ODAC TOURNAMENT: TEAMS FALL SHORT OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS
SEE SPORTS
AN ICON’S LEGACY
Influential fashion designer Oscar de la Renta passed away last month, leaving behind powerful pieces as his legacy THE WEEKENDER PAGE 6
The Marlin ChroniCle THURSDAY 11.13.14 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
SOCCER: VWC 2, LYNCHBURG 2 (LYNCHBURG 3-0 PK’s)
Men’s soccer falls to Lynchburg BY ALEXIS PRATT amplatt@vwc.edu
Anthony Dellamura | Marlin Chronicle Tim Bostic, right, and his husband Tony London, left, pose for a picture after the “Illegal Love: Tim Bostic on Politics, Religion and Marriage Equality” event. It took place days after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted marriage equality in Virginia.
Marriage equality for all a reality
BY JESSICA MACKEY jlamckey@vwc.edu
Last month, Tim Bostic and his husband Tony London visited Virginia Wesleyan College, giving a lecture titled, “Illegal Love: Tim Bostic on Politics, Religion and Marriage Equality.” Bostic was very candid about his and London’s decision to sue the commonwealth of Virginia. Bostic also revealed intimate details of his life, spanning his love for London, his appreciation of his father’s love, and his strong belief in faith and the faith community, leaving all those who attended with a renewed understanding of the discussion of same-sex marriage in America. More than 32 states have granted citizens the right to marry someone of the same sex. In Virginia, the fight for this right gained intensity when Bostic and his partner London sought to obtain a marriage license at the Norfolk Circuit Court in July 2013. However, due to a 2006 law banning same-sex marriages in Virginia, their request was denied. “The couple filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, and on Feb. 13, 2014, the court ruled in their favor,” said Kathleen Casey, assistant professor of history at Virginia Wesleyan College. “In a strongly worded ruling, Judge Arenda Wright Allen argued that laws prohibiting gay and lesbian couples from marrying are unconstitutional. She further declared that marriage is a fundamental right of all people. The New York Times called her ruling ‘the strongest legal reversal yet of restrictive marriage amendments that exist throughout the South.’” However, the case did not end there. “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld Judge Wright’s decision in a ruling handed down in July, but as you probably recall, shortly thereafter, the Supreme Court granted an emergency request to stay the mandate,” Casey said.
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“After the Supreme Court let stand the Fourth Circuit Court’s ruling, on Oct. 6, 2014, Bostic and London were able to obtain their marriage license.” “For as long as we have been a nation, marriage has played a fundamental role in shaping the contours of our relationships, our households, our communities, our states and our nation,” Casey said. “But marriage has not remained the same over time. Who could get married, at what age, who could officiate a marriage, what rights married people possessed and under what circumstances a marriage could be terminated have all undergone dramatic revision over time.” Marriage provides couples certain legal and civic liberties and privileges that single people are denied. This fact was one reason that Bostic and London decided to sue the commonwealth of Virginia. But the most important one was their desire to stand up in their church and pledge their love for each other. Although the courts have ruled marriage equality a reality, many remain opposed to same-sex marriage. “Are there people mad about it? Yes,” Bostic said. “Are there people sick of talking about it? Yes…and I really do think there are always going to be people that oppose and stir people up with fear, hate and negativity because they will never win.” Some people support the couple unwaveringly. “I have over 300 of my former students have reached out to me,” Bostic said. “[One said,] ‘You always taught us to stand up for ourselves and for people who weren’t being treated fairly, and it’s nice to see you doing it yourself. And I can’t wait for my daughter to grow up so I can tell her, not only did you teach me, but you taught the rest of the world…’” Everyone who attended the event took away something different from Bostic’s emotional and informative talk. In Dr. Casey’s case, she said she hopes
ONLINE: Read the full story of the interview with Tim Bostic on his personal account of the lawsuit and the legalization of marriage equality. “those who came to the event took away three things in particular. I hope they gained an awareness of the tremendous historic change that is rapidly unfolding around them. We get so inundated by social media and the news, and so wrapped up in our own personal lives, that sometimes it’s hard to stop and recognize when something really historic is happening right around us. I hope this event prompted students to see that. I also think that regardless of your political ideologies, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation, Dr. Bostic said some things about faith, family and determining our own fates that I hope resonated with everyone. Most of all, I hope everyone went home and talked about the event with a friend or family member. I hope they discussed what they heard and how it made them feel, and that it prompted a dialogue on this campus and elsewhere.” “We have to demand [change in society] as citizens,” Bostic said. “One of the things that worries me…the idea of being a citizen...everyone understands the rights you get without understanding the responsibilities you get. And one of the responsibilities we have as citizens is to redefine and work towards fulfilling the ideals of which this country was founded. But, it’s up to us to do it.…our system works but you have to work it. Even in a state like Virginia, a Southern state, people are going to support what is right because at the end of the day we all know our ideals, it’s just that I don’t think we are ever called by our leaders, our educators, by anyone to live up to them because we get too focused on the negative and that just is not me. I won’t focus on the negative. I shake it off.”
Going into the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament, men’s soccer players knew they were going to have to bring a lot of energy. Unfortunately, the defending champions ended their season earlier than planned due to hard, well-played double overtime, and a final penalty kick match-up with the Lynchburg Hornets. Going into this game, the Marlins wanted to have fun. “There’s no atmosphere like a playoff game, so having fun on the field is why we play,” junior keeper Connor Kirkham said. Earlier in the season, the Marlins took on the Hornets and tied 0-0. For the semi-finals of the ODAC conference play, the two teams met again and went into double overtime. After two overtimes the game was determined by the best of five penalty kicks, and the Marlins had to walk away with a loss. “When you lose, you don’t like penalty kicks but when you win, penalty kicks are OK. It was a tough way to go out but both teams battled, went back and forth and had scoring opportunities in two overtimes, but unfortunately we came out on the losing end,” Head Coach Mills said. “It’s never easy to end your season so much earlier when the last two years have gone at least to championship games, but I think my team is using it to learn. I think it will ultimately help us for next year,” Kirkham said. The Marlins weren’t surprised that they were going to have to battle this game out. “We prepared our penalty kicks for about two weeks, we didn’t have success but they did a great job training for them, and if we went out there again I would put the same guys on the line,” said Mills. The Marlins battled against an equally talented team. “I was never at any point disappointed in my players, I think that the work rate that they possessed was big,” said Mills. “We came back in the game twice which proves a lot of heart for this team. Penalty kicks are never the best way to finish a year, but it’s all a part of the game,” Kirkham said. The Marlins are losing strong seniors who have impacted this team tremendously. “At first I never really thought about losing our seniors. I was just shocked it hadn’t quite hit me yet, but when I walked up to Stephen Sawicki is when it really hit me. It’s not easy losing seniors at their last game, and it got to me,” said Kirkham. “I am going to miss suffering and doing hard conditioning with the team. As crazy as that sounds, it’s a rare form of bonding when you are exhausted and you look over to your teammates and they are the only people in the world that can relate to your level of pain. It’s a weird concept but common suffering brings bonding,” senior Isaac Arrington said. “It’s weird for this to be my last season playing soccer as a Marlin, I’ve dedicated copious hours to soccer here at Wesleyan, it is really strange to have class as my only obligation, I have learned so many life lessons from playing soccer here at Wesleyan and those stem from my decisions.” said Arrington. “We lose some key players, so we don’t really have time to feel sorry for ourselves. We really have to get out there and start recruiting,” Mills said.
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THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 2014
NEWS
Students engage in local campaigns BY ANDREW PETREY
awpetrey@vwc.edu On the evening of November 4, the country learned about the shift in majority with the Republican Party in Congress after the midterm election results. When President Obama was in his first term, Congress had been lead by the Democratic Party. Since the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party has maintained its control over the House. Congress will now be controlled by a Republican majority in both houses for the remainder of President Obama’s two years in office. These recent changes in party majority have been seen before with former President George W. Bush, who was a Republican and had a Democratic majority in both the House and Senate for the last two years of his second term. The Political Science Association and International Studies Association at Virginia Wesleyan is a student organization founded for students who have an interest in politics. More specifically Dr. Caughell, a political science department professor and advisor to the PSA/ISA, adds, “The purpose of PSA/ISA is to get students involved in politics both on and off campus, to begin student discussions about political issues, and to cultivate student interest in politics.” The organization has been able to participate in off-campus events such as Harborfest where they met the Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor and local Congressman Scott Rigell of Virginia`s 2nd House District. In addition PSA/ ISA members got involved with various political campaigns this past year and worked on Election Day. If you have any interest in joining PSA/ISA or learning more about the political science department at Virginia Wesleyan, please contact Dr. Leslie Caughell via email lcaughell@vwc.edu or the club President Kevin Wolfe at klwolfe@ vwc.edu.
Corrections: Due to an editing mistake, there was an error in the Oct. 2, 2014, issue. Instead of “By the age of 11, 66 percent of Nicaraguans are forced into prostitution, Havlin said,” the article should have said, “Havlin said that 66 percent of Nicaraguan prostitutes begin working in the trade by the age of 11..” The Marlin Chronicle apologizes for the error The Marlin Chronicle reports any inaccurate information published as soon as the error is discoverd. Editorial corrections will be printed on the page. Corrections are also noted in the online versions of our stories. Contact the Marlin Chronicle at marlinchronicle@gmail.com
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Doug | Flikr A memorial dedicated to the victims of the September 13th, 2006 Dawson College shooting decorated with flowers.
Colleges hope for the best, prepare for the worst BY VANESSA SMITH vlsmith1@vwc.edu
One in every four college police departments are not prepared to handle an active shooter on campus, according to a survey by Campus Safety Magazine and reported on by the Huffington Post. The survey found that 46 percent of these departments are understaffed. Half of the colleges also report not having the weapons they need or not knowing how to handle them if a shooting were to occur. Knowing that security has a plan to take care of the student body in the case of a shooting can be comforting. Virginia Wesleyan College security guards are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure the safety of students on campus. Jerry Mance, director of campus security, said that VWC security guards currently carry non-lethal weapons. Security also maintains a close relationship with state and local law enforcement who assist us when needed. “We work hand-in-hand with the Virginia Beach Police, who are armed with lethal weapons,” Mance said. In 2013, approximately 27 shootings occured on or near college campuses, according to reports. In these shootings, 18 people were killed and a number of others injured.
The deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history to occur on a college campus is still the Virginia Tech University rampage of 2007. Since that shooting, 75 percent of voters oppose any law allowing gun owners to have firearms on college campuses. Most campuses have tried to improve or recreate a safety plan in case they are faced with a similar situation. Students, however, often wonder just what the plan is, and what they could or should do in the event of a campus shooting. If he ever saw someone walking around campus with a gun, junior Ryan Breen said, “I would rationally talk to them and see if there was anything I could do to prevent anything from happening. Running would not be very rational because I am not faster than a bullet. If I got away, I would notify as many people as I could and notify Virginia Wesleyan security right away.” At VWC, any crime or emergency should immediately be reported to campus security in person, by telephone, or via the LiveSafe app. Security officers will then take the appropriate action to handle the problem and let other students, staff and faculty know about the emergency. Staff members know what they are supposed to do in case of emergencies. “If we get a call from security that there is a shooter on campus, we would
put all students in a room that locks from the outside, like the pool, that you must have a key to get into,” said senior Jessica Wood, supervisor of the Hub reception desk at the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Colleges all across the nation are coming up with structured plans to keep their schools safe. When parents and their high school students tour colleges, a primary concern is campus safety. Nationally, schools are legally required to submit an annual security report, maintain a crime log, share statistics for a variety of crimes that happen on campus and in some off-campus facilities, issue timely campus alerts, maintain a fire log and create policies to handle reports of missing students. The Department of Education has a website that provides research statistics by institution. When finding out about a college’s safety, families should also look at offcampus areas where their children may hang out. They should take into account, too, that it’s not always the numbers that make one feel safe or unsafe, but the mere feeling of how comfortable one is walking around the campus at any time of the day or night. For more information on how to handle emergencies on campus, look on the Virginia Wesleyan College website under the “About VWC” tab, and click on “Campus Security.”
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Looks Like a Photos by: Anthony Dellamura A group of drag queens performed in the Boyd Dinning Center Thursday Nov. 6, to a variety of songs. The show, hosted by the Wesleyan Activities Council (WAC) and one of VWC’s own students, drew one of the largest crowds ever for a nonathletic event. The queens danced and lip-synced for their lives in a do-or-die-allout-drag extravaganza. The students participated in the show by giving the performers tips and, in some cases, getting pulled up on stage by the drag queens. Following their performance the group immediately went to The Rainbow Cactus for a charity event supporting children with aids.
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THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 2014
The
MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief
COMMUNITY
Aunt Peggy’s sweet potato souffle
Thomas Mills tcmills@vwc.edu Managing Editor Aoife Branco acbranco@vwc.edu News Editor Jessica Mackey jlmackey@vwc.edu Community Editors Rayven Davis rdavis@vwc.edu Kaci Parker klparker@vwc.edu Opinions Editors Doug Hardman ddhardman@vwc.edu
Paula Deen I Courtesy
Shakira Mills sdmills@vwc.edu The Weekender
Elizabeth Sims ecsims@vwc.edu Sports Editors Kellie Lagoy kalagoy@vwc.edu Kerri Taylor ktaylor@vwc.edu Photo Editors Anthony Dellamura aadellamura@vwc.edu Kayla Skeete krskeete@vwc.edu Illustrations Editor Richard Cremin rjcremin@vwc.edu Online Editor Maurice Reed mreed@vwc.edu Online Photo Editor Emily Joy emjoy@vwc.edu Copy Editors Sarah Antozzi scantozzi@vwc.edu Courtney Jones cajones1@vwc.edu Advertising Representatives Kayla Brown kabrown2@vwc.edu Courtney Herrick clherrick@vwc.edu Advisor
Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne
Makes 4 servings Ingredients: 3 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato, from about 2 to 3 small baked potatoes 1 cup granulated sugar 3 egg, beaten 1⁄2 cup milk 8 tbsp (about 1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1⁄2 tsp salt 1 cup light brown sugar, packed 4 tbsp (about 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature 1⁄2 cup self-rising cake flour 1 cup pecan, chopped Directions: 1) Souffle: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish. 2) In a large bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. 3) Topping: Combine the brown sugar, butter, flour, and pecans in a separate bowl. Crumble the topping over the sweet potato mixture. 4) Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the topping is golden brown. Serve hot.
Campus supports philanthropies Many groups on campus support off-campus organizations which support a wide variety of causes. Our campus fraternities support the following:
Kappa Alpha Order
The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Virginia Wesleyan College. 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. 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 College. The Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan College 1584 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 757.455.3311
Red Cross Blood Drives Muscular Dystrophy Association Operation Crimson Gift
Phi Kappa Tau Serious Fun Camps
Sigma Nu “Virginia Wesleyan College 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 bear the responsibility for the decisions that they make.” --William T. Greer Jr. President
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Wounded Warriors Richard Cremin I Marlin Chronicle
Habitat for Humanity
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OPINIONS
PAGE 5
THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 2014
Thankful for tradition BY MICHAEL WILLSON mnwillson@vwc.edu
Richard Cremin | Marlin Chronicle
The reality behind satanism BY DOUGLAS HARDMAN ddhardman@vwc.edu
No, I am not talking about cutting off goat heads and selling my soul to the devil. Like many other taboo things in society, satanism has gotten a bad rep, mainly for its name. Many people associate the term “satanist” with insane, devil-worshipping, sacrificial cult groups, but that is a stigma that needs to be broken. Just as in all religions, there are the fanatics and the non-fanatics (for lack of better words). Satanists just get stereotyped with the fanatics and are given no credit for what they really are. Satanists are believers in free will. They believe that the devil is a freethinking hero who rejected a capricious, domineering ruler in favor of free will. That is one of the big founding beliefs behind the practice of satanism and is many times overlooked or ignored. It’s not all about who they worship, but why they worship the devil. They believe that exercising their free will, to do as they please as human beings, is the way to live. How astonishing it is that it would conflict with Christian views (because all religious views agree with each other). On Apr. 30, 1966, Anton LaVey announced the founding of the Church of Satan so he could effectively communicate his ideas. As mentioned earlier, satanist beliefs are often discredited and labeled as “insane.” If you pick up a copy of the “The Satanic Bible” by LaVey, you may just find the opposite. When it comes to love and sex, “The Satanic Bible” says, “Satanism encourages any form of sexual expression you may desire, so long as it hurts no one else”; “The ideal relationship is one in which the people are deeply in love with one another and are sexually compatible”; and “Free love, in the satanic concept, means exactly that—freedom to either be faithful to one person or to indulge in your sexual desires.” To be free in love? To love whomever and however you choose? Doesn’t sound like a whole lot of crazy to me. It even promotes safe and consensual love. What’s there to hate? There are, however, still rituals that occur, but not by selling your soul. There are three satanic rituals mentioned in LaVey’s book: summoning someone for sexual desire, insuring success upon someone who has your sympathy, and causing destruction to an enemy. While the last one sounds extreme, the purpose of satanic rituals is to act as a catharsis and a psychological purging of human emotions. It is meant to help cleanse your spirit. Indulgence and vengeance are key factors in satanism, but so is acceptance of responsibility, kindness to the deserving, vital existence and physical, emotional and mental gratification. Not every single satanist is murdering people; the Church of Satan has just released a press statement, asking people to stop calling “devil worshippers” satanists, because murdering devil worshippers do not have the same beliefs as satanists. I’m not here to shove this religion down your throat. I’m simply here to enlighten those who are ignorant of what satanism truly is. They’re not here to dismiss you or kill your goats; they simply want to exist and live the way they choose to. Just as religious people are loyal to their faith, so are satanists. If they can see that you are humans, why shouldn’t you see them the same way?
When I hear the word “Thanksgiving,” memories of when I was a little kid visiting my family in South Carolina come to my mind with a feeling of intense nostalgia. I can remember it all as if it were yesterday. The day before Thanksgiving, school would let out two hours early. I would rush home, eager with excitement. When I got there, the car would be packed up and ready to go. Once everyone was ready, we would set out on our long journey to Spartanburg, South Carolina. It would be late at night by the time we got to my grandmother’s house, but she was always at the front door wide awake and happy to greet us. Despite the late night, I would wake up early the next morning to watch the Macy’s Day Parade on TV. When that was over, my brother and dad would change the channel to a football game. I would always leave the room then because, quite frankly, I could not have cared less about such a stupid sport. At the end of the day, the whole family would gather around the dinner table for a delicious feast. Turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie—just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Afterward, the family would go into the living room and watch “Jingle All the Way.” Yes, I know it is a stupid movie, but we still enjoyed it. The last time I spent Thanksgiving
in South Carolina was when I was 7. My grandparents have died since then. All of my Thanksgivings since then have been spent at home, but that does not mean that the traditions have died. I still wake up early to watch the Macy’s Day Parade. I now see the parade as just one big celebration of American capitalism, but I still enjoy it. My dad and brother still watch football, and yes, I still leave the room. We still have our feast. It has even gotten bigger. Pecan and apple pie have been added to the menu. And despite the fact that it gets worse each year, we still watch “Jingle All the Way.” Some things never change, and for my family, it’s our Thanksgiving traditions. I believe that Thanksgiving is an important time for families to spend together. I am afraid that for many people, Thanksgiving has turned into a consumer holiday as opposed to a family holiday. People are spending their Thanksgiving fighting each other at malls instead of spending time with their families. Workers have to devote their day of thanks to greedy customers instead of their loved ones. Many families say that it’s a tradition to go shopping on Thanksgiving. Sounds like a pretty lousy tradition, if you ask me. As for my family, we will be having a nice, traditional Thanksgiving at home with each other.
You trippin’? A newfound appreciation for daylight saving time
BY TAYLOR BOYD tpboyd@vwc.edu
On the early morning of Nov. 2, a wonder of great proportions occurred. Some people forget about the importance of this day, but I make sure to mark it on my calendar. To be honest, I celebrate it as if it were a holiday! Well, if somehow you are still uncertain of the importance of this day, I should inform you that the day I was referring to was daylight saving. From this day until March 9, we will fall back an hour in the day. Think of the infinite possibilities you have with an extra hour added to your day. From partying to procrastination to sleeping, the possibilities are endless. And remember the homework you were unable to complete because of the “loss” of the hour in the spring? (And not because of procrastination or anything like that.) Well, consider that to no longer be a problem, since you have another chance to complete it. As you can see, I am a huge advocate of all things daylight saving, but at the same time I wonder exactly how this is even possible. Sure, there is the science behind the phenomenon, dealing with how the sun sets on different points of the earth during different seasons, but I am not even referring to that. I am talking about how it is possible to do all those things in that one hour and how good we are at doing it. In my opinion, it’s like the extra hour we gain takes time in the place of a minute. It’s like time stands completely still in that hour in order to allow us to catch up with our various errands and activities. And as soon as the hour passes, time starts back up again at its normal pace. I guess the reason why we do not notice this freezing of time is because we are in a state of flow. We are so focused on our activities, we do not realize how fast the time passes by, or should I say does not pass by. Daylight saving is truly something that should not be taken for granted.
A very Swift year BY JESSICA MACKEY jlmackey@vwc.edu
Taylor Swift-mania has taken over the airwaves, award shows and daytime television over the past few weeks. Her latest album, “1989,” has sold more than 1.27 million copies in its debut week and is the largest album release week since 2002. “1989” broke the record she set with her previous album “Red” (which sold 1.21 million copies in its debut week), proving that she remains a superstar in her own right. “Red” was her transition album, a cross between country and pop. It remains her epic breakup album filled with revenge, regret and remorse. However, “1989” is the album we all have been waiting for since the release of “Fearless.” With “1989,” Taylor Swift has matured, coming into her own, proving she is self-aware and understands the media’s and critics’ perceptions of her. Her first single from the album, “Shake it Off” and its accompanying music video embrace the media’s negative views and turn them into a smart and sassy pop anthem. “Blank Space,” “Clean,” “I Know Places,”
“Wildest Dreams,” and “New Romantics” are some of the key songs that show off Swift’s newfound lyrical maturity, with lines like “I can make the bad guys good for a weekend,” “loose lips sink ships all the damn time, not this time,” “When I was drowning that’s when I could finally breathe, “He’s so tall, and handsome as hell, he’s so bad but he does it so well,” and “heartbreak is the national anthem, we sing it proudly.” When Swift said good-bye to her long curls, and traded them in for angled bangs and shoulder-length tresses, she was just beginning her transition from country starlet to full-blown pop superstar. She no longer calls Nashville her hometown, the lights and energy of New York City had made her fall in love with the cities atmosphere, sparking a new found sound and identity for the young artist. Although she still dons the red lipstick that made her famous, its presence now represents something more than her coming into her own. It represents her abandonment of her good-girl image to become the artist she was born to be. “1989” may have just been released, but I’m already looking forward to her next album, to be acquainted with the always changing, dynamic Taylor Swift.
Richard Cremin | Marlin Chronicle
Check out our online issue at marlinechronicle.vwc.edu 5Opinions.indd 1
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THEWEEKENDER
NOVEMBER 13, 2014
The Man Behind The Dress
Women’s fashion designer and activist Oscar de la Renta died last month but leaves a legacy of women’s empowerment and individualistic fashions.
BY JUSTINE HERVING A fashion icon once said, “We live in an era of globalization and the era of the woman. Never in the history of the world have women been more in control of their destiny.” Oct. 20, 2014 was a dreadful day to bear in the fashion world. Oscar de la Renta, a fashion designer, well-known for creating looks for some of the most influential women (Hilary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Jacqueline Kennedy to name a few), has died at the age of 82. De la Renta was more than just a designer,
he helped show women’s strength and individuality through their clothes. There are many designers in this world, but de la Renta was one the few who celebrated clothes for women and the world they worked in. He built his career from the ground up. At the age of 19 he studied painting in Spain and on the side dabbled in drawing clothes for newspapers and fashion houses for extra cash. De la Renta didn’t imagine that soon this would only be a small part of his career.
Google | Courtesy
Soon his sketches were discovered by the wife of John Davis Lodge, the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. She had wanted him to sketch and design a dress for their daughter. And with that came his design on the cover of Life magazine. Then a spark flickered in de le Renta’s head and he became fascinated with the world of fashion and design. From then on, he climbed up through the market, captivating numerous artists like; Cristóbal Balenciaga,
SEE de la Renta Pg. 7
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NOVEMBER 13, 2014
THEWEEKENDER
PAGE 7
THE MARLIN UNDERTOW / By Aoife Branco
FOLLOW THIS: @iamkidpresident: Looking for inspiration? Looking to regain a little faith in humanity? Follow Kid President. Donning an adorable suit and tie, ten-year-old Robby tweets inspirational videos, photos and messages that he calls pep talks. Kid President constantly reminds people to give the world a reason to dance.
FOLLOWERS: 241K
WATCH THIS: Taylor Swift “Blank Space”: Taylor Swift addresses the allegations that she is a “serial dater” in her latest music video. The video features Taylor and her handsome lover romping around a lavish mansion, seemingly infatuated with one another. But, things go horribly wrong and Taylor starts destroying everything including his clothes and sports car. It’s hilarious and a must watch for T. Swift fans and haters alike.
CRAZY METER: Off the charts
PLAY THIS: A model wears an Oscar de la Renta gown during a fashion show.
Google | Courtesy
de la Renta
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Antonio del Castillo, Diana Vreeland, the editorin-chief of Vogue and many more. De la Renta did more than create beautiful gowns, and captivating clothes. He created a world for women to showcase their power and beauty. Amy Adams, Sarah Jessica Parker and Penélope Cruz were among the many actresses who wore his dresses. He was known to create gowns for the red carpet as well as the “women who lunch.” His biggest fans were the first ladies he dressed, including Hilary Clinton for the 1997 inauguration and Laura Bush in 2005. He was involved in more than just fashion. He participated in other events as well. He was involved in the arts; he was on the on the boards for The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and Channel Thirteen/WNET. He dedicated his time in several cultural institutions such as New Yorkers for Children, The Americas Society, and The Spanish Institute. Oscar saw more potential for his line to develop so he started a line called “O Oscar,” which catered to those who couldn’t afford the high priced gowns and suits. Oscar continued to add to his name adding a fragrance, accessory line and a furniture line as well. Because of all of his work dedicated to the fashion world he won two Coty Awards and in 1973 was inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame. He also received several more awards and honors for his work, making him a fashion icon like Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and many more. De la renta was not just a man that created fashion for women, he paved a way in the fashion world opening up opportunity for the working women. A man who had a vision for the fashion industry thrived and showed that it doesn’t take much to create and live a dream. De la Renta will be missed by his wife, and child as well as
those who enjoyed his gorgeous creations. De la Renta has said, “I’m a very restless person. I’m always doing something. The creative process never stops.” He will be gravely missed by friends and family, but his work will continue to live and inspire.
HUNGRY SHARK EVOLUTION This iPhone and Android app allows you to play as an assortment of sharks as you navigate your way through the depths of the ocean. Your mission is to seek out and eat as many fish, swimmers, sharks and even scuba divers as is “sharkly” possible. However, land mines, stingrays and the occasional fisherman try to deplete your shark power. The more you eat, the more points you gain. Once you level up, you can upgrade into a better shark model.
ADDICTION LEVEL: Caffeine
THE SUNDAY READ Feature pieces, opinions, and stories by the editors of The Marlin Chronicle.
thesundayread.tumblr.com
Google | Couurtesy Oscar de la Renta poses for a photograph.
Facebook is dead BY ROBIN PETERSON rapeterson@vwc.edu
What happens to our loved ones when they’re gone? Do they go to heaven or hell? And, what happens to their social media profiles when they can no longer take a selfie? Do they go into a void of lost and deactivated Facebook profiles? The answer, similar to the answer to what happens after death, is up to interpretation. Some profiles do indeed just hang around in cyberspace, never changing, and become inactive profiles. Other Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr profiles are taken over by the family and friends of the deceased. Some think there could be serious psychological ramifications to maintaining a loved one’s social media profile for an extended period of time. “It’s kind of like if Jesus had a blog and posted every day,” senior Sarah Lovick said. “It’s something you want to be true, and if you can make it happen through any means, you would, but it just would never happen.” However, keeping the memory of a loved one alive through social media helps other people understand what the bereaved is going through. The custom of keeping mementos of the de-
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ceased is not unusual, and has taken many forms over the years. Saving remembrances of loved ones goes back as far as the Victorian era, when people would take lithographs (like photos) of the dead or cut locks of their hair and put them in lockets. In fact, long before the invention of the Internet it was common to take locks of a loved one’s hair and place them in necklaces and pins. Even now, we all keep pictures and mementos of people. “There’s people who keep their loved ones’ ashes, so that’s not weird,” sophomore Amanda Estep said. And this is the important part of the message, because while, to people who are not in the process of grieving, it may seem weird, it really is all a natural part of the grieving process. People need to process the passing of their loved ones. As long as they are doing it in healthy and rational ways, it’s normal to seek out an understanding and peace when someone close to us moves on. Everyone processes death and dying in different ways. This particular way helps the bereaved keep a sort of tangible link to the deceased person alive, in a very permanent way.
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SPORTS
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THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 2014
Basketball season begins Men’s and women’s basketball look forward to a fresh slate as their respective seasons start
Thomas Mills|Marlin Chronicle
Sophomore Khory Moore rises above an opposing defender to shoot a jump shot
BY BEN FLETCHER
bsfletcher@vwc.edu The Virginia Wesleyan Men’s Basketball team finished its 2013-14 season with a 23-7 record, an ODAC championship and it’s tenth straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, which also featured a run to the Sweet 16. The 2014-15 outlook for the Marlins is bright and others around the country and conference have taken notice. VWC was voted ninth nationally by Sporting News and nineteenth by d3hoops.com as well as being voted second in the ODAC preseason coaches’ poll. While the rankings are flattering for the program, head coach Dave Macedo and his players don’t value them too highly. “Coach hasn’t discussed it, our team hasn’t discussed it, and it’s something that we don’t put much hype in,” sophomore Khory Moore said. Moore, the reigning conference Rookie of the Year, averaged 11.7 points in 17.8 minutes played per game last season and is expected to be a key contributor again. “We have challenged him to be a anchor of this team, we think
he has all the intangibles to do so and we have confidence in him to step up for us,” Macedo said. Moore’s job won’t be easy as VWC loses a tremendously successful senior class, led by ODAC player of the year award winner DJ Woodmore, Aaron Clark, Colby Heard, and Trent Batson. “It seems like it has been something of a trend recently. The last four years we have lost pretty big senior classes. Now we expect our new senior class to step up and be the best leaders they can be and for everyone else to grow into bigger or new roles,” Macedo said. Coach Macedo has had no problem consistently putting winning teams on the court in the past. “I think the standard is that you have to be pretty good to play here, but year in and year out I think the team chemistry and the work ethic is what sets our team apart,” Macedo said. Some of the new faces expected to contribute immediately include a couple of transfers. “At the point guard position, Tim Jones is going to be somebody that has a great chance to
make an impact on our program right away, and Nick Doyle has also come in and displayed a great work ethic and has really bought into our team,” Macedo said. The newcomers will join the 11 returning players from last year’s group. However, the Marlins will feature 15 underclassmen, so senior leadership will have to make up for the lack of experience. “I want to strive to be the best leader I can be, it’s one of my most important responsibilities as a senior and I’m looking forward to accepting the challenge,” senior Cam Owens said. Senior leadership will be essential to the Marlin’s success this year, but they will not be the only ones driving the bus. “Even though I’m only a sophomore, I’d like to be an extension of the captains. I want to make sure I lead my team on and off the court, and one way I can do that is by making sure that we are playing together as one unit,” Moore said. Virginia Wesleyan opens the season on Saturday, Nov. 15, against the College of New Jersey at 7 p.m.
Thomas Mills|Marlin Chronicle
Senior Nancy Kelly looks to protect the ball against a Hollins defender.
BY KELLIE LAGOY
kalagoy@vwc.edu
This weekend will be the start of a clean slate for our college’s Women’s Basketball team. This Marlins team ended last season with a loss against Guilford in the ODAC quarterfinals. This season’s head coach Stephany Dunmyer has high hopes and expectations for her team. “I’m very, very optimistic about this season,” said Dunmyer. She is happy to have five seniors who are hungry to be successful. Dunmyer said the seniors have a sense of urgency and great leadership that can contribute to the team’s success. In addition to the very motivated seniors, Dunmyer has brought in a large freshman class to make her roster the largest it has been with 17 players. “Having a large freshman class can give us some depth on the court,” said Dunmyer. She hopes that a larger team will bring the style of play the Marlins want to bring to the table. Even with all the optimism Coach Dunmyer recognizes concerns for this season. “We’ve gotten better, but everyone else
has gotten better as well,” said Dunmyer. Another concern is the health of this team. Four starters we were riddled with injuries last season. “If we can stay healthy we can get better day by day,” said Dunmyer. This Marlins team was ranked fourth in the ODAC preseason poll. This ranking is no surprise because of the talent at Virginia Wesleyan. Senior Brittany Glasco averaged 13.3 points in every game, and she led the team in scoring, rebounds per game, and assists. Right next to her is senior Andrea Paphites who leadthe team in scoring through ten games before being continuously injured. The team is stacked with other talent as well. Senior Nancy Kelly and junior Kelly Jones averaged over 10 points per game, and the experience stretches farther. The Marlins begin their season this weekend at the University of Mary Washington for the Mary Washington Invitational. They will compete against Widener University at noon on Nov. 15. The team’s first home contest will be against Washington and Lee at 6 pm in the Convocation Center on Nov. 25.
An unfortunate end Women’s volleyball season ends in the ODAC semi-finals
Thomas Mills|Marlin Chronicle
Senior Michaela Holbrooks jumps up to block the ball against Emory and Henry in the ODAC quaterfinals
BY MADISON CARROLL
mlcarroll@vwc.edu
With a record breaking and victorious season under their belts, the women’s volleyball team seeded number two, was prepared to put up a fight in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament this year. “This season was everything we expected it to be. Our team chemistry was the best it is has ever been and right from the beginning we all were on the same page about making it to the championships,” Senior captain Alex Lambert said. After a tough game with the number seven seeded Emory and Henry, the Marlins came out on top with a 3-1 victory ensuring their spot in the semi final game against Washington and Lee. After beating Washington and Lee for the first time in the program’s history earlier in the sea-
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son, the Marlins were ready for a close match in the semi-final game. “After beating W&L fairly easily, we knew they would have something to prove if we faced them again. Especially after Washington and Lee beat Randolph Macon, we knew that we hadn’t seen them at their best the first time we played them,” junior captain Marin Crowder said. Unfortunately, the women’s volleyball team was unable to continue their season past the semi final game, falling short to Washington and Lee. After a heated five games, the Marlins lost 3-2 to the Generals. “Although we fell short of the championship, we made history with the most wins in a season and the first time any team in the program beat Washington and lee university. Both teams played an amazing match during the semi finals and we fought hard until
the end. I wouldn’t have chosen any other special group of girls to have a winning season with,” Lambert said as she reflected on her last ODAC tournament with Virginia Wesleyan. Though the season had a bittersweet end, the team remains in good spirits. Junior captain Kirstin Sessoms believes this is just the beginning for Marlins volleyball. “This has been the best season yet. Everyone improved so much throughout the season, which has helped us to break program records and to come so far in the tournament. We came so close in the semifinals, only three points away from our victory. There is so much talent on this team,” Sessoms said. The future of the program looks bright for VWC. The 2015 season holds great promise, with a talented group of athletes ready to make history yet again.
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THURSDAY, NOV. 13, 2014
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nets. This team worked hard all season to earn a spot in the tournament, and it pushed hard to get where it went. The youth of this team lead the team in scoring. Freshman Lauren Shular lead the team with nine goals and five assists. Sophomore Annie Hartman was second in goals with eight, and tied for assists with junior Kristen Cherry at five. This team has KELLIE LAGOY is an amazing chance to perform a junior majoring this well again next season bein communication cause the underclassmen are performing so well. The team is made up of 10 freshmen, and Fall athletes are packing up they will only be losing six setheir gear as their seasons have niors this season. come to an end. Virginia Wes- Though Women’s Field Hockey leyan’s teams impressed the didn’t end their season quite as crowds this season, and it is sad planned, they still showed that to see them have to end. they came to fight. They finished Women’s Volleyball was prob- their season 4-13, and only one ably the most impressive of game seemed to be a blowout. all. They set a program record Every other game they played for wins with their 24-10 over- with ferocity. In the beginning all record. This team showed of their season they managed its skill every step of the way, to hold nationally ranked Mary and it powered through tough Washington to only a 1-0 win. matches to dominate almost evSenior Skyler Weaver led the ery single team. Besides its very team with seven goals, and final game, they never dropped sophomore Caitlyn Hogge led more than one set when it won. the team with three assists. Most It had a heart-breaking loss to impressive is the senior goalthe Washington and Lee Gener- keeper, Lindsay Baker. She had als that went all five sets. an astonishing 122 saves this The members of this team season and a .792 save percentshould be so proud of them- age. Baker impressed the right selves for the hard work they people this season, because she put into their incredible season. will be competing in the NaTheir positivity and work ethic tional Field Hockey Coaches shone brightly on court, and they Association Division III Senior were a thrill to watch whenever All-Star Game. She was one of they played at home. It’ll be sad only 59 players selected nationto see star player senior Alex wide, and she is only the third Lambert part ways this year. Marlin to have been bestowed On the bright side, head coach this honor. Andrea Hoover recruited an in- The Men’s and Women’s Cross credibly talented freshman class. Country team also had an inThe youth and new ODAC tour- teresting season this fall. Both nament experience will only add teams are quite talented, but one to their talent come next season. name seemed to dominate the The Men’s Soccer team also news. Senior Liz Wade continhas a right to hold their head up ued to make her name known high despite getting knocked out in the realm of the ODAC. She of the ODAC tournament. This finally earned her well deserved team had a spectacular season first team all-conference title worth talking about. They fin- after finishing seventh of 94 in ished their season 11-4-4 over- the ODAC meet with a tie of all. 24:54.2. Senior Isaac Arrington lead the All the Marlins fall sports had team with seven goals and five something to bring to the table assists. He also finished third in this season, and they are all the conference for goals scored. ready to compete next fall. This player will truly be missed for his talent and his presence on and off the field. Including Arrington, the Marlins will be losing five other seniors. Losing the experienced talent won’t tarnish their roster. They have a good mix of the remaining classes to have good experience all around. Women’s Soccer finished their season 12-7-2, and they had an impressive run in the ODAC tournament. Sadly, they lost in overtime to the Lynchburg Hor-
ellie’s orner
Take a bow: Fall sports seasons end
@KellieLagoyMC
“Talented and passionate”
Field hockey goalkeeper selected to play in DIII All-Star game
Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle
Senior Lindsay Baker keeps her skills fresh for the upcoming all-star game with teammates, sophomore Maddie Smith and senior Brynn Ammon
BY KERRI-LEANNE TAYLOR
ktaylor@vwc.edu
Although Virginia Wesleyan’s field hockey season is over, senior goalkeeper Lindsay Baker has one more game to look forward to. Baker has been selected to play in the 2014 National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s (NFCHA) Division III Senior All-Star game. The contest will take place on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va. “As a senior, I wish I could never stop playing field hockey. Although our season came to an unfortunate end, I feel honored to be selected for the All-Star game. This is a great way to finish my senior year,” Baker said. Baker was one of only 59 players nationwide chosen to compete in the All-Star game, and the third VWC player in the program’s history to be honored by the NFCHA. The field hockey coaching staff are excited about Lindsay’s selection. “I am ecstatic that Lindsay was chosen,” Head Coach Christina Restivo said. “Lindsay was a captain for us this season and added a poised element to our backfield. Her quick reflexes on direct saves coupled with her ability to come out of the cage and make one-on-
one saves is one of the reasons she has been so successful in her position,” Restivo said. Lindsay’s teammates are also very proud and supportive of her selection. “Lindsay is talented and passionate about the game. Her selection is amazing, and all of us will be cheering her on, even if we cannot make it to the actual game,” senior field hockey player Bryn Ammon said. Lindsay is extremely grateful for the support of her coaching staff and fellow teammates in helping her receive this honor. “There’s no way I would have been selected without all of my coaches and teammates being there to push me and make me the player I am,” Baker said. Baker is no stranger to accolades and was recognized as a 2013 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) honoree. Baker is also a leader in ODAC field hockey statistical categories, ranking third in save percentage and fifth in goals against average. Baker only allowed 2.09 goals per game this season, and saved an impressive 72.9 percent of shots against her. She recorded a whopping, career high 15 saves this year against Washington College. Restivo considers Baker more than deserving of her honor. “She
has all the skill set needed in her position: she can dive, stack, split, lunge, even inch worm into a cobra in a matter of seconds if she has to,” Restivo said. After a grueling season, this honor provides the field hockey program with a well-deserved sense of accomplishment. “Our record does not show what quality players we have on our squad, so this honor proves that our program is headed in the right direction with the right personnel on the field,” Restivo said. Baker also believes the season was more successful than the field hockey program’s record proves. “It’s important to look at all of the accomplishments throughout the season. The program grew as a whole with the new freshmen and great coaching staff. Each individual improved, and everyone had an important role on the team,” Baker said. The award will help boost the field hockey program’s reputation, proving that the team has a bright future ahead of them. “This selection helps give our program exposure and is something that we can display for our recruits, our alums, and our supporters to show that we are on the rise,” Restivo said.
Women’s soccer: season over Women’s soccer falls in overtime in ODAC semi-finals
BY ALEXIS PLATT
amplatt@vwc.edu
John McCormick | Lynchburg College
Sophomore Annie Hartman defends the ball against a Lynchburg player in the ODAC semi-finals
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Women’s Soccer ended its season in a tough overtime against the Lynchburg Hornets. The Hornets got off 26 shots against the Marlins, but couldn’t find a way to score against the Marlins by halftime. “My teammates and I didn’t go out without a fight. We fought every second of the game and gave it our all. Everything was left out on that field, and we will be picked up when we crush Lynchburg next year,” junior Kristen Cherry said. “We played really well, and we put it all out there. The opportunity to finish some of our chances would have been great,” said head coach Jeff Bowers. Sophomore goalie Megan Gerhart finished the game with five saves. “I don’t feel like there was anything that we could’ve done differently. We played with so
much heart and passion that night and unfortunately came up with the short end of the stick. Everyone worked hard and there’s nothing else that I would want,” Cherry said. This season the Marlins’ biggest obstacle was acclimating to change. Coach Bowers added a new formation, lots of new drills, and even a new warm up before every game. “I’d say the transition for returners learning the new things, and like every other year our new players getting adjusted to everything as well,” junior Jasmine Dao said. The Marlins hit some big bumps in the road, but still finished with a fairly high standing in the conference. The Marlins went on this season without key players Jasmine Dao and Kaitlyn Clunan. “Any time you lose your leading goal scorers and a captain it changes dynamics, no doubt about it, but it gave the younger players the opportunity to step up and grow for the future,” Bowers said.
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