Oct 28th, 2021

The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 10.28.21 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Construction crews advance work despite supply chain delays

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

Anyone who has walked past the Batten Student Center in recent days has seen the construction vehicles working more and more often. Brock Commons is now a busy and loud construction site after lying quiet for a long time.

The construction was delayed because of issues with the steel supply chain. Now students can see the structure of Brock Commons being built at any point in the day. The foundation is complete and the floor for the main banquet area has been

poured. Construction for Brock Commons is expected to be completed by February of 2022.

Supply chain issues have also delayed the construction at Clarke Hall, but materials are expected to arrive within the next two months.

For DeFord Manor, construction is expected to be completed within a month.

The manor, named for Trustees Bob and Nancy DeFord, includes The Shelhorse Lawn and Ponds, named for Bill Shelhorse, a graduate of the class of 1970 and a

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Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Brock Commons construction progresses in front of the Dining Hall on Oct. 15.

‘Spongebob’ sparks return of musicals

BY CHRISTIAN JONES cajones4@vwu.edu

Known from the globally popular animated show “SpongeBob Squarepants,” “Spongebob the Musical” was put on by the Virginia Wesleyan Theater program from Oct. 21st through the 24th.

The musical follows the storyline of Bikini Bottom being in crisis due to an impending volcanic eruption. Plankton, the evil single-celled organism played by Criofan Shaw, takes advantage of the disarray the town is in because of the volcano.

Spongebob Squarepants, played by Elias Kenworthy, Patrick Star, played by Joseph Mueller, and Sandy Cheeks, played by Lindsay White, come up with a plan of their own to use science to stop the volcano from erupting. With each scene, the stakes are raised and the opposition from the townsfolk increases.

The team works together to scale the volcano while defying all odds, including a purposeful avalanche sent by Plankton, a mob of angry townsfolk witch-hunting Sandy and Patrick temporarily leaving to become a prophet. After overcoming every obstacle, the team saves Bikini Bottom and restores order to the town. The story is a wonderful and inspiring lesson of friendship, teamwork and learning self-love. The audience is continuously engaged by exciting dance numbers and highly impressive singing by colorfully dressed characters.

Dr. Travis Malone, dean of the Batten Honors College and professor of Theater was the director of the show and stated that they began pre-production work without students or cast members throughout the summer. “We actually cast this the first week of classes, everyone auditioning had to have a prepared song, lines and moment,” Malone said. “We then cast the

you to a virtual show bill.

“This fits in with a more environmentally conscious production and what you can do when you talk about the ocean,” Malone said. “You can’t talk about the ocean and not talk about pollution and climate change and things happening to the ocean.”

The production took all hands on deck to make the stellar performance come to life, consisting of 24 cast members, 30 crew members and 10 members of the orchestra that accompanied the show.

“I’ve been doing musical theatre since I was in 5th grade and this is the most fun show I’ve ever done in my whole life,” said senior Lindsay White, who played the chipper and brilliant role of Sandy in the production. “There’s just so much fun and so much joy that I just want to jump around

An event sponsored by the College Republicans, Student Government and Young Democrats with support from the Robert Nusbaum Center called Pizza and Politics was held on Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Pearce Suite of the Virginia Wesleyan University Batten Center. The participants in this event had the opportunity to discuss the topic of “Elections: How should we encourage and safeguard voting?” while eating pizza and communicating through the deliberative dialogue format. The group of students considered three different ways to possibly go forth with this topic.

Option one was to make it easier to register and vote, option two was to do more to make elections secure and option three was to offer more and better choices. Students were able to speak about these ideas and how they felt each one could improve the voting process or how these ideas could create new issues if implemented. Additionally, students were able to bring new ideas to the table that could be further discussed.

Before the deliberative dialogue started, a list of rules was laid out by Dr. Craig Wansink, director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, and Kelly Jackson, associate director of the Robert Nusbaum Center. These rules made it clear that the discussion would be kept friendly and respectful.

Everyone would get their turn to speak on each subject and the dialogue would be kept professional throughout the duration

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BY JADE EAST

jseast@vwu.edu

Cameron Evans|Courtesy The cast of “Spongebob” gathers for praise at the end of a successful run. show and began work immediately for the past 6 weeks with practice every night.”

The set, which was designed using 70% recycled materials to be environmentally conscious, went along with the ocean theme. Moving parts and changing backgrounds enhanced the impression.

“In inspiration with the show, everything that’s found in Bikini Bottom was made with things that float to the bottom of the ocean,” said Trey DelPo, the scenic designer and technical director.

“So we ran with the idea and made things out of the stuff that would be found at the bottom of the ocean to make a statement about the pollution and the trash that we put into the ocean,” DelPo said.

Other environmentally friendly elements of the show were included inside the lobby, where a traditional paper show bill was substituted with a QR code that redirected

Trails at Wesleyan Woods expand to add new mile

BY KATIE YEAGER

Greer Retention Ponds Help Biodiversity SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

kayeager@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University has expanded the walking trails at Wesleyan Woods. The expansion includes a trail that is roughly a mile long, branching off of Norfolk Lane. Norfolk Lane is located just off of College Drive, and it leads to the facilities management center, Lake Taylor and other walking trails on campus.

The new walking trail follows the fenceline of the campus adjacent to I-64. Looping past Lake Taylor, the trail offers the campus community a new way to get exercise and enjoy nature.

Elaine Robbins, a junior Batten Honors College student, uses the Wesleyan Woods trails frequently.

“I like to use the trails for exercise and get some fresh air and it gives me a great opportunity to spend time out in nature while doing so,” Robbins said.

Junior women’s lacrosse player Mikayla Szudera also uses the trails often, both by herself and with her friends on her team.

“I enjoy the trails because it gives me a space to run or walk whenever I’m stressed,” Szudera said. “My team often uses the trails for run tests too as a fun alternative to the track. The addition of the new trails pleases me because now there will be new trails that students can enjoy during the various seasons while feeling safe on campus.”

Other individuals use the trails as a fun

Pizza & Politics encourages understanding

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Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The Trails at Wesleyan Woods signage stands at the entrance located at the Facilities and Management Building. activity on campus. Ryan Baldwin, a senior at VWU, uses the trails from time to time because he enjoys hiking in his free time.

“I like to go hiking, especially in areas like Shenandoah National Park and other public places,” Baldwin said. “It is really exciting that the school works hard to provide outdoor trails for the students. I am glad that they have added this new trail and I am excited to check it out.”

Despite the expansion of the Wesleyan Woods, some of the older trails have become overgrown and difficult to use over time.

“Many of the older dirt paths throughout the woods have gotten overgrown,” Baldwin said. “It has gotten to the point that I don’t use some of them because they are difficult to follow. Besides that, the trails

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Women’s Soccer Continues Winning 9-5-1 SPORTS Page 7

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle

Fall Flavors at O’Cookies and Creations WEEKENDER Page 10 o.cookies.and.creations|Facebook

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Dr. Terrence Lindvall|Courtesy Students pose for picture during 2019 HUM 201 course at Christ Church in Oxford, England.

Studying abroad makes a comeback

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

As students returned for the fall semester, one of the big questions was if studying abroad would again be a reality. While options may still be limited, students can look forward to the return of trips, especially in the upcoming January Term and Spring semester.

This January Term, Dr. Diana Risk and Dr. Joyce Easter will be taking a group of students to Ecuador for two weeks to learn about the diversity and sustainability of the region. As the trip is centered on the environment, much of the course will be outside, so it is “ideally suited to keep students healthy,” Dr. Risk commented. She also stressed that the activities were planned with COVID-19 accommodations in mind and that the professionals in Ecuador are very helpful in ensuring a “safe and pleasant experience.”

In a joint email, Dr. Risk and Dr. Easter stated that they hope that the students leave the trip with a better understanding of the “relation between cultural and biological diversity.” Ecuador is a country rich in history and resources, and the indigenous cultures that live there will offer students a way of understanding the environment that isn’t available in a classroom.

While on the trip, students will be able to see the volcanic landscape of central Ecuador, the highlands and the coastal region. Aside from all that, Dr. Risk and Dr. Easter stated that the “visit to the Galapagos archipelago will be uniquely memorable for everyone.”

During the spring semester, Dr. Lindvall will be taking

PIZZA & POLITICS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 of the event. They also emphasized that listening was just as important as speaking.

Freshman Amalia Houff was a participant in this event.

She enjoyed the deliberative dialogue and claimed that this event opened her eyes to more viewpoints that she looks forward to learning more about. “I was presented with information about several topics that I had not even thought to do any research into,” Houff said.“This has definitely sparked an interest in further joining dialogues in the future, so that I may continue to encounter new and unique viewpoints.”

In regards to if each participant was well represented during this dialogue, Houff expressed what she had noticed. “I felt as though we had a wide variety of opinions represented within our dialogue, and I very much enjoyed how respectful and open-minded we all remained throughout the dialogue,” Houff said.

Freshman Rowan Stuart was another participant who had also observed that everyone was able to speak their minds. “I believe that everyone was well represented and there was a great variety of viewpoints expressed,” Stuart said.

Junior Abigail Peterson, who is the vice-chairman of College Republicans, voiced why it is important that

students to Oxford, England for nine days for the Travel in Humanities course. The trip has been offered for the past decade, with variations each time. This year, some variations will include the necessary precautions for COVID-19. While the trip is open for registration to anyone, the course is designed for “those who love to read and talk and walk and talk some more,” Lindvall said.

The topics of study will include the literature of writers such as Dorothy Sayers, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis and Charles Williams. Students will learn about the beginnings of the literary and aesthetic movements of the Inklings and the Pre-Raphaelites.

During the course of the trip, students will visit many places, including the Globe Theater, Christ Church College, the home of C.S. Lewis and the Bodleian library. To explain the trip, Lindvall quoted C.S. Lewis, saying that “the task of education, as Lewis saw it, was not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate the deserts of imagination,” something which studying abroad does well.

In April, Dr. Mortensen will be running the Applied Music 211 course where students in the Virginia Wesleyan choirs will be able to travel to New York City to sing at Carnegie Hall. Among hundreds of other singers, the students will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria. Outside of that, students will be able to explore the city and attend other performances.

Despite COVID-19 becoming less of a threat across the world, the precautions taken and the delay for certain trips has all been because of Virginia Welseyan’s care to keep students safe as they travel.

VWU hosts events similar to this and students have the ability to communicate with others about our viewpoints on certain topics such as these. “We need to be able to talk about our differences,” said Peterson. She hopes to bring in more people for the next deliberative dialogue to be able to hear more diverse life experiences.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Freshman Amalia Houff and sophomore Alex Cain participate in the political dialogue.

Although the event went well, some students felt that there were ways to better enhance the next dialogue that will take place. Stuart mentioned that there should be a chance to get to know the fellow participants before the

are well kept for the most part.”

Virginia Wesleyan has made a commitment to the environment and preserving the natural biodiversity of coastal Virginia. The environmental guiding principles of VWU states that the university has a responsibility to protect and enhance the natural health and biodiversity of local and worldwide ecosystems.

This commitment can be shown through opportunities that allow students to enjoy the nature on campus. UREC, the office for recreation and wellness that is located downstairs in the Batten Student Center, offers outdoor rental equipment that can be taken out on the Wesleyan Woods trails and around the campus.

Sophomore Cara Caruso is a student worker at the UREC office and sees the impact of the trails and access to environmental recreation and education.

“VWU prioritizes student activities through making rentals available for recreational equipment,” Caruso said.

“The process is super easy, the only thing you need is your student ID. You can get almost anything from the office including bikes, kayaks, skateboards, and more. The bikes are especially important because they can be taken out onto the trails, like the new one that was just built.”

Expanding the trails at Wesleyan Woods provides the campus community yet another opportunity to enjoy and become educated about the environment. Going forward, the campus community can expect the university to incorporate environmental and social concerns in the decision making, planning and investing decisions. Additionally, VWU states that they intend to promote the University as a “living laboratory” for sustainability.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The new section of Wesleyan Trails open for use.

Correction: Candidates for attorney general and delegate in our illustration that depicted a sample ballot in the Oct. 7 issue (page 2) were incorrectly listed. The candidates for attorney general are incumbent Mark R. Herring (D) and Jason S. Miyares (R). The candidates for the 83rd House of Delegates District are incumbent Nancy D. Guy (D) and Timothy V. Anderson (R).

event starts. “I believe an introduction period could be useful so individuals could be more comfortable with one another before speaking such as name, grade, where you’re from, fun fact, etc,” Stuart said.

Houff also expressed that there were ways to enhance the next dialogue. “Perhaps allowing a longer time period for topics that we are more passionate about and shortening the time sessions for those that are less interesting or engaging would improve future participation and future dialogues in general,” Houff said.

At the end of this event, the participants were given a community forum worksheet to fill out. Students were provided a list of all the actions and they documented three actions previously discussed that they strongly supported, then three actions that strongly opposed, then added three actions that they still felt unsure about.

Students also wrote if they thought there was any place that these topics should be discussed, such as in the community, in the state or somewhere on a national level. Students also documented if there were aspects of the discussion that they had never considered before and if they had gained new perspectives during these concepts.

The next deliberative dialogue will occur later this semester. This event will be sponsored by College Republicans, Student Government and Young Democrats with support from the Robert Nusbaum Center.

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longtime Trustee and supporter of Virginia Wesleyan University. This is meant to be a place of gathering and reflection for students and alumni alike.

The garden and pool area behind DeFord Manor is to be called Virginia Oveda Williams DeFord Terrace in honor of Bob DeFord’s mother, who was a teacher and the reason for DeFord’s interest in education.

Additionally, a Japanese Garden will hold ten trees of the Japanese Cherry, Japanese Snowball and Japanese Holly varieties. This garden behind DeFord Manor will be named for David R. Black, who was a university president for almost thirty years and executive-in-residence at VWU. He played an influential role in establishing the Batten Honors College, the Work and Learn Program and the Lakeland University Japan and VWU Global (Japan) collaborative.

Construction for DeFord Manor is expected to be completed by the middle of November, according to President Miller’s Nota Bene from Sept. 20. A formal dedication of the facility will be held in February.

Hailey Schumacher, the president of VWU’s Alpha

VWU|Courtesy Construction moves forward in Clarke Hall.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle DeFord Manor progress as of Oct. 15.

Sigma Alpha sorority, has high hopes for the utilization of DeFord Manor. “As President of a sorority on campus, the DeFord Manor seems vital to have more locations to host events and hold conferences since there really aren’t many conference spaces on campus itself that have been newly renovated,” Schumacher said.

Recently, President Miller and the Sodexo staff toured the catering kitchen at DeFord Manor. The Sodexo staff, who provide dining services at the Boyd Dining Center,

will be able to extend their services to events hosted at DeFord Manor.

Additionally, the soccer venue has been renamed the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex to honor Tassos Paphites, an alumnus and current trustee from the Class of 1979. Paphites was the first athlete to be inducted into the VWU Athletic Hall of Fame. The Soccer Complex, which includes Foster Field and the Trinder Center, is currently undergoing upgrades and will be receiving a new scoreboard in the next two months.

Science & Technology

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COVID-19 cases remain steady throughout semester

BY WILL FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu During the week of Oct. 6, only a single case of COVID-19 was reported on campus. Previously, two were recorded. This keeps the total number of COVID-19 cases reported on campus this semester in the single digits. This is a stark contrast to previous semesters, as upwards of 30 cases were seen.

April Christman, director of Student Health, and Keith Moore, vice president for Campus Life and Operational Management, attribute this to two factors: vaccines and resilient students.

According to Christman and Moore, the pandemic took the toll anyone would expect on campus life and mental health, but students’ hopes to return to normal has motivated them to take care of themselves and those around them by masking up properly and respecting precautions.

“The students are the ones that did this, and our success last year was because of them,” Moore said. “We’re all in the same boat rowing in the same direction, if everyone understands that we’re going to be successful and we’re going to have a good year.”

VWU has been keeping up with CDC, WHO and

regularly for their safety and that of those around them.

Christman feels that everyone understands the integrity of their decisions in these cases and encourages everyone to continue using the Live Safe app to report any symptoms or exposures.

“We honored those situations but we did vet it to ensure it was done safely,” Christman said. “And that has been effective. We have them doing routine testing and reporting symptoms and masking and just kind of touching in a little bit closer. But it ensures their safety as well as others because we want to think of the community but also think Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle of our individual students.”

In reviewing transmission trends from previous Information from www.vwu.edu/coronavirus/vwusemesters, Moore pointed out that transmission has been covidsafe.php. predominantly from individuals residing off campus. In Virginia Beach Department of Health recommendations to the past, one positive case typically resulted in many more, help shape guidelines on campus. In the event of another between roommates, teams and classes, but this semester spike in cases, Moore states that VWU is prepared to add each case seems to be isolated to one or two. more precautions, up to and including remote instruction.

“What we’re seeing is that predominantly it’s commuter However, students and staff alike have expressed their students, faculty and staff,” Moore said. “Which means dislike of remote instruction, so Moore hopes the the volatility is off campus and that’s why we need to be downward trend continues so life can return to “the safest careful in all that we do, not just what we do while we’re normal possible on campus.” at Virginia Wesleyan.“ Non-vaccinated students are still required to test

Greer wetlands promote sustainability and diversification

BY WILL FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu Between Dec. 2018 and Nov. 2019, VWU received a grant to use retention ponds to study the use of phycoremediation, or algae, to remove pollutants from stormwater ponds. This was the second grant the school received thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, the first being in 2005 for the green roof on Greer. A retention pond is also the key sustainable feature of DeFord Manor.

“Stormwater ponds not only slow down the flow of water, but also help remove pollutants by allowing particles to settle out of the water,” Malcolm said.

“The ponds around the Greer Center are additionally designed to mimic wetlands.

The plants and algae in the ponds help remove pollutants from the water. My students have conducted research funded by the Environmental Protection Agency that demonstrated that algae growing in the ponds can remove heavy metals from the water.”

Stormwater retention ponds are a signature feature of Virginia Wesleyan’s sustainability initiatives on campus. Due to the fact they are not lined, the lack of rainfall has caused the height of the water table to drop below the height of the ponds

leaving them drained. The ponds being empty reflects Virginia Beach’s status of D0, or “abnormally dry,” according to drought.gov. At this level, drought watches are issued and citizens are asked to conserve water.

Retention ponds are often used to collect contaminated stormwater runoff through pipes and decontaminate it naturally.

Advantages, according to Wessler Engineering, include improving water quality, processing water without need for additional equipment, improving flood control and creating new habitats.

“The wetlands at Greer help to recreate the natural environment that existed here prior to the colonial period,” Skyler Lattuca, environmental consultant and horticulturist for the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and VWU said. “The restoration of these environments helps to attract more diverse wildlife, such as many species of frogs, dragonflies and even water snakes that couldn’t live here without wetlands.

The coastal plain of Virginia used to be home to all sorts of semi-aquatic species that have since become isolated due to habitat loss and fragmentation.”

Lattuca explained that even these small wetlands can help the distribution and travel of local flora and fauna, which in turn can lead to better gene flow and a more diverse

Jack Palmer|Marlin Chronicle A retention pond outside of Greer sits empty due to lack of rainfall. ecosystem. By closely mimicking nature, their function goes beyond stormwater maintenance and helps maintain VWU’s vision of sustainability and conservation.

Private funding has allowed VWU to create and maintain these and other sustainable features, and this year, its endowment value reached $123.5 million, according to the Intentional Endowments Network. Of these funds, $80.2 million

were designated for the Batten Honors College to continue to enhance its mission of environmental stewardship, guided by the Brown Advisory of Baltimore, Maryland.

Students wanting to read more about or get involved with VWU’s sustainable initiatives can visit https://www.vwu.edu/ about/sustainability/.

Facebook’s detrimental impact on the mental health of teenagers

OPINION

BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu On Oct. 5, Frances Haugen, a whistleblower from Facebook, testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation about the documents published by the Wall Street Journal just prior to this hearing.

The documents report evidence that the company is aware of its negative impact on teen mental health and has been aware of it for some time. It is no secret that Facebook’s two most popular products, Instagram and Facebook, do not affect teenagers positively. This is fairly common widespread knowledge, however, for the first time, well-documented evidence has been brought forward.

Facebook Global Head of Security Antigone Davis was questioned by the committee for over two hours. Lawmakers quickly grew frustrated with her reluctance to answer questions beyond what had been previously published by Facebook through public blog posts. Davis insisted that research from Facebook and Instagram shows eight out of ten young people say they have a neutral experience on the app.

Anyone that has ever used Instagram knows that this is just not true. Many, if not all, young people have experienced some sort of self-conscious issue from using the apps.

The data contained in “The Facebook Files” from the Wall Street Journal paints an entirely different picture from what Davis portrayed. An internal Facebook presentation showed that among teens who reported suicidal thoughts, 13% of British users and 6% of American users traced

the issue directly to Instagram. In a 2019 internal presentation, 32% of teen girls who felt bad about their bodies felt worse when they looked at Instagram. A slide went as far to say comparisons on the app can change how young women view and describe themselves.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (DCT) conducted a study to research the algorithms Instagram employs. The office created an account as a 13-year-old girl and spent just one day on the app. Accounts associated with extreme dieting and eating disorders were of interest. Within this narrow timeframe, the account’s recommendations were solely composed of accounts and posts promoting self-

Teenage girls are not the only demographic falling prey to Instagram.

40% of their male counterparts have been found to experience the effects of negative social comparison while using the app.

14% of teenage boys in the United States said Instagram made them feel worse about themselves.

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) is reintroducing the KIDS Act in light of these startling statistics. The bill aims to create new protections for online users under 16. Among these would include prohibiting platforms from any feature that unfairly encourages a user to make purchases, submit content or spend more time on a platform.

The looming question from these studies is clear: why did Facebook never make this research available to the public? They never even made it available to lawmakers who had formally requested it. The answer is simple. Facebook would never release Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle such information that would harm their image in such a drastic manner.

Facebook will continue to deny the harm and disordered eating. If this is not studies reported from “The Facebook concerning in the slightest, one must take Files,” even though anyone who has ever a giant step back. It is too easy to fall into used social media could easily agree with this entrapping rabbithole. the statistics. Facebook will continue to Unfortunately, this “news” is not new at portray Instagram in a positive light as all. Teenagers who use the app frequently an app used for uplifting peers, when it know how poorly it can make them feel. really tears them down and garners them a It is only those who have never used the referral to a psychiatrist. app that deny the negative effects and Aspects of the app such as the “Explore emotions the app can bring. Only now, is Page” are extremely harmful, as it will this research coming to the forefront of the keep exacerbating the most harmful posts public’s eye. on the opening page of the app. In tandem, It is extremely concerning, and they create the perfect storm of destroying Facebook must be held accountable for teenagers’ mental wellbeing. Even if CEO their unwillingness to make any changes to Mark Zuckerberg claims the research is the platform, given these extreme research not “conclusive,” one plus one will always statistics. equal two.

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The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu News Editors

Community SPONGEBOB

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The show was a hit among the local Hampton Roads community and featured a full house for the entire four show run. For more information about upcoming shows and performances in the Goode Performing Arts Center, head to www.vwu.edu/the-arts-at-virginia-wesleyan/.

Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Kathryn Yeager kayeager@vwu.edu Science & Tech Editor Jack Palmer jrpalmer@vwu.edu Community Editor Lauren Faulkner lafaulkner@vwu.edu Opinions Editor Teresa Jones tmjones2@vwu.edu Sports Editors Steven Serrano Cruz sdserranocruz@vwu.edu Shirell Washington sawashington@vwu.edu Weekender Editors Sasha Saxon ansaxon@vwu.edu Tiffany Warren tawarren@vwu.edu Photo Editor Ross Winner rawinner@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Emily Uzzle ebuzzle@vwu.edu Online Editor Ash Dobrenen akdobrenen@vwu.edu Copy Editor Grace Rietscha glrietscha@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Alyssa Lane amlane@vwu.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

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

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

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

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

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

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

Cameron Evans|Courtesy

The cast of “Spongebob the Musical,” including Elias Kenworthy, Lindsay White and Joseph Mueller, performs various numbers during the show’s run.

Unity Block Party brings VWU organizations together

BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu

On Oct. 14, members of Off the Hook put on Virginia Wesleyan’s very first Unity Block Party to celebrate its diverse neighborhood of clubs, teams, departments and schools. All organizations were welcomed to join together to eat a wide variety of foods, listen to live music and paint individual mailbox canvases in representation of their organization’s cause.

“We were actually really pleased with the way that the Unity Block Party turned out,” Sarah Guzzo, director of Student Activities, said. “We had between 150 to 200 people there, so it was awesome.”

The party was organized in order to provide all of the organizations here at VWU with the opportunity to share what their involvement in the campus community means to them and the campus as a whole.

Around 25 clubs attended, a few of which included Marlins Go Green, Caribbean Student Association, Phenomenal Women and Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Each organization was provided with a blank canvas with an outline of a mailbox, to decorate in representation of their club’s purpose.

Students were encouraged to get creative with their designs, so that their canvases would really depict the many aspects of their organizations.

The finished canvases are on display in the Jane P. Batten Student Center to exhibit and honor the diverse array of organizations held here at VWU. A written version of each organization’s statement will be displayed

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority designs their canvas during the Unity Block Party. alongside the canvases as well.

While students were decorating their canvases and socializing with friends, they were also presented with a wide range of international foods to snack on.

“We had Asian inspired food, Latin inspired food and Soul food, which were all gone in a flash,” Guzzo said.

To go along with this, organizations were also asked to submit a song that they felt reflected their involvement. As a result, the party’s music playlist included a diverse combination of songs to add to the atmosphere. The Matty Taylor Trio, a student-established band, played live Jazz Blues music as well, which proved

to be a big hit and kept students around after finishing their canvases.

If your organization was unable to make it to this year’s party, stop by the Office of Student Activities to pick up a blank canvas to decorate and hang on the wall along with those decorated by the many of the other clubs here at VWU. Following the huge success of Virginia Wesleyan’s first Unity Block Party, members of Off the Hook plan to keep this new tradition alive. Each year, a new canvas will be introduced and displayed in the Batten Student Center.

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, October 28, 2021

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What’s the Latest?

Lauren Faulkner, current community section editor, brings the latest for Student Activities and Involvement in a new and recurring section: What’s the Latest? features traditions that everyone loves and enjoys as well as new events that have been brought to campus.

BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@vwu.edu

Grocery Bingo

Worldly Wednesdays

Back to Normal

Grocery Bingo returned back to campus this fall semester on Tuesday Oct. 12 in the Harbor Grill at the end of Fall Break. Cards and writing utensils were given to students for their chance to compete to win a variety of grocery prizes.

Prizes included a pasta lover’s basket, a cleaning basket, a tea and coffee basket and of course ramen in a basket for the typical college student. After winning a game of bingo, students would be able to take their basket of groceries home to their dorm.

“I had so much fun at Grocery Bingo and I am so glad it was able to come back. It’s my second year in a row going and it was nice to have my friends at my table to play with me,” said sophomore Desi Holleran, who attended the event with friends.

Grocery Bingo is scheduled to return in the upcoming semesters as traditions continue to return to campus due to lessening COVID-19 restrictions.

For more information about upcoming traditions coming back to Virginia Wesleyan’s campus, be sure to follow @marlinsoffthehook on Instagram, check out the Student Activities Google calendar and keep an eye out for your weekly “This Week @ VWU” email.

Worldly Wednesdays has become a Fall 2021 semester tradition bringing different cultures to students at the Boyd Dining Center. So far, students have enjoyed food from Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Japan and Vietnam, and there are plans for this dinner series to continue to feature more countries.

Sarah Guzzo, director of Student Activities, in partnership with Mandy Reinig in the Lighthouse and Dining Services brought this dinner series together as a form of comfort for Wesleyan’s international students.

However, this new series has been enjoyed by domestic and international students alike. “[Worldly Wednesdays] is a collaboration between the three areas to highlight unique foods from our international students’ home countries. We hope VWU students will be adventurous and step outside their comfort zone and try something a little different,” said director of Global Engagement Mandy Reining, at the Lighthouse.

Upcoming countries to be featured in the Worldly Wednesday Dining Series include Switzerland, Australia, India, Cambodia, Canada, Turkey, Germany and Nigeria, according to Guzzo. For more information about Worldly Wednesdays coming to VWU’s Boyd Dining Center, be sure to visit @dir_of_stu_act and @vwulighthouse on Instagram.

Released in the latest email edition of This Week from Student Activities, a fall semester bucket list features a long list of traditions and activities coming back to VWU’s campus. New events such as Carnevil, coming to campus on Oct. 28, and Spa a La Marlin, coming to campus on Dec. 8, are being welcomed with great anticipation by Wesleyan students.

Old traditions, including Glow Party (Nov 19), Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 3) and Late Night Breakfast (Dec 8) will be back on campus this fall semester in full swing. Despite some added adjustments of masks indoors unless actively eating or drinking, these traditions are back for good at Virginia Wesleyan University.

“I feel very enthusiastic about the traditions coming back to campus so I can finally get out of my room and get to hang out with all my returning friends,” said junior Devin Calpo.

For more information about these returning events including times, locations, sign-up information and updates, head to @marlinsoffthehook on Instagram or check out the Student Activities Google Calendar.

Off the Hook|Courtesy

Desi Holleran and friends play Grocery Bingo on Oct. 12.

Off the Hook|Courtesy

Students and Staff enjoy Japanese cuisine at Boyd.

Off the Hook|Courtesy

Announcement Image of Glow Party returning Nov. 19.

Opinions

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Thursday October 28, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Conversation mitigates low voter turnout

Abigail Peterson|Courtesy

BY ABIGAIL PETERSON akpeterson@vwu.edu As a college student, knowing about the voting process and being informed on candidates at the local, state and national level is extremely important.

Last year’s presidential election showed one of the highest youth voting rates in the history of the United States. While election turnouts depend on public interest, there is consistently low voter turnout for local elections.

Before I came to Virginia Wesleyan, I was unaware of how local elections can impact everyday life.

As a member of the College Republicans, I have been able to hear electoral candidates running for the Virginia House of Delegates as well as individuals running for city councils and school boards.

These individuals spoke about many is-

sues that would directly affect the Virginia Beach community. For example, there have been many locals who have been upset with the new content being taught in public schools.

As a student, I know that the curriculum being taught, especially in the high school educational system, can drastically shape the political views of young people. Not only is the curriculum of a school district decided by the local government, but also the allocation of money within schools.

Art, music and sports programs are controlled by local officials as well as the availability for teacher jobs.

Another issue that is handled by local governments is the police force. In the past two years, many people have become concerned about the funding and rules the police must follow.

Transportation services can also be decided by local governments. Basically, most of the public programs provided throughout the day are heavily impacted by the local government.

Some studies have attributed lower voter turnout to high mobility among young people and lack of news coverage and journalism for local elections. However, I believe that there is low voter turnout for all generations within local elections due to a feeling of unimportance and a lack of education about local government.

Many peers that I have encountered have not voted in elections because they feel that their vote is not important. Several events that have occurred in the past few years have left voters feeling that their votes will be tampered with or lost even if they did go to vote.

When there are individuals who do wish to vote, they do not understand much about any level of U.S. government. A recent study in 2017 done by Pew Research found that nearly one-third of U.S. citizens could

not name a branch of the federal government.

My personal experience within high school was similar to many of my peers.

I had to take AP government to be able to learn about the basics of the U.S. government that were not taught in our required courses.

However, I think that general feeling of unimportance and lack of education can be prevented by continuing conversations about politics, especially local government.

One such event occurred at Virginia Wesleyan this October in which groups that had conflicting opinions on government and voter rights sat and deliberated the U.S. voting system for a few hours.

Ultimately, having difficult conversations about political differences, deliberating the effectiveness of our government and just talking about local government in general will most likely increase voter turnout and allow individuals to be more directly involved in the decisions made in their communities.

Hailing from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Abigail “Abby” Peterson is a junior biology major at Virginia Wesleyan University.

She is active in many clubs and organizations on campus including but not limited to being a defender on the Women’s Soccer team and vice chair of the College Republicans.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Information from the Virginia Beach Voter Registration and Elections Department.

Study space supports students Maryland flag evokes pride

BY ALLEN WILCOX ajwilcox@vwu.edu The math lounge, located at Eggleston Commons, is a great place to spend time here at Virginia Wesleyan University.

It is located in Bray Village and offers a very resourceful place for those who are interested in any level of math education.

There are multiple large whiteboards and chalkboards suitable for extensive and lengthy problems.

For example, integration by parts may take an entire board end to end so it is necessary to be able to work in a space larger than a standard piece of paper. Additionally, there is a comfortable couch and multiple tables to have your space and focus on your specific work or collaborate with peers.

While these are all amazing things, the best part about the math lounge is the people who are located within the offices. The math department and its faculty are not only great at teaching, but are also great humans and mentors you can relate to away from home.

They do their best to make sure you are prepared and set up with the proper schedule so that you get the most out of your time here at VWU. They also understand that there are periods of a semester where students are overloaded and will communicate these matters to change the schedules around if needed.

Their support can range from attaboys and stress chocolates to a necessary wake up call and high expectations for what you can achieve. All this is done out of a deep devotion to students and passion for mathematics.

If you show you are willing to put the time and effort, they are willing to work with you and do their best to have you

leaving the math lounge with a better understanding than when you walked in.

I myself have spent more hours than I can count (which is a lot given my major) at the math lounge and can’t explain how much it benefitted me not only in math but in so many aspects of life as well.

I know that at times finding motivation can be hard but showing up is half the battle and having all the proper resources to continue working rather than getting stuck and frustrated is the other half. While the first half varies, the second half of the battle is easily conquered through the use of the distinguished math lounge.

While working here, you can find others to work with and help each other. All teachers for each class usually have an open-door policy as well, meaning you can ask those quick questions you’re stuck on and get an in-depth explanation that benefits you much more than Google.

Although VWU may not always give us access to the most extensive resources compared to larger and more renowned schools, depending on the individual, the math lounge is one place I’ve always found to be welcoming and encouraging regardless of who you are.

Even if you are not looking to study, you will find many interesting conversational partners and even a chess opponent. I highly recommend challenging the final boss named Zach Hope.

In summary, the math lounge offers many benefits including academics and a place to make lasting friendships and memories.

Allen Wilcox is a senior pursuing dual degrees in mathematics and computer science. He views his mathematical community at Virginia Wesleyan as “a big family” and takes pride in the diversity and relationships he has fostered academically and socially.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

MD Secretary of State|Courtesy

BY EMILY GEIS ergeis@vwu.edu No one even batted an eye as Benedict Leonard Calvert signed and approved an Act of Assembly on Aug. 8, 1729, establishing a 60-acre town that was to be called Baltimore just north of the Patapsco River.

But 150 years later, thousands of Marylanders would gather in that town to celebrate that seemingly insignificant and inconsequential Aug. 1729 day. It would be during this parade on Oct. 11, 1880 that the Maryland flag would first be flown.

It would then be flown again eight years later on a battlefield in Gettysburg, as monuments dedicated to Marylandbased civil war regiments are unveiled.

Then, in Chapter 48 of the 1904 Acts, the flag that would be flown at these two monumental events was adopted as the official state flag of Maryland, effective on March 9, 1904.

We get to look back from the 21st century at the history and development of Baltimore while flying a state flag that has remained unchanged since that historic day in 1880.

Displaying the Calvert family crest in black-and-gold and the Crossland family crest in red-and-white, the Maryland flag has created a name for itself among some of the most unique and memorable state flags the US has to offer.

Unintentionally created through grassroots connections and 40 years of intense societal changes, the design of the Maryland flag was an expression of the true representation and history of Maryland, as interpreted by those who called it home before it was even a state.

None of the Marylanders involved in the 40+ year process of designing the flag would have expected it to still be flying over 140 years later.

They couldn’t have expected it to end up on thousands of sports jerseys, wall decorations, face masks, license plates and even tattoos.

They wouldn’t have expected it to be hanging in a student’s college dorm room, reminding her of home and fam-

ily with every glance she took at it.

They would have probably been surprised to find out their design would cause so much superficial divide among those who see it, some claiming it as an irrefutably perfect state flag design while others describe it as nauseating.

I’ve gotten used to these kinds of people; those that insist that the Maryland flag is ugly or even those that argue that it should be completely redesigned. I’ve learned that debating and arguing with them is rarely (if ever) effective.

I can’t change the way they view the flag. All I can do is continue to fly it with Maryland pride. Those of us from Maryland that have grown up wearing, seeing and cheering for the design know it as a nostalgic reminder of home.

We don the flag whenever we can, wearing face masks, pajama pants, childhood sports jerseys and even full suits to rep the design. It’s not worth my time to try to argue and prove that the Maryland flag is the best state flag.

That’s a near impossible pursuit.

But making sure those that see our flag understand the meaning and emotions it has woven into it? That’s something worth doing.

Emily Geis is a senior mathematics major with minors in chemistry and religious studies. A proud Marylander from Glen Burnie, she is recognizable on campus for her flag print merchandise and Baltimore Ravens jersey.

Ryan Westpfahl|Courtesy

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Thursday October 28, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

SportsHead

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Everett Tennis Center continues to be utilized by the VWU tennis program after its dedication in 2012 and remodel in 2020.

Toni Bickford joins tennis staff

BY STEVEN SERRANO

sdserranocruz@vwu.edu The VWU Tennis team has a new leader on their team. Former coach of William and Mary Women’s Tennis team; Antoaneta ‘Toni’ Bickford, has been announced as the new director of Men’s and Women’s Tennis. Bickford has vast experience in tennis as she has participated as a coach and as a player in NCAA Division I. “There are a lot of different things and everything is very new, but I am very excited to get to know my team,” Bickford expressed. Bickford was introduced to the VWU Tennis team by Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Andrea Hoover.

Coming from a Division I college to a Division III is entirely different, nonetheless, she stated that in both places, academics is a priority. “In the education aspect, there is no difference, that always stays as a priority,” Bickford said. One of the other different factors that Bickford expresses is that this is her first time coaching a Men’s Tennis team. “That is a new challenge, but it has been successful so far. The guys have been very respectful, very energetic and it has been so much fun for the last two weeks that I practiced with them.”

Bickford has been very successful in her tennis career and she has participated in many tournaments as a player and as a coach. “A lot of the athletes that I have worked with previously, have trained with their mind to become professional tennis players. I am trying to transfer everything that I learned, mostly the intensity and attention to little details.” She added,

“tennis is not hitting just a tiny ball, there is a lot of science, tactical and physical factors involved and that is what I want to work here at VWU.” The arrival of Bickford to the VWU Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams, was a relief for the players. After being without a coach for a three week period, senior Christine Zalameda explained that it was very difficult for them. “When Marty Perry left and we were waiting for Coach Toni, it was really difficult because Marty did not leave us with much structure. Me and my teammate Alexa Brewster had to scramble things together to think of a game plan,” Zalameda said.

However, the outcome for these several weeks without a coach were not unsuccessful, as she expressed that they made it to practice. She said, “We ran some practices and they were led by me and Alexa. It was not mandatory, but most of the team showed up and this helped us to stay together.”

Zalameda is impressed with Coach Bickford and her work ethic. “I am very surprised with the positive impact that the coach has made, even though she has only been here for a handful of weeks. She has turned the program around and the things that she has done have been really set on, so far I have a very positive perception of the new coach,” Zalameda said.

When Bickford took the leadership position, the team was very excited to have some structure. “They were very excited to have a game plan and not have to play the coach and player part at the same time,” Bickford said. The team were very receptive to Bickford’s coaching, as she

expressed that they let her bring her own style; it was not difficult and they were very enthusiastic to work with Bickford.

“They all work very hard and they are putting their best, both men and women are doing good and they all get along with each other; a very good team chemistry.”

Bickford said.“I am kind of getting to know my team, making sure they are teambonding and making sure they are staying on track academically so when the spring season comes we can actually train really hard,” Bickford said.

The goals that Coach Bickford has for the men’s team is to compete for a conference title and for the women’s team is to finish conference. These are some short term goals for the season, however she is expecting for both programs to compete for an ODAC title. “Why not take it to the next level and follow the path of the softball team and one day compete for a national title? But all this does not happen within a year, it takes time to build,” Bickford said.

Sports Information|Courtesy

sawashington@vwu.edu The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) had announced that Men’s and Women’s National teams have been offered the same contract proposals of a single pay structure back in September.

This comes after discrimination of equal pay claimed by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) that has been debated back and forth for generations along with a string of legal proceedings.

This is a step in the right direction for USWNT, as this is what the team has been asking for, but I think they should receive more money as they are the best soccer team in the world. On another note, however, I think the USSF is doing a PR stunt to show that they are good guys. The Women’s National team has won and/ or placed in national tournaments and Olympic matches way more than the Men’s National team who fail to even qualify for these tournaments/matches. Why would you offer the same contract for Men’s and Women’s National teams when the women outperform the men consistently?

From a different angle, in my opinion, based on the current men’s and women’s contracts there is a reason women get paid less. Under the men’s contract there are no employee benefits versus under the women’s contract there are employee benefits (i.e. dental and vision, health,etc.).

The men’s team receives their benefits from other clubs and leagues they play in outside of the USSF; an expense the USSF does not have to worry about. So, it is possible for the women’s team to be paid less, even if they are winning.

Details of the contract have not been publicly announced yet and the teams (men’s and women’s) will meet to discuss the terms of the single pay structure contract before the end of the year. In my opinion, I think this will be a tough contract to get the teams to agree on, mostly on the women’s side, as the men’s team have already responded saying they will try to do what it takes to ensure the women international players are treated equally.

Marlins achieve athletic success

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

sawashington@vwu.edu

Abigail Mahoney: Volleyball ODAC Player of the Week Sophomore #8 Abigail Mahoney was selected as Old Dominion Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week during the week of Oct. 4-10.

During that week, Mahoney had a total of 32 kills on 70 attacks with a .357 hitting percentage, and seven errors.

She added 12 digs and eight blocks to her sheet and served up six aces with four of the six aces being against the Cardinals of Catholic University that helped the Marlins take lead in the set against the Cardinals on Oct. 9.

Mahoney also delivered eleven kills in the week against the Cardinals of Catholic University, the Royals of Eastern Mennonite and the Mustangs of Stevenson University. A total of six aces with four of the six aces being against the Cardinals of Catholic University that helped the Marlins take lead in the set against the Cardinals on Oct. 9.

Mahoney and the VWU Volleyball team continue their season and travel to Newport News, Virginia to face the Captains of Christopher Newport University and the Saints of Marymount University in a doubleheader. The first serve will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Sophomore Abigail Mahoney goes for the kill against Ferrum.

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Freshman Breacain Mclenahan up against Guiford.

Women’s Soccer number one in ODAC The Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Soccer team played an amazing match against the Panthers of Ferrum College in a 3-0 shut out to claim the top spot in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference on Oct. 23. The Marlins now have a record of 9-5-1 overall and 7-1-0 in the conference.

In the first half, #10 Emma Acanfora scored the first goal for the Marlins to acquire the lead from a pass off a corner kick made to Acanfora by #20 Kennedi Anders.

At the end of the first half, this left the Marlins with an advantage over the Panthers 1-0.

In the second half, a pass from #2 Carleigh Van Reenen to #8 Breacain McClenahan helped the team score their second goal of the game putting them at a 2-0 advantage in the 59th minute of the game. A few minutes later, the third goal came from Van Reenen to hold off the Panthers for the rest of the half giving the Marlins their 3-0 victory.

The VWU Women’s Soccer team returns to action on Oct. 30 on the road for another ODAC match as they face off against the Eagles of Bridgewater. The match is set to start at 3:30 p.m.

Sports Information|Courtesy

Women’s Soccer Head Coach Jeffrey Bowers 300 career wins A win for the Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Soccer team against the Maroons of Roanoke College 2-0 on Oct. 9 helped Head Coach and Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeff Bowers collect his 300th win of his career.

Bowers has been coaching for 22 seasons with the Marlins and has taken the Women’s Soccer program to six undefeated ODAC seasons during his time here, a feat only Coach Bowers has reached. His most successful season was back in 2006 when he won an Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship and a place in the NCAA Division III final four where the team finished with an 18-4-4 record.

Bowers’s career wins will possibly continue to grow as the VWU Women’s Soccer team continues their regular season matches leading up to the ODAC Championship Tournament scheduled to start Tuesday, Nov. 2.

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Thursday October 28, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Volleyball aims to finish the season strong

BY JOSHUA HELLER Virginia Wesleyan Volleyball

dominance has been on display for the school to see and the team has been eager to continue. The Marlins are 21-7 overall this year and 9-2 in their conference and are showing promise that their excellence will continue this season.

Coach Karissa Cumberbatch, the new volleyball head coach, has had an overwhelming effect on the Women’s Volleyball team. As the leader of the women’s team, she has only thrown more coal into the already burning fire.

“With me taking over the culture of the program, our goals really haven’t changed much. We’ve really tried to push ourselves in the practice aspect of things and have gone harder, faster and we are trying to play higher. We try to maximize our touches in practice every single day. We definitely are in shape, we really revamped. We used the weight room over the summertime and that’s been helping us win games for sure,” Cumberbatch said.

Freshmen have helped out when stepping up and developing the chemistry of this Marlins team. “I think in general, freshmen have played a very huge role, Jenna Waters has played huge offensively. She is very confident and a powerful swinger. I don’t think we’ve seen that caliber a lot just within ODAC in general,” senior Sydney Collins said. Cumberbatch has contributed massively to developing these young athletes on the team. “She’s thrown their class aside completely, not caring about how new they are to the program. She pushes us to elevate our skill level. And I think that’s something that makes us successful as a team. Every practice before each game, we know the tendencies of our opponents because she studies film and lets us know. She’s really training us and has been pushing us to be better players and teammates,” Collins said.

The Marlin spirit is still apparent on the team as they had a record of an 11-game win streak earlier this season.

The girls feel Cumberbatch’s Marlin spirit every game and it has been instrumental this season. “I have a lot of respect for her. She is just amazing. She just pushes us, she studies and knows the game so well and prepares us for each individual game,” junior Haley Sutton said. jmheller@vwu.edu

Cross Country gains new records

BY STEVEN SERRANO CRUZ sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

The Marlins Cross Country team started this season with good form. Senior Ethan Cravens, who has been part of the team since he was a freshman, said that even though this season might be challenging, both teams are working hard to keep going.

“This season has been a little rocky but our women’s team has done absolutely good. If you compare their time from where they were at the beginning of the season, versus where they are now and the runs they have made have been fantastic,” Cravens said. He added that the men’s team are also progressing, however, the team that is definitely starting to show up is the women’s team.

A few weeks ago in the Maroon/Highlander Invitational, junior Haley Witt finished in the 15th place with a season’s best of 24:44.6 in the 6k. In that same event, junior Emily Petsko crossed the finish line with a personal record of 25:29.1. All of these and other contributions from the women’s team helped the team to place 6th at this invitational event.

Practice for this team is not just running a few laps around the school, they have to do workouts consisting of balance, ability and resistance. “We workout to improve ourselves in different aspects. We have workouts that help us increase our resistance, so we can last longer and run faster at the races. We also incorporate easy runs to reduce the possibility of getting injured,” Cravens said.

Many challenges have been posed to the team, however, Cravens stated that the team have been very successful in managing those challenges.

“For most of us, running helps us. At the meets, the atmosphere there is different and once you step up on the line it changes everything,” Cravens said. “A lot of the guys got injured before the season, but we are trying our best to get everyone on track again.”

As of right now, the Cross Country team is focused on their next event which is the ODAC Cross Country championship coming on Oct. 30.

Jason Golub|Courtesy Head Coach Jessie Weiner talks to the women’s team before the race.

Cameron Evans|Courtesy

Senior Katie Yeager, sophomore Abby Mahoney and freshman Emma Claytor celebrating a point during a volleyball match.

Sutton has been a key contributor to this Marlin’s team success, from game to game she leads the team in assists.

“As one of the upperclassmen on the team, she is looked up to as a star and key player in the game. Haley Sutton, our starting setter, has been great for the last couple of years. She’s just consistent, a good leader, and brings a lot of energy to the floor. I think she’s even leading the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in assists, which is huge for us,” Cumberbatch said.

Sutton also praised her team for consistently giving her marvelous passes and kills to help them win. “I can’t get an assist without a pass and without a kill, so I have a ton of respect for my hitters because that statistic doesn’t happen unless they get a kill. So I’m going to always continue to put the best ball up for them to be able to have the best advantage to get a kill. As long as I’m doing that, I think that will continue to happen and I’m really grateful for that,” Sutton said.

Coach Cumberbatch also gave praise to the players playing consistently. “Morgan Ludovici is just having a great season all around. I mean, she leads us offensively most games and is definitely our most consistent serve receive passer,” Cumberbatch said. “Abby Mahoney has definitely stepped up within the last couple of weeks and is just hitting at a great percentage,” Cumberbatch said.

Cumberbatch also expressed her long-term goals for the team and was adamant about continuing their winning culture and successful program at VWU. “Our goal will be to start consistently winning conference championships and to work towards a regional championship. We would love to get into the second or third round of the NCAA. I think that we’ve proven that we can compete with those teams. So now it’s time to make that a reality and make that jump,” Cumberbatch said. Cumberbatch was adamant about each player and what role they played for this team.

“Katie Yeager is just ruthless as far as her work ethic.

Alexis Davies-Hackenburg is actually pretty new to the program but has had a huge impact. Katie Costin even started as a freshman here, so they have had a lot to do with the success over the years here and it’s exciting to see them be able to have such a good senior year. They’re all impacting the program still and it’s been fun to watch.

Watching us add freshmen has been really exciting as well,” Cumberbatch said.

After their last ODAC regular season game, the Marlins are sitting in third place after their loss to their rivals the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College 3-0. Their next competition will be against the Captains of Christopher Newport University and the Saints of Marymount University on Oct. 29 at 3:00 p.m.

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Thursday October 28, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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‘Halloween K ills:’ Fearsome Y et Flawed

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

BY RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu

Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle One of many inovative shops located in Selden Market, S’mores Amore handcrafts modern s’mores.

Featured above is their ube s’more, a classic Filipino flavor, being toasted by the owner.

Selden Market Captivates Customers

BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu

The Slover Library, upheld by the same Batten family associated with VWU, boldly illuminates Plume Street in downtown Norfolk and provides an academic reservoir amidst the urban scenery. Virginia Wesleyan’s students may not be familiar, however, with the secret entrance through the library, to the co-op of shops and restaurants known as Selden Market (located at 208 E Main Street).

Similar to the library, the Market takes on afternoon hours: Tuesday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., FridaySaturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. till 5 p.m., with six public parking garages within two blocks.

A hotspot and incubator for emerging businesses, the Market’s permanent shops include, but are not limited to Gallagher—a woman-owned sustainability fashion company, Lorak Jewelry, Kor Vintage, S’mores Amore—for a nontraditional twist on a classic treat, Sugar & Grace— for all your candle and plant needs, Werther Leather Goods, Pure Lagos—a boutique of indigenous African handmade artifacts and Vessel Craft Coffee—for caffeine that is ethically sourced.

These small businesses, many of which are owned by women or minority groups, celebrate vibrant cultures.

They represent the Asian culture, a sustainability-focused mindset and the artistic nature of the Norfolk area.

To maintain constant relevancy and interest with the

public, Selden Market hosts pop-up shops for diverse food, baked goods or eco-friendly jewelry, fashion and hair care during their monthly events. These can be found on their Instagram page, @seldenmarket, their Facebook, or accessed through their webpage.

Events soon to come are the New Moon Festival, Selden Baker’s Market, Holiday Plant Swap, Hot Cocoa Wars Kickoff, a Holiday Party and several other festive December activities.

Adjacent to, or in collaboration with the Market, is the Selden Arcade made up of establishments such as D’Egg—an American diner, Granby Waffle Shop at Slover, Slover Library Creative Studios—where one can access technologically advanced artistic tools or The Stockpot Norfolk, for comfort food (with gluten free and vegan options available).

The Market’s design is reminiscent of a hall you’d find in a peaceful shopping mall. Skylights allow light to filter onto tables for group seating, wooden displays and standalone stalls. On either side of the tunnel-like building are doors, while the walls are covered in vendor spaces being used by shops, or vacant spaces for rent.

A vivacious venue for artists, the Market still has room to expand and is always looking to include even more options for food or opportunities to support small businesses. Altogether a quiet space, Selden Market, conjoined with the Arcade and the Slover Library, is a perfect spot for an afternoon study date.

“Halloween Kills,” directed by David Gordon Green, picks up immediately where the 2018 “Halloween” left off. However, while this sequel does have its merits, it is ultimately a weaker film than both its 2018 predecessor and the original 1978 film.

One thing the film does deliver on is living up to its title. “Halloween Kills” features some of the most brutal kills in the franchise, as Michael Myers, played by both James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle, goes on a killing spree through the town of Haddonfield.

Unlike many other films in the slasher genre however, “Halloween Kills” depicts its victims as more than onedimensional stereotypes. This causes the film to come across as all the more horrifying, as the audience watches these more realistically depicted characters be slain by Myers.

The citizens of Haddonfield also provide another of the film’s strengths, which is its depiction of how the fear of Myers impacts the town. This fear leads to the citizens trying to hunt down Myers as the town becomes more desperate, and the effects of the fear are shown to be just as terrifying as Myers himself.

In terms of the cast, Jamie Lee Curtis once again gives a strong performance as Laurie Strode, although she is sidelined as she spends the entirety of the film in the hospital due to her injuries from fighting Myers in the 2018 film.

Returning as Strode’s family are Judy Greer as her daughter, Karen, and Andi Matichak as her granddaughter, Allyson. Both also give strong performances as Greer’s Karen attempts to be the voice of reason as tensions in the town rise and Matichak’s Allyson joins the town mob, led by Anthony Michael Hall’s Tommy Doyle, to hunt down Myers.

The film’s primary weakness lies in its ending, as it ends on an abrupt cliffhanger. This is because, despite how the film was marketed, it ultimately serves to set up its already announced sequel, “Halloween Ends.” As such, the film is unable to stand on its own, as it presently feels like a filler entry serving only to set up its sequel.

PAGE 10

THEWEEKENDER

Thursday October 28, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

O’Cookies & Creations sprinkles a sense of community O’Cookies and Creations is a hidden gem in Hampton Roads and the bakers are a friend of the Wesleyan Community . The local, family-owned business started from a 30-year-old cookie recipe that was passed down to the next generation with a VWU alumna baker carrying out the tradition.

BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu

Vanilla, maple and pumpkin spice flavors mark the start of the autumnal spirit.

Frosting and intricate designs make eating sweet treats all the more delectable. Enjoy this fall with seasonal themed treats just for the thrill of the festivity. O’Cookies and Creations is a small, local family-owned business in Virginia Beach that specializes in sugar cookies with royal icing. The O’Connors’ recipe has been in the family for 30 years and launched their business in Oct. 2020. They have been busy rolling out cookies and mixing icing colors ever since.

The family recipe was passed down from Pamela O’Connor to her daughter, Sarah Grady, the social media design coordinator and contact manager of the business, and then to her two granddaughters. Hope O’Connor helps with packaging and frosting cookies and Lydia O’Connor, a class of 2018 VWU alumna, is the cookie decorator, photographer and invoice messenger of O’Cookies and Creations.

“Seeing the customer, and being part of their life’s celebration. When you see their faces light up when they get their cookies, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Pamela O’Connor Owner of O’Cookies and Creations

Pamela O’Connor, the owner and founder of the recipe, shared about the fruition of her cookies becoming the heart of the family-owned business and her favorite part of owning O’Cookies and Creations. “Over 30 years ago, I was making these cookies while I was in the Air Force for friends and family during holidays, Christmas and all of those fun times. Eventually, a year ago, after we had made them for our church’s anniversary, we said ‘well maybe we should start selling them for good,’” Pamela O’Connor said.

“Seeing the customer, and being part of their life’s celebration. When you see their faces light up when they get their cookies, it makes it all worthwhile.”

Dr. Terry Lindvall, VWU C.S. Lewis

Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought Professor of Communication, ordered cookies for his WES 300 Communication and Laughter class and shared what he likes about the local family-owned business.

“It is in our neighborhood, and anytime we can support people in our neighborhood shows that we are becoming more of a community,” Lindvall said. “And what often is lost in a city is a sense of community, and so these cookies are communal cookies.”

Grady shared details about the continuous growth that O’Cookies and Creations are working on to improve their family-owned business. “There were so many things that we had to figure out. We are still learning how to streamline frosting, baking, production and our customer service.

Just trying to continuously improve, so that’s definitely been challenging. But it is rewarding because we see the fruits of all that labor,” Grady said.

O’Cookies and Creations create seasonal packages throughout the year that are available for pre-order and also accept custom orders. Custom orders require a two week notice and cost $30 plus tax for a dozen while seasonal packages are $25 plus tax for a dozen. They also have a vending stand to purchase cookies and more sweets at the Farmer John’s Market at Back Bay’s Farmhouse Brewery Co. on 1805 Kempsville Rd in Virginia Beach.

Customers can support their vending stand at the next Farmer John’s Market vendor on Dec. 19 to purchase holiday themed cookies. Small cookies are for $3 each and large cookies are $4 each at the farmers market.

Lindvall added why the Wesleyan community should support and order from O’Cookies and Creations. “It’s a great deal first of all. Secondly, it spreads joy; the joy of eating with other people. And third, because it is a local business and friends of Virginia Wesleyan run it.”

Despite COVID-19 impacting local businesses and start-up establishments in Hampton Roads, O’Cookies and Creations benefitted as an at-home business to make cookies for sale. The O’Connors packaged their cookies to help customers celebrate events while still being comfortable compared to the experience of sharing cake or blowing out candles. They hope to expand their business by streamlining their production, making more collections of cookies that more customers will enjoy throughout the year and attending more farmer markets in the future.

Lydia O’Connor shares her favorite part of working at her family-owned business.

o.cookies. and.creations|Facebook O’Cookie and Creations bakers, Hope O’Connor (left), Pamela O’Connor (center left), Lydia O’Connor (center right) and Sarah Grady (right) sell their cookies at the farmers market.

Christina Zalameda|Courtesy Christina Zalameda shows off her emoji cookie from her WES 300 class.

“I think seeing each other’s strengths and watching each other grow and pushing each other to succeed has been really rewarding,” Lydia O’Connor said. “Also, as a family, to see something in each other that we haven’t seen before through doing a business together and strengthening our relationships as well.”

These cookies make great gifts and snacks for holidays, special occasions and events. Their most popular occasions for cookie orders are Christmas first and graduation second. Visit their website

www.ocookiesandcreations.com or their social media platforms @o.cookies.and. creations on Instagram and www.facebook. com/o.cookies.and.creations. You’re just an email away from placing your order to o.cookies.and.creations@gmail.com to get a delicious batch of their cookies.

“There’s something about giving a cookie to somebody that makes them smile.

A cookie is kind of a symbol of friendship, especially if the cookie is laughing back at you,” said Lindvall. Enjoy a treat that you can savor in any shape or time of the year.

haunted hunt club returns for halloween The popular haunted hayride is back this year at Hunt Club Farm along with more thriller attractions. Visitors can enjoy the market, carnival and food too.

ODU Alumni Association |Courtesy Wide array of pumpkins ready to be picked at the Hunt Club Farm market.

BY KIM DEHART

kmdehart@vwu.edu

Looking for fun scares, incredible Halloween decor and fun festival rides?

Then look no further because Hunt Club Farm has got you covered. Located at 2388 London Bridge Rd, with ticket prices ranging from $30 to $40, Hunt Club Farm has something for everyone. Even if you are not into the traditional scares there are still amusement rides, carnival food, pumpkin picking patches and awesome interactions with the actors.

Hunt Club Farm has several attractions such as the “Haunted Hayride,” the “Forbidden Fields,” “Death Alley” and the “Village of the Dead.” Despite COVID-19, Hunt Club Farm has still been able to put on a show.

When COVID-19 was at its height they had plexiglass in front of the actor so that way they could be up close and personal

while still staying safe. The actors are required to wear a mask but are now able to do more up close and personal scares.

Emily Harter, one of the actresses and the assistant manager of Hunt Club Farm, has worked there for 21 years and her mother has been there for 28 years.

“I started coming out here some nights when I was three. I would come out with my dad and chaperone in the corners and see how things worked,” Harter said.

“Then, I would leave an hour or two after I got here and as I got older I started staying progressively longer.”

Harter also shared that she has had several roles on the farm. “I’ve done just about anything you can do in here. I’ve been a volunteer. I got my first paid actress role when I was fifteen years old,” Harter said. “Then, I became the assistant manager when I was twenty years old. I didn’t stay a paid actor for a long time and when I did I was always the victim so I have a soft spot

for the dying scenes.”

Maranda Roads, the Hunt Club Farm manager, has been working there since 1994 and described her involvement in the business and hiring process. “We have crazy experiences from time to time but nothing too out of the box. You have a drunk person here in there getting a little rowdy but there’s never been too big of an issue,” Roads said. “As for the hiring process, we are very inclusive, there’s a place here for everybody.”

Additionally, Roads mentioned that they do a job fair every August and have three rounds of auditions. “If you think you’re too shy to do this or not, plenty of people come here thinking they’re too shy to come right out of their shell,” Roads said.

She also stated that the local high schools have contributed significantly to the level of talent the teenagers who work there have. She described that many of the teenagers study art or want to go to art school.

In relation to COVID-19, Roads stated they have been going steady. “Everybody loves Halloween, everybody’s coming out.

We’re lucky to be at an outdoor event.”

As for her tasks, her favorite job is interior decorating because of her love and appreciation for Halloween-themed decorating.

“I love figuring out what’s going to make them back up? What’s going to make their jaws drop? But I’ve pretty much got that mastered by this point,” Roads said. “I love the psychology of how I can move people through here. A lot more goes into this than people might think you got things through.”

Each Sunday, Haunted Hunt Club Farm offers a military appreciation discount for

$7 off tickets. Military affiliated guests whether active duty, veteran or dependent must print the coupon and present their military ID at the farm to receive the offer.

One valid military ID permits a discount for up to six people.

The last day to visit the Haunted Hunt Club Farm is Oct. 31. The box office closes at 9:30 p.m. nightly, and the farm closes at 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday nights and 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday Nights. If it rains or there is inclimate weather, the Hunt Club Farm posts canceled shows by 5 p.m. on their main website and Facebook page. For more information about tickets, COVID-19 safety guidelines and more, visit www. hauntedhuntclubfarm.com and www. facebook.com/hauntedhuntclubfarm.

Haunted Hunt Club Farm|Facebook Hunt Club Farm actor scares guest at the “Forbidden Fields” attraction.