REMEMBERING A LEGEND: D.J. WOODMORE’S JERSEY IS RETIRED SEE SPORTS
WICKED!
The hit Broadway play, “Wicked” debuted in Norfolk and lived up to the show’s high expectations THE WEEKENDER PAGE 3
The Marlin ChroniCle THURSDAY 12.4.14 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||
Men’s basketball starts season strong
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
Model UN wins big
The team traveled to Rome, Italy to attend an international conference and wins an award
BY BEN FLETCHER bsfletcher@vwc.edu The Virginia Wesleyan Men’s Basketball team has had no problem starting its season off on the right track, history shows. Over the past three seasons, the team has posted a 14-1 record in its first five games, which typically feature out-ofconference opponents. So far this year, the Marlins have continued their past dominance outside of the ODAC as they have won each of their first four games. The team began its season with the 14th annual Marlin Tip-Off tournament at home which also featured Delaware Valley College, Newport News Apprentice School and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). The Marlins, ranked 19th nationally, faced TCNJ for the first game of the year. The Marlins overwhelmed the Lions defense with a 91-60 victory in which six Marlins posted double-digit scoring. With the win, the team advanced to the championship of the tournament facing Newport News Apprentice School. The fellow Hampton Roads rival forced the Marlins to play a hectic first half up and down the court, but they would eventually tire as VWC won 87-68. The following week VWC took on Salisbury University, a team that defeated the Marlins two years ago. History would not repeat itself, however. The team beat the Seagulls 79-65. Aubrey Westfall|Courtsey VWC then traveled to Fayetteville, Members of the Model UN team pose for a photo while visiting Pompeii, Italy during their 10 day trip to Rome, Italy for a conference. N.C., to take on Methodist University for the first road game of the year. Senior the delegate of the General Assembly captain Greg Montgomery scored in BY DOUGLAS HARDMAN committee. The purpose of giving studouble digits for the fourth straight game, ddhardman@vwc.edu dents these types of research tasks is to leading the Marlins, by this point ranked get the younger generation engaged with 12th nationally, to an 89-71 win over the Over the course of 10 days, six Model politics and show them how innovative Monarchs. UN delegates and their adviser embarked and productive politics can be. Students from numerous organizations SEE MEN’S BASKETBALL Pg. 9 on a global escapade to Rome to attend the National Model United Nations - Eu- attended the international conference, rope Conference. From Nov. 20 to Nov. representing a vast array of cultures and 30, the delegates debated, discussed, and societies. Sophomore Alexander Mcproposed conflict resolutions while repre- Comb, a delegate of the Security Council, senting Australia. Not only did the team explained some of the topics that were traverse the globe, they also returned covered at the conference. home with the Distinguished Delegate “On the Security Council we discussed award, the second highest award granted such topics as how to utilize women to by the conference. promote peace and security and how to Aubrey Westfall, assistant professor ensure the safety of journalists in armed BY RYAN BREEN of political science and Model UN Ad- conflicts and to end impunity for those rmbreen@vwc.edu viser, chaperoned the delegates on the who perpetrate violence against journalCampus will echo with the sounds of trip and was very pleased for the students ists. We had to deal with an extra ‘crithe 12 Days of Christmas. When the she accompanied. sis’ that was presented to us mid-session Virginia Wesleyan community gathers for “I love watching the students grow dur- about the crisis in Ukraine, which brought the 31st Annual Holiday Tree Lighting ing the experience,” Westfall said. “Each to light ‘new hostilities and violence in on Dec. 5, at 5 p.m., students, faculty and conference brings its own challenges, and the region.” staff will meet in the field behind Godwin the students must be innovative and pasSenior Jessica Mackey led the students to sing familiar and festive songs. During sionate to find solutions. It’s a lot of fun as head delegate of the Security Council, this year’s Tree Lighting, campus will pay to witness so much collaboration and cre- and she described the unique challenges tribute to a former Marlin who lost his life ativity. Model UN students give me hope that accompanied this role. in a tragic accident, Slator C. Blackiston, a for the future.” “Being head delegate comes with many former French major here at VWC. It was the delegates’ job to grasp the responsibilities and expectations, most of “The Tree Lighting is a very special part understanding and working of Australian which begin way before the conference of the campus community,” said David politics. actually begins,” Mackey said. “The head Buckingham, Vice President for Student “We were responsible for in-depth re- delegate assists any participants in the Affairs and Dean of Enrollment Services. search regarding Australia in all facets, conference in preparation for the confer“The Tree Lighting ceremony started in socially, geographically, and politically. ence through research avenues and the Aoife Branco| Marlin Chronicle 1984. The ceremony is held every year to We acted as if we were delegates from Top: A fountain in Rome, Italy pay tribute to a former VWC student.” Australia and had to make decisions from SEE MODEL UN Pg. 2 Middle: The streets of Pompeii, Italy “While Slator C. Blackiston was in that mindset,” said senior Aoife Branco, Bottom: The wall of Pompeii, Italy training for the Navy Seals he tragically died due to a malfunction with his parachute. The college wanted to do something special to celebrate his life and a way for his memory to live on,” BuckFederal regulations require that students go through exit counseling, whether they ingham said. BY VANESSA SMITH who have received a Teacher Education were graduating, transferring, or taking Patricia Sullivan, a former French vlsmith1@vwc.edu Assistance for College and Higher Educa- next semester off. professor at Virginia Wesleyan, proposed At the meeting, Payne gave students tion Grant complete an exit counseling sesthe idea of the campus-wide tree lightCollege student debt has long passed the sion. This exit counseling session provides their individual loan statements and ing. Since Blackiston was interested in amount of credit card debt in America and information about the terms and conditions helped guide students down payment paths language, Sullivan thought it would be is the most common form of increasing of a TEACH Grant service agreement, as that might work best for them. Students special to incorporate songs in different debt among 18- to 24-year-olds. Student well as the rights and responsibilities that learned about different payment plan oplanguages to the event. loan debt rose at an average of 6% per year apply. tions, but Payne reminded students that the Mavel Velasco, a Spanish professor at from 2008 to 2012. In 2011, student debt During the last week of October, Loan longer the payments were drawn out, the Virginia Wesleyan said: “Singing songs in averaged $26,600. In 2012, the average Coordinator and Financial aid counselor more money they would pay in the end. different languages during the tree lightPayne also made it clear loan repayment ing is a perfect way to remember someone college graduate was $29, 400 in debt. The Elizabeth Payne sent out an email regardgraduating class of 2013 averaged $35,200 ing all students that had confirmed they is a firm requirement. When going through who liked and appreciated speaking a in debt. College students across America were not returning to Virginia Wesleyan exit counseling, one has to fill out three SEE LOANS Pg. 2 SEE CHRISTMAS TREE Pg. 5 can expect these numbers to continue in- College for the Spring 2015 semester. creasing. Payne said that about 50 students were to
VWC lights the way for tradition
Costs of college exist long after graduation
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