November 15, 2018

Hayley Heath| Marlin Chronicle

SEE BEACON Pg. 6

THURSDAY 11.15.18 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU ||

Lattuca’s first year, one for the books

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

VWU bleeds red and blue Virginia Wesleyan students, staff and faculty reflect on the 2018 midterm elections and representation in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu

@VWUMenXCTF | Twitter Freshman Skyler Lattuca earns All-Regional honors at Regional race.

Students, staff and faculty at Wesleyan went to the polls to vote in the midterm elections on Nov. 6.

Adjunct professor John Doucette said there was a “tremendous turnout” in this year’s midterm election.

An estimated 113 million people voted, making this the first midterm exceeding 100 million voters. This year’s record 49 percent participation is even more impressive when compared with the 36.4 percent voter turnout from the 2014 midterms, which was the lowest turnout for a midterm in U.S. history.

Doucette cited several possible reasons for the higher turnout, among them being the fact that the U.S. current has a “pretty unpopular president.” He also said the large voter turnout in this area may have been a result of the possibility of a new mayor. Virginia Beach elected Bobby Dyer as the new mayor over Ben Davenport.

One Wesleyan employee said that the most important part of the election was the change it might cause: “[You] can’t change anything if you don’t go vote.”

Student Reese Reid pointed out that voting was the only way for people to make their voices heard and lobby for their interests. “How’s it going to work if no one votes?” Reid asked.

Young voters have become a major part of recent midterm elections. There was a ten percent increase in voters aged 18 to 29 from the last midterm, according to the center’s estimates.

“We are the next generation who will go out into the workforce, pay taxes and otherwise,” student Jay Crusemire said. “So it should be our voice that is represented.”

President Miller congratulated several candidates on their election in his daily blog, among them being: Tim Kaine, re-elected Virginia senator; Tom Carpter, re-elected Delaware senator; Louis Scott, re-elected council member for Virginia Beach; Bobby Scott, reelected representative for Virginia’s third congressional district; and Elaine Luria, newly-elected representative for Virgina’s 2nd Congressional District.

SEE MIDTERMS Pg. 2

113 million people voted

BY JORDAN ESPOSITO jmesposito@vwu.edu

MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu

Skyler Lattuca of the men’s cross-country team had a productive first fall season of competition. Nabbing first-, third- and fourth-place finishes in the regular season, earning All-Region and Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Runner of the Week honors and being named ODAC Rookie of the year, Lattuca will be a regular name in the cross-country conversation the next couple years.

Lattuca is a two-year student at Virginia Wesleyan who joined the cross-country team his sophomore academic year.

Naturally, Lattuca was a little nervous to join.

“Coming from someone who didn’t run last year, it was intimidating because everyone was already so close and I didn’t know what to expect,” Lattuca said. “With that said the guys have been super supportive of me joining and I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a team encourage each other the way that they do.”

Since he took an entire year off from running, Lattuca had a lot of catching up to do to get in shape for a cross country season. He started slow and built his way back by doing base training. He noted that he started with about 10 miles per week and gradually made his way to hitting 60 a couple times.

SEE LATTUCA Pg. 8

first midterm exceeding 100 million voters

10% increase in voters aged 18 to 29 from the last midterm

49% participation Sources: CBS and Inside Higher Ed

Honors College linked with STEM

BY GARRY SJODIN gcsjodin@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University is advertised as a premier liberal arts institution with majors ranging from the arts to the sciences. But with the addition of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center and the Batten Honors College revamp, there has been a growing emphasis on environmental sciences and STEM majors.

Many students have an understanding that when they enter into the Batten Honors College they will be learning about a variety of STEM subjects. Though it may not relate to their intended field of study, many find the STEM subjects enlightening.

“I knew that it [environmental sciences] was going to be addressed more than the other honors and scholarship programs, especially with the opening of Greer. They made that a huge deal, stating we were the first class that was going to get to use Greer, so we were going to do a lot of stuff in there,” sophomore Jenna Whitener said. Whitener is a

member of the Batten Honors College.

Even though there is a push in the understanding of environmental sciences, some students feel this isn’t to persuade them to change their majors, but rather to incorporate the ideas presented into their future careers.

“When I was enrolling, I definitely understood that the honors college was going to be emphasizing STEM, and environmental science in particular. If you look at our vision and mission statements, fostering environmental stewardship is one of the main goals of the college,” said fellow sophomore and Batten Honors member Brianna Sandy.

Beginning in students’ freshman year, Batten Honors core classes immediately encourage a focus on STEM and the environmental sciences as part of Wesleyan’s changing identity, to produce environmentally-savvy individuals.

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2 Thursday November 15, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News BATTEN CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “The way that the honors college us towards being an environmental and had one-on-one conversations curriculum works is that every scientist,” said Whitener, who with these donors about what semester there is a specific class wants to be an English teacher. they saw as real advantages and that helps us cover our general She said she appreciated “having positives at the institution and what studies courses, but allows us to that environmental awareness and were some projects they would [also] get our honors curriculum incorporating that into my own be interested in contributing to,” in,” explained sophomore and lessons and making my students Easter said.

Batten Honors member Alexander aware” that the STEM courses Miller spoke specifically with Leonard. He used Honors 110: provided her with.

Jane P. Batten and discerned that a Complex Global Challenges The Batten Honors College’s particular area she was interested as an example, a course that vision is to “inspire, engage, and in overhauling was the honors Batten Honors students are program, with an eventual encouraged to take to fulfill goal being to distinguish the both a general studies and “When I was enrolling, I definitely institution from others by honors program requirement. understood that the honors college was facilitating for environmental “When we came in we stewards. going to be emphasizing STEM,” believed we were going to be sophomore and Batten Honors member “When she provided the discussing politically-heavy initiative, when we met with Brianna Sandy questions, current events and her about the honors program, a few other more controversial we wanted a program that topics. However, it ended up would help students develop being more about water rights and prepare academically talented into leaders in whatever program internationally how water is used students to become leaders, they were in, but we wanted them in relation to the environment,” environmental stewards, and to be aware of being environmental Leonard said. impactful citizens in the global stewards. So that was basically the While environmental studies is a community,” according to its charge,” Easter said. focus of the Batten Honors College, website. Headed by Dr. Joyce Though the Greer Center is Wesleyan’s administration has Easter, the dean of the Batten often home to honors courses, the stressed that the ultimate goal is to Honors College and a chemistry goal for the institution was for create well rounded students who professor, the college has begun every student to have a course in are leaders in their particular fields to solidify itself as a staple in the there, environmentally-focused or of study. environmental sciences. otherwise.

“The Batten Honors College is The idea of revamping the Batten “The plan when the Greer a three-legged stool. The students Honors program came after a long Environmental Science Center was come here to study the environment, process wherein Miller reached built was to not just have a strong because we have a world class out to donors to discover what program in the environmental center, so that’s stool leg number their interests were and what they sciences, but to benefit the entire one. Number two is to be leaders wanted to contribute. student population as a whole. and number three is to have a global “The way the honors college was I’ve been really pleased with that understanding,” President Scott created was that when they were because I see that the faculty in that Miller said. doing a feasibility study for the building are making it available to “I think they tie in environmental next capital campaign they talked all students,” Miller said. sciences a lot over the course of to some of our current donors and what we do, but it’s never pushing potential donors, and they went out

MIDTERMS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 The vote between Scott Taylor and Elaine Luria for House of Representatives was perhaps most important to the people at Wesleyan. Both candidates made an appearance on campus to discuss their platforms prior to the midterms.

Though Taylor seemed to be winning in the polls prior to the election, Luria defeated Taylor by a close margin. Luria narrowly won her first run for political office, receiving 51.1 percent of the votes. The race to be the second congressional district representative depended on a just a few precincts.

A former Navy commander, Luria will now work with the other 434 members that make up the House of Representatives to create and pass legislation. She will represent Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Accomack, the Northampton counties and parts of Norfolk, Hampton and York County.

Doucette described Luria as “a great candidate” whose “qualities spoke to people of this district.”

“I am honored to once again

answer the call to serve our country and look forward to representing Virginia’s 2nd District in Congress.

I want to thank all of my supporters who worked so hard, and I want to thank Rep. Taylor for his service to our country and this district,” Luria stated on Twitter after winning the election.

She later added that “While I will always look for common ground, while I will always be willing to listen, I will never compromise when it comes [to] the Coastal Virginia values of decency, community, and service to country that we all hold dear.”

When speaking about what may have gone wrong for Taylor’s campaign, Doucette said that it “shot itself in the foot trying to get another name on the ballot to draw votes away from Luria.” The ‘name’ in question was candidate Shaun Brown, who ran against Taylor in the last midterm but lost.

Brown ran again this midterm but was removed from the ballot due to fraud.

Besides that decision, voters

also decided on a new mayor for Virginia Beach and four school board districts. Each incumbent won his or her respective election in Virginia Beach, Lynnhaven, Princess Anne and Bayside.

A record number of women will now be holding positions in the 116th Congress. Currently, 95 women have won their race for the House of Representatives. In the prior election, woman held only 84 positions in the House and Senate.

Thirteen women won additional Senate seats. As of Nov. 7, women will make up at least 22 percent of Congress. Congress will now have a record number of women.

Voting has been an important part of this country since the late 1700s. Doucette said that the “most important elections” can be the local ones. The impact of the 2nd Congressional District extends beyond Norfolk and Virginia Beach to the greater region.

Alex Powers|Marlin Chronicle

Luria won the House of Representatives

51.1%

of the votes.

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

BY NICA NAKAGOMI asnakagomi@vwu.edu

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Maybe it doesn’t really matter. Rami Malek, with his pronounced teeth, 70s rock star locks and flamboyant fashion, brings forth an exhilarating performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Both casual and hard-core Queen fans will sing along to the band’s most popular songs, stomp their feet along the “We Will Rock You” beat, and be stunned by the colorful graphics that fill the big screen.

The film begins with a recreation of the roaring crowd at

the 1985 Live Aid concert when the band does its iconic anthems to raise funds for charity. Audiences are given a personal view as Freddie Mercury runs up to the stage and relishes the chanting and cheering while fulfilling his dreams of singing with the band and the audience. The story goes on and gives a fabled glimpse into the life of Farrokh Bulsara before he transformed into the megastar, Freddie Mercury.

READ MORE ONLINE at www.marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News

Which ‘ring’ would you choose?

BY JORDAN ESPOSITO

Courtesy|Google Images

jmesposito@vwu.edu

Today it seems like almost all colleges are stereotyped with certain cultures. The most prevalent one attributed to higher education is hookup culture, which references a relationship preference for one-night stands and purely sexual contact.

The term “hookup culture” is thrown around and applied to many campuses in American. Some people say that colleges push students into and encourage this culture, while others disagree.

On the other hand, another prevalent college culture at many religious institutions is marriage culture, dubbed “ring by spring” in reference to many students who meet in the fall semester and are married by the spring semester.

Although Virginia Wesleyan is a religious school, there doesn’t seem to be a push toward either type of culture.

There are no upcoming events that address hookup culture or marriage among younger demographics.

“Hookup culture definitely exists on campus and I don’t think the school necessarily pushes it, but I think the school tries to address it by promoting safe sex and offering free condoms on campus,” junior Jake Pikarski said.

Fellow junior Austin Obenour disagreed about the school’s attempts to promote safe sex. “I think it’s kind of a lazy effort because you don’t hear much about the health center offering free condoms and I’ve never known anyone who has actually

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Thursday November 15, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

used them,” Obenour said.

“I think that it happens all the time and it’s not really a big deal if you’re being safe,” agreed freshman Erin Highsmith.

Junior Austin Obenour disagreed about the school’s attempts to promote safe sex.

“I think it’s kind of a lazy effort because you don’t hear much about the health center offering free condoms and I’ve never known anyone who has actually used them,” Obenour said.

Hookup culture has existed since the early 1920s, according to Lisa Wade in her new novel American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus. “Hookup culture is simply the newest stage in the evolution of sexual norms and behavior in America,” Wade said in reference to what she calls “youth culture.”

“We’re drawn to hookups because we’re not really into taking our time with things.

That includes relationships,” Highsmith said. “Why get married when you could just have sex? No strings attached.”

Paula England, a sociologist from Stanford University, has conducted ongoing research on hookups since 2005. She has surveyed more than 17,000 students from 20 different colleges and universities. Over their four-year term, 72 percent of both men and women reported having at least one hookup, with an average of 9.7 for men and 7.1 for women.

According to NPR, a potential factor in the rise of hookup culture are co-ed

dorms. NPR reports that 90 percent of student dorms on college campuses are co-ed instead of single-sex. At Wesleyan, the only dorms not co-ed are those with public bathrooms, such as in Bray Village and Allen Village (formerly Village I and II, respectively).

Zack Clark, another junior, said he didn’t think there was any evidence of hookup culture on campus. “I don’t think hookup culture exists on campus because the girls here get so attached. It’s happened to me too many times,” Clark said.

“I don’t think hookup culture is as big here as [it is] at other schools because of our size,” agreed senior Nick Ficarella.

“Pretty much everybody knows everybody and word gets around quick.”

On average only about a quarter of college students thrive in a hook up culture, while at least a third of students avoid it altogether. This number has also remained fairly consistent in the last 30 to 40 years, which may be surprising considering the arrival of dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. With the advanced technology available and rising popularity of dating apps, it is much easier now to engage in hookup culture than it was even 10 years ago. Yet the number of students participating in hookup culture has remained fairly constant, and may even be dropping.

Interestingly, none of the students interviewed for this article had heard the

term “ring by spring” and all agreed that the school wasn’t pushing them toward marriage or long-standing relationships.

However, there was controversy over whether Wesleyan had a hookup culture.

This may be in line with more recent evidence that complicates the supposed prevalence of campus hookup culture. A report by the National Center for Health Statistics showed increasing percentages of men and women aged 18 to 24 who say they are still virgins or choose to abstain from sex.

An emphasis on abstinence until marriage is one of the founding tenets of the ring by spring culture on certain campuses. The term “ring by spring” refers to the trend around many religious schools that they need to be engaged, or have a ring, by the spring semester of their senior years. This leads to a lot of social pressure and anxiety for students. Many of these religious schools acknowledge this trend and arguably even advance it. For example, Houghton College is a Christian college in New York that offers a retreat for 12 new couples on campus to spend time together and attend session on the Biblical fundamentals of marriage. The most well-known religious college in the U.S., Liberty University, tells prospective students that they will find their “life mate” on campus and offers couples’ workshops.

Use these apps if you want to...

BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu

Mingle

Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, Casualx, AdultFriendFinder and the aptly-named iHookup are all apps for people who are looking for a more casual sexual encounter.

Whether you’re a bachelor on the prowl or

a single lady looking for some fun, any of these apps can help you scratch that itch.

A word of warning, though: you may have to swipe through quite a few frogs to find a good match.

Marry

The League, eharmony, Zoosk, Match, EliteSingles ad Coffee Meets Bagel are all apps for people who are looking for a serious relationship or trying to find that special “one.” None are geared specifically

for men or women, but instead focus on quality matches that will hopefully last.

But be warned: each app may have specific requirements to ensure users are seriously searching.

Current events roundup

BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu

Marvel icon Stan Lee dies:

Stan Lee died on Monday, Nov. 12.

He was 95 and credited with turning the Marvel franchise into the iconic cornerstone of superhero media it is today. He brought an emphasis on humanizing superheroes to the industry and was a key player in the popularity of such beloved superheroes as Spiderman, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, among others.

Amazon announces new Celine Dion unveils new JUUL suspends e-cigarette locations: Amazon has chosen fashion line: Celine Dion has sales: The e-cigarette maker New York City, NY and Arlington, VA as the locations for its two new headquarters. A search for new locations began last year and more than 230 hopeful cities placed a bid to house the retail giant. According to Amazon’s press release, Amazon will invest $5 billion in the new sites and create more than 50,000 new jobs.

Sources: ABC News, BBC News, CBS News, CNN and Fox News.

announced her latest fashion project: a gender-neutral children’s clothing line called CELINUNUNU. The new line “liberates children from the traditional roles of boy/girl,” according to its website, and encourages parents to“inspire your children to be free and find their own individuality through clothes.”

JUUL has temporarily halted sales of certain flavored products in a bid to curb teenage use of the products. The halt comes after FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb called vaping an “epidemic” among teens and launched a plan which called for comprehensive measures from five major e-cigarette manufacturers that would address the “epidemic.”

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News

Thursday November 15, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.

A special thank you

BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu

Here at the Marlin Chronicle, we’re always working hard to get you the latest news and interesting tidbits. Our staff writers work hard scouring the campus for feature stories, and our editors are their own superheroes during deadline nights. But there are some staff members who definitely deserve extra credit for the work they put in: illustrators.

So thank you to our amazing illustrators, past and present, who have put in the time and effort to help make the Marlin Chronicle as great as it can be. From terrifying clowns to simple shacks, these drawings have delighted readers. A picture’s worth a thousand words, but the amazing people behind the pictures are worth so much more. Enjoy the various illustrations that have graced the pages of the newspaper, here brought back for the mutual enjoyment of general readers and newspaper staff members alike.

Special credit to our current illustrators, Valerie Miller and Alex Powers. From all of us here, thank you.

Illustrations Editor, 2018 Alex Powers ampowers@vwu.edu Illustrations Contributor, 2018 Valerie Miller vgmiller@vwu.edu Illustrations Contributor, 2017 Britani Daley Illustrations Contributor, 2014 Richard Cremin Illustrations Contributor, 2013 Tim Pepper Illustrations Contributor, 2012 Emily Menke

THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE. PACK YOUR BACKPACK, YOUR BEST FRIEND AND GO!

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NOVEMBER 12

FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SUMMER 2019 COURSES Katie Dozier and Tempe Martens in London, 2013

INFORMATION & APPLICATION ARE ON THE LIGHTHOUSE PORTAL PAGE!

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, November 15, 2018

CAMPUS countdown November 15th Creating a Poster or Oral Presentation for Port Day

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: The Lighthouse This workshop explains how to create a poster that effectively represents an internship or undergraduate research experience and discuss strategies for effective oral and poster presentations.

November 15th Marlins Go Green Tree Planting

Time: 1:00 p.m Location: The atrium of the Greer Environmental Sciences Center Join Marlins Go Green as they plant 25-30 Bald Cypress saplings on campus.

November 25th Thanksgiving Holiday

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Thanksgiving across campus

BY ASHLLEE SPURLOCK adspurlock@vwu.edu During the middle of November, there’s a rush of excitement for college students to get a break from the cruel assignments and head home to the turkey. However; for students who live far away, going home for Thanksgiving is not always an option.

“I look forward to going home for Thanksgiving; I’m from Baltimore, Maryland,” senior Symira Wilkins said. “While it is not that far away, it could be worse, I can only imagine what students go through who live further away than I do go through, if they’re able to go home at all.”

The approaching holiday causes some students to share with each other how much they cannot wait to sleep in their own beds, have home-cooked meals and see their old friends from home. Yet simultaneously, a good number of them are anxious about interactions with parents, siblings and friends because of issues of criticism and acceptance, because of the way things used to be and the ways they have changed since coming to college.

While many students do not look forward to being hammered with questions about grades, graduations and future plans, others may be excited to see family members that they haven’t seen in a while.

Freshman Taylor Hawk hasn’t been home since the summer.“I have not been home since I started the semester in August. I’m so excited but kinda not,” Hawk said. “The questions are going to come fast and they will be up close and personal while I love my family they can be overbearing, I’m sure I’ll wanna be back on campus by Friday.”

Virginia Wesleyan has students from China to Delaware, from France to Texas and back again. Some students who are far away from home may not have the ability to travel for the holiday and have to stay on campus.“Students can stay if they need to, however dining services are closed. This is because dining services runs whenever classes are being held, no classes in session, means no food being made,” says Director of Res Life David Stuebing said. “Those who have kitchen access are in luck, it’s a little simpler for them, but those who do not should definitely come talk to us at Resident Life!”

Stuebing said.

Alex Powers| Marlin Chronicle Campus during the break will remain quite boring and dull, so those who cannot make it home should prepare to be alone and most likely starving. Some professors and fellow students are nice enough to open the doors of their homes to their friends and favorites to share a meal of thankfulness with their students, while others will have to warm up another cup of noodles, counting down the days to Winter break.

Thanksgiving wordsearch November 30th December 1st

Fall One-Act Play Festival

VWU theatre students produce and direct a variety of plays from thoughtprovoking dramas to sidesplitting comedies. (Play titles and performance schedule to be announced.)

CRIME BLOTTER

Courtesy|Thinkstock November 7 8:04 p.m. |Vandalism Susan B. Goode Fine Arts Grafitti and fire extinguisher discharged November 7 8:37 p.m. |Vandalism Batten Center Wall damaged November 11 3:51 a.m. |Liquor Law Violation Bray Village No description

Britani Alyse | Marlin Chronicle

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Community

Thursday November 15, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Hayley Heath hrheath@vwu.edu Managing Editor Luke Chiasson lachiasson@vwu.edu News Editor Mickella Rast mjrast@vwu.edu Community Editor Cynthia Griffin clgriffin@vwu.edu Opinions Editors

Using art for a special cause

BY MARKAYSHA BRYANT mrbryant@vwu.edu Shyail Owens, also known as Shy, is a senior at Virginia Wesleyan, and is currently majoring in Art and Women and Gender Studies. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., President of the organization Phenomenal Woman, a campus tour guide and a former work study employee in enrollment services. She is always put together with a signature jacket and Bath & Body Works fragrances. She is tall and has lengthy, dark hair with a beautiful curl pattern. Her caramel skin shines almost as bright as her smile. Her personality is vibrant, and she exudes confidence.

Three years had passed since she chose to pursue a career opening exhibits in art museums. As time went on, she began to feel like being a curator in an art museum was not the quite the right fit. She would have never guessed that being involved with victims of sexual abuse, sex trafficking and domestic violence would help her find her calling.

Ashley Kline aakline@vwu.edu Jonathan Joyner jrjoyner@vwu Sports Editor Megan Sherman mrsherman@vwu.edu Weekender Editor Tony Tann tdtann@vwu.edu Photo Editor Allaina Boggs arboggs@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Alex Powers ampowers@vwu.edu Online Editor Nel Hart nlhart@vwu.edu Copy Editor Tara Truax tmtruax@vwu.edu Business Manager Hayley Heath hrheath@vwu.edu

Shyail Owens | Marlin Chronicle Shy Owens presenting a poster at Port Day of Spring 2018.

Advertising Manager

“

I have formed bonds with all of my students and I have gotten to know them individually… I know things like their favorite colors, their favorite pets and I have grown to really care for these women.

Shy Owens Shy will never forget the day she received a phone call from Kristi Lafoon, Administrative Assistant to the Registrar, asking her if she was interested in working as an art teacher at Samaritan House, a women’s shelter located in Virginia Beach. Shy immediately began researching and reached out to the women’s shelter and about three weeks later, she began teaching art at the shelter. “Her passion and her talent for art is what made her stand out… she struck me as someone who would have a heart for the women at the shelter,” said Lafoon describing why she recommended Shy for the job.

Most of Shy’s students are survivors of sexual abuse, sex trafficking and domestic violence. Their ages range from 22 to 57 years old. “I have formed bonds with all of my students and I have gotten to know them individually… I know things like their favorite colors, their favorite pets and I have grown to really care for these women,” said Shy. She was enthusiastic about her students’ upcoming art exhibition, where they will have the opportunity to sell some of their artwork created in her class.

Shy believes that this opportunity will “boost confidence in their art and in themselves,” and she looks forward to seeing how her students and their artwork evolve.

Shy’s passion for art and promoting awareness for issues such as domestic violence has been exhibited not only at the women’s shelter, but also on campus through “The Clothesline Project.” October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Women’s Resource Center and Phenomenal Woman sponsored “The Clothesline Project,” which consisted of visual displays of t-shirts with designs created by survivors of violence or created in honor of someone who has experienced violence.

The purpose of the project is to raise awareness of domestic violence and unify the campus community while doing so. “As her sorority sister, I have seen the impact the women’s shelter has had on her… she has brought her passion for helping others not only to the women’s shelter, but to this campus as well… she is the epitome of women empowerment,” said Gabrielle DeGross, fellow student.

Seeing her students’ cheerful smiles in her art class motivates Shy to set good examples and be the best she can be. Shy’s involvement with the women’s shelter helped her find her calling. “Working at the Samaritan House helped me understand that I wanted to help people through art,” said shy. Shy plans on studying at Eastern Virginia Medical School to become an art therapist. She believes that becoming an art therapist will allow her to pursue both of her passions, helping those in need and using art as a means of expression.

Jasmine Demir jkdemir@vwu.edu Podcast Manager Brenna Will bcwill@vwu.edu Recuitment and Training Manager Ashley Kline aakline@vwu.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

BEACON CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

An additon to the revovated Beacon

Chase Mitchell | Courtesy

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

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

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

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

BY CYNTHIA GRIFFIN clgriffin@vwu.edu Last May, it was announced that the Monumental Chapel bell tower, officially known as the Frank E. Brown bell tower was going to get restored and renovated. The cause of the renovation was due to an unstable structure. Throughout the summer and into the fall, bands were put together around the tower to pull it together. To help with the structure, the bottom of the tower was lined with sandstone and red brick. This past Saturday, there was a small gathering to watch the cupola placed atop the newly named Beacon at Monumental Chapel. Since then, the restoration will continue on one of campus’most noticeable structures.

Read more online!

mc

the

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

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

Visit marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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Opinions

Thursday November 15, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Fortnite fortitude Fortnite coaches: ridiculous and just why

Polling where you pray?

Polling location for Wesleyan students at Ebenezer Baptist Church raises questions

Alex Powers|Marlin Chronicle

BY JONATHAN JOYNER jrjoyner@vwu.edu

BY ASHLEY KLINE

Ah video games, one of the favorite pass times of the last few generations. It is amazing how far they have come in such a short period of time.

We started out with computer games and going to arcades, then in the 90’s we transitioned into the era of gaming consoles. This era took the world by storm and has continued to do so ever since its inception. With the evolution of gaming machines also comes the evolution of games themselves. Whether these updates come in the form of graphics enhancements, different modes of gameplay or the expansion gaming lore, it does not matter. These changes will continue on and on for years to come.

As previously mentioned, as the video gaming era continues on, we will continue to see changes in the styles of gameplay. One new trend that has recently popped up in the last few years is the idea of having coaches or trainers who will teach paying customers how to play specific games. I assume this kind of work was the dream of most gamers during our childhoods. These coaches can make thousands of dollars performing this kind of labor. One game specifically has recently garnered attention with this trend: Fortnite. For those who do not know what Fortnite is; it is a fairly new game that released back in 2017 that popularized the “battle royale” and “last man standing” genres. For all those who have been gaming for years, it is a well-known fact that “battle royale” games existed many years prior to Fortnite’s creation. They just were not as popular back then.

Returning to the earlier point of Fortnite coaches, I would like people to run that concept through their minds. Then they should ask themselves, why do we even have this as a career? In this day and age, it is understandable that new careers are popping in places we never thought possible. However, I have been a gamer for most of my life and I do not understand the point of having people to train you how to play a video game. What ever happened to the thrill

of learning to play video games on one’s own?

That constant urge to grind out games for hours and hours, just so you can become a better player than your friends. When I was a kid, the closest thing we had to video game coaches was our best friends (if we had any) who may have already known how to play. If you are truly a gamer, then where is your gamers pride? We all have to start somewhere and learn from scratch how to play video games, but how do you want to learn?

Would you prefer paying someone to teach you or do would like to ask a friend or figure out on your own?

Another major reason the concept of video game coaches is ridiculous is that, in most cases, we pay so much money just to get a copy of a game. You spend all that money and then you want to go spend more to have someone give you tips? I know that games such as Fortnite are free-to-play, but like I said earlier, where is your gamers pride?

Finally, I feel as though having a coach would put too much pressure on the players being coached. Even if you play in video game tournaments, you do not require a person shouting in your ear to do better. The best teachers in video games is epic failure and hours of gameplay. Off topic, but this does not mean that one should ignore their life and just play video games, though I am sure many people will disagree with that statement.

Bottom line, video games are meant to be a source of fun and entertainment for gamers, just as sports are for athletes and athletic fans. Their concept should not be ruined by those who refuse to learn how to play a game themselves and think paying someone to teach them is more logical. Video games offer many benefits that you can reap with or without outside assistance.

Enjoy the games even if you have to start off as a total loser and work your way up. Do not be a sore loser who is only obsessed with winning.

Costume confusion Rebuttal of “Pretty or promiscuous”

BY JASMINE DEMIR jkdemir@vwu.edu

Halloween is not just a holiday for children.

It is also for the enjoyment of adults and allows them to let loose and relax.

There are many holidays that often are dedicated to children. For instance, Christmas, though young and old celebrate it, is special for children. All adults go out of their way to ensure that the Santa legend prevails, and that the environment is especially magical for children.

During Easter, adults arrange egg hunts for the young ones. Though holidays are for everyone, children often have a special place and adults often focus on their enjoyment. This is the same with Halloween.

Halloween is a holiday that is now almost entirely for children. Children will get dressed up and then go trick or treating. Most adults either are assisting children in their part of this holiday, are handing out candy to kids, or not participating, but there is one last option for adults.

After most children are safe and sound in their beds, adults have a chance to attend an event for them solely: costume parties. They can dress as inappropriately as they want, consume alcohol, and simply have fun while celebrating the holiday.

It is a haven for adults who want to let loose for one night without kids being present, and yes, most women tend to dress provocatively on Halloween. Some believe this to be inappropriate and too sexualized, but I believe it should be seen as freeing. Halloween is the one holiday when it is easy, and sometimes encouraged, to dress

seductively.

In a world where dress regulations are strict, I find this to be positive rather than something to be shamed about. Halloween is a day to feel free to be whoever you want to be, but can’t be during everyday life, and if a girl wants to dress up as a sexy cat when every other day she must be a productive member of society, then I am fine with that. It is forgotten that though a girl may be dressed as a sexy pirate today, normally, she is dressed appropriately as possibly a secretary every other day. Let’s not get caught up in the promiscuity of a single day out of 365.

Sometimes it can simply be fun and exciting for someone who doesn’t dress seductively to do so.

As a person who dresses modestly most of the time, I can see how letting go of one’s inhibitions and self-induced regulations could be relieving and thrilling.

As the final cherry on this Halloween sundae, promiscuity on one day out of the whole day may even be body-positive in some ways. It encourages people to be comfortable in their own bodies, to embrace their sexuality, and to show how vibrant they really are in a safe setting. So many people are hindered by how they are “supposed” to look, and because of this, I would encourage everyone to own who they are, no matter how they look.

I suggest that we allow Halloween to be a time of freedom for children and adults, and men and women alike.

aakline@vwu.edu

Last week, many from Virginia Wesleyan University went to the polls to cast their vote in this year’s midterm election. Shuttles provided by Wesleyan Engaged were even available to transport students back and forth to the polls.

The interesting part of this story is not the number of students, faculty, and staff that took to the polls, but where the polls were located. The polling location for campus was Ebenezer Baptist Church, a highly unusual location. With the country’s emphasis on the separation of church and state one must question, why would churches be selected as polling locations? In my opinion, establishing polls in churches is immoral and places restrictions on individuals’ right to vote. This is a major concern with implications for many since one-third to one-half of polling places are churches in some locations according to the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

The utilization of churches as polling locations raises many questions. Does this deter people of different faiths from voting if they do not feel comfortable stepping into a church? Are there any polling locations found in synagogues or mosques to create balance? Can those who don’t feel comfortable voting in a church change their polling location or cast an absentee ballot instead? These are all questions that must be considered.

Personally, I’m a believer in Christ and therefore have no trouble stepping foot in a church. However, I can’t help but wonder what it must have been like for my friends who are adamant believers in different faiths or have no faith at all. People should not have to step out of their comfort zone simply to have their voices heard. We should be doing

all we can to encourage people to vote rather than building barriers.

Furthermore, we must consider a psychological effect known as priming. Priming is a phenomenon that occurs when exposure to one stimulus influences responses to subsequently presented stimuli.

Could having a polling location in a church cause people to vote more conservatively based on the environment? An article in the Huffington Post titled Let’s Stop Voting in Churches cites a study conducted by Baylor University that was published in the International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. The study concludes that being in the presence of a church causes people to express noticeably more conservative attitudes, though the difference is subtle. This same article also cites a study conducted

by Stanford University on the influence of polling location on the votes of young adults. In this study, researcher Jonah Berger, stated that, “voting in a church could activate norms of following church doctrine. Such effects may even occur outside an individual’s awareness.”

In conclusion, there are many negative consequences that can potentially arise from using churches as polling locations, from influencing people’s views to preventing people from wanting to make their views known at all. Ultimately, it is our job as a democracy to encourage as many people to raise their voice as possible in order to remain the integrity of our governmental system. How can we prevent prayers from being said in public schools, yet force people to enter churches to cast their ballots?

Letter to the Editor A recent article in the 10/25/18 issue of the Marlin Chronicle represented me as someone who did not have an answer to a question posed by our current Congressman Scott Taylor. To be clear, after asking the Congressman for an example of five policies where he disagreed with President Trump the Congressman responded by asking me to name one BILL that the President had introduced. I didn’t answer his question for two reasons. One, Congressman Taylor in his usual behavior was confrontational and did not give me a moment to address the fact that, two, the President doesn’t submit bills directly. So, Congressman Taylor asked a question that I rightly did not answer and that allowed him to dodge my original question until I pressed him for an answer. At that point and with the assistance of his aids he could manage three of the five policies I requested. This came from a Congressman representing a district that the President won by three percentage points yet Congressman Taylor according to fivethirtyeight.com has voted in support of the the President’s policies 98% of the time. While I appreciate the coverage of this event I believe it is also important to clarify that my silence to Congressman Taylor’s illogical question was by design and not out of ignorance. More importantly and worth reporting to aid anyone reading this, when I asked Taylor who he believed, Dr. Blasey Ford or Brett Kavanaugh, his answer in part mentioned a lack of “corroborating witnesses” so he didn’t know who to believe. Please note, the vast majority of jurisdictions in the United States DO NOT require a corroborating witness for sexual assault prosecution. When I asked Taylor if he was suggesting that victims have a corroborating witness he accused me of putting words in his mouth. I did not, the words were all his own and incorrect as they apply to the prosecution of sexual assault. Lastly, the article identified me as a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. While I am, my views are my own and not intended to represent my academic department.

Dr. Doug Kennedy Recreation and Leisure Studies Chair

8

Sports

Thursday November 15, 2018 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

AT A GLANCE Swimming Dec. 01 @ Washington and Lee Invitational 5:00 P.M. Dec. 02 @ Washington and Lee Invitational 10:00 A.M. W. Basketball Nov. 17 vs. Emory @ Guilford Tip-Off Tournament 12:00 P.M. Nov. 18 vs. Greensboro @ Guilford Tip-Off Tournament 12:00 P.M. Nov. 20 vs. N.C. Wesleyan 5:30 P.M. Nov. 25 vs. Guilford* 2:00 P.M. Nov. 28 @ East. Mennonite* 7:00 P.M. Dec. 01 @ Ferrum* 1:00 P.M.

Lattuca CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 He faced obstacles and his mental toughness was tested as preparation for a cross country season can be grueling.

“There were a lot of times when we would do workouts at Mount Trashmore and I would just think maybe I’m not cut out for this, but it was a lot of looking up at that hill and telling myself ‘I can do this I have to keep fighting,’” Lattuca said.

“I honestly think about finishing the race as fast as I can so I can cheer on my teammates. I’ve never really been in it for the individual aspect. I enjoy seeing my teammates continue to improve and beat their personal times” Skyler Lattuca

Even though Lattuca took time off, his track record at the beginning of the season did not show it. In his debut on Aug. 31, he placed first at the Bridgewater XC Challenge with a time of 16:12.26, which was 28 seconds faster than the secondplace runner. This first-place finish earned him ODAC Runner of the Week honors.

“I’m still getting the hang of running cross country and it was really cool to get that recognition. I felt like I didn’t really deserve the recognition because so many of my teammates have been doing it for longer than me but it was still cool,” Lattuca said.

Just three weeks later on Sep. 22, he placed third at the Hornet Harrier Invitational, which was hosted by Shenandoah University. On Sep. 29 at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury University, he placed fourth, and also set the second-fastest time in school history with a time of 25:33.17 according to vwuathletics.com.

Lattuca’s prolific first year garnered the attention of other runners. Leading runner for the Marlin women’s cross-country team Gina Donatelli said, “He’s always giving 110 percent no matter what he is doing. He doesn’t let competition get to him and is always working hard to improve.”

As regular competition came to an end, Lattuca and the Marlin cross country squad headed to Shenandoah for the ODAC Championships on Oct. 27. Lattuca walked away with a sixth-place finish and also ODAC Rookie of the Year honors.

“We had a couple guys perform very well, and then a couple guys do not so well…but even so we stayed together as a team and enjoyed the moment and were able to find good in maybe a not so great experience,” Lattuca said.

In the most recent NCAA South/ Southeast Regionals competition in Berry, Georgia on Nov. 10, Lattuca placed 32 out of a field of 239 runners. Despite a less successful showing for the team as a whole at Regionals, Lattuca still remarked on how great the experience was that he got to share with his teammates.

While he consistently leads the team in races, he is still one of his teammates’ biggest fans. “I honestly think about finishing the race as fast as I can so I can cheer on my teammates. I’ve never really

been in it for the individual aspect. I enjoy seeing my teammates continue to improve and beat their personal times,” Lattuca said.

Lattuca will now enter his first indoor track season for the Marlins and looks to this time continue his success in middistance events.

Sports Information|Courtesy Skyler Lattuca running in the Division III NCAA South/Southeast Regional in Mount Berry, Ga on Nov. 10.

Women’s soccer makes third straight NCAAs

M. Basketball Nov. 16 vs. Greensboro TowneBank Tip-Off Tournament 7:00 P.M. Nov. 17 vs. TBA Townebank Tip-Off Tournament 1:00 P.M. Nov. 20 vs. Salisbury 7:30 P.M. Nov. 25 vs. Guilford* 4:30 P.M. Nov. 28 @ Averett 7:00 P.M. Dec. 01 vs. Washington and Lee*

Sports Information|Courtesy Women’s soccer team celebrating an overtime victory over NYU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

BY MAGGIE HUNTER mmhunter@vwu.edu

Qualifying for the NCAA tournament or, the “big dance,” is the end goal for every sports program in collegiate athletics, and Virginia Wesleyan women’s soccer went dancing. For the third year in a row, the women’s soccer team received a bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Marlins finished with a record of 12-5-4, with their only losses in the regular season coming from ranked opponents outside of the conference. They went undefeated in conference play until the ODAC championship on Nov. 4, where they fell to the Lynchburg Hornets. Their fifth loss came in their final game against Swarthmore in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Nov. 11. This was the twelfth appearance the Marlins made to the national tournament.

Defense is integral to a successful team and the Marlins had experienced defenders in the backfield. Seniors Ann Marie Moffett and Emily Taylor were the backbones of the squad. Moffett earned All-Conference First Team honors for her efforts this season.

Junior goalie Tristen Roberts was also essential in protecting the goal. She logged 70 saves this season, nine of which came

from the second-round game of the NCAA tournament against Swarthmore.

Paired with the Marlins defensive presence was an offense that got a lot of different players involved in the scoring.

The team had 16 different players who recorded a goal this season, and 11 players scored more than once. Leading the team is junior Alex Davidson, who scored seven goals this year. Along with Davidson are some underclassmen who contributed on the offensive end. Freshmen Camryn Terry, Carleigh Van Reenen and Kennedi Anders all logged multiple goals this year.

“We work well as a team. The girls are awesome, coaches are great, and everyone works for each other and together,” Anders said.

Moffett was the sole recipient of First Team honors, but junior Marli Hayward, junior Ryan Applewhite and Anders followed closely behind on the Second Team. Hayward finished the year with three goals and four assists. Anna Pedicone and Alex Davidson both received AllConference Third Team honors.

Once conference play finished, the Marlins packed their bags and headed to Swarthmore, PA.

“After the conference finals, we knew we had to refocus. NCAAs are single elimination, so we had to work out some kinks in terms of our formation and defensive shape,” Davidson said.

The Marlins had a first-round matchup against New York University on Nov. 10.

Both teams went scoreless in regulation, but then an overtime golden goal assisted

by Davidson and scored by senior Brooke Adamchak saved the Marlins from elimination.

“After Brooke scored there was like a second of silence where the entire stadium was like ‘Oh my god, did that go in?’ and then everyone went wild. Everyone sprinted into a giant mosh pit and were jumping and hugging and screaming. It was just an incredible and loud atmosphere to be in,” Davidson said.

Despite their timely overtime win in the first round, the Marlins were eliminated in the second round. The team finished the season with four losses, and is beginning to make a habit of appearing in the NCAA tournament.

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Marlins swim splashes into second season

BY TERRY BOASIAKO taboasiako@vwu.edu

The Marlin swim team looks to expand their team, establish themselves as a competitive force in the ODAC and cover ground on the recruiting trail on their second season.

The men’s swim team lost to Randolph College with a score of 125-54 on Oct. 20 at the VWU natatorium. Despite the loss, two freshmen put their names in the new record books; David Mosley-Heath in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:17.85 and Tyler Strong in the 100yard backstroke with 1:00.34.

Strong also snatched the team’s only first place finish as he won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.74. Max Currens placed second in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 13:13.69 during the distance events. Woolf also contributed a couple points as his time of 1:15.33 in the 100-yard breaststroke garnered a second-place finish.

The women came out victorious with a score 101-79.

Junior Amanda Waller was the only Marlin to have two wins at the event clocking in at 2:34.31 in the 200-yard freestyle. She also set a time of 1:28.53 in the 100-yard breaststroke. December graduate Morgan Lucas won the 50-yard freestyle, clocking in at 33:07. Freshman Sarah Conley recorded her first individual collegiate victory in the 100-yard backstroke with a time 1:25.57 and Hayley Heath led the pack in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:49.08.

Mosley-Heath found his niche in the program and is already planning the future of the team. “It feels good to

Bethany Walker|Marlin Chronicle Freshman Jordan McCowan swimming in the 100-yard backstroke.

Bethany Walker|Marlin Chronicle Junior Patrick McKneely competing in the 200-yard freestyle event on Nov. 11. against Hampden-Sydney. build up a program and start a culture. It’s also a good thing because we are not losing any swimmers this year so we will be even better next year,” Mosley-Heath said.

Despite starting off with a couple losses, the coaching staff and the men’s swimmers have a vision about the remainder of the season and what they need to focus on.

“The biggest challenge is recruiting and getting our name out there. For so many years, swimmers never even looked at Virginia Wesleyan because it wasn’t an option for them to continue. So that’s been a challenge, getting the high schools and club swimmers that are in this area to continue here for the next four years,” head coach Mike Ginder said.

The women’s swim team’s most recent victory was a win at home against Sweet Briar with a score of 111-90 on Nov. 11. Sophomore Taylor Morich enhanced her old school record with a time of 14:24.75 in the 1000-yard freestyle while Heath and sophomore Miah Kurtz both placed first in 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard backstroke respectively.

“So far I think we are starting the season off very strong.

We prepared by trying to keep a mindset and an atmosphere of positive and high energy and knowing that it all starts with you and what you can do for your team,” Lucas said.

The Marlins will make their next splash Dec. 1 at Washington and Lee.

9

Volleyball ends ODAC second round

BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu

After a charged start to conference play, the volleyball team fell to top-seeded Randolph-Macon in the second round of the ODAC tournament. The Marlins entered the tournament as the fourth seed after a 9-3 conference record. This loss ended the team’s season and was the last game for seniors Kristina Scott and Doneisha Hall.

The Marlins placed two on the All-Conference team. Junior Amber Matalus took home first-team accolades while Kristina Scott snagged a spot on the third-team. Scott was integral to the team’s offense this season as she led the team in kills with 247 on the year.

“It always feels good when hard work is recognized. I enjoyed this season and that [Third Team All-Conference] really was the cherry on top,” Scott said.

Matalus followed close behind her with 243 kills and also led the team in total points with 300.

Matalus was also named to the All-South Region First Team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She is only the third Marlin volleyball player to receive this honor.

In the first round of the ODAC tournament, the team hosted fifth-seeded Roanoke and finished them off in three sets. The Marlins won the three sets with scores of 25-22, 29-27 and then 25-16. Both Matalus and junior Elizabeth Britton snagged 11 kills in the match, while junior Sarah Brush logged 23 digs. Also, Hall added eight kills and junior Meghan Wood had a team-leading 20 assists.

The Marlins hit the road for the second round of the conference tournament and played at RandolphMacon on Nov. 2. The Yellow Jackets proved too tough an opponent as they swept the Marlins in three sets, and would ultimately qualify for the ODAC championship where they fell to Washington and Lee. Seniors Hall and Scott both ended their last game in their Marlin careers with seven kills.

“We always hold ourselves to a high expectation so it’s hard to be satisfied with any season that doesn’t end in a championship, but we played well and improved throughout the entirety of the season so I’m proud of the product we put out on the court,” Scott said.

Towards the beginning of the season, the volleyball team upset nationally-ranked Christopher Newport University (CNU). This win was their first victory over CNU in the program’s fifteen-year history.

The volleyball squad only loses two seniors this season and has a deep junior class that will lead the way next season. Alyssa Taylor, Sarah Brush, Elizabeth Britton, Meghan Wood, Lauren Topper and Amber Matalus look to take the leadership reins as seniors and lead the team to a culture of excellence.

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15, 2018

THEWEEKENDER

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FAREWELL APU GARRY SJODIN gcjodin@vwc.edu

“The Simpsons” bid farewell to Apu this year after a public outcry for the removal of the character based on prejudicial and stereotypical representations of southeastern Asians. The outcry began to catch traction after comedian Hari Kondabolu released the documentary, “The Problem with Apu,” in 2017.

Since then Hari has appeared on talk shows, such as “The Daily Show” with Trevor Noah and discussed his views of Apu as being “voiced by a white guy in brown paint and this country has a history of that.”

On PBS News Hour, Hari Kondabolu and Hari Sreenivasan sat down and discussed the implications of Apu on their childhoods and growing up. Hari Sreenivasan stated, “I mean Apu’s catchphrases were used as a bludgeon against all south Asians at the time and it wasn’t that sophisticated of a put down.” Hari Kondabolu responded that this was because that’s all people had because nobody knew much about southeastern Asians and that stereotyping of Apu on “The Simpsons” kind of became the only representation or understanding of southeastern Asians.

The other side to this argument that has been expressed is the fact that “The Simpsons” make fun of everyone.

For example, Homer Simpson is the representation of the average, uneducated white guy in America. While Hari Kondabolu acknowledges this, he further states that there are a lot of representations of white characters on the show, but Indians get a convenience store clerk.

Not only does Apu utilize a stereotypical accent of southeastern Asian descent, but he runs a convenience store in the show, further stereotyping the Indian community.

This isn’t necessarily new to television with movies like “Encino Man” depicting the gas station clerks, Kashmir and Raji, with actors Erick Avari and Gerry Bednob. They too utilized stereotypical accents as well, but “Encino Man” is a film from the early 90s and “The Simpsons” is a still running program on TV. We can’t go back and remove stereotypes from film, but as a society we can move forward with an understanding and appreciation of our multicultural communities. This is essentially what Hari Kondablou’s argument entails. It’s not that Apu is a convenience store owner or clerk, but it’s the fact that he never really evolves as a character like others on the show.

Hari states that the stereotypical convenience store clerk’s story is repeated consistently and needs to evolve.

However, some believe that maybe instead of getting rid of Apu from The Simpsons, the show could simply alter his character and hire a southeast Asian voice actor to portray the character. In other words, compromise instead of eradicating.

“Instead of removing Apu from the show, maybe they could make some changes so it’s not a white guy voicing Apu or maybe they could introduce a new character because they don’t have much diversity on the show,” senior Bayli Foley said.

Other students felt that the shift in the show is simply just an ongoing politically-correcting agenda in this country that’s getting out of control.

“I think that they shouldn’t do it because he’s a beloved character and it doesn’t seem people are all that offended by it, like people who you would think would be offended by it. A couple of Indian people I know have actually defended Apu and said that he represents a hard worker and a family man, and he shouldn’t be taken out of the show,” freshman Michael McCartney stated.

While “The Simpsons” have been around longer than most college age students have been alive, it may hold a responsibility in that longevity to catch up with the times.

In a sensitive time in America, it’s becoming a “get with the program or get out” type of society. This was seen with the dismissal of Roseanne Barr from the show “Roseanne” after the actress made some racially questionable statements on Twitter earlier this year. And while some believe comedy should be left out of the political correcting agenda because comedian’s jobs entail them to push the limits, there’s also the belief that no voice should be silenced by the use of language and representation in media.

Because “The Simpsons” is a beloved show that has been on air for so long, many have given it a pass and want the traditional representation of the show to remain the same.

“I don’t really understand why Apu’s being removed from the show, because he’s a pretty big part of the show and he added to the comedy of The Simpsons,” said freshman Jessie Diel.

Alex Powers | Marlin Chronicle

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THE HUMAN ELEMENT

Rebecca Schamel|Courtesy Pictured from leftto right, Ann C. Phillips, James Balog, William C. Baker stand for a group picture at the Sandler Center after the premiere of “The Human Element”

BY REBECCA SCHAMEL raschamel@vwu.edu

Wednesday night, Oct. 24th, at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach, those who attended were treated to an eye-opening film premiere of James Balog entitled “The Human Element.” If there was ever a doubt about the actual realism of climate change, this film should be viewed by everyone.

There was a very good turn-out for this premier, which was sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

When the doors opened, the viewers were treated to several exhibits from local groups, including Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Lynnhaven River Now, Elizabeth River Project, and Habitat At Home. Volunteers were there to explain what work and progress was being done in our Tidewater area to protect the environment and how we could get involved. There was a lot of excitement as the people flowed from one exhibit to another. Good information was available as to what we, as individuals can do to get involved and encourage others to do what they can. Some ideas were common sense, like driving a fuel-efficient car, turning off lights and appliances when not in use, consistently recycle and growing some of your own fruits and vegetables. A lot of good information was available and the sponsors at each exhibit were very eager to answer questions.

The evening began with a welcome and introduction of the guests by Harry Lester, Board Chairman of Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A short video was shown from CBF showing the work they are doing in this area and encouraging the audience to get involved.

James Balog, Founder and President of Earth Vision Institute and Extreme Ice Survey gave a few brief introductory remarks about his film “The Human Element.” This is a 2018 documentary film highlighting the forces of nature: earth, air, water, and fire. He pointed out that humans are a force of nature also and human activities alter the basic elements of life. When these elements are changed, human life in turn is changed.

The film began, and everyone was riveted to what they witnessed. James Balog should be described as a man of all seasons because he goes to any extreme to photograph what he needs to document the story he is telling. Climate

change is not taken seriously by many because they do not believe the information they are given. However, when the evidence is on film, there is no disputing that it is real.

One area of climate change that is in the news consistently is the melting of the ice glaciers in Greenland, Iceland and Alaska. Balog set up a system of 43 time-lapse cameras at 18 glaciers in these areas, and these recorded at every half hour during the daylight. The melting was captured on film and gave undisputed evidence that this was a real event. The collected images were used as scientific evidence that climate change was real. The images were also used as a global outreach campaign for the purpose of educating the public to what was happening.

When California experienced the massive wild-fires this summer, Balog took his camera and went on the front lines to document this devastation and what it was doing to the environment. He admitted during his question and answer period after the film, “it was scary looking up at that massive wall of fire behind you and wondering if you were safe.” In the film, he highlighted the Americans who are at the frontline of climate change and hopes this will inspire everyone to take a closer look at their relationship with nature.

James Balog was raised in Pennsylvania where his father worked in the coal mines. He saw first-hand how the land was depleted because of the years of coal mining.

What seemed like a barren waste was turned into a new venture as an entrepreneur saw the opportunity to use this land for developing solar panels. The point made in this segment of the film was how important it is that the earth is taken care of because we need it for survival.

When Balog wanted to highlight the air pollution conditions we experience, he climbed many feet high on a tower, leaned out with his camera and tested the quality of the air at different altitudes. The results were used to give credence to things that are causing asthma and other respiratory diseases in our population, particularly the children and seniors.

Tidewater area was part of his film also. Tangier Island has experienced high sea level rise in recent years and, unless something is done, they may have to be relocated

or make very costly protective walls around their island.

This is a problem that is eminent. The people who live on Tangier Island have a way of life that has been in existence for several generations. Climate change can erase a culture, a population, an island and a way of life.

In Norfolk there is already evidence of rising sea levels.

Even in the middle of summer on a sunny day, water can be seen bubbling up along the streets in Ghent. The military base, one of the largest in the world, could be in danger and need to move. Our beaches could also be affected by pollution and shore erosion.

After the film, there was a panel discussion with Will Baker as the moderator. In addition to James Balog, Ann C. Phillips was a guest. She is the Special Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Adaptation and Protection for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ms. Phillips, a retired admiral, had great insight into what harm sea level rise can do this area and the military. The audience members filled out questions and submitted them to the panel. An interesting discussion ensued. One of the questions to James Balog was, “What makes you so optimistic about the environment?” “I chose to be an optimist,” he replied.

Another question from the audience was “What carbon footprint are you leaving behind for the environment?”

Balog said he drives a hybrid car, uses solar panels, caulks his windows, cuts off power strips when not using them, and uses his voice. He speaks out whenever he can about the environment. Ms Phillips laughingly said, “I walk to work because I work so close, and I do not eat a lot of red meat.” Balog said another answer to fighting climate change is “pick one thing; one tail pipe, one smoke stack. Then pick another one and move forward. It is an incremental process eventually to get to the summit.”

The film “The Human Element” will be available to any school or educational facility that requests it, free of charge, because it is really an education tool that can shed light on the problems that our nation is facing now. For information on how to get the film for your class, go to www.TheHumanElementMovie.com

THE MARLIN UNDERTOW / By Tony Tann GO TO THIS:

LISTEN TO THIS:

WATCH THIS:

Norfolk Grand Illumination Parade:

Vince Staples “FM!” :

Every Marvel Related Product:

The 2018 Grand Illumination parade is a yearly event down at Waterside Norfolk that’ll truly get you into the season of Christmas a couple weeks early. Come out and discover Downtown at it’s most festive right before all the lights that outline the Norfolk skyline...illuminate.

The parade is always a blast, with appearances by many of Norfolk Public School’s Marching bands, Frosty the Snowman, and the Big Red Man himself, Santa Claus.

The parade is scheduled to start up at 7:00 p.m. and will pass directly in front of Waterside District. Reserved VIP seating gives you a front row view during the parade.

In addition, each guest will receive A $25 Waterside District gift card, reserved viewing area along Waterside Drive (bring your own small folding chair), enjoy a festive holiday atmosphere before & during the parade and includes 1 hot cocoa ticket. Tickets are $40 and can be bought at https://watersidedistrict.com

PODCAST

FM! is the third album from Vince Staples. The Radio takeover is upon us with Vince leading the coup. The California rapper keeps it short and savory (because the album is anything but sweet) in a sensational 11 tracks, three of which are small skits. The entire album screams Vintage Bay Area in a throw back to early 90s gangsta rap on an endless summer day.

Vince’s dark humor and abrasive personality have turned him into one of the rap’s most captivating characters, but his provocative side has been explored more often in interviews and social media than in his music. That changes in this album. With all the success he’s accrued simply being himself, Vince appears to realize he doesn’t need to shape his sound to appease out-of-touch label executives for his music to weave through the West Coast air waves

COMING

Stan Lee died on November 12 at the age of 95.

Since many of our childhoods, Lee has been the mind behind lots of childhood favorites such as The X-Men, Fantastic Four and The Avengers.

Many of which went on to become so much more than just comics parents so often told us not to read. They taught us to believe in the unbelieveable and to always have hope. It’s crazy how a single person could create a world millions of people get lost in day after day. One man created boundless universes and it’s an absolute joy to see them on screen. It feels fitting to marathon everything Marvel movie in order from beginning to current. In honor of the legend, enjoy the world that he invited us into, whether that be comics, movies or cartoons. May he rest in peace.

Excelsior.

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