Dec 8th, 2022

The Marlin Chronicle

VWU Traditions & Celebrations COMMUNITY p. 5 Carley Tantlinger|Marlin Chronicle VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

THURSDAY 12.8.22 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU

Marlin organizations compete in the Twelve Days of Christmas Sing-Off hosted by the Office of Student Activities near the Monumental Chapel on Thursday, Dec. 1.

Local, national violent incidents create worry Violent incidents on Wesleyan Drive, at a Walmart in Chesapeake, in Colorado Springs and at the Universities of Virginia and Idaho cause the campus community to reflect.

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA Wyatt Miles|Courtesy rjtramontana@vwu.edu Women’s Soccer celebrates after defeating Christopher Newport A series of violent occurrences University in penalty kicks 4-3 on Sunday, Nov. 20. on Wesleyan Drive, at a Walmart in the City of Chesapeake, at University of Virginia and at University of Idaho have brought attention to the gun violence that envelopes the VWU community.

On the night of Nov. 22, a mass shooting at the Sam’s Circle Walmart in Chesapeake tragically caused the deaths of 7 people, including the shooter, Andre Bing, who took his own life.

The Women’s Soccer team entered the Final The mass shooting and the feelFour for the first time since 2006. They lost 0-3 ing of loss is depicted in the words of President Joe Biden, who against Case Western Reserve University in commented on the Chesapeake

Women’s Soccer competes in NCAA DIII Final Four Salem, Va. on Friday, Dec. 2.

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON sawashington@vwu.edu

“Respect or no respect, we play to prove everyone wrong,” junior goalkeeper Ashleigh Lockard said.

Four wins, three nationally ranked teams, two shutouts and a round of penalty kicks were the stepping stones that led the Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Soccer team to the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship on Friday, Dec. 2.

“Honestly, there was no better feeling. I feel like I can speak for every college athlete that plays in the NCAA tournament when I say it is something special.

Making it to the final four was really huge for us, since we’ve worked hard all season to get there,” junior goal keeper Rachel Quigley said.

Quigley also mentioned how it was a testament to their team’s hard work and talent. “While it was a unique experience, as none of us on the team had ever made it to this point yet in our college careers, it was awesome to experience with this team, the coaching staff and certainly, the fans who were with us every step of the way,” Quigley said.

The Marlins’ last time in the Final Four was in 2006, when the team played against and lost to the Thunder of Wheaton College (Illinois) 0-2. The Marlins finished their 2006 season with a record of 18-4-4.

This year, the Marlins faced some steep competition. Defeating the University of Puget Sound, Rowan University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse secured their spot in the Elite Eight and the only thing that stood in the way of the Final

Four were the Captains of Christopher Newport University.

The Captains, ranked No. 3 nationally at the time, were the defending national champions and were responsible for one of two losses for the Marlins this season. The Marlins were looking to flip the script, and that they did.

A tight game went into two 10-minute overtimes and a round of penalty kicks (PKs). However, junior goalkeeper Rachel Quigley stopped two shots by the Captains, leading to a 4-3 victory in PKs. The Marlins did it. They made it to the Final Four and took down the defending national champions.

“Just to make the final was an incredible experience. We worked hard all season to get there, and the early mornings and the long practices were worth it,” Lockard said. “Coach Bowers talked about respect all year and how the only people who believed in the team were us, the school and our family.

We were on a mission to prove everyone wrong and I hope we did just that.”

Respect was a big part of the Marlins this season, as they were seen as the underdogs coming into the tournament. However, the small support group of the team, their families and the Marlin nation fans were enough for the Marlins to make the run to the Final Four.

On Dec. 2, the Women’s Soccer team took the field to play the No. 4 Spartans of Case Western Reserve University. Unfortunately, the Marlins ended their NCAA Championship run after falling to the Spartans, 0-3, but nonetheless, they ended with a

See SOCCER Page 7

shooting alongside the attack on students at the University of Virginia on Nov. 13.

“Because of yet another horrific and senseless act of violence, there are now even more tables across the country that will have empty seats this Thanksgiving. There are now more families who know the worst kind of loss and pain imaginable,” Biden said.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin tweeted that he was in close contact with law enforcement officials.

“Heinous acts of violence have no place in our communities,” he said. Youngkin ordered all flags to stay at half-mast until Sunday in remembrance of the victims and their families.

On Nov. 25, The VirginianPilot reported that the Chesapeake police released a note written on Bing’s phone, which explained his actions. In his letter entitled “death note,” Bing said that he felt “mocked” and “harassed” by his coworkers and said that he believed his phone had been hacked.

Bing included several names of coworkers, which the police redacted, and even included a conversation between coworkers in which Bing heard them discussing that someone had been trying to get rid of Bing “since day one.”

In the note, Bing apologized

See VIOLENCE Page 3

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Attendees at “A Time for Rememberance” in Monumental Chapel listen to readings and music and reflect on the shootings in Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Colorado Springs and Virginia Beach.

World Cup surrounds Commencement Ceremony set for itself with controversy Dec. 17 The FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar has caused an uproar because of bribery, forced labor and anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott will be the keynote speaker.

Page 2

OPINION

BY COLETTE KEARNEY cmkearney@vwu.edu

When the World Cup started on Nov. 20, it was not all the excitement one would expect for a tournament that happens every four years. The 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar has had its fair share of controversy, negativity and pushback from fans, play- Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle ers and countries around the LGBTQ+ community are world.

Between the bribery for viewed in Qatar, there are lots votes, the death of migrant of reasons why the World Cup workers who built the arenas and the way people of the See WORLD CUP Page 7

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

VLove Coffee House welcomes new patrons VB Oceanfront business offers free wifi, calmness.

Page 9

2

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News

President-hosted events unite staff, students

BY LILY RESLINK lbreslink@vwu.edu

In organizations as complex as universities, facilitating communication between all branches is a monumental task. Virginia Wesleyan makes deliberate efforts to bridge gaps between all sections of the community.

Between Chat & Chew staff lunches, faculty dinners and meals with VWU students, president-hosted events set a framework for communication across campus.

President Miller’s Nota Bene from Nov. 21 said, “These [Chat & Chew] lunches are an opportunity for staff members to connect with me and each other, opening doors for collaboration and fellowship.“ This semester, President Miller has held two Chat & Chew lunches. Both took place in the Princess Anne Room off of the Boyd Dining Hall, rather than the previous location of the DeFord Manor.

Chief of Staff Kelly Cordova said, “I’ve been involved in the planning of nearly every event that has been held at DeFord Manor since it opened in March.

That’s 62 events with around 1,230 guests.”

“I value and welcome any opportunity to interact with my colleagues socially. So much of business is about relationships, and relationships are forged by spending time together and finding common interests and shared values,” Cordova said.

Ask Virginia Wesleyan students whether they have been in the DeFord Manor for themselves and the majority will answer “no.”

However, while most events at the DeFord Manor are aimed toward faculty, staff, donors, parents, alumni and external partners, the DeFord Manor does grant students entry for special occasions.

Last month, sophomore Jessica Wilson had dinner with Jane P. Batten, President Miller and Dr. Travis Malone. The Batten name is one that echoes across Virginia Wesleyan due to her involvement in the institution’s development.

“I was at the Manor to have dinner with Jane Batten because she wanted to hear a student perspective on what being in the [Batten] Honors College is like.”

“We chatted on the sofa and then had dinner, where she asked what brought me to VWU and what I was involved with. She was very interested and cared about what I had to say,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she is appreciative of the Manor being used to celebrate students and hopes to see that continue in the future. “It shows how connected we are, being a small campus,” she said.

Cordova said she knows how much President and Mrs. Miller enjoy the opportunity to honor the accomplishments of students.

In the DeFord Manor, “They’ve hosted the 2021 ODAC Championship Women’s Soccer team, the 2022 ODAC Championship Soft-

ball team, SGA leaders, Batten Honors College students, a special discussion group on philosophy and faith and more,” Cordova said.

Mandy Reinig, the director of Global Engagement, said that President Miller also hosted VWU’s new international students for a breakfast at the beginning of the semester.

This was not her first time at the Manor, as Reinig has been to several Chat & Chew lunches when they were still held at the DeFord Manor. She said, “It’s a way for people to get to know people in other areas,” as those working in different branches of the university are likely to never meet otherwise.

Reinig pointed out how these more community-oriented administrative events are far more common at smaller universities like VWU. Having come from a job at Old Dominion University, Director of Career Development Alice Jones observed the differences in how large and small universities function.

Jones said more casual events that allow open conversation are a way to encourage the introduction of genuine concerns. She also said that it is important for faculty and staff to feel comfortable enough to vocalize what is on their minds.

At larger organizations, Jones pointed out how rather than interpersonal conversations, most information has to spread through

President Miller|Nota Bene President Scott D. Miller hosts VWU employees from a variety of branches at the Princess Anne Room in the Boyd Dining Center. one-way, mass communication methods. Jones said an advantage to this is ensuring everyone has the same information, but a disadvantage is that presenting questions can feel daunting for staff members without back-and-forth dialogue.

Audwin Harris, a 2020 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan who now works as an Enrollment Counselor, attended the first Chat & Chew of the semester. He said it was a good opportunity because it brings together people from different branches.

Because of his alumni status, Harris offers perspective on the role of administration as both a student and staff member.

“As a student, you’re not really likely to know so much about what goes on on a day to day basis,” Harris said. His change in standpoints has given him more insight on what happens behind the scenes to make the university

function.

“We’re grateful that Bob and Nancy saw the need for such a facility,” said President Miller in a previous interview about the donors. “It’s a special place to extend good will to the campus community and to friends of the University who support its mission and goals. And when these kinds of important interactions occur, great things happen for Virginia Wesleyan,” President Miller said.

“DeFord Manor is more than a president’s residence,” said President Miller in the same interview.

“It is a welcoming beacon to all who enter campus or pass by on Wesleyan Drive. It represents the pursuit of excellence and opportunity.”

“I have no doubt that the home is being used as the donors, Bob and Nancy DeFord, envisioned for the University,” Cordova said.

Academic Symposium returns Commencement approaches with as students travel, learn, grow intense planning

BY PHOEBE COX pecox@vwu.edu

Are you a student looking for a place to present or showcase your research, study-away trip or internship experience? Are you a faculty member looking to feel hopeful about the next generation of scholars or maybe just eager to find your name in an acknowledgements section? Perhaps you are looking to get inspired or receive some extra credit for a class by virtue of attending.

Regardless of the circumstances that brought you there, the Academic Symposium, formerly termed “Port Day,” is a classic Virginia Wesleyan event, occurring near the end of every semester. A conference style event, the symposium takes place over the duration of a single day, whereupon attendees choose which sessions to be at on the basis of their own preferences.

Senior Criofan Shaw was one of the featured speakers, alongside seniors Hannah Carmona, Abby Peterson and Alison Coutu, at the premier session that kicked off the 2022 Academic Symposium on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Shaw talked about the course reflection presentation he did on a class he took while studying at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

He said the importance of being able to present it “was to show the impact that courses can have on students.” Shaw mentioned how a lot of times, students take classes, learn the information and forget it when it is over. Being able to reflect upon it and realize what he really learned was beneficial.

“It was nice to have that kind of opportunity to share something unique,” Shaw said.

The Academic Symposium was not limited strictly to presentations. The Robert Nusbaum Center on campus sponsored a Deliberative Dialogue session on the topic of “A House Divided: What Would We Have to Give Up to Get the Political System We Want?”

Led by student moderators, the session was a collective discussion open to any students and faculty. Options were offered and questions were posed that helped participants to think deeply and critically about what it would take for the nation to work together and find solutions.

Dr. Craig Wansink, professor of Religious Studies and director of the

BY CONNOR MERK ccmerk@vwu.edu

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Theatre majors (from left to right) Joey Mueller, Hannah Carmona, Tucker Barco and Sophia Kaminaris present at Hofheimer Theater.

Robert Nusbaum Center, talked about how the concept of having a discussion like this originated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding it as a part of the Academic Symposium was a logical decision for him because the word “symposium” comes from Greek, meaning to drink together and discuss. He said having the Deliberative Dialogue session alongside showcase presentations “just fits in perfectly with the tenor of the symposium.”

Wansink mentioned that a lot of times, people divide up and see issues as two-sided: right and wrong. Having an environment like this where people are forced to listen to each other was valuable to him.

“It forces you to understand others,” Wansink said. “It encourages people to listen well.”

Music recitals were an additional part of the symposium, showing how the arts play a part in the accumulation of academic showcases. While it is not a requirement for music majors to perform at the Academic Symposium, a lot of them do because it gives them experience with playing for a formal audience. Junior June Richardson, a violinist who performed Debussy’s Violin Sonata, talked about their experience with this opportunity.

“When I’m playing in front of people, it’s a completely different experience for me,” Richardson said. “If I want to be better at performing, I just need to do it as much as I can.”

Rounding out the Academic Symposium was the traditional Academic Fair and Poster Session. The CMAC was filled with 45 students from various majors and programs who pre-

sented their research, internship experiences and class projects from the past summer and semester.

Having submitted designs that highlighted their key points and discoveries, each student had a visual poster to aid in their presentation.

Senior Celine Maharaj talked about what her experience was like having two projects that she presented at the poster session. One was on an internship she did over the summer and the other was a research project pertaining to sustainable solutions for reducing the maternal mortality rate in America. Both related to the healthcare industry.

“It was pretty stressful having to compile information and do research for two posters,” Maharaj said. “I am deeply interested and passionate about both of them, so it was not as much of a task as it may sound.”

Being able to talk about her experiences was valuable because it created awareness for her research topics and allowed her to serve as an informant for anyone who was also interested in pursuing something along the same lines in research or as a career.

All in all, the Academic Symposium of Fall 2022 was a productive event. As Maharaj said, “It is very great for networking, which is a critical aspect to being established in your career field.”

Students were given the opportunities to talk with each other, faculty members and any other outside community members who attended.

It was a place where inspiration and ideas flowed and where the scholarship of Virginia Wesleyan was prominently displayed.

The Virginia Wesleyan University December Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Brock Theatre of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.

Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott of Virginia’s Third Congressional District will serve as the keynote speaker.

According to President Scott D. Miller in a news release from Oct. 3, Congressman Scott’s speech has been wellanticipated.

"We are thrilled to have Congressman Scott give the keynote address at our upcoming Commencement exercises," Dr. Miller said. "He has been a champion for students nationwide and a great friend to Virginia Wesleyan throughout his remarkable career of service to our community and our nation."

Congressman Scott represents Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth and has been in office since 1993.

This event will be livestreamed on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network at vwu.edu.

Regarding photography and video, GradImages provides photographs of each graduate who crosses the dais during Commencement.

Photos may be purchased at gradimages.com. Questions can be addressed to 800.261.2576, online at www.gradimages.com or via email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.

Candid photography will also be available for download on the University Flickr page.

To ensure proper pronunciation at the Commencement Ceremony, graduates are encouraged to visit the Office of Academic Affairs to record their full names.

Please email commencement@vwu.edu with any additional questions.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

News

3

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

VIOLENCE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 for his actions. “Sorry everyone but I did not plan this I promise things just fell in place like I was led by the Satan,” he said.

Similarly, Bing ended the note with the words “My God forgive me for what I’m going to do.”

According to police confirmation, Bing used a legally bought 9mm handgun that was purchased the morning of the shooting. NPR reported that police officers found the receipt and a box of ammunition at Bing’s home.

Police said that Bing had no criminal history prior to the shooting.

The names of the six Walmart employees that Bing shot are Tyneka Johnson, 22; Randall Blevins, 70; Lorenzo Gamble, 43; Brian Pendleton, 38; Kellie Pyle, 52; and Fernando Chavez-Barron, 16.

In an online message to U.S. employees, Walmart U.S President and CEO John Furner said that Walmart will pay for funerals, travel and other expenses for the families of the deceased.

In addition, Furner said the Chesapeake Walmart will remain closed for the foreseeable future, while employees will continue to receive pay.

Currently, Walmart is facing a $50 million lawsuit from employee Donya Prioleau, who said she narrowly missed being shot by Bing. The Virginian-Pilot reported that Prioleau had been raising complaints about Bing’s behavior months before the shooting occurred.

The lawsuit said ¨Mr. Bing was known for being a ‘mean and cruel supervisor,’” a fact which becomes chilling when it is considered that Bing ¨repeatedly¨ asked co-workers if they had active shooter training. The lawsuit said that upon response, Bing would simply smile and walk away.

A second $50 million lawsuit was filed

by James Kelly, a Wamart employee hired on Aug. 1, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

Kelly said that he reported Bing for harassing and badgering him during his employment.

The lawsuit said that at some point prior to the shooting, Bing told Kelly, “I don’t care how big you are. I have something to take care of that.”

The lawsuit also corroborated the story of Bing asking employees if they had received active shooter training.

Kelly has since experienced post-trau-

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle matic stress disorder with physical and emotional effects, including nightmares, severe anxiety and flashbacks.

From the time of being served the lawsuit, Walmart has 21 days to respond.

The Chesapeake shooting was followed by two back-to-back shootings in Virginia Beach on the night of Nov. 23.

The Virginian-Pilot reported that at 7:25 p.m., police responded to a shooting at the Pizza Hut at the 5300 block on Wesleyan Drive. One victim was found dead at the scene across the parking lot from the Pizza Hut. Roughly 10 minutes later, police responded to a shooting at the Food Lion at the 700 block of Independence Blvd. Two people were shot and taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

These local shootings coincide with recent violence at universities across the country.

On Nov. 13, three University of Virginia students were killed by Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., another student at UVA. All four students were a part of the UVA football team and were returning from a school field trip. Jones also shot two other students who were taken to the hospital.

That same morning, four students attending the University of Idaho were stabbed to death in an off-campus home. After investigation, the police have yet to identify a suspect, even after sifting through over 1,000 tips and conducting more than 150 interviews, CNN said.

CNN also reported, on Nov. 23, that at

that point in 2022, 3,179 people had been shot during mass shootings, resulting in 637 deaths. A mass shooting, according to the FBI, is a shooting that has four or more victims, so the statistic does not account for homicides or shootings with less than that number of people.

In response to the shooting at UVA, the Office of Campus Life sent an email to the school community detailing protocol in the event of a crisis situation.

The email, signed by Senior Vice President Keith Moore, emphasized the importance of calling campus security or 911 if any member of the community is in danger or witnesses something suspicious.

After calling for help, the pamphlet encourages the use of the Run-Hide-Fight method, which emphasizes the importance of quickly and quietly removing oneself from a situation when possible.

Fighting should be a last resort, the information said, and should be used only when one’s life is in imminent danger.

The Norfolk branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigations has scheduled an active threat presentation during the Spring 2023 semester.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, a memorial entitled “A Time of Remembrance” was hosted by the Robert Nusbaum Center at the Monumental Chapel.

As attendees filed in and decorated a small tree with paper hearts, they were moved to silence, the only sound being that from the pianist, Robert Shoup, director of Music at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk.

After a moving song urging listeners to “Heal the world,” Shoup turned the stage over to Dr. Craig Wansink, director of the Robert Nusbaum Center and senior pastor at the Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk.

Wansink welcomed attendees with a brief message. He dedicated the memorial to three purposes: to mourn, to pray and to act. Each is important as the others, as each is a method of moving forward to heal the world from the violence around us.

The service then moved into attendees reading quotes from survivors and those affected by violence, followed by a prayer led by Chaplain Marie Porter.

The variety of voices and messages within the quotes and prayer brought attendees together in pain and hope for the future.

In a final message, all were urged to act.

With carefully selected quotes from Fred Rogers, Philippians, a monk and Theologian Gerhard Frost, Wansink conveyed to listeners that acting could be as simple as an everyday purpose to make oneself a beacon of light and hope.

In addition to the “Time of Remembrance” event, another memorial to honor victims of anti-LGBTQ+ violence was hosted by Spectrum, the Gender, Women and Sexuality Program and the Nusbaum Center on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

With the recent frequency of violence around VWU and across the nation, now is a time for the campus community to come together to support each other in a time of fear and mourning.

Pieces fall into place for rewarding MBC The Marlin Business Conference featured presentations from students, CEOs, international professionals and government organizations.

BY JOSHUA HELLER jmheller@vwu.edu

The student-led Marlin Business Conference (MBC) was held at the Brock Commons adjacent to the Boyd Dining Center from Nov. 13 to Nov. 18.

The conference captivated students, faculty, staff and guests with a variety of business approaches.

The event also featured a fashion marketing experience, international speakers, an FBI presentation, Shark Tank business proposal style presentations and more.

In years prior, the Marlin Business Conference was held in the Pearce Suite in the Batten Student Center and Clarke Hall.

However, after the conclusion of the Brock Commons’ construction earlier this year, students and staff now have an open window view of the business experience. Students appreciated the change of space and different room dynamics.

“I enjoyed the energy in the Brock Commons space. It was my first time being in the Commons.

I love the natural lighting and the setup of tables allows for a discussion among your peers. There were also three TVs for you so you can follow along with the speaker’s notes and their presentation,” junior Shannon Lewes said.

The MBC featured a variety of guest speakers from several different fields such as the FBI, etiquette and fashion and The Gemini 3 Group, Inc. (G3G, Inc).

“The FBI presentation was wonderful. That was Dr. Futyma’s friend who had a wonderful presentation and then Bruce Thompson’s speech on the opening night was fantastic,” Business and Communications Professor Dr. Linda Ferguson said. “Everybody was just in awe, they just paid such close attention.”

The highly anticipated “Shark Tank” presentations were met with criticisms from judges in the business field and guided students to a grade in their business course as well. With this considerably high pressure, students seemed to handle the anticipation and pulled through with some innovative product ideas.

Following the “Shark Tank” presentations, the International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration, Sigma Beta Delta, inducted new members to conclude the day. The inductees include Alexandra Brewster, Sarah Guzzo, Ashleigh Lockard, Emily Moody, Aaron Oman, Emily Purdin

and Jennifer Walsh.

Both Dr. Ferguson and Shannon Lewes were tremendously grateful that Linda Blakemore, CEO of G3G, Inc., guest spoke at MBC. Her company, G3G, Inc., is a managing and consulting firm located in Stafford, Va. The Virginia Wesleyan community was very impressed with her speaking and the other guest speakers as well.

“I really liked the MBC because the speakers came from a variety of backgrounds and many different important topics were covered. For example, Linda Blakemore, she’s a defense contractor. She spoke earlier in the week and again at the end of the week,” Lewes said.

Though the Management, Business and Economics Department was pleased with the conference itself, many wished more people could have been there in support.

“Honestly, I wish more people had attended and because they really missed out. I don’t think there’s enough advertising about the business conference.

There’s a lot of advertising, but I think people need to share their personal experiences to get more people to go in future years,” Lewes said.

Though Shannon Lewes is not a Business major, she attended the conference because of her friends and ended up really enjoying the experience. She plans to recommend the conference to students next semester.

The conference also featured parents presenting, an element that had taken place in years prior. Dr. Linda Ferguson was pleased with the presentation on Tuesday from Mr. Parawa in Poland as well as Hector Quinteros’s international business presentation.

“We had two parents present and previously, that was almost the norm. We had a lot of people who had parents and just had that personal connection with them and being proud of their parents or proud of their aunts and uncles goes a long way. I thought that was fabulous,” Dr. Ferguson said.

Junior Gavin Prouty, a Business and Math major, helped in the organization of the MBC. “We had a great time planning and hosting the conference!” Prouty said.

Even with the excitement, the conference comes with difficulties. “We had a lot of new events this year so it was really challenging,” Prouty said, “There were a lot of moving pieces that fell into place so it was really rewarding seeing the hard work pay off.”

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Prof. Futyma assists junior Juan Tovar with his tie for the MBC.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle MBC attendees break for catered food in Brock Commons.

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Junior Gavin Prouty and President Scott D. Miller engage in conversation duriing the week of the Marlin Business Conference.

4

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu Managing Editor Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu News Editor Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Community Editor Carey Seay clseay@vwu.edu Opinions Editors Samantha Silvia sgsilvia@vwu.edu Madelyn Yale mgyale@vwu.edu Sports Editors Colette Kearney cmkearney@vwu.edu Shirell Washington sawashington@vwu.edu Weekender Editors Mikayla Moscatelli mamoscatelli@vwu.edu Sasha Saxon ansaxon@vwu.edu Photography Editors Carley Tantlinger catantlinger@vwu.edu Ross Winner rawinner@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Mel Lhuillier mnlhuillier@vwu.edu Online Editor Jack Mowatt jmmowatt@vwu.edu Copy Editor

Community Volunteer and spread holiday cheer Local organizations express the extended need for help during the holiday season.

BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu

BY ELIJAH JENKINS emjenkins@vwu.edu

With the joy and bustle of the holiday season for one family comes the financial struggle and heartbreak for another. Holidays are meant to be a time of celebration and communion, but for some it can be a time of stress, anxiety and loneliness. This is especially true for those struggling to buy gifts for their children, wondering where their next meal is coming from or searching for shelter in the cold.

Virginia Wesleyan University’s Wesleyan Engaged program provides students with a number of volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. Wesleyan Engaged partners with numerous local civic organizations to assist and encourage students who are looking to make an impact close to home.

The most recent on-campus event hosted

by Wesleyan Engaged was the Holiday Gift Wrapping event, which took place on Dec. 1 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. The event, sponsored by the nonprofit organization United Way, allowed students to stop by and wrap a gift on their way to class. The wrapped gifts were then donated to four local families in need.

“It’s a great way to give back because as much as I’d love to go out into the community, everyone’s so busy, and we’re not really here during the holidays,” Director of Wesleyan Engaged Bethany Tsiaras said. Setting up quick, stop-by wrapping stations enabled students to make a lasting impact on their way to class.

For some people, the act of giving back is just as important, if not more, than receiving gifts this holiday season. Junior Jomaira Rosado, a Wesleyan Engaged member, is someone who enjoys giving more than receiving.

“I like to see people smile; I like to see what I can give back and feel like I can help in any way I can. And I don’t necessarily want anything from it, I just enjoy being able to give it,” Rosado said.

Senior Jennaphur Nixon, also a member of Wesleyan Engaged, has a sentiment similar to that of Rosado.

“If I were in a position where I needed help, I would want to know that there are people that would willingly volunteer to do something that would help me,” Nixon said. “If I had the means to be that person for somebody else then I would

Bethany Tsiaras|Courtesy Senior Lauren Ford stops by the Gift Wrapping event to wrap a present on her way to class. want to be it.”

Rosado and Nixon both helped in the organization of the wrapping event.

For those wanting to make a larger commitment to giving back, local organizations like Union Mission Ministries, Potomac’s Salvation Army and the Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center are also searching for volunteers during the holiday season. Each organization has various opportunities for volunteering.

“We are always working on finding more ways to engage with college-aged and young professionals,” Union Mission Ministries Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Christina Geisler said. While Union Mission Ministries requires volunteers to complete a training session before serving, the organization is always open to donations. Those interested in learning more should visit their website, www. unionmissionministries.org/volunteer.

Students who are hoping to do more handson projects should volunteer with another local organization, the Salvation Army of Potomac.

The Salvation Army provides volunteers with an abundance of opportunities, from bellringing for the Red Kettle fundraising campaign

Grace Rietscha glrietscha@vwu.edu Engagement Editor Breana Mahoney brmahoney@vwu.edu Marketing Director Rowan Stuart rwstuart@vwu.edu Advisor Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Virginia Wesleyan University.

Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Virginia Wesleyan University.

The Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan University 5817 Wesleyan Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757.455.3311

“As a former collegiate student newspaper editor, professional journalist and long-time advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, I understand the role and value of student media at a liberal arts institution.

Virginia Wesleyan University proudly supports the editorial independence and press freedom of student-edited publications. We believe that student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.”

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

Ross Winner|Marlin Chronicle Freshmen Hannah Rollins, Jasmine Gorney and Jaime Corley participate in the Wesleyan Engaged Clothing Swap on Dec. 1 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. outside the Batten Center CMAC.

to buying gifts for an individual child through the Angel Tree program. For more information about the Salvation Army and how you can register to volunteer, visit https://www. cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_ id=0023&console_type=login.

Like people, animals deserve to feel loved during the holiday season as well. The Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center allows volunteers to make that happen.

“Here, we have different requirements, we make it a lot more user and volunteer friendly.

We know that there’s a lot of military and a lot of college students, so we actually have flexible scheduling,” Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Brittini Naylor said.

The animal shelter is always looking for volunteers, whether that be in the form of individuals or groups. Volunteers are assigned various tasks to complete throughout the shelter.

Those looking for a smaller time commitment are encouraged to participate in “Tales for Tails,” a program in which volunteers simply spend time with and read to the animals. Another short-term option is a day-long commitment in which walk-in volunteers can take a dog out for the day to give them a break from the shelter.

As always, the Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center is open to donations, especially around the holidays.

“During our colder months, we always are really appreciative of fleece blankets and comforters, and of course treats and things like that as well,” Naylor said. “It just helps make the animals’ homes a little bit cozier and a little warmer.”

Visit the shelter’s website, https://www. norfolk.gov/260/Norfolk-Animal-Care-Center, for more information.

Volunteering, whether it be in the form of time or donations, is not only beneficial to the people and animals on the receiving end, but also to those doing the giving.

“Volunteering can supplement what you want to do with your career. It shows that you are a well-rounded person. It shows that you care about the environment or whatever it may be, you care about others,” Tsiaras said. “It shows that you make the time to help, which I think shows you are a good worker.”

As you prepare for the upcoming holiday season, consider taking some time to give back to those who may not be as fortunate.

Spirited Marlins Go Green (and red) Marlins Go Green holds a sustainable gift wrapping event to teach students how to remain environmentally-mindful during the holidays.

BY KAZA DAYTON

mbdayton1@vwu.edu

Wrapping paper, bows and toy packaging litter the living room floor after a successful Christmas morning. A room full of trash is guaranteed to be moved to the landfill by the following week. After Christmas is over, all of the plastic and packaging will be forgotten.

The holiday season in the United States is when the greatest amount of waste is produced, and Americans should be concerned.

According to a study conducted by Stanford University, in the United States between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, waste production rises an estimated 25%, creating a greater amount of waste than any other time of year. Garbage production during this time of year accounts for 25 million tons of additional waste heading into landfills.

One concerning statistic from the same study emphasized that, “If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.”

With regards to this issue, Virginia Wesleyan’s sustainability club, Marlins Go Green, aimed to reduce the negative environmental impact of the holiday season.

On Dec. 7, the club hosted a sustainability wrapping event, where students had the opportunity to wrap their holiday gifts with alternative materials to traditional wrapping paper, such as newspaper. Additionally, decorative accents like bows and ribbon can also be constructed from recycled materials.

Another way to be environmentallyconscious during the holiday season is to reuse gift packaging, including tissue paper, gift bags, boxes and baskets. The longevity of reusing wrapping materials enables them to survive beyond traveling straight to the landfill after a single-use.

With Virginia Wesleyan University named

by The Princeton Review among one of the “nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges,” it is important for VWU students to take accountability for the implications of their actions and how they can negatively impact the environment.

In order to ensure a healthy planet for generations to come, people need to start making deliberate behavioral changes that will minimize the global waste production.

Even simple actions like wrapping holiday presents with recycled materials can generate a significant global impact. Do your part and make the first step towards a sustainable holiday season!

Kaza Dayton|Marlin Chronicle

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, December 8, 2022

5

Fill in the HOLLY JOLLY lyrics Get into the spirit with these holiday puzzles!

1) I’m ______________ of a white Christmas

2) ______________ Christmas I gave you my ______________

3) Have yourself a ______________ ______________ Christmas

4) ______________ around the Christmas ______________

5) Dashing through the ______________

1) Dreaming 2) Last, Heart 3) Merry, Little 4) Rockin’, Tree 5) Snow

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

Traditions and celebrations bring festive air Annual campus-wide events, like the Tree Lighting and Late Night Breakfast, encourage students to relax and take a break from finals.

BY VICTORIA HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu

Christmas lights being turned on and a midnight meal are simple things. At Virginia Wesleyan University, they’re more than that. They’ve become bigger than that, something of importance.

Virginia Wesleyan runs the Tree Lighting and Late Night Breakfast every year. Repetition and memory have given these events a significance larger than they would otherwise have.

“I’ve been doing this since 2017. This is the last time I’ll be able to do it,” senior Chris Williams said.

Many students come to the events every single year, and these events are constants among the generally changing event schedule on campus.

“The benefit of having the traditions is that our students also get excited about it, because they remember freshman year,” said Sarah Guzzo, the director of Student Activities. “Now it’s senior year and this is the last time.”

To get students pumped and invested, the events include a healthy spirit of competition, according to Sarah Guzzo.

“Marlin Nation is very competition-based, so we use that to our advantage, and that definitely shows through on the 12 Days of Christmas,” Guzzo said.

The 12 Days of Christmas is a competition where different groups sing the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” to see who can be the loudest. The winning team wins money for their club or organization.

“Sigma Nu is already saying ‘we’re going to be outside of your office before 9 a.m. on Monday, because we want a specific day of Christmas,’” Guzzo said before the service took place later in the week.

The traditions are a fond memory for most people, with previous years being recognizable, but every year is different enough to be memorable.

“Last year, someone put a Santa hat on the John Wesley statue,” said Shelby Clinedinst, a recent graduate.

Guzzo recounted a fond memory of a time the Tree Lighting was rained out, and Jason Seward, Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Operational Management, lit the tree, broadcasting the event on video in the pouring rain.

Another benefit to traditions is familiar faces. Seward reads a poem and Guzzo gives a speech alongside the holiday staples of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The people who play Santa and Mrs. Claus for the Tree Lighting, Paul and Carolyn Sheehan, have been working the Tree Lighting for about five years, in their estimation.

Carley Tantlinger|Marlin Chronicle Members of Sigma Sigma Sigma pose for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus after competing in the Twelve Days of Christmas Sing-Off on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The retired couple plays the Clauses year round.

“I like the fact that I can walk into a room any day, anywhere, and no matter what, people will smile,” Paul Sheehan said.

Carolyn Sheehan said that part of what she loved about the Tree Lighting, and playing Mrs. Claus in general, is being Mrs. Claus for students who might not have ever met a Claus before.

The Tree Lighting isn’t the only tradition, and it definitely isn’t the most popular. That honor goes to Late Night Breakfast, which generally happens on Reading Day as a celebration of the end of the semester. This year, however, it took place Dec. 6, the day before Reading Day. Guzzo, who said that Late Night Breakfast is her personal favorite, estimated that the event draws about 500 students annually since she started working at the school five years ago.

According to Guzzo, it’s also the only event that people show up to on time. That’s mostly for the french toast, she said.

“For Late Night Breakfast, people come early and they line up, and the line is always down to the Grille,” Guzzo said.

She said the event is popular because people want to celebrate the end of classes, unwind and take a break from studying. Students also enjoy being served their food by faculty and staff who aren’t usually behind the counter.

“I really think that everyone just turns off their stress for that quick two hour time period,” Guzzo said. “It just shows everyone coming together and celebrating the end of a semester.”

The draw of the events is that they’re simple and nostalgic. They’re easy to get into, whether it’s the competition, or the food or the community.

“It sounds like a really simple event, and it is,” Guzzo said. “But the reason why it’s so fun is because everybody is so excited to be a part of the tradition.”

Opinions

6

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Esports: Mainstream sport or health hazard?

In these changing times, Esports is indeed a sport that is competing to be the future of sports.

BY JOSHUA PEPPER jjpepper@vwu.edu As Esports continues to grow in popularity around the world, they are met with opposition.

Many like to point out that since no athletic abilities are required to play Esports, it cannot be called a sport.

It’s true, Esports do not require athletic ability. However, technically, neither do sports in general.

Sports are defined by Oxford as “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Esports, while they do not require athletics, still do require physical exertion and teamwork, and therefore should be regarded as a sport.

So, what physical exertion is required of Esports players?

There are a plethora of examples that could be provided, but the most significant one that should be mentioned is the practice required to hone one’s mechanical skills and reaction time.

Esports players, like many traditional athletes, must also set time aside to practice their skills for their respective games.

An article from Business Insider concerning Esports training regimens claims, “Only a select few can handle the pro-level regimen required to gain the extensive game knowledge and elite mechanical skills and reflexes to compete.”

As the article mentions, Esports requires a certain level of mechanical skill to compete properly.

For players on Personal Computers (PCs), a fine-tuned muscle memory is required to use a keyboard so that a game’s mechanics are fully made use of.

If a game happens to be a First Person Shooter (FPS), the expert use of a mouse becomes a critical part of gameplay, as the mouse controls where the player is looking.

These games also require precise aim to eliminate opponents, so much time and practice is necessary to have such aim.

To add another layer to mouse and keyboard gameplay, a player’s reaction time and environmental awareness, just as in conventional sports, is critical, as your ability to react quickly can mean victory or defeat for you and your team.

All these mechanics combined surely makes Esports just as challenging of an

experience as any other conventional sport and also demands of players sufficient physical exertion.

So, Esports does indeed require physical exertion, but do they also require an individual or a team effort?

Esports participates in competitive games and tournaments.

Harvard Review describes Esports games as events that “can range from popular, team-oriented Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs) to single-player first-person shooters.”

While many casual video game players will often play by themselves or with a few friends, Esports players are often associated with a team.

For example, VWU Esports currently has four teams, ranging from MOBA to FPS games, who meet each week to practice not only their skills but also their teamwork.

The teams and the individuals within them are what Esports is really about.

Sure, the competitions play a large role.

However, there is something to be said about how

solid team chemistry really brings life to a sport and its gameplay.

So, to conclude, Esports is, undeniably, a sport.

No, they do not have athletics.

No, Esports players are not athletes.

However, if Esports does require significant time and practice to grasp complicated mechanics and are also built on a solid foundation of teamwork and personality, then they surely fulfill the criteria proposed in Oxford’s definition of sports.

While maybe not the most significant current issue, the acceptance, integration and understanding of Esports is extremely important going forward, as it opens a new arena for the next generation of players. Esports is the sport of the future.

Rise in Esports linked to increase in mental, physical detriments

BY MADELYN YALE mgyale@vwu.ecu While Esports may fit into the Oxford definition of sports, one has to recognize the cultural aspect of sports as well as the overarching negative effects of Esports.

Sports have always been a mode of gathering and socializing.

Whether you’re physically playing the sport or spectating, it is undeniably a social experience.

However, as Esports are played primarily on computers or through other gaming consoles, that key aspect of socialization is lost.

Sure, you can join parties or chats and talk shallowly about the tasks ahead of you in the game, but it is exceedingly difficult to build those relationships and deep connections when the only words being used are directed towards the game and are often vulgar in nature.

The lack of direct social interaction can also have a lot more negative effects mentally.

You can see the negative effects of limited social interaction from online schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A study by the National Library of Medicine showed that “71% of student participants indicated they had increased

levels of stress, depressive thoughts, and anxiety” due to the quarantine brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

So if sitting alone in front of a computer for long periods of time affects people that horribly, why should Esports be advocated for?

Regular sports can be a method of mental joy for so many people.

Studies also show that physical exercise can be good for mental health as it releases endorphins, the happy hormone.

How could Esports be the future if it ultimately has a much more negative effect on a person’s mental wellbeing when compared to physical sports?

Not only is mental well-being incredibly important, but so is physical health.

Regular sports take great strides to protect individuals from injury, especially youth.

This is why sports like football take the dangers of tackling away from children and make “touch football” the norm.

Other children’s sports typically don’t have much danger as they’re much slower paced and less aggressive than at the professional level.

Esports, however, are damaging youth slowly but surely. “Our study has shown the negative impact that playing computer games and using mobile phones can have on the joints of young children, raising

concerns about the health impact of modern technology later in life,” said Professor Yusuf Yazici of New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases in a TIME article.

Sure accidents happen during regular sports for youth, but on the whole there are no long-lasting life effects from playing sports as a child; Esports, on the other hand, has long lasting, irreparable effects.

To take the health effects of sports vs Esports out of the equation, Esports cannot be considered a sport in their current form simply due to a lack of lifespan and cultural influence.

Physical sports are indoctrinated culturally in practically every nation around the world.

Here in the U.S., sports like football and baseball play a huge role in our everyday lives.

We create our whole schedules around game times, we spend copious amounts of money purchasing our favorite sports team’s gear as well as tickets to watch them.

We see the World Cup going on right now in Qatar.

Most of the world has interrupted their lives just to watch their country play a

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle soccer match.

The practical definition of a sport may fit Esports, but the integration on the cultural level of physical sports and the hold it has on society cannot be ignored.

This is the gap that Esports has not crossed yet. Esports does not affect whole societies in the way that physical sports do, and until it does, Esports will not be considered a sport by most of the world.

In conclusion, the mental detriments and the physical harm to our youth showcase that Esports implies a damaging future.

Culturally, Esports is simply not seen as a sport and most likely will not be for a long time.

The future is not bright when it comes to Esports and the world will continue to cast it aside.

Every vote counts, regardless of your age Voting is not an age-sensitive activity. Young voters need to be more active for what they believe in by voting.

BY ANDREW STEINER alsteiner1@vwu.edu In the hours after Election Day, Representative-elect Maxwell Frost of Florida’s 10th Congressional District tweeted the best summary of midterm election analysis: “Don’t count young people out.”

As the first member of Gen-Z elected to Congress, Frost personifies the election story as Gen-Z voting shocked the American political machine.

As a Gen-Z first-time voter, it’s vindicating to finally see our impact, and I would urge politicians to view this as a trend rather than an anomaly.

According to the polls, roughly 27% of voters aged 18-29 voted in the midterm elections.

This represented the second-highest youth turnout in the last thirty years; the only midterm election that surpassed this mark was the 2018 midterms, with an estimated 31% turnout among youth.

Between these elections, around half of youth voters cast a ballot in 2020, which represented an 11% increase from 2016 according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

Like most of my generation, I have heard the dismissive remarks of political analysts, politicians and older citizens.

Accusations of apathy, laziness and immaturity abounded; political cartoons routinely mocked Gen-Z with claims that we would vote only if voting was done on Instagram or Twitter.

During the 2016 election, youth were blamed for not showing up at the polls while analysts ignored that the issues affecting my demographic were mostly ignored.

In contrast, when issues such as abortion and student loan forgiveness were spotlighted on Democratic platforms, my generation delivered by voting in record

numbers that delivered the Democrats the House in 2018, the Presidency in 2020 and the Senate in 2022.

From my experience, it is evident that Gen-Z is becoming more politically active.

Politicians have begun addressing issues affecting youth, although not always in the ways we want.

Several states have sued to block student loan forgiveness, and others have passed restrictive abortion laws and moved to restrict LGBT rights.

These all disproportionately affect Gen-Z, so it should not be a surprise that we voted to protect our interests.

Several news outlets have reported that Gen-Z ballots essentially neutralized the over-sixty-five demographic, a staple of party politics.

Shouldn’t that mean that we get similar consideration from Washington?

While this election brought much to celebrate for youth, I would also urge my peers to avoid complacency.

While youth influence has grown significantly, nearly three-quarters of Gen-Z did not vote in the midterms, representing millions of votes.

This should motivate both parties to recognize Gen-Z as a staple of political coalitions and to promote policies that will further encourage youth to vote.

For Democrats, who won youth votes by nearly thirty percent, my generation is a powerful voting bloc that stymied the predicted midterm red wave.

For Republicans, who have continued appealing to older voters at their detriment, my generation is a thorn that, unlike their preferred demographic, will be voting for decades.

If I could offer my peers some advice, I would encourage them to remember this year and to act with confidence.

Contrary to the claims of election deniers and hopeless pessimists, your vote truly matters.

Several races were decided by less than a couple thousand votes, meaning our increased participation swayed these and many others.

The 2024 Presidential election figures to be one of the harshest, most partisan and pivotal elections in our lifetime.

Decisions made by politicians in Washington have a tangible impact on our lives and we have seen stark evidence of that these last couple of years.

Continue to become politically engaged and we can shape the political landscape.

Don’t count yourself out.

7

Sports

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Swim perseveres into second half of season Men’s and Women’s Swimming ends 2022 at the Yellow Jacket Invitational hosted

by Randolph-Macon College and looks towards January meets with excitement.

BY MIKAYLA SZUDERA

mmszudera@vwu.edu

Head Coach Kristian Ramkvist leads Virginia Wesleyan University Swim teams into their sixth season with a hunger for improvement. Ramkvist has brought a new perspective to the VWU swim program.

This is shown by several swimmers on both the women’s and men’s teams achieving personal bests while beating University records.

The swim teams have participated in over five meets for each team this semester. The women’s team showed strong with a 4-2 winning record, with three in-conference high-point wins against Ferrum College, Randolph College and Sweet Briar College. The men’s team held a 2-4 record, with wins against Gallaudet University and Ferrum College.

Assistant Coach Sito Arroyo compliments the intensity Ramkvist brings and gives insight into the weekly practice routines both the swim teams face as he recounts their preparation for competition meets.

“Our 200s group was doing a hard set during practice one day and Kristian kept saying ‘championship mindset’ and ‘pain is temporary,’” Arroyo said. “I think encouragement like that is what is helping our athletes push themselves when they start to get uncomfortable.”

Progress does not happen overnight but due to the swim team’s dedication to getting better and implementing Coach Ramkvist’s knowledge, it has happened rapidly.

“Looking back to where we started in September, I think our athletes and myself included have learned a lot of new stroke mechanics in the water,” Arroyo said. “Our athletes are starting to learn that they are capable of pushing themselves more than they think.”

With the Women’s team placing sixth and

WORLD CUP CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 is such a mess this year.

Qatar is not a powerhouse in football.

In fact, they are the first host country in the history of the World Cup to lose their opening game and the second host country to not make it out of the group stage of the tournament. So the fact that they were selected in 2010 to host the 2022 World Cup over more reputable countries like the United States, Japan, Australia and South Korea is interesting.

Since Qatar was picked as the host back in 2010, there have been countless allegations of bribery and corruption. Most noticeably, in 2019, former French football player and former European football coach Michel Platini allegedly paid $2 million to bring the World Cup to Qatar. According to Vice, 15 of the 22 FIFA executive committee members who voted for Qatar have faced criminal charges.

This scandal first started back in 2015 when seven high ranking FIFA officials were arrested in Switzerland and charged with a variety of crimes, including fraud. This came as a result of an FBI investigation that looked into bribery that involved paying for votes, which included votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup in Russia and Qatar respectively.

In 2015, 14 current and former FIFA officials were accused on charges of corruption, BBC reported. Also, according to the BBC, in December of 2015, two former FIFA vice-presidents were arrested in Switzerland which then prompted 16 more officials to be charged.

SOCCER CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 successful season for the team.

“While I think this season was helpful in recognizing that our team is one of the best in the country, we aren’t done yet,” Quigley said. “I think there are still teams out there that don’t respect us and that’s what motivates us to play and work so hard for each other.”

Quigley said while they were the underdogs for some of the NCAA tournament, she thinks they proved that no matter who you are playing, they should always be given respect. “While we did gain some respect, making it this far in the NCAA tournament, we are far from being complacent and there is still more respect to be earned,” Quigley said.

Sito Arroyo|Courtesy From left to right: Sophomore Lauren Hendricks, junior Kelsey Kisner, freshman Abi Carlson, and senior Chloe Dewberry together after breaking the 400 yard medley relay at the 2022 Yellow Jacket Invitational at Swim RVA in Richmond, Va. the men’s team placing eighth in the ODAC Relays Invitational held at Washington and Lee on Oct. 8, the Marlins know they are against some hard competition but they are eager to prove themselves.

“We are definitely the underdogs in our conference,” Junior Ariana Fletter said.

“But I think we are talented with a strong work ethic so we can hold our own against the competition.”

Even though the men’s team placed low in the ODAC Relays Invitational, they continued to celebrate each other’s achievements because the main focus for this year is improvement. At the ODAC Relays, freshman Cael Long started off the season strong by leading off the 3x100 Individual Medley Relay event with a school record-breaking time of 57.31.

The team’s attitude towards competition can dictate how far a program can develop not only against other teams but the

overall ability for the program to flourish.

Coach Ramkvist is, putting attention on individual improvements, in hopes they can play a vital role in setting the tone for team competition within the season.

“One big thing I noticed about our team that I love is that we don’t take every single loss personally, we don’t let it beat us down,” Fletter said. With each meet, win or loss, the swim teams continue to look forward to the next meet and how they could enhance their individual performance.

Change can be a divider for some but with the addition of Coach Ramkvist, the teams have grown closer and have been able to lean on each other for support and encouragement more than any season before.

“As a team, there is an emphasis on getting to know each other outside of the pool,” Junior Edward McDonald said.

Another topic being discussed during the World Cup is the deaths of migrant workers that were brought in to help build the stadiums. In Feb. 2021, the Guardian, a British-based newspaper, revealed that 6,500 migrant workers had died since 2010 when Qatar received the bid to host the 2022 World Cup. The deaths of the 6,500 migrant workers is a misleading statistic because it is the number of migrant workers who have died in Qatar since 2010, and not the number of people who have died with causes directly related to World Cup construction. That number, Qatari official Hassan al-Thawadi revealed the deaths of migrant workers related to World Cup construction to be between 400 and 500 migrant workers.

We may never know the true number, but we do know that the living and working conditions of the migrant workers who were associated with World Cup construction were brutal. Migrant workers had to deal with unsanitary and overly cramped living conditions while working 14-18 hour days in the brutal heat of Qatar, with little or late pay given to them. Additionally, their passports were taken so they were trapped in Qatar. Some have compared the situation to modern-day slavery.

Another topic of concern for this year’s World Cup is Qatar’s view of LGBTQ+ people. Qatar is a country where an individual can be killed for being part of the LGBTQ+ community. During the World Cup, fans are not allowed to wear rainbow shirts; FIFA banned the “OneLove” armband for players and national teams for this World Cup. Although it considers itself a democracy,

Qatar states in the first article of its constitution that “[i]ts religion is Islam and Shari’a law shall be a main source of its legislations.” This Shari’a law bases its statutes off Islamic texts such as the Qu’ran; the relevant provision here is the tenet banning homosexual acts between men or women. This appears to contradict later Qatari constitutional articles promoting freedom and equality; however, it is clear that this first article supersedes all these notions. In contrast, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution explicitly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

These Constitutional articles show the priorities of these respective countries’ governments. Qatar values state conformity and religious adherence; the United States values individual freedom and religious choice.

The challenge exposed by the Qatari World Cup is how Americans should view our freedoms on an international stage. Despite FIFA banning “One-Love” armbands, players and teams have found both subtle and vocal ways to continue protesting Qatari treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.

For example, the German national team covered their mouths before their group stage game against Japan on Nov. 23. The reason they say this is because FIFA is denying them a voice since they are denying them the right to wear the armband. There

Two key highlights from the season include a trio of Marlins garnering AllRegion Honors. Senior keeper Rachel Quigley and senior defender Sam Crawford were two of 13 players who received Region IV first-team, and freshman forward Shyenne Diaz received All-Region second-team.

In addition, Quigley was named one of the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Association All-Americans, representing the All-American third-team.

Though the season has come to an end, the Marlins are continuing to keep their eyes on one day hoisting up the NCAA championship tournament.

“This season will be one I won’t forget,” Lockard said.

The Marlins finish this season with a 183-4 overall record, and a 8-1-1 conference record.

“Improving technically as individuals and then coming together as a team helps us thrive cohesively.”

The women’s roster has eighteen swimmers while the men’s team only has five swimmers. “One of the biggest team goals is increasing the team size. Just building numbers of talented swimmers to keep launching our program forward.”

McDonald said.

The swim program is still in its early stages of development with both coaches putting a priority on recruiting and getting the Virginia Wesleyan name out there, attending various recruiting meets.

The men’s team has five swimmers on the roster puts them in a position where they can not rely only on athletic capabilities and talent, as they have to be versatile swimmers to compete in multiple events. “We are low in numbers but not in strength, I think we have talented athletes on the men’s side so when it comes to the championship meets we will be able to place better and potentially beat some of the teams that beat us in a dual meet,” Arroyo said.

Speaking to the future, there are high hopes for the Virginia Wesleyan swim program under the leadership of Coach Ramkvist. “I think we will continue to improve every single year,” Fletter said. “We will see our name go higher and higher in the ODAC rankings as the program advances.”

At the Yellow Jacket Invitational hosted

by Randolph-Macon College which took place Dec. 3-4, the team combined had 46 season best times, 23 personal best times and 10 new school records. The men finished eighth and the women finished sixth, just five points away from fifth place.

The Marlins host two conference competition meets before they face the ODAC championships: Bridgewater College on Jan. 7 and Randolph-Macon College on Jan. 28.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle was also a protester seen running across the field with a rainbow flag while wearing a shirt that said “Save Ukraine’’ on the front and “Save Iranian Women’’ on the back.

This happened during a group stage game between Portugal and Uruguay on Nov. 28.

In my opinion Qatar should not have hosted the World Cup for these reasons, especially when there were other countries that gave bids to FIFA that have a richer history of soccer and more freedoms and rights in its Constitution for its citizens than Qatar.

Ryan Hunt|Courtesy Freshman forward Shyenne Diaz goes after the ball against the Spartans of Case Western Reserve University on Friday, Dec. 2 in Salem, Va.

8

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

2022 Fall Sports Photos courtesy: Cameron Evans, Ryan Hunt, Grace McGhee, Wyatt Miles and Alysse Scripter.

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

THEWEEKENDER

PAGE 9

VLove coffee house, make yourself at home

BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu

What makes an experience worth venturing to Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront? The aroma of smooth espresso pairs well with a slice of delectable tiramisu, as the hub of the boardwalk bustles around the peace of a quiet coffee shop. VLove Coffee House, since its opening in the summer of 2022, has been rousing a positive general consensus from natives and visitors alike. Located on the corner of 26th and Atlantic Avenue, VLove has made it their mission to provide “great tasting, quality coffee to occasional drinkers and enthusiasts alike,” according to their website.

VLove is owned by Seda and Samet Yumusak, Turkish natives who met in Virginia Beach. This married couple also conveniently own Pirate’s Paradise Mini Golf and 21st Street Grill within a five block radius. These successful business owners set out to produce a similarly popular spot, with a completely different traditional cafe aesthetic. This shop is unlike any other in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk area.

The storefront is a glass oasis with ample seating. Floor-to-ceiling windows reflect natural light onto the white furniture and flooring, producing a comfortably bright space, perfect for studying or offering respite from blustery winter activities. This coffee house is not particularly kitchy or ecclectic, but it retains a homey nature because of the uber friendly baristas’ welcoming smiles and quick service. Its modern interior was definitely curated to be a calm and quiet environment that, most importantly, offers free WiFi. The food menu at VLove is not extensive. However, they offer an all-day selection of breakfast and lunchtime sandwiches, desserts and locally sourced pastries that cover a range of diets and interests. There is something for everyone. As for drinks, the prices venture into a higher range, they are not significantly more expensive than a grande Starbucks latte, with twice the quality of ingredients and grounds. Additionally, VLove boasts nontraditional and creative flavors such as lavender, almond, strawberry or coconut.

Any of their caffeinated drinks can be made hot or iced, and if coffee is not of interest, they do offer tea, lemonade and smoothies.

Whether the stress of finals lures you to off campus study sessions, or upcoming beach trips land you in the vicinity, you should definitely try out Virginia Beach’s newest coffee shop. VLove currently relies on street parking or one of many parking garages on the oceanfront. It is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, until 4 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle Interior and exterior views of VLove Coffee House, located on the corner of 26th Street and Atlantic Avenue on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

‘Glass Onion’: A Sharp Sequel to ‘Knives Out’

BY RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu “Glass Onion,” directed by Rian Johnson, hits Netflix on Dec. 23 after already having a limited one-week release in theaters. The film centers on Daniel Craig’s character, Benoit Blanc, returning from “Knives Out,” after he is invited by a tech billionaire to a private island to join the billionaire and his friends for a murder mystery game.

However, the mystery quickly becomes real, requiring Blanc to put together the clues to discover the killer. Craig’s performance is as engaging as it was in the first film, as he depicts Blanc with humor while still showing the character’s intelligence.

As with “Knives Out,” the film features a script with an engaging mystery featuring surprising twists and plenty of humorous moments, with the sequel featuring more comedy than the original.

Outside of Daniel Craig, the standouts of “Glass Onion’s” ensemble are Janelle Monáe as Andi Brand and Edward Norton as Miles Bron. Janelle Monáe’s performance as Brand, Bron’s exbusiness partner, is layered, as Monáe portrays Brand with a cold facade which masks her anger and pain at being betrayed by her friends.

As the film progresses, Monáe shows Brand’s facade crack, showing the character’s anger at her former friends, as well as her underlying amiable nature through her interactions with Blanc.

Brand was ousted from her company by Edward Norton’s Miles Bron, a tech billionaire who owns the titular Glass Onion compound. Norton’s performance as Bron is suitably eccentric, as he satires the stereotype of the tech billionaire.

One of “Glass Onion’s” strongest aspects is its use of satire.

Similarly to “Knives Out,” every character plays into an arche-

type. Each of these characters is a strong component of the film’s ensemble, thanks to Rian Johnson’s script, as well as the performances of the cast.

Outside of Craig, Monáe and Norton, the film’s cast includes Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick and Madelyn Cline. While all of these performances are strong, the most notable are Hudson and Bautista.

Kate Hudson plays supermodel Birdie Jay, who she portrays with a vapid naivete that causes her to be consistently hilarious throughout the film, as well as a biting commentary on celebrity stereotypes.

Dave Bautista’s performance as Duke Cody, is similarly hilarious and biting due to how his performance satires the persona of online streamers. Specifically, Bautista’s Cody functions as a mockery of the “alpha male” online persona, with his performance causing the character to come across as obnoxious and egotistical.

Despite these characters being satires of archetypes, all of the actors in the film successfully prevent their characters from completely falling into stereotypes, with each character having some depth.

Outside of having an engaging plot and characters, the film also features a visually interesting location, both in terms of Bron’s private island, as well as his mansion on it. The outdoor scenes involving the island were filmed on-location on the Spetses island in Greece, allowing the film to capture its natural beauty.

The mansion, which is the Glass Onion, also features a complex design that the film makes great use of as the characters attempt to unravel the film’s mystery. Overall, “Glass Onion” is a must-watch for fans of 2019’s “Knives Out,” or for anyone looking for a fun mystery film.

Walking in a winter wonderland

Several of the light displays captivate audiences on the one mile route of The Garden of Lights in the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.

BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu The Garden of Lights is back at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens.

Walking down the paths, hearing soft Christmas music play in the background, with a warm cup of hot chocolate while admiring the lights is the best way to start the Christmas season. The entire route stretches a mile long, making for a nice relaxing walk at the end of a stressful day. Stopping at the food truck before starting the mile walk truly makes the experience one for the books.

With the lights starting early November and ending on Jan. 1, it is one of the best ways to start off one of the biggest and most popular holidays.

Each twinkle of light brings up childhood memories of driving though the lights and listening to the staff suggested Christmas station. For most of the Hampton Roads natives, that is what makes Christmas feel more and more special each year.

Compared to the Oceanfront lights, the Botanical Garden’s lights have way more interactive features and special feeling since it is a walkthrough. While the Oceanfront is a drive thru light show, they don’t have many lights that catch one’s eyes.

The lights at the Botanical Gardens started in 1994 with a drive thru tour and are now on their twenty-eighth year. Having such an extensive history shows that the lights have been a major part of many residents’ lives.

In past years, they have done a drive thru, especially during COVID-19, when they focused more on having the drive thru as a safe way to view the lights. Having done the drive thru option when it was available was nice and fun, but, it generally does not give off the same experience. Walking through Botanical Gardens gives a different special feeling in regards to really being able to see everything while still being safe.

They are still open during their normal business hours during the day but the routes of lights will close at 4 p.m. due to safety and

Mikayla Moscatelli|Marlin Chronicle

maintenance reasons.

With different time slots for people to pick, it gives the best opportunities to see the lights in all of their glory and to take your time, while still choosing a time where it may be less crowded. The times go from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. For me personally, the 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. time is the absolute best since many people try to come by earlier, it leaves you to enjoy the atmosphere with less crowding.

Monday through Thursday are the value nights ranging from $15 for adult members and $18 for not-yet-members. Friday through Sunday are Premium nights ranging from $20 for adult members and $25 for not-yet-members. Dec. 21 through Dec. 25 will be premium nights as well, even with Dec. 21 and 22 ending up on a Wednesday and Thursday.

Botanical Gardens is located at 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, Virginia.

THEWEEKENDER

PAGE 10

Cocoa Combat The 8th Annual Great Hot Cocoa War inspired the Christmas spirit in Downtown Norfolk.

Stripers Waterside took home the prize for the third year.

Thursday December 8, 2022 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

“i triple dog dare you” “A Christmas Story” sequel, “A Christmas Story Christmas,” makes its debut for the holiday season, thirty years later.

OPINION

BY MIKAYLA MOSCATELLI mamoscatelli@vwu.edu

Kylea Mccarel |Marlin Chronicle Three delectable samples from this year’s battle (from left to right): Coconut hot chocolate topped with coconut whipped cream and garnished with a pineapple slice, french white and dark chocolate blend with whipped cream and a house-made donut and Stripers Waterside bourbon salted caramel hot chocolate with caramel drizzle.

BY KYLEA MCCAREL ksmccarel@vwu.edu The feeling of holiday togetherness coupled with the warm smell of lusciously rich chocolate on the chilly paved sidewalks of Waterside Drive was the setting of this year’s 8th Annual Norfolk Hot Cocoa Festival.

Families, couples and friends gathered in the streets and huddled into Selden Market to try each participating location’s delicious hot cocoa.

Flavors ranging from the traditional rich chocolate to tres leches to unicorn white chocolate filled the bellies of all. Many small local bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants stacked the competition high for the 2022 line up.

Each tasting of cocoa cost $2 for 4 ounces and was ranked by three different categories. They were judged on a scale from 1 to 5 on presentation, originality and taste for a possible total score of 15. Customers were encouraged to use scoring cards to determine their winner but it was not regulated. From there, enjoyers voted online for their number one favorite.

The previous year’s reigning winner, Stripers Waterside, presented their hot cocoa creations under a handmade wooden hot cocoa bar. Friendly employees greeted customers with two options. A salted caramel hot chocolate with a caramel drizzle swirl or a peppermint hot chocolate were both available with whip cream and an additional but optional alcoholic shot. The salted caramel flavor was rich with chocolate and offered a memorable taste.

“We decided to offer it spiked, free of additional charge, to up the excitement,” said employee and cocoa booth worker Sarah Raber. This

extra bit of effort may be what pushed them to another win this year, but that is a secret they will never tell.

With a short walk down the street, other participating vendors lined the inside of Selden’s Market for Small Business Saturday making most of the competitors easily accessible for tasting. An intriguing but not so popular flavor in the final ratings was presented by CoCo Jam, a small restaurant offering “Caribbean fusion” food. They created a coconut hot chocolate topped with coconut whipped cream and garnished with a pineapple slice. The flavor was definitely different from all of its competitors but lacked a true chocolate flavor.

“It definitely isn’t my favorite. It’s missing the hot chocolate aspect,” said Miranda Lamb, a local. Lamb, along with her husband and friends, tried as many of the competitors’ as possible, but said, “it’s too filling to try every single one. There’s no way I could finish the whole list.” The hint of coconut was subtle and gathered a total of 19 votes out of the 1,346 collected.

Another restaurant, The Stockpot Norfolk had a different idea to draw in customers. By placing an entire small donut-like pound cake atop each tasting cup, they successfully filled many people’s presentation categories with a 5. While their hot chocolate was less than fantastic and overall average in flavor leaving them in seventh place, the donut truly brought the peoples’ interest to their counter.

Other restaurants such as S’mores Amore went the classic route by presenting what they named “Augustus’ Chocolate River Plunge.”

Their rich classic hot chocolate alluding to Willy Wonka was ranked fourth overall.

Small, family-owned business Cafe Genevieve also took a peculiar route to create their tasting. They decided to swap out the typical milk and dark chocolate for white chocolate. Topping their imaginative creation with whip cream and rainbow sprinkles, they so delightfully named their cocoa “Unicorn White Chocolate.” While the idea of switching chocolates was a clever idea, many participants found the cocoa to be too sweet, resulting in a cake batter-like flavor.

One of the strongest front runners in the competition was Rich Port Coffee. An adorable little girl at their booth offered customers their take on hot chocolate. Offering a tres leches or “three milk” style of cocoa seemed to win the hearts of many. The flavor was that of warm cinnamon, milk and chocolate. The combination of flavors left many people wanting more than one cup. The creation was not as heavy as the others on the stomach and really gave a tasty take on the traditional hot chocolate. This left them in third place and hopeful for next year’s competition.

With bellies full of warm cocoa and smiling faces, the 8th Annual Norfolk Hot Cocoa Competition came to a week-long end. Many places that were unknown to a lot of the public were given great business opportunities and a fun event for the holiday season.

If you’d like to view the results of the competition or view a full list of competitors, it is available on the visit Norfolk website as well as downtownnorfolk.org.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle

BY ABBY MOYERS aemoyers@vwu.edu For the past seven years, restaurants in downtown Norfolk have participated in the “Great Hot Cocoa War.” This season, the competition, free and open to all ages, began Nov. 19 and lasted through Nov. 26.

14 participating restaurants served their hot cocoa masterpiece for 4 ounce samples, at $2 dollars each.

During the week, I was able to stop in to Lamia’s Crepes to try their sweet creation.

Biscoff French Cocoa with cinnamon and nutmeg was the flavor that the company was serving for the competition. The drink also came with a mini chocolate crepe on top.

I had eaten before at Lamia’s Crepes, which is a cute Paris-themed restaurant that serves all different types of crepes in

the true French tradition that ranges from savory to sweet. The restaurant offers a unique experience for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a snack. It also has two locations, one in Downtown Norfolk and the other in Town Center of Virginia Beach.

Hot chocolate was served from their Virginia Beach location for the competition.

Along with hot cocoa, Lamia’s Crepes also serves breakfast dishes that you would find at your local brunch place. Since Lamia’s Crepes is a French traditional restaurant, their Biscoff flavor compliments them perfectly. Biscoff chocolate cocoa was the same flavor the restaurant served in the previous year of the “Great Hot Cocoa War” but instead of a crepe, the drink was served with marshmallows, whipped cream and cookies.

I was not able to try the flavor the previous year, but I can say if they were trying

to upgrade it, the restaurant did a fantastic job. I enjoyed dipping my chocolate crepe into the warm, sweet, cinnamon-flavored goodness. Although the portion sizes were not very big, I would go back to order it again if the drink was added to the regular menu for the holiday season.

Next year I will be very intrigued to try Lamia’s Crepes new hot cocoa flavor as well as ones from the other participating restaurants.

Lamia’s Crepes came in fifth place at this year’s “Great Hot Cocoa War.” With 121 votes, the restaurant was proud to take home their ranking, even though it wasn’t in the form of a first-place trophy.

I encourage anyone looking for a unique experience and tasty food to visit Lamia’s Crepes, especially to try their award-winning hot cocoa in next year’s “Great Hot Cocoa War.”

The iconic fishnet leg lamp is back and ready for viewing on HBO Max. Nearly 30 years later, “A Christmas Story” fans were given the best early Christmas present: a sequel to one of the most iconic movies. “A Christmas Story Christmas” appropriately takes place nearly 30 years after the original.

The original “A Christmas Story” tells the tale of nineyear-old Ralphie’s woeful Christmas, set in 1940s Indiana, dramatically narrated by his adult self. That Christmas, all Ralphie, played by Peter Billinsley, wanted was the Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun, against his mother’s adamant wishes. The movie details the tragedies and power struggles of childhood, when you don’t get the present you want. In the end, everything comes together in a heartwarming conclusion, as it is Ralphie’s father who grants his son’s wish and brings home the BB gun.

This movie runs rampant with nostalgia for the previous generations, depicting many hysterical moments that just wouldn’t happen in the 20th century. This relatability of a dramaticized suburban American Christmas is what makes this story so powerful for viewers.

Mel Lhuillier|Marlin Chronicle “A Christmas Story Christmas” follows Ralphie as he returns to his childhood home in Indiana for the holiday season, despite a recent loss in the family. In a comingof-age archetype, Ralphie now must take charge of orchestrating an elaborate and festive Christmas, to combat the sadness of the recent passing. As the movie continues, you slowly witness Ralphie’s rewarding character development–getting into the Christmas spirit in order to plan the best Christmas that his kids could ever have, just as he once had. Overall, he learns the difficult life lesson that not everything comes easily, especially in times of hardship, but that with perseverance one can overcome many challenges.

Both movies depict the rowdy friendship between Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz (played by Scott Schwartz and R.D. Rob respectively), from the times where they were each other’s backbone to the double and triple dog dares.

Watching them still act as if they were still nine while they were in their forties made me laugh uncontrollably. That gave me the feeling of a strong brotherhood between them, a strong bond that I had always wanted.

As a big fan of “A Christmas Story,” I was excited to hear that there was going to be a second movie that showed Ralphie as an adult. Seeing many original cast members in the second movie makes me so happy because I grew up watching Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz. While watching, you can see numerous little easter eggs from the first movie that makes the whole experience so much richer.

Both the original and the sequel are packed full of stomach-aching laughs that are sure to brighten up your holiday movie nights. While both give you the best laughs, the second movie pulls on my heart strings. The film brings out the more emotional side of the holiday due to the loss of a family member and showing the way the family tried to cope by making Christmas the best it could be. This shows that even in hardship and loss, one can overcome any challenge and everything will turn out okay in the end.

Growing up my Christmas revolved around sleeping in my parents’ room while watching “A Christmas Story” on repeat, waiting until Christmas morning. Staying up until almost midnight continuously watching this movie was what I grew up on and I will certainly be continuing this tradition while adding “A Christmas Story Christmas” to that experience as well.

If you have an idea or location to cover, reach out to: Weekender Editors Sasha Saxon at ansaxon@vwu.edu

&

Mikayla Moscatelli at mamoscatelli@vwu.edu