Volume 54, Issue 23

GRACE GRILES GRACE.GRILES.20@CNU.EDU

On Friday April 7th the annual SpringFest was unfortunately rained out and taken into The Fieldhouse. Despite this wrench in the plans the festival seemed to go as planned. There were several events taking place. The main event was a small live band from Nashville Tennessee. The crowd seemed rather in-

The Captain’s Log

terested in the band’s antics, one of which was the leader of the band announcing that he was officiated and could marry people. To The Captain’s Log no one was married at the SpringFest.

The second most attractive event was the food. Served by CNU was corn dogs, turkey, legs and french fries. The turkey legs fell into the theme of

this year’s SpringFest which was named “Ye Olde SpringFest.” To add to this theme there were calligraphy-like signs around The Fieldhouse. As well as a fake knight.

The games gave the medieval feel. There was a game that was called “jousting,” but obviously was much safer. Two students would enter a blowup pit and stand on the platforms. Then the

students would try to knock each other off with giant, blow-up barbells. Another game was human bowling. It is as intense as it sounds. One student at the time would strap into a human-sized ball made of metal rods then another would roll the student into the larger than life bowling pins.

Another aspect that made

the SpringFest come to life was the balloon animals. Many students opted for the silly, balloon hat option and walked around showing them off proudly. Overall, despite the rain, the SpringFest tradition stays alive for another year.

What’s Inside News Snapshot Sports Lifestyle A&E

CNU professor shares thoughts on the Iran case

Richneck shooting development

UFC 287 NBA Playoffs Preview

Even though Ye Olde SpringFest was rained out it was still a success!

Photos taken by Evelyn Davidson, News Editor

Editor and Clog Staff Contact Information

Editor in Chief

Grace Griles grace.griles.20@cnu.edu

News Editor

Evelyn Davidson evelyn.davidson.20@cnu.edu

A&E Editor

Fiona Sullivan fiona.sullivan.20@cnu.edu

Photography Editor

Savannah Dunn savannah.dunn.21@cnu.edu

Business Manager

Justin Heller justin.heller.21@cnu.edu

Sports Editor

Trey Greenwell trajan.greenwell.21@cnu.edu

Lifestyle Editor

Savannah Dunn savannah.dunn.21@cnu.edu

Head of CNUTV

Allison Silverman allison.silverman.21@cnu.edu

Editor of the Week

Maggie Gammons

Maggie Gammons has been a constant member of The Captain's Log since fall 2021. Ever since she has been making her mark by being a postive force in the newsroom. She has also improved our social media tremendously. CLog appreciates you, Gammons!

Staff Writer of the Week

Alex North

Alex North has been a part of The Captain's Log since fall 2022. This week North is dubbed Staff Writer of the Week for participating in the SpringFest tabling even though it was not required to. Your hardwork and dedication doe snot go unnoticed, North!

Chaotic Crossword Part II

Answers will be posted on our Instagram @cnucaptainslog! (all past crossword answers are in our Instagram highlights)

The NBA's Youth Movement is hurting the League's Products

Staff writer shares their opinion on some changes in the NBA

RJ JONES RAYMOND.JONES.22@CNU.EDU

Ever since Adam Silver took the reigns of the NBA from the late David Stern, the NBA has been an incredibly playerfriendly league. The league’s management relaxed many rules for the players such as the dress code and the league’s marijuana policies.

With that being said, one rule that remains for NBA hopefuls is that you must be one year removed from highschool to enter the NBA draft and you must also turn 19 years of age within the calendar year of the draft.

However, the rules were not always this way. NBA legends like Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James went straight from high school to the NBA.

This trend came to an end In 2006 when players were disallowed to go to the NBA from high school as part of the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at the time.

Unknowingly the NBA had just created a problem for NBA hopefuls with the talent to go straight to the league.

For the majority of players who skipped college for the NBA, it was more of a financial decision than anything

According to LeBron James When asked why he didn’t attend college he stated that “Me and my mom wouldn't be able to benefit at all from it”

For James and many other athletes who at least thought they were on the same level as him, the NBA had prolonged the process of them changing their family's fate for generations to come.

With playing sports being so rigorous, nothing was necessarily guaranteed. With every college game played, players were risking millions of dollars. To them, this was wrong but there appeared to be no alternative.

This was until 2008 when Brandon Jennings came along. He was a shifty 6’1” combo guard out of Oak Hill Academy. He was the first player to go di-

rectly from high school to a European league in the wake of the NBA’s new rules pertaining to draft eligibility. Jennings was ineligible for college due to his SAT scores and couldn’t go to the NBA due to the aforementioned rules.

Jennings signed a 1.65 million dollar deal with former Italian Euroleague team Lottomatica Virtus Roma. While I’m sure Jennings was not trying to start a trend, he did just that.

Players like RJ Hampton, Jeremy Tyler, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Terrance Ferguson all followed in Jennings’s footsteps, and while this never became a super popular route to the NBA it set the Stage for other ways to become an NBA Player.

In 2020 the NBA and its developmental league (G-League) created a team for high schoolers that wanted to get to the money as fast as possible but still had to adhere to the rules. This new team called the GLeague Ignite was supposed to be a place for the best players to play together in harmony on their way to the NBA

While this sounds like a good idea in theory, in practice, it doesn’t work quite as well.

A perfect example of the downside of the G-league Ignite is the story of Isaiah Todd. The 5 Star Forward was a coach’s dream and the 20th-ranked high school player in the nation in 2020. He could shoot, pass, dribble, and defend. He paired his rich skill set with a humble attitude and lowkey personality. Todd had plenty of division 1 offers but decided to turn professional would be the best thing for him.

Todd played on the first iteration of the G-League Ignite and quickly found himself lost in the sauce. Surrounded by higher-rated players such as Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, Todd found himself playing a more supportive role.

When The Ignite’s Coach Brian Shaw was asked about Todd he went on to say “At 6-10 he has good size and I had him in drills with the guards. He can shoot as well as any of them from 3. He

has an off-the-dribble game, a skill set that allows him to play on the perimeter and in the post. He was the energy of the team. You don’t have to pump him up to get him going and he was probably the favorite teammate of everyone.”

Simply put, Todd had the skills, mindset, and personality to be a great player, but with more balldominant players like Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga on the court with him his nature was to play a secondary and even tertiary role.

Todd was picked 34th by the Washington Wizards but had struggled in the league. He never developed the ability to work himself into the game alongside other great players, which is an ability he could’ve learned in College.

The main point of his story is that college helps round out and refine players’ games and that many players whether they know it or not, need to have their games refined and adjusted.

NBA Legends of the past that skipped college were still brought up in an era where defense, effort, and shot selection were paramount at every level.

More now than ever college is a near-necessary step in a young player’s development. As the value of defense and good shot selection has diminished, players need to learn how to play and stand out in a system not meticulously crafted for them to succeed as most of their high school programs were.

With more and more players coming into the NBA from the G league ignite, overseas, and 1 (or less than 1 in some cases) years of college basketball, the NBA’s product has fallen off in certain aspects.

The level of offensive talent in the NBA has never been higher than it is right now. However, the offensive efficiency has seen dips as lower percentage shots are being taken and less prepared players are playing more and more.

According to StateMuse, The top 10 Players in Player Efficiency Rating (PER), a stat that takes many different aspects of a player’s game and combines it into a rating determining had efficient they are, are mostly from outside the US or played multiple years in college

Players that Grow up outside the US are usually very well-rounded and taught the importance of defense and other parts of the game.

Of the top 10 in PER, five played all of their pre-NBA basketball outside the United States, and 3 Played 2 or more years In college where they were able to hone their craft. The other 2 are generational talents, Jayson Tatum and Lebron James.

These more well-rounded and refined players have found a way to dominate the NBA.

With all of that being said, The NBA’s problem with shot selection and efficiency isn’t even their most alarming problem.

Defense in the NBA has become secondary to scoring and it is becoming very apparent. While the league’s offense continues to evolve and develop defenses continue to stay stagnant.

This poses the question, Is the NBA’s defense getting worse or is its offense becoming more unstoppable?

While the answer is probably a bit of both, the NBA has to act on the appearance of bad defense before it becomes synonymous with the league.

Back to the point of more experienced players being more capable of playing within a system, according to StatMuse, out of the top 10 players in defensive rating, a stat that takes all your defensive stats and combines them into a rating, seven are either European or played 2 or more years in college. The other 3 players are all 6’9” or taller with insane athleticism (Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Bam Adebayo).

The inverse of these players are the league’s worst players in defensive rating, out of the top 10 worst players in this stat, 6 of them either played no college basketball or played 1 season in college.

Simply put, While the skill and talent level of the NBA is at an all-time high, the influx of players coming into the NBA that are underdeveloped is greatly

damaging the level of play. The brain trust of the league needs to figure out a way to incentivize development more before entering the League. Whether it’s giving players with more years removed from high school larger signing bonuses upon entering the League or giving players in college more expansive insurance packages on their bodies if they sustain an injury, they have to find a way to make players see the upside of development prior to the NBA.

“The Captain’s Log is free to write anything it pleases and CNU fully respects the Freedom of the Press.”

CNU Chancellor PAUL TRIBLE

CNU Professor Shares Perspective on Iran Case An Interview with Dr. Nathan Busch

Question: “Who is in charge of Iran, who is their leadership, and then also their motivations for pursuing a nuclear program?”

Busch: “The Ayatollah basically controls everything in Iran. Iran’s long been suspected of having nuclear weapon aspirations, spanning back, at least up to or even prior, to the IranIraq War.”

Busch said, “Iran and Iraq utilized chemical weapons, they had numerous WMD programs, including several unfinished reactors that had been being built under the Shah at a place called Bushehr.”

“So they had nuclear programs prior, but it is believed that the aspirations for a nuclear weapons program really began in that era, and certainly in the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq war,” he added.

Question: “Is Iran going nuclear a real and imminent danger to the United States?”

Question: “To the best of your knowledge, what are Iran’s ambitions in the region?”

Busch: “They want to become the dominant power in the middle east, and nuclear weapons play into these aspirations in numerous ways. For one, there’s the prestige factor; there’s believed to be only one other country in the middle east that possesses nuclear weapons. By developing nuclear weapons themselves, they are already among a fairly elite group of countries, since only nine countries possess, or are believed to possess, nuclear weapons.”

Busch continued, “It would also

It certainly is the case that if a country really wants to acquire nuclear weapons, there is not a lot the international community can do, short of threat of force, to turn them back. The international levers or mechanisms are limited in their nature: you can use sanctions, you can use diplomacy of course, you can provide various enticements or benefits from joining the international community or being a productive member of the international community, but some countries might always see that their interests don’t align with that, and be tempted to develop nuclear weapons.

In the first week of February 2023, the world learned the news of a potential breakout case of nuclear capability by the Iranian nuclear program, published by the IAEA and picked up by professional media.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the chief nuclear watchdog and the unofficial warden for the Iran nuclear program, had inspectors arrive at one of the declared sites of the Iranian Nuclear Program. After these inspectors took environmental sampling of the site, they detected in the environment Uranium enriched to 84%, just 6 points short of weaponsgrade material which could be used in a nuclear weapon.

In the weeks since, the arms control community and the United States Government have made it clear - if Iran does not already have a nuclear weapon, they will soon. In reporting by the Associated Press, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, declared before the House Armed Services Committee on March 28 that Iran could “produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon in less than two weeks.”

Christopher Newport University boasts a professor with an expertise in this exact area, Dr. Nathan Busch. Busch is a distinguished professor in the CNU Political Science Department, with a specialization in Weapons Proliferation, having written books on the subject and many articles specifically about the Iran Case. It is in the wake of these most recent developments that The Captain’s Log sought out Busch’s experience to make sense of it all, which led to the following interview:

Busch: “An imminent danger? Well they’re not able to strike the United States with an intercontinental range ballistic missile, yet. They’re actively moving forward with long range ballistic missile capabilities.

It is believed that they’re acquiring the near-term capability to target Europe with ballistic missiles, but especially owing to collaboration with North Korea and other countries, they’re moving forward with longer range missile capabilities that could, within the next decade or so, certainly be able to target the United States.”

enable them to project power in the middle east and elsewhere more effectively, because they could be fairly confident that there would not be any major retaliation as they expanded their attacks on oil infrastructure and facilities in neighboring countries, which they are already doing now in Saudi Arabia and carrying out attacks with drones in Israel. Possessing nuclear weapons could enable them to expand those activities and be fairly confident there wouldn’t be a major retaliation.”

“There could be direct attacks by Iran, but they could also very much be involved in expanding their support of proxy terrorist organizations that could do their bidding or simply target adversaries of theirs. They already do that and are one of the leading sponsors of terrorism in the world, this would only embolden them,” said Busch.

Question: “Is the Iran Case more of a failure of American foreign policy, or non-proliferation as a whole?”

Without significant consequences for violations of these non-proliferation norms, if there is no penalty or punishment for doing so, there’s really no downside for countries choosing to develop them. The issue of enforcement is as big of an issue as detection, and the international community has fallen short when it comes to enforcement.”

Flag of Iran, photo from Unsplash

Question: “When can we expect their nuclear capability, and is this going to be different from their official announcement of nuclear capability?”

Busch: “The fact is, they are very much on the nuclear weapons threshold, but given all of their covert activity, and given some of the recent reports of enriching uranium to 84%, and undeclared activities, it may already be that they’ve crossed the nuclear weapons threshold. In other words, enriched enough Uranium for at least one nuclear weapon.”

Busch: “Well, it certainly is the case that various non-proliferation mechanisms historically have been fairly limited in what they could do in stopping a country that really wants to develop nuclear weapons and [actively] developing them.

The non-proliferation regimes enable the international community through diplomacy and establishing norms to not only pressure countries to renounce their programs, but also to provide security assurances to various countries that would otherwise consider developing nuclear weapons that it is not in their interest to do so.

“... only nine countries possess, or are believed to possess, nuclear weapons.”

“... they’re moving forward with longer range missile capabilities that could, within the next decade or so, certainly be able to target the United States.”

CAMERON

TOMAINO CAMERON.TOMAINO.22@CNU.EDU

Dr. Nathan Busch, photo from cnu.edu

“... if a county really wants to acquire nuclear weapons, there is not a lot the international community can do...”

“The issue of enforcement is as big of an issue as detection...”

Richneck Shooting Developments

Mother of 6-yearold shooter charged and potential countersuit from former principal

LINDSAY.DEYTON

LINDSAY.DEYTON.22@CNU.EDU

Pamela Branch, the lawyer of former Richneck Elementary Principal, Briana Foster-Newton, has stated that the likeliness of a countersuit against 25-year-old Abby Zwerner’s lawsuit is high.

In the statement obtained by WTKR, Branch stated, “it has been brought to our attention that prior to the shooting, another student in Ms. Zwerner’s class warned her in class that the 6-year-old shooter had a gun, and Ms. Zwerner allegedly told the student to sit down and be quiet.”

Two days before the shooting, the 6-year-old boy had allegedly been suspended for two days for smashing the teacher’s cellphone. Upon being allowed to return, he was required to be under modified supervision, meaning a parent had to be with him during the day, The Daily Press reported.

“If this is true, Ms. Zwerner may have been able to avoid the injury she suffered and this will certainly impact her claimed damages,” the lawyer continued. Former principal Foster-Newton went on to say that the student was never reported to her.

The final suit that Zwerner is filing is for gross negligence and she asks for $40 million dollars, as well as a trial by Jury in Newport News.

As of April 10, Deja Nicole Taylor, 25, the mother of the 6-year-old boy, is being held accountable for the incident and is being charged for the shooting of Zwerner. The mother of the child is being charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor count of recklessly leaving a firearm so as to endanger a child, which can result in 6 years behind bars, The Daily Press reported. Taylor can be charged for the crime, even if the child was not hurt.

Police Chief Steve Drew of Newport News stated that the 6-year-old used his mothers handgun, a Taurus 9mm in the shooting, WTKR reported.

Taylor’s lawyer, James Ellenson, has stated that the handgun used in the shooting was securely kept by a trigger lock in his client’s bedroom closet on the top shelf.

Taylor has no idea how the boy “gained access” to the gun on the day of the shooting, Ellenson later stated.

The Daily Press has also stated that Taylor has no previous criminal record.

International News Updates

Shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky

JARRETT CONNOLLY JARRETT.CONOLLY.20@CNU.EDU

In the early morning on April 10, a gunman walked into the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky and opened fire, killing four and injuring eight. According to Louisville Metro Police, Officers arrived at the bank within minutes and exchanged fire with the suspect, who wounded two officers before dying at the scene. It is currently unclear whether he died in the shootout or from a self-inflicted wound.

He has yet to be identified, but Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told CNN that he appeared to be a former employee of the bank. Deputy Chief Humphrey also told reporters that the wounded were rushed to the hospital where one of the injured officers is in critical condition.

Old National CEO Jim Ryan posted on Facebook , “As we await more details, we are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers.”

Mayor Craig Greenberg thanked first responders and sent his thoughts and prayers to those affected in a press conference. He also tweeted about a family assistance center for the victims and their families to receive updates.

In addition, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed condolences in a press conference, where he also revealed two of his friends were killed in the shooting, reported CNN.

This is a developing situation and LMPD officials have promised to give the press more updates as the investigation begins and the wounded are treated in the hospital.

Former Arkansas Governor Running for President

United States during an interview on ABC. Hutchinson joins businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary.

Hutchinson served as Governor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as a Congressman and the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Hutchinson is a conservative who signed a complete abortion ban and resumed executions within the state, but also has been one of the leading Republican critics of Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election and vetoed a bill that would have criminalized gender affirming care for minors.

Hutchinson asked Trump to step out of the race as a result of his arrest on April 4. Hutchinson hasn’t been featured in many polls for the GOP nomination but in a recent Fox News poll, he was at 1%, tied with several potential contenders and Ramaswamy. He has yet to receive any major endorsements, but that might change when he officially launches his campaign in Bentonville, Arkansas later this month.

Republicans now await possible new entries into the primary including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former VP Mike Pence, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu,Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.

Donald Trump Indictment

CAMERON TOMAINO

CAMERON.TOMAINO.22@CNU.EDU

FIONA SULLIVAN

FIONA.SULLIVAN.20@CNU.EDU

On Friday March 31, former President Donald Trump was indicted on charges involving payments made during his 2016 campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with a porn actor, Stormy Daniels. This decision by a Grand Jury overseeing the case seems to be something that the former President was made aware of in advance, only weeks ago declaring over his social media that he expected to be arrested soon.

This will be the first time a former U.S. President has faced criminal charges. Yet this is far from a conviction, as Trump could seek to have a judge dismiss the case, and even if this goes to trial there is no guarantee of conviction. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case after what occurred on April 4 when Trump was indicted again with 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in the first degree, according to NPR.

ments made to cover up other crimes. These are felony crimes in New York State no matter who you are. We cannot and will not normalize serious criminal conduct.”

The Trump team has energized his loyal base by painting the investigation as part of a larger, politically motivated plot to derail his candidacy, and his campaign raised $4 million in the 24 hours after the indictment became public. Though this kind of rhetoric raises concerns amongst some that this is the same kind of messaging that prompted the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Trump pleaded not guilty in the Manhattan criminal courtroom and his next court date will be on Dec. 4. While the prosecution wants to have the trial occur in January of 2024, the defense hopes to have it in spring of 2024.

China Opens Borders After COVID-19

JARRETT CONNOLLY JARRETT.CONOLLY.20@CNU.EDU

On April 2, Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced he was running for President of the

All of these charges still come as a result of the investigation into his relationship with Stormy Daniels. “Under New York state law, it is a felony to falsify business records with intent to defraud, intent to conceal another crime,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a news conference according to NPR. “That is exactly what this case is about: 34 false state-

Virus, photo from Unsplash

KATHERINE ZICKEL KATHERINE.ZICKEL.22@CNU.EDU

On March 15, China announced they would resume issuing visas to tourists for the first time since the pandemic, including honoring valid visas issued before China closed its borders on March 28, 2020, according to BBC news.

This will put an end to having tourists quarantine upon arrival, officially ending their zero-covid policy, Reuters stated.

In 2019, China logged 97.7 million trips made by foreigners into the country. In 2022, The Guardian reported that number is now at 4.5 million.

BBC also reported that there was an increase from 20 to 60 countries that Chinese citizens will now be allowed to travel in tour groups to. However, the list still excludes Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the U.S. Rising tensions due to the Chinese military still present in the South China Sea, as well as Russia and Ukraine issues, are possible explanations for this, according to The Guardian.

CNN reported that Hong Kong and Macao are also reopening their borders with mainland China, making it much easier for families, separated for nearly three years, to begin visiting each other again.

Asa Hutchinson, photo from Wikimedia Commmons

JARRETT CONNOLLY JARRETT.CONNOLLY.20@CNU.EDU

On April 8th, the Ultimate Fighting Championship put on UFC 287 in Miami, with the highly anticipated rematch between former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya and current champion Alex Periera headlining the show. This was the promotion’s first show in Miami since UFC 43 in April 2003 and it was quite the show.

The main show had five fights, it was originally supposed to be six before the heavyweight fight between Chris Barnett and Chase Sherman was canceled due to Barnett pulling out for undisclosed reasons and his replacement Karl Williams being medically unable to compete. Christian Ro -

UFC 287 Recap

An Eventful Night in Miami

driguez and Raul Rosas Jr clashed in a catchweight bout that saw Rodriguez take the win by unanimous decision. However, Rodriguez was fined 20% of his purse for weighing one pound over the limit for non title bantamweight fights. Welterweights Kevin Holland and Santiago Ponzinibbio also duked it out until a left hook from Holland sent “The Argentine Dagger” Ponzinibbo to the ground for a KO win in the third round.

The fight between Bantamweights Rob Font and Adrian Yanez only went on for two minutes and 57 seconds in the first round as Font rushed Yanez and delivered a flurry of punches that got him a TKO win, breaking Yanez’s nine fight win streak. The fight between “Gamebred” Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns in

a Welterweight bout that received lots of anticipation as Masvidal was fighting in his hometown of Miami. The two went the distance until Burns was declared winner by unanimous decision. After the fight, Masvidal announced his surprise retirement from MMA. This ended an eventful career that saw intense feuds, crazy fights, and the fastest KO in UFC history when he kneed Ben Askren in the skull in 2019. Burns demanded a shot at the Welterweight Championship in a post fight interview, presumably after the anticipated bout between current champion Leon Edwards and Colby Covington which is expected to take place over the summer.

The anticipated main event between Israel Adesanya and Alex Periera closed the night. The two had battled three times previously, twice in kick-

boxing and once in MMA with Periera winning each time. Their previous fight late last year saw Periera take the UFC Middleweight title from Adesanya. The two clashed with flurries of kicks, the fight took them to the second round when Adesanya knocked out Periera with a devastating right hand to the face. Adesanya had finally defeated the man who had three wins over him and regained the belt he has made himself a household name with.

UFC can be watched via ESPN+ and pay per view. The next UFC PPV, UFC 288 will be on May 6, 2023 with the Bantamweight Championship bout between champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo headlining.

NBA Playoff Preview

A Round of Intriguing Matchups

RJ JONES RAYMOND.JONES.22@CNU.EDU

The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner and it is shaping up to be one of the best in years. So many teams have star players that can single-handedly win a series if they catch fire. Unlike most postseasons we have seen in recent years, this one could be chaotic.

The Sacramento Kings clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2006 and look poised for a deep run if they are able to avoid firsttime playoff jitters. They are led by young stars De’aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis who will both likely be AllNBA selections this year. The inspired, fast paced style of play they have adopted could pose a problem for the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors have endured a small championship hangover. Golden State has an abysmal 11-30 record on the road this season. This, coupled with the Kings rabid fan base could bode well for Sacramento’s newly nicknamed “Beam Team.”

With that being said, the Warriors have more experience than the Kings which will make them a tough out. Not only do the Warriors have more experience, they possess a championship pedigree and attitude that will fuel their playoff run.

This series will be full of excitement as these two teams have been in many high- scoring games. This was on full display in the Kings 176-175 win over the Clippers earlier this year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks will make for another fun playoff matchup. Both teams missed the playoffs last season. However, key additions and player development from both sides have led to their returns to the postseason.

With the addition of Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have taken the next step to being a contender in the Eastern Conference. His playmaking ability allows the rest of New York’s roster to play

confidently off the ball and open up the floor for his costar Julius Randle.

Randle had a rebound season as last year he had a down year after being an all-star in 2021. He has averaged a 25 point doubledouble this season in large part due to the addition of Brunson. The Knicks are a deep, scrappy team and will be tough to beat when both Randle and Brunson are hot.

During the offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to trade for perennial All-Star Donovan Mitchell and it has paid huge dividends. The six-year pro out of Louisville has averaged 28.3 points per game along with four rebounds and four assists. His leadership

has been paramount in the Cavs franchise turnaround.

The development of young stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley has also made the team more successful. Mobley has blossomed into one of the league’s best interior defenders and Garland is a true point guard who is capable of scoring at will. Cleveland has taken monumental strides this season and will not go down easy in these playoffs.

The NBA Playoffs are always fun and exciting for all basketball fans alike and with all the great matchups this year, it should be no different.

NBA logo taken from ESPN.

“Unlike most postseasons we have seen in past years, this one could be chaotic.”

Photo of Israel Adesanya and Alex Periera’s fight taken from Miami Herald.

“Adesanya had finally defeated the man who had three wins over him and regained the belt..”

French Football Federation Prohibits Ramadan Pauses

A Surprising Announcement Leads to Outrage by Many

This past March, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced that they would be prohibiting the allowance of pausing matches for Ramadan in order for Muslim players to break their fast.

An email was sent out by the Federal Commission of Referees much to the public’s shock and disappointment since it continued to support the new rules that would go against players’ religion.

Members of the Islamic faith are currently going through the season of Ramadan which requires them to abstain from eating from sunrise to sunset. This season started on the evening of March 22 and ends on the evening of April 20.

The email mentioned the charter of ethics of football which emphasizes that “a football field, or any sporting venue” are not places to exercise “political and religious expressions”, but rather places where “neutrality, secularism and non-discrimination” must be implemented, according to The New Arab.

The FFF also stated that there would be disciplinary consequences if referees and players did not comply with the email’s new rules. This was brought to the attention of the FFF when they realized matches were being stopped for the breaking of the Ramadan fast.

Naturally, this news has been criticized by athletes and activists all over the world since the choice can easily be interpreted as an act of intolerance and against the values of Muslim football players.

Muslim players on the French national team had been asked to postpone their fasting practices during France’s Euro 2024 Qualifiers against the Netherlands on the 24th of March and Ireland on March 27th. This was done to ensure that the performance of the team would not be affected. Even though France won both matches, players were visibly upset by the announcement.

It’s especially surprising since other leagues such as the English Premier League requires referees to pause matches so players can keep themselves healthy and hy-

1)

drated. Before a match, officials are asked to identify the players who are going to be fasting and find a way where players are able to break their fast in a way of respect. Why France decided against doing this is a move many people are still confused by.

The French Football Federation is still holding true to their decision to prevent stopping matches but it’s only a matter of time to see if it will become permanent or if activism will force the organization to come to their senses and support their players in the right way.

Coming soon in CNU

Sports:

*Games listed are happening at CNU April 13th

*Men’s Baseball

CNU v. Virginia Wesleyan University

Location: Newport News, VA

Time: 3:00 PM April 14th

*Women’s Tennis

CNU v. Norfolk State University

Location: Newport News, VA

Time: 9:00 AM

Here’s What You Missed!

Headlines from the Wacky World of Sports....

April 15th

*Women’s Tennis

CNU v. Southern Virginia University

Location: Newport News, VA

Time: 1:00 PM

2)

3)

April 16th

Women’s Softball

CNU v. Ferrum College

Location: Ferrum, VA

Time: 1:00 and 3:00 PM

To look at events off campus and for future weeks, visit cnusports.com

Minnesota Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert Suspended for One Game after Punching Teammate Kyle Anderson

Odell Beckham Jr. Signs with the Baltimore Ravens on a One-Year, $15 Million Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays Become the First MLB Team Since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers to Start 10-0

FIONA SULLIVAN FIONA.SULLIVAN.20@CNU.EDU

French Football Federation logo taken from Logowik.

“An email was sent out by the Federal Comission of Referees much to the public’s shock and disappointment.”

Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby The star proves that beauty lies within in her new documentary

AMANDA EACHO AMANDA.EACHO.22@CNU.EDU

On April 3, a documentary, “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” was released on Hulu. In the two-part documentary Shields reflects on her life in front of the cameras from an early age and how it’s impacting her today.

The documentary serves to show how being sexualized and objectified impacts young women in the Hollywood industry. She delves deep into the issues that come with being sexualized at such a young age and how she had to learn to break away from that image of her.

The story is told through archival footage and interviews with her close friends, film historians, culture reporters, and Shields herself. It also does a deep dive into many controversial movies that Shields was a part of such as the movie Pretty Baby where, at twelve years old, she played a girl being raised in a brothel and had to kiss her adult costar in addition to two nude scenes.

Another movie that is highly focused on is Blue Lagoon where 14 year old Shileds starred opposite of 18 year old Christopher Atkins at the time and played cousins turned lovers after they get shipwrecked. She again had several nude scenes and many people ended up getting sick on set due to unsanitary conditions.

In part one, they explore her early career, starting with her first photoshoot at 11 months old. It ends with her graduating Princeton, much to the surprise of many who saw her as just a pretty face. She also talks about her complex relationship with her manager/mother, Teri.

In part two, viewers see Shields be

ginning to find a voice setting boundaries with her mother and discovering her talent in dance and comedy. This helped her break away from being just a pretty face. However, she also speaks in depth about her divorce from her first husband, being sexually assaulted by a Hollywood executive, her struggle with infertility, and postpartum depression.

By the end the viewers get a glimpse into Shield’s life now. She’s shown at home with her husband and two teenage daughters, discussing her life and how what she went through was wrong and that she hopes they understand.

Brooke Shields’ story is moving and one of empowerment but also cautionary. It brings to light how child actors are taken advantage of. It also shows how women are held to these high standards of how they should look and act. This documentary brings about the question of whether or not society has changed from when Shields was a child.

The Legacy of John Wick Will Never Die

John Wick 4 is great, but go see other movies too

CAMERON TOMAINO

CAMERON.TOMAINO.20@CNU.EDU

The non-stop action of the John Wick movies have been the guilty pleasure of millions, going on for about a decade now. These movies have single handedly put Keanu Reeves back on the map in Hollywood and among movie fans, for good reason - though the character of John Wick is a man of few words, the performance of Keanu through all the stunts and fight choreography is very commendable.

The actual stories have been simple, though hardly self contained. Throughout this series occurs a rapid escalation of the initial conflict into something far beyond what the namesake protagonist was looking for, turning a simple revenge story into a fight against the whole underworld.

This final entry into the series is the natural conclusion of that story, and unlike the previous ideas of revenge and loyalty, this movie flirts with a different set of underlying themes: freedom and purpose.

The movie asks two important questions: How many people are you willing to kill to be free? And what is John Wick if he doesn’t kill? John Wick never answers those questions in dialogue, but they weigh on the mind of the audience as he carves a path to his final destination, answered by his actions and choices

throughout.

This movie by no means dwells on these weighty topics for long, and instead opts to throw intense pieces of action at the audience from minute one. The set pieces for these fights are as beautiful as the actual choreography themselves as the movie travels across parts of Tokyo, Berlin, and Paris and uses that location well.

On that note: Cinematography during action focuses clearly on the subjects in any given fight, making the action easy to follow no matter how intense it can get, and during the more calm moments, there is meaningful showing of visuals that speaks all on its own.

As a final mention, actor Lance Reddick, who had played one of the more significant characters in the previous movies, had died before the release of this movie as a result of his heart disease. This movie gives him a respectful sendoff to the character as well as the person.

All in all, this movie will be a great capstone to those who’ve already seen the previous John Wick films, though will be hard to follow for those not fully caught up on the previous three movies.

To watch it as a standalone movie

would be a poor choice; since many of the movie’s best payoffs are best experienced with the context of previous movies.

Poster of John Wick 4 from IMDb

Poster of Pretty Baby from IMDb

A Day in the Life of a Music Major Junior Claire Jones’ experience in the music dept at CNU

GRACE GRILES GRACE.GRILES.20@CNU.EDU

Claire Jones has had a long and loving history with the music major program at CNU. “Prior to committing, my school came on a school trip for the choir invitational. The day CNU locked down for COVID we came early in the morning and we were still unsure about COVID and if we were going to be allowed to perform. So we had a clinic with Dr. John Irving,” Jones said.

CNU’s music program is actually rather unique to other music programs in the state. “I actually was attracted to our education department because CNU is one of if not the only school in Virginia that offers a music education program with a five year Master’s,” Jones said.

Because of this stark difference, A music major’s schedule looks much different from the rest of the Captains at CNU. “The normal class load for an average student is fifteen credits with the minimum to be a student being twelve. A typical college class is worth three credits. So a typical student can expect to be in four to five classes.

A music major’s schedule is a bit different because some of our classes are worth only one credit,” Jones said, “Your typical music major could be taking anywhere from eight to twelve classes a week,” Jones said.

That sounds like a lot; however, that is nowhere close to the workload of a music major.

“We also have private lessons which occur a week, and we attend master class once a week and those classes are combined into one credit. Even though they should be separate credits because we meet twice a week at two different times,” Jones said. On top of classes there are also other responsibilities.

“There are also a lot of ‘invisible’ classes. We have performance attendance that is technically on our schedule but worth zero credits,” Jones said.

Jones was also asked about dealing with performance anxiety. “It depends on the person. Personally, I enjoy performing.Depending on what I am doing and where I am at and who is going to be there I have varying degrees of performance anxiety, but I know at the end of the day this is what I love to do. By the time I am actually on stage and performing that normally all melts away.”

While there are alot of stressful factors about being a music major Jones says that there are some aspects she enjoys thoroughly.

“For me, our chamber choir. I recently joined that group this semester. It’s the most ‘elite’ choir on campus because there are two choirs which are university chorale which you can just join and audition choir and chamber choir. That has been really awesome… There is really something different about getting together with an intimate group of talent musicians and creating awesome music together,” Jones said.

‘Air’ Review

Hollywood depicts the history of how Nike created the Air Jordan

TREY GREENWELL TRAJAN.GREENWELL.20@CNU.EDU

On April 5th, “Air” opened in theaters. The film was directed by two-time Academy Award winning actor Ben Affleck. The film focuses on Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon), a sports marketing executive who is hired by the CEO of Nike, and Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) to put the company ahead of rival brands Adidas and Converse. Vaccaro becomes willing to bet his entire career on a rookie out of North Carolina becoming the next big thing in basketball. He becomes so confident that he believes an entire shoe brand can be built around him.

The film is unlike other sports movies as it focuses on the business side of sports instead of the wins and losses. While both can be displayed in a film such as Jerry Maguire, it is uncommon for the business aspect to overtake the results of games.

It is also different because while the film mentions Michael Jordan, he is not in the film. Instead, the people around him are featured such as his mother Deloris

(Viola Davis), her husband James (Julius Tennon), and Jordan’s agent, David Falk (Chris Messina).

One does not need much knowledge about Michael Jordan or the NBA to understand the film but it does help in some aspects. It is largely a film centered around a risk-taking idea for a company that needs something big to make them the face of basketball.

“Air” does a good job at taking the spotlight away from the biggest character in the film and emphasizing the people who helped put Michael Jordan in the most successful position they could. Everyone from his family members to the employees at Nike are displayed in ways the average person would not have thought about prior to watching the film.

The scenes in the film do a good job at making it feel like it is in the 1980s. Everything from the music to the clothing encapsulates the viewer in that time period for the entire 112 minutes of the

film. Smart dialogue is balanced out with subtle humor throughout the film which makes for a fun, captivating watch.

“Air” excels at telling the story behind the story. Everyone remembers Michael Jordan as a legendary basketball player who won six NBA Championships and who many regard as the greatest player of all time. However, it is never mentioned how his public image became bigger than most athletes of his time and few remember his rookie days. This film does all of this plus informs the audience about the origins of Air Jordan.

From left to right: Claire Jones before a concert and her at Signing Day all curtesy of Claire Jones

Poster of Air from IMDb

LIFESTYLE Summer Travel Tips

Staff writer gives tips on traveling

CLAIRE HALL CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU

My family and I have been traveling to Europe ever since I was two years old. When doing the math correctly, I have flown in an airplane at least 34 times, and that doesn’t count the connecting flights we’ve had from France and Iceland to Germany. You can for sure call me a frequent flier and I very much take pride in that. I love the feeling of adventure despite having crippling anxiety when the plane ever-so slightly dips. However, one of my favorite things to do alongside traveling is to give people tips on how to travel safely, happily, and comfortably for those who are wanting to travel over the summer. First and foremost, pack two weeks in advance of your trip. My mom and I are prime procrastinators, and I’m talking about the kind where we stress out so much, the bedside lamp accidentally ends up in one of the suitcases. Not only will packing in advance reduce the stress of your trip, but you will also be able to plan out what you are wearing throughout the week before the trip and therefore save the clothes you want to wear for your vacation. This also gives you enough time to plan out a list and make sure you aren’t packing more than needed or unnecessary items. You’ll thank me later when you’re relaxing on the couch a night before your busy day and not busting your butt packing 6 different suitcases. Secondly, make sure your transportation is all planned out. When traveling to Germany during the cold december season, my parents had only planned on taking

Cookie Craze

Staff writers rank their favorite Girl Scout Cookies

CLAIRE HALL CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU

my mom’s car. BAD IDEA. My mom’s car wouldn’t start the night before our trip and we had no alternative transportation set up. We ended up paying so much money for a large rental van that smelled like puke. Let this be a reminder to please plan out your transportation before you plan on going anywhere so you can get to your destination safely and on time. Thirdly, have a travel plan in place so that you can get to your destination on time. So much can go wrong in a short period of time, especially when you have back to back flights. My mom and I always like to come up with a plan so that we have time to eat, browse the gift shops, and go through security in a timely manner. Planning out your time in the airport to make sure you catch your flights on time will ease away so much of the stress of traveling.

Lastly, make sure you have a carry-on backpack or purse with various necessities, especially for flights that are international. Usually for international flights, my mom and I like to pack snacks (because airline food can be not super appealing sometimes), hand sanitizer, wipes, books, chargers, word searches, earbuds, and a first aid kit. Having a bag like this will make sure you are prepared for any situation and will help you enjoy your flight to your destination even more.

I hope this was helpful for those who are planning on traveling. While traveling can be such a struggle at times, the end destination is worth it. Hope your summers are full of adventure and travel safely!

KATHERINE ZICKEL KATHERINE.ZICKEL.22@CNU.EDU

It’s that time of year again. The weather’s getting warmer, finals are almost upon us, and Girl Scout Cookies seem to be being sold on every corner, including in the DSU Breezeway. If you’ve ever wanted to buy a box to solve your sweet tooth craving, but unsure of where exactly to start, here is a list of our favorite cookies, ranked 1 out of 5.

Raspberry Rally Rating: 1/5

In our opinion, this cookie tastes like playdough, and not enough like raspberries, or much of anything for that matter.

S’mores Rating: 2/5

We aren’t a huge fan of artificial S’mores flavor in general, the ones you make over the fire are worth it!

Lemon-Ups Rating: 2/5

While the taste of refreshing lemon cookies is enjoyable, we just weren’t a fan of these ones in particular.

Do-si-dos Rating: 2/5

It tastes too similar to Lance Peanut Butter Crackers, and not enough like a cookie.

Toffee Tastic Rating: 3/5

We enjoyed the toffee taste, but it’s not one of our diehard favorites because it’s a little dry and crumbly, so not ideal for people like us who are prone to messes, or for long car trips where you might not want to drink very often.

Trefoils Rating: 3/5

LOVE LOVE LOVE dipping these in my milk or coffee. Gotta love an original butter cookie!

Thin Mints Rating: 3.5/5

Love the refreshing taste, it reminds us a lot of a York Peppermint Patty. We also prefer putting these in the freezer, or as a topping on ice cream!

Tagalongs Rating: 4/5

We love Reese’s cups, so it’s no surprise that these are a favorite. You can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate!

Adventurefuls Rating: 5/5

Caramel! Not only that, it’s also a brownie. Ugh, I can’t, I love it.

Samoas Rating: 5/5

It’s a cookie that combines our three favorite things..chocolate, coconut, and caramel. I mean, how could you not love it? They make wonderful cookies for late night snacks to satisfy a sweet tooth or when having a mental breakdown. Be careful though, buying one box usually leads to more!

Photo from Unspalsh

Girl Scout Cookies from Flickr

Disney Club

ALLISON BILLIE ALLISON.BILLIE.21@CNU.EDU

The Disney Club of CNU started as a club in the spring of 2018, and has created a happily ever after for all of its members ever since. The club is for fans of all things Disney, from Toy Story to Pirates of the Caribbean. Even if you’re not a Disney fan, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in this club! The club meets weekly, alternating between fun activities and theme weeks. The activities include playing themed games, spa days that make you feel like Disney Royalty, singing karaoke with classic Disney music, and beyond! The theme weeks on the other hand, cover anything from princesses to superheroes. During the club’s Marvel theme week, the club went all out with things to do, and you weren’t limited to just one. There was trivia, coloring sheets, and there was even an opportunity to paint your own infinity stone! The highlight of the night was a Thanos game, where you try to survive the Snap until only one survivor is left standing.

For those who are more interested in watching movies, adventure is out there! Disney Club also does field trips where they go out together and see the newest Disney movies in theaters.

The club has even gone to see Disney on Ice, which is a touring ice group with all your favorite Disney characters.

The real charm of the Disney club however, belongs to its members. Long time Disney fan and coordinator of the club, Skylar Tooks, says, “The club creates a sense of community and a great opportunity to make friends!

Everyone is very welcoming and very fun to be around. You even get the opportunity to play games I’ve never heard of before that were so fun and exciting.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about a whole new world and the happiest club on campus, feel free to reach out to the club president, Emma Faith, at emma. faith.21@cnu.edu, or take a look at the Disney Club of CNU compass page.

Zone 4

Madison Clayton competes at the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Nationals

MAKENNA SOWARDS

MAKENNA.SOWARDS.20@CNU.EDU

April 1st, 2023 at Goucher College was a rainy, dreary day. The best equestrians from Zone 4 of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association traveled up to eight hours to compete for the chance to go to nationals. Madison Clayton of Christopher Newport University was one of those riders standing in the mud, waiting for their chance to get in the ring. All throughout the competition season, Clayton garnered enough points by placing high in her level to qualify for regionals. At

regionals in March, she won second place, earning her a spot at Zones. Nerves were running abound as riders waited for their classes, but Madison was confident.

“Every day I have been practicing with Coach Katie and Coach Dana, and mentally preparing to perform to the best of my abilities,” Clayton said.

Coach Katie and Coach Dana are the CNU equestrian team’s coaches at Foxtail Fields in Smithfield, VA. They have taken on the task of registering riders in the IHSA circuit and training

them to compete against other colleges like Sweet Briar University.

After standing around for six and a half hours with nothing to do but watch the competition, Madison was called to draw her horse. In IHSA, you don’t compete with your own horse, you have to ride one of the horses provided by the host school.

This is complicated, because each horse has its own personality, things it likes and doesn’t like for riders to do, things that set it off that other horses don’t blink at. Having to get on a horse without knowing the best technique to work with them and jumping straight into competition is a lot of pressure.

“I’ve been practicing all the possible tests and perfecting, taking my time and thinking through each step and preparing for anything I could be asked for by the judge,” Clayton said as she was getting ready to compete.

Not only did she not know the horse she was competing with, but she also didn’t know which of the nine tests she would be asked to perform, or how many. IHSA is special in how it determines the best riders in the show—those who quickly learn their horse and adapt, making them both look quiet and collected are placed highly.

Madison drew a horse named Vegas, a fleabitten gray who she didn’t have much information about. As she mounted she focused herself and got prepared to compete. After waiting in the rain, and the wind, and finally the sunshine at 1:15pm, Madison finally got her time to show the judge what she was made of.

In her class of ten riders, Madison made her entire team proud by coming in fourth place.

Madison Clayton with her fourth place ribbon taken by Makenna Sowards

Top: Disney Club on an outing courtesy of CNU Disney Club

Bottom: Disney Club CNU logo from The Compass

SNAPSHOT Softball

All photos taken by Wyatt Miles

grace.griles.20@cnu.edu