April 24, 2025

The Marlin Chronicle

Discussion encourages inclusivity

BY MIA DIEHL mjdiehl@vwu.edu

To account for changes surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, Virginia Wesleyan University replaced what was known as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEIC) with The President’s Council on Inclusive Communities (PCIC).

According to Dr. Keith Moore, vice president of Campus Life and co-chair to the PCIC, the council is appointed at the beginning of each academic year.

“The committee is made up of a cross-section of campus groups to include faculty, campus life, academic affairs, and athletics. We also welcome members of the student government association to participate,” Moore said. Part of the mission of the DEIC is to provide programs enhancing the educational value of the campus through dialogue. These include the Virginia Center of Inclusive Communities (VCIC) workshops, one of which occurred on April 17. This workshop was sponsored by the PCIC and

Straight off The Dome

BY BRENNAN BLACK

Once hosting legends such as Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong, The Dome was a concrete cradle of sound, a seaside spectacle representative of the area’s music-loving culture. Torn down in the ’90s, The Dome is now being reborn at the heart of a massive new entertainment district in Virginia Beach. As it rises again, locals are asking what this means for the future of music, culture and community in the 757.

Set to open in spring 2025, the new Dome is no ordinary concert hall. It’s a centerpiece of Atlantic Park, a $350 million development that blends entertainment with lifestyle. In addition to the indooroutdoor venue capable of hosting over 7,000 guests, the project includes a Wavegarden surf park, 300 apartments, a boutique hotel, restaurants, shops and two new parking garages. The Dome’s design leans into flexibility, with massive hangarstyle doors that open onto an outdoor lawn, making it suitable for everything from concerts and comedy shows to weddings and corporate events.

The Dome’s rebirth isn’t happening in isolation, it’s part of a larger wave of redevelopment attempting to reshape the 757. From the opening of Rivers Casino in Portsmouth more than a year ago, to the

the Robert Nusbaum Center in partnership with the VCIC.

“The council is responsible for the planning and coordination of programs celebrating the vibrant culture of our campus community and greater society,” Moore said.

“Through our collaboration with the Virginia Council for Inclusive Communities, whose Hampton Roads office is located on our campus, we offer opportunities for faculty, staff and students to come together for workshops throughout the year.”

The workshop, “The Hidden Costs of Groupthink: Leadership that Builds Inclusive Teams,” was led by Meagan Starks. Starks is the Director of Hampton Roads Programs at the VCIC. The aim of this workshop, according to the Robert Nusbaum Center, is to challenge students to think critically about how decisions are made, whose voices are heard and how to lead with intention and impact.

During this event students were given the opportunity to identify their own leadership style. These included action-oriented, big picture thinkers, analytical and empathetic styles of leadership. Students then discussed the strengths and weaknesses of these leadership styles and strategies for building inclusive teams.

“Inclusivity to me ultimately means being able to understand different perspectives and allow everyone to have a voice,” freshman Grace Whitt said. “Overall, it’s important to strive to be a good leader that focuses on inclusivity to make sure that the most effective result is produced based off combined effort of everyone involved.”

in-progress casino near Norfolk’s Harbor Park, and the proposed transformation of MacArthur Center into a walkable, mixed-use promenade, cities across the region are reimagining how they attract both residents and visitors. These massive projects reflect a broader push to modernize the area’s identity — not just as a beach town or a military hub, but as a full-fledged cultural and entertainment destination. For some, it’s a long-overdue investment in local potential. For others, it’s a sign of gentrification creeping in, raising questions about who gets to benefit from this so-called progress.

Among local musicians, the buzz is loud, and so is the anticipation. Chesapeake native and metal musician Jordan Requizo first heard about The Dome from a classmate working on the construction crew. His reaction?

“Very excited,” Requizo said. “I thought about how this will bring in a lot more bands to the local scene.” He’s already got his eyes set on upcoming shows, including a performance by metal band Mastodon in May when the venue opens. Other acts following the venue’s opening include Three Dog Night, Melissa Ethridge and Joss Stone, Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo, and Killswitch Engage.

See THE DOME Page 9

Inside Look: Homeless shelter project highlights shared humanity

BY AIDEN CROGHAN accroghan@vwu.edu

For ten years, Virginia Wesleyan’s CMAC became a week-long shelter for people without permanent housing.

From 2007 to 2016, Wesleyan’s Winter Homeless Shelter took place each winter session (now January term). This overnight shelter provided what many other shelters could not, such as haircuts, games and freshly cooked meals. This shelter gave people a place to stay and students a place to learn about how to help others through service.

Alumni Felecia Kiser and Nuni Rae started the shelter, which was paired with a service learning course taught by Dr. Kathy Stolley, professor of sociology, and Robin Takacs, adjunct faculty. Kiser and Rae were sophomores working for the Office of Community Service (now Wesleyan Engaged) when they started the shelter.

‘If you’ve been on the fence, the time is now’ --- Page 2

With a disproprtionate number of foster homes to children in need, foster care advocates like Andrea Grant call for support.

3 tips to surviving campus as a commuter student --- Page 6

“But whether you are driving 50 miles or five, with the right tricks up your hoodie sleeve, it is not just doable — it can be downright cozy.”

The students began their service by distributing sandwiches to homeless people on the streets, but they aimed for longevity.

“They were working on building something sustainable; they first came up with the midnight sandwich runs, then they came up with the idea for the shelter,” Stolley said.

The project received funding from the PORTfolio program, which was directed by the nowretired professor, Dr. Larry Hultgren. As a program dedicated to engaged learning and service learning, many students and staff involved volunteered at local shelters and churches.

“The idea was, ‘let’s try to do this on our campus,’ because it was difficult for some of the churches we were visiting to do this. Some were not able to do it,” Hultgren said.

VB Cherry Blossom Festival --- Page 10

There’s no need to go all the way to DC to experience the warmth of a Cherry Blossom Festival. The City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation department hosted its annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Kathy Stolley|Courtesy Taken when the project was active, a student talks with a guest.

Kirkland Butler|Marlin Chronicle

Senior Copy Editor Kirkland Butler captures the greenery and wildlife on campus in the springtime. Collage arranged by Lily Reslink.

Andrea Grant|Courtesy

Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle

Theresa Dill|Marlin Chronicle Participants gather in Pierce Suite for the dialogue-centered workshop on inclusive leadership strategies.

Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle

Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle

Mental health struggles on the rise

BY MEENA LENNON mjlennon@vwu.edu

To promote discussion about mental health struggles faced by young adults, Dr. Fred Scott, a licensed professional counselor, came to share knowledge with the Virginia Wesleyan University campus.

Scott said mental health struggles are on the rise, specifically anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, which he believes can be attributed to the increase in social media usage and the lack of communication skills being developed.

Michelle De Rosa, director of Counseling and Student Health, said that “students are presenting with higher rates of anxiety, depression and traumarelated symptoms, often with greater urgency and complexity. This impacts academic performance, retention, social relationships and overall well-being.”

Scott said younger generations have become reliant on things being online: “during COVID, they became reliant on the way things work on a computer, so when they see somebody in person, they’re reluctant to strike up a conversation.”

Scott called for a need to get things back in person as much as possible. He said the more in-person interactions people have the less likely people are to become socially anxious. He said this is even more prominent in college students.

“College students are having a harder time connecting with their peers. Some are even getting to the point now where if they want to approach somebody just to say ‘hi,’ they’re literally getting frozen from the anxiety,” Scott said.

The increase in social anxiety also impacts attendance at social events, which creates a cycle of social isolation and avoidance, according to De Rosa: “You don’t feel well, so you don’t want to spend time with others in a community. But then you don’t feel well because you feel isolated from the community.”

Freshman Lina Hackner voiced her international perspective on how America as a country and Virginia Wesleyan as a university advocate for young peoples’

mental health. Hackner, a student from the south of Germany, believes the resources here are readily available and welladvertised.

“I think the stigma around going to counseling in Germany is way bigger. Here, everyone is a little more open about mental health,” Hackner said. In Germany, Hackner said she has never seen free counseling or frequent promotion of organized events in support of young peoples’ mental health.

A difference Hackner noticed was the pressure in college sports here. She believes that an increase in anxiety conditions could derive from the increased pressure felt among student-athletes, specifically from coaches, teammates or the internal need to succeed.

“When you don’t perform well in your sports, it can make you question if you feel good enough in general,” Hackner said.

“Student-athletes have such a busy schedule. I leave my house at 9 a.m. and come back at 9 p.m. I believe that could be a reason as to why mental health is such a big issue in college,” Hackner said.

De Rosa said there’s still a need for more services, advertisement and funding to improve campus-based mental health programs.

Scott spoke to the increase in virtual counseling over the past few years, calling it necessary and effective. He said that while it does not replace in-person counseling, it can be a substitute for those who may lack time or resources for transport.

“You can be anywhere at any time and have an appointment,” Scott said. “It has opened up endless possibilities, you can literally see a therapist anywhere in the world now.”

De Rosa said online platforms can be less effective depending on situational severity. “For complex or crisis-related cases, telehealth might complement, not replace, in-person care,” she said.

“Technology is a double-edged sword,” Scott said. He said in-person meetings allow for a read on visual cues, such as leg bouncing or visible anxiety, that can help

with diagnosing students’ conditions. “I don’t think either one trumps the other,” Scott said.

De Rosa said protecting students and providing them with services they need is at the forefront of the university’s values. “We should ensure all students know where and how to access multiple avenues of help (campus crisis line, 988, warm lines, etc), and feel safe to do so by having open discussions frequently,” De Rosa said.

Hackner believes maintaining events around campus and advertising the free counseling will help lessen the stigma around reaching out. Hackner said Virginia Wesleyan’s mental health initiatives help reduce the stigma, and from her experience, there is little stigma on campus already.

She stressed the importance of keeping healthy relationships with athletes and their sports, which good coaching

relations can help support. “They should lower the pressure. Obviously everyone wants to perform well, but I don’t think that toxic relationships between coaches and students are healthy in any way,” Hackner said.

To the campus population, Hackner urged them to talk to friends, family and whoever they are closest to. “They want to listen to you. If you’re happy to share your problems with them, then they are happy to listen. Or go upstairs at Batten and go to the counseling room and they will help you. No one will judge you,” Hackner said.

While international students, such as Hackner, describe the resources as a significant improvement compared to those in their home countries, Scott and De Rosa emphasize the need to expand services and accessibility for all students, especially given the increase in mental health struggles for young adults.

BY LILY RESLINK lbreslink@vwu.edu

Amid a nationwide foster parent shortage, the individuals and organizations at the forefront of the foster system call attention to the need for support.

The shortage made local headlines in an April 4 article from WTKR News 3 covering the rising demand for foster homes in Virginia Beach. The article said, “Currently, there are 70 approved foster homes in the city, while the average number of children in foster care hovers around 200.”

Outside of being Virginia Wesleyan’s Coordinator of Student Professional Development, Andrea Grant is a parent and passionate advocate for foster children.

For those interested in foster parenting, Grant offered encouragement: “If you’ve been on the fence, the time is now.”

Grant became a foster parent in the summer of 2013. “I’ve fostered over 25 children, from two days up to almost three years,” Grant said.

Grant’s knowledge of foster care derived from her early exposure to the foster children her grandmother welcomed. “Even as a child, we always had foster children in our family and their families,” Grant said. “[My grandmother] would open her doors to the biological family for visits, and they became like our family too when the children were with her.”

Grant said this shaped her worldview of foster care. “When I work with children, I always see them as a part of a family unit.”

In her own fostering journey, Grant began as a single parent. She said her husband happily joined the picture.

“When I met my husband, I let him know this is what I do, and that’s what comes with me. And he agreed,” Grant said.

She described her household as “colorful and busy.”

“I always felt like I would

adopt, always felt like I was going to be a part of a larger family,” Grant said. She called foster care “a calling” for her.

Grant became a foster parent through the Up Center, an organization based across South Hampton Roads, “which provides more than 20 critical support services for children and families in our community,” including foster care and adoption, according to the organization’s website.

Sabrina Carr, Outreach Coordinator for the Up Center, spoke to the agency’s mission: “to provide the best matches possible between a child entering into foster care and a foster parent that they’re going to be placed with.”

Although Grant has capped her house at five kids, she remains active in the agency as a volunteer to connect other families with resources to help them foster.

In Virginia, Grant said there are roughly 5,000 children in foster care and for those who cannot be placed in a family, she said they stay in a social services office, hotel or hospital.

“The trauma of being taken from your environment, and then there’s nowhere for you to go, adds to their trauma,” Grant said.

Grant said that additional support will help alleviate this burden for more children.

Aside from a background check and proof that you can pay your bills, Grant said to be a foster parent, you need “a stable home, a room for the child and room in your heart.”

Carr said she feels incredibly rewarded to be a part of the onboarding process for families. She often meets people who are

unsure about fostering but want more information. “By the time they come to the information session and they’re done, the next morning, I might have an email that they’re ready,” Carr said.

Foster families can be placed through both government social services and external agencies.

Typically, when fostering through an agency, “those are going to be therapeutic foster homes,” Grant said. “You get more training in crisis management. You get more training in parenting. You get support groups, and you get a clinician that is like your liaison between you and the social worker.”

Carr said these resources open up possibilities for foster parents without experience. “You don’t have to have parenting experience to be a foster parent. That’s where our training comes in, and our guidance and our support from our team,” Carr

said.

For foster children, Grant said, “The best outcome that we can give them comes from a stable environment.”

“When a family environment or when a home environment is stable, then that child can come into that and really learn to stabilize themselves,” Carr said. Carr challenged preconceptions that a foster family household should look any one way. She said the agency works with single individuals and couples, and dedicates attention to spreading the word within the LGBTQ+ community members and empty nesters.

In the matching process, Grant said the foster community needs diverse families to meet the diverse needs of the children.

Grant said she had noticed many people dissuaded by thinking that “you can’t be a foster parent because you would love them too much and get too attached.”

“I get the sentiment, but what you’re really saying is that all these foster parents that are taking care of these kids have a barrier to completely loving these children, and that’s just not true,” Grant said.

‘If you’ve been on the fence, the time is now’ With a disproportionate number of foster homes to children in need, foster care advocates like Andrea Grant call for support.

To Grant, being all-in is necessary for fostering, and that comes with pain. “We love them with our entire hearts. We give up resources. We give ourselves. We invite them into our families. We get attached. We sign up for some heartbreak to help heal the hearts of these kids and their families who are broken completely.”

Grant explained the mindset that guides her through these times. “I have to remember that we put a family back together,” Grant said.

“[The foster care system] is definitely flawed, but there’s so much involved,” Grant said.

She said the system deals with families, court systems, social services, communities and the children themselves. She said more resources and people would help.

Grant said that social services must take on more children, even if they are understaffed. “That’s not an excuse. It’s a reality,” Grant said.

She explained that social workers, agencies and foster families are a team, and those who do their part well free up time for others to focus on areas of need. “That’s why we need really amazing foster parents who are organized,” Grant said. Knowing what it looks like to lack resources, she said insight from fostering influences how she approaches her job and inspires her to create initiatives that support students in pursuing their goals. “It gives me the recognition that not all of our students have full villages behind them.”

Grant and Carr encourage involvement in the foster community through volunteering, donation, education or taking the next step of welcoming children into your family.

Andrea Grant|Courtesy

Grant with her husband and their five children, aged 4 to 14.

Mars Johnson & Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle

Clay Yokom| Marlin Chronicle

Provost office brings updates

BY CLAY YOKOM kayokom@vwu.edu

As of April 15, Dr. Dierdre GonsalvesJackson serves as the acting provost and vice president of Academic Affairs for Virginia Wesleyan University.

The position of Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for addressing “questions and concerns regarding the academic program,” according to the Student Handbook. They also act as a co-chair on the President’s Council for Inclusive Communities (PCIC). This position also has responsibilities managing patents made with University resources and administration, including appointing positions.

Some additions for the upcoming academic year are Dr. Victor Townsend as assistant provost and Dr. Lauren Marquez as associate provost.

Originally, Dr. Sue Larkin, who declined to comment, was to remain as the provost until June and go to Doane University (Crete, Nebraska) to act as the Vice President of Academic Affairs there. This was changed in April and GonsalvesJackson stepped into the role ahead of schedule.

The change in timeline happened “to allow Dr. Larkin to have more time to

complete time-sensitive projects before her departure” according to Stephanie Timmerman, the administrative assistant to the provost and vice president. As for office transitions from the Lighthouse to the Hofheimer Library, Timmerman said, “Nothing about the day to day operations of any of the offices will be changing - the only thing changing is the location of the folks working in those spaces.”

In line with the joint goals of the Provost’s office and President Scott Miller, Miller announced in the March 17 Nota Bene that the Athenaeum continues to see changes as the offices finish construction and welcome newly rehomed members of Lighthouse. Although a comprehensive plan for layout and logistical operation has not yet been released as of April 22, offices have moved to the Athenaeum, and students seeking those services should ensure they are going to the correct office.

Anticipation also surrounds long-term department identity and the potential rebranding of The Lighthouse under the Athenaeum.

The April 14 Nota Bene expressed “how grouping these operations will streamline our enterprise to better serve our students.”

As office moves commence, one box at a time, the campus transitions to a reimagined office of Academic Affairs.

Starks, the director of Hampton Roads Programs at the Virginia Center of Inclusive Communities, led the event.

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Whitt, who discovered she aligned with the analytical style of leadership, said she would use what she learned during the workshop in the future career-wise and in her personal life.

“I could apply what I learned in this workshop to my future career in many ways. Understanding how to lead overall can heavily translate into being a leader in the workplace, whether it’s in a manager position or in a group activity,” Whitt said. “Additionally, understanding conflict resolution styles can help in personal life, as well as professionally, when it comes to relationships and dealing with independent situations that call for different conflict resolution styles.”

Kaza Dayton, a senior Hispanic Studies major, senior coordinator and communications leader and Student Government Association member has attended many PCIC meetings in an effort to try to get students involved and attend the events.

“I think that just having people who are informed leaders is really important,” Dayton said. “Informed not just with current events, but informed on knowing themselves, taking the time to sit down and spend 45-50 minutes working through different groups and seeing different perspectives is really beneficial, especially not only in the campus community, but when you join the workforce and you

Current events round-up: AP, free speech and trees

BY ISAAC FICK ihfick@vwu.edu

AP READMITTED

A federal judge decided that the current U.S. administration’s barring of the Associated Press (AP) was unconstitutional under the First Amendment on April 8, according to a CNN article.

According to an April 14 AP article, an AP reporter was barred from an event despite the ruling. The article said “a reporter and photographer from The Associated Press were barred from an Oval Office news conference on Monday [April 14] with President Donald Trump and his counterpart from El Salvador, Nayib Bukele.”

This reversal is already in practice.

“Later Monday, two AP photographers were admitted to an event honoring Ohio State’s championship football team on the more spacious South Lawn. A text reporter was turned away,” AP said.

The ban originated from a dispute between the AP and U.S. administration due to AP retaining the term Gulf of Mexico instead of the administration’s new “Gulf of America.”

In an April 8 AP article addressing the continued ban, the judge, Trevor McFadden, said his ruling “does not bestow special treatment upon the AP … But it cannot be treated worse than its peer wire service either.”

McFadden, according to the CNN article, wrote that the Court orders the government “to put the AP on an equal playing field as similarly situated outlets, despite the AP’s use of disfavored terminology.”

McFadden said that the ban has lasted for roughly two months, according to the CNN article.

“The AP has been economically hemorrhaging for the last two months, and its condition will only worsen as its customers flee to other news services absent injunctive relief,” McFadden said.

In the same article, AP’s chief White House correspondent, Zeke Miller, and the AP’s chief photographer in Washington, Evan Vucci, agreed the ban impeded AP’s ability to report as effectively or quickly.

NATIONAL FORESTS FOR LOGGING

In response to forest fires, the U.S. administration ordered 59% of Forest Service lands open to logging, according to an April 4 ABC News article.

The April 1 executive order, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” said the purpose was timber production, forest management and wildfire “risk reduction projects.”

activism than scholarship.’”

The University’s President, Alan Garber, said, “No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” according to the article.

The same article quoted Harvard Law School professor Nikolas Bowie, who said the administration “is violating the First Amendment […] by demanding that if universities want to keep this money, they have to suppress our speech and change what we teach and how we study.”

“$2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value” were announced to be frozen, and “Harvard’s endowment was $53.2 billion in 2024, according to a financial report from the university.” Harvard is not the first higher education university to have its funding cut.

An April 15 NBC News article said that while Harvard has the largest endowment of U.S. universities, the median endowment of U.S. colleges and universities is $243 million.

really need those skills.”

“A big discussion from [the workshop] was about the importance of those soft skills, being able to communicate and being able to understand your own leadership style,” Dayton said.

Dayton pointed to a future event, “Pull Up a Chair,” hosted by the Student Government Association on April 30.

Representatives from student organizations at the event included Black Student Union, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Latino Student Association, Student Government Association, Sigma Nu and Students Against Continued Homelessness.

“We’ll be discussing different things to foster a dialog and a sense of belonging, strengthen student relationships, and with different things going on in the world, like the dissolution of DEI policies and how that’s impacting students,” Dayton said. “So we wanted to foster this space for student leaders to collaborate. One of the things that I wanted to emphasize in this panel is that it didn’t have to be the president of this club. It could be someone who wasn't on leadership, or someone who just wanted to be represented and had a voice they wanted to share.”

VWU has been recognized for its ethnic diversity and social mobility with the U.S. News & World Report, ranking the school No. 175 in National Liberal Arts Colleges and No. 114 in Top Performers of Social Mobility. VWU is also ranked in the top 30 colleges and universities in Ethnic Diversity.

The order instructed all relevant agencies to eliminate or alter “all undue delays within their respective permitting processes related to timber production” and “regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, and other agency actions that impose an undue burden on timber production.”

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said a “forest health crisis” has been caused by wildfires, insect and disease outbreaks, among other factors, according to the article. She said logging would help with these issues.

The article said that “environmentalists rejected the claim that wildfire protection was driving the changes to forest policy.”

Blaine Miller-McFeeley of the environmental group “Earthjustice” said this choice benefits the timber industry and does not consider the protection of communities.

The article said the order “exempts affected forests from an objection process that allows outside groups, tribes and local governments to challenge logging proposals at the administrative level before they are finalized.”

The 176,000 square miles of land (larger than California) spans much of the U.S., but predominantly through the South and West, according to the article.

The order, according to an April 12 Los Angeles Times article, will include all of California’s 18 national forests.

HARVARD FUNDING

After Harvard University’s decision to not comply with policy changes requested by the U.S. administration, the administration announced it would cut significant funding, according to an April 14 CNN article.

Among the policy reforms requested, the article listed “the elimination of Harvard’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs, banning masks at campus protests, meritbased hiring and admissions reforms and reducing the power held by faculty and administrators ‘more committed to

Harvard is unable to use this endowment as a substitute for the federal funding. Catharine Bond Hill, former president of Vassar College and managing director of the research and consulting organization Ithaka S+R explained the difference between these funding sources. The money “comes from donors, including alumni, foundations, local community members or anyone else looking to support the institutions’ spending,” Hill said in the article.

The article also referenced Liz Clark, vice president of Policy at the College Business officers group, who said the endowments are agreements with donors that must legally be withheld.

Cecilia Orphan, an associate professor of Higher Education at the University of Denver, said in the article that funding cuts to Harvard will have a global impact. Orphan said that Harvard researches topics, “including cancer research and weapons development and other strategic concerns that we might have as a country and the world has.” The funding cuts will likely pose challenges for Harvard’s research.

Kyla Robberecht|Marlin Chronicle

Theresa Dill|Marlin Chronicle Meagan

Community 4

The MARLIN CHRONICLE

Editor-in-Chief

Lily Reslink lbreslink@vwu.edu

Managing Editor

Victoria Haneline vfhaneline1@vwu.edu

News Editor

Isaac Fick ihfick@vwu.edu

Community Editor

Aiden Croghan accroghan@vwu.edu

Opinions Editor

Isaac Fick ihfick@vwu.edu

Sports Editors

Coy Camiscioli clcamiscioli@vwu.edu

Sydnee Washington sawashington2@vwu.edu

Weekender Editor

MJ Matthews mjmatthews@vwu.edu

Photo Editor

McKenna Howenstine mrhowenstine@vwu.edu

Illustrations Editor

Mars Johnson ibjohnson@vwu.edu

Online Editors

Josue Maradiaga jmmaradiaga@vwu.edu

Lillian Glenn adglenn@vwu.edu

Copy Editors

Kirkland Butler kwbutler@vwu.edu

MK Morris Larkin mmorrislarkin@vwu.edu

Victoria Haneline vfhaneline1@vwu.edu

PR Director

Isabella Grosswiler idgrosswiler@vwu.edu

Marketing Coordinator

Bryant Cotterell bccotterell@vwu.edu

Engagement Editor

Sarah Czapp sczapp@vwu.edu

Advisor

Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

SHELTER

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

During the winter, there is an increased need for shelters to keep people warm, safe and off the streets which lined up with winter session classes. “When is there more availability for service on campus than winter session?” Takacs said.

Stolley and Takacs said that many members of the university staff and administration were apprehensive about the shelter, and towards the people in the shelter, but that many students went in with an open mind and were able to connect with the guests. “They really tried to make them feel welcome,” Stolley said, later adding, while referring to the shelter guests, “a lot of them joked that they were coming back to college.”

As students and staff interacted with the guests, it helped them to humanize homeless people. Many people avoid even interacting with homeless people, but the experience of the shelter created a bridge between two distanced social groups. “These aren’t people who were listened to very often,” Stolley said.

Although the lecture portion of the course that went with the shelter did cover statistics,

it emphasized a more personable understanding of homeless people.

“We always talked about leaving your stereotypes at the door,” Takacs said. Along with providing a place to sleep and a hot plate of food for the guests, student and staff volunteers also played basketball, played music and got to know the guests. “There are real people behind these numbers,” Stolley said, reflecting on the experiential learning that students had, allowing them to break down stereotypes and inhibitions towards homeless people they may have previously held.

Long lasting experiences were made with guests, especially those who returned year after year. Seeing people return was a bittersweet experience for those running the shelter.

“Every year, we liked to see people return, but in our hearts, we wanted to see them with a more permanent housing solution,” Takacs said.

One guest who returned multiple years in a row played the piano for the guests and volunteers at the homeless shelter. His playing was recorded in a documentary by Dr. Stuart Minnis. Stolley recalled this person as one of the most memorable that she encountered during the shelter. Another guest who helped to organize and advocate for other homeless people ended up getting housing, only to land on the streets again five years later.

“Every year we liked to see people return, but in our hearts, we wanted to see them with a more permanent housing solution.”

Adjunct Professor Robin Takacs

These experiences at the shelter affected those who took part immensely, both the volunteers and the guests. “The word that students and staff used was ‘transformative,’” Stolley said, noting that many of the students who took part in the shelter went into “helping professions” inside and outside of other shelters. One year, Stolley received a letter from a previous guest of the shelter saying, “it’s shelter season,” and thanking her for the amazing experience they had in the shelter.

After they heard about the shelter, universities approached Stolley and Takacs asking how they were able to do the shelter, in hopes of doing a similar project. The shelter has been used in studies on service learning and applied sociology.

Despite many guests having great experiences with the shelter, Stolley emphasized that things like shelters are a temporary fix to a societywide problem of wealth disparity. “Shelter is a band-aid, shelter doesn’t fix the problem,” Stolley said.

After Virginia Wesleyan facilities changed and more permanent homeless shelters were added to the area, the course pivoted in 2016 to students volunteering at off-campus homeless shelters until the course ended in 2024.

With the program running for 18 years, it saw a level of longevity that many projects do not. Stolley and Takacs attributed this to student interest in the shelter, and without the investment in large, long-term goals, student interest may weaken. They elaborated that student interests may decline when there are only small projects. “Looking for quick and easy service projects, the buy-in doesn’t happen,” Takacs said, adding later, “There was something organic that happened.”

The legacy of the shelter continues today through its use in studies, replicated projects at other universities, as well as through Wesleyan students still advocating for homeless people today through on-campus organizations like Students Against Continued Homelessness (SACH) and other outlets.

Clubs struggle to keep lights on

BY ABEE CASSIDY arcassidy@vwu.edu

Through the lens of conflicts that may hinder clubs from remaining active, students share their thoughts on campus clubs and their purpose in encouraging collaboration, celebrating shared interests and building a stronger connection to the Wesleyan community.

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

Regis Collins runs the Classics Club. This club is associated with the Classics major, a field of study focused on ancient Mediterranean culture, particularly Greek and Latin. Students in this club gain skills they can use in their future: “community, friendship, the ability to plan Olympics and the ability to hang around before being able to join the Honors Society,” Collins said. If students want to join the Honors Society, they must take one semester of Greek or Latin. “If you’re prior to that semester, but still interested in joining that community, then the Classics Club is a good way to do that,” Collins said.

Olympic games offer a link between the ancient world and the modern world and is an ancient tradition. “We’re hosting an Olympics at the end of this month,” Collins said.

Dr. Benjamin Haller, associate professor of Classics and chair of Foreign Languages and Classics, set aside a room in Birdsong Hall to for students interested in a Classics major to hangout and go over club business. “Discussing what events we might do, going over the meeting and taking votes,” Collins said. When this club meets, they won’t usually have more than half a dozen students per meeting. Club meetings are not all business, according to Collins, they also have fun activities themed around their club. “Sometimes we make pottery or watch Indiana Jones movies. It’s a good time,” Collins said. Rebecca Haegele, a junior, formerly served as vice president of a now-inactive club called the Tabletop Gaming Club. This club revolved around games like Dungeons and Dragons and Call of Cthulhu, or as Haegle said: “More of your more nerdy games and card games.”

Students from this community gained a lot. “A

lot of people definitely made friends with other club members. I’ve seen them hanging out a lot giving them something to do to get out of their dorms,” Haegele said.

Anyone could have joined this club. “We had flyers, and we’d send out messages every now and then ... we’re gonna start meeting at this night, at this time and at this place,” Haegele said.

Students would bring several options to each meeting and vote on what game to play. Once the vote was taken, they would play the winning game first followed by a rotation of other games. Card games didn’t come into play until later. “There was also an aspect where we all got together and played card games,” Haegele said.

According to previous leadership, the club lost momentum in scheduling and became inactive. “I was the vice president: me and the president just had really conflicting schedules,” Haegele said. Haegele took engineering classes at Old Dominion University’s campus during the day and night classes here. “The president was doing their capstone, so they weren’t really available,” Haegele said. “But at the same time, there weren’t any other gaming clubs, so it was special in that way.” According to Haegele, members appreciated the opportunity to game, but the club’s dwindling interest reflected the lack of availability.

Kathy Stolley|Courtesy Volunteers serving food at the shelter.

Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle

Kathy Stolley|Courtesy

A shelter guest playing piano as guests and volunteers sing.

It’s Skee-Wee, not Skee-Me

Virginia Wesleyan’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Omicron, celebrates their 20th anniversary of Skee-Week through socials and service.

BY LORA YOUNG llyoung@vwu.edu

Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) is a historically Black sorority, founded in 1908 at Howard University. Their core mission is “service to all mankind.” This mission has guided the Virginia Wesleyan chapter throughout its 20 years of service. Each year, their chapter, Sigma Omicron, holds a weeklong event, “Skee-Week.”

This event allows the group to give back to the community through a series of events, including some members-only, a mental health workshop, business panel, aerobics class and professional clothing drive. This Skee-Week was the Virginia Wesleyan chapter of AKA’s 20th anniversary.

Skee-Week kicked off with a Black Business Panel on April 7 featuring three entrepreneurs: Maerine Mitchell, Baba Brett and Carla Baliey. The business leaders met with the audience to share insights on their business journeys. They discussed success stories, strategies and mentors they had growing up. One of AKA’s initiatives is economic health. The sorority aimed to have people from the community give down-to-earth, realistic

advice. Jayden Upton, a freshman, hoped to take advantage of this by attending. “I want to start my own business a few years after college, so I wanted to come and get a first-person perspective and as much advice as I could get,” Upton said.

On April 9, AKA hosted a Women’s Wellness event. This event featured guest speaker Dr. Jenay Garrett, a certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. Dr. Garrett was brought in to explain the importance of women’s wellness and how women should care for themselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

“I feel like that’s a really representative topic; what women go through and how we can navigate that especially as college women,” Kaiya Jenkins, a senior and member of AKA, said. The seminar was an important event to the members as they wanted to create a space for wellness awareness and help women navigate through struggles and emotions.

On April 10, aerobics athletic trainer Jordan Davis led an hour-long exercise class open to campus. Elias Paulino, a

sophomore, attended this event. “I went to the class because I really like to workout and thought this was a great opportunity to connect with my peers, especially in the Greek community,” Paulino said.

April 8 and April 11, the sorority hosted exclusive members-only events. Tuesday’s event was Gardening With The Little Ones. Members of Sigma Omicron joined the Lambda Gamma Omega Chapter as they gardened alongside young learners. They taught them the importance of stability, responsibility and environmental stewardship. AKA is also committed to environmental stewardship. Therefore, this specific event is very crucial to SkeeWeek. “We’re always excited to build new relationships within our community, so we’re looking forward to seeing all of our hard work sprout this spring and summer,” Sandra Hernandez, senior and AKA member, said.

On Friday, the members of Sigma Omicron originally planned to join residents at Our Lady Of Perpetual Hope for a game of Easter-themed bingo. Unfortunately, due to a COVID outbreak at the facility, they were unable to do the event. To continue giving back, the group assembled some Easter baskets to share some of their kindness and spirit.

“It was our way of letting them know

we were still thinking of them and sending good energy their way,” Rhavyn Bradshaw, a senior and member of AKA, said. Due to AKA’s mission, they constantly want to empower all ages, but at this event they aimed to emphasize that no group, especially seniors, who can sometimes be overlooked, should be excluded.

To end the week of giving back to the community, AKA hosted a professional clothing collection. They collected 26 gently used professional clothing items, including blazers, blouses, shoes and dress pants. “We always want to make sure we give back to our campus community and do whatever we can to make a positive impact,” Bradshaw said. College students are still trying to figure out where to go and how to keep going so AKA wants to help students jump start their careers while feeling confident doing it.

Skee-Week gives Virginia Wesleyan students an opportunity to interact with AKA in case they decide to become involved with the organization. It also gives AKA members service opportunities.

“Our goal was to find that perfect balance between serious and fun, so we could make an impact in all areas of students’ lives, not just one,” Bradshaw said. The chapter hopes to continue building on their legacy through acts of service.

Campus organizations celebrate Earth Week

BY KAMI WHISENHUNT kjwhisenhunt@vwu.edu

Student organizations, clubs and staff are collaborating to bring awareness to Earth Week. Events will take place from April 22 to April 25 to celebrate, engage and educate students on protecting the Earth.

“It’s really fun to work on a project with other students that are passionate and to see how that has a ripple effect, like just seeing more people care and become interested,” senior Jessica Wilson, president of Marlins Go Green (MGG), said.

“Pick up trash if you see it, compost in the dining hall, recycle, turn off your lights and reduce your water waste.”

Freshman

Elly Moore

Students can take direct action for the planet through several Earth Week initiatives. Wesleyan Engaged organized a campus clean-up for April 22 to collect trash and recycling. On April 25, students are invited to help with a MGG invasive species removal, which is a recurring effort to restore campus green spaces. Another ongoing sustainability effort is campus composting.

Wilson said MGG has been working hard to implement composting on campus for the past two years now and it has finally paid off.

“It is a way for students to play a role in reducing our waste and our carbon footprint. Also, the compost program is a symbol for students and faculty that we care about sustainability,” Wilson said.

Wilson said composting covers a lot of sustainability issues, like decreasing our waste, which helps reduce the negative impacts landfills have on communities. This also leads to fewer carbon emissions and improves the health of the soil, replacing synthetic fertilizers produced from fossil fuels.

In celebration of Earth Day, Thirst Project organized its Buggin’ With Buttons event for April 22. Students can design and share buttons featuring Earth Day designs or water equity awareness messages. According to VWU’s website, this event highlights global water justice and promotes the upcoming Walk for Water, an initiative to raise awareness about clean water access worldwide.

“The goal is to provide five families with clean access to water for life. It will give VWU students an idea of what it’s like to have to walk four miles a day for water, which is what people in Africa have to do,” Laila Jones, sophomore and a member of Thirst Project, said.

Other informational Earth Week events include a lecture called “Climate and Crisis: Preparing Physicians for a Changing Planet,” hosted by

the Nusbaum Center, where Dr. Aaron Hultgren, emergency medicine physician and climate health expert, will discuss how climate change affects the field of healthcare.

Resource tables from MGG and Thirst Project will be there. Also, earlier in the week, All About Ecotherapy, presented with the Norfolk Public Library, will share about nature-based mental health practices.

“Earth Day is a reminder to take care of the Earth and get into good habits,” Elly Moore, a freshman, said. “Pick up trash if you see it, compost in the dining hall, recycle, turn off your lights and reduce your water waste.”

To end the week in celebration,

MGG is collaborating with the campus’ annual celebration of “Bob’s Birthday Bash” on April 25, where environmentally friendly activities and games will be set up. Students are encouraged to bring a t-shirt for the sustainable tie-dye station or be among the first 24 to receive a free reusable tote bag to dye.

“Even though that may seem like a small action, like using a reusable tote bag, that is the groundwork for larger change,” Wilson said.

Students Advocating for Campus Health is also cosponsoring a clothing swap with MGG, where participants can trade in old clothes for new finds. The Marlins Fishing Club will

run a fishing game, and other elements will include a compost knowledge challenge and a vegan vs. non-vegan cookie taste test.

A Student Government (SGA) member, senior Kaza Dayton, has been working on an initiative for picnic tables to be placed outside of Brock Village (VIII). In an email, she said it was approved, and students will be painting nature-inspired designs on them at this event in the spirit of Earth Week.

“We all individually can pursue actions like trying to reduce our waste, but I feel like the most impactful thing we can do is talk to other people about different sustainability issues and stay up to date with what’s going on in the world,” Wilson said.

Wilson suggested an app called 5 Calls, which connects users to their local representatives and provides phone numbers as well as scripts on how to communicate with legislators. This can be a tool to advocate for environmental issues beyond campus and push for change.

Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle

Freshman Daren Abramaitys (LEFT) and sophomore Elliott Fylstra (RIGHT) collect trash during the campus clean-up event on April 22.

Rhavyn Bradshaw|Courtesy Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha hosted the professional clothing drive.

Rhavyn Bradshaw|Courtesy

Members of Sigma Omicron joined the Lambda Gamma Omega chapter as they gardened alongside young learners.

‘A Minecraft Movie’ review

BY AUSTIN UTTER arutter@vwu.edu

“A Minecraft Movie” was one of the most anticipated movies in recent memory. As someone who grew up playing Minecraft and getting blown up by creepers with my little sister on my old XBOX 360, the game is something I look back on fondly. However, when I first saw the trailer for this movie I had my doubts. I was worried that this would be another cash grab movie banking on an already popular IP that would be more of a product than a piece of art that modern Hollywood has become infamous for. Unfortunately, this ended up being true. Fortunately, it didn’t end up being the whole truth.

Aww man, I felt like a husk of my former self after I drowned in the exposition dump at the beginning of the movie where Jack Black’s character, Steve, spent what felt like 20 minutes explaining what Minecraft was. While I wish they could say they got all of the world building out of the way in the beginning, Jack Black just saying things that were happening on screen was a consistent presence throughout the movie. When this happened it completely took me out of the movie, every reference seemed like it was forced into the movie

like how I somehow have to fit the words Waxed Lightly Weathered Cut Copper Stairs into this review. The movie had an extremely basic plot, little to no character arcs and no real theme. However, despite all of the things wrong with the movie, I still enjoyed the 101 minutes that I spent watching it.

In my opinion, the best things about the movie were the star actors, particularly Jason Momoa. While these performances certainly won’t win them any Oscars, I enjoyed watching them. Not their characters mind you, I didn’t care about Steve or the Garbage Man as characters in and of themselves. While none of the other actors did a bad job playing their characters, the characters overall were pretty weak throughout the movie and they just didn’t overcome that fact. To be honest, I don’t even remember any of the other characters’ names. The soundtrack was also a lot better than I was expecting. The writers of the song “Steve’s Lava Chicken” certainly did not try to swim in lava when making it, and I enjoyed the reference to the original soundtrack at the beginning of opening credits. Not all the songs were hits, however, as I didn’t enjoy the “Ode to Dennis.” The song

Croghan’s Corner

Uncomfortable times

BY AIDEN CROGHAN accroghan@vwu.edu

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), under the direction of the Trump Administration, is now deporting migrants to a prison in El Salvador for alleged membership in MS-13, an international gang, among other reasons. Deportees are allowed no due process from our court system, and after they are deported, the U.S. has essentially no control over what happens. The U.S. Courts have ruled many of these deportations illegal, including one Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the Supreme Court has ruled that the U.S. must facilitate the release of. The Salvadoran President has refused to return him and the Trump Admin. insists that the deportation was correct, despite U.S. courts ruling in 2019 that he could not be deported to El Salvador, according to the BBC. Government documents initially confirmed this deportation as an “administrative error” but now the Trump Admin. has walked back on this claim, with Stephen

Aiden is a sophomore studying

&

They are the Community Editor for The Marlin Chronicle.

Austin was instructed to write this review in exactly 640 words (equivalent to a full hot bar in Minecraft) with references throughout. Try to spot them all!

stopped the flow of the movie completely when it was supposed to be ending, Dennis was just not an important character that I was attached to enough, and it really just wasn’t a good song. In a different cut of the movie I would recommend just cutting it, especially since Steve just went with him right after, making the goodbye meaningless.

It was clear the movie was made just so that people would be inspired to play the game again, and jumping from scene to scene with no flow to a larger plot didn’t stop that from happening. There were some scenes that people will definitely talk about throughout the next month or so, including the scene where the pink sheep gets ripped apart by zombies and zombie villagers during the first night. The chicken jockey scene with the baby zombie has already become infamous, and the scene where the villain is still trying to

Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, saying that, “the right person was sent to the right place.”

Trump and his team are now looking at the possibility of deporting criminals who are full U.S. citizens after a suggestion from the Salvadoran president, according to NPR. Doing this would be a blatant violation of constitutional rights, and it’s truly sickening that a president would even suggest this. Once you’ve been placed in another country, if their officials won’t let you go, the U.S. wouldn’t be able to bring you back without military action, and Trump doesn’t seem to even want this. In fact, he is currently paying the Salvadoran government $6 million to keep the prisoners there. U.S. citizen Jose Hermosillo was also recently detained by ICE, and was granted due process and released according to Arizona Public Media, but had he not been allowed his day in court, like Abrego Garcia wasn’t, then he could’ve been deported incorrectly without a way for the U.S. to legally retrieve him. This notion of disappearing those that the government considers “undesirable” in a prison camp in a foreign country is eerily similar to actions of the Nazi party during the 1930s and ‘40s, so I say to you reading this, take action, protest, inform your friends and family of updates, especially those at risk, and keep your community safe.

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.” — Martin Niemöller

Austin is a junior studying History. He wants to be a high school history teacher.

stab Steve while slowly turning into a zombified piglin has already come up on my for you page several times.

Overall I would say that “A Minecraft Movie” is something

that I enjoyed watching, but I feel no real need to watch it again at any point. The movie will likely be forgotten in a few months after the hype dies down, but it is worth the time to watch it.

3 tips to surviving campus as a commuter student

BY JOY BOYDEN jlboyden@vwu.edu

As many of you know, commuter life at Virginia Wesleyan is not for the faint of heart — especially when you are clocking over 50 miles one way. But whether you are driving 50 miles or five, with the right tricks up your hoodie sleeve, it is not just doable — it can be downright cozy.

Tip #1: Turn Your Vehicle into a Mobile Apartment. My truck? It is not just transportation. It is a second home. My dorm room if you will. Over the last year, I have stocked it with a sunshade for the warmer days (and added privacy), a favorite blanket, a small pillow, snacks and a coral pink Titan cooler with a removable bucket that I freeze water in overnight (no more buying ice!).

Tip #2: Never Study On Campus Without Coffee Again. The real MVP, though, is my soft sided lunch bag turned Mobile Coffee Station. Inside: a light plastic reusable coffee cup (from Starbuck’s), powdered dry creamer, ground coffee (from home), reusable K-cups, a small measuring spoon, sweeteners, tea bags and even a chopstick for stirring. With Keurigs in nearly every building, I never have to wander far for caffeine.

But, my fellow commuters, it is important that we respect faculty spaces. Always clean up, say thank you and give back if you can by leaving the spaces cleaner than you found them. I personally like to leave behind things I use for others in our community like maybe some Lipton tea (for variety), sweetener

packets, etc. — as a quiet thank-you, and to pay it forward. I also like to tidy up a bit when it needs it.

(PS: Have you found those surprise chocolates some professors leave out? Magical on days you forget everything at home.)

Tip #3: Master the “Girl Dinner” Lunch Strategy. Personally I like to pack my meals in leak-proof, divided containers with two or three sections. Think: healthy nibbles, protein, something crunchy. The portable meals are easy to eat between classes, or on the go. Sometimes it’s a full lunch; other times it’s a commuter-style snack board. Either way, I stay fueled without needing to buy food on campus or stop what I am doing to load everything up in my truck for a 7-11 run.

More tips are coming — but these three? They have been game changers that have also been budget savers over the last 12+ months.

Joy “Shortbed” Bowden is a senior Business major. A certified Scrum Master and future project manager, she is passionate about teamwork, clear communication and servant leadership. When not studying or commuting between home and campus, she can be found puttering around the yard with her inseparable sidekicks — Donkey, a mini donkey, and Skunk, a german shepherd — two loyal (and occasionally jealous) companions who happen to be nearly the same height.

Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle

McKenna Howenstine. Edited by Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle

Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle

Joy Boyden|Courtesy

Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle

Men’s Lacrosse sheds old skin

Under a new head coach, the Marlins have been revitalized, ending their 9-year playoff drought.

BY ELI CASEY emcasey@vwu.edu

Closing off an old chapter, the Marlin’s Men’s Lacrosse team is entering a new era with a splash. Fresh off a challenging previous season, the Marlin’s have their sights set on newfound success.

In Sam Jones’ first season as head coach, the Marlins have locked themselves into a coveted playoff spot in the ODAC tournament.

“I think we’ve overcome a lot of challenges, and I think we’re in a stronger spot than where we started,” Jones said. It will be the Marlin’s first playoff appearance in almost a decade, with the 2016 appearance ending in the quarterfinals to the No. 4 seeded University of Lynchburg.

It’s been almost a decade of difficulty for Men’s Lacrosse, but the Marlins are ready to spread the word that they are a force to be reckoned with.

“Of course, the goal is a championship. So they always say, if you shoot for the moon, at least you’ll land among the stars if you miss. That’s the way we’re thinking this year,” Roman Foster, sophomore defenseman, said.

In the first game of the season, the Marlins faced a challenging matchup at Neumann University. With 6 seconds left in the game, the Knights netted a goal to tie the score at 17 to force overtime. In the end, it didn’t matter as senior captain Parker Lucas assisted sophomore Cooper Seidner with the deciding goal in overtime to start the season off with an away win.

“Cooper Seidner in OT stepped down to end it. That was an insane way to start off the year,” Foster said.

Despite a challenging stretch of games for the Marlins midway through the season, attention has turned to the playoffs. “As a team, we’re not going into it thinking, ‘what if we lose?’ We’re just practicing every day thinking, ‘how can we get better and go from there?’” Pat Ruffalo, junior midfielder, said.

It’s easy to lose sight of what’s ahead, but the team has been taking each game one step at a time. “Our next focus is that next game and what we’re doing for that week,” Zack Tucker, senior goalkeeper, said.

Ruffalo made it clear that high standards aren’t just for the playoffs: “I expect that out of myself, I expect that out of my teammates, and that’s a culture you build all year long, and you kind of stick with that mindset.”

Playoffs aside, this season will be one to remember for Men’s Lacrosse. For the first time since 2015, the Marlins have beaten both Bridgewater College and Guilford College. The game versus Guilford in particular was monumental. Going into the second half, the Marlins were down 9-6 at home. Yet, in the second half, the Marlins outscored the Quakers 10-2 to do what hadn’t been done in a decade.

“Coach Jones came in the locker room and he just asked us to show that we care and show that we mean the things we say at practice, and we came out and went on the 10-2 run in the second half to finish the game. That was a really good feeling to

pull that off,” Ruffalo said.

Beating Bridgewater on the road was another memorable moment for the team.

“There’s games you circle at the beginning of every year. I know guys do it. You’re not supposed to, but everyone does it right?

Beating Bridgewater up at Bridgewater, a game that I know those guys cared about a lot, felt really good for this team. You know I’m singing karaoke on the bus at two in the morning on the way back,” Jones said. It doesn’t matter who the Marlins are facing, it doesn’t matter where or when they are playing, the drive and commitment is the same no matter what. “We step on the field, we want to win. We expect to win like that. That’s the mentality we’re going to take every time we play a competition,” Jones said.

“I see them every day trying. They embrace it. They want it.” Head Coach Sam Jones

Even with the ODAC tournament looming, the Marlins aren’t worried. “You can’t have sports without pressure. We just have to focus on doing what we’re doing,”

more known to students, and I personally think the themes are really fun,” freshman Allie Wheatley said.

Wheatley believes that adding a theme to the games would draw more people out and could potentially include a competition.

“You could also do little prizes like best dressed gets a $10 gift card,” Wheatley said.

Foster said. “I see them every day trying. They embrace it. They want it,” Jones said. The Marlins’ success this season has been supported by some standout individual performances. Sophomore Ben Andrews leads the team in goals and points, while Lucas tops the charts in assists. Junior Jeremiah Madriaga has been dominant at the face-off, also leading the team in ground balls. Foster ranks second in ground balls and leads the team in caused turnovers with 46 and 25. Senior goalie Zack Tucker, coming off of a shoulder injury last season, was recently named ODAC Defensive Player of the Week.

“Jeremiah Madriaga, he’s having a phenomenal year,” Foster said. “We had a transfer in, Patrick Ruffalo, just a dog. You watch him on the clears. He’s a dog. Just watch him shooting. He’s a dog.”

It’s not just the upperclassmen or returning players who are having an impact either. “I think there’s a lot of lower classmen on this team who are stepping up. Maddox Coelho, he’s a freshman out of Texas, and he comes in here, and he’s a force on the field,” Ruffalo said.

The coaching staff has also been wellreceived. “Coaching-wise, coach Jones is having himself a phenomenal first year as a head coach,” Foster said.

This season in particular has seen a strongly unified Men’s Lacrosse team. “Playing as a team is very important. It’s not always about you as a person, it’s about your team. Our expectation this year is if we play as a team, we can achieve great goals,” Tucker said.

BY COY CAMISCIOLI clcamiscioli@vwu.edu

School spirit at athletic events has not been an overwhelming issue recently. But it can be tough to coordinate student sections for games considering all students enrolled at VWU have their own priorities and some are not going to be interested in sports.

VWU enrolls around 1,600 students yearly including graduate, undergraduate and online programs, according to the

VWU website. Of those students, 446 participate in sports of their own, just over a quarter of the population at VWU.

These factors can make it difficult to have rowdy student sections at athletic events but there is progress that can be made.

One idea that could help is establishing a student-run Instagram account that allows students to vote on themes for student sections at the games.

“I would definitely attend more sports events if it had a theme and Instagram story advertising it. It just makes the game

In the early stages of this process, it would be important to choose the right games to get started, such as a tough in-conference matchup on a Friday or Saturday as opposed to an early-tomidweek non-conference matchup.

This way student sections would be exposed to the best possible games to go to early on, which the student-run Instagram account could advertise.

This account could be run by multiple

Eli Casey & Emilie Dajc. Edited by Sydnee Washington|Marlin Chronicle

Men’s Lacrosse competes against Shenandoah University on March 28 and Hampden-Sydney on April 16. The team fell short in both games.

Johnson

SportS

Field hockey stunned by coaching loss

BY CASTON CHRISTMAN cbchristman@vwu.edu

Field hockey head coach Ryley van der Velde has stepped down from coaching at VWU four months before the start of the 2025 fall season. This is a huge loss, as the team improved considerably under van der Velde. During her four years here as head coach, she produced six players receiving all-ODAC selections and an overall record of 22-30-1. In the 2024 season, she led the team to their best record since 2005 (12-5),

students and athletes who can get their teammates to show up to other athletic events. Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Andrea HooverErbig believes that the idea has some potential.

“I would be interested to see if that could work. We already put our gameday graphics out on our Marlin athletics pages, but it’s more kind of marketing the team and the game time and not as much the spectator involvement,” Hoover said.

Hoover discussed past ideas such as tailgates and competitions at events but believes that word-of-mouth might be the most important.

“I also think people need to just personally invite people and just make them aware of it to get them out there,” Hoover said.

Director of Student Engagement

Jennifer Cohen has worked on bringing more people out to the games, starting with basketball, creating the Marlin Madness tournament last year to kick off the season.

earning the program its first invitation to the ECAC Tournament.

To the players, the coaching change was a complete surprise, especially after the historic season they just had. “She said she had a four year plan for the freshmen, so we were expecting her to be here for at least four more years,” freshman field hockey player Makenzie Short said.

While she was here, she formed impactful, tight-knit bonds with her players, according to freshman Isabelle

Rogers. “I wanted to play for her. She was one of the closest coaches I’ve ever had, and one of the best ones I’ve ever had. If I ever did something wrong, I thought I was letting her down,” Rogers said.

The coaching loss came after van der Velde decided to take the head coach position at Connecticut College, a Division 3 school in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) where she played goalie for all four of her undergraduate years. She was also the team captain for them during her junior and senior years.

“She said she had a four-year plan for the freshmen, so we were expecting her to be here at least four more years.”

Freshman

Mackenzie Short

VWU hired a new head coach shortly after van der Velde announced her departure. The new head coach is Baylor Baxley, who previously was an assistant coach for one season at Hood College,

where she also played in her undergraduate years and served as team captain for two years before graduating in 2023. Along with her coaching at Hood College, she also coaches Maryland Legacy Field Hockey Club and the Metro Field Hockey Club, specializing in athlete development ranging from U10 to U19.

Baxley spoke about her goals with the Marlin team. “I plan to continue building the team upon the past successes, and taking this program to new heights including an ODAC championship,” Baxley said.

Even though the players expressed sadness about van der Velde leaving the team, they are all ready for the new coach and what they can learn from her to get better.

“Everyone was pretty sad when she said she was leaving, but we all seemed like now that it’s happened, we all seem a little bit better and more excited to take on the new head coach,” Short said. “I haven’t met her yet, but when I talked to her over the phone, she seemed really nice, and she seemed like she was trying to keep everything the same and get better. So I’m excited.”

The team plans to sustain the winning culture developed by van der Velde and improve themselves every chance they get, in hopes of adding their first ODAC championship to their belt under the leadership of their new head coach Baxley.

“We identified several games for basketball this past season to do themed games and we were working on a student section,” Cohen said.

Basketball did have a couple of games with a good student turnout this season, and it helps with how good they have been in the last couple of seasons.

Cohen expressed optimism about the possibility of pairing teams together that are not in the same season to support each other, such as baseball supporting basketball and the other way around.

“I think there’s chances there, but I think anything that is student-led is going to encourage other students to participate,”

Cohen said. Without the motivation of students these ideas will not work, but there is definitely progress that can be made in increasing school spirit at athletic events. If you have any ideas, feel free to send me an email at clcamiscioli@vwu.edu.

SportsHead|An ode to Ovechkin

Greatness may be elusive, but it is not unattainable. In hockey, this is displayed in the likeness of nicknames. There are two most notable: Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky, and Alexander “The Great Eight” Ovechkin. These two have much more in common than the name. They sit together atop an unclimbable mountain. This mountain is known as the NHL alltime goals record. For what seemed like forever, Wayne Gretzky sat alone, with 894 goals across his 21 year career. Seemingly unbreakable,

that record stood for 27 years. Then, one cloudy Sunday night in Long Island, Ovechkin etched his name into eternity. Ovechkin eclipsed the record and notched his 895th goal during his 1,487th game. Coincidentally enough, that is the exact same amount of games it took Gretzky to set his record.

While Ovechkin is entering the playoffs in his 20th season, he has cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever play puck. He brought the Washington Capitals their first and only Stanley Cup Championship, received three Ted Lindsay Awards for the NHL’s most outstanding player and won nine Maurice Richard Trophies for the NHL’s leading goal scorer.

These accomplishments are telling, but lack volume. There is only so much sustenance behind statistics and awards. Ovechkin’s impact on Washington, D.C. and the NHL as a whole has been nothing short of revolutionary.

A once brash and arrogant young hotshot, Ovechkin entered the league at 19 years old as the first overall draft pick of the 2004-05 season. This season was never played out due to a league-wide strike, so his first action came in the 2005-06 season when he went on to win the Calder Trophy for the NHL’s best rookie. Immediately, Ovechkin’s presence was felt on and off the ice. His unwavering and infectious energy, accompanied with unmatched talent made him a force to be reckoned with. This, paired with his larger-than-life persona, instantly turned him into a fan favorite.

What made Ovechkin’s rise to the top awe-inducing was his ability to unite delicate finesse with raw power. His slap shot became a thing of legend, and his one-timer was devastating. It wasn’t just his play on the ice that set him apart. Ovechkin brought a flair and personality to the game that was not seen in the mundane yet historic tale of hockey past. He quickly became the face of hockey, and his passion for the game was infectious. It was as if every goal scored, every victory shared, was another paragraph in a story of a player who cared deeply about his craft and his team.

In the years following his rookie season, Ovechkin developed into a player who had it all; speed, power, vision and an uncanny ability to score from virtually anywhere on the ice. While some players relied on their teammates for support, Ovechkin was notorious for doing it himself. His ability to carry the weight of the Capitals on his shoulders through tough stretches helped define his career and cement his legacy. His unwavering commitment to the game, his loyalty to his team and his passion for winning fueled him to reach new levels.

Off the ice, Ovechkin’s impact on the culture of hockey and Washington, D.C., cannot be understated. While many viewed him as a foreigner, Ovechkin quickly found his home in the nation’s capital.

His relationship with the city’s passionate fanbase grew with every goal, and soon, the Capitals were no longer a team that merely filled a hockey arena. They were

a symbol of hope for a city that had long yearned for athletic dominance.

Then, of course, there was the Stanley Cup. Ovechkin’s greatest triumph, and arguably the defining moment of his career, came in 2018 when he finally led the Capitals to their championship run.

It was a culmination of years of frustration and close calls, but the gritty veteran proved that perseverance pays off. It was not just a win for the Capitals, but for the entire city of Washington, D.C., who had waited decades for a title of their own. Now, as he nears the dusk of his career, Ovechkin remains a beloved figure both within the NHL and internationally. His legacy is not only one of greatness but one of transcending the sport. He has become a global ambassador for hockey, bringing attention to the game in regions that had previously been overlooked. Whether it was the way he made Russia proud or the way he carried the hopes of Washington, D.C., Ovechkin’s journey has shown that greatness, while elusive, is always attainable through dedication, passion and perseverance. As Ovechkin continues to break records and rewrite history, he will always be remembered not just for the goals and accolades, but for the way he redefined what it means to be great. His story is a reminder that greatness isn’t just about being the best, it’s about changing the game and inspiring generations to come.

James Hill|Courtesy

Field hockey celebrates overtime win against St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle

Mars Johnson|Marlin Chronicle

A cold day, a warm community

Earth Day EcoDistrict Extravaganza celebrates local environmental action.

REVIEW

BY AMALIA HOUFF

aehouff@vwu.edu

It may have been a cold and gray Saturday along Knitting Mill Creek, but the energy radiating from the Earth Day EcoDistrict Extravaganza warmed the hearts of every visitor who passed through the vibrant Ryan Resilience Lab. Hosted by the Elizabeth River Project (ERP), the free event brought together local families, community partners, environmental advocates and curious newcomers to celebrate Earth Day through crafts, education and grassroots environmental action. Despite the overcast sky, the whimsy of pelican hats, vibrant coloring sheets and the hum of excited conversations lit up the Resilience Lab like spring sunlight.

Nestled between Park Place and Highland Park in Norfolk, the EcoDistrict is a unique, community-driven initiative focused on the health of the environment.

“This is the day that we created to highlight all of the environmental actions that are taking place along the north corridor,” Jamie Melvin, Engagement and EcoDistrict manager with the Elizabeth River Project, said. Attendees could take guided tours of the stunning Ryan Resilience Lab, a building designed to model sustainable adaptation for sea level rise and climate change. The indoor River Room showcased “Edge Effect Art Exhibition,” a striking space for environmental art featuring photographs by Jerome Ellis. Attendees were encouraged to create their own Edge Effect hourglasses, commenting on what they think is necessary to survive this climate moment.

At education tables sprawled throughout the lab, kids and adults alike joined in coloring in native Chesapeake Bay species and learning about environmental initiatives like bird-safe window film and dark sky lighting.

Pam Northam, former First Lady of Virginia and an enthusiastic advocate for environmental education, spent the afternoon engaging with the youngest guests, answering their questions and cheering on their creativity. But the crafts weren’t just for kids — young adults, seniors and everyone in between took home

handmade keepsakes and newfound knowledge.

“We want to energize the community to participate in environmental action, but in a way that’s approachable,” Melvin said. “There’s going to be a big emphasis inside on talking about the efforts you are already doing… like turning off your lights when you leave the house. That’s directly benefiting the environment.”

Outside, there were real examples of oyster castles and native shoreline gardens — key tools in the effort to restore the Elizabeth River ecosystem.

“It’s super cool to come through this and listen to them talk about how [the building] was built for rising sea level and how we practice what we preach,” Mandi Pesha, a 2024 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan University and the ERP’s River Star Communications specialist, said. “You come out here, you learn about rain gardens, you learn about shorelines, oyster recruitment—everything that has helped this river become so healthy.”

Pesha first encountered the Elizabeth River Project through a class at Virginia Wesleyan University, and she’s been hooked ever since. “After volunteering on a shoreline, I was like, oh my gosh, that was so cool,” she said. “I want to be a part of this.”

At the event, Pesha helped educate homeowners about the River Star Homes program, a free initiative where homeowners pledge to follow seven simple steps to

gardening demos in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to sign-ups for Otter Spotter and Chesapeake Water Watch, the event offered a little something for everyone. “This event is so great because it’s partnering with the EcoDistrict,” Pesha said. “It’s all about people coming from the same community to preach about the same messages.”

Beyond the education and festivities, the Ryan Resilience Lab itself stood as a testament to the EcoDistrict’s core values—resilience, innovation and community empowerment. Designed with living shorelines, permeable pavement, rain gardens, barrels and a green roof, the Lab doesn’t just teach sustainability, it embodies it. The EcoDistrict continues to evolve with input from residents, aiming to create a more environmentally responsible neighborhood. Local businesses like the Starving Artist Cafe, Lady Ferns Native Plants, Aardvark Glass Gallery and Colley Ave Tattoo highlight the EcoDistrict’s presence in not only food/drink, but also retail, art other options for the community, proving that environmental engagement and economic vitality can go hand in hand.

Perhaps the most inspiring message of the event was the reminder that science and sustainability aren’t confined to labs or lecture halls — they live in our businesses, our neighborhoods, our shorelines and the playful joy of a child (or even an adult!) in a pelican hat. “There are people who

THE DOME

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Requizo, like many other locals, sees the new venue as a double-edged sword.

“The Dome will get more attention because of the bigger artists, which means more people. But places like Elevation 27 and The NorVa still shine when it comes to underground music that people love,” Requizo said.

That tension between excitement and concern is echoed by others. Susan Bradley, a longtime 757 resident, is cautiously optimistic.

“My initial reaction was excitement. The variety of activities will draw people of all ages,” Bradley said. However, she raised concerns about cost. “It depends on ticket and concession prices. I stopped going to the amphitheater because it got too expensive.”

For Corbin Slaughter, who lives near the Oceanfront, the project raises concerns about accessibility and identity.

“The season passes are extremely expensive,” Slaughter said. “It’ll attract rich tourists but doesn’t cater to the local community.”

“Feels like they’re trying to turn VB into something it’s not.”

Corbin Slaughter

“I would have preferred local bar and restaurant owners expand into The Dome instead of boutique shops,” Slaughter said. “Feels like they’re trying to turn VB into something it’s not.”

Another major concern is traffic and parking – already a challenge near the Oceanfront, especially during summer. Unlike the new Norfolk casino, built next to the Amtrak station with transportation in mind, The Dome is relying on its two new parking garages.

Virginia Wesleyan History professor Sara Sewell, a Wisconsin native, is excited about what the venue brings to the area. She said that growing up, “Wisconsin is not on anybody’s tour schedule.” Still, Sewell questioned the logistics: “have they increased the parking spots enough to make this work?” Sewell said. “My experience is they don’t really have the capacity

for parking.”

It’s a concern echoed by Requizo, who said, “many of my friends raised the question on how parking will be since the Virginia Beach Oceanfront has horrible parking.”

Slaughter, who lives near the venue, said, “traffic is always terrible down here in the summer. It’ll probably make it a little worse, but I’m not sure how much worse it can get.”

Other concerns arose around parking and transportation, with some Virginia Beach locals questioning whether it will be safe for people to commute after drinking. Even among those excited for the venue’s arrival, traffic and accessibility remain a sticking point. As thousands are expected to flock to The Dome for concerts and events, the true test may not be who headlines, but how easy it is to find a place to park.

For some residents, the changes surrounding The Dome reflect concern about the direction Virginia Beach is heading. While Atlantic Park is poised to attract tourism and boost the city’s economy, it’s prompting questions about authenticity. Oceanfront residents like Slaughter worry that the development’s upscale aesthetic might wash away the city’s distinct local character.

“People go to beach towns for the local feel, not some first-class resort,” Slaughter said. “Feels very out of touch with the local community.”

That sense of displacement, cultural and economic, is something many locals are already bracing for. With luxury apartments, boutique shops and high-end dining set to surround The Dome, there’s fear that the area could become less accessible to the people who call it home.

Requizo sees the new venue as a space with potential for connection but also competition.

“Even with a brand new venue, it opens a door for me and others to meet musicians,” Requizo said. “That kind of connection matters.” Still, he hopes the focus won’t shift too far from the community that supported the music scene long before The Dome’s return.

As the grand opening nears, The Dome stands as both a tribute to the past and a symbol of the future. Whether it becomes a hub for community and creativity or a sleek enclave for out-of-town visitors, one thing is certain: more music is coming and with it, a new chapter in Virginia Beach’s story.

Amalia Houff|Marlin Chronicle

VB Cherry Blossom Festival

“I was a big fan of anime

BY DUDA BERNARDO

There’s no need to go all the way to D.C. to experience the warmth of a Cherry Blossom Festival. The City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation department hosted its annual Cherry Blossom Festival on the weekends of March 29-30 and April 5-6 at Red Wing Park.

From families pushing their strollers to friends having a picnic, the festival brings everyone together to stop and connect with the surrounding nature. Walking around, visitors can find people with dogs, food, balls, picnic blankets, roller skates and even beach chairs.

Many police officers on the road redirect traffic as visitors enter the park. There is an accessible parking lot in the front and general parking in the back.

To get to the festival from the parking lot, visitors get to walk under the Cherry Blossom Tree path or along the sidewalk if they need accessibility. Many visitors stop on the path to hang out, take pictures or sit down to relax under the trees.

Attending the festival right when it starts is a good tip, as the cherry blossoms’ peak bloom typically only lasts up to two weeks before the trees turn green.

Luna Zaragoza Mendoza, a high school senior, had a picnic with her friends under the trees. They brought blankets, a soccer ball and donuts to spend the afternoon.

Mendoza’s picnic was reminiscent of “Hanami,” a Japanese tradition where people picnic under cherry blossom trees to celebrate spring.

Mendoza said she attended the festival for the past five years.

Mendoza said.

Colorful flags guide the visitor’s way to the festival’s main attractions, giving an extra glimpse of color to the festival.

Walking down the path, the music gets louder. On the big lawn, there is an information table in the center, coffee and food trucks all around, a big center stage with the festival logo and different Japanese-themed booths.

The festival celebrates the goodwill and friendship between

the City of Virginia Beach and its sister city Miyazaki in Japan. It features programs that promote the rich culture and beauty of Japanese music and art.

Elizabeth Kemper, event manager for Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, has been running the festival for two years. Kemper said they bring in cultural performances and vendors for the event.

“We host different activities that are related to the Japanese culture,” Kemper said. Tea serving and a traditional Asian game called “Mahjong” are just a few examples.

The festival also celebrates the 150 Okame Cherry trees located at Red Wing Park. Kemper said the trees were donated by their sister city, Miyasaki, together with the Japanese Garden also located in the park.

“I used to go to the Cherry Blossom Festival when I lived in the D.C. area, and I just love cherry blossom trees. I think they’re beautiful,” Sarah deRosa,

Virginia Wesleyan’s Research and Electronic Resources librarian, said. She visited the festival for the first time this year.

“With the Japanese garden, you can kind of immerse yourself in the nature and the feel of how would probably be if you were actually in Japan,” deRosa said.

Donated in 1997, the Japanese Garden is meant to create a serene environment full of calmness.

“There’s a Haniwa, which is a terracotta, a very sacred doll in Japan. And then there’s an Azumaya, it’s a tea house. The red bridge is very iconic in the Japanese culture as well,” Kemper said.

Entering the garden, visitors get to experience Japanese culture while they connect with nature.

Barley Tea was served in the Azumaya for guests to enjoy as they walked through the garden. Entertainment included interactive activities in the booths, martial arts demonstrations and Radio Taso a short and gentle Japanese exercise routine.

At the booths, visitors could have their names written in Japanese on a bookmark, fold their own origami or learn how to write their names in Japanese.

This year’s edition also featured a Taiko Drum performance, which has not happened since 2019. The performance was by Triangle Taiko, an all volunteer Traditional Japanese Drumming group from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Mendoza visited the festival the week before with her family. “I brought my brother here last week and his cousin, and they were able to take in some of the activities for the kids. They were able to make some beautiful bracelets, grab a book from the library, color, all that fun stuff,” Mendoza said.

Josiah Huff, Mendoza’s friend, attended the festival for the first time this year. “I’d say the beauty is 10 out of 10. You love to see it, especially being in Virginia as another local,” Huff said. He said that Virginia has plenty of great spots, and if you know where to go, you can find the perfect place to enjoy the day. Originally from the D.C. area, deRosa said she prefers the Virginia Beach festival as it allows for a deeper connection with nature being in a state park instead of the middle of the city.

“They actually have a full Japanese garden there that you can walk through as well, so it’s a much nicer atmosphere,” deRosa said.

The Miyazaki Japanese Garden is open all year around, so there is always the opportunity to learn a little more about the Japanese culture here in Virginia Beach.

Even though the park is about 40 minutes away from campus, this annual festival is a fun way to connect with nature, learn about a different culture and spend time with your friends and family.

Whether you’re a fan of Japanese culture or want to enjoy the beauty around you, the Cherry Blossom Festival offers a reminder that a connection between culture and community can be found a short drive away, no passport or tolls required.

Find Samoan authenticity at Apelu Island Cafe

BY BRIAN MADDEN

Just 15 minutes away from campus, Apelu Island Cafe takes you across the world to the Southern Pacific and has the caffeine fix a college student might be looking for. Whether you need to study or start your day with some caffeine, Apelu Island Cafe has that and much more. This cafe is not just another walk in. They provide a bit of a different experience compared to normal cafes. Enriched with Samoan culture the cafe offers refreshing drinks as well as baked goods and other foods. When you walk in, you become immersed in a little piece of Samoan culture.

Founded by a family with Samoan roots,

the cafe was built with hard work and determination. They chose the opportunity to bring a little bit of their Samoan culture and share it with all of us in Norfolk, Virginia where the family lives and learns, as they have two students currently attending Virginia Wesleyan University. All of the wallpaper and decorations were Samoan and Polynesian themed, accompanied by tropical plants and patterns.

This cafe is a little piece of home for the owners, transformed into a quiet but busy cafe.

“My family has always been deeply rooted in our culture and established Apelu Island Cafe as a way to bring the island of Samoa to Virginia,” VWU junior Aviana Medina, whose family owns the cafe, said.

“My mom and her sisters came up with the idea of starting a family business, but my entire family, including my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and siblings came together to help bring their ideas to life,” Medina said.

The cafe gives a welcoming and friendly vibe when you enter along with the amazing decorations. It has the modern cafe vibe that younger, college-age students look for while maintaining a Samoan theme. The music in the background also helps with the ambiance and really creates the Southern Pacific vibe. The lit up signs, plant walls and handmade artifacts make it a great place to hang out.

Other than the decorations and music, the menu sets the Apelu Island Cafe. All of the foods, drinks and their names are a nod to Samoan culture. Their coffee types are Island, their medium roast, and Samoan, their dark roast. The energy drinks they provide are labeled Tsunami Energy with names like The Pacific, Volcanic Ash and Coastline.

Other than coffee and energy drinks they provide matcha and chai, frappes, refreshers, smoothies and lemonades. Signature drinks, such as the Apelu Island Latte are made with taro, a starchy root vegetable popular in Samoan cuisine. It has a slightly sweet and creamy flavor, with a purple hue that makes it enjoyable to get and instagram photo worthy as well. Their food options range from quick snacks or baked goods to full breakfasts and lunches. Their Spam Musubi, which is grilled spam with seasoned rice and a seaweed wrap is a favorite among customers as well as a popular snack in Polynesia. Like the latte, their Taro Cupcakes have the same sweet and creamy flavor with the beautiful purple hue. They also have pimento cheese bagels and fresh baked pastries with tropical twists like coconut cream or mango jam. They offer vegan friendly milks and gluten free snacks so everyone can enjoy.

The cafe also sells some unique accessories such as Samoan-themed

bracelets, earrings and necklaces. While they are a place with Samoan culture and background, they fully embrace the Norfolk community. They frequently host pop ups or local artists. With the strong connection to the community, students, professionals and cafe enjoyers all come to enjoy the little piece of Samoan culture as well as their delicious baked goods, food and caffeinated drinks. Located on Little Creek Road, this short drive from Virginia Wesleyan is worth it. Next time you want to get coffee or want to feel like you are somewhere else, consider visiting Apelu Island Cafe at 1710 E Little

Creek Rd. #104.

Brian Madden|Marlin Chronicle One of Apelu’s many fun iced drinks.

Landon Crooks|Marlin Chronicle

Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle

TOP LEFT: Cherry blossom trees bask Red Wing Park in a dreamy pink hue. TOP RIGHT: Triangle Taiko performs Taiko Drum at the festival. BOTTOM LEFT Kemper (second from left) with Virginia Wesleyan’s Class of 2008 Alumni Terrance Branch (first from right) and event staff stand smiling at the festival. BOTTOM RIGHT: Japanese and American Student Association (JASA) and visitors share traditional Japanese activities.

Aviana Medina|Courtesy A look inside Apelu Island Cafe, featuring Samoan and Polynesian decor.

Mars Johnson |Marlin Chronicle