Thurs., Nov. 12, 2015

T H E TO P 10 P L AYE RS TO KE E P AN E Y E ON I N T H E N B A T H I S S EA S O N

SEE SPORTS

Women’s Volleyball made its first ODAC tournament finals appearance, with several players earning awards. See Pg. 9

THE MARLIN CHRONICLE THURSDAY 11.12.15 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

Sex-trafficking ring discovered at neighborhood Econo Lodge

Old Dominion University shootings during homecoming weekend Shooting at nearby college makes VWC students appreciate the safety of their campus

BY JASMINE DRIGGS jtdriggs@vwc.edu

Kiersten Newnam| Marlin Chronicle The Econo Lodge on Northampton Blvd., only four minutes away from VWC, is currently being investigated for sex trafficking.

Three girls rescued, five suspects arrested

BY KIERSTEN NEWNAM krboyd@vwc.edu

On Monday, Oct. 12, a sex-trafficking ring at the Econo Lodge on Northampton Blvd. was busted by a Virginia Beach SWAT team when a 16-year-old victim escaped from the motel and contacted authorities.

Three girls in Hampton Roads were res-

cued. The five suspects who were arrested at the Econo Lodge were among 12 pimps that were arrested in the area that week.

This investigation is part of a nationwide human trafficking operation involving the FBI. The Econo Lodge is only 1.2 miles away from campus, so this type of crime raises some red flags for students and members of the Virginia Wesleyan community.

“I think it could affect parents who don’t live here if they hear about it on the news, so that kind of goes back to maybe Virginia Wesleyan could have reported something

like that, you know, to us, for us to know because people whose parents may live in California or New York... that’s something they’d want to be aware about, maybe even talk to their kids about,” Fatima Davis, a senior majoring in criminal justice at VWC, said.

The nationwide attempt to tackle human trafficking resulted in the release of 149 underage victims and 153 suspects, with the youngest victim being only 12 years old.

SEE ECONO LODGE Pg. 3

Change, change and more change Offices re-organized to create one-stop shops

BY BRIAN LE btle@vwc.edu

Over the course of the past few weeks, several offices and departments across the campus of Virginia Wesleyan College moved to new locations. Among those offices were Residence Life, Adult Studies and Career Services.

The office of Residence Life, which was once located in Village II, found a new home on the second floor of the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

“We are now closer to where students spend most of their time,” Graduate Residence Director Jesse Schrader said.

The office is now located in the heart of campus life which is quite a change from where it previously was. This move also puts Residence Life in the same building with the rest of the student affairs division.

The Chaplain’s office, Community Service office, Student Counseling center, Student Activities and Residence Life are now all

SEE OFFICES Pg. 3

INSIDE

Kayla Skeete| Marlin Chronicle The Residence Life office is now located on the second floor of the Batten Center.

An open letter from David Buckingham page 7

Tips for Black Friday survival page 10

Virginia Wesleyan students are questioning their safety after four ODU students were wounded and a U.S. Navy sailor died at two different shootings while attending off-campus parties during ODU’s homecoming weekend.

The first shooting on Friday, Oct. 16, took the life of Keith Lendore who was a 26-year-old Navy sailor. Two women, both ODU students, were injured during this incident as well.

Two men, also ODU students, were injured during a second shooting at a party early Sunday morning, Oct. 18. The shooting was believed to be the result of an argument at the party.

Neither of the parties were held on the ODU campus, however both parties were full of university students as they celebrated their homecoming. The parties were hosted on Killam Avenue and West 40th Street, both just minutes from the heart of the university’s campus.

“The senseless firing of weapons that took Keith’s life also injured four of our students at two separate events over the weekend. We wish them all a speedy recovery,” President of ODU John R. Broderick wrote in an email.

These incidents sparked an initiative to strengthen security measures in Norfolk.

Broderick said that he spoke with the mayor and city manager of Norfolk about ways to improve safety for citizens in the area.

“We believe this would strengthen the joint effort of Norfolk Police and ODU Police to prevent dangerous incidents before they happen,” Broderick said.

“The proactive safety enhancements and educational programs Old Dominion University Police Department [ODUPD] implemented recently have resulted in a drop in crime incidents on campus, falling below the national average for large universities. But crime in Norfolk continues to be a challenge. We are committed to supporting Norfolk Police’s efforts in surrounding neighborhoods and encourage the community to report any suspicious activity to police. The safety of our students is a top priority, and by working together, we can help prevent further violence,” Acting Assistant Vice President of the University Giovanna M. Genard said in an email to WAVY.com.

Carissa Stevens, a junior sociology major and resident at Virginia Wesleyan College, attended a party on the campus of Old Dominion University on the same weekend as the reported shootings.

Stevens said that she and friends went to Old Dominion to take part in some of the homecoming activities. Stevens said she remembers leaving the party that she attended and seeing the area where the shooting took place taped off with caution tape. Stevens said as she got closer to where the shooting took place, she could hear bystanders frantically talking about what had just happened, however she was unsure on whether to believe them since

SEE ODU SHOOTINGS Pg. 3

Norfolk’s Grand Illumination Parade page 10

2 Thursday November 12, 2015 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

NEWS

Changes made with Native Americans in mind

BY TAYLOR ROCHE-DUTCH tdrochedutch@vwc.edu

In a stream of events last month, the entire state of Alaska rejected the idea of Columbus Day, and began officially recognizing the second Monday of October as Indigenous People’s Day, as reported by Time magazine’s website. USA Today reported several other cities joined the cause around the same time, including Portland, Oregon, Albuquerque, New Mexico and a large group of cities in Minnesota and New York. This action was in agreement with cities like Seattle, Washington, which unanimously voted in favor of changing Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day back in 2014, making it the secondlargest city in the United States to do so, after Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to a Kiro 7 News report.

The reasons for this recent change are numerous but largely stem from the fact that Columbus Day promotes and celebrates the idea that Christopher Columbus was a great hero who deserves a day celebrating his accomplishments.

Schools typically paint Columbus in a hero’s light, according to biography.com.

However, Virginia Wesleyan sophomore Jeremiah McQueary, who was born into the indigenous culture, said the true nature of Columbus’s story is far more complex than schools tend to let on.

“If history wasn’t skewed to make Columbus look much better than he was (by teaching from biased perspectives), and people knew who he actually was, they

could choose for themselves to celebrate the holiday,” McQueary said.

Several political groups protested to replace the day with a holiday celebrating exploration in general, calling it “Discovery Day” as some states do, or, as VWC student Valerie Wilburn suggested, “Exploration Day.” Other recent controversies took hold of the indigenous population. The fight to change the name of the Washington Redskins made waves in the news, as some political activists said they believed the name was an offensive racial slur and the team should be forced to change it. The Washington Post reported the situation concluded on June 18, 2014, when the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office found the team’s name to be disparaging to Native Americans and cancelled six of the team’s copyrights.

In response to these claims and similar ones that have been circulating since the ’70s, Redskins team owner Daniel Snyder wrote an open letter to the Washington Post on Oct. 9, 2013, saying the name was chosen to honor the Native Americans that were a part of the founding of the team, and that their mascot was created in as respectful a manner as possible.

McQueary shared his opinion on the name change.

“While the name may not be directly appropriate, it was created as a symbol of the indigenous warrior without malice,” McQueary said.

“Self-identifying indigenous people (not people who claim indigenous heritage

merely when beneficial to themselves) find pride in this. We identify as Red People,” McQueary said.

McQueary said education is the key to showing respect to the indigenous cultures of the United States. He said he finds it distressing that America turns a blind eye to such a rich culture. When McQueary discussed the history of America with his fellow soldiers in the Marine Corps, he said, most had little to no factual knowledge.

“That is a travesty of education. As a nation, it is impossible to move forward until the past is actually acknowledged,” McQueary said.

“When people first think of Native Americans, they think of the story about Pocahontas, and many don’t know that Native American people are still around and have active tribes,” Wilburn said. Both McQueary and Wilburn said the recent pushes for respect of the indigenous cultures of the United States are long overdue, and respect for the cultures should start with the education of the public.

In a strong push for the respect of the native peoples of Alaska, President Obama officially changed the name of Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in the United States, to its original name of Denali, meaning “The Tall One” or “The Great One.” The New York Times reported on the decision in an online article on Aug. 30, and said this change was seen as long overdue by many Alaskans, who had referred to the mountain by its original name for centuries. According to Knox News, those who reside in the state of Alaska said they found having the mountain named

after President McKinley, who was from Ohio and had nothing to do with the state of Alaska, was confounding. The people of Alaska said the name change is a step in the right direction.

“We all agree that we’re all deeply gratified by the acknowledgment of the importance of Denali to Alaska’s people,” Will Mayo, the leader of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, said in an interview with Knox News.

Upcoming on Nov. 26 is the Thanksgiving holiday, which is not steeped in nearly as much controversy as Columbus Day. Virginia Wesleyan students have varying opinions regarding Thanksgiving.

“I take after my ancestors by caring for not only family, but friends and strangers.

Everyone has to eat,” Wilburn said.

McQueary had a different take on the holiday. “[Thanksgiving is] merely a grim reminder of the lack of unbiased teaching and direct disregard for the indigenous people,” McQueary said.

The recent push for respect for all cultures and peoples is going forward at full force. It recently took hold of the indigenous populations, and many organizations said they are glad they are gaining some relevance in the media. With the recent name changes of Columbus Day and Mount McKinley, things that were once cast off and unseen have taken spotlight, and they are beginning to change.

“Fact-check for yourself. Beginning to ‘respect’ the indigenous culture should start with education of fact, and not just a generalized mention in a history book,” McQueary said.

Current events roundup

BY SARAH ANTOZZI scantozzi@vwc.edu

A Chinese child may now have a sibling--but only one

The Communist Party of China recently announced that it is ending the one-child policy that was in place for four decades, citing concerns that the country’s economic progress would be compromised by the growing ratio of old-to-young in its population. Married couples will now be permitted to have two children.

No survivors of passenger jet crash--cause unknown

A Russian Metrojet airliner crashed on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people on board. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the incident, which is currently still under investigation. Debris from the disentegrated airplane covered nearly eight square miles.

Further U.S. involvement in Syria

President Obama has sent Special Operations troops to Syria, who will act in an advisory capacity to Syrian forces for battling the Islamic State.

Disease outbreak in African nation officially over

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone over, since the benchmark of 42 days without a recorded case has passed. The outbreak lasted about 18 months and killed about 11,000 in Sierra Leone.

Betting on the horses and on the fantasy leagues no different in New York A.G.’s book

The attorney general of New York has told two fantasy-football companies to stop accepting bets in the state, saying that placing bets on fantasy sports is illegal gambling.

Sources: The New York Times, the Virginian-Pilot

Holiday fundraising hits campus

BY ASHLEY KLINE

As the holiday season comes upon us with Thanksgiving break right around the corner, holiday festivities will begin to take campus by storm. Many charitable efforts will be seen around campus accompanied by events helping to spread the holiday cheer.

According to Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling, Zeta Phi Beta is holding an event involving the assembly of Thanksgiving baskets to benefit the organization For Kids in Virginia Beach.

They will be collecting items that go along with Thanksgiving meals. The deadline for turning in items for the drive is Nov. 20.

Zeta Phi Beta member, Jessica Moss, confirmed the event.

Hotaling also said that Volunteer Hampton Roads is hosting a family service foodboxing event on campus for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. This event is held on campus annually and is referred to as Family Volunteer Day. In the past, the campus has assisted with setting up the event or creating a Virginia Wesleyan “family” to

assist with the packaging efforts. The event is scheduled for Nov. 21 in the CMAC and usually takes place between 9 a.m. and noon. Hotaling said she wanted to promote these events as well as emphasize the continuous need for volunteers.

“The need is all year long. People are hungry all year long. People need to be clothed all year long. People need to be cared for all year long,” Hotaling said.

The campus will furthermore get into the spirit of giving with Operation Christmas Child, led by Chaplain Greg West and Marlin Ministries. For this event, shoeboxes are packed with toys and distributed to kids in need. The national collection week for Operation Christmas Child is Nov. 16 through Nov. 23.

Sophomore Lydia O’Connor said that Cru is holding a special event for Thanksgiving. Cru will have a banner for people to write what they’re thankful for. The banner will be in the Batten Center and available for signing the Monday before Thanksgiving break. The hanging of the banner will follow.

The Community Service office hosts

multiple service events around the holidays, including the soup line, Cooking for Kids and the homeless shelter.

“We always do a soup line throughout the year, but especially during the holidays, as it’s getting closer, it’s more important,” Laura Robusto, a junior at Virginia Wesleyan and an employee of the Community Service Office, said.

“We always do cooking for kids as well, just giving to children that are in need and are hungry. That’s always important. During the winter session, we’ve been doing the homeless shelter, which, although it’s after Christmas, it’s still winter time, so just helping out others that need it,” Robusto said.

On Oct. 26, Diane Hotaling sent out an email containing information pertaining to the homeless shelter. The email stated that the homeless shelter is scheduled to take place in the CMAC starting the night of Jan. 10, and is due to end the morning of Jan. 17. The campus has hosted the homeless shelter along with Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless since 2007.

Students can sign up to be a part of the

homeless shelter team now, and orientations for volunteers will be held on Dec. 1 at 11 a.m or Dec. 2 at 4:30 p.m in the Foley classroom located in the library. If you are unable to volunteer your time during winter session, donations for the shelter are also being accepted through Dec. 18. All donations may be dropped off at the Community Service Office. Tax-exempt forms will be available.

In an email Hotaling sent out regarding the homeless shelter, she said the need for the shelter on campus is diminishing due to greater efforts in the Hampton Roads area.

“Good news is, we’re almost out of a job! In winter 2007, we served more than 100 guests per night. In winter 2016, we expect to serve only around 30 adult men and women per night, which coincides with the development of five Virginia Supportive Housing apartment complexes in South Hampton Roads since 2008 that will house 320 formerly homeless individuals

by December,” Hotaling wrote.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

3

ODU SHOOTINGS CONTINUED FROM FRONT she attended.

Stevens said she had a friend who was at the party where the shooting took place.

Her friend told Stevens that the people in the party were very scared when they heard gunshots and chaotic screaming after the shooting took place.

Stevens said she was thankful for the safety of Virginia Wesleyan’s campus.

“I remember walking to the cafe the morning after the shooting and hearing the birds chirping. I saw multiple security officers on my way there, and I knew I was fortunate enough to be here on a campus where it is monitored and gated off,” Stevens said.

Virginia Wesleyan College is a closed, private campus and takes the safety of its students, faculty and staff very seriously.

“VWC deploys actual police officers along with our security supervisors during patrols of the campus. These patrols occur between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. every night of the week,” Director of Security Jerry Mance said.

Mance said there are two police officers on campus on Friday and Saturday nights to assist campus security.

VWC students also have access to the Virginia Beach Police Department via radio, which helps ensure that they can respond to campus in a timely manner.

“Active patrols of the campus, including parking lot areas, occur 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Strict access control at the gate is also maintained, with I.D. cards being checked regularly,” Mance said.

In order for Wesleyan students to have guests on campus, they must register their guests via WebAdvisor. Upon arrival at the gatehouse, the registered guest must show his or her driver’s license or proof of identification, and a security guard will subsequently grant him or her access to campus with a temporary parking pass. Virginia Wesleyan has specific visitor hours which run until midnight Sunday through Wednesday, 1 a.m. on Thursday, and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

“I feel very safe at VWC, I feel that the campus security does a very good job at monitoring who comes on and off our campus. I think that our safety and security policies are fine just the way they are,” Stevens said.

Virginia Wesleyan security also recently made the LiveSafe app available to students. The app allows members of the college community to easily share information and safety concerns with Campus Security by submitting texts, pictures, video and audio, with an option of remaining anonymous. Students may also live chat with Campus Security, view a safety map and allow friends to monitor their location for everyday safety. Students may create a profile, which will include one email address and one telephone number, which will be used by the college to notify campus members of emergencies and other timely information. The LiveSafe app works with most smart phones and is available for download in the iTunes and Google Play app stores.

“With the help of the LiveSafe app, guest registration and guest hours, our security does a great job to be sure that we are safe.

We are very fortunate here at Wesleyan because we see how things could be different, just like on other campuses,” Stevens said.

There have not been any reported shootings at Virginia Wesleyan College to date.

Although the state of Virginia has its own gun permit laws, Virginia Wesleyan

College does not allow guns on campus except for accredited police officers.

VWC holds many events on campus that are not college-affiliated.

“Activities that occur on campus are managed by staff under the purview of the Business Office,” Mance said. Contracts are typically signed in order to rent out equipment and specific facilities of the college. However, guests utilizing the facilities do not have to be registered on campus as a normal guest.

“They are contracted on as a group of whatever organization they are representing. A security officer or officers are assigned, Batten Center staff is placed on notice and at the first sign of trouble we [staff members] get involved. If an organization acts out or creates trouble, they are not invited back to use the facilities,” Mance said.

Mance said Virginia Wesleyan Campus Security does its best to ensure the safety of the students, faculty and staff.

OFFICES CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“We have only been here for about one week and we already notice more foot traffic coming through,” Schrader said. “It makes it more convenient for students to come see us.”

The Adults Studies office moved around a bit over the past several weeks. The office was once located on the first floor of Clarke Hall, but was since relocated to the first floor of Godwin Hall to be a part of enrollment services.

“The President had a vision of grouping together the Admissions office, Financial Aid office and Adults Studies office and having them become a part of The Center of Enrollment Services,” Assistant Director of Adult Studies Pamela Paramore said.

Godwin Hall, the administrative building on campus, will now be better positioned to cater to all enrollment needs of current and prospective students.

“I think it will be easier and more convenient for students to find us,” Paramore said.

Housing these departments in one building, under the Center of Enrollment Services, continues to support the notion of one-stop shopping for students when it comes to utilizing the resources of the college.

“We are still settling in, but in the future I think this will be better,” Paramore said.

The area where the Adult Studies office once was, on the first floor of Clarke Hall, now serves as the home of The Lighthouse, Center of Exploration and Discovery. In order to consolidate and use resources more efficiently, the Undergraduate Research Program, Study Away Program and Career Development and Internship Program are all housed together within The Lighthouse.

The Career Development and Internship Program, formerly known as Career Ser-

Kayla Skeete | Marlin Chronicle Inside the new Residence Life office, which was recently the Adult Studies office, and before that, Career Services.

vices, was once located on the second floor of the Batten Student Center before finding its new home in Clarke along with the rest of the academic affairs division.

“Before the move, it was hard to streamline messages to students because you had to send them to multiple places to receive additional help. It is easier now because we are able to work together and partner up with each other since our offices are so close by,” Steven Young, assistant director of the Career Development and Internship Program, said.

The grouping of those departments within The Lighthouse

serves as another academic resource available to students within Clarke Hall.

“The Lighthouse provides a one-stop philosophy for experiential learning,” Young said.

In addition to The Lighthouse, the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, the Office of the Registrar, the 24-hour computer lab and the Learning Resource Center are also housed in the same building along with the office of Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Timothy O’Rourke.

ECONO LODGE CONTINUED FROM FRONT The Virginia Beach Special Victims Unit was unable to comment due to the pending investigation, and the Econo Lodge failed to respond to questioning.

“Sex trafficking is a big thing in our area, especially because of the port, all the military, and just because there is so much movement of people in and out,” Director of Residence Life McCarren Caputa said.

Neighboring the Econo Lodge are a Waffle House and McDonald’s that students frequent.

“I think if it were more well-known, it would have affected us a lot more because, personally, when I go to McDonald’s, or something, I’ll see people out there late at night, and it’s a little sketchy. So to know that they were running a sex-trafficking business over there, that does kind of put us at risk because we are young adults and you never know what could happen over there, especially by yourself,” Davis said.

The Virginian-Pilot reported investigators conducted ‘in-call’ operations in which investigators went to the prostitutes locations, and ‘out-call’ operations in which the prostitutes would go to the investigators. The investigators worked in hotels, casinos, truck stops and other areas known to be frequented by prostitutes.

“If you get right down to it we’re a small, private, liberal arts institution; not everyone can afford to be here. It’s a privilege, I think, that we have this little bubble where we’re safe, and that’s not necessarily what’s happening out in the real world,” Caputa said.

According to 13News Now, during the operation, 90 victim specialists provided on-scene services like crisis intervention and resources for basic needs like medical services, food, clothing and shelter.

“I don’t think a lot of people are aware that this is really happening: girls are re-

ally forced to sell their bodies and do what they’re told,” Davis said.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, the initiative, driven by the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, targeted pimps responsible for the commercial sex trafficking of children.

“I think it’s very possible that it could impact enrollment because it is so close,” Caputa said. Caputa spoke of the time last year when a VWC student, Isabella Blackney, stood up at orientation after the Title IX presentation was given to the whole Freshmen class. Caputa said Blackney directly confronted the class about sex trafficking and the major presence of it in this part of the country, and encouraged students to educate themselves on the issue.

“For a freshman to know that and to feel comfortable to stand up in front of her classmates and be like ‘we have to do something about this’ was pretty power-

ful,” Caputa said.

According to 13News Now, over 4800 victims have been rescued from underage prostitution since Operation Cross Country began in 2003, and over 2000 convictions were obtained, including at least 15 that have resulted in life sentences.

“I think we’re in the business of educating people, and I think that’s something that you see on T.V. You see it in the movies, but it’s never here. So I think that this will start some conversations…it makes it more relevant. Our students are more excited to listen to things that are here, that are applicable to them like they can drive by the motel and see it. The more people that talk about it the better and it gets more information out there,” Caputa said.

4 Thursday November 12, 2015 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

The

MARLIN CHRONICLE

COMMUNITY Veteran’s Day the Wesleyan way

BY SAMANTHA SMALL stsmall@vwc.edu

Editor-in-Chief Courtney Herrick clherrick@vwc.edu News Editors Brian Le btle@vwc.edu Sarah Antozzi scantozzi@vwc.edu Community Editor Kaci Parker klparker@vwc.edu Opinion Editor Doug Hardman ddhardman@vwc.edu The Weekender Troy Aubut taaubut@vwc.edu Sports Editor Michael Willson mnwillson@vwc.edu Photo Editors Anthony Dellamura aadellamura@vwc.edu Kayla Skeete krskeete@vwc.edu Illustrations Editor Britani Daley badaley@vwc.edu Online Editor Maurice Reed mreed@vwc.edu Copy Editor

Samantha Small stsmall@vwc.edu

Advertising Representative Catherine Brown cebrown@vwc.edu Advisor

Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwc.edu

BY KATHERINE BISHOP kabishop@vwc.edu

Virginia Wesleyan alumnus Milton Clemmons represents exactly what Virginia Wesleyan aims to conquer with veteran Marlins: success in the classroom and in life.

Clemmons served in the U.S. Army for four years and eight months before graduating from Virginia Wesleyan in 2013 as a criminal justice major.

In a recent Nota Bene email, President Scott Miller shared with students and faculty that Virginia Wesleyan is repeatedly recognized

by U.S. News & World Report as a best college for veterans and was recently named a 2016 Military Friendly School.

Clemmons attested to this when he said he had so many great experiences as a veteran at Wesleyan.

“I believe that our college has a unique way of showing their appreciation to its military personnel. What stood out to me was how they simplified my transition into the classroom and how they help vets to feel like regular students,” Clemmons said.

Clemmons was given a chance to address the Wesleyan community at the College’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Nov. 12, 2012.

“The experience was excellent because I was able to express things to people that I didn’t have a chance to before, and it made my mother just as proud as the day I joined the service,” Clemmons said. Clemmons said he was able to meet and formed relationships with many other veterans that were also students and staff at VWC as a result of his speech.

Clemmons joined the military for the same reason many others do: the benefits. While growing up in a family lacking a steady flow of income, Clemmons said he knew that he needed a steady career providing him with proficient funds, which later paved the way to his decision to join the U.S. Army.

“I feel like I was molded and prepared to be a solider before I even set foot on the battlefield,” Clemmons said in his speech.

Another one of Wesleyan’s very own who served his country in the military is Vice President for Students Affairs David Buckingham.

“As a Marine I was proud to serve my country at a time, 19671971, when being a member of the military was not very popular,” Buckingham said.

Many Virginia Wesleyan students and faculty members celebrate Veteran’s Day with gratitude and pride.

Miller has family members whom he celebrates the day with.

“It is a particularly special day for me because my soon-to-be 89 year-old father is a World War II veteran. He is a proud U.S. Marine and we are very much proud of him,” said Miller.

In his Nota Bene, Miller reminded students and faculty of the importance of active student involvement in Veteran’s Day activities.

“As an institution, it is important that we continue to serve our veterans and to recognize them as valued members of our community,” Miller said.

Sequoia Mulgrave|Marlin Chronicle Milton Clemmons gives a speech to the campus community.

New professors join Virginia Wesleyan’s campus

BY KIRSTEN POWELL kapowell@vwc.edu

Two out of the eight new VWC professors were interviewed to help the students learn more about who was teaching them in the classroom.

Dr. Jason Squinobal, Music discipline of the Humanities Department

Q: “Where are you from?”

A: “Connecticut.”

Q: “What brought you to VWC?” A: “I really wanted the opportunity to build my own instrumental program, and Wesleyan has given me the opportunity to do that.”

Q: “How do you like working for a smaller college?”

A: “I love working at small schools because the relationships I can build with my students are much closer than at a bigger school.”

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

The Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan College 1584 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 757.455.3311

Clemmons extended his thanks to the VWC community for their involvement in Veteran’s Day activities.

“I can’t speak for every veteran, but I would like our VWC community to know that their acknowledgement and commemorations for military veterans are impactful and greatly appreciated,” Clemmons said.

The 2015 Veterans Day Ceremony took place on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m., located at the Campus Lawn and Memorial Garden. The ceremony included remarks by VWC alumna Jodi Chang and sophomore Kasey Dotson. The Advisor of the VWC Marlin Student Veterans Organization and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Marlin Detachment, Amy Rush, spoke at the event as well.

In May 2013, the Virginia Wesleyan College Veterans Memorial was installed to honor members of the VWC family who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

The Military Honor Tree was on display in the Jane P. Batten Student Center in honor of Veteran’s Day. According to Miller’s Nota Bene, the display was created by Virginia Wesleyan’s Student Veterans Organization, a campus group that helps both former military and active duty service members adjust to and succeed in college life, and the College’s Veterans Benefits Office.

Q: “Favorite holiday?”

A: “Thanksgiving.”

Q: “Favorite dessert?”

A: “Cheesecake.”

Q: “If you could be any celebrity who would you be?”

A: “Derek Jeter, even though I’m a red socks fan.”

Taylor McIntosh |Marlin Chronicle

Q: “Favorite Food?”

A: “Thai Food.”

Q: “Where are you from?”

A: “Germany, but I moved here from Philadelphia.”

Q: “What brought you to VWC?” A: “The job fit me well, and I was really excited about it. My brother-in-law went here and graduated in 1998, so it’s really funny that I work here now.”

“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 college. Virginia Wesleyan College 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

Dr. Antje Schwennicke, Political Science

Q: “How do you like working for a smaller college?”

A: “I love it. I think it’s great because I get to really know my students. It also provides a great opportunity to think beyond teaching.”

Q: “Favorite holiday?”

A: “Thanksgiving.”

Q: “Favorite dessert?”

A: “Really good chocolate chip cookies.”

Q: “If you could be any celebrity who would you be” A: “President Obama, because I can’t vote so that’s the only way I could change things.”

Q: “Favorite food?”

A: “Sushi.”

Taylor McIntosh |Marlin Chronicle

Thursday, November 12, 2015

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

T R A N S F O R M A

CAMPUS countdown November 11th

2015 Veterans Day Ceremony

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Campus Lawn and Memorial Garden behind Godwin Hall Reception to follow in the Barclay Sheaks Gallery in Godwin Hall. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside the CMAC.

November 13th Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Strange Loops Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Neil Britton Gallery inside the Hofheimer Library

An opening reception and artist talk for Reni Gower’s “Strange Loops.” Gower’s exhibit will be on display from November 13, 2015- January 13, 2015.

November 14th VWC Day Open House

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Location: Registration in Godwin Hall in the Admissions Office These half-day visits include a tour of the campus, meetings with students and faculty and an academic fair Lunch is provided for prospective students and their families.

November 18th Etiquette Dinner

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Location: Shafer Room, Boyd Dining Center Students are invited to participate in a four-course meal to learn proper dining etiquette and table manners.

Please RSVP to LaShay Wyatt at 757.455.3107 or lwyatt@vwc.edu.

CRIME BLOTTER

Courtesy|Thinkstock November 1 1:07 a.m. |Liquor Law Violation Gatehouse No description.

Courtesy |Marlin Chronicle Brooke Totzeck, Jillian Little and Toni Aris-Howell freshman year.

“A fun tradition that my roommate Toni, hall mate Jillian and I started our freshman year was to go pumpkin picking in October! Jillian no longer attends VWC but we still continue with this tradition. Distance means so little when a friend means so much! I will always be thankful for VWC randomly assigning us to live in Kellam our freshman year.”

A peek into the life of Wesleyan’s Pal, Mrs. Polly

BY WYNTER BOND wcbond@vwc.edu

While walking to the café, there are a lot of questions that come to mind, jumbling and tangling themselves together.

What is there to eat today? Will I be able to get a booth? Is Russ making grilled cheese? Should I sit by the window or the fireplace? What kind of pizza will they have today? Is the sandwich bar open?

But there is one question for which, nine times out of ten, the answer will be yes: will I see Mrs. Polly today?

Polly Gaskins has worked at Virginia Wesleyan for 21 years, and she said she does not plan on stopping anytime soon.

Students say they look forward to seeing her familiar face every day, but there is a lot that people do not know about this longterm member of the Virginia Wesleyan dining staff.

Mrs. Polly has been married to her husband since 1979. They have two children, Ebony, 35 and David, 38, and a granddaughter named Leilonni.

“That is my princess. She is my joy,” Mrs. Polly said.

With her husband being in the military, Mrs. Polly traveled to many places. “I have been to Germany, Fort Riley, Kansas, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and this is my last stop,” Mrs. Polly said.

Mrs. Polly not only works at Virginia Wesleyan, she also volunteers here.

“I like giving back to others,” Mrs. Polly said. She volunteers at the winter homeless shelter held in the C-MAC every year at the college. She also volunteered at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. Mrs. Polly works as a youth pastor at her church, Restoration Church Ministry, in

Portsmouth.

Mrs. Polly said she is well aware of the effect that she has on faculty and students alike.

She said that it is all about having a family atmosphere to her and making the students feel at home even though they are not.

She said she genuinely cares about each student that walks up to talk to her and casually jokes or laughs with each and every person she sees.

A lot of students strike up conversations with the familiar café greeter, and she said it puts a smile on her face every time.

“I love people,” Mrs. Polly said. “I love being around people, I’m a people person.”

Mrs. Polly said she thinks highly of the food Virginia Wesleyan provides students, albeit not everyone agrees with her.

“I think we have a good variety of stuff,” Mrs. Polly said. “It’s not like Mama’s home cooking, but I think that even if we had different food, then people still wouldn’t like at least something.”

That does not stop her from having a favorite though.

Ms. Lena’s soup and chicken salad are Mrs. Polly’s dishes of choice.

Virginia Wesleyan students express their appreciation of Mrs. Polly.

“She is sweet and a good conversation person,” freshman Gabby Fox said. “She affects my dining experience because she’s really nice and if she weren’t here I would be upset,” Fox said.

Junior Avriana Chavez said she shares the same sentiment.

“I do think that the campus is a big fan of her and would miss her dearly,” Chavez said. “She was intimidating to me my freshman year, but she has defi-

BY SAMANTHA SMALL

Car saran wrapped.

Clothes damaged.

November 8 12:52 a. m. |Liquor Law Violation Village III No description.

nitely grown on me,” Chavez continued.

Mrs. Polly said that her mother always taught her to follow the Golden Rule: treat others the way that you would want to be treated. She said her mother always stressed the importance of kindness.

“You don’t know what someone is going through or what they are feeling. It is best to treat everyone with respect,” Mrs. Polly said.

One doesn’t see Mrs. Polly in a bad mood often, but there is one thing that gets her goat.

“I do not like when people do not swipe their cards. I would

rather you just be honest with me than try to sneak past me,” Mrs. Polly said. So, word to the wise: nothing gets past Mrs. Polly.

“

I love being around people, I’m a people person.

”

MRS. POLLY

Virginia Wesleyan is partnering with NATO to host and help out with the annual Model NATO Challenge on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. In return for Virginia Wesleyan’s contributions, participating faculty members and two VWC students currently interning at NATO, junior Alex McComb and senior Josef (Joe) Ross, were invited to the annual NATO Appreciation Day at the Virginia Zoo on Sunday, Nov. 8 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This event was sponsored by the Norfolk NATO Festival.

The 2016 Norfolk NATO festival will be held April 22 and 23. According to the Norfolk NATO Festival’s website, the Model NATO Challenge is a scholarship competition where the top 28 applicants along with 6 alternates are chosen to participate in a mock global crisis simulation, confronting issues facing today’s NATO Alliance. Hampton roads high school juniors and seniors will make up the board of Student Diplomats for the simulation.

stsmall@vwc.edu

November 4 3:31 p.m. |Vandalism C Lot

November 7 7:03 p.m. |Vandalism Villiage I

Anthony Dellamura|Marlin Chronicle Mrs. Polly standing at her podium greeting all the students for dinner with a smile.

Virginia Wesleyan partners with NATO

Clothes stolen from laundry room.

Car keyed.

“I’ve learned a few important life lessons during my time here at Wesleyan: 1. Focus on the quality of your frienships, not the quantity of them.

2. Always make time for the people and things that make you happy.

3. Time management is so crucial.”

-Senior Brooke Totzeck

Courtesy |Marlin Chronicle Brooke Totzeck, Jillian Little and Toni Aris-Howell senior year.

-Senior Brooke Totzeck

November 2 3:46 p.m. |Larceny/Theft Village I

November 6 12:08 p.m. |Vandalism D Lot

T I O N

T h u r s d a y

5

Anthony Dellamura |Marlin Chronicle One of the Red Pandas at the Virginia Norfolk zoo grabbing a quick bite to eat.

“

I was really happy with how the event went Sunday and was honored to get to meet so many representatives from all 28 countries of NATO. JOE ROSS

”

Anthony Dellamura |Marlin Chronicle

6 Thursday November 12, 2015 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

OPINIONS

jamie crawley kellie lagoy

Britani Alyse| Marlin Chronicle

THe Great Mc Debate: Paid to Play?

Many people scoff at the notion that college athletes should get paid. They get pampered enough, right? They’re already getting paid through a free education, right? Well, regardless of those things, college athletics, especially at the Division I level, is modernday slavery. That’s why I feel the athletes deserve to be rightfully compensated. Many detractors’ first point is the fact that the athletes get a free education. Well, in theory, that is a form of compensation, but with athletics, the education often takes a backseat which is completely backwards. For instance, the various scandals at the University of North Carolina involved professors fixing grades to make sure players remain eligible.

There are also instances of athletes taking suspect classes in which they are expected to pass. Many leave college not having learned a thing, and why should they when universities’ main priorities are for these players to line their pockets? This leads me to my next point. The NCAA profits off these players and has been doing so for years. Look at Michigan’s “Fab Five” back in the ‘90s. The group of freshmen captivated a nation, and of course the NCAA took advantage. You saw “Fab Five” Nikes or their patented black socks in stores everywhere. But, guess what? The athletes didn’t see any money.

The recently-cancelled NCAA sports games saw many players’ likenesses being used.

They didn’t receive a dime. Let’s remember some athletes live like typical college kids do. They spend 75 percent of their time on a field or court, making these universities all sorts of money, just to come home wondering how they are going to eat.

The idea of a college football player getting paid for playing his sport is absurd. Half of the time, these athletes are getting full-ride scholarships to the school of their choice, but I guess a full-ride to an excellent university just isn’t enough. These football players are still student-athletes, but they seem to forget the student part of that term. College football players disregard the fact that they are going to a college or university, and they only focus on the fact that they have to play a football game every Saturday. Though, you can’t put all the blame on them. Most of the blame should be put on coaches, athletic directors and the schools themselves, because all they seem to care about is shoveling in the money that the football teams make and marketing the prestige of a winning team.

Football players don’t need to get paid; their scholarship to a nice school is privilege enough. If they want to get paid so badly, then they can go ahead and attempt to join the NFL now, because they are taking up a spot at the school that some worthy student on a waitlist could be taking. Any student-athlete eho thinks they deserve to get paid for what they do on the field is living in a fantasy world. The purpose of being a college student is to get an education, and being an athlete along with that is optional. I think all these big college football programs need to get off their high horses and relax.

Oh, Boy!

BY DOUGLAS HARDMAN ddhardman@vwc.edu

arlin

se| M ni Aly

Brita

A new controversy has come about and, surprisingly, it doesn’t involve nudity.

Playboy Magazine, the number one pornographic magazine in the world, is doing what many call unthinkable: they are no longer publishing nude photographs of women. Everyone gasp in unison.

For decades, this empire has dominated the pornographic magazine world with classy (not always trashy) nude photographs of beautiful women across the world.

It’s spawned unrealistic expectations for women, an increase in divorce rates of socks, and a culture of beautiful, ditsy women all vying for that centerfold glory.

While we all remember this wonderful dynasty and quickly stash away all our prized magazines for the upcoming drought, let’s talk about why this is actually a good thing. I said it, you’re not going blind from lack of boobs in your face.

For years, women have been over-sexualized and slutshamed. Everything about them is sexy and controversial. Female celebrity nudes leak? Instant controversy.

Nip slip? Front page news. We live in a culture where a male’s ass and nipples qualify for a PG-13 rating, but a woman’s nipple is strictly R-rated and anything beyond is NC-17 for sure. We are constantly offended, shocked and appalled by our own anatomy.

We constantly attack women for their nudity, but then we celebrate them for posing nude in publications. How does that follow? What a contradiction to think about.

We tell women to be modest and “keep their bodies mysteries,” yet we will pay for women to pose nude for a men’s magazine. “Don’t send nudes if you don’t want them leaked” actually equals “Don’t take nudes unless

icle

Chron

you’re getting paid for it.” This is not a pimp service, America. Can you get your life, please?

Playboy Magazine is taking a step toward gender equality. The abolishment of women’s nudes in public magazines could help motivate the movement toward the cessation of sexualizing women. We might be able to treat them as equal human beings and not just use them for their bodies. Women have been fighting for the right to control their own bodies for years. Maybe, yes, women agree to pose nudes to say, “You’re only getting this because I’m allowing you to get this,” and that’s perfectly okay. But it’s become a business; it’s no longer about freedom and independence.

Women just want control of their bodies. If they take nude pictures and privately send them to a loved one because that’s what they want to do, that does not present a chance for us to humiliate them by leaking them to the public. Isn’t this directly related to rape culture? “Women shouldn’t wear sexy things if they don’t want to be raped” sounds a lot like “Women shouldn’t send nude pictures to a loved one if they don’t want them leaked to the public.” The resounding message seems to be that women shouldn’t do anything if they don’t want their actions exploited. Men can walk around topless and expose their nipple flesh for the world to see, but women can’t? Stop sexualizing boobs, they are lumps of fat.

Just like breast cancer awareness, this is an issue about the woman, not her anatomy. We view women as objects of sexual desire and not as equals. The moment we can let women be free with their bodies and their lives is the moment we can give equality a better shot at becoming a reality. Free the nipples, ladies, but on your own terms.

Nota What-a? ’Tis the season to retire?

BY TAYLOR BOYD tpboyd@vwc.edu

“Surprise, surprise another one…” or “I can’t escape these messages!” are just two of the many thoughts we have when our beloved President Miller sends out his Nota Bene emails.

These messages usually occur in the morning once a day, sometimes even twice if we are ever so fortunate. These messages contain updates of Virginia Wesleyan College as a whole, and how we as a campus are affecting our community each day. They also contains some of his personal thoughts and feelings on various events he attends as well.

Because of the consistency of these updates, you cannot help but read at least one.

The Nota Benes vary in the extent of information, but I think the com-

monality of all of them, is that they are all….long. As college students getting plenty of emails already, it can get a tad bit annoying when we have yet another thing we have to keep updated on. However, I have to give it to President Miller.

One thing students forget about this guy is, well...he’s as communicator. He wants to engage with the students and faculty and update us so we stay informed. But is there such a thing as too much information? The alternative would be to have little or no information provided to us. Of course, most of the student population is opting to have little or no information, anyway, because they choose not to read the email.

Yeah, it takes extra time to read through each one, but to be honest I think it may actually be worth it.

BY DOUGLAS HARDMAN ddhardman@vwc.edu

After a nightmarish year of lawsuits, rallies and doubt, Virginia Wesleyan College lost its renowned President, William “Billy” Greer, and will soon be saying goodbye to Dean David Buckingham.

At the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, President Greer announced his retirement. After nearly two decades at VWC, our beloved president called it quits. Nothing seemed suspicious at first.

“It just seemed like a good time,” Greer said.

However, not two months later, a lawsuit was filed against the school for allegedly sweeping a sexual assault case under the rug and allowing the alleged rapist to transfer to another college with no consequences to be faced.

The school was in an uproar.

Community rallies were held, news stations were on campus and interviews were being avoided. With all this controversy, speculation arose as to President Greer’s true motives for retiring (mainly because the sexual assault occurred in 2012).

And now, Dean Buckingham announced that he will be retiring on Dec. 31 of this year “just because,” and the rumor mill is flooding again.

With a bunch of he-said, shesaid spewing across campus, people are continuously questioning the motives of his retirement.

Sure, it’s easy to speculate.

We can say what we think based on observation and “putting the pieces together.”

Maybe it’s easier to just assume than to face the reality: maybe it was just their time to

go. President Greer gave more than 20 years to this school, and Dean Buckingham gave 33. What more could we ask of them?

It’s unfortunate that they were involved in the Jane Doe case back in 2012. Yes, maybe the situation could have been handled better, but since it wasn’t, there are consequences to be faced. The case has yet to be settled, so people may still be in hot water.

Let us not give in to the speculation. Greer and Buckingham have their reasons for leaving, and they may be private reasons. As much as we want to know the truth, we won’t. It’s been a hell of a year for Virginia Wesleyan College, so instead of dwelling on the unknown, let’s give Dean Buckingham a warm goodbye and the best of luck in his future endeavors.

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Thursday, November 12, 2015 7

Britani Alyse| Marlin Chronicle

Wrap it up with a bowtie Dean Buckingham sends a heart-warming open letter to the VWC community regarding his decision to retire Dear Campus Community I wanted to acknowledge and to express my deepest gratitude for all that you (VWC) have done for me.

To Presidents past and present, Lambuth M. Clarke, William T. Greer Jr., and Scott D. Miller, I am forever grateful for the life lessons you taught me, in particular those personal qualities of authenticity and humility. Your mentoring, understanding, and friendship was and remains very important to me.

To the college Trustees, I thank you for your unwavering support over these past 30 plus years and for conferring upon me the distinction and honor of Dean Emeritus To VWC Parents, especially to those on our Parents’ Council, you have informed me and personally helped me over these many years and many of you have become my close friends.

To Alumni, young and old, thank you for those priceless memories, those funny stories, and your legacies. Please keep sending your children to your alma mater. Here, again, I consider many of you with whom I have stayed in touch over these many years as my dear friends.

To Students, you have enriched my “life experience” in so many ways. Through the good and bad times (you know what I mean) you have taught me much. Through your talents exhibited in numerous play performances, choir concerts, and art shows, we have come to appreciate how important the fine arts are to the quality of life and, in particular, to our lives here on campus. As Marlins, we have shared the thrills of victory and the agony of defeat and along the way there have been many, many championships. For almost two decades, we have enjoyed together the VWC mud games and in the earlier years I thoroughly enjoyed competing against you and sometimes even beating you in certain events. Thanks for the memories.

To my Faculty Colleagues, in addition to teaching and conducting research with students I want to thank you for your tireless work and dedication in helping the college retain students, or as Billy often said “Coaching them up.” Thank you for your participation and support with orientation for 33 years and especially that extra effort you gave for ten years at Camp Silver Beach. I think we all enjoyed the cardboard boat regatta and the trip home most of all. Thank you for your recent notes of appreciation and well-wishes. Thank you for those sidewalk conversations and your service to the college as we worked together on countless committees and boards. I am especially grateful for those faculty colleagues who worked with me and others vis-a-vis the community arbitration system as we adjudicated those challenging student disciplinary issues. Also know how much I enjoyed working with you as we established and chartered together several academic honor societies here for students and for including me over these many years in the reception and induction of these students.

To my Staff Colleagues, you are amazing, you are loyal, you are invaluable. The work you do everyday in the residence halls is so vitally important to this campus community. Your coaching and mentoring of student athletes is equally critical to the vibrancy of VWC. Your concern of students’ health and welfare as you protect them, treat them, and counsel them is fundamental to their success. Your ability to recruit good students and to award them scholarships and financial aid has made VWC affordable and, at the same time, has sustained this institution. As colleagues, you have nurtured and disciplined them. You have introduced them to service leadership. You have helped them meet their spiritual needs, and you have supported them as they plan social events, recreational activities, and special off-campus trips. For keeping the campus beautiful, clean and generally in good order/repair (for real). All of your efforts on behalf of students, have strengthened this community. On a very personal note please know how much I value those private times when we laughed, cried, and hugged one another. Our friendship will be forever strong and lasting because of those moments.

And, finally, to my Family, Linda, Jonathan, Paxton, Emily, Caroline and Parker, thank you so much for your love and support and patience. As a family, we grew up on this campus. We cheered for our Marlins at athletic contests, we proudly wore our VWC spirit gear, we applauded the student performances at theater and choir events, and we marveled at their artistic talents at countless senior art shows. We enjoyed together the Children’s Christmas Party as well as the Faculty/Staff Christmas Party. And together we appreciated the beauty of this campus as we walked on the trails back by Lake Taylor, traversed Smith Drive, and ran off-campus through the neighborhoods of L & J Gardens and Diamond Lake Estates.

Many best wishes to all.

Your friend, David

8 Thursday November 12, 2015 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

SPORTS

Coaching philosophies at VWC The different coaches at Virginia Wesleyan each have their own philosophy when it comes to coaching and what they look for in their athletes

the

DUGOUT Is the NBA’s new method for seeding worth it?

SARAH ANTOZZI is a junior majoring in comprehensive liberal studies

Anthony Dellamura |Marlin Chronicle

Freshman Tori Stafford controls the ball away from an opposing player from Berry. The game ended in a 2-0 loss for the Marlins.

BY ALEX MCCOMB ramccomb@vwc.edu

Current Virginia Wesleyan coaches prioritize their players over ranks and championships.

Relationship building, creating a family dynamic and preparing student-athletes for life after college are the main focuses of Virginia Wesleyan athletics.

Associate Athletic Director and Women’s Soccer head coach Jeffrey Bowers said that players’ life moments resonate more so than wins and losses.

“Obviously we’ve been to the Final Four, we’ve been to the Elite Eight, we’ve been to the NCAA tournament, but I think when we see them at a wedding and you see how their life’s been affected by soccer, that is awesome. That’s probably what we’re most proud about,” Bowers said.

Men’s Basketball head coach Dave Macedo, who recently led the 2014-15 Marlins’ team to an NCAA Division III Final Four appearance and guided Virginia Wesleyan to its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III National Championship in any sport in 2006, said national championships stay with a coach forever, but team dynamics also mean a lot to coaches.

“On a whole, I say if you’re looking for one thing that sets us apart, I think it’s our chemistry,” Macedo said.

Volleyball head coach Andrea Hoover said a family dynamic is not something that coaches

can force, but it is something the volleyball coaching staff pay close attention to and that the team does a lot of team building activities. “We talk about the Marlins volleyball family a lot … we talked about that dynamic a lot within our team,” Hoover said.

“We want our players to be each other’s biggest fans and each other’s support systems and each other’s families,” Hoover continued.

For some, cross country and track seem like individual sports, but the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track teams promote the team mentality above all. “We say all the time that team is not a word, it’s a feeling, I would hope they feel it,” Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field head coach Mat Littleton said.

“The small close-knit environment fosters a family atmosphere,” Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field head coach Krista Littleton said.

Hoover said the Virginia Wesleyan family environment itself is a special motivator for all athletics. Teams want to see others teams succeed. “The coaches and athletes in the different teams really want to see each other be successful and support one another, and I know how other teams are doing.

They know what other teams are playing to try to get there, and I think that’s really a special

thing. I don’t think that happens everywhere,” Hoover said.

The teams also depend on internal trust and confidence in others. “Our team theme is you’ll never walk alone so really for us you know that theme is just predicated upon. I would say so much about just the team itself always having someone there for them,” Bowers said.

Virginia Wesleyan coaches say the most important part of coaching college athletes is preparing them for life after school.

“Any time you’re a college coach it’s your main job to build relationships with your studentathletes and have them develop into the type of people to be successful in your program and in school and in life,” Macedo said. “We try to have them establish great habits. First, it starts with the work ethic I think it starts with thinking like a team I think it starts with a passion for college athletics and a passion for academics and everything that goes along with that, the integrity and character,” he continued.

Krista and Mat Littleton say their philosophies are to use sports to help athletes develop characteristics to be successful in life beyond college. Mat Littleton said he will judge his success as a coach on the success of his athletes after they have left college and begun to pursue their chosen endeavors.

“Our team philosophy is ‘We

build winners in life,’” Mat Littleton said.

Bowers, Mat Littleton and Hoover emphasize service, leadership, and humility to their players. “It is important that the athletes have a team first mentality, and recognize qualities that will lead to success in all areas of life to include great work ethic, consistent and honest communication, motivation, respect, loyalty and dependability,” Littleton said.

The family dynamic of Virginia Wesleyan athletics helps serve as a guideline in recruiting student athletes. “We want players that are going to amplify our values of serving and grace and humility that’s really important for us when we’re talking to recruits,” Bowers said.

Coaches say high school successes are not necessarily the first selling points for prospective athletes. “We look first and foremost at their character and how well they will fit with our team. Then we look at their work ethic, commitment level and motivation. Finally, we look at their high school performances,” Mat Littleton said.

Mat Littleton said high school successes matter little compared to a player’s character, work ethic and motivation. “The other qualities are more reflective of how successful they will be at the college level,” he said.

Score Board Men’s Soccer 10/14 RandolphMacon L 1-0 10/17 Randolph L 2-1 10/21 HampdenSydney W 1-0 10/24 Roanoke W 1-0 10/29 Bridgewater W 1-0 10/31 Guilford T 1-1

ODAC Quarterfinals 11/3 Lynchburg W 2-1 ODAC Semifinals 11/7 Washington & Lee L 4-2

Women’s Soccer 10/17 Washington & Lee L 3-2 10/20 Randolph W 1-0 10/24 Guilford L 1-0 10/28 Lynchburg L 1-0 10/31 Bridgewater W 2-1

ODAC Quarterfinals 11/4 Bridgewater W 2-1 ODAC Semifinals 11/7 Lynchburg L 4-0

Field Hockey

10/14 RandolphMacon W 3-2 10/17 Lynchburg L 8-0 10/21 Bridgewater L 4-1 10/24 East. Menn.

W 2-0 10/27 Wash. & Lee L 6-0 10/31 Roanoke L 1-0 ODAC Quarterfinals 11/3 Bridgewater L 8-0

Volleyball

10/13 Randolph W 3-1 10/14 Wash. & Lee W 3-1 10/18 Emory & Henry W 3-0 10/18 Guilford W 3-0 10/21 RandolphMacon L 3-0 10/23 Souther Virginia W 3-1 10/27 Mary Wash.

L 3-1 11/1 Roanoke W 3-0 ODAC Quarterfinals 11/4 Randolph W 3-0 ODAC Semifinals 11/7 Wash. & Lee W 3-0 ODAC Finals 11/7 Randolph-Macon L 3-1

Eighty-two games.

This NBA season, each one matters more than ever.

The NBA announced in September that for the playoffs of the 2015-2016 season, division winners will no longer be automatically given a top-four seed in the tournament. Now, tournament seeding will be based on the win-loss record achieved in the 82-game regular season.

For those who are unfamiliar with the structure of the NBA, it is made up of two conferences, comprising three divisions each.

Eight teams from each conference make it to the playoffs.

Higher seeds hold an advantage because they get matched with teams considered to be less skilled. Also, the top-seeded teams play more of their playoff games in their home arena.

The good thing about this new system: fans of any sport, not just basketball, get tired of teams with losing records going to the playoffs. In the NFL last year, for instance, the Carolina Panthers only had a 7-8-1 record, but they won their division, so they went to the playoffs. To many, that seems wrong. Why should a team get the opportunity to contend for the championship if it can’t even win more games than it loses in the regular season?

The bad thing about the new rule is that it doesn’t take it into account if a team is in an especially tough division. Teams in the same division play each other more often than they play any other particular team outside their division. Consequently, it has an extra impact on a team’s regular-season record if the other teams in its division are especially good or bad. For example, the New England Patriots are in a relatively weak division. It’s therefore a little bit easier for them to achieve a good regularseason win-loss record than it is for a team in a division made up of several other comparatively strong teams.

In the long run, it doesn’t really matter how the teams that get to be in the playoffs are selected. This rule change is simply the most recent example of sports league officials listening to whining from the fans. In my opinion, they listen to the whining too much.

It’s interesting to see how the method of choosing teams for the playoffs changes over the years in different sports. In Babe Ruth’s day, the baseball team that had the best win-loss record in the American League would play its counterpart from the National League for the championship in the World Series. Then baseball started to host a playoff tournament, having all the division winners play each other.

That, ironically, is much like the system the NBA was using before September’s rule change.

The thinking about what kind of playoff is better seems to have gone full circle.

In the long run of the playoffs, in any sport, the best teams will tend to advance. It’s like the lives of college students. Every course may be structured slightly differently, but in any course, the students who work hard and work smart will tend to get the better grades. Maybe they took advantage of extra credit opportunities. Maybe they made extra sure to be ready for tests. It doesn’t really matter.

It’s the same in sports. League officials should realize that these minor rule tweaks matter much less than they and the fans may think. Winners find a way to win.

Thursday, November 12, 2015 9

The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

AT A GLANCE

Volleyball spiked its way to ODACs

The Virginia Wesleyan College volleyball team competed in the ODAC Tournament where they made it to the final round

Men’s Basketball 11/15 @Wesley 2:00 11/21 Milwaukee Engr. 5:00 11/4 @Salisbury 6:00 11/28 Emory & Henry 2:00 11/29 N.C. Wesleyan 2:00

Women’s Basketball 11/14 Salisbury 2:00 11/17 @Salem 6:00 11/21 @N.C. Wesleyan 11/22 Ferrum @Rocky Mount, N.C. 2:00 11/24 Mary Washington 6:00 11/29 @Roanoke 4:30

Cross Country 11/14 NCAA Division III South Regional @Winchester, VA 11/21 NCAA Division III National Championships @Oshkosh, Wis.

ODAC Rankings as of Nov. 10

Anthony Dellamura| Marlin Chronicle

Kirstin Sessoms (14) and Michaela Holbrooks (10) leap up to defend a spike from Emory and Henry in an ODAC tournament game from last year.

BY MICHAEL WILLSON mnwillson@vwc.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan Volleyball team competed in the final round of the ODAC Tournament Saturday, November 7. The Marlins fell to the Yellow Jackets of Randolph-Macon College 3-1.

Despite the team’s loss, head coach Andrea Hoover said she was proud of how the team competed in the final round.

“It was our first time in the finals. I think in the third set, our players battled. They pushed a really good team in RandolphMacon into four sets,” Hoover said in an interview posted on the team’s website.

Senior Marin Crowder also said the season was a memorable one.

“The highlights of the tournament were the accomplishment of our team in that we made it to the finals for the first time in program history. We also beat the program record for wins in a season with twenty five,” Crowder said.

The ODAC is known its competitive volleyball program. Hoover said making it to the final round of the tournament is no simple task.

“It’s not an easy journey to do that. The

ODAC is a very competitive conference in volleyball. We have some really good teams. It is something that we always strive for, but we understand how difficult it is,” Hoover said.

This was the team’s first appearance in the ODAC Tournament finals. The team fought against the Wildcats of Randolph College in the quarterfinals and the Generals of Washington and Lee University in the semifinals, where the team broke the school record for number of wins. The Marlins defeated both teams during the regular season as well. Until their loss to the Marlins, Washington and Lee was an undefeated team.

“We wanted to beat Washington and Lee in three and I think we kind of grinded that out. We probably could have played a little better, but we got the win and that was important,” Hoover said in the interview posted on the team’s website.

Crowder attributed a large part of the team’s success to its chemistry. “We harp on that this is the last time that this team is ever going to be this team with the individuals on it, and we want to make the most of it,” Crowder said.

Hoover said the leadership of the seniors played a significant role in the team’s overall success. “This senior class has a vision for how they would like to end their career, and I think they show that in the gym every day. They are pushing their teammates to get better,” Hoover said.

At the conclusion of the tournament, a number of players were recognized. Junior Tiffany Barrett and senior Kristen Sessoms made All ODAC First Team. Crowder and sophomore Emilee Pierson made All ODAC Second Team and the All ODAC Tournament Team.

“Both of these accomplishments make me really proud and I will always look back on and remember,” Crowder said.

The team’s plan for next season is to continue to work hard in order to reach their goals.

“Our goal each season is to be one of the most competitive teams in the ODAC and put ourselves in the best possible position to win the conference tournament,” Hoover said.

Keep your eyes on these NBA players Here is a list of the top 10 NBA players to look out for in the upcoming season

Men’s Soccer #5

Women’s Soccer #4

Megan Gerhart is ranked No. 3 with twelve goals against

Volleyball #2

Tiffany Barrett is ranked No. 1 with 481 kills, No. 2 with a killer per set of 4.04, and No. 2 with a hitting percentage of .268 Marin Crowder is ranked No. 2 with 527 digs and No. 5 with 4.43 digs per set

Field Hockey #7

Skye Swain is ranked No. 2 with 183 saves

FOR MORE SPORTS FOLLOW: @MarlinSports

Keith Allison| Flikr

Connor Kirkham is ranked No. 4 with a goals-against average of 1.04 and No. 3 with eighty one saves

rocor| Flikr

Keith Allison| Flikr

Ricky Perrault is ranked No. 5 with seven goals

BY JAMIE CRAWLEY jjcrawley@vwc.edu

There are 10 players to keep an eye on as the NBA season comes into full swing and teams are vying to put themselves in position to raise the coveted trophy in June.

10. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: The long-time star of the Lakers is back for his 19th season. Many fans and critics alike wonder how he will rebound from the seasonending injuries that plagued him for the last few years. So far in the young season, Kobe looks like he’s 37. He even admitted himself he’s been terrible. The “Black Mamba” looks like a shell of himself. I hope he bounces back. Only time will tell if he’s truly done.

9. Lamarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs: Widely considered the most sought after free-agent of the summer, Aldridge finds himself partnered with Tim Duncan and crew this season. This will be an interesting pair. It’s been effective so far. Aldridge will help hoist the Spurs back into the title picture.

8. James Harden, Houston Rockets: The beard is back, and many will be curious to see if he can continue to play at an MVP level after such a great season last year. Harden should be able to make an impact with help from point guard and solid ball handler Ty Lawson, an important element the Rockets

lacked last season. Houston got off to a rocky start, but Harden returned to form against the Thunder.

7. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: The forgotten idol, D. Rose, is back and, for the first time in years, he survived an off-season that didn’t consist of rehab. His luck was broken along with his face (literally) the first day of training camp.

With that said, Rose will have eyes on him. Many people are losing faith due to his record of injuries, but Rose aims to shut up the critics and get back to playing basketball. So far, Rose got off to a pedestrian start, but the Bulls have looked good as a unit.

6. Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks/Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers: Yeah, I know I’m cheating by placing two guys at number six, but I felt it appropriate. Both of these high draft picks’ seasons were cut short early last year due to injuries. However, both rookies are back and ready for this season.

We can finally see what they are made of. The Bucks are acting cautiously with Jabari this early on, but Julius Randle already showed a flash of brilliance with a ferocious dunk over Kenneth Faried.

5. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers’ electric point guard finds him-

self in a new situation with a team filled with new faces at the other four starting spots.

With Lamarcus Aldridge’s move to the Spurs, the Blazers’ brass gave the keys to the young guard to steer the franchise. Lillard is averaging close to 28 points and the Blazers have a solid 4-2 record. It’s safe to say so far so good.

4. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans: The “Brow” has come into this season with heavy expectations. After leading the Pelicans to a surprise playoff appearance and having a MVP caliber season last year, many people were ready to put AD up there with the likes of Lebron James and Kevin Durant. It is rare to find a power forward who can handle the ball, shoot from the perimeter, play inside and play lockdown defense. Only one other person demonstrates those qualities, and he plays in Cleveland. At 0-4 however, it looks like the pressure has gotten to Davis and his fellow Pelicans.

3. Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers: There is no surprise King James makes the list as he is the talk of the association every year he suits up. With that said, it’s evident James is starting to slow down. Last season, he had his worst shooting season since 07-08. Lebron still played great, but it seems the

King’s best days may be behind him. The number of games per season could be starting to take a toll on him. That’s understandable considering he’s been to five straight finals, playing well over hundred games each year. Nursing a bad back coming into this season, can Lebron hold up?

2. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: The reigning MVP and the leader of the reigning NBA champions is on a mission to prove the Warriors’ dream season last year wasn’t a fluke. Steph picked up right where he left off already averaging 36 points a game and leading the Warriors to a 5-0 record. Steph will have the Warriors in contention for the title once again. He could possibly earn a second consecutive MVP title, being the first player to do that since Lebron. Chef Curry is cooking indeed.

1. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder: KD will be on a mission this year. After sitting out most of last year due to a foot injury, the former MVP is back and ready to prove why he’s one of the best players on the planet. So far, Durant is a scoring machine. He’s averaging close to 30 points a game.

If he stays healthy, the Thunder stand a chance to be a legitimate contender in the West.

THEWEEKENDER

PAGE 10

NOVEMBER 12, 2015

LET THE HOLIDAY EVENTS BEGIN

Flickr| Courtesy The golden lights decorating the buildings of Downtown Norfolk are just one of the many spectacles to look forward to during the Grand Ilumination Parade.

Before Thanksgiving, Norfolk’s Grand Illumination Parade will be providing holiday cheer and entertainment for all.

BY TROY AUBUT taaubut@vwc.edu MORGAN BOYD mnboyd@vwc.edu

The 31st Annual Grand Illumination Parade will be taking place in Downtown Norfolk on Nov 21 at 7 p.m. The event will be perfect for students looking for something in the area to get them in the holiday spirit.

The parade is free and open to anyone willing to attend. There are seating options available at prices under $30. For $10, attendees can buy guranteed general admission seats, however VIP seats with some added bonuses are available for $25. Service fees apply depending on the method used to purchase the tickets. Plan on bringing some extra cash to spend on food vendors that will line the streets and for parking fees that range from $2 to $5.

The Parade holds great popularity in the Hampton Roads area. It is even a family tradition to some.

“When I was younger, one of the events I looked forward to was the parade. I remember when I got to see the parade up close and personal when my mom worked at the Waterside Marriott and watched from her office with my little sister,” junior Taylor Boyd said.

Thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, of people eagerly line the streets of Norfolk to witness the floats and performers that pass by. According to the Virginian-Pilot, last year, 75 participants took part in the parade, and 400 volunteers gave their time to make the parade a hit.

The theme for last year’s parade was “Bright Lights, Big City,” and this year’s theme will be “Musical Madness.” Not only will the participants entertain and

perform for everyone who attends, but they will also compete for many awards and titles if their group satisfies the judges.

Some of the participants of the parade last year included local high schools such as Maury High School, I.C. Norcom High School and Indian River High School.

Other institutions such as Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Mount Lebanon Baptist Church participated as well. All of these participants won an award or title for their float last year.

The parade is set to carry on rain or shine and will broadcast live on ABC13 WVEC. If you are unable to attend the parade, or if the weather isn’t very promising that day, you will still be able to watch the event thanks to the local news station and sponsor of the event.

The parade commences the annual program known as Holidays in the City,

which was created by the Downtown Norfolk Council. The organization was founded in 1979 and works to ensure the safety of patrons in Downtown Norfolk while enhancing and advocating for the city in many ways. There is not yet a complete calendar of events for the Holidays in the City, but people should expect six weeks of activities for everyone.

Less than a week away from Thanksgiving, the Grand Illumination Parade will be sure to get in you in the holiday spirits if Christmas music on local radio stations hasn’t already. If you’re new to the area and haven’t visited Downtown Norfolk yet, this might be the time to do so with friends to relieve end-of-semester stress and enjoy what the parade has to offer.

If you’re looking to volunteer for the event, there is still plenty of time to submit applications. More information is available on holidaysinthecity.net.

HOW TO SURVIVE BLACK FRIDAY Here are several tips to make sure that your Black Friday shopping is efficient, fun and most of all, safe.

BY KIERSTEN NEWNAM krboyd@vwc.edu

The day that marks the beginning of Christmas shopping, better known as Black Friday, is rapidly approaching. Shoppers rush to outlets and malls during the wee hours of the morning to get first dibs on the best sales. Over the years, the ridiculous hours of Black Friday have crept from stores originally opening Friday at 5 a.m. to now some stores opening their doors at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. This has caused outrage with some department store workers and shoppers. While shopping might seem like a fun activity to do on any other day, there is a history of violence between shoppers on Black Friday. For those who want to get the best deals without succumbing to barbaric shopping behaviors, take a look at these tips to keep you safe and enhance your shopping experience.

• Use the Buddy System Never go Black Friday shopping alone. Shopping solo makes you an easy target for pickpocketing and stalking. Besides, going with a friend or a group of friends gives you the advantage on the battlefield; they can corner a sale and prevent others from seeing it or even redirect other shoppers by flocking specific racks. And, of course, it is always more fun to shop with a friend.

• Make a List Have a list of specific items, what stores to go to in what order and a list of substitutions or sacrifices on items that you would be willing to make. This will help prevent any type of disappointment because items tend to sell out quickly. So, be prepared to decide on some other options ahead of time.

• Assign a Designated Driver Find someone who is not participating in the shopping extravaganza who can provide transportation. This eliminates the hassle of finding a parking spot and will eliminate hazardous driving decisions that shoppers make while trying to get into the stores first.

• Never Leave Items Unattended Leaving a shopping cart or basket momentarily on any other day wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but on Black Friday the stakes are high. Don’t take the chance of leaving items unattended because sales make people do crazy things.

• If You Have Kids, Find a Sitter Black Friday is no place for children. Speed is an essential factor in successful shopping, and children only slow the process down. Hire a sitter or leave them with a trusting family member so your shopping process is efficient and effective.

• Make a Schedule Plan out the order of store visits, breaks and even a breakfast/lunch period. This allows for rest and time to refuel. People wear themselves out with lack of sleep and failure to eat a proper breakfast to begin their journey. Making a schedule helps prevent crashing mid-shopping trip by balancing the shopping and resting.

• Skip the Food Court Why spend money on food when those dollars can go to acquiring even more savvy deals? Maximize your budget by packing your lunch or breakfast. Keep food in the car if you drive, freshly tucked away in a cooler. Stop and eat between shops during the allotted eating time in the schedule.

• Make a Budget Plan your spending so that there are no surprises. Know how much you want or can spend at each store ahead of time. Price-checking items online can help calculate your total cost. Then, you should add a “miscellaneous budget” for items that are purchased on a whim. Also, if you plan on using coupons, organize them by item or store ahead of time so they are easy to find when checking out.

• Bring Extra Bags Having extra bags, especially large ones, can make life much easier. Instead of carrying ten bags, just put all the bags into one huge bag to free up your hands. Extra carriers can also help conceal high-priced items or brands that might attract looters.

• Avoid Social Media As tempting as it may be to post and brag about your new Michael Kors purse or the new laptop you just purchased, this can attract potential looters. Giving away your location by “checking in” lets people know where you are and what valuables you have up for offer. It could also give away awesome sales that some aren’t aware of and attract flocks of shoppers to compete with.

• Wake Up Early, But Not Too Early A majority of stores open their doors at 2 a.m., which is usually when the rush is.

Play it safe and sleep until 4 or 5 a.m. By that time, the rush might have died down and people will be taking a break. They may even go home to get some sleep before coming back out to the stores later. Beginning your shopping at 5 a.m. gives you ample time and opportunity to get deals that others are missing out on from earlier. Some stores will bring out items they have back in storage after the first rush of shoppers have gone through, so do not worry about missing any deals.

THE MARLIN UNDERTOW / By Courtney Herrick TRY THESE:

CHECK THIS OUT:

LISTEN TO THIS:

Though Starbucks has caught a lot of flack lately about the lack of Christmas-related designs on their holiday themed cups, it has not stopped them from filling their plain red cups to the brim with holiday blends. Favorites such as peppermint mocha, chestnut praline and caramel brulee have returned to the beloved menu. Stop by to get your holiday drink before the season is over.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be in a room filled with a chocolate lover’s dream. The chocolate festival, 4 the Love of Chocolate, will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Nov. 14-15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be demonstrations and informational workshops on things such as how to cook with chocolate and what beverage to pair chocolate with. The festival will also house a variety of vendors and chocolate artisans. Advance tickets are available for purchase for $10. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door for $15. Get your tickets before they are sold out!

“Hello” by Adele is currently still ranked number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 and for a good reason. The heartfelt lyrics Adele combines with her soothing melody are enough to capture even the least-interested audience. Listen for yourself and see why it is ranked number one!