March 28, 2024

SGA, BSU, Athletics Department address hate speech, policy review

Representatives from the Student Government Association (SGA), Black Student Union (BSU) and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) met with Intercollegiate Director of Athletics Andrea Hoover-Erbig during a weekly SGA meeting to discuss hate speech policies in the Athletics Department.

“We passed a resolution… to investigate these policies about hate speech at our peer institutions,” senior and SGA President Eddie McDonald said.

McDonald described how the resolution appeared on SGA’s agenda. “We met with students who were concerned about the issue,” which he said “motivated us to try to learn more about this topic and take some action to improve.”

According to McDonald, this research will seek to provide answers to a variety of questions. McDonald listed a few questions: “How do our peer institutions define hate speech? How do peer institutions provide consequences for hate speech? How do they apply due process for allegations of hate speech? And then what are the current VWU policies and procedures regarding hate speech?”

McDonald specified that this proposed investigation focuses on hate speech in privileged activities “such as honors colleges, athletics, student activities, things where you’re being a representative of the school.” He stated that the intention is to gauge “what the best practices are across peer institutions around the nation.”

The specific phrasing of the resolution states, “The Student Government will investigate the policies and practices related to hate speech at peer institutions in order to gather information regarding the potential implementation of hate speech clauses in the student handbooks of privileged activities at VWU.”

McDonald said that investigation prior to the suggestion of any sort of policy implementation helps to ensure legal precedent. Navigating legalities is often one of the biggest challenges to addressing hate speech on an institutional level.

In the case of VWU athletics programs, Hoover-Erbig said that it is already the Athletics Department’s standard to review

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handbooks yearly. During these reviews, the Athletics Department considers questions such as, “Do we need to look deeper into a certain policy? Do we need to change a policy? Do we need to make something more consistent?” HooverErbig said.

“The

what I support is research,” he said. Johnson stressed that allegations of hate speech should be addressed on a caseby-case basis, and that the school already has those policies in place. “This [SGA resolution] is just presenting our findings to the school, but there would likely be a

Student Government will investigate the policies and practices related to hate speech at peer institutions in order to gather information regarding the potential implementation of hate speech clauses in the student handbooks of privileged activities at VWU.”

SGA Hate Speech Initiative

McDonald provided his insights on the authority of SGA in suggesting policy change. “When it comes down to it, the student government is just a student union. So we, through the democratic process, represent the students’ concerns and issues, and we bring those forward to administration,” he said.

SGA Senior Senator James Johnson commented on the legislation. “Personally,

second piece of legislation in the future that would recommend specific policy from SGA and that is when I’m personally not supportive,” he said.

Johnson described other ways in which he saw fit for SGA to address hate speech. “I thought something appropriate would have been a social media education campaign, or an event on campus or creating some sort of banner that gets hung in Batten that

says ‘your words have consequences’ or something like that,” Johnson said.

Johnson elaborated by saying an opportunity to display experiences where individuals have been personally affected by the language of others, whether it be through a banner, a video, or some other form of media, would be an impactful motion from SGA to combat hate speech. “I think that would have been something we can do and that’s within our power,” Johnson said.

Regarding his suggested approaches, Johnson said, “I think it would have had a more direct impact on our students than adding a couple sentences into our Student Handbook.”

In terms of athletics specifically, Johnson said, “I think it’s the responsibility of the athletes on said team, the coaches on said team, to create an accepting, inclusive environment, and it kind of has to go into the culture of a team.”

Campus community members have discussed the roles and expectations of various positions across campus in combating and addressing hate speech.

McDonald said that the initial collaborative meeting on the topic heavily covered Athletics policies and disciplinary actions. “We met with Director Hoover, Judah King was there representing BSU, and we just got a small group session on the way athletic policies and disability actions work, which I think for us was super insightful to help us as we move forward through this process,” McDonald said.

Junior Judah King, president of BSU, said that a meeting involving HooverErbig, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward and the SGA executive board helped offer an understanding that every situation is nuanced. While he said that he acknowledges the truth in the complexities of the topic, King sees the benefits of “a more definite and stringent outcome.”

King said, “I am appreciative of the case-by-case basis, but at the end of the day, students, athletes, if somebody is serving as a representative of the school, they should know that hate speech isn’t permitted.”

Shack-a-Thon persists through rain

BY VICTORIA HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu

Members of Students Against Continued Homelessness (SACH) slept outside in cardboard boxes on March 8 and 9 to boost awareness of homelessness during an annual event known as the Shack-a-Thon. The club hosted multiple speakers and events on Saturday, March 9.

Sophomore Aiden Foley, president of SACH, said the goal of the event was “starting that conversation by putting it into their face,” referring to people who didn’t care or weren’t aware of the problem of homelessness.

In response to a question asking why SACH was sleeping outside, Foley said, “Why are there people that have to do it?” He said that in the future, he hoped to fundraise through this event.

It rained for most of that Saturday and during both nights. Sophomore Isaac Awogboro, secretary of SACH, was resolved to see the event through despite discussions of cancellation for the second night.

“[We’re] still going to do it tonight— people are sleeping out in the rain when they’re homeless,” Awogboro said on the first night of Shack-a-Thon.

The second night had students sleeping in the rain in cardboard boxes. “People are living homeless every day,” Awogboro said. “We’re only doing it for two.”

Foley described an incident Saturday morning where Campus Security came over to the event. He said that security was worried that the students were actually homeless people who had somehow made their way onto campus.

“They weren’t ready to ask us if we needed a place to stay,” Foley said. “They were ready to ask us to leave.” According to Foley, when security found out that the SACH members were students, they were permitted to stay.

Along with the night outside, SACH hosted several speakers. Among them was Jordan Brown, the lead pastor of Ocean View Church, one of the main organizers of a mission to house homeless people in churches.

Brown gave a talk about his struggles with housing insecurity, sleeping in his car and on friends’ couches. Since then, he has done a lot of work to organize housing and support for unhoused people in the area. He said in order to help these people, one of the most important things is to give them

a permanent address, which makes it easier for them to apply for jobs and get mail.

In his talk, he discussed what he called “inspiration by burden.” Inspiration by burden is the desire to do good from experiencing a burden. He talked about his work helping found the first homeless shelter in Norfolk and all the work he has done since then.

“We don’t have all the resources, but we’re making it work,” Brown said.

One of his big points was that homeless people, or as Brown called them, unhoused people, are people just like everyone else. The stereotypes of unhoused people as drug addicts, lazy or both don’t cover all, or even most, homeless people.

McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle

Senior Eddie McDonald (left) and junior Judah King (right) speak at a Diversity and Inclusion panel hosted by BSU, SGA and a variety of other on-campus groups.

Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle Students set up cardboard homes to spend the night at the Batten Student Center.

SGA

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

King spoke on the expectations of student leaders. “Being in student leadership or just being a representative of this school, you have to be held to a higher standard,” he said. King stressed that these expectations must extend to Athletics.

“We’re a school first, not a sports franchise,” King said.

McDonald echoed King’s emphasis on disciplinary distinction for privileged activities. Although SGA’s initiative does not suggest specific policy changes, McDonald believes it is still important to explore ways of incorporating hate speech standards more directly into policy.

“At the moment, the Athletic Department, their disciplinary procedures work almost parallel and in reaction to the Campus Life disciplinary procedures, so they are only informed if something goes through ResLife,” he said. McDonald explained that while these policies do exist, he would like “to see the standards raised for privileged activities.”

The VWU Student Handbook states that the University reserves the right to maintain their policies, even if it means removing an individual from the community. “In order to fulfill its functions as an educational institution and to protect all members of the University community, Virginia Wesleyan University has the right to maintain order within the University and to exclude persons who disrupt the educational process,” the handbook states.

In regard to expression, the handbook states, “The University prohibits expression considered unlawful or that which violates institutional policy or disrupts essential University operations.”

The initiative SGA proposed was prompted in part by larger discussions of hate speech among student-athletes. Senior Joey Gray, captain of the Men’s Golf team, discussed hate speech allegations with Athletics officials and SGA following a personal incident at the end of January. After an incident involving a white student-athlete saying the N-word while off campus with friends, Gray brought up the issue to officials in the Athletics office.

For Gray, the use of the N-word was offensive. “I don’t feel like that’s a positive word. I think it’s very derogatory,” Gray said. “I try to carry myself in the best appropriate way that not just as an African American, but as an adult could. And I don’t think anyone should be using that word.”

While Gray wasn’t with the other individual during the situation, he heard about it through friends. “Some of his teammates who are my friends had told me that he had that whole debacle leaving the bar, where he had made a racially charged statement,” he said.

Given that the incident occurred off campus, there was an extra layer of complexity when Gray moved to seek action within Athletics. According to the VWU Student Handbook, “The University does not attempt to regulate, nor does it take responsibility for the off-campus behavior of its students.”

It also stipulates that, “The University will, however, take action against students who’s off campus behavior impedes or disrupts the University community and/or undermines or threatens the welfare of the University or members of the University community.”

The student and his coaches declined to comment on the incident.

This wasn’t the first time Gray discussed instances of potentially offensive language with Athletics coaches. According to Gray, a former assistant coach for the Men’s and Women’s Golf team was accused of using the N-word in front of other members of the Golf team.

Gray heard about the incident from his teammates. “Obviously, since I wasn’t there, I don’t know who to believe,” he said.

Following the incident, Gray spoke to Tom Hall, head coach of the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams. “We talked about it, and he asked me what I thought should be done,” Gray said.

Gray said the assistant coach eventually apologized. “I’d say it took about a week, actually probably about two weeks,” Gray said. “But eventually, yes, there was an apology and an understanding that this is wrong, and we shouldn’t be doing this… and I was very appreciative.”

According to Gray, part of being an athlete is representing the university. “When I go out and play golf, I’m supposed to wear that Virginia Wesleyan little nameplate, and a little name tag, and represent my school not only in the ODAC, but in the NCAA,” he said.

However, Gray’s experiences have shaped his personal feelings about the Athletics Department and the association he has with it. “When I hear and feel like there are people who are also wearing that same Virginia Wesleyan nametag or plate on their jersey, and I know that they don’t uphold the same values that I do, and I know they don’t uphold the same values that the school projects itself to hold, to me, that’s disappointing,” Gray said.

Gray was adamant that the privilege of being a studentathlete is one he doesn’t want to share with those who use offensive language. “It’s a privilege to play a sport,” Gray said. “I don’t feel like I should have to share that privilege with someone who promotes hate speech, who promotes hate, who does not like people who look like me. I don’t feel comfortable having to do that.”

While neither of these instances were ruled as hate speech, they sparked conversation over policy and definitions of hate speech.

According to the American Library Association (ALA), “There is no legal definition for ‘hate speech’ under U.S. law… Generally, however, hate speech is any form of expression through which speakers intend to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred against a group or a class of persons on the basis of race, religion, skin color, sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, or national origin.”

Hate speech is also protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. The ALA explains that “hate speech can only be criminalized when it directly incites imminent criminal activity or consists of specific threats of violence targeted against a person or group.”

The freedom of expression is similarly guaranteed to students at Virginia Wesleyan. The VWU Student Handbook states, “...our community recognizes that, on occasion, some members of the community may view the expression of certain ideas of others as offensive, insensitive, or even harmful.”

However, the need to create a safe environment for all community members balances this sentiment. “An essential feature of this community is an environment in which all students, faculty, administrators, and staff are able to study and work free from bias and harassment,” the handbook states.

Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman published a book with Yale University Press entitled “Free Speech on Campus.” In this, they explained that campuses can’t restrict speech without cause. According to a graphic from the book, “A campus can’t censor or punish speech merely because a person or group considers it offensive or hateful.”

McDonald also spoke on limitations surrounding the repercussions of using hate speech. “We can’t take away your constitutional rights… but if you’re participating in hate speech, you maybe should not be a representative of the school,” McDonald said.

The issue of hate speech and freedom of expression is complex, and in the Athletics Department, there is a reliance on all students and coaches to set a culture of inclusivity. “I encourage every coach to have a philosophy and to think about the core values they want their teams to exude,” Hoover-Erbig said.

According to the VWU Student-Athlete Handbook, “Student-athletes are to discourage bigotry, respect differences and learn from others’ ideas, values and experiences.”

Hoover-Erbig acknowledged the importance of diversity and inclusivity within the Athletics Department. “I think our student-athletes are a direct reflection of the diversity on our campus. And so, you know, I think it’s something we take seriously, and we want to celebrate our diversity,” she said.

Every year, Hoover-Erbig holds meetings with each

team to go over expectations and responsibilities of being a student-athlete. “We have a compliance meeting every year, once a year to go through NCAA compliance, but also in those meetings, we talk about expectations of being a student-athlete,” she said.

Similarly to Gray, Hoover-Erbig discussed the importance of upholding university values, especially when representing the Athletics Department. “I talk about how far of a reach our student-athletes have, how far they travel with Virginia Wesleyan on their chest, and when they go places, they are representing our institution and how important it is for them to represent us well,” HooverErbig said. With all the effort to encourage positive values, HooverErbig said that the focus is on growth. “The best parts of my job when I was a coach, and now I’m the athletic director, is to see the growth that happens in people from when they show up on campus as a first-year to when they walk across the stage as a graduate,” Hoover-Erbig said.

The emphasis on growth extends especially to when student-athletes make mistakes. “People are going to make mistakes and make poor choices, right? Absolutely, they will,” Hoover-Erbig said. “But it’s our job to walk them through that and help them see where, what, how it could have been handled differently, how they can grow as a person from those experiences and work into the expectation of being a student-athlete and taking seriously that privilege.”

Senior Alex Moody, a representative on SAAC and a member of the Men’s Soccer team, highlighted the importance of the privilege of being a student-athlete.

“Playing sport is a privilege in college and life,” Moody said. “Obviously, you have to have the right attitude. You can’t just go do whatever you want.”

Hoover-Erbig explained that when disciplinary actions are necessary, the Athletics Department responds once university action has been taken. However, not all incidents require discipline on a university level. “If it’s something that is not a university issue, but that is happening and needs to be addressed by the coaching staff or the Athletic Department, we are in communication about that,” Hoover-Erbig said.

While Athletics does follow university action and policies, they also have the option of increasing disciplinary action. “The penalties outlined in the conduct in our handbook are the minimum penalties. So we always have the ability to increase those consequences if we would like to,” Hoover-Erbig said.

When discussing disciplinary action within Athletics, Hoover-Erbig meets with the respective coaches and discusses the issue on a case-by-case basis when there isn’t a set response outlined by Athletics policy. “There are so many different situations that occur throughout an academic year that are not the same,” Hoover-Erbig said. “There are details of each situation that need to be taken into account, need to be talked about, need to be understood by the people who are making the decisions of what the consequence is going to be.”

Decisions on consequences rest with Hoover-Erbig and coaches, but sometimes athletes themselves can play a role by discussing their perspective. “Captains have a perspective and a lot of times have the ability to go to their coaches and talk… It’s part of that responsibility,” Hoover-Erbig said. “But ultimately, the decision will rest with either the head coach or the head coach and myself.”

In cases where students are being accused of using offensive or disruptive language, the discussion of consequences complicates. “If it’s going to affect the student-athlete experience or even student experience, then I think there should be talks about how can we prevent these things from happening again, or maybe have consequences set in place,” Moody said.

Moody acknowledged the inherent difficulties when a student makes a claim about another student. “It’s like a he said, she said thing,” Moody said. “It’s just hard to punish someone without any real evidence.”

McDonald recognized that difficulty as well and emphasized the need for proper due process. “One thing we’ve talked about a lot in student government meetings has been the importance of due process in regards to allegations of hate speech, and the principle of innocent until proven guilty,” McDonald said.

Although disagreements about disciplinary approaches persist, each student representative emphasized the privilege that comes with representing the university.

Rhian Tramontana|Marlin Chronicle Information sourced from “Free Speech on Campus” by Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman.

Rhian

SGA seeks involvement with new constitution

BY ISAAC FICK ihfick@vwu.edu

On March 4, the Student Government Association (SGA) held its first meeting since ratifying their new constitution. Members of SGA highlighted changes to the constitution and the importance of the organization as a whole.

“A constitution is pretty important to making sure that the integrity of the Student Government is maintained,” Eddie McDonald, senior and President of the SGA, said.

According to McDonald, a need to adjust how meetings were held prompted the new constitution. “We identified that there’s a need for change, that the way we’re operating our meetings wasn’t in line with the way our constitution was written,” McDonald said.

Senior Jack Palmer, vice president of SGA, sees the new constitution as better aligned with the current values of SGA. “It’s been quite a long time since it was last updated. So we wanted it to better reflect our modern practices, and how our student government has actually been functioning for the past four years,” Palmer said.

Palmer added that a large part of the changes were geared toward a better balance of duties. “We started noticing that too many responsibilities were falling on one person, so we wanted to make it formal so that there were checks and balances in place, and that not just one position could kind of overhaul everything,” Palmer said.

Sophomore Isaac Awogboro, SGA secretary, spoke on how he wants these changes to promote visibility for SGA. “We’re kind of hoping that it shows the student body what we’re about and what we’re for,” Awogboro said.

James Johnson, senior secretary of SGA, reiterated the importance of aligning the constitution with SGA’s values. “Our dedication to students doesn’t change at all, but our constitution is now more reflective of our mission and vision,” Johnson said.

McDonald explained the ratification process. “In order to be ratified by the Student Government, it has to be ratified by two thirds of the Student Senate.”

There was “100% of the current student government voting to ratify this new constitution,” McDonald said.

The process spanned months. “The ratification process started out with a constitutional committee that started meeting mid-fall,” Palmer said.

McDonald explained the extra time they dedicated to developing the new constitution. “Usually at the end of the meeting, we adjourn the student government meeting and then start a constitutional committee meeting. And we go through the article, step by step, line by line, see what we liked, what we didn’t like,” McDonald said. “Once we had gone through the entire constitution, we brought it forward to the entire student senate.”

McDonald explained that when he was a first-year, the president ratified the constitution more unilaterally.

“The way we wrote it this time is making sure that everyone got involved…, which I think we really benefited from because if I had rewritten this by myself, it

would look very different, and I don’t think for the better,” McDonald said.

Awogboro added that the SGA emphasized clarity for the new constitution. “It makes a lot more sense to anybody who wants to join, anybody who’s interested in participating and joining SGA so that they know the process, so that there’s a clear understanding,” Awogboro said.

Regarding how this impacts the student population, McDonald said, “I think the most visible effect to the rest of the student body will be in the elections.”

McDonald explained that in previous years, the student body would vote for each executive board position, being the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and events coordinator.

“Students will still be voting for their individual class senators, and then president and vice president of the executive board, but then internally, SGA will be deciding the events coordinator, treasurer and secretary,” Palmer said.

Johnson said that this helps maintain fairness in decisionmaking. “The president and vice president are still nonvoting members, but now the secretary and treasurer are elected from the current senators by the senators as a motion that keeps the distribution of classes,” Johnson said.

McDonald also stressed that the process will give more time to decide on voting. “To decide who is going to be treasurer, secretary and events coordinator for the whole student government, at the beginning of the year, the student senators will have some time to make nominations and give speeches to the student senate, and then we’ll vote on it as a Student Senate,” McDonald said.

According to McDonald, this method makes more sense given VWU’s size. “On a smaller campus like this, it kind of makes SGA elections more approachable,” he said.

Marlins share voter stances

BY AIDEN CROGHAN accroghan@vwu.edu

With the presidential primary elections underway across the U.S., students have initiated conversations about voting. The percentage of voters aged 1824 jumped from 43% in 2016 to 51% in 2020 according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Many college students believe in the importance of voting. Still, some students now express a feeling of disenfranchisement from the system of voting or feel otherwise disconnected from the issues of voting.

Sophomore Opeyemi KareemOjo expressed uncertainty that he would vote, as he feels that many politicians don’t listen to the community responsible for electing them. “Voting can have an impact, but, in recent times, it feels like it hasn’t really because with all the noise everyone’s making for, you know, LGBTQ, race and even just the smallest of all minorities, I feel like there’s a lot of noise but a lot of closed

ears,” Kareem-Ojo said.

Kareem-Ojo explained that a politician he would vote for would need to be community-oriented and able to lay out specific plans of action for campaign promises. “I would look for someone who has a step-by-step plan, who’s really thought about it instead of just saying it to get votes,” Kareem-Ojo said.

“I feel like there’s a lot of noise but a lot of closed ears.”

Opeyemi

Kareem-Ojo

First-year Trisha Guevara expressed uncertainty about voting due to a feeling of a lack of education surrounding politics. “I feel like the older I get, then I’m just going to start getting more into politics because I’m going to start living on my own and see everything by myself,” Guevara said. “Right now, I don’t see anything that’s going to get me

to start voting soon. Personally, I don’t think I’m educated enough to start voting yet.”

First-year Clarissa Thurston shared that the biggest issues affecting her vote are economic policies, environmental policies, social justice and public safety.

“One of the biggest ones being social justice is that we are able to come in unison to accept and understand other’s opinions, whether that be from an LGBTQ+ standpoint or even just political opinions,” Thurston said. “We just need to accept and understand that everyone is going to be different while also respecting other people’s opinions, which is something that I believe starts with our political figures. So if they support it, then it’s going to trickle down through the country.”

Thurston discussed her belief in the importance of young voters and the impact they can have on deciding public officials. She encouraged young people to be invested in their future. “Soon, the country or even state or even local level will be run and affected by us. I think as we grow up, obviously some more policies, like economic policies, will affect us, and I think getting our voices heard is important since we do have a different outlook on things,” Thurston said.

First-year Maddie Diaz expressed that she finds it challenging to decide between candidates in elections, as finding unbiased information is difficult. She also said she found it difficult to register to vote without assistance. “It’s hard to find that middle where I can talk to somebody [saying] ‘Here’s how to vote, here’s what you can do, you don’t have to register as a specific party,’” Diaz said.

The university website lists voting resources under Wesleyan Engaged, the department on campus that specializes in civic and community engagement.

Additionally, Johnson mentioned the introduction of a graduate cohort for SGA. This includes four senator positions, falling in line with the number of senator positions in undergraduate classes.

“University policy affects them, so they should have a way to advocate for themselves,” Johnson said.

As a result of these changes, McDonald noted, “It’s never been easier to be involved.”

McDonald promoted the benefits of this involvement by defining SGA’s mission. “We take issues that are important to the students and we try to advocate for the students' needs and wants,” McDonald said.

Palmer built on this. “Our job [is] to try to act as a liaison between the student body and administration, and the way we do that is by having a meeting with the administration of the university every other week, to express concerns that we received, to express concerns that we've come up with internally, all in an effort to increase and better the student experience,” Palmer said.

McDonald and Palmer listed opportunities for students to become more involved with SGA. “We have office hours every Monday during lunch outside the cafeteria, so you can come talk to us, because we really want to make this campus a better place for everyone,” McDonald said.

Palmer mentioned that it is easy to reach SGA, especially through meetings. “If a student ever wants to sit in on the meeting, they’re welcome to do that. We always have an open forum section,” Palmer said.

McDonald would like students to be aware of SGA’s Instagram page, because that is where they do much of their outreach. Additionally, McDonald said he “want[s] you to know who your student government representatives are so they can advocate on your behalf.”

McDonald emphasized that SGA does much work behind the scenes to improve the campus for everyone.

The site states that VWU had a 16% increase in the number of active voters, going from 49.5% in 2016 to 65.5% in 2020. This is larger than the percentage of young people voting nationwide, although other Virginia colleges, such as Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech, have larger percentages of student voters, at 69.9% in 2020 and 73% in 2020 respectively, according to their university websites.

According to the National

Study On Learning, Voting, and Engagement, the average voter participation in universities involved with the study was 66%, meaning VWU reflected a slightly below-average voter turnout. However, VWU’s data has not been collected since 2020. University efforts to encourage civic engagement, according to the website, include voter registration drives through Wesleyan Engaged, hosting political speakers and more.

Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle Information sourced from elections.virginia.gov.

Lily

Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle

Senior SGA President Eddie McDonald leads a full senate meeting following the constitution ratification.

Thursday

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Student artwork elevates campus

BY DANIELA ANGELES GALVAN dangelesgalvan@vwu.edu

Within the walls of the Neil Britton Art Gallery nestled in the Hofheimer Library, a breathtaking transformation has taken place. What once was a simple gallery space has now become a vibrant tapestry of student creativity and collaboration, culminating in the Marlin Mural Festival, which was presented on Thursday, March 7.

Initiated by Professor John Rudel, the festival has become a sanctuary of creative exploration for over 60 students, transcending the confines of traditional academia to embrace the raw essence of artistic expression.

“This project allowed student artists a venue to express their creative voices in a professional setting,” Rudel said.

For Britni Arrington, a senior double majoring in Psychology and Art, the festival serves as a canvas for introspection and self-discovery.

“Art is not just a hobby but a means of personal expression and self-discovery. I wanted to do a self portrait project for the class, since I love drawing people and thought I’d use a subject I always have access to,” Arrington said. Her contribution to the mural—a series of images chronicling her journey to embrace her natural hair—speaks volumes about the power of art to illuminate the complexities of identity and self-acceptance.

“Growing up in a PWI [Predominantly White Institution] I never saw a lot of people that looked like me, so I tried so hard to fit in with the long straight-haired, fair-skinned girls around me. Little to say, I never succeeded,” Arrington said. “After killing my hair from a perm for 10 years, I did a big chop and hated my appearance for like four years. My piece shows my ‘bald boy,’ Afro, locs and box braid phases of learning to take care of my natural hair.”

The festival’s impact extends beyond personal narratives, transcending boundaries of discipline and expectation. Eun Ko, a senior business major, found herself unexpectedly drawn into the world of mural artistry through her drawing class.

“It was a surprise because I didn’t expect to do a mural project,” Ko said.

Inspired by her travels and observations of art galleries, Ko’s piece delves into the symbiotic relationship between artwork and

audience, blurring the lines between observer and observed. As Ko recounts her journey of bringing her vision to life, one can’t help but marvel at the convergence of diverse perspectives and talents within the festival.

“My idea started with that point—that this is an art gallery,” Ko said. “Without those artworks, my piece doesn’t have meaning.”

When asked about his inspiration behind the festival, Rudel said, “The Marlin Mural Project/Festival allowed student artists a venue to express their creative voices in a professional setting, and also provided an opportunity for them to have a ‘model’ experience of the professional practices required to be a mural artist.”

The Neil Britton Art Gallery played a crucial role in providing both funding and a professional venue for the mural. With support from the university, the project garnered attention from local news outlets, further amplifying its reach.

Looking ahead, plans are already in motion to continue and expand the Marlin Mural Festival. Rudel envisions future iterations of the festival, potentially extending beyond the VWU campus to redefine public spaces in the community. As the festival continues to captivate audiences with its beauty and depth, the voices of students like Arrington and Ko echo through its halls, each brushstroke a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless potential of artistic expression. Through countless hours of dedication and perseverance, students have transformed the gallery walls into a tapestry of shared experiences and individual revelations.

Amidst the symphony of colors and emotions, one thing remains abundantly clear: within these walls, the Marlin Mural Festival becomes a reflection of the human experience itself, forging connections that defy boundaries and redefine the very essence of creativity.

SHACK-A-THON

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

“These folks are knowledgeable, caring, loving people going through a tough time,” Brown said. “People are complex—if you don’t believe me, keep living.”

This message resonated with the members of SACH.

“We have to treat people like people,” Foley said. He said that people living on the streets were “flawed—which is what all of us are.”

“We’re all closer to being homeless than we think,” Awogboro said.

In terms of making a difference, Foley said that he was hoping to take donations soon to help homeless people. He also said that people should talk to each other about their financial struggles.

“It’s uncomfortable, but that’s the point,” Foley said. This event marks the second annual Shacka-Thon, which is for many students the only time they see SACH. Getting the issue of homelessness front and center, where it can’t be ignored is the point of the Shack-a-Thon, but it isn’t the only point of the club.

“Our goal is not just to run this event and then not do anything again,” Awogboro said. He talked about events that the club had hosted such as the Safe House training with guest speaker Karen Lynne. In addition, he discussed how they had helped with soup kitchens and were hoping to do more events like that in the future.

“The more we volunteer, the more we can help the community,” Awogboro said.

Brown said that if someone wanted to make a difference, the best way was to “align yourself with a good organization,” and that the most important things to help were “compassion and resources.”

“The rest of it can and will take care of itself,” Brown said.

Foley discussed issues with apathy, which he said was “on the rise.” He said a common thing among young people was the idea: “I’m just one person, what can I do?”

Foley pushed back on this idea. He said that he founded this club because there wasn’t anything like it on campus, and he wanted there to be. As he put it, “you’re only one person until you find somebody else.”

“All that’s necessary for a force of good to be created is to find a couple of people that want to do good,” Foley said.

Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle Senior Breana Mahoney admires a piece of art in the Neil Britton Art Gallery.

Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle

Junior Judah King assembles a cardboard shack

Batten.

Chemistry student earns publication opportunity

Senior Sandra Abdellah is hoping to publish research on an affordable test for the pharmaceutical drug Amisulpride.

BY GABRIELLE BARNETT gabarnett@vwu.edu

What began as a class assignment for senior Chemistry major Sandra Abdellah evolved into an award-winning method, soon to be published in a scientific journal. Abdellah’s method adapts Paper Analytical Devices, or PADs, as a cheaper alternative to testing drugs than traditional chemistry equipment.

“I wanted to see, could I use PADs to create a method that is just as competitively good at quantifying this drug as these big, heavy, expensive machines?” Abdellah said.

These PADs are being adapted by Abdellah to test for the drug Amisulpride, which has many uses. Amisulpride is used as an antipsychotic for schizophrenia as well as an aid for nausea and upset stomachs. The difference in dosage level changes the purpose of the drug, which is a leading reason that higher doses of the drug have not been approved by the FDA.

“The testing methods that we have right now to quantify this drug are just inadequate,” Abdellah said. She explained that the process to test levels of Amisulpride is complicated and inaccessible due to the heavy machines and prolonged procedures required that wastes solution.

For example, a traditional way to test a level of concentration is to use a titration. A titration process takes a long time and involves slowly increasing a sample in a testing beaker until a reagent reacts with a color indicator.

Abdellah’s PADs take this basis but instead apply a fractional amount of solution to a PAD and dry it. Adding a small portion of the sample creates a more vibrant color reaction that can be much easier identified using the color spectrum. These samples can then be analyzed by an app to show just how much amisulpride occurs in the sample.

Abdellah’s PADs have important pharmaceutical benefits, and they are also an opportunity for students to learn and experiment with chemistry. Abdellah’s own passion for chemistry started in school, when she was able to interact and work freely with labs. Sharing this opportunity is an important purpose to her.

“That was my first time just actually feeling the independence of creating something,” Abdellah said, in

reference to her work as a chemistry work-study. As a teaching assistant in the Fall 2023 semester, Abdellah was able to switch some of the VWU chemistry labs to paper labs.

These new labs are also part of her research to help students gain a deeper understanding of chemistry and have received an award from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Undergraduate Education for Improving Undergraduate STEM Education. Additionally, the use of paper labs on campus help to further her research and demonstrate the efficiency of PADs.

Professor John Rudel, a professor of Art and director of Undergraduate Research and Curator of Exhibitions for the Neil Britton Art Gallery, is familiar with Abdellah’s research. “She is actively advancing her field and developing new solutions to challenges she recognizes,” Rudel said. Rudel has assisted in the publication of Abdellah’s work, such as helping her present at the Fall Academic Symposium and the Old Dominion University Poster Fair hosted by the American Chemical Society. Both of these opportunities helped Abdellah gain insight and ideas to further refine and test her method.

As a mentor on the project, Dr. Maury Howards, professor of Chemistry and director of Nursing and Allied Health, is supportive of Abdellah’s work. “She’s come up with some pretty neat approaches to make it work more efficiently [and] more effectively,” Howard said.

“Overall, [I’m] pushing towards publications as fast as possible,” Abdellah said. Her research also has benefits for underprivileged countries that may not have the expensive, bulky machines needed to test drugs properly. Abdellah explained how using PADs could greatly increase standards of living by creating an ease of access and distribution in all countries.

As for next steps, Abdellah is working to submit her research to the American Academy of Forensic Science’s Journal of Forensic Science, so that it can be shared with the wider chemistry community and eventually patented.

Even so, Abdellah’s invention has already broken new ground on campus and enthused faculty.

“I’m always impressed with students’ approaches; they always come up with stuff that I would not have thought of,” Howard said. “It’s a privilege to work with students in general,” Rudel said. “But it’s truly special to get to work with individuals, like Sandra Abdellah, who are beacons of excellence and who serve to remind us all of the potential for people to do great things.”

From Bibles to baking, clubs connect students

BY KYLON LEWIS khlewis@vwu.edu

During college, finding a niche through organizations such as Greek life, athletics or student-run clubs is a common student experience.

Clubs are more than just extracurricular activities; they’re the heart and soul of campus life and provide students with opportunities to connect, grow and make a difference both on and off campus. Establishing and maintaining club communities isn’t easy, but institutions like VWU show students how effective student engagement through clubs can truly enhance the college experience.

If a student has an idea that may bring people together through shared interests, that student has the ability to begin a club. It all starts with a group of students who identify a need or passion within the campus community. From there, it’s all about navigating the administrative hoops, drafting a plan and finding advisors to help with the process. The hard work pays off when a club comes to life.

Senior Sarah Blackburn can attest to the rewards of this process, as she organized the Half Baked Club in 2021.

“I’ve been with the club since I created it in 2021 as a freshman,” Blackburn said. “This club has been my little baby, and I’ve been running it for the last three years, but sadly I graduate this upcoming May.” Blackburn is the current student leader of Half Baked Club and is proud of the progress it has made since its creation.

“I noticed there was no existing baking club and decided ‘that’s a sin’ and made my own. Learning later that there’s simply no basic cooking/baking classes at all at VWU made me more determined to spread awareness regarding the club,” Blackburn said. “While we were small my first two years, this last year we’ve averaged 2530 people per meeting.” Blackburn hopes the club can continue to grow through fun traditions and collaboration with other clubs after her departure from VWU in May.

Clubs offer a variety of experiences for students. Whether students are into academics, culture or community service, there’s something for everyone. From Half Baked Club to Black Student Union (BSU), students have endless opportunities to explore their interests and connect with like-minded peers.

“Black Student Union is a space where

Abdellah is a prime example of the benefits and opportunities that can open to students who engage in undergraduate research.

I can express myself and be myself. I joined this club because I attend a PWI [Predominantly White Institution] and wanted to connect with other black students,” sophomore Madison Hayes said. “I made long-lasting friendships that I will cherish for a lifetime.”

Although all student organizations are approved by the Office of Student Activities, some student-led groups are formed under the support of various offices. For example, Bible Community is a group supported by Campus Ministries, but isn’t considered a student organization.

Sophomore Breana Brooks has been a member of the rapidly growing Bible Community since last semester. Similarly to Blackburn, the group fulfills personal goals and passions for Brooks.

“I am passionate about [Bible Community] because Christianity is something I have and always will devote my life to, and it means a lot to me,” Brooks said. “I have been a part of this club for about four months now, and it originated from just casual Bible study with a few friends. We all then decided that we should invite more people and create a bigger community of other believers on campus.”

Despite the group’s large number of attendees now, it does not receive the benefits of being an approved student organization, such as funding or hosting a table at the Student Involvement Fair.

With countless student-led clubs on campus, the Office of Student Engagement is a beneficial tool for students, as it helps students navigate the ins and outs of club creation, as well as innovate and grow clubs. Professors are always there to lend a helping hand and serve as advisors for various clubs. This supportive environment empowers students to take risks, pursue their passions and make an impact on campus.

To start a student organization, clubs must first be approved by the Office of Student Engagement. In order to be approved, clubs should have five or more members, a mission statement, a faculty or staff advisor, an executive board and a constitution. If a student’s club meets these requirements, they are invited to fill out the student organization request form on the VWU website. A list of current organizations is available on the school website for students to explore groups.

Carey Seay|Marlin Chronicle

Sandra Abdellah|Courtesy

Senior Sandra Abdellah displays a Certificate of Recognition from the American Chemical Society.

Sarah Blackburn|Courtesy

First-year Mikayla Westra and junior Claudia Caruthers decorate personal cakes.

Sarah Blackburn|Courtesy

Members of Half Baked Club, founded by Sarah Blackburn, enjoy cookies.

IVF ruling blurs church, state

BY VICTORIA GONZALEZ vgonzalez@vwu.edu

On Feb. 16, 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court made the impactful ruling that frozen embryos are people. With this decision, people can be charged with the Wrongful Death of a Minor for the damage or destruction of embryos.

Why is this decision so controversial?

It will have a direct impact on in vitro fertilization (IVF). During the IVF process, multiple embryos are created for patients and are then frozen for potential future use. However, immediately following this decision, IVF clinics in Alabama shut down temporarily to figure out how this impacted them, since they routinely discard embryos deemed unviable. I find this infringement of reproductive rights a problem for two main reasons: (1) its impact on specific demographics and (2) the blatant display of religion in politics.

The intended targets of this decision are clear: anyone who is not cisgender, heterosexual or biologically capable of producing children. LGBTQIA+ individuals, single women and couples with fertility issues are the main users of IVF and unfortunately, they will be the ones who are affected most by this decision. The Alabama Supreme Court is trying to regulate the reproductive

decisions of these groups.

IVF is an emotionally taxing and financially burdensome procedure, with the average cost for one round being $15,000 and typically not covered by health insurance. You pay $15,000 for a chance of a family, not a guarantee.

Going through the IVF process is difficult enough without the government meddling in the reproductive decisions of the American people. Everyone deserves to have a family, should that be what they desire, and potentially taking that away is government overreach.

Arguably, the scariest part of this ruling is the obvious violation of the separation between church and state. The best part of the United States is its rich diversity and democracy.

Under the Bill of Rights, everyone has the right to worship. It becomes an issue when someone’s religion starts impacting the lives of those who do not participate in that religion.

When asked about the decision, Chief Justice Tom Parker said, “Even before birth, all human beings bear the image of God, and their lives cannot be destroyed without effacing his glory.” Chief Justice Parker is entitled to his religion, but he supported a ruling that affects everyone. They made decisions based on a personal religious belief.

Religion should not have influence on the public good, especially in a government that prides itself on ‘freedom.’ We are citizens of a secular state, and we should be making decisions as such. This is not the first decision that has been made on the basis of religion, and I fear that it may not be the last.

On March 8, 2024, the Alabama House and Senate passed a law that granted IVF clinics and providers criminal immunity. According to AP News, the recent legislation proposals say “no action, suit, or criminal prosecution for the damage to or death of an embryo shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization.”

This feels like a band-aid to a major issue. Claiming that an embryo is a child can have dangerous implications on future cases and sets a scary legal precedent. When does life begin? Who is liable?

When is it murder of a minor? There are many unanswered questions that this recent bill does not address.

I remember where I was when the overturning of Roe v. Wade was announced. I felt helpless and disheartened wondering what reproductive rights will be targeted next.

With the upcoming elections, it is imperative that we exercise our right

to vote. Vote for people who will make policy changes that encompass and benefit everyone. Vote for someone who will not push their agenda on the public. Vote for someone who is going to bring someone new. Just use your voice. Make it to where people in power cannot ignore you.

Victoria Gonzalez is a senior majoring in Political Science and GWSS. She focuses on amplifying the voices of those who are often silenced or overlooked. Victoria can be contacted at vgonzalez@ vwu.edu.

AI needs to be held accountable

BY ANNA GREENLEAF aggreenleaf1@vwu.edu

from cannot be given proper citation.

In my past semester at VWU, some professors have recommended using AI for class-related purposes. AI can be used for personal use, be it translating, brainstorming ideas or formatting.

However, AI should not be used for academic or work-related issues. Any usage of AI is the same as delegating work to another person with unreliable sources who is not given credit. This can lead to misinformation and laziness.

In the past, search engines have been used to cheat, and with the rise of AI, cheating has become even more of an issue. What if a medical student cheated on an exam and passed, then years down the line, gave the wrong medication to a patient because they did not learn that information?

Although that is just a hypothetical, the danger of illegitimate academic degrees is becoming all the more real, mostly thanks to AI. I would not want to be operated on by a doctor who I know has used AI in the past. But as it stands, there is no way to know whether a diploma displayed on a doctor’s office wall was obtained legitimately or illegitimately.

Using AI to brainstorm ideas can be detrimental to humanity’s future. College students can grow complacent, and our genius could never reach its full potential. Our generation has grown tired of being told to disconnect from our devices, but

there is truth in that advice.

If we continue to be immersed in whatever low-intelligence entertainment awaits us, and leave the heavy-lifting of academics to artificial intelligence, where will the challenges be to develop our minds? There is a saying that the “bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma,” but if both of those could have been gotten illegitimately, the job market can become oversaturated with individuals who should not have been given a degree for work that is in no way theirs. There are some so-called “AI detectors” that have rolled out, yet sometimes they are faulty and do not detect AI, and other times detect AI when it was all humanmade. The truth is, AI is being advanced far faster than we can predict or contain, by programmers who are not thinking about the possible ethical quandaries that could result. I am proud of never using AI for moral reasons, but for some, a moral question may have never been raised, or may come to a different conclusion.

VWU is a liberal arts college, with many students who are interested in the visual or written arts. However, AI has been used to make art or essays that are sometimes indistinguishable from a human. Art is a fundamental part of the human experience and leads to stories of humanity being told. If AI is relied on for creative pursuits, that takes work and

money away from hard-working artists. With deep-fakes and new computergenerated videos, misinformation can spread rapidly.

Evidence for crimes never committed, lies perpetuated by political powers and atrocities covered up could all become serious issues through artificial intelligence. These could be worst-case scenarios from AI, or they could be the near future. AI is a new tool for humanity, just like a calculator or an atomic bomb.

AI usage is a serious issue regarding academics and occupations in the future, especially concerning illegitimacy. Artificial intelligence presents an unprecedented moral issue that no one has answers to yet. Popular culture has drawn up AI to be anywhere from child-like to our new evil overlords.

Yes, AI is a tool that could be used for good, but the negatives and terrible future possibilities stemming from its unchecked growth far outweigh any benefits. Any new technology needs to be held accountable by legal and corporate limitations, including, and especially, AI.

Anna Greenleaf is a sophomore majoring in Chemistry with a minor in EES. She wants to succeed with the strength of her own work, not the use of an AI shortcut. Anna can be contacted at aggreenleaf1@vwu.edu.

Trans athlete exclusion creates stigma

BY MILO SCHUEHLE mcschuehle@vwu.edu

As a transgender man, I feel unqualified to discuss whether or how transgender women should participate in intercollegiate sports.

Like many other trans people, I find this topic frustrating to hear, especially when it’s brought up simply to demonize transgender women. I believe I do not have all the answers to these questions, and I do not intend to argue otherwise. However, I can summarize the different points of view surrounding this topic to shed some light on why individuals think one way or another.

The topic of transgender individuals has been widely overblown to create a hot topic for politicians to profit from. The creation of this wedge issue allows for politicians to gain issue voters, or individuals who will vote for someone simply because they feel the same way about a specific issue.

If you look at Governor Glenn Youngkin’s policies regarding transgender people, you can make an argument that he doesn’t care about transgender people, he just uses it as a wedge issue. He has many anti-trans policies that ostracize transgender youths in schools, as well as denying them healthcare access.

Transgender women are often the targets of these topics, despite there being many transgender men wanting to participate in men’s sports. However, trans men don’t threaten cisgender men the way

that transgender women do.

Should it not be questioned more often, why do cis men fear trans women? Cisgender men fear the few individuals who do pretend to be trans women for personal gain. This situation is rare, and should not be used to make generalizations about trans women in sports. However, in this situation, men simply fear other men, which is quite concerning.

Many preach that female athletes must be protected from “biological men.” They claim they protect cisgender female athletes by excluding transgender women they call “biological men,” when in reality they are just excluding other women. Additionally, this notion of thinking women need to be protected is rooted in patriarchal beliefs about the ownership of girls, which contributes to the infantilization of cis women and the adultification of transgender women.

Plenty of trans women in sports are transitioning medically, but that should not be a factor of the value of them as a woman, as transition hormones or surgeries are not desired by all trans individuals. By viewing trans women as masculine, cis women athletes who are more masculine are affected.

In the topic of transgender women, people view their natural advantage as being larger, stronger, faster and having higher levels of testosterone.

However, cisgender individuals also have natural advantages sometimes. A

woman with extremely large lungs has a natural advantage over other swimmers or runners with average sized lungs.

Women who are taller could also have natural advantages in sports like basketball. Some cis women are even born with high levels of testosterone. Why is the line only drawn for trans women, even when unfairness occurs frequently in sports?

There are potential solutions to this unfairness caused by natural advantages trans women may have. One solution involves testing and managing hormone levels. This concept revolves around the idea that transitioning via hormones or surgery can lessen the levels of testosterone in trans women.

By frequently testing and adjusting these levels, trans women can have similar testosterone levels to that of cis women. However, I’d argue that this isn’t entirely ethical.

Not all trans women want to transition medically, and creating a system that benefits trans women who do transition will create more issues around the validity of trans people.

Additionally, studies on hormone management have shown that performance levels in trans and cis women can still have a disparity, as hormones can’t erase some pubescent changes in height and body fat that occur due to testosterone levels.

Other solutions are related to the way sports are managed. Some argue that

erasing the binary separation of sports is the future. If this is done, sports could potentially be separated similarly to weightlifting, where individuals are put into weight classes; some people think that the classes could be separated by weight, height, hormone levels or other specifiers, although the logistics of this are under-researched.

Refusing to allow trans women to participate in women’s sports, creates a stigma about transgender women and generalizes trans women in sports as non-transitioned and masculine.

Milo Schuehle is a first-year majoring in Psychology and GWSS. He enjoys rollerblading around campus, singing and cleaning. Milo can be contacted at mcschuehle@vwu.edu.

Kara Hopkins|Marlin Chronicle Milo smiles for a headshot.

Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle Anna Greenleaf poses on campus.

Victoria Gonzalez|Courtesy Headshot of Victoria Gonzalez.

NCAA DIII VP discusses improvements

BY SYDNEE WASHINGTON

The future of Division III sports rests in the hands of Vice President Louise McCleary and other NCAA DIII officials. On March 7 VWU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) leaders senior Alex Moody and sophomore Julia Hathaway hosted McCleary in a Q&A with VWU athletes.

Moody was appreciative of McCleary visiting with students. “She’s the Vice President, so she’s going to be busy most of the time of the year. So for her to just come to our campus meant a lot not to just President

Miller but also to Julia and I,” Moody said. “What better than to get the Vice President of the organization you’re a part of to be on your campus, spread her knowledge of what she does on an everyday basis, how we can help our student-athletes better in the classroom, mental health wise or just on the field.”

The discussion covered a variety of topics concerning the improvement of DIII sports, including mental health, NIL stipulations and protections and assistance in the imbalance of funding and support between varying DIII institutions and their athletics.

McCleary showed much

concern for the conditions of DIII athletes, as a former triple-season athlete herself. “Everything we do in Division III has the studentathlete in mind. It may not seem that way. I may be opening a can of worms, but really that’s where we start,” she said at the Q&A.

This concern has morphed into policy enactment concerning athlete mental health, such as the access to a mental health waiver that allows athletes to redshirt a year, a privilege shared only by DIII athletes thus far.

Moody touched on the importance of discussing the wellbeing of athletes’ minds.

“Student-athletes, they have sports and school to balance,” Moody said. “I think it was huge that she kind of touched on that for the student-athletes to hear that she was concerned about the mental health aspect.”

To ensure the optimal conditions for these athletes, NCAA DIII officials maintain a close relationship with SAAC representatives at a plethora of schools.

“We have a primary liaison, so we have a full-time staff member that works with national SAAC, and then we have four other staff members that support that committee,” McCleary said. “So it’s the most supportive committee we have at the NCAA.

Any of those student-athletes—so if you take our primary members and our associate members you’re looking at 42 student-athletes serve on that committee—they have direct access to any of those liaisons any day of the week.”

Some students were very engrossed in discussion during

the Q&A, even asking questions themselves. Others, however, did not necessarily see the purpose in it.

“For me personally, there were not many ‘key’ takeaways. I learned about some of the things that the VP of the NCAA DIII program does, but not all of it was of interest to me,” first-year Juliette Coffey, a member of the Women’s Golf team, said.

Coffey acknowledged that the discussion helped her learn more about the relationship between NCAA DIII officials and studentathletes.

“Many of these [policies] have been brought up because of the involvement of SAAC across DIII schools which is nice to know that you can get your voice heard as a student-athlete, although I am not sure just how easy it is to do as the board does not always meet frequently,” she said.

Coffey had hoped that the talk would have discussed more issues she sees as important.

“As a Q&A, I felt as though there were things that could have been asked that invoked more conversation on how to help us out instead of just asking what she does for a living,” Coffey said. “I think that this would have been a great opportunity to ask or tell the actual vice president of DIII about things or problems that we are having with our programs.”

Hathaway also shared some thoughts on topics that the Q&A omitted. “While the discussion covered significant ground, I would have welcomed a deeper exploration of potential areas for innovation within Division III, particularly in light of ongoing

developments such as educational benefits, NIL, and revenue sharing in Division I,” she said.

Despite the lack of a consensus on the wealth of the talk, it can be agreed that the relationship between SAAC representatives and NCAA officials serves useful for the betterment and preservation of DIII sports.

As a SAAC representative at the national level, Hathaway emphasized the importance of this relationship.

“Collaboration with key stakeholders, including university presidents, athletic directors and fellow SAAC representatives, is pivotal in advancing these goals,” she said. “Through platforms such as the NCAA Management Council and campus SAAC initiatives, we advocate for policy changes, resource allocation and initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall student-athlete experience.”

Hathaway also gave insight into what change she hopes to effect for student-athletes. “Ideas for enhancing DIII athletes’ experiences include bolstering access to mental health support and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within athletic programs,” she said.

“Additionally, I aim to explore avenues for expanding community engagement and professional development opportunities for student-athletes.”

With SAAC pioneering the initiative to produce an environment in which studentathletes can thrive and NCAA officials such as McCleary allowing these voices to be heard, these goals may soon be realized.

Baseball moves forward with full roster

BY BRIAN MADDEN bvmadden@vwu.edu

The Marlins were not very successful on the baseball diamond in 2023 and look to bounce back in 2024 with a much larger roster.

Different from other years in the past, the coaching staff recruited many new players. The current roster includes 34 firstyears and two transfers.

While there are many firstyear players on the Marlins, they do have a good amount of juniors and seniors with plenty of experience, serving as leaders. “The older guys on the team do a great job of teaching the younger guys,” first-year catcher Nathan Bryant said.

Even though the first-year students are not seeing as much playing time as they would like, most of them are keeping

a positive attitude. They are gathering experience with every practice and game, even if they are not playing all the time. “It will really help next year when all the seniors graduate,” first-year Jason Caccavaro said.

An idea that was proposed for the Marlins in response to the lack of playing time for the first-years was creating a Junior Varsity team, but they decided not to. After that decision was made, some people began to rethink their futures in playing baseball at VWU.

“That’s why I decided to quit,” first-year Ryan Britt said. Knowing he may not play a lot, he decided to move on from the team and focus on other things.

After a slow start to the season, the Marlins have won some games against St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Alfred State College, William Peace University and

others. As of now, the Marlins’ record stands at 13 wins and 9 losses as of March 26, winning some key games against Southern Virginia and Guilford.

Following those games, they battled against number 4 ranked Salisbury but came up short. Next, they split games in a doubleheader against a conference opponent, Eastern Mennonite University. They lost that first game 8-11 but won the second game 17-11.

The Marlins played a makeup game against an out-ofconference team, Washington College, on Tuesday, March 19, where they won 14-4.

They then went on to play the University of Lynchburg on Wednesday, March 20. Lynchburg, who are ranked 21 nationally and the defending National Champions, pulled out the win 19-10, but not without a fight from the Marlins.

The Marlins had brought it back to a tie game 10-10 in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a grand slam by Bryant.

The Marlins play again on

Saturday, March 30, where they will host Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) opponent Shenandoah at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Kenneth R. Perry Field.

SportsHead|MBB & WBB March Madness

BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu

I am irritated with this year’s Men’s National Collegiate Athletic Committee (NCAA) bracket. First off, three of the final four teams from the 2023 tournament are on the same side of the bracket, which makes close to zero sense. That means that a potential Sweet 16 matchup in the east region will be a rematch of last year’s National Championship game.

Another thing I am chewing out the selection committee for is the fact that the Big East Conference only has three teams in the tournament. UConn as 1 seed in the east is unsurprising;

The 2024 Women’s Basketball NCAA Division I tournament is going to be the best it’s ever been. Talent is more widespread than ever, and competition is at its highest. NowThis News reported six times as many tickets being sold for the women’s Final Four in comparison to the men’s Final Four. Clearly, the women’s tournament is highly anticipated, as it should be. We have South Carolina, Iowa, Texas and USC seeded as number one in their respective regions (Albany I, Albany II, Portland III

they are the defending National Champions. Marquette is a 2 seed in the south, and I hope they lose soon because as a Villanova fan I don’t like them.

The last Big East team that got a bid was Creighton, who is the 3 seed in the Midwest, and I think they have a team that can go far into March. They deserve it after being brutally beaten in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament by Providence as the 2 seed.

Speaking of Providence, they could have arguably made a case to be selected and quite honestly they would have done

and Portland IV). All are talented and deserving of their ranking.

I’m not too confident about USC being in the Final Four. I can see them being upset by either Baylor in the Sweet 16 or Duke in the Elite 8 (crossing my fingers that Duke beats UCONN in the Sweet 16), but JuJu Watkins and Mackenzie Forbes might be the propellers for a Championship run for USC. I don’t really see Texas being in the Final Four. I am picking Stanford over them for the Final Four spot. Stanford’s

better than the University of Virginia who is already out of the tournament. They had an atrocious performance in the First Four games, where they did not score the last almost 10 minutes of the first half and spent about 53 minutes of real time not scoring.

I haven’t really been paying attention to the Big 12 this year, so I have no serious opinion on Houston, but I guess if they are still the 1 seed in the south after being blown out by nearly 30 to Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship, they must have had a pretty good season. The University of North Carolina-

bigs, Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen, are offensive and defensive monsters. It is just a matter of shutting down Texas’ uber-talented first-year Madison Booker and supporting sophomore Aaliyah Moore. I think LSU will beat out Iowa for the Final Four spot. LSU beat Iowa in the championship game last year when Iowa was still blessed with Monika Czinano, so this year it should be a breeze, unless LSU’s players choke or Iowa’s role players start playing spectacularly (rare).

Chapel Hill, I think, has the easiest road to the Final Four out of all the number 1 seeds, but quite honestly I hope they don’t make it to the Final Four.

UConn is probably going to go back-to-back, they’ve pretty much been number 1 in the country all year. I don’t know if you could consider NC State a Cinderella, but they wouldn’t have even made the tournament if they didn’t win the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) tournament. They have been on an absolute tear recently, and I hope they go far. But hey, it’s March Madness and anything can happen.

I am confident that South Carolina will make it to the Final Four; however, I am not too confident that they will win the whole tournament. I am rooting for them, though. Overall, I’m just excited to see how the freshman class performs in this tournament. Freshmen like Hannah Hidalgo, Audi Crooks, Milaysia Fulwiley, Mikayla Williams and many more have been playing at high levels. I expect them to continue this momentum and add to the craziness of this tournament.

Josh Pagett|Marlin Chronicle

SAAC representatives senior Alex Moody and sophomore Julia Hathaway conduct a Q&A with Vice President Louise McCleary.

sawashington2@vwu.edu

Josh Pagett|Marlin Chronicle Senior and captain Michael Burton Jr. swings at a pitch during a game against Salisbury University at the Kenneth R. Perry Field.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle

Junior pitcher leads from the circle

BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu

Junior Lauren Bible has stood out as a pitcher in the VWU Softball starting rotation since she arrived on campus in the Fall of 2021. In her first season in a Marlins uniform, Bible pitched 92 innings in 21 games and 18 starts. Bible registered a 2.28 earned run average (ERA), while throwing for a 10-4 record with seven complete games and one shutout.

Bible was a member of the 2022 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship team and was a crucial part of their National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Amherst Regional Tournament win that advanced them to the super regionals where they ultimately lost to crosstown rival Christopher Newport University. Bible also garnered ODAC Third Team All Conference awards.

In her sophomore year campaign, she was even better. In her 2022 season, Bible made 27 appearances pitching, including 15 starts. Bible pitched to a 15-2 record where she pitched 117.1 innings with nine complete games and two shutouts. She pitched to a 1.13 ERA with 67 strikeouts. Bible garnered even more awards in her

second campaign. Bible was named to the Second Team All Region by National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the NCAA Softball All Region team for the regional tournament that VWU hosted and First Team All Conference.

After trying her hand at tennis, Bible started playing softball when she was in about first grade and has stuck with it ever since. “My parents signed me up for tennis as a kid, and I kept hitting the tennis ball out of the court. I had no idea what aim was,” Bible said.

For Bible, her career hasn’t always been easy. Bible is a native of Danville, California, and played for a travel ball team full of NCAA Division I commits, so all she knew was Division I. Bible’s travel ball coach got her in contact with VWU. “She was like, I heard the coach pushes you, and you can deal with that,” Bible said.

Between the distance and COVID-19 concerns, Head Softball Coach Brandon Elliot wasn’t able to fly out to see Bible play, so she made her own recruiting video. She set up a tripod, had her mom catch balls for her and used iMovie to edit. Bible sent her video to coaches and visited Virginia Beach to meet with Coach Elliot.

“When they told me about the national championships, I was like okay, I feel like this is a DI program in a DIII school,” Bible said.

As an upperclassmen and a leader on the team, Bible is an exceptional teammate. Junior Infielder Halee Hawkins remarked on Bible’s characteristics as a teammate. “Not only is Lauren a fantastic teammate but she is an amazing human as well,” Hawkins said.

According to Hawkins, Bible is one of the most selfless people she has ever met. As far as playing behind Bible, Hawkins has learned who Bible is on the mound. “It has allowed me to learn what environment is best for her to succeed and for her to be her absolute best, and it has brought us closer over the years,” Hawkins said.

Bible’s pitching coach is Bri Burger, one of the assistant softball coaches. Although Burger was not a part of the coaching staff Bible’s freshman year, Burger believes

the Scoreboard

Bible has certainly developed since they met in the summer of 2022. Hawkins agrees with Burger. “Lauren has made an incredible jump from freshman year to now. She has become more confident not only in her abilities but everyone else’s ability around her,” Hawkins said.

Burger thinks that Bible’s unique personality “allows her to think outside the box when it comes to pitching,” Burger said.

As far as coaching Bible, Burger said, “Lauren is a joy to coach. Not only is she insanely talented, but she works harder than most and is always determined to get things right.”

Burger grew up in Texas and played a lot of games in California. According to her, the game is different on the West Coast. “When I got to Virginia Wesleyan, I was able to relate to her in some of the terms she was saying and things she was doing that was unique to everyone else,” Burger said.

Burger and Hawkins don’t believe Bible realizes how good she actually is. “She is always humble and always wants to be better,” Burger said.

Hawkins echoed similar words. “She has always been incredibly humble and sweet, but as the years have gone on, she has become more confident,” Hawkins said.

Playing for Virginia Wesleyan, a softball program with three national titles and numerous ODAC titles, there is inherent pressure. Bible and Hawkins emphasized that Elliot says pressure is a privilege. “There is always pressure, especially for us because we are expected to win,” Hawkins said. She said she never feels pressure playing behind Bible.

Bible said she always wants to make an impact. “My goal was always to go and contribute to a program,” Bible said. Whether that is it in the dugout, or just being a good player, Bible wants to be a player her team can depend on.

Bible and the Marlins return home Wednesday, April 3 against the University of Mary Washington in a doubleheader with games at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

the Schedule

Lacrosse looks to maintain confidence

BY COY CAMISCIOLI clcamiscioli@vwu.edu

The Men’s Lacrosse team is off to a decent start, despite coming off a tough loss against No 13. Ranked University of Lynchburg 16-4. They currently sit with a record of 4-5 and are 2-1 in conference play at about halfway through the season, but they are not settling for an average record.

Junior Midfielder Sebastian Reynolds described what the team has learned at the halfway mark of the season. “We have not started as we had hoped. We identified some major setbacks within our system and other struggles early on,” Reynolds said. He made sure to mention that the team is keeping their confidence and maintaining a determined and positive attitude towards the latter part of the season. “We do not look too far in advance. Our goal is to go 1-0 each week and to not focus on the next game until the current one is over,” Reynolds said.

He hopes that this mentality will help accomplish the team’s postseason goals. “Our goals are to make the ODAC tournament, and eventually make a push for the NCAA tournament. We have turned a new leaf as a program this year, and we need to prove that to the people that watched our games, but also ourselves,” Reynolds said.

This group of guys has worked hard to build team chemistry with a team of 41 players. “We have had some special moments this year that have really brought us together as one brotherhood. We all have each other and are a brotherhood that will last a lifetime,” Reynolds said.

Junior Long Stick Midfielder/Defender Crosson Miller also gave his input on what it is like to be a part of the team, crediting Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach J.P. Stewart for its great chemistry. “Coach Stewart has recently been emphasizing the importance of ‘out-teaming’ our opponent. We all have our own jobs and roles to take care of,” Miller said.

Despite the long break between games and the opportunity to go home for the break, the team has stayed busy for their upcoming conference matchup against the University of Lynchburg.

“We have prioritized body recovery and watching film on the upcoming teams that we will be playing. We want to make sure that everyone is physically and mentally prepared for the task we have at hand,” Miller said.

The team is two wins away from matching their six wins from last season, but it will be important to work to their strengths the rest of the way through a difficult schedule.

Senior Midfield/Attack Gavyn Tawes described the mindset for the upcoming games.

“We all have different strengths as a team and as long as we do what we need to do, we will win. That is what we tried to do against Averett and it seemed to work,” Tawes said. He, along with the rest of the team, understands the potential this group of guys holds and what they can do the rest of the way. “If we are playing at our best, then I do not think that anyone can beat us,” Tawes said.

The Marlins’ next home game is Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. on Birdsong Field.

James Hill|Courtesy Junior Sebastian Reynolds prepares to shoot the ball in a game against Methodist University on Feb. 20.

Josh Pagett|Marlin Chronicle

Junior Lauren Bible prepares to throw a pitch from the pitching circle.

‘Dune: Part Two’ meets expectations

REVIEW

BY CALEE LUKOWSKI crlukowski@vwu.edu

With a running time of just under three hours, “Dune: Part Two” immerses audiences further into the science fiction universe established by the 2021 adaptation of “Dune: Part One.” “Dune: Part Two” took to theaters March 1.

The “Dune” universe was initially created by Frank Herbert in his 1965 novel “Dune.” Herbert’s novel was first adapted into a movie of the same name in 1984. “Dune: Part One” and “Dune: Part Two” are not reboots of the original movie, but simply different adaptations of the 1965 novel.

“Dune: Part Two” was “an excellent sequel to the first movie. It was different from the book and original movie, but it made it its own successful piece,” senior Erika Eichelberger said.

Though the movie is a long one, the storytelling certainly makes up for it, and it might be hard for audiences to be bored. “I’m really surprised how much I liked it…normally you couldn’t pay me to sit through anything over 2 hours. But I was immersed throughout the whole movie, I honestly loved it,” alumna Divinity Richardson said.

The story follows Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, as he navigates the deep deserts of Arrakis, the fictional planet where “Dune” takes place. Following the events of “Dune: Part One,” Paul and his mother must convince the Fremen people that they can be trusted.

There are religious aspects that lead some of the Fremen people to believe that Paul is a legendary prophet or messiah from the “other worlds,” called the “Lisan Al Gaib,” but not everyone, including Paul, is convinced.

House Harkonnen, one of the great houses of the “Dune” galaxy, had taken

over Arrakis after the fall of Paul’s family, House Atreides. The Fremen, with the help of Paul, must try to protect their land and sacred crop, Spice, from the Harkonnen. With many cinematic fight scenes and exciting ambushes, it seems that the Fremen are beating the Harkonnen, or at least keeping them from gaining any more ground.

Paul must not only fight the outward threat of the Harkonnen, but also decide who his true allies are in a mind-bending game of politics and religion. He must play the game of politics to save the universe from a fate only he can foresee, but Paul might have to sacrifice the love of his life to do it.

Like any good blockbuster movie, the cast was full of well known actors and actresses. With notable actors like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler and many more, it seems as if the film was destined to be a hit before it even hit theaters.

Seeing the actors through the characters can add an extra layer of comedy for some audience members. “I can’t believe Timothée Chalamet’s corny pickup lines worked on Zendaya. He really is the ‘Lisan Al Gaib,’” alumni Criofan Shaw said.

The film does a wonderful job of portraying the fact that anyone can fight for one cause but still be playing a game that best benefits them in the end. Richardson called the film “emotionally complex,” and it certainly is.

“Dune” does a wonderful job of portraying the motivations and feelings of all the characters, not just the main character.

The wonderful storytelling of the movie easily conveys the social and political challenges in this fictional world. The movie can easily be a fun science fiction film for younger audiences while also being packed with political game play for older audiences.

Painted Tree supports vendors

BY JENNIFER MEJIA jpmejia@vwu.edu

A retail haven, an indoor flea market, a one-stop shop dripping with the allure of a Pinterest page–the Painted Tree Boutiques offer a retail experience for those who want a little bit of everything. A variety of vendors set up shop, selling items from florals, clothing and sustainable products to baked goods, gifts and more. 36 locations, spread across the nation with more to come, are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This store fosters the entrepreneurial aspirations of countless individuals by allowing many vendors to showcase and promote their own products with assigned booth spaces. For entrepreneurs and their products, being a vendor at the Painted Tree means an increase in overall engagement, foot traffic and sales.

“This is a really great concept store for someone like myself, who is still working full time,” Lucky Leaf Plants owner Melissa Smith said. Smith has been a vendor at the Painted Tree since May of 2023. “I didn’t know how well my products would be received. Not having to jump into a brick and mortar is a great thing for somebody that wants to explore. Or for somebody that’s just looking for some extra income; your storefront is how you choose to run it,” Smith said.

The Painted Tree gives each vendor plenty of leeway on how they choose to run their space and encourages each vendor to tell their own story, which adds a layer of authenticity to each small business owner that can’t be replaced.

In the world of consumerism, the Painted Tree and its constituents aim to make purchases that are more than just transactions, but emotional investments. Buying something you love not only

brings joy, but also connects you to its story. By adding personal touches to each retail space, vendors create a memorable shopping experience that builds loyalty. The fundamental approach at the Painted Tree Boutiques is about fostering connections and shared values and making every purchase meaningful for shoppers.

The Painted Tree Boutiques is certainly an interesting and fun concept of shopping–leaving behind mass consumerism and practicing mindfulness.

This type of setup, often likened to an indoor flea market or artisan market, can offer a wide range of goods in one location, making it convenient for shoppers to find unique items while supporting local vendors.

This aspect also makes it a wonderful place to bring visiting relatives, shop for a housewarming gift or just shop on a rainy day. It’s a great way for small businesses and artisans to reach a broader audience and for shoppers to discover handmade, one-of-a-kind treasures.

Michele Ryba, a local guide, left a glowing Google review. “Wow, not what I was expecting. Much larger and many more booths… like Ebay on steroids,” Ryba said.

Customer Yvonne Frederick shared another review. “If you’re looking for a shop to support local artists and creators, Painted Tree is really the perfect venue. There are about 200 unique booths to shop in and there’s something for everyone,” Frederick said.

For what started as a vintage market in Bryant, Arkansas, the Painted Tree Boutiques has certainly expanded its reach. Whether a seller is looking to expand their small business, or a customer is seeking an entirely new shopping experience, the Painted Tree Boutiques offers everything they need and more.

Hailey Benders|Marlin Chronicle

Jennifer Mejia|Marlin Chronicle

Lucky Leaf Plants owner

Melissa Smith sets up within the Painted Tree Boutiques.

Women reclaim male dominated industry

The fully female team at May’s Parlor provides customers with delicious food and Southern hospitality.

BY MJ MATTHEWS mjmatthews@vwu.edu

Located along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, May’s Parlor welcomes locals, tourists and bakery lovers alike. The coffee and cookie house’s southernchic aesthetic meshes with the friendliness of the staff to create an atmosphere that makes customers feel right at home.

Converted from a typical community house, the cafe has an outdoor patio as well as an indoor chimney-centered area to sit down and enjoy sweet treats. It still feels very homey, with family photos accenting classic black and white decor, floral-lemon walls keeping things whimsical and greenery interjecting outdoor conversation at every patio table.

May’s serves coffee, tea and other specialty beverages. The

parlor also offers a full breakfast menu—including quiche, chia pudding and yogurt parfaits— alongside a lunch menu with sandwiches, salads and a kids menu in the mix. With such a range of dishes, a couple vegan items included, there’s something for everyone.

Hannah, the front house manager, recommended the Turkey Bacon Pesto sandwich as her favorite lunch, and an almond croissant as her favorite, and possibly the parlor’s best, baked good. From the wide array of cookies, croissants, pies and other treats to choose from, it’s more than a little challenging to find a favorite.

May’s Parlor is remarkable in many ways, one being that they are women-owned and operated.

“We’re all women,” Hannah said. “I love it, honestly; it’s like

the most friendly place where I’ve worked in a while.” This friendliness shines through staff interactions, as well as those with patrons—smiles and well wishes all around.

All the bakers and baristas of this location are women. Racheal Browning, the head baker and owner, said for her personally, being a woman baker is more impactful to her than being a woman business owner, as it’s always assumed that she (the chef) is a man.

“I don’t necessarily see too much of a difference being a woman business owner; however, being a woman chef or cook or like cook/baker is a little bit different,” Browning said. “It is a male dominated industry, like most are, you know, so most people are like ‘Oh tell the chef his recipes are good.’”

Nonetheless, these comments and compliments are a testament to the delicious and brilliant work of Browning and her team.

Browning opened May’s Parlor in 2017 and since then has opened two other locations: one in Norfolk and a bake shop in Virginia Beach. She is from the area originally, only moving away to study baking, pastry and business, before coming back here to open May’s.

The theme and name of her bakery is in homage to her late grandmother. “I named it after my grandmother, May. I developed the recipes based off of school recipes, recipes in the family and recipes from all over—and kind of just made it into what it is now,” Browning said. Though May herself was not a baker, she was a cook, hence her influence on the current recipes and fervor of the parlor. Also setting them apart from similar businesses is their passion, Browning said. “All of the employees that work for me have a passion for what they do. Whether it’s coffee, baking, pastries, savory cookies–everybody’s really passionate about what they do, and I think that shows in the quality of food and the menu items,” Browning said.

One of the most striking things about the cafe is the wallpaper, which just so happens to be the center for the shop’s aesthetic. “I wanted to give like, Southern vibes, and we found the wallpaper…it’s florally, but the floral is like, lemon tree based, so we went for that, and we love incorporating lemons into our baked goods and our dishes,” Browning said.

If the design theme wasn’t enough, Southern hospitality is most definitely embodied by this shop. Being in such an accessible location, May’s serves a wide demographic of people. Older ladies come in to have a pastry and chat, while families come for their own lunch breaks from the beach, followed by college students looking for their coffee fix and other busy-bee workers popping in for a grab-n-go or looking to take a breather. The staff at May’s is endlessly kind, enthusiastic and welcoming.

Next time you’re by the beach, head over to May’s Parlor for something sweet or salivating, or even just a coffee. Their oceanfront location is 2708 Pacific Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.

MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle

The pastry counter at May’s Parlor exhibits a large assortment of homemade pastries.

May’s Parlor|Courtesy Illustration of May’s Parlor from their web page.