Mar 24th, 2022

The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 3.24.22 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Insider Look: DeFord Manor

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

After many months of watching DeFord Manor being constructed and wondering what it looked like inside, The Marlin Chronicle was invited to the residence for a private, face-to-face tour of the residence with President Scott Miller and his wife, Annie Miller.

The manor was constructed as a private residence for the president and their family with large entertaining spaces both indoors and outdoors.

DeFord Manor’s construction began in March of 2021, however the plans were drawn up in 2016 with the other campus improvements being planned at the time. Despite construction being completed in December of 2021, the manor was not officially opened until February due to the landscaping process and supply chain issues with furniture and appliances.

The federal-style architecture was chosen in a non-conventional process. Derck & Edson, a planning and design company for college campuses, filled a wall with Post-it notes outlining twelve different designs and allowed the campus community to weigh in on the design. The architecture and surrounding land was then overseen by Michael Schnekser of Tymoff & Moss, in conjunction with other companies.

The manor itself is 7,771 square-feet. It is named after Bob and Nancy DeFord. Nancy DeFord replaced her husband on the Board of Trustees when he retired in 2016 and they have been “generous philanthropists”

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Construction of DeFord Manor finalized before hosting several in-person events. to the school for a long time, said President Miller.

Directly behind the manor is the Virginia Oveda Williams DeFord Terrace, named after Bob DeFord’s mother, who inspired his interest in education.

The terrace is home to a pool, garden and large tent for campus events. It is meant to hold about 150 people. The tent will be standing throughout the spring to give the option of hosting parties outdoors, even in unpredictable weather.

Behind the fence in the back is the David R. Black Japanese Garden with ten trees. Black was a university president for almost 30 years and was “the co-visionary of the Honors College when we founded it in 2017… but a donor provided money so there would be something in his honor,” Miller said.

Around a circular driveway lined in hedges is the Shelhorse

Lawn and Ponds, named for Bill Shelhorse, a graduate of Virginia Wesleyan in 1970 who served as a trustee on the board.

The building is an Elizabeth River Project River Star Home, meaning it agrees to seven initiatives, including not pouring grease in the sink, reducing fertilizers, not feeding geese and avoiding single-use plastic.

DeFord Manor boasts trees, shrubs and plants on the land.

Underneath the property is nearly a mile of underground storm chambers. The permeable surface of the driveway surface controls runoff, prevents flooding and replenishes groundwater. Surface water is absorbed by the driveway and filtered by the soil below so that chemicals don’t contaminate the water in storm drain systems.

Additionally, water from the pond is filtered and flows to the Chesapeake Bay. Next year, the university hopes

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle President Scott D. Miller and his wife Annie meeting with the Chronicle in DeFord Manor. to create a new contract with Dominion Energy to add solar panels to the residence.

There are multiple spaces for entertaining guests at the residence. After passing a portrait of Bob and Nancy DeFord in the foyer, guests can be invited into the bright, formal living room.

Sliding doors reveal a smaller, more intimate sitting room that can be closed off for convenience during catered events.

A hallway surrounded by glass doors overlooking the terrace leads to the spacious East Room, used for dinners and cocktail parties, complete with a wallmounted television screen and a Steinway piano that plays by itself.

Just off the East Room is the terrace and windowed tent.

Another door leads from the terrace to the entrance to the kitchen. With gleaming quartz countertops and sky blue cabinets, the kitchen is designed to accommodate a family or a catering team.

Hallways just off the kitchen lead to a commercial ice maker, dish washer, refrigerator and wine cooler. Doors allow the kitchen area to be closed off for convenience and privacy.

Towards the front of the house is a dining room with paneled walls and a marble-encased fireplace to provide even more space for guests.

The ground floor and all its doorways are handicap accessible and level to allow all guests ease of movement.

The second floor is the private residence for the president and family. Besides a family room, it has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a laundry room, all with windows overlooking the lawn and campus. It is designed for privacy during university events and possible growing

See DEFORD Page 2

Geese devastate campus green spaces, walkways

The administration is actively addressing the geese population.

Why are they here? Will they ever leave?

BY JOSEPH COOPER jmcooper1@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan is home to residential geese, meaning they stay in one location all year.

“VWU offers prime real estate for residential geese,” Jason Seward, associate vice president for campus life and operational management, said.

Students, staff and visitors walk all around campus accompanied by other creatures. It is very well known that the campus community is also visited by huge numbers of Canada geese.

Over the seasons the goose population on campus seems to remain the same, as if they don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

“The large population of geese that call VWU home, is having a noticeable, and in some cases negative, impact on and around campus,” Seward said. “The geese devastate green space.

They eat grasses and other plant life, damaging the areas they frequent. I’m sure you have noticed increased droppings on

sidewalks, playing fields, patios, field space, and parking lots, which have become an everyday encounter. The greatest concern and most dangerous impact is felt by our neighbors at Norfolk International Airport, given the danger geese pose to aircraft.”

Virginia Wesleyan has tried different ideas to try to remove the geese. “The University has utilized a number of deterrents like herding dogs, non-lethal sprays that make the grass undesirable for consumption, RC units and electronic recorders to prevent geese from landing or staying here on campus,” Seward said.

When asked why the geese are here and what the subsequent complications are, Seward said that there are two categories of Canada geese: residential and migratory.

“Migratory birds, of course, are birds that leave their spring and summer homes when winter conditions become too extreme for their survival,” Seward said.

But as many students know,

Upcoming prom gains growing attention

Breana Mahoney|Marlin Chronicle

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Faculty, staff and students participating in the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event on March 8 in honor of Women’s History Month.

Walk in heels brings focus to equality

BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu

Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle Geese traveling on a walkway outside Batten Student Center. weather conditions in Coastal Virginia are mostly not too hot and not too cold that make it perfect for not just the campus community, but for the geese as well.

Moreover, Seward said “Water and food sources become very scarce during cold winters, so the birds migrate south to find sanctuary. Once warmer weather

See GEESE Page 2

This year’s Women’s History Month at Virginia Wesleyan University has been filled with a plethora of events. Many campus groups have teamed up to produce programs that promote the awareness of its importance.

One of the most successful of these events, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” took place on March 8. Through the joined efforts of both the Student Health Center and the Student Activities departments, the event was made possible. Participants donated $5 in order to be a part of the expe-

Baseball enthusiastically begins 2022 season

Cameron Evans|Courtesy

rience, which would allow them to walk a mile around campus in high heel shoes. The funds went towards the Girls on the Run program as a donation.

April Christman, director of student health, and Sarah Guzzo, director of student activities, were very excited about the turnout of this event’s debut and the visible impact it made on those who participated. Saying that “it challenges gender stereotypes,” Christman stressed how the financial impact on the community and emotional impact on the students made it a positive thing.

See WALK Page 4

Gilly’s Creamery at VB Farmers Market Review

Google Maps|Courtesy

COMMUNITY

SPORTS

WEEKENDER

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Thursday March 24, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The kitchen is ideal for catering groups and the use of the residents.

DEFORD CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 families who may one day move into the residence.

DeFord Manor was opened for the Batten Honors Competition on March 11.

President Miller hosted the parents of the competitors for a reception while the students mingled at the Susan B. Goode Theater.

The first all-campus event in DeFord Manor was the open house gathering for faculty and staff on March 16. Both events were hosted by President Miller and his wife Annie. Ideally an open house will be held once a month.

In the coming weeks and months, DeFord Manor will be used to welcome the Student Government Association Executive Board, the president's Chat and Chew meetings, team dinners to recognize achievements of sports teams, business leaders in the community, legislative officials and congressional senators of the state, the Board of Trustees and the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV).

President Miller expressed his enjoyment in bringing their grandchildren to the manor. It is a house built with the intention of housing growing families of all types.

His own children grew up in various presidents' residences and the president and his wife look forward to making the home their own.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The David R. Black Terrace includes a pool and a temporary tent for events.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The East Room is set up for a cocktail party and has the option of a full dinner.

GEESE

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle Geese congregating in a peaceful pack outside of Allen Village on the grass.

returns, the geese then return to their home grounds for nesting season and the summer.”

Looking to the future, Seward discussed the university’s plan for geese removal.

“The University is exploring other deterrent techniques and products to help with Canadian goose control on campus,” Seward said.

Franklin Washington, a sophomore at VWU said, “I feel that it’s good to have the geese on campus but they can be too overwhelming at times.”

He also agreed with the statement from Seward about the geese’s behavior and how they act here at campus. Washington also said that the “University should try introducing the geese to new areas so they could

migrate away from the campus.”

When it comes to what the school should do with the geese population, sophomore Nicholas D’Antonio said, “I agree with Jason's opinion of the geese, especially that they could pose a threat to planes that are taking off and landing in the area.”

“The overall impact of the geese on campus would be negative in my opinion,” D’Antonio said, “due to them blocking traffic, relieving themselves on the sidewalk, and making a large amount of noise when students are trying to sleep. With that said, I do not know if the campus has tried removing them in the past, although it would have been very difficult to find a new home for such a large population.”

Although the future for the geese is unknown at this time, for now what we do know is that the geese wish to stay despite frequent efforts by the school administration.

Russian vodka disappears Board of Trustees: Members and structure explained from ABC store shelves

BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu

According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, this makes up a total of $18.5 million annually.

CBC News published a quote from Henryk Sterniczuk, a professor at the University of New Brunswick, stating that the restriction of Russian vodka in the global market is more symbolic than anything.

It will likely not have a serious economic impact on the country.

This move is getting partisan support in hopes that it will drive sales for locally produced vodka. One of the more famous domestic brands is Tito’s Vodka out of Austin, Texas.

Virginia is just one of many states to make this decision. Some others include Utah, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.

As the conflict rages on in Ukraine, it remains unclear how long these limitations will remain in place.

Virginia ABC stores removed all Russian vodka from their shelves to show support for Ukraine. At this time, Russia has invaded the neighboring sovereign country of Ukraine, initiating such a conflict that has not been seen since World War II. In response, there are seven vodka brands that are directly being impacted by this decision: Beluga, Hammer & Sickle, Inperia, Mamont, Organika, Russian Standard and ZYR. There are other products that are “Russian themed” that will remain on the shelves. These products are not financially linked to Russia and therefore pulling them from the shelves of the stores wouldn’t have the same impact.

Senior Virginia Wesleyan student, Cam Terry, is currently working at the ABC store just around the corner from campus.

“I was not surprised to see that ABC removed the Russian sourced vodkas from the shelves after the recent issues between Ukraine and Russia,” said Terry. “It didn’t really change anything as an employee other than the occasional upset customer about the lack of Russian Standard. I was surprised that there were not more brands taken off the shelves, only seven brands were removed for the time being.”

The Virginia ABC store tweeted their response to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s call to action for Virginians to take a stand against the conflict in Ukraine.

“In the spirit of Gov. Youngkin’s call for decisive action in support of Ukraine, Virginia ABC is removing 7 Russian-sourced vodka brands from our store shelves. Russian-themed brands not produced in Russia like Stolichnaya and Smirnoff will not be removed,” said the tweet.

Before the limits were placed on RusKatie Yeager |Marlin Chronicle sian vodka, only 1.2% of all vodka sales Tito's, a Texas-based vodka, is still in the country were sourced from Russia. available on the shelves of ABC stores.

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

The Board of Trustees rests at the top of the organizational pyramid of Virginia Wesleyan. President Miller describes the board as “a self perpetuating and… governing body of Virginia Wesleyan University.”

He holds a seat on the board as an ex officio trustee, as do all presidents of the university.

Board officials are given specific terms they preside in their positions for. Those who rotate off the board are granted Trustee Emeritus/Emerita status. Currently the board includes 59 individuals. All are community members who are leaders in business and industry, education and the United Methodist Church.

Each nomination is “screened by the Committee on Trusteeship,” Miller said, and undergoes “a thorough vetting process” before “new members are presented by the Committee to the current Board members for a vote.”

The board focuses on the five main areas of university authority, which are: Academic Affairs, Student Life, Advancement, Finance and Administration and Enrollment. They also have the power to oversee endowment investments.

Mainly the board’s “responsibilities include supporting the University's mission, securing adequate financial resources for the operation of the University, and establishing long-range goals and institutional policies,” Miller said.

This is accomplished through three full meetings a year with the full board and three to seven meetings a year for each of the seven committees. Each of the five vice presidents of the university serve as liaisons for the committee focusing on their area of concern. Therefore each can raise concerns and questions with the board.

The full board agenda and committee agendas are organized by the president, vice presidents and the committee chairs,

with the full agenda needing approval from the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Currently the chair is John F. Malbon.

Malbon was elected in 2019. He is a retired chairman and CEO of PAPCO, Inc., which is a petroleum marketing and distribution company based in Virginia Beach.

Trustees are members of the campus community. Aside from having their names on various buildings across campus, trustees “attend VWU arts events, lectures, athletic events and interact with faculty and staff between meetings,” Miller said.

Members of the campus community are also able to speak at meetings. “Faculty, staff and students are often invited to make presentations at committee and full Board meetings,” and the “six faculty deans are invited to participate in Board meetings as faculty representatives,” Miller said. Despite alterations because of the pandemic, this is still an option at meetings. Students have recently spoken about their experiences in the Batten Honors College and at Lakeland University in Japan.

In 1996, the board established a rule that no chair member could serve a term more than three years long. To begin on July 1, 2022, the board has elected Jonathan E. Pruden (Chair), Nancy T. DeFord (Vice Chair), J. Timothy Bailey ’83 (Treasurer) and Mavis E. McKenley ’11 (Secretary).

Chair John F. Malbon and Vice Chair Susan S. Goode will be stepping down from their positions that they have held for the past three years and will be staying on the board. They will be honored at the May 2022 Commencement Ceremony for their time in leadership positions.

On June 30, 2022, a number of trustees will be retiring their positions, as well.

Gary D. Bonnewell ’79, H’16, David L. Kaufman H’19, Howard P. Kern, Kenneth G. Trinder II, George K. Tsantes III ’83, Anthony O. Walters and Michael J. White ’81 have served their terms and are relinquishing their seats to new members.

Science & Technology

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The decision of the times: To mask or not to mask OPINION

BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu On Feb. 28, Virginia Wesleyan University moved to a mask-optional mitigation policy. This came as a surprise to many and as a new fear to some. As you walk around campus, you will see members of the campus community wearing or not wearing their masks. Some choose to wear them in certain settings, while others are completely maskfree.

This university announcement came after the new guidance by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Feb. 25. The CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, “approximately 70% of the country resides in an area that is considered low to medium risk…they no longer need to mask.” This new guidance is largely because of the decrease in the Omicron variant. The recent stark decrease in hospitalizations also contributed to these updated guidelines.

In the community surrounding the university in Hampton Roads, the seven-day average is 29,340 new positive cases. This is much lower than the 806,928 sevenday average peak seen in January for the region.

As of March 16, 2022, 66% of the region has also been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is in comparison to 63% in the middle of January. The rate of vaccination has definitely slowed as time has progressed. Overall, the region is in a much better position than it originally was when the Omicron variant emerged.

Additionally, the campus community was required to have received a COVID-19 booster by Feb. 28. It is definitely not a coincidence that this was the same date masking guidance changed. Being situated in a lowrisk region and having the power of boosters, Virginia Wesleyan is poised to have a fairly-normal remainder of the semester.

Students certainly have mixed feelings about no longer having everyone masked on campus. Cheers of happiness were heard campus-wide upon the release of the new guidance.

First-year student Emma Lankford said, “Since the mask mandate has been lifted at Virginia Wesleyan University, I have had some mixed emotions. On one end,

Breana Mahoney|Marlin Chronicle I am happy that this is signaling light at the end of the tunnel. On the other hand, we have been in suspense for so long that it feels weird. Overall, I hope that this maskoptional decision does not create any outbreaks, and I will be very cautious until we are mask optional for long enough to know it is safe.”

Junior Elaine Robbins said, “I don’t really wear a mask many places anymore because I think I’m safe to do so with the vaccination rates on campus. I like that the professors have the right to still require them based on their own comfort level with the new policies as well.”

To support this, first-year student Harry Smith said, “I don’t wear masks because they get in my way, and I feel comfortable without them.”

Additionally, junior Paul Jordan said, “I am not a big fan of the mask. It would always fall off my face because of my nose. Also, single-use masks will take hundreds of years to completely degrade. If you cared about future generations, you would be going to as many concerts as possible and trying to get immunity so scientists could use you to make a cure by not wearing a mask.”

Some students have expressed concerns with no longer being required to mask. Sophomore Kiera Doyle said, “I still choose to wear my mask because it makes me feel more comfortable as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic. There is still so much uncertainty about the virus and its mutations that it does not make sense to retire the masks now.”

Unfortunately, without universal masking, we are opening the door for the virus to mutate into more variants that we are not prepared to battle. Over the last couple of days in Dongguan, China, surges have been occurring that have not been seen since the initial outbreak in Wuhan.

Government officials have enforced working from home and limited activities to only the essentials, such as buying groceries and taking virus tests. The high levels of outbreak have been seen in 28 of China’s 31 provinces.

These outbreaks are seen even after the nation has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for COVID-19 mitigation measures.

With these outbreaks occurring across the Pacific, it is not unreasonable to wonder if the same is looming for the United States. The United States has taken a more relaxed approach to COVID-19 mitigation strategies than many other nations.

We have never enforced strict masking and our efforts in requiring vaccination at a large scale were recently struck down by the Supreme Court. It is now completely up to citizens to determine what is best for themselves and for their neighbors and for those they care about most. Will everyone make the choice that is backed by science and traverse the nation out of the pandemic? As we have seen, no, they will not.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 is not gone, it has just subsided for the time being. Hopefully, if everyone continues to do their part, we will be on our way out of the pandemic for good.

Students are exhausted from having the last two years of their schooling severely impacted by COVID-19. It is overwhelming at times. Unmasking may make sense now for the area but conditions could change rapidly in the near future. The best bet for all to protect themselves from the virus is to receive their vaccine and be boosted. If guidance in the coming weeks alters to the recommendation of an additional booster, people must comply to help the nation as a whole.

Ultimately, it is up to each individual whether or not to don a mask in public settings anymore. Hopefully, enough people will choose to stay masked to better protect everyone they are around. The freedom of not wearing a mask is certainly an exhilarating feeling, but we are just not there yet.

Earth & Environmental Sciences Department offers grants to students to improve greenery, recycling Each semester, the Earth & Environmental Sciences department offers a competition to students within its programs to compete for a grant funding a project of the student’s choosing.

BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu

BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu

This past fall, the Earth and from depression and anxiety. When asked Environmental Sciences Department sent why he wanted to do this he mentioned out a call for students to submit proposals how there weren’t that many places indoor for grants. The proposal for these grants on campus that had plants. “I think the included five parts: the application, library is the only place inside where there narrative, budget, references and letters of are plants, I think it would give a nice support. Each applicant was required to fill image of greenery.” out the form.

Dr. Malcolm commented on his project Each year there is one faculty member stating, “For Juwon, he is going to pick who is available to students to help advise out the plants, tell us how much it is going them as they fill out their application. This to cost and then I will have to send the fall, that faculty member was Professor purchase request to the business office.” of Ocean and Atmospheric Studies, Dr. Seaborne’s grant total is up to $690.85.

Elizabeth Malcolm.

When asked about the application process, Dr. Malcolm said, “After the students apply, I take the students’ names off of it so it’s anonymous and then I forward it to the committee which is made up of students and faculty. They read, discuss and decide which ones to fund and whether to fund in the full amount or not.”

This past fall the Department was able to award up to $2,000 and after receiving two applications both grants were approved and awarded out.

One of those grants awarded was headed up by senior Juwon Seaborne. His goal with this grant is to create green spaces around campus. “I’ll be incorporating plants on campus, and they will be called green spaces. The goal of these is to make the spaces welcoming to students, where they can sit and feel relaxed and calm.”

Seaborne said.

He also added that it can help with Colette Kearney|Marlin Chronicle students who may have ADHD, or suffer Seaborne standing inside Greer.

The second grant allotted by the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department was one directed towards improving recycling efforts on campus awarded to juniors Holly Hatter and Emily Petsko and freshman Jessica Wilson.

“Since our freshman year, we’ve always done waste management and recycling, we always took data on recycling, how much waste the school was producing. We never really did anything to try to improve our recycling to waste ratios. So we decided to try and figure out ways we can fix the numbers on campus,” Hatter said.

Hatter and Petsko are “Campus Race to Zero Waste” coordinators, an eight week competition between schools and universities between the US and Canada.

The goal is to throw away the least amount of garbage per person and then to see who can recycle the most per person.

“We’re doing that competition right now, so we get to actually see the data each week. So we just thought if there is a way we could improve it at school, we might as well try with a grant,” Petsko said. Hatter also said that they want to get more students from different majors and different interests involved. She said, “The grant kind of helped us open up more possibilities to do that with fundraising money that we may not have been able to do.”

Wilson said, “One of the main things with our grant is we’re gonna be buying

Recyclemania Logo| recyclemania.org more recycling bins across campus, because we kind of saw one of the main obstacles for recycling is just convenience.”

In the fall they did a survey and out of all the students surveyed they found that 64.3% students believed that recycling was not convenient on campus. Wilson also said, “I’ve heard in the dorm halls that there was only one recycling bin and three trash bins, so that’s the main thing we’re gonna tackle with the grant money we received.”

Wilson also added that they are also hoping to use some of the money from the grant to improve not just the recycling efforts on campus but also education of recycling among students. In the fall they are hoping to do a Sustainable Art Competition where students from any major can design a sculpture made from recycled materials and the winner will have their sculpture displayed on campus.

For Wilson, Hatter and Petsko, their grant total is up to $800.

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The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu Managing Editor Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu News Editors Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Kathryn Yeager kayeager@vwu.edu Science & Tech Editor Jack Palmer jrpalmer@vwu.edu Community Editor Carey Seay clseay@vwu.edu Opinions Editors Brooke Erickson bmerickson@vwu.edu Grant Morgan gamorgan@vwu.edu Sports Editors Steven Serrano Cruz sdserranocruz@vwu.edu Shirell Washington sawashington@vwu.edu Weekender Editors

Community WALK CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 The amount of people who participated or even just watched the walk confirmed both directors’ desire to put on the event again.

“I think now that we have the visibility and that the participants had so much fun, it will definitely grow in the future,” Guzzo said.

Many male students, professors and VWU staff members took a crack at walking a mile in high heels. It definitely was not easy, but participants were able to have some fun while learning about and supporting the ideas behind Women’s History Month.

Alex Cain, a student sophomore participant, expressed the difficulty in walking in the high heels, an aspect of gender stereotypes and expectations that the event hoped to confront.

“The uncomfortableness of the shoes definitely took some getting used to,” Cain said. He also expressed how fun it was to see everyone join together as a campus community to approach these topics. Sophomore Henry Handley added to this saying that “sprinting in high heels was [his] favorite part.”

Overall, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” proved to be a huge success. Everyone who participated in the event had a lot of fun and enjoyed the opportunity to support women. VWU’s Student Health Center and Student Activities departments look forward to hosting the walk again in the future with hopes of seeing an even bigger turnout.

Along with “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” VWU saw many other events take place during Women’s History Month. Thanks to the many developments in technology and the ability to more greatly and widely connect to people all over the world, guest speakers were able to host virtual speeches and discussions with students who registered prior to the event.

Ross Winner |Marlin Chronicle

VWU’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event attracted a large crowd of students and faculty on March 8.

VWU welcomed Dr. Laura Puaca, who is an associate professor of history and director of women and gender studies at Christopher Newport University, to campus on March 3.

Puaca’s presentation, titled “Betty Crocker and the Business of Blindness: Gender, Disability, and Post-World War II Consumer Culture,” was centered around the history of women through the lens of disability.

Puaca shed light on how the history of women has impacted other histories through the stories of blind homemakers. Topics such as disability and blindness that she specifically focused on all include a history of women that attendees were able to understand.

The Africana Studies program and Office of Gender and Sexuality Equity joined together to specifically celebrate and commemorate

Sasha Saxon ansaxon@vwu.edu Tiffany Warren tawarren@vwu.edu Photo Editor Ross Winner rawinner@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Emily Uzzle ebuzzle@vwu.edu Online Editor Jack Mowatt jmmowatt@vwu.edu Copy Editor Grace Rietscha glrietscha@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Rowan Stuart rwstuart@vwu.edu Social Media Manager Breana Mahoney brmahoney@vwu.edu Advisor Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

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

Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Virginia Wesleyan University.

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

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

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

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

International Women’s Day on March 7. Dr. La Francis Rodgers-Rose gave a presentation via Google Meet titled “Black Women: Defining Self in the 21st Century.”

In conjunction with her founding many influential organizations, such as the Association of Black Sociologists in 1976 and the International Black Women’s Congress in 1983, and her experience and many accomplishments in academia through the lens of Black culture in sociology, Dr. Rodgers-Rose provided an educated experience through which to be inspired and informed.

The Robert Nusbaum Center also hosted a virtual event, which was titled “Electric Sex, Sticky Love, and Complex Marriage: Religion, Sex, and the Oneida Community.” Dr. Ellen Wayland-Smith introduced all who registered in advance to the community and story of John Humphrey Noyes’s society grounded in equality and polygamous relations through which the thread of women’s history can be seen.

Women’s History Month at VWU will round out with many other keynote speaker presentations and will conclude with the performance of Lisa Loomer’s “Roe,” directed

by Professor of Theatre Dr. Sally Shedd. From March 31 until April 2, it will explore the history and stories of the influential Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade.

All in all, there are many events that have alrady happened and many other events in the future that are available for students to attend and experience for Women’s History Month here at VWU.

VWU |Courtesy

VWU puts on many events to celebrate Women’s History Month throughout the month of March.

VWU traditions return to campus with less restrictions

BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu

Now that Virginia Wesleyan University has dropped some of its COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates and social distancing, clubs and student organizations are eager to get back to event-planning. The event lineup for spring semester shows just how excited the entirety of VWU is to get back to normal.

“We are back to normal and hope that Marlin Nation is as excited as the Off The Hook and Student Activities team,” Director of Student Activities Sarah Guzzo said.

“Student Organizations are also ramping up their event calendars now that there are no restrictions for COVID.” There is a wide variety of upcoming events planned for the remainder of spring semester.

Grace McGhee |Courtesy

VWU’s annual Mud Games took place Sept. 24 at Rose Lawn on campus.

On March 25, Craft Night will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Harbor Grill. Also on March 25, St. Patrick’s Day Pub ‘N Club will be in the CMAC at 9 p.m.. Moving into April, Bob’s Birthday Bash

will be held on April 8 from 6:3011 p.m. in Harbor Grill and on the University Quad. Movie Crew is hosting a Dive-In Movie on April 15 at 8 p.m. in the Batten Center pool. From April 17-22, a Campus

Clothes Swap will be held in Kramer Lounge by the rock wall.

The Bobbies: Student Leadership Award Ceremony will be held on April 22 at 2:30 p.m. in Brock Commons. To end April, Prom: An Enchanted Evening is planned for April 30 at 8 p.m. in the CMAC. Spa A La Marlin will then take place on May 5 from 12-3 p.m..

Ending the school year, VWU’s annual Late Night Breakfast will be held on May 5 from 10-12 p.m..

Many of the above-listed events, including St. Patrick’s Day Pub ‘N Club, Bob’s Birthday Bash, The Bobbies, Spa A La Marlin and Late Night Breakfast, are returning preCOVID-19 campus traditions. As clubs and student organizations create and plan more events, they will be added to the Student Activities Calendar. Keep an eye out for all of the upcoming oncampus, maskless events!

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, March 24, 2022

5

VWU plans prom to end spring semester To give back to those who missed out on their high school prom due to COVID-19, Virginia Wesleyan University is hosting an on-campus Enchanted Forest themed prom on Saturday, April 30.

BY JOSHUA HELLER jmheller@vwu.edu On Saturday, April 30, at 8 p.m., Virginia Wesleyan University is hosting its first ever Enchanted Forest themed prom. Many people are ecstatic due to the fact that prom has not been on campus in a long time. This event will feature a DJ, be completely alcohol-free, have formal attire and will allow students to register an off-campus guest.

Junior Hannah Carmona is the brains behind this spring’s prom, and she has all the enthusiasm in the world about students enjoying it. Carmona has been an event supervisor for Off The Hook for two years now and created the idea of having a prom dance at VWU. She has ambitions of making this prom the best yet so it will become a recurring event for years to come.

“I definitely think that Student Activities should keep doing this,” Carmona said. “I hope it turns out really well, and I hope people like it. If they do, then we’ll probably continue to do it.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many students have not experienced prom in awhile if at all. This year’s prom is a brand new opportunity for students to relive an experience they may have never gotten.

“I think that everyone’s reaction about prom is good. Everyone likes the idea of getting a do-over if their’s wasn’t a fun one or if they want to relive it one more time,” junior Kiara Kyle said.

Most high schools only allow their upperclassmen to go to prom, so many students are eager to attend VWU’s.

“I didn’t go to prom in high school; it was for only upperclassmen,” sophomore Ashleigh Lockard said. “My junior year of high school I had a soccer game so I was

Thinkstock | Courtesy

unable to make it back in time. I was planning on going senior year with some friends, but then COVID happened.”

This year’s prom theme is going to be Enchanted Forest. Students and guests are encouraged to “embrace the fairytale,” as Carmona put it, out on the dance floor.

Along with the Enchanted Forest theme, students are expected to dress for the occasion in formal attire.

Breana Mahoney |Marlin Chronicle “Note that it is formal attire, so long dresses and suits or tuxes,” Carmona said. “I encourage people to go all out, do corsages and stuff like that. [I also] encourage people to ask people to prom too, and send it in to get to win the competition.” Student Activities is prepared to host hundreds of students in their formal attire for an unforgettable experience.

Although there is definitely a positive reaction from the VWU community, there is also a fair share of people who

don’t share the same opinion and don’t plan on going.

“I think there are mixed emotions,” Lockard said.

“Some are definitely excited to go with friends and dates and to dress up, while others seem to not be in the mood or couldn’t care less about it.”

Some students want to go but are slightly hesitant.

“I feel as though there is a very positive reaction around campus, I may go in a group but I am not 100% sure yet,” junior Stephon Babb said.

Despite the reality that not every student will show up to prom, Carmona is confident that tons of students will go to prom.

“Our Instagram posts for prom got 105 likes, which is one of our records and I’ve been hearing people talk about it and people have questions and everything,” Carmona said.

Prom will also showcase a promposal competition, an idea that was suggested by Ashleigh Lockard.

“I was talking to Ashleigh about it and she was like, ‘Oh, we should do a promposal competition,’ so that’s kind of how the idea started,” Carmona said. This unique competition makes the whole prom experience everlasting as students are encouraged to create their own style poster and idea for asking their date.

“I always enjoyed watching people prompose to each other and thought it was the cutest and sweetest thing. I also know how competitive Marlin Nation is and how we like to win, so I just told Hannah my idea and I guess they liked it,” Lockard said.

Off The Hook will present VWU’s first ever Enchanted Forest Prom on Saturday, April 30, at 8 p.m.. There will be catered food, music, games and a party-like atmosphere in the CMAC.

CRIME BLOTTER

February 23 5:10 p.m.

Vandalism Alpine Tower

March 8 4:54 p.m.

February 27 2:20 a.m.

Liquor Law Violation

Controlled Substance

Bray Village

Allen Village

VWU connects students with summer internships

BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu Virginia Wesleyan University is pairing with Handshake to provide students with a number of on-site and remote summer internships. Available internship opportunities will include anything from a Youth Ministry internship with Peninsula Community Chapel to a marketing, social media and graphics internship with Norfolk Admirals.

VWU’s newly-hired Director of Career Development, Alice Jones, encourages students to take advantage of the many summer internship opportunities. Jones is eager to provide support to students and alumni who are interested in making sound career decisions, developing career pathways and implementing career plans.

“As the Director of Career Development, my role is to serve as a bridge between students, alumni, faculty and employers,” Jones said. “I work collaboratively with individuals to help them see their potential

while they develop the skills and experiences they need to succeed.”

Jones, along with the rest of The Lighthouse staff, persuades students to check out all of the available internships and choose a few to apply for. Resources like Handshake, LinkedIn, Chegg Internships, Idealist, USAJobs, Indeed and Parker Dewey make searching and applying for internships easy.

After applying and being contacted by an employer, students will then enter the interview process.

“The interview process for internships is very much like the process candidates would go through when looking for fulltime employment,” Jones said. “Many employers will request a résumé or other application materials, then meet in person, or via virtual means, to further evaluate those candidates who meet their basic requirements.”

Employers will ask field-specific questions in order to assess which applicants are most compatible with their company.

Kathleen Vanden Berg |Marlin Chronicle While interviewing, employers will also ask if the applicant has any questions for them. Applying students are encouraged to prepare a few questions to ask employers in order to show their interest and enthusiasm for the position.

“All employers are looking for can-

didates who fit with their team, are good communicators and are able to clearly identify and articulate their strengths and abilities as they relate to the position or the career field,” Jones said.

In addition to those listed above, some of the other available summer internships include those offered through Chartway Credit Union, Blue Orange CPA Group, Target Stores, Aflac, GoldKey PHR, Hajoca Corporation and Studio Center, many of which include a mix of in-person and remote positions.

“Whether the experience is in-person, virtual or a mix of the two, students should always check to make sure that the experience is legitimate and that they will be able to gain skills and experience to benefit their career goals,” Jones said.

Check out The Lighthouse and all of the summer internships offered in VWU’s surrounding communities at their website, linktr.ee/vwulighthouse, or their Instagram page, @vwulighthouse.

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Thursday March 24, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Student compares British and American theatre

BY LINDSAY WHITE lgwhite@vwu.edu Over spring break, I had the opportunity to travel with a group of Virginia Wesleyan students and professors to England.

We spent most of our time in Oxford studying Christian authors who studied and taught at Oxford University, including C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien most commonly known for their fiction novels: “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Lord of the Rings”, respectively.

In addition to our studies of literature and history in Oxford, we had the opportunity to travel to other parts of England, including the beautiful capital of London and Stratford-upon-Avon, home of William Shakespeare.

While out on our adventures, we had the opportunity to see two theatre productions. As a member of multiple productions while at VWU and a lifelong Broadway enthusiast, these were of particular interest to me.

The first show we saw was Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Immediately upon entering, I was amazed by the atmosphere of the theater.

Every usher, ticket checker and security guard was ecstatic to see us and offered a warm welcome.

There was a feeling of relaxation and comfort once in the theater. There was no sense of urgency, and yet everything was

still organized and orderly.

The theater itself was very different from the ones we see in the US. Instead of filling the space with seats horizontally, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre was stacked vertically.

For those with a fear of heights, this may have proved to be a bad decision. Nevertheless, it made for a unique viewing experience. The seats were also curved in a semicircle so that every seat was seeing a completely different view.

“Much Ado About Nothing” was a spectacular work of art. This modern take on a historic comedy portrayed two juxtaposed love stories through extravagant costumes and hip hop musical numbers. It received glowing reviews from our class, even from my classmates who are not typically into theater, and generated great conversation about the play during our high tea following the performance.

The second show we saw was “Six” at The Vaudeville Theatre on the West End in London.

Growing up in Philly, I used to see Broadway shows every few months in New York City prior to the pandemic. Thus, I had a certain level of expectation for the West End, what I have always viewed as “Europe’s Broadway.”

These expectations, however, were far surpassed. Although the merchandise and show quality were to the same calibur of Broadway, the overall atmo-

sphere was different. It felt more special, more personal.

Much like the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Vaudeville stretched more up than it did out. The difference was that this theater was decked out in grand drapery and shiny golden decor, with luxury box seats that give the feel of an 18th century opera house. The playbills, although not free, were of a much higher quality. All the ushers were overwhelmingly kind.

And as for the show, there are no words that could do it justice.

From the tight harmonies and masterful choreography to the charming costumes and flawless stage presence, it was nothing short of a masterpiece.

Each woman of the six in the cast welcomed every single audience member with their interactions and humor. It was an environment I never wanted to leave, and a show I would see over and over.

The theater has always been a place where people of any background can come to feel welcomed, loved and entertained.

This is something British theaters certainly got right. I hope to take a page from this book in my own theater experiences as I reflect on these unforgettable experiences and look forward to many more international adventures.

Lindsay White|Courtesy

Transitioning from life in Vietnam to America

College mathematics competition offers collaborative spirit

BY EVIE TRINH nptrinh@vwu.edu

BY NATHAN “JUNE” RICHARDSON ndrichardson@vwu.edu

Hi! My name is Evie Trinh. I’m a junior at Virginia Wesleyan University.

I’m double majoring in Business and Communication.

My real name is not Evie. It is actually Nhi. The Nh-sound is actually pronounced like ñ in Spanish. I figured it would be easier for me to have an Kathleen Vanden Berg| English name, since I did not want to Marlin Chronicle correct people every time they tried to school almost every day. pronounce it. I’ve been in the States for One thing I like about VWU is that it’s almost six years already, and I’ve always so close to the beach. When the weather been in the Hampton Roads area. is warmer, I usually go to the beach after Coming here was quite an experience! class to relax.

Sometimes, I even study It took me a while to realize that I was there. moving away from my parents and actuI get to meet so many people from ally living in a different country. I would different cultures. Especially since there say that my experience is a little bit are so many new international students different and also easier compared to the coming from Japan, Morocco, Finland other international students. When I came and many other countries. I’ve always to the United States, my aunt’s family enjoyed talking to international students, took me in, and I’ve been living with her as I have been able to understand not only since then. their languages, but also their culture.

I will say that I’m pretty lucky; howOne thing that I really like about ever, I would be lying if I say I don’t American culture is that everybody is miss my family. I miss them a lot! In fact, very nice and polite. over the course of six years living in the People hold the door for me, which is States, I’ve only been back to Vietnam something I’ve never experienced before. once. That was right before COVID-19 Sometimes strangers will come greet you hit us. or even talk to you. This is something that Life in Vietnam is quite different from I found really interesting. I really love it life in America, especially the Hampton though.

Roads area.

There are pros and cons to everything, Everything in Vietnam is very availbut I never regret my decision to come to able, while in the Hampton Roads area, the United States. you need a car to travel anywhere.

Public transportation is uncommon in the Hampton Roads area, so I found it difficult to go anywhere for the first three years of high school. It was not until I got to college that I was able to drive myself around.

The Hampton Roads area is pretty quiet and peaceful, which is something that I will never get used to, because I was born and raised in a more urban and busier area in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, there is street food available everywhere and convenience stores that sell almost everything. In addition, Uber in Vietnam is much cheaper than here. Everything is generally cheaper in Vietnam than in America. You only need $10 to survive one day in Vietnam.

Back to my experience in Virginia Wesleyan University; it wasn’t my first choice, but it turned out to be not too bad.

Evie Trinh|Courtesy I really enjoy being part of the commuEvie and her aunt pictured above in nity. Since I live in Suffolk, I commute to traditional Vietnamese áo dài dress.

When students as young as the second grade show an advanced avidity for mathematics, many are given the opportunity to participate in international mathematics competitions.

The first opportunity is the Continental Math League, designed for elementaryage students. Although not the intentional goal of these competitions, they instill a particular philosophy early-on regarding the nature of understanding and learning mathematics.

These competitions progress in their rigor up to the infamous Putnam competition for undergraduates in North America.

I was given the opportunity to participate in a number of these intermediate competitions, including the Virginia Math League, the American Mathematical Competition and the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. A majority of these are run by the Mathematical Association of America, the leading organization for the field’s integration in education.

The types of problems found in these competitions fall under the branch of recreational mathematics. The problems are designed to incorporate concepts of common knowledge but require that these concepts be utilized in unusual and creative ways.

For example, a problem may appear to be in the field of number theory yet require the use of the pythagorean theorem, usually found only in geometry.

For some mathematicians, this kind of critical thinking is exciting, and the aha moment achieved when the solution finally comes to light is truly a glorious and satisfying moment.

Yet, it is an all too common experience for a student to be stumped on one of these types of problems. When they read the solution, they become frustrated at how simple the answer seems. Again, these problems take very basic concepts but use them in unusual ways.

In another perspective, there may exist a pressure on the students that detaches the enthusiasm from mathematics. Instead of the competition being about learning new things or having fun, it may become exclusively about winning or making a particular achievement (such as a particular score or a particular rank).

When I was in the twelfth grade, I was preparing for the American Mathematical Competition, the entry-level competition that eventually leads to the International Olympiad. The night before the competi-

Nathan “June” Richardson|Courtesy tion, I had woken up at three in the morning to prepare. I sat in front of the computer in an attempt to understand a problem, and three hours later, I began to cry out of frustration.

I was simply unable to solve this problem.

My teachers at school were counting on me to lead my high school, the Commonwealth Governor’s School, to the next level for the first time in its history.

And I felt as if I had an obligation to win for them. My failure to do so was quite upsetting.

Thankfully, this kind of pressure does not exist to the same degree in college.

Even when engaging in online communities, high school groups are incredibly competitive regarding sharing resources on how to perform better, whereas the college groups I engage in are more than happy to help each other.

Perhaps this is coincidental, but my performance in the Putnam competition far surpasses my performance in any high school competition, despite my excessive preparation in high school and lack of preparation in college.

One cannot learn creative thinking. It is not a skill that a student can read a book on. Rather, the skills required for these competitions are gained over time, and the pressure to perform well is futile and unnecessary.

The Mathematical Association of America designed these competitions to instill a love for mathematics in students.

Although, these programs can clearly be used in ways that are detrimental to such enthusiasm. Thus, it is critical that students understand the true purpose of these competitions and remember to have fun participating in them.

7

Sports

Thursday March 24, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Field Hockey program brings in Van der Velde

BY MIKAYLA SZUDERA

mmszudera@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University welcomes new Head Field Hockey Coach Ryley Van der Velde, a former Division III field hockey player at Connecticut College who majored in Human Development. She is in the process of getting her master’s in Mental Health Counseling. Van der Velde will have the advantage of being a support system for her players.

Van der Velde values the tight-knit community of the athletics department and “the relationships between coaches and programs stood out the most, everyone is competitive and pushing each other to be better,” Van der Velde said.

Van der Velde started her coaching career off on the collegiate DIII level as an assistant coach at Salve Regina University.

Then, she fell in love with coaching and continued her coaching experience at the high school level at Rocky Hill Country Day School in Rhode Island.

She is aware that the program is small, however, she is optimistic and ready to push the program to reach new heights.

“My mentality coming in is a fresh start, we’re starting new and working towards putting Virginia Wesleyan on the map for Field Hockey,” Van der Velde said.

Van der Velde aspires to create a program based on a strong sense of player-coach dynamics on and off the field. Van der Velde said, “A culture where relationships are at the forefront; the coach cares about us and the players care about the coach, that’s the culture I am trying to build.”

She holds personal connections within the team as highly important to strengthen player bonds on the field.

“When small things happen within games, those relationships within the team build resiliency,” Van der Velde said.

Van der Velde talks attainable short term goals in hopes of developing the Field Hockey program into a competitive threat on the ODAC level which involves bringing in the right athletes that have strong work ethic and passion for the sport.

Van der Velde said, “The goal right now is to keep recruiting talented athletes that are going to buy into the culture that I am starting to build here and push the program forward.”

A junior on the Field Hockey team, Catherine Dozier said, “Within her first week of being here Coach Van der Velde took the time out of her day to get to know each of us personally and wanted to know

everything there was to know about us.”

She also added,“I am excited to go into my senior year with Coach V, she really is going to be the change that we needed.”

Dozier thinks that the dynamic that she brings is really going to make the team feel like a family.

A sophomore on the Field hockey team, Maddy Gonsalves said, “it is already evident during our first few meetings that she is a big fan of our already established components of accountability, maturity and teamwork.”

SportsHead

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

After the invasion of Russia into Ukraine, many sports organizations, including FIFA, have banned Russian teams from competition until further notice.

BY STEVEN SERRANO

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

The movement of Russia into Ukraine has affected many people and industries, including Russians not associated with the military or the government.

The International Olympic Committee and FIFA decided to take action against Russian athletes and officials. Many people started to argue that Russia should pay for their actions against Ukraine in all aspects that could be possible.

Some of the sports that Russia is banned from are soccer, rugby, tennis, Formula 1 racing, Winter Olympic Sports and Summer Olympic Sports. A Russian exFormula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat says that this solution is an ‘unfair’ approach to athletes and officials from Russia sports.

I do not see the clear connection between solidarity and blaming Russian athletes for the events that are happening right now.

FIFA will take place this year in Qatar and Russia is one of the teams that was qualified to play. Now, imagine being banned from one of the biggest competitions in sports for government decisions that have nothing to do with sports.

If Germany was not banned in the 1938 FIFA World Cup and neither was France in the 1950s , why does Russia have to be banned from sports competition where they have zero connection with the war actions?

I understand why many organizations want to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

However, banning Russia from sports is a nonsense solution and most likely, those responsible for this war could care less about it.

There is no clear solution under these circumstances for the Russian athletes.

Taking them out from competing seems unfair. The majority of Russian athletes do not feel pride about their country’s actions, they just want to play and do their job.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA and UEFA, three large and influential governing bodies in sports, have recently banned Russian national teams and clubs from their competition matches as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military invades Ukraine.

Other international sports organizations that have suspended Russia include tennis, Formula 1, FIA, World Athletics, canoeing, biathlon, gymnastics, rugby, etc. Russia also was removed as the UEFA Champions League Final host site in St. Petersburg and ended a $50 million a year sponsorship deal with Gazprom, Russia’s energy giant.

From an athletic standpoint, this is heartbreaking. These athletes spend years training for these competitions, and just like that, it’s taken away from them because Russia wants to flex its military power. Russian athletes have nothing to do with the invasion and should be allowed to compete.

As someone who studies every aspect of sports in college, international sports and nationalism are linked. There is a certain pride a country feels watching their country be represented on the world stage. However, I do not see a correlation between banning athletes from Russia and the invasion. It kind of feels hypocritical due to the fact that international sporting events try to have an apolitical standpoint.

For example, in 1968 IOC and U.S. Olympic Committee were quick to ban two Black American sprinters for protesting the U.S.’s treatment of black citizens after winning gold and bronze in the 200m, but allowed Nazi Germany to host and compete in the 1936 Olympic Games with racist policies and human rights violations.

Personally, I would let them compete, but not under Russia’s flag.

sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

Sports Information|Courtesy The communication between Van der Velde and the players show mutual respect for each other and the passion for the sport.

Gonsalves values Van der Velde’s ideal culture for the program because it shows that she cares about her players as more than just athletes. “Since she was a college athlete herself, she understands how hard it can be some days and the pressure we are under. Within just a few weeks of her arrival, she’s already given us so many resources to take care of ourselves mentally as well as physically,” Gonsalves said.

Coach Van der Velde’s arrival has the whole team excited. Gonsalves said, “I know that the rest of my teammates and I are ready to tackle our 2022 season with Coach V and bring home some wins to our Marlins!”

The Field Hockey program is seeing the start of a flourishing remodel as Coach Van der Velde strives for success with her newfound Marlin family.

sawashington@vwu.edu

Marlins achieve athletic success

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

sawashington@vwu.edu

Sprague earns ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week

ODAC Pitcher of the Week: Emily Seale Emily Seale, a pitcher for the Virginia Wesleyan Softball team, was named Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Pitcher of the Week on March 7.

For the week, Seale pitched 18 innings and only gave up four runs on 14 hits and struck out 20 batters.

During the week, the Marlins competed in Columbus, GA at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, where they faced high-ranked teams. VWU Softball went 5-1 in the tournament defeating Illinois Wesleyan, No. 1 DePauw, Central College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The team split their game beating Pomona-Pitzer and falling to No. 4 East Texas Baptist.

This season, Seale has a record of 5-1 in eight appearances. Her earned run average (ERA) is at 2.36 currently. The sophomore has thrown a total of 35.2 innings and gave up 19 runs on 36 hits.

Alysse Scripter|Sports Information Sophomore Emily Seale pitches at the NCAA Softball National Championship in Salem, VA.

D3Photography|Courtesy Roberts competes in the long jump at the 2022 NCAA indoor Track and Field Championship Meet in Winston-Salem, NC.

Roberts earns two All-American Honors at DIII Nationals Jumper Geni Roberts competed at the 2022 Indoor National Championships Meet at JDL Fast Track in WinstonSalem, NC on March 11-12. Roberts finished in the top eight for both of his events, long jump and triple jump, earning All-American Honors for both.

Roberts competed in the men’s long jump Friday afternoon where he advanced to the finals after jumping 7.24m in the preliminaries. In the finals, he recorded a new personal best of 7.32m on his first attempt, which secured his second-place finish in the men’s long jump and his first AllAmerican honor for the meet.

The next day, Roberts competed in the men’s triple jump where he jumped 14.69m, a new personal best from his previous jump of 14.63m, in the finals on the second jump. This mark held up to help Roberts claim a sixth-place podium finish, thus earning his second All-American honor of the weekend.

Junior Geni Roberts now is tied with alumna Marissa Coombs ‘17, as the highest placing Marlin at an NCAA Indoor National Championships Meet.

The men’s and women’s teams will travel to the University of Lynchburg on March 25 and 26 for the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational.

Junior Mark Sprague, a midfielder of the Virginia Wesleyan Men’s Lacrosse team, earned ODAC Men’s Lacrosse Player of the Week on March 7, after the Marlins went 2-0 for the weekend.

On Saturday, Sprague scored a careerhigh of six goals in the Marlins 20+ goal win over the Eagles of Husson University.

The following day, against the Scots of Gordon College, Sprague recorded a hat trick after tallying three goals and two assists for five points for the Marlins to lead to their 22-9 win.

This season, Sprague holds the secondmost scored goals in the league. Sprague has collected 17 goals and six assists.

Cameron Evans|Courtesy Junior Mark Sprague plays offense against Neumann University on March 5 in Virginia Beach.

8

Thursday March 24, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Baseball opens 2022 season strong

BY MIKAYLA SZUDERA mmszudera@vwu.edu

Baseball catches recent wins on the road with a 10-7 overall game record and 2-2 within conference play showing potential for this upcoming season. Coach Chris Francis and the boys are eager to make a statement this season with the addition of a new assistant coach, Jeff Butler, who played on the Randolph-Macon team when he was in college, and a few new transfer players.

Coach Francis shares optimism of incorporating Butler into the program.

“Jeff Butler has been a key reason behind the culture change and has been an amazing resource for me and the boys. His relationship with the players is strong and how he’s gotten them to buy in, in such a short amount of time to believe in him is really something special,” Francis said.

When speaking on positive changes to the program, Francis said, “We had an influx of new players who have made an impact on our program, not only on the field. New players such as Del Duca and Lyons have been tremendous players that have helped upgrade the culture and the mental toughness in our program.”

As the team has such a big roster Coach Francis gives a nod to the older players for their leadership. “Returning guys like Robert Cook, Matt Sinko and CJ Morris have been the core strength for us and have been able to keep our program headed in the right direction,” Francis said.

When asked about their game performance so far into the season Coach Francis said, “We’ve had some really quality wins, we’ve beaten ranked

opponents and the biggest reason is the team. We have this group of guys, they just have a very special relationship with each other and the coaching staff. We’ve come back in some hard games and won them back and that doesn’t happen if you don’t have a real strong culture, trusting each other and a belief, they’re a very resilient group.”

A junior on the baseball team, Jake Ness, speaks on how the season has started and what their focuses are as a team. “The season has gone very well so far, practices have been a lot more competitive and we are a lot more focused when we’re at the field, but we still of course find a way to have fun. This season is looking to be the best out of our three years here at Virginia Wesleyan,” Ness said.

With new members added to the Baseball team, their dynamic has grown stronger, Ness said, “We take pride in calling ourselves a family and this year it’s really starting to feel like one, when we get down we pick each other up and when we succeed we’re happy for one another.

It’s not about personal achievements as much as it is helping the team succeed.”

Ness shared enthusiasm when speaking on the teams that are scheduled for this season, “Games this year have been very competitive. Compared to past years the competition we’re seeing has been some of the finest.”

When asked on what the hardest struggles are for the team to overcome and how they handle the pressure of a long game, Ness said, “Of course there are

the

Schedule

the

Scoreboard

Cameron Evans|Courtesy

Junior Jaelen Hines on second base against the Bombers of Ithaca College on Feb. 26.

times when playing where we get tired, and that’s when the importance of a good team dynamic comes in, but one of the key aspects we have tried to commit to is to stay locked in for all 9 innings of the game.”

Another junior on the baseball team, Jaelen Hines, shared the team’s anticipated goals for the season. “The expectations for this season are to be one of the best teams in the ODAC. Whether it’s versus a non-conference opponent or our rival we expect everyone on the team to show up ready to play and ready to win,” Hines said.

The team has high aspirations for their season as a whole but for postseason play as well, “We hope that we can make a serious push into not only the ODAC tournament but also the NCAA tournament in May,” Hines said.

Ness explains that the baseball team knows they are underestimated in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with the preseason poll having them ranked

as 10th overall. “The games we will play versus our ODAC competitors are going to be the most important of all our games. We understand that the ODAC is a ‘powerhouse’ conference, but that isn’t stopping us from trying to achieve our goal of being the best team in the ODAC,” Ness said.

Francis gives credit to his players for their work ethic and shows they deserve an opportunity to prove themselves this season. “I think if we just continue to be who we are, that we will be next in the end of the ODAC competition. This group has shown that’s where they want to be and they’ve put in the time and effort so they deserve the chance to be there in the end,” Francis said.

The VWU Baseball team will return to the field Saturday, March 26 for a doubleheader ODAC matchup against the Hornets of Shenandoah University at Perry Field at Townebank Park. The first game will start at 12:00 p.m. followed by a game at 3:00 p.m.

Thursday March 24, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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‘The Batman’ VB Bites: Urban Ice Creamery (2022) soars above expectations

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Urban Ice|Yelp A customized rolled ice cream dessert.

BY RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu

‘The Batman’ (2022) is directed by Matt Reeves and features the titular character battling against Riddler in a game of wit and will, while the fate of Gotham City hangs in the balance. One of many bright spots in the film is its cast, headlined by Robert Pattinson’s Batman. Pattinson’s Batman is early in his career, and is solely focused on bringing vengeance to the criminals in Gotham. As his face is mostly covered by a mask for the majority of the film, Pattinson uses his eyes to great effect in conveying his character’s feelings, adding depth to his performance.

The film’s antagonist, the Riddler, is portrayed by Paul Dano. Dano’s Riddler is unnerving, as his calm nature is often interrupted by outbursts of anger, causing the character to be unpredictable. Helping Batman uncover the Riddler’s plan is Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon. A key difference between the other portrayals of the character and Wright’s Gordon is that he plays a more active role in the film, often accompanying Batman on his mission, and comes across as a true partner to Batman.

In their crusade, Batman and Gordon must also tangle with the crime bosses of Gotham, Colin Farrell’s Penguin and John Turturro’s Carmine Falcone. Farrell’s Penguin is a definite highlight of the film, giving the movie many of its rare yet effective comedic moments, and Turturro delivers an intimidating performance as Falcone.

The cast is also serviced by a great plot, which balances its dark slow-burn mystery with plenty of action and reveals throughout the film that keep audiences on the edge of their seat. This causes the film’s nearly three-hour runtime to go by quickly, and for the film to stand amongst the best Batman stories of any medium.

All of the previously mentioned positives are aided by the film’s cinematography. Thanks to cinematographer Greig Frasier, the film is visually stunning, delivering stand-out shots throughout the entire film. The film’s focus on rich and dynamic shots is rarely seen in comic book movies, and truly causes ‘The Batman’ (2022) to stand out.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Urban Ice employee rolling ice cream.

Urban Ice’s nostalgic storefront on Granby Street in Norfolk.

Their extensive menu easily caters to bold and conservative taste

BY SASHA SAXON buds.

A serving of rolled ice cream can be made vegan or dairyansaxon@vwu.edu based, with flavors from vanilla to saffron. Mixed in and on top, a If spring break spoiled your taste buds, or awakened an advencustomer can choose as many of their fruity, crunchy or decadent turous spirit within you, Urban Ice delightfully challenges convenfixings for one set cost. tional ice cream.

Because Urban Ice serves crepes, they can “blanket” your rolled Rolled ice cream has been a popular photo-worthy trend since ice cream for a fascinating contrast—wrapping it in a freshly made 2009. Originating in Thailand, it has successfully made its way to French crepe.

North America. The process uses a frozen flat surface to solidify Not only are the desserts delicious, but customers can be enterthe ice cream base in a way that creates a smoother than usual textained by watching their orders being made over the glass counture. The curls of ice cream are completed with mix-ins, toppings ter.

The staff are friendly, and can even personalize your order by and drizzles. drawing your name or a picture in the ice cream prior to rolling it.

Urban Ice is located in downtown Norfolk—a block away from Urban Ice is closed on Mondays, but stays open 5-10 p.m. on the MacArthur Mall and amidst a neighborhood of intriguing restauremainder of weekdays. On Saturday, its hours are 4-11 p.m., and rants. Unlike many rolled ice cream businesses, it offers unlimited 3-9 p.m. on Sunday. If you don’t want to have to find a tight paralcustomizations, mixed in or on top. lel parking spot in the city, GrubHub allows customers to order Urban Ice juxtaposes their contemporary desserts with a retro ahead and pickup (delivery is unavailable to Virginia Wesleyan’s diner storefront. An upgraded jukebox is tucked in the doorway campus, unfortunately) on-site, only 6 miles from campus. while neon pop-art paintings adorn the walls. Black and white viPricing varies, but for roughly ten dollars you can completely nyl booths make up the majority of limited seating, but a miniature customize your dessert with even an unreasonable amount of fruit, loft provides additional accommodations for busy days. cereal, cheesecake, even cookies and candy. If you post your bouIf rolled ice cream isn’t your go-to dessert, they also serve reguquet of ice cream swirls—or any of their desserts—and tag @urlar scoops of ice cream, naturally gluten free crepes, macarons, baniceus on Instagram, Urban Ice offers a social media discount on cakes and even coffee, bubble tea and milkshakes. your next purchase.

Thursday March 24, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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Color Me Mine adds a vibrant studio to Norfolk

BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu

Assorted white ceramics sit arranged on the shelves like blank canvases. There were cookie jars, mugs, picture frames and more varieties of decorative ceramics to choose among them. The painted ceramic pieces on the shelves with designs of characters and vivid colors sparked creative ideas.

Need somewhere to de-stress during this spring semester or make a handcrafted gift for someone? Ceramics Color Me Mine is a fun, welcoming, paint-it-yourself pottery studio located in Norfolk’s Historic Ghent district.

The studio has a no-judge space that invites everyone to paint and friendly staff who assist painters by offering ideas and instructing techniques to make their envisioned masterpieces come to fruition.

Izzy Anderson, a staff member at Color Me Mine Norfolk, shared about her enjoyment of working at the studio. “My favorite part of working at Color Me Mine is seeing everyone’s reactions to when their art comes out or how they react to their painting,” said Anderson.

Color Me Mine’s studio hours from Sunday to Thursday are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Walk-in guests are welcomed to paint at the studio.

It is strongly recommended to make a reservation to save a spot for a one hour and 20 minutes painting session at Color Me Mine Norfolk.

Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Color Me Mine Norfolk offers numerous pottery pieces that painters can choose.

The $10 deposit will count as one $10 studio fee that will be deducted from your total at checkout. Reservation deposits are non-refundable after 24 hours. Staff will save your reserved table for up to 15 minutes after the start of your appointment.

Anderson added, “I personally believe that no one is artistically challenged, in my opinion. I feel like they just need to explore that part of them. We all have our [own] backgrounds and there’s some of us that are potters or sculptors. All of us have done some form of pottery and painting and art, so we all have some form of expertise, which we will always assist customers with.”

There are many techniques from sponging and stamping to sgraffito and more that Color Me Mine Norfolk staff will help guests with painting their pottery.

Guests can also attend workshops to learn how to paint their desired ceramic masterpiece.

Lauryn Ferrette, the manager of Color Me Mine Norfolk, shares how the studio assistants support all painters.

“From the start, as soon as you walk into the door, you have someone assisting you, welcoming you and guiding you through your process. Whether it’s helping you select a piece, helping you select colors, or even suggesting techniques to help guide

your idea,” said Ferrette. “Every step of your process at Color Me Mine is assisted by a professional.”

Their most popular workshop is the charcuterie board date night that was hosted on March 13. Guests designed two ceramic trays while enjoying charcuterie treats and participated in an instructor-led painting session for $40. Don’t worry, Color Me Mine will have another charcuterie board date night in April.

The studio also has an Easter themed workshop for adults only on April 1.

Register to attend the evening workshop from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to celebrate spring by painting a tulip plate. The workshop costs $25 per painter that includes ceramic tulip plate, studio fee, instruction, glaze and firing.

Ferrette added, “I think working in the arts in general is always a natural destressor. For myself, I’m a painter, so anytime I’m painting, it’s therapeutic to me. It’s kind of like releasing your emotions through color, brushstrokes, and getting your ideas and concepts together to create new things.”

Visit Color Me Mine Norfolk on 1300 Colley Avenue to de-stress this spring semester or make a homemade keepsake.

Guests can contact staff at norfolk@ colormemine.com or (757) 625-1666 for additional questions. Follow @ colormeminenorfolk on Instagram and Facebook or check their website at www. norfolk.colormemine.com and for more information about events and workshops.

Springtime begins at VB Farmers Market

BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu

Thinking of something to do on the beautiful days coming this spring? Just 24 minutes away from campus, Virginia Beach Farmers Market is the best place to go for a little adventure as numerous shops are open to visit in the same area.

There are produce markets, a little restaurant, an ice cream shop and little shops around. As warmer weather comes, events will start to begin again.

Flutterby Soap Company is a handmade soap and body product shop that provides all natural, palm oil free and vegan soaps. Valerie Goulart, Flutterby Soap Co.’s founder and owner, sells vegan soaps, lotions, scrubs, deodorant and other body care products.

The shop has been at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market for 7 and a half years and run by the Goulart family.

Emma Goulart, Valerie Goulart’s daughter, said, “The most popular year round soap is beach bum and has sea salt in it so it’s a little bit more exfoliating. I would also say the tobacco leaf and amber beer soap [is too]. Now, that one’s a pretty popular one.”

The cost of all homemade soaps is $7 and lotion bars are $10 that are affordable prices that are available for everyone to purchase. Each item will be fit for each person based on their favorite scents.

The popular sea salt scrub and sugar scrub are great gentle exfoliants for the body that cost $12 and $23.

Their shop hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Don’t be shy and swing by Flutterby

Soap Company.

It is open year round at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market. Visit their Facebook @FlutterbySoapCompany and website at Flutterbysoapcompany.com to find more updates and information.

Lisa’s Tinker Treasures sells cute jewelry, dream catchers, crystals and decor items that has been open for seven years. The shop provides a large collection in a little space, so everyone can find something that piques their interest.

Lisa Pruce and her family make numerous products that are sold at affordable prices. Pruce said, “We have crystals, fun stuff for dorms like dream catchers that can brighten up a dorm room and coffee mugs.”

Their hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday year round. Visit their Facebook @LisaTinkersTreasures to find more information.

While walking through the shops you may crave a sweet treat, so stop by Gilly’s Creamery. The products are shipped from Illinois, and the ice cream is made in the shop as well as their fresh waffle cones. Gilly’s Creamery offers a range of traditional and gourmet ice cream flavors made on-site daily along with coffee, glass-bottled milk and dairy products.

You can look forward to trying new frozen treats at Gilly’s Creamery because the shop alternates numerous flavors every day. Other options that customers can order are sorbets, cakes and pies too.

Marie Powers, an employee of Gilly’s Creamery, shared about the shop’s popular flavors that she recommends to customers. “When people come in and ask what we would

recommend, it’s usually butter pecan or cookies and cream because those are our best sellers. My personal favorite is coffee crunch,” said Powers.

Their hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sunday through Friday and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. year round.

Customers can find their information on their website at gillyscreamery.com and Facebook @Gillyscreamery.

The Virginia Beach Farmers Market provides space to shop for fresh produce that opens in March to April and closes around December. It has many shops for everyone to purchase products and engage in activities.

Pruce added, “I believe it’s a team here. We’re all kind of a destination. So I believe that to come here is kind of like just, you can spend an hour here getting some ice cream or having lunch breakfast” Spring carnivals hosted by Boardwalk Attractions returned this season on March 19. Rides take 3-4 tickets, and the ticket pricing is $30 for 25 tickets or single tickets cost $1.50.

People can also celebrate the market’s 46th birthday on April 23 by attending the carnival to enjoy from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The warm weather will surely bring you and friends outside to the farmers market this spring semester.

During the summer, visit the strawberry jamboree on May 14 and honey festival on June 18 to celebrate at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market.

Visit Virginia Beach Farmers Market at 3640 Dam Neck Road in Virginia Beach to shop, go on carnival rides and support local businesses. Guests can also check on the website at vbgov.com/farmersmarket or @ VBFarmersMarket on Facebook to find more information about upcoming events.

Lisa’s Tinker Treasures |Facebook

Flutterby Soap Company |Facebook

Google Maps |Courtesy

Remastered and sequel video games released

BY ANNIE PHELPS saphelps@vwu.edu

‘Metroid Dread’ is the long-awaited continuation of the Metroid series of games. After 19 years since the series’ last entry, ‘Metroid Dread’ revives it with a new story, fluid gameplay and a mechanic that can fill the player with the titular dread.

‘Metroid Dread’ stars the space bounty hunter, Samus Aran, who receives a strange signal from the planet ZDR. She arrives on the planet only to be nearly killed by a bird-like creature, known as the Chozo, named Raven Beak.

After waking up, Samus starts to explore the all new environment before coming across robots called Emmis. These robots were put on ZDR to “capture field samples and extract their DNA” according to the game’s introduction.

They were reprogrammed to become killing machines and it is up to Samus to figure out what happened to the Emmis and escape the planet.

The most divisive issue for ‘Dread’ is the

Kathleen Vanden Berg |Marlin Chronicle

difficulty level. One of the main mechanics in the game is avoiding and later hunting down the Emmi robots.

For the most part, the Emmi sections of the game are made to cause anxiety in the player and make the robots feel almost invulnerable.

While that certainly happens, more often than not the Emmis can cause the robots to get in the way of moving forward in the

sections and cause unnecessary deaths.

This causes dread not in the way that is desired.

The bosses of the game require the player to learn attack patterns to beat them. First time players will have to deal with trial and error, but the bosses never felt impossible.

During an update for the game in February, an easy mode was added to ‘Metroid Dread’ as well as a one hit kill mode for those who found hard mode too easy. ‘Metroid Dread’ is available for the Nintendo Switch.

For over 30 years the ‘Final Fantasy’ franchise has been a staple of the roleplaying game genre. The announcement for pixel remasters of the first six games in the series for PC and mobile has had a mixed to positive response.

‘Final Fantasy VI’ is the latest release of the remasters and is known as arguably the best in the franchise. The pixel remaster gives new life to this 1994 classic of the Super Nintendo.

The ‘Final Fantasy VI’ plot begins with three soldiers of an empire storming onto

a town called Narshe in mech suits known as magiteck armor, which allows for them to use magic, to see a creature known as an Esper encased in ice.

Espers are magical creatures of this universe and are a major part of the game’s plot. The character later known as Terra has a connection with said Esper and ends up in the care of a rebel faction known as the Returners.

Here, the character Locke convinces her to go meet with other leaders of the group and be the spark they need to fight against the empire.

‘Final Fantasy VI’ is a turn-based RPG, meaning that the characters get into a battle and the player gets a turn to decide their actions either before or after an enemy attacks them. The pixel remaster has updated graphics and character sprites as well as an updated soundtrack.

The translation that is used is not the original one from the 1994 original version but the 2007 rerelease on the Gameboy Advanced. Fan favorite lines of the Super Nintendo translation are sadly left out.