The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 10.8.26|| MARLINCHRONICLE.BATTEN.EDU
BATTEN UNIVERSITY
Community remembers Bill Ruehlmann Former Marlin Chronicle adviser left a lasting impact.
BY ISAAC FICK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ihfick@batten.edu
A “big presence,” a green pen and a cave of books. Dr. Bill Ruehlmann, former professor and former Marlin Chronicle adviser, is remembered for his love of journalism and teaching. Ruehlmann passed away on Sept. 21, 2026 at 80 after a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s. Ruehlmann moved to Norfolk and started writing for the Ledger-Star and The Virginian-Pilot in 1977. He began his 18 years working as a professor and Chronicle adviser at Batten University in 1973, then named Virginia Wesleyan College, before retiring in 2011. He continued writing his Virginian-Pilot column, “By the Book,” until 2022. Former Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Kaitlyn Fox ‘14 wrote the Chronicle article announcing Ruehlmann’s retirement. “He changed my life,” Fox said. She said Ruehlmann convinced her to switch her major from biology to communications. “He had a way to make students fall in love with writing,” Fox said. “He loved journalism and he was just infectious with that love of journalism,” Kathy Merlock Jackson, professor of media and communication, said.
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Ruehlmann marks a paper with his iconic green pen that students have remembered for years.
“He was a great man, and he brought a lot of love for journalism to Wesleyan and to its students, and I think it really helped make that program what it was and what it continues. I think his legacy continues through all of us today. Even if you didn’t know him, had the pleasure of knowing him, you definitely have been impacted by him without knowing. So he’s a great man.” Rachel Balsley ‘13 Former Marlin Chronicle Editor-in-Chief
Rachel Balsley|Courtesy
“Dr. Ruehlmann brought his love of writing for the VA. Pilot to all his students. He would walk the campus and personally put a copy of The Marlin Chronicle in everyone’s hand. He was extremely proud of us students and encouraged us to be extraordinary writers. One of the best classes I ever took at VWU. We always felt we were in the presence of greatness with every class. God rest the soul of God’s newest angel!”
Elaine Aird ‘96 Former Marlin Chronicle Editor-in-Chief
Farmhouse Brewing incites renaissance fair fun
Party like it’s 1599 with ponies, BBQ, pottery and beer. BY MJ MATTHEWS WEEKENDER EDITOR
mjmatthews@batten.edu
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle Danielle Guertler smiles with her ceramic pieces.
Back Bay Farmhouse, also known as Back Bay Brewing, has been a local spot for casual drinks and family fun for years. More than a great place for a get-together, they’ve been a wonderful host business for so many others. Back Bay Farmhouse, also known as Back Bay Brewing, has been a local spot for casual
drinks and family fun for years. More than a great place for a get-together, they’ve been a wonderful host business for so many others. Farmhouse holds events like this renaissance fair at least quarterly, and has special events and live music most weekends. Their Ren Fair kicked off fall with local artisans, live music, and of course, lots of beer. A sprinkle here and there never hurt anybody—despite a
somewhat rainy forecast, folks still showed out for this event. With three food trucks, over a dozen vendors and a petting zoo, there was something for everybody. Cody Coerse spoke to his experiences with food-trucking as the owner of Pungo Boys Food Trailer, a Hampton Roads BBQ spot that’s been in operation for about four years.
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Kiggans-Luria Inside Look: rematch takes center stage
FloSports|Courtesy
Wikimedia Commons|Courtesy Jen Kiggans (LEFT) and Elaine Luria (RIGHT) compete again for a seat in Congress.
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Flo gives platform to Sports
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News Anthropic settlement expected to pay out Batten professors Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
BY AIDEN CROGHAN MANAGING, NEWS EDITOR accroghan@batten.edu
Early in 2026, multiple Batten University professors, including Dr. Terry Lindvall and Eric Mazur, joined a historic classaction lawsuit, Bartz v. Anthropic, for copyright infringement. This lawsuit, settled in July, marked the largest copyright settlement in U.S. history, with Anthropic set to pay out 1.5 billion dollars, which will be distributed among the plaintiffs, lawyers and other rights holders to the plaintiffs’ works. U.S.
District Judge Araceli MartinezOlguin is expected to finalize distribution of the award by November. Anthropic’s flagship product is Claude, a large language model (LLM). LLMs are a form of artificial intelligence (AI) that are trained on large amounts of textual data in order to provide human-like responses. Despite the case’s historic payout, Lindvall is pessimistic about the sum of money actual authors will receive, saying that lawyers and publishers are interested in the money as well. “We found out the lawyers get
Lex|Courtesy Anthropic has developed four models of Claude available to the public. Higher paying users have access to versions of Claude which can be used for cybersecurity and biology work.
most of the money, and the publishers next,” Lindvall said. Lindvall said he was hoping to see authors awarded more of the money from the settlement, and that the lawsuit would help to set precedents on how AI can be used. In these aspects though, many experts in copyright law consider the lawsuit to be a failure. Dave Hansen, executive director of Author’s Alliance and previous lead for Copyright & Information Policy at Duke University Libraries, wrote an article for Author’s Alliance on how the lawsuit would affect AI litigation going forward. “Nobody really won in this suit. Authors and publishers get money but no control over future AI training. Anthropic writes a massive check, but it already won on fair use for training its LLM and it gets to keep the scans it makes of legally purchased books. The AI industry gets some guidance (don’t download your books from LibGen) but still faces uncertainty about outputs and future regulation,” Hansen said in the article. Lindvall said he is concerned with how the lack of regulation on AI development and usage will affect students’ education going forward while still being optimistic that they could use it as a tool. He said one of the primary problems he sees with student usage of AI is students substituting their own authorial voice with AI. “They become like the Little Mermaid,” Lindvall said. “They sacrifice their voice for AI legs.”
Batten University|Courtesy Dr. Terry Lindvall is a professor of religious studies and media and communication. Some students are concerned as well about how AI developments and litigation could affect their education going forward. Senior William Pleasants said AI companies present bold ideas regarding democratizing information, and that students use AI to make their research easier, but roadblocks are still present that undermine this. Pleasants said there’s potential for AI to increase access to knowledge. “The way that it’s being implemented now at least, it’s not really achieving that in a meaningful way. I think the fact that a lot of these models are subscription based if you want access to a higher quality model, which would be able to provide you with a more thought out and deeply researched, greater cognitively processed information, pushes back against this idea that it’s democratizing information,” Pleasants said. Pleasants said he is worried that the ways students use AI
inhibits its potential to enhance education. “There’s so many people that just cheat pretty much,” Pleasants said. He said AI can lead students into certain ways of thinking that are not well-founded in the students’ own research. Lindvall echoed this sentiment. “What is frightening for me is if students go to AI, they could get answers from me, and then I’m reading my own work,” Lindvall said. He also added that AI answers are often untrue, citing an experience in which AI claimed Lindvall was a producer on the movie Hacksaw Ridge. Sophomore Allie Schon said AI could be a helpful research tool because it greatly improves efficiency in solving mathematical problems and could help students find information, but AI is a bad substitute for writing your own work. “AI can have a benefit, but most often it’s abused in an educational setting. For writing your essays I don’t think AI is a good substitute. Going through the process of learning how to edit and having a person help you out is far more beneficial than having an AI chatbot correct your essay,” Schon said. “It could have a benefit for some higher level math homework because you can’t always find an easy explanation for it.” The Anthropic Copyright Settlement is expected to send out its first payment on November 15. Information regarding the settlement can be found on the settlement website, https://www. anthropiccopyrightsettlement. com/.
ChatGPT comes to Virginia Beach classrooms BY CLAUDIA SZMYD STAFF WRITER cszmyd@batten.edu
The Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VCBPS) school board entered an agreement with OpenAI on Aug. 26, providing a program, ChatGPT for Teachers, a version of the chatbot designed specifically for school districts. This partnership comes as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly common in education, raising questions about how teachers can use the technology effectively
while maintaining human judgement and creativity in the classroom. Dr. Kathy Merlock Jackson, professor of media and communication, said responsible use is key as educators adapt to the growing presence of AI. “We need to think very carefully about how and when to unleash this technology,” Jackson said. Through this program districts and educators will be able to learn from each other about responsible AI adoption, and AI will be another tool in the educator’s toolbox.
VBCPS provided AI education guidelines on their website. According to the VBCPS website, AI should be used to harness student success, not simply replace human judgement. The AI guideline highlights the guiding principles, strategies for success and roles and responsibilities of educators in this new technological playing field. According to the OpenAI website, the program is centered around giving teachers and staff members the ability to use AI alongside classroom materials and student data.
Meena Lennon|Courtesy
This program would be supported by educationgrade protections and admin controls that would support educational institutions in meeting their AI compliance needs. For example, OpenAI says information shared through ChatGPT for Teachers would not be used to train its models by default. A poll conducted by Gallup, a global analytics and management consulting company, found that 6 in 10 teachers use AI for their work, but only 18% of teachers report receiving any training or guidelines on how to use AI properly. Computer science major Adeoluwa Adeyemo said if teachers are able to give AI less meaningful tasks that it can complete in a fraction of the time, it shouldn’t be a problem. “I think an efficient way to use it would be to supplement with traditional teaching,” Adeyemo said.
OpenAI works with about 100 districts across the country with emphasis on AI being for teachers and educators, not the students themselves. “Our goal with this initiative is to give educators the tools, trust, training and voice to decide when AI is useful,” Leah Belsky, vice president of education at OpenAI, said. Criminal justice major Chandler Turner said AI brings up many concerns including not enough human input. “I think, as a teacher, it’s very important to still keep your creative side to keep students engaged,” Turner said. The Stanford University 2025 AI Index found that AI’s influence on society has never been more prevalent. AI brings uncharted territory to both schools and the world in general. “When a technology is out there and people
embrace it, you can’t undo it, you can’t unlearn it. You just have to figure out how to use it well,” Jackson said. Turner also said there should be more regulations on how much AI people use in their day-to-day lives. Teachers in VBCPS have access to ChatGPT For Teachers, but it is not a requirement for them to use AI. Jackson said with access to such a powerful tool, it is important for teachers to figure out what situations AI works for. “It’s hard to put the brakes on what is acceptable use and what is not acceptable use,” Jackson said. OpenAI plans to continue its use of ChatGPT For Teachers with free usage through June 2028, which marks the end of the nocost promotional period for the district agreed upon by OpenAI and VBCPS.
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle
Kiggans-Luria rematch takes center stage BY MIA DIEHL NEWS EDITOR
mjdiehl@batten.edu
Early voting began Sep. 18, 2026 for the upcoming Virginia general and special elections on Nov. 3, 2026. Residents of Virginia will be able to vote for their senator, congressional representative, local offices and multiple Virginia constitution amendments referendums. This election will feature a rematch between Jen Kiggans and Elaine Luria for Congress. According to The Virginia Mercury, this race is among the most watched races in the nation. Kiggans and Luria previously went against each other in 2022. During that election, Kiggans unseated Luria for the Washington office. As Republicans attempt to maintain their small majority in Congress, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said this election “will determine the fate of the country.” “This race is important because so few congressional seats are competitive right now, and District Two is one of the few in the United States that switches hands from Republican to Democrat,” Dr. Leslie Caughell, chair and professor of political science, said. Kiggans, a former Navy pilot, then nurse practitioner, is a Republican running for her third term in the House. She also served as a state senator in Virginia's General Assembly from Jan. 2020 to Nov. 2022. According to Kiggans’ campaign website, the issues Kiggans is running under include cutting inflation, growing jobs, building a strong economy, securing the border, supporting law enforcement, prioritizing national security, delivering for veterans and improving
education. Representatives for Kiggans for Congress declined to comment for this article. Also a Navy veteran, Luria is running for re-election as a member of the Democratic party for a congressional seat. According to Luria's campaign website, she spent 20 years “serving on combatant ships around the world as a nucleartrained surface warfare officer.” After retiring from the Navy in 2017, she went on to become a small business owner in the Hampton Roads area. “The congresswoman served 20 years in the Navy defending our country overseas, and then when she retired, she started a small business that helped grow the economy right here in our community, and she's going to bring that same kind of fight, that same kind of experience to Congress,” Zach Emanuel, communications director for Elaine Luria For Congress, said. Luria served as a congressional representative for Virginia's second district from 2018 to 2023. According to Luria's campaign website priorities include environmentally protecting Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay, protecting seniors, strengthening National Security and care for military families, honoring America’s promise to veterans, opposing endless wars that raise gas prices and tariffs on our allies, making life more affordable and making healthcare accessible for every Virginian. “We want lower costs at the grocery store, at the gas station, at the doctor's office here and we want less corruption up in Washington and in Congress,” Emanuel said. State-wide Virginia constitutional amendments are also up for election on Nov.
3. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, the proposed referendum constitutional questions include whether the Constitution of Virginia should be amended to “(i) protect the freedom to make personal decisions about prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care; (ii) protect doctors, nurses, and patients from being punished for these decisions; and (iii) allow for restrictions on access to abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy except when the patient's health is at risk or the pregnancy cannot survive.” “[Luria] believes that a woman has a right to choose and make decisions for herself about her own body,” Emanuel said. Recent national developments, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade and changes to federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and civil rights policies, have raised concerns among some voters about the future of protections for women and minority groups. For junior Sara Wall, vice president of the Young Democrats, those developments add significance to the referendum. “I think it’s important, especially with how nationally they’re taking so much away,” Wall said. “I think, too, the access to abortion amendment is important regionally as well because, particularly since North Carolina increased their restrictions, if you live in the South, Virginia is probably one of the closest states that you can go to where you can get access to abortion care,” Caughell said. Turning Point USA Chapter President Katherine Quigley said she believes the government should have no say in the bodily
choices of U.S. citizens. She said access to healthcare and doctors regarding pregnancy and childbirth in certain situations is important. However, she said she believes citizens have a certain responsibility when it comes to the choice to have unprotected sex. “For me, I am a very much my body, it's my choice person. If I get pregnant, it’s my fault I had sex. My choice. I have to live with it,” Quigley said. Another proposed referendum constitutional question asks if the constitution should be amended to “(i) remove the ban on samesex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law.” “[Luria] believes all Virginians, all Americans, should have the right to live and love freely and with dignity,” Emanuel said. Caughell said that this referendum was interesting because of the motivations behind it being on the ballot on the first case, considering federal protections for same-sex marriage that already exist. “I think there's no reason for this amendment to exist unless what you're anticipating is the Supreme Court to knock down the case that protected gay marriage,” Caughell said. Additionally, Caughell referenced the argument used to overturn Roe V. Wade in 2022. “In the case overturning Roe v. Wade Dobbs, Clarence Thomas, in a concurring decision or a concurring opinion, said that he thought the same rationale they used to knock down Dobbs and overturn that would apply to the gay marriage case as well,” Caughell said. Affirming the right of two adults
to marry regardless of sex, gender or race in the state constitution would provide additional protection against future efforts to challenge the legal recognition of those marriages. “If we were to go back to red, I feel like that would happen. So, putting that in the constitution is going to make that a lot harder,” Wall said. Some students such as Gabrielle Barnett, senior and president of Spectrum, a student organization supporting the LGBTQ+ community, believe that referendums like this are important because they allow voters to shape policies to reflect their own values. “Amendments like this one are just another reason why it's so important to go vote. This is our chance to shape our government to our values, and that can't be ignored,” Barnett said. Quigley said she believes people should be able to marry whomever they want. “It doesn’t affect me. So you can marry whoever you please. I’m gonna love whoever I want, my sister can love whoever she wants, my cousin can love whoever she wants,” Quigley said. “Everybody has feelings, and everyone's feelings should be validated ... it is your freedom to love whoever you want.” Young voters, like college students, are especially important in elections like this as, according to Caughell, young voters are the most movable. “College students and young voters are much more important than I think they realize,” Caughell said. Batten University students can connect with Batten Engaged in the Athenaeum to check their registration status and register to vote. Early voting ends on Halloween, Oct. 31, 2026.
Batten University remembers 9/11
BY BAILEY MYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER bamyers@batten.edu
Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. Debris from the attack clouded the streets, confusing citizens as people rushed down the 110-story building searching for help. Citizens across the country felt the effect of 9/11. People on college campuses collapsed on the sidewalks out of grief. Family members cried at prayer services for their lost loved ones. Students sat numb in classrooms in the days that followed. Parents waited outside their childrens' schools for hours before they were let out.
Dozens gathered on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 to reflect on these moments for the Robert Nusbaum Center remembrance in the Peace Garden at Batten University. Kelly Jackson, the associate director of the Robert Nusbaum Center, said this anniversary had a “greater significance” because it represented a generation younger than the events of 9/11. “You only know of it through other people’s memories,” Jackson said. Those gathering for the remembrance were mostly “traditionally aged” students, Jackson said, like senior Lucas Gordon, who was not alive during the events of 9/11.
“It’s a very unifying, sobering moment in our nation’s history, and I wasn’t alive, but if I can contribute to the ethos that is remembrance, then so be it,” Gordon said. Eight speakers spoke about the effects of 9/11 and how it shaped the United States. Dr. Craig Wansink, director of the Nusbaum Center, said he was inspired by the image of “helping hands.” Wansink said he envisioned hands giving out water, hands driving boats and hands leading people through the crowd. Wansink said it wasn’t politicians or officials that made a difference that day, but the citizens and first responders that put their lives on the line to help
Batten University|Courtesy Craig Wansink speaks at 9/11 25th anniversary rememberance event on campus. others. The 9/11 motto, “Never forget”, also drove his vision for the speech. Wansink said he believes the motto is too broad for students and doesn’t relate to this generation. “Never forget what?” Wansink said. When writing this speech, Wansink said he wanted to focus on the personal stories that students couldn’t remember but could understand. The purpose of the speech was to educate students on the effects of 9/11 and how it shaped U.S. culture. A part of this was how many Muslim, Arab and
South Asian Americans were treated after the attack. Kelly Jackson said these Americans were blamed for something they didn’t do and remembering the generosity shown during 9/11 can address this mistreatment. “We're all unique and all different in our own ways, but we're still all human,” Jackson said. Batten University also held a 9/11 memorial stair climb where students climbed the stairs inside the Beacon in recognition of the 110-flights of stairs first responders had to climb at the Twin Towers.
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Earth & Environment
Weather you’re ready or not, El Niño is here BY ELLIOT FYLSTRA EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT EDITOR
droughts, according to the WMO. “In the atmosphere, there is no boundary between countries, between continents, and there is no way to protect a country from the El Niño. There is always a circulation of winds, circulation of movements all over, and energy moves from the tropical to poles, both poles,” Haile said. The changes expected in the U.S. include increased snow and rain in the Southern U.S., more high tide flooding, changes in ocean animal migration paths and the suppression of hurricane development over the Atlantic Oceans, NOAA said. The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has entirely lacked hurricanes, only having eight tropical storms as of early October. The season starts on Jun. 1, and ends on Nov. 30. NOAA predicted earlier in 2026 that the season would be mild. Hurricanes are driven by warm ocean waters, Malcolm said, as the seawater evaporates and increases moisture in the atmosphere, providing energy for hurricanes to develop. Due to climate change causing more heat to be retained in the atmosphere, the ocean and especially the surface of the ocean have been increasing in temperature. Fortunately for the east coast of the U.S., El Niño causes strong winds higher up in the atmosphere, which prevent large storms from accumulating too much moisture, NOAA said. The Pacific will have weaker winds and stronger temperatures that may cause stronger storms on the other side of the U.S. Virginia will not feel too strong of an
effect from the El Niño, according to the WMO’s models. There may be slightly more precipitation in the winter. Higher rains will be present in the Southern U.S. states. Even if the weather is mild now, Virginia residents should stay aware, especially during the remainder of hurricane season. “Last week the New York and Boston areas had more rainfall … That's part of this El Niño. It's something that we can predict, and we always have to make preparations. We always have to follow the weather forecasters, and we always have to make sure our lives are safe,” Haile said. Information on preparing for tropical storms, hurricanes and other extreme weather events can be found on NOAA’s website.
NOAA|Courtesy From a seven day average of Sep. 27 to Oct. 3, 2026, NOAA modeled the anomalous sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. Warm waters are accumulating in the east of the ocean basin, signifying an El Niño event.
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle Volunteer over the weekend to measure flooding in Hampton Roads.
egfylstra@batten.edu
Forecasters are predicting the 2026 El Niño to be one of the strongest on record, with sea temperatures currently at 3.0 degrees Celsius above average. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is already affecting local weather, with the Atlantic hurricane season lacking hurricanes thus far. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently predicts chances up to 98% that the upcoming El Niño will be very strong, possibly with the highest sea temperatures of all recorded ENSO events. “It's called ENSO, El Niño–Southern Oscillation, because it oscillates back and forth. So in the Pacific Ocean near the equator, you're getting an alternation between warmer temperatures and cooler temperatures, and also a change in the wind speed and direction,” Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, Batten professor of ocean and atmospheric sciences and the director of sustainability, said. ENSO is caused by cyclical changes in sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure over the Pacific Ocean. “It's basically a natural climate event that occurs every two to seven years. Once it happens, it could last for eight to nine months,” Dr. Gebremedhin Haile, assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences, said. The oscillation is a climatic event, not a weather event. It causes changes in the
weather when it’s active. “Weather is what's happening now, the conditions of the atmosphere at a particular point in time. Is it hot today? What temperature was it? Then, climate is looking at long term trends,” Malcolm said. For an El Niño event to be announced, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific must be above 0.5 degrees C on average. Currently temperatures are over 3.0 degrees C, and may reach 4.0 degrees C above average, NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. The last El Niño was the 2023-2024 oscillation. It was a strong El Niño, but sea surface temperatures were cooler than the current 2026 temperatures, making it likely to be a weaker event, the WMO said. That oscillation was the 5th strongest on record, and caused record-breaking temperatures and several flooding events. Temperature variations are measured as the difference between current temperatures and the long-term average temperature, usually the sea surface temperatures from 1991 to a few years before the current El Niño. “When we speak of an anomaly, we use the information we have right now and we compare that information, that climate phenomena, to a previous mean,” Haile said. El Niño affects weather patterns over the entire globe. It has a strong influence on precipitation, meaning some areas like the Greater Horn of Africa will face heavier rains, while other places will have intense
Isaac Fick|Marlin Chronicle
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Community RUEHLMANN CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Heather Tebbenhoff ‘10, former editorin-chief of the Marlin Chronicle, said when she arrived on campus and met Ruehlmann, she knew she was where she was supposed to be. “His entire personality and everything about him was so welcoming, and he made everyone feel so special,” Tebbenhoff said. Fox said Ruehlmann was patient, encouraging and always said “show don’t tell,” helping students find a solution without telling them directly. Rachel Balsley ‘13, former editorin-chief of the Marlin Chronicle, said Ruehlmann always left room for people to talk and explore. Fox said Ruehlmann had fun, clever ways of teaching, such as wearing a particular vest and stepping out to change to see if anyone noticed. Brandon Elliott ‘05, executive director of intercollegiate athletics and former community editor of the Marlin Chronicle, said he remembers Ruehlmann telling him “he didn’t teach classes, he led them.” He said Ruehlmann’s ability to teach was a gift. “You can be a gifted writer, but that doesn’t make you a great teacher. And he just had the gift that he could do both,” Elliott said. “He once told me his goal was not to teach, his goal was to inspire,” Jackson said. “And he did.” Former staff writer for the Marlin Chronicle John-Henry Doucette ‘01 said Ruehlmann built up students’ understanding of storytelling, honesty and accuracy in a constructive way. “The idea of the school is that you’re building scholars and you’re building people, and Bill believed that,” Doucette said. On Chronicle deadline nights, Elliott said Ruehlmann was in his Bray Village office, where the Chronicle room was at the time, and wasn’t involved unless the students needed him. Balsley said Ruehlmann instilled independence in editors, offering support and guidance when needed, but allowing the Chronicle to be a student-led organization. “He loved deadline nights for The Marlin Chronicle,” Fox said. “He would get everyone pizza and stay in the newsroom till midnight, and his enthusiasm would just help us get through those late deadline nights.” Elliott said Ruehlmann was a calming and supportive “gentle giant.” He said he never heard Ruehlmann speak ill of anyone. “He was a character, and that carried through every part of his life,” Balsley said. “No matter you’re chatting with him in his office or deadline night or in the classroom, he is just a big presence.”
Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
“He was a very big presence in everyone’s life who came, maybe not necessarily through the Chronicle office, but through his classroom,” Tebbenhoff said. Ruehlmann had a green pen he would grade assignments with by circling, underlining, drawing smiley faces and signing “Bill.” Fox said his use of the green pen was encouraging. “It just wasn’t the way that you’d think you’re gonna get an exam back or a paper back,” Elliott said. “He never wanted to use red pens when he corrected your stuff because he didn’t like how that looked, red was bad,” Tebbenhoff said. Elliott said Ruehlmann’s office had many books. “It just felt like a Polaroid from the 70s,” Elliott said. “His office was this cave in village one,” Tebbenhoff said. She said it was floor to ceiling with paperbacks, a cozy space to talk. “I remember his car was piled high with books,” Fox said. “His dashboard had paperbacks all sliding around on it. The seats were covered in paperbacks. His office was full of paperbacks. He just loved reading and lived out his passions: reading and writing.” Doucette said he remembers Ruehlmann giving people books from his “cavern” of an office with notes written with the same green pen. “I have a collection of books Bill signed,” Doucette said. “Books were his means of communication,” Jackson said. Jackson said he also had a “menagerie” of pets and was interested in classic films. Jackson said for a long time, she and Reuhlmann were the communication department. “I definitely considered him a friend,” Jackson said. Elliott said he often received notes from Ruehlmann congratulating him on achievements after he graduated. He said this relationship is no different than what Ruehlmann had with everyone. “Dr. Ruehlmann was amazing at forming personal relationships with each student,” Fox said. She said he knew how to reach students where they were and saw potential in everyone. Elliott said Ruehlmann did not let him be a sports editor like he wanted because Ruehlmann wanted to challenge him to be comfortable with being uncomfortable in other areas. “He was such an advocate for student journalism and was so passionate about The Marlin Chronicle,” Fox said. Tebbenhoff said she felt like she always had a cheerleader in Ruehlmann. She said Ruehlmann treated everyone equally and with care and respect. Fox said Ruehlmann became a friend and a mentor to her. “He sent me his family Christmas card every year. He was such a strong influence in my life and I know
Rachel Balsley|Courtesy In a 2013 Facebook post, Ruehlmann stands with Editor-in-Chief Kaitlyn Fox ‘14 and comments “A terrific journalist and one of her many fans!”
Rachel Balsley|Courtesy Ruehlmann looks at a book at a gathering in the Chronicle newsroom. I would not have the communications career that I have today if it wasn’t for Dr. Ruehlmann changing the entire course of my college experience to focus on journalism,” Fox said. Doucette said he knew he wanted to be a journalist before he met Ruehlmann, but
didn’t know where yet and Ruehlmann centered him in that world. “How do you pay that back?,” Doucette said. “I don’t know that you can, but I hope a lot of us who have gone on to work in journalism or communications just try to value what he gave us,” Doucette said.
Counseling faces Head Counselor change BY MARS SMITH COMMUNITY EDITOR rssmith@batten.edu
Recently, the Counseling department has undergone some changes in terms of head counselors. Formerly headed by Michelle De Rosa, Batten’s new head counselor is Tonya Gardner. “Abrupt changes in therapy or a similar routine can have a noticeably negative impact upon a student in the middle of treatment,” junior psychology major Liam Davis said. “Potential disruption can result in harmful impacts on their routine, leading to emotional distress, anxiety and a loss in safety and security between the therapist and the client.” Losing access to services may negatively affect students’ overall mental and emotional health, retention, academic progress, ability to manage daily stressors and may increase the likelihood of crisis behaviors, Gardner said. Batten University’s counseling services include individual counseling, couples and group counseling and the Bandana project, which is a national suicide and mental health awareness initiative where students receive training on identifying signs of mental health distress, skills in supportive communication and mental health resources. “The goal is to communicate in advance if possible and offer resources and coping strategies to help reduce any negative effects,”
Head Counselor Tonya Gardner said. The counseling services department also partners with other organizations, such as Campus Suicide Prevention Center of Virginia, Prosperity and other Eating Disorder and Suicide Prevention organizations. “There are benefits to school counseling,” Davis said. “While the counselors at university likely have a similar skill set and licensing as an outside provider, and they ultimately both have the same goal of seeing to their clients betterment, both have different limitations.” Senior Jack Blevins said a combination can be a perfect blend with the school provider being more immediate care and an outside provider providing long term care, and while a school provider may be easier to access physically and financially, an outside provider would be able to provide long term care beyond a semester. “Outside providers offer far more consistency with potential year-long care and are more flexible regarding the time frame,” Davis said. “There is no one size fits all answer to whether counseling with the school or an outside provider is better,” Gardner said. “It depends on a variety of factors to include the individual’s needs, diagnosis and the availability of a specialized clinician to treat the presenting concerns.” Due to the other limitations, like time of day, school breaks and
varying staff credentials, there is a potential lack of satisfaction in school counseling services, Davis said. “I’d say it’s pretty hard [to face an abrupt change] because we schedule around our classes, so the sudden change is pretty drastic,” sophomore Jurhnee Richardson said. “School counseling, while free and convenient due to being on campus, may not offer the same in-depth or complex analysis expected from an actual counselor at a clinic.” Davis said. “In comparison, outside providers will be far more expensive, and depending on the location, potentially time consuming to travel to and from,” Davis said. “We offer a free, safe and confidential space for our students to manage distress to improve their mental health,” Gardner said. “Students who are better able to manage stress and feel mentally stable are more likely to remain in school and be able to focus on their academic responsibilities.” Reducing counseling services may affect students’ success, students’ mental health stability and students’ overall well-being. “Losing counseling services, even for a short time, could be disastrous, as students wouldn’t have access to the necessary healthcare to ease the stress school can cause leading to poorer academic and social performance,” Blevins said. Davis said losing counseling services altogether would be potentially dangerous for students
struggling with mental health. “Without counseling, students lose access to an avenue for relieving emotional distress, crisis aversion and building resilience that are readily available, this loss could lead to a downward spiral into academic decline or even dropping out due to unchecked mental health.” “The sudden departure from a set schedule can exacerbate certain mental health issues,” Blevins said. “Not everyone has the same resources, both mentally and physically,” Richardson said. “[Losing services] could impact their mental health and then take a toll on their grades.” Students who come from low income backgrounds or have a history of struggling with mental health may suffer the most from this lack of service, Davis said. “Students of low income are heavily reliant on these services as they can’t afford outside services or they simply don’t have the means of reliable transportation.” “Students who could otherwise not access counseling services that are affordable and convenient would probably be the most affected.” Gardner said. In addition, students who are reluctant to seek mental health services due to stigma may not seek outside counseling, even when there is a significant need for support. The loss of university counseling services would create additional barriers to receiving appropriate care, Gardner said. “One of my goals in this role is
Batten University|Courtesy New Head Counselor Tonya Gardner. to create a campus where students feel connected, supported and cared for,” Gardner said. “To make this happen, Counseling cannot function as a stand-alone service.” Though Batten’s Counseling services have undergone various changes, counseling services remain open. “I see myself integrating in the campus and broader community by fostering belonging and connection and coordinating with different departments to bring meaningful programs and providing referrals that address the whole student so that she/he can feel connected, supported and cared for at Batten University.” Gardner said. Counseling services can be contacted through the Counseling Center at 757-455-3131 or by visiting Student Services, room 211, and will assist with assigning students to a new clinician and setting up any appointments.
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
The MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Isaac Fick ihfick@batten.edu Managing Editor Aiden Croghan accroghan@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 Page to podium spotlights campus member research Topics range from AI ethics in social work to politics in science fiction and rough draft math.
BY KAMI WHISENHUNT COMMUNITY EDITOR
kjwhisenhunt@batten.edu
Hofheimer Library’s Page to Podium lecture series gives faculty, staff and students a chance to present their research. Devin OrtizHoffman, outreach and access services librarian, organized and initiated the year-long lecture series last year. Instructional and Online Learning Librarian Abe Nemon said the lecture series is open to anyone on campus who wants to attend. He said anyone who wants to submit a presentation can reach out to Ortiz-Hoffman. April Christman, assistant professor of social work, presented on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics in social work practices on Sept. 9 along with Dr. Benjamin Dobrin, professor of health and human services. Her presentation examined how existing social work ethics apply to emerging technologies like AI and questions raised as the field adapts. “I thought it was really cool to share a stage or podium with students to share research. So that way, we’re colleagues in the academic forum in that way,” Christman said. Christman said AI is being described in the field as a disruptive technology because it’s changing how social workers practice. She said social work is a human centered profession that relies on relationships, whether that be through therapy or coordinating patient care in a hospital. She said that since AI has become more common, social workers should consider how it affects these interactions,
deeper understanding of rough draft and continue science fiction history. revising their work. Nemon said science During her internship, fiction from the 1940s Sipes examined data reflects concerns after Jansen’s team collected World War II, including and developed a better fascism and the future understanding of the of society. He said approach. She said the writers were focused on experience inspired her protecting knowledge, to share what she learned science and art. These are through Page to Podium. issues he thinks are still “I think math holds a relevant today. really special place in my Sophomore Emma Sipes heart. I remember growing Batten University|Courtesy presented “Rough Draft up hating math for a really Abe Nemon, instructional and online learning Math” on Sept. 30. She long time, and then I had librarian, presents on politics in science fiction. discovered this concept a teacher in high school and she’s concerned when has not yet established through her internship who totally changed what it comes to confidentiality. specific standards for AI over the summer with Dr. doing math looked like for Christman gave an use in the field, whereas Amanda Jansen, professor me,” Sipes said. example of a concerning the British Association of education at the “I think this is so scenario: a therapist explicitly prohibits social University of Delaware. important because it’s putting information from workers from using AI, “Rough Draft Math is a giving all of my hard a therapy session into AI and Canada has guidelines student-centered approach work that I’ve done over to create notes. that are less direct about to teaching mathematics. the summer a voice. I get “Now, what you say in what practitioners should It places emphasis on to share it with my peers therapy is being managed do. student discourse, peer to show them all the work by a form of technology Nemon presented discussions and has a I put into it,” Sipes said. that has a third-party Sept. 16 on the politics of really big focus on being She said this vendor that develops it, science fiction films of able to draft, revisit and presentation provided an and it brings some ethical the past 100 years, with revise mathematical opportunity to introduce questions to the table,” stories from each decade ideas,” Sipes said. the Rough Draft Math Christman said. reflecting the issues and Sipes said the approach approach to others in Her presentation experiences of their time. encourages students to education, including math focused on applying the “For me, politics is not view their initial answers educators, and she thought existing code of ethics just people running for as part of the learning it was a great opportunity to new technology, office. It’s about daily life. process rather than as final for students and faculty particularly for students It’s about how we’re living results. She compared to share topics they are who are still learning the in the world. It’s about the it to writing an essay, passionate about. fundamentals of social things that are affecting where students create a work. our day-to-day lives, and “I don’t necessarily I feel like there’s kind of want to be seen as an AI a narrative from some naysayer, but I think what quarters,” Nemon said. social workers do is very Nemon said his interest special. People don’t in science fiction began come to a social worker when he was younger, because they’re having a particularly with good time. It’s often the cyberpunk, which is a worst day of their life,” subgenre that explores Christman said. “For topics like the internet, me, it’s awkward that a hackers and technology. technology could come He taught a course, in and listen in on that “Themes in Science space of vulnerability for Fiction Literature,” a client.” at another institution During her research, and realized from his she analyzed the U.S. experience that he should compared to other expand his knowledge Maddie Sisk|Marlin Chronicle countries in establishing of the genre. This led Sophomore Emma Sipes presents research on a guidelines for AI in social him to research and read new learning approach for students called Rough work. She said the U.S. more widely to develop a Draft Math.
‘The founders can still help us find our way’ BY CLAUDIA SZMYD STAFF WRITER cszmyd@batten.edu
Political scientist Dr. Timothy O’Rourke presented to a full audience of 50 at Batten University with a talk called “The Founders Can Still Help Us Find Our Way,” discussing what the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution can still teach us today. O’Rourke delivered the talk on Sept. 17, the same date the Constitution of the United States was signed 239 years ago. O’Rourke said, like our founding fathers, we are the people that must make the changes and be the activists we wish to see. “‘We the People’, it’s a pledge,” O’Rourke said. O’Rourke brought points of contention, like politics, to discussion. Chandler Turner, a
senior studying criminal justice, said this talk was eye-opening and created room for conversation about the topic. “A good president could really unite us all, and it would allow us to take steps into the direction for change,” Turner said. O’Rourke earned his Ph.D. in political science from Duke University. He has numerous published articles in political journals and has had his work cited by the Supreme Court as an expert witness. O’Rourke also has taught and served as Provost of Academic Affairs at Batten. The talk took place as America celebrated its 250th anniversary. O’Rourke said that he finds that many Americans are simply participating in air citizenship, not actively fighting for more. “We pretend to play but are not really mastering the music,”
Kami Whisenhunt|Marlin Chronicle
Batten University|Courtesy Dr. Timothy O’Rourke speaks on what the Constitution can teach us today. O’Rourke said. past documents, such as the Adeoluwa Adeyemo, a junior Declaration of Independence and studying computer science, said the Constitution, for help with something as simple as our civic our country’s division today. The duty of voting is effective. Declaration of Independence “We have to give effort and was, “...set at the maximum of induce our own actions to see rights for all men, even though changes,” Adeyemo said. at the time they didn’t adhere to O’Rourke said individual them,” O’Rourke said. activism is important. “What “Similar ideas, viewpoints and we expect from a presidential overall beliefs as a nation could candidate is what we must expect be applicable today,” Adeyemo of ourselves,” O’Rourke said. said. O’Rourke said the next O’Rourke concluded his talk president must mean it when he by saying the key to solving the says he wants to bring us together country’s issues is looking at our since our country is so divided. nation’s history for help. “They need to maximize common Turner said the Constitution ground,” O’Rourke said. and Declaration of Independence O’Rourke said our political are too outdated to even refer system is deeply polarized and back to. unifying crisis may bring people The talk was a part of the together. “Our system encourages Robert Nusbaum Center directed disagreement but also persuasion by Dr. Craig Wansink. The of finding common ground,” Nusbaum Center promotes O’Rourke said. diversity, dialogue, faith and O’Rourke said we can turn freedom, according to the Batten to our founding fathers and University website.
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Sports
Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Gentry Locke Cup supports student-athletes BY JULIA KIST STAFF WRITER jkist@batten.edu
The Gentry Locke Cup is a local sponsorship program that awards funding to athletic departments across four schools in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC): Roanoke College, University of Lynchburg, Randolph-Macon College and Batten University. Established in Sept. 2025, the Gentry Locke Cup distributed a total of $19,000 to ODAC institutions in its first year. Gentry Locke Attorneys, which has several offices across Virginia, created and currently sponsor the program. The cup’s goal is to fund athletic departments to improve athletic facilities and to provide scholarships to student-athletes. “We’d love to see the energy pick up around these games as the
cup grows,” John Schieb, partner at Gentry Locke Attorneys, said. “I’m hopeful that folks will see it as a fun way to energize ODAC games.” Teams from each school compete in a range of 13 sports and earn two points per win and one point per tie. At the end of the competition season, the school with the highest total score earns the Gentry Locke Cup. All four schools receive prize money, with $10,000 given to first place, $5,000 to second place, and $2,000 awarded to both third and fourth place. “Beyond the competition itself, the cup celebrates the dedication of student-athletes,” Josh Pilot, senior marketing coordinator at Gentry Locke Attorneys, said. “It’s amazing to see the positive impact collegiate athletes have across our communities.” The idea for the cup grew from a sponsorship of Batten’s Men’s
Gentry Locke Attorneys|Courtesy
Joshua Pilot|Courtesy Gentry Locke Attorneys present a first place $10,000 prize to Randolph-Macon College. Basketball team. As organizers worked with the program, conversations began about how the partnership could make a broader impact. In collaboration with Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dave Macedo and Athletic Director Brandon Elliott, those discussions evolved into a conference-wide initiative designed to benefit student-athletes across the conference. Macedo said Schieb brought the idea to the university. “I thought it was a really great idea, a way to motivate studentathletes and really bring up the competitiveness,” Macedo said. “As we looked at all the teams in the conference, we realized that they overlapped really well with the four cities we’re located in,” Scheib said. “That led to us expanding to create the Gentry
Locke Cup, wanting a spirited competition between the schools in our conference.” The competition follows schools throughout multiple athletic seasons, allowing institutions to continue earning points as the year progresses. As standings shift throughout the season, participating schools can monitor their position through the cup’s official scoreboard. The Gentry Locke Cup concluded its inaugural season in spring 2026 with Randolph-Macon claiming the championship title. Randolph-Macon finished the year with 57 points and 28 victories across the competition’s 13 sports. Roanoke College finished fourth. The University of Lynchburg and Batten University tied for second place with 51 points each.
The Marlins Men’s Lacrosse team gathers around the fence to support the Women’s Soccer team as they face Salisbury University.
“In the instance of a tie, we handle it just like professional golf,” Schieb said. “We add together the amount of money we had set aside for the second and third place teams and just divide it in half.” “I really think the cup does an amazing job when it comes to the scholarship rewards,” Macedo said. “It’s honestly amazing how each place gets a certain amount of money for their school.” To find live updates on the scoreboard and when games are scheduled, The Gentry Locke Cup maintains a dedicated website that is updated weekly as the sports’ seasons progress. The cup was featured on WNIS, a Norfolk-based news and talk radio station, and WFIR, a Roanoke-based news and talk station.
James Hill|Courtesy
Tidal Wave games boost school spirit Increased support brings “more momentum” to Marlins Athletics. BY BRADEN LANIER STAFF WRITER bxlanier@batten.edu
Batten University created Tidal Wave games to encourage student-athletes to show support for other Marlins sports teams. Field Hockey Coach Baylor Baxley and Women’s Basketball Coach Megan Belo created Tidal Wave after brainstorming over the summer how to improve the school spirit of original “white out” games. Belo, who created the name Tidal Wave, had a vision to have mass attendance during a single sports game. “I think we’ve seen some other schools in the ODAC do something similar. For example, Lynchburg calls theirs their
‘Code Red’ game,” Baxley said. This can create a fear factor for opponents as they come into a setting that is filled with high fan energy and presence. Field Hockey hosted the first Tidal Wave game of the year as their season opener home game against St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Sept. 2. “They were talking about it all day that we’re going to see everybody from their classes and other programs. They’re cheering them on, so they were super excited,” Baxley said. Baxley said that besides all their common preparation, there was a “shift” in the Tidal Wave game compared to a regular game. “It was overall a really awesome experience. I think the atmosphere and the energy there were electric. We had probably over 400 students there, and then
we had a lot of faculty and staff members there as well,” Baxley said. Baxley said she chose to have their season opener as their Tidal Wave game to “get the ball rolling” on this new trend. Although they did not win, losing in overtime 0-1, the attendance was high and energy was up. “I think that was one of our best games we all played,” sophomore defensive midfielder Gabi Ortiz said. Women’s Soccer had their first Tidal Wave game in which they played Salisbury University on Sept. 16, resulting in a 2-0 win. Students showed their support with chants and brought an air horn and drum. “I think as a player, when you have that many people supporting you, it gets you more into the game because you have obviously outside help cheering you on,
putting input on the game as well,” senior defender Stephanie Koblish said. Koblish said the movement gives Marlin teams “more momentum.” Men’s Tennis and Men’s Lacrosse attended the Women’s Soccer game, cheering them on with loud chants and drum banging. “Seeing an entire team come and support us and take time out of their day or night to do that was really cool, and we appreciated it so much. And then obviously we’ll be able to do that for other teams as well,” Koblish said. The Women’s Golf team hosted their Tidal Wave match on Sept. 29 at the Anita Hobson Invitational in Portsmouth, VA. The Men’s Soccer and Women’s Volleyball teams hosted their Tidal Wave games on Oct. 7.
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Sports
Flo gives platform to Sports ODAC reaches agreement with Flo College for five years starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. BY JAMES BROOKS STAFF WRITER jbrooks1@batten.edu FloCollege’s parent network, FloSports, offers over 24,000 live sporting events. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), which Batten plays under, entered into a five-year contract with FloCollege starting during the 2025-2026 academic year. FloCollege covers every level of college sports, with over 6,000 teams represented across 26 sports. FloCollege broadcasts live video of college sports across the country due to contracts with individual athletic conferences. “Where the partnership provides value is the distribution infrastructure around that production [of games]. FloCollege gives the broadcasts a centralized home and makes them available through web, mobile and connected-TV platforms,” Director of Athletic Communication Tyler Costello said. FloCollege often uses the same broadcast as the home school, but they clean up audio issues or streaming delays. “Flo does a good job making it more uniform and makes sure the experience is kind of the same,” Athletic Communication Graduate Assistant RJ Jones said. FloCollege sets up testing periods during the summer rather than dealing with problems during game time.
College broadcasting teams are able to use Slack, a workplace communication app, to message a FloCollege representative when they are testing fields for casting. “There is also technical support when problems arise, along with the broader production, technology, marketing and content investment that is part of the conference agreement,” Costello said. Schools offer broadcasts for home games but are not able to send crews to away games. “We’re able to see a lot more through FloSports than we would with our crews ... I don’t think we have the resources or the positions [to travel],” Professor and Chair of Sport and Recreation Professions Dr. Jill Sturts said. FloCollege allows fans of individual teams or universities to see every game, home or away. FloCollege brings more visibility to smaller schools. At the Division III level, games that were previously not broadcast are now streamable if the school is partnered with FloSports. National championships, regional games and conference play are available to watch. “At Batten, softball and volleyball saw a large increase in viewership due to their success throughout the season and FloCollege.” Sturts said. “At the Division III level, we don’t have national television networks showing up every week to broadcast our games. In many ways, we are our own media
Caston Christman|Marlin Chronicle FloSports and the ODAC established an agreement on a five-year streaming exclusive deal starting during the 2025-2026 academic year. company ... A good broadcast does more than allow somebody to watch a game. It showcases our student-athletes, coaches, facilities and university,” Costello said. FloCollege operates on a monthly or annual viewer membership plan. Membership includes access to live video, replays of events, schedules and rosters of teams and conference standings. Schools may not want to take away the free streaming they already offer to their fans. “I think institutions are a little bit
weary because there has been talk of price increase. So I think that would be a problem,” Sturts said. “The advantage is having a larger established platform for distribution,” Costello said. “Instead of every school trying to build its own streaming infrastructure, subscription system and viewing applications, there is one platform that can distribute our broadcasts across the web and a number of streaming devices.” In addition to membership, FloSports advertises for companies. “A big part of their
making money is the ads they run up there,” Jones said. These ads are not necessarily run during stoppage time or breaks in the games, so fans miss out on a small amount of game time. If ads were only run during breaks in game time, FloSports would not be able to guarantee advertisement to each company they partner with. Due to the ability to stream away games and the visibility FloCollege brings to colleges across the country, more schools are turning to FloSports to stream their games.
Concussions: how are they treated? According to ESPN, up to 3.8 million concussions happen yearly in the U.S. BY ZACH SEWARD STAFF WRITER zfseward@batten.edu Easily life-changing, concussions are still one of the most common injuries across any contact sport. A sudden hit or jolt to the head can have profound effects on you for the rest of your life. A concussion is when any force shakes or twists your brain, making contact with the inside of your skull. That contact ultimately severs micro-nerves inside your head. Micro-nerves help convey emotions, keep balance, process thoughts and many other vital functions to your body. With those being severed, people with concussions can experience a wide range of emotions at once, as well as severe nausea, temporary balance loss, vertigo and memory loss. However, in extreme cases, concussions can cause a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as
well as possible seizures and brain bleeds, which are fatal. It is very important, once a concussion does take place, to watch the person for any extreme symptoms such as throwing up, unequal pupils and slurred speech. “The most important thing is that you cannot let the person who is concussed sleep after the initial concussion. You have to monitor them for an hour or two and make sure there are no other serious problems,” Athletic Trainer Brian Wright said. The sleep itself is not the issue, though; the problem is delaying medical attention if it is more severe than a concussion. Some severe examples would be a skull fracture or a possible brain bleed. According to Mayo Clinic, in most contact sports, returning to play after a concussion is very likely, yet it increases the risk of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This happens
when several concussions or TBIs happen over the course of a lifetime/career. CTE is a degenerative disease that alters your brain’s function. Normally, your brain makes a protein called tau, which helps with transporting nutrients and stabilizing the micro-nerves. However, with the nerves severed, the tau protein grows in irregular ways and forms toxic clumps. This is also how Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s form. The tau protein squeezes blood vessels and forms the neurodegenerative disease known as CTE. According to Keith Jenkins from ESPN, a new study has diagnosed the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in more than 40% of youth, high school and college athletes, primarily football players who were exposed to repetitive head impacts from contact sports and died before the age of 30. This shows how serious brain injuries
National Library of Medicine|Courtesy Brain scan of a healthy brain (LEFT) compared to a brain from an individual with CTE (RIGHT).
are, even at the youth level. Even in non-contact sports, a concussion is still a possibility. Falling or even twisting your neck the wrong way can cause a concussion. Athletic trainers for contact sports are trained routinely to identify concussions, as there are a huge variety of symptoms which vary from person to person. “All depending on the person, concussions can heal quickly or slowly, and all the symptoms are different. But one thing I see more often is the athlete being confused, then experiencing a lot of different emotions quickly,” Head Athletic Trainer Carly Laidlow said. Companies have come out with new caps/braces which lower the risk of concussions. The most well-known tools are Guardian Caps used by a handful of NFL players and Q-Collars for every sport as well as recreational activities. The Guardian Cap is a simpler design that adds extra padding, lowering the blow the brain takes when being hit. ESPN reported Guardian Caps absorbed at least 10% of the blow inflicted onto the brain. According to Q-Collar, wearing one applies a slight pressure to the sides of your neck without restricting your airway. This pressure causes a partial occlusion of the jugular veins and a slight increase in blood volume inside the head, and helps reduce the brain’s movement upon impact, which is the primary cause of brain injury. This ultimately protects the brain, limiting the movement of the brain. Several athletes from various sports wear the Q-Collar, one of whom is Miles Fuehler on the Men’s Lacrosse team. “I have had a couple of concussions over the years, and I’ve worn both the Guardian Cap and Q-Collar for practice, but only the Q-Collar now as it’s more practical for games. It is a weird fit, but I think it for sure works,” Fuehler said. When getting a concussion, it is vital to take time off. The brain is like any other muscle with the only difference being its extreme hypersensitivity. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, once that initial concussion takes place, you are at a 16% higher chance of having a recurring one in the next two years.
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Fantasy Football: the year of the running back Fantasy managers are pivoting back to running backs early in drafts due to change in defensive schemes. BY MATTHEW SMITH STAFF WRITER mjsmith3@batten.edu The 2026 NFL season has been off to an interesting start for fantasy football owners as running backs (RB) have been taking the lead in fantasy points through the first four weeks of the season. RBs are getting paid at the highest rate since 2012. Week one alone saw 37 rushing touchdowns scored; the most week one rushing touchdowns since 2002. Through weeks one to three, the top 50 fantasy scorers are dominated by quarterbacks (QB). QBs typically have very safe week-to-week floors compared to the skill positions, wide receivers (WR) and RBs. This floor, meaning a probable minimum scoring outcome, allows QBs to be relatively interchangeable on fantasy teams. Before the start of the season, ESPN Fantasy Football Analyst Matt Bowen said, “I still focus on the rushing upside at the position, but you don’t have to draft a
specific fantasy profile to have success as a manager.” Volatility and variance of skill position players are much higher compared to QBs. Skill positions decide who wins and loses fantasy leagues. Contrary to the past few years, there are considerably more RBs than WRs in the top 50 scoring rankings to start 2026. The typical early-round fantasy RBs are firmly cemented in the top 50. Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson and Johnathan Taylor are picking up where they left off last year and continuing to dominate the fantasy landscape. Pre-season fantasy draft rankings had them as the 1st, 2nd and 4th best RBs. However, the pre-season RBs 8, Derrick Henry, and 10, Kenneth Walker III, are currently top 10 in points scored this season. One might assume that this RB production increase is because of a change to offensive philosophy in the NFL. It’s actually because of a defensive shift. In 2025, defenses in the NFL showed two-high safety coverages
The Big Lead|Courtesy RB Jahmyr Gibbs was the favorite to be drafted 1st overall in most fantasy leagues.
almost 50% of the time according to NFL Next Gen Stats, meaning that defensive coordinators are opting to put a smaller, faster defender on the field rather than a bigger and stronger player. Defensive coordinators made
“It is crucial for a defense to make a QB worst post-snap, and lining up with this two-high shell makes every QB think after the snap.” Journalist Johnny Page
showing two-high looks the norm in order to stop teams from converting explosive plays in the passing game. Philadelphia journalist Johnny Page, who has done a case study on the two-high defense, said, “It is crucial for a defense to make a quarterback work post-snap, and lining up with this two-high shell makes every QB think after the snap. They can’t trust anything they see pre-snap, and this is important when trying to stop the very best quarterbacks.” The running game has emerged as the engine for most NFL organizations to begin the 2026 season. But what does this mean for your fantasy football team? If you’re a fantasy manager with a positive record, you’re in a great spot. Starting the year 2-1 or 3-0 gives you over a 60%
chance to make the playoffs in most twelve-man leagues. However, if you feel like there’s a hole somewhere in your roster, stay active on the waiver wire and be proactive with trades. Try to trade with the managers in your league who are not off to a great start and trading for their high-round draft picks, who may not be performing great to start the season. Be on the lookout for injured WRs like Puka Nacua and A.J. Brown, and RBs off to a slow start like Chase Brown and Bhayshul Tuten to help bolster your lineup and possibly win your league. “I’ve been buying low on a lot of guys I have faith in and selling guys I think will start to fade. I’m doing everything I can to get Puka before he comes back from injury. He is a stud,” senior Owen Matthews said, who’s at a 3-0 start in one of his leagues. If you’re on the other end of the spectrum, starting off the season 1-2 or worse, your best course of action to get yourself into the playoff race is through trades. The dynamic and structure of your team obviously isn’t working to start the year, so take
Pro Football Rumors|Courtesy RB Bijan Robinson rivaled Jahmyr Gibbs for the 1st pick. a long look at your roster and find ways to establish a good week-toweek floor for yourself. Whether that means making a big trade, scouring the waiver wire or playing some bench players who have more game opportunities than your current starters, making multiple changes or a big change is the difference between being last in your league and having a chance to make the playoffs.
Bleacher Nation|Courtesy 32 year-old RB Derrick Henry ranks #4 four weeks in.
The power of superstitions for athletes While superstitions may seem silly, athletes feel comfort from their daily rituals. BY JAIDEN MITCHELL STAFF WRITER jimitchell@batten.edu Superstitions are beliefs or rituals that link specific actions, objects or events to good or bad luck. They happen often in regular life, such as wishing on a shooting star, avoiding the number 13 or wearing a certain T-shirt whenever your favorite team plays. Superstitions matter to most athletes at all levels. Research from “Psychology Behind a Superstition” found that when people feel they have no control, they turn to rituals.
Even if the ritual doesn’t change the outcome, it lowers anxiety, which makes them feel stronger and more prepared. Lana Macchi, a sophomore on the swim team, has a routine she follows at every meet. “I have to spend at least 30-45 minutes prior to my race stretching alone while listening to music, specifically rap, and practicing anxiety breathing methods to calm my nerves,” Macchi said. “The first time it felt most meaningful to me was at our ODAC meet. I remember I came in 2nd and knew I was only racing the clock. I had never felt more in tune with myself before a race up until that point. It was one of the best feelings in my life and
I will never forget it,” Macchi said. Macchi carries lucky, special items with her, such as her “Minions” socks her mom gifted her. Macchi never goes to a swim meet without them. “I absolutely love minions. My mom has supported me at every swim meet ever since I was little, and now that I’m in college, sometimes it’s difficult for her to travel to meets. I always wear them to make me feel closer to her in times she can’t be present. They are my good luck charm and honestly so is my mom,” Macchi said. Chauncy Ragland, a sophomore on the baseball team, said he has multiple superstitions when it comes to his sport. “I
Bleacher Nation|Courtesy Michael Jordan wore his North Carolina Basketball shorts under his Chicago Bulls uniform for every NBA game.
try not to yawn right before a game because if I do, I usually do bad,” Ragland said. This superstition started in high school. Ragland also listens to Hispanic music right before a game. “One of my high school teammates would always listen to Hispanic music before games,” Ragland said. Ragland was in a slump before he began this superstition heading into a big game. He decided it was necessary to start listening to Hispanic music. “It was an important game and I played great,” Ragland said. Jasha Brewington, a sophomore on the track and field team, said he has many superstitions when it comes to sports. He makes sure his teammates “never split the pole because that can give you bad luck,” Brewington said. “Splitting the pole” is when two people are walking and go separate paths around a pole. Brewington also prays before all of his track meets. Prayer started for him very young because he said his grandma was always religious. Brewington prays to God every single track meet, and if he doesn’t, he said “everything feels slow and doesn’t feel like I do anything right.” Jacob Little, a sophomore on the track and field team, said his ritual before his meets is listening to music and counting to different numbers to calm his nerves. When Little was younger, he said his dad would always play music super loud before a game. “The music helps me not to overthink about the outcome of my event and helps me trust my training and live in the present moment,” Little said. Superstitions help athletes overcome nerves and make them feel more comfortable and confident. From the athletes at Batten University to professional athletes everyone has their own superstitions.
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Opinions
Novig bets on sexualization instead of women’s sports BY AIDEN CROGHAN MANAGING, NEWS EDITOR accroghan@batten.edu
Sydney Sweeney recently appeared nude in an advertisement promoting Novig, a sportsbetting site. The ad has generated a great deal of controversy, especially from notable female athletes, like Olympic gold medalist Ariarne Titmus. This controversy centers around Sweeney’s damaging portrayal of how women interact with
sports, one that doesn’t reflect the reality of women in athletics. It’s ridiculous that Novig and Sweeney’s ad was published, and that these horrible representations of women weren’t taken into consideration, or worse, were deliberately left in despite it. This isn’t Sweeney’s first taste of controversy. Last year she came under fire for her role in an American Eagle advertisement. The role spoofed a 1980 Calvin Klein ad, featuring a 15-yearold Brooke Shields putting on a pair of jeans while explaining the
concept of genetics. The 2025 American Eagle ad paid homage to an ad which sexualized a minor while also framing the commercial around Sydney Sweeney’s “ideal body,” blonde hair and blue eyes. This framing, whether intentional or not, shows eurocentric features as more attractive than others, and as a result, was seen by many as a white-supremacist dogwhistle. Sweeney’s involvement with Novig has seen a revival of her controversial status. Sweeney is a young female
The Guardian|Courtesy
actress who came to prominence through her role in the HBO series Euphoria. In her Novig ad, she covers her breasts and groin with her hair and various sports equipment while telling the audience that Novig allows you to trade on “just sports.” Towards the end of the ad she says, “No betting on wars, or deaths, or politics, just you, your takes and sports.” The ad damages perception of women in various ways. Immediately obvious to many viewers, this advertisement opted to include an actress in the nude as opposed to including a female athlete. This is a spit in the face to women’s sports as a whole. Women’s sports have grown immensely in popularity in the past couple of years, with many athletes rising to celebrity status, like Caitlin Clark. Instead of celebrating one of these many women in their advertisement, or celebrating sports at all, they centered the advertisement around the sexualization of a woman who has nothing to do with sports. Sweeney’s demeanor and acting in the advertisement also reinforces harmful views of women. During the whole advertisement, she is displayed with different kinds of sports equipment, like baseball bats, hockey goalie gear and footballs. She doesn’t play any of the sports during this ad. Instead, she just poses with the equipment. She also doesn’t refer to any of the sports by name. Instead, she just says “this one” as the advertisement transitions to a different sport. Many men
and women hold a view that women don’t know much about sports and can’t excel at sports to the level that men can. This advertisement’s representation of Sweeney reinforces these already existing views. People already don’t take women in sports seriously. Men in sports are celebrated or judged for their abilities, while public perceptions of female athletes often make their looks the topic of discussion, and people judge their merit based on their looks. Novig and Sweeney push a reactionary view, further moving women to the sideline of sports, utilizing them only as “eye candy” to sell a product.
Aiden Croghan|Marlin Chronicle
Aiden Croghan is a senior communications and philosophy student. Croghan acts as the managing editor and news co-editor on the Marlin Chronicle. They hope to continue pursuing journalism after graduation.
Google Giggles makes social media a game of aura Using collectible cards, virtual trading and “aura points,” it gives users a new way to interact, compete and build status. BY KEVIN MOORE CONTRIBUTING WRITER kamoore1@batten.edu
Made initially as a joke by internet nerds, it soon developed into an app. Google Giggles, referred to as giggles, as they have no true connection with the web browser, is run by a small team of content
creators and video-game players with a love for internet memes. However, a lot of the engineers on the team have experience working for companies like Crunchyroll, Yelp, Cognition and similar companies. While aura points can be bought with money, they do not want to promote any type of crypto farms or automation of the app so everyone
Google|Courtesy
can compete on a fair level. The way the app works is similar to apps like iFunny, YouTube shorts or TikTok where users post clips online for all to comment and see. However, there are no features for rating posts. Instead of likes, users bet ‘Aura’ points on videos they like, and depending on how the videos are loved, your ‘Aura’ would reflect that. It’s interesting seeing a stock exchange to represent social status, but it’s not too far from how the real world operates. People with a higher presence or worth are often what really become popular online. After claiming your aura from the videos, you can exchange them for loot boxes containing various types of online memes turned into collectable cards. Each meme is ranked and valued by these ‘Aura’ points, which can be bought but don’t have any real monetary value. Similar to trading cards, there’s a market for them within the app. You can trade for cards you don’t have in your collection or “sell” the card in an auction for more aura. While people can post videos and comment, the app works more like online card collection app; like Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh. Instead of trying to become popular for your content, you’re more focused on trying to watch the performance of the aura market and opening packs. If your video gets lots of people invested into it, the worth of it goes up similar to how a stock would. Those who sell high walk away with more aura than those who waited. Once redeemed, aura can be used to open up packs filled with hundreds of different memes and trends you can find on the internet. In my personal opinion, the app reminds me of a game one would play in their freetime; the main social aspect of it is playing an online stockbroker or trading
the cards you have with others. After scrolling through the app and opening card packs of my own, I can see the appeal. The videos are often original enough to promote diversity, and with the challenge of trying to get people to invest into your videos forces originality and creativity to stand out and gain lots of points. If you would like to have some fun while scrolling through funny web videos, then this app could be something. Instead of endlessly scrolling for nothing, you can now scroll and invest your time into collecting funny memes and cute animal photos.
Kevin Moore|Courtesy
Kevin is a sophomore studying business with a minor in English. He hopes to enter the world of business management and finance after graduation.
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THEWEEKENDER FARMHOUSE
Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
Guertler isn’t too keen on social media self-promotion, and prefers meeting people in person with her
CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Serving up pulled pork sandwiches and brisket mac n’ cheese plates, Coerse spoke to the perks of using a food truck to come to events like this, “Our restaurant is in Pungo, so it’s pretty far from the rest of society with Virginia Beach,” he said. “We get to bring the food to the people out in the city instead of them having to come to us.” Kids, dogs, fair maidens and cheerful beer-bellied patrons bounced to the Farmhouse itself for mead and coffee, stopping at the fairy-hair salon or beer garden for some real renaissance magic. Danielle Guertler brought the age-old practice of ceramics to the event. She shapes and fires everything from mugs to bookends right out of her home. She has been throwing for about 5 years, getting her start at Old Dominion University through their ceramics program and started selling about a year and a half ago.
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle A group of Old Dominion University alumni and Virginia Beach locals dress up for the Ren Fair.
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle
“I like the freeness of setting sail on the high seas and going into adventure.” Local musician Ryan Waddell
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle DG Pottery works like this can be commissioned or bought at dgpottery.com.
work, “I do lots of craft fairs here,” she said. “I think I’ve done probably five or six with them. I just love coming here. It’s such a good community, and everyone is always so kind. And I love being outside too.” The fair was a great opportunity for local businesses, but it was loads of fun for locals and renaissance enthusiasts alike. Ryan Waddell, a local musician, loves to dress outside of the box for renaissance fairs, his favorite costuming choice being pirate attire, “I grew up with a lot of renaissance, fantasy, Pirates of the Caribbean kinda like everyone else,” Waddell said, “I like the freeness of setting sail on the high seas and going into adventure. [Events] like this spark that inspiration.” Waddell, who had never been to Back Bay, was thrilled to see an event like this in his hometown, and thinks there is a huge opportunity for expansion. Waddell came out to see the band Monarch, whom he knows personally. Monarch played at the fair from 6 p.m. though the end of the night, adding live music to an already bustling Saturday at Back Bay. Find out what Back Bay Farmhouse has going on this weekend via their website, backbayfarmhouse.com, or instagram, @backbayfarmhouse.
MJ Matthews|Marlin Chronicle Managing Editor Aiden Croghan says hello to a llama!
Misfits Flea Market brings local creativity to Virginia Beach
REVIEW
some tunes to rock with as they shopped. The spectrum of vendors made the market BY CHARLIE HERRMAN feel less like a traditional flea market and STAFF WRITER more like a gathering place for local cjherrman@batten.edu creatives. One of the vendors that I had the I had the wonderful pleasure to meet was Kathryn opportunity to visit the Leanne, whose small business, Misfits Flea Market Kathryn Leanne Designs, has here in Virginia been operating for about 10 Beach this past years. weekend, and I Leanne creates one of a was extremely kind nature and space inspired impressed by jewelry using silver, copper the colorful, and brass. Kathryn said open flow she originally became setting that involved with Misfits hosted small Flea Market because businesses she wanted a consistent ranging from place where customers art, clothes, music, could find her. “I was coffee and more. looking for a market that I Held every third Misfits Flea Market|Courtesy could do every month just so Saturday of the that people would know where month, the Misfits Flea Market showcases to find me,” Leanne said. local vendors working hard from 8 a.m. to For small business owners, having a 2 p.m. reliable market can provide more than just a When walking through the market, there place to sell their products. It gives vendors was a smile at every booth and the vibes an opportunity to develop relationships were overall very uplifting, making for an with returning customers and then show enjoyable Saturday with sunny weather. I their work to new people. was surprised at how many people showed Kathryn offered advice to people who up, and the variety of people that were may be thinking about starting a business there, young and old. Almost every booth of their own. “Just go for it,” she said. had a style that made the experience even “Make the things, do the things and don’t more enjoyable. be shy to tell people how awesome your In the back center of the Flea Market stuff is.” they had a DJ playing upbeat yacht rock That willingness to put yourself and and pop music tracks, ensuring people had your work out there was also very clear in the story of local painter Noah Smith. Smith was born and raised in Hampton and said he has always been artistic. He began pursuing his artwork more seriously about four years ago, following a very difficult time period in his life. As Smith was walking me through his artwork and his story to success in the art world he had a very compelling line that struck me. “This is what I tell people all the time. This is what sobriety looks like,” Smith said. He directed me to one of his pieces, a wildly vibrant mural self-portrait with bright green tears, part of the unique art that he said has shaped him into who he is today. Smith said after reaching a turning point in his life, he realized he had been Charlie Herrman|Marlin Chronicle given a gift and did not want his talents to go to waste. He decided to sell his first Colorful collections of art pieces and commissioned piece, beginning a pathway clothing fill the space.
towards making art a large focus in his life. His involvement with the Misfits Market began after a friend told him about the Virginia Beach Flea, just as they were starting up Misfits. Smith was grateful to be one of the first members of the Market. “I am very fortunate to be sort of grandfathered in,” Smith said.
“Make the things, do the things and don’t be shy to tell people how awesome your stuff is.” Local artist Kathryn Leanne Now, Smith is looking to expand his work. One of his goals is to move into larger projects, including murals. “I’m consistently just looking for bigger and better,” Smith said. “If you’re going through anything in life, there’s always a way out,” Smith said. The last vendor I interviewed, Titus, runs a business under the name Hazards and focuses on streetwear, vintage clothing, “one of one” pieces and recycled clothing. His business grew out of a lifelong interest in thrifting. Titus said that around 2020, he began thinking more seriously
about turning that interest into a business. While looking through thrift stores, he realized that many pieces he found were not necessarily his own style, but could be appealing to someone else. “I could have been doing this years ago, even back in 2015,” Titus said. For Titus, clothing is not simply about following trends swooping around the internet. “I feel like it’s unique to the person. Everybody has a difference in what they like, and different styles,” Titus said. Titus uses social media like Instagram to connect with potential customers and promote his clothing. When I was looking at his collection of clothes, his jacket selection stood out to me. He had retro 90s jackets, leather jackets, vintage wind breakers and baggy parco jackets. Right when I walked up to the booth, Titus and his fellow workers were there to assist, showing great hospitality. Misfits Market is welcoming to all and a great place to go on a Saturday. What made it different from other flea markets is the layout. There is a coffee shop and restaurant practically in the middle of everything. It made each creator’s section a little different in their own cool ways. For the people selling their work, the Misfits Flea Market provides a place to put creativity in front of an accepting and enthusiastic audience. For visitors it offers the opportunity to explore local artists, independent businesses and other products that may not be found in traditional stores. Be sure to not miss the next Misfits Flea Market, every third Saturday at 620 19th Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Misfits Flea Market|Courtesy Misfits Flea Market runs every third Saturday of the month.
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Thursday October 8, 2026 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.batten.edu
While traditional folk may sound incredibly different depending on its region of origin, integral themes and priorities persist. The most fundamental of these being the importance of storytelling. To preserve oral traditions alongside generational stories and warnings, traditional folk songs typically have hard-to-pinpoint origins and no copyright. Songs can serve as a microcosm of broader, community wide conversations, concerns and points of unrest, commonly seen as political. Historically, folk artists have painted jarringly well with their lyricism, and we can see this especially when taking a peek into modern Celtic folk. With such a storied and troubled history between Ireland and England, those with words to broadcast took to the longtime political nature of folk. The Foggy Dew is the moniker of various tunes, but it is most popularly an Irish folk song by Father Charles O’Neill, which tales and reflects upon the Easter Rising of 1916 and World War 1 as a whole. WW1 took many Irishmen from their homeland and into the line of fire on behalf of England, who was fighting for the “freedom of small nations”. Such irony was that England valued the freedom of other small nations, but maintained their control of Ireland and forced Irishmen to lay down their lives for causes that could’ve rightfully been fought in Ireland. England’s preoccupation with foreign nations, though, meant less intense scrutiny on Irish soil. This led to an Irish seizure of many of Dublin’s major strategic buildings, referred to as the Easter Rising, which aimed at establishing an Irish Republic.
An insurrection of this magnitude resulted in England’s execution of 16 of the Rising’s leaders, which cemented Ireland’s disdain for England and a grand increase in the outward support for an Irish Republic, a pursuit still not attained. O’Neill’s tune, The Foggy Dew, chronicles the hardship and deaths of Irishmen on faraway soil, leaving the homeland to mourn their “lonely graves” on behalf of English rule: “‘Twas better to die ‘neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sud-el-Bar. “ This song has taken on many lives, with new lyricists utilizing the original melody, but molding it to meet new needs, like after a rebellion in 1922 during the Irish Civil War. Contemporary artists have kept the original version of this song alive, too: 1962: The Dubliners 1965: The Wolfe Tones 1995: The Chieftains w/ Sinead O’Connor 2005: The Blaggards Countless play and
others record
continue to their versions
Celtic folk ties in with the Celtic pagan beginnings of Samhain, which, in conjunction with All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day, influences the modern day tradition of Halloween. Samhain, pronounced sow-win, marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter, with celebrations beginning after sunset on October 31st. It was believed that spirits came to the living world on this transitional day, but were regarded with some trepidation. This fear led believers to wear disguises, a tradition we’ve continued.
In Celtic tradition, Donn, the Lord of the Dead, is seen as the keeper of the location where all souls must gather to pass over to Tir na nÓg, the Land of Youth, one of many “Otherworlds.” On Samhain, the veil between the overandunder worlds is most permeable and Donn is inundated. Celtic paganism and folk music intersect in Irish folk duo Tir na nÓg. Even with a classic self-titled record from 1970, the pair never found true acclaim, but their track “Daisy Lady” has caught some traction with younger audiences.
Beyond its historical importance, The Foggy Dew is simply a masterclass in storytelling, as is characteristic of many Celtic folk tunes: “There no
is
no
woman
more
beautiful
and
battle
so
bloody
and
tragic
one
spoken of in one of these songs”
Davila-Lucas,
20;
Hampton,
as
- Chris Virginia
Dream pop icon Hope Sandoval fronted 90s alternative rock band Mazzy Star, resulting in four albums that have hung like IV bags in the corner o f fairy pixie dream girls’ bedrooms and cemented themselves in times of reminiscence since their releases in the 90s and mid 2010s. While top track “Fade Into You” may have phased into the Top 40 stratosphere long ago, another of Sandoval’s projects hasn’t met the same fate. Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions is a duo that holds the beloved effervescence and siren-like vocality of Mazzy Star, but brings i n more of a shoegaze angle with founding drummer Colm O’Ciosoig previously hailing from My Bloody Valentine. Mazzy Star layered elements of folk and alternative rock as a foundation for melancholy and hypnotic lyricism, which make it the perfect soundtrack for rainy autumn days. The twang of string instruments and the buzz of the harmonica are reminiscent of folk throughout time, but Mazzy Star is an undeniably “90s” alt rock sound. If you’re any Bavarian Fruit Bread way attracted to these classics, you should step into the weeds Hope Sandoval with Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions. Their 2001 release, and the Warm Bavarian Fruit Bread, holds what I believe should be your Inventions|Courtesy introduction to them: Track 4, “On the Low”. Straying from their psychedelic past projects, Sandoval and O’Ciosoig lean into a stripped down, vocals forward, dreamlike atmosphere. A wistful bout of simple lyrics submerge listeners in a sense of longing typically associated with the transition from summer to winter, filled with dark skies, leaves on the ground and a light coat. Allow yourself to be entrenched.
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle
Cult classic film Donnie Darko just hit 25 years of existence and infamy. Along with being a perfectly timed watch from October 2-28, the soundtrack is an 80s grand slam: The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen – Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears – Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division.
Step into vast sounding tracks from the Jesus and Mary Chain to Mazzy Star to Ora Cogan. Close your eyes and let synthesizers and dream-like bells engulf you in the deep blue as you fade into fall.
Scan Left for Spotify playlist KaSela VanRassan|Marlin Chronicle