The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 4.7.22 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Congressional Elections Preview As a result of the redistricting process, Virginia’s districts have changed.
BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu
Rhian Tramontana|Marlin Chronicle Source: City of Virginia Beach Police Department Year End Review: 2021 Report.
Police reports show increased homicides Violent crimes have occurred in the immediate surrounding areas, sparking concern among the campus community.
BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu
Recent statistics published by CBS News show that 44.6% of adult residents in Virginia own a gun, meaning there are over 300,000 guns owned in the state. Except that is only the legal ownership of guns. In 2021, Chesapeake Chief of Police Kelvin Wright said that 75% of the guns his officers recover are either used in crime or owned illegally. Where concrete statistics are difficult to come by, almost daily reports of shootings by the The Virginian-Pilot strike fear in Hampton Roads residents
concerned about gun violence. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) published their most recent annual report in 2019, which showed an increase in homicidal deaths by 7.2%. There are more than 1,000 gun-related deaths per year in Virginia, and 64% of those are suicides. Paul Neudigate, the chief of police for Virginia Beach, said that this city is the only one in Hampton Roads to have a decrease in homicides and shooting victimizations in the past year, but that the past two years have seen an increase in convicted felons with firearms they are not legally allowed to have.
From 2020 to 2021, the number of shooting victims in Virginia Beach has decreased by 18.4% and shooting incidents have decreased by 17.6%, according to reports from the Virginia Beach Police Department. However, data from the same period shows that homicides have increased for all other Hampton Roads cities, with Suffolk having the lowest rates and Norfolk having the highest rates. Even with Suffolk having the lowest number of criminal homicides in 2021 (a total of 6), Virginia Beach
See CRIME Page 2
Congressional elections are underway in Virginia, which has 11 congressional districts. Districts two and seven are expected to be extremely competitive and are currently held by democratic incumbents. Va. congressional district two contains multiple cities within Hampton Roads. Elaine Luria, a retired Navy Commander, currently represents the Hampton Roads region and is running again as the incumbent. She has served Virginia since 2019 and is focused on access to healthcare, green energy, economic vitality, maritime infrastructure, veterans aid and more. According to her website, Luria has been based in the Hampton Roads area for quite a while and she studied at Old Dominion University and received a Master’s degree of Engineering Management. “Of all members in the House Democratic Caucus, she served the longest on active duty, having completed 20 years of active military service with the U.S. Navy. Rep. Luria graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy,” according to luria.house.gov/. Luria currently runs unopposed in the democratic primary election. The VA Republican primary election will determine which candidate will oppose Luria for the second district’s seat. The election date for the primary early voting begins on May 6 and lasts until June 18. Election day is set for Tuesday, June 21. The primary candidates are
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Map shows Virginia’s Second Congressional District. Tommy Altman, Andy Baan, Jarome Bell and Jen Kiggans. At this time, State Senator Kiggans has blown her opponents out of the water with her fundraising efforts, which amount to a total of $665,209 as of March 2022. Bell trails behind her with a total of $327,556 raised. However, none of this compares to the whopping $2.8 million that Luria has raised so far. The Commonwealth of Virginia, along with 39 other states, has just redistricted the entire congressional district map. This means that there could be shifts in the overall attitudes of each district. A ballot measure from 2020 brought about the new Virginia Redistricting Commission. This bipartisan body failed to produce a new map by the cutoff date, leaving the decision of the map lines up to the Virginia Supreme Court. There is no major difference in the seats or their partisan
See ELECTIONS Page 2
‘ROE’ graces Goode Center BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu
Roe v. Wade, one of the most influential Supreme Court cases, continues to hold relevance in our lives today. With the original decision made in 1973, this case gave women the right to have control over their own bodies and legal protection to have an abortion if they chose to do so. From March 31 to April 3, Virginia Wesleyan University’s Fine and Performing Arts Department put on the production of “ROE” by Lisa Loomer, a play that delves not just into the specifics of that titular court case but also into the personal lives and stories of so many involved. The play follows the life of Norma McCorvey, a woman who wanted to get an abortion but was legally unable to, and the efforts and success of Sarah Weddington, a lawyer, in taking the case
all the way to the Supreme Court in order to establish those rights for women. Additionally, it follows what happened upon the conclusion of the actual case. It follows McCorvey’s journey through her relationship with her girlfriend, Connie Gonzales, and her eventual advocacy for Operation Rescue, a pro-life organization dedicated to the prevention of what Roe v. Wade intended to accomplish. As the writer affirms, the intention of this production is not meant to sway any one person to a specific side or position. Instead, the goal is to open up viewers to a whole range of possible perspectives and to the difficulty of separating the individual from their projected beliefs. The cast and crew of “ROE” embodied this vision by shedding more light on the lives of real characters. Sophomore Sophia Kamina-
Sophomore shares love for fishing
Griffin Hollins|Courtesy
Cameron Evans|Courtesy Left to right: Bri Allen as Sarah Weddington, Sophia Kaminaris as Norma McCorvey and Kayla Bissette as Linda Coffee in the “ROE” production that was performed from March 31 to April 3. ris played the part of McCorvey and talked about how interesting it was to embody such a complicated character. She emphasized the importance of communities being proactive in providing spaces to instigate and explore conversa-
tions on societally-viewed taboo topics such as abortion. “This needs to be done in colleges in general,” Kaminaris said. “I think it’s important for our generation to see a play about this issue that is not targeted to be one opinion or one view.”
Men’s Lacrosse welcomes Prince Charles
Cameron Evans|Courtesy
And although the show might be topically the subject of abortion, its true value for spectators lay in its focus on individual people. Junior Ryan Abraham, a viewer, agreed that the show was
See ROE Page 4
Chrysler Museum features environmental exhibits
Chrysler Museum|Courtesy
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Thursday April 7, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
News
Peace Pole dedicated to Bill Sale Jr. BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu
“May Peace Prevail on Earth.” These are the words inscribed in English, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew on the bright yellow Peace Pole outside of Clarke Hall. On Thursday, March 7, the dedication of the new Peace Pole was hosted by the Robert Nusbaum Center. Kelly Jackson, the associate director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, said, “We had always hoped the Peace Pole would anchor the Peace Garden.” The new Peace Pole is dedicated to the peacemaker William "Bill" Sale, Jr., along with the William “Bill'' Sale award to honor the memory of the longtime committee member. The new Peace Pole was made possible by the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia Peacemaking Committee. This pole is an internationally recognized symbol of hopes and dreams and is one of over 250,000 peace poles which are located in almost every country. As Dr. Craig Wansink, the director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, said, “This year, the award is dedicated to enhancing our Peace Garden by replacing an aging Peace Pole because as I said to Jerry earlier, an
aging, decrepit, rotting Peace Pole sends a bad sign.” The previous Peace Pole had been a part of the VWU campus since 2005. It was planted and dedicated to Catharine Cookson, the previous director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, which is now known as the Robert Nusbaum Center. Cookson had brought together the campus and community by engaging in meaningful partnerships. She was the director from 1998 until her death in 2004, when a memorial was then established in her honor as the Peace Garden. Dr. Jeffrey Toussaint, assistant professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice, spoke at the dedication ceremony about sociological imagination and peace. Toussaint has researched how Black and white Americans conceptualize peace differently while offering tips on how to become a more effective peacemaker. The research he has done was inspired by a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 's Letter from a Birmingham Jail. “I reached the the regrettable conclusion, that Black folks great stumbling block in stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Council, the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who was more devoted to order and to justice, who prefers a nega-
tive peace, which is the absence of tension to a positive peace, which is the presence of justice,” said Martin Luther King Jr. The quote was repeated by Toussaint at the ceremony. From this quote Toussaint did a lot of thinking in regard to peace. His findings showed that most white Americans defined peace as an absence of war with a lack of threats from direct violence and Black Americans described and framed peace as the absence or end of direct structural and cultural violence. “Peace is possible, and that change is possible. We just have to believe that hope is a discipline. And if we stick to it, then change is possible. Don't give into cyniConnor Merk|Marlin Chronicle cism,” said Toussaint. The pole is planted outside of Clarke Hall Wansink and Jackson have shown inter- and the Robert Nusbaum Center. est in wanting to make an event regarding the Peace Pole an annual event as a way to be that center for our campus for years to bring our campus together in times where come and for our community when we are we need to show peace instead of violence. in need of a happy thought to help us get Jackson would love to find a way to get through the tough times we may face. “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is the the student body involved and to develop main mantra that will be in our minds and the area around by bringing everyone tohearts when students walk through the gether no matter what background they are Peace Garden, and it will leave a mark on and to try to have an annual celebration of Virginia Wesleyan and will leave a mark in what it had become. Virginia Beach. The event offered a time to reflect on the meaning of peace. The Peace Pole will
Third Precinct.” Dorsey emphasized that all community members “can do their part by reporting their concerns and downloading LiveSafe which will keep them abreast of matters impacting campus.” The areas around VWU see almost daily shootings. A recent investigation has led to the arrest of Cola W. Beale IV for three counts of homicide and one count of arson. The first murder occured on March 24 on Baccalaureate Dr., under two miles from VWU. Beale burned the house and the body of Czavi’er Hill was found inside. Hill, Beale’s girlfriend, died of a gunshot wound. Beale admitted that he “snapped” during an argument and killed her. The following day, Clifton Baxter was Virginia Beach Police Department|Courtesy found dead from a gunshot wound at his Chart shows homicides in Virginia Beach compared to other major U.S. cities. home on Linda Crt. Baxter was Beale’s Victor Dorsey, the director of secustep-father, and neighbors said that Beale rity for VWU, stated that “the University lived at the house on and off over the years. houses a police radio connected directly Beale also murdered his cousin, DownCONTINUED FROM PG. 1 to the Third Precinct for a steady flow of ing D. McLean, on Sewell’s Point Rd. in still has the lowest rate per 100,000 resi- real-time communication.” He champions Norfolk on Monday March 28. the strong relationship that VWU has with dents. Early in the morning on March 19, two The Council on Criminal Justice per- local law enforcement and emergency re- people were killed and three injured in a formed a study in 22 major US cities and sponders and says that the security team shooting outside Chico’s Pizza Backstage found that from 2019 to 2021, homicides has “regular meetings with the Virginia on Granby Street in Norfolk. The two dead increased by 44%, with aggravated and Beach Police Department, including Chief are Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press reportNeudigate and Captain Wilkerson of the gun assault rates increasing by 8%.
CRIME
er Sierra Jenkins and Portsmouth resident Devon M. Harris, both age 25. On Friday, March 25, Sean P. Knight, a 34-year-old resident of Norfolk, shot two men on Garfield Ave. in Norfolk. The wounded, aged 22 and 25, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Knight was taken to jail without bond. On April 1, Virginia Beach police officers arrived at a house on Riviera Dr., where they discovered 36-year-old resident Deshawn Ginyard dead. A homicide investigation is underway. On the evening of April 2, three people were shot outside of the MacArthur Center in Norfolk. Two people were taken to the hospital and 33-year-old Roosevelt A. McKinney was pronounced dead at the scene. On the evening of April 4, a man and woman were killed in their home on Boggs S. Ave. Police said that it did not appear to be a domestic dispute. During the afternoon of April 5, a man was shot inside of a 7-Eleven on Granby St. in Norfolk. He suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. These accounts are among many more reported by various news sources such as "The Virginian-Pilot," 3WKTR and Wavy. com.
Sister Howard speaks on Catholic social justice BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu
Sister Quincy Howard is a professed Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa. She was invited to speak at Blocker Auditorium on March 24 to discuss Catholic Social Justice and her call to action. In December 2021, Howard wrote an oped for “America,” a Jesuit magazine, about her arrest outside the White House for standing in protest. Howard has been advocating for Catholic Social Justice values to be reflected in federal policies, including food security and immigrant rights. After her arrest, Howard spent a night in jail in Washington, D.C. To achieve her goals, Howard has been lobbying on Capitol Hill, hosting public radio vigils and rallies, educating Congressional lawmakers and speaking at press events. Her advocacy also includes being a part of the Nun on the Bus group.
ELECTIONS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 breakdown. There is now the same number of left and right-leaning seats as before, yet the redistricting process was intended to lower the overall efficiency gap. According to FiveThirtyEight, an opinion polling analyst site, there are currently five left-leaning seats and five right-leaning seats and one highly competitive seat, which is Virginia’s seventh congressional district. FiveThirtyEight also notes that despite Luria’s incumbency in the second district, the partisan lean is towards the republicans by as much as six points. Hunter Nordberg, a senior Political Science major at Virginia Wesleyan, is passionate about elections and gerrymander-
The Nun on the Bus group tours the country to speak on how the nation should promote justice and dignity in accordance with God’s will. Their talks focus on how democracy can be used to promote social justice values. They discuss voting rights, tax systems, Medicaid and political divisions, among many other issues. Howard urges listeners to find their calling and allow it to lead them to purpose. With that calling, Howard stresses the importance of educating oneself to ensure understanding and ability to make a difference. Social justice, as Howard describes it, is about finding a passion and pushing limits to be authentic and a force of change. Sam Silvia, a freshman, was inspired by Howard’s words. “It was refreshing to see Catholicism taken back to its roots,” Silvia said. As all college students learn, the world forces situations that are otherwise never thought of. Silvia said that Howard’s “discussion on listening to our low points
ing in particular. “Regardless of the outcome of these proceedings, the upcoming Congressional elections this November will happen with new congressional districts and one of the biggest districts to keep an eye on is right here in Virginia Beach,” said Nordberg. “The new Virginia 2nd Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Elaine Luria (D), saw some pretty significant changes, '' said Nordberg. “The new district continues to comprise the entire Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach, but compared to the old map the 2nd District no longer includes the cities of Williamsburg and Yorktown and now includes Suffolk, Chesapeake and smaller rural communities to the west and northwest of Suffolk.” The new district lines could change the
Democracy 21|Courtesy Sister Howard was arrested by Secret Service in front of the White House in 2021. in life to truly find ourselves was very encouraging to hear as well.” Howard was raised religious and left the church for a while until she found her calling in social justice through sisterhood. For Silvia, Howard offered a unique and encouraging perspective. Sister Howard was hosted by Wesleyan Engaged, which promotes civil engage-
ment and service learning. Wesleyan Engaged hosts many events through each semester. “I am appreciative that our school is open to having such a broad spectrum of ideas shared on our campus and allows for stories not always heard to be told here in a safe space for curiosity,” Silvia said. For upcoming events, watch for emails from Wesleyan Engaged.
outcome of the election and pose a challenge to the incumbent, Luria. “Based on 2020 voting data, the 2nd District will be about 2% more Republican than it was before redistricting,” said Nordberg. “This fact, in conjunction with the historical trend of majority party members to underperform in the midterms, should be worrying for her and her campaign staff.” Dana Smith is a senior Education major at VWU. She has plans after graduation to stay and work in the Hampton Roads area. She feels that these future elections in particular will affect the next few years as an early teacher. “It’s very important for Virginia Wesleyan students to vote in order for their voices to be heard and make a difference in the communities that they live in,” said
Smith. “Due to the redistricting that has recently occurred in the state of Virginia it is extremely important to realize that your district has the potential to make a difference.” Despite the impending race being competitive already, Nordberg has speculations about how things may play out. “I expect Kiggans to win the primary contest and set up an all-former Navy pilot battle between herself and Luria in what will be one of the hottest and closest Congressional elections this November, '' said Nordberg. “Any prediction might as well be a coin flip this far out from November, but Congressional midterm history would suggest that we may have a new Representative in Virginia Beach come January 2023.”
Science & Technology
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Student Research Spotlight: Kiera Doyle BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu This ongoing article series seeks to highlight students who have conducted notable research in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields. Students may conduct research throughout the Fall, Spring or Summer terms. Many students pursue research as a two or four credit course under the tutelage of a professor of their choosing. After conducting research for at least a term, students may present their findings at Port Day, The Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted by The Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. Sophomore Kiera Doyle was among a select group of students who desired to participate in the Chemistry Department’s research for the Spring Semester. Her research is centered around the Distributed Pharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory (DPAL) in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame. The purpose of DPAL is to ensure the quality of popular pharmaceutical drugs in the developing world. Suspect medications from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, India, Nepal and/or Malawi have been randomly collected. The project currently has over 1200 antibiotic samples from eastern Africa and southeast Asia ready for analysis. The project is a coalition of academic institutions utilizing their laboratories to analyze various selected drugs. The quantification of such drugs is based on monographs published in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Doyle said, “It is exciting to be part of a project that is larger than Virginia Wesleyan, especially as it contributes to such a significant and relevant cause.” Samples from suspect countries in quantities of singular tablets are mailed to the analyzing academic institution. Recently, VWU was asked to pause analysis of cephalexin and begin analysis of ceftriaxone. There has recently been an influx of ceftriaxone samples obtained by DPAL and the World Health Organization (WHO) during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that need to be analyzed. With the new guidance from DPAL, Doyle has been working on creating an analysis protocol method for the popular antibiotic, ceftriaxone. Ceftriaxone is a cephalosporin antibiotic, like cephalexin, that is used to treat a wide variety of infection caused by bacteria such as gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, meningitis, and generalized infections of the lungs, ears, skin, urinary
Jack Palmer|Marlin Chronicle tract, blood, bones, joints and abdomen. Additionally, it can also be utilized as an infection prevention measure before certain surgical procedures. To provide background on the purpose of DPAL, the WHO reports that one in ten medical products being sold in low- and middle-income countries are substandard to their reported ingredients or falsified altogether. This equates to approximately 10% of drugs in these parts of the world. There are many issues that can arise with the consumption of substandard drugs, especially when being used to fight an infection. It can lead to drug resistance, increased mortality/morbidity, and a loss of confidence in healthcare. In terms of falsified pharmaceuticals, a lack of efficacy, harmful side effects and/or death can arise because of inert fillers or substituted active pharmaceutical ingredients. This is, in part, why the purpose of DPAL is so important. A solution to tackling this issue is crowdsourcing and citizen science. This analysis model allows for a
monitoring system that cannot be sustained by individuals or government entities alone. By partnering with other academic institutions, like VWU, hundreds of samples are now able to be collected and analyzed at near-lightning speed through partner institutions of DPAL. DPAL relies on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which is a scarce analysis technique in low- and middle-income countries. An HPLC instrument can cost tens of thousands of dollars, before taking into account maintenance, purified solvents and pharmaceutical standards. This is money that these countries do not have to spend. The costs are further magnified by the extensive assays of a full monograph procedure and the fact that nine out of ten drugs are not falsified or substandard. The cost versus reward aspect is analyzed heavily on this notion. So far, Doyle has created and partially validated a protocol for ceftriaxone. Standard deviations in early trials are proving to be promising and are well within the 2% standard deviation set by DPAL. Ceftriaxone sample creation involves highly-precise pipetting using a micropipette and verification through mass analysis. Stock solution standards are created ranging in concentrations from 5% to 200% of ceftriaxone. This is to ensure validity and precision of the HPLC protocol. Each solution is run through the HPLC equipment and analyzed thereafter. The retention time in which the peaks come out is around 7.200 minutes. The exact retention times as well as the area of each peak is calculated and recorded, and subsequently used for the data analysis. In order for the newly assigned ceftriaxone method to be verified the data must be within a 2% error and must be approved through the DPAL project. Doyle said, “One of the most critical parts of the analysis is the limit of detection runs, which indicates the mathematical limits of the machine’s detection.” The lowest concentration (5%) is run in the sequence several times over as to display the accuracy of the equipment measurements at a low concentration. Additionally, two separate solutions are made up to have 100% and 105% to measure the accuracy of the solution procedure. Through the end of the semester, Doyle’s primary goal for the project is to “complete the method verification, and test the first sample of ceftriaxone from Kenya.” Going forward, she also hopes to create a centralized procedure for future students on the project at VWU and at partner DPAL institutions across the country.
Marine Science Program launches for summer BY JOSEPH COOPER jmcooper1@vwu.edu From May 23 through July 1 on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University, there will be a Marine Science Summer Program for any student majoring in Biology, Marine Biology, Earth and Environmental Science/Studies or General Science. The six-week program offers different credit courses such as BIO 319 Field Studies in Coastal Marine Environments, EES 200 Oceanography, BIO 489 Undergraduate Research and PE 145 Beginning Scuba Diving. The inaugural program will be led by Professor of Marine Biology and Supervisor of the Greer Center Aquatics Lab and Ocean Explorer, Dr. Soraya Bartol. In the Coastal Marine Environments class, students will be able to pair ecological principles with field observations and data collection to understand the coastal environment through lectures, primary literature discussions and field trips. The Oceanography course, which has daily morning class lectures followed by afternoon laboratory and field excursions, explores the geology of the ocean basins and the physical and chemical nature of seawater. The Undergraduate Research course offers students the opportunity to conduct original scientific research in an area of marine biology. The last class in the program, Scuba Diving, offers students to be able to get certified in open water scuba diving and learn how to dive.
On the VWU website, the program’s mission said, “The Marine Science Summer Program at Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) will engage students in scientific discovery through exposure to marine ecosystems and their organismal inhabitants, providing them with a better understanding of current marine issues on a local and global scale.” Students may apply for the course on the VWU website. Dr. Bartol will be leading the Science Program for the first time this summer. When asked about the purpose of the summer program, Dr. Bartol said, “We hope to engage students in scientific discovery through exposure to marine ecosystems and
Dr. Soraya Bartol|Courtesy Students catching specimens at the aquarium.
their organismal inhabitants and to provide students with a better understanding of current marine issues on a local and global scale.” When Dr. Bartol was asked about what experience students would earn from the program, she said, “In my course, BIO 319 Field Studies in Coastal Environments, students will spend much of the day in the field, learning while doing… for example, we will be going out in the VWU Ocean Explorer, a 40 ft research vessel, to photo identify bottlenose dolphin pods, travel to Wachapreague, Va., to pull a trawl net in coastal salt marshes and explore the dunes of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.” When asked about what sea organisms Dr. Bartol is looking forward to most in the program, she said, “My favorite animal is actually the sea turtle, in particular, the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Loggerheads migrate to the Chesapeake Bay each summer by the thousands as juveniles to feed on benthic crabs, making the Chesapeake Bay an important nursery ground for this threatened species.” For those who would like to join the program and “Explore the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean aboard the Ocean Explorer,” as the information posters say, you can learn more about it on the VWU website or you can contact Dr. Bartol for more information. The total cost of the 11-credit program with on-campus housing is $5,831. This is a sizable discount from the standard per credit hour rate of $1,500.
NSF awards scholarship for future educators BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu Virginia Wesleyan University received the National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce) within the last month. The University was awarded $1.16 million to be distributed over the course of a five-year period. The award seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students to pursue a career in K-12 education. The proposed project is entitled “Transforming Effective Educators of Mathematics and Science in Southeast Virginia.” The grant has the possibility of positively affecting a number of students, both at VWU and in the public school system. Dr. Clair Berube, assistant professor of Education, said, “We hope to graduate 15 Noyce scholars by the end of the grant, who will be secondary biology, math, chemistry and earth and environmental science teachers. The award will pay their tuition and administrative fees here for the last three years of their matriculation at VWU. For each year of funding, they will promise to teach in a high-needs school district for two years. So not only will this grant impact VWU students, it will impact local school children who will be getting highly qualified and dedicated STEM teachers.” She is responsible for submitting the initial grant proposal and will manage the funds for the longevity of the program. The Noyce award promotes innovative proposals that address the critical needs for recruiting and retaining highly effective elementary and secondary mathematics
and science teachers in high-need school districts. The program highlights four tracks of funding: scholarships and stipends, teaching fellowships, master teaching fellowships and The Noyce Research Track. In collaboration with American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the nonprofit works with Noyce awardees to identify and distribute information about effective practices and strategies for attracting, selecting and preparing new elementary and secondary education STEM teachers. A significant challenge is retaining educators in the STEM teacher workforce and not losing them to industry. The Noyce NSF fund distributes $67 million annually for new and continuing Noyce awards. VWU joins the ranks of 10 other colleges in the Commonwealth who receive Noyce funding. Berube detailed the proposal as, “We made a good case that with our facilities and talented students, we should get the grant in order to make possible free schooling for those VWU students who want to dedicate themselves to STEM teaching. We had to send in a proposed budget, narrative, and explanations of how we would operationalize the grant. The grant was funded for $1.16 million, which is a lot of money!” After the completion of this Noyce award, VWU will be eligible to re-apply for new Noyce program funding. In an interview with Dr. Berube, she said, ”Students who are interested in teaching STEM subjects and who are planning on going into our MAED program will apply for the grant, and if accepted by the department, the grant will pay for the junior, senior and graduate year of their time
here at VWU in the MAED program.” When asked if the funding will change any of the math and science education departments, Berube stated, “The content majors and the department of education will not be changed, but enhanced and made better by the grant funding. Opportunities for workshops, experiences and internships will bring new ideas and possibilities to our programs. There are also opportunities for material gains like equipment and material to be used by the Noyce scholars and housed in STEM and Education departments.” The education department is ecstatic to have received such an esteemed award and high amount of funding. Berube reinforced this by stating, “We were thrilled. We tried for it in 2020 but did not get it. NSF did give us very good reviews and urged us to try again, which we did in 2021 and were told we had been awarded this past February, 2022.” Berube ended by saying, “In addition to helping talented STEM education students become teachers, we, the faculty, hope to write papers to get published and to make presentations on our good and exciting work concerning this Noyce STEM teacher scholarship grant. We hope to help local school districts to raise the quality of STEM teachers in their schools when our graduates get hired. And, we hope to have a positive impact on the local area in general through the work of this grant.”
NSF.gov|Courtesy
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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 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
VWU |Courtesy
“ROE” delves into the 1973 Roe v. Wade case.
ROE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 centered around explaining peoples’ personal lives. “I didn’t know anything about Roe as a person [prior to the show],” Abraham said. The fact that she joined the pro-life movement, was a lesbian and that her name wasn’t even Roe were all things learned through the show’s intimate approach. Upon the conclusion of each show, a talkback session was held with both cast and audience in order to promote discussion. The hope was that the audience would gain a more realistic connection to the message and perspectives introduced in the play. “The comment I got the most [during these
Cameron Evans |Courtesy
From March 31 to April 3, VWU’s Fine and Performing Arts Department put on “ROE” by Lisa Loomer.
talkbacks] from the audience was that people said they loved how much they hated my character,” Kaminaris said. People were connected to the fact that this was a real story with real people that had the ability to evoke both disappointment and the desire for admiration by proxy of accomplishments. Junior Kayla Bissette, who played many different roles with different morals and viewpoints, touched on this idea as well. “It’s interesting playing characters whose mindsets vary from your own,” Bissette said. She related the ability for these perspectives to portray the humanity of the characters. By showing all of these different perspectives and actions people take as a result of those perspectives, the humanity and realism of the “other” group, whether that’s pro-life or pro-
choice, is able to be seen. Their natural place as enemies in our minds gets replaced by this image of a person with a life story. The student viewer response was overwhelmingly positive and receptive to the production of this play. Junior Elaine Robbins appreciated its ability to emphasize the personal lives of those involved in the case and liked how she experienced first-hand how theatre “can expand your worldview on controversial issues.” Overall, the theatrical experience of “ROE” was something that shocked, thought-provoked and opened up the minds of those who saw it. Providing this space where the open mind could be expanded and where the legislation could be explored was impactful and powerful to those who viewed and participated in it.
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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
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Alumni Weekend back with birthday bash BY ANNIE PHELPS saphelps@vwu.edu
Spring has sprung at Virginia Wesleyan University and with it comes the return of Spring Alumni Weekend. Spring Alumni Weekend begins April 8 and runs through April 9. Not seen on campus since spring of 2019, the Alumni Weekend is packed with events for not just alumni, but also current students and families. The events will begin on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by Wesleyan Vox Vera on the Brock Commons Lawn. After their performance is the start of Bob Marlin’s Birthday Bash and Concert. There will be live music by opener Matty Taylor Trio, a blues rock trio of VWU students and headliner Plastic Eddie, a local band inspired by 80s and 90s rock. Plastic Eddie will perform three sets throughout the night. Refreshments will be available including adult beverages and Bob’s birthday cake. The cake cutting will happen in between Matty Taylor Trio’s set and Plastic Eddie’s first set at 7:45
VWU |Courtesy
Bob’s Birthday Bash will occur on April 8.
p.m. Piñatas of VWU rivals will be brought out during music breaks at 8:45 p.m. and again at 9:45 p.m. Lawn games will also be available. Bob’s Birthday Bash will occur from 6:30 p.m.
to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, April 9, will kick off with Marlins Day, an event to invite prospective students and families to VWU. At lunchtime will be the Marlin Family Picnic. This event is for students, alumni, family and friends to mingle. Meal ticket prices are $10 per person with students being able to use a meal swipe. Multiple sports teams will be playing at 1:00 p.m., including Women’s Tennis, Men’s Lacrosse and Softball. 2:00 p.m. marks the Annual Scroll Signing, which recognizes the delayed 50th anniversaries of the classes of 1970, 1971 and 1972 as well as the 25th anniversaries of the classes of 1995, 1996 and 1997. The day ends with another performance of Wesleyan Vox Vera’s JukeVox Concert at 7 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. Also on April 9, there will be four different Alumni games happening throughout the festivities. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. will be the field hockey game followed by the women’s soccer and volleyball games at 10:00 a.m. The last alumni game of the day will be men’s soccer at 12:00 p.m.
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Thursday, April 7, 2022
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Sophomore shares love for fishing through YouTube BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu Windy, salty air kicking up sand. Wave after wave lapping at the shore. The neverending clink-clink-clink of a reeling fishing pole. For sophomore Griffin Hollins, this is home— well, kind of. Hollins, an Earth and Environmental Sciences major here at Virginia Wesleyan University, has been visiting North Carolina’s Hatteras Island with his family since he was a toddler. “Every year since I was born, I have spent at least one week down in Hatteras,” Hollins said. “There has never been a year that I haven’t gone. It’s like a second home for me.” Hollins attributes his love for the beach, the ocean and especially fishing to visiting the Island so often as a child. “If I’m being honest, Hatteras helped shape me into who I am today,” Hollins said. “Because of Hatteras, fishing is a huge part of my life now.” Hollins’ family and friends can attest to the impact Hatteras has had on Hollins, especially on his love for fishing. “Griffin has been fishing since he could
hold a fishing pole,” Andrea Hollins, Griffin Hollins’ mother, said. “Every year we spend our vacations in Hatteras, and he can’t wait to put his toes in the sand and cast out a line.” As Griffin Hollins has gotten older, fishing has become more than just a hobby for Hollins. Every year during April and October, Hollins heads down to Hatteras with his local 4 Plus 4 Wheel Drive Club to compete in the biannual 4 Plus Surf Fishing Tournament. The tournament consists of a weekend-long contest of competing against other fishermen to catch the largest fish. The winner receives a large cash prize, and the runner-ups receive smaller fishingrelated prizes. “I look forward to the fishing tournament every year,” Hollins said. “I just love being around so many other people that love fishing as much as I do, well, almost as much as I do.” Since the beginning of February, Hollins even began his own fishing YouTube channel: Outcast Fishing. He currently has three videos up and 62 subscribers. His first video, posted Feb. 13, has over 1,000 views. “I really don’t have any major goals for
Griffin Hollins |Courtesy
Hollins now shares his favorite hobby, fishing, with others through YouTube.
Griffin Hollins |Courtesy
Sophomore Griffin Hollins has grown up fishing in North Carolina’s Hatteras Island.
my channel,” Hollins said. “I just like to share what I enjoy about fishing.” Hollins discovered the fishing side of YouTube a few years ago, but not until last year did he think it would be feasible to have one of his own. Since then, he has planned, researched and worked up the courage to step out of his comfort zone and start his own channel. One of Hollins’ best friends from high school, Jason Brooks, could not be more proud of his commitment. “I am surprised that he is doing this because he has always been a quiet guy and has never really put himself out there,” Brooks said. “For him to find something he loves as much as fishing and to want to share his knowledge and skills with the world is amazing, and I am so proud of him.” Hollins’ videos take viewers along with him on his best fishing trips, usually on the beach in Hatteras. Primarily focused on saltwater fishing, the videos generally showcase Hollins surf fishing from the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, or wading through the calmer waters of the Pamlico
Sound. “I would really like to check out some new fishing spots on the East Coast,” Hollins said, “but, as of right now, I’m happy with just fishing in Hatteras.” Through his videos, Hollins also shares some important skills, like the basics of knot-tying, setting up a strong rig and throwing out a cast net. In the future, he hopes to create videos that demonstrate the best ways to clean and cook fish as well. Hollins plans to continue fishing and posting new videos every week. He appreciates the overwhelming amount of support he has received since posting his first video, and he can’t wait to share more with the world. “I didn’t really have any high expectations when I posted for the first time back in February,” Hollins said. “It’s just so crazy to see how many people actually follow along on my channel and want to see more.” Check out Hollins’ channel, Outcast Fishing, and become a subscriber to support a fellow Marlin.
On-campus summer jobs available for students BY ANNIE PHELPS saphelps@vwu.edu As the semester begins winding down, students are looking for summer jobs. Jobs can be found right on campus and are perfect for those staying on campus or commuters. One such job is working as a part time ambassador for the Center of Enrollment Services. This job involves taking prospective students and their families on campus tours. This job asks that students have a positive attitude and work well with strangers. Hours are from as little as two hours to as many as 10 hours per week. The tours leave at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. The job requires that ambassadors arrive 30 minutes early to the tours. It also requires monthly training, office work and attendance to any events for potential students. The pay rate is $7.25 per hour. Interested students can find more information on the VWU website under Campus Life and can find the email to contact Director of Enrollment Brooke Novkovic for an application. Another opportunity for a summer job would be acting as a highlighter for Marlin Nation Orientation. This is a paid position that allows students to be involved in freshman orientations during June and August. These students are the first
people that the incoming freshman class will meet. There are requirements for the job which includes at least a 2.5 gpa, no VWU honor code violations and that the applicant is returning to VWU for fall of 2022. Tasks for the job include giving freshmen tours, answering their questions and administrative support. Sophomore Dorothy Yanku-Palmer stated that the highlighters were assigned different tasks from running games to running small seminars on topics including campus life. Students are also asked to help with move-in during August and one of the perks is that highlighters get to move in early. In addition to early move in, students are allowed optional on campus housing in June. They also receive free meals on work days, including three free meals a day between August 21- 23. Highlighters also receive $12.00 per hour. Although the perks are nice, Yanku-Palmer stated that the best part about being a highlighter was “being able to help and talk to the freshmen and getting to know some of them.” For more information about the highlighter program, students can find the application on the VWU website under campus life. Kathleen Vanden Berg |Marlin Chronicle
JukeVox returns to live performance BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu
Breana Mahoney|Marlin Chronicle
Following three years of cancellations and virtual performances due to COVID-19, Virginia Wesleyan University’s top chamber ensemble, Vox Vera, will finally return to live performance on April 9. The choir, conducted by Director of Choral Activities Dr. Bryson Mortensen, will host “JukeVox” at 7 p.m. in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center to end Spring Alumni Weekend. This year’s JukeVox will mark its fourth appearance at VWU, but only its second live presentation. “It makes such a difference for us to be able to perform for a live audience,” Mortensen said. “We get to feel the energy of the audience responding to the songs, and we even get a few opportunities to interact with them.” The idea of a concert like JukeVox came to Mortensen right before COVID-19 shut
everything down, so the event never really got the chance to appear in front of an audience. “Several years ago, when we had first organized Vox Vera as a small group that would perform a wide variety of contemporary music, I envisioned a concert like this, where it would feel like what you often get from a jukebox in a classic diner when everyone pays a nickel to hear their favorite song,” Mortensen said. The group performing at JukeVox, Vox Vera, is made up of a variety of VWU students. Seven of the 12 students are majoring in music. The other five plan to major in fields such as theatre, psychology, computer science and engineering. With a diverse group of singers, the concert will present a variation of music genres. “There will be a song or two by two pop-
ular a capella groups, The Real Group and Pentatonix,” Mortensen said. “We’ll also be singing arrangements of songs by The Beatles and Switchfoot, songs from musicals like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Guys and Dolls” and a bunch of jazz favorites by greats like George Gershwin and Frank Loesser.” Mortensen, along with the rest of Vox Vera, is beyond ready to return to in-person performances and cannot wait to kick it off with JukeVox. Prior to the main event, Vox Vera is presenting a short preview concert on the lawn in front of Brock Commons at 6:30 p.m. on April 8. All members of VWU are encouraged to attend both events to listen to some good music and support their fellow Marlins.
Opinions
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Thursday April 7, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
‘Everyone has their own story’ BY BROOKE ERICKSON bmerickson@vwu.edu
Fitting into a bigger quilt of life.
It’s easy to focus on my problems. I think we all know what this feels like. It’s when the smallest speck becomes the most ginormous mountain that has manifested itself in your brain so much that it takes up all your thinking space. It’s like claustrophobia for your thoughts and then you just feel like you keep spinning…and spinning out… It’s easy to get frustrated with my problems because sometimes I know that I can’t do anything about them. I think we know what it’s like to want control. It’s when the quietest whisper gets louder and louder until it’s shouting with a megaphone inside your brain, and you don’t remember blowing the assembly whistle. Now you have this unannounced flash mob that likes to show up and perform its routine every so often, and the worst part about it is we don’t even know when or where it will show up. There are so many things beyond our control. I could try to list them all, but you are probably ahead of me listing them already. On the spring break study away Oxford course when I was exploring different parts of England, I had an interesting realization. In London, I passed by a bustling St. Patrick’s Day festival. The music alone made me want to burst into a jig. There was an ice cream sculpture larger than life. People gathered in their green beads and adornments. The atmosphere rang with cheer. Later, I walked down a street in Oxford where I passed by a protest of the war in Ukraine. It’s amazing how there can be song and dance on one street and cries for freedom on another. Sometimes we forget where we fit into the planet. If you’ve ever flown on an airplane or climbed a tall building, then you’ve already experienced a change in perspective. People look a lot like ants from above, and depending on how high up you’ve gotten, we might have been termites. You might have had fun with it and squished the tiny, innocent travelers between your fingers.
Virginia Wesleyan |Courtesy
A look at one of our wellness pillars: spiritual wellness BY CHAPLAIN MARIE PORTER mporter@vwu.edu Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle Until we open up frequent flier miles to space (which I think we’re working on), for now we have to rely on images, stories and our own imagination. I imagine space to be vast and spangled with stars. There, suspended in the void, is Earth. The land and sea make up splotches of green and blue. It all seems so much smaller and tighter. I can see how it fits together like a puzzle. It appears as if I could hopscotch across it, but that puzzle took months and years for explorers to sail across—and it takes us a few whining hours as we try to sleep and watch airline movies. I imagine you can’t see any people from space. It would take God’s eyes to do that. Yet… Here we are with our minds jumbled full of thoughts amongst the tall trees, vast waters and mountains that seem too tall to climb. But in all this worrying, there is something we have forgotten. Somehow in the mystery, the world
keeps on spinning, and we are not wandering here alone. My uncle Robert always reminds me, “Everyone has a story.” I have a story. You have a story. We are all on this earth trying to find our story. I’ve always thought of my story as a quilt. I don’t see the whole picture in the present moment or how the future will unfold, but when I look back at past seasons of my life, I see how it was all stitched together. I realize that there was really no need for worry in the first place. Sometimes I get so caught up in complaining that I forget how my problem is just one tac on the globe, and oftentimes it’s an intangible problem, irrational problem or just out of my control. It’s humbling to think about how small I am in relation to the universe and how everything works to build a bigger story. Instead of spinning out, I can simply let the world spin for me.
False socialite scams her way onto headlines BY GRANT MORGAN gamorgan@vwu.edu Lunch at Sadelle’s in New York City. Vacation to La Mamounia in Marrakesh, Morocco. Lavish living at 11 Howard in SoHo. These opulent experiences reflect the impact that Anna Sorokin has made on the socialite world while establishing a new name for herself. The glitz and glamour of America’s socialite has fascinated and tantalized people throughout much of history. With shows like “Gossip Girl” and socialites, such as the Kardashians, the desire to be wealthy has subjugated our society. Anna Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, scammed her way through elitist societies in the United States and established herself as a false socialite. Anna scammed through dealings, offers, hotels and friendships to achieve her goals of becoming a reputable entrepreneur in New York City. However, Anna was not the sole decision maker on many of her schemes. She marketed herself as a strong business woman with an eye for modern art and being taken seriously in a male dominated society. How was a con artist able to work her way into the minds of so many people? In addition, how do we as individuals become obsessed with influencers and socialites that front the pages of many news outlets? These questions remained poised in my head as I read through the stories of the infamous Anna Delvey and interpreted her motives. From my first encounter
with Anna, I was intrigued by her exquisite life and prowess that garnered national coverage. I saw many aspects of myself in Anna, primarily her determination and drive. Also, her immigrant status in an elitist society and working her way up allows for conversation. Anna Delvey’s story incites emotions and similarities that readers can align themselves with. Anna, being an immigrant woman, had all the odds stacked against her as soon as she stepped off her plane in New York City. A determined gaze and goals to establish the Anna Delvey Foundation followed Anna through her journeys. Many news outlets and influencers have painted Anna to be malicious and a scammer; however, Anna was meticulous with her ploys and presence in the city. She never scammed any working class or lower class individuals. She went for big corporations and wealthy businessmen that are no
Anna was arrested and convicted of her crimes, including eight charges of fraudulent activity with an emphasis on second-degree grand larceny. Anna knew of her crimes and paid for them, being aware of her impact on the legal scene. Society has established norms of adhering socially and avoiding challenging the status quo. Anna Delvey took this and disproved how to achieve success in a capitalistic world. By scamming business leaders and international dealings, Anna Delvey made a name for TheFamousPeople|Courtesy herself and decided not to go with tradition. Her lower strangers to scamming their class upbringing in Germany own consumers. led to dreams of wealth and Anna’s intent was to success in the larger scale establish the Anna Delvey of New York elitism. Her Foundation at 281 Park end goal was not to be soAvenue South. Delvey cially accepted, but rather an focused on contemporary achieving business woman artwork, with an emphasis that found fame along the on modern feminist artists. way. This required her to conI might even go to say that verse with leading financial Anna Sorokin is a modern leaders, such as Fortress and feminist icon that outlined Citibank. Anna’s confidence and exposed the corruption intrigued and attracted inand secrecy of socialites in vestors to her foundation. our society. Critics focus One of Anna’s friends, on the fraudulent activities Rachel Deloache Williams, and crimes associated with demonized her and personiAnna, without attributing to fied herself as the victim in her the enormous feats she their situation. Williams was able to overcome. was even the reason for Anna exposed clandestine the court case and arrest of meetings among elite men Anna, after being pressured and descriptions of busito pay $62,000 in vacation ness deals over financial expenses. propositions. The societal Interestingly, Rachel was impact that Anna Delvey quick to ride on the coatmade should not be ignored tails of her friend Anna and and remains a key insight thrived from her successes into America’s interest on and fame. Williams even wealthy socialites. received a book deal, totaling $300,000, for relaying her skewed side of the Anna Delvey story.
How are you? No really. How ARE you? Your automatic response to this question may be to say, “I’m fine,” and keep moving forward. It is definitely my go-to response. Recently I was asked this question in an email by a former VWU student, Charlotte Elia, and it caused me to pause for a moment and actually assess my well being—physically, emotionally and yes, spiritually. Physically, I could do more situps. Emotionally, I have a group of friends who help me relieve my feelings instead of letting them build up. Some people may end the evaluation process at this point, but I believe it is just as important to assess your spiritual wellness. Why? These past two years have challenged us on so many levels and forced us to look at almost everything that was familiar to us with new eyes. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I believe that if we look closely, we will find much good has come from our “time out” from the hustle and bustle of pre-pandemic schedules. One definite highlight is more time to evaluate and strategize our own personal wellness, including spiritual wellness. Spiritual wellness is generally defined as developing a sense of purpose and meaning in life and striving for consistency in one’s values and actions. It may or may not involve religious activities. A spiritually-well individual has a clear purpose in life and is motivated to action by said purpose. They are able to process challenges and find a measure of understanding in events and situations outside of their control. Finally, persons who possess spiritual wellness have a clearly defined view of right and wrong. The National Wellness Institute says spiritual wellness follows these principles: - It’s better to ponder the meaning of life for ourselves and to be tolerant of the beliefs of others than to close our minds and become intolerant. - It’s better to live each day in a way that’s consistent with our values and beliefs than to do otherwise and feel untrue to ourselves. If this sounds like something you want and need in your life but are unsure of your spiritual well-being, ask yourself these questions: - Do I have a clear sense of my purpose and meaning? - Do I take time each day to relax and reflect? - Do my core values align with my daily actions? Some great ways to develop your spiritual well-being are daily journaling, taking a walk or run in nature, meditating, praying, volunteering and joining a small group focused on spiritual wellness. Marlin Ministries would love to help you develop a spiritual wellness plan. Come by the Marlin Ministries lounge anytime or contact Marie Porter, director of Student Ministries at mporter@vwu.edu.
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Sports
Thursday April 7, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
SportsHead
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON
sawashington@vwu.edu
Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer for the University of Pennsylvania, has sparked debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports. Alysse Scripter|Courtesy Thomas, a fifth-year at UPenn, won the Marlins student-athletes attend the inaugural Fins Up FinFest event for the start of the 2022 NCAA Division III Week on April 3. DI women’s 500-yard freestyle, setting a new pool record of 4:33.24, and was the first transgender athlete to win a Division I NCAA Women’s Championship title. At the Ivy League Championships, she went on to set new records in the 200BY STEVEN SERRANO yard freestyle with a time of 1:43.12; the sdserranocruz@vwu.edu 100-yard freestyle in 47.63 seconds; and the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of Starting on April 4 and ending the 10th, the DIII week is one athletes’ favorite moments with their respective teams. 3:17.80. After her performance, Thomas anticipated week where athletes can spend some time together These events changed every year except for #WhyD3. “Every became at the forefront of a debate on the doing fun activities and talking about their experiences here at year there is always one day focused on #WhyD3 where we have fairness of transgender women competing VWU. For this week, members of the Student Athlete Advisory the opportunity to share why we decided to play at this level. The in women’s sports. Council (SAAC), some faculty and other student athletes prepared other events change depending on ideas that may be more relevant Everyone should be able to compete an interesting week for the athletes to participate in. or what our student athletes want to see,” Kerns said. in the sport they love regardless of what DIII week was first introduced in 2010, and Coach Jeff Bowers Some athletes have been waiting for this week, since last year gender they identify as. She followed has participated in all of them. “I’ve been here for 22 years, and DIII week was virtually held during COVID-19. “I think people NCAA rules for transgender women, doing we’ve been doing DIII week for quite a while,” Bowers said. are excited because this year we get to have in-person events testosterone suppression treatment, so On the other side, chair of SAAC, senior Mackenzie Kerns, has which we haven’t been able to do for the past two years,” Kerns Thomas is allowed to compete. However, participated in three DIII weeks and this week will be her fourth. said. there is science that should be addressed. “By the end of this DIII week, I will have participated in four DIII An event highlighting Morgan’s Message was not in the plan, I think her puberty gave her an advantage weeks and two of those have been strictly social media or online however, prior to DIII week, Morgan’s Message was highlighted over other women competitors given that due to the pandemic,” Kerns said. in athletic events. Kerns said, “Morgan’s Message wasn’t directly before she transitioned she was a fully DIII week’s purpose is about celebrating DIII athletes with involved but the weeks leading up to DIII week were dedication developed male with larger hands and feet, events that are planned specifically for them. “This week is to weeks for Morgan’s Message where our athletic events were longer wingspan and greater bone density. highlight our DIII, as student athletes from each sport. Also, just dedicated to and honoring the organization.” On the other hand, Thomas does hormone to really show how great it is to be a DIII athlete,” Bowers said. DIII week is an opportunity for athletes to share and participate replacement therapy (HRT) which causes DIII week kickoff started with Fins Up FinFest, which is a type in fun activities, despite the sports that they play. “This week shows her to lose strength resulting in times that of ‘field-day’ for student athletes. “This is the first year that we are an understanding of why our student athletes are participating in are slower and relatively close to women’s having Fins Up FinFest prior to DIII week as kind of a kick off Division III and the benefits of it,” Bowers said. times. However, I know her height gives and an opportunity to celebrate them and hopefully we can as an This week also looks forward to the recognition of athletes. “As her an advantage because height can help athletic department give back to them as well,” Bowers said. an athlete, I would expect recognition for DIII athletes and to be her swim faster and cover more surface For Kerns, Fins Up FinFest is one of the main important given similar respect as other divisions and acknowledgement of area. Typically, trans women are taller, and activities of this week. “I think the main important things are Fins our hard work and dedication to our sports and our education,” Thomas stands at 6’1”, but this can go for Up FinFest, and just honoring our athletic careers in our division,” Kerns said. both men and women. Kerns said. Although this week is only for athletes, coaches and staff I do not believe that Thomas transitioned Some of the activities planned for this week include #WhyD3, members seemed excited for DIII week. “These last two years has to become the best women swimmer in #Marlin Memories, #DayintheLife, Athlete Bonfire and Senior been difficult for them, but I think that once DIII week comes college, but that she transitioned because Shoutout. The DIII week also expands on social media, given that rolling around, our athletes will get ‘pumped’ to do some fun that is what she felt was her true identity. #DayintheLife is an athletic team Instagram takeover to see the events. So, I am glad that we were able to do this week for them, I Lia Thomas has set a precedent for typical day of a student athlete and #MarlinMemories are posts of think it’s fantastic,” Bowers said. transgender women in women’s sports.
DIII week opens with Fins Up FinFest
Marlins achieve athletic success
BY STEVEN SERRANO
sdserranocruz@vwu.edu
Jason Golub|Courtesy Senior Ashley Tolarchyk runs at the Betty S. Rogers Invitational meet.
Dominant performance by the Women’s Track and Field team A strong execution by the Women’s Track and Field team was held on Apr. 3 as the Marlins hosted the Betty S. Rogers Invitational at VWU. The results from these events show one of the strongest performances for the women’s team this season and have also led to new school records. In the running events, most of them finished either first, second or third place. Senior Niya Crocker placed second with a time of 26.60 in the 200M dash, and senior Ashley Tolarchyk and junior Nicole Kemon went 1-2 on the 800M run. Senior Jaylyn Lane finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 11.21m and her teammate Shirell Washington finished third with a distance of 9.25m. In the discus throw and hammer throw, senior Mariama Diallo finished first place, setting a new record in the discus throw of 39.42m.
Damien Kelly|Courtesy Sophomore Connor Hall catches the ball to get the Bishops player out on first base against the Bishops of N.C. Wesleyan on March 16.
Baseball completed a season sweep over the Monarchs of Methodist University The Marlins, with a record of 2-5-1 in the ODAC conference, completed a season sweep against the Monarchs of Methodist University with their last game where the Marlins won 11-7. Their first face off against the Monarchs was at Fayetteville, NC. The Marlins took the victory with a great team effort, leading the score at the end of the ninth inning 5-2. Some of the players that helped with this victory was senior Garett Lyons driving with two of the team RBI, junior Trent Hanchey and sophomore Connor Hall connecting a pair of hits, and right hand pitcher, senior Albert Clark, striking out three batters in his four innings. Their second face off against the Monarchs was a local game at Perry Field, Virginia Beach, Va. In this game, the Marlins connected a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Then,
after a pair of runs by the Monarchs that gave them the lead, the Marlins came back to the lead with two runs scored by junior Matt Sinko and junior Jaelen Hines. Other contributions to this victory came from first-year Zion Ross and senior Miles Christian who connected three hits and junior Jaelen Hines drove two RBI for the team and scored three hits. With these two victories, the Marlins completed a season sweep over the Monarchs for the first time since 2018. The Marlins are traveling to Lynchburg, Va. to face for the first time this season, the leaders of the ODAC conference, the Hornets of University of Lynchburg. The game is set to start at 3:30 p.m.
Jason Golub|Courtesy Senior Landry Moffo prepares to give off the baton to teammate at the Spring Break Invitational meet.
Landry Moffo earned his fourth athlete of the week this season On March 29, senior Landry Moffo was announced as an athlete of the week by ODAC. This announcement marks the fourth time that he has been named athlete of the week this season. These achievements were due to his performance at the Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational that was held at Lynchburg University. With his participation in the 110M hurdles, Moffo placed himself in the top 10 nationally. Currently, he sits ninth in the category of 110M hurdles, regionally he sits second and first in ODAC. In the 110M hurdles competition, he ran a 15.04 time, finishing behind three DI athletes. Moffo also competed in the 200M dash in which he finished 18th in the event with a time of 23.60. He also participated in the men’s 4x100 relay, finishing third in the event with a time of 46.33.
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Thursday April 7, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Prince Charles brings a young, new vibe to Men’s Lacrosse BY COLETTE KEARNEY
cmkearney@vwu.edu
Virginia Wesleyan Men’s Lacrosse brought in a new assistant coach this fall, Prince Charles. Prior to arriving at VWU, Charles played for ODAC institution Randolph College until his eligibility ran out in 2019. He graduated in 2020 with a degree in Sport and Exercise Studies, he also spent his fifth year as a student assistant for the Randolph lacrosse program. Charles did not start playing lacrosse until seventh or eighth grade. “At that point I was just learning that next year I was playing defensive midfield and faceoff,” Charles said. He eventually found himself playing on the varsity team at Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia Beach from 10th grade through 12th grade. After not being heavily recruited, Charles committed to Randolph College. “That was a place out of a bunch I found pretty late in the process that was a good fit for me,” Charles said. Charles did not always want to coach. At first, he wanted to be a physical therapist or an athletic trainer. Charles said, “I just didn’t realize the whole time when I was playing and helping out in the community that I was coaching.” He was an assistant for recreation football here in Virginia Beach, helped out with the travel lacrosse teams in Lynchburg and worked with some junior
varsity programs in Virginia Beach when he was in high school. What brought him to coach for VWU was the head coach, J.P. Stewart. “He actually asked me, I never threw myself out there like ‘hey, can I come coach for you,’” said Charles. One thing that stuck out to him was the large roster size, which he said he was not used to. Charles also said, “I always thought Virginia Wesleyan athletics was very serious, so I wanted to see what it would be like to be a part of a serious athletics organization. Not just the lacrosse program but in general.” He wants to bring a different energy to campus, saying, “I don’t think you know too many assistant coaches or head coaches just coming around dabbing people up, so that’s what I’ve been trying to do and not really be weird about it.” Freshman goalie Zack Tucker mentioned how Charles made the transition from high school lacrosse to college lacrosse at VWU easier. Tucker said, “He knows how the transition is and definitely helped with the transition and explained how this is not high school lacrosse, what will and what will not work in college lacrosse.” Tucker also said that it’s nice to have a coach who is closer in age to the players. “He can kind of understand if we have problems outside of lacrosse. He
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Cameron Evans|Courtesy
Assistant Men’s Lacrosse coach, Prince Charles, watches the team warm up against the Eagles of Bridgewater College on March 13.
understands what is happening because he’s around the same age.” When asked about what it is like to have an assistant coach not only play in the ODAC but also be so close in age to the players, senior defender Ryan Morris said, “Either way he is still our coach so there is a level of respect that comes with every conversation you have with him, but with a smaller age gap he can relate better to our day to day lives.” Morris went on to say, “Having played against him and him playing in the same conference gives him insight on how we can improve. He always preaches positivity and that is something that if the players buy in, will benefit the team culture greatly.” Similarly, sophomore defensive middle Everett Harris said, “It definitely is a lot easier to talk to him compared to an older coach. He can be more understanding and approachable but still gets the respect he deserves as a coach.” With the positivity Charles brings to campus and the team Harris said, “He always has a good attitude and focuses on getting better for the next play, he also
likes to get close with the players allowing for good team chemistry to build.” Harris and Morris also both commented on the lacrosse season so far. Harris mentioned that he thinks the team has gotten better of getting closer as a team as the season has gone on. Morris said, “It’s a growing process with how young our team is.”
Alysse Scripter|Courtesy Prince Charles at FinsUp FinFest on April 3 at Trinder soccer complex.
Thursday April 7, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
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UFC Gym strikes Norfolk with new fitness classes BY JOSH HELLER jmheller@vwu.edu
Are you tired of the same bland workout routine? If you are looking for an innovative and intense workout, then look no further than UFC Gym Norfolk. It is open to all new members, experienced or not. The first class is even free for those who just want a sample of the boxing class. Boxing Skills and Technique is offered at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Norfolk’s UFC Gym. The class offers hands-on training by extremely-experienced trainers at a high level. The class is taught by Nelson Lebron, who has 42 years of martial arts experience and currently has a black belt in nine styles. He also has experience in Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA (mixed martial arts). Coach Nelson Lebron’s passion for Boxing has been apparent since first becoming an adult. “I’ve been teaching since my 18th birthday and that was a little over 20 something years ago,” Lebron said. Lebron’s coaching experience shows in class as he will be seen encouraging his students, critiquing their technique and just giving it his all when sparring with students. The Boxing Skills and Technique class offers an endurance intensive workout which will make you sweat. This class teaches students different combinations of punching techniques and skills to use when sparring. Students would pair up with a sparring partner and practice a one, two, three punching combo. At the end of training, students would become familiar with throwing a right punch, then a left, while being able to duck under their partner’s right hook. Boxing Skills and Technique is repetition based and runs for a little over an hour with time to rest. If you are skeptical about the training class, anyone is free to watch the class without having to participate. The class is located in an open turf grass space, which is welcoming to an audience. “I enjoyed watching it a lot, it was a very nice class. I found it very similar to the martial arts class that we have here at Virginia Wesleyan. A lot of the moves are very similar, like for instance, the horse stance, side kicking, roundhouse kicks and the punching. I found that very similar and it made me feel like I was in class,” senior Kenneth Henry said. As a beginner level boxing class, it is advertised as a techniquebased class to work yourself into becoming a better fighter. “This class is technique based, we have separate classes for the fighters and for the fight team. It is normal to push you into the better ver-
Josh Heller|Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan student Josh Heller getting ready to spar with another student at UFC Gym in Norfolk, VA. sion of yourself. You’re not in competition with anybody. You’re working at your level at your speed. They are designed on basics, basics are the key to winning fights,” Lebron said. Lebron encourages all college students to challenge themselves by giving this class a try. The basis of this class is designed to uplift you not just as a fighter, but physically. “I definitely recommend it to college students, kids, and really anybody who wants to get some physical activity. Maybe you want to learn to defend yourself, or just want to do an extracurricular activity that will push their heart rate, push your mental being and push your physical well being,” Lebron said. If you are looking for a challenge and want to step out of your comfort zone, Boxing Skills and Technique is the class to try. “I
would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to try boxing or anyone trying to exercise more or just to have a good time. I think it’s very good for group settings like when you want to have a birthday party. I saw they offered parties on their TV screens. So I think it’s pretty fun and a good way to stay active,” Henry said. UFC in Norfolk also offers Muay Thai, MMA Conditioning, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Sparring and Kickboxing classes. The gym also has treadmills, weights, punching bags and sparring mats for anyone of any experience. Boxing gloves, sparring helmets and a clean locker room are provided, but be prepared to take your shoes off in the class. The first class of Boxing Skills and Technique is free and is available at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit UFC Norfolk Gym at 5930 E Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23502.
VB Bites: Sustainable eats at Commune
Commune|Instagram One of Commune’s bright and colorful meals, made with entirely fresh and local produce.
Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Patrons enjoying Saturday brunch, coffee and the serene atmosphere at the Norfolk location of Commune. BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu
Sustainability is a word often overused and underemployed. However, the Commune—a multidimensional restaurant co-op— has successfully created innovative menus based entirely on a local food system. From local farms to customer’s tables, Commune offers a variety of ingenuitive salads, sandwiches, customizable bowls, brunch treats, and even specialty drinks (easily adjusted to be vegan or vegetarian). Owner Kevin Jamison, with experience both in legal and agricultural work at New Earth farm in Pungo, envisioned a restaurant oriented around local resources. His idea took flight as he crafted locally sourced, European cafe-inspired crepe dishes. After hosting numerous pop-ups, Jamison received enough investment support to open the Virginia Beach Commune location, near the Oceanfront, in 2015. Two years later, Jamison and a few partners were able to purchase New Earth farm—21 acres of land to produce ingredients
Morbius lacks
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Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle
for the restaurant, as well as employ and educate the community. Food education and upholding an environmentally conscientious menu are two of the highest priorities for Commune. The company has always been more than just a restaurant business, but especially with growing success, a second location was opened in Norfolk in 2017. The Norfolk storefront resides in a stunning and spacious, urban historical building in the rich Ghent community. Once again inspired by the lack of culinary knowledge, Commune was able to collaborate with The Crop Foundation—who seek to educate young culinary artists and agriculturalists on the future of sustainable eating through classes, pop-ups and even scholarships. Their symbiotic relationship has expanded the Commune’s menu to new minds, and extended the foundation’s reach. Now, the restaurant exists as a cooperative system, relying on seasonal ingredients from their own farm, garden or from neighboring farms within a 200 mile radius. All breads and pastries are sourced from nearby bakeries, and–specifically at their Virginia Beach location—they were able to open their own bakery in 2018. These Commune additions have received heavy support from the BY RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu
Sony Pictures’ ‘Morbius’ (2022), directed by Daniel Espinosa, is based on the titular Marvel Comics vampiric anti-hero. Having been delayed multiple times, the film that was finally released in theaters is an overall mediocre experience, with moments of greatness. However, the film is plenty watchable thanks to the performance of Jared Leto, who delivers a solid portrayal of the titular character, even when he is hindered by a subpar script. Leto’s costar, Matt Smith, plays Morbius’s eccentric childhood friend, Milo, which Smith relishes. However, for as much fun as Matt Smith’s performance provides, it also highlights one of the key problems with the film. This is due to Smith’s character being more comedic and over-the-top, which provides one of many instances of tonal whiplash in the movie. The film is ultimately unable to decide what kind of movie it wants to be, trying to come across as self-serious, a comedic, an action and a horror film. In trying to shift between these tones, the film fails to successfully capture
city of Virginia Beach and the state as a whole, due to the positive effects of self-sufficient businesses, especially in the food industry. Long term loyal employee, Megan Caldwell—manager of the front of the house in Virginia Beach—was more than eager to interview about the Commune’s origin, the difficulties it faced during the pandemic and the aesthetic the restaurant strives to provide. During COVID-19, the Norfolk location had to, unfortunately, close. Only the Oceanfront restaurant was in service, and solely provided take-out options. This proved to be quite detrimental. Now, since the imminent threat of the pandemic has subsided, and policies have declined, both sites have been restored to their former glory—for which locals are grateful. Caldwell described that Commune makes it possible to “eat locally and sustainably and deliciously,” as their produce is allowed to “ripen and mature on the vine” unlike mass shipments of bland groceries. The ever-changing inventory of crops dictate their menu on a daily basis. Adhering to Virginia’s native produce definitely makes planning a menu “challenging with limited resources,” as Caldwell explained, but allows chefs to get creative and explore new methods. Open from 8, 9, or 10 a.m. (depending on location and day) until 3 p.m., Commune is a perfect spot for a long, relaxing and ecofriendly brunch. If you decide to venture to either of Commune’s locations, you’ll be greeted by a luscious yet homey atmosphere, an unconventionally satiating meal, all served by incredibly knowledgeable servers. any of them, despite moments of greatness. However, the moments of greatness do highlight the potential of the movie. For example, there are two sequences in which the movie successfully leans into its horror inspiration, with an action scene on a boat and a chase in a hallway. Both of these scenes succeed in keeping the audience on edge, but the movie mostly ditches its horror elements after these two fairly early sequences. The film also features an interesting display of Morbius’s powers, as he leaves a trail of smoke after using them. However, spotty visual effects cause this to often come across as confusing for the audience, especially in the film’s messy finale. Overall, the movie suffers from underdeveloped characters, as only Morbius comes across as having any real development. On top of this, all characters outside of Morbius and Milo are blandly written cliches, despite the work of their actors. While good moments and the performances of Leto and Smith make the movie worth viewing as a matinee or once it hits streaming, they can’t save Morbius from being an otherwise uninspired film.
Thursday April 7, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
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Art features environmental resiliency in Norfolk BY MIKAYLA SZUDERA mmszudera@vwu.edu
The Chrysler Museum of Art is a staple of Norfolk’s Historic Ghent district and the community as a whole since it was founded in 1933, showing off multiple forms of artworks from various artists while highlighting local artists from Hampton Roads. Visiting the Chrysler Museum is a creative activity to enjoy with your friends or family while immersing yourself into vibrant and stimulating pieces of art. Ranging from different artistic styles, including ceramic pottery, sculptures, photography and modern light shows that fill up the room, there is something for everyone to interact with and observe. Five current exhibitions are on display at the Chrysler Museum of Art; FloodZone: Photographs by Anastasia Samoylova, ‘Waters Rising: A View From Our Backyard,’ Hew Locke: ‘The Ghostly Tourists,’ ‘The Totality of Time Lusters the Dusk’ and the recently opened The Guiding Hand: ‘The Barr Foundation Collection of Torah Pointers’. The Chrysler Museum of Art recently partnered with Old Dominion University’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation & Resilience (ICAR) to present the art exhibition ‘Waters Rising: A View From Our Backyard’. Sarah Jacobson, a staff member at Chrysler Museum, shared insight about the environmentally focused exhibition. “‘Waters Rising: A View From Our Backyard’ is dedicated to Larry P. Atkinson, who brought people together around the issues of climate change and sea-level rise while helping to launch Old Dominion University’s research program on its path to making a difference in addressing flooding and sea-level rise,” said Jacobson. With how unpredictable the weather has been in recent months, communities across the Hampton Roads region witnessed the adverse impacts of sea-level rise, coastal erosion and climate change. Flooded streets and waterlogged cars have become familiar sights for the Marlin community as the high tides and intensifying storms push water further into the Norfolk roads. Old Dominion University uses art to feature environmental issues within our community as posted within the Waters Rising exhibit. On the Chrysler Museum webpage, Dr. John Broderick, president emeritus at Old Dominion University said, “Over the last decade, ODU
Ed Pollard|Chrysler Museum Photographs by Anastasia Samoylova features in the FloodZone exhibition focusing on coastal nature issues. experts have focused on issues of sea-level rise and flooding in the laboratory, the classroom, and the community to address the challenges facing our region and other coastal regions across the country and the world.” ‘FloodZone’ is Miami-based artist Anastasia Samoylova’s photographic account of the effects of sea-level rise and climate change along South Florida’s receding shoreline. Jacobson added, “Samoylova’s photographs contain visuals of coastal wildlife, flooded construction sites, rusted infrastructure, and architectural rubble integrate the tropical palette while showing off Miami’s busy culture which is very similar to the Norfolk and Virginia Beach community.” Sophomore Helen Kennedy-Butler shared about her connection between the exhibition and her studies. “The Waters Rising exhibit is really interesting because it is
Chrysler Museum|Courtesy ‘FloodZone’ features photographs about the effects of sea-level and climate change on coastal communities.
very informative and talks about the climate crisis in our area and what we can do to help and the pollution problem in our area as well. Being a sustainability management major this artwork and exhibit hit home when looking at it,” said Kennedy-Butler. Kennedy-Butler added, “This is where people live and have families, the pollution in the area is terrible. The images within the exhibit help get the issue out there and show it to people in a raw way because the media tends to hide bad things that they don’t want others to see.” Natalie Dunn, a junior, visited the Chrysler Museum and shared her experience. “I thought the exhibits were all interesting not only to look at, but to read about as well. They definitely catch your eye especially if you’ve been within the recent months compared to now, they pop out more than the others and were very enjoyable,” said Dunn. Dunn added, “I enjoyed the individual light exhibit the most because of the way it allowed the patterns to shine on the walls surrounding the room. The light wasn’t too strong to look at when examining the exhibit that was hanging in the center. I liked how it was closed off in its own room because it made the light patterns more prominent.” Kennedy-Butler said, “I thought it was very cool that they had artists that are local to the Virginia Beach area in the museum. When we first came up the stairs they had students’ artwork from nearby schools to be part of their ‘Teens with a Purpose’ art exhibit. They tell stories in their artwork of their experience in Hampton Roads which is important for smaller artists to get an audience.” At the Chrysler Museum there are individual pieces of artwork that the museum has bought to keep for their collection. Immerse in the art and question our response to rising seas. The exhibitions ‘FloodZone: Photographs by Anastasia Samoylova’ and ‘Waters Rising: A View From Our Backyard’ are available until May 29. Visit Chrysler Museum of Art on 1 Memorial Place in Norfolk 23510 offers free parking and admission to everyone. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. Visit www.chrysler.org and follow @ ChryslerMuseum on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for more information about their exhibitions.
Less Than embodies Earth Day everyday
BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu
Rather than tossing out another empty plastic bottle or bag into the trash, try an affordable and sustainable approach in purchasing hygiene and cleaning products. Guests visiting Less Than won’t find any plastic bottles or bags to buy personal care items, instead there are containers that can be reused, recycled or composted. Less Than is the first Hampton Roads zero waste and refill shop that offers sustainable alternatives to everyday goods that are safe for everyone and our planet. It focuses on natural ingredients to make ecofriendly products for laundry products to cosmetics, personal care items and more. Their mission is to help guests find sustainable common goods, reflect about the life cycle of an item before purchasing, encourage a shift away from single-use and plastic and reduce waste. Chris Simmonds, owner of Less Than, shared the importance of offering a zero waste and refill shop in the Hampton Roads community. “At Less Than, our only category is sustainability. It’s everything that we do. From the production process, we have makers who are aligned with mission initiatives taking care of the planet, making sure that they are operating on the smallest [carbon] footprint possible, using ingredients that are natural— biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or reusable packaging,” Simmonds said. Krystal Tuzon Gonzalez, staff member at Less Than, shared about her favorite part of working at the zero waste and refill shop. “My favorite part is that the ideology behind the store as a whole is very cognizant of the fact that sustainability in going zero waste in that lifestyle is very much a journey. A lot of it can be based on privilege and not everybody has access
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Less Than Norfolk sells numerous eco-friendly everyday products on their shelves. to the means for sustainability and zero waste,” Gonzalez said. “Our philosophy working here is based on education, letting people know their options, but also making these things accessible to the community.” There are three shop locations to visit Less Than in Hampton Roads: 4378 Holland Rd in Virginia Beach, 803 Shirley Ave in Norfolk and 24 S. King St. in Hampton. Each store’s location hours are 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. All Less Than locations are closed on Monday. Simmonds created a closed loop so that Less Than does not need to rely on landfills or even recycling centers to meet their needs. From production to distribution and product consumption, the entire process is sustainable. The bulk liquid and powdered goods come in buckets or cubes that are distributed to Less Than’s refill stations, then the return label is reused on the same
bucket and shipping packaging to be sent back. Gonzalez recommends first-time guests starting on their sustainability journey to make a simple switch from a bottled body soap to using bar soap with Less Than’s reusable sisal soap pouches. “It’s nice to be able to just pick fun scents of bar soap and it’s less bottles,” Gonzalez said. Guests don’t need to feel overwhelmed by the many options, but just take the first step to learning eco-friendly habits that can be easily practiced. Simmonds added, “My hope is that [guests] come in and begin thinking about the products that we have here [versus] the products that they have at home and what items make sense to switch to for their household. It’s also important to me that people realize that becoming low waste is not something that happens in a single visit, and that they should use what they have at home if it’s still usable.” The pricing of their products ranges
from $0.27 - $38 to purchase personal care items and household items. Guests can refill their dish and hand soap, laundry detergent and powder, bath salts, shampoo and conditioner for affordable prices by reusing a container. Refills for lavender liquid castile soap is $ .84/oz, $.36/oz for all purpose cleaner and $ .70/oz for African Ghana shea butter. There are numerous other scents and products available to refill and purchase at Less Than. Gonzalez added, “I hope guests will experience a less pretentious approach to zero waste and sustainable lifestyle. Something more approachable, accessible and realizing it’s not this big scary world that they’re kind of being shoved into. [Instead] more of a gentle ‘I’ll take your hand and help lead you into it.’” Simmonds shared how the mission of Less Than to practice sustainability aligns with his values. “It’s important for me that we move around in this world in such a way that we are respectful of it. That we view ourselves as custodians of what we have here while we’re here. And that we acknowledge that we need to leave behind something for the next generation,” said Simmonds. Simmonds added, “When you begin to decrease your impact on the environment through waste and toxic ingredients, you do that. It’s also a benefit to our lives while we’re here. Decreasing the amount of unnecessary ingredients or chemicals, so that we can live a healthier life.” Follow @golessthan on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more info about new environmentally friendly products released and Earth Day challenges. To order online, visit www.golessthan.com and check out their blog at golessthan. com/blog to read about sustainability and environmental focused topics.