The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 11.19.20 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Prof resigns following viral post BY BRIANNA SANDY bnsandy@vwu.edu
Dr. Paul Ewell resigned from his position as Professor of Management, Business, and Economics on Nov. 16 in the wake of widespread criticism over a Facebook post in which he accused supporters of Joe Biden of being “ignorant, anti-American, and anti-Christian.” The post, which originally went up late Nov. 5 and was taken down the next day, garnered national attention Nov. 15 as President Donald Trump retweeted an NBC12 article about the post, commenting “Progress!” This post would amass 33 thousand retweets and 174 thousand likes as well as send Ewell’s name as high as the number 16 spot on the platform’s ‘Trending’ list. The Nov. 5 post, Ewell told the Chronicle, had been an angry lapse in judgement in the aftermath of a fight with two Democratic friends in private messages.
With tensions around the election running high, Ewell said that one of the friends impugned his faith in their political argument. Ewell responded by writing the controversial Facebook post that questioned the patriotism and faith of those who voted for Biden in the election, and further accused them of corrupting the election, the youth and the country. He instructed anyone who voted for Biden to unfriend him on social media. By midnight on Nov. 6, just hours after it went up, the post had begun to rocket between campus group chats and appear on students’ social media. Students and alumni began calling for Ewell’s firing or resignation. Alumnus Thomas Mills wrote in an email to the Chronicle that “The issue is not that [Ewell] supports Trump or votes Republican. He is entitled to a political opinion just like everyone else in this country. The issue is how worrisome, disturbing
Daily Mail|Courtesy Left: Dr. Paul Ewell is at the center of controversy, sparking difficult conversations on campus and across the nation. Right: The now-deleted Facebook post from Ewell highlights political divisiveness. almost, it is to see a professor and dean from Virginia Wesleyan so blatantly spew false and divisive rhetoric.” Others expressed shock, including some of Ewell’s own students. “I have complete, one hundred percent confidence that
if… I had posted something political that would have been controversial, he would have been the first to say, ‘Hey man, it’s just not a good look, that doesn’t represent what you’re a leader of,’” said Justin Robins, a student of Ewell’s who had worked closely
with him in the Marlins Prestige Business Conference. Ewell regretted the post almost immediately, he told the Chronicle in an interview on Nov. 9. “I spoke out of anger, which I
See EWELL Page 2
Marlins find 2020 finish line After the trials and tribulations of an adjusted, abbreviated fall semester, the VWU community overcomes COVID-19 obstacles, reaching the Nov. 20 goal date.
BY CONNOR MERK ccmerk@vwu.edu
vwusoftball|Instagram (From left to right) Perennial stars Goldyn, Hull and Glaubke return for a fifth year of eligibility to compete for the Marlins.
Softball ‘Big 3’ is back BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu
Three seniors of the Virginia Wesleyan softball team opted in for their extra year of eligibility due to the shortened 2020 season. COVID-19 forced a premature ending to every spring season. Jessica Goldyn, Hanna Hull, and Madison Glaubke accepted the opportunity to get back on the diamond with their teammates. Now all three are looking to spring where they hope to pursue another national championship for the Marlins. Hull and Glaubke look to capture their third national championship in their fifth year at Virginia Wesleyan. They won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. After failing to reach the championship in 2019 and their 2020 season cut short, both look to join the select few college athletes who have three
national championship rings. Each spring athlete was presented with the opportunity to extend their collegiate career due to COVID-19. Division I and II athletes have an easier decision on whether to come back for an extra year. Division III does not offer athletic scholarships. The decision to come back for an extra year of college isn’t one to be taken lightly. Could an athlete afford to pay for an extra year of college just for a possible spring season. Every spring athlete that chose to come back had to weigh the options of returning during the pandemic. Hull expressed the importance of continuing her education on her decision to come back: “I
The VWU administration announced Nov. 18 one case of COVID-19, bringing the cumulative case number to 24 so far this semester. The Emergency Response Team also reminded students in an email that after Nov. 20, the university will be switching to remote instruction. They also stated their appreciation for the campus community’s commitment to having a safe and responsible semester. In an interview with the Marlin Chronicle, President Miller stated that he is especially proud of VWU. “According to the last report that we received, we had the second lowest number of positive cases, among private institutions of those reporting, we were
See SOFTBALL Page 7
the second lowest in Virginia and in the report that we received only Eastern Mennonite was better than us,” Miller said. “Now, we’re proud of it, but it has meant that you’ve had a rather restrictive, living and learning environment for the whole semester.” He has also been pleased with the cooperation and relationships between the Commonwealth of Virginia and higher educational institutions in Virginia regarding COVID-19. “We as a group, meaning the private institutions had these discussions on how we were going to address things, but they [public health officials] said to us, that ‘we would strongly recommend to you that somewhere around the 20th of November, you stopped in-person instruction, because we see that there’s going
Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle
their financial status,” Cooper said. “With changes Tuition freeze announced matter in demographics and a new operational model, the University has maintained the same tuition three years in a row for 2021-2022 and will continue for a fourth year in 2021-2022.” BY CONNOR MERK ccmerk@vwu.edu
President Scott D. Miller announced in his Nota Bene on Oct. 29 that The Board of Trustees approved his recommendation of freezing the tuition for the fourth year in a row. Also, 97 percent of traditional full-time students receive financial aid and full-time tuition costs for traditional students will remain $36,010. Room and board will increase slightly to cover increases in food costs. Vice President for Finance and Administration Jim Cooper attributes this to Miller and how he has strived to create greater affordability for students since his arrival. According to Cooper, VWU is an attractive private college because of the various funding opportunities students have and that we are able to provide a better education with similar net tuition as public institutions. “New need-based scholarships were initiated in 2016 and a privately funded student work program was added in 2017. The endowed Batten Honors College was founded in 2017 to provide 40 scholarships per year to talented students no
During this unprecedented and challenging time as a result of COVID-19, VWU has had to make difficult financial decisions. In the spring, Cooper and Miller analyzed the expenses of VWU to find ways to save money. “With students and staff interacting remotely, we were able to identify costs that were non-essential and reduce and balance the budget given the new realities of lower revenues and additional costs incurred due to COVID-19,” Cooper said. Examples of budget reductions are the elimination of professional travel since all professional meetings and conferences have been conducted virtually. Additionally, Cooper mentioned that part-time positions have been reduced, non-essential employees were furloughed and that food service was closed when students and staff were sent home in the spring. Freshman Nya Washington appreciates the tuition freeze because it provides substantial relief to students and lowincome families but is concerned about additional fees. “Some of these little hidden fees are what gets students in a bind. If schools are actually upfront about it, it would
to be a surge in cases somewhere around that time period and we think that by doing the masks, the social distancing, the limiting the number of people in classes, all the safeguards, that if you go to that remote format, and stay out of in-person from Nov. 20, until whenever your institution starts second semester, that you’ll play a major role in in reducing the spread in the state.’ And all the information that we’ve received so far, has worked the way they forecasted and so science does work,” Miller said. Miller also mentioned that he has been a president in four different states and has been impressed by the advisories and the role that the Commonwealth has played in advising the university and bringing together institutions in Virginia. He also made not of the unity given how the institutions across Virginia normally compete with one another for students, athletes, and resources. “It has been wonderful to see 91 higher educational institutions all working together for the good of our students,” Miller said. Associate Vice President For Campus Life and Operational Management Jason Seward was also pleased by the numbers at VWU, but encourages the
See COVID-19 Page 3
actually prepare us more on how much money we have to save to pay for college,” Washington said. “Also, I feel like it’s unnecessary adding extra little fees when some of the things we are provided are lacking in quality, such as technology and Wi-Fi.”
Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle
Sit-down with Sarah Guzzo Campus work: a reflection Holidays in Hampton Roads COMMUNITY Page 5
OPINIONS Page 6
STAY CONNECTED! 1Front_11_17_2020.indd 1
WEEKENDER Page 10
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EWELL CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 should not have done…. I don’t believe what I said. I have friends and family who are Democrats and I love them dearly. I have apologized on both accounts profusely. I set a poor example in that post of what a Christian should be. I know that God has forgiven me and already died for my sins. I hope others will forgive me as well.” On Nov. 6, the day after making his original post, Ewell took it down and made his Facebook private. In a subsequent post, he explained what had happened and apologized for his words. “I have never seen a time in my life where there has been so much divisiveness and apparent hatred toward one-another. If our country is to survive, we must stop this hatred and fighting and I’m stepping forward to say I want it to start with me… I am genuinely sorry for letting my anger get the best of me,” said the apology posted on Facebook. That same morning, the University released the following statement on its social media pages: “The University is aware of a recent comment made on social media by a member of the campus community. These views and opinions are expressly the individual’s own. Civic engagement and religious freedom are at the core of the University’s values, and we remain an inclusive and caring community that empowers meaningful relationships through listening, understanding, and communication.” As of this publishing, the post has over a thousand
comments on Facebook, and hundreds of replies on Twitter. Many members of the Marlin community criticized the University and accused it of offering empty platitudes. Mills said that, “The administration’s response has been lackluster, at best. It is wild to me that an institution that prides itself on acceptance, inclusion, and diversity would not vehemently deny the comments made by Mr. Ewell…. As far as I’m concerned, a pre-written Facebook post isn’t going to cut it.” Ewell was a tenured professor with the University, and was protected by the policies outlined in the Faculty Handbook. “When faculty speak or write outside of their role as teachers and researchers, they will be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but they should take care to be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, and show respect for the opinions of others. They should also make clear that they are not speaking for the institution,” the Handbook states. The situation reached a boiling point on Sunday morning, when President Donald Trump retweeted coverage from the NBC12 team in Richmond. As of 11 p.m. on Nov. 16, the post had over 33 thousand retweets and 174 thousand likes. The university fielded furious calls from around the country on Sunday in the wake of new national attention, with callers demanding Ewell be removed and threatening to withhold donations. Some students suggested on social media that they were considering dropping out or leaving the school off their resume. On Monday morning, the University announced that
THE PULSE ON CAMPUS| “Not a great day to be a Marlin.” -Natalie Belva Ianniciello, alum “Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately for our minority population, our administration’s actions do not align with what little words they do say.” -Morgan Richardson, student “It is not the fact that Dr. Ewell supports Trump that bothers me, rather it is his lack of ‘inclusivity’ and willingness to understand opinions apart from his own.” -Asha Richards, student “Even if what we perceive someone has done is unforgiveable or evil or terrible, if we’re seeking to understand them, we don’t have to necessarily do that from a perspective of trying to benefit them. It doesn’t have to be seen from a perspective of weakness or lowering ourselves, it should just be seem as a step towards progress.” -Jason Brugman, student
Dr. Ewell had tendered his resignation as both a dean and a professor. “While we respect Dr. Ewell’s right to free speech,” said the emailed announcement, “His comments, particularly coming from a Dean of the institution, contradict the values and culture that are such an integral part of who we are.” President Miller confirmed in an interview Tuesday evening that Ewell’s resignation was voluntary. Ewell will finish out the last few weeks of the semester for current students. His advisees will be issued a new faculty advisor in coming weeks. Miller spoke highly of Ewell, highlighting that Ewell himself was an alumnus of the University and had been “a productive member of the academic community” during his 12 years teaching here. He emphasized that the University was appreciative of his service, and wished him all the best moving forward. Robins identified himself as sitting on the left side of the political spectrum, but said that the statements in Ewell’s post didn’t change what he thought of the professor himself. “He’s a great professor. I will say that, and I don’t think anyone who’s had him would disagree with that.” Others in the Marlin community who knew Ewell personally spoke of him in similar terms. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that he immediately expressed remorse,” and took full responsibility for the post, said Dr. Craig Wansink, professor and Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center on campus. “It wouldn’t surprise me that faculty and students of his and colleagues... wish that he had just turned away from the keyboard that night.”
Amid the latest controversy, Marlins everywhere voiced their opinions on Paul Ewell’s decisions and the administration’s responses to sensitive issues
“I’m going to mess up, sometime. That’s going to happen. I might send a text to somebody that I don’t mean to, I might post something on social media that I don’t want out there later. But that’s my worst nightmare, to think that the time I’m gonna mess up is also going to be the time that the President puts everything out there.” -Justin Robins, student “I feel like everyone as a community are going to need to come together, like somehow have people sit down and talk everything through like what is happening on campus and how we can fix these things.” -Saige Smith, student
“That entire institution needs to look inward first before preaching campus inclusivity to its students/alum.” -Justin Smith, alum “Regardless of whether it was a ‘private’ social media post, he is still one of the faces of the university and his behavior reflects on the university as it would be for any professor, dean, or administrator at the school. He should have thought about that before saying anything. Actions come with consequences, whether those be positive or negative.” -Allaina Boggs, student
“It is embarassing to be associated with a “This moment is really indicative that more and University who just got the go ahead from Trump.” -Mike Hairston, student more people are understanding that the personal is political and it makes discussion about our “If anyone doesn’t look at Dr. Ewell’s experience political views and the way it influences our as a deep personal warning, then we’re missing a choices and judgements paramount.” very important lesson.” -Aleigha Johnson, student -Craig Wansink, faculty
Marlin community airs grievances with admin BY ALEX POWERS ampowers@vwu.edu
& BRIANNA SANDY bnsandy@vwu.edu
The controversy of Dr. Paul Ewell’s Nov. 5 Facebook post shook the Marlin community the past few weeks. With the post erupting into the scope of national and international news, the gravity of the situation and the influx of backlash seemed inevitable. However, this issue did not just bring criticism against Ewell, but the Virginia Wesleyan University administration as well. As comments flooded in--over the phone, through interviews, in social media posts and by direct message--a theme took shape: there is a disconnect felt between administration and the broader Marlin community. Alluding to Ewell’s comments, a Nov. 6 post from the institution reads, “The University is aware of a recent comment made on social media by a member of the campus community. These views and opinions are expressly the individual’s own.” Backlash to this commentary stemmed from what was perceived as another University statement unwilling to directly address the issue at hand nor take a stance. “At the very minimum, the school should have disavowed his comments, publicly and explicitly stating that Dr. Ewell’s comments do not represent the values of the school,” said senior Asha Richards in an open letter to VWU President Scott Miller and administration, suggesting that the language of the response was not a strong enough condemnation. “Not satisfactory whatsoever,” senior Justin Robins said of the University’s statement. Senior Saige Smith echoed this sentiment. “They didn’t really do anything. They just didn’t really--it wasn’t even an apology…. like they were trying to save themselves and distance from him, basically.” Miller stood by the institution’s initial statement, saying that it “was a sufficient response at that time.” While the post circulated amongst the Marlin community, it had not yet begun to garner broader attention regionally or nationally. Miller emphasized that for all the discourse taking place in the community, key members of the institution had begun conversations privately, following proper policy and legal procedure. “These items, sometimes because of processes and procedures, have to be dealt with in a different form,” Miller said. “...Social media wants them to be immediate, and they’re not something that can be dealt with immediately.” The situation regarding Ewell has since reached a resolution of sorts with his resignation. Yet, the frustrations expressed toward the institution as a whole remained. Some questioned if the school’s response had been fueled more by the sudden volume of press coverage. Richards wondered, “If Virginia Wesleyan’s PR wasn’t at stake (or even if it was and Dr. Ewell decided to be stubborn) would administration do the right thing?” In an interview with the Marlin Chronicle, President Miller said that, “I don’t think it would be appropriate to speculate,” what steps would have been taken had Ewell not chosen to step down. He also said that “the media had no impact,” on the actions taken by the University regarding Dr. Ewell. This divergence between administration’s process and
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calls from the community closely resembles that of racial sensitivity issues this past summer. In the days following George Floyd’s death, amid nationwide protests and riots, the University released a statement in June that many in the Marlin community viewed as lacking substance. “I would much rather that they just don’t say anything. At that point, it’s almost like they were just kind of going through the motions,” said alumna Sydney Covey (‘16) of the University’s handling of the matter. “Like, ‘well, everyone else was putting a statement out, so let’s put out a statement too so that we look like we’re fitting in.’” Criticisms arose quickly on social media and only heightened after the University began to delete comments and block users who spoke out. The University later reversed course and apologized for the perception of silencing voices. The discovery later in October that the University’s statement had been plagiarized from another institution did little to dispel the community’s concerns. These sentiments of discontent are reflected in the changes the Alumni Council has seen this semester. After the University’s handling of the statements made on social media during this summer’s Black Lives Matter
“At the Virginia Wesleyan I went to and enjoyed, community cared for community no matter who you were and what your views were. Voices were heard and positive change was attainable. As the University has begun to expand, there has been a shift. Priorities are no longer humanity, community, and inclusiveness.” - Alana Peters (‘18) protests, Rob Kohler (‘93) and Rob Gillikin (‘00), who at the time were serving as Chair and Vice Chair, resigned from their positions. Meanwhile, Covey, who at the time was serving on the Alumni Council, was put “on pause” over social media comments criticizing the school’s response. Most recently, Alana Peters (‘18) has stepped down from her position on the Council as of Nov. 16. Kohler, Gillikin and Covey’s respective departures and suspension from Council activity demonstrate their dissatisfaction. Now, Peters finds herself in a similar situation. “This isn’t the first instance the University is not upholding appropriate action or reaction,” Peters said in a tweet thread. Peters also writes in her resignation letter that, “At the Virginia Wesleyan I went to and enjoyed, community cared for community no matter who you were and what your views were. Voices were heard and positive change was attainable. As the University has begun to expand, there has been a shift. Priorities are no longer humanity, community, and inclusiveness.” “In short, I no longer wish to maintain a position or relationship with the University that does not hold the same values and priorities that I do as a former student, council member, and member of the VB community.” Miller asserted that these departures of Council members
had not impacted the work being done by the 20-member Alumni Council. “Losing three or four occurs. I mean, that’s not unusual for any multitude of reasons.” Miller cites many initiatives in just the past five years in advancing values of inclusivity, care, and open dialogue. In 2015, the student scholarship program was redesigned, “to focus financial aid in such a way...to attract a more diverse student population,” according to Miller. Two years ago, a major donor contributed funding to commence a minor in Africana studies, as well as other educational opportunities in related areas. Just a year ago, the campus saw its first Chief Diversity Officer appointed. The University has a long-standing relationship with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities [VCIC], and in 2018, the VCIC opened its first satellite office on the Virginia Wesleyan campus. The University recently expanded the Robert Nussbaum Center to include facilitating dialogue about race issues on campus. The President’s Council on Inclusive Communities [PCIC] was reconstituted in 2015 and expanded last year. VWU has also recently joined the Consortium on Faculty Diversity to recruit more “faculty from underrepresented populations,” added Dr. Maynard Schaus, Vice President of Academic Affairs and biology professor. The question left is whether those actions are making a difference. Students continue to express that in the face of sensitive issues, the administration’s vague statements, censorship, delayed action or outright inaction felt by students appear to remain. Meanwhile, the administration notes a wide array of initiatives set forth that they believe to be having their desired impact. This disconnect between the two groups has created ongoing tension for several years over a number of issues, but the friction has intensified in recent months. “The school just doesn’t care about us. They didn’t care about us with the mold… they didn’t care about us with the Black Lives Matter protests… they don’t care about us now,” voiced a junior at VWU, who wished to remain anonymous. Yet, these tensions are neither unique to VWU nor rare in the current political climate. Miller underlines three complex issues that have raised tensions for the Marlin community: “the pandemic,” “the divisiveness caused by racial issues this summer,” and “the divisiveness in politics.” A great deal of the friction that exists today, Miller attributes to these stressors. “It’s my hope, it’s our hope, that a new presidential leadership in this country will cause some calm,” Miller said. Referencing the institution’s values and initiatives, Moore added “if people truly looked at what we’ve done in the past five years, it’s obvious that we are working to our commitment[s].” Schaus reinforced this idea. “Again, the proof will be once we can take these steps further and make a positive impact. But these are important steps that help us to enable that action.” In her open letter to Miller, Richards reiterates her concerns. “It is clear to myself, and many other VWU students,” she said, “that systemic changes need to be made with the school’s administration, priorities, and policies to better reflect and benefit the students they are designed to serve and educate.”
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Thursday November 19, 2020 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
COVID-19 CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 community to remain vigilant in all safety practices in place. “The University will continue to follow recommendations and best practices in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 during the spring semester,” Seward said. Freshman Julia Piotrowski believes that VWU has handled COVID-19 to the best of their ability. “Unlike most of my friends from back home, I attended in-person classes, practiced with my team and lived in a dorm. Although it may not be the typical college experience, I was reassured that it was a safe one,” Piotrowski said. She is also content with the changes that have been made to the fall and spring semester, such as removing the fall and spring breaks and having virtual instruction after Thanksgiving. “I could understand how some of the upperclassmen would be upset with these changes, but this is the only thing I have experienced,” Piotrowski said. “It would have been nice to come back after Thanksgiving since we will be going home for a more extended amount of time, and I finally felt as if I was adjusting to college.” Piotrowski does have several suggestions regarding university policies, specifically about the closure of academic buildings at earlier times. “As a student-athlete,
I need a quiet place to study and get my work done after a long day. I’ve noticed that the library and Greer tend to close early, and I end up getting interrupted in the middle of my work,” Piotrowski said. “When I’m getting out of practice late, I don’t want to have to worry about rushing to one of these buildings to get my work done in a suitable environment before it closes.” Other universities in the Hampton Roads region have experienced for the most part, a much higher number of COVID-19 cases compared to VWU. For example, as of Nov. 13, Christopher Newport University, which has 5,000 students, has had a total of 142 confirmed cases. Norfolk State University, which also has 5,000 students, has had a total of 24 confirmed cases. Old Dominion University, which has 24,000 students, has had a total of 173 confirmed cases. William & Mary, which has 8,000 students, has had 77 confirmed cases. Ralph Northam, governor of Virginia, announced on Nov. 13 new statewide measures to contain COVID-19. These measures include restrictions on gatherings, expansion of mask mandates, strengthened enforcement within essential retail businesses and on-site alcohol
curfews. As a result of this order, all public and private in-person gatherings must be limited to 25 individuals, down from the current cap of 250 people. This includes outdoor and indoor settings. Additionally, all Virginians aged five and over are required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces, which used to be the policy for those aged ten and over. The Governor also stated in the order, “Everyone is tired of this pandemic and restrictions on our lives. I’m tired, and I know you are tired too. But as we saw earlier this year, these mitigation measures work. I am confident that we can come together as one Commonwealth to get this virus under control and save lives,” Northam stated. According to the Virginia Department of Health as of Nov. 17, Virginia has had over 200,000 total confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, over 13,000 confirmed and probable hospitalizations and 3,835 confirmed and probable deaths. Regarding localities near VWU, Virginia Beach has had 9,449 cases of COVID-19 and Norfolk has had 6,037 cases as of Nov. 17.
Lighthouse hosts virtual internship & career fair BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu The Lighthouse held a virtual fall career & internship fair on Nov. 18, 1-4 p.m. on Handshake, a virtual platform where students can list their courses, experiences and connect with employers, for students to have the opportunity to have a group or one-on-one sessions with employers of several companies. Prior registration was required to participate in the fair. Employers from Virginia Beach City VA Public Schools, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, YMCA of South Hampton Roads and United States Army Medical Department are just a few of the organizations and companies that attended the virtual fall career & internship fair. Representatives from several colleges in Virginia also attended the virtual event such as the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University and more universities. Jessica Harrington, director of career development at the Lighthouse, shared, “The planning started over in the summer. It’s been a little hectic and a tighter schedule because of adapting to a new platform. We’re contemplating on using Handshake prior to the end of the semester. The purpose of the event is not losing the ability for students to connect with employers despite COVID-19. Students are looking for internship opportunities and want to help them in the process of finding internships and employment. It’s a great way for students to meet with employers in oneon-one sessions.” 50 students registered for the virtual fair. Even though the professional event will not be held on campus, Harrington was optimistic about how students could take advantage of the opportunities despite it being in a virtual setting. “One of the big goals is having a solid student turnout. We’re hoping to have a good turnout to attend the virtual. The spring fair last year had 65 employers attend. For introverted students, it can be intimidating to them to meet employers and this event takes off the pressure of being online,” Harrington said. Katie Costin, a senior majoring in business and a work-study student in the Lighthouse, helped plan the virtual fall career and internship fair as a project for her marketing class to help students find job and internship
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Jessica Harrington, director of career development at the Lighthouse prepares for the internship and career fair in her office.
opportunities. “I work for the Lighthouse and my partner and I was looking at different topic ideas for the project. We wanted to do something different and out-of-the-box to complete our honors credit. Not only do we get handson management skills but develop additional skills for our resume. This also benefits the student body and kinda makes the semester slightly more normal,” Costin said. Additionally, Costin added, “Being that it’s virtual opens up opportunities for one-on-one sessions with employers. The individual and group sessions allow students to have more flexibility by scheduling it. In-person career and internship fairs have a limited amount of space, so a virtual experience allows more companies and organizations to attend.”
Ashanti Kincannon, a senior majoring in earth and environmental sciences, registered for the virtual fair, “My personal and professional goals for attending the virtual fall career fair include, getting more practice with interviewing, being able to ask questions, reviewing expectations as well as having exposure to employers in a virtual setting,” Kincannon said.“Not only does a virtual setting provide convenience for students who can attend from the comfort of their dorm room or home, but it also gives students the experience with virtual interviews which seem to be becoming more relevant and possibly the new normal.”
Marlin-to-Marlin program makes debut BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu The Marlin-to-Marlin Mentoring Program is a multifaceted experience that allows for current students to connect with alumni. Any current undergraduate student here at Virginia Wesleyan University has the opportunity to be a part of it. It has made its debut appearance on campus this November. Amy Rush, the Executive Director of the Lighthouse, created the program at the beginning of fall semester and had it approved by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Maynard Schaus. In order to be a part of this program, one simply has to contact any member of the Lighthouse staff. This staff member will then put the student in touch with Rush, the aforementioned creator and current leader of the program. In order to become a mentor, alumni have to fill out a volunteer form and select the Marlin-to-Marlin Mentoring Program option on the application. The form consists of basic personal information questions. Once the application is filled out, the alumni will be put in contact with someone from the Office of Alumni Relations who will work in conjunction with Rush to determine the best student fit for said alumni. It is a process which much thought is put into; these pairing decisions are not made carelessly. The whole point of the program is to pair up alumni who completed immersive experiences at some point throughout their collegiate lives with students who are interested in pursuing such a route. The alumni chosen are those who had the opportunity to study away on either a faculty-led course or who studied abroad for a whole semester. They also consist of people who completed an immersive internship or an undergraduate research project. As a result of their experiences, these chosen alumni
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will be able to mentor, support and guide the current students in the planning and preparation phases of their own immersive experiences. The whole point and goal of the program is for these alumni to use their mistakes and successes to direct the future generation on a better and more productive path. The whole inspiration for the program came from the work that the entire team of the Lighthouse does. Rush talked about how “we [the Lighthouse staff] talk to students about developing pathways to experiential learning experiences. We want students to explore and investigate options in the academic program and use research as preparation to complete an internship, study
The Lighthouse|Courtesy away program and/or an undergraduate research project.” By providing a program that allows for and encourages students to take these experiential learning opportunities, many personal and professional transformations can occur that “help define career goals, generate new interests and modify how a student reacts with others in the world.” This program has many benefits both for the current students and for the alumni. In regards to the students, they are provided with helpful information that will
aid in their journey and process of completing an immersive experience. Their confidence is built as they open communication with their designated alumni allows them to express their passions and goals for the future. Additionally, they are taught more about what a professional relationship is like and how things like networking are established. The benefits of being a part of this program as an alumni are just as bountiful. Alumni are able to reflect on their experiences and realize the impact that they truly had on their lives. Furthermore, the donation of their time and service to the school further establishes their connection to the school and gives it a more personal meaning. They can also be content in the knowledge that they have made a positive investment in the academic and personal development of another human being. In the first week of notifying alumni, nine have already volunteered and agreed to become mentors. Rush mentioned how they are excited to work with the current students and how they completely agree that experiential learning is an important aspect of both personal and career development. Rush plans to continue marketing the program throughout campus, and her hope is that it will result in “a robust program with meaningful connections and active conversations about internships, study away programs and undergraduate research.” She wants students to be empowered by this opportunity and to maybe even consider being a mentor themselves in the future. All in all, the Marlin-To-Marlin program is a unique experience through which meaningful relationships can be cultivated and academic opportunities can expand. In order to learn more information about this program, feel free to contact Amy Rush at arush@vwu.edu.
11/19/2020 11:51:18 AM
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Community
Thursday November 19, 2020 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
The
MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Alex Powers ampowers@vwu.edu Managing Editor Nicholas Mundy namundy@vwu.edu News Editor Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu Community Editor Lauren Faulkner lafaulkner@vwu.edu Opinions Editor Dalton Powers dmpowers@vwu.edu Sports Editor Nicholas Mundy namundy@vwu.edu Weekender Editor Faith Macwana fpmacwana@vwu.edu Photo Editor Erin Highsmith eehighsmith@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Emily Uzzle ebuzzle@vwu.edu Online Editor Ash Dobrenen akdobrenen@vwu.edu Copy Editor Tara Truax tmtruax@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Alyssa Lane amlane@vwu.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu
Student Government Association|Courtesy
SGA hosts Raffle Event for village winner of Quarter Drive BY AJ ADAN ajadan@vwu.edu The Student Government Association collected quarter donations in the Batten Student Center over the past four weeks for the Virginia Beach Housing Resource Center. Brock Village, the village that raised the most money, was planned to be rewarded with a bingo night where they can win prizes, however due to new COVID-19 regulations, the event was changed to a Raffle Night. “At first we had a hard time choosing if we wanted it to be a competition,” said SGA President Bri Jones. “Village III made a big jump with a $50 donation from Andrew Taylor. He turned it into a fun competition within his fraternity with Sushi King for the winners and some of the other fraternities began to get involved,” Jones said. Bingo was supposed to be played in four rounds with the first three rounds having three games and the fourth being a blackout. The first round prizes included VWU gear and the second included gift bundles from
Five Below. “It was looking like Village III or IV was going to win it and we wanted to reward them with things they could use in their kitchens,” said SGA Treasurer Joey Mueller. Third round prizes
a good way for students to have socially distanced fun outdoors. Mueller felt that community outreach was the best way for the SGA to help fix an issue in the area after working with the resource center in January.
“I’m generally surprised we did really well. We started hot and kind of fizzled down because four weeks is a long time to be collecting the same thing but we broke $200 in donations. I’m just genuinely impressed by college kids having spare change and being willing to just part with it,” Mueller said. Because of stricter COVID-19 regulations, SGA decided to make the event a Raffle night. Raffles could be collected in the Student Activities office by Brock Village Residents and the drawing occurred on Nov. 17 at 8:15 p.m. Winners were announced on the SGA instagram page (@SGA_ Marlins_). Lauren Faulkner|Marlin Chronicle Jones and Mueller Bri Jones and Joey Mueller posing with the raffle tickets and featured prizes. would like to thank Director of Student included a Keurig coffee maker, “[VBHRC] got a grant so that Activities, Sarah Guzzo, for a twelve piece pot and pan set they could put some of the residents her help with advertising and and a game bundle with games up in hotels to accommodate putting the events on, the SGA like Cards Against Humanity and COVID-19 guidelines and what class officers, Andrew Taylor for Jenga. they don’t have, due to the whole donating 25% of the total proceeds The grand prize was a 100- change shortage, is quarters for and the student body for showing inch portable outdoor screen and the washing machines in the up and participating. projector, a prize Jones felt was hotels,” Mueller said.
Modified Christmas traditions are coming to town BY AJ ADAN ajadan@vwu.edu
The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Virginia Wesleyan University. Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:40 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Virginia Wesleyan University. The Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757.455.3311
“As a former collegiate student newspaper editor, professional journalist and long-time advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, I understand the role and value of student media at a liberal arts institution. Virginia Wesleyan University proudly supports the editorial independence and press freedom of student-edited publications. We believe that student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.” --Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President
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The Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and 12 Days of Christmas Competition, longstanding and favorite campus traditions, will be done with some modifications to follow COVID-19 restrictions. Holiday campus traditions are typically held towards the end of the semester to kick-off finals week, however, classes will be held remotely after Nov. 20. Before the lighting, Marlin Ministries usually performs holiday songs before going into the 12 Days of Christmas Competition, where different teams and organizations can sign up and compete for “the most festive”. A holiday themed dinner in Boyd Dining Center typically follows the tree lighting. A fire pit, fun lawn games and snacks were planned to avoid large gatherings inside the building. Due to unexpected rain, the Tree Lighting and related activities were held in Batten Student Center on Friday Nov. 13 at 4:30 p.m. There was an artificial tree with lights along with cardboard cutouts of Santa and Mrs. Claus as a festive photo-op for students. Students were encouraged to stop by and grab a cup of hot chocolate, brownies and more holiday treats. “We will still have a DJ playing holiday music, however, we will be thinking of a virtual alternative for the 12 Days of Christmas in early December to ensure we are follow-
Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle
ing CDC and University guidelines,” Director of Student Activities Sarah Guzzo said. Another favorite tradition on campus is Late Night Breakfast, which is usually filled with holiday music, ugly Christmas sweaters and gingerbread house decorating competitions. “We’re looking into at-home activities that students can do like printable coloring pages, creating a playlist with songs we typically play, maybe a TikTok competition for the different line dances that usually happen,” Guzzo said. Off the Hook is also working with Dining Services on recipes for breakfast foods students can make at home. “Kind of like a Food Network video from Chef that will be put on social media so students can follow along and cook with him,” Guzzo said. Students can find more information on virtual activities they can do by following Marlins Off the Hook or the Student Activities pages on Instagram, which are very active. For those not on Instagram, look out for the weekly email sent out by Student Activities. “We’ll also be including our new students who are starting in January as a way to get them connected to the community before they even get onto campus. This might be a great way to meet new Marlins and help our student organizations recruit new members as well so just be checking that stuff out,” said Guzzo.
Sarah Guzzo | Courtesy Left: Off the Hook Staff Christmas Picture in front of a decorated tree. Right: Off the Hook Event Supervisors at Ornament Decorating Table.
11/19/2020 11:22:55 AM
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Thursday, November 19, 2020
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Student Activities rises to the challenge of the Fall 2020 semester Sarah Guzzo, Director of Student Activities, alongside her student staff, Off the Hook, have hosted many social events this semester. Many of these events have been discussed in the Community Section of the Marlin Chronicle this year. In an interview with Community editor Lauren Faulkner, Sarah Guzzo reflects on this very different and difficult semester. Student Activities had to make many changes to their events this year. What do you think has been the most difficult or most dramatic change that you have had to make? ...I think [the most] difficult [change] is campus traditions that students so look forward to. We try to continue the traditions during the pandemic but if the essence of that event is completely changed where it doesn’t make sense to do it social distance style or virtually, we try to hold off and see if there is another time that we would be able to do that or just give us more time to create something that would be actually memorable for the students...It’s difficult to go through this semester and not have those traditions...It’s been difficult knowing the potential that this office has outside of COVID-19 and doing our best to host things in a way that would be memorable and still fun for our students. The most dramatic change has been the decrease in the events that student organizations have hosted...There are more tasks that need to be accomplished, more plans that need to be accomplished in the event request process because of COVID-19...Those who have hosted have done a wonderful job.
How did you prepare your team for this very different semester? ...My Off the Hook staff...throughout the summer [came up] with event ideas and links and resources to how other events are being planned during COVID-19 so we could get the juices flowing. During their interviews, I asked for event ideas and every student came prepared with a COVID-19 alternative. The students were so eager to get back so they were already thinking of alternatives and how to operate within the guidelines. We went through training and a lot of that focused on event-planning within the COVID-19 guidelines and reviewing the guidelines, but as for preparing them through each event, it’s just at the initial planning stages. They’ve been encouraged to ask themselves the questions: “How can I do this six-feet apart?” “How can we make this event work and will it still be fun if we have to be distant?” We have had in-person events, like Grocery Bingo... other events have been modified like the Kickball Derby...and that was still an awesome event...Getting [the team] in the mindset of thinking creatively and how things can be done six-feet apart but also utilizing their resources and creating virtual or hybrid events.
What event do you think was the most well received by the campus community? Definitely Grocery Bingo. We had the first one and people came by the office the next day asking when the next one was. Typically it’s only one per semester, but we were like “Alright let’s do it again!”...The Bingo Nights are fun and we definitely have a competitive bunch on campus, so that keeps them coming back and hoping to win those prizes How will next semester be different than this one in terms of Student Activities and campus life? How will they be similar? I mean we are still planning on having in-person, virtual and hybrid events... As far as anything changing, what went on this semester was doable. We are definitely accepting the challenge of encouraging student organizations to increase their presence on campus with their events. We are looking at different ways to make the event registration process a little less cumbersome but still reaching the goal of being safe...so we are looking at logistic things. As far as the guidelines and how activities are run, it will be very similar in the spring. What is one event that you and your team planned this semester that you are very proud of? I think the Homecoming Week went really well and the Halloween Week went really well. Those two stick out in my mind because we had something planned every single day for a week. So it’s a little daunting to have something planned every day of the week but we were able to provide in-person events... the events [I cherish] are the ones that were in-person. The students are craving those in-person activities and to be able to pull those off successfully and to make it fun while still maintaining that distance made a proud moment for us
vwu.edu|Courtesy
Student Activities has done an excellent job at adapting to this odd semester. What is one big success that you feel accurately reflects on the efforts of the office? My student staff has been amazing this semester. It is easy to get worn down especially when you have ideas and those ideas get squashed by the CDC guidelines or could be totally changed, but they have been a strong team this semester. They have gone through a lot of loopholes and a lot of plans A, B, C, D, in order to plan their events but I think that we had an event every week, if not multiple times this week. We had a pretty full schedule and...made sure that there were activities and engagement opportunities for their peers. I think the success story for this semester...is that my Off the Hook staff just went with it and ran with it… For more information about upcoming events hosted by the Student Activities office, students should check their email for a weekly email or follow @marlinsoffthehook on Instagram or @dir_of_stu_act
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle
Club Features: Marlins Go Green and Debate Club Marlins Go Green
Debate Club BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu
BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu
Marlins Go Green was originally founded as the Student Environmental Awareness League (SEAL). The acronym was pertinent because seal hunting and poaching were significant environmental concerns at the time. It was created by a team of environmentallyconscious professors and students alike. Since the club’s inception as SEAL, it has transitioned from an activism focus to being problem-solving centered. The club aims to educate students and faculty about potential solutions to environmental issues that can be made on campus and works towards making them a reality. Marlins Go Green’s leadership consists of a team of five executive board members. They are Skyler Lattuca (President), Ezekiel Herrera-Bevan (Vice-President), Jean Mahon (Secretary), Kat Vanden Berg (Advertising), Ashley Roehrman (Treasurer), and Ashanti Kincannon (Operations). The club’s guiding principles have always been the same: to encourage sustainability on campus by allowing students to become part of the solutions and to feel like they can make a difference.
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According to club president, Skyler Lattuca, the club has hosted many events in the past centered around sustainability on Virginia Wesleyan’s campus. He stated the club has held many tree planting events and campus cleanups. Last year, the club’s largest project was the extension of the gardens surrounding the Greer Environmental Sciences Center. The garden’s extension was named “Marlin Meadows.” The “Marlin Meadows” were created to give students an additional outdoor space to decompress and enjoy the natural environment that surrounds Greer. Lattuca acknowledged that students are under stress at nearly all times. This offers a great opportunity to just sit outside and relax for however long is needed. Lattuca mentioned several projects that the club is currently working on. He stated they would be taking a more “experimental approach” with their proposals this year. Proposals include renovation of the aviary on campus to be more sustainable, the generation of biogas as an alternative
fuel source on campus and to officially introduce campus-wide composting. The transition to virtual meetings has been a “bit chaotic,” according to Lattuca. He stated that despite the difficulty, the club is able to communicate well through GroupMe. This serves as a free space for people to share their sustainability ideas or any available opportunities of interest. So far, the club has met twice to work on proposals for the Earth and Environmental Science (EES) Endowed Fund. Lattuca was pleased with the turnout at both meetings but would like to meet more in the spring semester. Lattuca stated that because the club understands how COVID-19 restrictions work on campus from experience, they will be able to easily plan all activities and meetings for the spring semester. No definite events have been planned as of yet for the return to campus in the spring, but Lattuca encourages all campus community members to “stay tuned” for the many possibilities that lie ahead.
The Debate Club is a student organization that provides a safe space for students to discuss their opinions on the topic of the week. The club’s philosophy is to “Educate. Liberate. Promote Change.” They aim to educate the public and student members on current issues that have been happening and the history behind these pertinent problems. Additionally, the club encourages its members to liberate themselves, speak their minds, remove the barriers of judgement and promote change. The organization hopes that members will take the things they have learned in the club and transfer their learned knowledge to their daily lives. The Debate Club’s leadership consists of Alaira Groomes (President), Alex Powers ( Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t ) , Anitra Howard (Public Relations), and India Khanna (Secretary). An executive board decides the topics for the week as well as setting rules for moderated debates. According to Alaira Groomes, President, a typical weekly meeting consists of a discussion
pertaining to topics that can be “controversial, current or at the forefront people’s mind.” Many of the themes discussed surround race, sex, gender and violence. Groomes explained that an executive board member makes a PowerPoint every week with topics of interest expressed by other members or a topic that the executive board finds of significant interest. Groomes stated that the club’s primary goals are to “allow people the opportunity to discuss their thoughts without fear of being judged or harmed in any way and allowing others to listen and learn.” By providing this open-minded mindset, it fosters an environment in which students of all backgrounds feel comfortable to talk about their stance on important issues. The club originally met in-person for the first three meetings of the year. However, after Virginia Wesleyan issued stricter COVID-19 regulations governing meetings, they decided to use Zoom or Google Meet for virtual meetings. By utilizing the switch to virtual
meeting platforms, they are able to continue to discuss difficult issues while not losing the opportunity of pursuing intellectual debate. Groomes explained that the club was started three years ago by Allison Churchman, a former executive board member and herself. They started the club because they wanted to provide a place in which they could discuss things they found interesting. She stated that the two of them constantly stayed up-to-date on trending issues but just discussing amongst themselves was not satisfying. Hence, the Debate Club was born with Kelly Jackson, associate director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, as the club’s advisor. Groomes emphasized that Ms. Jackson has been with the club since the beginning. The Debate Club will continue to hold weekly meetings, even as the semester’s end is quickly approaching. One of their upcoming topics for discussion will be the results and events surrounding the 2020 Presidential Election.
11/19/2020 11:18:11 AM
Opinions
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Thursday November 19, 2020 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
‘T is n o t t h e s e a s o n With the holidays quickly approaching, sophomore Melissa Ward offers a reminder to hold off on playing all that Christmas music just yet. before the actual holiday will most likely result in me rolling my eyes at any sound or thought of the joy-filled holiday carols by the middle of December. The simple solution to this problem is to avoid any and all Christmas music until I am able to enjoy my
Melissa Ward|Courtesy BY MELISSA WARD mmward@vwu.edu
If you ever see someone who looks very similar to the green, hairy, holidayhating creature with a heart two sizes too small known as the Grinch… that would be me, especially when it comes to Christmas music being played too early in the year. Yes, I admit it. I hate Christmas music. I actually despise it. Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but if you play Jingle Bells or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on Nov. 1, just one day after spooky season has ended, I will kindly shut that down with a thirty-nine-and-ahalf foot pole. Playing Christmas music two months
“Thanksgiving is in fact still a holiday, and last time I checked, the calendar goes Halloween, Thanksgiving then Christmas.” mashed potatoes, turkey and apple pie on Thanksgiving. Believe it or not… Thanksgiving is in fact still a holiday, and last time I checked the calendar, it goes Halloween, Thanksgiving, then Christmas. Not Halloween and Christmas with a hint of turkey and gravy sprinkled between. So maybe, just maybe, if everyone waits until December for “Carpool Karaoke: Christmas Carols edition”… some people wouldn’t be as much of a Grinch this holiday season.
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle
On-campus jobs fall short BY CAROLINE TRYFIATES cgtryfiates@vwu.edu
When campus closed unexpectedly last spring due to COVID-19, workstudy students were unable to continue working for their scholarship, resulting in students not receiving a portion of the money allotted to them at the beginning of the year. The CARES Act passed a short time later and contained a provision to mitigate this, through allowing universities to pay workstudy students the remainder of their scholarship. This provision would aid the work-study students who were left hanging during the move to remote instruction last spring by providing the funds that they were promised in their financial aid letter. The amount of my scholarship that I was unable to work for last spring was nearly $2000, which VWU decided would not be allotted under the provision by the CARES Act, according to when I spoke to the financial aid office. This left myself and several other work-study students in a bind -- a significant portion of our scholarship money that we were counting on was no longer available. I understand that the pandemic has negatively affected the financial means of most, but it was disheartening that the school had the opportunity to further assist its students and failed to. While the other provisions provided by the university were helpful, such as the partial refund of housing costs and the disbursement of a one time $700 check, it did not quite cover the need that was present. Recently, the university announced its plan for work-study students while we are remote. In this plan, non-local students are unable to work for their scholarship until returning to campus for spring semester. There are several tasks that I could accomplish remotely, yet the university has barred this. The ability to work until the end of the semester would allow me to maximize the money I can earn each semester and lighten my load for spring.
Caroline Tryfiates|Courtesy The reasoning behind this decision is likely that it would be difficult to supervise students working remotely, however, I think that this is a hurdle that could be solved through collaboration and communication between students and the university. The exclusion of students from conversations about decisions that directly affect them has led to the sentiment that this university, along with most other collegiate institutions, cares primarily about money. The current fall semester has further solidified this thinking for many. Students were not included in the conversation about returning to school this fall, with their opinion left unweighted. Many, myself included, would have opted to conduct the entire semester remotely, both as a safety precaution and as a money saver. VWU is no doubt experiencing new financial burdens in this pandemic, however, the lack of communication comes off as callous and disinterested in the well-being of students. The allocation of funds by any institution is indicative of where their priorities are located. As a student of Virginia Wesleyan University, a majority of my income goes into this school, providing me with an education and numerous valuable opportunities. I simply wish that the university’s financial investments into the students reflected the student’s investment into this institution.
The Great Debate: Got Milk?
BY NATHAN POWELL
BY QUINTON NACE
nrpowell@vwu.edu
From almonds to oats, there are a variety of plant-based ingredients that offer an alternative to dairy milk. These milk substitutes offer a similar, sometimes identical, texture and consistency to regular milks. I believe that milk alternative products should continue to be called “milk” even if they aren’t actually dairy products. This is because these products are going to generally be used in place of actual dairy milk, and therefore should still be referred to as “milk”. They are functionally the same and how we refer to them should reflect that. These products are being marketed towards people who are looking for something to replace dairy milk due to an allergy, dietary restriction, or simply a personal decision to avoid regular milk. For this reason, producers have created alternatives meant to replicate regular milk, and have done so with almonds, soy, and other products that can be manipulated in a way that mimics the texture and taste, and should continue to be marketed so. Juice does not have the same connotation or taste as milk. People aren’t looking for almond juice to put in their cereal, but instead something creamy to complement their breakfast and if these products stop using milk to describe themselves, it wouldn’t make sense due to the consistency and use of their product. It would be more confusing than constructive. An argument could be made saying that calling these products “milk” could be misleading since there is no actual dairy in them. This argument is not sound under the assumption that the average American is at least somewhat intelligent. It is an excuse used by dairy producers to keep control of the market for “milks”. Most people who are looking to buy milk alternatives are looking to make sure there’s no actual dairy in them, and those looking for actual milk are able to distinguish between the two since they are usually labeled “soy milk” or “almond milk”.
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qwnace@vwu.edu
Even if someone were to accidentally buy the wrong milk, the consequences would be trivial. There are immense benefits to milk alternatives. Barring them from the name “milk” would only serve to make them less competitive and harder to find. Dairyfree milk tends to have fewer calories and is better for the environment than the milk produced by wasteful dairy farms. They can offer a variety of nutrients and are better for hydration without the weight of animal cruelty and unsustainable agricultural practices. That is not to say that dairy milk doesn’t offer its own benefits. In fact, milk is extremely nutritious. However, people should be allowed to consider dairy-free alternatives as “milk” and the companies offering it should not be prevented from marketing the product as it was intended. For these reasons, I believe it is perfectly acceptable to continue calling these alternatives “milk” and that a change to this would have negative effects.
In a modern world driven by information and a push to give everyday people the knowledge they need to make informed decisions, it is interesting to note the apparent lack of discussion over the labeling of plant-based drinks as “milk,” when in reality, they are not. Most people who shop for themselves can relate to being in the dairy aisle of a supermarket and seeing the vast variety of various plant-based “milks,” but few ever stop to question this label. Plant-based drinks are not analogous to dairy ones, in fact, they are entirely different. From a chemical standpoint, the drinks vary greatly in the composition of sugars and macromolecules such as lactose. Where traditional milk is largely composed of lactose, plant-based substitutes lack this component. This is of major consequence when one considers allergen implications as almost 30 million Americans suffer from some degree of lactoseintolerance. This chemical composition difference is also important from a nutritional viewpoint as well. The major difference to note between a plant-based milk and traditional
Flickr|Courtesy In recent years, a number of milk alternatives have hit markets in response to dietary, allergy and ethical demands. With such a variety, the term ‘milk’ has taken on different meanings, leading to this iteration of the Great Debate.
cows milk is protein composition. In a standard 8 oz. glass, cow’s milk can provide upwards of eight times as much protein when compared to almond milk. Furthermore, almond milk has a much higher content of added sugars considering cow’s milk often is void of any added sugars. Plant-based “milks’’ can often be marketed as a healthier alternative to cow’s milk, but the chemical composition of the two beverages shows there is a lot more to consider than appearances. But why should plant-based drinks like almond milk be labeled as something other than milk? Besides the compositional differences between the two, this improper labeling is bad for both the consumer and the product itself. For those who have had both cow’s milk and some form of plant-based milk, it is easy to distinguish the difference as there is a large gap in both texture and taste between the two. While milk substitutes don’t inherently taste bad, for a consumer accustomed to the taste of traditional milk, the difference can be noticed right away and may cause the consumer to dislike plant-based milks if this difference was not expected. Furthermore, while plant-based beverages may not be nutritionally superior to milk, they do have their positives. Oat milk, for example, is significantly better for the environment as it requires approximately 80% less greenhouse emissions to produce a glass compared to traditional milk. Furthermore, the dairy industry is riddled with animal-cruelty allegations. Plant-based milks should embrace being their own, distinct beverage rather than be lumped in with dairy products. These glaring differences between two seemingly intertwined products supports the idea that plant-based beverages such as almond milk should be labeled separately. From a chemical, production and flavor perspective these two beverages are vastly different. For a consumer, the identical labelling can be the cause of much confusion and a distinction should be made in the best interest of both the patron and the supplier.
11/19/2020 2:03:45 PM
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Sports
Thursday November 19, 2020 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Closer
SOFTBALL
the
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 think the Master’s program played a big part in that. I think it was a good choice all around.” With COVID-19 still wreaking havoc, athletes haven’t been able to truly bond together off the field. Glaubke talks about one thing she misses the most: “It’s really hard to go to practice and not be able to hug your teammates because they are literally your family. Not be able to hug my friends or give my friends a high five that kind of sucks, and I think one thing that I’m also worried about is my teammates getting sick and potentially coaches getting sick.” Glaubke and Goldyn both talked about what they hope their teammates think of them coming back for an extra year: “Give the freshman the idea like damn they’re actually paying more money to come back and play. Having them see us come back and pay more money to come back to just play softball I think that gives them some kind of [thinking] like they must really have some
love and bond for this program that made them want to come back.” Goldyn talked about the group coming back for another season: “We definitely could have won a national championship last year and I just want to finish what we started so I wanted them by my side while I came back too.” Hull talked about her emotions when she got the news about Glaubke and Goldyn returning with her: “That was a really great feeling. We are so close. Having them say man I don’t want to do it without you just kind of pushed me in that direction. It meant a lot to me to know that they wanted me to be a part of that too, and I think that is definitely something that swayed my decision.” Virginia Wesleyan Softball announced in late May that all three seniors would be returning with an Instagram post that simply said, “We’re back.”
Erin Highsmith|Marlin Chronicle Men’s and women’s soccer compete at the Trinder Center on the Virginia Wesleyan University campus.
Athletics gears up for spring sports BY HENRY WEST hewest@vwu.edu
For the first time in its 59 year history, Virginia Wesleyan University will hope to see all 20 athletic teams competing in the same semester. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Presidents Council voted to move all traditional fall and winter sports to the spring semester. Joanne Renn, the Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics said “Let me preface everything I say by saying it’s not written in stone and the approach that we’re taking is always looking at any situation with the glass half full.” In order to take all necessary precautions for protecting against the virus, the NCAA will be requiring testing of student-athletes. Renn explained, “intermediate-risk and high-risk sports will be tested multiple times a week.” These transmission concerns come in contrast to lowrisk sports of “cross country, golf, swimming and tennis where at this point we don’t have to test or don’t have to test quite as often.” Renn continued, “so if you looked at the possibility of us playing those [low-risk] sports it would be somewhat higher than the high risk for obvious reasons.” The frequency of tests will protect the Virginia Wesleyan community from contracting the virus from any visiting teams during games. Junior soccer player Mason Spiegel said, “It’s not ideal circumstances, but we’re willing to do anything to get back on the field and play games.” In some weeks where there are many fixtures, it would involve testing over 400 students multiple times a week. This requires the existing staff to take on new roles. Renn explained “We are planning to get certain members of staff certified in order to meet the testing requirements. We are also looking at bringing in new staff to help with this role.” The logistics of sports trips are likely to change form next semester; for example, Renn stated “overnight trips are off the table unless absolutely necessary.” For the fixtures that have previously been overnight stays, Renn says that “long-dis-
tance travel matches might have to be played at a neutral site.” Renn also mentioned the possibility of a travel team, but as a college she stated that Virginia Wesleyan stands against this idea as “we want to provide as many of our student-athletes a full experience and travel teams would prevent this opportunity.” As for visiting teams, Renn explicitly said, “they will not be allowed in our facilities [dressing rooms and buildings]. They will have to get changed into their gear at their facility or on their bus. In addition, they will also be getting tested for COVID before every fixture.” In terms of spectators, Renn explained how matches may have to be viewed going forward into next semester. “We are looking at streaming all the matches online. There is likely to be a tier system of who will be able to attend the matches. Tier one being the teams playing, coaches, and athletic trainers. Tier two being athletic directors, sports communications managers, and tier 3 being other teams’ bus drivers, for example.” On Nov. 17, the ODAC announced a plan for athletics during the spring 2021 semester. Fall sports schedules are as follows: Men and women’s cross country will not formally conduct a conference championship, but the committee is looking to have one competitive opportunity for each school. Field hockey will have a nine-game season that will occur March 5 through April 9. Women’s and men’s soccer are going to have an eight-game season each that starts Feb. 21. Volleyball is going to conduct 12 matches during their regular season that begins on March 13. Men’s and women’s basketball will complete a twelve-game schedule that will start on Jan. 23. Indoor track and field will not feature a spring championship in 2021, but teams can compete in competitions as they present themselves. Swimming has proposed a championship over a two-tothree day period on the weekend of March 5. The spring sports schedule has not been altered in this latest update.
Healthy habits for winter break
BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu
BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu
The NBA season will begin on Dec. 22 just over two months after the NBA finals wrapped up on Oct. 11. They will look to complete a 72-game shortened regular season, which cuts the normal season by 10 games. The off-season would round to a 71-day total, which would mark the shortest in the history of the NBA, NHL, MLB or NFL. This comes after the players began last season just to shut down then had to prepare for a sprint finish in a bubble in Florida. Danny Green, then a Los Angeles Lakers guard, said, “If we start in December, I think most guys [are like] ‘I’m not going to be there… to have that quick of a restart, I wouldn’t expect [LeBron] to be there for the first month of the season.” Many players have voiced their displeasure with the quick start of the NBA season. To start the season this close to the ending of the last one is going to be detrimental to the players. Their bodies need more time to recover. During the Miami Heat’s incredible run through the NBA playoffs, Jimmy Butler turned in a masterful performance to lead his team to game six of the finals. One of the great moments of the run was Butler’s play in game five. He scored a 35-point tripledouble while only resting for 48 seconds of the game. The image of him exhausted, barely standing after he got fouled in the closing minutes, really showed what these athletes go through. Their bodies are not able to properly recover enough for another season. The Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers will have the shortest time span in between seasons of any other teams. Teams that did not make it to the bubble will endure an off-season of triple the length of the Heat and Lakers. Major concerns around starting the season in late December stem from the health officials still being worried about another outbreak. The plan is for training camp to begin on Dec. 1. Health officials around the league worry about the constant travel that the next season would present. The bubble down in Florida worked very well. What can the NBA expect when there isn’t a bubble for the upcoming season? Many organizations have failed when it comes to restrictions and guidelines caused by the pandemic. Many teams have shut down due to outbreaks, and restarting the NBA is a huge risk to the players. The start of the season coming on Christmas would be a nice touch. Christmas games have always been a fan favorite to watch since, traditionally, it is the only major sport to play on the holiday. There needs to be more time for the players. Training camp could begin late December and have a season begin during January. This would give players an extra month to not only prepare for the grind of a long season, but give them the opportunity to recover from the constant games during their time in the bubble.
BY ROB SOLOMON rlsolomon@vwu.edu
WHAT TO DO
WHO TO WATCH
> Going outside can boost morale and supply key vitamins. Try bodyweight exercises if you do not have access to a gym.
> Chloe Ting’s YouTube page demonstrates exercises to stay in shape.
> Stick to fresh fruits and vegetables as a snack throughout the day.
> Doing more chores can increase your non-exercise thermogenesis meaning you will burn more calories.
> VWUREC Instagram gives out helpful ways to remain active at home.
> A healthy home-cooked meal will help one stay on their nutrition track.
> Athlean-X YouTube’s page exhibits full-body workouts.
> Watch portion sizing.
> Find an online exercise site to stay active.
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WHAT TO EAT
11/19/2020 10:48:10 AM
Sports
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu November 19, 2020
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Fish out of water: senior swimmer reflects on career Marlins in need Athletics launches fund to support student-athletes in an upcoming semester when new expenses are needed to keep play safe.
BY STEVEN SERRAN0- CRUZ sdserranocruz@vwu.edu
Senior Matthew Bavuso is a freestyle-distance swimmer in the men’s swimming team here at VWU. He has been recognized with many awards academically and athletically. His beginnings with the Marlins swim team started in his freshman year. In that same year, he was awarded with the Most Improved Player. Although Bavuso had played many other sports throughout his life, he said that the physical demands of swimming was much greater for him than the other sports that he participated in. Bavuso has been experiencing competition at a college level since his freshman year, but he said that his actual mentality of competition is not the same as years ago. “Over the years, the way that I kind of view the competition has changed. First it was like, I am going to cheer for my team and I only want my team to win. Then I saw other swimmers trying their best to make it and I started cheering for them,” Bavuso said. He also added that this decision that he made was because the progression of swimmers is more related to beat time, “swimming is about you challenging yourself and being better each time,” Bavuso said. He expressed that his competitive spirit is more a desire for everybody to reach their potential. One of the other reasons for him to make this decision was the lack of motivation among athletes from other teams. “Swimming is most of the time an individual competition, even though we are a team. In some competitions I saw how some students compete in their categories and after that, they sat on the bench and started going through their phones without even paying attention to their teammates,” Bavuso said. The mentality of “cheering for the other team” was not something that his teammates and coach saw with a good attitude when Bavuso started doing it. “At first I was like What are you doing Matt? Why? That’s the
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other team”, Coach Mike Ginder said. He also added, “He cheers for the other teams on a regular basis, and even when we don’t have any swimmers or people that can cheer for other teams, is his voice that you hear.” However, now understands him and accepts that that is just the way that he is. “He brings an incredible energy on the pool deck and he is fully involved on the team,” Ginder said. Ginder has been working with Bavuso since his freshman year and he expressed that Bavuso has changed
Sports Information|Courtesy in all aspects. “He has become more mature, he has grown up, he has figured out a lot and to see that transition and change it has been really exciting,” Ginder said. Ginder knows that Bavuso is great for his team. He also knows that Bavuso wants for everyone, not only his teammates, to become better swimmers and achieve their goals. There are so many memories of competition scenarios that Bavuso can think of and each of those have been really helpful for him. But one of the
most glorious moments for him was an ODAC event in his first year when he was going to participate in a mile event. “We have a relay where we all went out to swim as hard as we could and even though it was the first year of our program, we still managed to place and that was really awesome,” Bavuso said. He also added, “At that time I experienced a little bit of skepticism, because you don’t know if something great is going to happen.” However, he stated that the fact that he and his team stood on the podium was something that he will never forget and he feels proud to have been part of that moment. Bavuso also explained that there are some important factors that have helped him to deal with that “breaking the ice” moment in competition; “I used to have a kind of ritual to control my anxiety before competition, I would jam to some Linkin Park or something really intense to try to change the energy of worrying,” Bavuso said. He also said that before competition he used to get all the calories that he was going to burn out at the event. Bavuso recommends to athletes before any competition not to drink coffee, orange juice or something really strong. Bavuso expressed that all these ‘tips’ will help you to achieve the goal of your event and you have to know how to deal with all those little things that come right before the event or as he would call it, “the initial mental stage.”
Sports Information|Courtesy
BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu
Virginia Wesleyan athletics have launched the #helpusplay initiative in hopes of gaining funds for COVID-19 testing kits. These tests are going to be critical for the Marlins in pushing through the upcoming season. The most important thing this spring is keeping the athletes safe during the uncertain time. Virginia Wesleyan asks on the athletics site for visitors to make a donation in hopes of keeping the spring season in line: “Intercollegiate athletics are in dire need of funds to purchase COVID-19 testing kits. Now, more than ever, our Marlin studentathletes need the support of the Virginia Wesleyan University alumni, parents and fans. Your gift will assist us in our commitment to putting our 400 student-athletes on the field, turf, track, course, in the pool and on the courts. #HELPUSPLAY. According to the site, it is noted that $25 will take care of one COVID-19 test. With 400 athletes, the total price for one round of testing comes out to $10,000. Any gift to Virginia Wesleyan athletics is greatly appreciated, and donations can be made at www.vwu.edu/helpusplay.
11/19/2020 10:29:46 AM
Thursday November 19, 2020 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
THEWEEKENDER
PAGE 9
Come together, right now: the art of gathering
Norfolk’s The Chrysler Museum is hosting an exhibition entitled “Come Together, Right Now: The Art of Gathering” that will be on display until Jan. 3, 2021. This unique collection of pieces range from oil paintings to etchings and engravings to photographs. According to the museum, “this exhibition examines how people come together in four ways: celebration, purpose, justice and love.”
In a world that has isolated people from each other, this exhibition hopes to showcase how we all can come together through art. The pieces here depict the joys of creating music and sharing it with others, outings in public with friends, doing group activities and more. All photos by Faith Macwana fpmacwana@vwu.edu
Quarantine Hobbies: keeping busy at home As we approach Thanksgiving break with our two months at home before spring semester, we can take a few tips from these creative and capable students who made the best of their situations at home over quarantine. Junior Gregory Osipov dedicated himself to a life of physical training and endurance over the summer. He became very involved in fitness and even started developing his own workouts.“For anyone who is looking to get more involved in fitness and working out, he says “you have to be committed to when you start; you can’t stop.” Results don’t show up at first, but once they do, you will be glad that you put the time and effort into receiving them. BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu
Sophomore Elaine Robbins became a master crafter over quarantine. Her passion for creating jewelry all stems from her grandmother. Robbins has crafted a variety of earrings, chokers, bracelets, and other eclectic items. Her popularity has gained so much that she has even been able to sell a few of her items. Sophomore Criofan Shaw decided to also pursue an artistic approach over the long months of quarantine. He spent hours upon hours assembling and painting miniatures for the purpose of utilizing them in a fantasy universe game. Shaw said “the benefit of painting them yourself is that you can create your own scheme of what you want your people to look like.” Junior Anitra Howard occupied her time by
reading her way through a plethora of fictional adventures. Reading books is one of her passions, and in the midst of the tumultuous times that COVID-19 brought, it was a way for her to obtain some relief from all the crazy. She said “everybody should read! It’s so fun, and it’s so relaxing.” She read all kinds of books ranging from realistic to fantasy. Sophomore Alexander Bertrand spent his quarantine time building up his home improvement repertoire. One such project was the complete replacement of the fence around their entire house. Bertrand said, “my dad asked about making it a quarantine project and thinking I had nothing better to do with my time, I did it with him.”
The marlin undertow / by faith macwana Place of Interest:
Watch This:
Listen Now:
The Bee and the Biscuit
The Crown
Billie Eilish’s “Therefore I Am”
Housed in historic Pungo, Virginia, in a century old cottage house, The Bee and the Biscuit is a popular venue for breakfast, lunch and brunch lovers. From their outdoor patio that serves mimosas to bloody marys to their indoor seating that serves all the traditional breakfast foods (try the Back Bay Big Stack), there is something for everybody at this local favorite. Make sure to bring your sweet tooth as well! Specialities include an ever-evolving seasonal menu with yummy treats such as birthday cake mason jars, pumpkin chocolate chip scones and candy bar lattes. The Bee and the Biscuit is located at 1785 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. You can also find them on Instagram @ beeandthebiscuit.
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Netflix’s “The Crown” is a historical drama that retells the story of the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II starting from the 1940s. The show has had three successful seasons aired previously. The fourth and most recent season premiered on Netflix Nov. 15. With incredible casting and direction, “The Crown” portrays the monarch of England in a different light. Each season adds a new layer to the tale. This season, viewers are in for a treat as the relationship between Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Diana is depicted on the big screen. The season opens with the death of a prominent royal family member that sets the season into motion. Fans of other historical dramas can appreciate the artistic creativity of “The Crown.”
On Nov. 12, Billie Eilish released a new song entitled “Therefore I Am.” In a music video shot on an iPhone camera in an empty mall, Eilish is seen running around grabbing treats such as pretzels, doughnuts and fries. With lyrics such as “I’m not your friend or anything / Damn, you think that you’re the man / I think, therefore, I am”, Eilish turns this song into a sort of anthem about rising above negative people. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Eilish talked about the song. “This song is very, very up for interpretation. I’m very curious to see what people get from it and also what they feel when they hear it. I don’t know. But yeah, it’s a little mean. I love it,” Eilish said.
11/19/2020 10:06:57 AM
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THEWEEKENDER
Thursday November 19, 2020 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Holiday Cheer comes to Virginia Beach, Norfolk area
FARMHOUSE GRAND ILLUMINATION Date: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Where: Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewing Co, 1805 Kempsville Rd, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23464 What: Save the date for our Third Annual Grand Illumination event on Saturday, Nov. 28. We will have live music, holiday decor, Christmas trees for sale, special beer releases and more. Cost: Free
GRAND ILLUMINATION EVENT Date: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Where: Downtown Norfolk VA What: While we are not able to produce our traditional Grand Illumination Parade this year, we will still kickoff the holiday season in Downtown Norfolk with the illumination of the skyline and other mini-activations throughout the evening including: Unveiling of new holiday art installation in the NEON District, Model Train Exhibit in Selden Market, Socially-distanced Santa photo op, performances by The Rhythm Project, and other outdoor music and entertainment Snowfall on Granby. Cost: Free
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GARDEN OF LIGHTS AT NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN Dates: Nov. 13, 2020 - Jan. 2, 2021. Where: Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd., Norfolk, VA What: Enjoy a festive and healthy way to kick off the holidays. Drive through two miles of spectacular lighted displays. Cost: Value Nights (most Sundays-Thursdays) will be $25/car for members and $35/car for Not-Yet-Members. Premium Nights (Fridays & Saturdays and Christmas week) will be $30/car for members, and $40/car for NotYet-Members. BAYPORT CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT THE BEACH Dates: Nov. 13, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021. Illumination begins 5:30 p.m.- 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday Where: On the boardwalk beginning at Second Street, Virginia Beach, VA What: Drive your vehicle on the boardwalk through Nautical, Holiday and Adventure Lands with your radio tuned to the holiday music soundtrack signal. Cost: Cars, $17 nightly (Military Mondays: $12 per car with military ID). All vehicles enter through the main entrance at Second Street. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
THE LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS Dates: Nov. 6 - Dec. 31, 2020 from 5 p.m.-midnight Where: 101 KOA Lane, Virginia Beach VA 23451 – KOA Campground What: The Lights of Christmas is a drive-thru experience the whole family can enjoy. With a synchronized display of hundreds of thousands of lights, dance and move to a 30 min soundtrack that you listen to on your car’s radio while driving through this elaborate show of Christmas cheer. Cost: $25 per car. Military and Police are $20
WINTERFEST ON THE WISCONSIN Dates: Select days Nov. 21 - Dec. 31, 2020. Where: The Battleship Wisconsin, Downtown Norfolk Waterside What: Enjoy a dazzling walk-through light trail with over 250,000 lights. Special tree lighting ceremonies (5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) Santa sightings and elves. Live entertainment, hot cocoa and delicious bites. Lighted boat parade (6:00 p.m. on Saturdays.) Cost: $12.50 Adult/$10 Child (Not-yet Members), $9.50 Adult / $7 Child (Members). All tickets are timed on the hour. Information by Cody Schneider cjschneider@vwu.edu
11/19/2020 10:14:54 AM