April 21, 2016

You get seven commencement tickets. Make them count. OPINIONS Pg. 6

THE MARLIN CHRONICLE THURSDAY 4.21.16 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

LIGHTING THE WORLD

ON FIRE VWC Sports Information| Courtesy Senior softball player Courtney Bogan at bat in the eighth-annual Strike Out Cancer event held at Marlins Field. The players wore special yellow uniforms honoring Administrative Assistant to the President Jodi Bryant.

MARLINS SOFTBALL REACHES HIGHEST RANKING IN SCHOOL HISTORY

BY HAYLEY HEATH hrheath@vwc.edu

& SAMANTHA SMALL stsmall@vwc.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan College women’s softball team is taking its success to a new level this year, ranking fourth in the country and boasting a 31-5 record. With their rank being the highest in the school’s history, the Marlins look to continue their momentum as the postseason nears.

Coach Brandon Elliott affords the team’s success to its new, looser playing style. Both freshmen and veteran players are hoisting the team to new heights.

“Our freshman, they’ve done a really good job of understanding that this is a top-ten program and we’re gonna make the best decision we can on playing time to be most successful. It’s about ‘team’ and it’s about just preparing to do your job, whatever your job is,” Elliott said.

First-year pitcher Kandis Kresinske threw her second individual no-hitter in a 4-0 win over Emory & Henry College in game two of the team’s eighth annual Strike Out Cancer event. The Marlins run-ruled the Wasps in an 8-0 victory in game one of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader.

Kresinske earned her fourth ODAC Pitcher of the Week honor of the year Monday, April 11.

“Our pitching staff as a whole has been lights out every

game they’ve pitched and they’ve kept us in a lot of ball games we’ve struggled in,” Elliott said. “Mary and Kandis have, I would say, if anybody’s been catalyst, the most consistent and doing their jobs every day, it’s been those two.”

“I expect to win. I think if you set your expectation lower than that, then you’re not Marlins Softball.”

ALANA PETERS, SOPHOMORE RELIEF PITCHER Veteran outfielder Courtney Bogan said the team’s success is largely due to the freshman’s energy. “[Kresinske] is always cheering for her teammates even when she is not playing and has so much belief within each and every one of us,” Bogan said. “She is a big role within our program with keeping us positive and energized and her presence on the field makes us all more positive and excited to play.”

Offensively, the team came together at different points

in the year to ensure its success.

Bogan broke an ODAC and VWC record for stolen bases in a season previously held by current Marlin senior Kayla Malkos. She also broke the career record held previously by Marlin alumna Tori Higginbotham. Thanks to Bogan, the record number of steals in a season, once set at 52 in 2014, is now climbing past 60.

“We haven’t all hit well at the same time and we haven’t all stunk at the same time,” Elliott said. “Early in the year, the top lot of the line-up was lighting the world on fire.”

Impact players such as Cassetty Howerin, Blake Henderson and Liz Bailey also carried offensive production.

“Howerin can change game in one swing. But with that being said, teams are figuring that out and they are pitching around her, so Blake Henderson made that hurt,” Elliott said.

Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Softball is known as a competitive, top-notch program. Elliott said the key to the continuation of success is two-fold.

“I think the the number one thing is maintaining this kind of the culture in the program—being competitive, staying together and developing players,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate, obviously, to get some very talented players to decide that Virginia Wesleyan is where they wanted to be.”

SEE SPORTS Pg. 7

Kids Fundango Festival

BY JUSTIN SMITH jrsmith2@vwc.edu

Josh Currier’s recordbreaking season helps Men’s Lacrosse team as it aims for ODAC tournament page 7

Hundreds of kids will flood the Virginia Wesleyan College campus in the upcoming fall when the college hosts the Kids Fundango Festival sponsored by the child sexual abuse prevention organization, Stop Abuse.

With the help of Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Joanne Renn, a dedicated member of the organization and advocate for its cause, the Kids Fundango Festival will bring joy to kids and awareness to everyone.

“It’s going to be a day of pure joy and hands-on fun,” Executive Director of Stop Abuse Regina Marscheider said.

The Kids Fundango Festival is the signature fundraiser for Stop Abuse, according to Marscheider. The festival provides a safe, fun environment for children through sponsorships with the Virginia Beach community.

On Oct. 22, 2016 Virginia Wesleyan will host this year’s Kids Fundango Festival, making it Stop Abuse’s twelfth festival, according to Renn. The festival will include games, music, interactive displays, inspirational and instructive athletic training

SEE FUNDANGO Pg. 2

Funds being raised for two full-time positions needed due to growth in Marlin Ministries page 3 Pub n’ Club brings students together for drinks, karaoke, deejayed music and dancing page 10

Infographic by Ashlei Gates

Sources: Stop Abuse and Virginia Department of Social Services/CPS, 2013/14

2 Thursday April 21, 2016 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

NEWS

Jane Doe case update: proceeding to trial

FUNDANGO CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Infographic by Ashlei Gates

BY ASHLEY KLINE aakline@vwc.edu & COURTNEY HERRICK clherrick@vwc.edu

A $10 million lawsuit was filed against Virginia Wesleyan College in 2014 by a former student identified as Jane Doe for the alleged mishandling of her sexual assault case. The alleged assault happened during the fall of 2012 and received review by Virginia Wesleyan College’s Community Arbitration Board on Feb. 13, 2013.

Now, approximately four years after the alleged assault, the case is going to trial and will be heard by the Honorable Judge David W. Lannetti of the Norfolk Circuit Court. Executive Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, Laynee Timlin said the trial is scheduled to take place in May. In her accusations of the mishandling of her case, Doe cites the change to the alleged perpetrator’s transcript as her reason for the lawsuit, according to The Huffington Post. Virginia Wesleyan College enabled the defendant possible entry to another institution by changing his transcript from “expelled” to “voluntarily withdrawn,” according to a letter sent from David E. Buckingham Dean Emeritus and former Vice President for Student Affairs.

The defendant is identified as Robert Roe in court documents.

Buckingham led the original Title IX hearing on campus and informed Doe of the change to Roe’s transcript by letter. Timlin indicated that numerous people on both sides are involved in the trial.

“Robert Roe received a change in his sanction and I alerted her (Jane Doe) to that fact. I also said to her that the findings, which I was involved with as a member of the appeal committee, did not change. The findings were that, that individual violated college policy and specifically the alcohol policy and physical contact of a sexual nature. As a consequence, we are not changing the fact that he could no longer be here and that he was never to come back. That didn’t change,” Buckingham said in a 2015 Marlin Chronicle interview, regarding the letter sent to Doe. Students, faculty and staff were notified of the pending lawsuit in an email dated October 2014 by Buckingham and received a follow-up email a month later from Leona Baker, director of marketing and communications at Virginia Wesleyan College.

Baker’s email included a link to a list of news briefs on the school’s website as they pertain to the allegations made by the media’s coverage of the Jane Doe lawsuit against the college.

The news brief list concluded with “Virginia Wesleyan College continues to be the caring and responsible place we have always been. The College realizes that campus resources and all of our efforts do not guarantee immunity from the very serious issue of sexual assault on college campuses as it reflects the greater problem in society in general. However, we hope that by addressing this issue together, as a community, we can make continual improvements to reduce this risk.”

Since notifying the campus community of the lawsuit against the school and the potential media coverage that the case could receive, many media outlets have covered the incident and its updates.

Doe told the Huffington Post that following the incident she lacks an ability to have sex, lacks interest in having sex and has difficulties engaging in romantic relationships. In light of these statements, Virginia Wesleyan College requested that Doe provide a complete record of her sexual history and names of her boyfriends since August 2012.

A news release dated Aug. 12, 2015 from the college’s legal counsel, Sinnott Nuckols & Logan, PC Attorneys at Law, said “Regarding our requests for information about Jane Doe’s relationships, we want to be clear that we have no intention of arguing Jane Doe is of unchaste character and therefore must have done something wrong.”

The news release also states that such information was warranted under the discovery process. “The basis for the request was that Jane Doe has made various claims for monetary damages related in part to her failed relationships.”

“The College is limited in its ability to disclose information related to the case given ongoing litigation. The College continues to deny any wrongdoing on the part of the institution and is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the campus community,” Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Moore said.

Buckingham said in the 2015 interview that students would be notified of the outcome of the case as soon as a decision was made.

He declined to comment on the impending trial when contacted by email.

Many current and past school officials refused to offer additional information on the case since litigation is still in process.

Clarification

4/7/16, News, page 1: A teaser for an article on page 4 said that the art ofthe VWC student interning at the Chrysler Museum was being featured there. This was incorrect.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, National Sex Offender Public Website, 2014 sessions, live performances, aerial acrobats and multicultural dance troops.

The festival will also hold a celebrity meet-and-greet.

Confirmed guests who will attend the festival include former NFL running back and MLB outfielder, D.J. Dozier, and Olympic gold-medalist, Ann Trombley. According to Marscheider, more athletes and, potentially, a very wellknown figure are being scheduled to come to the event “I’m hoping we are also going to get one major celebrity,” Marscheider said. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

The Kids Fundango Festival will also showcase Stop Abuse’s signature marionette shows. The festivals have, in addition to the puppet performances, puppet exhibitions and a workshop where the children get to create their own puppet shows.

Stop Abuse, a tax-exempt organization formed in 1986, aims to spread awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. Through its Emmy award-winning marionette program, “Simon Says Just Tell,” children learn to recognize, prevent and disclose abuse in a safe, non-threatening environment, according to the Stop Abuse website.

Stop Abuse’s marionette program features an array of ethnically diverse puppets that allows any child to identify with them. The 45-minute long production combines storytelling and song to teach children how to recognize the sanctity of their bodies and how to protect themselves.

“The reason we use marionettes is because they’re nonthreatening,” Marscheider said. “When talking about child sexual abuse, that’s a pretty tough subject to talk about, but our puppets and our show are very gentle,” she said.

Marscheider, a victim of child sexual abuse, said the prevention program helps her just as much as it helps the children.

“Every time we did the show, every child that came forward and every child that got help, that helped me deal with it. Without really knowing it, this has been my therapy for the last 30 years,” Marscheider said.

Marscheider also said she met other adults who share

the same experience as her.

“Now that I have found my voice, I’m not only able to help children, but the amazing thing is that I get to help adults,” she said.

Marscheider said she met many women who chose to disclose their abusive pasts to her for the first time in their lives.

Kids Fundango Festivals in the past brought in over 5,000 guests, according to the festival’s website.

The celebration offers other community organizations and business to get involved. Past contributions have been made by the Virginia Beach Police and Sheriff Departments and Dominion Virginia Power.

This year’s festival will not only allow Virginia Beach community members to get involved, but also the VWC community.

“This is the twelfth Kids Fundango Festival and obviously, we are excited we are part of this process,” Renn said.

Stop Abuse is currently looking for volunteers for the fall’s festival, a community service opportunity for any VWC student, fraternity or sorority.

The student opportunities don’t end there. Marscheider said the organization is always looking for interns from humanities and theatre disciplines. Interns are trained on how the Stop Abuse prevention programs operate. Students learn more about the issue of child sexual abuse and techniques of spreading awareness.

“I would love to train some of the students on the actual child abuse prevention show,” Marscheider said. “There is so much we can offer to each other; it’s a win-win situation.”

The Stop Abuse prevention shows have saved thousands of children from being abused because of the techniques and prevention methods taught, according to Marscheider.

The organization was instrumental in the successful prosecution and incarnation of over 150 child molesters in the Hampton Roads area thus far.

Well-known bands set to perform at Spring Fling

Flickr| Courtesy The band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus performing on St. Patrick’s day in 2012 at St. Petersburg, Florida.

BY HARRISON KIRKLAND hdkirkland@vwc.edu

Pop punk band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus will headline this year’s Spring Fling, which will be hosted on Saturday, April 30 at 6 p.m. by the Wesleyan Activities Council (WAC).

The band will be kicking off a 10-year anniversary tour.

Well Reds, an alt-pop rock band that is very popular on the college show market, will also perform. A local pop punk band called Friends With Monsters is set to open the show, and Astro DJ will entertain the crowd with dance music between sets. WAC will also provide a bounce house, a photo booth and a temporary/airbrush tattoo vendor. The group is working on finding a group to sell concession snacks as well.

This year, WAC worked to bring more popular bands to campus in an effort to raise attendance levels.

“We wanted a recognizable name that the campus could afford, and we felt that this group has a throwback

value that our students will appreciate,” Director of Student Activities Kate Griffin said.

According to WAC member Julie Ainsley, students did not interact with the bands that came to campus for the Spring Fling in the past.

“We wanted to give the students the opportunity to know some of the bands, like be involved with it...so we can possibly have a bigger budget to do these more often,” Ainsley said.

“The group performing is wellknown and I think that says a lot about how VWC caters to the students,” President of the Student Government Association Cassandra McEwan said.

WAC members said they would not be able to put this event together without the help of their grad assistant, Jesse Schrader, who was Longwood University’s concert planner before coming to Wesleyan. Through his event planning at Longwood, Schrader connected with numerous agents.

Ainsley said, “Especially our grad assistant, Jake, he was Longwood’s big concert planner. He had connec-

tions with a bunch of the agents.”

“Rather than doing the dunk tank and all the games, we thought we would use him as a tool to give our campus what they kind of need,” Ainsley said.

WAC is organizing the Spring Fling event largely because it will give students a means to escape their final papers and tests.

“Spring Fling is another one of the many events put on that gives students the chance to take a break from their hectic work and school schedules,” McEwan said. “Being that it is the last major event of the semester, students really have the chance to let loose and blow off some steam before buckling down for finals.”

Spring Fling will be a private concert for the students at Virginia Wesleyan and is not open to the public.

Tickets are free to VWC students, but each student can bring one guest to enjoy the experience with them for five dollars while supplies last.

3

COMMUNITY The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Courtney Herrick clherrick@vwc.edu

Thursday April 21, 2016 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Greek Week

A special week organized

by Zezie Martins, Julie Ainsley, Lindsey Walker, Audrey Thames, Dany Singletary and Shauntell Whitehurst-Joyner for all the Greek organizations to come together and demonstrate their unity.

News Editors Brian Le btle@vwc.edu Sarah Antozzi scantozzi@vwc.edu Community Editors

The theme for the week was “’90s” and every event had to incorporate some aspect of the “’90s.”

Kaci Parker klparker@vwc.edu Jasmine Driggs jtdriggs@vwc.edu Opinions Editor Michael Willson mnwillson@vwc.edu The Weekender Troy Aubut taaubut@vwc.edu Sports Editor Jamie Crawley jjcrawley@vwc.edu Photo Editors Anthony Dellamura aadellamura@vwc.edu Kayla Skeete krskeete@vwc.edu

Photos courtesy of Julie Ainsley

Illustrations Editor Britani Daley badaley@vwc.edu Val Miller vgmiller@vwc.edu

New opportunities with Marlin Ministries There will be some changes, including an internship opportunity in the office.

Online Editor Maurice Reed mreed@vwc.edu Copy Editor

BY LAURISSA SENECAL Samantha Small stsmall@vwc.edu

Advertising Representative Courtney Herrick clherrick@vwc.edu Social Media

Advisor

Jasmine Driggs jtdriggs@vwc.edu Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwc.edu

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

“As a former collegiate student newspaper editor, professional journalist and long-time advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, I understand the role and value of student media at a liberal arts college. 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 consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.”

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

ljsenecal@vwc.edu

Chaplain Greg West and Marlin Ministries student leaders are raising money to support two full-time staff positions to keep up with the rapid growth the club experienced over the past four years.

Marlin Ministries’ plan is two-fold. First, they want to bring George Scott’s position of part-time worship leader to a full-time position. In this new role, Scott would help not only with worship-related programming, but also assist West with a lot of administrative work, freeing him up from some of his logistical tasks. Secondly, Marlin Ministries wants to bring on a Virginia Wesleyan graduate as a fulltime paid intern. While this intern would help West minister to students, a big part of his or her job would also be orchestrating communication between West and the many ministry leaders running Bible studies and life groups.

If this program is instituted, it would help not only Marlin Ministries but also lend a bit of experience to the graduate student. Students like Forrest Teague are eager to apply for the position.

“It’s a big step, but it’s a really good stepping stone into that and with finding if this is something I want to do,” Teague said.

The graduate intern program model began at the University of Georgia due to the vision of Chaplain Bob Beckwith. West attended a conference where Beckwith spoke about four years ago. At the time, Beckwith had 30 graduate interns working for him who were all recent graduates of the University of Georgia. The program was a big success.

The idea is that since the students attended the university, they are well-equipped to work as effective employees of the institution. West wants to start up this program at Wesleyan, employing a recently graduated student who was strongly involved in Marlin Ministries.

Austin VonVille, senior soccer player, reflects on his experience at Virginia Wesleyan, noting that the recent growth in Marlin Ministries.

“There has been tremendous growth from what I have seen coming in four years ago to where it is now,” VonVille said.

Other seniors who remember what Marlin Ministries looked like three years ago are equally impressed by the change.

“My freshmen year, we probably averaged 10 people at Soar (which is our chapel service that meets on Sundays at 4 p.m.), and now, three years later, we average between 30 to 40 people at Soar and another 40 to 50 people at Monday night worship,” senior religious studies major Gabe Higgins said.

West said he is amazed by this growth. According to West, at the beginning of his time as Virginia Wesleyan’s chaplain, there were barely 20 students loosely involved in campus ministries. There are now 20 groups of students meeting under the Marlin Ministries umbrella. At the end of last year school year, West calculated that 10% of the Virginia Wesleyan student population was somehow involved in Marlin Ministries. Instead of taking pride in this achievement, West said he insists that it was not his own skill that brought growth to Marlin Ministries. He credits a higher power.

“This isn’t to blow my own trumpet. God is doing something great here,” West said.

West said he feels Marlin Ministries contributes a tremendous amount to recruitment and retention.

“There are students who I know would have left by now if it weren’t for Marlin Ministries,” West said.

VonVille, reflecting on his own experience as student at VWC, echoes this sentiment and references his own spiritual growth.

“It’s helped keep me grounded in a sense. When you feel like life is just too much, Greg’s door is always open,” VonVille said.

Evidence of growth as a result of West’s work is found in several new student-initiated and student-led events. One is known as Monday Night Worship, which meets every Monday night in the Boyd

Dining Hall at 8:30 p.m. Key student leaders who orchestrate the event include Trey Queen, Gabe Higgins, Emily Testroet, Luke Wentling and Drew Tomajczyk. What started as a spur of the moment worship event consisting of 10 participants in the fall grew into a gathering of 40-50 people.

“The subtle influence of Greg helps Monday nights. Continue the main goal, enhance the faith of this community and grow that community,” VonVille said.

While both West and Marlin Ministries student members said they are excited by this growth, they are also concerned that as the workload continues to build due to increased student involvement, West will become increasingly overwhelmed.

Senior tennis player Drew Tomajczyk emphasized the need for more full-time staff members to manage the growing organization.

“Greg could use all the help he can get because God is moving quickly on this campus and we need as many hands as we can get,” Tomajczyk said.

“I think that Greg is very busy, that there are millions of people always wanting to meet with him for various reasons and that there should definitely be another staff member,” senior Isis Percell said.

The concern that Percell expresses about West’s multiple demands is what concerns West the most. He said he feelss he has become increasingly unavailable to students simply because he has so many responsibilities.

“This semester, I have had to tell students, ‘No, I can’t meet with you.’ I have never had to do that before… And I don’t like that,” West said.

Additionally, because of his busy schedule, West said he has a hard time checking in with the 20 students who lead the small groups many students attend.

In order to relieve his overwhelming schedule, West is working to raise funding. Marlin Ministries is about halfway through, in terms of dollar amounts, and the team remains hopeful.

Val Miller | Marlin Chronicle

4 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

CAMPUS countdown April 22nd

Rayce Bennett

Mud Games, one of Wesleyan’s most beloved campus traditions is back this semester. This event is sponsored by the Wesleyan Acitivities Council with the support of RecX. For more information, contact Kate Griffin with at 757.233.8785.

Senior

Recreation and Leisure Studies With a focus in Therapy

BY KACI PARKER

Mud Games

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Rose Lawn (near the Fine Arts Building)

Thursday, April 21, 2016

klparker@vwc.edu

Q: “How have you changed since freshman year?”

A: “I have gained a lot of wisdom and learned a lot of things I can take with me the rest of my life: knowledge, both academically and personally.

Long story short, the relationships I’ve built here.”

Q: “What is your most memorable experience at Wesleyan?”

A: “Probably going to Seafood in the Dell on my recruiting trip. And all of the times that I was with everyone outside of the game [soccer].”

Q: “If you could change one thing in the past four years, what would it be? Would you do anything differently?”

A: “I’m not sure if I would change anything.”

Rayce Bennett| Courtesy

Q: “What are your plans after you graduate?”

A: “I want to find a job. I would love to stay in the area, but I will go anywhere I can see myself enjoying.”

April 23rd 34th Annual Seafood in the Dell

Q: “What advice would you give to the rising seniors?”

A: “You’re close, don’t give up. It goes by fast, so make the most of what time you have left. Do all of the things you can do.”

Time: 4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.

Location: Batten Lawn *Boyd if inclement weather*

Q: “If you could recreate any memory from your college career, what would it be?”

A: “Winning an ODAC Championship sophomore year.”

All-you-can-eat seafood, hamburgers, hot dogs and much more will be served.

Live music by the Dustin Furlow Duo. Pricing: $12 for ages 12 and up; $6 for ages 6-11 and free for kids 5 and under. VWC students can pay with their meal cards.

Q: “What advice would you give your freshman self?”

A: “To make the most of it. It goes by fast. Enjoy it and embrace it.

Never grow up.”

Q: “What will you miss the most upon graduation?”

A: “Being around everybody, and how accessible everything is here.”

Freshman

CRIME BLOTTER

Rayce Bennett | Courtesy

Courtesy|Thinkstock

Britani Alyse | Marlin Chronicle

Sports Information is a hit campus-wide Cody Clifton brings a spark to interns in Sports Information.

BY KATHERINE BISHOP kabishop@vwc.edu

April 3 7:26 p.m. |Vandalism Boyd Door handle broken off.

April 5 2:40 p.m. |Larceny/Theft Village III Clothes stolen from laundry room.

April 11 3:27 a.m. |Liquor Law Violation Village III No description.

April 13 10:22 p.m. |Controlled Substance B Lot No description.

April 16 9:10 p.m. |Controlled Substance Village II No description.

April 16 10:12 p.m. |Liquor Law Violation Village III No description.

April 16 10:36 p.m. |Liquor Law Violation Village III No description.

The Virginia Wesleyan Athletic Department gives students the opportunity to complete an internship with the school in both fall and spring semesters for credit hours.

Director of Sports Information Cody Clifton is in charge of hiring, training and evaluating the interns. The positions for the internship vary from semester to semester. Assigning projects to interns varies as Clifton assigns them based on what the student is most interested in doing.

“The positions honestly vary from semester to semester, depending on who is interested in an internship and what their long-term goals are. I view the internship program more as a way for a student to get hands-on experience in a field they are interested in,” Clifton said. Students have the option of focusing on sports information/statistics, video editing, broadcasting, journalism and event management.

Many students in communication and business fields jumped at the opportunity to work in Sports Information.

“My role as an intern is pretty diverse. I mainly specialize in film and editing work, but I’m responsible for various tasks such as operating scoreboards and video boards, taking pictures, working webcasts and writing sports stories,” Chris Smith, senior and current athletic department intern, said.

Clifton said that interns get out what they put in. By working in the office and at games, an intern works about 10 hours a week on average, but some students have done around 20 hours a week. According to Clifton, the students who put in the extra hours are the ones who usually stay in the field after finishing the internship.

Over the last year, Clifton expanded the internship program to offer students the opportunity to work in a demanding, hands-on environment. Clifton said it is more competitive to find a job now than when he went to college, and that students are competing with other students from all over the country.

They need to take away something from the experience that other students won’t have.

“Every student is more focused on what it takes to be marketable and that has forced the evolution of internships to the more tailored, individualized offerings you see now. This internship should be an experience that they have that others do not, so they can get a leg up when looking for jobs. If an intern is willing to put the work in, they will receive a lot out of it,” Clifton said.

Past interns attest to the benefit of the internship and Clifton.

“There are a lot of little differences that made it look more professional, and I think he [Clifton] brought that with him from Lynchburg because they were really tech savvy over there. So, he brought a lot of his experiences from there here, which is good for the school I think,” Theresa Yunger, senior and former Sports

Adam Kurek | Marlin Chronicle Interns from Sports Information covering a rainy lacrosse game.

Information intern, said.

Yunger interned in the fall and said she enjoyed filming games, such as men and women’s soccer games, the most out of all of her experiences. However, this was not all she did. Yunger was responsible for working the scoreboard, putting in athlete bios on the school website, filming the games, breaking down the footage and creating a highlight video for the school’s athletic department YouTube channel. It was crucial that she and other interns did everything in a timely manner when it came to player’s bios and game statistics as they were constantly changing and needed updating.

Smith said the position helped him develop the skills necessary for his future.

“This internship has helped me communicate on a professional level and has given me the ability to think on the fly because of the various roles I have had to learn as an intern,” Smith said.

The internship in Sports Information is not paid, but students can get both credit hours and experience from interning with the Athletic Department. Clifton said it is difficult to get a job right after an internship at the school due to people staying in the profession and rarely leaving. Because of this, Clifton makes recommendations for interns.

“I have recommended interns for employment at other schools as either full-time interns or graduate assistants. That seems to be the best way for them to advance in the profession,” Clifton said.

“The sports industry takes a lot of work to break into, so once one of us makes it, we like to help those that follow in our footsteps. The ultimate goal is to have Virginia Wesleyan interns all over the landscape of sports information, putting the skills they learned to use,” Clifton said.

If a student would like to apply for the internship position they can either email Clifton or stop by his office.

5

OPINIONS

Thursday April 21, 2016 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Blowing off steam: Using vapes as a smoking alternative

BY STEPHANIE SINGER smsinger@vwc.edu

Britani Alyse| Marlin Chronicle

Questions swirl around the concept of vapes like steam clouds. What are vapes?

What chemicals, if any, do they contain?

Are they safe alternatives to smoking? Can vapes actually help tobacco addicts quit?

I’m glad someone asked these questions.

I have answers.

“Vape” is a shorter form of the word “vaporizer.” It looks like a metal cigarette.

“Vaping” is the act of using a vape. As the name suggests, there’s not any smoke involved. It’s just vapor, or steam. Some vapes have flavors to them. A company in Colorado offers a flavor that’s a combination of oatmeal, rum, raisin, and anise.

This is great if you like alcohol-drenched breakfast bars.

Chemicals in vapes aren’t as numerous as those in the average cigarette. However, vape users aren’t just inhaling straight water vapor. One common ingredient is diethylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze. Also, the vapor itself offers two options: cannabis oil, derived from the marijuana plant, and nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco products. Even if the public doesn’t classify vapes as harmful drugs, the main ingredients tell otherwise.

The toxins in vapes aren’t as intense as the ones in regular tobacco. An article in the Tobacco Control journal said the concentration levels in vapes are nine to 450 times lower than in regular cigarettes. Also, the addictive substances from cannabis and nicotine are diluted. Still, there are not many studies looking at long-term effects.

Also, outside regulations are either loose or non-existent. Can we really trust a growing industry to regulate itself?

Some people who switched to vaping say it helped them quit smoking. This sounds like good news. Neal Benowitz, a nicotine expert with UC San Francisco, doesn’t buy into this. Smoking rates have significantly decreased during the past two decades.

With the expanded use of vapes, smoking is coming back into vogue. Benowitz worries that the low levels of nicotine or cannabis in vapes would actually make people want higher doses. Even if this isn’t the case, vape users still breathe aromas of addiction.

Vapes are more of a crutch than a proper quitting method. If someone wants to quit, they better mean business. Otherwise they might slip back into the old habit.

There are other problems with vapes. One is the offensive odor. Simply put, vapes stink. The other is the ridiculous price tag.

Although vapes don’t attack your nostrils with the same aggression as cigarette smoke, they still don’t smell very good. I remember waiting outside a music classroom at Tidewater Community College’s Norfolk Campus. One of the students was vaping. The steam smelled like a cross between wet paint and overcooked asparagus.

Worse, the nasty odor lingered.

Vapes can cost more than $100. The flavors add even more to the price. Do you really have that kind of money to spend on an unhealthy habit? I thought not.

We’re not powerless. If you know anyone who considers trying vapes, let them know about the problems. Better ways exist to blow off steam.

Why we need weed No texting in class

BY ANDREW DELUCA amdeluca@vwc.edu

I know what you’re thinking. Before I even begin sharing my thoughts, you’ll think that I’m just a helpless stoner who wants to legalize marijuana so I can be high all day. I’m not going to justify your preconceptions with a response; not because they’re wrong, but because I honestly feel it should be legalized for several reasons that don’t just benefit me. Let’s dive in.

I think marijuana should be legalized because of its medicinal effects. According to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website, 3-5 percent of the United States population has generalized anxiety disorder. I’m taking medications for it that generally make me drowsy, give me insomnia and can make me feel worse than I actually am. Plus, I get random bouts of depression from them as well. Some days I literally just lie in my bed all day and listen to sad music because I feel overwhelmed and upset that death is inevitable. But there’s a lovely antidepressant known as cannabis. It significantly improves mood from THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana.

In addition to the medicinal benefits of cannabis, there are no conclusive studies published to prove whether or not marijuana is more dangerous or less dangerous than alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that around 38,000 deaths last year were alcohol-induced. There was no category for marijuanarelated deaths. And this was without its legality.

There are said to be many social benefits to smoking marijuana regularly, and cannabis can also spur creativity. I’m not saying that I recommend smoking pot all the time, or even that you should do it once if you’re uncomfortable with doing it. There are plenty of worse things to do than marijuana (murder, for one). I am upset people seem to be taking the same stance on marijuana that they did on vaccines when Dr. Wakefield came out with his experiment. Sure, it opened up a discussion that was worth having, but we really need the research present to form any opinions and have any conclusive changes.

I’m noticing a theme in my editorials for the Chronicle, and it’s pretty simple to grasp: don’t be stupid. Get the facts and make a decision. When you don’t know what you’re talking about, don’t spread false information. Don’t speculate or assume. If you care enough about the subject, please do some research and try to find the correct answer. Until then, it’s fine to say that you don’t know something; that’s why we’re all here to learn.

We are making scientific advancements every day. Anything could be proven wrong at any moment, but right now, we can only go off of the information that we have at our disposal. The earth is still spherical; time is still a concept of human perception; death is still inevitable; Donald Trump still can’t win my vote; Oprah still won’t give me her cell number. What was the point of this again? Oh yeah, don’t be stupid. I’m begging you. Just don’t. On to the next issue.

BY STEPHANIE SINGER smsinger@vwc.edu

Val Miller| Marlin Chronicle What’s the most annoying part of college classes? Is it too much homework, professors who are hard to understand or the students who ask too many questions? For me, the most annoying part of college classes is when people use their cell phones in class.

In bygone days, students just used their cell phones for texting. They used various methods to avoid getting caught.

Some of the female students would pretend to search for a lipstick in those oversized purses. In reality, they were texting. Others would text under their desks. The key to not getting caught was keeping the phone silent. Still, eagle-eyed professors were able to tell.

Some professors implemented policies about cell phones for if a student was caught.

Things have changed. Cell phone users can do so much more than send and receive simple messages. They can browse the internet, use social media of all kinds, listen to music, watch a movie, play games, read e-books and more. It’s a world of technological advancements at their fingertips, available anytime.

Every time someone uses their phone in class, it’s disruptive. Notifications are a major offender. Tick-tock! Ding! Chirp! Ring-ring-ring-ring-ring! Pop! Beep! Click! The touch-screen keyboard is no better; tap-tap-tap as a student posts to Facebook or sends a message. Swoosh! Message sent! Problem solved! Well, the solution is sadly short-lived.

Things are going smoothly until the reply comes in. This send-reply process becomes a vicious cycle, and a noisy one at that.

Some of you are probably protesting by now. If the noises are so terrible, why not just keep the phone on vibrate? Seriously, the vibrations aren’t nearly as obvious. Well, think about it. Some vibrate settings are stronger than others. I’ve witnessed a chair shake a little. Also, the reactions to something buzzing in one’s pocket range awkward at best to obnoxious at worst. No need to go into details; we’ve all seen it.

OK, how about setting a cell phone to silent? No notifications, no vibrations, nothing.

Sounds like a great idea; however, what happens when the professor flips the light switch to off to deliver a PowerPoint lecture? That bright light that emanates from the cell phone draws the attention away from the presentation and the professor.

Just how can students learn with all these noises, vibrations and lights? The answer to that question: not easily. Not only does it hinder learning, professors have to stop their lecture and tell students to put their gadgets away. This wastes precious instructional time. If enough people play around with their phones at the wrong time, it holds back the whole class.

I hope that you’re serious about your education, and that you don’t want to ruin the education of other students. When you’re in class, show some consideration and hold the phone.

Val Miller| Marlin Chronicle

Letter to the Editor

Want to voice your opinion? Disagree with an article? Do you want to address an issue that we haven’t written about yet?

We will be accepting letters to the Editor for the upcoming issue! Please submit all letters to the Editor-in-Chief, Courtney Herrick, via email at clherrick@vwc.edu Policy: Letters must be submitted by 12 p.m. on May 3, 2016 to be considered for publication. Student, staff and faculty are eligible participants. There is a 350 word maximum, and it must include your name, email and phone number for verfication. All entries will be reviewed, but unedited.

6 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean it’s better

BY KAYLA DOST kadost@vwc.edu

VWC prides itself on the benefits of being a small liberal arts school.

Every college has that one thing that draws students in and makes them want to be a part of that culture. Fortunately, Virginia Wesleyan has two incredible “it” factors that draw students in. The first thing is the five-minute drive to the beach, and the second is the small classroom environments that allow for one-on-one attention and guidance from professors. Our college’s home page even has a tab that leads you to a section listing reasons why fellow students should choose VWC. One of the three bulleted reasons is listed as, “at a small college, where students receive personal attention, guidance, and advising.”

Recently, it has been brought to the attention of faculty and students that a class cannot take place if there are less than eight students enlisted; however, the college continues to promote its small classroom numbers.

The average classroom size on campus is 13 students, and class registration is still pretty competitive and stressful. Freshmen and sophomores have the most difficulty get-

ting the classes they wish to take due to the registration hierarchy.

Even though class scheduling is extremely competitive and low class sizes cause students to take auxiliary classes at the last minute, many students stay at VWC because they enjoy the one-on-one opportunities with our professors.

New rule changes could push a lot of students away from wanting to come to VWC if they feel that they are not going to become part of a small community anymore. It was recently broadcasted to the campus that the population will begin to drastically increase over the next couple years. The small community feel will be gone due to the class sizes growing larger. It will be harder to get the one-on-one attention from a teacher that a lot of students need and want.

These rule implications regarding class size will push a lot of people away from wanting to either attend VWC or stay here. The majority of students come to our school because they want that feeling of knowing they make a difference. If students wanted to be part of a larger class, they would go to a larger college or university.

No car? Hope you like being stuck on campus

BY MICHAEL WILLSON mnwillson@vwc.edu

There are a lot of benefits to going to school in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area.

You can spend the day at the Oceanfront, meet a kangaroo at the Virginia Zoo and go shopping at MacArthur and Lynnhaven Malls. Yes sir, there is so much to do, if you have a car that is.

Let’s face it; unless you have a car or know someone who drives, you are going to be stuck on campus. That is because Virginia Wesleyan is in an awkward location. While Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University have the benefit of being in the middle of the city, we are right next to suburbia. Don’t get me wrong, Military Circle and JANAF are right around the corner, but they are not easy places to walk to. You have to walk along the side of the road to get there.

While I know some people are fine taking that walk, the risk of getting hurt is not worth it to me. The walk to Northampton Blvd. is a little safer, but it takes a good 10-15 minutes to get there. The closest place to walk to is the 7-Eleven on Baker Rd., which is known as an unsafe area in Virginia Beach. You want to go to Down-

town Norfolk? Forget it. There’s no way you can walk there.

This makes getting food very difficult as well. I learned that the hard way. When I was a freshman, I missed lunch in the dining hall. With it being the weekend, the Grille was closed, leaving eating out as my only option. When I asked the security guard at the front gate what the safest way was to get off campus, he rudely responded, “In a car.” Feeling uneasy about his response and have not yet been introduced to Chanello’s, I had to settle for a bag of microwave popcorn.

This leads to another reason why it’s not easy to walk off campus: security. I understand that security is trying to keep us safe. While I respect and appreciate all that they do for us, I feel that they make things more difficult than they need to be.

In order to get on and off campus, you have to go through the front gate. This isn’t a big deal if you’re driving, but it can be awkward if you’re walking. I know some people just cut through the baseball fields. Yes, I will admit that I have done that myself, but I feel sketchy doing it.

Now I do have the benefit of being in a fraternity with a number of brothers who have cars. We go out to the movies, the mall to hang out, and make midnight food runs to Cookout and Wawa. Unfortunately, not everyone has that benefit. It is unfair to assume those who don’t have cars will be taken care of by those who do. There are some students who might not have many friends or any friends who drive. What do we do about them? It’s not like we can just pick up the campus and put it in the middle of Downtown Norfolk or Virginia Beach Town Center. What if students need to go to the store or just get away for a while?

Yes, we have the Marlin Transit. They provide weekly trips to Walmart and Target, but is that really enough? I propose that we expand the Marlin Transit, turning it into an actual shuttle. Instead of having weekly trips to Walmart and Target, why not institute a daily schedule with multiple trips to Military Circle, JANAF and Northampton Blvd.? On weekends, we can include trips to Downtown Norfolk (specifically MacArthur Center), Virginia

Beach Town Center, Lynhaven Mall and the Oceanfront. This shuttle can also provide services to the residents of the apartment complex that will be built across the street.

In addition to making it easier to get off campus, this shuttle will also create more jobs for students. With daily trips, we will need a lot of drivers. Not only that, but a shuttle driving throughout Norfolk and Virginia Beach that says, “Virginia Wesleyan College: Bring a Spark, Light a Fire” is a pretty good method of advertising Now I know what you are thinking: “The school is too small to have a shuttle.” Well, I did my research and found that other small schools such as Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College and Randolph College all have a shuttle.

A shuttle is exactly what Virginia Wesleyan College needs. There’s a lot to do in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, but you can’t enjoy it if you can’t get off campus.

The unlucky number seven

BY AUDREY THAMES asthames@vwc.edu

“Sorry, you’re not invited.”

I never thought I would become that person. As a matter of fact, I’m sure none of us seniors thought we would become those people. Sadly, that’s the case as graduation approaches. I’m sure by now we’ve all heard about this “new” ticket policy for graduation.

You know…the one administration waited less than two months before graduation to inform us about. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for the safety of the campus community and guests, and I want nothing more than for me and my well-earned degree to quietly stage left without any issues. But, to tell students with such short notice is simply inconsiderate.

I understand that last year’s commencement was somewhat crowded and surely was in violation of some fire safety code.

However, the fact that it occurred last year, nearly eleven months ago, means that the school had more than enough time to fill us in on this new policy. They knew immediately after the Class of 2015 walked across that stage that this had the potential to be an issue for the Class of 2016. We all know that institutions think long and hard on any decisions made. Even some form of a headsup during the fall semester would have been nice.

Just imagine how hard it is informing family members, friends, organization members, teammates, mentors, past faculty and even alumni that they can no longer attend your college graduation.

The same individuals who have helped us all get to this point, whether they provided a late night phone call, an inspirational text message, a card in the mail with five dollars for gas or food, scholarly advice, letters of recommendation or even just a distraction from the pressure of school.

Admittedly, I would have still been upset over the news if I was told last semester, but not nearly as upset because that would have been a decent amount of time to at least warn people. The thing about telling us now is that we’ve already invited significant people who we want to share this monumental moment with because we were always under the impression that anyone and everyone is welcome. That’s one of the things that made Virginia Wesleyan unique. So, to have to turn around and retract that invitation not only makes students look bad, but makes the entire campus seem utterly unprepared, unresponsive and uninterested.

What do we tell those who have already booked flights, reserved hotels, requested off work and made any arrangements necessary to be present? One of the things my professors have taught me throughout my college career is to never wait until the last minute. Procrastination is the thief of time. Well, this could not be more applicable. I feel there had to have been other options, even if it meant having my own graduation at another school or a city venue. It’s not fair to us or those who have helped us make it to the end. And we deserve more than just an email.

Now, please excuse me while I draw the lucky names for my seven tickets.

Val Miller| Marlin Chronicle

Val Miller| Marlin Chronicle

Check out our online issue at marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

7

SPORTS

Thursday April 21, 2016 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

the

Currier shining bright for VWC DUGOUT Women’s Soccer Currier is becoming one of the most prolific athletes in Virginia Wesleyan history

Fights for Equity Pay SAMANTHA SMALL is a senior majoring in communication

Department of Sports Information |Courtesy Senior Josh Currier cradles the ball while his teammate, junior Andre Brummitt, covers a defender from Adrian College.

BY JAMIE CRAWLEY jjcrawley@vwc.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan College men’s lacrosse team got off to the best start in school history, reeling off six consecutive wins to start the season. The men are currently in an intense race for dominance in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC).

One of the biggest catalysts for this success is senior attacker Josh Currier. Currier, by way of Peterborough, Ontario in Canada, broke many records in his remarkable career at VWC and is in the conversation for being not only the best lacrosse player the school has seen, but the best athlete Virginia Wesleyan ever produced.

“In preparation for the season, I tried to get as many shots on the net as possible. I made it a goal of mine to get on Birdsong every day,” Currier said.

This hard work he put in was evident as records started to fall one by one. First, it was the VWC all-time goals mark held by Pete Derby ‘98 and Nick Pappas ‘14. Ironically, Pappas is a guy Currier looks up to.

“Nick Pappas is someone who inspires me a lot. He was the one who showed me what hard work can do for someone,” Currier said.

The very next game, Currier

broke the record for assists and then three days later, secured a personal best of seven goals against Adrian College.

Then on March 30, Currier became the all-time leading goal scorer in ODAC conference history.

“It felt really good to break the record. I am really proud of all my teammates throughout the years because without their contributions to the team, it would not have been possible,” Currier said.

His teammates said they really appreciate the player he worked to become over the years and cite things such as his work ethic and will to win as pivotal aspects to his game.

“Josh has a huge impact on game day putting up points, but I think he makes an even bigger impact at practice. He works so hard perfecting the little things in his game and it makes everyone around him want to work harder too,” senior attacker Connor King said. “He’s a great teammate to have on the field because you know how bad he wants to win for everyone around him.”

On the field, Currier is an intense competitor, but off the field he enjoys life like anyone else. His roommate, friend and VWC sports information intern Chris Smith attests to that.

“Off the field, Josh is relatively quiet. He likes to stay organized and does so by keeping a tight schedule between his lacrosse and school work. When he isn’t busy with either lacrosse or school, he likes to spend his time hanging with his friends on the beach,” Smith said.

“He’s a really good guy off the field too. He’s one of the boys, cracking jokes, and looking out for everyone like they are family,” King said.

Family is something that drives Currier each and every day. He credits his family for his success and motivation.

“My family motivates me the most. They support me in everything I do, so I feel obligated to put forth my best effort,” Currier said.

He even credits his brothers for the success he is currently attaining.

“My brothers Zach and Andrei really helped me become the player I am today. We always played in the backyard together growing up, and that is where I fell in love with the game,” Currier said.

Currier and his team are working to raise the ODAC trophy for the first time in the history of VWC lacrosse.

“My main goal for this season is to win the ODACs,” Currier said.

Regardless of how his final season ends, Currier plans to still be a part of lacrosse for as long as possible. Whether playing, coaching or just volunteering, Currier plans to always stay connected to the game in some form or fashion. Due to his performance in his college career, he will continue on playing at the professional level for his hometown team.

“After graduation I am lucky enough to keep playing lacrosse in the summer for the Peterborough Lakers,” Currier said. “I plan on being involved with lacrosse until the day I die. I hope to keep playing for a while, but if that doesn’t work out I will be doing something with the sport.”

All in all, the lacrosse team is ready to make the push they need to win the ODACs, and with Currier leading the way, the possibility is great.

Win, lose or draw, one thing that is guaranteed is Currier won’t shy away from the big moment.

“A quote a teammate of mine, Evan Merrill, told me has really motivated me recently and it is, ‘Heat makes gold, and pressure makes diamonds,’” Currier said.

Look out for men’s lacrosse as they look to make diamonds.

SOFTBALL

CONTINUED FROM Pg. 1 “I tell them, ‘You know you put that uniform on you’re the best team on the field and you should expect to win,’” Elliott said.

The players said they recognize Elliott’s philosophy as means to make them the best they can be.

“Our coach does a great job motivating us to get better every single day and to be the top team that everyone wants to beat,” Bogan said.

Practices this year look slightly different from years past, according to Elliott. “I think adding a little bit more rest in practice and rest days, backing off on some things, has kept us a little healthier then we have in the past,” he said.

Even still, the team faced setbacks due to injuries. Kayla Malkos, a team leader and All-Region second baseman, was forced to sit the bench this season due to a knee injury.

“I feel like this year’s been a huge challenge for us because we’ve had a lot more injuries. Losing Kayla Malkos was huge for us,” Elliott said. “It’s your senior year. You’re injured.

You’re out for the year. Your career is over. It’s very easy to pout. It’s very easy to feel sorry for yourself. Instead, she’s been a great leader and a great coach for us.”

At this point in the season, with just two games left to play before playoffs begin, Marlins softball sits in a good position.

The team only lost one game in the ODAC to rival RandolphMacon College. The Marlins swept local state school and crosstown rival Christopher Newport University as well as Lynchburg College.

Any one who has attended a game this season mights have noticed a new face on the coaching staff. Coach Kasey Oliver is the team’s new assistant coach. She works with the Marlin infielders.

“The big key there is we have a female coach on staff that played women’s college softball, and there’s a relationship there I think that the kids can really lean on,” Elliott said, “She has a different voice and she’s really done a good job as a young coach.”

The lady Marlins said they cannot help but look forward to a strong finish “Our team goals this year consist of winning the ODAC tournament and hopefully hosting a regional tournament here at home,” Bogan said.

“I expect to win. I think if you set your expectation lower than that, then you’re not Marlins Softball,” sophomore relief pitcher Alanna Peters said.

Anthony Dellamura | Marlin Chronicle Ground ball hit straight to Junior Elizabeth Bailey.

Department of Sports Information |Courtesy Junior Blake Henderson fights for control at home plate.

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT), which has been serially successful—far more so than its male counterpart— recently filed a lawsuit demanding pay parity from the U.S. soccer’s governing body.

Five players from the team filed the lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation: Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn.

The players filed the report on behalf of their entire team, which sometimes earns as little as between a half and a quarter of the U.S. men’s team.

According to ESPN, the action was filed by the law firm of Winston & Strawn and its co-chairman Jeffrey Kessler. Earlier in the year, Kessler told ESPN the team submitted a reasonable proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that had equal pay for equal work as its guiding principle.

“U.S. Soccer responded by suing the players in an effort to keep in place the discriminatory and unfair treatment they have endured for years,” Kessler said to ESPN. In response to the recent lawsuit filed at the end of March, U.S. Soccer told NBC’s TODAY that it was disappointed in the action. U.S. Soccer officials even seemed offended by the women’s attempts to fight for equality, saying they have been a world leader in women’s soccer and have been committed to improving the women’s game in the U.S. over the past 30 years.

Now, it seems not only is U.S. Soccer reluctant to affect change, many people are disapproving of the recent lawsuit and say they are tired of women’s equal rights movements surfacing around the country.

Unfortunately for these people, there is absolutely no ground to base the argument that these women do not deserve the same (if not higher) salaries than the men.

Thus far, the women’s team collected three World Cups (it is the current holder) and four Olympic gold medals. How many times did the men’s team even make it to the final match in these tournaments? Once.

Over a century ago. The men’s team boasts a solitary silver medal for a loss to Canada in the 1904 St. Louis summer games. The men’s next almost-but-not-quite victory occurred in 1930, when the team made it to the semifinal match in the first FIFA World Cup, but lost 6-1 to Argentina. This is still the team’s highest World Cup finish to date. For those of you hoping the men’s team is gaining momentum, you’ll be sad to realize the U23 men failed to qualify for the Olympic Games for the second consecutive time.

The USWNT’s record is something to be proud of. But, it seems wins and success don’t equal dollars in this world (at least for women). However, not only are the women more successful than the men, they also generate more revenue for U.S. Soccer.

“It’s been noted… that the women’s team itself has generated more money by far—by 20 million dollars in 2015 than the men’s team did,” sportscaster, journalist and author John Bacon told CNN. Kessler said, according to U.S. soccer’s numbers, last year the women’s team earned 16 million dollars for U.S. Soccer, and the men caused a two million dollar loss.

So, they win more often, they produce more revenue, but they still get paid less than half what the men are paid? That’s absolutely ludicrous.

The women endured inequity for years while garnering success after success. Solo, Lloyd, Morgan and Sauerbrunn appeared on NBC’s TODAY show on Thursday, March 31 and said not much has changed during their time on the teawm. Solo, who has been on the team for a decade and a half, went through numerous CBA negotiations that failed to come to fruition.

“We continue to be told we should be grateful just to have the opportunity to play professional soccer, to get paid for doing it,” Solo said while on the show.

So, U.S. Soccer is willing to reward the men’s minimal success with sizable paychecks, but it expects the women to sit contently with their lower wages because they at least have the opportunity to play soccer professionally? Something doesn’t add up here.

Despite facing these challenges, the women said they believe the time is right to fight for what they deserve and to set the stage for all women soccer players.

Lloyd, Morgan, Solo, Rapinoe and Sauerbrunn, among their other teammates, are role models to young athletes around the world.

The team’s domination of the 2015 World Cup only further proved its excellence.

Even current men’s soccer stars Tim Howard and Landon Donovan are supporting the women’s rights to equal pay. So, why do some in the general public see room for argument? The USWNT is symbol of American success. It embodies the American dream. It alone garners respect from other nations toward American soccer. When will the women’s success be enough for them to earn what they deserve?

8 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Thursday, April 21, 2016

DIII Week showcases Marlin Athletes Division III week allowed for student-athletes to showcase experiences off the field

BY COREY KING ckking1@vwc.edu

AT A GLANCE Golf

4/24-26 ODAC Championship @ Wintergreen Resort in Wintergreen, VA.

Baseball

4/23 Eastern Mennonite 12:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. (Double-Header) 4/28 ODAC Tournament @ City Stadium in Lynchburg, VA

Softball

4/23 Roanoke 3:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. (Double-Header) 4/29 ODAC Tournament @ James I. Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, VA

Men’s Lacrosse

4/20 Randolph-Macon 7:00 p.m.

4/23 Randolph 1:00 p.m.

4/27 Hampden-Sydney 7:00 p.m.

4/30 Lynchburg 1:00 p.m.

(Senior Day)

Women’s Lacrosse

4/20 Randolph-Macon 4:00 p.m.

4/23 Roanoke 2:00 p.m.

4/27 Sweet Briar 6:00 p.m.

4/30 Randolph 4:00 p.m.

(Senior Day)

Men’s Tennis

4/20 Lynchburg 3:30 p.m.

(Senior Day) 4/23 Shenandoah 1:00 p.m.

4/25 Chowan 4:00 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

4/19 Washington and Lee 3:00 p.m.

4/20 Lynchburg 3:30 p.m.

(Senior Day) 4/23 Shenandoah 1:00 p.m.

Track and Field

4/22-23 ODAC Championships @ Lynchburg College 4/28-30 Penn Relays @ Philadelphia, Pa 5/26-28 NCAA Championships @ Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.

Virginia Wesleyan College celebrated Division III week earlier this month, recognizing the accomplishments and experiences of student-athletes on and off of the field/court.

According to the VWC Athletics website, Division III Week is an opportunity for all individuals associated with Division III to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. During the week, every Division III school and conference office is encouraged to conduct a type of outreach activity that falls into one of three categories: academic accomplishment, athletic experience or leadership/community service/campus involvement. The week was celebrated by numerous colleges across the nation.

Virginia Wesleyan College scheduled events to be held on each day of the week: Motivational Monday, Marlin TShirt Day Tuesday, Marlin Fan Game Wednesday, Invite a Faculty Member to Lunch Thursday and Team Selfie Friday.

“I think it’s good for the school. Sometimes people don’t always realize everything that our student-athletes do outside of their sports. It’s nice DIII Week gives them the exposure they deserve as well as showcasing how great the school is to the general public,” Sports Information Director Cody Clifton said.

Clifton wrote about four athletes during the week: Austin VonVille, Luke Chiasson, Marin Crowder and Amanda Baxter. A fifth athlete, Ben Fletcher, was also going to be recognized, but due to uncontrollable circumstances, he could not be.

VonVille’s story showed a different side of the life of a student-athlete. It showed that in Division III, life is not all about sports. Most athletes in the NCAA division realize after they gradu-

ate, they are going to be heading out into the workforce. VonVille did something last season that many athletes never even think of doing because they want to play their senior seasons. Austin VonVille chose to sit out his senior season to study international relations abroad in Brussels and Belgium, giving him the opportunity to experience a whole new place and culture while allowing him to further his education at the same time.

“It was an honor to be selected as one of the DIII week athletes because athletics has been a huge part of my college career. It was also awesome to be able to show people a glimpse into my values for both athletics and academics by playing soccer and then studying abroad my senior year,” Vonville said.

Luke Chiasson’s story was also shared during this week. Luke Chiasson, a freshman pitcher/first baseman for the baseball team, accumulated impressive academic achievements while adjusting to the life of a student-athlete. Chaisson is on track to post a solid 4.0 GPA in his first year at Virginia Wesleyan College and earned recognition in Phi Eta Sigma, an honor society for freshman students.

In addition to academics, Chiasson is an important component for the Marlin pitching staff. The freshman posted a 2.21 ERA (Earned Run Average), which is leading the leading Marlin ERA. Chiasson is also a key asset in the VWC Sports Information department. He typically works the scoreboard for basketball or does stats for volleyball and soccer games.

“It felt rewarding to be recognized during DIII week. I go about my business day by day to get everything done to the best of my ability. So, for someone to notice what I do on as well as off the field made it feel good,” Chiasson said.

Amanda Baxter a junior at Virginia

Wesleyan College took a break from hustle and bustle of student-athlete life after her junior season on the soccer field and experienced the cultures of Mexico.

While in Mexico, Baxter visited many places of cultural history. Baxter, on top of being a member of the women’s soccer team, is in many clubs on campus and is part of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honor Society.

The fourth student-athlete who was highlighted by DIII week was Crowder.

Crowder is a senior member of the volleyball team. Following her senior campaign, she was named All-State Second Team for the libero/defense position.

She, like VonVille, Chiasson and Baxter, goes above and beyond managing her school work, athletics and traveling.

Crowder flew to study abroad in Maui, Hawaii for a winter session course.

The last student-athlete chosen for recognition was Fletcher. Fletcher, a senior at Virginia Wesleyan College, studied abroad in London over winter session.

Fletcher is a senior defenseman on the men’s lacrosse team. Fletcher said his experience over winter session was brief but enlightening.

“It was definitely an amazing experience. Although it was short, I learned more about the culture and people in London than any textbook could teach me. As a spring athlete, I am busy during the fall and spring, so it was perfect for me because I didn’t miss lacrosse,” Fletcher said.

FOR MORE SPORTS FOLLOW: @MarlinSports

Score Board Baseball

4/13 Randolph-Macon L, 10-1 4/16 Shenandoah, W 6-1 4/16 Shenandoah W, 1-0

Softball

4/16 Emory & Henry W, 4-0 4/17 Guilford W, 10-0 4/17 Guilford W, 7-3

Men’s Lacrosse

3/30 Southern Virginia W, 18-8 4/9 Shenandoah W, 15-11 4/16 Roanoke L, 23-8

Women’s Lacrosse

4/9 Guilford L, 20-10 4/13 Bridgewater L, 13-10 4/16 Shenandoah L, 16-2

Tennis

Men’s: 4/16 Randolph-Macon W, 9-0 4/17 Washington and Lee W, 5-4 Women’s 4/13 Bridgewater L, 13-10 4/16 Shenandoah L, 16-2

Department of Sports Information |Courtesy

The Wesleyan Men’s Tennis team has reached an undefeated ODAC record of 8-0, which gives them first place in the conference for the first time in school history, the golf team has also played well, led by ODAC leading Evan Cox who paces the conference with a 72.8 scoring average.

The NBA Playoffs have started This year’s NBA playoffs are underway and the Golden State Warriors, led by eventual MVP Steph Curry, are looking to build off their record setting 73 win season and win the Western Conference again on their quest for a consecutive championship.

Standing in their way are the San Antonio Spurs who have won 67 game themselves and a hungry OKC team led by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

The Eastern Conference favorite Cleveland Cavaliers, led by the polarizing Lebron James looks to get back to the fi nals, but improved teams throughout the conference look to rain on the Cavaliers parade.

Whether it’s Demar Derozan and Kyle Lowry in Toronto or Dwyane Wade and his Miami Heat, the east has come back with a vengeance.

No matter who comes out on top in this year’s playoffs, they will definitely be something to watch The NBA Finals tip off Thursday, June 2 at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Michael Tipton | Flickr

THEWEEKENDER

APRIL 21, 2016

PAGE 9

REI GEAR FOR THE NEW YEAR REI sells recreational equipment, just in time for the summer season

BY BECCA LAZZERI ralazerri@vwc.edu

A crowd of outdoor connoisseurs poured into Virginia Beach’s new REI store on Thursday for the members’ grand opening party.

The new branch hosted a grand opening celebration April 15-17 specifically for the Virginia Beach community. The first 200 shoppers in line each day received a free water bottle and a gift card. The store even served breakfast and invited food trucks to serve visitors.

Behind the scenes of the opening, Virginia Wesleyan alumna Kaitlyn Dozier ’14 perfected all of the last minute details. She is the new Outdoor Programs and Outreach Market Director for the local REI branch and said she is excited to turn her passion for the outdoors into a career.

“I have known about REI for a while,” Dozier said. “At Virginia Wesleyan I was involved in recreational sports. I worked at the rock wall and I just really loved anything active and especially getting outside. When the position opened up at REI, I was really excited to apply.”

The store provides supplies for all outdoor activities as well as offering educational programs, trips and more.

VWC RecX Supervisor, Kelly Keys ’13 is also excited to be working for REI. Keys notes that there is a lot that Wesleyan’s Office of Recreational Sports and Outdoor Activities does to equip students to get outside, and REI’s new store will complement those existing benefits.

“Students should be encouraged to come in. It’s awesome here, and the team here is excited to be in Virginia Beach,” Keys said. “It’s just going to be fun and students who are interested in any sort of adventure sport or action sport—this should be a place they come not just for gear but for the information.”

The store offers educational programs to the community about the outdoors and even classes that range from learning basic skills to mastering outdoor sports.

“REI does a really great job at our adventure trips. For students and for members, there are discounted prices, but they are offered more frequently and at a larger range, so we have trips to Peru, we have trips across Great Britain and local trips as well,” Keys said. “Everything from mountain biking to camping for a week to backpacking the AT. It’s pretty awesome.”

Store manager Andy Frey highlights all of the outdoor attractions that are native to Virginia Beach like First Landing

State Park, Mt. Trashmore, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

“There’s lots of places to get outside here, whether it’s places to bike-ride, to run, to hike. I think a lot of people think outdoors and associate it with the mountains. When we think of getting outside it could also just be sitting on your back deck with a beverage in hand,” Frey said.

He explained that the store really sells things for paddling because of the proximity to the water, and for cycling and running as well.

According to Frey, the store is particularly unique in Virginia Beach because it is a co-op and owned by its own members.

“As a result of being a co-op we can really answer to our member needs, whether it be what they want us to carry in terms of products, how they want us to structure our business, all of those things are influenced by being a co-op,” Frey said.

Membership with REI is a $20 fee and lasts a lifetime. Perks of membership include a 10% dividend, special pricing, exclusive offers and an REI MasterCard.

Dozier emphasized the importance of getting outside as a college student.

“One of the missions of REI is to get people outdoors. Especially students, we want to help them lead active lifestyles and just embrace all that the Hampton Roads community has to offer outside,” Dozier said.

She says that the store has resources for big trips and even for activities on campus.

“REI is a great place for Marlins to get any gear they would need to get outside, whether it’s a weekend hiking trip or if they need a hammock to pitch out in V3. We basically have anything that you would need to have an outdoor adventure, and it’s going to be a really great addition to this community,” Dozier said.

The store is located in the Pembroke shopping mall across the street from Town Center in Virginia Beach.

“I would encourage everybody to come check us out because, again, a lot of people think outdoors and think mountains, but we have lots of things that will fit into your day-to-day life.

Also just a big shout-out to Virginia Beach. You’ve been tremendously welcoming,” Frey said.

Trey Queen | Courtesy

The store sells a variety of equipment that can help you enjoy the great outdoors.

Trey Queen | Courtesy

REI customers enjoy complementary s’mores during opening weekend.

SUMMER HAPPENINGS IN THE

757

With summer just beyond the horizon, attractions of all kinds will be arriving in the area for locals and tourists alike to enjoy

BY CHANTEL SILLS cdsills@vwc.edu

Summers in Hampton Roads are vibrant and alive, filled with festivals, concerts and sporting events. As the semester winds down and summer starts to peek over the horizon, Virginia Wesleyan students will be happy to know there are events to satisfy every interest.

May is the beginning of festival season in Hampton Roads, with the first festival taking place before the end of the semester. This festival is Norfolk’s second annual Puppy De Mayo Yappy Hour in Town Point Park. This is a oneof-a-kind event for dog lovers, complete with treats for the dogs and dog-themed drinks for the owners. Dining and dancing takes place on the downtown waterfront, ensuring a fun-filled evening with pets. This event is located at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront on Thursday, May 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is a free event.

The weekend of Saturday, May 7, to Sunday, May 8, is the annual Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival. This

event starts at 11 a.m. on both days and ends at 6 p.m. The wine sampling ends at 4:30 p.m., and the wine sales end at 5 p.m. With over 25 of the best wineries from Virginia bringing over 200 unique wines to sample, there is something for everyone.

Beer lovers might be interested in the annual Virginia Beer Festival. It takes place Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22. It starts at 2 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m. and is also located in Town Point Park. With over 125 beers to sample and a live music performance by Buckshot, it should be a worthwhile event.

Rolling into June, there are tons of tasty events like the 27th annual Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival. It starts Friday, June 24, and ends Sunday, June 26. The first day of the event from noon to 2 p.m. is free and open to the public, but the rest of the event requires a ticket. Norfolk is bringing in a little down-south New Orleans cuisine.

Those who have the pleasure of cel-

ebrating July 4 in Norfolk have the opportunity to celebrate at the 34th annual Fourth of July Great American Picnic on Monday, July 4 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public, taking place at Town Point Park. Enjoy an amazing waterfront fireworks display.

The Virginia CaribFest in August gives locals a carnival experience like no other. For the past 11 years, Norfolk transformed into a festive island celebration. This year, the kickoff for the event is the J’Ouvert Boatride on Friday, Aug. 19, on board the Spirit of Norfolk.

Carnival-goers can party the night away and then wake up early to watch the Mas Bands Fete parade on the streets of Norfolk, leading the festival into Town Point Park. For those who still want to enjoy the nightlife, the Granby Theater will be hosting a soccer party.

Festivals are not the only events that occupy the summer months. Athletic enthusiasts might enjoy the North American Sand Soccer Championships which

will return to the Oceanfront June 1012. Teams band together from Virginia, Miami and even as far as Barcelona for a fun and competitive weekend of sand soccer.

Hampton Roads also has an active arts industry with productions taking place this summer. For example, there will be the Afro-Cuban All Stars on Tuesday, May 3, Virginia International PANFest on Saturday, May 7 and Tchaikovsky Spectacular on Thursday, June 9.

Another local favorite is the Shaggfest put on by Shaggy and the radio station Z104. It takes place on Saturday, May 21st, at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. This year’s headliner is 2016 Grammy Award Winner Diplo with other performances

by Travis Scott, Daya and a few other national and local artists.

THEWEEKENDER

PAGE 10

G ETTING

APRIL 21, 2016

DOWN AND DIRT Y

The Mud Games will be hosted tomorrow, with teams competing against each other for bragging rights and the win

Janice Marshall-Pittman|Courtesy The games consist of multiple teams from campus, such as Greek organizations, clubs and other students, all ready to prove who the best will be.

BY ROBIN PETERSON rapeterson@vwc.edu

Continuing a long-standing tradition, on April 22 at 2 p.m., the Wesleyan Activities Council (WAC) will host the annual Mud Games.

Tomorrow, the field adjacent to Village I’s Rose Hall, aptly named Rose Lawn by WAC, will turn into a swampy free-for-all.

Billed by student activities as one of Virginia Wesleyan’s most beloved traditions, the Mud Games encourage students to unite and compete against one another in sludge-covered obstacle courses and tug-of-war arenas.

Each year, WAC awards various prizes and titles to the student groups competing against one another. Competing teams are assembled from sororities, clubs and friend groups. Mud Games serve as a way to bring the campus community together.

WAC has instated a couple changes to the way Mud Games will be run. In order to adapt to the changing campus grounds, student activities moved the location of the games to Rose Lawn.

Due to construction of the new Birdsong Athletic Field and the parking lot behind Village II, the usual field that Mud Games was held in is now unavailable. Therefore, for the first time, Mud Games will not be held in its usual field.

In addition to the location change, the games are also taking place at a different time of year. As veterans know, the Mud Games traditionally take place at the end of the fall semester to conclude the year. However, last year the games were cancelled because of severe wind and rain. While rain might sound like a welcome ingredient to the Mud Games, WAC had to cancel as a safety precaution for the students and equipment involved.

To prevent the campus from missing

out on a beloved tradition, the games were postponed to this spring in hopes of better weather. While contesters may have the cold to cope with, the games are on.

“We’re hoping now that if we get some rain it passes and we’re able to go again,” Director of WAC, Kate Griffin commented.

The freshmen who weren’t able to participate in the games last fall need not worry about missing out on this favorite tradition. Griffin states that this year’s games will be very similar to games in previous years.

“Basically we feel that we have a successful formula and we want to keep that formula,” Griffin said. This means everyone should expect the usual traditional activities.

While the games themselves will mostly remain the same as they have been since the start of the tradition, the biggest goal for the games this year is

to keep the momentum going that the games had in the fall.

“We had a very large amount of teams, we had 25 teams in the fall, which is a lot, and we’re just hoping to keep that momentum going,” Griffin said.

As for future years, the fate of Mud Games is up in the air. Depending on the success of Mud Games this semester, they may be permanently established as a spring event.

“We’re trying to find the magic spot for it, there’s a lot going on in September… For the student organizations who are trying to participate it’s hard for them to get prepared for so many different events in a short amount of time.

So we’re just trying to evaluate where we had the most potential participation and where there’s the least amount of scheduling conflict,” Griffin said.

PUB N’ CLUB AT VDUBB The event by SGA will take place this weekend, bringing drinks and dancing together on campus

BY CHANTEL SILLS cdsills@vwc.edu

Pub n’ Club is an event hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA).

It gives students a safe club atmosphere with the added convenience of not having to leave Virginia Wesleyan’s campus.

The first Pub n’ Club event took place last spring semester. With the change in the social policies on campus, social life dwindled. To address this new problem, SGA 2014-2015 members made it their mission to come up with an alternative that would liven up campus life while also bringing it together. It took a lengthy discussion and planning process but it ultimately led to the creation of Pub n’ Club.

The name Pub n’ Club was intended to

represent both the pub side of the event with drinking and karaoke and the club side with DJ music and dancing. Karaoke, good drinks, great music, dancing and socializing are all to be included in this free event.

“I thought the event was very well attended. The music was upbeat and fun and it was cool that they were serving drinks, but I wish there had been an option to have mixed drinks,” Taylor McIntosh said regarding her experience of the event last year.

McIntosh had another suggestion for how the event could be improved. “I think they should have sign-ups for karaoke

because the DJ allowed the same person to go multiple times in a row even though people were waiting.”

Junior Brianna Carter also attended the last Pub n’ Club and said she had a wonderful time. She enjoyed the good music and beer but felt that it was a little empty.

Both juniors were around when parties on campus happened every weekend, and feel that Pub n’ Club is a good first step to getting back the social life on campus.

Freshman Dennis Johnson also attended the last Pub n’ Club.

“I really liked it. It was one of my first events with a party atmosphere that I experienced on campus where everyone

here came together,” Johnson said. “I plan on going to the upcoming one because I expect it to be just like the last one and if it is I know I’m going to have a great time.”

With the near nonexistent social life on campus, many look forward to this event each semester.

“I think it’s a beneficial event because I came here as a freshman not knowing many people and after I attended the event, I felt more secure with my peers at this school,” Johnson said.

THE MARLIN UNDERTOW / By Courtney Herrick GO SEE THIS:

DRINK LOTS OF THIS:

KEEP UP WITH THIS:

The Jungle Book a fantasy, drama film that is sure to put viewers in a place of nostalgia is out in theaters. The movie depicts the main character, Mowgli, who was raised by a family of wolves, learning valuable life lessons as he reaches self-actualization through the journey of his life. The movie has raked in $293.2 million dollars to date. Get your ticket now and find out what the rave is all about!

With finals rapidly approaching, you may find yourself more tired than usual. Don’t worry, coffee will pick you right up off of those stacks of papers you have been avoiding for weeks. Whether you prefer dark roast or blonde roast, there is a flavor and roast for all coffee lovers. Drink up!

Netflix released the second season of How to Get Away with Murder: Season 2 on April 16. The first season left Netflix users on the edge of their seats as the final episode revealed a huge and surprising detail in the thick of the plot. Keep up with Annalise Keating during season 2 of How to Get Away with Murder so that you won’t be left out of the loop when season 3 premieres in September.