The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 10.7.21 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Mud Games return after brief hiatus BY JADE EAST
jseast@vwu.edu
Virginia Wesleyan University held the traditional mud games event Sept. 24 at Rose Lawn on campus. Both students and staff formed teams to compete for first place as they engaged in relay races in the mud. The winners received an award of $250. Team Dwarves placed first. This team consisted of seven members including junior Moeno Sawai and junior Risa Yanagita, who are both foreign exchange students. Since this was their first Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle time participating in mud games, Teams Tours-R-Us competes in a Mud Games relay event on Friday, Sept. 24 at Rose Lawn. they did not expect to place a
winning position. “We were very surprised. We are really glad to be winners,” said Sawai. This event consisted of several games that included dizzy bat, egg walk and crab walking through the mud. Teams won individual races as they completed these tasks faster than their opposing teams. “I have never gotten dirty like we got in the game before, so it was really fun and exciting,” said Yanagita. Sarah Guzzo, director of student activities, hosted this event for the first time since she
See MUD GAMES Page 4
Upcoming Elections BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu
As the weather begins to turn crisp, students have more than just pumpkins and cider to look forward to. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2021 from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m., when Virginians will elect their governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, delegate and other local offices. Early voting has already been going on since Sept. 17. To vote in Virginia, one must be a resident, but out-of-state students can still register to vote using their campus address. The deadline for voting registration is Oct. 12. Residents of Virginia can register to vote at https:// www.elections.virginia.gov/. This includes a portal to register to vote, check your registration status, find your polling place and apply to vote absentee by mail. A mail-in ballot must be applied for by Oct. 22 in order to be counted. Those voting in-person can vote at the Ebenezer Baptist Church at 965 Baker Rd in Virginia Beach or early in-person at the Virginia Beach Voter & Elections Office at the Municipal Center. This year’s election, as always, is important to pay attention to because Gov. Ralph Northam is not allowed to run for reelection.
State law says that governors cannot serve consecutive terms, meaning that there is a guaranteed change in leadership for the state. The Democratic candidate is Terry R. McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014-2018. McAuliffe’s plans focus on raising the minimum wage, creating more jobs and immersion programs and incentivizing clean energy to become a state with 100% clean energy by 2035. The rest of his plans can be found at terrymcauliffe.com. The Republican candidate is Glenn A. Youngkin. Youngkin is a former employee with a private equity company called the Carlyle Group. Upon winning the election, Youngkin hopes to enhance job training programs, support the mental health system in Virginia and ban the use of Critical Race Theory in schools. More information can be found at youngkinforgovernor.com. The third candidate belongs to the Liberation Party. Princess L. Blanding is an educator and activist running as a third party candidate to prioritize community care and safety. Blanding supports universal health care, state protections for small businesses harmed by COVID-19 and environmental justice for indigenous peoples. Details on her campaign platform
can be found at princessblanding. com. Between the three candidates, it is generally considered competitive between Youngkin and McAuliffe. The Cook Political Report rates this election as a toss up, which they define as competitive and that either party has a good chance of winning. On the other hand, Sabato’s Crystal Ball with the UVA Center for Politics labels this election as leaning Democratic. Running for lieutenant governor is Hala S. Ayala with the Democratic Party and Winsome E. Sears with the Republican Party. Ayala represents the 51st District in the House of Delegates while Sears is a former Delegate who represented the 90th District from 2002-2004. More details on Sears’s campaign can be found at winsomesears.com, and Ayala’s website is located at halaforvirginia.com. The candidates for attorney general are incumbent Democrat and former State Senator of the 33rd District Mark R. Herring and Republican Delegate Jason S. Miyares, who currently represents part of Virginia Beach.
See ELECTIONS Page 2
Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Sophomore Kainaat Trehan and freshmen Casey Bennett and Rowan Stuart enjoy a meal at the Boyd Dining Center.
Boyd Dining Hall fills with students, receives feedback BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu
The Virginia Wesleyan Boyd Dining Center is a hub for student life and a daily gathering place for faculty, staff and students alike. In 2019, the dining hall underwent extensive renovations that improved both the aesthetics and functionality of the space. During the 2020-2021 school year, the dining hall was used for grab-and-go or socially distanced in-person dining. Now that the VWU campus community is fully vaccinated, there is much
more leeway for in-person dining options that are safe. General Manager for Dining Services Tim Lockett said he is excited to see students back in the dining hall and finally enjoying the new space. “The Dining Services Team is excited to fully open the Boyd Dining Center this fall semester,” Lockett said. “The space is now very bright and open, with all new furniture and seating choices. The new food stations with upgraded
See DINING HALL Page 2
Passaro, Stolle vie to lead Virginia Beach Sheriff Dept. BY KATIE YEAGER kayeager@vwu.edu
The ballot for voters in Virginia Beach this year will contain several options for constitutional officers, such as Sheriff, where incumbent Ken Stolle is seeking his third term and former Virginia State Trooper and VWU alumnus Antonio Passaro Jr. are running. Passaro shared his journey in higher education with the audience at his meet and greet in the Pearce Suite on Sept. 16 and encouraged them to ignore naysayers and pursue their dreams. He discussed his intimidation of higher education as a
young man and the factors that led to him pursuing a PhD later on in life. “I am proud to be an alumni here, honestly,” Passaro said. “This school prepared me for my career. If I didn’t come here, I wouldn’t have gone on to get my master’s degree.” Passaro is also an alumnus of Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University, studying criminal justice at all three colleges he attended. He is currently a full professor at TCC serving as the department chair of criminal justice for all TCC campuses. Passaro began his career as
Homecoming returns
VWU|Courtesy
COMMUNITY Page 5
Facebook|Courtesy Candidates Antonio Passaro Jr. (left) and Sheriff Ken Stolle (right). a police officer when he was 22 years old. He served in the Virginia State Troopers while
taking college courses at VWU. “I literally drove the police car here, got out and went to class,”
Men’s Soccer on a roll
Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle
SPORTS Page 8
said Passaro. “Half the time I was in uniform.” Additionally, Passaro went over some of the potential goals that he would have as Virginia Beach Sheriff. These included eliminating political influence in the sheriff department, improving transparency, focusing on mental health within the justice system and rethinking public safety. Senior James Harrod attended the event. He is a student worker for Wesleyan Engaged, which brings many speakers to campus to spark engagement within our campus community.
See SHERIFF Page 2
Local farms’ fall festivals
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle
WEEKENDER Page 10
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News
ELECTIONS
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Additionally, all of the Virginia House of Delegates are running for election this year. The House is composed of 100 delegates that are elected for two-year terms. Currently the majority is held by Democrats, with 55 seats, while Republicans fill the remaining 45. VWU is included in the 83rd House District and will have two candidates on the ballot. They are incumbent Democrat Nancy D. Guy who has held the seat since 2019
and Republican Tim Anderson. Guy won the 2019 election over her opposition, Chris Stolle, by only 27 votes. Since then, she has helped to pass legislation raising the minimum wage, abolishing the death penalty, creating new gun safety laws and decriminalizing marijuana. Guy also has worked to ban offshore drilling. Information about Guy and her campaign are at guyfordelegate.com. Anderson is an attorney and small business owner, and is hoping to take back this competitive seat for the Republican Party. Anderson would like to help keep taxes low and jobs secure by opposing the Green New Deal. He also
supports scholarships that allow taxes that parents pay to public schools to be reallocated to private schools for their children. More details can be found at timforva.com. Elections will be happening for various local positions as well. Running for Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue are Philip Kellam (D) and Ben Loyola (R). Colin Stolle (R) is running uncontested for Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney position. The race for sheriff is between Ken Stolle (R) and Antonio Passaro Jr. (D). For Virginia Beach Treasurer, the candidates are Leigh Henderson (R) and Laura Habr (D).
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle
DINING HALL
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Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle The Boyd Dining Center renovation allows the campus community to gather for in-person dining. presentation and serving options are designed to enhance the dining experience.” The stations in the dining hall are intended to be inclusive of the dietary needs of the campus community. Kyleigh Castengera, a freshman student-athlete, was excited to see vegetarian options made available every day. “Regarding vegetarian options in the caf, I would say that I was actually pleasantly surprised,” Castengera said. “There is always something for me to eat, even if some days that something is pizza and a salad. There is always a choice of food for me, which doesn’t happen in most restaurants.” Mackenzie Kerns is a senior and captain of the Women’s Soccer team and has dietary restrictions due to gluten intolerance. “Sometimes I can’t find many gluten free options and so I just end up eating the salads most days,” Kerns said. Kainaat Treharn, a Batten Honors College student, has mixed feelings about the dining hall options. “In my opinion, one area that the caf can do a better job is diversity in options,” Treharn said. “While I do recognize the new steps, for instance, the introduction of flavored almond milk, I think it can be a bit more sensitive and open towards a more diverse palette i.e. various dietary needs.” Beyond the renovations and new stations, one of the biggest changes this year has been the number of students who are able to enjoy meals in the dining hall seating areas. “On another positive note, the current guidelines allow for normal dining, and we see that the students are now enjoying the newly refreshed space as a place to eat, relax and socialize during their meals,” said Lockett. Even though more students are enjoying the dining hall’s accessibility to students, there is a population of students on campus that still struggle to make it to dinner hours. Student-athletes on campus who want to enjoy the new dining hall renovations and stations are impeded by the block of time used for athletic practices. Most teams have practice from roughly 4-6:30 p.m. every day while they’re in season. This block of time is meant to interfere with the least amount of classes, including night classes which often begin at 6 p.m. However, the dining hall hours of 4:45-7 p.m. allow for very little leeway for student-athletes to get changed, see the trainer and make it to the dining hall before closing time. “It’s difficult to get to the caf after practice, especially if our practice runs a little bit late,” Castengera said. She expresses that eating at the Dining Center is a daily occurrence for her and other freshmen, and “while it is a tight squeeze to get there before they close, we still have to eat there. I personally don’t go to the trainer after practice but my friends do and they have almost no time in the caf. They probably don’t get as much care from the trainer as they could if they didn’t have the time constraint.” “It is especially important for student athletes to refuel after practice and games and it makes it difficult to be properly energized if our athletics schedule interferes with the caf hours,” Kerns said. The Grille is another option when the dining hall is closed. The Grille is still operating on limited hours from COVID-19 guidelines and closes at 8 p.m., which is the same time that many night classes end.
SHERIFF
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Events like the meet and greet allow for students to personally meet local candidates and become involved in the election process. “These events are vitally important as getting to know local politicians ensures people are informed and encourages people to vote in local races which are usually more impactful than national races,” Harrod said. “In addition, these events can help build connections for the future.” Despite Passaro’s success story within higher education, there are still questions about his past actions in the police force. The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8 posted several records on their Facebook page on Sept. 17 relating to Passaro’s release from the Virginia State Troopers for claims of malfeasance. The records included many civilian complaints and records of the incident that led to Passaro’s release from the state troopers. According to the documents, the allegations that led to Passaro’s termination were theft of official records and destruction of official records. The notice states that “On Oct. 2, you entered Captain Kirk Marlowe’s office without permission or authorization while he was away. Removed part of a confidential administrative investigation involving you that was on his desk, left the premises and then read the document,” which violated “To wit, engaging in conduct, whether on or off the job, that undermines the effectiveness or efficiency of the department’s activities” and “To wit, willfully or negligently damaging or defacing state records or state or employee property.” Passaro’s opponent, Ken Stolle also commented on the post. “To answer some of the concerns posted here, I have been made aware of the troubling issues in my opponent’s work history. He violated the public trust and is unfit to serve in law enforcement, especially as Sheriff of Virginia Beach. He touts his Virginia State Police experience as his primary qualification for office, but was fired for malfeasance (and lost the lawsuit he filed to appeal his
termination).” Connor Eppley, Passaro’s campaign manager, responded to the allegations in a statement to The Chronicle. “The documents that the Stolle campaign and the Fraternal Order of Police circulated were obtained in bad faith and misrepresent the truth by manipulating the narrative and cherry-picking information for their own political agenda,” Eppley said. “These below the belt and purposely inaccurate attacks are exactly why more everyday people do not step up and run for office. We are confident that the citizens of Virginia Beach will see this for what it is, a desperate political maneuver (by our opponent) designed to distract voters.” Despite Eppley’s statement that the documents were obtained in bad faith, Stolle claims in a comment on the Facebook post that they were legally accessed. “It is my understanding that these documents were legally obtained through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act,” said Stolle. Stolle later commented on the Facebook post that these public records were obtained through the Chesapeake Court System. More recently, at the Seatack Community Civic League candidate forum in late September, Passaro reassured voters that he was not terminated from the Virginia State Police Force. However, Stolle posted more documents on Facebook on Oct. 4 that account for the termination in detail, which includes a 15 page report by Captain Kirk S. Marlowe to Captain Gary B. Payne regarding Passaro’s actions. Despite the documents that paint Passaro in a negative manner, Eppley responded to our request for comment and denied that the accusations were accurate. Election Day is Nov. 2, but early and absentee voting is currently underway. Early voting takes place at Building 14 of the City of Virginia Beach Municipal Center, located at 2449 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach. If you choose to send a vote by mail, the Absentee Ballot Application Form can be submitted up to a year before the election, but it must be submitted by 5 p.m. eleven days before the election date.
Campus celebrates Constitution Day BY WILL FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu
On Sept. 23, the Robert Nusbaum Center hosted Dr. Eric Claville, Interim Executive Advisor to the President for Government Relations and Director of the Center for African American Public Policy at Norfolk State University, as the keynote speaker at their Constitution Day event. This year’s theme was “The D.N.A of the United States.” The event started off with an introduction by Associate Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center Kelly Jackson, followed by a speech from Claville on the history and importance of the Constitution and ended with questions from the audience. True to the theme, Claville’s speech centered around how the Constitution is the baseline of all political behaviors and attitudes in the United States. His main focus was on how the meaning of “We the People” has changed since it was first penned in 1787. Tying together current and recent events, Claville highlighted Supreme Court cases, social justice movements and civil rights figures who helped shape what that phrase means in this day in age. He explained that racial disparity is at the very foundation of this country, and one cannot discuss its history nor a document as important as this one without also discussing historic racism. “I believe that the Constitution itself is one of our greatest documents, if not the greatest document, in our country,” Claville said. “Of course, as our country changes, the document changes, but it’s the foundation on which all our laws and public policies and behavior actually stem from. With that, it is very important to be engaged about what the Constitution meant at that time and what it means to us today. Because ultimately, ‘We the People’ changes over time, so therefore we the people must be at the forefront of the change.” The event was attended by students and staff alike, and
Will Farkas|Marlin Chronicle Dr. Eric Claville and Kelly Jackson embrace on stage. received praise for being so available and digestible for all in attendance. Senior Grant Morgan, in particular, described it as an eye-opening experience. “It was definitely a very meaningful presentation,” Morgan said, “It was nice to see everyone there and it was great that everyone on campus could open up to what’s going on and what’s been going on.” Jackson thanked students for attending this event and reflected on the importance of the day. “Each September, Virginia Wesleyan celebrates Constitution and Citizenship Day by holding a special event that encourages us to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship,” Jackson said. “Eric Claville’s presentation did just that. He offered meaningful insight on how the U.S. Constitution has shaped American culture and beliefs, and provided a powerful reminder of our responsibility to remain ever vigilant in ensuring that all Americans benefit from the promises made in that founding document.” The NC puts out a newsletter each semester and hosts several events each month. For more information on events or how to get involved, join the mailing list on vwu.edu/ nusbaumcenter or contact NusbaumCenter@vwu.edu.
Science & Technology
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Lab Spotlight: The Ocean Explorer ventures on Owl Creek BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu This Earth and Environmental Science 200 Lab focuses on oceanography and a nearby salt marsh in Virginia Beach. The class ventured out on Virginia Wesleyan University’s recreational vehicle (R/V), known as The Ocean Explorer. Owl Creek is in undeveloped saltwater marsh within 20 miles of Virginia Wesleyan based at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. The area features a shallow, tidal wetland between the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the protected freshwater inland. The creek acts as a critical spawning and nursing ground for shellfish, waterfowl, fish and aquatic insects. Salt marshes play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems by acting as buffer zones that absorb storm waves and floodwaters. Additionally, the creek helps to filter harmful chemical toxins that runoff from the surrounding environment. Owl Creek eventually leads to the Atlantic Ocean through the Rudee Inlet. The goal of the lab was to collect data about salinity, visibility, temperature and samples of organisms in the creek.
Evelyn Weaver|Courtesy Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Margaret McClain holds a crayfish that was in Owl Creek.
A student in the course, freshman Evelyn Weaver, stated the following about the lab, “The most interesting part was definitely the sampling of organisms using a trawl. My classmates and I released and pulled back in a large weighted net that picked up different marine life as it dragged behind the boat. We saw everything from lookdown fish to commercial shrimp to a baby squid.” When asked about the results of the experiment, Weaver stated, “We only had the trawl out for a brief time and in a small area, but we saw a lot of different organisms, regardless. It definitely served as a microcosm for the biodiversity within the Chesapeake Bay as a whole.” The general conception of the lab was positive, as students were thrilled to go out on The Ocean Explorer and experience science as it was actually happening in the water. This connection between the classroom and laboratory helps to justify what is being taught in lecture because it plays such a vital role in hands-on learning.
Shared Waters offers educational cooperative for future teachers BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu Shared Waters: An UpstreamDownstream Collaborative, is a partnership funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that allows Virginia Wesleyan to collaborate with Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Both schools are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The grant offers $400,000 over a threeyear period to help both schools educate students and teachers in watershed health. The money itself goes towards equipment for the schools to run experiments as well as toward the training of teachers in environmental practices that they can pass on to their students. Dr. Bill McConnell, an Associate Professor of Education at VWU, was integral in securing the grant for the schools. Even before the partnership began, McConnell was providing his education students with opportunities to lead lessons for elementary students on the VWU campus, which has ample grounds for the students to run hands-on experiments. The extended program now trains teachers at Norfolk Collegiate, a nonprofit independent school for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade, in how to implement MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences) in their classrooms. According to McConnell, the training will help teachers to move
away from “cookie-cutter recipe-like experiments” and help them utilize the immediate environment. This helps students in the school to find connections between their education and the world. McConnell appreciates that the MWEE training and subsequent experiments allow students to develop their own, practical solutions. With their MWEE-trained teachers, elementary students may run experiments such as leaf pack tests. A leaf pack can be placed in a body of water, of which VWU has an ample amount on campus, and after a time, students can examine the pack for organisms. As the experiments progress over time, more data can be collected to allow for solutions to any problems that may arise. So far, six teachers at Norfolk Collegiate have been trained with the MWEE techniques. The hope is that at least one elementary teacher for each grade at Norfolk Collegiate learns the MWEE practices so that a static partnership can be maintained. Plus, this allows teacher candidates to see the MWEE practices in action rather than just read about them. Therefore the project benefits future students at all stages of their education. Aside from the teacher training, the collaborative efforts can directly impact the environmental practices of the
Dr. Bill McConnell|Courtesy Norfolk Collegiate Science Faculty, Melissa Economou, Michelle McNaughton, and Lolita Kraft (left to right) pictured using a FLIR thermal imaging camera. schools involved because data can be shared between Millersville University in Pennsylvania, VWU and Norfolk Collegiate here in Virginia. For McConnell, this is part of why it is beneficial to have the grant help the schools collaborate. McConnell is pleased to be part of a collaboration that actively “employs and deploys robust methods of environmental
education.” Not only does the training focus on sustainable practices, but the plan in place to grow the collaboration is sustainable. The hope is that the project continues even after the grant money is gone and that all schools and students involved can benefit from a partnership that is long-lasting and environmentally educated.
Apple versus Fortnite: The lawsuit that cracked the App Store OPINION BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu On Friday, Sept. 10, a United States District Judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, ruled that Apple was breaking the law by not allowing app developers to have the option for customers to pay through an external source. After Epic Games, parent company of Fortnite, had instituted an external payment page for in-app purchases, Apple swiftly removed the game, citing a breach of App Store contract. Apple and Epic Games filed lawsuits against each other over the summer. The federal court ruling consisted of 185 pages of detailed operational practices between Apple and Epic. To provide background, Apple charges a hefty 30% commission on all in-app extension purchases through their App Store. On a five-dollar purchase, this equates to one dollar and fifty cents. This may not seem like alot, but it quickly adds up in Apple’s $20 billion pockets. Apple boasts a profit margin of 75% for all App Store purchases. This equates to them not caring about their developers in the slightest, even those among their most popular. As long as Apple is maintaining their hierarchy over mobile consumer applications, they do not prioritize the desires of the developers. Over time, app developers have instituted
Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle practices to circumnavigate Apple’s strict ban of external in-app purchases. Some have been successful in finding methods that work. For example, if you were to create a Netflix account and purchase a new subscription, you would be directed out of the app to their webpage. This way, Netflix does not incur any commission by Apple. Netflix has long been victim to these policies and completed this change years back. Fortnite, however, did not want to have to link their purchases elsewhere. So, they did the unspeakable. They created a button in their app allowing users to buy Fortnite
add-ons at a discounted price because they were not subject to the 30% commission. This infuriated Apple and caused them to boot Fortnite altogether. Fortnite retaliated with a “Project Liberty” publicity stunt that featured a #FreeFortnite hashtag. They made sure to incorporate the ominous 1984 Apple advertisement as well. During the time Fortnite had their alternative purchasing option, they accumulated $12 million of uncommissioned revenue. In the ruling by the federal judge, she ordered Epic to pay 30% of this back to Apple because this was what their previously-established
commission rate had been set at. This just seems ridiculous, especially after she ruled in favor of Epic’s proposal to allow external payment services. She was trying to prove a point but then redacted it with this fine. Apple’s chokehold on the App Store is notably intense and has only been strengthening in recent years due to their monopolistic practices. Their 30% commission makes it near impossible for first-time developers to succeed or generate any revenue on the App Store. They cite this commission as a way to offset the cost of “sophisticated Apple software” that is needed by developers to run on Apple devices. How many changes is Apple really making to warrant this commission in an “attempt” to help developers? Fortnite did accomplish a small win against the monopoly that is Apple. They were ruled in favor of allowing app developers to institute external payment methods. Will this ruling stay unturned? It may not because Apple plans to take this to an appellate court for review. Unfortunately, Fortnite’s claim of Apple being a monopoly did not succeed, as the judge cited a “relevant market” of $100 billion in the world of digital gaming transactions. Apparently, Apple’s hold of this market is just not enough. Fortnite is also pursuing an appeal route to have Apple federally recognized as a monopoly. This would be a detrimental ruling for the future of Apple’s operations.
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The
MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu News Editors Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Kathryn Yeager kayeager@vwu.edu Science & Tech Editor
Community MUD GAMES
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 became director back in the fall of 2019. This traditional event was not hosted last school year due to COVID-19 safety regulations. In discussion of Mud Games Guzzo explained that it was important that they brought back this activity because of the bond that occured between the student and staff population. “This activity is just a good morale booster, if you’re participating you’re having fun and it’s also a team building event for the group you’re competing with and if you’re just there to watch it’s so entertaining,” Guzzo said. For information on future events being hosted by student activities, view the Student Activities instagram @dir_of_stu_act or follow along with the weekly school announcements sent to your university email.
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 Alexandra 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
Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Top: First place winners: Team Dwarves. Bottom Left: Sarah Guzzo and Jason Seward compete. Bottom Right: Risa Yanagita participates.
Greek Life welcomes new members with Recruitment Week BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu
All members of Greek Life here at Virginia Wesleyan University were eager to get back to in-person events for Rush Week this year. “One of the main things we saw during Rush Week was a great shift in interest for Greek Life. We saw an incredible turnout, more than we have had in a while,” President of Sigma Nu Cecil Hylton said. Rush Week is a period of time dedicated to introducing interested students to the different sororities and fraternities on campus. It allows students to learn more about Greek Life, while also becoming acquainted with its members as well. This year, VWU students began rushing during the week of Sept. 6 and the week of Sept. 13. Rush Week was characterized by a variety of events which were held by all recruiting sororities and fraternities at VWU— ranging from cookie decorating to golf competitions. Among the events put on by the Panhellenic sororities, S’mores and Open Doors was a big hit. Here, potential new members were offered the opportunity to join the sororities by a campfire, check out their townhouses and, of course, eat s’mores. Some other top events that were held by
VWU’s sororities included Mad Lib Painting and Minute to Win It. Pertaining to the events put on by the fraternities here at VWU, Water Warzone and Top Golf had two of the biggest turnouts. At the end of the week, all of VWU’s Greek organizations, both sororities and fraternities held invite-only events to ultimately decide who they wanted to bid for— who they wanted to join their chapters. “Bid Day is so much fun because it is a huge celebration of welcoming new members to your organization that you love so much, and it allows your organization to expand and grow,” President of Phi Sigma Sigma Megan Coffren said. “It is also a celebration of all the hard work that your organization has put into recruitment season.” Following the last day of Rush Week, a Running Home ceremony was held by
Megan Coffren|Courtesy Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority and their new members at their Bid Day Celebration. sororities and Association events were held by fraternities to welcome their newest members. There was a lot of interest in Greek Life this year, which led to the addition of a lot of new members. Stay on the lookout for some exciting upcoming events being put on by our Greek organizations here at VWU!
Spongebob the Musical set made of recycled materials BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@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
VWU|Courtesy Spongebob the Musical Promotion.
Nickelodeon’s “Spongebob the Musical” is coming to Virginia Wesleyan on Oct. 21 through Oct. 24. The cast and crew have worked together to incorporate the sustainability initiatives of the University into this upcoming musical by building their set out of recycled materials. “The idea for the recycled materials came from the cartoon itself. So much of Bikini Bottom is made up of things that would be found at the bottom of the ocean, so with that in mind we decided to try and build as much of the set, props, and costumes, with the same mentality. Along with being able to embody the creativity of the show, this also allows us to showcase how many things people are
throwing into the ocean,” said Trey DelPo, Director of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center. The set is still being built and the crew is in need of more recycled materials. If you are interested in donating either plastic bottles or cardboard boxes, feel free to drop them off in the loading dock of the Goode Performing Arts Center. Tickets are free to VWU students, faculty and staff. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 21-23 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 24. For more information about the musical itself coming at the end of October, head to www.vwu. edu/the-arts-at-virginia-wesleyan/theatreproduction.
The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Thursday, October 7, 2021
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Homecoming Weekend brings family and alumni to VWU BY JADE EAST
jseast@vwu.edu
Homecoming and family weekend occurred Oct. 1-3 and welcomed alumni and family to VWU Campus to celebrate the new academic year. The homecoming dance was hosted on Friday, Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. in the CMAC. This dance was an event for the student body where students came dressed to impress their fellow peers while they danced to music, ate food and took photos for remembrance. Throughout the week preceding homecoming and family weekend, the Student Activities Director, Sarah Guzzo, hosted a spirit week that consisted of different dress up days. These dress up days were PJ Monday, DC vs Marvel Tuesday, jersey day Wednesday, throwback Thursday and Marlin spirit day Friday. Along with the dance and spirit week, homecoming included the crowning of the
Marlin Majesties. Students were able to vote two majesties from the homecoming court that consisted of a total of eight students to choose from. The winners were junior Jordan Gilliam and sophomore Ashleigh Lockard who were revealed at the Birdsong Field during halftime of the field hockey game. Family weekend was an opportunity for families to be able to come onto campus and join the Marlin community in the annual tailgate tradition for homecoming. These family members were able to purchase meal and beverage tickets as they arrived and enjoyed a picnic style meal while they engaged with their favorite faculty member and their Marlin student. The weekend was wrapped up with a homecoming worship at Heritage United Methodist Church led by chaplain Kotosha Griffin.
The Fishing Club
Asian Student Union BY JOSHUA HELLER
BY JOSHUA HELLER
jmheller@vwu.edu
jmheller@vwu.edu
Virginia Wesleyan University just recently unveiled another brand new club this semester. The Fishing Club is finally here and is welcoming new members already, thanks to freshman Rowan Stuart. Stuart is the Founder and President and has high aspirations for the newest student organization. “The fishing club is open to all individuals so long as they are a current VWU student. The only requirement for participation in the club is to get your Virginia state fishing license,” Stuart said. “We help our members obtain them by explaining the process and helping you register.” The club is encouraging all members to receive their fishing license, because it is the basic requirement to fish with the club. “The purpose of the fishing club will first and foremost be recreation. Fishing is a relaxing yet exhilarating pastime which all people can enjoy. We as a club will provide that fun and relaxation to those interested. Our secondary goal is education,” Stuart said. “Through participation in the club, individuals gain a unique opportunity to learn about our local fisheries and why catching your own fish is better than buying
VWU|Courtesy
Homecoming Majesties Jordan Gilliam and Ashleigh Lockard with administration.
a salmon fillet from the supermarket.” The new club shows potential of finding quite the following on campus. “Much to my surprise I found a large amount of individuals who would love to go fishing. With such a large amount of interest I decided that one of the best ways to organize my trips and gain the resources needed would be to start a club,” Stuart said. The genesis for the club came from a discussion with freshman Marco Molino. “I ran the idea by a few faculty members and my friend and Vice President, Marco, to which it was decided we would start a fishing club.” Stuart said. The brand-new club has received praise from facility staff members for being well-structured and unique. The Fishing Club is currently looking for new members and is open to all currently registered students. If you have a passion for fishing or always have wanted to try and are interested in joining the Fishing Club, now is your chance. Contact rwstuart@ vwu.edu for the latest news, meetings and fishing information.
Asian Student Union is one of Wesleyan’s newest student organizations and is opening their doors to any potential members. The club’s President and Founder, sophomore Matt Taylor, unveiled the brand new club at the student involvement fair on Sept. 3. “We are an all inclusive group, and we have actually a non discrimination policy in our constitution as well so anybody can join you don’t have to be Asian we accept everybody,” Taylor said. The club prides themselves on acceptance to anyone regardless of Asian affiliation and strives to show its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Taylor was also adamant about the stepping stones and helping hands that helped the club form. He stated, “Olivia Dean being the vice president, she has really stepped up and was actually the first person to seek me out after I had proposed the idea of forming an Asian student union last semester. She had volunteered as early as last school year before the club was official.” Taylor credited the fact the new club wouldn’t be possible without the help of Dean or
Faith Osuji. “Faith Osuji is a founding member. She has been instrumental in getting new members and just reaching out to a lot of new students. I also have Sasha Saxon and Devin Calpo on the executive board with me. They were really eager to step up and fill the roles when I was forming the club.” Taylor said. Taylor also gave praise to the Latino Student Association, Black Student Union and the Caribbean Student Union for giving him the inspiration to form ASU. “I saw how well LSA did for promoting Hispanic and Latino culture and that was really big for me. When coming up with the idea for Asian Student Union, hopefully we’ll have events that are close in success and as fun as the other groups on campus.” If you have any questions or comments about the Asian Student Union, feel free to email Matt Taylor, mttaylor@vwu.edu. Marlins can also find more information about Asian Student Union meetings and events on their Instagram page, marlinasianstudentunion_.
Opinions
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Thursday October 7, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Labor shortage: Stop treating people like pawns BY ETHAN LABELLE erlabelle@vwu.edu The “Now Closed” sign stands in stark contrast to the “Now Hiring” sign directly next to it. Unfortunately, this situation now seems to be a reality at many restaurants across the country. Short-staffed and overwhelmed, they are forced to cut hours in order to save costs. There is no doubt that the industry is reeling and that this situation will impact how food service operates in the future. However,
Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle
this problem is one that could have, and should have, been seen coming from miles away. Working in food service is not as easy as it seems, long hours, low wages and rude customers all contribute to an incredibly stressful environment. This paired with the fact that many bosses are not willing to accommodate the needs of their employees leads to an unpleasant experience where the employee feels expendable. At the beginning of the pandemic, many of these suspicions were proven right as laborers were laid-off all across the country with little to no warning or other options. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics over 3.6 million jobs were lost in service industries during the peak of the pandemic. Many restaurant owners are blaming the stimulus checks as well as unemployment benefits for their inability to hire people. This is not the case, employees want to feel like they are being treated as people, not pawns. For those who have worked in the food industry for a while, it simply is not worth going back to work to be berated by customers, treated as inferior by management and barely earn enough money to survive for two weeks until their next paycheck. There are many other industries out there which are offering much better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Even a middle schooler could explain supply and demand, the desire for a good by the consumer determines the price and how much of that good is produced. In this situation, restaurant owners are demanding more workers, but are not willing to spend the money to make it worthwhile for potential employees. Fortunately, this pandemic has changed a lot of people’s
Civic engagement for a stronger democracy BY HUNTER NORDBERG hdnordberg@vwu.edu Canvassing is a simple thing. Whether as a volunteer, intern or employee it all boils down to one thing, going out and mobilizing voters. Elections today are won and lost on turnout and a handful of votes can make the difference, so campaigns go to considerable lengths to get the vote out. They’ll look for as many volunteers as they can get and send them out to talk to voters. Anyone can canvass if they’re capable of walking a few miles and have a passion for civic engagement, which we all should be to one extent or another. My first time canvassing was in Sept. 2019. I had just started a new internship working towards electing a Democratic majority in the Virginia legislature. I had no prior experience with campaigns and was rather nervous about the whole situation. I was about to start knocking on the doors of random strangers to talk about politics at a time when politics was heated and divisive like never before. Despite my fears I soon came to realize that canvassing was not like that. While you may have a few folks who are rude or dismissive, the vast majority of my interactions were positive. I got to listen to the voices of the electorate and understand the issues important to Virginians. And it all culminates on election day. Months of hard work, countless doors later, and it all comes down a single night of either heartbreak or ecstasy. When you put in so much effort into supporting a candidate you can’t help but be more invested in the outcome than you would be otherwise. Two years ago I was in the office with other canvassers and organizers on election night, and fortunately for us it was a good night for most of our candidates. The excitement and joy that comes with winning is incredible, like getting an “A” on a final exam you needed to ace. Knowing that your work went towards successfully electing can-
didates is an enormously gratifying feeling, and even more so when the victory is by the thinnest of margins. This year will be my third consecutive year of campaign work. Askew and Turpin in 2019, the Virginia coordinated campaign in 2020, and now Guy for 2021. These campaigns have been great experiences for me. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people and see many new places across Virginia Beach and Norfolk, in addition to supporting candidates who have made substantial changes for the betterment of Virginia. So, as the 2021 Virginia elections start, I encourage everyone reading this to get involved. Sign up to knock on 20 doors, make 50 phone calls, or send 100 texts. Civic engagement is a hallmark of democracy, so go out there and knock on some doors.
perspectives on what a job should be and how the employees should be treated. According to the Pew Research Center, 66% of unemployed Americans ‘seriously considered’ switching career paths during the pandemic. These are unprecedented times in a highly volatile economy which many have realized is actively working against them. Everyone wants to live their American Dream but they have realized that it is not going to happen at McDonald’s or Wendy’s. The Federal Reserve released their first quarterly report for 2021 which found that the top 1% of households control $41.52 trillion, by comparison the bottom 50% of households control just $2.62 trillion. It is becoming increasingly clear that the way onto Jeff Bezos’ rocket ship is not through picking up an extra job or just working harder, it is mostly luck. Despite all of this, many restaurateurs feel entitled to people begging to work for them. They cannot seem to wrap their heads around why they are not getting any hires. The impact of COVID-19 will be felt for years to come. It has, and continues to call into question why we do certain things the way we do when there are more viable options. Right now, the food service industry is experiencing this first-hand and they will be forced to adapt to the new situation or be forced out by a competitor who is willing to. This Labor Shortage is a good thing, it will lead to better working conditions for food service employees and it even has the potential to go beyond that and impact industries across the board to gain better conditions for workers across the nation.
Plotting against hunger BY GARRETT PAGE gapage@vwu.edu Fresh tomatoes. Homegrown carrots. Organic spinach. If you are anything like me, the thought of cooking with these fresh veggies makes your mouth water. However, if you are anything like me, paying 40 dollars at the grocery store for vegetables is way too expensive. At Virginia Wesleyan, we have the manpower, resources and real estate to have the best of both of these worlds: a community garden! This community garden could be anything from a small 5 x 5 garden for hardy tomatoes to a field of fresh produce ready to be harvested. Once built, the only thing it would require is us! With the power of a generous community, we can chip in together for seeds, watering supplies, fertilizer and more and reap the rewards all year-round. With said community garden, Virginia Wesleyan would become a more beautiful, sustainable campus for everyone.
“Gardening is good for the soul.”
Hunter Nordberg|Courtesy
“Gardening is good for the soul” is no simple platitude. If you do not believe me, maybe you can trust numerous studies that indicate the mental health benefits of gardening. It lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, improves attentiveness, and reduces the incidence of anxiety and depression. Even soil is said to have antidepressant properties because of the bacteria cultivated in it. A garden is symbolic of our own growth and provides a sense of achievement and purpose to those who work on them from beautiful flowers to lush produce. Gardens keep us connected with ourselves and the natural world. In addition to its aesthetic and luxury benefits, the community garden could elevate Virginia Wesleyan as a service opportunity. The United Nations identified “Zero Hunger” as its second goal in the facilitation of sustainable development. During the pandemic, food insecurity went up in our area by 17%. Food pantries were unable to keep up with the demand and had to purchase groceries from the already scarce inventory in stores. Marymount, a private liberal arts university comparable to Virginia Wesleyan takes action in their community by participating in the Plot Against Hunger. I would like to see Virginia Wesleyan spearhead its own plot to eliminate hunger or even join in with a community effort to do so. It is our responsibility as environmental stewards and pillars of our community to utilize this opportunity to end hunger in Virginia Beach.
Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Information courtesy of the Virginia Beach Voter Registration and Elections Department.
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Thursday October 7, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
SportsHead
Esports continues into third season BY KIMBERLY DEHART
kmdehart@vwu.edu
Esports, the newest competitive team at Virginia Wesleyan University, is still expanding. The addition of Esports here at Virginia Wesleyan is relatively new. This program offers students the chance to participate in video game competitions using sophisticated technology at the collegiate level. Virginia Wesleyan is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). NACE is a member of a driven organization which focuses on the positive development of esports programs nationwide. “The best way to describe esports is intense, exciting competitive gaming. The games are exciting not only as an athlete, but as a spectator as well,” Program Director and Coach Glenn Johnson said. The program was first introduced in the fall of 2019 and began competing in Jan. 2020. Virginia Wesleyan Esports has four games to choose from including Rocket League, Overwatch, League of Legends and eventually joining the existing squads in spring 2022, Fortnite. The teams consist of 3-6 members depending on what game(s) interest them the most. Their facility, the Marlin Esports Arena, can be found upstairs in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. In the arena, it is equipped with “17 high-end gaming PCs featuring ASUS Prime Z390-P motherboards, Intel 9th Gen i7 processors, 16GB ADATA Gammix RAM, MSI GeForce RTX 2070 Armor GPUs, and MSI Optix 24inch gaming monitors,” according to the Virginia Wesleyan University Esports website. Here at VWU, Esports was a technological upgrade, modernizing the campus even more. Students are able to have a new and exciting activity to participate in competitively and an exciting way for students to interact with other students that share the same interests. “I’ve been a coach since this program’s conception in fall of 2019. If someone wanted to join, I would say give it a shot. The biggest thing about esports is that there is always room for improvement and as long as you are willing to put in the effort to learn and try to improve, opportunity is always there,” Johnson said.
The 2021-2022 season has already started on Sept. 7 and they opened the season with Rocket League and Overwatch, while League of Legends is expected to start at the beginning of October. There are currently 27 members including the 20 members from the incoming freshman class on the Esports team with the possibility of growing numbers with the addition of Fortnite. The Captain of Rocket League Esports team, junior Brandon Kwon commented, “I joined back when the program started in the Fall of 2019 and I saw it as a new opportunity to get involved on campus and hopefully be competitive when it came to playing against other schools,” when asked about why he decided to join the team.
“The biggest thing about esports is that there is always room for improvement and as long as you are willing to put in the effort to learn and try to improve, opportunity is always there.” Program Director and Coach Glenn Johnson On Sept. 20, the Marlins of the Rocket League Esports team fell to the Bulldogs of James Madison University in a 3v3 match in a best of five series 3-0. The following week, the Esports team competed against SAU in Overwatch with the Marlins taking home the win. Finally, a week after that on Oct. 4, the Marlins competed in another Rocket League competition in a best of five series against WVU PSC beating them 3-1 in a series of five matches. This put the Marlins in a three-way tie for third place for League play with Old Dominion University and West Virginia. The Esports team is open to current and incoming students and they are invited to come tryout for their game of interest. VWU students interested in joining should visit at vwu.edu/esports and complete the interest form or contact them via email at esports@vwu.edu.
Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Sophomore Paul Nelson plays Overwatch in the VWU Esports arena.
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle BY STEVEN SERRANO
sdserranocruz@vwu.edu The NCAA changed its policy of student athletes getting paid, however the money is not coming from the NCAA. The new agreement made by a series of court rulings is that now, college athletes will be able to monetize their name, image and likenesses (NIL). This change allows college athletes to take advantage of their fame and start earning money as social media influencers before moving into the professional field. The social media influence is something that helped this deal get done. Many college athletes use social media as a way to promote themselves and for others to know them in a more close interaction. We can say that college athletes are modern day influencers in some type of way. This is great for college athletes, as they can make money from just their image. Because college athletes are not getting paid for their sport, they are getting paid because they are influencers. As an example of this, we can see the Cavinder twins from Fresno State Women’s Basketball signed as spokespeople for Boost mobile. And many other athletes have taken advantage of these new rules signing for athletics and non-athletics brands. At the moment this new rule has been proposed in Virginia, but not all colleges have accepted the idea. Many states have not even proposed these new rule changes and honestly it might be because of the many arguments that people have been making about this groundbreaking change. I can see why these new rules have been of disgust to some people. Many students can take this as an opportunity to drop out once their level of influence is at the top. But I highly doubt that if college athletes see themselves in those higher positions they will just get out of school, when now they can get more opportunities to jump to the professional world without struggling to make a name, because people already know them. Now, in terms of how the NCAA handled this situation, we can say that it was a smart solution for athletes and for them. For years, people have been talking about paying college athletes. The NCAA never did anything to solve the problem, until now. Now, the money is not coming from them, but instead, is coming from other organizations. The only thing that the NCAA is doing is allowing college athletes to use their platform. The money is not coming from the NCAA but at least they open the doors for college athletes to build their own path for their future careers, and I think that is a fair deal.
BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON
sawashington@vwu.edu College athletes can get paid now, but not by the NCAA. On July 1, the NCAA announced a policy that lets college athletes at all three levels monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL). With the rule change, student-athletes are able to get paid through their own businesses and advertisements, social media, YouTube, endorsements, etc. After the rule went into effect, athletes moved quickly. Athletes across the country started announcing partnerships and endorsements with companies almost immediately. In the following days all over my social media, small brand companies, like Barstool Athletics, started posting applications for athletes to fill out to become sponsored by them. With these brands, athletes are able to receive clothes and accessories from the brand they are sponsored by. There are many athletes in the social media world, especially on YouTube. These athletes were unable to monetize their channels, which I believed was outrageous because of how popular they were off the field, but now everything has changed. For example, popular YouTubers Hunter Woodhall and Tara Davis that I’ve watched on a regular basis. They are American Olympic track and field athletes that have garnered over 330,000 subscribers and have now partnered with companies like Grubhub, NordicTrack, and Airbnb. This shows how the athlete/ influencer/entrepreneur lifestyle has mixed for the better. However, I can understand why many believe this can become a problem. Critics of the NIL rule change believe that athletes will rapidly start leaving college. I came to ask the question whether it’s all about winning or is it all about where one can go to maximize their financial pocket the most? I think student-athletes will start only going to college because it’s an alternative way of making money while also playing in collegiate sports. It will become harder to recruit athletes to schools because college coaches will have to begin to sell the idea that with this team one will have the best pay opportunities. Here at Virginia Wesleyan, I have only seen two athletes that are sponsored. One athlete is sponsored by a brand called Body Armour, a sports drink, and the other is sponsored by a meal prep company called Lunchbox Meal Prep Services. Nonetheless, this rule change has been one in the making and I believe it has now changed the course of what it means to be a student-athlete.
Athletes take part in Morgan’s Message BY STEVEN SERRANO
sdserranocruz@vwu.edu BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON
sawashington@vwu.edu
Mental awareness for student-athletes has become very important over the past couple of years. Recents effects such as anxiety, suicide and depression have been affecting athletes. These are just tidbits of what many athletes deal with on a daily basis. For these reasons, many organizations have dedicated themselves to promoting mental awareness for student athletes and here at VWU, we are part of a larger organization called Morgan’s Message. “Morgan’s Message was started near my hometown in Northern Virginia, and Morgan Rodgers played with my cousin and coached my sister. After seeing a post on Instagram about the organization and how they were going to have campus ambassadors, I applied to be an ambassador and bring this to our campus,” senior Mackenzie Kerns said. Kerns is a defender for the Women’s Soccer team and along with her teammate Kennedi Anders, the organization was introduced in the 2020-2021 school year during COVID-19. Also, other people that made this possible were, Women’s Soccer Head Coach Jeff Bowers, and Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Nicole DeSalvia who partnered with Virginia Wesleyan SAAC and the VWU athletic department. Since the introduction, they have held meetings over zoom and in person with guest speakers to discuss studentathlete mental health. “Morgan’s Message is a mental health
VWU Morgan’s Message|Instagram VWU and Guilford College Volleyball teams raise awareness during Morgan’s Message dedication week. organization aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental health in student-athletes. This organization was created to open conversation about mental health and give student-athletes the opportunity to spread awareness,” Kerns and Anders said in a joint email statement. The first dedication week was Sept. 18 through Sept. 25. The teams that participated in these events were Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Field Hockey and Volleyball. “Each team before the start of their games, made an announcement talking about the organization as well as had a table at the entrance of the stadium, field, or arena,” Kerns said. However, Morgan’s Message is not something that is planned to only happen once, as one of the coordinators
expressed that she wants to emphasize the importance of mental health and how important this message is for all college athletes. “We want everyone to know that mental health is just as important as physical health, and no one is alone through their battles,” Kerns said. She also added, “Although both of us are graduating this spring, we have heard from several people who want to keep the organization on campus. We would love to see Morgan’s Message grow and have a larger impact on our campus. We look forward to holding future events and increasing awareness and conversation.” Students can visit @vwumorgansmessage on instagram to learn more about this organization or visit morgansmessage.org.
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Men’s Soccer maintains momentum BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON sawashington@vwu.edu
The Virginia Wesleyan University Men’s Soccer team defeated the Royals of Regent University 5-0, adding a seventh win to their outstanding record. The Marlins are going strong after having produced a record that has not been seen in a while of 7-1-2, seven wins, one loss, and two tied matches for the 2021-2022 season. After coming off a challenging season last year, the Marlins have shifted gears and are a force to be reckoned with. The culture of the team was different last year due to COVID-19, which provided many challenges for the Marlins. However, the Marlins have bounced back and are ready to dominate the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and bring home the trophy. “The culture of the team is just different. Everybody’s happier and more excited to be here, so to start off with six wins that can really do it for you,” senior Scott Signorelli, a forward for the VWU Men’s Soccer team said. The Marlins best record to date is 20-1-1, twenty wins, one loss, and one tied game back in 1991 and 1995. Today, the VWU Men’s Soccer team is looking towards that goal. This season the Marlins have faced various opponents at different skill levels that have made winning much more challenging. At the start of the season, the Men’s Soccer team won four straight games in a row giving them great momentum to carry throughout the season. “Just to keep the energy high, keep working, and never letting up,” junior Jake Peterson, a center midfielder for the VWU Men’s Soccer team said. Nonetheless, the Marlins have shown they do not back down without a fight. As the season got started, a highlight from the season so far is the multiple games that have gone into overtime, and the Marlins scoring the golden goal to win the games. The first game of the season went into overtime, and the Marlins, not even a full minute in, scored the golden goal to win 3-2 over the Knights of Southern Virginia University on Sept. 4 and this continued into some of the games later on that produced their 7-1-2 record. The team has been working very hard to make up for last season, as it was a challenging one due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They had to deal with COVID-19 restrictions, an unusual practice schedule, and weekly testing. However, they are excited to get back out there and give their 100% effort every time they take the field. As the Marlins continue their momentum to maintain their record, they are feeling good about the effort the team has put in and out on the field. “It feels really good, I mean our team is working well together and we have a lot of energy. I think we are coming
Fifth year athletes share experiences
Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle Freshman Nate Mitchell kicks the soccer ball down the field in the game against North Carolina Wesleyan. into the games with the right mindset to each game, and we just have to keep up and keep working hard,” Peterson said. Going into overtime shows how hard the Marlins have been working and how strong the team is this season. The Virginia Wesleyan Men’s Soccer team roster is stacked this 2021-2022 season. There are thirty-eight players on the roster, with the majority being freshmen with a total of seventeen, along with six sophomores, eight juniors and seven seniors. Furthermore, this class of freshmen are a favorable bunch as typically there are four to five freshmen who are starters this year. “I know that we have a really good freshman class with a lot of players that have been coming right off the jump with just the right energy,” Peterson said. Right now, the VWU Men’s Soccer team is sitting at ninth place in the ODAC, but not far behind the teams ahead of them. The reason for this is because they have not won a conference match this season yet and have only tied against the Wildcats of Randolph College 0-0. During preseason, the Marlins were selected eighth in the ODAC coaches’ preseason men’s soccer poll based on last season’s statistics. However, the Marlins continue to flip the script as they have shown that eighth place is not where
they want to be. The VWU Men’s Soccer team are turning the tables and has a goal to come out on top. Signorelli and Peterson were both asked about any special saying that the team lives by to reach their goals. Peterson commented, “Don’t be complacent, even if you win the first game you can’t be complacent where you are. You have to strive for better, so we’re looking forward to the next game and trying to get a result out of it.” The Marlins have shown consistency and that they are non-complacent as each game they play they get better and better. Their communication and chemistry on the field have shown how much they trust each other to make the perfect play. There is no “I” in team and the Marlins have gone above and beyond to prove that they are a brotherhood. “We want to be more than a team. We’re all like one big happy family on and off the field. We all go to a DIII school and we are students first, so we help each other on the soccer field and in the classroom,” Signorelli said. Want to catch the action, the Virginia Wesleyan Men’s Soccer team continues their season on the road as they travel to Greensboro, NC to play against ODAC conference school, the Quakers of Guilford College on Oct. 9, 2021 at 7:00 pm.
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BY STEVEN SERRANO CRUZ sdserranocruz@vwu.edu
In order to stay for a fifth year, students have some options to take. They can leave some credits out and take them on the next semester, or they can apply for one of the three Masters programs. Another reason might be an injury that took them out for a long time causing them to miss some games. However, one reason to stay could be because COVID-19 took sports away for almost two years. “This place is home and I have not one but two years taken away from me, so when you have the option for an extra year, it is hard to turn it down, especially when we have a strong family atmosphere,” senior Maria Weddle said, this being one of the reasons for her to stay for a fifth year. Weddle is part of the Softball team and she was also part of the 2021 championship run. However, the championship was not a reason for her to stay. “The championship was not the reason for me to stay, I said that I was coming for a fifth year before we even started our season,” Weddle said. But, this does not discard the fact that she is striving for another championship. Last season for Weddle was one of the toughest but most rewarding seasons ever. She expressed that even though they have the COVID-19 guidelines, they were extra precautious. “We took it to the next level, we were very cautious and we knew what we had and we could achieve,” Weddle said. Despite those changes, she had remarkable moments that she will never forget. “We did not spend much time together, all the time we spent together as a team was on the field,” Weddle said. “Going to practice everyday was more exciting because you had to see the people that you normally spend every day with.” Weddle expressed that her team used to have cookouts and dinners at the field just so they can be around each other. Weddle has been on the Softball team since 2018, and she expressed that Coach Brandon Elliott has been an important part in her growth as a student and as a player. “Big thing in our program is discipline and accountability and I realized over my past that I am so much more disciplined and accountable,” Weddle
Thursday October 7, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Art Lives Here
THEWEEKENDER
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BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu
Tucked away among a forest of trees, bordering the Vibe Creative District, lies the gem that is the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (VA MOCA). The rather unassuming building is home to a cozy bookstore, Read Books, an atrium with a communal gathering space and a handful of meaningful, small, temporary exhibits. Habitually changed three to four times a year, these selfguided (or guided upon request) exhibitions reflect the modern world, keep art alive and strive to “Explore our shared humanity, through locally relevant and nationally resonant, contemporary art that’s exceptional—in all of its timeliness, restlessness, and beauty.” While tickets are free due to the Goode Family Foundation, they must be reserved at any point before your visit. Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. regularly, except for Thursdays, when it remains open till 8 p.m., the museum offers a sensational and inclusive atmosphere for destressing, whether that be through studying in a quiet environment, appreciating its art, taking master classes with exhibition artists, attending featured events and COVID-19-conscious programs, or even volunteering as a gallery teacher. Now, until Oct. 24, you can visit their primary exhibit, Summer of Women, which contains smaller features such as Together, She Says: Women, Words and Amplify. These collections meld together to visualize the overarching female struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic—the setbacks and triumphs of women during the last year—from diverse racial, ethnic, religious and generational perspectives. The pieces range from mixed media, textured, paintings, photographs—edited and raw, sculptures, ceiling pieces, collages and even videos. Every brush stroke, stitch and canvas evokes the emotions captured in the artists’ undeniable personal testimonies. As you move throughout the halls, it is hard to miss artist statistics, which highlight minority groups and their struggle for equal representation in nationally accredited
Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Murals, tapestries, scultpures and interactive exhibits at The Virginia Museum of Modern Art. museums and galleries. While the Virginia Museums of Contemporary Art’s upcoming exhibitions will not be female centric, there will always be a strong emphasis on equality and representation, never avoiding uncomfortable topics, but engaging and exploring them in unique ways. Unlike more traditional museums, MOCA features an easily accessible Art Lab where you can have your picture taken, draft your own sketches or sculptures and add your own touch to provoking communal art. The VA MOCA is a community-centered space.
V enom 2 Lives up to its title BY RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu
“Venom: Let There be Carnage,” directed by Andy Serkis, is the sequel to 2018’s “Venom” film. The sequel embraces the goofier side of the original, often playing out as an all-out comedy, similar to the “Deadpool” films. However, unlike the “Deadpool” films, the “Venom” sequel remains rated PG-13. In this case, the film is somewhat held back by its rating, as it clearly wants to be a violent dark comedy, while also never being able to fully commit due to its rating. That’s not to say the film is unenjoyable by any means, however, as both Tom Hardy, returning as Eddie Brock/Venom, and Woody Harrelson as
Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle Cletus Kasady/Carnage, relish in the ridiculous nature of the film. The film runs at a sleek 97 minutes, which works to both the film’s benefit and detriment. Despite having such a relatively short runtime, the first third of the film often feels like a rehash of the relationship between Brock and his symbiote. This section of the film is often overly comedic, with the jokes being very hit-or-miss, and it causes the film to feel as though it is running in place while waiting for Harrelson’s Carnage to be unleashed. However, once “Venom” finally lives up to its title, the
Within the Vibe District, the museum acts as an event space for anything from public programs to weddings and has historically sponsored events right on the oceanfront, such as the Boardwalk Art Show, ranked in the top 50 best fine arts shows. This year, from Oct. 22 till the 24th, the 65th annual show will host dozens of artist’s works, between 23rd and 32nd street on the Boardwalk. Whether you attend the Boardwalk show, or explore the museum, I would strongly recommend interacting with all that the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art has to offer. rest of the movie becomes a thrill ride. This is in large part thanks to Harrelson’s gleeful performance as he causes chaos throughout San Francisco as he attempts to reunite with Naomie Harris’s Francis Barrison/Shriek. Harris also gives a fun performance as Shriek but is somewhat hindered by the lack of development she is given in the film. Carnage’s path of destruction throughout the city puts him on a collision course with Brock’s Venom, leading to a spectacular showdown at the climax of the film. Unlike in the finale of the first “Venom,” both characters are clearly distinguishable from each other during their battle, which is no doubt thanks to director Andy Serkis’s experience with working with motion capture technology. To top off the film, “Venom” features a must-see post credits scene with exciting implications for the future of the character.
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THEWEEKENDER
Thursday October 7, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu
Fall festivity begins at local farms
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Cullipher Farm offers white grapes to pick.
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Historic Greenbrier Farm pumpkins open to choose.
BY TIFFANY WARREN tawarren@vwu.edu
Pints, ice cream sandwiches and flavor options galore can be found at local gem, Cullipher Farmers Market. Stock-filled shelves with assorted baked goods and more welcome visitors into the farmers market store. Cullipher Farm located at 772 Princess Anne Road in Virginia Beach is a local farm that was established in 1950 and has a market selling fresh produce, baked goods and ice cream offering a wide array of products to choose from. At Cullipher Farm, visitors can also go seasonal fruit picking as an autumn festivity. Mike Cullipher, the owner of the estate, shares more about the seasonal picking events at Cullipher Farms. “Our plan was to have fruits not counting pumpkins that would attract people through the whole year. We start with strawberries about April 15 and apples would run until about mid-October and then pumpkins would go until Halloween. We try to have something for everybody to pick throughout the year.” Enjoy a walk in the apple orchards or grape vineyards to pick during the autumn season. Apple, grape and pumpkin picking are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last pickers can enter at 5 p.m. at the latest or purchase 15 pre-picked apples for $25 at the market. Apples cost $2.99 per pound and grapes cost $7 per quart. To make the most of the festive experience when sunflower picking, bring sunscreen, hat, closed-toed shoes, water, a camera, a bucket and water for flowers, cutting shears and a basket for collecting them. Sunflowers cost $2 per bloom to pick. Steffanie Ward, a junior in the Tri Sigma sorority at VWU, shares her experience at Cullipher Farms. “I definitely enjoyed being outside rather than buying apples from a grocery store, I got to pick them and bought them fresh. It supports them, and [it’s] more fun picking your own fruit than buying it from a grocery store.” While visiting Cullipher Farm, explore the 8-acre corn maze that keeps visitors spinning. It takes about 90
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Cullipher Farm shows its seasonal picking events. minutes to complete, and it is recommended for visitors to purchase tickets online for $8 prior to coming to the farm. The morning admission is 9 a.m. to noon, and the afternoon admission is between 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Jump into the fall activities that Cullipher Farm has to offer and visit www.cullipherfarm.com for more information about youpick-seasonal events. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m - 6 p.m. “It’s a day like today when it’s a pretty day. Families come to enjoy themselves and get a chance to see a real working farm and see how we grow things. The kids are happy, and so that’s what I get out of it,” said Cullipher. Just down the road in Chesapeake, The Historic Greenbrier Farms has pick-your-own vegetables, wildflowers, sunflowers and pumpkins along with a market to purchase pickles, hot sauces and jams. The estate was established in 1850 and later became open to the public. Tori Basnight, farm manager of Historic Greenbrier Farms, shares about their popular you-pick seasonal event. “The [popular] you-pick-event would definitely be strawberries. We have a really big strawberry field. We also have veggie crops. This year we planted our first year of fall veggies, so we’re excited to see how that goes. We have planted lettuce, collards, some brussels sprouts and then currently we have eggplant and okra still growing in our summer veggies.” The fall festival is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are barnyard animals from bunnies to ducks that visitors can feed for $5 along with free hayrides to enjoy during their visit when pumpkin picking. Pumpkins start at a price of $12 and sunflowers are $3 per bloom. Popcorn buckets are $10 and can be brought back each season for a $1 discount at strawberry and veggie picking and popcorn
refills. Basnight added how COVID-19 has impacted the estate, “Last year, it was a lot of wearing masks and we have more washing stations like at the sinks. As far as business, [COVID-19] hasn’t affected it too much because we’re a really big property and we’re all outdoors. Families are enjoying finding a place that’s safer to go outside to enjoy time with their family versus an indoor business.” The Historic Greenbrier Farms also has a Halloween attraction that is open to experience called ‘A Haunting’ running from Sept. 24 through Oct. 31. ‘A Haunting’ has 6 consecutive haunted attractions with the bamboo forest and corn maze that has tripled in size. Admission tickets are $25 per person or $23 per person in a group of 6 people and more. Tickets are also discounted for military ID and first responders at $23. It is open on Thursday - Sunday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Stop by the Historic Greenbrier Farms at 225 Sign Pine Road in Chesapeake and visit www.historicgreenbrierfarms. com for more information about their pick-your-own and seasonal events.
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Historic Greenbrier Farm provides a relaxing area.
Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle Historic Greenbrier’s farmers market sells house plants (left), Cullipher Farm’s sign welcomes visitors into the store (center), and sunflower in bloom for picking (right).
Lost Planet:out of this world experience
Christian Jones|Marlin Chronicle Lost Planet logo illuminates in bright lights.
Christian Jones|Marlin Chronicle Interactive photo booth features at Lost Planet.
BY CHRISTIAN JONES cajones4@vwu.edu
In a time driven by social media and the quick snapshots with smartphones, many people long for that one special photo to complete their Instagram feed. This is where Lost Planet, an interactive selfie/art museum on the Virginia Beach boardwalk, looks to fill that void. Nestled in between a Harley Davidson store and Mirror Maze, passersby would never suspect what wonders lie inside of the business. “I have passed the Lost Planet probably a million times walking down the street,” said VWU sophomore Julius Jacobs who frequents the boardwalk. “My friends and I stopped here one night because of the large gorilla statue outside, needless to say, we had a great time taking photos inside.” Originally opening a week after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in VA, Lost Planet is a great opportunity for a good time to take your mind off of things. “I feel like, in the midst of everything going on with COVID-19, this place offers a lively place to come and have a good time with your family and friends to make memories,” said Michelle Kelly, an employee at Lost Planet. Featuring five interactive rooms that all offer different photo opportunities, the Lost Planet offers a unique experience for groups or even solo guests. It also includes a special scavenger hunt to find the six lost worlds hidden inside of peepholes throughout the rooms. “I think it gives a nice, fun place that people can experience and make
Christian Jones|Marlin Chronicle Julius Jacobs visits photo booth at Lost Planet. some memories here,” said Michelle Kelly. Each room is designed to give a different experience for participants. The first room starts off with a psychedelic walk-through hallway filled with lights that leads into a green room. The greenroom offers several photo opportunities and has an interactive DJ booth that can be used for videos. Inside the second room lies a mind-bending optical illusion, complete with a lopsided diner table and a large pair of menacing hands protruding from the wall. The room also includes a puzzle to find the door to the next room, which is a great opportunity for groups to put their heads together to solve a problem. The third and fourth rooms both include a pleasant
variation of colorful lights along with a foam pit that you can launch yourself into for a quick action photo, a hallway filled wall to wall with mirrors and lights that you have to figure out how to get through, and a walk through laser light hallway. Yet one of the most interesting parts of these rooms is the Sega Saturn console with Street Fighter that’s hooked up to two old school TVs. This gives participants the opportunity to have a little retro fun and get a little competitive with their friends. The fifth room in particular offers a rather heartwarming experience. Inside is a room full of mirrors with a large heart in the middle. Inside of the heart is a hollowed-out area filled wall to wall with sticky notes. “It spreads joy and happiness,” said Michelle Chong, manager at Lost Planet. Patrons of Lost Planet are encouraged to write a positive message, something they love, or fun drawing on a sticky note before they put one up. Lost Planet is open Thursday - Sunday for walks in and pre-reserved time slots.“I’m hoping we just bring a little happiness to the world with the Lost Planet,” said Chong. Each tour is 30 minutes with everyone allowed to take as many photos as they like during that time frame. There’s no age restriction to who can come to Lost Planet, in fact, families are encouraged to come. “Contributing just a little joy is what this is really all about,” said Chong.