THE MARLIN CHRONICLE THURSDAY 10.20.16 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
Silence of the bees: when the buzzing stops Britani Alyse | Marlin Chronicle One of Virginia Wesleyan’s bees lands outside its hive. The bees are featured in a course at the college, which also has a student-run bee club. BY MIRANDA FEIN mlfein@vwc.edu
On Sept. 30, seven species of yellow-faced bees were added to the United States’s endangered species list. Not all bees are endangered. The yellow-faced bees added to the list are native to Hawaii, but this addition is a big deal for bees across the U.S. This is the first time that U.S. bees have been classified as endangered, which has caught the attention of many across the country. Social media has been buzzing with concern about protecting all bees in hopes of preventing more species from becoming endangered. Facebook users can like and join Facebook groups concerned with the well-being of bees. Companies like Häagen-Daz participate in the bee support by encouraging customers to send them selfies while planting a
flower to win a year’s supply of ice cream. Virginia Wesleyan College has been working with bees long before their addition to the endangered species list. The college offers a one-credit course called Bees and Beekeeping taught by Dr. Daniel Margolies. The course gives historical perspectives on beekeeping and hands-on experiences with hives on campus. For students who have already taken the course, there is a Beekeeping Club that meets on Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. Senior Collette Vauthier, president of the Beekeeping Club, has been beekeeping throughout her time at Virginia Wesleyan College. “You can’t just take the class once and forget about the bees. The bees are too powerful,”
Barrett breaks volleyball record
BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwc.edu
Young and old alike have heralded Halloween across the nation, seconded only in enthusiasm by chain stores. Skeletons peek around doorways, jack-o-lanterns greet passersby and bats join their feathered brethren in the rafters. However, for every pro there is a con. Candy causes stomachaches, carved-out pumpkins are a fire risk and costumes are… cultural appropriation? The complaints pop up every year but lately the movement against politically incorrect costumes has gained momentum. Cultural appropriation is generally defined as one culture taking aspects from another and using them in a derogatory manner. During Halloween, this line becomes particularly easy to cross as masses compete for the funniest, most popular and most unique costumes. Recent offenders include Mexican mariachis, Native American princesses and blackface renditions of raunchy hip-hop stars. This year in particular features the introduction of a Caitlyn Jenner transgender outfit and the sexy burka. A perusal of the “Popular Costumes” category of the Party City website reveals an Adult Tribal Temptation Native American Costume, a Mystic Vixen Gypsy and a Sexy Day of the Dead Doll. College campuses are taking measures against such costumes. Ohio University started the “We’re a Culture, not a Costume” poster campaign in 2011, which continued through 2013. The University of Washington emailed students a six-minute video on the subject. Virginia Wesleyan College hosted a dialogue titled
“Halloween Costumes, Free Speech, Safe Zones, and Yale,” hosted by Dr. Craig Wansink. Despite this, incidents still pop up every year. James Ramsey, president of the University of Louisville, issued an apology after he and staff dressed as a Mexican mariachi band. Two fraternities at the University of Illinois are in trouble for pictures posted on social media depicting culturally insensitive costumes during a party. Even Virginia Wesleyan is not exempt from mistakes: last year one resident refused to take down a Confederate flag in their room and another dressed as a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) member. It may be interesting to note that the student in the latter incident was African American. When events like these appear, the college’s response and behavior come under close scrutiny. The President’s Council on Inclusive Community (PCIC) works to create an inclusive community, its goal, as stated on the website, being to “foster a community at Virginia Wesleyan College where everyone feels welcomed and valued regardless of race, religion, color.” Despite this, the council has not yet met to discuss cultural appropriation, a term used to describe the adoption or use of elements of one culture in another, on campus. Members such as Dean of Freshman and Director of the Jane P. Batten Student Center Jason Seward and Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling deferred requests for comments to Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Moore.
SEE COSTUMES Pg. 9
For more about costumes, see Opinions page 5
Health concern arises in midst of mold discovery in residence halls
Sports page 8
Breanna Patron | Courtesy Air vents in Smithdeal Hall bear mold growth.
SEE BEES Pg. 2
Cultural costumes cause controversy
Unwanted visitor grows on campus
Halloween happenings Weekender page 10 Clinton or Trump debate Opinions page 6 Homecoming comes back Weekender page 9
Remnants of Hurricane Matthew strike campus Community page 4
BY ASHLEY KLINE aakline@vwc.edu
The discovery of what could be black mold has incited safety concerns among students as well as parents. Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Moore said the college has yet to determine whether this mold does indeed pose any risk to student health. They first have to determine the nature of the mold as true black mold opposed to mold that is black.The difference
between the two is that black mold has close links to harmful mycotoxins. This is not the case with mold that is black. Engineers have given the mold an initial look and may be returning to campus to reassess the situation. The mold has currently not moved beyond two residence halls, one of which is Smithdeal, and most of it is found primarily around air vents and windows.
SEE MOLD Pg. 2
Students in German class do lingo with Duolingo BY MIRANDA FEIN mlfein@vwc.edu
Word is out about an electronic language-learning resource that is convenient, mobile and best of all, free. DuoLingo offers lessons online and through mobile applications for anyone interested in learning a new language. The program offers 15 languages with guided courses for learners who are studying on their own or pairing lessons with a class. Dr. Susan Wansink, a German professor at Virginia Wesleyan College, incorporates this free resource into her curriculum in place of requiring students to purchase an audio learning component to accompany the course textbook. PC Magazine rates DuoLingo as excellent, though just behind
Rosetta Stone, which can run from $179 to $229. Jill Duffy of PC Magazine, addressing pros and cons of DuoLingo, lists the only cons as, “no live e-tutoring or spoken interaction with other students.” The price of audio learning runs high for those who are required to purchase the programs. According to the National Association of College Stores, “Students spent an average of $672 on a combination of technology, supplies and required course materials for their classes for fall 2015.” Many college students rely on financial aid to pay for their textbooks or must pay out of pocket. Freshman T’Laya Elliott pays for her textbooks out of pocket. Elliott is currently enrolled in
SEE DUOLINGO Pg. 2
Read more about foreign language enrichment opportunities on campus. See News, page 2.