The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 11.12.26 | MARLINCHRONICLE.BATTEN.EDU
BATTEN UNIVERSITY
Research explores milkweed Senior Emily Vega investigates herbivores’ effects on plant gene expression.
BY ELLIOT FYLSTRA EARTH & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR egfylstra@batten.edu
James Hill|Courtesy The Women’s Golf team celebrate their win at the Anita Hobson Invitational in Portsmouth, VA on Sept. 29.
Women’s Golf shines Team wins two out of four tournaments in fall season.
BY MATTHEW SMITH STAFF WRITER mjsmith3@batten.edu
Throughout four invitational events in the fall, the Women’s Golf team placed no lower than 5th in highly competitive fields. The team took home two tournament wins this fall at both the Shenandoah Invitational (Sep. 12-13) and Anita Hobson Invitational (Sep. 28-29). These tournament wins occurred just
two weeks apart from each other. “This year we have the best team we’ve ever had, and we’d like to use that to our advantage,” senior Juliette Coffey said. Kaleigh Dean, a senior on the golf team, said in reference to the team’s consistency, “I think as a team we have all been very intentional with our practicing and have been working most on the areas that needed the most
improvement.” Even in the tournaments they did not end up winning, they finished third and fifth, respectively. “We also have a lot of new resources this year on campus to help us improve. Our on-campus wedge range and putting green have been crucial,” Dean said. Through rigorous training, the team competed at its highest level this year, playing some of the best golf they have in the past few seasons.
Although old faces have been a big part of the success, young talent has been integral to the team’s performance this year. “Overall, I think we have grown very well as a team in the last few years, and this year brought in good freshman talent to help round out our team and make us more competitive,” Dean said.
See GOLF Page 7
Oil prices strain Students report financial stress following recordbreaking fuel prices.
BY CLAUDIA SZMYD STAFF WRITER cszmyd@batten.edu
Rising global oil prices are increasing transportation costs and putting financial pressure on Americans, including college students who rely on their vehicles to commute to campus. According to The Hill, gas prices reached record heights on Nov. 3 at an average of $4.11 per gallon. According to CBS news, following this peak gas prices are expected to gradually decrease, with the most recent national average being $3.98 per gallon. According to the U.S. Congress, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a result of the war in Iran, has disrupted the global oil supply, because the Strait serves as a vital shipping lane carrying roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply and significant liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. This disruption has resulted in a bidding
war between importing nations for the remaining supplies. Dr. Garrett Wood, assistant professor of management, business and economics, said global demand for oil remains strong as prices increase. “And if we want that oil for ourselves, we have to match or exceed the bid,” Wood said. According to Yahoo Finance, oil prices can spike gasoline prices, making every type of transportation more expensive. Every time a product or good is being shipped, domestically or overseas, the cost of delivery and transportation will be inflated. “Gas prices have a unique effect in the economy; that way of just pushing prices in general up,” Wood said. The local community feels the effects of higher prices in their everyday lives. Jadalynn Cantu, a commuter student, said gas prices have affected her studies, causing her to miss classes. “I’ve always been a good student since I came to the university, but now I’m just trying to survive the basic needs,” Cantu said.
Cantu said that outside of school she used to be able to provide rides for friends and do things that interest her, but now that has all changed.
See OIL PRICES Page 3
INSIDE
Mia Diehl|Marlin Chronicle
Insects and plants have complex relationships. Plants are able to react to herbivores, signaling intricate chemical defenses to protect themselves after an insect starts feeding. Different chemical cues are used to attract the pollinators needed for plant reproduction. Research done by senior Emily Vega, a biology and English major, investigated how changes in gene expression in milkweed is affected by herbivores. “The hypothesis is that we find differences just based on the fact that they’re exposed to different insects in different environments, whether in the mountains or in the coastal region or Piedmont,” Dr. Eric Johnson, professor of biology and adviser for the project, said. The project started over J-term, where students explored cloning milkweed genes. “The original goal was to have an experimental system where we could teach classes that involved both expressing the protein and seeing how proteins work, but also looking at gene expression and when they’re making different types of RNA,” Johnson said. Gene expression starts with DNA. DNA contains information on how to build the proteins that delineate cell function. DNA cannot send the instructions out to the cell, so RNA acts as a messenger. This process is called transcription. When transcription of a gene is active, gene expression rises. Plants can quickly adapt to changes in herbivoration and pollination, Johnson said. Insects can pressure plants to change the chemicals they are producing, which plants manage by changing gene expression. These chemicals can be used for attracting pollinators or for defense. Milkweed is a group of flowers native to North America. They have a toxic sap that is used to deter herbivores, but specialist species like the monarch butterfly are able to resist and accumulate the toxins. Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed as their sole host species to lay eggs and for larvae to eat, senior Jaylin Diggs, a biology major and garden guide at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, said. Other insect groups also have milkweed specialists, such as the milkweed beetle. However, the herbivores’ ability to resist milkweed toxins means the milkweed’s leaves are highly damaged by larvae and adults. Eric Johnson|Courtesy
See MILKWEED Page 4
Cornell 7 lawsuit
Breanna Williams-Martins
Timbaland’s CreatorVerse
Rape allegations generate conversation surrounding sexual violence.
Nigerian Honors College student strives for success.
Event brings campus and community together to explore creativity.
NEWS - PAGE 3
COMMUNITY - PAGE 5
COMMUNITY - PAGE 6
Sports unknown
Lindsay Clancy
Norfolk nightlife
Caston Christman deep dives into the history of rock climbing.
Grace Whitt discusses the intersection of mental health and judicial processes.
MJ Matthews shares a curated list of the best nightlife venues.
OPINIONS - PAGE 10
WEEKENDER - PAGE 11
SPORTS - PAGE 9
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
News e
nicl e|Marlin Chro
stin McKenna Howen
The term ‘banned books’ emblazons the banners of the nightly news, with reporters pointing to popular books like 1984 and To Kill a Mockingbird. With many banned books so widely accessible, what does this term really mean? BY AIDEN CROGHAN MANAGING EDITOR
accroghan@batten.edu
There is no uniformly accepted definition of a banned book. However, many organizations that advocate against book bans, like the American Library Association (ALA), focus specifically on books that are banned or censored in public or academic libraries and curriculums. Access to books are usually restricted due to perceived inappropriate or offensive content. Dr. Sara Ryan, assistant professor of English, defines banned books as “any book that its distribution or its access is being restricted at any level.” For this restriction to happen, a book must first be challenged to a library, school board or legislature. According to the ALA, in 2025, 92% of these challenges come from politicians, school boards and pressure groups, not from concerned parents, students and readers. In 2005, however, only 6% of these challenges came from politicians or pressure groups. There were a total of 8,596 titles challenged last year according to the ALA, with 66% of them being banned in the place that they’re being challenged. “Usually it happens at the level of a school, community or county. It’s not usually widespread,” Ryan said. “However, just doing it at one school, then it spreads to other schools.” Devin Ortiz-Hoffman, outreach and access services librarian, presented a similar view on how to define a banned book. “They’ve come to be books that a person or a small group of people have decided should no longer be on shelves for one reason or another,” Ortiz-Hoffman said. “Generally speaking, they tend to target underrepresented communities.” In 2025, Texas and Florida led the nation in the number of challenged books, with Florida challenging 3,711 titles, and Texas challenging 1,026, per ALA data. According to the same data, 593 titles were challenged in Virginia in 2025. Ryan, a Texas Tech alumna, has seen censorship affect the material that her previous colleagues are allowed to teach. “They write up a syllabus ... and they submit it to a program that uses AI to detect what they think is potentially breaking the rules ... especially gender, race and identity,” Ryan said. “They dissolved their women, gender and sexuality studies department. It’s crazy, I had some friends who got their PhDs through that program and
it just no longer exists.” Ryan said that students are also required to submit their work through a similar process. This program looks for material related to gender, race and identity according to Ryan. According to NPR, Texas Tech’s censorship of books and course materials began in 2023, when Senate Bill 17 prohibited universities from having diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices. “Banned books tend to target marginalized communities and their members, and I think people in trying to adapt and accept these new rules on DEI and whether you can say it or not, or include it or not, has people questioning; ‘can I have this book in here?’” Ortiz-Hoffman said. Ryan said the increase of book bans indicates a growing literacy crisis in the country. “I think there’s this kind of group-think that’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve read these bullet points on the internet about what’s wrong with this book, therefore I’m going to protest it.’ But they haven’t read it and if they did try to read it, I don’t know that they’d be able to put aside any viewpoint they had before they read it,” Ryan said. Both Ryan and Ortiz-Hoffman encouraged readers to read banned books and continue developing their literacy skills.
Increased costs hit Virginia students BY DANI YOST STAFF WRITER
cdyost@batten.edu College tuition has been rising across the nation, including in Virginia, with many institutions taking steps to make it more affordable. “The rising cost of higher education is a concern for students and families across the country,” said Beth Koroleski, who works in Batten University’s Financial Aid Office. Virginia universities’ total cost has increased 3.9% since the 2025-2026 school year according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). These increases have also affected other costs such as housing. This is not something that just worries current college students but also the younger generation. “It’s going to keep
getting harder for families who can’t make enough to keep up with payments, like mine,” Johnae Collins, a senior at Bayside High School said, citing concerns such as bills, rent and employment. According to Urban Institute’s American Affordability Tracker, 49% of American families can not afford the essential expenses of everyday life. “I’m lucky with help. I’m more worried about my friends, loved ones and future kids,” said Abigail Wigginton, a student expected to graduate in 2029. Batten’s Financial Aid department strives to understand the situations that students are in and help them afford to seek higher education, Koroleski said. The tuition for the 2026-2027 school year at Batten is $38,776, broken into $19,388 a semester.
When it comes to tuition, Koroleski said it is important to remember that this is not the full price you’ll be paying. Most students receive some form of aid through scholarships, grants and other programs. The average housing price for Virginia universities has increased 4.4% in the past year, according to the SCHEV. At Batten the average cost is around $11,810 for a double room and a meal plan, Koroleski said. There are other housing options available with different pricing. “Any future adjustments to housing costs would be communicated by the University as part of its annual tuition and fee information,” Koroleski said. This information is usually released in the spring and would also include information on tuition increases.
Batten’s website houses a breakdown of average tuition costs. Around 98% of students receive financial aid with the average package including $33,879. Some students are eligible for work study, which pays students $2,500 per semester. The Coastal Advantage Scholarship, a scholarship for commuter students, pays for all but $2,500 for your first year of college. After your first year, they pay $10,000 annually. Collins said Virginia colleges break down financial aid in a way that is easy to understand, however, it’s often difficult to navigate websites to figure out where financial aid sections are, which Collins said was not an issue in Batten’s case. “It’s easier to navigate in person than online,” Wigginton said.
“Ultimately, we want students to be able to focus on their education and their experience at Batten rather than feeling overwhelmed by financial concerns,” Koroleski said. “The Financial Aid Office is here to support students throughout their time at Batten, not just when they first enroll,” Koroleski said. Wigginton said Batten makes tuition affordable for the most part, however, there are some areas that could use some work. “It seems they give scholarships to athletes rather than to academics who have extracurriculars that aren’t sports,” Wigginton said. They do give out a huge amount of scholarships however, for visiting, filling out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, arts scholarship, and more.
Aiden Croghan|Marlin Chronicle
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Cornell lawsuit brings sexual violence into national spotlight Isela Arras: “Sexual assault is one of the only crimes in which we ask survivors to prove that a crime happened instead of investigating it.” BY MIA DIEHL NEWS EDITOR mjdiehl@batten.edu
On Sept. 16 an unidentified former Cornell student filed a lawsuit against Cornell University, news that quickly spread across the internet, sparking conversation about systemic issues surrounding sexual violence in the United States. Jane Doe alleges she was gang raped by members of the Chi Phi fraternity, Xi chapter following coercion to consume marijuana and ketamine. The alleged assault occurred Oct. 19, 2024. Doe filed a report with the police on Nov. 8. The Cornell chapter of Chi Phi was placed on temporary suspension before ultimately being banned from the campus. According to the lawsuit, Doe arrived at the fraternity house around 11 p.m., and the alleged assault lasted until approximately 5:45 a.m.
The lawsuit garnered further attention when the Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell's student newspaper, published an editorial, entitled "Cornell Won't, We Will." The newspaper’s Editorial Board criticized the way Cornell handled the allegations and publicly named the defendants for the first time. One subject of criticism was the university's decision to offer two defendants the opportunity to mitigate their conduct through essays submitted to the university. Careese Qusba, senior editor for the 144th Editorial Board at The Daily Sun, detailed the disciplinary actions in a subsequent article. “Two defendants were expelled, two defendants were suspended and issued disciplinary probations, one defendant was issued a persona non grata, and two defendants were issued no-contact orders, ‘educational modules’ and
‘reflection papers,’” Qusba wrote. Although faced with criticism for the essays, in an interview with the Daily Sun, Kyle Kimball, vice president of the university, made it clear that Cornell did not issue essay-writing as the sole consequence. According to Rainn, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S., 13% of undergraduate students, about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men, have experienced rape or sexual assault after enrolling in college. Isela Arras, executive director of the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center in Washington, N.J., said a large number of undergraduate students experience sexual violence because the ages of 18 to 24 are associated with a heightened risk. “The greatest number affected by domestic and sexual violence is about 18 to 24, and where are those 18 to 24 year olds at the
Women's March gathering over gang-rape allegations at Cornell University.
time? A lot of them are on campus,” Arras said. Title IX, which is a federal civil rights amendment included in the 1972 education amendments, requires schools to address, investigate and resolve complaints of sexual harassment, sexual violence, dating violence, stalking and quid pro quo harassment. At Batten, the Title IX policy defines prohibited sex discrimination and sexual harassment, establishes a mechanism for determining when violations have occurred and provides recourse for members of the university community whose rights have been violated. While Title IX resources felt more accessible during her first year through conversations at orientation events, senior Haley Cummins said. "I don't think it's that accessible. I think it requires finding somebody to ask, and that alone is a lot sometimes. I think a much
more accessible portal would be nice," Cummins said. Jen Cohen, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, said there are many factors that go into Title IX investigations and decisions, and because of the nature of Title IX it can become complicated. “There’s so many factors that go into it that we are looking at, and it’s very few that are cut and dry,” Cohen said. “Anytime that we are faced with questions like that, we’re going to look at the policy and refer to that.” Resources on how to file a complaint or report can be found on the Batten University website. “If you are just trying to figure out where you are and you need some resources, our confidential resources are a great place to start,” Cohen said. “I think it’s important to understand that meeting with the Title IX team does not automatically start a formal investigation until such a time that a student files a formal complaint.” Despite the existence of laws addressing sexual violence, Arras said enforcement remains a challenge. Arras said this has to do in part with how a sexual violence crime is addressed. “Sexual assault is one of the only crimes in which we ask survivors to prove that a crime happened instead of investigating it,” Arras said. Cummins said there are many students who see the Wikimedia Commons|Courtesy dangers of sexual violence but there are also people
who come forward and lie about it. “As much as I think somebody lying about a case is terrible because it can ruin somebody’s life, that doesn’t mean that any case shouldn’t be taken seriously every single time somebody brings up any form of a report of sexual violence,” Cummins said. The Cornell case has also sparked discussions about sexual and genderbased violence in society. “Gender-based violence is all embedded into our way of life. It's not just a few years ago. It's from the beginning of our existence,” Arras said. While the allegations at Cornell University remain under investigation, the case has brought renewed attention to conversations surrounding rape culture, sexual violence and institutional accountability in society.
OIL PRICES CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “Usually, I take my friends home, but now I can't just because I need my gas to last me from work, school and home,” Cantu said. Commuter student and senior Bella Payne said although her commute isn’t far, she feels the prices from the commute to school are adding up over time. “I have had to run my car to empty just to hope I can get to pay day without breaking down on the road,” Payne said. According to World Socialists, independent truck drivers, smaller truck companies and community residents have begun protests across the nation for lower gas prices. Notably residents in Warren, Michigan, held localized antiadministration and economic protests in April 2026. Virginia House Republicans urged Governor Abigail Spanberger to freeze the state gas tax, according to 13 News Now. Protests in Scranton, Pennsylvania run with the slogan “Gaslit at the Gas Pump,” to describe protesters feeling deceived about the true reasoning behind the rising gas prices. Protesters are calling for greater federal accountability and responsibility for financial hardships placed on families, according to Fox 56 news. According to The Independent, many criticize President Donald Trump, claiming gas prices under his presidency are the
Gas prices at the Wawa located on Northhampton Blvd. Virginia Beach, VA. highest they have ever experienced. Wood said high prices cause people to protest, but ideally they should know what is causing the price inflation. “Nobody likes high prices,” Wood said. Gas prices played a key role in how citizens voted this midterm election. According to the Guardian, Texas, a historically red state, has leaned more democratically due to the high gas prices under Trump. Trump supporters have said that
the war with Iran causing high gas prices is a small price to pay. According to Fox News, supporters would rather look to the future and pay these gas prices now if it means keeping Iran away from obtaining a nuclear weapon. As of today the Iran war is ongoing. The Russia-Ukraine war also has long-standing effects on the global oil market. Wood said both have increased prices due to the disruption of supply. “So long as both of these wars are
Mckenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle ongoing, then I would expect continued high prices,” Wood said. The Democrats won both the House and Senate during the midterm election. The newly elected members of Congress will be sworn in in January. According to NPR, a unified Democratic Congress can write resolutions, make escalation of the war more costly and urge the Trump Administration to end the war in Iran.
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Earth & Environment
MILKWEED CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 One indirect defense the milkweed has are terpenes, Johnson said. Milkweed releases terpenes into the air, and parasitoid insects can sense the terpenes and locate their prey. The plant is cued to produce these chemicals after insects begin feeding, and the pathway to change the gene expression of these defenses is initiated by a chemical called jasmonic acid. Before quantifying how gene expression evolved from insect selection pressure, the base level expression of the genes had to be measured. Vega measured expression of several genes over the summer, comparing plant tissue that had been treated with jasmonic acid representing herbivore damage and non-treated tissue.
Vega used an intensive process called quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to measure gene expression levels. The technique requires several steps of extracting RNA and converting it into a measurable form, and any mistakes meant having to redo the entire process. “So just a lot of trial and error. But trial and error with only being able to do so much because we could only make so much cDNA, we could only make so much to go in the PCR machine,” Vega said. Materials were limited for this project, so only a certain amount of replicates could be completed for each trial. Outside interference affected the project. “There were so many times there was no power, so we actually started in Greer,” Vega said. “I started sometime in July, and then August. So, I was in the lab every day, but we could only get this piece done.” The results only showed significant expression in one gene, an unexpected result for the researchers. “If the gene shows weak expression,
Eric Johnson|Courtesy A flowering swamp milkweed from Dr. Johnson's personal garden.
Emily Vega|Courtesy A gel showing the amplification of targeted genes. "Lanes 2-5 is primer pair 889/890 (B), lanes 5-9 is primer pair 869/870 (C), lanes 10-13 is primer pair 891/892 (D)," Vega said. then I'm concerned that the jasmonate treatments themselves were insufficient,” Johnson said. “Or maybe the terpenes aren't that important in the herbivore response, or maybe jasmonate's not involved like we think it is.” Further repeat testing will need to be done, Johnson said. Leaves that have been eaten by different herbivores will also be tested. This project is part of a larger question on how milkweed populations differ due to location and insects. Future research will focus on genes controlling floral scent, changes to chemicals throughout flowering and regional differences. “The idea is to have these bite-sized projects. So this herbivore and gene expression component, I see as one isolated project. I'm hoping it produces a paper. Then the pollinator component is another one, and then after that we do the populations,” Johnson said. By defining how milkweed genes change in reaction to herbivore pressures, researchers will better understand the relationship between plants and herbivores.
Emily Vega|Courtesy Vega commuted to Batten several times a week over the summer to prepare samples.
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle
New professors make waves Spotlight on Dr. Torpor. Spotlight on Dr. Haile. BY ELLIOT FYLSTRA EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT EDITOR egfylstra@batten.edu
The biology department welcomed Dr. Zachary Torpor last year as an assistant professor in marine biology. Torpor teaches Marine Invertebrate Zoology, Diversity of Life and Conservation Biology. “My classroom is all out and about, and it is 10 minutes to the beach. I want to bring you guys out, look at the beach, look at marshes, look at docks, look at the eastern shore,” Torpor said. Classes are focused on how the topics and organisms discussed in class connect in real ecosystems, Torpor said. He aims to include several field trips and guest speakers to allow for a broad range of perspectives. “Looking at these tiny worlds that we often step right over or pass without seeing, that's a line that carries me,” Torpor said. Torpor studied some of the tiniest animals in the ocean, zooplankton, and investigated how their populations were affected by hurricane events at the University of Louisiana. He became fascinated with marine ecosystems as a child, watching tide pools on the beaches of Connecticut. “I would always come back with a sunburnt back because I was always bent
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle
over looking in these little pools, these small, self-sustaining, encapsulated worlds that had all these organisms and things that were living in there that just captured my imagination. And that sort of wonder just kept growing,” Torpor said. The path to studying marine ecosystems was not linear. Torpor attended University of Maine for his undergraduate in marine science. “Then I panicked and missed all the deadlines to apply for grad school, and it was the best thing that could have possibly happened for me, because instead of going to school right away, I ended up getting an internship at the … Darling Marine Center,” Torpor said. The internship investigated how young lobsters were choosing their habitat, sampling them with a suction sampler and scuba gear, Torpor said. “There's a lot of different things that you can do if you're interested in conservation or marine biology, and I want to be able to expand the possibilities for students, not just in the types of jobs that are available in this field, but also ... to see no one took a linear path to get to where they are,” Torpor said. Torpor started a Coastal Stewardship Lab, working with local nonprofits including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). The lab will focus on surveying established projects like oyster reefs to monitor their diversity and structural changes. The lab will also collaborate with the Smithsonian Marine Geo program. Data shared through the Marine Geo program can be accessed globally, meaning the Virginia projects can be compared to others from around the world, Torpor said. The Coastal Stewardship Lab is currently full, but Torpor still encourages students to reach out to discuss opportunities. “Don't let school get in the way of your education,” Torpor said. “It's okay to not know what you want to do as a junior or even as a senior. It's okay if the internship that you just thought was amazing wasn't. There's always some sort of skill that you can take from that, pivot, find a new door, meet a new person.”
BY ELLIOT FYLSTRA EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT EDITOR egfylstra@batten.edu
The Earth and environmental sciences department recently welcomed Dr. Gebremedhin Haile as an assistant professor. Haile teaches Physical Geology, Physical Hydrology and, in the future, will teach Climate Change and Resilience. Haile has studied hydrology and irrigation throughout his education, inspired by his time working in the countryside when he was young. “It just taught me a lot of the importance of water for the farmers, the importance of water for drinking, the importance of water for sanitation, hygiene and so many benefits. And when you have scarcity, you have to deal with what are going to be the solutions for that,” Haile said. At Harambee University in Ethiopia, Haile studied soil and water engineering for his undergraduate degree. He worked in agricultural research for water resources until he received a scholarship to gain his PhD at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. “My study was particularly on droughts over the East Africa region because the East Africa region is more sensitive. I studied historical droughts for East Africa, and I also projected the future drought based on the climate scenarios that we had from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” Haile said. While he’s been settling in, Haile has been working on several proposals for research involving students. Research is incredibly important for undergraduate students, both for experience for further education and to be part of a larger project, Haile said. One project would seek to connect students with local farmers to investigate water usage. “The project is going to be ‘know what you eat’: to start from the seedling preparation, from the land preparation, from the water requirement of that particular crop, also from the farming activities, from the production activities, the weeding, the pesticides, herbicides,” Haile said.
Students would grow awareness of food waste and energy use in agriculture by understanding the full process. Haile also aims to research the effect of urbanization, agriculture and climate change on global water stores. “You can find a lot of water here, but there is no water in some other parts of the world. There is some flooding in some other parts of the world. There is drought in some other parts of the world. You see, the distribution is very scarce,” Haile said. Modeling is also a focus of Haile’s work. Models are simulations of real-life systems and can be extremely useful in predicting the impacts of climate change. One use in research is relating the impact of droughts on wildfires, Haile said. These models are complex with many measurable aspects that could play a role in stoking wildfires. “We have the fire indexes, we have the drought indexes, and we can see if we can modulate the interrelations or interactions, if there is underlying networking or interactions among drought and wildfire occurrences at some point,” Haile said. Haile appreciated how welcoming and helpful the department has been during his transition. He hopes to work with students and other researchers on conserving the valuable resource of water.
Gebremedhin Haile|Courtesy Haile studied hydrology and irrigation in several countries, including China.
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Community
Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Mars Smith|Marlin Chronicle
AI ads populate campus Flyers from Student Engagement advertise several events such as a line dancing event and a men’s mentorship program.
BY MARS SMITH COMMUNITY EDITOR rssmith@batten.edu
Students have noticed ads utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming more prevalent across campus. Ads utilizing AI can be found on campus billboards, in signs on the ground and in emails to students. “They all look the same,” sophomore Leah Hilliard, who works for Student Engagement, said. “That’s honestly what turns me off from them.” For students, part of the appeal is the creativity that goes into the process of making flyers for events beforehand. This makes the event seem more appealing to attend. “Seeing AI used for ads across
campus does not usually convince me to go, because then I feel like the event might suck,” sophomore Logan Butler, who also works for Student Engagement, said. Junior Sydney Carroll said it made her feel like it would be a low effort event, matching the energy that they put in for a low effort advertisement. Often, students can tell when an event flyer has utilized AI. “It usually has too much stuff on the flyer. There’s never any dead space.” Butler said. “The things I tend to look out for are artistic styles, text and font, as well as any logos within the ad,” senior Isabella Martinez said. She said seeing AI being used for ads does not convince her to attend the events
being showcased. “I’m not great at art or anything like that,” Carroll said. “But I know whatever I create is going to be better than a machine that just smudges things together.” “I don’t necessarily support AI,” Hilliard said. “I feel like I have enough creativity and thinking skills to create my own ads and content.” Hilliard said that working for Student Engagement requires those skills anyway. “I have not used AI to create flyers or ads.” Martinez said. Students feel as though AI ads are popping up everywhere. Butler is also required to make flyers. “I really feel like they should just use their imagination,” Butler said. Martinez said although using AI may
decrease workload, it lacks real effort. “Every time I have created a flyer or ad, it has been from scratch,” Martinez said. “I enjoy and take pride in creating my own work.” “I feel like AI is ruining our environment,” Butler said. “Plus, I’m more creative than a machine.” The most notable usage of AI for ads across campus include signs for Campus Ministries and emails from Student Success and Engagement. “It can be hard to determine what is real and what is fake,” Martinez said. “I feel like [ads that use AI] encourage laziness,” Hilliard said. Hilliard said it contributes to a decline in creativity too.
From Nigeria to the Jane P. Batten Honors College BY KAMI WHISENHUNT COMMUNITY EDITOR
kjwhisenhunt@batten.edu
At 16, Breeana WilliamsMartins is a freshman biochemistry major in the Jane P. Batten Honors College. She’s completed a dental assistant program and passed the state board exam after moving from Nigeria to the United States three years ago. She plans to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, combining her passion for dentistry and interest in surgery. “I’ve proved myself. I went through high school like you, I’m in college like you, we’re in the same honors program, but people still think I’m not cut out for it, or they look down on what I’ve worked hard for,” WilliamsMartins said. She said the Nigerian education system is different from the United States. Students typically begin school at a younger age and attend university around 16 or 17. When she moved to the United States, she expected to be placed in a lower grade, as is common for students coming from other countries. Instead, her high test scores allowed her to skip ahead and begin high school at 13. WilliamsMartins said her mom is a source of support when she needs to look beyond people who doubt her. “In Nigeria, you have to have a big ego to go through, and especially here in America. There’s still a stigma being from Africa here. It’s kind of hidden, but it’s still there. You have to hold yourself higher. You have to work. They say work twice
as hard to get half of what they have,” Williams-Martins said. She said adjusting also meant watching her parents restart their careers. Her father earned an engineering degree in Nigeria, while her mother also had a degree. Their education was not accepted in the same way in the United States though. Her mother returned to school and earned a certification to work as a medical massage therapist. “People say, ‘Oh, the stigma is not that bad,’ but look at it now. You can’t even use the degree you worked hard for in your country because it’s from West Africa,” Williams-Martins said. She said being younger than most of her classmates makes it difficult to feel fully included in college life. She said the age difference is especially noticeable
in social settings, including dating and activities typically limited to students who are 18 or older. “I feel like I’m in a cage,” Williams-Martins said, describing the frustration of not being able to participate in the same experiences as her classmates. Freshman Jason Okeigar is a political science major and a friend of Williams-Martins. They met during orientation and bonded during the first week of classes over both being of Nigerian descent. “Breeana is dependable, and she always knows how to make people smile. She’s a sensitive soul and is a very understanding person. She’s always down to hang out with friends, and lends a helping hand when one is needed,” Okeigar said. Williams-Martins said her age can create limitations socially,
other students’ understanding,” Malcolm said. Malcolm said one of the goals of the honors college and university is to bring students with different life experiences together so they can learn from each other and better understand different perspectives. She said Williams-Martins is always willing to connect with other students. “She’s very positive and outgoing,” Malcolm said. As part of Malcolm’s course, students participate in off-campus service activities, including planting trees at elementary schools and public areas in Portsmouth, Virginia. For one, students worked with fifth and sixth-graders on an Batten University|Courtesy activity about how urbanization but Okeigar said he sees her as affects heat. When Malcolm someone who pushes the people asked for volunteers to work with around her to grow. the elementary school students, “Breeana pushes me to be a she said Williams-Martins better student, and to also make eagerly volunteered. my own choices,” Okeigar said. “She took them and was Dr. Elizabeth Malcom, explaining it to them and leading professor of ocean and them. She did a really great job atmospheric sciences, has with the students, and I could tell Williams-Martins in the Honors she really enjoyed it. She had a 110 class, Contemporary lot of energy, which the students Environmental Issues, this appreciated,” Malcolm said. semester. “Breeana is a very smart and She said Williams-Martins is scholarly student. She is an active in class participation and honors student and always makes group projects and is enthusiastic sure she’s on top of her work. about learning and connecting She is not afraid to ask questions new information to her previous either, and wants to learn more,” experiences. Malcolm said she Okeigar said. does this well in assignments like Williams-Martins has built a discussion posts. life in the United States, but she “Her having lived in other still feels connected to Nigeria places brings in a different and hopes to visit again. She said perspective that she can bring into she misses her family, friends and discussions and kind of expand the food.
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
The MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Isaac Fick ihfick@batten.edu Managing Editors Aiden Croghan accroghan@batten.edu Caston Christman cbchristman@batten.edu News Editors Aiden Croghan accroghan@batten.edu Mia Diehl mjdiehl@batten.edu Earth & Environment Editor Elliot Fylstra egfylstra@batten.edu Community Editors Kami Whisenhunt kjwhisenhunt@batten.edu Mars Smith mssmith@batten.edu Opinions Editor Omari Jones ozjones@batten.edu Sports Editors Coy Camiscioli clcamiscioli@batten.edu Bailey Gray bcgray@batten.edu Caston Christman cbchristman@batten.edu Weekender Editor MJ Matthews mjmatthews@batten.edu 75.7 The Virginian Beat Editor McKenna Howenstine mrhowenstine@batten.edu Photo Editors Laila Jones ljjones1@batten.edu McKenna Howenstine mrhowenstine@batten.edu Online Editor Mason Medina mjmedina@batten.edu Copy Editors Julia Ware jpware@batten.edu Phoenyx Clifton tclifton@batten.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@batten.edu
The Marlin Chronicle is the official student newspaper of Batten University. Staff meetings are held every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Batten 217. Signed submissions are welcome, but subject to the discretion of the editor. Letters are not edited for content, but may be edited for length and mechanics. The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper may not necessarily reflect the views of the entire staff of The Marlin Chronicle or Batten University. The Marlin Chronicle Batten 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. Batten 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
Community CreatorVerse links students to the creative industry Timbaland: ‘The skies are not the limit, it’s just a view.’
BY ABBY CULLEY STAFF WRITER
ahculley@batten.edu
Batten hosted CreatorVerse, a festival organized by Timbaland’s nonprofit organization, Timbaland Way, on Oct. 24. This event gave back to Timbaland’s very own community in Hampton Roads, bringing together music, technology, fashion and entrepreneurship. CreatorVerse gave students and local creators opportunities to learn from professionals in the creative industry. It included live music, dance performances, modeling, creative workshops for students to receive feedback on their ideas, scholarship opportunities and demonstrations of new technology. DJ Clyde opened the event by facilitating the Technology and Talent Exposition, followed by the Rhythm and Runway Fashion Show and Local Showcase. During the show, vendors operated food trucks and boutique pop-ups in the parking lot of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. CreatorVerse combined the professional creative industry with education, highlighting the roles of mentorship, industry exposure and practical experience to success in creative fields. During “The Future of Sound: A Live Q+A,” Timbaland discussed music, creation, technology and the future of artificial intelligence in the field. He offered advice to students and community members on how to navigate and use rapidly changing technology that can both enhance and deteriorate the music production process. Timbaland said as new technologies are no longer optional, but optimal to pushing creativity, there is a need to expand on trends and not simply follow them. In order to maintain a recognizable sound, Timbaland said he recommends avoiding the radio, and more importantly, avoiding complacency.
“The skies are not the limit, it’s just a view,” Timbaland said. He said the possibilities are endless with technology, but creators must make sure they preserve their individual style. Timbaland shared advice on achieving success, asking the audience how they view music for their own consumption. He said since “music is all around us,” individuals must stay adaptable and anticipate where the industry is heading. Timbaland’s emphasis on adapting to new technology connects to the way Batten prepares students for careers in creative industries. Dr. Travis Malone, professor of theatre and dean of the Jane P. Batten Honors College, said his experience in live entertainment production influences how he teaches students. After receiving his PhD in theater, Malone worked in Los Angeles writing television commercials for companies including Disney, Fox and Rhino. He now uses that experience to teach courses like Business of Broadway, where students practice coordinating teams, working through logistics problems and applying their creative skills to real production situations. For Malone, preparing students for creative careers means showing them how their individual work fits into a larger production. “Especially in theater, for every one person you see on stage, there are five people behind the scenes, from all fields, in all industries,” Malone said. Sophomore Chris Morrison, looking to minor in music, focuses on that same collaboration and hands-on experience. Morrison composes and produces his own music, from cinematic pieces to beats for other artists. He recently composed and performed a quartet called “The First Day” for the orchestra ensemble. Morrison said he has always
Maddie Sisk|Marlin Chronicle A vendor sells handmade goods at a CreatorVerse tent pop-up.
Maddie Sisk|Marlin Chronicle A model walks The Rhythm and Runway Fashion Show event in the Virginia MOCA during the CreatorVerse festival. wanted to be a Hollywood producer and has a YouTube channel where he produces cinematic pieces for anime backgrounds. He said the opportunities he has had at Batten have increased his musical and entrepreneurial abilities. Morrison highlighted Batten’s music production course, which enriched his knowledge of producing and gave him a more technical background. The course introduced him to new technologies such as Reaper and Vital Slash. Participating in Batten’s ensembles has also taught Morrison how to collaborate and consider different perspectives. However, Morrison said it is “absolutely quintessential” for young musicians to have opportunities to meet industry professionals, explore new technology and learn about the different careers available to them.
“You can learn from YouTube, but having the opportunity to have someone put just two minutes into listening and then telling you what you’re good at, what you’re bad at, what you need to work on, is crucial,” Morrison said. For Morrison, the opportunity to receive feedback and learn from professionals shows the value of connecting students with people already working in the creative industry. “Good synergy of all these different disciplines, working together and connecting with each other, but also amplifying the work of others, is something that we don’t do enough of,” Malone said. CreatorVerse brought together music, technology, entrepreneurship and other creative industries while giving students and local creators opportunities to connect with professionals, explore new technology and develop their work.
Batten Engaged|Courtesy Arranged by Kami Whisenhunt|Marlin Chronicle 13 volunteers including faculty, staff, students and alumni plant daffodils and tulips in the Virginia Zoo gardens.
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Sports
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
GOLF CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 First years Alexandra Jensen and Kylie Heffernan are just some of the young talent that have made a difference this season. Both golfers posted consistent rounds throughout the fall, leading to respectable finishes in all four of the team’s tournaments, with Jensen finishing fourth at the Anita Hobson Invitational. When reflecting on this fall season and fifth place finish at the Chick-fil-A Invitational (Nov. 1-2), Dean said, “This was a good way to cap off a very impressive fall and gives a lot of room to work and improve in our off-season to go into the spring with a lot of momentum.” The driver of the team’s success has been 2025-26 All-ODAC First-Team senior, Juliette Coffey. Coffey had first-
place finishes at the Shenandoah and Anita Hobson Invitationals, a second-place finish at the Chick-fil-A Invitational and a third-place result at the Chimney Oaks Invitational. “I think it most likely has to do with my mental game,” Coffey said. This type of success isn’t necessarily new for Coffey. “I won ODACs freshman year, but honestly without realizing it until the very end at the playoffs. Since then, I have come second a lot, but haven’t been able to win until this year,” Coffey said. Although not every event ended in a top podium position for Coffey throughout her tenure at Batten University, she aims to remain consistent in her mindset. “I try to make bogey maximum, and then on other holes I try to make it back. It’s definitely easier said than done, but that’s my general mindset.” A big part of Coffey’s game revolves around avoiding big mistakes and capitalizing on advantage opportunities. By saving bad holes from becoming worse,
James Hill|Courtesy The Marlins Women’s Golf team visits the beach for their media day. she’s able to carry momentum throughout 36-hole weekends, always leaving herself a chance to score well. “I’m focused on making pars. Most of the time, the best part of my game is my irons. This helps me get onto greens with chances for birdies,” Coffey said. The fall season is only the beginning for the Marlins Women’s Golf team as they
look to carry over good finishes into the spring season and ODAC play. “We want to beat the teams who are ranked ahead so we can push ourselves better and eventually play against better teams in future years,” Coffey said. The team looks to build on to this momentum as their spring season approaches.
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Sports
One game at a time
Dr. Alexis Platt-Mitchell aims to empower female athletes. BY JAMES BROOKS STAFF WRITER jbrooks1@batten.edu
Dr. Alexis Platt-Mitchell ‘17 is a second-year professor of sport and recreational management whose impact on the community in and around Batten hasn’t gone unnoticed. Platt-Mitchell graduated from Virginia Wesleyan University with a communications degree. Afterward, she earned a master’s degree in sports communication and a doctorate in strategic communication, both from Regent University. She played on the Women’s Basketball team for four years, becoming a regular starter after her freshman year. Platt-Mitchell is a familiar face around campus. Joanne RennBarnes, former executive director of intercollegiate athletics, described Platt-Mitchell as a problem solver and someone with a high work ethic.
Renn-Barnes served as an assistant basketball coach when Platt-Mitchell was enrolled. Renn-Barnes said she is extremely proud of what Platt-Mitchell has done both during and after her time as a student. Platt-Mitchell teaches the Strategic Sports Communication course. This class focuses on proper communication in sports and the applications of sports communication. “I absolutely love teaching. I am teaching a course that is very, very near and dear to my heart ... I love being able to meet students who are aspiring journalists and who are student-athletes,” PlattMitchell said. “Dr. Platt-Mitchell was always understanding of who we were as students in the classroom, but also as athletes out of the classroom,” Mason Pifer, a junior on the men’s swim team said. Pifer said Platt-Mitchell is someone who gives her full
She Scored Sports|Courtesy She Scored Sports is a nonprofit media platform that showcases women’s sports in the 757 and beyond.
effort while teaching and he feels prepared for future assignments in the sports communication world. For her dissertation, PlattMitchell completed an applied research study. She chose to start the nonprofit media platform, She Scored Sports. This account aims to uplift female student-athletes in the Hampton Roads area and beyond. “We had to set ourselves apart to show we’re about more than just the final score and the rankings and things of that sort. We want to build females who are leaders and show accomplishment beyond their sport,” Platt-Mitchell said. Platt-Mitchell said She Scored Sports exists to build connections outside of sports while highlighting female athletes. “She’s figured out that she needs to continue to think about the future, not get mired in the past. Enjoy the past, use the past, but don’t get mired in it because you won’t advance. So she’s always thinking of the next best thing,” Renn-Barnes said. Often, the next best thing for Platt-Mitchell is the next women’s sporting event. Platt said she constantly has people ask her where they should be or what games they should report on. Platt-Mitchell founded She Scored Sports in 2023 and the account has grown to over 14,000 followers. The account is the largest sports account focused on women’s sports exclusively in the Hampton Roads area. “In the last 30 days, we’ve reached over 3 million, 4 million people. When you look at our numbers on our posts, looking at the analytics, you see that they’re getting over 14,000 views,” PlattMitchell said. When starting She Scored Sports, Platt-Mitchell did not immediately envision the success and growth the account would have. Platt-Mitchell has expanded
Alexis Platt-Mitchell|Courtesy Alexis Platt-Mitchell poses for her WAVY TV 10 headshot where she recently started working. She Scored Sports into a female athletes,” Platt-Mitchell competitive sports reporting said. Beyond the Game focuses account that has already changed on establishing connections the way women’s sports is with former and current female reported on. athletes who have competed at a She Scored Sports also had high level. an effect in Platt-Mitchell’s Beyond the Game partnered teaching. “[Dr. Platt-Mitchell] with Dick’s House of Sport for a used [She Scored Sports] as an back to school night on Sept. 19. example in many of our classes, Female athletes across which added another dimension Hampton Roads gathered in to our discussions during class,” Chesapeake and conversed with Pifer said. a panel of local women with Platt-Mitchell also started the careers in the sports industry. nonprofit organization Beyond Platt-Mitchell said these types the Game. of events are what distinguishes “We incorporate community She Scored Sports from other events and partnerships where sports reporting accounts. we’re able to pour into our
Photos by McKenna Howenstine; Arranged by Bailey Gray|Marlin Chronicle
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
[Insert logo here] Batten is one of two ODAC schools without a logo on an outdoor field. BY CAMERON MAILLOUX STAFF WRITER cjmailloux@batten.edu With the university’s recent name change, a new chapter begins. The new logo has been integrated into uniforms, helmets and locker rooms across campus. But even after the name change, the fields that the athletic teams call their homes are still without a logo to represent their school. These facilities serve as the home of Batten’s athletic programs. Currently, of the nine athletic facilities and fields on campus, only a select few have branding on them: Townebank Arena, the Natatorium, the Everett Tennis Center and Broyles Field. Only nine of the 26 athletic teams use these spaces, leaving the other 17 without any school representation in their facilities. Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Zachary Thomas believes that a logo on their field would add a more professional image to the program. “I think it would. I think it has to be done in the right way,” Thomas said. “I think it’s really important to execute it to make sure that it looks good, professional.” “[A logo on birdsong is] Liam Castellano|Courtesy definitely something I’ve Rendering of a potential logo on Trinder field compared to its thought about. Just going to current aeriel view. different campuses and stuff like
that. It’s definitely something I always notice. I was a Roanoke College graduate, and I’ve noticed they’ve branded their turf recently. So it’s definitely a topic,” said Thomas. The baseball team also plays on an unbranded field. Senior outfielder Josh Jones said he believes that if all the fields had branding, it would bring a more cohesive look to the athletic department. “It would probably look a little bit more unified. I’m now imagining a Batten logo on Birdsong, a Batten logo on Trinder, a Batten Logo on KRP [Kenneth R. Perry],” Jones said. Jones believes a logo would be more of a nicety than a necessity. “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s an absolute need, but would it be cool to have,” Jones said. Jones said he understands there are other more important things that the money needs to go to first. “I wouldn’t be too shocked if that would be something that happens in the next few years,” Jones said. As Batten continues to establish its identity following the July 2026 name change, extending the new branding to all athletic facilities could be another step toward creating a fully unified athletic department.
Students advocate for increased women’s athletics support An Old Dominion University student and a Batten University basketball supporter, Jalyn Kennedy, said Mikayla Bryant, a she has been to over senior, said her biggest 200 basketball games hot take at Batten total in her lifetime. She University is that they said she has witnessed “prioritize men’s sports a clear difference in over women’s sports,” the audience coming highlighting that to Women’s and Men’s attendance is the main Basketball games. issue. Bryant said Women’s “The world is Basketball games don’t misogynistic,” Bryant get the same levels said. “Women typically of promotion as the have to work harder. men’s games. “The The idea of men’s sports men’s games are the is better, so there is more ones that have themes turnout, and if there are and decorations, and more people who go women’s games don’t to men’s sports games, really have any of that,” there is going to be more Bryant said. people to fund them,” “I think at Marlin Bryant said. Madness there Junior Jaiden Hunter should be women’son the Women’s only competitions, “ Basketball team said Kennedy said. She said the players notice the the Men’s Basketball increase in crowds, team competes in the energy and more dunk contest, which gives more showtime, and she said the Women’s team should also have a different skills competition to include them more. With the rates of Women’s Basketball rising, “The Women’s National Basketball Association is expanding, and their attendance is growing too,” Kennedy said. “The more people that come to watch our games the better. Our group is extremely competitive and wants to win.” Belo said. The Women’s basketball team has increased their win percentage by 700% McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle in the last two years. Marlin fans in attendance of Men’s Basketball Tip Off Tournament on Nov. 8 in TowneBank Arena. BY JAIDEN MITCHELL STAFF WRITER jimitchell@batten.edu
promotion that the men’s sports receive. “We put in a lot of work, so having more people show up and support would be nice. People are just more into Men’s Basketball,” Hunter said. “I feel like Batten University supports us, but they could do more.” She said the Women’s Basketball team puts in the same amount of time, effort and practice as the Men’s team. “They think it’ll be more exciting, but I feel like they could give our games a chance too.” Women’s Basketball Head Coach Megan Belo is entering her third year at the helm of the Marlins. While the Women’s team chants and cheers each other on, Belo said, “I totally think the bigger the crowd we have, the more
amped up we are.” All athletes feed off of the energy from the crowd. It gives them motivation and momentum to get through a hard game. So when attendance is low, it’s hard to keep up the energy in the game. “Our women want to feel the support behind the crowd. They want to hear the yelling at the other team, and they want to feel the cheers as they hit a big shot or get an exciting block. It helps us get the momentum of the game, change the momentum if we don’t have it and bring the energy,” Belo said. For fundraising and advertising for games, “We work really hard to fundraise to give our players the studentathlete experience they deserve. We do things differently to raise
money, but the support we have from Coach Elliott is second to none. He relentlessly supports both programs to the highest level possible, and we feel his love and are #firedup.” Belo said. “Coaches and athletic directors are doing their part to show support. Now, all we need is support and engagement from students.” “I think we can continue to be in people’s faces about [coming to games] and make everyone feel included in today’s day and age with phones being so addictive and social media and scrolling,” Belo said. “We need to continue to invite everyone! We need to create that environment of how incredible it is to be a Marlin and how we are a big family.”
Sports Unknown: Rock climbing BY CASTON CHRISTMAN MANAGING EDITOR cbchristman@batten.edu A pair of climbing shoes, a bag of hand chalk and a wall to climb. This is what you need to participate in the sport of rock climbing. The earliest rendition of rock climbing is still unknown, but historians have dated it as far back as 400 B.C., referencing ancient Chinese water color paintings depicting people climbing a cliff face. The birth of modern rock climbing is often associated with W. P. Haskett Smith, who climbed the Napes Needle, a 65-feet rock structure in the mountains of Cumbria, England in 1886 with no aid besides his own strength. Rock climbing has evolved significantly over time. With advancements in equipment such as rubber shoes, steel weight-bearing carabiners and more, people have been able to climb more with less strain on the body. There are many different types of rock climbing. The most commonly known are bouldering, free soloing and top-out climbing. Bouldering is when you have shorter routes that usually span up to 20 feet and you climb with no equipment, just climbing shoes, chalk and a crash pad to prevent injuries if you fall. Free-soloing is most well known from the 2018 documentary “Free Solo,” in which Alex Honnold became the first person to free-solo climb El Capitán, the 3,000 feet cliff face in Yosemite National Park. “I like the simplicity of soloing. You’ve got no gear, no partner. You never climb better than when you free-solo.” Honnold said. C l i m b i n g can be the most mental sport there is because at a certain point, when you are tired and your arms are starting to give out, it can become your body versus your mind. Likewise, it can be a very mentally freeing sport. You might enter a flow state in which every movement you make becomes effortless and fluid like you’ve been doing it your entire life. Rock climbing became an official Olympic sport in the 2020 Summer Olympics, hosted in Tokyo, Japan, which has a rich history of climbing culture. In Japanese history, ancient monks climbed for religious and spiritual purposes rather than leisure. Because of Japan’s rich history with rock climbing, they decided to introduce it in the Olympic games. Originally speed climbing, bouldering and top-out were all under the same category, but they will be considered individual events and sports in the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. The climbing community is a very supportive group all over the world, people share climbs on apps such as the Mountain Project app to check out local climbs in the area and around the world. People can upload the climbs that they have created and view other climbs with detailed descriptions and view on a world map to see where the climb is located. Latitude Climbing Gym is a franchise in the Tidewater area. The closest one to campus is in the Virginia Beach Town Center. There, they primarily have bouldering, and there are over 100 different routes, which change almost every week. You need specialized climbing shoes, but they offer them for rent at the gym and you get full access to the walls. Latitude gym is welcoming to all skill levels of climbers with lessons and group classes for all.
Paige Ziegler|Marlin Chronicle
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Opinions
When mental health and criminal justice collide Lindsay Clancy case raises questions about mental health treatment and criminal responsibility.
People Magazine|Courtesy Lindsay Clancy on trial for the murder of her three children, which ended in a mistrial on Sept. 4. BY GRACE WHITT CONTRIBUTING WRITER gdwhitt@batten.edu
The Lindsay Clancy case is undoubtedly one for the history books. It brings attention to underlying imperfections in both the criminal justice system and the treatment of mental health. For those unfamiliar with the case, Lindsay Clancy, a 32-yearold labor and delivery nurse, was tried on three counts of firstdegree murder and charges related to the strangulation or suffocation of her three children, ages 5, 3 and 8 months. Her trial, which took place from July to Sept 2026, ended with a deadlocked jury and no conviction. While those are the basic facts of the case, there is a deeper issue surrounding
Clancy’s mental health and how it was viewed throughout the trial. Prior to the deaths of her children, Clancy was reportedly seeking professional help for symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD). She was seeing a psychiatrist, attending therapy and trying different medications in an effort to manage her symptoms. According to reports discussed during the case, she had been prescribed several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, but frequently changed medications after experiencing unwanted side effects, including feeling “zombie-like.” She also struggled with severe insomnia. During her treatment, Clancy also worked with a nurse practitioner who reportedly
noticed possible bipolar symptoms. The important point is that Clancy was reaching out for help before the deaths of her children. She recognized that something was wrong and attempted to address her symptoms through therapy and medication. However, those treatments did not appear to provide the help she needed. Her parents, who frequently stayed at the Clancy home before the children’s deaths, reportedly described her expressing thoughts about harming her children. Ultimately, Clancy’s mental health became one of the central issues used by both the defense and prosecution during her trial. Clancy’s attorneys acknowledged her actions but argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis (PPP) at the time and therefore could not be held legally responsible in the same way. P is a severe mental health condition that can involve symptoms such as hallucinations, dramatic mood changes and severe sleep disturbances. The defense pointed to testimony from Clancy’s family, husband and mental health providers to support its argument. The prosecution, however, argued that Clancy’s previous statements about harming her children and her actions on the night of their deaths demonstrated awareness and planning. Prosecutors argued that the events were not simply the result of a sudden psychotic episode. This is where I believe the case raises larger questions. In my opinion, Lindsay Clancy did kill her three children on Jan. 24, 2023. However, I do not
completely agree with either the prosecution or the defense, and I believe the way the criminal justice system handles cases involving severe mental illness needs to be reconsidered. I believe Clancy was experiencing PPD and may have been experiencing postpartum psychosis. At the same time, I believe the broader mental health treatment system failed to adequately address what she was experiencing. This is not necessarily a criticism of the individual caregivers who treated her, but of a larger system affected by social stigma and limited understanding of conditions such as PPD and PPP. affects a significant number of women, yet mental health struggles following childbirth are often minimized or treated as something women should simply endure. More research and resources should be dedicated to postpartum mental health so that women can receive individualized treatment instead of temporary, “band-aid” solutions. Mental illness does not automatically eliminate criminal responsibility. The victims in this case, Cora, Dawson and Callan Clancy, deserved justice and recognition. Nothing can change the tragedy of their deaths. However, justice should also involve asking difficult questions about why tragedies happen and how similar situations can be prevented. Clancy repeatedly sought therapy and medication before the deaths of her children, which indicates that she was attempting to get help for serious mental health struggles. Women who commit crimes while experiencing severe
postpartum mental illness should still be tried, and criminal responsibility should still be considered. But punishment alone does not address the larger problems that may have contributed to a tragedy. The criminal justice system and the mental health treatment industry must be better prepared to handle cases as complicated and devastating as Lindsay Clancy’s. Justice for victims and proper treatment for individuals experiencing severe mental illness do not have to be opposing goals. Both systems should work toward accountability while also addressing the underlying causes of these tragedies. If we only focus on punishment after something terrible happens, we risk ignoring the warning signs that could help prevent the next tragedy before it ever reaches that point.
Grace Whitt|Courtesy
Grace is a junior majoring in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. She plans to graduate early in the spring and hopes to pursue a career in child advocacy within the local court system.
The man that gravity forgot BY OMARI JONES OPINIONS EDITOR ozjones@batten.edu
There are certain wrestlers who make you appreciate professional wrestling differently, not just because of their skill or athleticism, but also their ability to inspire others to try things they never thought possible. To me Benjamin Satterley, known to WWE fans as Neville and All Elite Wrestling fans as PAC, was one of those performers. He passed at 40 on Sept. 27, 2026, which was coincidently my birthday, is heartbreaking, especially for fans who watched him spend more than two decades proving that few could do what he did inside a wrestling ring. What made Satterley special was his ability to make every match feel important. As Neville in NXT, he earned the nickname
“The Man That Gravity Forgot,” and it was easy to see why. His signature Red Arrow remains one of the most visually incredible finishing moves in wrestling. He would stand on the top role and do a corkscrew shooting star press in midair before landing on his opponent. It was one of the coolest finishers any wrestler has ever done. Satterley’s journey began in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, where he developed a passion for wrestling at a young age. In 2004, at just 18 years old, he began his professional career as PAC. He spent years competing in independent promotions across the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan, building a reputation for his incredible athleticism and high-flying style. In 2012, his hard work led him to WWE, where he competed as Adrian Neville in NXT. He quickly became a fan favorite,
IBTimes|Courtesy Benjamin Satterley, aka PAC, after winning the AEW International Championship in 2022.
Remembering Benjamin Satterley.
winning the NXT Tag Team Championship and later the NXT Championship in 2014. Upon joining WWE’s main roster in 2015, he continued to make an impression before becoming a two-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion. For fans, his success was proof that talent and determination could make someone stand out, regardless of their size. Standing at only 5 ‘8, he was constantly going up against guys who were way bigger than him and still faced them without fear. His journey from the independent wrestling scene to the world’s biggest wrestling stage was only the beginning of a career that would leave a lasting impression on the industry. One of my favorite matches of his happened at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution in 2014, when he defended his NXT title against Sami Zayn. Zayn had spent months chasing the championship and their match delivered the kind of emotional storytelling that makes wrestling so special. Neville played his role perfectly, and watching Zayn finally win the title made the moment unforgettable. It was a reminder that Satterley could make another wrestler’s greatest moment even better. When Satterley joined AEW as PAC in 2019, he brought that same intensity with him. His match against Kenny Omega at All Out that year was a statement, showing that PAC could hang with the very best in the world. His subsequent rivalry with Hangman Adam Page further established him as a dangerous competitor who could turn a match around in an instant. As a fan, what I will remember most is how Satterley made wrestling feel exciting. You never knew when he would launch himself across the ring or deliver a move that made you question how a
human body could do that. He could play the arrogant villain, the ruthless competitor or the underdog fighting for his place, and he made every role believable. His final match against Andrade El Idolo at AEW All Out on Sept. 26 makes his passing even harder to process. Just one day later, the wrestling world lost a performer who still had so much to offer. He sadly had a seizure on his way home from the match which proved to be fatal. Championships will eventually change hands and new stars will emerge. But the memories Satterley gave wrestling fans will remain. Rest in peace, Benjamin Satterley. Thank you for the matches, the moments and the memories. Gravity may have forgotten you, but fans never will.
Omari Jones|Marlin Chronicle
Omari is a junior majoring in criminal justice and the opinions editor of the Marlin Chronicle. He hopes to become a federal detective after graduating.
THEWEEKENDER
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Norfolk Nightlife REVIEW BY MJ MATTHEWS WEEKENDER EDITOR mjmatthews@batten.edu Norfolk nightlife hosts a wide variety of community oriented events and themed nights at local bars and venues. The usual question regarding college student nightlife is: what bar should I go to on a Friday night? This article goes a little further, instead asking: what bar in Norfolk is the spot for me? Through interviewing staff, frequent flyers and students, we have a guide to which bars give what vibe, and where to find Norfolk’s more niche communities. Batten students echoed that the college bar is undoubtedly Mojo Bones Bar and Grill on Old Dominion University’s (ODU) campus. Mojo’s serves BBQ and other bar food classics by day, and fills with college students looking for a place to bounce to at night. Their busiest nights are Thursdays and Saturdays, nearly always filling up by 10 p.m. They have been an ODU staple for almost 20 years, and serve as the homebase for all things homecoming. Mojo’s is the most ‘typical’ of the bars in Norfolk, with many nights revolving around student activities and whatever’s popular. They know what works, and it keeps people coming back.
REVIEW
Despite their university affiliation, there is an emphasis on community collaboration for students from all the universities in the area, not just ODU.
as they are, and a space that has helped preserve some of Norfolk’s alternative communities. Every Friday night is Goth Night, creating a batcave for
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle Batten students party at Zen. Adriana Paci, a Batten senior, said Mojo’s is a great starter bar for the night, “As you figure out what the vibe is, you can go to a bunch of places from there ... you’re guaranteed to have a good time.” Two small bars deserve a mention: the Edge and the Wave. The Edge’s slogan, “where locals drop in,” rings true. Just a short walk from Mojo’s, it is a great stop on your bar crawl for some real club dancing and drinks. If you’d like to belt your heart out though, head to the Wave. This is a gay bar, hosting fun themed nights almost every weekend and running karaoke night every night. Just down the road from Mojo’s is 37th and Zen, a place for everyone to come
Norfolk’s baby bats (young goths) and goth elders. The music, the dancing anThe music, the dancing and the “everyone is welcome” attitude of Zen is all a part of the vibe they curate with their Friday nights and events. In recent years, Zen has become a place for the LGBTQ+ community on any given night, and especially during their drag nights and other specialty events. The goth scene has been vibrant in Norfolk for years, finding a home at Zen for a community that is unique, visually and emotionally. “People look at the goths like, ‘oh, my God, they’re scary, they’re devil worshippers,’ but they’re probably some of the nicest people I’ve ever met” Matt, a 757 local who’s been in
and out of the goth scene for 20 years, said. Of all the bars on this list, Zen has the most well understood culture by its patrons. Goths and friends of goths fill the space Friday night, ready to make new friends. Patrick Wapples is at Zen whenever he can be, preferring it to all other Norfolk bars. “Even if it’s packed in here, you come here and make a bunch of friends, interact with people, and it can be really genuine,” Wapples said. Wapples said he loves Zen because it’s a place to make conversation and have a good time, drama free. Rounding out our list is MJ’s Tavern. MJ’s has been around for almost 15 years, serving fabulous food, great drinks and all community needs. They are formally a bar, only admitting people 21 and over after 10 p.m. John, co-owner of MJ’s (with Mike), expressed the importance of being family friendly as a grill, but still having lots of fun as a bar at night. “We’ve had wedding receptions here at the same time that they’re having a leather thing, and they mingle and everybody doesn’t care. Nobody’s freaking out. It’s what it’s all about,” John said. MJ’s emphasizes that they are a gay establishment, meaning that they are welcoming to all and anyone who frequents should follow suit. But for MJ’s that means being welcome to all at all times and making
space for every community, day or night. There’s lots of places to choose from for your next Norfolk night out. Where will you go?
This article has been shortened for print. The full version is available on our website with more juicy details.
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle
Clayface brings a darker side of DC to the big screen
BY CHARLIE HERRMAN STAFF WRITER cjherrman@batten.edu I was thrilled when the first trailer of Clayface released; it was really intriguing to me that an R-rated DC project was in the works and going to be displayed in the theater. Instead of following Batman or another well known superhero, the movie puts Matt Hagen at the center of the story, who is the main character and the villain, Clayface. Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen and depends on his facial features for his profession. In the film, the mob destroyed his face when Hagen wronged them at a night club. Hagen was desperate beyond measure to fix his looks and took a major risk allowing Doctor Cailtyn Corr to use AI nanobots to completely reconstruct his face to its original state. Things took a turn as the treatment Dr. Corr gave Hagen had major side effects that hadn’t been seen before, and really set the stage for Clayface’s unique powers and his rage towards the mob.
“They didn’t need Batman in Gotham to make it a good movie.” Connor Rizek With its R rating, body horror, mystery and surprisingly emotional moments, Clayface creates a darker experience that separates itself from the typical superhero or villain movie. One of the biggest things that makes Clayface stand out is its approach to the superhero genre. It was interesting to the fans to see how the movie was going to play out. Hagen’s journey is one of the most interesting parts of the film because viewers get to see him slowly take control
of his abilities as the story progresses. His powers are not only something that makes him different, but they also become an important part of his character development. His unique and artistic abilities give the movie a visual style that is different from what audiences are used to seeing in superhero films. Another strength of the movie is its use of horror. The R rating allows the filmmakers to explore a darker side of the character and dive into the comics for more adult details to include without having to hold back as much as a typical superhero movie might. Instead of relying on jumpscares like most horror movies do, this movie gave more attention to the discomfort of body horror. One of my close friends from my hometown, who loves superheroes, Connor Rizek said he enjoyed the movie’s use of “body horror rather than jump scares.” The horror feels connected to the story instead of being added just to scare the audience. The combination of horror and superhero/villain elements in a way creates a thriller movie that keeps viewers wondering what will happen to Hagen. The mystery surrounding Hagen is another part of the movie that makes it enjoyable. Throughout the film, there is a question about whether Hagen will be eventually saved or if he will be completely consumed by his powers. This uncertainty gives the story something to build toward and makes the audience think about what kind of person Hagen will become. Rizek mentioned that he enjoyed this uncertainty, the whole movie had this mystery throughout it all if he was going to be saved or remain in parallel with his power Rizek said. This mystery theme makes the Clayface character more interesting because viewers are not always sure what direction Hagen’s story is going to take. It also makes the audience question if he will become a villain, antihero or something entirely different. The movie also does a good job of adding an emotional factor to a story that could have easily focused only on horror. One example is the romance between the doctor and Hagen. They met at the
beginning of the film and you could tell they had a spark right away. Their relationship gives the audience another reason to care about what happens to him. My friend Daniel Lukusa, also from my hometown, said, “I loved the romance between the beautiful doctor and Matt Hagen, it really extended my interest.” This relationship helps show that there
casting and the movie’s overall approach. “I like how there weren’t [mainstream] actors being used,” Rizek said. Having a movie that does not depend on a number of major Hollywood names can be quite refreshing. It allows the story and performances to become the main focus instead of relying on celebrity appearances to attract attention. “I was expecting a quick cash grab,” Rizek said. I spoke with him prior to us both watching the movie and we had that same opinion, but were amazingly surprised. Even with all of its strengths, some criticism is due for this movie. “With a bigger budget, I easily think it could win movie of the year,” Lukusa said. After talking to him and thinking about what he said I agree with him. It was a tremendous movie, but imagine the things they could accomplish with a budget like Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Clayface had a budget of $30 million to $44 million while the new SpiderDC Studios|Courtesy Man’s budget was $225 million. is more to Hagen If Clayface had a than his new powers more flexible budget and the frightening there would be more changes happening to consistent CGI and him. Having a romantic Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle shape-shifting effects, storyline also gives the larger set pieces and more movie tender moments that balance out its screen space for a full-form Clayface. dark scenes. With more money behind the production, Another interesting decision was the moments could become even more including the mob, an organized crime mind blowing and dive more into the body group that runs Gotham, as an antagonist. horror. This helps give the movie a darker Ultimately, Clayface is a fantastic atmosphere that feels connected to the movie and I highly recommend you to crime-filled world of Gotham City and DC watch it. Clayface is a great example of comics. how superhero movies can take risks and “They didn’t need Batman in Gotham tell stories that are different from what to make it a good movie,” Rizek said. audiences normally expect. He poses a great point here: most people “I want all superhero movies to be see ‘Gotham City’ and think of Batman, rated R now,” Lukusa said. While not so seeing other projects set in Gotham every superhero story needs an R rating, without Batman being on screen is really Clayface makes a strong argument for cool. giving filmmakers more freedom to Something also worth mentioning is the explore darker stories.
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Thursday November 12, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
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Magnus - Hitman No Place Here - BATO Charades - Self-Inflict Trapped Inside - Mercy Mission Just Sit There (Crumbsuckers) - M.O.C. Count Me Out - Prime Suspect, Dimension Six Peacewalker - Spikepit Listen on Spotify Be Free - Reckoning Force Big Mistake - Prime Suspect Same Coin - Reckoning Force Echo Chamber - BATO Bent Knees - Self-Inflict Hitman’s Hand - Hitman The Hive - M.O.C.
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What We Do in the Dark
A guide to a world post daylight-savings
A message from Rich Justis, Norfolk native and alternative community pillar. When the clocks roll back and 4:30 P.M. starts looking like midnight, the inclination is to view the dark as a thief. Astronomical winter represents a natural shift in macro rhythms. The sun pulls back, and you must move your core enterprise underground in the same way that trees keep working when the leaves drop by shifting their vital energy subterranean. The secret to navigating post-daylight savings lies in giving your hands something physical to do inside the extra evening hours. Summer invites high velocity outward movement. Winter serves as an archive season, built for lo-fi tactile rituals. Grounding your focus in physical materials forces an immediate, quiet presence that screens continuously steal. Ideate without the pressure to publish, allowing yourself to rest without guilt.
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Photosynthesize! Prioritize being outside while it’s light out. Although we aren’t plants, pretending so can boost our spirits and ease our minds. Whether it’s a quick walk or a lengthy homework session, doing it before nightfall can help your daylight hours feel longer.
What’s up with all the AI? Community centered events should have community visuals. When AI gets involved and non-community hands are responsible for the visual storytelling of our moments in time, our meet-ups, our world, we lose an incredibly valuable element. Flyers are, more often than not, people’s first interactions with an upcoming event or their introduction to a new community. Why should we relinquish the responsibility and weight of those first impressions to something that can never convey the true intentions or feelings behind a given moment? The bottom line for many young people nowadays is: YOUR AI FLYER SUCKS AND I’M NOT GOING TO YOUR SHOW no matter how good the show may be.
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Here’s a call to action: hire real people and local artists to stoke the community flame. The people want to see the work of those around them, not whatever garbage your robot assistant chewed up and spit out this time. Take time, take care, take McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
KaSela VanRassan|Marlin Chronicle