Winter 2018 News Magazine

M&C WINTER 2018

WHAT’S THE HOPS?

O’CONNOR BREWING COMPANY

ODU’S RE ADINESS FOR AN

ACTIVE SHOOTER BROTHERS IN

BLOOD AND BALL

WINTER 2018

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY STUDENT MAGAZINE - EST. 1930

THE MACE AND CROWN WANTS YOUR HELP! Are you interested in getting to know the campus better? Gaining experience in writing to help with classes and future employment? Being published? Working with a great team?

Opportunities are available for writers and photographers starting right now. Anyone is welcome to contribute with NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, just the willingness to learn, report and have fun.

You can write and take pictures for the following sections: News, Arts & Entertainment, Technology and Sports.

To further discuss opportunities, please contact the Editor-in-Chief at editorinchief@maceandcrown.com.

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Mace & Crown is a student-run magazine written and published for the students of ODU. Originally founded in 1930 as The High Hat, the paper became The Mace and Crown in 1961. Mace & Crown is primarily a selfsupporting magazine, maintaining journalistic independence from the university. All views expressed in this collegiate magazine are those of the author, not of the university, Mace & Crown or the editors.

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN- CHIEF

SPORTS EDITOR

JULIANNA WAGNER

BRIT TANY REIGEL SPERGER

editorinchief@maceandcrown.com

sports@maceandcrown.com

COPY EDITOR

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

BRIEL FELTON

GUILLERMO RIVER A- HERNANDEZ

bfelt004@odu.edu

grive006@odu.edu

NEWS EDITOR

GR APHIC DESIGNER

ALE X SCRUGGS

BR ANDON HARRELL

news@maceandcrown.com

bharr003@odu.edu

A&E EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA DIREC TOR

LINDSE Y L ANHAM

EMILY ROGERS

artsandentertainment@maceandcrown.com

social@maceandcrown.com

PHOTOGR APHY EDITOR

CREATIVE ENCL AVE

TAYL A MALLORY

BRIEL FELTON & PATRICIA REESE

photo@maceandcrown.com

bfelt004@odu.edu prees001@odu.edu

TECHNOLOGY EDITOR AUDR A REIGLE

ADVERTISING & BUSINESS MANAGER BE VERLY MOODY

technology@maceandcrown.com

advertising@maceandcrown.com

SENIOR WRITERS ADAM FLORES

STAFF WRITERS JA Z ZMYN BR ADLE Y JAMES FINNE Y BROOKE NICHOL SON FATIMA RIVER A

STAFF PHOTOGR APHERS K AELEN WILLIAMS

IN THIS ISSUE WINTER 2018

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT 4

M&C Photographers

10

O’Connor Brewing Company

12

Monarch Music Minute

13

Fatima’s Best Reads

NEWS 14

Campus Preparedness

18

Heart of a Monarch

20 FACE IN THE MACE SPORTS 22

Brothers in Blood and Ball

26

Trust the Process

CREATIVE ENCLAVE 28

Coffee With a Stranger, Pt. 1

29

Composite Lover

30

Questionable Lover?

31

Celestia

32

4 Years of Delight

33

A Ghost Story

TECHNOLOGY facebook.com/ maceandcrown

twitter.com/ maceandcrown

WINTER 2018

linkedin.com/in/ maceandcrown

instagram.com/ maceandcrown

maceandcrown

34

ODU Drone Club

38

Judging a Game by It’s Cover

39

University Recycling

4

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Courtesy Josef Hicks

MEE T THE

PHOTOGRAPHERS

by Darryan Miller

WINTER 2018

5

Courtesy Josef Hicks of high school. She started out with pinhole cameras made out of oatmeal boxes, that used negative film, and the pictures were developed in a dark room. “Once we learned the basics [with the pinhole camera] we started using manual cameras and loaded our own film, we took pictures using an aperture,” Mallory said.

Mallory’s favorite thing to photograph is landscape. “When it comesto taking portraits, I’m always that awkward person that’s like ‘oh yeah, maybe you should put your hand there.’ Whereas landscape has kind of already positioned itself and I can move around it.” Mallory said working with the Mace has been fun. “It’s all a learning experience. I’ve learned better ways to do certain things just by being part of [the organization] When asked how Mallory educates herself to take photos she says it’s always trial and error, “If I don’t like how something looks one way, I’ll try another way. Or even with talking to other photographers, they might know something that I don’t.”

She said that even though he isn’t a photographer, Basquiat is her biggest artistic influence.

One thing Mallory has learned through her experience as a photographer is that it [photography] takes time. “When I first started, there were some photographers that were so good in my opinion, compared to me, but it really does take time. Once you start learning different things it betters you as a photographer. The more you take your camera with you, the more you learn about taking photos. Photography is such a learning experience.”

Mallory also explained that the photographers she works with at the Mace are her inspiration, “Seeing their works, I’m always so amazed. Even if they’ve edited the photos, or they’ve used an older model of a camera, or they have a grainer film it [the photos] always just looks really nice.”

Mallory says a goal for her photography, in terms of being less busy and being able to get back into the action of taking photos, is to be able to capture [her life’s] memories.

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MACEANDCROWN.COM

All Photos by Shamon Jones

tayla mallory, a student at ODU and photography editor of the Mace, first got into photography her sophomore year

Courtesy Antonia Tempesta

Antonia Tempesta

is a political science major, minoring in Criminal Justice at ODU. Her favorite things to photograph are architecture and weddings. She began taking an interest in photography while taking pictures on a field trip in eighth grade. She continued to explore her love for the art throughout high school, where she shot a girl’s portrait, which ended up being on a changing board in Times Square due to the subject’s winning of a scholarship.

Tempesta says working with the Mace is interesting because she gets to photograph a lot of events and it is because of this that the publication has a nostalgic high school yearbook feel for her.

When asked about how Tempesta educates herself to take better photos, she says it’s about challenging yourself to do new stuff. This semester she photographed ODU’s Men’s Soccer Team which was a first for her because she hadn’t done sports before. “At the beginning of the season, I was kind of walking around in circles, not getting great photos. But by the end of the season, I had a routine of where I would stand at different points of the game,” she said.

Tempesta’s biggest influence is her dad. She said “My whole life growing up, he always had all of these albums that we still have in the kitchen. His camera was the first film camera that I learned to use. My dad is the person that, at the end of the day I want him to be [see my work] like, [and think] ‘that’s a good photo.’”

With architecture being one of her favorite things to shoot, she likes the idea of stepping into space and being able to capture the structure. One thing Antonia’s learned during her exploration of her art is patience. “You have to wait for the right photo,” she said.

Her goal for her photography is to be a wedding photographer.

SHamon Jones

began taking an interest in photography when some of his friends, who were into fashion, needed someone to shoot their content. “I decided to pick up the camera when they needed someone to shoot their stuff, and that’s exactly how I got into photography,” he said.

All Photos by Breanna Schweichler

Jones said working with the Mace & Crown has been great because he’s met a lot of amazing people and has really enjoyed the networking aspect. When asked how he educates himself on how to take better photos he says, “I educate myself by taking pictures every day, trying things I haven’t done before, and by watching YouTube.”

Jones’ favorite things to photograph are concerts, events and fashion. “I like shooting concerts because it’s random, and you get [to capture] the crowd and the whole vibe. Getting the experience of a concert in one shot is cool, especially for people who can’t really afford to go to concerts,” he said. Jones said that there are a lot of people that he is always influenced by, and named photographers Jabari Jacobs and Cam Kirk.

He is inspired by, “Being able to tell stories. It inspires me to show people things that they don’t get to see every day.” One thing Jones has learned during his exploration of photography is that “lighting is everything.” His goal for his photography is to have his own exhibit in different states and countries.

WINTER 2018

josef hicks is a business management and photography

MAGGIE GIORDANO is not only a English major at

major at ODU. He started working in photography after he met photographer Aaron Dee, during the Freshman Summer Institute program. Afterwards, he rented a camera from the school library and started taking pictures. He contributes a lot of his interest in photography to his friends.

“I went to a Mac Miller concert and saw Aaron walk out on stage with his camera. I was like, yo! That’s crazy, that’s dope.

He got to shoot the whole concert for the openers and Mac Miller. I’m really inspired by Aaron because I watched someone that I went to school with get to shoot for celebrities, and he did it off of mentioning someone on Twitter and working his way up,” Hicks said.

His favorite things to shoot are concerts and sports. As far as working with the Mace, Hicks said he loves it. “I love working with the Mace. I get to shoot different things whether its events, concerts, sports [etc]. So it helps me be well rounded.”

Hicks’ biggest influences are Dee, and his friend Nate, who’s his right-hand man. When asked how he educates himself to take better photos he says, “When I first started, I was taking pictures every day just to learn my camera. I looked up a lot of stuff online, and then I would try it out whenever I’d go take pictures. I learned how to critique myself while I’m shooting.

I talk to people to see how they do it and to see where I can pick up little things and learn along the way.”

One thing Hicks has learned during his photography journey centers around the technical aspect of photography. “I just learned, maybe a month or two ago, the difference between a full frame camera, and a crop sensor and now when I’m doing certain things I’m like ‘oh this would work better if I had a full frame vs. a crop sensor.’” People’s reactions inspire him in his craft. “I love love love when I can send people pictures and they love them. That really keeps me going. I like capturing moments and being able to help people live through those moments, through my pictures.”

ODU, but she’s also assistant news editor, writer and photographer at the Mace. She first got into photography at a young age when she asked for a small point and shoot camera one Christmas. “I really liked pictures when I was younger and really enjoyed taking pictures of anything I could. When I got into high school, I was able to get a camera from grandfather and really develop more of a skill.”

Giordano said working for the Mace has been great, and that the publication has a sense of community, and she likes that it really has a lot of opportunities to take pictures around campus. When asked how she educates herself to take better pictures she says, “I constantly look online at other photographers, especially Instagram nowadays, just to get more ideas. I follow more people with pictures because it opens my eyes to what you can take pictures of and different angles and styles. One thing she’s learned about during her photography experience is the technical aspects of it, such as shutter speed. Giordano’s favorite things to photograph are nature and people. “I like to set up people rather than have it as candid because I like to set up a scene rather than something you see every day.”

Giordano is inspired by music and films and her favorite photographers Ansel Adams and Emily Hardwick. “His [Adams] set of pictures of Yosemite are so organic, raw and beautiful. Emily does [captures] very fantastical images” She said her goal for her photography is to be able to take it to the next level. “Since I am a Journalism major, and I want to work in magazines, I would definitely want to be able to take my photography to the next level, technology-wise. [I want] to have a bunch of equipment that I could use and to definitely travel, and to take pictures with whatever I write about and more. I would love to take pictures and make a journal of my travels,” she said.

8

Courtesy Maggie Giordano

Courtesy Josef Hicks

Hicks’ short-term goals for his photography right now are trying to shoot an NBA game this season, as well as an MLS game. Long-term goals include getting into journalism. “I was at the Charlottesville protest and took a lot of pictures there, and that’s stuff I’m into doing. Working for a newspaper, and capturing what’s going on now, in terms of stuff in the moment is what I want to do.”

MACEANDCROWN.COM

kam nedd first got into photography as a hobby. He started off Courtesy Kam Nedd

doing video for his friends that played basketball, bought a camera and started doing things through school. He says working with the Mace and Crown has been cool. “It’s given me the opportunity to do things in a variety of different ways as far as sports and concerts.

It’s been fun.”

Nedd learns to take better photos through trial and error, “A lot of the people that I follow on Instagram kind of mirror what I’m trying to do and then I look at how they capture things, and each time [I take a picture] I try to challenge myself to be better than I was the last time. It’s really trial and error for me, I learned a lot more from my mistakes and that kind of makes me better the next time out.”

Nedd said as a collective his biggest influences are the people he follows on Instagram, as well as many artists. “My favorite artist is Fabolous, their concert photography motivates and influences me,” he said. Nedd also mentions that as far as sports photography his friend Travis, a photo intern for the Vikings motivates him. “His work motivates me because it’s the closest to me in that he’s out there doing what I’m trying to do and gives me tips and feedback.”

One thing Nedd has learned while perfecting his craft in photography is that you have to take your time. “You have to take your time and to let things come to you. I feel like sometimes, you come in with an idea of what you want and you don’t allow yourself to kind of let it happen, you’re trying to force it to happen. I’ve done shoots where I wasted so much time trying to make it happen versus just seeing what’s there and working with what I got,” he said.

Nedd’s goal for his photography is to be a photo intern for a professional NFL or NBA team within the next two years. He eventually wants to start his own production company.

Courtesy Josef Hicks

breanna schweichler is a marine biology major at ODU and

focuses on photography as a hobby. Her favorite things to photograph are nature and things related to landscapes. “I have always felt more connected with nature. My degree is in dealing with animals, the ocean, that kind of thing, and I’ve always been fascinated by it. Also, I’m religious and I see my religion in nature,” she said.

Schweichler got into photography because she has always loved taking pictures and decided to volunteer with the school newspaper to gain some experience. “Working with the Mace & Crown has been pretty smooth. I get to pick an event to go to [choose which events I cover.]”

When asked how she educates herself to take better pictures, she said, “I notice on professional photographs, the lighting and angles that they use.”

Schweichler is influenced by the lighting and angles used in movies and television shows. One thing she has learned during her exploration of her craft in photography is that “Lighting is very important and [as well as] making sure there aren’t any background noises. And [also] learning how to use the focus properly.”

When asked what inspires her, she said it’s her drive to do what she loves, “My goal is getting my degree in Marine Biology, so this is one more step towards getting there, while keeping my options open. I’m very motivated when it comes to getting my degree and it’s just another thing that is pushing me. I feel like, if I keep going with it [photography] it’s going to help me get to my goal.”

Schweichler said her love of nature is what makes her eye unique, “There’s more to nature than what meets the eye. You have to keep an open mind, be optimistic and to see more than just a leaf or a flower.

You have to see the growth and life and beauty and understand that there’s so much more than what you’re looking at.” Her goal for her photography is to be able to photograph underwater.

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I’D TAP THAT! JAMES FINNEY

T

he first thing that hits you on your way inside O’Connor Brewing Company, is the rich whiff of hops in the air. The scent is reminiscent of a countryside drive, filling your nose with the scent of cows on a farm, or how you can smell a cheese shop in Wisconsin from at least a block away. It’s the kind of scent that tells you that whoever is working here, must love what they do.

Kevin and Penny O’Connor, and the team that stands beside them love what they do.

O’Connor Brewery is more than just a one-stop shop for some unique brewing.

O’Connor is a picture-perfect snapshot of the artistry, hard-work and community that form the recipe of Hampton Roads’ unique greatness.

The people of Norfolk each pursue their own element of what makes this city great, but everyone loves a good beer, and so each of these elements can be found at O’Connor Brewery.

The space inside of the brewery feels more like a city loft that just happens to make beer, rather than one of the fastest growing brewing companies in Virginia. There is an actual porch, decorated in an eclectic assortment of plants that lure you to the front entrance. Your eyes are greeted by the lovely sight of a fully 10

stocked bar and a row of tables leading to a stage platform in the rear.

Together, sitting on a loveseat at the rear of the living space, Kevin and Penny make it clear that they, and O’Connor Brewing, are uniquely virginian.

Kevin opens about the couple’s history in Virginia, “The first thing is that we are born and raised here. I’m a Norfolk boy and she’s a Virginia Beach girl. We are Hampton Roads through and through.”

Kevin’s words match the actions of the crew at O’Connor Brewing. Many of the specialty beers are named after local Hampton Roads spots. The rotating line of specialty beers, named Steel Battalion, is inspired by the Atlantic Fleet at the Norfolk Naval Yard. Their Norfolk Canyon IPA is a reference to the offshore fishing ground 60 miles off the coast of Norfolk. Some of the varieties of beer even use hops and malt locally sourced from around Virginia.

The O’Connor team’s commitment to their roots grounds their passion for exceptional beer making.

Penny laughs thinking about it, “I feel like we really resonate with the local community, and it’s probably because we’re both from here. We appreciate all of Hampton Roads. We’ve been here since we were toddlers. So we really have a connection to the area, and I think it really resonates in

our brand. We care about supporting them as much as they care about supporting us.”

This mutual commitment between individuals and their community has turned O’Connor Brewing into a house, where you can see firsthand what makes Hampton Roads special. As the cities constantly evolve and grow, the one thing that remains the same is the revolving door of talent that our home never fails to produce.

Kevin himself finds it interesting how much Hampton Roads has grown in even a short time, “I grew up in Larchmont right next to ODU. I mean we used to jump the fence at Foreman Field and ride our bikes and skateboards through ODU. To me, ODU used to be a commuter campus back then.”

Kevin eventually ended up attending ODU, where he didn’t get off to a great start, “Took a little bit longer than expected, not your typical four-year degree, but it lead to all this.” But that’s the beautiful thing about talent in Hampton Roads.

Whether you’re a young singer looking for their shot, fresh-faced artists looking for their chance to be noticed or a trailblazing brewery on the rise, they never see you coming, and it’s a beautiful moment when we all see you make it.

MACEANDCROWN.COM

EL GUAPO AGAVE IPA

Penny and her team manage the brand at O’Connor Brewing. They gather data, customer opinion and generally keep the gears turning. Kevin and his brewers have the technical know-how to produce the goods. However, it’s the combined creativity of the entire team and community that is responsible for the hail mary collection of beers that O’Connor has produced.

Kevin boils it down to a simple truth, experimentation, “We’re kind of foodies, I know what I like and I know what goes good together. A lot of our local friends are chefs, and they put together a lot of ideas and we talk with them.”

Sometimes, making good beer is a team effort in the biggest sense. Other times, inspiration can come from the tiniest things.

El Guapo IPA is one of the mainstays of O’Connor Brewing. The beer makes use of agave nectar of all things, and you’d have to imagine there was some story involving a brewmaster’s keen eye and an interesting trip to Mexico.

Nope.

“I use agave in my coffee, and that’s really how it started. When we first started off, everyone was looking for an IPA. We liked the hefeweizen beer that used honey, and we wanted to create something unique. So what that did for us was create an approachable, high alcohol beer.”

And it started with a morning cup of coffee.

IBRIK

The Steel Battalion series of beers is more of a test space for new beer, rather than a fixed set of the product. Due to the size of the O’Connor Brewery, it’s easy for the folks at the company to regularly experiment with what beers work and don’t work.

Kevin goes into further detail, “Steel Battalion was a series of beers we wanted to make. At our original facility, we were at capacity making the same five beers.

When we moved here, we wanted to wow everyone, so we created this new series of beer, Steel Battalion. We were gonna make thirty barrels at a time. Einbeck, doppelbock, bourbon barrel porter, just all types of beer. People loved it. Every month we were trying something new.”

The Steel Battalion allowed the O’Connor’s to have a ball making beer. Further expansion of the facilities at their new brewery allowed brewers to experiment with a new beer every single week, and from there Ibrik was born, a veteran of the Steel Battalion system.

“Our Imperial Turkish stout, its called Ibrik. We produce it every year on what we call black Saturday, directly after Black Friday. This is what the big beer geeks come out for. We take a portion of the base, package that off. We take a portion of that and age with vanilla bean and cacao nibs, then we put some in bourbon barrels and package them off, that’s when we have fun with it.” Kevin smiles, as he goes over the many different brews at O’Connor.

It’s clear that each unique creation carries an added sense of pride and joy for the team. Ibrik is a prime example of the artistry that O’Connor Brewing infuses into their work. Ibrik, El Guapos and a host of other beers are currently available at the O’Connor Brewing company brewery and at locations all acrossthe greater Hampton Roads area. Hampton Road’s very own is producing some of the finest and most unique beer you could get your hands on. Don’t miss out.

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All Photos by Maggie Giordano

TURKISH STOUT

M ON AR C H MU S I C M ADAM I N UFLORES TE MARCH 2

MARCH 9

Courtesy UMG Recordings, Inc.

MARCH 9

Courtesy Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited

MARCH 16

Courtesy Nonesuch Records Inc.

Courtesy Triple Tigers

T ECH N9NE

JUDAS PRIEST

BRAD MEHLDAU

SCOTTY M C CREERY

Veteran rapper, songwriter and record producer Aaron Dontez Yates, better known as Tech N9ne, will soon drop his twelfth studio project, “Planet,” which will feature guest appearances by Machine Gun Kelly, Krizz Kaliko, Snow Tha Product, among others.

The Kansas City, Missouri, native takes things way back as seen within “Planet’s” lead single and accompanying music video for “Tech N9ne (Don’t Nobody Want None)” where Yates revisits and reignites his dance roots.

Veteran British heavy metal conglomerate Judas Priest will deliver “Firepower,” their eighteenth studio set that has already spawned the release of the music video, “Lightning Strike.” Frontman Rob Halford recently expressed his dissatisfaction in making a “Redeemer of Souls” part two and said, “I think it’s very important that we make another stand-alone record again, a heavy metal record that’s going to have its own legs and just be as different as all of them have been so far.”

Jazz pianist, composer and arranger Bradford Alexander “Brad” Mehldau will release his “Three Pieces After Bach”-inspired solo set entitled “After Bach.” It comprises of Mehldau’s recordings of four preludes and one fugue from J.S. Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier,” each followed by an “After Bach” improvisational piece written by Mehldau and inspired by its WTC mate. Mehldau starts with his composition “Before Bach: Benediction” and ends with his “Prayer for Healing.”

Scotty McCreery, the season ten winner of “American Idol,” is ready to give fans his fourth studio offering, “Seasons Change.”

With the impressive success of his three previous studio albums, McCreery, the precocious country music vocal phenom, looks to have “Seasons Change” add to that legacy. For his current single, “Five More Minutes,” McCreery said “is the first song that’s really had some meat and potatoes that folks relate to, and that’s the kind of music I want to sing.

Planet

Firepower

MARCH 16

After Bach

MARCH 23

Courtesy Capitol Records, LLC.

MARCH 23

Courtesy Lionboy Records

Seasons Change

MARCH 30

Courtesy Third Man Records

Courtesy Most Monely Records

THE DECEMBERISTS

LISSIE

JACK WHITE

THE LONELY BISCUITS

Indie rock and baroque pop raconteurs The Decemberists will offer their follow-up to 2015’s “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World” with their eighth studio recording, “I’ll Be Your Girl.” While “Severed” appears as the new album’s first official single, other songs such as “Everything Is Awful” and “We All Die Young,” among others, had been previously performed live by the group. The new LP was produced by John Congleton (David Byrne, Angel Olsen).

Country, folk and rock singer-songwriter Elisabeth Corrin Maurus, better known as Lissie, will be releasing her fourth studio work, “Castles,” which displays the artist’s powerful combination of heartfelt introspection and contemporary dream-pop.

Written predominantly from her new home in Iowa, “Castles” represents a spiritual as well as musical development. Lissie, who has always been on the move, is finally creating a sense of permanency to catch her breath and reflect.

“Boarding House Reach” is the upcoming third, solo album by rock musician, Jack White. His first solo studio venture in four years following 2014’s “Lazaretto,” White had set up shop in a small apartment in Nashville, Tennessee, where he recorded on a reel-to-reel tape recorder which he purchased when he was fourteen. White said his goal was “to try to write songs where I can’t be heard by the next-door neighbor.”

“Connected by Love” and “Corporation” precede the new LP.

Nashville indie rock trio The Lonely Biscuits have recently released “Blue Grass” from their forthcoming full-length studio album debut, “The Universe in You.” Teaming up with Cage the Elephant guitarist Nick Bockrath in producing the new single, it also coincides with the launch of the independent zine, “Ordinary Thoughts,” which is curated by lead singer Grady Wenrich to share and highlight art being created by friends like Liza Anne, Becca Mancari, among others.

I’ll Be Your Girl

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Castles

Boarding House Reach

The Universe in You

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Comics have been one of the most popular forms of literature for years, allowing readers to enjoy their favorite tales while seeing what is being described to them. DC comics, “Superman: American Alien #1” written

by Max Landis, shows who Clark Kent really is, and what he was up to before officially becoming Superman. In the beginning chapters, a young Clark struggles to maintain his new powers a secret as they begin to develop outside of his house and interfere with daily activities. His mother and father do everything they can to help him, not just with his powers, but with his emotions as well. As the story progresses, Clark goes on to pretend to be Bruce Wayne on a yacht, move to Metropolis, meet Lois Lane and how he decides to become once and for all, Superman.

This is definitely more light-hearted and comedic than what D.C has been recently putting out for Superman. It allows Clark’s humanity to shine through, shows how compassionate he really is and his reasons for being the “Man of Steel.” The comic is a beautiful story and will leave many looking forward to the new version of the series to be released in the next coming months.

It also dips into many D.C characters that make an appearance into the story, allowing an unwritten explanation take place and demonstrates how much more connected the superheroes are to each other. It is a great read and a good place to start for those who are new to the comic/superhero world. Superman: American Alien is sold wherever D.C comics are sold and on dccomics.com.

WINTER 2018

Revolution, Riots and Reds, oh my!

“King’s Cage” by Victoria Aveyard is the third book in the “Red Queen” series, where the battle between red and silver bloods continue and goes even deeper than before. Following the events from “Glass Sword”, Mare Barrow is being held prisoner by King Maven inside of Whitefire castle. Her powers are suppressed, due to the silent stone embedded in her surroundings, and all she does is follow him around, trying to find a way to get out and back to the Scarlet Guard. The more time she’s there, the more cracks she notices in the crown and everyone who surrounds him. At the same time, Cameron is pushing towards a rescue mission to get her brother back, but keeps getting rejected due to the Guard trying to make a rescue for Mare and find a turning point in the war. Time is running out for both Mare and Cameron as Maven is closer to finding out their plans and tearing them down for good. With secrets continuing to pop up throughout each chapter and having some things come to light that begins to tie loose ends, it is a story that will make one lose track of time and lost in another world. Aveyard captures the emotion throughout the whole book and the transitions between the different point of view of each character allow the story to flow with one another, letting it add up close to the end. The story also has good timing, with the events going on throughout America, as revolution is a huge theme behind the story and can give readers a sense of hope throughout the entire series.

“King’s Cage” is available wherever books are sold. “War Storm,” the final installment will be available May 18.

MONSTERLAND

Courtesy WordFire Press

KING’S CAGE

FATIMA RIVERA Courtesy HarperTeen

SUPERMAN: AMERICAN ALIEN

Courtesy DC Comics

FAT I M A’ S B E S T R E A D S

The tales of werewolves, vampires and zombies have influenced many parts of entertainment for decades.

From books to movies, there have been countless renditions of one single monster and that continues to happen today.

“Monsterland” by Michael Okon makes an addition in this category, but fails to make an impact. Wyatt Baldwin is trying to adjust to his new lifestyle. After his father’s mysterious death a year before, leaving his family with no money to get by, he’s forced to move and start over. He ends up with his little brother Sean, mom and stepdad, Carter, who is trying to make an effort at being a better father figure. When Vincent Konrad, a multimillionaire scientist who is known for helping the government with the cure for the current zombie plague, opens an amusement park named Monsterland, containing actual werewolves, vampires and zombies, Wyatt receives tickets from Konrad to attend the grand opening. Once they arrive, they start to notice how some things aren’t quite how they’re supposed to be, leading Wyatt to wonder; will they make it out alive? The idea of Monsterland has the potential to be a new direction for the genre. Its idea of using different mythical creatures and characters living in a modernized setting gives it a fresh appeal for readers. However, the storyline is stale. It throws all of the events in at once that leaves one trying to make out what they just read. The writing is too focused on giving out a detailed description of events, making it seemed forced as it goes. Overall, the entire book had the option to go many ways and save material from the first book to transfer over to the sequel. Finishing the book was also a challenge and the occasional twist did little to overcome it.

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Photo by Maggie Giordano

CAMPUS SAFE T Y

ODU’S READINESS FOR AN ACTIVE SHOOTER

by Alex Scruggs

“It can happen to anyone,” said Jack King, a student in American English. King says that his high school and community college in Oregon were both victims of active shooter incidents, although he did not attend during these times.

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n American English class of 15 students in the Batten Arts and Letters building ran across the hall, down the stairwell and outside the building to escape a hypothetical gunman on a mild, mid-January day. At the back of the group, Dr. Bridget Anderson, their professor, made sure that no one lagged; shouting, “Faster! Keep going!”

Their goal was to get from their second-floor classroom to the outside in under 35 seconds. They did it in 29.65.

Under the instruction of Dr. Anderson, the class was practicing their Active Shooter Readiness Plan. “We’ve got it down,” said Dr. Anderson before the drill, referring to the ASRP that she’s been developing for more than two years. “We’ve got a drill so that they (the students) don’t even have to think if something happens. We just do.” She argues that there is an obvious need to come up with a plan like this after a rise in mass shootings over the past several years. The university’s Public Safety website has “Active Threat” instructions which defines the steps students and faculty should take to stay safe in an active shooter situation. Dr. Anderson, however, argues that without “classroom-specific” instructions, the policy is inadequate.

Dr. Anderson is a cheerful middle-aged professor with wavy hair seems devoted to both her students and the university. Before her drill, in her office, I sat in an immensely comfortable armchair and talked with Dr. Anderson about her thoughts on ODU’s readiness for a crisis. “It makes professors uncomfortable, even having to think about this (coming up with an ASRP),” she said. “But to me it’s about being responsible… I get paid to be the leader and to be responsible in my classroom.”

Dr. Anderson’s ASRP draws on “RUN. HIDE FIGHT” methods demonstrated in a training video developed by Houston, with funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“It’s a bit gendered,” said Dr. Anderson. “In the video, the people who get hysterical are all women. But most of the information is good, I show it to all my classes.”

Her plan follows the video’s three segments. If her class hears shooting on floors above or below, Dr. Anderson WINTER 2018

gets them to run down the stairs and outside. “My friends in law enforcement have told me that you can tell the general area of a gunshot,” said Dr. Anderson. “I think we’ll be able to tell (if the shooter is either above or below).”

If they hear shooting on their floor, they hide in the room. If the shooter approaches the class, they fight.

Self-defense against a shooter isn’t covered by ODU’s Public Safety website, but is on the “RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.” video, which ODUPD advocates for. “I can’t even stand to see a dead animal in the road. I am so gentle,” said Dr. Anderson. “But I am committed in my mind to the plan because it would be the right thing to do in that situation.”

Members of her class seem to agree with the urgency of the drill. “It can happen to anyone,” said Jack King, a student in American English. King says that his high school and community college in Oregon were both victims of active shooter incidents, although he

did not attend during these times.

“My last school didn’t have one (a plan), I think it’s good that we do this,” said Brandilynn Aires, another student in Dr. Anderson’s class. Aires once had to barricade herself in her bedroom while on the phone with the police because there was an armed robber in her home.

Preparation and planning could be the difference between life and death one day, if an active shooter incident were to happen at ODU. Dr. Anderson agrees, saying, “I hope and pray that I never have to use this (ASRP), I really do. But, you know, I think it’s really important to be prepared.”

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cross Hampton Boulevard from the BAL building, in her office on Monarch Way, ODU Police Chief and Assistant Vice President for Public Safety Rhonda Harris agrees with Dr. Anderson. Preparation is key. “Really when you think about preparation for

Photo by Alex Scruggs

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“Really when you think about preparation for active shooters, that’s way in advance,” said Chief Harris.

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“If an incident happens,” said Chief Harris, “and it’s never hit my mind before, I’m more likely to freeze.”

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Courtesy ODUPD

active shooters, that’s way in advance,” said Chief Harris one morning when I met with her and Jared Hoernig, associate director of emergency management. “We really take a very strong, proactive approach, to making sure the community knows what to do in those kinds of situations.”

I mentioned some of this “proactive approach” before, noting information on the ODU Public Safety website.

ODUPD also hosts workshops to help and encourage faculty to develop their own ASRPs. In addition, Chief Harris says, “We’re providing training for students in residence halls, the rec. center, other areas that have high student-staff (rates), so that they are capable, they know what to do in those kind of situations to be able to have the highest success of a low-incident of injury.”

This preparation is crucial, because unpredictability can dominate a situation where people in a crisis are unsure of what to do. “If an incident happens,” said Chief Harris, “and it’s never hit my mind before, I’m more likely to freeze.

So what we want, we want people to have access to the information. It’s in the back of their minds somewhere, they’ve had some thoughts about it before and that’ll help them take the action they need to be successful if something bad were to happen.”

ODU police officers are prepared for active shooter incidents, Chief Harris said. “Officers are going to be entering the building, locating the shooter and stopping the shooter,” said Chief Harris.

“That would take priority over treating injured people, because that person is continuing to kill other people.”

“And that’s the police response side of things,” Hoernig continued. “I have a whole coordination element of my own that involves coordinating with the Police Department throughout the

The ODU campus and surrounding area are divided into five “patrol districts,” the most active of which is on and around Killam Avenue.

response, making sure that mass notification is made to the campus community in conjunction with the police department and Strategic Communication and Marketing.”

But even before an incident is reported, ODUPD is already nearby. “We’re able to look at where we have incidents happen and have some kind of information about where past incidents occur,” said Chief Harris. “We use that to drive the creation of districts where officers are stationed, where they have areas of responsibility. We’re pretty fortunate that we able to pretty densely put officers out into those areas so it reduces our response time.”

The ODU campus and surrounding area and divided into five “patrol districts,” the most active of which is on and around Killam Avenue, according to Chief Harris. ODUPD prides itself for being prepared and having a quick response time for incidents because of this patrol method.

Rounding out our conversation about shooters, Hoernig noted, “The recovery process can go on for months. Think

about Virginia Tech, they had a whole office created just for recovery. They had to decide what to do with an entire building.”

Chief Harris agreed that in terms of time, things like, “the first-aid piece; the crime scene; how long is the building going to be offline?; what needs to be done to re-unite people with their families?; who are our injured people?; what hospital do they go to?; how do we get that communicated to their families?,” stretch far beyond the shooter incident. “So that is probably the depth that maybe the students wouldn’t be interested in knowing about but you know the TV makes it look like this…”

“It’s back to normal after the gunman is dead,” said Hoernig, cross talking. ”Yeah, it’s 20 minutes, the police go in, they locate the shooter, they kill (the shooter), everybody looks out happy, and it’s this kind of on to the next TV show.”

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art of what ODU is banking on in being prepared for an active shooter is communication. One way the university encourages this is with the implementation of LiveSafe, an app developed by students who were at Virginia Tech during the shooting.

The LiveSafe app’s motto, “Safety. In everyone’s hands.,” explains just what they’re about.

Four features are displayed on LiveSafe’s main screen; Report Tips, Emergency Options, Safety Map and GoSafe.

The Safety Map and GoSafe features both utilize interactive maps of ODU, on which you can see where recent incidents have occurred and, if enabled, follow your friend on the map as they walk home (and vice versa).

The Report Tips and Emergency Options features are most useful to ODUPD, they allow users to easily communicate with the police. Giovanna Genard, ODU’s Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communication and Marketing explained their uses to me.

When out at a party, “Maybe there is a situation that does not make you comfortable, and you may not feel it’s best to pick up the phone to call police directly,” she said. “Students who are used to texting can use (LiveSafe) to communicate directly with police and inform them of a situation where you’re not comfortable.”

The app’s features are paid for by the university, and are free to students, faculty and the community surrounding ODU. University administrators know that emergency communication isn’t just in the hands of LiveSafe’s users. Genard is partially responsible for the ODU Alert emails. “The government requires us to send timely notifications for a number of reasons that they determine,” said Genard, warmly looking at me through wide-rimmed glasses in her office one morning. “In terms of the type of information that we send, we have to send the time and the location that it happened. But we go above and beyond in including as much information as possible.”

Genard points to ODUPD safety precautions that are included in many alert emails. For example, an alert sent out earlier today while I was writing this story informed recipients that ODUPD WINTER 2018

has received reports of scam emails in the guise of “ODU Alerts,” and “ODU IS HIRING.” Toward the bottom of the alert email were six ODUPD reminder bullet points on what to do after receiving suspicious emails. This inclusion is not required by the government, and Genard says is part of the university’s campaign to be both communicative and informative.

ODU Alerts are certainly a form of mass communication, they are sent to

“We take the extra step and notify students of incidents that take place fairly close to the university,” said Genard.

“all faculty, staff and students,” said Genard, who noted that most alert emails are sent under the instruction of Chief Harris, who determines whether something is relevant and urgent enough to send to the whole community. She also proudly noted that, “Even though the law requires that we notify students of incidents that happen specifically on campus, we take the extra step and notify students of incidents that take place fairly close to the university.”

Open and frequent communication between all areas of the university’s community is part of what makes ODU great, Genard says. “We are one of the safest universities in Virginia. Looking at a large public research university like this, the number of incidents for us fall well below the average.”

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efore starting the drill during class, Dr. Anderson laid out the hypothetical scenario. They would practice the segments: run, hide and fight, in order, with assigned roles for some students. The first went to a fit-looking woman, Natalie McElroy. “You’ll be the

mistress of the brick,” said Dr. Anderson. Laying on the desk in her office and brought with her to each class, is a clean and un-tarnished brick, monogramed with the word “Blanders,” which is Dr. Anderson’s ODU email address and nickname from some students. The brick would be used to hit the shooter in the bridge of the nose if he were to enter the classroom. “99.99 percent of shooters in the U.S. are men,” said Dr. Anderson, so she uses the “he” pronoun in her drills.

The Blanders brick isn’t the only weapon to be used by the class. Dr. Anderson has a pocket knife, which she brings to each class in her pants to use if there was a fight scenario, “You can’t get more concealed than down your breeches.” She mentioned that after teaching one day, she drove home, did chores and started watching TV before she realized that she still had the knife in her pants.

Dr. Anderson and McElroy would stand in the corner by the classroom door during an active shooter incident, ready to strike if the assailant were to enter.

“Can I join in with my skateboard?” said one student.

According to her, it is best to kill the shooter if possible.

Luckily for everyone, there was no danger during the drill. The class practiced their run, hide, fight scenario, and then continued learning. Dr. Anderson hopes that ASRPs like hers will catch on at the university. No one disagrees that it is best to be over-prepared then underprepared for a situation like an active shooter incident.

Before the drill, while Dr. Anderson’s students shot off safety ideas to one another, McElroy suggested that Jack Gently, a student in the first row, should act out the role of the hypothetical shooter. “British people are always villains,” she said.

“Shit, that’s a strong argument,” said Gently, who is from England.

“We’re going to try for no contact,” said Dr. Anderson.

“Well with the brick,” said Gently, “I bloody hope you try.”

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HEART OF A

MONARCH A conversation with the man behind the curtain

Josh Castro

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ohn Broderick possesses the afficable likeness of a man bred for life in public service. His neatly combed hair and pressed oxford shirt convey an almost Kennedy-like appearance, both sharp and aristocratic. One would be shocked, then, to find that Broderick is a man of humble means, a first generation college student with a heart full of ambition and an eye toward the future.

His office tells a different kind of story, however. Though sparsely decorated with personal features outside those of the regular academic, news clippings of his notable accomplishments hang throughout its walls, enshrining his victories and perhaps spurring him towards future success.

As he sits across the room, legs crossed in a state of mindful contemplation, he insists the reason he relates so well to the students of Old Dominion is because at one time, he found himself much like the majority of the students he represents. “Our respective journeys weren’t considerably different from a lot of our students’ experiences here. It was series of scholarships and loans, being an RA and part time jobs that got me through school. And it was very similar for my wife.”

One could hardly believe that the man we see on campus today had ever had bumps in the road to success, but life was not handed to Broderick or his family on a silver platter. Like many at ODU, Broderick struggled to deal with similar issues, but found comfort and support through advisors and professors that pushed him forward, and endeared him to many of the causes he is passionate about today. He reminisced briefly of his own college experience, 18

and the struggles he faced with financing his education.

“I had a semester where my father was an electrician in Connecticut.

When he was working, he made really good money, but when the construction side of the economy in Connecticut fell for a stretch, so did employment. So I had a year where I thought I was going to drop out of school. I had a professor that didn’t want to see me leave school, and helped me find other alternatives from loans to part time jobs to allow me to stay in college, or else I would have been one of those statistics.” He trails off momentarily, watching a group of students walk through the lot outside of his office window. “It’s a real thin line,” he says, looking back up. “It’s a thin line for a lot of our students, it was a thin line for me and for my wife as well.”

His tenure over the last decade as president has been a model for growth in the realm of public universities.

The proof, of course, is in the results.

Since 2011, Old Dominion has boasted the cheapest in-state undergraduate tuition and fees of any other Doctoral institution in the state of Virginia, beating Virginia Commonwealth University for first place, and holding onto that path for the foreseeable future. While VCU’s tuition rate continues to climb, ODU manages to control it’s prices for the time being.

His work has not been solely focused on tuition rates, however. Across the board, Broderick has signed sweeping initiatives and worked closely with the state government to ensure that a litany of new programs and salary increases would be seen in the coming years. In

a memo sent to ODU employees, Broderick hailed Va Gov. Terry McAuliffe for recommending a 2 percent salary increase for employees beginning in late 2019, and announced that with the addition of $15 million in general funds, Old Dominion will, for the first time in the history of the University, reach 100 percent Base adequacy.

“I have always been committed to keeping our tuition and fees at the level that they are. And factually, you can see from the statistics that I have been true to my word. By the same token, there is no way things will never increase.

Insurances increases, utilities increase, employee salary increases; there’s no way to keep it at the same level forever.

Imagine if we went to the market last year, and we saw that milk cost X and lettuce cost Y. My guess is if we go back to that same store next year, all those things are going to cost more. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t try to be as efficient with our resources as possible.”

When asked about the athletics program and the concerns that have been made to its price, he quickly points out that the stadium’s approved cost is far less than some of the other projects the school has undertaken, even for some of the projects on the horizon.

“We have made some remarkable strides in our athletic program, but I think we have made even greater strides in what our campus looks like,” he says. “ A new school of education, a new dining commons, a new children’s study center, an allocation to build a new science buildings and even allocations for new residence halls at 49th street.” He sits back, pointing to the area of Foreman field with a furrowed expression. “There has been a lot of media focus on the football stadium, but really the $55 million it’s going to cost really pales in comparison to the $60 million education building, a coming $75 million sciences building, a coming $75 million health sciences building, a $25 million dining facility, ect.”

In the end, Broderick remains at the helm, steering the university towards uncharted waters. And although the winds may change, success and growth for Old Dominion University continues to remain on the horizon, promising new day and a new opportunity for all who pass through its gates.

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Courtesy T.J. Thompson

FA C E I N T

Hastag #ODU to see

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THE MACE

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Courtesy Unsplash.com

e your Face in the Mace!

Follow us on Twitter: @maceandcrown 21

Photo by Josef Hicks

BROTHERS IN

BLOOD AND BALL Brittany Reigelsperger 22

MACEANDCROWN.COM

Courtesy Stith Family

W

WINTER 2018

Courtesy Stith Family

hile playing collegiate basketball is an honor in itself, two Old Dominion men’s basketball players have the greater honor of calling each other brothers. Not only do Brandan and B.J. Stith have the privilege of being brothers on and off the court they also have the unique experience of having their father, a former NBA player, serve as their assistant coach. While this rare trio may seem bizarre to some, keeping ball in the family has been familiar to the Stiths for quite some time.

Coach Bryant Stith played his collegiate career at the University Of Virginia while earning his degree in Sociology. During his time as a Cavalier he was named the 1989 ACC Rookie of the Year and collected three first-team All-ACC honors. Coach Stith finished off his college career in 1992 with the recognition of MVP of the National Invitation Tournament. Following his college years, Coach Stith began his career as a professional basketball player when he was selected as the 13th overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 1992 NBA Draft. During his 10 year NBA Career, Stith played for three teams and marked 5,946 points before retiring in 2002. In retirement Stith returned to his old high school, Brunswick, as head coach where he and his sons won three straight state championships.

Coach Stith once equated the opportunity of coaching both of his sons at the collegiate level as “every day is a holiday” for him. He has even acknowledged this novel privilege that “not too many fathers get” and affirms that he cherishes every moment he gets to share with B.J. and Brandan.

Neither Brandan nor B.J. can articulate the exact moment they realized their love of basketball, but both brothers attribute their passion to the desire to emulate the success and determination of their father. In their younger years both Brandan and B.J. dabbled in other sports including baseball, football and track, but nothing ever equaled their enjoyment of playing basketball with each other and their father.

Leaving high school with three state championships under their belts made both boys extraordinary prospects for recruiting colleges. Brandan received offers from Virginia Commonwealth University, University of North Car23

olina, Charlotte and Ohio University amongst others and even received an offer from his dads alma mater UVA. When asked why he didn’t choose UVA, who went onto be the number three seed in the 2013-14 season Brandan explained “UVA just didn’t fit my style of play.

They played too slow. I just felt it wasn’t a good fit for me as a player, and felt I would be better somewhere else.”

Ultimately, Brandan took his talents to East Carolina University where he appeared in 33 of their 34 games and averaged 6.3 rebounds a game. While his time at ECU was astonishing for a freshman, Brandan felt as though ODU offered more opportunities for growth and leadership on the team. Brandan promptly transferred for the 2014-15 season but had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules. However, he proved to use this time productively as he started all 31 games during the 2015-16 season and totaled 310 rebounds. While Brandan was making his debut as a Monarch, he had the support of his younger brother B.J. as he had just transferred to ODU after a short year playing for UVA.

“My dads career and history with UVA heavily impacted me. I’ve always looked up to him and that ultimately influenced me to choose UVA so early and pushed me to follow through with that decision.”

Unlike Brandan, B.J. only received one college offer, but this is mostly attributed to B.J.’s decision to verbally commit to UVA as a freshman in high school.

While committing to a university that early is not unheard of, it isn’t common and even less likely to be honored by players. When asked why B.J. decided to commit so early he explained 24

“My dads career and history with UVA heavily impacted me. I’ve always looked up to him and that ultimately influenced me to choose UVA so early and pushed me to follow through with that decision.”

Even though both brothers paths changed following their initial team selections, both agree that making the move to ODU and playing side by side under the guidance of head coach Jeff Jones and their father was the best choice for the remainder of their collegiate careers.

Both B.J. and Brandan have brought an undeniable rhythm to the program that capitalizes on their respective strengths. B.J., who is a forceful guard, often shoots precise three-pointers and perfect free throws. While Brandan, a vengeful forward, is well known for

his powerful rebounds and aggressive steals. Their synergy and leadership has guided the team through tough wins and losses but indisputably made a lasting impact on the entirety of the program.

Looking ahead both brothers hope to obtain careers in their respective fields of criminal justice and communications. They are both currently working towards graduate degrees as they finish out their time as members of the Old Dominion men’s basketball team.

While neither know exactly which career paths they will take, both fully intend to remain involved with basketball in some capacity of their lives. As brothers in blood and ball, everyone can rest assured that they are not done making their mark on the world of basketball following their time as Monarchs.

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Photo by Josef Hicks

Photo by Kam Nedd

TRUST THE PROCESS

ODU Track & Field’s journey to success Jazzmyn Bradley

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ithin the tight-knit community at Old Dominion University, students are always encouraged to set high goals and to strive for excellence. However, this determined group of students took on a challenging goal many would shy away from these days; establishing a new varsity team from scratch.

ODU Track and Field was established as an official ODU organization in December 2016 and eventually reached club status. Coach Kenneth McCreary has guided them every step of the way.

Currently, he is serving in his second year as the head coach of these determined athletes. McCreary coaching experience spans over 11 years. Some notable accolades include coaching nine state qualifiers and eight national qualifiers between two states. He is also a 2010 graduate of Purdue University.

Gaining their club status was no walk in the park, especially since none of the founding members possessed any experience establishing an organization. A reoccurring obstacle of constantly having difficulties securing practice spaces and meetings locations stunted team 26

growth. In the team’s embryonic stages, practices were held at the Student Recreation Center located on campus, but they were quickly asked to move on to another facility. Nevertheless, they kept their heads high and became determined to perfect their craft. Sometimes they practice at local high schools but athletic departments often charged the team hefty fees. However, Boo Williams Sportsplex quickly become their haven for regular practices.

Since the track team is relatively new to campus and not an official varsity sport, they have to provide their funding. In the wake of financial difficulties, the team had to think and act fast to ensure every athlete could participate.

The group began to work diligently, sometimes in cold temperatures, at the Norfolk Harbor-Fest Half Marathon, Snap-Raise, and even organized car washes.Bryan Carey, former team marketing coordinator, expressed his teams recruiting difficulties. He recalled having trouble pitching to individual students due to their club status; some students do not view club teams

as real official teams.

This negative stigma caused the group to be small in numbers in their early stages. Some students were not willing to trust the process thus more and more students faded away. Conditioning a team to compete against well established collegiate track and field teams takes hard work and dedication, not everyone is up for the challenge.

Keeping in mind that underclassmen students would eventually become the future of the program, the founding members made a point to target underclassmen who were fresh out of their high school programs as they could bring youth to the team. Transfer students quickly became attracted to the tight-knit family the track team provides, and soon became a cornerstone of members.

On December 4th, 2015 the newly formed Old Dominion Track & Field team was set to compete in their first meet at CNU. The team was ecstatic to finally apply the skills and abilities they were sharpening in practice.

Facing premier athletes from Virginia MACEANDCROWN.COM

Courtesy ODU Track Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Wesleyan and Virginia Union, all whom have established varsity programs. Due to lack of depth and experience, they could not keep up with the opposing teams for the duration of the meet. At this moment, the team had an epiphany. They experienced their first taste of collegiate level competition. Now knowing what to expect the team focused on what to work on to become better.

It became evident that the process would not be quick and easy, but a slow painful grind. This experience hurt the pride of the team but would become quintessential in their success later on in their journey.

Following another devastating meet at the University of North Carolina, Coach McCreary decided to have an open heart-to-heart discussion with his team. McCreary felt extremely disappointed in himself as well as the team, but the team took full responsibility for the results of the meet. A coach can do all the preparations, drills, and speechWINTER 2018

es in the world but once that gun fires it is up to the athlete to compete to their best ability. This interaction with their coach ignited a fire within the team, and which presented itself during their next meet.

They began to look like a new team, and schools that previously decimated them became impressed with their performance. ODU kept up with them and even place in the top portion of events. The stellar performance of the squad prompted opposing coaches to invite the team to invitational meets the following year. ODU Track & Field was beginning to be recognized by their competition and take off.

Fast forwarding to December 9th, 2017, the team kicked off their second year of competition at CNU. This time around was a much different experience from their first meet. The organization grew with nine new additions, four freshmen and three transfer students. Returning athlete and team captain Andre Clark made it to the semi-finals in the 60m hurdles. Samone Davis set a PR by a foot in the women’s long

jump event. Isaiah Robertson, in his first collegiate meet, had an outstanding showing in his leg of the men’s 4x4 relay. 2018 will be another great year for Old Dominion Track & Field if those previously mentioned showings are indicative of the team’s future. The unit can only improve from this point on.

The President of the program Imani Murray’s vision is beginning to come to fruition.

Moving forward, the organization seeks to build up an impressive competition rapport and resume. The ultimate goal is to become endorsed by the university as a varsity team and obtaining their on-campus facility. They are a real testament that hard work will pay off. With increased exposure leading to more participation hopefully, their desires will come about.

To keep up with ODU’s Track & Field team, you can visit their website, http://www.odutrack.com/ . You can also follow them on Instagram and Twitter, @odutrack.

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Courtesy Unsplash.com

COFFEE WITH A STRANGER, PT. 1

by Ann Garcia

June 17, 3016

Elissa sighed, staring out the window

at the gray sky. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes drooped with exhaustion - god, what she wouldn’t do for some actual coffee right now.

Coffee hadn’t been around for almost 50 years; after coffee plantations were struck with the agricultural virus that swept the globe, 98% of coffee plants and seeds were destroyed. Ever since, coffee had become a rare commodity, only provided to those with the wealth to buy it.

And Elissa certainly did not have any such wealth. She worked in a coffee shop, for goodness sakes. (If it could even be called that - the drinks it sold were merely false replicas of coffee that tasted nothing like the substance they tried to imitate.)

She heaved another sigh. Setting her arms on the counter and resting her head on them, she let her eyelids shut.

So much had changed in this era. The world had become so gray and gloomy, too, what with the never-ending rain storms. One of the few salvations from boredom in this world was Delight - a legal drug that stimulated the growth of endorphins in the body at an insane rate and thus had the power to invoke immediate happiness. Unfortunately, Delight only lasted for a short time (that length depending on how quickly one’s body metabolized the stimulant), soon returning its users to boring reality.

Elissa was well acquainted with Delight. The coffee shop infused its drinks 28

with the drug, making it quite popular with the city. But today was to be a slow day, it seemed. There had been a grand total of sixteen people to visit the coffee shop, and it was already 5 PM.

slightly. Even worse, she may or may not have been staring at her green curls - which in Elissa’s defense, were absolutely beautiful. In all the years she’d known her, she’d never looked so stunning.

She opened her eyes and glanced at the old clock on the wall behind her (really, Kim could afford a better clock). In just one more hour, she’d be free to go home and…

“Oh, uh…” Her glasses slid down her nose as she shifted her weight, quickly becoming uncomfortable under Elissa’s gaze.

And do what, exactly? Cook dinner, brush her teeth, and go to sleep? Then wake up the next morning to come right back here?

Get it together, Elissa.

What a sad life she led. Routine after routine after routine. God, if only there were something to break the monotony-

“A little, yeah.” She giggled, her eyes turning up as she did so. “It’s the hair, isn’t it? I knew it was too flashy.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. I’m staring, aren’t I?”

Elissa paused, letting a soft smile find its way across her face. Of course.

“No, not at all! Well, the hair is what caught my attention, but it’s not bad.”

Elissa stumbled over her words, becoming more and more aware of how awkward she was making things. She took a deep breath.

She turned to greet the customer -

“I love it.”

What

“Thank you! It’s one of the new things my friend’s working on - implants to make your hair change colors based on emotions. Like those mood rings they used to do back in the day.”

Ring ring!

“Helloooo!”

the fuck.

“Hi there!” The woman beamed.

Elissa smiled back and opened her mouth to reply, “Hello! Welcome to Kim’s, what can I get for you?” ...And then she realized that actual sounds were not coming out of her mouth and that her jaw was hanging

As she spoke, the roots of her hair began to transition from green to a pale shade of yellow. It complimented her dark skin nicely.

“See?” She pointed to her hair. “Yellow for happy.”

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COMPOSITE LOVER

but no song played when I wanted it

by Josh Whitener

only at eleven miles gone

late July I sat, parked

towards the Courtney Campbell Causeway,

engine running, radio low only a commercial and no melody

plotting a phoenix equivalent resurrection still on commercial break

I was angry at a cornucopia of things you: for not choosing me myself: for making you a composite lover how I doted on my mother at my father for showing me love was a spectrum but that happiness is in small doses anger was a bitter penny under my tongue it was the smell of the cat shit lodged like mortar in my boot tread angry at a stolen childhood angry I have to write to be intimate communicative, respectable to simply be I wanted Eddie Vedder to validate it all or any godless, awe-inspiring musical genius to sway me into motivation to act, Courtesy Unsplash.com

to run to your door, throw myself at your feet, tell you through clenched teeth, pleading: “I don’t want to go through these years this way.”

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Photo by Josef Hicks

QUESTIONABLE LOVE?

by Arlynn Parker

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Courtesy Unsplash.com

Their lovemaking was like two hyenas clawing each other over scraps of meat they scratched and laughed as if they hated themselves, a confusing sight, his expression was a black cat disappearing into the shadows of her curves; hers was a simpler envy, sweetening the darkness like an Oreo dipped in white milk the only sign of any pleasure was in their voices—that sweet, simple sigh which gives lovers antiquated purpose when he reached the peak of that ever-daunting mountain it was Everest the way they became like gusts of wind rising into a cumulonimbus cloud, quick and unstable it left their lips like wisps of flour rising after you’ve plopped down the dough and when it was over she trembled. A loose jello mold in his arms. But then he rose, the bedsheets cascading, unfurling as her inhibitions tightened, she could already picture herself in the pitch pinstripe suit of contempt just fit for an everyday occasion but she knew she’d be back.

CELESTIA

by Wendell Ward Her style was musty thrift store, And I swear I saw a mite Buzzing the dried-up feather She’d taped to her Robin Hood hat.

Her lashes: a burned-out forest Clumped with ashes and soot, But her eyes! How they smoldered—so fervid! We had dinner later that night.

She insisted on tacos and bratwurst, Which seemed a ridiculous coupling, But it was a food-truck festival, And I did feel suddenly daring.

At moonrise she sucked on a snow cone, And gnawing it like a squirrel, Her cold blue lips they erupted With a cackle startlingly feral.

I stared at the sickly-sweet syrup Dribbling down her chin As she yanked on her three-ringed earlobes, Shouted “brain freeze” then “kiss me, you loon!”

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Courtesy Unsplash.com

At midnight we pitched a tent In her mother’s (and father’s!) backyard, And reveled in tacos and bratwurst (In the metaphorical sense of the words).

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4 YEARS OF DELIGHT

I thought the answer was: these are the best years of your life

Dark shadows and bright lights

My penny jar is screaming

Lead me to my future just ahead

My stomach is grumbling

It’s so far out of reach

My mind is whirling

Yet so close to my feet

Please, I beg it to stop

by Caitlin Helveston

The pile of misery Pushes down on my shoulders And assignments pile over my head

Once I pass through the tunnel And reach that bright light

Why must I live this way? It’s not right

I’ll stumble through the 5 years of needed experience

The amount of time spent weeping and

And be called a lazy millennial who has no life

Running from the stress and Not eating and not sleeping and

You were wrong

When will it end?

I am strong I can do this

What does it cost to better my life?

Just 4 years of, “Please may I survive?”

My humanity?

My rights?

I’m just a human being working late nights My penny jar is screaming My stomach is grumbling My mind is whirling Please, I beg it to stop

If I had a quarter for every time I begged for humanity I would still be as poor as a, oh I don’t know 32

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Photo by Ethan Sykes

Why must my mental breakdowns come in sets of 5?

by Patricia Reese

“Hello?” A girl’s voice. Soft, sweet. Out of place in this mortal, rotting slab of house, like classical music crackling over a radio.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you, it’s just -” Don’t be sorry. “- I wanted to . . . feel something, I - are you there?”

The decaying floorboards, soft and pale with age, creak gently beneath her careful footsteps. She’s conscious of her impact here, genuine in her need. It’d be refreshing if it wasn’t so terrible. She’s alive, clearly, but only just. Gold glitters along her collarbone, sparkles across her face. Pinks and blues decorate her eyes. Smoke clings to copper hair. She’s just come from some spectacle, but it left her empty. Led her here.

She stops in the middle of the living room, moonlight filtering in through the windows giving her a soft glow. Her converse sneakers (the ones that blister her heels) leave a trail of footprints in the dust behind her. She’ll linger in the atmosphere long after she goes.

“I’ve tried everything,” she murmurs, holding her wrist. “Sex, pain, music, adrenaline . . . nothing works.” Her voice breaks on the last word. “I feel empty. Alone. I just need some recognition, some kind of sign. Tell me I’m alive, tell me it’s worth it, just give me a sign, please. Tell me I won’t always wander through life a, a - ” Her voice is barely a whisper now. “A ghost.” She covers her face with golden hands.

A flutter, where my heart used to be.

How can someone so alive know so well what it is to be dead? An echo of a red sky, begging mercy from the sun, she’s flickering in and out like TV static, drained like a car engine trembling and sputtering to near-life. But she’s not empty yet. Her tears warm the room, fester in the faded plum cushions and in those dusty photographs on the mantle.

It’s almost life.

doesn’t make ghosts any more than a stepping stone makes a traveler. Death is not the catalyst, merely an unfortunate continuation of a life without meaning. Without hope. A slippery spectre stumbling in and out of recognition is no different from a loveless girl searching for feeling in life’s blurred wilderness. Had I been her, once? My memory flutters, have I - how long has it been?

“There really is no point, is there?”

The house is tense with my hesitation, seems to holds its breath, reluctant to speak definitely on the matter. The girl - I can hear her heartbeat.

“It’s hopeless,” she breathes, a shake to her mellow timbre, and turns sharply on her heel as if to leave. Leave?

Wait!

Panic. I wasn’t thinking, I - my hand around her wrist, a firm hold, a brief connection with reality. It felt . . . I felt . . . she was warm.

A gasp; protests from the floorboards as she stumbles back. “Who’s there?”

The house creaks and sighs as she stands there, not quite trembling. Tears wet the glitter around her eyes, on her cheeks. She looks holy in this light.

She reaches out as if to touch me, looks right through me, fingers carving the air, just out of reach. She smiles, a tear wetting the turned up corner of her lips.

“Thank you,” she breathes, chuckling softly. “Thank you.”

Her voice, her soft steps, aren’t so strange anymore by the time she turns to leave. I watch her go, stand by the window and watch until she disappears into the world of the living and even then, for a little while after that.

It occurs to me at this point that death WINTER 2018

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Courtesy Unsplash.com

A GHOST STORY

ODU D racing toward

3 4

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Photo by Guillermo Rivera-Hernandez

DRONE CLUB s creating their own competitions

Audra Reigle

T

he SRC is the place for students to go if they’re looking to work out or just have some fun with friends on the basketball courts. What students may not know is that the MAC courts in the SRC are also used by the Drone Club on Thursday afternoons. During this time, members of the club can be seen flying drones inside the building.

The club has quad-copters, 5 FPV goggles and they recently purchased a fixed wing drone kit. There are plans to start building the fixed wing drone as well as working on the other drones soon.

Outside of ODU, they had a tent at the Virginia Festival of Flight last year.

There are plans to attend again this year.

“We have not done any competitions yet,” James Flynn, club president and junior, said via email. “I tried reaching out to VT and UVA to see if we could do an inter-collegiate racing competition, but they never got back to me.”

Flynn also said that they are looking into creating their own competitions at ODU and with other schools. Junior Adam Beccera is also involved with the Drone Club and is interested in “pushing the club towards becoming a racing team that competes against other universities.”

Part of the issue with the club not participating in competitions was because WINTER 2018

they were waiting for ODU’s drone policy to pass. Flynn met with the Director of Risk Management, Rob Wells, to see how they could operate at ODU. They were told that the policy was expected to become official in April 2017. However, Flynn, nor the club’s faculty advisor, have seen the policy, and it cannot be found on the ODU website as of Jan. 30. The Drone Club had to get special permission to fly in the SRC because the policy was still in limbo.

Those interested in the Drone Club do not have to be in a specific major to join.

Flynn said that they are open to everyone, but they would like to see other students who aren’t in engineering get involved. Current majors involved in the club are engineering, engineering technology, history, political science, chemistry, psychology and physics.

Their goal is to create an environment in which those involved can “learn to design, build and operate all manners of unmanned aerial vehicles in a safe and fun way.”

Meetings are held weekly on Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30pm. The location alternates between Constant Hall 1042 and the SRC. If you’re interested in joining, it is best to reach out to Flynn at jflyn003@odu.edu to confirm the location of that week’s meeting.

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WINTER 2018

All photos by Guillermo Rivera-Hernandez

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Courtesy Stijn Swinnen

JUDGING A GAME BY ITS COLOR: PERSONS OF COLOR IN HISTORICAL SHOOTERS James Finney

T

he dust has finally settled, following the release of the hit shooters “Battlefield 1” and “Call of Duty World War 2.” Both games were the subject of controversy among more political and historical-minded gamers, who took exception to both games’ prominent featuring of people of color. The two shooters took fire from critics on the left and the right.

Some leftists accused the games’ creators, Dice and Sledgehammer Games, of simply ticking the diversity box to attract customers. On the other hand, many commentators on the right attacked the games for their inaccurate portrayal of women and minority soldiers as having had a larger role in the events of World War I & II than what they realistically had.

Both of these arguments are indicative of the overly politicized environment that we live in today, and both sides have blown the issue out of proportion.

Liberal and conservative critics both have a bad tendency to hold all artforms up to their particular set of moral standards. It’s a natural way to feel and act, however that kind of attitude is damaging to the creative process of artists and the free flow of ideas.

Art should not be held to any particular set of moral standards. One of the many pursuits of art and media is to explore a litany of beliefs and philosophies, and they should be allowed to do so. It is also your right to disagree, however to simply label the efforts of Dice and Sledgehammer games as “social justice nonsense” or as an insincere attempt to come off as open-minded, is a dismissive explanation devoid of any honest examination.

Prior to the release of “Call of Duty WW2,” many journalists from gaming 38

publications were invited to come out to an early reveal of some of the elements of the game, including player customization and a campaign featuring an African-American soldier and a resistance fighter.

The appearance of these characters was instantly met with suspicion from many media outlets.

Allegra Frank, a reporter from Polygon, commented on the reveal, saying, “It reads like a marketer’s checklist for suitable diversity, a roster of token characters that doesn’t acknowledge their experiences more than it pats the publishers on the back. Sledgehammer staffers’ repeated references to ‘brotherhood’ also speaks clearly to the fact that this story will be told from a very traditional perspective.”

There are two connected issues with this examination of the game. The first, is simply that the game had not even been released yet. One trailer accompanied by gameplay, does not a full story experience make. How can you be so sure that the minorities presented in the game will be merely ‘token’ characters if you haven’t seen them in action yet? The truth is, you simply can’t.

“Call of Duty WW2’s” campaign did not only have women and black soldiers tag along in the story for the sake of diversity. Their issues are addressed, even if only briefly, throughout moments in the main adventure.

The African-American member of your squad, Howard, does not have it easy when he is introduced into the campaign during the Battle of the Bulge. The man had recently been demoted from sergeant to private, the price he was forced to pay if he wanted to serve in the infantry, amongst a battalion of soldiers that don’t respect or trust him.

Even members of the squad accompanying you from the start of the campaign treat Howard with disrespect and prejudice. He has to earn the respect of your squad, as you push through the campaign and his eventual acceptance by the rest of squad feels like a warm and well developed moment in the campaign.

The same moment of validation and truth is provided to the female soldier in the game, a French resistance fighter, seeking revenge on the Nazi officer who killed her family. You actually get to play as the resistance fighter, only known as Rousseau, for the majority of the story arc that has you take part in the liberation of Paris. You must literally step into her shoes as your infiltrate a Nazi headquarters in an effort to free your people.

Both characters experience genuine triumph in their personal struggles throughout the game and are presented in an honest, even historically accurate, light.

While the multiplayer side of both “Call of Duty” and “Battlefield” do not offer the same kinds of victories that “Call of Duty’s” single player does, they do offer minority gamers the chance to assume the role of colored soldiers who made a difference in the war, even if it was only a small one.

Some critics and commentators claim that having black soldiers appear in a disproportionate numbers somehow tarnishes the sacrifice of European and American soldiers who gave their lives in the war. That being said, they must be completely blind to the fact the nearly 75 percent of the soldiers that appear in “Battlefield 1” are white, if not more.

What allowing players to play as black, Indian and also female soldiers does, is grant the opportunity to also honor the sacrifices of the many men and women who were forgotten in both World Wars.

These characters aren’t some cheap shot at trying to be diverse or a falsification of our past. Allowing minority soldiers to have their time on screen isn’t historical revisionism. It’s a chance to honor more fallen heroes, who fought in war for a people that offered them neither respect or dignity. So let’s give it to them.

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Courtesy Pexels

UNIVERSITY RECYCLING DEPARTMENT SHARES IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY Audra Reigle

E

ach and every day, there are people out there buying new phones, new computers, new TVs or any new electronic. Maybe it’s their first one, but maybe it’s their third or fourth one and the others are just sitting around collecting dust, or otherwise not being used for their proper purpose.

The University Recycling Department takes old electronics for recycling from students and staff. Harvey Logan of the University Recycling Department said via email that 44,015 pounds of electronics were recycled last year. There is not an exact number of items recycled because the department calculates annual totals by weight.

There are four reasons why electronics should be recycled, according to Logan. One of these reasons is that WINTER 2018

electronics are a rich source of raw materials. Gold in e-waste can be recovered, but only 10 to 15 percent of it is recovered internationally.

Another reason is solid waste management. There has been an increase in solid waste due to the short life cycle of electronics. These electronic devices contain toxic substances that have to be recycled properly in order to keep them from going into the environment, which is the third reason why electronics should be recycled.

The toxic substances are especially prominent in countries where cheap labor and improper recycling practices prevail. The international movement of hazardous waste has raised concerns of toxins being released into the environment, resulting in health risks for those who live in the area.

The University Recycling Department is also participating in RecycleMania this year and encourages students to participate. The event kicks off on Feb. 2 and goes until March 31.

It has participating schools compete to see who can gather the most recycled goods, both electronic and non-electronic.

The University Recycling Department takes ICT and telecommunications equipment, office electronics, large household appliances, and small household appliances. Those who are looking to recycle their items should clear them of any personal data before doing so as the recycling department will not clear personal data from devices given to them. The University Recycling Department is located at 865 W. 39th St.

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