

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BHM CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 mation and dates that are important to know.

“I felt… as an event supervisor for Off The Hook, [we] played a huge role in control over what Black History Month would look like [on-campus]. Melina [Cabral] helped me with tabling for Paint

by Number, Matt [Hardy] helped me with the posters, and my Bosses Sarah [Guzzo] and Alaira [Groomes] made all of these great events possible. Surprisingly, making everything virtual/hybrid was really no issue at all. As a student, we still can play a big part in cultural representation by participating in student organizations and their events,” said Alston-Iszard.

Alston-Iszard hosted and created a periodic table and believes that it was the most important event for the month of February because “I worked so hard on it and so many people really enjoy it. Even coloring the pages, I learned so much about so many people that I didn’t even know existed. It made me realize how little we learned about our own cultures in public schools. All of the elements are historical black figures color coded into different categories of influence, with a QR code that

you can scan using your mobile device to find out more about the individual,” said Alston-Iszard Some of the other organizations that contributed to Black History month on social media were Kappa Alpha Psi, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority, Marlin Republicans and Marlin Democrats. Kappa Alpha Psi’s post about Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback in the NFL, stands against injustice and is a SPR 10 initiative of the Kappa Alphas. Maxine Waters, a female Black California Representative, is

favored by the Marlins Democrats on their Instagram page.

On the other side of the political spectrum, the Marlin Republicans posted about Dr. Ben Carson.

Dr. Ben Carson was a 2016 Presidential candidate, the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Children’s Center, a best selling author, a Presidential Medal of Honor recipient, and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Some of AKA’s posts were about significant names like Catherine Hughes, Alicia Keys, and Alice Walker. NAMI posted about Ruby Nell Bridges Hall, who was the first African American child to desegregate an all-white school in Louisiana.

Despite the many COVID-19 restrictions, Virginia Wesleyan University and its many diverse clubs and organizations were able to showcase many important Black historical figures and preserve the idea of Black excellence through each and every one of their planned events, whether they were virtual or inperson.

Off the Hook |Courtesy

Illustrations Editor Emily Uzzle ebuzzle@vwu.edu Online Editor Ash Dobrenen akdobrenen@vwu.edu Copy Editor Brianna Sandy bnsandy@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Alyssa Lane amlane@vwu.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

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

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

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

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

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

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

American Sign Language Club

Women of God

BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@vwu.edu

BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@vwu.edu

A new club is being welcomed to campus this spring semester: the American Sign Language club.

Founded by freshman Elias Kenworthy and his fellow board members this semester, the American Sign Language club (known as ASL club) has started to welcome new members into their first few meetings.

Kenworthy, the club president, describes the new organization as “a learning space for students to come together in their shared interest in learning American Sign Language. Everyone is learning and we try to make sure that everyone feels welcome.”

Even though the club is just starting out, ASL club meetings already follow a sort of pattern. The typical meeting will consist of a greeting, a lesson, a conversation and a review of information from the previous week.

The goal for this semester for ASL club is to “facilitate a more active learning community where more students participate in teaching basics so that we are able to

learn more about deaf culture and sign origins…” Kenworthy said.

Even though the club is just starting out, ASL club hopes to expand here at Virginia Wesleyan in the future through fun events or a buddy system.

ASL club’s board members Ben Olsen, Vice President, Eddie McDonald, Treasurer, Rhian Tramontana, Secretary, and Sasha Saxon, Media Correspondent, all join Kenworthy in providing a welcoming learning environment for any student who wishes to join one of their meetings.

Despite COVID-19 protocols, the club was able to form and start hosting weekly meetings via Google Meet. The club meets every Friday afternoon at 12 p.m.

The link to their meetings can be found on their website, vwuaslclub.wixsite.com/marlins/.

Students are encouraged to join a meeting if they are interested in joining the organization. For upto-date information, students can follow the club’s Instagram page @marlins_asl_club.

On-campus events and meetings can be a rare sight during this semester, but one fairly new organization has been hosting hybrid events since the start of the spring semester.

Women of God is a new organization created by Marlin Ministries. Even though the Women of God meetings have a virtual option for those who can not attend in-person, it is one of the few organizations that meet weekly inperson.

Women of God “is a community of women that come together to support one another, helping them grow in their relationship with God,” said Brooke Erickson, leader and founder of Women of God. The typical meeting for Women of God consists of a check-in with their members, prayer, scripture reading and discussion, and an ending prayer. Each meeting will have a topic to discuss, and can even include lesson plans for that theme.

Erickson explained that there is a chosen theme each semester that

all the lessons and scripture will connect back to. The main goal of the organization is to “see spiritual growth in women,” said Erickson.

Even though Women of God does not have any events planned for this semester currently, they have hosted events in the past such as tea parties and special themed nights of discussion.

Students can join Women of God every Monday night from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Greer 155. Students can also attend virtually by reaching out to Brooke Erickson for the Zoom link.

For more information and updates, students can follow Women of God on Instagram @mm_women_of_god or keep an eye out for email updates from Marlin Ministries.

Women of God welcomes all women of any type of religious background. Erickson encourages female students to join Women of God to “come learn and grow in your relationship with God.”

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News

GRAD CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 region made weather difficult to predict in spring, and that the decision to hold Commencement inside was also partly due to the complications that would arise if inclement weather was forecasted on Commencement weekend and plans had to be changed abruptly. “You need to be able to plan [Commencement] out more exactly than what we would be able to do if we were to use the Batten Center as a backup,” given the precautions necessary for coronavirus, Miller explained.

The decision to reverse course and go virtual would only occur if coronavirus cases began to trend dramatically in a negative direction, which is not predicted to happen according to current projections the University is receiving from Governor Ralph Northam through the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia.

The University’s CICV COVID Coordinator is Dr. Keith Moore, who is also the Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management. Dr. Moore is confident

that the University will be able to handle Commencement safely, continuing on with current COVID safety practices.

“I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll be successful with [controlling COVID],” said Moore.

Moore explained that the University has purchased spray machines that can sanitize the entire fitness center in 10 minutes, and seating will be kept distanced. Masks, of course, will continue to be mandatory. Temperatures will be taken from guests’ cars, much akin to the move-in process at the beginning of this semester and fall 2020, and flyers will be given out explaining the institution’s COVID rules for Commencement. These rules will also be sent out via email prior to Commencement.

The Commencement speaker, Dr. Timothy Carter, will be remoting in via video call to deliver his address to each ceremony. A handful of other alumni and students are also going to be honored at Commencement, including senior Colin Wolf, who will be graduated posthumously with the rest of the graduating class.

Senior Skyler Lattuca had mixed feelings about the news of in-person Commencement. “I think it’s a nice

sentiment that the school is trying to make a normal graduation possible, however, I am a bit concerned as far as what will be sacrificed in order to make that happen.”

Lattuca expressed particular disappointment about the news that faculty will not be involved in Commencement.

“As they’re the most connected to my success as a student, I would prefer they were present as well. I recognize that that may not be possible though.”

Lattuca said that he didn’t have any problems with graduating only with people from his academic school.

“This is the group that I’m most connected to and seen grow over the years, so I believe it’s favorable as opposed to other options that could’ve been pursued,” Lattuca said.

Senior Brian Beaume was more enthusiastic about the news of in-person graduation ceremonies. “I love it,” he said. “As much as you know we’re in a pandemic and all that, it’s been four years, and I really do want to at least walk. That’s such a, you know, a stepping stone for a lot of people.” Beaume expressed that he was still very excited about Commencement, despite the rules. “It’s the end of the year, and you know, it’s the end of an era.”

Professor and student share perspectives about vaccine As science rolls out in real time, Dr. Kathy Stolley, professor of sociology, shares her thoughts on the public health aspect of the COVID-19 vaccine and sophomore Devin Calpo comments on the challenges that face aspiring study abroad students.

BY CONNOR MERK ccmerk@vwu.edu

As of March 2, over two million Virginians have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a vaccine to combat against COVID-19, which is 15.5% of the population.

Nearly 700,000 Virginians have been fully vaccinated, and in the city of Virginia Beach, over 31,000 individuals have been fully vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance that vaccines are an important tool to stopping the pandemic by safely building protection from the coronavirus. The first two vaccines authorized and recommended by the CDC were the ​​​​Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine.

Both vaccinations are mRNA vaccines, but differ in the minimum age and days between shots.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 16 years of age and older under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

There are two shots, which are done in the muscle of the upper arm and competed 21 days apart.

The FDA also authorized the emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older also through the use of an EUA. There are two shots which are both done in the muscle of the upper arm and completed 28 days apart.

On Feb. 27, the FDA announced that they issued another EUA for a third vaccine, which was developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. A press release published by Johnson & Johnson stated that it will be given as an injection into the muscle and that is a single dose unlike the two doses of the PfizerBioNTech and Moderna vaccinations.

Dr. Kathy Stolley, professor of sociology, has had the first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the local Sentara vaccination location and explained that it was well organized and a positive experience. Stolley recommends to those that feel uneasy about the COVID-19 vaccine to examine what credible scientists have been saying who have been studying this subject for years.

“This vaccine was developed in a short period of time because it builds on extensive previous vaccine research and science is moving at a faster pace,” Stolley said. “We are seeing science rolling out in real time and in public space.”

She also mentioned how scientific debates are now happening in the public eye, which is not something that has happened in the recent past. “It is also getting a lot more attention since this is a catastrophic event.

This can be a new perspective for those not involved in research to see that science is continually progressing and recommendations can change,” Stolley said. Examples of these scientific debates include whether to wear a mask, what mask to wear, and whether to wear one mask versus

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 vaccination elgible population guidelines via www.vdh.virginia.gov. two masks.

The vaccine also has implications for students planning on studying abroad. Sophomore Devin Calpo is enrolled in the Global Scholars Program here at Virginia Wesleyan University and was assigned his home institution through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Students in this program must take the semester abroad pre-departure course with the Lighthouse’s Study Away Program Director, Ms. Mandy Reinig, which teaches necessary skills such as budgeting and cultural tolerance.

Presently, Calpo and Reinig are confident about his travels to Nijmegen in the fall even though COVID-19 poses challenges. “There will probably still be various restrictions in place there like facial coverings, but overall as long as I have the expectation in place it feels that COVID-19 will hopefully have a minimal impact on the trip,” Calpo said.

With reference to the vaccine, they expect the study abroad students to have the vaccine before they travel. “In regards to the directions, the hope is that the rollout of vaccines would have plenty of time to reach our population to get it. Given about six months, that is a huge fault of our

state government if we are unable to have the vaccines out to a lot of people by then,” Calpo said. “The school is unable to really have a plan where there is a step by step.

Rather, it is ‘just wait till it is your turn.’”

Additionally, the vaccination process has illuminated healthcare discrepancies that certain communities face.

“This vaccination process has highlighted not only domestic inequalities, but also global inequality issues as well because some countries still lack access to the vaccine,” Stolley said. “There are also broader implications such as changes in healthcare systems beyond the pandemic like the rise of telemedicine and being forced to confront the inequalities in our country and the world.”

For those interested in a healthcare-related career or want to gain greater insight into how the system works, Stolley recommends that they take SOC 351 Medical Sociology because it covers a wide variety of topics regarding healthcare. “We look at the micro-level which deals with patients and caregivers and their interactions,” Stolley said. “We also look at macro-level healthcare systems as well like hospitals, insurance companies, plus culture, and the environment. Healthcare as a social institution is critical for society and individuals.”

COVID-19 CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Norfolk has had 14,970 cases as of March 2.

Other universities in our region are facing this challenge as well. For example, Old Dominion University, which has 24,000 students, had 10 confirmed cases between Feb. 12 and Feb. 19. Norfolk State University, which has 5,000 students, has 58 positive COVID-19 cases as of Feb. 24.

As of March 2, Christopher Newport University, which also has 5,000 students, currently has six active student cases with a total of 215 cumulative cases for the month of February. Also, William & Mary, which has 8,000 students, has 17 active cases as of March 1.

Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward also hopes that individuals continue to wear face coverings, practice social distancing and wash hands frequently to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. “If you feel under the weather, complete the daily health screening and stay home!”

Seward said. “Also, please refrain from riding in vehicles with others for an extended period of time. The smallest safety practice can have a lasting impact.”

Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle Spring semester COVID-19 case numbers as published by The Emergency Response Team on the VWU CovidSafe webpage. Cleared cases represent individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are now recovered and can resume activities around others.

News

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Construction of DeFord Manor expected to start soon

BY WILL FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu Construction on DeFord Manor, the newest addition to Virginia Wesleyan’s campus, “is expected to begin any day and be completed by December,” Keith Moore, Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management said. The manor is to be President Scott Miller’s oncampus residence, located on Smith Drive across the street from the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.

“In its early years, Virginia Wesleyan owned a president’s house in Norfolk,” Moore said. “It was later sold and the president was provided a housing accommodation. When Dr. Miller arrived in 2015, he purchased his own home in Ocean View.”

Over the course of the past year, Miller has written about this project in his weekly Nota Bene updates, stating that without this addition, VWU is the only fouryear institution in this region to not have a campus-based president’s residence.

The building itself will have the president’s living space on the second floor, with “extensive indoor and outdoor entertainment areas downstairs,” according to one update.

“A president’s house was identified as an institutional need in the 10-year facilities master plan developed in 2016 by the planning firm of Derck and Edson of Lititz, PA,” Moore said.

The record status of the plan on the City of Virginia Beach Planning Commission website states that it will be a 7,771 sq ft residence. Other president’s residences at nearby universities are similar in size, with CNU’s being 7,000 square-feet and worth $5 million and ODU’s Jacobson House on the Elizabeth River being worth $2 million.

Office of the President|Courtesy

Moore states that the residence will be used in similar ways as universities such as Old Dominion University, which utilizes their president’s residence as a center for

social activity and community engagement where all are welcome. This would include using the building to host important campus functions and events.

Funding for the manor is being provided by donors, among whomst are Bob and Nancy DeFord, for whom the manor will be named. The DeFords are long-time Trustees and benefactors of the University, even having the gatehouse at the entrance to campus and a hall in Honors Village named in their honor.

The same firm that designed ODU’s president’s house, as well as various buildings at VWU including the Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center, designed DeFord Manor and will be carrying out its plans with the help of Hoy Construction. The school has obtained verbal approval to begin, but is waiting on written permission to break ground.

As updates from Miller continue to promise an innovative addition to the campus community, students express curiosity at its prospect.

“Although there are other things we could be prioritizing on campus, I’m interested to see how the mansion will turn out,” sophomore Divinity Richards said. “It’s at least something new, and I think it will be an interesting addition.”

VWU develops admission programs with Appalachian School of Law

BY STEVEN SERRANO-CRUZ sdserranocruz@vwu.edu President Scott Miller stated in his Feb. 8 Nota Bene that Virginia Wesleyan University has made a preferred admission agreement and 3+3 program with Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA. This agreement will serve as an opportunity for students to complete their law degrees jointly with VWU and ASL. This came to fruition when VWU began communicating with ASL at the end of last year for a partnership that could present new opportunities to students.

The agreement of the two schools consists of two admissions programs; the preferred admission agreement and the 3+3 program. “The preferred admission agreement is an opportunity for students who have a 3.0 GPA or higher to get preferential admission status to law, and the 3+3 program (3 years in VWU and 3 years in ASL), is for students to be able to complete 2 degrees in 6 years,” explained Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr.

Maynard Schaus. VWU Enrollment Counselor Elisabeth Davis brought up the idea to Dr. Schaus for the schools to come together in a 3+3 program.

Schaus also expressed that one of the reasons VWU made this agreement with ASL was the Natural Resources program that ASL has. “We feel that the ASL partnership is an ideal one because they have a good law program that includes a concentration in Natural Resources Law, which may be of interest to many of our students,” Schaus said.

Students from a wide variety of majors can take advantage of this opportunity, not just criminal justice or political science majors. “Students interested in law school often come from a wide range of programs, including political science, philosophy, english, history, and criminal justice. In addition, some of our science majors may be interested in the Natural Resource law track, so it should have wide appeal,” Schaus said. He

Office of the President|Courtesy President Miller, joined by VWU Enrollment Counselor and ASL graduate Elisabeth Davis (left) and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Maynard Schaus (right), pens agreement with Appalachian School of Law.

also expressed interest in the fact that this agreement is a pathway for VWU students and to complete their studies in a shorter period of time.

VWU Enrollment Counselor Elisabeth Davis is an ASL alumna, and she reflected on her times in ASL and described them as a big transition, but awesome.

“My experience at ASL was totally different than what I expected, especially coming from such a high-populated area. Moving to the mountains in Grundy took some getting used to, but it helped me focus on my studies and extracurriculars at the same time,” Davis said.

In her time at ASL, Davis was a part of the executive board of ASL Law Review, Appalachian Journal of Law and Moot Court where she specialized in worker’s compensation law. She also was a Teaching Assistant for the school’s Appellate Advocacy Professor and Clerk of the law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.

“My experience was awesome, considering the ‘culture shock’ one might say I saw, coming across Virginia, and I met a lot of awesome people that I still keep in touch with and consider close friends,” Davis said.

After her graduation, she put her bar exam on hold for personal reasons; however, she expressed that she has found in VWU a career that brings her happiness in her life. “I found the Enrollment Center’s Outreach Office in early 2020, before COVID. I fit in making calls to prospective VWU students and speaking to them about merit scholarships offered, and then was offered the position here as an Enrollment Counselor in August,” Davis said. Although more than three years have passed since she graduated from ASL, she stated that she still wants to seek her bar licensure in the near future.

Currently, VWU is not seeking any additional agreements with other institutions, but there are a number of other accelerated degrees and preferred admission partnerships available to students. Among them are the Cooperative College Program with the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, early admission at Duke University Divinity School, an accelerated degree with the Pre-Engineering Program at Old Dominion University, the Early Assurance and Joint Programs in medicine with Eastern Virginia Medical School, guaranteed admission awards to the Sentara Entry to Nursing Practice Master’s program and a reserved space for VWU Batten Honors College students in the Master of Arts in Marine Science program at William & Mary.

Students that are interested to know more about the ASL program or other programs that VWU has can go to the accelerated programs and priority admissions webpage at https://www.vwu.edu/academics/accelerated-degrees/.

IT Department seeks to improve technology services Chief Information Officer at Virginia Wesleyan Gregory Skinner offers insight into future IT Department projects.

BY WILL FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu Greg Skinner, Chief Information Officer at Virginia Wesleyan University, is working along with the rest of the IT department to bring a more efficient system and easier access to MyBeacon. Because of these updates, students and faculty have periodically received emails advising that Colleague would be out of service, or had been restored “Each project is unique, but they all provide benefits to the VWU community,” Skinner said. Some of the main projects Skinner is collaborating on include Beverly Hall, the MyBeacon Portal and app and a comprehensive IT website and knowledge base. Upon completion, Beverly Hall is scheduled to be a multi-use media studio with 17 PC systems loaded with the Adobe Creative Cloud; a boon to anyone taking a course that uses Photoshop, Indesign, or other Adobe products. It will also double as a classroom and a secondary eSports arena.

To further facilitate use of VWU systems and programs, Skinner has also been working with the vendors of the various sites VWU uses for students to leverage SSO, or single-sign-on. This would link a student’s accounts into a single one, much as the name states, and remove the need for multiple passwords.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

The IT website will include a database with a range of answers and solutions for students in need of common or simple services that can be accomplished without the Helpdesk staff. This will be especially useful anytime the Helpdesk is closed when a student needs assistance.

Since joining the Helpdesk team, Skinner has noticed that students have a tendency to let a technical problem persist, sometimes for months, before contacting IT, which can lead to worsened problems that can be harder to fix.

He urges students to contact IT at problem onset, either by calling the Helpdesk at 757-524-5900 or emailing helpdesk@vwu.edu.

Additionally, Skinner is looking to expand student involvement in the Helpdesk in fall 2021, once all the upgrades have taken place, so students interested in a career in IT should keep a lookout for opportunities.

Having himself gotten his start in IT at his alma mater, he is a supporter of helping students build their foundations and encouraging growth beyond the classroom.

“I am very passionate about the possibilities of student workers in our IT Department and that we can play a part in a students education,” Skinner said.

Opinions

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Thursday March 4, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Athlete testing keeps campus community safe

Christopher Morris|Courtesy

BY CHRISTOPHER MORRIS cjmorris@vwu.edu With the ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus, universities and other institutions have implemented procedures to protect people and students from infection.

With nearly everything being cancelled for almost an entire year, people hoped to come up with solutions in order to allow for safe, smart, and efficient ways for students to go about their daily lives similar to life before the pandemic.

Athletics have become a major topic of conversation when it comes to safety and COVID, so universities have developed plans to safeguard their athletes. Virginia Wesleyan University in particular, had initiated the “Help Us Play” campaign in order to raise funds for their plan, athlete testing.

The plan was simple: test athletes on a regular basis to prevent the spread of COVID amongst teams.

Simultaneously, athletics as a whole would be practicing safe disease prevention spread techniques, such as mask wearing, social distancing, etc.

Was this solution effective?

Firstly, all athletics came back within the first three weeks of winter session. During this time, all classes were remote, and only athletes were allowed to live on campus. Over the span of this three week period, the athletic department saw no problems with any of the athletes, having close to no positive tests.

The next week is when the trouble began. As soon as the general student population returned to campus, the athletic department quickly began seeing some cases. There were multiple instances where multiple athletes on a team were to be tested and quarantined, and this trend continues up until now.

The number of cases has started to diminish slightly, but there has been at least 1 new confirmed case on campus each week.

Back to the testing aspect. Would more athletes have gotten the virus from others if the testing was not implemented? Most definitely. Students who have symptoms seem to not be as cautious within the first few days of their illness. The testing allows for these students to be pointed out, and quarantined and dealt with earlier than they would’ve. It keeps these athletes in check, and more accountable.

Just the idea of testing is effective, which is making sure that athletes are responsible on the field, and more importantly off the field with their decisions. Furthermore, especially

on road trips, some social distancing guidelines are difficult to follow.

Referring especially to the buses, athletes breathe the same air, regardless of the effectiveness of their mask. The testing allows for quick identification of athletes who may have been exposed to the virus whilst on a roadtrip or other event.

Some might argue that the effectiveness of the athlete testing is only effective if only the whole school were to be tested. If athletics were not playing intercollegiate competition, this would be true.

However, athletes are subject to other schools’ possible outbreaks, and preventing the spread from school to school is important to keeping the entire population of Virginia Wesleyan safe. Furthermore, certain athletics teams are tested more than others based on potential risk.

For example, a basketball team is much more at risk of exposure from others than a baseball team. There are many factors that play into this, but the adjustment of testing to fit the needs of teams allows for more efficient testing, and placing resources where needed.

All in all, the testing of athletes has increased the number of confirmed cases on campus. However, it has also increased the safety of the campus because of it. It is better for a case to be confirmed and dealt with, than be hidden to others and able to spread amongst the community. So the testing this spring not only makes athletics safer and able to compete, but keeps the Virginia Wesleyan community as a whole safer.

Take your own spring break, Marlins

Sydney Collins|Courtesy

BY SYDNEY COLLINS sncollins@vwu.edu Hearing that you’re not going to have a Spring Break is a bummer in itself to say the least. When you add on the fact that the pandemic has made it difficult for us to be able to connect or stay connected with others on our campus or with family and friends at home, while also considering that some of us work full or part-time jobs, take care of or provide for family, have early morning practices and lifts, all while balancing being a full-time student, that decision begins to weigh on you a little more than you were expecting.

I think it is important to

acknowledge the privilege that many of us reading this have to continue to be able to pursue an education as we juggle the endless cycle of time management, but I think it’s time we give ourselves space to acknowledge that even when we try to do it all, it can be exhausting and sometimes we just feel burnt out.

We live in a day and age where we measure our worth based on productivity in our relationships, our work ethic, our finances, and the number of items we are able to cross off an endless to-do list amongst many other things.

We prioritize the external demands of our jobs, classes, and extracurriculars at the expense of our own health. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when we need to be able to dig in and push ourselves past our comfort zone and the limitations we have placed on ourselves, but what no one ever focuses on is the fact that sometimes you need to close the book, put your phone down, take a day off and rest.

It’s a mental challenge to be able to admit to ourselves that we need rest when we’re only praised for the allnighters, the 40+ hour weeks at work for money that is helping to sustain us and others, and giving the last bit of ourselves when there’s nothing

left to give. It’s especially difficult to even consider the idea of rest without a spring break, it was scheduled time off in the midst of everything happening in our lives, but especially from school.

While it is possible to understand the administrative decision made, it still presents a mental challenge of pushing through the second half of the semester without taking out time for ourselves.

It is no surprise that we are still in the midst of a pandemic and that the choice to go without Spring Break this year might have been made to protect the physical health of students from exposure, but what about our emotional and mental health? The things you don’t see so easily unless they are talked about?

While the decision has been made for this semester to continue without a Spring Break, I’d like to encourage all of you to schedule time for yourself, whether that’s 10 minutes, 1hour, or a day to do watch your favorite show or movie, listen to your favorite songs and take a walk, cook your favorite meal without burning down the kitchen, or reach out to that friend that you haven’t seen in a while but they’ve been on your mind. Show yourself grace for the time you need to rest, you deserve it. Take a break.

A ‘shore’ thing Senior Victoria Steele reflects on the yearround benefit of living in such close proximity to what Virginia Beach has to offer.

Victoria Steele|Courtesy

BY VICTORIA STEELE vdsteele@vwu.edu Proximity to the Virginia Beach oceanfront is what sells many students on coming to Virginia Wesleyan, but in reality, there’s only a few months out of the school year that the beach can be enjoyed in the typical ways we expect to enjoy the beach.

The ocean cools down a few months after we arrive, and the weather drops to a point where it’s not enjoyable to lay on the sand. Every once in a while there will be warm weather days in the months of January to March that should be taken advantage of, but it is rare.

I would personally say that swimming in the ocean may be too cold before April, but in the wise words of Virginia Beach native Jacob Davis, “slap on a wet suit and you’re good to go.”

However, cold water doesn’t mean that it’s ever too early to go to the beach itself. It may be too cold to swim or lay on the beach, but there’s still plenty of things to do outside. If you’re having fun and can bear the breeze from the ocean there’s no time too early to run down the oceanfront, play spikeball, build sandcastles, or have a picnic.

My friends and I enjoy driving to the beach all months of the year. We recently drove to Sandbridge, ran down the beach, and then drove until we almost ran out of gas. It’s important to get out of our rooms and off campus sometimes and we should take advantage of being so close to the oceanfront.

Despite the water being very cold in most of the months we’re here at school, you can still enjoy all the amazing perks of living close to the beach. The cold weather shouldn’t stop you from going to the beach while you have the chance.

Caroline Tryfiates|Courtesy

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Sports

Friday March 4, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Softball sweeps #3 CNU years provided by the Covid-19 pandemic of last year shutting down their senior seasons early.

Coach Elliott stated, “I think our expectations are the same every year.

We want to compete to win a National Championship. We don’t shy away from talking about it. It’s not a goal, it’s an expectation.” While the Lady Marlins’ season was cut short last year, they are eager to get back to their 2017 and 2018 form where they were crowned National Champions after their wins against St. John Fisher and Illinois Wesleyan respectively.

In 2019, the Lady Marlins suffered a shocking loss in a three game series of the Regional Round of the National Erin Highsmith|Marlin Chronicle Championship to ODAC foe, Lynchburg Marlins socially distance off the field during the weekend’s double-header.

College. This is the type of competition that Coach Elliot and his team are hungry in the nation according to the National

BY ANTHONY WILSON for. In the 2021 season, nearly 25% of the Coaches Fastpitch Association. alwilson@vwu.edu The Lady Marlins are returning an Lady Marlins schedule is against top-10 Softball took down #3 Christopher experienced team after the lone loss teams in the nation. With games scheduled Newport University to continue their hot of senior Kayla Duplain. While Coach against Christopher Newport, Salisbury, start to the season. Head Coach Brandon Elliott said the loss of a leader like Lynchburg and Emory & Henry, the Lady Elliott and the Lady Marlins softball team Duplain would certainly be felt by the Marlins will surely be a tested team when went into the 2021 season with lofty team, they are emboldened by the return it comes time to play for the Conference expectations. Coach Elliot’s team enters of Hannah Hull, Madison Glaubke and Championship in May. While this team is full of firepower and the 2021 season as the 4th ranked team Jessica Goldyn, who opted for their fifth talent, they are not immune to challenges.

Coach Elliot stated that this is probably the most stressful season he has ever coached due to the day-to-day uncertainty that comes with coaching in the world of a pandemic. Junior shortstop/catcher Makenzie Watts states that while playing in the world of a pandemic has brought difficulties, “we have the ability to come together and get through any challenges that are brought our way… [and] although the circumstances aren’t normal, we are all extremely grateful to be back on the field together.”

This passion to get back on the field can be seen right away as the Lady Marlins opened the season with overwhelming victories in double headers against William Peace University and Meredith College with a combined score of 34-1.

Even more impressive were the wins for the Lady Marlins Saturday over the 3rd ranked team in the nation and coastal rival, Christopher Newport University.

In the first game, the Lady Marlins won 2-0 with runs from seniors Daja Burgee and Maria Weddle. In the second game, the Lady Marlins won 11-8, despite being out-hit by the Captains 7-11. Coach Elliott and his team look to carry this success through their next double header against Salisbury University on March 3.

Baseball off to rough start

BY NATHAN SHEIRBURN nssheirburn@vwu.edu

Baseball began on the wrong foot as the team fell in the opening three-game set against NC Wesleyan. The Marlins took the first three losses to begin the season for the third consecutive season.

The Marlins ended their 2020 season at 5-9 before it was cut short due to the coronavirus. The team achieved 4th in the ODAC coaches’ poll for the upcoming season.

Head Coach Chris Francis talked about his expectations for the team as he enters his 12th year with the program “The only expectation I really ever have is that we just enjoy playing together and try to get better every day. My only expectation is for us to continue to work towards being the best versions of ourselves each day,” said Francis.

The Marlins have one of the toughest schedules in the south region. There are also challenges and goals the team has to face on a daily basis. “We are continually being challenged and challenging ourselves every day... playing exceptional teams and highlevel competition and not taking any

days off; that’s really the only short[term] goal for us,” said Francis.

Like most teams across the country, the Marlins are faced with a shortened season of 30 games (due to the pandemic) compared to about 41 in a normal season. Amongst what was lost to the shortened season was a planned trip to Tennessee. Players are also not really allowed to be around each other off of the field. Luckily, there is an opportunity for the team to catch up on the field.

“We spend a lot of time at the ballpark hanging out. It hasn’t all been about baseball business. Our sport is built more towards a social dynamic. We’ve sort of built a lot of those opportunities into the workout to allow our guys to enjoy their time a little bit. Certainly, during these trying times you gotta try and build in those moments to be together,” said Francis.

Coach Francis is not the only one who has expectations for the team.

Sophomore CJ Morris also set goals for this year. “Coming off last year,

even though it got ended early it really wasn’t a great season, so we are looking to bounce back. That’s kind of the expectation around here,” said Morris.

The Marlins have a strong leadership core of 12 seniors on the team. Three

received recognition from the College Baseball Newspaper: Dylan Gentry, Adam Brooks, and Jay Crusemire. On Feb. 27, the Marlins seek their first series of wins in away games against North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Sports Information|Courtesy Marlins look out over the field from the dugout during a road contest.

UREC program offers fresh activities for students

BY ANTHONY WILSON alwilson@vwu.edu

The Recreation and Wellness Program (UREC) runs strong despite COVID-19 halting some activities. William Harrell, the director of this program, is committed to serving his students and wants to provide as much as he can given the current climate.

However, Harrell wants to show students that there are several interconnecting parts that contribute to a person’s wellness. For example, throughout the program he runs he tries to incorporate the 8 pillars of wellness: relational, mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, professional, financial and community wellness.

Given the current restrictions Harrell is facing from the COVID-19 pandemic

many of the school’s famed recreation events, such as intramural sports like flag football and basketball, have been cancelled. Harrell saw this as a perfect opportunity to join with the Student Activities Organization to create what is called “The Fun Zone”. Here, Harrell is able to host events large and small in a safe environment while incorporating the 8 pillars of wellness.

Events under the umbrella title of The Fun Zone can look like anything from push up contests and stand up yoga to dance instruction and ping pong tournaments. Since the Fall, 21 events have taken place through The Fun Zone and they have 19 events planned for the month of March alone. One of these events students can look forward to is

FunkSoul. This is a group that will come to CMAC and teach students dances such as “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira and others. This event will follow all social distancing protocols and will also be offered virtually for students that would like to participate. Senior Tyler Duncan, who typically participates in intramural sporting events, stated, “[he] hopes these activities can give us the feeling of normalcy again.”

The Recreation Program is designed to immerse students in recreational activities whether they have experience in those activities or not. These recreational activities can vary significantly from day-to-day. When most people think of recreation activities a variety of sports are the first thing that comes to mind.

Aside from sanctioned events taking place the Recreation and Wellness Program continues to rent equipment for free as they have in the past. Students can take advantage of a wide range of equipment including but not limited to: board games, ping pong, pool equipment, hiking gear, a campfire set, paddleboards, kayaks, tennis rackets, roller blades, etc.

The recreation department is also pleased to announce all bikes have been replaced and are brand new. All equipment that is rented out goes through a deep sanitation process to assure students can engage in said activities safely. Students are urged to contact the desk at The Plaza for any inquiries regarding checkouts or questions for Harrell.

Marlin Highlights W. Basketball 2/27 Sabrina Jones hits jumper to sink Ferrum; extend winning streak to 4

W. Soccer 2/28 Meinhardt scores lone goal; Marlins pick up first victory of the season

M. Basketball 2/21 Jordan White nails buzzer beater to down Panthers of Ferrum College

Sports

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu March 4, 2021

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Men’s basketball season ends abruptly theCloser

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu

The men’s basketball season has abruptly ended due to COVID-19 protocols. They were scheduled to play in the ODAC tournament on the weekend of March 5. This Marlins have had two stops during the course of the shortened season, and the final one will cause them to miss the tournament. The first pause resulted

in a three week hiatus. The team really never found their stride, finishing the season with a 4-5 record. After this shortened season ended prematurely, the Marlins will look to have another season back like they had in 2019.

This year’s seniors include Tim Fisher, Corey Pelham, Tyree Golston, Damon Showers, and Lamont Steward.

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY VWU Athletics|Courtesy

namundy@vwu.edu

Marlin athletics loses major figure in Forsyth

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY

namundy@vwu.edu

On Feb. 26, the Virginia Wesleyan community learned of the passing of Donald M. Forsyth, a founding father of Marlin Athletics. He served as the golf and men’s basketball coach and Athletic Director during his twenty-nine year career. He was named Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times during his time as director.

Both basketball teams and the volleyball team compete on the Donald M. Forsyth court.

namundy@vwu.edu

He was inducted into the Marlin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. Forsyth helped form 14 athletic programs here at Virginia Wesleyan during his long career.

Forsyth was the first full-time employee of the Virginia Wesleyan Athletics program.

He was hired in 1969 and retired in 1998.

He guided the development of many of the athletic fields on campus today. Along with the Cunningham Gymnasium (CMAC).

VWU Athletics|Courtesy

Hull, Goldyn, Burgee take consecutive ODAC awards

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu

Softball has picked up ODAC honors in back-to-back weeks. Hanna Hull earned both pitcher of the week awards. So far in the season, Hull has pitched to a 3-0 record while striking out 34 out of 60 batters she has faced.

Jessica Goldyn earned the first player of the week award. She picked up four hits in two games while accounting for eight runs in two games. Goldyn had three doubles and two stolen bases in the two Marlins victories.

Daja Burgee nabbed the second player of the week award. Burgee hit two home runs in the four contests while driving in eight runs.

ODAC|Courtesy

Preview: men’s lacrosse team

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON sawashngton@vwu.edu

Last season, the Virginia Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team finished with a record of five wins and one loss overall. Unfortunately, the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 viral outbreak.

The Marlins’ season last year started off on the right foot when they picked up three wins to open the season. Though they did lose their streak when they lost to the Eagles of Eastern University, they soon picked it back up after the Marlins defeated their last two opponents to close out the season.

After playing a decent, shortened, 2020 season, the Virginia Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team is ranked eighth in the 2021 ODAC men’s lacrosse preseason coaches’ poll.

Head Coach J.P. Stewart said this about the keys to the season: “Just to play as hard and as fast as we possibly can have as much fun as possible,” The roster this season is widespread with nine seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, and twelve freshmen--each with a different skill set to bring into the season.

Going into the 2021 season, the Marlins are looking to come out strong and make it to the ODAC championship. “For us as a team, we’re looking to just get out there and play

Anthony Wilson|Marlin Chronicle Men’s lacrosse huddles in preparation for their first game. our strengths… our goal that Coach Stewart always told us is 1-0 every week no matter what’s going on,” said freshman Zack Jones, a player on the VWU men’s lacrosse team. The Marlins are a smaller team compared to other schools but their determination, hard work, and teamwork will make them stand out from the rest of the competition. “We’re really scrappy team blue-collar players and we want to just go out there and work hard and do everything we can do to win,” and “we’re definitely going

to outwork everyone, our roster is a little bit smaller than most teams, so we have to be in much better shape. You have to have more guys ready to play,” Jones said.

For the upcoming 2021 season, the Marlins look to make a name for themselves this season after last year was cut short. On Monday, March 1, the men’s lacrosse team will open up their season at home on Birdsong Field when they face off against the Seahawks of St. Mary’s College Maryland at 5:00 pm.

Preview: women’s lacrosse team

BY NATHAN SHEIRBURN nssheirburn@vwu.edu

Women’s lacrosse is kicking off their season with the first game of the season on Feb. 27 against Roanoke College. The Marlins ended the 2020 season with a loss to Merchant Marine in a one-goal game before the season was cut short due to COVID. The Marlins seek to improve upon their record of 1-6 for the 2021 season. In the 2020 season, the Marlins saw no conference play.

Since the 2020 season, the Marlins lost key

players in then-seniors Avery Frangelli and Tori Manahan. However, they have returning key players in Senior Captain Kayla Gush and Junior Captain Mikayla Callahan (firstyear captain). The Marlins are returning goalie Jordan Moilanen and top-5 scorer for the team Camryn Gavula.

The Marlins are ranked 7 out of 10 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference coaches’ poll. This season, with a small and young

Women’s Lacrosse huddles prior to practice.

Nathan Sheirburn|Marlin Chronicle

group, the Marlins seek to make it into the ODAC tournament. Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Nicole Desalvia, who is entering her second year as head coach, indicated that was the biggest goal for the season. “Last year we didn’t make it to playoffs, last year we didn’t even hit any ODAC games, obviously because of COVID. So to be able to go to the tournament is the goal,” said Desalvia.

Desalvia opened up about the expectations within the team during the altered season to COVID. “This will be a big year for our culture building and how you respond to adversity. My expectations are responding positively to all of the crazy things going on, and carrying that into years where things get ‘easier,” said Desalvia.

Senior Melissa Runo talked about some of the challenges faced with the COVID regulations. “Practice is beat wearing the masks, but we don’t wear them during games which is nice, and then we are just getting tested a lot. We only get to take [the masks] off if we are running sprints and we are all spaced out,” said Runo.

With the first contest being against an ODAC opponent, the game is going to be an important one. “I think if we play well it will be a good competition. The only thing that worries me is like how small our team is because we have minimal subs,” said Runo.

Many NBA players across the league have expressed their displeasure with the All-Star Game and competitions still being held this year despite the pandemic wreaking havoc on the sports world and the shortened season. Stars such as Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and LeBron James have voiced their grievances against All-Star activities.

Usually, the All-Star Game was the final portion of an entire weekend that celebrates the game’s brightest stars. The Players Association and the league have decided to condense the three-day event into one day on March 7. It will be the 70th All-Star Game in NBA history.

All-Star Weekend is something that really brings everyone in and lets the fans enjoy seeing all the talent across the league.

Some fans aren’t given the opportunity to see many of the great stars due to what games are televised in their area, so AllStar Weekend allows fans to see all of them on one stage.

The normal challenges and events include Celebrity and Rising Stars games on Friday night. Saturday night normally includes the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk challenge. Sunday night finishes off the weekend with the AllStar Game.

LeBron James spoke in a recent postgame press conference about there being these events this year. “They throw an All-Star Game on us like this and it just breaks that all the way up. Pretty much kind of a slap in the face.” The reference to not really getting a break during the already shortened season has many players wondering why the league is trying to keep the events of All-Star Weekend.

Giannis Anteokounmp told ESPN that “I’ve got zero energy, zero excitement,” for this year’s game, saying that he would rather be spending time with his family.

The NBA is able to bring in much needed revenue holding these events. Televising the game allows for all kinds of promotions and advertising to increase funds for the league. The pandemic has caused many leagues to miss out on the revenue that they are used to seeing every year.

With this being the shortest off-season in league history, there should be more of an effort to look out for the players. The AllStar Game would be nice for the fans to watch and for the league to make-up some profits, but overall there seems to be more of a risk than anything else.

Players from all around the country will gather to play one game in the middle of the pandemic. This just seems to be taking unnecessary risk that could jeopardize the rest of the season. The NBA experienced a shutdown last year, and this could have the same effect if there is an outbreak at the game. They should be able to use this time to go spend with their family and enjoy their time off from the brutal stretch of games that they have had to endure this season.

Follow all the Marlin action!

Check out the official Athletics pages on Instagram and Twitter at: @vwu_marlins

Thursday March 4, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

THEWEEKENDER

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The Soulful Place: yoga and more

BY FAITH MACWANA fpmacwana@vwu.edu

Straight off a Pinterest mood board, The Soulful Place: Yoga and More is a place of healing, balance, and calmness.

Aesthetically pleasing tones of pink and white decorate the place while a neon sign with The Soulful Place glows softly behind the welcome desk. A lounge area with a small kitchenette area serving tea and other drinks are tucked into a corner. The whole space exudes peace.

Owners Amanda Baker and Emily Gentry are the visionaries behind the tranquil place. They knew that they wanted a space where people can gather as a community in a COVID-friendly environment. This whole idea emerged from the current situation regarding COVID-19. If there is one thing that this pandemic highlighted it was the importance of mental health and doing things to help destress.

Baker said, “I’ve been teaching meditation for a long time, doing yoga for a long time, but finally not being on the road gave me the chance to get certified.

So while I was going through that process, I was taking classes at other local studios and talking to other teachers and students and we all were doing the same thing.

We’d go and hang out in the parking lot after class.”

The Soulful Place offers yoga classes for all age groups and skill levels. All the classes are taught by certified instructors.

Participants are coached through the movements in a safe and gentle manner.

On Fridays at 6:30 p.m., a class entitled “Candlelight” is taught under the watchful and calming presence of yoga instructor Alex Lauren. In accordance with COVID guidelines, yoga mats are placed six feet apart from each other. The lights are dimmed and the only glow comes from lit candles placed around your mats. Each movement or flow is explained thoroughly so the participant knows exactly what is happening and is also comforted by the knowledge that they are in safe hands.

Classes run seven days a week with

multiple different time options so there’s really something for everyone. Most classes are approximately 60 minutes long while a few are 75 minutes long. Some of the classes include Mindful Flow, Power, Yang/Yin/Tea, and Chair. In addition to yoga classes, they also host private events, a book club with Read Books VB and BioMat sessions.

While yoga might sound like a financial investment to a beginner, Emily Gentry offered some advice. Gentry said, “As a mother of three college students, I would advise my kids to check all the studios and get as many first free classes as you could.”

Baker also said that “if anyone asked us, if you’re a college student on a budget, we’ll work with you. The whole point of this is to make yoga accessible to as many people as possible.” Currently the first class one takes at The Soulful Place is free with promo code GOLDENTICKET. Lauren explained why yoga is her favorite activity to do. Lauren said, “I would say that yoga is single handedly the most introspective area of my life because it’s a place where I know I can step up on my mat and like I said in class, it’s truly such a mirror for how I show up in the world. When I can show up on my mat and begin to release judgement and peel back the layers of conditioning, then I am more easily able to go out into the world and do that and to apply that to other people.”

Lauren brought up an interesting point in that we could all use a little inner peace.

Lauren said, “I think that’s especially important in the world right now that is so busy and so loud and that if we just begin to sit with the quiet within ourselves it makes the world more tolerable.”

The Soulful Place is located at 1485 General Booth Blvd, Suite 116 Virginia Beach, VA. For more information about classes and bookings, visit www. thesoulfulplacevb.com or check out their Instagram page @thesoulfulplacevb.

Yoga instructor Alex Lauren demonstrates her flow.

Erin Highsmith | Marlin Chronicle

Thursday March 4, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

THEWEEKENDER

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SelfieWRLD

Tiffany Warrren|Marlin Chronicle

Visitors can enjoy different photobooths at SelfieWRLD, featuring various sets and phrases in neon lights.

BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu

Behind the front desk, a sign says “be mine” in bright pink lights on the pink floral wall that welcomes visitors in. Down the aisle are numerous walls for each booth that awaits. Tall, bright photography rings stand on the edge of each room, and pop music plays in the background. The newest photography studio that anyone can use to release their inner child is now here in Hampton Roads.

Ben Hyser, a native of Hampton Roads and the owner of Selfie WRLD in Virginia Beach, launched the business on Jan. 23 next to Lynnhaven Mall. Selfie WRLD styles itself as “one of the most instagrammable places” on the East Coast. People can immerse themselves in fifteen fun, eye-catching and interactive art installations that have decorative furniture and accent walls for $20 general admission.

“If you look at Hampton Roads, there are 1.2 million people, and we tend to lag compared to the rest of major cities in terms of entertainment and artistic options.

It seemed easy to bring Selfie WRLD here and give something new,” Hyser said.

At the front desk, a Bluetooth clicker is given to sync with clients’ phones to take pictures from the stand when clicking the button. Each station has its own phone stand attached to a photography ring light for capturing photos.

“One of the things that I like about it is that it seems to wow people for the price. I know that we could probably charge more and get away with it if we wanted to, but I want everyone to come in and see all the different scenes and leave amazed for the price that they paid with how much they got out of it,” Hyser said.

Each room has unique themes that separate themselves from each other with different colorful walls, bright lights, decorative furniture and interactive props that make a picture come to life and speak a thousand words.

Freshman Mikayla Moscatell and senior Caroline Domo

Super Mario 3d

shared their experiences and distinct favorite photo booths at Selfie WRLD. “My favorite booth was the paint-splattered room because it had swings inside of it. Before I even bought my tickets to go, I knew that was the one I wanted to get pictures of. I also liked the diner-themed setup,” Domo said .

Moscatelli said, “My favorite booths were the basketball hoop and the wall sign saying ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’.

The basketball hoop has LED lights going around it that flicker different colors, so you get different colors with every picture.”

Due to COVID-19 health guidelines, the newly-opened business venue enforces that masks must be worn when moving to a different booth, but can be taken off inside the art installation room. After leaving the booth, staff members sanitize the station before another person or group can take photos. Selfie WRLD’s capacity limit is 20 people an hour, and they had to turn away many walk-ins on the weekend. Hyser strongly recommends that people book their appointment online Selfie WRLD Virginia Beach has 3-5 seasonallythemed booths that Hyser plans to change every 2-3 months. Hyser also has ideas to bring new rooms to the establishment later this year.

“A lot of people were questioning me about a jungle room, so I’ll do a jungle room. I want to do a ball pit, but that’s COVID-permitting. Once it’s not a huge deal, I can do the ball pit. I’m doing something with HarleyDavidson for the 4th of July to do Americana-themed pictures. It should get bigger and badder as we go on,” said Hyser.

Moscatelli and Domo shared their impressions of their photos and recommendations to go and make the most of time at Selfie WRLD.

Domo explained that “I definitely took a lot of pictures.

They have large, high-quality ring lights set up in every station. And for people that would prefer to come by themselves and take their own photos, they have handheld clickers to take pictures each time you press it. I was really impressed by the quality, lighting and effort that was put into decorating and designing each room.”

Selfie WRLD also provides a changing room in the back at the end of the aisle for those who would like to change into different outfits for their photoshoot.

“It’s just fun, especially with COVID-19 right now, lots of people have cute outfits in their closets that they’ve been wanting to wear with nowhere to wear them. It’s a pretty good excuse for people to show off their outfits in fun different ways,” said Domo.

“I would make sure to wear something you like. Find something or stuff that you like to do and find ways to incorporate it into your pictures. Bring a few friends with you so you can have fun pictures together to make memories,” suggested Moscatelli.

Bring friends, family, a date, or just yourself and a phone or professional camera to experience different themes while striking a pose. Purchase tickets online at selfiewrldvb.com to reserve a time slot at Selfie WRLD

by Lynnhaven Mall. Time slot reservations can be rescheduled for a different date or time at no charge and visitors should arrive 15 minutes prior to check-in. Selfie WRLD Virginia Beach is located next to Lynnhaven Mall at 2720 North Mall Drive, Suite 136. Open hours are Tuesday-Friday from 2-9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“If people love taking pictures, then they will enjoy coming to Selfie WRLD. It catches moments of your friends and captures the best moments and image of you,” said Moscatelli.

world

BY ANNIE PHELPS saphelps@vwu.edu

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is the latest title released by Nintendo for the Switch, providing the Wii U game new life with enhanced features and an allnew mode.

Nearly eight years ago, 3D World was released for the ill-fated Wii U during the 2013 holiday season. Although it was one of the best-selling games on the console, only beat by Mario Kart 8, many were unable to play the game until now because of the console’s low sales numbers. Due to the overwhelming success of the Switch, 3D World was ported to the Switch with all new features, such as online multiplayer and faster gameplay along with the addition of an all-new story: Bowser’s Fury.

Super Mario 3D World starts off like most Mario games: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad are all out for a walk until they come across something peculiar, a broken clear warp pipe. Mario and Luigi, being plumbers, fix it, and a fairy appears out of it telling the group that Bowser has kidnapped her sisters and she needs their help. Bowser then appears and takes her, and thus the adventure begins.

One of the main features of the game is it is four-player multiplayer, and includes different play styles for each character. The game takes a page out of Super Mario Bros.

2’s book, mirroring the same playable characters and play styles that differentiate the characters from each other.

Mario plays like he always does, he has medium jump height and medium speed - a jack of all trades. Luigi plays a bit differently, he is a bit more slippery when moving around and can jump higher than Mario. Princess Peach is the most beginner friendly. She is the slowest of the four, but she can hover when she jumps. Toad is the most limited because he can run the fastest but has the shortest

jump.

The game is set up similarly to the 2D Mario games of old, but is still in 3D. The way to get from level to level is through an overworld. There are collectibles inside the levels to pick up in order to progress. Power-ups return, including the returning mushroom, fire flower, tanuki suit and boomerang flower. There are also new power ups known as “the cat bell” and “the double cherry.” The cat bell turns Mario and friends into cats and allows them to climb up walls for secrets. The double cherry allows the player to control a second character. Speaking of controls, the game controls like any good Mario game should: tight and responsive. The multiplayer encourages both cooperation and rivalries. At the end of each stage, if there are multiple players, there is a results screen that bases a winner off the points achieved. The online multiplayer also works surprisingly well compared to other games on the Switch like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which has been known for lagging and breaking internet connections.

The game also comes with a small all-new story called Bowser’s Fury. This stars Mario and Bowser Jr. on a quest to save a corrupted Bowser. This is a one- to two-player co-op game and unfortunately, it does not have online multiplayer. The world of Bowser’s Fury is an open world composed of small levels that lead the player to the next level as the world opens up. It is similar to how 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey in that there is a large world and the player has a set path, but can deviate and find the collectibles, known as “Cat Shines,” constantly. Mario has all his power ups from 3D World at his disposal, but Bowser Jr. is unable to use them. Bowser Jr.’s play style is very basic in that all he can do is collect specific items

and power-ups for Mario. When in single player his AI can either be set to help a little or a lot, and he just kills enemies for Mario. The other big mechanic in Bowser’s Fury is that after a certain time, Bowser attacks and turns the level into night. When this happens, you can either collect a cat shine and shoo Bowser away with the light, or fight him using a giant cat bell. This feature can get annoying as you earn more cat shines because it occurs more often. Overall, the side mode is fun and is great as a break from the main game, but it does have some features that could have been changed for a better experience.

Overall, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is an enjoyably chaotic time with friends and still is fun to play through as a single player. The tight controls, short, fastpaced levels and good online multiplayer make it a great game to add to any college student’s Switch library.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

The marlin undertow / by faith macwana Place of Interest:

Military Aviation Museum

Home to one of the largest privately-owned collections of World War I and World War II era warplanes, the Military Aviation Museum is a history buff’s playground. Located about 30 minutes from campus, owners and founders Gerald and Elaine Yagen have cultivated a collection of aircraft the couple has restored to their former glory. In addition to multiple hangars and areas of interest, the museum also has the very first British base turned over to American air forces known as USAAF Station F-345 Goxhill. For more information including ticket prices and plane rides, visit www.militaryaviationmuseum.org.

Watch This: Behind Her Eyes

Netflix’s “Behind Her Eyes” is the psychological thriller you’ve been waiting for. Based on a novel of the same name by Sarah Pinborough, this adaption follows the life of a single mom who begins an affair with her psychiatrist boss while also befriending his mysterious wife. With only six one-hour long episodes, this is the perfect show to binge over the weekend. The ending will leave viewers shocked and wanting more.

Read Now: All The Light We Cannot See

Set during World War II in German-occupied France, “All The Light We Cannot See” is a breathtaking, hauntingly beautiful story about a blind French girl named Marie-Laure and an orphaned German boy named Werner whose paths cross despite the odds. Anthony Doerr has carefully crafted this novel to evoke the most intimate of emotions from the reader as they are led through the town of Saint Malo, France from alternating perspectives. This book is a must read for any fan of historical fiction.