Feb 15, 2017

THE MARLIN CHRONICLE THURSDAY 2.16.17 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWC.EDU ||

VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE

Let’s get ethical: Ethics Bowl comes to VWC

Anthony Dellamura| Marlin Chronicle Virginia Wesleyan hosted and competed in the 18th annual Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl competition. Pictured from left to right: senior Jared White, senior Kyle Grabulis, sophomore Tanail Canty and junior Dante Davis.

BY LAURISSA SENECAL ljsenecal@vwc.edu

On Feb. 12, many people were at the beach, enjoying the balmy 80-degree weather and the crystal blue skies. However, those competing in the 18th Annual Wells Fargo Ethics Bowl, including eight VWC students, chose instead to crowd into the stuffy Blocker Hall Auditorium and

debate this year’s topic, “Ethics and U.S. Presidential Politics.”

Repeating its victory from last year, Hampden-Sydney College took home the Batten Trophy on Monday, Feb. 13, while the University of Richmond took second place.

Although VWC did not advance to the final round, Team 1, consisting of junior Riley Conrad, junior Nich Hipple, junior Kelsi Robins and sophomore Melissa Fisher, went undefeated in three of the four total rounds. Team 2, consisting of sophomore Tanail Canty, junior Dante Davis, se-

nior Kyle Grabulis and senior Jared White, conceded twice on Sunday to the opposing teams but came back to win both matches on Monday. Ultimately, neither team advanced to the final.

SEE ETHICS Pg. 2

Possible fines for Village I residents if vandalism persists

BY ASHLEY KLINE aakline@vwc.edu

Last week male residents of Village I received an email from Bray Village Coordinator and Virginia Wesleyan alumna Rachel Lambert reading as follows: “Due to recent events yesterday evening, charges will begin being placed on accounts. Common areas are held on community responsibility. Additionally, physical plant has been instructed to reduce the amount of toilet paper going into the bathroom. Further incidents will be addressed as they occur.”

Lambert refused to comment on the matter.

A confidential source said that among the damages referred to in Lambert’s email, toilet paper being wetted and thrown onto bathroom walls was one.

This is the reasoning behind limiting the access of residents to toilet paper.

According to Gabrielle Freese, an RA in Village I, incidents of vandalism are concentrated in two male dorms. Problems with vandalism have been ongoing since August, Freese said.

Besides wet toilet paper thrown onto walls, other forms of vandalism have

included torn bulletin boards, trash cans set outside RA rooms so they would be

“

Charges will begin being placed on accounts ... Additionally, physical plant has been instructed to reduce the amount of toilet paper going into the bathroom.”

Rachel Lambert, Village I Coordinator

knocked over as RAs open their doors, plastic-wrapped toilets and rotten bananas smeared across walls, floors and ceilings.

Freese described such acts of vandalism as “stuff that’s very avoidable if you’re being responsible and caring for the place that you’re living in.”

Among measures taken to prevent further vandalism, Dean of Freshman Jason Seward has spoken with those who reside in the vandalized halls. Furthermore, RAs have conducted hall meetings.

“I think that some vandalism is to be expected because apparently people think that it’s funny to destroy stuff that’s not theirs. But you would hope they would have realized sooner versus later that it’s really not responsible… It’s really disappointing to see the issue still arise even into the second semester,” Freese said.

Thus far, no one has claimed responsibility for the vandalism. Therefore, Residence Life has decided to start charging the accounts of residents in vandalized halls equally.

Controversial Betsy DeVos confirmed Secretary of Education in tie vote

BY JULIE AINSLEY jmainsley@vwc.edu

Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education, Elizabeth “Betsy” DeVos, was confirmed in a tied Senate vote broken by Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

According to the Washington Post, this was the first time that a vice president’s vote was needed to confirm a Cabinet member.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner expressed concern for the DeVos agenda.

“These Virginians worry about Ms. DeVos’ confirmation. They worry about what it would mean for our children, our students...and for progress towards proving and providing every child with a quality public education regardless of their zip code,” Virginia Senator Mark Warner said on the Senate floor.

Warner said DeVos’s initiatives are not reflective of Virginians’ concerns.

“To put it simply, Ms. DeVos’ single-minded focus on charter schools, vouchers, on converting federal education dollars into a different program, is simply out-ofstep with the education climate in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Warner said.

According to the Virginia Performs website, Virginia ranked fifth in reading and sixth in math on the fourth grade NAEP tests in 2015. Also, graduation rates continued to improve in nearly every Virginia region in the 2015-2016 school year. Two regions saw close to a twopercentage point increase over the previous year, while

another three regions reported progress of one percentage point or better.

Virginia has had a history of notable literacy performance and has been recognized nation-wide.

“When I left the Governor’s Office in 2006, Virginia was consistently recognized by independent validators as the nation’s Best State for a Lifetime of Educational Opportunity, from pre-K to college and beyond,” Warner said.

Some educators, parents, and students across the state are wondering what this change in leadership will do to Virginia’s good reputation. VWC students add to this statewide discussion.

“Even when I worked for 30 years in a public school system and people on my school board had children not in public schools, I objected to that,” Associate Professor of Education/Special Education Jayne Sullivan said. “If you’re in charge of nearly 100,000 public schools you should know about them.”

Sullivan weighs in on how Devos should spend her time.

“I think her first three months needs to consist of going to all the public schools. She needs to visit these schools so that she becomes more grounded in what the public schools need... I don’t think she has ever been inside one,” Sullivan said.

According to Sullivan, teachers are made for these changes.

“What other occupation gets a fresh start every single year? The kids change, the schools change, the philosophy changes, the pendulum about what’s good and bad. It is just changing all the time, and to me, that’s the most exciting part about teaching,” Sullivan said.

Current education majors at VWC are in the process of learning what it means to be a teacher and how to apply their classes to their future career. Some students question DeVos’ readiness to perform in this position given her known lack of experience.

“I think it will be hard for her to be the Secretary of Education knowing that she hasn’t had any experience in the field whatsoever. I think it’s important for anybody who wants to be in this position to have a foundation,” junior education major Shana Harrison said. “You can be a genius and know everything about the curriculum, but at the end of the day, if you haven’t been in the classroom, you will not understand,” DeVos is currently the chairman of the American Federation for Children, which fights for school choice advocacy.

The AFC ensures that children are attending schools based on their parents’ choosing and are not limited because of their zip code.

SEE EDUCATION Pg. 2

2 Thursday February 16, 2017 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

NEWS

“Muslim Ban” spurs conversation across campus

BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwc.edu

President Trump’s latest executive order has caused conversation and controversy across Virginia Wesleyan College as students, staff and faculty react to what the general public and media have dubbed the “Muslim Ban.” On Jan. 27, President Trump passed an executive order aimed at protecting U.S. citizens, thus enacting a process of extreme investigation to prevent terrorists from entering the country.

Entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” the order indefinitely suspends the resettlement of Syrian refugees and other refugees for 120 days and temporarily bars the entry of people from seven countries for 90 days. These seven countries are Iraq, Iran,

Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.

Though Muslims are not named in the order as a targeted people, the seven countries are predominantly Muslim, prompting the order to be nicknamed the “Muslim Ban.” As the order was implemented, colleges and universities across the nation began responding.

Members of Virginia Wesleyan College’s higher administration were unavailable for comment by the time The Marlin Chronicle went to press.

Nich Hipple, President of the Student Government Association (SGA), emphasized that facilitating conversation and communication is important.

However, Hipple also noted that all sides of the story need to be taken into account.

“Whether it’s this ban or any other action, having just the administration speak or just the student body speak or just the faculty speak doesn’t really

encapsulate how everyone feels, so I think everyone needs to be involved in order to fully, to accurately, show what Virginia Wesleyan is thinking,” Hipple said.

More and more, students and staff are choosing to speak out and voice their opinions on the executive order.

“It breaks my heart,” said Farah Haidari, a junior with family in Iraq.

“I respect the other schools for standing up for what they believe in…

It is affecting a lot of people … Stand up for what you believe in, there are other students who can’t stand. They need you right now,” Haidari said.

During “A Community Conversation: What is Going On? Refugees, Bans, Muslims, Walls, and Confusion,” several other students and faculty members also had the chance to speak out.

“We feel like our voices aren’t being heard,” junior Darlene Flucker said.

“The plight of refugees is a universal issue,” Rabbi Israel Zoberman said, among calls for action. “We cannot assume that others will do the work for us.”

Others insist that the executive order is not malicious in nature and that it will have little effect on the majority of Muslims, immigrants and students.

Senior Jared White, president of College Republicans, is one such person. He explained that the executive order and resulting ban are not permanent, and simply a “security measure” to help protect U.S. citizens.

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

ETHICS CONTINUED FROM FRONT

around the question of how people can act ethically when those they work for act in ways that disagree with their personal morals.

For example, in one case, debaters were asked what a woman named Darcy should do when she discovers that the presidential candidate she works for has acted in ways that are contrary to many of her campaign promises and Darcy’s personal beliefs.

Debaters answer the questions in a number of ways, often by pointing to an individual’s right to autonomy or through noting the right the American people have to knowing information about presidential candidates. The VWC teams especially were careful to define the stakeholders in each case so as to make clear all the people affected by the

situation.

The rounds begin when a representative from each team partakes in a coin toss to determine who will go first. Once that is settled, the case is read and the teams get six minutes to decide how they want to answer the question. Next, both teams give their defense. Once the defenses are through, each team poses a question to the opposing team. After answering these questions with limited time constraints, the judges then pose questions to the teams, which they must answer.

Finally, each team takes two minutes to give a closing statement.

For students, debating is a way of enhancing personal skills.

“I’m very introverted, so this is an experience that taught me how to, one, do public speaking, some-

Wansink posed the following question.

“Ethics as a discipline can be so abstract… how do we move from ethical theory to ethical action?”

This question, in a nutshell, is at the heart of the Ethics Bowl.

“It’s challenging in the way it makes you think…it makes you break down what you may do in everyday life and not think about,” Davis said.

The first ethics bowl in 2000, which Virginia Wesleyan College won, was the brainchild of a journalist named Roger Mud who thought it was important for college students to ponder ethical issues.

Students like senior philosophy major Zack Perry from the University of Richmond agree with Mud’s viewpoint, reinforcing the current place that ethical discussions hold in the United States of America.

“The current executive orders given by President Trump certainly violate a lot Anthony Dellamura| Marlin Chronicle of ethical rules, and this is a VWC’s Ethics Team One. Pictured from left to right: Junior Riley Conrad, topic of debate,” Perry said junior Nich Hipple, sophomore Melissa Fisher and junior Kelsi Robins.

Each case argued was unique but they all centered

thing I was very uncomfortable with. It just stretches me to get out of my comfort zone,” Conrad, sporting a black suit and a pair of redrimmed glasses, said.

The debaters are instructed to be very professional in their answers and always refer to one another by the name of the represented institution or simply as “our opponent.”

Both teams speak with passion, but the argument is ultimately very cordial, with no voices raised or aggression expressed. Each question is greeted with a polite “Thank you for that question” before it is answered.

White explained that enjoying a good argument is a key ingredient for a debater.

“If you like to argue, you will get better after doing this…I think people who are, I don’t mean to say aggressive, but people who enjoy public speaking would enjoy this very much,” White said.

In addition to learning successful debating tactics, students learn how to work well on a team of four often-opinionated persons.

“My team has a good sense of unity. Even if we don’t win, I’m proud,” Robins said.

Boy Scouts of America alters acceptance rules

Google Images| Courtesy

BY JASMINE DEMIR jkdemir@vwc.edu

Boy Scouts of America is now allowing transgender boys to join, after showing much resistance to the idea.

NPR news reported that BSA, Boy Scouts of America, changed its policy regarding how to determine gender identity. Previously, they used individuals’ birth certificates to determine gender. However, BSA will now use gender specification on applications as its primary determinant.

Many say that BSA officials made this controversial decision because of heat resulting from the expulsion of a transgender boy from Cub Scouts. According to NorthJersey. com, Joe Maldonado, an 8-year-old from New Jersey, and his mother were surprised to hear from a BSA official that Maldonado could no longer be a Cub Scout based on the discovery that Joe was born a girl.

It was never a secret that Joe was born a girl. However, complaints ensued as Cub Scout parents discovered this fact. Joe was not excluded by fellow Cub Scouts, but by parents and officials.

Now, possibly as a result of Maldonado’s expulsion, BSA has made a change.

BSA said that the change happened only recently because Gender Dysphoria is relatively new to the nation.

According to CNN, Girl Scouts made the same decision to allow transgender children to participate in 2011. Regardless of the reason, Boy Scouts of America will be welcoming transgender boys into its troops.

EDUCATION CONTINUED FROM FRONT DeVos received a private school education. She graduated from Calvin College, a school devoted to a Christian, liberal arts experience.

“She thinks that private education is better than public education, and I think that is wrong because any education is the best education,” Harrison said. “You can’t walk into the position saying that one is better than the other. Each is individually creative in their own way. You can’t make all of them the same because that will create a cookie-cutter for each student and that’s not what a student is. A student is their own set of individuality.”

Much of the VWC community is taking a different approach when reflecting on the decision to confirm DeVos. “I fear that my students will be disheartened by the education system, even more than they already are, with her appointment,” Virginia Beach Public Schools New Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos

Google Images| Courtesy

teacher and VWC graduate Kristin (Taylor) Reifsnider said. “Luckily, I don’t fear too much for the sake of my own two children because I have the background in education, so they will be well supported at home. However, I remain fearful that my children’s education might be used to line the pockets of the rich.”

Despite the uncertainty, teachers remain optimistic.

“No matter what changes come down the road, teachers will still motivate students to see the value in their education,” Reifsnider said.

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COMMUNITY The

MARLIN CHRONICLE Editor-in-Chief Sarah Antozzi scantozzi@vwc.edu News Editors Courtney Herrick clherrick@vwc.edu Ashley Kline aakline@vwc.edu Community Editors Jasmine Driggs jtdriggs@vwc.edu Cynthia Griffin clgriffin@vwc.edu Opinions Editors Michael Willson mnwillson@vwc.edu Hayley Heath hrheath@vwc.edu The Weekender Editors Justin Smith jrsmith2@vwc.edu Miranda Fein mlfein@vwc.edu Sports Editors Corey King ckking1@vwc.edu Luke Chiasson lachiasson@vwc.edu Photo Editors Anthony Dellamura aadellamura@vwc.edu Ashlei Gates angates@vwc.edu Illustrations Editors Britani Daley badaley@vwc.edu Valerie Miller vgmiller@vwc.edu Online/ Social Media Editors Victoria Laughlin vnlaughlin@vwc.edu Brandon Gilchrist bjgilchrist@vwc.edu Chief Copy Editor Laurissa Senecal ljsenecal@vwc.edu Advertising Representative Sarah Antozzi scantozzi@vwc.edu Adviser

Thursday February 16, 2017 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Study away with Virginia Wesleyan College

BY MICKELLA RAST

mjrast@vwc.edu

Every semester and even every break at Virginia Wesleyan College is marked with extraordinary opportunities for students to take their learning outside the classroom and travel around the globe. Whether for fun or academics, each person comes back with a different story. Some focus on the culture; others, the experiences; and a few inevitably become enraptured with the small details.

Junior Jessica Pittman went to London, Paris and Amsterdam over the winter session as part of the Psychology 305 class.

“I really liked it. I kinda just love traveling, so being able to go, especially as it relates to my major, and to see how psychology can intermix with traveling was really cool,” Pittman said. “One thing I did before I went [on the trip] was to look up meals from each country. It was definitely helpful to know ahead of time, ‘Oh, I like this, I won’t like that,’ but to still be able to try authentic food.”

Fish and chips, served with a side of peas, was her staple while there.

She tried it in every city she traveled to.

Junior Zoe Traficante spent her winter break in Prague with others in the History 262 class.

“It was a lot of fun,” Traficante said. “[Prague] just has so much culture… You only get chances like this once in awhile.”

Despite having a busy itinerary and setting a lofty goal of visiting as many sacred sites as possible, Traficante found it easy to keep an upbeat attitude and a smile on her face.

“It’s hard to worry about being tired if you’re having a good time,” Traficante said.

Senior Taylor Simons spent roughly four months in Costa Rica as part of the requirements for her two majors, Spanish and international business. From September to mid-December, she studied at the Universidad Veritas in San José.

“It was really cool to be abroad while the U.S. election was going on,” Simons said. “I think as Americans we get caught in our, like, Americanized bubble? And we have a hard time seeing outside perspectives when something really big is going on in our country. It was really cool to experience that whole process with locals.”

She also had the chance to visit the Territorio de Zaguates, or “Land of the Strays,” a volunteer-run, privately-funded dog sanctuary. Currently the organization houses more than 900 canines.

“I think I just learned a lot about being culturally aware,” Simons said.

Junior Lydia O’Connor spent the fall semester and part of August in Florence, Italy. Though her time there was certainly eventful, flying there was just as exciting. She battled spilled wine, bad capers, Italian pay phones and lost luggage — all before leaving the airport.

After the chaos of her flight, Italy greeted O’Connor with art museums, community gardens and gorgeous architecture.

“It really helped me to just have a bigger perspective on the world,” O’Connor said. “I grew a lot personally.”

As well as growing in her academic confidence and as a person, O’Connor also grew spiritually.

“Faith was a big part of my journey there, and just really trusting in God,” O’Connor said.

Though these student travelers all took different messages and meanings from their trips, they all had the same answer when asked what they would say to others considering studying away: “Do it.”

For more stories about student experiences, periodically check Virginia Wesleyan College’s website. VWC offers a wide variety of studyaway courses and study-abroad opportunities. Trips vary in destination and duration, from one-week outings to nearby cities to semester-long journeys to countries across the ocean. Courses are offered every fall and spring semester, as well as during winter and summer sessions.

Though the staff and faculty in charge of each course set the itinerary, students all reported they had plenty of free time to use as they pleased.

Study away experiences are mediated through the Lighthouse: Center for Exploration & Discovery. Mandy Reinig is the director of the studyaway program; students are encouraged to contact and make appointments with her to discuss what experience may best benefit them.

Marlins declassified Graduation survival kit

BY JASMINE DRIGGS jtdriggs@vwc.edu

1.“Create a ‘bucket list’ of things you want to do before you leave VWC.” — Jason Seward, assistant vice president for student affairs 2. “If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, now is the time to make one and fill it with any accolade or projects that will make you stand out because recruiters are always looking.” — Samantha Jackson ’16, management trainee at Enterprise Holdings 3. “Attend conferences. Network, network, network! Get out there and find out who is in your field of interest and what it is that they do. Identify different conferences that you can attend during and after senior year to get a better understanding of what is currently going on in your field. Have your business card ready!”

— Takeyra Collins, visiting instructor of recreation and leisure Britani Alyse | Marlin Chronicle

Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwc.edu

Students, staff discuss Trump administration

BY CYNTHIA GRIFFIN 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

“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

clgriffin@vwc.edu

“What’s Going On?” Professor of Management, Business and Economics Ehsan Salek This is the question Americans have been asking for the past couple spoke as someone who was once a part of protests against injustice. He weeks since President Trump came into office. was born in Iran and attended the National University of Iran. He spoke Waves of marches, bans and protests have greeted his presidency about how he used to do demonstrations while he was in college over across the nation. To help alleviate some of the confusion, the Center injustices of dictatorship. for the Study of Religious Freedom and Professor of History Dr. Dan He finished by saying, “The tolerance of intolerance is forwardness,” Margolies decided to put on an event to get students and staff talking a quote from one of his favorite activists, Ayaan Hirsi Ali. about what has been going on in our naMargolies said that when he decided to put tion. this event together, he was feeling furious and During Trump’s campaign, he promupset over everything that has been going on ised to build a wall on the border between in the nation and he knew that there must be Mexico and the United States. One of other people on campus who feel the same way the first things that he did when he got he does. He said that he wanted to make a safe into office was to sign an executive orspace for everyone on campus to come together der saying that construction on a wall on and “be pissed off together but find some way the southern border of the United States to move on.” would start immediately. However, withOne thing that each speaker emphasized was DR. ANTJE SCHWENNICKE out funding, it will not happen. the importance of calling your state representaAnother executive order Trump signed tives. They said that voicing your concerns and at the end of January was an order on letting representatives know how you feel is a immigration. The executive order restricts immigration from seven good way to make things change.

Muslim-majority countries, suspends all refugee admission for 120 When the professors were done speaking, they opened the floor to days, and bars all Syrian refugees from coming into the United States students. Many students came up to voice their opinions and concerns, indefinitely. most of which were similar. One student in attendance was junior politiAssistant Professor of Political Science Antje Schwennicke was the cal science and English major Tori Pugh. She did not speak at the event, first to speak at the event. Schwennicke is an immigrant from Germany, but she has been politically active since before Trump was elected. who first came to the United States for graduate school. She said that “It is important to call your representatives, but it’s also important she was speaking as a concerned resident of this country rather than as that you have connections with other people so everyone can be on the a political science teacher. She said that even though she was angry, this same page,” Pugh said. wasn’t a partisan issue but an issue of solidarity and human decency.

She feels that right now it is important to talk to people about what’s Throughout her speech, she urged the importance of getting out there going on, even if they have a different viewpoint from yours. and making your voice heard.

The event remained peaceful and even light-hearted. There was a “It’s easy to stay at home and complain on social media, but if you warm feeling in the room, and although everyone might have had difwant to make a difference you have to do something,” Schwennicke ferent opinions on the subjects being talked about, people were universaid. sally concerned about the USA.

“It’s easy to stay at home and complain on social media, but if you want to make a difference you have to do something.”

4 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

CAMPUS countdown February 16th

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Residence life transforms with a new staff

BY BRIANNA KIDWELL bnclarkson@vwc.edu

Q: “Why did you decide to bring your talents to Virginia Wesleyan College?”

A: “After working at University of Utah and the Northern University of Alabama, I realized that smaller schools were for me. I am in love with the smaller community where I feel that the impact I make is more beneficial.”

Mindfulness Meditation Time: 4:35 p.m.- 5:05 p.m.

Location: Monumental Chapel

No previous experience is required. Meditation will take place every week for the remainder of the spring semester.

Q: What new ideas/changes do you and the new staff intend to make?

A: “The new staff and I are promising to uphold the expectations students have when dealing with ‘res’ life. We are promising consistency for each student every day.”

Ralph “RJ” Chittams: Director of Residence Life RJ is a Lynchburg College graduate.

February 20th

Q: “What are your responsibilities as Associate Director?”

A: “I am personally responsible for Village III where I oversee the staff and the decisions which are made regarding Village III living. I am also training to become a deputy coordinator for the Title IX program which I am extremely excited about.”

An Evening of Bach

Time: 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Location: Monumental Chapel The Center for Sacred Music presents the Wren Masters and Joy Vernon ‘17 and Ajee Church ‘16 in J.S. Bach cantatas #84 and #55, as well as several instrumental selections. Free and open to the public.

Q: “What should students be excited for from this new staff and from the new Title IX deputy coordinator?”

A: “I personally am hoping to make Res Life fun and enjoyable for all the students as well as getting the students involved in the activities and programs we are deciding to put into place.”

Sarah Hammill: Associate Director of Residence Life and Village III Coordinator Sarah graduated from State University of New York Fredonia

February 21st

Q: “How is the transition from student at Virginia Wesleyan College to now full-time employee?”

A: “I was in an RA position here at Wesleyan for two years, and I feel like that is one big reason why this transition was easy for myself. I loved being an RA so this position just felt right and completely 100 percent.”

The Talk Town Hall Discussion

Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Location: Fort Monroe The town hall coincides with the release of a new PBS documentary that focuses on the increasingly necessary conversation between parents of color and their children about how to behave if they are stopped by the police.

Q: “What made you decide to come back to Virginia Wesleyan College residential life?”

A: “I felt I can make a larger impact on students. I also wanted to give back to the school that I felt I owed so much to once I graduated and in the end Virginia Wesleyan was an all-around better environment for myself.”

Rachel Lambert: Village I Coordinator Rachel graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in August of 2016.

Q: “What made you decide to come back/stay with the Virginia Wesleyan College residential life program?”

A: “Well, to be honest, I was not planning on coming back here; however, I was asked by Ashley Jones if I could help them out. So a favor for a friend turned into a full-time job opportunity and I am grateful I was able to help.”

February 23rd What is Tantric Sex?: Presentation by Scholar Sam Grimes

Time: 7:00 p.m.- 8:15 p.m.

Location: Blocker Auditorium A scholar of Sanskrit and classical Indian religion will discuss Tantric Sex. This talk explores how the rituals and techniques employed in sexual yoga developed over centuries in South and Central Asia and are designed to eliminate all desire.

Q: “What is your favorite part about being a student at Virginia Wesleyan College to now an employee?”

A: “Student and staff relationships are some of the greatest I have had; however, nothing will compare to a staff-to-staff relationship here at Virginia Wesleyan and I am extremely grateful for those.”

Tiffany Lennon: Village II Coordinator Tiffany graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in May of 2016.

CRIME BLOTTER

Q: “How do you enjoy being the Village IV coordinator?”

A: “They are definitely more of the older students where we share a lot of similar interests and I find it is easier to connect with them especially the upperclassmen since they are preparing to graduate and enter the real world.”

Q: “What does the transition from student to employee at Virginia Wesleyan College feel like?”

A: “I think being a student first, then coming in and becoming a full-time employee, is a unique and good position. I have been in these students’ shoes so I know the problems they face and situations they go through.”

Josh Ford: Village IV Coordinator Josh graduated from Virginia Wesleyan College in May of 2016.

Photos by Cora Wilson | Marlin Chronicle

Courtesy|Thinkstock January 9 12:32 p.m. |Liquor Law Village IV No description.

January 9 3:18 p.m. |Vandalism B Lot Car vandalized.

January 9 11:42 p.m.|Controlled Sub Village II Guest arrested.

January 23 3:33 a.m. |Controlled Sub Village II No description.

From the editor’s desk

BY SARAH ANTOZZI scantozzi@vwc.edu

Hello readers, I’m the new editor-in-chief of the Marlin Chronicle for the spring semester.

We’re continuing our practice of sometimes putting an article online only at www.vwc.edu/chronicle as we try to keep you up-to-date on breaking news – or because there just wasn’t room in our print edition for all of our stories. We’re also continuing the Sunday Read, posted on our website every Sunday (click on the Tumblr icon – it’s a lowercase “t”). This is a space where our editorial staff (a different member each week) can write about what’s on their minds.

One of my major goals for the newspaper this semester is participation. If you want to make your voice heard on some topic, consider writing a “letter to the editor” for publication. If you have story ideas or feedback on published pieces, please let us know.

Moreover, if you’re interested in being a part of the Marlin Chronicle, contact us! You do not have to be a major or minor in journalism or communication. We always welcome writers, of course, but we also have room for other skill sets. You could take photos, help design pages with InDesign software, contact local businesses to sell ad space, do illustrations or post online and social media content.

Whether you want to contribute or just keep reading, please know that this is your paper and we value your involvement.

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OPINIONS

Thursday February 16, 2017 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Women’s March on Washington and beyond

BY JULIE AINSLEY jmainsley@vwc.edu

What is feminism? I find myself asking this question a lot. Though I personally identify as a feminist, I sometimes have a hard time settling on an exact definition.

I found myself questioning it a lot more than usual while packing my purse at 4 in the morning to get on a charter bus heading to our nation’s capital for the Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21.

I had never been to D.C., so it was pretty surreal that my first time going was not to take pictures in front of the White House or check out the museums, but to fight for equality with women whom I look up to as friends, professors and role models.

I didn’t know what to expect when I got there. We arrived at a rolling stop because on this day, the capital was not “bus-friendly.” Little did I know that I was about to be surrounded by 500,000 men and women with their “pussyhats” and their signs up the escalator from the metro onto the main roads to make history.

Walking to the march felt like a feminist’s version of Main Street, USA at Walt Disney World. I didn’t want to run in and get overwhelmed by my sensory feelings. I walked slowly, taking in my surroundings with my phone in hand to capture what I was seeing. I saw excitement, rage and battle-ready attitudes marching into war. I heard female cops telling marchers to “march for them today.”

Dispite the cold weather, I felt warmth from the crowd as we got to a halting point nowhere near the celebrities speaking on stage.

I saw other people annoyed by this fact. But it was in that moment that I realized why I went to the march. It wasn’t to hear celebrity views of why we were there. I heard the voices of people from a spectrum of different perspectives of life and what they were fighting for.

I saw very humorous, uplifting and sad signs expressing

the reasons why they were next to me. I saw journalists scrambling to absorb the battle cries in order to depict an accurate story for their readers.

What I witnessed, simply put, was a community of activists fighting toward a goal in a very peaceful way. It was pure bliss being around other people who were so friendly and willing to have engaging conversations about what is happening in our country and what needs to be fixed.

I then got back on the bus. After falling into a verymuch-needed sleep, I woke up to see the news playing on the TV, where there was a table of experts talking about the march, including just one female.

This discouraged me. I spent the day fighting for equality for women but I didn’t feel that my voice was heard.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Equal rights for all genders,

races and sexual orientations have not happened nor will happen overnight. This march was a step in the right direction and a call for action.

Since the march, I have done a lot of reflection. I no longer ask myself what feminism is. I no longer wonder why I am a feminist. The Women’s March on Washington and the 600 solidarity marches across the world mean something different to each person who participated. For me, the march was a confirmation that I am a proud feminist and that my energy can be focused into something bigger than just me and that it can be intersectional.

Let the march be a reminder that every time you express your views, you are symbolically marching and letting your voice be heard. No matter if you agree with my voice or not, make sure your march is constructive and productive.

Photos by Britani Alyse

Men and women gather in Washington, D.C., for the women’s march protesting Trump’s policies.

Laughter: the best kind of medicine

BY MICHAEL WILLSON mnwillson@vwc.edu

The great silent film actor Charlie Chaplin once said, “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

Laughter can lift our spirits and make us feel at ease.

Laughter is also good for our mental and even physical health. As we get older, we begin to lose our spirits and often forget to laugh. It is crucial that we take care of our health by finding time to laugh.

When people think of health, they often think of physical health and neglect mental health. But there are all sorts of mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety, all of which can be treated with laughter. Laughter can help ease the tension that comes with these conditions.

Let’s say you are stressed out about an exam. Before you start studying, you should find something to make you laugh. The release you get from laughing will lift your spirits and take away your stress, making it easier to focus.

If you are feeling down in the dumps, you should watch a funny movie or an episode of your favorite sitcom. We all go through trials and tribulations in life; laughter is the best way to cope with them. If you do not take care of

Val Miller|Marlin Chronicle your mental health, it could have negative effects on your physical health.

Seeing how your physical health is affected by your mental health, it should be no surprise that laughter can improve your physical health. Laughter is good for your heart. According to the American Heart Association,

laughter can increase good cholesterol, decrease stress hormones and even lower the chances of artery inflammation.

People who are always stressed out have a much higher chance of contracting heart disease than people who know how to have a good laugh. Laughing can even help you lose weight. Studies have shown that if you laugh for about 10-15 minutes a day, you can burn up to 40 calories.

Now, I am not saying that laughter should be a substitute for exercising or eating healthy, but it can be a huge help.

The effects of laughter can last up to 24 hours. I guess that a laugh a day keeps the doctor away.

When people get older and find themselves dealing with the responsibilities of being an adult, they often find themselves laughing less and less. Just because we grow older does not mean that we need to lose our sense of humor. In order to keep ourselves sane, we need to find something to make us laugh.

Last year was the most stressful year of my college career and it really did a number on my mental health. I decided going into this year that I would make myself laugh more. I started watching Saturday Night Live and it has really lifted my spirits. Every Saturday at 11:30 p.m., I can forget about my problems for an hour and a half and just focus on laughing.

I am also taking Dr. Lindvall’s film comedy class this semester. As part of this class, I get to learn about the history of film comedy and why certain things make people laugh. Yes, this is still a class that requires reading books and writing essays, but it is a class that allows me to laugh.

As we enter the part of the semester when our work load increases, it is important that we take care of ourselves by making time to laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.

6 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Boy Scouts’ new transgender policy

BY MICHAEL WILLSON mnwillson@vwc.edu

My freshman year, I wrote an opinions piece for the Chronicle titled, “A scout is tolerant.” The piece was about how the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was becoming more progressive by allowing openly gay boys into scouting. Three years later, I am writing yet another piece about the progression in the BSA. This time it is about their new policy on transgender boys.

For an overview of the case, visit the news section.

Many conservative groups have criticized the BSA, claiming that they are giving into peer pressure from the LGBTQIA community and that they are trying to be “politically correct.”

As a former Eagle Scout, I applaud the BSA for going through with this. I feel that this new policy is more inclusive and more relevant with the times and will help the BSA grow.

The purpose of the BSA is to teach boys how to become productive and responsible members of society. The BSA teaches skills such as leadership, camping and community service. To put it plainly, the BSA turns boys into men.

I know that scouting has made me the man I am today. I believe that all boys should have the opportunity to be a Boy Scout, including boys who are transgender. Allowing transgender boys into scouting is allowing these boys a new window of opportunity. They can go backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch, scuba diving at Florida Sea Base or canoeing at Northern Tier. Better yet, they can earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout rank is scouting’s highest honor. Being an Eagle Scout can help with getting into college and finding a job. Famous Eagle Scouts include former President Gerald Ford, filmmaker Steven Spielberg and former Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg.

There has been some criticism of this new policy. People have asked why transgender boys can’t join Girl Scouts or how they could allow boys and girls to go camping together. What a lot of people don’t realize is that there is a difference between gender and sex. I myself did not learn this until rather recently. You see, sex is biological, whereas gender is cultural. A person could be born a male, but have the emotional characteristics of a female and vice versa. So while their sex is female, their gender is male.

While I am sure that the Girl Scouts would accept them, it would not be appropriate for a transgender boy to be a Girl Scout because he is not a girl. In regards to camping together, I am sure that the troop will work with the individual scout and his parents to best accommodate them. He could have his own tent or share a tent with his parent. It could very well be that he shares a tent with another scout, just as long as the other scout and his parents were comfortable with it. I do believe that the troop should be made aware if a scout is transgender. This is not to call him out or to label him as “different,” but simply to help the troop accommodate him and avoid any surprises.

The BSA has often been criticized for being too conservative or too Christian. By becoming more diverse, they will encourage more boys to join. It can only help the BSA grow. Why wouldn’t they want to become more inclusive?

I am excited for the future of the BSA. I know that if I ever have a son of my own, he will be part of a more inclusive and progressive BSA.

Val Miller|Marlin Chronicle

Millenials: the lazy generation

BY JONATHAN JOYNER jrjoyner@vwc.edu

The Millennials are next in line to run this crazy, messed-up world. Millennials, in case you don’t know, are those born between the years 1982 and 2002, so this generation includes most VWC students. There is, however, a serious problem with our generation that needs to be addressed, and that is our intense laziness.

This problem stems from many factors of our different upbringings.

One of the most common reasons why our generation is lazy is because we grew up in an era when technology was starting to be incorporated into every aspect of our lives. Thinking back, we can see how technology became extremely prevalent during our generation.

Computers, electronic calculators, MP3 players and many other technological advances are all examples.

These devices are incredibly helpful in our daily lives.

The computers help us find information faster than going to a library, and calculators aid in our math classes.

All of these technologies, keeping in mind those I did not even list, have aided our way of life, but they also have dulled our ability to think of answers for ourselves.

Nowadays, people go on their computers or smartphones to find information when they are asked even the simplest of questions. We are now consistently reliant on technology.

Another common reason why our generation is lazy is due to the fact that some of us were not instilled with proper work ethics and values as children. Our generation is when this problem started, and it has now grown out of control. Parents began to go a little too easy on us. Parents, as well as teachers, taught us as children to use technology as much as possible because they themselves did not possess it when they were our age.

I understand their reasoning for doing this. It was to allow us to have an easier way of life. However, doing this made us lazy. Our generation has had an incredibly hard time holding down simple jobs just because we are constantly on our phones and are ignoring our responsibilities. I understand the need to cure boredom with something, but technology is not the answer. We need to be able to work and communicate with each other more, instead of just texting each other all the time. If our generation had better communication skills, then maybe our work ethic would be better as well.

The biggest reason our generation is considered lazy is because many of us act very entitled. Many of us act like we deserve everything without working for it. We were raised in a time when discipline was starting to ease up and things were just handed to us. This has created many problems for our generation because we do

not like when something does not go our way or we do not get something we desperately want.

This problem mainly lies in our generation’s consistent lust for technology. Everyone has to have the latest and greatest piece of tech on the market (i.e., smartphones). We also tend to assume we are entitled to a vehicle as soon as we get our licenses. We rely so heavily on vehicles that we forget that we have always had other perfectly fine forms of transportation. Many of us used our bikes for many years and some of us, including me, just enjoyed walking. When we get our licenses, we completely forget about these simple modes of transportation we used to use so very often.

We rely on cars to get us anywhere now. The most ridiculous example of this I see is on our campus. People are using cars to drive across our very small campus when they do not even need to do so. I see people driving from Village I to Village II sometimes and even people coming from Village IV going to Village III. I understand that with the current construction that is going on here on campus, we are tempted to use our vehicles, but there is no need. Plus, let’s be honest, some of us could really use the exercise from walking.

I am not attempting to criticize our generation. I am just attempting to point out some things I believe that we, the generation to next inherit this world, need to improve upon and revise. We are a lazy generation and that is partially our own fault for not exploring other possibilities of ways to handle the world as we grew up.

I would like us to acknowledge these problems and try to find solutions if possible — and I do believe this is possible.

Donald Trump and his impossible wall

BY JONATHAN JOYNER jrjoyner@vwc.edu

Lately, it seems that the foreign relations of our country are constantly teetering on the brink of collapse. One of the more pressing issues on this topic is President Donald Trump’s idea to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He claims it is his way of trying to keep undocumented immigrants out of the country. What he fails to realize is that this idea is a morally and physically impossible task to complete, for many reasons.

First of all, building this wall is geographically impossible due to the incredibly diverse terrain of the region. There are some areas that are flat enough to build on, but most of the border is a mix of flatlands, mountainous regions and rivers.

Trying to build through these mountains and especially over the Rio Grande would prove to be an impossible feat even with our vast resources. It is very difficult to build a wall with these geographical conditions, and even if the wall is built, it would be no better than the current border security.

Currently, there is already a fencing system on the border which is guarded by patrols 24/7.

This brings me to my next point of how there is already a wall of sorts in place with the fencing system. The original fencing, which was built back in 1994, was mainly used to keep illegal drugs from entering the country, which it did not succeed in doing. In 2006, Congress passed a bill, known as the Secure Fencing Act, that would build a proper border.

This, however, was never completed. Why did they never finish it? Reasons included the aforementioned harsh terrain and the extensive funding required. The project would require millions upon millions of dollars and extensive manpower. If we tried to continue with it, these costs would just raise our national debt further, which, I might add, is already over $19 trillion.

This wall is not only a physical impossibility but is also morally wrong. It could strain our relations with the people of Mexico. Also, this idea for a wall creates a distorted image of what Mexico is like. Mexico has an incredibly diverse culture with many things to learn about. By building this wall,

we are keeping Mexico at arm’s length and treating the country like nothing but a bother. What is the government going to say next? Do we need to build an impossible wall on the border to Canada next? With a wall on the Mexican border, we are going against every idea that this country was founded on. The United States of America is supposed to be the land of the free, but all we are doing is shutting people out.

I understand the desire for control over what is going on, but all we are doing is daring them to try harder to get over here.

My final point on this topic is actually quite a simple one. What would building a wall accomplish?

They could simply fly over it if they have the resources. They could also find some way to knock it down.

President Trump has said the wall could be anywhere from 25 to 55 feet tall. So what? As the old saying goes, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

Building a big bad wall is not going to scare anyone into listening to Trump. Most of the country is saying that this wall should not be built, so even if construction is started it most likely will not be finished.

I understand what Trump is trying to accomplish.

He is trying to create more jobs and improve our economy. However, kicking out the many illegal immigrants in our country is not a solution. One could say that this is comparable to when President Andrew Jackson started the Trail of Tears for Native Americans in the 1830s. Many undocumented immigrants have found homes here. They also have jobs and families to take care of. Uprooting them would not help. Maybe we could work on speeding up the process for allowing new immigrants into the country instead of making it take months or even years.

I am not writing this to start a war or conflict. I am writing this to inspire change.

Caitlyn Hogge|Marlin Chronicle

7

SPORTS

Thursday February 16, 2017 The Marlin Chronicle marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Softball season set to begin

BY BRIANNA CLARKSON bnclarkson@vwc.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan College Softball team is currently ranked 25th in the nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NCFA).

The Marlins are the defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) champions, and the league coaches picked Brandon Elliot’s squad to repeat as champions.

Returning to lead the Marlins is All-American junior first baseman Cassetty Howerin. She was also selected as a First Team Preseason AllAmerican by Fast Pitch News.

Howerin and the rest of the team are working hard to meet their preseason expectations.

“I feel that the Marlin family can expect our team to always come out each season and perform better than we did the previous season. We are always striving to do better, whether it is the small things like base-running or getting an extra base hit, we’re always going to perform to the best of our abilities because we have been set up well by our coaches,” Howerin said.

Personally, she is also ready to meet the tasks of being tabbed a Preseason All-American.

“I intend to fulfill this position by just going out and doing what I love to do, play softball. I have faith in my team to put me in the situations to succeed, and as a whole we have been taught very well by our coaches, and this also means I am not done and still have a long way to go, as well as the

team itself,” Howerin said.

The Marlin softball team as a whole is extremely excited about the 2017 season, since it is right around the corner with the first game on Feb. 18 at home against Susquehanna University.

Then, the Marlins will take their talents to Rocky Mount, NC, to take on North Carolina Wesleyan College on Feb 21.

The Marlins are striving for the same success that they have achieved in previous seasons, and even more.

“We have really improved as a team these last 3 to 4 years and not only have we become closer, but we have improved in all aspects of our game, which only pushes us to work harder and better for each season we are given,” senior second baseman Elizabeth Bailey said.

Bailey was also willing to give some insight on how the team expects to live up to the ODAC preseason rankings they were given.

“We definitely go out every day for practice and work hard. We listen to each of our coaches and prepare to play each team differently. I believe that focusing on playing one team at a time instead of focusing on the entire season at one time definitely prepares us to play each team better,” Bailey said.

The Marlins have a tough schedule set before them as they begin this 2017 season. The Marlins not only are facing a 2016 NCAA Tournament participant in their second game of this

season, but also will be facing the No. 16 team, Christopher Newport, as well as the No. 3 team, Messiah College.

Coach Elliott has a lot of confidence in his players for this 2017 season to exceed the expectation of being placed No. 25. In his opinion, the players will be able to beat any competitor as long as they work hard and as a team.

As the Marlins prepare for their first game, their mindset is to exceed all the expectations that are set before them by bringing positive energy, hard work, determination and working together as one family “I am really excited to be on this team and I believe we are going to do really well even with the setbacks we faced during preseason. I think we are still going to come out on top and I am really excited to see what we are going to do and hopefully fulfill the expectations,” freshman pitcher Hannah Hull said.

Hard work, dedication and teamwork is what will lead this group of 19 Marlins in practice every day to prepare them for this season. The Marlins have a large fan base that is eager to see how the season plays out.

Luke Chiasson |Marlin Chronicle Junior Cassetty Howerin crosses the plate in a game on Feb. 22, 2016, against N.C. Wesleyan.

Outrunning the past

BY KASEY NEWCOMB klnewcomb@vwc.edu The Virginia Wesleyan College Women’s Indoor Track and Field program is currently ranked fifth in the Southeast Region, the highest ranking in program history, while the men’s team checks in at sixth, which ties a program best.

Driving the women’s team is junior All-American Marissa Coombs, who has followed up her record-setting 2016 indoor season by resetting the VWC record books with a 4:57:74 mile at the Vince Brown Invitational. Not only is her mile time the best in the ODAC this season, it currently ranks third in the nation.

“The main goal for every meet is to improve and have fun. This meet (Artie O’Connor Invitational) is a pretty important meet because it’s our last one before ODACs, so everyone is looking to drop their times and place in ODACs,” Coombs said.

The Marlin men are continuing to turn in some

impressive performances. Returning ODAC champion in the 400m Trey White continues to keep up his leadership and help push the team to meet its goals.

“The biggest challenge for our team this year is that we have a lot of freshmen who are trying to step up. I think with the right leadership that we have in place we will continue to do great things,” White said.

The captain is already seeded first in the ODAC in the 800m. He posted a time of 1:58:98 in the Captains Invite, finishing second in the event out of 16 runners.

The Virginia Wesleyan track and field team will compete at Artie O’Conner Invitational at The Armory in New York City on Feb 17.

The ODAC championship will be held on Feb. 26 at Roanoke College.

Val Miller |Marlin Chronicle Senior Trey White runs an event at an indoor track meet on Feb. 4, 2017.

Baseball drops first three games

BY AMANDA ARCHER acarcher@vwc.edu

Head Coach Chris Francis, who has worked with the baseball team for three seasons, and his assistant Thomas Seay were looking to build off of last season’s 18-15 record. However, the VWC Baseball team fell twice to North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday and once to Salisbury University on Sunday.

The Marlins competed in two close games that each resulted in extra innings. Led offensively by Justin Erby and Randy Neisz, who both homered in Game 2, the Marlins were unable to pull out the win after a late 10th inning grand slam allowed the N.C. Wesleyan Bishops to walk off with the win.

On Sunday, the Marlins started the game with high intensity.

They scored two runs in the first inning off a Neisz home run and one in the second, allowing them to gain a 3-0 lead. Freshman pitcher Patrick Monteverde only allowed four runs in 8.2 innings.

“Starting my first college game is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and to pitch in a game like that just makes it even better,” Monteverde said.

Not even the continuous effort from Monteverde could lead his team to victory, and the early lead slated by the Marlins did

not last long. Salisbury was able to come back and tie the game in the fourth and sixth innings, only to take the lead in the top of the ninth while the Marlins failed to respond offensively. The entire team, including freshman pitcher and senior outfielder Justin Erby, fought hard to bring home an opening season win but sadly had to begin their season down with a 0-3 record.

Senior Justin Erby remains hopeful despite the losses faced.

“The team will use these losses as a learning experience for later in the season, and will allow them to trust in the process, enabling them to transition from not just a good team but a great one,” Erby said.

Prior to this weekend’s games, Coach Seay described his goals for the season as “continuing to get better every day.”

Seay explained that the Marlins were expecting large impacts from a wide variety of players on the field, ranging from stellar returners all the way to the rookies and transfers of the program this season. Seay plans to start and maintain high expectations for the five allconference players, Justin and Taylor Erby, Brandon Kussmaul, Randy Neisz and C.J. Lindsay.

“Their experience offensively will carry them throughout the first month of the year, allowing the young guys to get the experience and repetition they needed,” Seay said.

North Carolina Wesleyan ranks No. 6 in the USA South Conference preseason poll, and

Salisbury University ranks No. 1 in the Capital Athletic Conference preseason poll and No. 24 in the nation according to D3Baseball. com.

Seay approached these facts by looking at the weekend as a learning experience for his team.

“It will be a good test for

them this opening weekend...the schedule is so strong this year. We play five teams that are ranked among the top twenty-five in the preseason poll. We have one of the toughest schedules in the Southern Region,” Seay said.

Anthony Dellamura |Marlin Chronicle Senior Justin Erby racing back to first base against Emory & Henry on March 28, 2015.

8 The Marlin Chronicle | marlinchronicle.vwc.edu

Thursday, February 16, 2017

INTRODUCING

Starting Summer 2017 for study away and research.

SHIPP participants are eligible for: * Reduced summer tuition * Study away course grants * Research Grants

To Apply: * Applicants have a minimum GPA of 2.7 * Submit an application (available on the Lighthouse’s website) * Submit a faculty endorsement

Application Deadline:

March 15, 2017 More information is available on the Lighthouse’s website.

THEWEEKENDER

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

PAGE 9

WESLEYAN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Student artist John Leitgeb represents the diversity of Virginia Wesleyan’s creative minds

BY FARAH HAIDARI fahaidari@vwc.edu

Landscapes, bold colors and incredible promise are among the many things present in the works of John Leitgeb, a freshman with a talent for art and music.

His story reflects a life consistently drawn to express through art.

Leitgeb wanted to attend VWC for its academic programs.

“My family moved to Virginia. This school had an educational program that was good,” Leitgeb said.

He described his major as being “undeclared, on fence between psychology and art.”

Leitgeb has had a passion for art since he was a small child. He took art in high school, but did not take it seriously. He also started painting a year and a half ago. His dream for his art is to one day paint for a living.

His favorite type of art includes psychedelic undertones and impressionism.

“The best way I can describe psychedelic art is anything that gives the illusion of movement or evokes a thought or feeling. Usually mixed with really bright vivid contrasting color,” Leitgeb said.

“It’s well done artistically. This artist has very creative ideas. I like the way he uses his techniques a little bit differently, they’re stylized in some of them, and I like the use of color for all of them…The works I see here are pretty bold,” senior art major Bianca Nonnenmacher said of Leitgeb’s work.

Leitgeb’s work is also a reflection of the diversity among artists at VWC. “We’re very diverse artists, so we’re going to have our contemporaries, we’re going to have our people who like to work with a different color palette in comparison to the bold colors and the youthfulness of that one,” Nonnenmacher said.

Leitgeb started playing music when he was nine years old. He can play the guitar, drums, piano, bass and ukulele. He also sings and has a talent for writing his own lyrics.

“Lyrics usually take something to inspire them, unlike when I paint,” Leitgeb said.

If Leitgeb had the opportunity to do anything within the music industry, he said, he would one day like to open a recording studio. Like art, he would also want to do music professionally.

Leitgeb stated he likes every type of music and has loved music since he was a kid. It’s something that he has grown to love even more throughout his lifetime.

Tripp Getchel is currently a senior business major and Leitgeb’s manager.

“It all started when I was hanging out with him [LeitJohn Leitgeb | Courtesy geb] and some of his friends and I saw some of his Leitgeb’s work shows influences from impressionism paintings. I heard his music when we were watching his with psychedelic undertones. music videos and he was playing his guitar while the

PANDA STILL AT

LARGE

The Virginia Zoo is still on the hunt for Sunny the red panda

BY JUSTIN SMITH jrsmith2@vwc.edu

It’s been a little less sunny the past two weeks at the Norfolk Virginia Zoo. Sunny, a 19-month-old red panda, went missing on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Ashley Grove Mars, a spokeswoman from the zoo, said that Sunny was in her habitat around 5 p.m. that Monday night, but when the zoo opened the following morning, she was gone.

The Norfolk Police Department assisted in her search on the day of the discovery. Officers flooded the zoo grounds geothermal cameras, trying to locate Sunny within the thick foliage surrounding the zoo.

Two days later, the tracking K-9 unit from the Newport News sheriff’s office took a go at finding the animal. Although the red panda was not found, the dogs’ tracking patterns pointed in a positive direction; Sunny was still on the zoo’s

Britani Alyse |Marlin Chronicle

Ashlei Gates | Marlin Chronicle

John Leitgeb is a freshman with a passion for the fine arts.

music video was playing,” Getchel said.

While watching these music videos, Getchel got the idea to help promote Leitgeb, by using social media and having connections at school, for example.

“I knew that I could help him and not just promote his name or his work, but to also help make him money as well,” Getchel said.

Getchel was amazed by Leitgeb’s work from first sight.

“When I saw his work and how amazing it is, I asked him if he sold his art, or did anything with it besides just keep them, and he said ‘not really, no,’” Getchel said.

Getchel shows a true care for Leitgeb, not only as a manager, but as a friend as well.

“I did see that he was really talented and could do more with it than he currently was, and I know I used to not see potential for growth in things that I did, and as his friend I wanted to see his work grow,” Getchel said.

The two have talked previously about collaborating.

Getchel would like to produce a song with Leitgeb.

However, Getchel said, “I haven’t really gotten much into music; I would like to help him maybe organize it.

I don’t know if it would be as effective for me to make music with him.”

Students such as Leitgeb represent the future of the art world. If he has done so much this early in life, who knows what else he will accomplish years in the future.

LOCAL MUSIC SCENE GOES LIVE Virginia Beach local band Dear Adamus takes the stage, performing songs old and new

BY MIRANDA FEIN mlfein@vwc.edu

property.

Zoo officials believed that Sunny was hiding somewhere in the treeline that lines the zoo and parking lot. Magnolia trees and bamboo fill the treeline, both common plants found in wild habitats for red pandas.

Two weeks have past since Sunny’s disappearance, but the zoo still has hope of her return.

“She’s probably going from spot to spot, places where she’s comfortable,” Greg Bockheim, executive director of the zoo, said. “Hopefully, she’ll find her way back to the zoo.”

Some students at Virginia Wesleyan College who have visited the Virginia Zoo, were not too shocked by the red panda’s escape.

“I’m surprised it took this long for them [the zoo] to figure out they can get out if they want to,” sophomore Emilee Caldbeck said. “The enclosure isn’t really enclosed.”

Sophomore Abby Horgan expressed a similar reaction to Sunny’s escape as trees located in her exhibit do cross over an elevated footpath.

“I thought it was hilarious and definitely expected. Their enclosure had a tree branch she could easily escape from,” Horgan said.

Junior Tayler Wilson was concerned when she first heard of the news but does not have the same hope the zoo has for Sunny’s return.

“I can only imagine she’s probably long gone, unfortunately,” Wilson said.

The staff at the Virginia Zoo still encourage anyone who sees Sunny to call the hotline at 757-777-7899, and to not try to touch, feed or capture her.

Virginia Beach local band Dear Adamus has been making a name for itself in the local music scene for years. Its journey will continue with the release of a new album this year. The album’s title has been a well kept secret by the band, building anticipation for what will come next.

Over the years, Dear Adamus has progressed, discovering new faces and new sounds. Since founded by Raytheon Dunn in 2011, the indie/alternative band has grown in numbers. Today, members of the band include Dunn on rhythm guitar and vocals, Severin Dí Croce on drums and percussion, Chris Wilkins on guitar, keys, and vocals, John Callahan on lead guitar, and Chelsea Elliott on bass.

Since the release of their last EP in

2016, titled “Afterlight,” Dear Adamus released two acoustic Scenery Session videos. The first video released featured “Llewellyn,” a song from the 2016 EP, and the second introduced fans to a new song titled “Tired Eyes.” The new song holds true to the acoustic style that Dear Adamus has claimed as its own, featuring relaxed yet upbeat instrumentals matched with lulling vocals.

The most recent Scenery Session has left listeners eager for the new music to come.

“All of our music and even our name has been established from the idea of a dream, so expect something dreamy. The soft parts are softer and the heavy parts are heavier, with a lot more construction and diversity within the songs,” Wilkins said.

See BAND Pg. 10

Dear Adamus | Courtesy

Dear Adamus takes the stage at Shaka’s Live with Starcoast and Bonne Chère.

THEWEEKENDER

PAGE 10

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

MELODIES FOR MILES A HIGHLIGHT OF THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL MUSIC

A YEAR OF MUSIC

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

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BY CHRIS BATTLE cdbattle@vwc.edu

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A review of 2016’s most notable albums

RA M M G E H

2016 brought a gust of death over the entertainment industry, with the world losing greats like Prince and David Bowie. Despite this, the silver lining was that pop music saw a revival of sorts in quality and quantity. Both newbies and established acts released new material showcasing a growth in ability, quality popular music and structure. Here are some notable albums from 2016.

“Glory” – Britney Spears

Three years after the disastrous rollout and disappointing reception to her album Britney Jean, The Princess of Pop came roaring back with a radio-ready record. She began working closely with her collaborators, which included producers Max Martin, Cashmere Cat, Robopop and Pop & Oak. She also worked with rapper G-Eazy on the lead single “Make Me…(Oooh)” as well as singer Tinashe on the remix to the single “Slumber Party.”

Although the single stood strong on its own, the remix seems like a typical label-organized collaboration (both artists are signed to RCA). The rest of the album has its ebbs and flows of chilled-out synths and pads, reminiscent of The Weeknd, to high-energy but modern Britney-styled pop that’s seen on the track “Do You Wanna Come Over?” and “Hard to Forget Ya.” She also goes tri-lingual with tracks “Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)” and “Coupure Électrique.” The album does have its missteps as exemplified in the ill-fitting song “Private Show” that poorly and strangely follows the Doo-Wop formula that skyrocketed Meghan Trainor to fame.

The constant that makes the album a cohesive work, however, is the quality of Britney’s voice. Refreshing to the ears, she seems more centered vocally, providing a warmth that has not been heard since her “Toxic” days.

“The Colour in Anything” – James Blake

Electronic Art-Pop crooner James Blake released the follow-up to his album, Overgrown, amid his collaboration with Beyoncé on her sixth album, Lemonade. In an emotional daze throughout the album, he beautifully navigates the trials of a breakup and finding happiness through it. Songs like “I Need a Forest Fire” allude to how disaster can bring new and majestic growth over time. Songs like “Radio Silence” and “Two Men Down” reinforce the break-up theme similarly.

The production and writing was mostly in Blake’s hands. However, he teamed up with Frank Ocean, Bon Iver’s frontman Justin Vernon and prolific producer Rick Rubin, which gave the album a more organic and emotional sound. Unorthodox sounds, vocal effects and old song loops added to atmospheric pads in the center of a progressive R&B inspired backing beat. This album provides both an in-depth look into Blake’s emotions as well as a display of his producing and writing abilities.

“A Seat at the Table” – Solange

In the socio-political climate that our country is currently in, the timing for this album was more than coincidental. The album provided a sound for the Black Lives Matter movement with songs like “Don’t Touch My Hair” getting straight to the point and expressing pride in the hair and culture of African Americans. “F.U.B.U (for us by us)” is another example of cultural pride with more straightforward lyrics such as “All my ni**as let the whole world know/Play this song and sing it on your terms/… /Don’t try to come for us.” The album also addresses the need to heal and escape from the slaughter of unarmed black men and youth, specifically on track “Borderline (An Ode to Self Care).”

She also addresses personal indecision in regards to the music industry, detailing her struggle to decide whether she wanted to give in to the machine or branch out on “Don’t You Wait.”

The album also features interludes that stories experiences that both of her parents and Master P provided, bringing more insight into the theme of the album and how to be proud of your culture. The production was helmed by Knowles, who claimed to have gone broke during production and recording. She also had help from fellow artists Frank Ocean, Tweet, Q-Tip and Raphael Saadiq. Organic instruments, as well as synths, gave the album an added layer of color that made it fun to hear sonically and lyrically.

“The Life of Pablo” – Kanye West

2016 proved quite trying for the Chicago-native West, who had to endure his wife being robbed and a mental breakdown. Despite all his personal struggles, he still managed to push out an album that matched the hype he gave his 2015 album.

Sonically, the album lacked a cohesive sound and theme, varying from gospel on the critically acclaimed song “Ultralight Beam” to classically boastful West on “I Love Kanye.” The productions on the album were very minimalist, even sounding almost unfinished. A prominent example of this is featured on “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1” where the song goes into the third chorus and then abruptly ends. This happens quite a bit on the album. Nevertheless, this album gave the world a peek into the mind of West, even when it wasn’t directly an open view.

“Lemonade” – Beyoncé

At the top of February, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, the world was ordered to get in “Formation” by Mrs. Knowles-Carter, and we’ve been there ever since. Presenting her second visual album on HBO, she allowed the public to take a glimpse into her relationship with Jay-Z and how they handled the act of infidelity committed by her husband. It was a deeper insight into the mind and thoughts of a black woman navigating a relationship in peril while also examining and embracing her blackness and condemning the murders of unarmed black men by law enforcement with songs such as “Freedom” and “Formation.”

The most remarkable part of “Lemonade,” outside of the stunning and poignant visuals that captured and commanded attention, is the album’s sequencing. It beautifully flows as if every track coincides with the process of healing, moving forward. The storytelling element of this work provided the listener with a concise beginning, middle and end that not only found the narrative of self-discovery and forgiveness easily accessible and relatable, but in a way, provides a prelude to her sister’s Seat at the Table.

ia A tt C yril The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California welcomed the 59th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, 2017.

The night’s festivities were hosted by comedian James Corden.

The Grammys saw first time performances, dedications to deceased artists, speeches about the political climate and the purposeful destruction of an award. Here’s a recap of some of the night’s winners:

Album of the Year “25” by Adele

Song of the Year “Hello” by Adele

Best Music Video

“Formation” by Beyoncé

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Best New Artist

Chance the Rapper

Best Rap Album

“Coloring Book” by Chance the Rapper

Best Rap Song

“Hotline Bling” by Drake

Best Country Song “Humble and Kind”

by Lori McKenna

Best Rock Song

“Blackstar” by David Bowie

BAND CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Though the band has been working on new music over the last year, it has still retained its live presence, performing locally and even taking its music outside the Virginia Beach area. It shared the stage with Starcoast and Bonne Chère at Shaka’s Live in Virginia Beach on Saturday, Feb. 4, and again at Strange Matter in Richmond two days later.

Local shows have allowed Dear Adamus to connect with fellow music lovers on and off the stage. Sharing the stage with other local bands has not only introduced them to new audiences but also developed new friendships, according to the band. “[Starcoast] has always said that we’re their favorite band and

Dear Adamus| Courtesy

they’re my favorite band. I would do anything for those kids. I’d love to see them go somewhere with us. It would be really cool to see some bands grow up from Virginia Beach because it’s been awhile since that’s happened,” Wilkins said.

Morgan Potter has been a longtime fan of Dear Adamus since she was first introduced to its music by Dí Croce.

Morgan’s love for the music goes far beyond simply enjoying its sound.

“They know I have disabilities and they get who I am, that I’m different.

Some people don’t get that, but they do,” Morgan said.

Her mother, Megan Potter, has helped Morgan attend as many shows as they can. “They’re so kind, just genuinely.

Light, kind, caring. So I think that their music will take them very far because their lyrics are true to what they do on this Earth,” Megan Potter said.

Dear Adamus has music available on Bandcamp, SoundCloud, ReverbNation and iTunes. Follow the band on its journey by liking Dear Adamus on Facebook, following @dearadamus on Instagram or @dear_adamus on Twitter.