Nov 11th, 2021

The Marlin Chronicle THURSDAY 11.11.21 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Grace McGhee|Marlin Chronicle The Women’s Soccer team celebrates their win against the University of Lynchburg at the ODAC Championship game on Sunday, Nov. 7. The final score was 1-0.

Women’s Soccer wins ODAC Championship

BY STEVEN SERRANO sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

The Women’s Soccer team was crowned champions of the ODAC conference, after defeating the Hornets of Lynchburg 1-0 in a very close match on Nov. 7.

The Marlins took advantage after the winning goal in the second half from sophomore Olivia Bryant, after a spectacular pass from junior Abby Peterson.

This is their second ODAC title in their program history, the first one was won in 2006.

“It doesn’t feel real, I feel in shock the way we actually pulled it off. We’ve been the under-

dogs like the past couple years and finally finishing one off, it’s awesome,” senior Camryn Terry said. “I’ve been here for four years and I’ve gone to the finals three times and finally I could finish once, so it feels really good.”

At the beginning of the season, Women’s Soccer team coach, Jeffery Bowers, scheduled the strength of the season towards the beginning so their preseason was a really tough one.

“We played really good teams such as McDaniel College, Centre College and CNU, so we got exposed to some really good

talent early on, so that really helped us develop and work on a lot of things,” Terry said. She added, “By the time we got to the conference there was no team who was better than CNU or Centre, so that gave us a lot of confidence.”

The ODAC tournament for the Women’s Soccer team was known for the intense matches and because every single game finished 1-0 and all goals happened in the second half. To this Terry added, “We really have to make it interesting for you guys.”

Senior Mckenzie Kerns scored

the goal to send the Marlins to the semifinal. “Our goal against Roanoke finished with 1:40 left on the clock and I was not prepared to go to overtime; that would’ve sucked,” Terry said.

In the semifinals game, sophomore Julia Marrone scored a long goal in the second half to send the Marlins to the finals. However, the pressure of being 0-0 in the second half of all games that they played in the ODAC tournament is something that this team has managed well.

“At first, when you see the scoreboard and it reads 0-0, your reaction is to doubt your-

self. However, this was not the case Friday night. This mentality carried into Sunday, championship day, and will continue into the NCAA tournament,” junior Amruta Karkare said.

“Something we’ve been really good at is not allowing a lot of teams to score on us,” Terry said. “If we keep teams to zero at half, we’re fine and we’re not that worried about it, because we know we can put one away,” Terry said.

This comes from help from

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Youngkin’s victory brings new leadership to Governor’s Mansion STATEWIDE

Republicans gain trifecta, first time since 2009

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

After months of campaigning and watching countless political advertisements play almost every second during commercials, Election Day has finally come to a close.

Republicans had a clean sweep of the statewide offices and House of Delegates, which included two major accomplishments in terms of diversity: the first woman and first Black woman to be lieutenant governor and the first latino attorney general in Virginia.

The race for governor was close between the former co-CEO of a private equity firm called the Carlyle Group, Glenn Youngkin (R), and Terry McAuliffe (D), who served as governor from 2014-2018. Ultimately, the win was called for Youngkin, with 50.58% of the vote, which amounts to 1,663,513 votes.

His largest competitor, McAuliffe, received 1,599,845 votes, or 48.64%. The Liberation Party candidate, Princess Blanding, received only 23,104 votes, which is 0.7% of those counted.

The Republican Party achieved a major victory this year, as this is the first statewide Republican win since 2009. Youngkin’s platform was focused on issues of education, banning critical race theory, lowering the cost of living, improving the economy post-COVID-19 lockdowns and protecting law enforcement officials.

As a Day One Game Plan, Youngkin has stated that he wants

Republican Party of Virginia Chair Rich Anderson|Courtesy Jason Miyares, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Sears (left to right). to cut taxes for families struggling in the challenging economy and simultaneously defend and raise pay for law enforcement. Overall, Youngkin’s goal is to ensure the state government is honest, efficient and modern.

In his statement on winning the election, Youngkin stated that the Commonwealth is “bonded by the Virginia spirit of liberty and freedom,” and that together he hopes to “achieve the great Virginia promise.” Youngkin is “honored and humbled to answer that call” and will work “to ensure we have better schools, safer streets, a lower cost of living and more jobs.”

From 2017 to 2021, nearly all localities except Charlottesville and Portsmouth had an increased voter turnout. The state as a whole also shifted towards more Republican votes. Virginia Beach votes shifted more Republican than they have in the past, with 53.62% of the 162,197 total votes going to Youngkin and 45.60% going to McAuliffe.

This statewide shift is also apparent in the fact that in the 2020 presidential election, President Biden received 54% of

Virginia’s votes while former President Trump only received 44%.

Associate Professor of Political Science and the Dean of the Birdsong School of Social Science Dr. Leslie Caughell, felt that the growth in voter turnout was surprising, especially in rural areas.

“Incoming Gov. Youngkin managed to pull together the districts in VA that Sen. Romney won when he ran in 2012 and the districts that former Pres. Trump won in 2016. Bringing those two voter groups together gives Republicans a path to power in a few states,” Caughell said.

The candidates raised impressive amounts of money, according to the campaign finance reports as of Oct. 21. Blanding raised the least, with a total of $34,771.

McAuliffe raised a total of $57,370,996 throughout the election season. Most of the money went towards advertising. $31 million was spent on TV and radio spots while $6.2 million paid for digital ads. The largest donor of McAuliffe’s campaign

See STATEWIDE Page 2

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

DELEGATE

Republicans take House

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

The elections for the Virginia House of Delegates also reflected the states’ shift toward Republicans. The House of Delegates is made up of 100 seats and previously included a Democratic majority with 55 seats and the Republican Party claimed the remaining 45.

Now, after the election, seven seats were taken from the Democratic Party and gained by Republican candidates, allowing the Republican Party to hold the majority with 52 seats.

In the Virginia Beach race for the 83rd District Delegate, the district that VWU is home to, the incumbent candidate was Democrat Nancy Guy. Guy’s seat was awarded to Tim Anderson, the Republican candidate.

He received 51.16% of the votes, totaling at 14,437 votes.

Guy lost by 688 votes. Her total represented 48.72% of the count.

In the 2019 election, Guy won against her competitor Republican Chris Stolle by only 27 votes, showing the extent of the shift towards Republicans this year.

See DELEGATE Page 2

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Thursday November 11, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

News

Virginia Beach incumbents win re-election

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

One closely followed race in the local elections for Virginia Beach was that of the position of sheriff. Ken Stolle, the Republican-endorsed incumbent candidate, previously served in the Virginia Senate as the Republican Leader Pro Tempore for the 8th Senatorial District. During this time, he abolished parole, strengthened DUI penalties and created stricter penalties for gang activity.

Additionally, Stolle served as an intelligence officer for the United States Naval Reserve. During the election, Stolle received 62.95% of the votes, or 96,730 votes to win the position for his fourth term.

In a statement after the election, Stolle said he was honored to be elected again.

“Votes are not given, they are earned, and

I will work every day to continue to earn the support of this community, uphold the public trust, and make Virginia Beach a better, safer place,” Stolle said.

The Democratic-endorsed candidate for sheriff, Antonio Passaro Jr., is a Virginia Wesleyan alumnus. He is also a former Virginia State Trooper and is currently a full-time professor at Tidewater Community College.

After visiting the VWU campus to speak on Sept. 16, records were released on Facebook by the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #8 and highlighted by Stolle that showed that Passaro had been released from the Virginia State Troopers for claims of malfeasance.

Passaro received 36.71% of the votes, equaling 56,410 votes.

Junior Abby Peterson, vice chair of the College Republicans student organization, commented on the results. “Ken Stolle winning his re-election as Virginia

STATEWIDE

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Guy gave a respectful statement after the results were officially announced. “Serving the people of the 83rd District as their Delegate has been one of the great honors of my life,” Guy said. She went on to congratulate Anderson and give her hopes that he serves well.

Anderson’s statement represented his pride in the success of the Republican Party and his high hopes for the future. “If you live in the 83rd, I am your Delegate regardless of party. My job is to serve every person in the district. Time to get to work,” Anderson said.

Sophomore Alex Cain commented on the election, saying that “Anderson’s ability to eke out a victory is indicative of a large-scale rebuke of democratic policies, especially in regard to education issues.”

Over the course of the election, Anderson spent $642,372. Guy spent much more, with her total spending being $2,066,614, more than three times that of her competitor. The majority of her money was donated by the House Democratic Caucus and the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Beach Sheriff is unsurprising as he has done much for community outreach and standing up for the police force in Virginia Beach,” Peterson said.

Republican candidates had strong support in the other local elections as well.

In the election for Commonwealth’s Attorney, Republican Colin Stolle ran unopposed and received 96.60% of the votes, or 128,694 votes.

Stolle has been serving as Commonwealth’s Attorney since he was elected in 2013. His work at the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s began after he graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992.

Leigh Henderson, the Republicanendorsed candidate, received 62.38% of the votes for Treasurer. The 94,398 votes gave her the seat over Democrat Laura Wood Habr, who received 56,377 votes for 37.26% of the total. Henderson serves on the Board of Trustees for the VACo/VML

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Tim Anderson|Courtesy

was the Democratic Governors Association, which gave almost $7 million.

His overall total amount of money raised was $57,731,920. Of this, $30 million was used for ads of various kinds. Youngkin, a former private equity executive, was his own top donor by loaning his campaign $20 million.

Sophomore Alex Cain commented on why he voted for Youngkin. “I really supported Youngkin’s promise to make Virginia better for small businesses because, while Virginia has a large amount of commerce, much of it comes from large corporations which I believe are ultimately negative for both workers and consumers,” Cain said. “I trust that Youngkin will do a good job, I just hope that other people stay politically engaged enough to realize it when he does,” he said.

In the statewide election for lieutenant governor, Winsome Sears, the Republican candidate and a former Delegate who represented the 90th District from 2002-2004, won with 50.71% of the vote, or 1,658,735

Virginia Investment Pool (VIP) and is a member of the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia. Habr has been owning and operating Croc’s 19th Street Bistro for over 25 years and started the first non-profit market (Old Beach Farmers Market) in Virginia Beach. She is also the founder of the ViBe Creative District.

In the race for Commissioner of Revenue, Democratic-endorsed candidate Philip J. Kellam, won with 86,347 votes.

He has served as Commissioner of Revenue since 1998. With 56.21% of the votes, Kellam won over the Republican-endorsed candidate, Ben Loyola Jr., who received 43.51% of the votes equaling 66,845 votes.

Overall, the local elections reflect the major shift for the Republican Party that can be seen throughout the state. “I think the flip from Democrat to Republican in Virginia Beach is a reflection of unhappiness with the Democratic Party and with Joe Biden’s policies,” Peterson said.

votes. Her Democratic competitor, Hala Ayala, who represents the 51st District in the House of Delegates received 49.17% of the votes with 1,608,522 votes. In Virginia Beach, 54.04% of the city’s votes went towards Sears and 45.87% towards Ayala.

Another Republican win was in the election for attorney general. Jason Miyares, the Republican candidate who currently represents part of Virginia Beach for the 84th District in the House of Delegates, received 1,647,492 votes to achieve 50.36% of the vote. Miyares won over the incumbent Democratic candidate, Mark Herring, the incumbent Democrat and former State Senator of the 33rd District who lost by just over one percent of the vote. Herring received 1,621,164 votes to account for 49.55% of the votes. In Virginia Beach, 53.82% of the city’s votes went towards Miyares and 46.11% towards Herring.

Dr. Caughell gave her reaction to the results and the success of the Republican candidates. “I wasn’t particularly surprised that one party took all three statewide offices,” Caughell said. “When voters are unhappy with the status quo, they generally vote for a change in the composition of leadership.”

Consistently rising gas, food Veterans Day ceremony intends to honor sacrifices prices strain student budgets

BY JADE EAST jseast@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University will honor Marlin veterans and active duty service members with a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 11, at 12 p.m. at the Godwin Hall Lawn.

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed each year on Nov. 11. The Virginia Wesleyan community plans to recognize that day and its purpose of honoring veterans and bringing awareness to their sacrifices with this ceremony.

This event is being coordinated by a team on campus including Marion Hibbler, director of lifelong learning, Courtney Knudsen, first-year advisor and Jennifer Sands, Veterans Affairs school certifying official and financial aid counselor.

The ceremony will honor the commitment and sacrifices that veterans and active duty service members have made and will continue to make. “The ceremony is an opportunity for the campus community to pause, and say thank you for your service, and say as a community we appreciate you,” Hibbler said.

Hibbler shared what she hopes students will learn from this ceremony. “I hope students take away an understanding of the debt of gratitude we owe to our veterans and active duty service members as well as the reservist. If it were not for their service,

we would not enjoy the freedoms that we have today,” Hibbler said.

Alumnus Gavin Steel will be the keynote speaker at this ceremony to remind our campus community about the importance of Veterans Day. Steel is a member of the Armed Forces. He currently serves in the Army National Guard after receiving his rank as Second Lieutenant in the US Army through the Army ROTC joint program through Virginia Wesleyan University and Old Dominion University.

VWU President Scott Miller will be present at this event as well and he explained why we need to host an event like this on our campus. “It’s important to recognize how proud we are of the men and women, alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff who have served our country and defended our freedom,” Miller said.

Miller also expressed what he hoped students will be able to take from this ceremony. “Our event honors the true meaning of Veterans Day, and I hope students carry the meaning, along with a sense of gratitude for the many people who have served in the military, throughout their lives,” Miller said. *At the time of publication of this issue, this event had not yet occurred*

Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle

BY RHIAN TRAMONTANA rjtramontana@vwu.edu

Much like all college students around the world, the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins are conscious of rising costs, particularly in gas and food. Most years, gas prices fall five to ten cents around this time. Gas in the summer is more expensive because the demand is higher and the summer blend tends to be a higher price.

But now, with the pandemic restrictions eased, the demand for gas for people traveling has stayed high, allowing companies to reasonably keep their prices high. Additionally, the United States is producing less oil as a whole, making it more expensive to use and transport oil.

The last time that gas prices were above $3.00 was in Oct. 2014. A source from WTVR in Richmond stated that the price of crude oil is twice what it was last year.

According to AAA, the national average price of regular gas is $3.415. The state of Virginia’s average gas price is lower, at $3.294, and the average for Virginia Beach is $3.276. Last month, the Virginia Beach average was at $2.950, and a year ago, the average stood at $1.987.

Joey Mueller, president of the Student Government Association, business manager of the APO fraternity and current junior in the Batten Honors College states that his two most common stations for gas are Wawa and Exxon.

In the area surrounding VWU, Wawa gas prices range from $3.23 to $3.29. The closest Exxon station is priced at $3.23 for regular gas.

Freshman Amalia Houff noticed the changes even from the beginning of the semester. “The increase within prices in fuel are incredibly more evident to me, considering I generally only buy gas once or twice a month and within these monthlong periods there are drastic and noticeable changes in the price range of gas per gallon,” Houff said.

She stated that when she moved to Virginia Beach in August “the price of fuel was almost under 3 dollars for both diesel and gas, and now, only three months later, fuel ranges from $3.60 to $3.80 at some places.”

With gas, food prices at restaurants and grocery stores have been rising as well.

This is because the supply chains are slow from the pandemic and because the demand is still high from the shortages dur-

ing the height of the pandemic.

Reports show that prices in common fast food and chain restaurants such as Taco Bell, Chipotle, Dunkin and McDonald’s have been increasing since over the summer. The prices entice students to spend less on groceries and things like coffee.

“I’ve been trying to go to the caf more to avoid spending money on food, I get my coffee from Wawa instead of Starbucks, things like that,” Mueller said.

Houff stated a similar budgetary goal. “I refrain from buying anything that I deem as more ‘luxury’ food items,” Houff said.

“Snacks that I like but have become too expensive to dignify continued purchasing of said item.”

Houff is grateful for the fact that she has access to the Commissary where she can buy food in bulk. “The large increases in price have not affected me as drastically as they have affected my friends,” Houff said.

As Thanksgiving Break approaches, students may be looking forward to a free home-cooked meal, or they may be counting miles to see if they can afford gas at rising prices.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

Science & Technology

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Virginia Wesleyan’s investing turns green for the future

BY WILL ZIMMERMAN-FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) recently selected Brown Advisory as its outsourced Chief Investment Officer, or oCIO. Based in Maryland, Brown Advisory is one of 100 members of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), which will serve to help VWU maintain its goal of environmental stewardship.

According to a Nota Bene sent out in mid-October, this network is “a group committed to investing for an equitable, low-carbon, and regenerative economy.” The VWU Board of Trustees hopes this will lead to sustainable investments that comply with the Environmental Guiding Principles adopted in 2020.

The IEN website has resources for institutions and organizations wishing to mobilize capital in a sustainable manner, while addressing inequality and climate change as they affect their communities. It also recognizes VWU’s Batten Honors College as a fundamental component of the endowment, noting its investment in environmental, social and governance criteria with Brown Advisory.

Brownadvisory.com identifies complex capital markets, tough regulatory oversight, high donor expectations and lower expected market returns as the primary challenges investors face. Through advice and connections, the board aims to facilitate relations and investments while empowering clients to take steps toward more sustainable practices.

The website also lists the board’s various strategies for tackling environmental issues while keeping in mind conditions such as equities, income and funding. Board members and writers produce informative articles for

Brown Advisory|Courtesy current and prospective clients to read and incorporate in their own investment and growth strategies. Thanks to Brown Advisory’s global reach, these articles have even been considered by higher levels of the government.

Across the country, students at universities including Yale, Ohio State, University of Maryland and even Harvard

have been protesting their universitys’ investments in fossil fuels, demanding action be taken to invest in sustainability instead. VWU is one of the few universities in the US to align its endowment investments with its mission, joining the ranks of nationally recognized sustainable universities such as MIT. With the growing number of schools moving toward greener investments, there has also been greater push for students to take the lead. VWU encourages students to be active leaders and changemakers before and after graduation with organizations such as Marlins Go Green and partnerships with the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Virginia Aquarium and more.

Studies conducted by multiple universities have shown that student leadership in sustainability and conservation efforts leads to better promotion and implementation of projects on campuses and increased professional success for the students involved. In particular, the University of Rochester published an article in March 2021 on the importance of student involvement in the promotion of sustainable behavior.

In congruence with this, Brown Advisory has options for individuals to join and contribute to the firm’s efforts in addition to organizations and institutions. Individual services include fiduciary services, specialized planning and investment solutions. Similarly, services for institutions and endowments primarily involve strategic planning and advice.

Their focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) research promotes their values of equal sustainability through risk assessment and impact generation through portfolios.

Third time’s the charm on vaccine dosage

BY JACK PALMER jrpalmer@vwu.edu With the widespread emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine booster, and third dose for many, students are left wondering if it will be required of them. Students, faculty and staff at VWU were greeted by an email with the vaccine requirement in the Nota Bene on the morning of April 27. Among the many emotions to this, students expressed anger, confusion, joy and relief.

Fastforwarding to now, students have again been surprised with a different type of email in their inboxes.

This email is a strong suggestion to receive a booster dose.

The COVID-19 vaccine booster is here and available to virtually everyone who received a one or two dose vaccine series.

At first, it was going to be restricted for those 65 and older and frontline personnel. However, with the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the booster can now be offered to anyone that has completed their previous vaccine series. The only stipulation is the last dose must have been received at least six months ago for a two dose series or two months ago for the one dose sequence.

“We are closely monitoring information regarding COVID-19 booster shot eligibility and accessibility since the CDC endorsed expansion of eligibility to individuals who have received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine six or more months ago and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or more months ago and who are also age 18+ who work or live in highrisk settings, such as a university campus.”

April Christman Director of Student Health It is now on everyone’s minds as to if this booster will be required. Public health experts would strongly say yes.

April Christman, director of Student Health, had this to say about the COVID-19 vaccine boosters, “The University continues its COVID-19 mitigation efforts to ensure the safest normal possible for our Marlin community and vaccinations have proved vital to supporting this goal. We are closely monitoring information regarding COVID-19 booster shot eligibility and accessibility since the CDC

Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle endorsed expansion of eligibility to individuals who have received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine six or more months ago and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two or more months ago and who are also age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings, such as a university campus.”

Christman also said that those in the campus community should submit their COVID-19 booster paperwork.

Students should send proof of booster shots to covidsafe@ vwu.edu and faculty and staff should send proof of booster shots to humanresources@vwu.edu.

To summarize, it is not entirely clear yet on what VWU will decide. The university strongly encourages all members to receive the booster as soon as they are able to do so. It is important to note VWU was among the first universities in the state and country to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for all members of the university community.

It will be interesting to see if the university chooses to be a trailblazer once again by requiring the booster.

Many educational institutions have chosen to remain quiet regarding this, even as most, if not all, of their students become rapidly eligible for the booster.

Without hesitation, the COVID-19 booster should be required for all members of the university community. The goal of almost everyone is to return to life being as normal as possible. The only way to effectively and realistically do this is to maintain vaccine efficacy levels.

Generalized studies have shown that once an individual receives their respective COVID-19 booster, their immunity to the virus returns to the highest levels, which is just after completing their selected vaccine sequence.

Science and statistics do not lie. For those who received the Pfizer vaccine, this means their immunity to COVID-19 can return to approximately 96% by receiving the booster.

Receiving another shot seems like a small price to “pay” for being almost entirely immune to the virus. It also brings with it an invaluable asset - peace of mind. This is a qualitative feeling that no amount of money could ever

surpass.

By individuals receiving the booster, they are also helping to advance society as a whole. With every individual taking a small step towards eradicating COVID-19, the nation can take a giant leap forward. It is time to unite as one, as the nation shares a common goal.

With the widespread rollout of boosters, there is a brighter light shining at the end of the seemingly never ending tunnel that is COVID-19.

A key group to accomplish this goal in the coming months is the five to eleven year old age group. This group will be crucial to seeing public schools reminiscent of the learning sanctuaries they once were. Young children are the key to making even greater strides in eliminating the virus once and for all. After all, this is how the United States is credited with eradicating polio. The key to the country’s success was the vaccination of children.

Virginia Wesleyan is following COVID-19 guidelines as written by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). For more information on regulations and updates, visit https:// www.vwu.edu/coronavirus/.

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VWU among nation’s most environmentally-focused colleges

BY WILL ZIMMERMAN-FARKAS scfarkas@vwu.edu Virginia Wesleyan University was featured in the Princeton Review’s 2022 Best Regional Colleges for the Southeast region. The review attributes this recognition to VWU’s tight-knit community and emphasis on liberal arts, sustainability and relationships.

Editor-in-Chief Robert Franek commended the school on its success with academics and expressed his pride to recommend VWU to students looking for a school that best fits them. The size of the campus allows for close relationships between students and faculty, which provides more professional opportunities for students.

Freshman Kendra Gomez feels the tight knit community and the efforts by the university to make the campus experience enjoyable.

The Princeton Review|Courtesy “I think it’s really cool that I’m a part of a campus that continues to improve itself every year in giving their students an affordable education,” said Gomez.

The VWU website highlighting the review states, “Only about 14 percent of America’s 2,700 four-year colleges

are profiled in the book, which is one of The Princeton Review’s most popular publications.” Criteria for selection include academic performance, student reviews and other ratings determined by data collected each academic year.

The campus was highlighted as a valuable aspect of what makes VWU noteworthy in its Princeton Review profile, and was fundamental to its feature in the 2022 Guide to Green Colleges. The Greer Environmental Science Center has received praise far and wide as a LEED Gold building and one of the most environmentally-friendly academic buildings in the country. Awards from AIA Virginia, ASLA Virginia and ASID Virginia/IIDA Virginia-West Virginia have helped to secure Greer’s state and nation-wide reputation for being a model of sustainability.

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The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Connor Merk ccmerk@vwu.edu News Editors Rhian Tramontanta rjtramontana@vwu.edu Kathryn Yeager kayeager@vwu.edu Science & Tech Editor Jack Palmer jrpalmer@vwu.edu Opinions Editor Teresa Jones tmjones2@vwu.edu Sports Editors Steven Serrano Cruz sdserranocruz@vwu.edu Shirell Washington sawashington@vwu.edu Weekender Editors Sasha Saxon ansaxon@vwu.edu Tiffany Warren tawarren@vwu.edu Photo Editor Ross Winner rawinner@vwu.edu Illustrations Editor Emily Uzzle ebuzzle@vwu.edu Online Editor Ash Dobrenen akdobrenen@vwu.edu Copy Editor Grace Rietscha glrietscha@vwu.edu Advertising Manager Alyssa Lane amlane@vwu.edu Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

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

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

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

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

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

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

Community Halloween events bring spooky fun to campus

BY CAREY SEAY clseay@vwu.edu

Weeks before and after Halloween were filled with an array of fun and spooky events.

Of the events that took place over the span of Connor Merk |Marlin Chronicle the previously-mentioned two weeks, Carnevil, Planned Parenthood Generation Action holds a bake and craft sale to support local women’s shelters.

Wesleyan’s Haunted Trails and A Little Taste of go through the trail, some of which were so school year.

Halloween proved to be big hits.

Following both of the aforementioned events, The first of these events, Carnevil, took place excited about how it went that they ran back to the entrance,” student leader of Movie Crew and Halloween itself, Planned Parenthood on Oct. 28, and had a great turnout.

Generation Action held A Little Taste of “The event went very well, and we had Leilanie Sheppard said.

Before entering the trails, Cassidy Braithwaite, Halloween, a bake and craft sale, in order to around 80 Marlins attend the event, including the 30 that participated in the costume contest,” a student volunteer, offered tarot card readings, bring awareness to reproductive rights and raise VWU’s Student Activities Programming which added to the spooky atmosphere while some money for local women’s shelters. guests waited in line. At this point, students “All of the proceeds will be going towards Coordinator Alaira Groomes said.

First held in 2019, Carnevil was organized and guests were also given glow-in-the-dark a local women’s shelter to buy whatever is for its second time ever this year, as COVID-19 necklaces that indicated whether they would on their wish list,” student leader of PPGA Cassidy Braithwaite said. “[More specifically] cancelled it during the 2020 school year. Despite like to be scared or not.

Upon setting foot into the trails, guests we’re looking at partnering with the Samaritan this, now that things are beginning to get back to normal, the event is on its way to becoming a immediately entered Killer Lane, which was House.” organized by Movie Crew. Following this As a result of the huge success of last year’s new VWU tradition.

This year’s Carnevil was organized by first section, guests then passed into NPHC’s similar bake and craft sale, PPGA decided to members of Off the Hook partnered with a group section, Zombie Graveyard. Along with these expand a little bit this year with a wider variety of students from the Sports and Recreation two themed sections, volunteer frighteners, of baked goods and crafts. Held from Nov. 1-5, gory props and fog machines were scattered the sale offered traditional, vegan, gluten-free Department.

“These students were instrumental in bringing throughout the trails, maintaining the haunted and sugar-free options in an attempt to be more inclusive. To go along with the baked goods, this event to life,” Groomes said. “They took ambience for the trails’ entirety.

“All in all, the event went really well and A Little Taste of Halloween also sold beaded part in the planning, decorating and overall getting to work with other student organizations keychains and custom beaded rings. Everything supervision of the event.”

Following the major success of this year’s and our Marlins was so much fun,” Sheppard ranged between $1 and $3.

Overall, all of the Halloween events held Carnevil, students are hopeful that the tradition said. “We are so very happy and grateful to be a part of the Marlin community and to have so here at VWU proved to be successful with will stay alive in coming years.

Wesleyan’s Haunted Trails, put on by VWU’s much support as the event would not be possible big turnouts and positive feedback. Be on the lookout for the many events left to come this Movie Crew and National Pan-Hellenic Council without everyone who helped with it.”

The organizations that made these events school year, and keep these three events in mind as well as volunteers, took place on the Friday possible look forward to putting together some when Halloween comes around again next year! before Halloween, Oct. 29.

“In total we had 120 guests show up and more events throughout the remainder of this

Clothesline project cultivates awareness

BY LAUREN FAULKNER lafaulkner@vwu.edu

The Office of Gender and Sexuality Equity partnered with Phenomenal Women to host their annual Clothesline Project on campus this year on Friday Oct. 15 and Monday Oct. 18 to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Students were encouraged to go to the Grille to make a shirt in support of victims of assault and abuse.

This project was created in an effort to promote awareness about assault in its many forms and provide information to students about help and assistance from professionals.

After the shirts were created, they were hung from a clothesline outside of the construction site of Brock Commons. Once the shirts were taken down at the end of the week, students were encouraged to pick up their shirts to keep after the event.

Dr. Jennifer Slivka, the director of the office of Gender and Sexuality Equity said that “any time we can raise awareness about important issues like domestic violence, and bring it visually to the forefront of people’s consciousness, is a success. This is especially true regarding domestic violence, which is often a hidden or taboo form of abuse because survivors often feel shame about it. Unfortunately, it is a widely occurring phenomenon.”

Alumnus Davion Harmon returned to campus and participated in the project and chose to spread his message, which was “love.”

“I picked this because although it was one word, it has a powerful meaning. It can be interpreted many different ways as reminding those who have experienced sexual or domestic abuse that they are loved,” Harmon said.

“It can also be interpreted to show that love conquers all, including violence. I also created

Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle The Clothesline Project returns to campus to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Connor Merk|Marlin Chronicle Shirt design from Clothesline Project. it to have multiple meanings, such as to spread the message and symbolize a form of peace.”

Other shirts had writing that included “You are not a victim, you are a survivor,” “You are worthy of love and [not] defined by your trauma” and “I raise up my voice, so the people without one can be heard too.”

Slivka reminds students that the office continues to host events such as their Clothesline Project and the Domestic Violence 101 talk throughout the year to bring education and awareness to the student body about issues. For more information about these upcoming events, be sure to check your email for updates from the Office of Gender and Sexuality Equity.

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Thursday, November 11, 2021

BY LAUREN FAULKNER

5

What’s the Latest?

lafaulkner@vwu.edu

Virtual Career Fair

International Education Week

The Fin Zone: Basketball Spectators

The Virtual Career Fair returned to Virginia Wesleyan University’s campus on Thursday Oct. 28 via Handshake.

Handshake is a career development program that is available to all students and was the host of the event.

During the virtual fall career and internship fair, hosted from 1 p.m. through 4 p.m., students could meet one-onone with companies or attend a group session. Companies that attended the event include the United States Secret Service, Waffle House Inc., Alliance for Children’s Rights and other organizations from across the country.

Many of these organizations were looking for future employees for their industry, particularly looking at students graduating this term or the next, while others offered internships for the upcoming spring and summer semesters.

All organizations that attended the fair are currently listed on Handshake for students to view and reach out to in case they are interested and could not attend the fair.

Jessica Harrington, director of Career Development in the Lighthouse, said “we had a great employer turnout, with 39 employers participating virtually and over two times as many students participating as we had in the spring. The Career Development Program looks forward to hosting our first in-person Career and Internship Fair since spring 2020 on March 10, 2022.”

For more information about upcoming Career Development opportunities, students should check their emails from Career Development and the Lighthouse.

From Nov. 16 through the 19, the Lighthouse is presenting a variety of events for International Education Week in an effort to promote the unity of International Students on campus as well as study away students.

Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Lighthouse, in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, will be hosting World Bingo at 7 p.m. in the Lighthouse itself.

Next, on Thursday, Nov. 18, students will be able to send an international postcard in the Batten Student Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 19, two events will occur: Origami and Japanese Name Writing and a Scavenger Hunt. Starting at 11:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. students will meet in the Batten Student Center to practice and learn about the Japanese art of origami and name writing. After the event concludes, students are invited to join the Lighthouse for a scavenger hunt starting at 2 p.m.

Global Engagement Director Mandy Reinig states that this event will “incorporate both study away and our international students to promote the new umbrella of Global Engagement during International Education week.”

For more information about these events and other upcoming global engagement events, be sure to check your weekly Lighthouse and Global Engagement emails or head into the Lighthouse located in Clarke Hall.

Spectators watch the Men’s Basketball game on Nov. 5.

VWU Lighthouse|Courtesy

Off the Hook|Courtesy

The Fin Zone is a new recurring event created by Student Activities, the Office of Recreation and Wellness and Virginia Wesleyan Athletics to get students involved with basketball and sport games as spectators. Now that the COVID-19 restrictions have lessened, students can now attend sporting events for free as part of their attendance at the university.

In an effort to bring students back to sports games, students who attend basketball events at this time will be able to participate in relay races during half-time, get a Virginia Wesleyan foam finger on a first-come first-serve basis, be able to get a Fin Zone t-shirt when the t-shirt cannon is used during the game and even be eligible win the Best Seat in the House for the next game.

Winners of the Best Seat in the House are allowed to sit on a comfy couch in front of the student section with a friend of choice for the next game on the calendar.

The winner will also receive free dinner which will be delivered to the couch from the concessions stand. In order to win, students must be awarded the Fin Zone Finatic of the Week award.

By attending basketball games this season, Fin Zone participants will be entered for their chance to win a 42 inch screen TV with a year subscription to ESPN Plus.

One of the first Fin Zone basketball events was Friday Nov. 5 at 12:30 p.m. where the Men’s Basketball team played NC Wesleyan.

On Thursday, Nov. 4, in preparation for the game, students were given the opportunity to make signs for the game outside of the Student Activities office.

Follow us on Social Media Freshmen Abigail Moyers and Jessica Wilson decorate cupcakes during a Baking Club event.

Sarah Blackburn|Courtesy

Clubs feature student opportunities

BY CHRISTIAN JONES cajones4@vwu.edu

VWU offers numerous clubs and organizations, including the Generation Action club that works to inform peers about reproductive health and rights and the Baking Club, where students can bake cake, pastries and other baked goods.

The Generation Action Club is a returning club to VWU and advocates for reproductive freedom, reproductive health and reproductive rights. “Generation Action’s purpose is to inform students about reproductive health and rights,” Cassidy Braithwaite, the current president of the club, said. “We want to engage students in action projects aligned with Planned Parenthood’s goals.”

The student organization currently has five board members including Braithwaite as president, Claire Carter as vice president, Erin Foreman as operations officer and Makenna Good as social media manager.

In reference to their meeting times, Braithwaite added, “We meet every other week and have options for meeting times. One is Thursday night and the other is Friday Night.”

Any student at VWU that wants to get involved in the Generation Action club is welcome to join. “Anyone can get involved by emailing any of our members, attending any of our meetings, and following our Instagram page @ genactvw,” Braithwaite said. “And we currently meet in Blocker Hall Room 18.”

An additional student organization is the Baking Club which is new to VWU. “The main members on the board are myself and the vice president Madelyn Yale,” President Sarah Blackburn said. “We are open to new members of the board but currently those are the only two members.”

The club seeks to be a place where anyone that appreciates baking or wants to get into baking can jump right in.

“Our purpose is to add more variety in baked goods that are sold at the school and also just to teach people how to make baked goods and fine-tune those skills,” Blackburn said.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of the stuff sold here is just the exact same stuff regardless of what club or organization is selling it,” Blackburn said. “I figured people actually want variety so we’re going to be doing that. We won’t be doing store-bought icing, all of it will be homemade and it will just be goods that are higher quality and of different variety.”

The Baking Club has a very accessible meeting time of 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every other Saturday. “We try to do it on Saturdays because that’s people’s day off and they don’t have to worry about it during the week,” said Blackburn.

“It’s just something that’s meant to be relaxing, not too hard, not too technical, and we also do it at that time so you have your entire day to yourself,” said Blackburn.

Joining the baking club is easy and open to all students no matter their baking background. Whether they’re a seasoned baker or a rookie trying out a new hobby, there’s a place for them in the club.

“All you have to do to join is sign up and contact me or any of the current members,” said Blackburn. “We have different entry levels or positions in the group. You have the baby bakers who have never been to a meeting before and there’s no hard commitment to that position, the secondhand bakers are people who have usually done at least a semester of it and are willing to help with our events.”

Visit https://www.vwu.edu/campus-life/student-activities/student-organizations.php to view the full list of more than 50 student organizations on campus or speak with Director of Student Activities Sarah Guzzo in Batten 24.

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Opinions

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Thursday November 11, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Election Sound Off |

STUDENTS VOICE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON VIRGINIA ELECTION RESULTS

Democrats fall short across the board, losing their trifecta to a sweeping Youngkin/Republican victory. Republicans are now one Virginia Senate seat from controlling state government, and may have the electoral playbook for 2022 and beyond.

This year could be a sign of things to come in next year’s midterms.

-Hunter Nordberg

I cannot say I’m super happy with how the election turned out but I also cannot say I am surprised. I think that regardless of whichever party got elected governor, nothing is really going to change for us. The way our political system currently works makes both parties seem like an absolute joke and incapable of leading our generation forwards.

-Ethan Labelle

The results of this election were upsetting but not shocking, Virginia is a purple state that votes on issues rather than party lines. That being said, I think this election should serve as a rallying cry to educate ourselves on issues in the political sphere. If the results of the election upset you too, see how you can get involved so that your concerns and cares can be truly represented in our government.

-Anitra Howard

I’m disappointed but unfortunately not surprised by the outcome of the recent election. Virginia has always been a swing state, and Youngkin managed to sway enough moderates to his side to claim victory. I’m worried that this means tough times ahead for some organizations I’m involved with, including Planned Parenthood; but with the way this country has been becoming more and more polarized, that was pretty much a guarantee no matter what.

-Cassidy Braithwaite

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

It was a phenomenal day in Virginia on Tuesday after Republicans reclaimed control of the state. I am excited to see many things reversed and improved by the Youngkin administration such as cutting the recent gas tax and eliminating taxes on Veteran Retirement Pay. Also, it’s exciting to see the 83rd district seat, which includes us right here at VWU, flip from Democrat back to Republican. Tim Anderson will be tough on crime, support law enforcement, support our education and more. It sure is a new day in Virginia.

-Damien Kelly

I think there will be efforts to mimic what Youngkin did to bring together the Romney and Trump voting coalitions. I would worry, however, that their take away point might be that divisive approaches to issues like education was what motivated the Romney coalition.

My understanding of the political values and behavior of that coalition doesn't lead me to believe that it was the divisive messaging on things like race that motivated voters.

- Dr. Leslie Caughell

The election results were to be expected as you slowly see the trend of having to pick the better of two evils. In this case, Youngkin came out on top and that just means his proposals grabbed a lot of people’s attention. Overall it was an interesting election and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

-Vijay Lancaster The aftermath of the recent election left me confused and unsure of the future of our state. Having gone to the voting booths that day and seeing very little turnout, I knew the elections were bound to be interesting. Time will tell about the status of Virginia but this election showed that everyone should go out and vote, and not remain complacent with the status quo.

-Grant Morgan

Ear cropping is unethical

BY CAROLINE TRYFIATES cgtryfiates@vwu.edu

Matthew Taylor|Courtesy (Left) Matthew Taylor plays guitar live. (Right) The Matty Taylor Trio: David Huffman, Matthew Taylor and Alex Bertrand.

Matty Taylor Trio sings the blues

BY MATTHEW TAYLOR mttaylor@vwu.edu In a time where guitar-driven music is not nearly as popular as it was in the past, that never made playing in a traditional blues-rock trio any less of an aspiration for myself as a musician.

The classic instrumentation of drums, electric guitar and bass leaves a lot of space for improvisation, and each band member contributes their own flavor to the sound and can stand out well in the mix.

After coming to Wesleyan last year, I had the privilege of meeting drummer Alex Bertrand (who I call “Bert”), who also plays in the Virginia Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble.

After jamming together and determining we had chemistry, I contacted my longtime friend David Huffman- who is the best bass guitarist I have ever heard- and we came together to form the Matty Taylor Trio.

Bert has told me he likes the fact that the band is formatted like a blues trio because “it’s never really a break focusing on a specific instrument- it’s all about working together to keep the time and groove of the song and have a good time.”

The style of music that our band plays is perfect for our musical skill set- groovy, hard-hitting blues tunes with extended guitar solos and jam breaks are at times just as exciting to play as they are to hear at a show.

Oftentimes, when we play events and festivals where other rock and blues bands are playing, the band and I are by far the youngest musicians present.

I think this is partially because genres such as the blues and rock aren’t as popularized within pop culture as they have been in the past- for example, the guitar hero craze of the 1980s inspired by shredders like Eddie Van Halen and Angus Young.

When there are prominent, talented guitarists making music, more young people are exposed to their style and as a result inspired to play music similar to their idols in the genre.

The blues comes naturally to me for many reasons: musically speaking, it’s a simple form and it’s almost always heavily improvised and free-flowing. Playing with soul is also the most important part of playing blues, and it even surpasses the importance of technical abilities in my opinion.

The emotions conveyed through music are vital to performing the blues in not only an authentic way, but a way that causes an emotional response from our listeners. To me, that’s the most important thing and also a big part of the reason I play music in the first place.

In addition to his performances, Matthew “Matty” Taylor is a psychology major and German minor, and he is class of 2024 vice president and president of Asian Student Union.

I have been involved in the veterinary field for several years and one thing that does not make sense to me is cosmetic procedures on animals. These procedures are not necessary for health or wellbeing as they merely alter the appearance of the pet, such as ear cropping or tail docking.

These cosmetic procedures are banned in several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, as there is no medical basis for these procedures and performing them negatively impacts the welfare of the pet.

The docking of a dog’s tail is performed between two and five days old and is done without anaesthesia, as it is too risky to fully sedate at this age.

The puppy is fully awake as the tail is removed, and while a local analgesic is placed, the puppy is still able to feel the removal.

While puppies are sedated for ear cropping, as this is done between twelve and sixteen weeks old, the recovery is arduous both for the puppy and the owners.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association oppose these cosmetic procedures due to the absence of medical necessity and the risks associated with performing.

Beyond the medical critique of these procedures, I am baffled by owners who desire these procedures, specifically ear cropping. Due to it being a surgical procedure, the cost of the initial surgery is often in the thousands, while the additional appointments accumulate to costing an additional several hundred dollars.

The recovery is a long process with the dog remaining in an Elizabethan collar (i.e. ‘cone of shame’) for several weeks or months to protect the ears as they heal and are trained to stand.

While healing, the dog must have the ears manipulated and taped into the correct conformation every three to five days, with the hope that the ears will heal in a way that allows the dog to make the ears stand.

Caroline Tryfiates|Courtesy The combination of wearing the Elizabethan collar, frequent vet visits, and constant bandage changes is stressful on the pet. Despite all of these efforts, there is no guarantee that the procedure will be successful and that the ears will heal in a way that lets them stand or that the dog will flex the muscle necessary to have the standing ears.

Personally, I find it silly to spend money on a cosmetic procedure that may not work, introduces risk and stress to my pet, and is opposed by several veterinary associations.

Caroline Tryfiates is a senior chemistry major with minors in biology and art. She is an aspiring veterinarian.

Kathleen Vanden Berg|Marlin Chronicle

Read more ONLINE http://marlinchronicle.vwu.edu/

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Thursday November 11, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

SportsHead

Elliott fishes for recruits

BY JOSH HELLER

jmheller@vwu.edu Head Softball Coach, Brandon Elliott, is the creator behind the Recruiting Logs on the VWU Softball team’s Instagram.

Elliott intends to create interest for the school’s softball program through short one minute videos about various topics of his choosing. Elliott’s passion for Recruiting Logs haven’t gone unnoticed, as the Logs have been on display for the 2,250 followers on the team’s Instagram page. His consistent uploads never fail to put a smile on faces with all the likes and comments from each Recruiting Log. The well-accomplished head coach had already built himself a gargantuan resume at Virginia Wesleyan. Going into his 15th season as head coach, he went to the ODAC championship game in 10 of his 14 seasons, he eclipsed 500 career wins and has become the most successful softball coach in school history. Elliott, a former student at VWU, is the face of Recruiting Logs and hopes to continue the series for a long time, but he knows that it will eventually phase out.

On the other hand, Elliott isn’t bothered by the judgment of his own team. “The girls give me a hard time regardless of whether I do a Recruiting Log or not. You know, it’s funny, what I say to them when they bust my chops about them. I think they get secondhand embarrassment. I think that’s kind of how they look at it. What I remind them is if you know what was in it, it’s because you watched it,” Elliott said.

Elliott is not the originator of the famous Recruiting Logs however. That title belongs to Nick Northern, the former assistant coach for the Men’s Lacrosse team here.

“He did a couple of them years back, and they were way better than any Log I’ve ever done. They were hilarious. So I called him and just said, ‘Hey, can I ping off of you?’ So for a while there, Men’s Lacrosse and Softball kind of pinged off each other while we were both on the road.” Elliott

said.

The Recruiting Log chain has even made appearances on the Swim team’s social media as well. VWU’s Head Coach and Director of Swimming, Mike Ginder, attempted to adapt the approach back in 2018, but ended up dropping the idea altogether. “I definitely liked Brandon’s style, he has a very unique style. For one, it gives anybody that is looking for our recruits; For somebody that we may miss or somebody that is just starting to look at Virginia Wesleyan, it is kind of an announcement. Social media does not come naturally to me, I did not grow up with it, so it was kind of a challenge to me to do something different,” Ginder stated.

When asked if Brandon Elliott would recommend this recruiting strategy to other coaches here he promptly stated, “I don’t think so. You have to do it based on your personality. Right? And for me, I don’t really care. You know, people are going to think about me, I know my character. I know my heart. I know my purpose. But you know, somebody that’s a little bit more laid back and maybe not a social media person or it’s not as personable. I think it’s going to show up when you do something like that. But I think we all can find ways to be super creative when recruiting.”

With 15 years of experience, Elliott has found quite the niche for finding softball recruits. In his advice for recruiting he shared, “I always look at recruiting like going fishing, right? If I go to that pond over there, and I don’t catch any fish, I’m probably not going back. So I’m gonna find this pond or that pond to find recruits,” Elliott said.

The Virginia Wesleyan Softball team just came off their 46-6-1 campaign which won them their third NCAA Division III National Championship in the past four seasons. Brandon Elliott serves a huge part in not only his coaching role, but as a recruiter as well. If one thing is for sure, he loves recruiting and loves having fun while doing so.

Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

BY STEVEN SERRANO

sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

sawashington@vwu.edu

On Oct. 13, Kyrie Irving, a professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets, made his decision to not get the vaccine.

Kyrie Irving, point guard for the Brooklyn Nets, released a statement that he was not going to get vaccinated because he thinks that is just about freedom of what he wants to do. He has not been able to play in any of the games this season due to the state mandates. As of right now, his team is 7th after being ranked the No.1 in the off-season.

The Nets are not doing bad this season but when you see the games, you can see that the team is missing that unique style that Irving brings to the court.

Irving was not the only one who expressed his opinions about the vaccine.

Before being vaccinated, forward Andrew Wiggins, from the Golden State Warriors, tried to submit a religious exemption to the NBA and the organization declined it. He chose to get vaccinated and as of right now, the Golden State Warriors are 2nd in the Western Conference.

I am not saying that this is what Kyrie Irving has to do, but, I think that he has a responsibility with the team that he needs to fulfill. He is losing money and team chemistry because he has not been able to play any games this season.

Some fans are saying that it is his choice to decide what to do with his own life and others are saying that he is putting at risk the chance for Brooklyn Nets to be championship contenders.

I have to say that it is a little bit exaggerated, the season just started and playoffs are next year in May most likely. I can understand the frustration of some fans not seeing Irving play, but they just need to relax and wait because the season started a month ago.

Also, I do not think that Irving is going to just sit back for this season and let his team play without him. Some players and even the coach have already stated that they would welcome back Irving even if unvaccinated, so it all depends if state mandates changes.

Kyrie Irving has stated that he is neither pro-vaccine nor anti-vaccine and that he was aware of the consequences of his decision. Members of the Brooklyn Nets were required to get the vaccine according to New York City’s COVID-19 mandate.

After Irving’s decision, the Nets decided to not allow Irving to practice or play with them until he complies with the city’s mandate. However, he made clear that he is not upset at the NBA, his teammates or the Nets and that he hopes to return to play with his team.

In my opinion, it is odd that he would not take the vaccine knowing that he would not be able to play in any home games and possibly away games. I understand that it is his choice to not take the vaccine, but I believe that he has not considered all the consequences of his choice. For one, he is losing money, $300,000+, but he is also sacrificing his shot at a championship ring. Not saying his team cannot do it without him, but considering Irving is part of the list for the top 20 players in the league he brings his unique talent to the team that could potentially lead them to a championship.

I also think the situation is overhyped because this is not the first time the NBA has dealt with players not wanting to get the vaccine. Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards does not believe it will protect from the virus; Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic thinks it is a personal choice and it should not result in bullying; Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets does not want to get it because he does not know how his body will react to it.

Overall, I think the NBA and the Nets should let this play out. It is only the beginning of the season, and championships are not until next year. Fans will be frustrated but it is a state-mandated rule, and Irving chose not to follow it. For right now, the Brooklyn Nets will have to play without their superstar Kyrie Irving.

VWU Basketball Teams Preview

BY SHIRELL WASHINGTON

sawashington@vwu.edu

Men’s Basketball The Men’s Basketball team started their 2021-2022 season this past Friday, Nov. 5, against the North Carolina Wesleyan University Battling Bishops where the Marlins took home the win 80-69. Last season, the team finished with a record of 3-5 overall and 3-0 in conference. This season they were selected third in the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The Marlins are coming off a challenging season last year because of multiple pauses due the COVID-19 pandemic that had pushed them back for almost two weeks.

However, the team has pushed past that set back and are ready to come back stronger than before. “We all definitely feel really prepared this year, not worried about any stoppages since we’re all vaccinated,” said senior Joey Lee, a point guard for the VWU Men’s Basketball team.

The team has recruited a decent freshman class for the season to assist the Marlins in reaching their overall goal of winning ODAC championships and national championships. The Marlins also have brought back their super squad, Tim Fisher, Corey Pelham and Tyree Golston; these Marlins decided to use their extra eligibility that was given to all NCAA athletes due to the pandemic cutting their season short. “We got a lot of good freshmen who just came in. We have a veteran team and a lot of seniors, as well as a really good coaching staff,” Lee said.

Lee stated that one thing that the Men’s

Basketball team is doing differently this year is putting more work in the weight room. They are conditioning more often and hitting the weights harder.

“One thing that we did stress in the offseason is conditioning and hitting the weights a lot harder cause we thought that kind of held us back a lot last year but we definitely did that this offseason with a lot of tough workouts and we all feel it on the court and so I think that it will be big and we can really deep this season,” Lee said.

The Men’s Basketball team continues their season at home when they face the Saints of Marymount University on Nov. 13 at 3:00 p.m. The Marlins will then travel to Raleigh, NC to play against the Pacers of William Peace University on Nov. 20. Finally, the team will finish out the month of November with two home games against the Falcons of Pfeiffer University on Nov. 22. and the Eagles of the University of Mary Washington. .

Ronaldinio Stickley|Courtesy Junior Miles Wallace takes the ball down court towards the basket.

Cameron Evans|Courtesy #4 Sophomore S’Zahria Jones plays defense at the game.

Women’s Basketball The Virginia Wesleyan University Women’s Basketball team finished last season, 2020-2021, with a record of 5-7 overall and 4-4 in conference. Like many of the sports teams here at Virginia Wesleyan, their season got pushed back due to COVID-19 and other situations.

Last season was a hit and miss for the Lady Marlins, but this season they have a different game plan that will help lead them to a conference championship title.

“The ultimate goal is to get to the ODAC [tournament] and of course do better than we did last year. We are very optimistic that we can achieve that goal,” junior Bianca Atkinson, a point guard for the VWU Women’s Basketball team, said.

A challenge faced last year by the Lady Marlins that was tough for a lot of athletic teams was that there were no fans in the stands. Teams had to compete to empty arenas and only had their teammates on the bench to rely on for hype noise. However,

that has changed this year as fans are now allowed back, masked up, in the stands.

“We’re very excited to have fans back.

We hope a lot of people show up because it’s kind of weird playing in a quiet gym and sometimes the fans have an aspect of energy and it is just nice to know you have support,” Atkinson said.

To prepare for the season, the Lady Marlins focused on their weaknesses that showed last year. Atkinson mentioned that the team has focused on doing more cardio exercises to improve their strength on the court to get better results. “I think we definitely put more emphasis on our weaknesses, like we’ve done more cardio to get better prepared for the upcoming season,” Atkinson said.

The VWU Women’s Basketball team continues their season as they travel to Winston-Salem, NC to face off against the Spirits of Salem College on Nov. 13 at 1:00 p.m.

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Thursday November 11, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

Swim team continues intense season

BY STEVEN SERRANO sdserranocruz@vwu.edu

This season has been a very busy and challenging season for the VWU Men’s and Women’s Swimming team. In October, the team was active every weekend swimming at meets to represent VWU. “It was a very interesting start of the season, we have back to back meets over the weekend and it was really intense going from nothing to meets,” senior Dana Smith said. Smith expressed that this quick turn around was a lot to take physically and mentally. However, Smith is not the only one that expressed her feelings about the season.

Mike Ginder, who is the coach of the VWU Swimming team pointed out that he is not sure if he will do back to back meets again.

“It was a very heavy month and looking back, I am not sure I would do that again, but the team definitely stepped up and performed week after week,” Coach Ginder said.

“Giving them some time on a Saturday, where we can maybe just practice and not have to worry about travel and getting up and racing, we probably should have one of those weekends not competing.” Despite the busy schedule, the VWU Swimming team has broken several school records in the first couple meets.

So far this season, the Women’s Swimming team is 2-2 and Smith expressed that their team has been working very hard in practice. “We have been doing team bonding, getting to know each other and how to motivate each other, has been crucial for our victories,” Smith said.

Smith added, “Something that is definitely working is the division of practices and putting people in groups with their events, rather than come in practice and everybody is doing the same thing.”

On the other hand, the Men’s Swimming team is still looking for that first win. Even though swim sports does not have an ODAC standing, it is something nice for the team to get some victories home, as Coach Ginder expressed.

“My expectations are that both teams can make it to the ODAC championship in February. Our overall goal for both programs is to be on the top three, that is what we are shooting for each year,” Ginder said.

Alysse Scripter|Sports Information

Virginia Wesleyan Men’s and Women’s Swimming team cheer on their fellow teammates at the Batten Center natatorium.

“Our women are poised really well to make some significant improvements based on the returns from last year, but also from our incoming freshman class and while our guys group is a little bit smaller, they still look really good,” Ginder said. Both teams have done improvements and the coach is hoping for better finishes at ODAC and events.

The VWU team has won individual events, such as the men’s team that won six events but unfortunately, they fell to Hampden-Sydney College. And the women’s team who won ten out of 14 events and took the lead against Sweet Briar College.

When Coach Ginder was asked about the key of these victories, he pointed out that more than just the training, it was the mindset of this team. “In a couple of meets, we were talking about refusing to lose and my question to them was; do you like to win? Or do you refuse to lose?

It is nice to come in first, but we have to be willing to do whatever it takes no matter how we feel,” Ginder said.

Both teams have faced big challenges and have experienced losses this season, despite winning certain events. However, Coach Ginder understands that winning is not the only goal. “There can only be one person that ultimately wins the event, but even if you come second, third, fourth or fifth, you can still have improvements and that is some victory too. However, is really tough when we won couple events, but still we did not get the victory,” Ginder said.

SOCCER CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 the defense line, especially the goalie. They are the moving brick wall that opponents have to get past and during the championship game the Hornets were having a tough time getting through. “As a defender you always feel some pressure but I was confident in our defense and our goalie to shut them down,” junior Sam Crawford said. In the ODAC conference, the Women’s Soccer team only allowed four goals scored against them. The backline of this team is something that also helped them in this Tournament.

Crawford, who is a centre back and one of the team captains, won MVP of the tournament.

“Winning MVP of the tournament felt so good, to be recognized for the hard work that I put in.

The reason why I won MVP I think is because I left it all on the field but couldn’t have done it without the help of the rest of my team,” Crawford said.

Along with her award, Crawford is also one of the team captains along with Camryn Terry and Kennedi Anders. “As one of the team captains, I think all the hard work that we put in throughout the whole season definitely helped us win the championship, something that has been our goal from the very beginning,” Crawford said.

Being the underdogs of the ODAC conference due to a rough start to the season, the Marlins came out on top. “This team is special in many ways, however, the biggest reason is the amount of heart and grit we have not only for the game, but most importantly for each other. Winning a championship is just one symbol that represents the strength, integrity and respect that this team deserves,” Karkare said.

The team is preparing for the opening round of the NCAA tournament against the Falcons of Messiah University. Kickoff is scheduled to be on Nov. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the neutral site of College of New Jersey campus in Ewing, NJ.

Janet Green|Courtesy Sophomore Olivia Bryant scores the winning goal at the ODAC Championship game.

“After a game loss I do feel a little bit of pressure to make sure that we win meets but that is not my driving force. I am more focused on the end of the season and our championship placement. Also, wanting to help our individuals to get to their individual goals and to reach the top,” Ginder said.

The main goal for this season for both programs is to keep improving on the events and to get the scholar AllAmerican award, which is that the team GPA has to be 3.0 or above. “Our team GPA average has been above 3.0 for the last couple years, but we want to make that kind of a regular thing each semester, keeping in mind the academic and athletic balance,” Ginder said. The Swimming team is preparing for their next event on Friday, Nov. 13 against Salisbury University.

Alysse Scripter|Sports Information

Freshman Kaiya Jenkins gets in set position ready to race her opponents.

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Thursday Novermber 11, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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The Arts Is What We Do

BY SASHA SAXON ansaxon@vwu.edu

With its genesis in March of 2007, The Venue on 35th continues to thrive as a welcoming space for a variety of artists and event planners. The Venue has hosted many workshops, classes and miscellaneous events in its time.

Nestled in a neighborhood of family businesses and family homes, its location on 35th street, is well-equipped, offering spacious parallel parking, within a short walking distance of the building.

The space is multifunctional and has been used for everything from yoga, barbecues, book releases, to children’s puppet shows, with both the building and equipment available for rent. However, the star of the show, with over 25 performers signing up every week, is the Monday night open mic at 7:30 p.m..

From this event, others have taken flight. Poetry slams, like their own Verb Benders (both a night of performance and an audition for the poetry slam team), have sprung up, encouraging emerging poets and getting them state recognition at competitions. Even smaller, more casual events, like Performer’s Playground emerged to provoke actors into working on their stage presence and presentation.

The physical room is nothing particularly special.

Four cream walls surround a short stage near the front of the room, the linoleum floor can seat a few dozen chairs, and while there is a back office and a small kitchen, only concessions are offered.

Breathing life into the establishment is the eversupportive crowd of artists who carve out time every Monday, who shoulder the $5 fee to perform or just to appreciate budding talent, experienced comedics, undiscovered singers and soulful poetry.

This open mic pays no mind to age or experience, and while there is no material that is explicitly banned, if the content is deemed inappropriate or offensive by the MC, the performer will be asked to leave. Every artist receives a total of four minutes for their $5 fee, every second of which is used masterfully.

On the same open mic night, one can find several variations of comedy—all from comedians narrating vastly different life experiences—influenced by their bursting personalities, singers covering pieces or rapping self-written works, spoken-word artists, poetry that

rhymes and poetry that feels like a life-lesson or even short stories from books performers have written or are in the process of writing.

The genres of acts aren’t categorized, as people can arrive and sign the list to perform at any point in the night. However, this leads to a playfully engaging, eccentric bounce from one topic to another, never allowing for a dull moment.

Even with several first-time performers taking control of the stage, the open mic proceeds successfully with very few awkward silences and no interjections. The experienced MC, typically Jorge Mendez, does a fantastic job of announcing and supporting performers, performing his own poetry pieces, and acting as a stern bouncer if there is any additional conversation occurring during the four minutes of show time.

Before the show starts, Jorge leads with the all too familiar tagline for The Venue, “the arts is what we do” and a mindful rule for every audience member to dwell on, “be sure to share something or take something in.”

The other, more practical rules for The Venue on 35th are sparse, but there is a zero tolerance policy for talking above performers, for making anyone feel uncomfortable or judged, and leaving in the middle of a performance (unless it’s an emergency). Enthralled by a night of pure entertainment, or a welcoming environment for your own performance, you won’t want to leave the sacred space for the arts created by The Venue on 35th.

Sasha Saxon|Marlin Chronicle A Monday night open mic artist on November 1, 2021, performing an ususual break-up poem.

James Cooper|Courtesy The view inside, from performer’s perspective onstage, and the welcoming store front of The Venue on 35th.

Eternals Is Thoughtful Rather Than Thrilling Emily Uzzle|Marlin Chronicle

BY RYAN ABRAHAM rsabraham@vwu.edu

Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” focuses on its titular characters as they attempt to protect the world from the threat of the Deviants, while revealing the role both groups played throughout history. This is coupled with the film tackling the themes of what it means to be human, and the value of humanity. The scope and themes of the movie cause it to be very ambitious, which is both its greatest strength and weakness.

The first half of the film switches between the presentday storyline and the events of the past. This results in the section of the film often feeling convoluted and unfocused. However, the second half of the movie is more focused, thanks to a plot twist that recontextualizes the events of the film.

Despite the second half of the movie being more focused, the movie maintains a slow pace throughout its nearly two hour and 40 minute runtime, as it chooses to place its focus on the drama between the Eternals and their pondering of their purpose over the action of the movie.

Despite the film relying less on action than other Marvel films, the action scenes it does include are strong.

This is thanks to each Eternal having their own distinct ability, which the movie showcases to great effect in its finale.

“Eternals” is also one of the most visually stunning movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this is not only due to its impressive visual effects, but it is also thanks to director Chloe Zhao’s distinct use of natural lighting in her camerawork, resulting in many truly beautiful shots. The Eternals themselves are wellcast, with the cast of the film giving good performances as their characters.

However, despite the quality of their performances, most of the characters come across as mildly underdeveloped due to the film simply not having enough time to give every character an equal amount of focus. In the age of streaming, one has to wonder if “Eternals” would have been better suited as a limited series, as it would have been given the time it needed to fully live up to its ambitious goals.

Thursday November 11, 2021 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwu.edu

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VB Bites: The Rustic Spoon Retwists Comfort Food

BY TIFFANY WARREN & DAHLIA PEREZ tawarren@vwu.edu

dmperez@vwu.edu

Spent the night cramming for an exam and missed out on breakfast? Have no fear, The Rustic Spoon is here. Located only minutes away from VWU, The Rustic Spoon offers an array of comfort foods with a modern, local twist, family oriented and warm rustic charm to enjoy brunch in a welcoming space. Customers can enjoy seating indoors by the fireplace or eating outside on the patio by the giant eight-foot wooden spoon hanging from the front.

From being former bartenders to becoming business partners, a restuarant was in the making of a dream. Ryan Hines, the owner and managing partner of The Rustic Spoon, opened the new establishment on Pleasure House Road in Feb. 2020 along with the support of his two longtime friends and business partners, Jason Kulas, a former VWU baseball player, and Nick Pogue.

“We all bartended together at the Oceanfront for years at a place called Lunasea, and we always wanted to open up a nightclub. Back in early 2019, we started talking about ideas and what we could be doing and looking for a place,” said Hines.

“And lo and behold, here we were and we opened up February 12, 2020, [just] five weeks before the pandemic hit.”

The Rustic Spoon menu has something for everyone to enjoy from sweet toothers to salty-savory lovers. Hines recommended for sweet tooths to order stuffed French toast or the spoon stack, a Japanese cloud soufflé styled pancake served with seasonal fruit, whipped cream and maple syrup.

For salty and savory dishes, Hines recommends the shrimp and grit cake and the carnitas hash. The restaurant’s number one selling appetizer, the Scotch egg. “It’s

a soft-boiled egg wrapped in sausage, egg wash flour panko breadcrumbs, deep fried for six minutes in the oven for two and rested for one [minute].”

Hines shares why the restaurant decided to focus on serving comfort to customers, “One of the things that we wanted for our guests to feel like while they’re here is to feel comfortable. We want you to feel like you’re at home. We want a homey atmosphere,” Hines said. “We want you to know that everybody here [is] smiling and taking good care of you and you’re going to get fed a good down-home meal while you’re here. That was the main reason why we chose comfort food.”

Their open hours from Sunday to Wednesday are 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 8 a.m.

- 9 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.

Amanda Cannon, a server at The Rustic Spoon, shares her recommendation for when customers should come. “Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busiest.

Tuesday or Wednesday [are recommended] if you’re looking for a chill day,” said Cannon.

The Rustic Spoon will soon start to do online ordering and add a Wednesday and Sunday night dinner. Hines encourages customers to pay close attention to their upcoming changes as far as hours because they will start offering dinner nights a little more often.

“We want them to come in and have a good dining experience with good food, a nice atmosphere and great, friendly service.

With those three things, [our] ultimate goal is to get repeat customers, so that’s what we hope for every time someone walks in the door. That’s the goal,” Hines said.

Being a new, locally owned restaurant

Tiffany Warren|Marlin Chronicle The Rustic Spoon displays its giant spoon on the front of the restaurant entrance. amidst the COVID-19 pandemic brought forth some unique complications that required unique solutions. The newly opened restaurant had to furlough their staff and follow regulations regarding seating capacity and mask mandates that made business challenging.

In response to COVID-19 after five weeks of being opened, The Rustic Spoon adapted to the new reality by providing takeout and delivery services.

“We were only open for five weeks before we were shut down. We had to resort to takeout, curbside delivery, [and] getting creative by doing what we could to sell drinks outside on the sidewalks, go put up a pop-up tent out front selling oysters

Rockefeller and shrimp skewers with the Orange Crushes,” Hines said. “We did everything we could to make sure that our investment and all of our hard work were not going to waste or get ruined from the pandemic.”

Cannon added, “We began offering dinner items for take-out in order to stay open.”

The Rustic Spoon is located at 1658 Pleasure House Road Suite 101, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. It’s available for outdoor seating and takeout orders by calling (757) 937-8930. Visit their website at www.therusticspoonvb.com, and their social media platforms on Instagram and Facebook @therusticspoonvb.

Kadriorg palace takes art a step back in time

BY FAITH MACWANA fpmacwana@vwu.edu

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, lies the former summer residence of Russian Tsars.

Brightly colored Kadriorg Palace was initially constructed

by Tsar Peter the Great of Russia in 1718 to honor his wife, Catherine I of Russia.

The history of Kadriorg Palace spans a great number of years and has been used for more than just a summer residence. Most recently, it has been converted to an art museum, the only museum in Estonia dedicated to early European and early Russian art.

Currently on display is an exhibition entitled “From Memling to Rubens: The Golden Age of Flanders”. This display features a plethora of paintings, sculptures and objects dating back from the 15th to 17th centuries. Some of the oldest and most expensive objects include porcelain figures from the famed porcelain factories.

It might seem a bit dull to outsiders looking at figurines that you could find in your grandparents’ home, but there’s something to be said about learning the history of an object. The inspiration behind it, the process of making it, the precision and care these artisans took to perfect their craft. There’s something romantic to be said about it all.

Faith Macwana|Courtesy Kadriorg Palace exhibits artwork on the ceiling.

In addition, there is also a permanent exhibition showcasing a broader range of artwork from Dutch, Italian, German and Russian artists spanning from the 16th to 20th centuries. The museum spans approximately three floors, each with something new and exciting to see. One of the rooms used to be the residence’s library.

This gorgeously well-preserved room is fully decked out in wood panels detailing Tallinn’s historic Old Town.

Throughout the palace, visitors can find descriptions of what each room used to be before it turned into an

exhibition room. The Green Room, as another example, used to be Tsar Nicholas I’s office. How’s that for literally stepping back in time?

However, the most spectacular room in Kadriorg Palace is the main hall. Nicknamed the ‘Baroque Pearl of the North’, the grandeur and scale of the room is enough to leave you breathless. Not only does it exemplify baroque architecture in Estonia, but also is the best example in all Northern Europe.

You can find yourself spending the majority of your time studying the cartouches of Peter the Great and Catherine I or perhaps looking at all the Russian-Byzantine symbols that hold great meaning. Don’t forget to look up. The ceiling is dominated by an oval mural depicting the story of Diana and Actaeon from Ovid’s Metamorphosis.

Outside the palace lie the palace grounds consisting of upper and lower gardens. While the temperatures are dropping, the splendor of the grounds aren’t affected.

Kadriorg Park is open to the public and you can find people on walks or hanging out on the park benches.

The grounds also still have historical buildings such as the palace kitchens which have also been renovated into smaller, private art museums. Packed with rich history and a stateroom that will make you feel like royalty, Kadriorg Palace is a must see when visiting Estonia.

Art galleries offer a serene space on campus

Kim DeHart|Marlin Chronicle Artworks featured in the Barclay Sheaks Gallery on campus for guests to visit.

BY KIM DEHART

kmdehart@vwu.edu

VWU offers two art galleries located in the Hofheimer Library: the Neil Britton Art Gallery and the Barclay Sheaks Gallery.

The mission for the Neil Britton Art Gallery is to present objects and artifacts along with the goal of inspiring students on campus to have their own ideas, whether they are provocative or not.

The ideas presented by the artists in the Neil Britton Gallery feature the people and places that they encountered while traveling, documenting and playing roots music.

The Barclay Sheaks Gallery’s mission is to present stunning but meaningful visions of knowledge and aspects of life. If you are interested in seeing the exhibit, it lies in the back of the back of the library and it is available all hours when the library is open.

VWU senior, Tailor Grayson, says she frequently visits the art gallery whenever she is in need of a quiet place. Grayson stated that the first time she came down to this gallery was about a year ago and it just stuck with her since. “It is very peaceful, and I can admire paintings while I do my work.”

This gallery’s first portion, the Neil Britton Gallery currently features, “Journey into Art Music and Folklore.”

This portion contains works by Art Rosenbaum and Margo Rosenbaum. The goal of this gallery was to combine their voices together in order to inspire others to do their own creative work within their own vision.

This gallery displays paintings such as, “Rakestraw’s Dream 1993,” “The Studio and the Sea 2017,” and “Les Inseparables 2013” all painted by Art Rosenbaum with many other pieces of work to see as well,

along with many black and white photos taken by Margo Rosenbaum. The pictures that Margo Rosenbaum displayed are in all types of different angles that consist of historical and controversial aspects of how we see things.

Grayson added, “My favorite part would have to be a lot of the black-and-white photos that are hung up. I really like how detailed they are and the different angles that they show. I go here a couple times a week and each time I go and look around, I have always been a big fan of museums and admiring works of other people.”

Each of the pieces delve into storytelling and discovering that the artists share. All of their works have been inspired by their travels and things they have encountered.

Their creative voices combined make for a powerful mixture of disciplines and an elevated way of understanding the world around us.

Both of them are celebrated musicians and share a passion for documenting folks they’ve encountered throughout traveling around the world and routing music to their visions of artwork and life.

The next section adjacent to the Neil Britton Gallery is the Barclay Sheaks Gallery which exhibits a body of work with a unique display for guests to observe.

This gallery displays the factors of liberal and lifelong learning. The founder, Barclay Sheaks joined the Virginia Wesleyan faculty in 1969. He was a poet and a nationally known painter who has had works in numerous museums as well as many distinguished universities and private collections.

He is best known for his acrylic paintings of the natural environments and people in the Chesapeake Bay. Some of his work

includes, “Head Water 1987,” “Deserted Farm 1965” and “Summer Light 1998.”

Grayson appreciates the peaceful campus spot as an undiscovered space. “I really like how quiet and structured it is.

I often go back there to do my work and every time I turn, there is a painting to admire. Sometimes when I look at the work I get inspired to do my own assignments.

It seems like not that many students know about it,” Grayson said.

Grayson added, “Each time I come down, I find a different aspect of art that I didn’t see before. There is always something new to look at when you come down here enough. Each piece has different meanings and different art textures that speak to the artist.”

If you are looking for a nice peaceful place to sit and enjoy art this would be the place to go on campus. Everyone is welcomed and admission is free. Both of these galleries are for different views and aspects on not only artwork but visions on life as well.

The Art Rosenbaum and Margo Newmark Rosenbaum: Journeys in Art, Music, and Folklore showing will remain on campus for viewing until Dec. 7.

Kim DeHart|Marlin Chronicle Neil Britton Art Gallery engages in the life experiences of the artists.