WEDNESDAY | 4.5.2017 | MACEANDCROWN.COM | Vol. 60, Issue 22
Getting Wilder Harry Howard Jr. Sports Editor ODU Football head coach Bobby Wilder won't be leaving the program anytime soon after signing a five-year contract extension on March 31. The Monarch football team has a record of 67-30 during Wilder's eight-year tenure and last season was the most successful ever ending with a 24-20 victory over Eastern Michigan at the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
"No one is more qualified or better suited to lead ODU’s football program for the foreseeable future than Bobby Wilder. We are fortunate to have his passion, loyalty and longevity. I know everyone within the Hampton Roads community is looking forward to these next five years together,” ODU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said. Monarch football's 10-3 record this past season was the third ten win season in Wilder's career. He, however, isn't the only one on his
staff receiving an extension. Seven assistants on his staff will receive two-year contracts. Under Wilder's new contract extension, his annual salary is now $650,000. “I am excited and grateful to sign this contract as I enter my 11th year as the head coach of Old Dominion. We are focused on the process of improving as a program as we enter the 2017 season. I am very proud of all the players, coaches, staff, administrators, faculty and
12th Monarchs that have worked to achieve a 67-30 record in our eight years of football at ODU. We will work together to continue to bring value every day to the university as people, students and program," Wilder said. The contract includes an annual raise if the team wins seven or more games in a season. With seven wins next season, Wilder's contract will increase to 675,000 a year. see WILDER, page C1
Lil Uzi Vert: Unchained
'Beautiful Boxer' Maggie Giordano Contributing Writer Understanding obstacles facing those who are transgender can be difficult for many around the world. The LGBT community has fought many battles to help educate those individuals who do not see eye-to-eye with the community, leading to more people expressing their preferred sexual orientation in the U.S. every day. The Office of Counseling Services held a film screening on March 30 for “Under the Lens: Explorations in Queer Cinema." The goal of the event was to help shape student perspective on the transgender community. The showing of “The Beautiful Boxer” started a little after 5 p.m. in Webb Center. “The Beautiful Boxer” is an Ekachai Uekrongtham film about a transgender boxer in Thailand and is based on the true story of the kick boxer Pariinya Charoenphol. The film explains the hardships she faced during her life leading up to her sex change. Also known as “Toom,” Charoenphol recalls her journey from when she discovered that she wanted to be a woman to the moment her parents signed off on papers to approve her surgery. She encounters ridicule and alienation throughout her past and later during her years in boxing camp. The movie shows how difficult it was for her to be in such a masculine sport and how she used her femininity to gain popularity as a boxer. see BOXER, page A4
Destiny Webb Contributing Writer Trap artist Lil Uzi Vert showed love to ODU this past Friday with an explosive performance at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. At only 22 years old, the young rap star is making a name for himself as one of the leading artists in today’s hip-hop game. Born Symere Woods in Philadelphia, the rapper’s sound is heavily
influenced by Atlanta trap music. Known as a “mumble rapper,” he among other rap artists like Lil Yachty and Playboi Carti have caused controversy in the hip-hop community for their rapping style. Mumble rapping refers to rappers saying “yeah” and “aye” multiple times in a song, being hard to understand and not being profoundly lyrical. “I tell myself that I’m not going to go over 80. I say like 79 'yeahs'
and it works,” he joked during an interview with XXL. He also said that adding “yeah” makes everything rhyme, no matter what it is. Whether one likes his music or not, they can’t deny he is making his presence known in the music industry. Lil Uzi also embraces other styles outside of hip-hop and even refers to himself as a “rock star,” which he proved to be Friday night. Whether a rapper or a rocker,
every accomplished artist needs a strong opening act, and senior Jesse Boone, known by his stage name Huey Supreme, was the perfect fit debuting his talents on The Ted stage, making him the first ODU student to ever do so. His sound contrasts Uzi's, containing fast-paced rhymes and neo-soul undertones. see UZI, page B1
HELTPED WAN
see page A2