The Captain’s Log
Captains fall to Johns Hopkins
A deflating home opener
TREY GREENWELL TRAJAN.GREENWELL.21@CNU.EDU
Christopher Newport University was defeated by Johns Hopkins 14-3 at TowneBank Stadium, dropping their record to 1-1 for the season.
The game took place during the university’s Family Weekend, where parents of both athletes and students packed the stands for the Captains home debut. With a capacity of 4,752, the defense kept the Captains in the game but could not lift them to victory as the offense only mustered one field goal.
The game opened with a series
of punts from both teams. With four and a half minutes left in the first quarter, Johns Hopkins began a lengthy drive that saw a fourth down conversion occur right before the end of the quarter. Two plays later, Johns Hopkins took the lead on a 28-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Bay Harvey to senior wide receiver PJ Scales.
The Captains next offensive possession showed promise. A completion from fifth-year senior Matt Dzierski to junior running back Gunner White followed by an 11-yard scramble from Dzierski put the Captains in the red zone.
Two plays later, Dzierski was sacked for a six-yard loss which led to the Captains kicking a field goal made by sophomore kicker Maxx Lawton that put the Captains on the board.
The offense struggled to gain momentum on any of the Captains subsequent possessions. In the second quarter, Dzierski left the game with an injury and was replaced by sophomore Connor Barry. Near the end of the quarter, Barry also suffered an injury which led to sophomore Tahir Johnson playing for most of the second half.
(Story continued in Sports p. 4)
BREANNA DORRIAN BREANNA.DORRIAN.23@CNU.EDU
Over the course of the past year, Christopher Newport University has implemented various changes to campus parking including adjustments to East Campus expansion, faculty and staff parking and the addition of day student/commuter parking. The changes went into place on August 1 with full enforcement on September 3.
Christopher Newport University Director of Parking Services Shawn Holmes stated that Parking Services conducted a “comprehensive study of the campus parking situation, informed by feedback from focus groups held in 2023.” The conducted sessions provided an opportunity for the concerns from faculty, staff and students. The department came to the conclusion that necessary changes would “improve the parking experience for the entire campus community.”
The east campus parking expansion includes the conversion of Lot O to be a designated parking area. “This new East Campus lot will help reduce congestion in the Main Campus lots, particularly E1 through E4, by providing space for approximately 60 cars that were previously parked there,” Holmes said.
Faculty and staff parking adjustments were also made to assist with staff previously parking in the Luter parking lot, Lot D. A portion of Lot E1 has been converted into a Faculty and Staff specific lot, Lot D2.
CNU Quaterback Tahir Johnson making a play, photo taken by Lindsay Deyton/TheCaptain’sLog
CNU Parking Changes:
Changes to on-campus parking intended to improve parking experiences for commuters, East Campus residents and faculty
Story continued from cover
“This change will help ensure dedicated spaces for displaced Faculty and Staff who had shifted to using the E1 through E4 lots,” he said.
campus community members.
“We believe these changes are a step forward in addressing the concerns raised by the campus community and improving the overall parking experience,” Holmes said.
in student Lot I, then she experiences 10 - 15 minute delays having to park on the opposite side of campus, which is up to triple the time it takes her to commute to campus.
The student also stated that the price she paid for the decal did not accurately reflect the amount of times she parked on campus or the durations of time she was there for.
ment for non-commuter students as well. In the past, a significant portion of East Campus students experienced trouble finding amicable parking and had to park across Warwick Boulevard. The new East Campus lot is intended to provide students with closer parking to their own residence halls.
There have also been additions for new day student and commuter parking. After hearing the concerns of commuter students, Parking Services implemented day student parking decals, costing a total of $275. This price applies for all student decals to allow them to park in designated locations without receiving a citation. The new day student parking decal allows students to utilize a converted section of Lot I, now known as Lot I2, to be available specifically for commuters Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Afterwards, the space is available as open parking for all
Although there has not been an increase in the number of physical spaces, commuter students are still intended to reap the benefits from having designated reserved parking spaces for them during peak hours.
Although the changes have been created with the intentions of improving the parking experience for all students and faculty, some commuter students continue to experience difficulty finding parking.
“It is outrageous,” she said, “most commuter students are living at home to save costs on housing.” She added, “It costs more than my required course materials.”
The student pointed out that she doesn’t park overnight and only commutes to campus one to two times a day. Being a first generation student, she stated she couldn’t afford to receive a parking ticket despite the limited space.
She also stated that tuition funds should be allocated to parking on campus due to the overall cost of tuition.
The university is continuing their developments in parking across the entire campus to make it more “user-friendly.” While the changes moving forward continue to be developed, Parking Services intends to inform the community as they progress. BREANNA
One commuter, a junior transfer student, said that unless she arrives to campus early in the morning to secure parking behind McMurran Hall and the Potomac River Residence halls
The new changes are also intended to provide significant improve-
“The primary goal of these parking changes was to improve the parking experience for commuters, East Campus residents, and faculty and staff,” Holmes said. “By making these adjustments we hoped to better meet the needs of various groups within the campus community and enhance practicality while addressing the specific needs of different campus populations.”
Social media post critiques CNU and their Crew Leader
Parent claims LGBTQ+ indoctrination over student dancing
NOTH
Countdown to November: Updates recapping the 2024 Presidential Election and Debate
ALYSSA TILLMAN
ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU
of a student orientation leader. The video was of the student orientation leader dancing with a poster and the post claimed that students must go through “LGBTQ indoctrination.” The video, posted on June 17, showed Ellyson dancing during the opening session where parents and students would be greeted.
Sam Ellyson, the student featured in the video, said, “We were told to dance and be excited as the freshmen are coming in” for the first event of Setting Sail.
In the post, the parent said, “This is a state funded university in Virginia. We have a Republican Governor, Lt. Governor, and AG and they continue to fund this madness with no repercussions.” The parent continued on with complaints about CNU’s promotion of the LGBTQ on “taxpayer dime.”
The post continued with the poster saying that CNU and other state schools are the only ones that allow veterans to use their benefits and said that parents should not have to send their kids
elsewhere because it is a “State funded institution is not an in doctrination camp.”
As well as saying that mem bers of the LGBTQ+ commu nity should be the most upset as they have been fighting to “blend in” and instead now have “these freak shows” turn ing the people against them. The poster also implied that a breakout session titled the LGBTQ+ Student Experience was mandatory for students.
The second presidential debate was held in Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center this past Tuesday, following a turbulent period in the 2024 presidential campaign in which President Joe Biden exited the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. The debate, hosted by ABC News, was Harris’ and former President Donald Trump’s first time meeting face to face. Many topics were covered at the debate, including immigra
what seemed to be a hopeful start. One of the false claims that has received a lot of media attention has been former President Donald Trump’s claim that Haitian immigrants have been ‘eating the pets,’ both cats and dogs, of the residents of Springfield, Ohio. According to NPR, there have been no credible reports on this claim.
When the post went up Ellyson was contacted by Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Hughes to talk to him about the incident and how he was feeling about it, which he did. Hughes in his initial email to Ellyson called it a “ridiculous social media issue.”
Ellyson, a member of the LGBTQ community, said, “When it happened, I was incredibly angry,” however his thoughts went more to the incoming freshman. Ellyson was concerned about the repercussions the video would have on incoming LGBTQ freshmen. No students that he talked to had seen the post. ALEX
As far as policy goes, Harris proposes affordable housing, child care and consumer policies, according to her campaign website. These policies include expanding the Child Tax Credit and raising the minimum wage. Harris’ website also details how she would block any national abortion bans and intends to expand civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ people. Harris also details that she will ban assault weapons and implement universal background checks for gun owners to prevent mass shootings.
Trump plans to rebuild the economy by lowering taxes, increasing paychecks and creating more jobs for American workers, according to his campaign website. Trump also wants to make the United States the number one producer of oil and natural gas on earth, achieving American energy independence and delivering low costs for oil, gas, diesel and electricity to consumers and businesses. Trump details how in cooperative states he will deputize the National Guard and local law enforcement to assist with rapidly removing “illegal alien gang members and criminals.” Other issues include protecting the 2nd amendment, banning private money from local elections and reducing the cost of prescription drugs.
International Affairs Update:
Central Europe experiences worst flooding in decades
BREANNA DORRIAN
BREANNA.DORRIAN.23@CNU.EDU
Reuters reported on September 17 that a month’s worth of rain is devastating central Europe with mass flooding with the death toll being at 21 people and at least 15,000 have been evacuated in the Czech Republic. CNN has reported that the storm has hit Austria, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Polish Prime Minister
Donald Tusk has already dispatched ‘$260 million in emergency aid for the hardest hit regions.’ Reuters also reported, ‘flooding has killed seven people in Romania, where waters have receded since the weekend, six in Poland, five in Austria, and three in the Czech Republic. Tens of thousands of Czech and Polish households were still without
power or fresh water.’ The Czech-Polish border has been reported by Reuters to have experienced the worst thus far with ‘gushing, debris-filled rivers devastated historic towns, collapsing bridges and destroying houses.’ CNN reported that there has been major concern for the Czech city Litovlje ‘where 80% of buildings are submerged.’
Captains fall to Johns Hopkins
Story continued from cover
TREY GREENWELL TRAJAN.GREENWELL.21@CNU.EDU
The second Johns Hopkins touchdown came after a costly Captains interception which put them at the Captains 29 yard line. Two plays later, Harvey found Scales once again for a 20-yard touchdown that gave Johns Hopkins a 14-3 lead.
Despite the loss, the Captains defense helped keep the game within reach. This was largely due to the pass rush as they accounted
for six sacks, two of them by junior linebacker Masai Bruning who also led the team in tackles with 11. As a whole, the defense held Johns Hopkins to 180 total yards and an average of almost three yards per play.
Up next, the Captains (1-1) will face Gettysburg College (1-1) in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on September 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
“As a whole, the defense held Johns Hopkins to 180 total yards and an average of almost three yards per play.”
A marquee appointment USMNT hires Mauricio Pochettino
TREY GREENWELL TRAJAN.GREENWELL.21@CNU.EDU
Mauricio Pochettino was officially named as the new head coach of U.S. men’s soccer. The appointment of Pochettino is huge for U.S. soccer. The Argentine has managed major European clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. With an appearance in a UEFA Champions League Final as well as a Ligue 1 title, Pochettino brings one thing that no previous U.S. soccer head coach has brought to the national team: a high level of success at the club level. However, the job will not be an easy task for Pochettino. With the U.S. being a host nation for the 2026 World Cup, there will not be as many competitive matches for the new
head coach to assess the squad. Aside from the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Pochettino will be getting a
glimpse of the players through friendlies and training sessions. With the U.S. soccer team in need of a
jolt due to their dismal Copa America performance as a host nation, Pochettino is seen as a coach that will put the national team in the right position for the 2026 World Cup. With his consistent track re-
cord of success in Europe, the fanbase has the right to be happy about the direction the national team is heading in.
Pochettino’s most notable tenure was when he was man-
“With an appearance in a UEFA Champions League Final as well as a Ligue 1 title, Pochettino brings one thing that no previous U.S. soccer head coach has brought to the national team: a high level of success at the club level.”
ager of Tottenham Hotspur. During his time with the club, Pochettino consistently finished in the top four of the English Premier League and developed youth players such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli. If he can help develop players in a similar way with the United States, his tenure will be deemed successful.
The hiring of Pochettino is an exciting time for United States soccer fans. He is easily the biggest name the national team has ever hired and his attacking style of play is one that resonates with soccer fans around the world. If Pochettino can bring a new mentality to the national team once he begins coaching duties, there is no limit for what the U.S. men’s national team can achieve.
Photo of the Captains offense taken by Lindsay Deyton/ The Captain’s Log.
Mauricio Pochettino coaching Tottenham Hotspur FC during a game against PFC CSKA Moscow in 2016. Mauricio Pochettino 2016 by Dmitry Golubovich is licensed under the CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed.
Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire
TREY GREENWELL
A sudden announcement
TRAJAN.GREENWELL.21@CNU.EDU
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has no plans to retire after suffering another concussion.
Tagovailoa suffered the concussion during Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, when he lowered his head on a scramble that caused a collision with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Tagovailoa stayed down for moments until the Dolphins medical staff arrived onto the field. While the 26 year-old quarterback was able to walk off the field, he sat out the rest of the game with a concussion which resulted in Skylar Thompson finishing the 31-10 defeat.
Following the game on Friday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said that he had zero idea what Tagovailoa’s timeline would be and does not want to put any pressure on his return. With Tagovailoa expected to miss multiple games, the Dolphins may look at adding another quarterback to the roster as Skylar Thompson is the only healthy quarter-
Miami Dolphins quaterback Tua Tagovialoa (1) calls for the ball from center Michael Deiter (63) against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a 2021 regular season game at Caesars Superdome. Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints 2021 by Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports is licensed under the CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed back currently listed on the depth chart.
Following the game, many players, coaches, analysts, and fans were calling for Tagovialoa’s retirement. However, with Tagovailoa now confirming that his heart still lies towards returning to the football field, the discours-
“Tagovailoa suffered the concussion during Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, when he lowered his head on a scaramble that caused a collision with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.”
es surrounding his future will be put to rest. Tagovailoa’s history with concussions began in the 2022 season when he was slammed to the ground after a sack in week 4 of the campaign against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he was stretchered off the field. This caused him to miss two games before making his return in week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Tagovailoa suffered another concussion in the same year during a Christmas Day game against the Green Bay Packers in which he was not diagnosed with one until after the game. Following the game, Tagovailoa was out for the remainder of the season.
With Tagovailoa having not suffered a concussion during the 2023 season, many people thought that the concussions were behind him. However, what has happened over the last week has been one of the most unfortunate situations a player could endure.
Here’s What You Missed!
1) Indiana Fever Guard Caitlin Clark broke the single-season rookie point record in a 110-109 victory over the Dallas Wings.
2) The Carolina Panthers have benched former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after an 0-2 start to the season.
3) The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed center Sidney Crosby to a two-year contract extension.
Coming soon in CNU Sports: *Games listed are happening at CNU September 20th:
*Women’s Field Hockey CNU v. Ohio Wesleyan University
Location: Newport News, VA Time: 4:00 PM
*Women’s Soccer CNU v. Trinity University (Texas)
Location: Newport News, VA Time: 5:00 PM
*Men’s Soccer CNU v. Colorado College
Location: Newport News, VA Time: 7:00 PM September 21st:
*Men’s Football CNU v. Gettysburg College
Location: Gettysburg, PA Time: 1:00 PM
To look at events off campus and for future weeks, visit cnusports.com
Women’s Rugby
All photos taken by Anthony Berry
Robin Robinson running with the ball and avoiding tackles
Robin Robinson kicking a penalty kick for field position following their opponent’s penalty
CNU player running with the ball and avoiding tackles
CNU wins a line out after their opponent takes the ball out of bounds
CNU player running with the ball and avoiding tackles
Family Weekend
Football Game
All photos taken by Lindsay Deyton
Running Back, Gunner White, avoiding a block
CNU Cheer hyping up the crowd during the game
CNU Feature Twirler, Colby Topping, poses during the Marching Captain’s half-time show
Member of CNU’s color guard during their half-time performance
CNU Storm dancer, Kellie Wright, waving at the crowd during half-time
The Marching Captains performing during half-time
CNU Acapella reflects on auditions
How these groups have formed a community
ALYSSA TILLMAN
ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU
Have you ever seen Pitch Perfect and wondered what it is really like to be in an acapella group? CNU Acapella auditions took place last Saturday and The Captain’s Log had the chance to speak to several acapella groups here on campus.
There are five acapella groups here on campus. They include Extreme Measures, University Sounds, Trebled Youth, The Newport Pearls, and Take Note. With varying degrees of commitment and group dynamics, these groups have some helpful advice and insight into what being a part of an acapella group is like.
There are so many great things about being in an acapella group. Senior Emma Riddle, president of The Newport Pearls, shared that her favorite thing about acapella is the community. “We have a great community outside of our individual groups, but of course, I love getting to make music and memories with my amazing group of Pearls!” Junior Brenna McManus and Vice President of Take Note explained that her favorite thing about acapella is making music with “a genuine group of people.”
Junior Virginia Browning and President of University Sounds shared the story of her first time auditioning as a freshman, explaining that her nerves were eased by the kind and welcoming environment. “All of the groups and members have the best wishes for auditionees and want auditions to be as pain and nerve-free as possible”, Browning shared. Senior Cecile Chemezova and President of Take Note said that she almost didn’t audition for acapella since her musical background was mostly in musical theater, but that “there were so many people that wanted to talk to me and make me feel more comfortable, that I didn’t even have time to worry that I didn’t belong.”
Acapella is not only a great outlet for creativity, but a fun way to make friends with similar interests. Junior Adam Clyve and President of Extreme Measures talked about how his favorite part of acapella is being able to sing with his favorite people. “I have met almost all of my best friends and I am so grateful for the Acapella community.”
There are quite a few events surrounding the acapella community on campus, the most popular being Glow in the Darcapella. Glow is a glow in the dark event where each group gets to debut their new arrangements. “We love hearing all of the amazing music each group does,” Browning said. She also gives a shout out to the rest of the acapella community. “Usounds loves you guys!” Riddle shared, “It’s also so much fun getting
to perform and see the support for acapella!” Other acapella events to look forward to include Blue Tie Affair, Acapella formal, spring concert and retreat. These groups have great memories from their respective retreats.
Senior Kayla Hebb and President of Trebled Youth said they book an airbnb for a weekend in the mountains or in OBX and “just take the time to really bond together!” Sophomore Abiy Hailu and Music Director of Take Note said it’s a lot of fun to hangout with her group outside of rehearsals and that they can “just let go and have fun with each other.”
Something rather unique about acapella is the wide variety of songs the audience gets to hear from the groups. The Newport Pearls love to sing Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, because of the energy it produces from the crowd. University Sounds loves to sing All Things End by Hozier because of “the build and the complexity of the harmonies in our arrangement. It’s also dynamically a very fun piece”, Browning shared. Sophomore Claire Smith and head of Public Relations of Take Note said her favorite song to sing is Teeth by Five Seconds of Summer.
All of the music performed by these groups is selected and composed entirely by students! Chemezova gave some insight into Take Note’s arrangement process. “We opt for making arrangements using vowels and phrases that the voice naturally sounds good on to evoke the vibe of a song, rather than trying to exactly recreate each instrument used in the original song.”
These groups have given us some insight into what there is to look forward to within each group. “All the groups are awesome in their own way!” Clyve goes on to explain that some groups, including his own, are higher commitment based on whether or not they compete at competitions. There are also different vocal dynamics within each group. Extreme Measures, University Sounds and Trebled Youth are co-ed groups. The Newport Pearls and Take Note are treble/ women led groups. Chemezova shared that Take Note is the first group on campus to rebrand from an “all female group” to a “treble voices group”. She explained that it’s important to be “intentional in our language to make sure we are being inclusive, and in this case we wanted to make sure our group was a community where people of varying gender identities could feel comfortable.”
So keep an eye out for events and performances from these awesome groups and support CNU Acapella!
DWTS lineup announced Who will win the Mirrorball trophy?
HOLLY HAYDON
HOLLY.HAYDON.23@CNU.EDU
Dancing with the Stars has become a must watch in every household. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, our favorite celebrities are ready to hit the dance floor. Returning for another season as co-hosts are Alfonso Ribero and Julianna Hough, with judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. Good Morning America announced the full list of celebrities and their pro partners appearing in season 33 last Wednesday.
Joey Graziadei: Graziadei first appeared on Charity Lawson’s season of The Bachelorette as runner-up, then later became the star of his own season on The Bachelor. His partner is Jenna Johnson.
Jenn Tran: Speaking of Bachelor nation, Tren first appeared on season 28 of The Bachelor. This was Graziadei’s season, so one can’t help but wonder if this will cause tension between the two. Tran received her own invitation to become the Bachelorette for the 21st season. Her partner is Sasha Farber.
Danny Amendola: Amendola was a professional NFL player who won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. His partner is Witney Carson.
Dwight Howard: Howard was a professional basketball player for 18 seasons in the NBA and won a championship back in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers. His partner is Daniella Karagach.
Stephen Nedoroskik: Nedoroskik helped the USA Men’s Gymnastics team win a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with his pommel horse routine. His partner is Rylee Arnold.
Ilona Maher: Maher made an outstanding appearance in the 2024 Paris Olympics by helping Team USA win bronze in professional rugby. Her partner is Alan Bersten.
Phaedra Parks: Parks starred on The Rea Housewives of Atlanta for seven consecutive seasons. Her partner is Val Chmerkoviskiy.
Chandler Kinney:
Kinney starred in Disney Channel Original Movie franchise “Zombies”, as well as Pretty Little Liars reboot franchise. Her partner is Brandon Armstrong.
Eric Roberts:
Roberts is a retired actor who has received 3 Golden Globe nominations and an Oscar nomination throughout his career. He is also Julia Roberts’ brother. His partner is Britt Stewart.
Anna Delvey: Delvey is known as the notorious so-called “fake heiress”, whose financial crimes and lavish lifestyle inspired the Emmy-nominated Netflix show “Inventing Anna”. The media has a lot to say about her competing with an ankle monitor strapped to her leg. Her partner is Ezra Sosa. Tori Spelling: Spelling is an actress best known for playing Donna Martin in Beverly Hills, 90210 for 10 consecutive seasons. Her partner is Pasha Pashkov. Reginald VelJohnson: VelJohnson played Carl Winslow on Family Matters for 9 seasons. VelJohnson is also known for his role as Al Powell in both DIe Hard and Die Hard 2. His partner is Emma Slater. Brooks Nader: Nader is a model who appeared on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue a number of times and was featured in a Baywatch inspired shoot with Megan Fox. Her partner is Gleb Savchencko.
DWTS promo poster, photo from @abc on Instagram
Top ten moments from the 2024 VMAs
ALYSSA TILLMAN
ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU
Did you catch the VMAS last week?
The 40th anniversary celebration of the former music video channel’s signature awards ceremony handed out around two Moonpersons per hour during its 190-minute run time, as well as 16 star-studded performances. If you’re not caught up, here are some of the best moments from the night.
1. Megan Thee Stallion as host of the night
Megan Thee Stallion had several outfit changes throughout the night, paying homage to icons such as Simone Biles and Britney Spears. In addition to keeping the crowd entertained as the host of the show, Megan Thee Stallion also racked up seven nominations. Her GloRilla collaboration “Wanna Be” scored nods for Best Collaboration and Song of the Summer, while “Mamushi” won Best Trending Video. She also delivered an energetic performance with the help of “Mamushi” collaborator Yuki Chiba at the 2024 VMAs.
2. Taylor Swift dominates the night
Taylor Swift was the big winner of the night, taking home seven moon person trophies out of her 12 nominations, including the video of the year and artist of the year awards. Swift now has 30 VMAs total, making her the mostawarded solo artist in VMAs history. In her acceptance speech for Video of the Year, she thanked her boyfriend Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic.”
3.Flavor Flav honors Jordan Chiles Last month, Chiles had to return her bronze medal in gymnastics due to a technicality. Flavor Flav awarded Chiles with prize money, as well as a custom bronze clock.
4. Chappell Roan’s VMAS debut Best new artist winner Chappell Roan performed her hit song “Good Luck, Babe!” dressed as Joan of Arc in a suit of armor. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the best new artist award to “all the drag artists who inspire me,” and the “queer and trans people that fuel pop.”
5. Katy Perry wins the Video Vanguard Award Perry was the guest of honor at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday. Just over 15 years after she released her major-label debut, “One of the Boys,” Perry became the latest Video Vanguard Award recipient, the VMA version of a lifetime-achievement award. She performed a career-
spanning medley including hits like “California Gurls”, “I Kissed a Girl”, and “Teenage Dream”. She thanked her husband Orlando Bloom as well as MTV “for believing in my weirdness from day one, and for helping artists extend their worlds beyond a song.”
She also thanked the LGBTQ community, “who I recognize I would not be here without, and who show me that you can be both kind and c–t.”
6. LISA’s history making win LISA became the first ever solo artist to win the Best K-Pop award twice. She is also the only solo artist to ever win the award.
7. Tyla wins Best Afrobeats award
Tyla accepted the Best Afrobeats award for her hit “Water”, calling the win “bittersweet”. She reminded the audience that “African music can be pop music too”, and to not categorize all African music as Afrobeats.
8. Latin artists spotlighted Several Latin artists including Rauw Alejandro, Camilla Cabello, Anitta, Karol G and Tiago PZK dominated the VMAS stage with their performances. Anitta won the Best Latin award for the 3rd year in a row.
9. Sabrina Carpenter’s first VMA Before winning Song of the year with her hit “Espresso”, Carpenter performed a space-themed medley of “Please, Please, Please”, “Taste” and “Espresso”. Audience members cheered with excitement when she went as far as making out with an alien onstage.
10. Celebrities reminding fans to vote
Jordan Chiles reminded people to register to vote in order to make their voices heard. Taylor Swift also gave fans the same reminder at the end of her Video of the Year acceptance speech.
Please, Please, Please give this album a listen
A “Short n’ Sweet review
MICHALAH BECK MICHALAH.BECK.22@CNU.EDU
Known for her witty lyrics, catchy pop music and bubblegum aesthetic, Sabrina Carpenter has recently obtained the title of a “pop princess”. Collaborating with popular producers such as Jack Antonoff and opening for Taylor Swift’s The Era’s Tour, Carpenter has made a firm name for herself in the music industry.
Many know Carpenter from the 2014 Disney sitcom, Girl Meets World, where she played Riley’s spunky best friend, Maya Hart. In 2014 Carpenter signed a deal with Hollywood Records and issued the single “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” in March of that year, which was followed by her debut EP of the same name a month later.
In a recent interview with Variety, Carpenter looked back on her discography and said she doesn’t feel connected to some of her earlier work, which includes her debut album, Eyes Wide Open, in 2015, 2016’s Evolution, 2018’s Singular: Act I and 2019’s Singular: Act II. While some fans think Carpenter is embarrassed of her Disney past, others have applauded her ability to grow and evolve as an artist and are loving this new era.
Her much anticipated sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet was released on Aug. 23, 2024. Her singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” played on repeat on pop radio stations and people’s playlists, with many fans on social media declaring them both “the songs of the summer”. “Please Please Please” debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, then rose to number one a week later, making it Carpenter’s first song to hit number one. The song was accompanied by a music video which features a Bonnie and Clyde narrative, starring her boyfriend, Barry Keoghan.
“Taste”, a song seemingly about betrayal and revenge after being cheated on, is the first song on the new album, and the third from the album to earn a music video, with a cameo from a fellow former Disney star, Jenna Ortega. The music video is full of references to classic womenled horror films such as Death Becomes Her and Kill Bill: Volume 1. In a fun behind the scenes video posted by Sabrina’s team, Carpenter comments “In the Sabrina Cinematic Universe, women never die. Men, unfortunately, suffer most of the
“In the Sabrina Cinematic Universe, women never die. Men, unfortunately, suffer most of the loss.”
loss.”
Fans have, once again, applauded Carpenter’s risque lyrics to get across her feelings. Her songs hint at former relationships, love triangles, and even her current relationship (Where we’ve quickly learned that it is not a good idea to embarrass her…!). Her radio hits are not the only songs that deserve recognition, however. It is rare for an artist to achieve such relatable, catchy, and humorous lyrics in each song on one album, but Carpenter’s songwriting capabilities and jokingly crude humor have done it once again.
I rate Sabrina Carpenter’s new album a sweet ten out of ten… Which makes me even more excited to see her in October with my mom and sister.
Taylor Swift and Megan Thee Stallion onstage, photo from @ theestallion on Instagram
Short n’ Sweet album cover, photo from @sabrinacarpenter on Instagram
LIFESTYLE Falling into the autumn season
Movies to watch during fall
LINDSAY DEYTON LINDSAY.DEYTON.22@CNU.EDU
Pumpkin spice lattes, apple-scented candles, sweater weather; the fall season has approached. With fall right around the corner, I am ALL about the fall vibes. I will curl up on the sofa in my cozy PJs with a little fall drink in my hands, ready to watch some fallfavorite movies. There are many movies I enjoy watching, but around this time, I prefer to stick to traditional fall themed movies. Here are my top favorite movies for this time of year:
Coraline
This movie takes me back in time every time I watch it. I used to watch this movie very often in my childhood and still find it a classic to this day. The emotion and spooky theme to this movie helps tie in those fall and halloween vibes as we meet very terrifying characters such as the ‘other mother’ and the ghost children. I will recommend this movie to anyone who loves a good classic with a little bit of spook.
Monster House
I hate to admit that I saw this movie later on in my life because of how good it is. I would have much rather watched this in my childhood. This movie was so cute and such a classic for the fall season. I honestly think everyone should have watched this at least once in their lifetime. This story follows two kids who find an interesting house across the street that ends up being full of horrors and surprises. The best part; it’s family friendly and not too terribly spooky!
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
For as long as I have celebrated Thanksgiving, this movie has been a must-see every year for me. It has a super cute and funny theme that has stayed with me even in my 20’s. Anyone can appreciate this classic Charlie Brown movie. It’s an absolute must-see!
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Though this movie can be argued to be both a Halloween movie and a Christmas movie, I believe it can be watched at both times of the year. I’ve yet to meet one person who doesn’t like to watch it every year or who at least doesn’t have some sort of opinion on what time of year it’s best to be watched at. Either way, it’s a must!
Beetlejuice
This movie has amazing reviews across the board and it’s an absolute classic. The amount of people I know that dress up as Beetlejuice astounds me every year. And who can blame them? Beetlejuice is such a Halloween icon.
Hotel Transylvania
So I know this movie isn’t exactly a fall movie, but it gives me major Halloween vibes. I would watch this movie at any time of year, but ESPECIALLY during October. I mean, you can’t get much more Halloween-y than Dracula and his daughter!
I hope you fall for some of these fall movie watches just like I have!
Autumn trees, courtesy of Claire Hall/ TheCaptainsLog
Skincare products of 2024
Why should we be using them?
HOLLY HAYDON HOLLY. HAYDON.23@CNU.EDU
This year was full of skincare surprises as many new products came out to individuals who have varying skincare needs. While there were so many great products being released, these are the top five curated skincare products of 2024
Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer
Summer Friday’s rich cream is one of the best nighttime moisturizers for dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin. When applied at night, this moisturizer hydrates skin , supporting its natural moisture. Not only is it effective at night, but can also be used during the day as a makeup primer. This product is about $52 depending where you buy it from.
BYOMA Milky Oil Cleanser
The BYOMA Milky Oil Cleanser is 2024’s best oil cleanser, proven to rid the skin of leftover makeup, oils, and other impurities clogging pores. BYOMA’s cleansing technology leaves skin feeling hydrated and smooth. On the plus side, this cleanser is also affordable, the price being $13.99 a bottle.
This is a great product to use for many purposes, including to brighten the skin and clear out any clogged pores. This product is also great at removing dehydrated, flaky skin cells, leaving your face with a smoother and cleaner appearance. Not only does this brighten skin but also evens out your skin tone. Ulta sells a 2.64 oz bottle that is about $48 in stores.
Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin CreamInfused Mask
This product is an adhesive face mask covered in Ceramide Np used to hydrate and exfoliate the skin. The mask is packed with moisturizing plant butters and oils that deliver 24 hours of moisture to replenish dry and irritated skin while also boosting the skin’s barrier strength. These face masks are about $16 dollars a mask
ILIA Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream
ILIA eye cream helps to smooth, depuff, and hydrate under eyes, eliminating dark circles and wrinkles over time. Another benefit is that it gives the same result as retinol without the consequences of using a strong chemical. The average cost of Bright Star’s Retinol eye cream is around $46 per tube.
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher
Skincare products, courtesy of Claire Hall/ TheCaptainsLog
French Toast Recipe
Claire’s Corner
CLAIRE HALL CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU
“How can I cope with being away from home while at college?”
Moving away from home isn’t easy; especially when you’re going from living with your family to being completely independent in an instant. Surprisingly, this is one of the numerous things that many people don’t talk about when in college, but it’s something that should be addressed. Now personally, I am one of those people that can’t stand change, so adjusting to the college lifestyle was very difficult for me. However, with a little trial and error, I was able to create a routine that has since helped me adjust into college. Here are a couple tips that can help:
Frequently call your loved ones
decorations. One of the biggest ways to make you feel comfortable in the space you are in is to love the space and make it your own.
Find healthy coping mechanisms
When I first came to Christopher Newport University, I was a dysfunctional mess. I didn’t know what type of clothing could go in the dryer, what medication I was allowed to take together, or even how to properly put bed sheets on my bed. On days where I found myself struggling with these things, I would just call my mom. It had gotten to the point where I would call her at least 10+ times a day. However, I started noticing that everytime I called her, I felt more comfortable in the space I was in. That’s why it’s always important to frequently call your parents, significant other or a close friend, because it makes you feel less susceptible to change and less alone.
Decorate for Comfort
Coming to CNU and having my first dorm, I didn’t know how to react. I felt that I was trapped between trying to make this place a home and wanting to desperately go back home. In order to make the dorm feel more homey, I decided to bring some important things with me that instantly remind me of home. These could be things such as stuffed animals, pictures of family and friends, items relating to hobbies and
When you’re trying to cope with the idea of being away from home, it’s important to find healthy coping mechanisms that you can carry with you throughout your college years. When I was struggling with being away from home, I would take long walks around campus to help clear my head and try to spend more time with my closest friends, as they would always bring a smile to my face. If these ideas don’t seem appealing to you, focusing on things such as your hobbies, clubs / organizations or watching Netflix are also great ways to cope.
College is an adjustment that can be difficult. If you are still struggling with being away from your family, the counseling office is a great place to go. Make an appointment and talk to them about how you feel. This period of change might be big, but you will not feel this way forever. Make sure you are enjoying the time you have and I hope everything works out!
Photo courtesy of Claire Hall / TheCaptainsLog
OPINIONS
12
“The Captain’s Log is free to write anything it pleases and CNU fully respects the Freedom of the press.”— CNU Chancellor Paul Trible
Confidence is key: Five tips to help ace your interview
You landed an interview! After hours mulling over your resume with tedious effort, the job you’ve applied for has reached out to offer you an interview. That’s great, but the work isn’t over yet. Whether it’s your dream job or a passive job to make some extra cash, here are five tips to ace your interview.
1. Research the company/position you’ve applied for
Think of your interview like an exam. Not only are they getting to know you, they’re getting to know how you would respond to potential scenarios on site. Read through the job description and also do some research on the company itself. You don’t need to know every detail, but referencing key parts of the company’s business model, their mission statements and values can stand out to your potential employer.
2. Dress to impress
The first thing an employer sees in the interview is the way you’re dressed. Dressing in a professional manner demonstrates
that not only are you taking this position seriously, but you’re also showing the preparation you’ve put into this interview.
3. Show up early, not just on time
Let’s say your interview is at three in the afternoon, you’ll want to arrive somewhere between 2:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. That sounds extreme, but this eliminates any possibility of being late, whether that’s due to finding a parking spot or just the time it takes for you to get inside and ready to go. This also eliminates the feeling of being rushed, giving you those extra few minutes to calm your nerves and run through all of that hard research you did.
4. Run through potential interview questions beforehand
No one enjoys being caught off guard or being put on the spot. Practicing potential interview questions can help implement those responses into memory so they come more naturally later on. Most interviewers will ask questions from the initial application, so be sure to review those. Otherwise, there are a plethora of websites readily available to find starter
questions to help get your gears turning.
Confidence is key, fake it til you make it
A firm handshake and eye contact can go a long way in an interview. Take a few extra seconds to take a breath and gather your thoughts before you speak. Then if you stutter or lose your train of thought, you can regroup a bit easier. It’s always better to take your time to articulate your thoughts than trying to rush through it.
The worst they can say is no, but eliminate those chances by showing up prepared. Getting flustered is a natural response, however you can do yourself a favor by winning a few extra bonus points.
Man writing, photo from Unsplash
Coffee, photo from Unsplash
Coke vs. Pepsi
Was the Swap Really Necessary?
HOLLY HAYDON
HOLLY.HAYDON.23@CNU.EDU
Over the summer, President Kelly posted on Christopher Newport University’s Instagram officially announcing the swap from Pepsi products to Coke products campus wide. After seeing this new information, I immediately shared the post to all of my friends. Coke vs. Pepsi has become a major controversial topic here on campus over the last couple of weeks since the switch, with 71% of people preferring Coke over Pepsi, per a poll question from the Captain’s Log. Personally, I believe it was the best decision ever made on campus, because Pepsi is simply too syrupy tasting. When I was initially making my pros and cons list for CNU, one of my only cons was that it was a Pepsi school. So I was thrilled to learn that was about to change. I mean who doesn’t love a crisp, ice cold, Diet Coke after a long day of classes? I am however biased, because I think that the best Coke product is Diet Coke or even the imphamous Cherry Coke, which can now easily be found in the dining halls. However, I do sympathize with those mourning the loss of Pepsi’s most famous product, Dr. Pepper. This past week, The Captain’s Log ran a poll on
Influencers are not your friends
“You don’t know these people...”
BREANNA DORRIAN BREANNA.DORRIAN.23@CNU.EDU
Whether you’ve been an avid fan for years, met them at a meet and greet or have a shrine dedicated to them in your childhood room, influencers are not your friends.
When content creators post the insand-outs of their lives on social media we often feel like we know them on a personal level. We tend to think, “they post so many personal details, that must mean they’re being honest if they’re so upfront about it.” We forget, however, that every bit of information we consume as viewers is still filtered by what they’re actively choosing to show us. The more social media evolves, the more we utilize it as a source for socialization. However, there is no personal one on one interaction between content creators and their viewers. Only the likes, comments and shares.
count. There’s also Haley Bailey, another TikTok influencer and model who disappointed fans with her insensitive Marie Antoinette inspired post during last year’s Met Gala and her even worse apology video that followed. Alix Earle, Sophia La Corte, David Dobrik and so many other content creators have time and time again proven to either not be the kind of person they present themselves to be or make overall poor choices.
Instagram in order to get students opinions on the matter. Many of these results included students upset about the new lack of Dr. Pepper. Freshman Grayce Cookenour believes it to be “a disgrace to the American race” to no longer have Dr. Pepper on campus. Junior Markham Puhlick admits that he will miss Dr. P, but would absolutely take a cold Cherry Coke instead. Dr. Pepper will definitely be among the most missed drinks here on campus.
“Though I think many people will agree with me, even adamant Dr. Pepper drinkers, it was worth the sacrafice of one drink for many more.”
“The more social media evolves, the more we utilize it as a source for socialization.”
You don’t know these people, you only know what they choose to highlight about their lives. Every day more and more of our favorite influencers disappoint us with either their past behaviors or active choices online. Life can be tough under a spotlight, however showcasing your life is an active choice for most influencers. Everyone is human and humans make mistakes, but there are some actions that are not quite so easy to overlook. Especially if these people are seen as role models and influence the way we choose to live.
More often than not, the influencers we think we know and love end up disappointing us. More recently, take co-host of the Canceled podcast, Brooke Schofield, and the racist and homophobic tweets of hers that have resurfaced. Or Mikayla Nogueira, TikTok makeup influencer, who has been caught in numerous scandals of lying or falsifying information on her ac-
“Life can be tough under a spotlight, however showcasing your life is an active choice for most influencers.”
The reality of the situation is, no matter how much of someone’s content you consume, you’re still only viewing a very obscure and narrowed version of their life. This isn’t to say you should never follow and believe influencers. This also isn’t to villainize all of them. However, it does mean you should be careful of the content you consume and to not be shocked when they inevitably do let you down.
“You should be careful of the content you consume and to not be shocked when they inevitably let you down.”
Drink dispenser, photo courtesy of Claire Hall/ TheCaptain’sLog
“Moon”
By Bao Hoang
Sudoku
Fill the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9
THE CAPTAIN’S LOG is the official student newspaper of Christopher Newport University. It is a public forum, which is published on Thursdays throughout the academic year.
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