Thurs, Feb.12, 2015

WOMENS BASKETBALL: STRIVING TO WIN ODAC CHAMPIONSHIP SEE SPORTS

NEW IDENTIFICATION VWC revamps its identification system, resulting in new ID cards for all students on campus COMMUNITY PAGE 3

THE MARLIN CHRONICLE THURSDAY 2.12.15 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

JANE DOE LAWSUIT

Jane Doe case yet to be settled It has been months since the news broke of the lawsuit against the college and the case is still in progress.

BY COURTNEY HERRICK clherrick@vwc.edu

Early in January, the VWC board of trustees met to discuss the status of the most recent lawsuit against the college.

The plaintiff in the case, who is identified as “Jane Doe,” is suing the college for $10 million in what she alleges is the mishandling of her sexual assault case.

“We are in the discovery phase,” Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Enrollment Services David Buckingham said. “We, the college, and the college’s

attorney specifically look at information, gather information and share information with one another. That is called a period of discovery and that is what we are in.”

Buckingham went on to state that several students who attended the college at the time of the incident and held a position of authority were notified that their student records may be subpoenaed for use in court. These students include residential assistants and peer advisors.

The letter was signed by Dean of Students Keith Moore. Students were also notified that they could have made an objection to their records being subpoenaed by making an objection at the Norfolk Circuit Court. Since the letter was sent early in January and gave students a week after receiving the letter to object, students are

no longer able to make an objection. “[The college has] provided the judge and the court with the documentation that shows that we do train RAs, we do train officers, and that we do have programs regarding alcohol and sexual misconduct and how the two come together oftentimes,” Buckingham said.

College officials have recently been looking at alcohol’s relevance to sexual assaults, and some colleges have decided to make a change to their policies regarding alcohol violations.

According to the Boston Globe, Dartmouth College has implemented new alcohol restrictions in an attempt to reduce sexual assaults on campus. Jason Seward, director of the Jane P. Batten Center, director of recreational sports, and dean of

Affordable for everyone President Obama reveals new plan to make community college free to the masses

COST OF TUITION

THE COST OF TUITION FOR COLLEGES IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA COMPARED PER SEMESTER at 16 CREDITS

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

$2,602.25 $3,862.73 $4,784.00 $16,318.00

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

*THE COST OF ROOM AND BOARD WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIGURE ABOVE

OBAMA’S COLLEGE PLAN WILL COST ABOUT

$60 BILLION

BY SHAKIRA MILLS sdmills@vwc.edu

Just nine days into the New Year, President Barack Obama announced his plan to provide free community college tuition to future students. In front of an audience at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee, Obama proposed that students attending two-year institutions would have their tuition waived, while other expenses such as room and board or transportation would be taken care of via the Pell Grant.

The federal government would provide 75% of tuition expenses, and participating states would take care of the rest. The waiver would apply to students attending a community college part- or full-time, maintaining a 2.5 grade point average and planning to either attend a four-year institution or enter the workforce. Obama

OVER THE Next 10 YEARS, IF APPROVED Infographic by Thomas Mills

also proposes requiring community colleges to provide credits that automatically transfer to universities.

According to the the activist organization Student Debt Crisis, students paid $16.7 billion in tuition and fees in 2012. The American Association of Community Colleges states that the average cost per semester of tuition for community colleges hovers around $3,347.That number represents about 21 percent of a typical student’s cost to graduate from community college, or about $16,325.

A White House representative priced the plan at about $60 billion over the course of 10 years. Washington republicans see that as a “federal overreach.”

Student advocates say the plan will boost college enrollment and decrease the amount of SEE OBAMA Pg. 2 after-college debt for future

freshmen, was unable to speak on potential changes to VWC’s alcohol policy. “Our policy on alcohol, when you’re 21 years old, is a fair one,” Seward said.

Additionally, no changes have been made to Title IX since the Jane Doe case went public.

“We have gone to the “T” by what is printed in our handbook and online under our reporting of sexual misconduct crimes,” Seward said. “Nothing has changed.”

Since students were notified about the Jane Doe case, Seward stated that he has not seen an increase in sexual assault reporting on VWC’s campus.

Safety has been a major concern among students since hearing about the case.

Some students feel campus security could

SEE JANE DOE Pg. 2

Presidential Update:

The search committee for finding the next president remains on track

BY BRIAN LE btle@vwc.edu

This past May, after 23 years at the college, President Dr. William Greer announced that he will be retiring at the end of the current school year.

Following this announcement, in June 2014, the board of trustees began the search process for Virginia Wesleyan College’s fourth president. The board, along with the Presidential Search Committee, comprised of trustees, administration, faculty, alumni and student representatives, will be responsible for the task of selecting a successor to lead the college into the future.

The search committee, formed in mid2014, has been working very closely with executive search firm Witt/Kieffer. Together, they have been preparing to recruit what they hope will be the next exceptional leader of the college.

The first phase of this process took place on Sept. 12, 2014, when search consultants from Witt/Kieffer, Katherine Haley and Karen Goldstein, visited VWC to hold listening forums with the campus community.

The purpose of the forums was to develop a better understanding of the college’s profile and the ideal leadership characteristics for Virginia Wesleyan’s next president.

The agenda for the day included a student forum, faculty forum, staff forum and trustee forum. The executive search firm was able to obtain a more diverse collection of perspectives by dividing the community into these separate groups. Structuring the listening forums in this manner allowed for candid opinions. Members of the audience were able to express certain thoughts and attitudes specifically unique to their particular groups.

“They were fresh and honest responses because all the forums were separated,” said Dr. Linda Ferguson, professor of Management/Business/Economics and search committee member. “In a very short period of time, they were able to listen to a vast array of constituents.”

The various groups were able to come to a consensus of standpoints that satisfies our campus community. The forums, which provided such valuable input, served as a very effective channel of communication between the campus groups and the search consultants. The engagement of the Virginia Wesleyan community has been exceptional and extremely vital to the re-

SEE PRESIDENT Pg. 2

SEE LOANS Pg. 2

PAGE 2

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2015

OBAMA

JANE DOE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

CONTINUED FROM FRONT be improved.

“I feel like security could do a better job at not just physical safety but also mental safety,” freshman Kayla Ritchard said. “It’s not the safest campus, but it’s not the worst either.”

Other students feel security does a great job at protecting the students on campus.

“I feel safe all of the time,” said sophomore, residential assistant, and Wesleyan ambassador Jasmine Driggs. “I don’t have any issues with security. I think they do a really nice job, honestly.”

“There’s been a dramatic improvement in security since I heard about the Jane Doe case,” sophomore Nicolas Snyder said. “The LiveSafe app has been a tremendous asset to the campus. If you ever feel unsafe you can have security escort you to wherever you need to be through the app.,” Snyder said. Being a residential assistant, Snyder said he has seen the improvement in security first-hand.

Another concern since the Jane Doe case is how it has affected future students’ decisions to come here. However, the case has not seem to have had a major impact on enrollment at VWC. “We are currently running 10 ahead on ‘deposited,’ or students that have chosen to enroll

at Virginia Wesleyan,” Dean of Admissions Nelson Davis said.

Recently, the college has provided the courts with demurs (objections to claims made in a case), a bill of particulars (detailed information on the plaintiff’s charges or claims given upon the defendant’s request), and a plea bar (documentation to be used in favor of the defense).

The judge will listen to the demurs, the bill of particulars and the special plea bar set by the college’s attorney, which states that they disagree with what Jane Doe’s attorney has presented, that the college accurately reports crime on campus, and that the college takes steps to prevent and to address sexual assault if and when it occurs.

The hearing that was scheduled for Jan. 29, 2015 was postponed because a new judge was assigned. The Honorable David W. Lannetti will hear the case.

Buckingham said that the campus community will be notified of the outcome of the case as soon as a decision is made.

Efforts are being made to better educate students on sexual assault. There will be a malefocused discussion on sexual assault Feb. 12, 2015, at 8 p.m. in the Boyd Dining Hall. All students are welcome to attend.

iStock | Courtesy

President Obama addressing a forum in Washington D.C. to discuss workplace regulations in March of 2014.

plan will boost college enrollment and decrease the amount of after-college debt for future students. Senior Michele Johnson said she only wishes something like this plan was in existence when she first enrolled in college because his current plan, “does nothing for existing or exiting students. This doesn’t take care of the loans we have to pay off as soon as we leave this joint.” According to the Washington Post, most members in the House think that a better way to spend $60 billion would be to expand the federal Pell Grant Program, making higher education just as accessible to aspiring students.

The maximum amount of Pell Grant funds awarded per student is $6,000, according to the Washington Post. With community college tuition being about $4,000, not counting costs for books, transportation, etc., Obama’s plan could disproportionately benefit “well-off” students, putting money in their pockets while giving in-need students the bare necessities. Sophomore Sydney Dorsey says that that is, “similar to the nonsense that already occurs. The refund checks that students here receive are enough to pay off an entire winter and summer semester. That’s outrageous.”

According to the New York Times and the Huffington Post, with Congress being Republican-controlled, there is not much hope for Obama’s exact plan.

However, their amount of interest in higher-education costs shows that a similar program could be passed. So, even if Obama’s plan is not passed during his last year of presidency, the next administration will have this matter on its to-do list.

The Huffington Post says Obama feels his plan goes beyond covering expenses. This strategy encourages more people to be educated beyond high school, which is a key component of competing in the global economy.

Thomas Mills | Marlin Chronicle

After the news broke of the lawsuit, students protested by dressing the John Wesley statue with an “I stand with Jane Doe” T-shirt.

PRESIDENT CONTINUED FROM FRONT Virginia Wesleyan community has been exceptional and extremely vital to the recruitment process thus far.

“The crowd did a very thoughtful job with their questions because they were given enough lead time to reflect,” said Ferguson.

It was an opportunity for every community member’s voice to be heard. The input from each individual allowed Witt/Kieffer to gain critical information on the community’s collective viewpoint.

Given the input from the forums, Witt/ Kieffer and the search committee were able to compile a list of the qualities desired in our next president.

As stated on the Virginia Wesleyan Col-

lege’s website, “Virginia Wesleyan seeks a leader who can galvanize its community behind its liberal arts vision for the future and can communicate that vision in ways that motivate its many constituencies to provide the support necessary.”

Following the visit, Witt/Kieffer and the search committee collaboratively used the gathered information to develop an extensive leadership profile. The preparation and construction of the leadership profile was critical to the next phase of the search.

Now that the VWC Presidential Leadership profile has been completed and published, the recruitment of candidates has commenced. As 2014 ended, the primary focus of the search shifted to the tasks of

advertising and networking to build a pool of candidates. Potential candidates must have both the desired professional qualifications and personal qualities as well.

According to VWC’s most recent press release, the presidential search process remains on track. A significant number of highly qualified candidates have shown interest in the VWC presidential position and are currently being considered. However, in the coming weeks, VWC will be seeking more candidates prior to beginning the interview phase.

The future of the college is extremely important to the search committee and has continued to be one of their main focus points. Thinking ahead and preparing for

the future in order to secure the well-being of the college has been a recurring theme throughout the search process.

As stated on Virginia Wesleyan’s website, “VWC needs a forward-thinking leader who can strategically advance the college’s educational, financial and overall competitive position.”

VWC faculty and administration feel confident that the search committee will be able to find the college’s next exceptional leader in the coming months.

“Through all of the changes that this campus has faced over the years, President Greer has been a constant for us,” said Ferguson. “We are so well positioned for the next leg of the journey.”

What’s happening around the world?

Russia: Ukraine, Germany, France and the United States have started negotiations in establishing a peace deal in Eastern Ukraine.

United States: ISIS announced the death of American citizen Kayla Mueller, 26 years old, as a result of air strikes carried out by Jordan.

Her death was confirmed on Feb. 10.

Greece: Negotitations over its debt and accompaning bailout deal are contiuning with Germany, the United States, Russia, and China.

Australia: Prime Minister Abbott survives a no confidence vote within is poltical party.

COMMUNITY The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Thomas Mills tcmills@vwc.edu Managing Editor

Greek president Roundup Part 1 A brief introduction to the Greek presidents on campus.

Aoife Branco acbranco@vwc.edu

Emily Joy

News Editor

Phi Sigma Sigma

Jessica Mackey jlmackey@vwc.edu

Q: What are you excited about for your term as president?

A: “For me, I am most excited to not only increase our numbers, but also to establish a stronger sense of Greek unity between ourselves and the other organizations on campus.”

Community Editors Rayven Davis rdavis@vwc.edu Kaci Parker klparker@vwc.edu

Q: What is your favorite restaurant?

A: “Back home, there is this Mexican restaurant named Mi Pueblos and their guacamole is heaven on earth.”

Opinions Editors Doug Hardman ddhardman@vwc.edu The Weekender

Q: If you were stuck on a desert island what three things would you bring with you?

A: “Pen, paper, carrier pigeon.”

Elizabeth Sims ecsims@vwc.edu Sports Editors Kellie Lagoy kalagoy@vwc.edu

PAGE 3

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle

Kerri Taylor ktaylor@vwc.edu

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “It’s so petty, but when people spell ‘bawling’ as ‘balling.’

Check yourself, those connotations are so different.”

“New” ID policy hits campus

BY JAMIE CRAWLEY jjcrawley@vwc.edu

With the start of the new semester, the security office has developed new identification cards. Soon, all students will be required to have them.

Specifically, what has changed is that Social Security numbers have been removed from the ID system and replaced by a Datatel number, which also acts as a student’s ID number. Many students might feel at first as if this change is unimportant and minimal.

However, they may come to appreciate it in the long run.

“This system helps ensure the safety of students and protects them from the problem of identity theft,” said C.J. Scholler, a member of campus security personnel.

This means that students will no longer input their Social Security numbers in situations where they don’t have their IDs, but instead will use their Datatel numbers. This will allow students to enter the cafeteria or make Grille purchases even if they are without their IDs. When the announcement of new IDs was first made, many students were wondering what was being changed. They can rest assured that the only thing that has changed is the Social Security aspect of the system.

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE.

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 Copy Editors

Courtney Jones cajones1@vwc.edu

Sarah Antozzi scantozzi@vwc.edu Advertising Representatives

Morgan Piero

Alpha Sigma Alpha Q: What do you want to take away with you following the end of your time as president?

A. I hope to take away a new sense of leadership. I want to be remembered as someone who was always open to listening to others and their ideas.

Q: What is one thing you cannot live without?

A. “I cannot live without my phone. As materialistic as that sounds, let’s be real: your life is on your phone.”

Q: Where is your dream vacation?

A. “I would love to take a trip all over Europe.”

Q: If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?

A. “Giving people the rare trait of truly listening to someone. Most people do not listen well enough. Funny enough: listen and silent have the same letters.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant?

A. “My favorite restaurant is probably YNot.”

Courtesy|Marlin Chronicle

Courtney Herrick clherrick@vwc.edu Cortnee Brandon csbrandon@vwc.edu Advisor

Rachel Lambert

Sigma Sigma Sigma

Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwc.edu

Q: What do you want to take away with you following the end of your time as president?

A: “I want to leave knowing I did my best to help the chapter and not leave the chapter in a messy state.”

Q: If you were stuck on a desert island, what three things would you bring with you?

A: “Sunscreen, a bathing suit, and sunglasses.”

Q: What is one thing you cannot live without?

A: “My memory foam, cooling-gel pillow, otherwise known as a Chillow.”

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

Q: Where is your dream vacation?

A: “Harry Potter World at Universal, Orlando, Florida.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “Double-dipping. It’s disgusting.”

Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle

Britt Hipple

Kappa Alpha Order Q: What are you excited about for your term as president?

A: I am excited for the direction of my chapter. We are raising our scholarship standards, we are increasing the size of our brotherhood, and we are strengthening the bonds between brothers. This is the best time for KA on this campus and I’m excited to be a part of it.

Q: How will you better your chapter and positively increase its presence on campus?

A: “We have plans to increase our community service and our philanthropic giving to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and more local groups.”

“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

Q: What is your favorite restaurant?

A: “I can’t get enough sushi, so Kobe.”

Q: Where is your dream vacation?

A: “Any warm beach without Internet.”

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: “It’s definitely a toss-up between being late and bad drivers.”

Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle

PAGE 4

CAMPUS countdown February 1stMarch 28th Recyclemania

Times: Various Location: Campus-wide A country-wide competition to find the college campuses that recycle the most and the best. Use a recycling bin to properly recycle articles around campus to participate.

February 13th President’s Annual Pig Roast Times: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Location: Campus-wide

It’s that time again! Join President Greer all day for the smoking and enjoyment of the Annual Pig Roast. Smoking starts at 6 a.m. and food will be served around 12 p.m.

You won’t be able to miss the smoke, follow your nose!

February 14th Rhett Price

Times: 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Location: Boyd Campus Music week concludes with violinist Rhett Price. A free Valentine or February 14th event to accompany dinner.

February 15th - 20th Fraternity Rush Events

Times: Various Location: Campus-wide

February 17th Undergraduate Research Workshop

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

‘Ever Forward’; to her future Mary-Rae Ratigan doesn’t let anything hold her back. She is constantly moving forward in her life, sorority and other endeavors.

BY KAYLA BROWN kabrown2@vwc.edu

Making a mark here at Virginia Wesleyan seemed easy for Alaskan-born freshman Mary-Rae Ratigan, who is from Franklin, Virginia. She finds it easy to adjust to new surroundings.

“I moved around a lot, since both of my parents are in the military,” said Ratigan. Her mother is currently in the Air Force, and her father is in the Army.

“It was a breeze for me to become involved on campus, since I am so accustomed to change, said Ratigan.”

Ratigan is a Wesleyan Ambassador, a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma, a delegate for our campus Panhellenic Council and the Manager of Culture and Learning for the Wesleyan Activities Council. In her rare spare time, she enjoys listening to music, dancing and watching Netflix. However, for the most part, she prefers to stay busy.

“I like making an impact on someone’s day, and I know that I can achieve that by being involved,” said Ratigan.

Her strong work ethic and dedication to doing what she loves is visible to those around her.

“She’s always on time, a hard worker, dependable, and comes to work with a smile,” said Bradford Jones, assistant director of admissions.

“Without a doubt, I knew that this school was for me,” said Ratigan.

She was initially given information about Virginia Wesleyan with the help of her guidance counselor in high school and she’s been in love with the Marlin community ever since.

“I feel more than just a number here at Virginia Wesleyan,” said Ratigan.

“I knew this was the perfect place for me to become in-

volved, and branch out in a variety of clubs and organizations looking for members,” said Ratigan Ratigan took the initiative and obtained leadership positions in multiple organizations within her first semester.

“You’ll always see her on campus doing something, because she’s involved in everything,” said freshman Michael McOsker. He described Ratigan as being “reliable, supportive, outgoing, fun and enthusiastic.”

“She’s one of those people who will volunteer to do something, when others are sitting there quietly,” said McOsker.

Not only has her family’s military background and her enjoyment of engaging with others helped prepare her for college, but the health challenges she faced and conquered early on in life have as well.

“I remember this day like it was yesterday, because my life forever changed after that,” said Ratigan.

On January 19, 2005, she discovered that she had Type 1 Diabetes. This form of diabetes develops when one’s body doesn’t produce enough insulin to keep one’s blood sugar at a normal level. “I was really sluggish for nearly a month, and I didn’t know what was wrong,” said Ratigan. That’s when she went to the hospital, and found out that her blood sugar was over 500, which is above the normal level.

Despite the life-changing news, Ratigan remained optimistic about her recent health problem. “I don’t think I’d be where I am, if I didn’t have to deal with having diabetes,” said Ratigan.

Being diagnosed as a diabetic at the age of 8 has helped her learn the importance of responsibility at an early age. “I’m the

Anthony Dellamura I Marlin Chronicle Mary-Rae represents her sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma, while wearing her letters. only one who can take care of my body, and it’s up to me to be responsible for it,” said Ratigan.

She eats the proper foods and keeps track of her sugar intake, to ensure that her blood sugar level remains at a content level.

She also uses an insulin pump, which she’s had for about 4 years now. This gives her insulin at all times and allows her to keep her blood sugar under control by providing insulin through a tube attached to her stomach.

“People have asked me if it’s a pager, or a cell phone, since it goes off to alert me,” said Rati-

gan, laughing. It alerts her when her blood sugar is over the normal level, and it also allows her to program the foods she eats.

“Even though I am involved, I still remain focused on my grades,” said Ratigan.

Not only is Ratigan serving the campus community through involvement, but she is also excelling academically. She was on the Dean’s List for the fall 2014 semester. She is looking forward to making an impact on those around her, and is excited to see what her future at Virginia Wesleyan has waiting for her.

Times: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: Foley Classroom This session of the Undergraduate Research Workshop series will feature the research librarians and how they can assist students.

ID POLICY CHANGES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

February 17th Pathway to Graduate School Times: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: Batten 239

Kaplan Test Prep will be presenting for all those interested in getting familiar with the graduate school process and preparations.

Sponsored by Career Services.

February 20th Bible Study on Romans

Times: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: The Fishbowl Hosted by the Marlin Ministries Office.

February 20th Chemistry on the Silver Screen

Times: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Location: Blocker 216 Take on a new perspective regarding science and scientists portrayed by Hollywood. Sposored by Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the national chemistry honor society.

Kayla Skeete I Marlin Chronicle Freshmen Zezie Martins and Abigail Spahr pick up their new ID cards.

“With the new ID cards, students pretty much follow the same procedures. There isn’t anything new we are adding to the system. For the most part, everything will follow the same procedure in regards to

students using their IDs for going to the café and grille,” said Jerry Mance, head of the security department.

However, students will find it extremely important to remember their Datatel numbers, since those numbers can help them after they have lost their ID cards.

Although many students have asked whether there was a two-hour wait time for getting a new ID, that isn’t the case. A new ID would be issued on request during a visit to the security office. The two-hour wait time is connected with keycards for rooms. The prices for replacing keycards or IDs have remained the same, as well as the price for retaking an ID picture.

“The main thing we wanted to do with these new ID cards is maintain the safety of our students. We feel this system is a positive step in ensuring that our students wouldn’t have to worry about their Social Security number being stolen. At the end of the day, a safe campus is what all of us want,” said Mance.

Many realize that the new IDs will help toward that goal.

“I was really interested in what these

new IDs do, but there wasn’t much of a big change. I can say this, I appreciate them taking away Social Security numbers, as you never know what could happen if anybody were to get ahold of someone’s Social Security number,” said senior Cameron Young.

The impact of new ID cards has been positively received across campus.

“Anytime the school tries to protect its students, no matter how big or small, that shows that they actually care, which is always a positive in my book,” said senior Molly Keenhold.

These new ID cards may not be the monumental change most were anticipating, but they are a pivotal step in securing the safety of students. Students should be on the lookout for when they can pick theirs up and become proactive in making sure they are as safe as they can be. A new semester means new beginnings, and with that, make sure you pick up your new ID card!

Virginia Wesleyan College Crime Log (As of Feb. 10, 2015)

OPINIONS

PAGE 5

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

The past still defines our future

BY DOUGLAS HARDMAN ddhardman@vwc.edu

There’s a famous quote by Tennessee Williams: “The past keeps getting bigger and bigger at the future’s expense.” We are normally told to let the past be in the past and burn the bridges. However, there are some very crucial moments in history that we need to remember because once we forget them, history repeats itself.

The year 2014 was, honestly, a year of brutal tragedy and upset. We witnessed police brutality up close and personal with the Mike Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, and the harsh facts on transgender/LGBTQ+ bullying after the suicide of the young, transgender teen, Leelah Alcorn.

Many tears were shed over the loss of many “celebrities,” but the most tragic was Robin William’s suicide after years of battling depression. Also, in world news, 234 Nigerian girls were kidnapped after a school was attacked, which sparked the #BringOurGirlsBack movement.

We are defined by tragedy. It brings out a very vulnerable, very fragile state of the human condition. Devastation, frustration and hurt all boil to the surface. When we see injustice happen, when we see suicide, we get passionate.

The Ferguson shooting sparked mass riots, not just in Missouri, but also in New York and Washington, D.C. When Leelah took her own life after being constantly mistreated, misgendered and bullied, we suddenly became LGBTQ+ activists.

The only problem that I see arising: people are forgetting. We cannot leave these events in 2014 as if they didn’t exist. I know protests for Ferguson are still occurring, but Leelah Alcorn and the 234 Nigerian girls also cannot be forgotten. The #BringOurGirlsBack movement is slowly dying, but those girls are still missing.

We need to remember these tragedies and keep on fighting against the causes of them. We need to be aware of the suicide rate and bullying statistics, especially in regards to the LGBTQ+ community. We need to be aware of mental disorders anwwd stop treating these legitimate medical is-

sues as if they are a joke. We need to be aware of corrupt police officers and injustice toward the black community in America. We need to be aware of global tragedies so we can understand what’s truly going on in the world, not just what our news stations tell us.

Being active in these causes is very important, because without support, they are lost. And then we relive them just a few months or a couple of years down the road. When will the cycle stop? When will we stop racial discrimination? When will we open our eyes to true human equality?

The tragedy is not going to all stop overnight, or because some guy wrote an opinions article on it, but we have to start somewhere.

Please, do not ever give up on these causes. We need to fight the problem, not ignore it. The more we turn a blind eye to the problems in our world, the more power we give to the abusers. Show Ferguson, show Leelah, and show the 234 Nigerian girls that they are not forgotten. Show the world that they are not forgotten and that they will never be forgotten.

Richard Cremin | Marlin Chronicle

Editor’S Pick of the Month WHAT- bare: a pop opera WHERE-Peninsula Community Theatre 10251 Warwick Blvd Newport News, VA 23601 WHEN-Feb 20, 21, 22, 27, & 28; March 1, 6, 7, & 8 (Fri & Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2:30pm) WHY-Get a chance to experience a provocative, thrilling tale of identity, sexuality, and religion in a Catholic boarding school, and support former VWC student, Marshall Robey, as well as the local talent in the Hampton Roads area!

Student (22 and under) discounted tickets-$12

The new razzle dazzle

BY TAYLOR BOYD tpboyd@vwc.edu

Standing in the cold, drenched from head to toe, and exhausted from the five-hour wait. You are there just to catch a blurry glimpse of Brad Pitt, Beyoncé, or some other celebrity. You fight a crowd of thirsty paparazzi and take dozens of photos in which only three may be decent quality, and if you are lucky, you get a small grin or passing glance from your idol, who is probably not even focused on you anyway. After the whole ordeal is over, your heart races and you get butterflies in your stomach as if you finally achieved something worthwhile.

You leave satisfied, and think your time could not have been spent better. But let’s stop and think for a moment. Precious time, money and effort have just flown by and will never return. You will never get those hours of daylight back, not ever. Yet, we do it all the time, because the actors we see on the big screen dazzle us, and the artists enchant us with their voices and perform so beautifully that it just seems appropriate to treat them like royalty. And we do not just wait in long lines for the people themselves, but for their music, movies, or books. We see no error in participating in these types of things, but I have to say there is a major problem going on here.

We have become like mindless zombies and drones whose main purpose is to jump on the bandwagon of the latest news of the Kardashians. The news of celebs is thrown in our face so much, we have no choice but to listen and obey. What has our society come to? And can we ever escape this glamourous prison that we have encased ourselves in?

I start trying to think why exactly we put such a high importance on celebrity status, and the only thing I can come up with is that we want to be them. It’s because we admire these people that we put them on such a high pedestal. But I think that all we need to do is remember that these are just ordinary people with ordinary jobs. You can have your favorite celebrity crushes and their memorabilia all you want, but just remember to keep your head. They are not superheroes or gods, they are unique individuals like you and me.

BY MICHAEL WILLSON mnwillson@vwc.edu

I have a deep appreciation for movies. Like most movie patrons, I love the Oscars. Every year I turn on the TV and watch the Oscars with excitement and anticipation. Around the holiday season, I look for the movies that are competing for Oscar nominations, and I always make predictions of who will get nominated and, most importantly, who will win. Like most of the nation, I was surprised when I saw how few nominations the movie “Selma” received.

Released by Paramount Pictures, “Selma” is about the voting-rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film has received very good reviews; made $43,710,858 in the box office; and received several award nominations, including four Golden Globes and five Critic Choice Awards. However, when the Oscar nominations were announced, “Selma” received only two nominations.

While the film received a nomination for Best Picture and Best Song (“Glory”), director Ava DuVernay and lead actor David Oyelowo were not on the list of nominees, despite being nominated for the Golden Globes and Critic Choice Awards. When the nominations were announced, people were outraged. Many accused the Oscars of racism, claiming that DuVernay and Oyelowo did not get nominated because of their race.

Is it really fair to call the Oscars racist? I do not think so. I understand why people are upset; two very talented artists were robbed of Oscar nomination. But that does not mean that they were not nominated solely because of their race.

It is not as if a person of color has never been

nominated for an Oscar. Several people of color have been nominated, and several have won, including Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Hudson and Whoopi Goldberg. Hattie McDaniel became the first person of color to win the Oscar in 1939, a time when racism was quite prevalent within the film industry.

I would also like to point out that “12 Years a Slave,” a film about American slavery, was nominated for nine Oscars last year and won three, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress, Lupita Nyong’o. So to call the Oscars racist is flat-out absurd.

Caucasians have been overlooked at the Oscars as well. In 2012, Ben Affleck won the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for his directing of the movie Argo, but was not even nominated for the Oscar.

Now, I am not saying that everyone should agree with the awarding of the Oscars. We all have our own opinions of what makes a good actor, movie, director, etc. But that does not mean that we should start pointing fingers and calling the committee racist. I feel that with all of the incidents that have occurred in the past year, such as those of Ferguson and Eric Garner, it has become very easy to call each other racist. It is true that racism is a problem that our country is facing and it is something that we should not ignore, but that does not mean that every little thing that happens has to do with race.

I am sure that a lot of people are going to boycott this year’s Oscars and that is fine. What others decide to do is up to them, but for me, I am still going to watch the Oscars. Despite a couple of overlooked nominees, I think that it is still going to be a good award show and that a number of talented artists will win.

Richard Cremin | Marlin Chronicle

And the Oscar doesn’t go to...

PAGE 6

OPINIONS

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

When going green isn’t really green

BY SARAH ANTOZZI scantozzi@vwc.edu

Recommendations to distribute information and pay bills electronically instead of on paper come from all around. Companies’ websites and flyers say that “going paperless” will reduce emissions and conserve natural resources such as trees. But will switching to electronics really help the environment?

One problem with this argument is that steps have already been taken to make using paper environmentally friendly. As far back as 1974, National Geographic reported that a timber company was planting fast-growing trees to offset what they cut and to supply timber for the future. Now, sustainable forestry practices are advanced and widespread.

According to the 2012 Sustainability Report of the American Forest and Paper Association (the national U.S. trade organization), the paper companies that are members of this association obtained nearly all of their paper fiber “through certified fiber sourcing programs.” This is significant, since those companies “make more than 75 percent of the U.S.’s pulp, paper, paper-based packaging and wood building materials,” according to the AF&PA. Even better, AF&PA members have been working since March 2011 on a plan to lessen the environmental impact of paper manufacture, by raising energy efficiency, raising the percentage of raw materials coming from sustainable forests and reducing their emissions.

Recycling also minimizes environmental harm when using paper. According to Tom Zeller of National Geographic, the amount of energy used in paper manufacturing can be cut by 40% when as much recycled material as possible is used. Envelopes and a myriad of office papers are available containing various amounts of recycled content, according to a database by Canopy, a forest-conservation nonprofit. The copy paper in use at Virginia Wesleyan College, in fact, contains 30% recycled fiber and is made using a chlorine-free bleaching process, which is better for the environment than those that use chlorine.

Conversely, many people have not considered the ramifications of embracing a high-technology lifestyle. Almost inevitably, such a lifestyle leads to a higher consumption of high-technology goods, which are notorious for quickly becoming obsolete. When demand for ever newer and

more improved electronic devices goes up, what is the effect on the environment of manufacturing more of those devices? Further, where do the used, older versions of high-tech equipment go?

Manufacturing high-technology electronics such as cell phones and computers requires minerals known as rare earths or rare-earth elements, a National Geographic article by Mark Fischetti reports. Obtaining rare-earth elements from the earth is a process fraught with danger of environmental damage, “including acid mine drainage and harmful releases of heavy metals,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory.

In addition, when people buy into the high-tech lifestyle, they must continually replace their devices with new ones—or they think they must (which amounts to the same thing). According to National Geographic writer Chris Carroll, the U.S. EPA estimates that in 2005, “between 1.5 and 1.9 million tons of computers, TVs, VCRs, monitors, cell phones, and other equipment were discarded.”

Moreover, Carroll continues, “In the United States, it is estimated that more than 70 percent of discarded computers and monitors…eventually end up in landfills, despite a growing number of state laws that prohibit dumping of e-waste, which may leak lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, and other toxics into the ground.” This “ewaste” is overwhelming our landfills. Is it an environmentally friendly practice to create more and more landfills to contain our electronic castoffs? According to National Geographic, in one year, 2005, discarded laptops alone amounted to 30,800 tons in the U.S., of which only 26.1% were recycled.

Even if old electronic equipment is given to a recycler, it may not be dealt with in a safe, environmentally friendly way. A good many “recyclers” sell the used goods to poor countries, where the valuable materials inside them are extracted by quick, cheap methods that allow contaminants to escape and pose extremely high health hazards to the people doing the work and to those who live nearby. Furthermore, according to Carroll, some of the highly toxic material may be making its way into products manufactured in those developing nations, and may be being exported back to the U.S. and other developed countries.

One could call this a case of “the chickens coming home to roost.”

In many ways, then, it seems that it may actually be

“greener” to use paper than to use electronics. It is not surprising, however, that many people have believed the opposite. After all, going paperless has been promoted as being not only environmentally friendly, but also convenient and clutter-free, which are appealing attributes.

We would be wise, however, to look thoroughly into supposed facts and judge carefully what sort of benefits and drawbacks are attached to the lifestyles we choose to lead. If “paperless” advocates are correct in their assessment but people do not believe them, it is true that environmental harm may be done. On the other hand, they are convincing numbers of people to go paperless, and if that process is in fact counter-productive, they will have worsened the very problem they profess to deplore.

In fact, unintended consequences of apparently “green” actions have actually occurred. The website Triple Pundit quotes Nigel Sizer of the World Resource Institute, saying that one chief cause of deforestation is the recent higher demand for biofuel. Incredibly, tropical forests are being cleared in order to plant fields of biofuel crops.

Let us, then, consider alternatives to demonizing paper.

Certainly, one should not waste paper (among other products), or wantonly chop down forests that will not be replenished. But again—sustainable forestry and recycling are good ways to lessen the negative environmental impact of paper usage.

The steady stream of technological garbage being generated clearly does not help the earth. A return to the ideal of products that were made to last for a long time, rather than being designed to wear out or become outdated very quickly, would benefit our environment immensely, especially in the area of electronics. Computers and cellphones in use right now are capable of meeting our needs, surely. Must we consider them inadequate as soon a version comes out that is touted as “new and improved”? Or can we have more sales resistance than that, more backbone?

It has been suggested that manufacturers of high-technology products add to their prices the cost of responsibly recycling them, as compensation for taking them back and safely processing them at the end of their useful lives. This idea has potential to decrease not only the necessity for mining rare-earth metals, but also pollution in landfills and health hazards for poor “recyclers” in developing nations.

If we desire to keep our earth in the best shape that we can, let’s find out whether the actions we take towards that end actually do contribute to it.

High beam lamplights

BY JEFFREY CROUCH jlcrouch@vwc.edu

Many of you use the path with the surfboard next to it going to and from Village III. If you are one of the people that use this path, then you have probably noticed a change that happened to it recently. The lamps that line the walkway have been outfitted with insanely bright bulbs.

The school might have thought that the bulbs were an improvement, or they could have just picked any bulb, but in my opinion, they bring more problems than benefits.

The first problem that I have with the bulbs is the fact that they are way brighter than the bulbs that they replaced. They are also the brightest bulbs on campus by a lot, which makes them stand out even more. These new bulbs are so bright that they hurt my eyes just walking the path, and often make it harder to for me to see.

I also feel bad for the people that have to live directly in the path of the light. Every time they go outside at night, they will immediately be hit by the brightness of these lights. Having my eyes rapidly adjust to the brightness is not something I would want to deal with every time I stepped outside at night. I feel that these bulbs are brighter than some days that we have in this area.

Knowing how bright these bulbs are brings up a very important question. How energy-efficient are these new bulbs? Typically, the brighter the light the more watts it uses. This means that the brighter lights use more energy. Using more energy makes the bulbs less cost-effective. Unless these lamps have a special bulb that makes them more energy-efficient, then they are using more energy than the previous, dimmer ones. This may not seem like that big of a deal, but less energy efficiency can cause an increase in the power bill. The increase would probably seem pretty small to the school, considering how much energy it already uses on a daily basis, but over time it would add up to be a decent amount of money, especially when the lights have to stay on for the entire night for students.

Another problem with the new lights is how they affect Greeks that “tag the board.” As some of you may know, the fraternities and sororities compete for control of the surfboard that is on the path by using spray paint to paint their letters on it. The board is tagged almost exclusively at night and in secrecy from the other organizations. If a group is seen tagging the board, then the board is often painted over the same night by the group that spotted them.

As anyone can see, having bright lights makes it a lot easier to spot anyone tagging the board.

However, the new bulbs do make it easier to see where exactly you are spraying. In dim light, you cannot know for certain if you have gone over a spot or not. The brighter lights should make some of the tags look less splotchy.

So, are these new lights an improvement over the old? Overall, the new lights are good if you want to see everything in the area and if your eyes are not sensitive to lights, but they also come with problems that in my opinion make them not worth keeping.

I do not think that I could ever get used to these bulbs. They are just too bright for me. I personally hate these bulbs and would rather they be switched back to the older, dim bulbs. However, they do not affect me enough to stop me from walking on the path. It’s not the worst thing on campus to complain about, but it’s a minor annoyance that builds up with all the other ones.

I hope the bulbs will be switched to something that is in between the new and the old ones. This would make the people who like the new bulbs happy and those of us who do not like them happy.

They wouldn’t be bright enough to hurt my eyes, but they would light the path well enough for people to easily see down it. A light that was in between the old and the new would be perfect to light the pathway. I doubt these lights will get changed before they burn out, but when they are changed, I will not be sad to see them go.

Snap a photo or video of a smile-worthy deed and share it using the #MissionSmile hashtag :) Visit missionsmile.com for more info!

The media’s deception

BY DOUGLAS HARDMAN ddhardman@vwc.edu &

BY JESSICA MACKEY jlmackey@vwc.edu

Over the last couple of decades, media has taken a turn that isn’t necessarily for the best. Many news outlets, like Fox News, have been slammed for being biased, racist and discriminatory in their news broadcasting. Yet, we are still faced with the same problem: lack of controversial, important news coverage.

On January 7, 2015, a gunman went on a shooting rampage in Charlie Hebdo’s office in Paris and killed 11 people. The reason behind this attack was a depiction of Mohammed on the Hebdo front page.

This led to a mass manhunt and global broadcasting, sparking the #JeSuisCharlie movement on social media. While this coverage was very crucial and important for the world to know, media coverage is never equal on all ends.

A few days prior to the Hebdo shootout, a young girl with a bomb strapped to her chest approached a market in Nigeria and ended up killing herself and 19 others, injuring dozens more. Around the same time, Boko Haram destroyed the town of Baga and Doron Baga, and 2,000 people are feared dead.

However, media coverage took significantly less time than the Hebdo and the events were given far less air time and print coverage.

Media outlets get to pick and choose their stories, but their idea of significance and importance is sometimes misguided. These global tragedies need to be highlighted to the fullest extent; ignorance is not bliss. Yes, it can be argued that due to the remoteness of the Boko Haram’s attacks and the lack of confirmed reporting, news programs and journalist have a responsibility to not misinform the public about events. However, news programs have a

tendency of jumping to conclusions and rushing to be the first to report “breaking news.” Remember during the Sandy Hook massacre when the shooter was identified as his brother before his true identity was revealed? This is just one of countless examples where rushing to discover the truth can have unintended consequences.

Even more damaging might perhaps be the perceived biases that varying news programs have when reporting news. The last time we checked, facts do not change whether your political ideology shifts left or right, whether your income is higher or lower than the national average or whether you’re a member of the minority of whichever community you are a part of. Yet, as a society, we have a tendency of acting on our perceptions, then listening to the facts that are presented to us. The media knows this and exploits the masses in conforming to their ideologies. However, when we lose the legitimacy of reporting, how will we ever know what is truly truth? Are we all just a pawn in a larger game of chess, one in which those who have power are truly writing our history? I frankly don’t want to live the life portrayed in Orwell’s “1984.”

In today’s society, we care more about the latest celebrity gossip and whether or not grown men deflated some footballs than we do about other human lives tragically ending simply because we think it does not affect us. We live in a culture where media is guided by what’s popular and what’s trending with a hashtag rather than the crucial, life-changing events occurring every day.

If we want to change the world, we need to see the world for what it is. You can’t sugarcoat the truth, as most people would prefer. Media outlets should be informing the public of tragedies and world causes because without them, we live in a world of blind ignorance. We can’t and shouldn’t let them deceive us with pop culture and racially biased “news” coverage. We deserve the real truth.

Check out our online issue at marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

NEWS

PAGE 7

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

Police not fans of the Waze craze

BY LILY KUNDA lmkunda@vwc.edu

Law enforcement is not thrilled that traffic app Waze gives users the ability to warn others about police. The communitybased traffic-navigation app allows users to indicate where police may be lurking, as a means to warn other users to avoid traffic stops and tickets. Users can see a pin on the app of general police locations and make the decision to slow down or go the other way.

Police feel the app is not only preventing them from doing their job but also endangering the lives of police officers by allowing users to share police locations and even indicate if officers are “hidden” or “visible,” though most users only use the police locator setting to warn others of speeding traps.

Since it was revealed that the late Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who was responsible for the death of two New York Police officers, was a Waze user, some officers feel the app could be used as a way to find and harm officers.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck told NBC Los Angeles, “I am concerned about the safety of law enforcement offi-

cers and the community, and the potential for your Waze product to be misused by those with criminal intent,” Beck wrote. “I look forward to opening a dialogue with you as to how Google can prevent the future misuse of the Waze app to track law enforcement officers, thereby avoiding any future deaths or injury.”

There was a screenshot of the policetracking feature up on Brinsley’s personal Instagram account, and it was captioned “#WazeApp,” but the post has since been removed. There is no real evidence confirming or denying that Brinsley used Waze to find Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. Waze denies any criminal intent and says the app does not physically track or stalk police, just gives users a general idea of their location.

“Police partners support Waze and its features, including reports of police presence, because most users tend to drive more carefully when they believe law enforcement is nearby,” Waze spokesman Julie Mossler said.

Waze was founded in 2008 by software designers in Israel and originally called LinQmap. It became such a hit in the Middle East and Asia that Google bought

it in 2013 for over $1 billion and turned it into the largest community-based traffic app in the world, with over 12 billion users worldwide.

Waze allows users to edit maps, warn others about traffic and indicate where to find cheap gas. It lets users know if there are friends nearby and can even connect with users’ Facebook profile to coordinate travel plans. It’s an app for the people by the people — for the most part.

According to the Waze website, “In addition to the local communities of drivers using the app, Waze is also home to an active community of online map editors who ensure that the data in their areas is as up-to-date as possible.”

All the user-friendly benefits are what prompted Google to purchase Waze. According to Globes, “Waze has options to report accidents, police presence, speed cameras and blocked roads, all things that Google does not have.” These options make Waze a great alternative to Google Maps.

Police officers are not the only people who do not like Waze, though. L.A. citizens in residential areas have complained that the app has caused much noise and traffic in their usually quiet neighbor-

hoods, according to ABC News.

“The traffic has never been this bad.

It’s bumper-to-bumper traffic now in the morning. Cars move at 10 miles an hour,” said Los Angeles resident Paula Hamilton.

Many Waze users took to Twitter to show their disdain for police officers’ wanting the police-spotting feature disabled. “Folks trying to defend #waze don’t get it. Cops are afraid of EVERYTHING, so of course common sense is irrelevant”; “Interesting: double standard or serious threat? #police #waze #tracking #googlewaze”; and “#Police upset that citizenry can now surveil them. And that can mean lower revenues from fines…#waze” are some of the top tweets on Twitter.

Most users feel the police wanting to halt the feature on Waze is less about police safety and more about losing money from speeding tickets and fines.

“I think their concern is being able to catch people who are in violation of traffic violations,” said Jason Seward.

When asked, most users said they use Waze for the navigation feature and not to track police officers. Google has yet to respond to police requests, and the police-spotting feature is still available on the app.

THE SUNDAY READ Feature pieces, opinions, and stories by the editors of The Marlin Chronicle.

thesundayread.tumblr.com

iStock | Courtsey

Attendee’s of the 2014 Comic Con dress up as Ghostbusters. The franchise is slated for a reboot, this time with an all-female cast.

I ain’t afraid of no girl

BY LILY KUNDA lmkunda@vwc.edu

A new “Ghostbusters” film, with an all-female cast, is set to start shooting this summer and expected to release in July 2016. The actresses playing the Ghostbusters include Kristen Wig, Melissa McCarthy of “Bridesmaids,” and Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnen of “Saturday Night Live.”

Information about the film’s reboot was revealed in the December Sony email hacks. Sony CEO Amy Pascal revealed that Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer and Lizzy Caplan were possibilities for the roles of the female ghost-busting crew.

Film director Paul Feig, who also directed “Bridesmaids,” said the idea to make it an all-female cast came to him as a joke originally, but the more he thought about it the better it sounded.

“I was like, what if it was an all-female cast?

If they were all women? Suddenly, my mind kind of exploded: that would be really fun,” said Feig, according to Rolling Stone magazine. “My favorite thing to do is work with funny women.” The new film will be going for a new and fresh twist on the classic.

“If you look at it from a movie perspective, if they did three kind of funny guys it might look too much like “Magic Mike” or “The Interview” or something like that. So if you go with a different set of cast you get a different kind of funny,” said Stephanie Williams.

The 1984 classic starring Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson and the late Harold Ramis still ranks as one of the funniest comedies of all time.

The film grossed $242 million in the United States and $295 million worldwide. The 1989 sequel, “Ghostbusters 2,” grossed $112 million. It received two Oscar nominations and was rated 3.5 out of four stars by Roger Ebert, who called it “one of the biggest laughs in a long time.” “Ghostbusters” became such a hit that it had franchised video games and even its own television series that aired in 1986.

The continuation of the franchise was originally supposed to be headed by original “Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman, but the death of Harold Ramis stopped him from proceeding with the project,

and it was later taken over by Paul Feig.

Feig is familiar with working with all-female casts, with his huge box office successes on “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat.” Moviegoers can expect somewhat of a reunion, since he worked with Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wig in “Bridesmaids.” Feig has enlisted the help of screenwriter Katie Dippold, who worked with him on “The Heat,” to make the new film a success.

But don’t expect a “Ghostbusters 3.” The new remake is to be completely original and not a sequel to the original. It is to have a new storyline and be set in the present day.

“I love the first one so much, I don’t want to do anything to ruin the memory of that, so it just felt like, let’s just restart it because then we can have new dynamics,” Feig said, according to Entertainment Weekly. “I want the technology to be even cooler. I want it to be really scary, and I want it to happen in our world today that hasn’t gone through it so it’s like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on?’”

There was talk of possibly having the first Ghostbusters pass the torch to the new ones, but with the death of Harold Ramis, the possibility of that is now up in the air. Don’t rule out the possibility of cameos from some of the original Ghostbusters though.

The biggest concern for “Ghostbusters” lovers is losing the funny cheesiness of the original film, getting something that isn’t authentic and takes away from the film’s cult legacy.

“I don’t have my hopes up. I’m not going to say it will beat the original. I’m not even going to say it will beat ‘Ghostbusters 2,’ but I think it will be a new era of ‘Ghostbuster’ young people can hopefully align themselves with and connect with,” said self-proclaimed “Ghostbusters”-obsessed Jason Seward. “There are so many sequels that are made to follow up movies that are absolutely terrible. But I see them being able to stay true to the old, but I just don’t want to see them tarnish the Ghostbusters name. But I don’t think it will.”

“Ghostbusters” lovers look forward to seeing how the film will revamp the special effects and what they will do with the costumes.

So, who you gonna call?

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PAGE 8

THEWEEKENDER

ART BY SHE.

Student artist brings awareness to self-love through new exhibit on campus.

FEBRUARY 12, 2015

A dash of Sims A SEXY NIGHT AT HOME

BY ELIZABETH SIMS ecsims@vwc.edu

Don’t get me wrong, I love Valentine’s Day as much as the next girl. Flowers, chocolates, maybe the promise of something more — Valentine’s Day is just an exciting day. However, it’s time to get rid of one of the stereotypes about what women want on this day of love. Let

BY STEPHANIE GOTSCHALL me be the first to say: we women don’t sagotschall@vwc.edu expect fancy restaurants and limo rides.

Honestly, we don’t even want to go out.

Silhouettes showcasing empowering images of So allow me to introduce a new Valenwomen and highlighting self-love adorn the walls of tine’s tradition for couples to start: a sexy VWC’s own Fish Bowl. home-cooked meal in a candlelit apartJunior Sherice Greene’s first art showcase titled, ment, townhouse, etc.

Art by She opened February 5th. Sponsored by the Now, I’m not trying to take business campus’s Black Student Union, Greene’s show introaway from the fine dining establishments duced the campus to paintings that expressed the of Tidewater, but let me give you some empowerment of “self-love,” using African-American reasons why you just don’t want to go women and culture as the main focus of her work. out on the loveliest day of the year. First, While seemingly unconventional when compared it’s going to be pricey.

If you’re trying to to the typical artwork that is put up in the Fish Bowl, impress that certain someone, do you reGreene’s use of nude women displays the importance ally want to save your money for a couple of empowerment and self-love. These themes proved of months just for two hours in a crowded to be a huge hit with a lot of the campus. restaurant?

Doubtf ul.

For way less money Her choice to hone in on different parts of the body you can make your own delicious meal, and her unique choice of vibrant colors set the tone for the show. They indicated that while everyone is differ- throw in a candlelit table and some smooth jazz (or your own favorite music) ent, whether it be because of their bodies, their skin and you’ve got yourself a sexy night in. color, or their backgrounds or where they came from, they should still see the beauty within them and learn Plus, by doing it all yourself, you’re showing your significant other that you care to showcase their own individual “self-love.”

Greene explained that her motivation behind choos- more than the generic Valentine’s Day hubbub indicates. ing to paint nude African-American women sort of started with herself and her own journey through self-love.

I suggest you surprise your significant “You have to love your body, love your background, who you are and where you came from, in order to have and keep self-love,” other with a delicious homemade meal, said Greene. like the one below, to really set the mood By using detail to express features such as natural hair and natural curves of African-American women, Greene was able to and get him/her ready for a romantic express empowerment from accepting and representing your culture. evening in.

Nude women were not the sole focus of her work. A few pieces focused strictly on repre-

ANTHONY DELLAMURA/MARLIN CHRONICLE

senting African-American culture and empowerment.

Greene’s most popular painting of the Black Power fist portrayed the positive message of “love your culture and yourself”. Other paintings, such as one that consisted of both a nude woman and the National Black Flag, helped to tie the two components of the show together; the beauty of the African-American body and the importance of culture that stands alongside it. Greene said that she gained a new view of life from her very first art show.

“Loving yourself and culture is essential to life” said Greene. “You can’t know who you are without loving your culture and every aspect of yourself, flaws and all.”

Being able to express herself and her culture through art and being able to show how beautiful the nude body of African-American women could be were huge perks for Greene.

However, her favorite part of doing the show was just seeing how her paintings turned out.

Since Greene has only been painting since the start of last summer, painting was a passion of hers, but also presented its challenges.

She explained that she never really has plans for her art as far as the backgrounds and colors go, so she just normally mixes colors and goes from there, hoping for the best. Being able to see her artwork and talent grow and transform was the most exciting part of this event for Greene. The added element of presenting her work solo made the experience that much more memorable.

Art by She. can be counted as a huge success for not only Greene, but also for anyone from the campus community that attended. It spread an important, positive message that everyone could stand to be reminded of every once in a while: self-love starts with you; accepting who you are, where you came from, and embracing it.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Ingredients For Breading: · 1/2 cup all purpose flour · 2 eggs · 2/3 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs (I use Progresso) · 1/3 cup freshly grated ParmigianoReggiano cheese · 1/4 teaspoon salt · 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper · 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme, parsley, chives or rosemary For Chicken: · 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1-1/2 pounds), pounded 1/4”-thick* · Salt and freshly ground black pepper · 2 tablespoons vegetable oil · 2 tablespoons olive oil · Lemon wedges, for serving Instructions 1. Set up three large, shallow bowls in an assembly line. Put the flour in the first bowl; beat the eggs in the second bowl; and mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and chopped fresh herbs in the third bowl.

2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Dredge the first chicken breast in the flour and shake off the excess until just a light coating remains. Next, dip the chicken in the egg mixture and turn to coat evenly, letting any excess egg drip off. Finally, dredge the chicken in the bread crumb mixture, turning a few times to coat well. Set breaded chicken on a plate and repeat until all of the chicken breasts are breaded.

3. Heat both oils in a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until the first side is golden brown. Flip and continue cooking until done, 2-3 minutes longer. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on angel hair pasta.. If you’re a wine drinker, we recommend having a bottle of white wine with dinner.

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Swing Dance: Swing Dance Virginia:

Beck’s “Loser:”:

Galentine’s/Bro-entine’s Day :

Technically, it is wrong to say that swing dancing “came back”...it never left. The proper term is is has been REVOLVED. At Swing Dance Virginia, you can take classes to learn blues, swing, Lindy Hop, and even tango dancing. Swing Dance Virginia offers weekly and monthly swing dance and blues dance lessons, workshops, dances, socials, exhibitions and concerts.

Beginners and two-left-feet always welcome, partner never required.

In the days following the Grammys, the Twitter-sphere was abuzz with criticism that Beyonce was snubbed for album of the year. Beck has been in the music industry for years, and to this day continues to write his own lyrics and play multiple instruments. He has been a huge influence for up-and-coming artists since the 1990s. Despite any particular views you may have on Beck or Queen B, chances are you will recognize this classic Beck tune from the 90’s.

Galentine’s Day is a made-up holiday created by Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope on NBC’s show “Parks and Recreation.” The holiday is celebrated on Feb. 13, when you celebrate your love for your lady friends, single or not! According to Leslie Knope, “Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

SPORTS

PAGE 9

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

New coach, new hopes

BY KELLIE LAGOY kalagoy@vwc.edu

A new era is about to begin for the Virginia Wesleyan Baseball program with the addition of new head coach Chris Francis.

Francis is no stranger to Norfolk, Virginia, and all that VWC has to offer. The new head coach held an assistant coaching position here, and is returning from a three-year stint at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.

“We have strong ties to the school here. Just sort of a place that we love very much. It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” Francis said.

The vision of baseball at Virginia Wesleyan is changing with Francis’s arrival, and there are going to be lofty expectations once the season kicks off. The expectations for this team are

different, and the new values are making Francis confident about the future of the “ball club”, as he calls it.

“We just added some structure and some discipline. We’ve started to develop quite a bit of leadership. From a talent level we are there, but the leadership and the structure is something that we’ve been focusing on. Being good citizens and being people that this institution can root for and rally around is an important goal for us. We also brought in nine transfers this January. We’ve had some roster turnover, but looking at this ball club, we have the right mix of people in the program, and we’re excited,” Francis said.

Francis considers that playing for a Division III college means that life doesn’t revolve around the baseball diamond. It means

that everything that happens off of the field is often more important. Francis and his coaching staff want to see their players working hard on the field, in the classroom, and at everyday life.

“Our expectations are to be leaders off the field. We talk about what they’re going to do after we leave here, and we want our boys working on the top floor, not the bottom. So our structure is built around building those kinds of kids. Also, grades were outstanding this past semester. We don’t have a single kid that isn’t eligible to travel. Basically, if your regular life is in order, the baseball business takes care of itself,” Francis said.

The Marlins will begin their spring season on the road. The Valentine’s Day matchup will be against the Salisbury Seagulls.

A sense of urgency

Senior-led Marlins focus on success in postseason play

BY MADISON CARROLL mlcarroll@vwc.edu

With their regular season coming to a close in just two weeks, the Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Basketball team will now begin a new journey for an ODAC trophy.

The 2014-15 season has been filled with tough competition and many successes for the Marlins.

They currently hold a 7-5 in the conference and they are 13-8 overall.

Achievements have been a large part of the season for the Marlins. Senior Brittany Glasco reached a career-high accomplishment of 1,000 total points and 500 rebounds in the team’s conference game against the No. 1 ranked Eastern Mennonite University. Glasco is now the 13th woman in the team’s history to reach over 500 rebounds and the 19th woman to score over 1,000 points.

Hard work is the framework of this team, but they still have fallen, despite giving strong efforts.

The Marlins dropped a game to the top-ranked EMU by less than just 10 points at the final buzzer.

They are a high caliber team that

shows that no matter a team’s ranking, they play to win and they play hard. Wins and losses are an important part of the game, but the Marlins are more concerned with hard work as they look towards the postseason.

“I think we have overcome the fact that we have had so many people come back from injuries from last year, and we had to get used to playing together again,” junior Kelly Jones said.

Last week Virginia Wesleyan added another conference win to the books. The Marlins dominated Emory and Henry College, and they took the win by 20 points.

Their losses in conference play haven’t discouraged the group.

Losses only add fuel to the fire.

“I feel pretty good about the season. There are some games we should’ve won, but we are planning on getting some revenge come ODACs,” said freshman Lainey Harmon.

Though their remaining four regular season games are still filled with tough conference competition, the Marlins say their best efforts on the court are still coming.

“Our team is very united, and with some of us returning from

injuries we have done really well with adjusting to that and coming back stronger, playing together.

Our best playing is still to come, and I think we are peaking at the right time with ODACs right around the corner,” junior Cassie Conley said.

The growing team cohesiveness on and off the court and a healthy roster are not the only factors driving the urge for a tournament win. With a strong upperclassmen presence, five seniors and two juniors, the pressure is on for the team to grasp a conference title.

“The biggest difference this year, than in years past, is that there are five seniors graduating, rather than one, making our sense of urgency for success that much greater,” senior Symonne Newsome said.

With strong leadership from the players on the court, down to the coaching staff on the bench, the Marlins have a promising future ahead of them.

Virginia Wesleyan will play at home two more times during their regular season play, once on February 11th against Bridgewater College and again on Feb 21 against Hollins University.

Thomas Mills|Marlin Chronicle

Casey King steps up to the plate to swing during the 2013-14 season.

“Fired up”

Women’s Lacrosse season poll ranking is what fuels fire for team

BY KELLIE LAGOY kalagoy@vwc.edu

The past few years haven’t been the easiest for Virginia Wesleyan’s Women’s Lacrosse program, but the start of a new season brings new aspirations.

Head coach Meagan DiCave knows what her team is capable of, and she isn’t one to let anyone tell her otherwise. When the ODAC preseason poll was released, she wasn’t fazed by the low placement.

“I think, if anything, it just gets you fired up. We are seventh out of eleventh. My seniors aren’t pleased. I think they’re angry about that. So I think it’s more to get them fired up and get them excited for season. Those polls don’t matter to me because on any given night anybody could be anybody and anyone could win,” DiCave said.

Spring season is going to be a new test for this Marlin squad. DiCave has expectations and goals for her team. Like any coach, the former All-American wants to see her team succeed on the lacrosse field every game. With a team that has seen struggles, though, winning isn’t the only achievement that can be made this season.

“Well, I think everyone wants to win. You know you want to win ODAC, and you want to go to the NCAA tournament, because you want to win a national championship. That’s the ultimate goal, obviously. We’ve been building

for the last couple of years, and I think we will still be doing that for a couple more years. I think if there was a year that we could do something big, I think this would be the year. The leadership we have with the six seniors is strong. Wins and losses, I think are important, but as long as we are progressing and every day we are getting better, that’s what matters most to me,” DiCave said.

This coach plans to make changes herself. Being responsible for the success of a team can be stressful, but DiCave knows that the stress isn’t always necessary. A new mindset is all that it can take to see big changes.

“I dwell a little too much and I take things more to heart than I should at times. So for me, it’s just about breathing a little bit this year and staying positive whether it’s a win or a loss,” DiCave said.

One thing can be said about the members of this Marlins team: they love what they do and they love each other. Family is a large part of this squad’s values, and it is a large part of why the players believe they can be successful this season.

“My girls say that family is very important. The team bond and family shows leaps and bounds off of the field. I think if you establish that it will show itself on the field,” DiCave said.

The Marlins start their journey on Valentine’s Day at St. Mary’s in Maryland.

FOR MORE SPORTS FOLLOW:

@MarlinSports Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle

Brittany Glasco dribbles the ball as she looks to make a play down court against Emory & Henry College.

Tennis strives to better their tradition Both men’s and women’s tennis are looking to improve with higher hopes for the ODAC tournament

BY KELLIE LAGOY kalagoy@vwc.edu

Adding new players and refining the skills of others can be just what a team needs to be successful. Those factors are exactly what both the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Virginia Wesleyan are trying to add.

The men’s team had a standout season last spring when it reached the conference finals. Led by head coach Darryl Cummings, this team went for an overall record of 15-5. Even more impres-

sively, the team only fell twice in conference play during its regular season. Washington and Lee University was the culprit behind the two losses. The Generals would also be the reason the Marlins didn’t win a championship trophy at the end of the year.

On the other side, the women’s team didn’t perform as well as the men’s team. The Marlins were hard-pressed to find wins as they went 4-15 overall and 2-9 in the conference. Despite the valiant effort, the team just couldn’t seem to find the success it needed to get

a berth in postseason play. Cummings plans to change that with a new season in front of him.

The former Division I coach has a vision for a successful women’s team and a championship men’s team. The addition of elite players and the consistency from others is more than likely going to be a game-changer for both programs.

“Everyone returned from last year for the women’s team, but our key recruit for the women’s is Jackie Lee. She played at [Frank W.] Cox High School, and they

won a state championship last year. Anytime you’re adding someone off of a state championship team, that’s a good thing,” said Cummings.

Lee is the only freshman on the squad, and she will be mixed in with fellow underclassmen and just one upperclassman. Junior Mia Proctor is the oldest on the team, and Cummings considers her veteran presence is sure to give the rest of the team a boost.

Lisa Nguyen, Sydney Charity, and Marisa Cifuentes are all returning sophomores.

Cummings is known for recruiting outside the country, and he has done so this year for the men’s tennis team.

“We just had a person join our team from Israel, Adam Rosemblaum. He is starting his studies this semester,” Cummings said.

Rosemblaum is welcomed into an already solid group of men on the team. There will always be competition to grab one of the top six spots on the court, considering how large the men’s roster is becoming. The current count for the team is 12.

SPORTS

PAGE 10

THURSDAY, FEB.12, 2015

A winning tradition

Continuing success into the end of the season is the biggest concern of the men’s basketball team

Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle

Kaelin Poe goes up for the dunk against an opposing defender

BY KELLIE LAGOY kalagoy@vwc.edu

Virginia Wesleyan’s men’s basketball team is doing the same thing they do every year: winning. The powerhouse squad has

only dropped three matches to give them an 18-3 overall record.

Head coach Dave Macedo knows that this kind of talent doesn’t come from any one player. He prides himself on having a talented team across the bench.

“I think it’s been a collective effort from everybody, and I think there has been steady progression. We have been getting better at the details. I think every week we just try to get a little bit better with everybody doing their part,” Macedo said.

Before the team can look ahead to a postseason run, it must first finish its regular season. The four remaining games are all conference play, and the team will have to make them count to maintain a home court advantage moving into postseason play.

“We’re trying to make sure our preparation is intact and that we are moving forward. I think we are really trying to hit our stride going into the end of February and certainly the ODAC tournament. So it’s just making sure that we’re putting our guys in a good position and making sure they are playing with a high level of confidence,” Macedo said.

This team is looking to come out strong in the conference

tournament. Unlike in years past, the Marlins have dropped two conference games so far in the regular season. Both of the losses have come from ODAC rival Randolph-Macon College.

Neither loss was a blowout or high scoring. Both teams gave a hard fought effort, but the Yellow Jackets came out on top both times. These losses haven’t given Macedo or his team any worries. The only thing this team looks to do is improve as it moves forward in the season.

“I think we’ve really been stressing that we need to improve our half-court defense. That is something that has been a point of emphasis for us, and we challenge our guys to do that and to be playmakers this time of year.

We want our seniors to set that tone. These guys want to be playing in March, and in order for that to happen we need to be taking it one game at a time and just keep getting better,” Macedo said.

This mindset of success runs

deep with the players no matter how long they have been in the program. Nick Doyle, a transfer student from Delaware State University, is already accustomed to the values and expectations that this team holds close to them.

“The biggest difference is the atmosphere. Here, coach holds everyone accountable, and he really strives to make us be great teammates whether you’re playing 40 minutes or 20 minutes or you’re the last guy on the bench. You always have to be ready,” Doyle said.

Success and a strong family atmosphere is going to be what drives this Marlin team to a conference championship and another NCAA run.

The Marlins will finish with games against Eastern Mennonite and Washington and Lee on the road, and their last two regular season home games will be against Hampden-Sydney and Guilford.

Championship Third time’s the charm caliber Softball looks to add third consecutive championship title

Men’s lacrosse plans on utilizing the heavy veteran presence to bring home a conference trophy

BY KELLIE LAGOY kalagoy@vwc.edu

Virginia Wesleyan’s Men’s Lacrosse team is ranked fifth in the conference for the preseason poll. A mediocre ranking in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) poll isn’t affecting the outlook that this Marlins team has for its upcoming season.

“It wouldn’t make a difference if we were first or tenth.

We would still approach the season the same way no matter what,” junior Ben Fletcher said.

This team had its fifth straight winning record as it finished the season with an overall 9-7 record. The Marlins had a strong season and look to continue their successes for the 2014-15 season ahead of them. VWC plans on making this season better than before, with 24 players returning from last year and a slew of incoming talented first-years.

“Team chemistry is absolutely essential to success in a team sport, and we feel like we have a lot of great players back this year. We also feel like we added a lot of great players with the transfers and the freshman class,” Fletcher said.

The Marlins are hoping to make a statement this season in the ODAC, after falling 22-7 in the conference quarterfinals against conference rivals Lynchburg College. With the help of two-time All-American Josh Currier and the rest of the nationally ranked scoring offense, this team has a chance to make a statement against a conference full of

nationally ranked opponents.

“We love playing in such a strong conference and playing nationally ranked teams.

It is great motivation for us to get better and be the best team we can be,” Currier said.

Achievements are something that these players are used to by now. Currier has racked up his own impressive accolades. He scored 100 points last season, the first player in VWC history to do such a feat.

“I’m personally putting my focus towards winning lacrosse games, and I think if we do as well as a team then my personal stats will work themselves out,” said Currier.

Other players are pacing themselves to bring in strong statistics as the season begins.

Senior Mike Moran will be an offensive powerhouse this year if he can produce the same numbers he put up last year. Other players are poised to come back stronger this season from all the extra work they’ve put in.

“Our team worked really hard this offseason in preparation for the year. We are all in great shape and ready for the season. I am very happy with all the extra work our team has been putting in to improve. Tim and Casey, the CrossFit trainers, helped us out a ton too, and we owe them a big thanks. They are a big reason why we are ready for the season,” Currier said.

The Marlins begin their season on Feb. 21 against the Greensboro College Pride.

Their first game is the first of a four-game homestand.

Anthony Dellamura | Marlin Chronicle

Head coach Brandon Elliot discusses strategy with his players during a match during the 2013-14 season.

BY KERRI-LEANNE TAYLOR ktaylor@vwc.edu

A championship season is no longer an aspiration for the softball team; instead, it has become an expectation for arguably the most-decorated team on campus.

As spring semester begins, so does softball season, and the Marlins look to extend their triumphant tradition with a stellar outcome as they enter regular-season play. The softball team has aspirations of winning yet another Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title, and securing another bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. The softball program won its second consecutive ODAC title last year, and it has earned an NCAA tournament bid three times in the last four years.

“I think we’re ready. We are returning a lot of key players, and we have a lot of new, talented players that are eager to contribute. With the continued hard work and dedication, there is no reason that we shouldn’t have a successful season,” junior Mary Shipp said.

In addition to their past achievements, the Marlins are also currently ranked 12th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. Although the team lost seven outstanding gradu-

ates from the 2014 season, the softball program is raring to return to action this year, with an experienced core of six upperclassmen and a talented group of sophomores and freshmen.

The Marlins will rely on the combined forces of three key returners who gained national and regional accolades in the 2014 season. Senior Kristina Karagiorgis returns, with two ODAC Pitcher of the year titles under her belt, alongside junior Kayla Malkos, who led the nation in stolen bases, and junior Mary Shipp, who was last year’s national leader in saves.

Even though returners have experienced past successes, every player, returners and newcomers alike, will have to step up and perform her best on game day in order to bring home silverware at the end of the season. The Marlins know they will have to prepare thoroughly for each match-up, and do not expect any game to be easy.

“We have some work to do as a team before we will be 100 percent ready for the season, but there’s no doubt that we will be ready by the time our first game comes around,” freshman outfielder Tess Higgins said.

Although the Marlins expect nothing less than an ODAC title

and NCAA tournament berth, the road to the championship will be challenging. Head Coach Brandon Elliot has a tough schedule organized for his program, with the team facing multiple nationally ranked opponents.

“I think with a lot of young and hungry players we’re all pushing each other, both on and off the field, to be better every day.

With that being said, I think we have all gelled nicely, and I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us,” Shipp said.

However, the softball program does not pride itself on wins and losses alone; the players share an sister-like bond and hope to cultivate their friendships this season.

“Our team chemistry is awesome on and off the field,” said Higgins. “We’re a big family and there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for one another. Each girl on the team is not only a teammate, but a friend and sister.”

The season officially begins on Sunday, Feb. 22, as the Marlins open against Meredith College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

“Honestly, there’s no other team I’d rather take the field with than this one. We feel so good about the upcoming season, and we won’t leave anyone disappointed,” freshman Cassety Howerin said.

Swinging into a new season

The golf program strives to become a household name in the community by bringing success in 2015

BY JAMES MORRIS jmmorrisjr@vwc.edu

Virginia Wesleyan’s golf coach, Bryan Hearn, anticipates a strong spring season for his players.

The Marlins have already shown that they are capable of being a strong team. Golf at VWC is currently ranked 115th among Division III schools, according to GolfStat. Hearn explained that this was the best ranking the school has ever held since

the rankings started to come out.

Only three matches will happen before this team begins the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament. The roster shows seven names, but for conference play there can only be five players competing.

This will obviously require some of the athletes to compete for spots on the conference roster.

“The top three spots of the starting five are set, but we are going to need the guys in the four and

five spots to step up,” Hearn said.

Hearn heavily emphasized the idea that one player is not responsible for the entire team. The head coach feels that all the players should be supporting one another as they progress on the golf course.

“The key to success for our guys is going to be playing for each other. We have to have heart and we have to grind on the course if we are going to be amongst the top,” Hearn said.

The team is ready to succeed

on the course and bring Virginia Wesleyan up the rankings. Two new freshman on this squad, Hall Rupert and Evan Cox, are looking to become integral parts of this spring season. Both freshmen came out strong in the fall, and they hope to move that success to the new season.

Rupert and Cox have their own expectations for themselves, but both agree that they are striving to improve their scoring averages. They stressed that the en-

tire team has expectations that, despite bebolf being an individual sport, team camaraderie and support is incredibly important.

“Team goals for this season are to go in with more confidence in each match, which will lead to doing well in the ODAC. If we go out on the course with a lot of confidence in ourselves and set goals for ourselves, then the team scores and goals will follow,” Rupert said.