The Captain’s Log
Remembering Quintin Easter
CNU freshman remembered for his work ethic and positive attitude
ALYSSA TILLMAN
ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU
Quintin Easter Jr., Class of 2028, passed away on Dec. 20, 2024. Easter or “Deuce” as his friends called him, was well established in the Christopher Newport University community. Students and faculty gathered on Jan. 15 for a celebration of life.
Easter was a member of the Community
Captain’s program and known for his hard work ethic in academics and his positive attitude.
Remarks at the celebration of life were made by President Kelly, Dean Kevin Hughes, Brandon Jones, Betsy Robinson, Chris Mojico ‘25 from the Community Captains, and friends of Easter.
“We are here this afternoon to remember Quintin and to ensure we draw strength
from each other. The loss of a life, especially such a young and promising life, affects us all - regardless of our relationship with Quintin,” President Kelly said.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Kevin Hughes told The Captain’s Log “we want to honor [Quentin], but we also want to come together to support each other, because it’s going to be hard right now and it’s going to be hard in a couple of weeks or months… they’re forever a Captain,” he said.
In an obituary posted by the Carter Funeral Home, the family writes that ‘Deuce’ loved learning, reading and playing his Xbox…and was looking forward to his 2nd semester.”
“We are all here for each other,” President Kelly said. “As Captains we commit to living life to a higher standard, we commit to honor and service so as we gather today at the beginning of the Spring semester and pause to reflect on the life of our friend, classmate, son and Captain, let us embrace the opportunity to reflect on our opportunity to serve and support one another ... and ourselves.”
Photo of the Pope Chapel, taken by Amanda Eacho/TheCaptainsLog
Photo of Quintin Easter, courtesy of Kevin Hughes
International Affairs Update:
staff Herzi Halevi, photo from WikiCommonsImages.
Israeli top general resigns
Reuters reported on Jan. 21 that Israel’s military chief of staff Herzi Halevi has announced he will be resigning on Mar. 6 to hold accountability for the “massive security lapse” during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The attacks included a largely coordinated invasion into southern Israel by Hamas and Palestinian militant groups, which is in causation of the war in Gaza. AP News reported that the Oct. 7 attack was “the single deadliest on Israel in its history,” with over a thousand civilians and soldiers killed and hundreds of militants captured with just under a hundred captives still in Gaza.
Several dead from fire at a ski resort in Turkey
Reuters reported on Jan. 21 that the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains of Turkey went up in flames in the early mornings a little after 3 a.m. The 12-storey hotel contained more than 200 guests, 66 of which were killed in the incident with 51 injured. Many guests were forced to jump from the windows of the hotel, resulting in death or severe injury. Guests reported that they did not hear smoke alarms in their efforts to flee. Authorities ultimately detained four people for investigation, including the hotel owner. As of Jan. 21, the cause of the fire is unclear, however the flames were reported to have begun on the restaurant floor of the hotel.
The U.S. Supreme Court bans TikTok
MICHALAH BECK
MICHALAH.BECK.22@CNU.EDU
At around 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2025, TikTok displayed a message stating that their services could no longer be used in the United States per the Supreme Court’s ban. This came as a surprise as the app was not supposed to be banned until two hours later.
TikTok was reinstated less than a day later, with the app claiming that they’re able to be on the market per President Trump’s vow to postpone the ban. While the motives behind why TikTok was banned and reinstated within 24 hours are unclear, this has led people to question the legitimacy of the ban and whether it was a political scheme to distract the American people from the inauguration.
The Captain’s Log will continue to monitor the situation and provide further clarification in later issues of the newspaper as more information is released.
Los Angeles fires Update
KATHERINE ZICKEL KATHERINE.ZICKEL.22@CNU.EDU
Burning building in southern California, photo from WikiCommonsImages.
For the past two weeks, Los Angeles has been devastated with fires, predominantly driven by high winds and dry air. The fires originally started on Jan. 7, due to a high windstorm in the area, causing mandatory evacuations in several different counties and thousands without power, the NYT reported. Over the past weekend, the evacuation orders were lifted with a curfew of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for anyone who is not a firefighter, law enforcement or utility worker, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) 4 reported.
According to the New York Times (NYT), Santa Ana winds reached over 100 miles per hour on some days. The NYT stated that over two dozen people have been reported dead as of Monday, Jan. 20.
As of 7 a.m. on Monday, the LA Times reported that the Palisades fire has remained 59% contained, burning more than 23,713 acres. The Ea-
ton fire is 87% contained and has burned 14,021 acres. Between both fires, over 15,467 structures have been damaged.
A small amount of rain is in the forecast for this Friday and Saturday, which could help add some moisture, yet also something to be wary of. “Officials are concerned significant additional water could prompt land movement along unstable hillsides in the Palisades,” the LA Times reported.
Israel’s military chief of
Announcement from TikTok regarding technological problems after U.S. ban, photo taken by Breanna Dorrian/TheCaptain’sLog.
Donald Trump and the 47th Inaugural Address
Executive orders Trump plans to put into action
SAVANNAH DUNN
SAVANNAH.DUNN.21@CNU.EDU
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 marked not only the 47th United States presidential inauguration, but the second inaugural address given by President Donald J. Trump. Entering his second, non-consecutive, term, Trump proclaimed, “The golden age of America begins right now.” Trump continues by claiming that America has been in a decline, but will rise again. “America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before,” Trump said, explaining the United State’s soon to be success.
Following remarks about restoring the United States to its former glory, Trump listed the policies he plans to enact throughout his term: “With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” Trump said.
The list of executive orders Trump plans to enact include the following:
Declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Trump plans to reinstate his
“Remain in Mexico” policy and following his campaign promises on preventing illegal immigration into the United States.
He plans to prevent inflation and bring down costs and prices. “I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices,” Trump said.
Ending the New Green Deal is next on the list. Trump plans to bring down prices by using gas and oil on U.S. ground as well as revoking the electric car mandate. “You’ll be able to buy the car of your choice. We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago.”
Government censorship is another thing that Trump plans to end in his term. “Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents.”
Trump also plans to stop the conversation of
gender identity by ending “the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.” He said that under his administration, “there are only two genders, male and female.”
Trump emphasized the importance of the United States taking back the Panama Canal because U.S. citizens are not being treated fairly by Panama. “The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated.”
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Be the first country to land on Mars.
Those listed are not every policy or executive order that Trump plans to enact, but there are lots of changes coming to the United States under the Trump Administration. This is why it is important to remain politically informed even following an election.
President Donald Trump holding the executive order to reduce the sentencing of those convicted of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurection, photo taken by Evan Vucci/AP Photo
TREY GREENWELL
TRAJAN.GREENWELL.21@CNU.EDU
Dodgers acquire Tanner Scott
A huge addition
Tanner Scott stands on the mound during a 2023 regular season game against the New York Mets. Tanner Scott stands on the mound by Daniel Benjamin Miller is licensed under the CC0 1.0 Universal Deed.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed relief pitcher Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million contract.
The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus and $21 million in deferred payments, a method the Dodgers have used to acquire other star players such as designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. With the signing, the Dodgers have solidified their bullpen in an attempt to repeat as World Series champions.
However, this is not the only move the team has made to strengthen their roster. Earlier this winter, the Dodgers acquired starting pitcher Blake Snell to add to a rotation that already includes high-profile names such as Yoshinobu Ya-
mamoto and Tyler Glasnow. They have also resigned outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, signed Michael Conforto, signed Korean second baseman Hyesong Kim, extended infielder Tommy Erdman and signed star Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki. Scott began his Major League Baseball (MLB) career in 2014 when he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. He has also played for the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. This past season saw Scott earn his first All-Star Game appearance as he recorded a 1.96 earned run average (ERA) in 72 appearances, striking out 84 batters, and allowing 36 walks in 72 innings.
With the addition of Scott, the Dodgers luxury tax payroll is estimated to be near $375 million, $70 million more than the team with the second-highest payroll: the Philadelphia Phillies. Many will see this as bad for baseball given the depth of talent the Dodgers have over almost every team in the league. However, a 162 game regular season will test the roster as several players in their starting lineup are aging and the starting rotation has been susceptible to injuries in the past. In a competitive National League (NL), the Dodgers will be battle tested in their quest to return to the World Series.
The 10 most influential women in sports
The future is female
LINDSAY DEYTON
LINDSAY.DEYTON.22@CNU.EDU
Women have not always been allowed to participate in sports. Sports have been around for centuries, evolving into the ones we know now. However, times have thankfully changed. Since women have become involved in sports, they have changed the landscape on a global level. Here are 10 of the most influential women that have shaped the modern sports era.
1. Serena Wiliams
Serena Williams is best known for her magnificent tennis performances. With a whopping 23 Grand Slam single titles, Williams is one of the most successful tennis players of all time. She has also been a life-long advocate for gender and racial equality while also aiming to promote body positivity and self-confidence.
2. Simone Biles
Simone Biles is the single most decorated gymnast of all time. She has compiled a total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. Outside of gymnastics, Biles has advocated for mental health awareness in the world of sports.
3. Babe Didrikson Zaharias
In 1950, Babe Didrikson Zaharias helped found the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Prior to this, she dominated the track and field world, winning two Olympic gold medals in 1932.
4. Billie Jean King
Best known for her victory against Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” in 1973, King has been an advocate for gender and LGBTQ+ rights. She is also known for founding the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), an organization that aims to create a better future for women’s tennis.
5. Megan Rapinoe
Also known for her advocacy in LGBTQ+ rights as well as gender pay equity, Rapinoe is a two-time Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist in soccer.
6. Ronda Rousey
One of my personal favorites, Rousey has changed the face of women’s wrestling for the better. Becoming the first woman to be inducted into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Fame, Rousey has made a lasting impact on the sport.
7. Martina Navratilova
Another great trailblazer for LGBTQ+ athletes, Navratilova has paved the way for equality in sports for all. Navratilova has also earned herself a total of 18 Grand Slam single titles in tennis.
8. Althea Gibson
Gibson was one of the first black women to participate in professional golf. Her success on the golf course also translated to the tennis courts, winning a Grand Slam title in 1956. During Gibson’s athletic career, she broke numerous racial barriers that tried to hold her back.
9. Danica Patrick
Patrick is known as one of the most successful women in the history of open-wheel racing, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race. Patrick has gone on to break numerous gender barriers in the motorsports world, becoming the first woman to lead a lap at the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and the first woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500.
10. Lindsey Vonn
With four World Cup Championships and one Olympic gold medal in skiing, Vonn is one of the most decorated alpine skiers of all time. Vonn has also served as an advocate for women’s empowerment and sports injury prevention.
NCAA announces compensation for women’s teams
A unanimous vote
TREY GREENWELL TRAJAN.GREENWELL.21@CNU.EDU
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have announced that women’s basketball teams will be paid for playing games in the NCAA tournament.
The announcement happened at an NCAA convention in Nashville, Tennessee last week. While the initial proposal was created by the Division I Board of Governors last year, it needed the approval of other NCAA members before it could take effect.
The proposal came off the heels of the most successful women’s basketball tournament ever, with the National Championship Game between Iowa and South Carolina drawing an audience of 18.7 million viewers. This was the highest for a basketball broadcast in five years and had three million more viewers than the men’s National Championship Game between UConn and Purdue. The women’s tournament also set an all-time attendance record with 436,055 fans.
The compensation will come through performance units, which will vary by conference depending on how far their programs advance in the tournament. A Final Four appear-
ance by a school could earn their conference $1.26 million over the next three years. This proposal helps close the gap between men’s and women’s college basketball. Men’s teams receive 24% of the media rights deal, which is $8.8 billion over eight years. Women’s basketball is currently valued at $65 million per tournament in the NCAA’s new media rights deal with ESPN. The women’s programs will receive 26% of the deal, slightly higher than the men’s programs.
With women’s college basketball teams receiving fairer compensation, the future for the sport is bright. Several star players such as UConn guard Paige Bueckers and University of Southern California (USC) guard JuJu Watkins will headline an NCAA tournament that is expected to live up to the excitement of last year’s.
The women’s NCAA tournament will begin play on Mar. 19 in Tampa, Florida and will conclude on Apr. 6.
Here’s What You Missed!
1) The Washington Commanders advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991 after a 45-31 win over the Detroit Lions.
2) The Toronto Blue Jays have signed outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year contract.
3) Legendary baseball broadcaster Bob Uecker has died at 90 years old.
Coming soon in CNU Sports: *Games listed are happening at CNU January 24th:
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field VMI Invitational
Location: Lexington, VA Time: 11:00 AM January 25th:
*Women’s Basketball CNU v. University of Mary Washington
Location: Newport News, VA
Time: 2:00 PM January 26th:
Men’s Basketball CNU v. Pfeiffer University
Location: Misenheimer, N.C.
Time: 2:00 PM January 29th:
Women’s Basketball CNU v. Guliford College
Location: Greensboro, N.C.
Time: 5:00 PM
To look at events off campus and for future weeks, visit cnusports.com
The NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. NCAA headquarters Indianapolis by Shane Lear is licensed under the CC BY-SA 3.0 Attributon-Sharealike Unported Deed.
SNAPSHOT Involvement Fair
Reiff Center Staff posing for a group photo at their table during the involvement fair, courtesy of Samuel Ellyson
CNU’s Record + Tape Exchange Club members pose for a group photo during the involvement fair, taken by Breanna Dorrian
CNU’s CAB members posing for a group photo at their table, taken by Claire Hall
CNU Women’s Ultimate Airbenders Frisbee Members posing for a group photo at their table, taken by Claire Hall
Involvement Fair Cont.
Members of the Black Student Union pose for a photo, taken by Claire Hall
Member of the ASL Club poses for a photo at their table, taken by Claire Hall
Members of CERO pose for a photo at their table, taken by Claire Hall
Member of PPGen poses for a photo, taken by Claire Hall
Members of Pi Lambda Phi pose for a photo at their table, taken by Claire Hall
Members of HerCampus pose for a photo, taken by Claire Hall
Live from New York: SNL returns for the new year
ALYSSA TILLMAN
ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU
A review of season fifty, episode eleven
Saturday Night Live returned last Saturday with four-time host Dave Chapelle and musical guest GoRilla. The first episode of the new year was highly anticipated and fans could expect Donald Trump’s Inauguration to be the hot topic of the show.
The show opens with a special MSNBC Report with Rachel Maddow (Sarah Sherman), who is back on TV for inauguration weekend. The group of political analysts promise to not chase every crazy Trump statement. But sure enough, they cannot resist — every statement from Trump distracts them. Chris Hayes (Andrew Dismukes) is “Woke Sheldon” and Joy Reid (Ego Nwodim) is calling out Chloe Fineman’s Stephanie Ruhle for trying to hook up. Marcello Hernandez keeps quoting old pop songs, including “The Real Slim Shady.” As Trump himself puts it, the anchors are awful, like Scooby Doo “All Velma.” They cut to James Austin Johnson’s Trump, who introduces the latest member of his cabinet, the pathological liar George Santos (Bowen Yang). This cold open was solid, but not ambitious or memorable by any means. I look forward to knowing what comedic tone the writers choose to use in Trump’s first couple weeks in office.
Chapelle delivers the longest monologue in SNL history. At a whopping 17-minutes long, Chappelle touched on topics such as Palestine and his hopes for the new Trump presidency. I was not extremely excited about Chapelle hosting, as his past monologues were riddled with transphobia, but his monologue here was solid. Smoking a cigarette and pulling up a stool, Chappelle reflects on the perfect storm of catastrophe that caused the apocalyptic California fires. “You have to at least consider the possibility that God hates these people.”
Chapelle pays homage to Jimmy Carter, telling a touching story of his visit to the Middle East around the same time as Carter. “While I was there, Jimmy Carter said, ‘I want to go to the Palestinian territory,’ and the Israeli government said, ‘It’s too dangerous, and if you go, we cannot protect you.’ And man, Jimmy Carter
Dave Chapelle in SNL promotional shoot, photo from @ nbcsnl on Instagram went anyway,” he said. “I will never forget the images of a former American president walking with little to no security while thousands of Palestinians were cheering him on.”
A highlight for me was Chapelle speaking on Sean “Diddy” Combs’s legal troubles, realizing the only reason he was never at the freakoffs was because he was too ugly to attend.“Can you imagine … everyone in Hollywood had an orgy behind your back … Carl Winslow from Family Matters was there, and I wasn’t invited?”
Chappelle ended with an earnest plea to President Elect Trump, asking him to do better. “Remember, whether people voted for you or not, they’re all counting on you. Whether they like you or not, they’re all counting on you. The whole world is counting on you,” he said. “Do not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.”
The first sketch returns from season 49 — Joaquin Antonio (Hernández) hosts a talk show as an immigrant father who dislikes his son. Chappelle joins him as “Black Neighbor Richard.” His son
lost access to his bedroom door due to a porn addiction. His next guest is Mikey Day, a local guidance counselor. His relationship with his son Conor (Dismukes) is way too affectionate and close. Chapelle was definitely a stand out in this sketch. His reactions and expressions make the jokes from Day and Hernández even funnier.
The next sketch features a family who decides to evacuate the fires. The dad (Chappelle) has a secret, he takes a sledgehammer to the wall and reveals half a million dollars in cash, guns, and fake passports hidden in the walls. Things escalate, more secrets emerge, Chappelle says there’s no time to explain and ends up mercy killing the dog. This ended up being my favorite sketch of the night, even though there was no real payoff to any of the madness.
The multi-platinum-selling GoRilla performed “Yeah Glo!” The Memphis/crunk song is from her second mixtape Ehhthang Ehhthang which was released last year. She later performed “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Cook.” Her performance was energetic and served as a fun break between sketches.
Weekend update follows with
Colin Jost scoring some big laughs with a dig at the expense of Mark Zuckerberg. “He flew down to Mara-Lago to meet with Trump and boy are his knees tired.” Michael Che invites cast member Michael Longfellow to make one final plea to save TikTok. Longfellow delivers my favorite performance of his this season, discarding concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership. “You know who else was Chinese? Jesus Christ … I saw it on a Tik Tok.” His vocal patterns and line delivery is great here. Later, Jost welcomes their second guest, the original Nosferatu (Sherman). The OG vampire is not happy with the new film’s redux. “He doesn’t even look like me … the guy is jacked and has a mustache; he looks like shirtless Ned Flanders.” Sherman takes several shots at Jost that are funny as usual. Their chemistry is some of my favorite from this cast.
At a police station, a man (Walker) reports his girlfriend missing. He gives a description of her to the cops, only to freeze when asked how much she weighs. An eavesdropping janitor (Kenan Thompson) is sympathetic to his cause, providing him with answers that will keep him out of trouble should his statements ever come to light. Thompson’s delivery here is the only thing saving this unfunny sketch that takes forever to play out. performed “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Cook.”
The last sketch of the night is a spoof of social media dating shows, where women pop balloons on contestants. Legendary Chappelle Show pimp Silky Johnson appears, complete with Donnell Rawlings. Ashy Larry also participates. Asked if he’s some kind of sex trafficker, Silky retorts: “I don’t do traffic, I take helicopters, bitch.”
Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism:”
A return to youthful wonder
ALYSSA TILLMAN
ALYSSA.TILLMAN.22@CNU.EDU
For the second time in the seven years since his death, Mac Miller fans have the chance to listen to a new album. The US rapper was 26 when he died from an accidental overdose in 2018. Friends say he was lost in his prime and fans’ hunger for new music has remained.
“Balloonerism”, released on Friday to generally positive reviews, follows the 2020 posthumous release of Circles, made of unfinished work completed after he died. Circles was a big success but a mixed reception to recent posthumous albums from other artists has caused critics to question whether less is more when it comes to releasing music after death. Collaborators say the studio tracks first laid down more than 10 years ago used in the new album have barely been changed.
Miller wrote “Balloonerism” between labels in 2014 with producer Eric Dan, who worked with Miller since he was a teenager. “Balloonerism” was originally conceived by Miller amidst the making of his 2013 album “Watching Movies With The Sound Off” and his 2014 mixtape “Faces”. Yet, it was shelved at the time as those projects took precedence. Miller eventually moved on creatively to new ideas. Bootleg leaks of unfinished versions of the project’s songs have circulated on the internet since.
The album and accompanying animated short film seem to bring to life a part of Miller that actually existed, rather than guessing how he would have continued on. A tambourine solo to begin the album, SZA remaining the only voice on the project besides Miller himself and a grand total of only six producers officially credited on the album (all of which were there for the original recordings), this album has a lot for fans to sink their teeth into.
Much like how “Swimming” and “Circles” act as companion pieces to one another, “Balloonerism” sounds like a prequel to the project that eventually became “Faces”. Tracks like “Stoned,” “Funny Papers,” “Rick’s Piano”—”Rick” as in Rick Rubin—and especially “Tomorrow Will Never Know” all echo similar underlying themes, instrumentation and the offthe-wall nature that embodies Faces. Around the same time Balloonerism was recorded, Mac produced “Warm
Winds” and “UR” off of SZA’s 2014 debut EP, “Z”. “DJ’s Chord Organ” is their first collaboration since, despite its official release over a decade later. The song represents a full circle moment. After his passing in 2018, SZA lauded the late-Miller as a “forever genuine friend.” “You were the first person I met when I moved here. You let me come over every day and let me be whoever I wanted,” she wrote in an Instagram post. [Mac was] “the first person to believe in me and make stuff with me.”
The film accompanying “Balloonerism” begins from within a piano—which is then shot off into the universe landing near a children’s playground. On the playground, you are introduced to the film’s protagonist, Little Timmy with the broken arm (who looks much like an animated child version of Miller himself). He plays amongst his friends as Miller’s track “Excelsior” plays in the background. Little Timmy and his friends eventually find the piano and are cast off into a fantasy wonderland where they become various types of animated animals. This all seems to be indicating Miller constantly craved this return to youthful wonderment and could only find it through music. The estate’s handling of Miller’s legacy has not gone unnoticed to longtime fans.
“Balloonerism” album cover.
from @92tilinfinity on Instagram
When fake love gets real:
A review of “The Deal”
BRE DORRIAN BREANNA.DORRIAN.23@CNU.EDU
Elle Kennedy’s novel, ‘The Deal’ follows college students Hannah Wells, an aspiring singer, and Garrett Graham, star hockey player bound for the pros. When Graham finds himself struggling to keep his GPA afloat, he works to recruit Wells as his personal tutor so he can continue to lead his team to victory. Wells, however, is tirelessly busy with preparing for a musical showcase and schoolwork of her own. To sweeten the arrangement, Graham offers to help Wells secure a date with the guy she’s been pining over. The two enter a ‘semi-fake relationship’ to make Wells’ social status climb the ranks, while Graham gets a crash course on how to survive the class he’s failing. However, close proximity, fake dating and spending a majority of their time together complicates things more than either expected. When they realize they have fallen for each other, the two must work out personal life goals and past traumas while helping each other heal along the way.
This story was an easy, quick read for me. The story arch and the writing style kept me captivated and flipping the pages. The chemistry and banter between the two main characters was easy to follow and incredibly enjoyable to read. Each character, including the side characters, had well rounded personalities and story arcs, making them easily loveable.
At times, the writing could be incredibly cheesy or corny, but never so much so that it was unbearable. This book also focuses a lot on trauma. Including, but not limited to: rape, domestic abuse and more. Throughout reading the story, there were times when the discussion of these topics felt rather out of place and uncomfortable. However, this level of discomfort added a more personal connection for readers, as these topics are necessary even when they make us feel uneasy.
The romance and chemistry in this story was undeniably adorable. The way in which Graham talks about Wells is prime book-boyfriend heartthrob material. Their relationship does a good job at
“If smut makes you cringe and contemplate lighting a trashcan on fire (and not in a good way), maybe skip this one.”
encapsulating many college relationships and the struggle of juggling priorities and goals with feelings and interests. Fair warning, this book can be rather explicit. If you’re looking for the equivalent of a steamy shower, this book is perfect. If smut makes you cringe and contemplate lighting a trashcan on fire (and not in a good way), maybe skip this one.
Overall, I’d give this book a solid 4/5. It’s no Earnest Hemingway novel, but it’s easy to follow and an ideal choice when you’re in the mood for a heart-warming pick me up.
Photo
LIFESTYLE
Your morning routine based on your astrological sign
Do you wake up early or hit snooze?
CLAIRE HALL CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU
Capricorn
You’re most likely waking up at the crack of dawn to get ready for the day. It doesn’t matter if your class is at 1 p.m., you will still wake up at around 5 a.m. to make sure you have time to get ready. You’re too busy for breakfast, so you just grab a coffee and claim that it’s a healthy breakfast.
Aquarius
You tend to wake up at least two hours before your class in order to find the perfect outfit because your style changes every day. Your breakfast usually consists of Instagram worthy smoothie bowls or avocado toast. After working hard on breakfast and taking a thousand pictures, you might end up late to class.
Pisces
You most likely got the best sleep of your life and are ready to conquer the day. You always get a good night’s sleep and look absolutely refreshed in the mornings. You pretty much eat the same thing for breakfast everyday, a bowl of Quaker Oats Oatmeal. Mornings are your favorite time of day, but you refuse to tell people that.
Aries
You absolutely despise your alarms and have probably bought about nine or ten alarms in your lifetime because of your inner rage. You ignore your alarms so often that you miss class all the time, and wonder why your participation grade is so awful. Once the clock hits noon, you will consider waking up and just eating brunch. You never eat breakfast, ever.
Taurus
You will get out of bed but bring your sheets and pillow with you. You like going to class in your pajamas and will literally sleep in class if need be. You realized that lecture classes at 9 a.m. are not your thing, so you drop out of those classes in order to take
ones that start at two in the afternoon. Your breakfast consists of leftover takeout from dinner, as it’s easy to just grab and go.
Gemini
You either sleep eight hours or you just don’t sleep at all. There is no in between for you. Interestingly enough, you function the same no matter how much sleep you get, all you need is your Red bull and you’re all set. You go to your morning classes but don’t pay attention at all. As for your breakfast, you assume that the Red Bull will magically cure your hunger.
Cancer
You’re just incredibly quiet in the mornings. You don’t talk at all and it may freak some people out. You most likely went to bed late because you decided to watch true crime thinking it would help you go to sleep. Once you’ve had your morning coffee, you become more approachable but won’t stop thinking about that one true crime episode.
Leo
You wake up with so much energy. In fact, it actually makes people around you mad. You have been told to stay away from coffee, as it makes you too hyper for that 8 a.m. class. You most likely talk way too much in the mornings, and that’s why people don’t approach you until noon.
Virgo
You most likely woke up in time for class but was somehow fifteen minutes late anyway. You strive for perfection, so your morning routine has to be perfect. By perfect, I mean setting 20 alarms. If your routine gets messed up, you refuse to talk to anyone for the rest of the day and might just kick the bucket and go back to bed.
Pocket-sized wellness
Top apps to use for a healthier you
CLAIRE HALL
CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU
Life can be incredibly stressful, no matter what stage you are in. Sometimes, we forget to take care of ourselves in this busy world. However, what if I told you that technology could help you with that? Sometimes we look more into how technology is degrading our lives instead of how it can benefit our lives. With that being said, here are some very important apps you can download on your phone to stay productive and healthier.
Finch
This app was recommended to me through a friend and I haven’t stopped using it since. The Finch app encourages its users to practice mindfulness activities such as breathing techniques, journaling and mood tracking. It then takes your progress and uses that to care for a virtual pet. The point is for users to prioritize their mental health and well-being through an engaging game.
I am
“I am” is a motivational app that gives you daily affirmations to start your day. The best way to use this app is to make it a widget on your phone. That way, when you open up your phone, the affirmation appears. I think that this is a great way to stay motivated throughout the day, as every day generates a different prompt. For a free app, I
Libra
You just wake up and are immediately scared of the world and want to escape it by going back to sleep. On the days you don’t have classes, you will sleep until 3 p.m. and wonder why you weren’t productive. You pray for the downfall of those who brag about going to bed at 10 p.m.
Scorpio
You just won’t wake up. You sleep through all of your alarms because
think this app is great to have on your devices.
Notion
Notion is one of my favorite apps to use when staying organized for my classes. One of my favorite features is having the ability to organize my classes into different categories. Therefore, when I take notes, I can place them in the category that they belong. They also have other features such as a Cornell notes system for those who like taking detailed notes and they even have a great calculator to keep track of your grades. Overall I think this app is perfect for those who want to stay organized while in school.
Nutri Coach
Nutri Coach has become one of my favorite health apps of all time. Being in college and not having much time on my hands, I like having an app that is able to track my calorie count to make sure I am eating enough. Some other features that I enjoy are the hydration tracker (which tracks your water intake) and the exercise tracker. This is a good app to have in order to keep track of your health.
These apps can be incredibly useful and I highly recommend giving all of them a try. Let’s try and use technology to our benefit!
you’ve gotten so good at it and most likely asked for a dorm room with no roommate, as the thought of someone interrupting your beauty sleep would bring out your inner demon.
Sagittarius
You most likely wake up 20 minutes before your alarm and then get upset when you cannot fall back asleep. Once the day starts, you automatically wish it was over so that you could go back to sleep.
For the girls:
The perfect places for a girls day out
CLAIRE HALL
CLAIRE.HALL22@CNU.EDU
One of the most beautiful things about college are the people that you meet along the way and sometimes a little bit of girlhood is all that you need. In this chaotic and ever-changing world, sometimes spending a day with your besties can turn your entire world around. Here are some amazing places around Newport News to take your girlfriends for the best girls day out ever. Warning: viewer discretion is advised as you may spend about 300 dollars on this trip.
2nd and Charles
Hot girls love to read; especially when those books are thrifted. 2nd and Charles has one of the best book selections ever at a very affordable price point. They also have a range of genres for all the girlies, no matter if you are in your romance or mystery era. Their books also range in price between four-15 dollars depending on the popularity and condition of the book. So if you’re a broke baddie, don’t worry. 2nd and Charles will always have your next read for you at an affordable price point.
Glossy Nails
Nothing screams, “I’m about to have a mental breakdown” like rushing to the nail salon to get your nails done. Sometimes all we need is to drop 60 dollars on acrylic nails to make your life feel better again. From experience, Glossy Nails is one of the best places in Newport News to get your nails done. The environment of this nail spa is absolutely calm and amazing. The
workers there are incredibly friendly and they do your nails with such precision. This is your sign to run with your girlies to Glossy Nails with your Pinterest inspo boards, you will not be disappointed.
Thrifting Places
Hear me out. You’ve heard of retail therapy; now get ready for thrift therapy. Newport News has some of the best thrifting places ranging from your typical Goodwill to places such as Act II Consignment Store. When you want that retail therapy experience but are a baddie on a budget, going thrifting is the best thing for you. Thrifting is such a fun experience to do with your girls because you never know what you are going to find. Not only is it much cheaper than shopping at retail stores, but you are also being very sustainable doing so.
Crumbl Cookie
Obviously if you are doing all this shopping, you are going to get very hungry. Luckily, there is a Crumbl Cookie conveniently placed in the same shopping center as Ulta and Five Below. So convenient and fun for us girls. One of the best things about Crumbl Cookie is their variety in flavors. There is pretty much something for everyone on the menu. After all, everyone deserves a little dessert, especially when dessert spells out stressed backwards.
If you made it this far into the article, you are probably intrigued and want to have a girls day with your besties. If so, you should totally do it! Hanging out with my girls has always been a great way to decompress and have a good time!
Claire’s Corner
Your go-to advice column for college
CLAIRE HALL CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU
What are some skincare tips for the winter?
The dry and frigid winter weather can be very harsh on our skin. Sometimes, we need to take more steps in order to protect our skin from the cold. Here are a few tips to help combat dry skin during this particularly cold season.
Sunscreen is not just for summer
When you think of sunscreen, you probably think of the summer time. Well, sunscreen is not just for the summer. The sun is still out during the winter, giving the UV rays every ability to penetrate the skin. What makes matters even worse is that when it snows, the sunlight reflects off of the snow and can also penetrate the skin, damaging it. That’s why it’s always important to apply sunscreen to your face year round, especially during the summer and winter months.
Add moisture into your home
When consistently running heaters in your place of residence, the air becomes dry which can also make your skin incredibly dry. A good tip for this is to invest in a humidifier. This will help with moisture in the air, which gets absorbed into your skin. This is especially important if you get dermatitis flare ups in the winter.
Cover your skin
When going outside, make sure to cover your skin. Being in the cold can cause intense skin irritation, especially on the face. Wearing items such as beanies, scarves and gloves will be incredibly helpful in protecting your skin from the cold, especially if you will be outside for longer periods of time.
Carry lip balm
Your lips tend to get chapped in the winter which is not the most pleasant feeling in the world. That’s why it’s important to carry around a good lip balm. My favorite lip balms are the Aquaphor Stick and the Medicated Blistex Stick. For lips that are so unbelievably chapped and painful, vaseline is really good as bringing hydration back into the lips.
Choose comfy clothes
Skin can get easily irritated in the winter, so it’s important that you choose articles of clothing that won’t irritate your skin further. That means wearing shirts under your wooly sweaters or swapping synthetic fabrics with cotton. With the weather being so harsh, just make sure to dress in whatever is most comfy to you.
Exfoliate wisely
For all the people that love to exfoliate their skin in the shower, take a pause. When the weather is incredibly cold, it’s best to exfoliate only once or twice a week. Because there is not much moisture in the air, over-exfoliating the skin can lead to some intense irritation. Also, you just don’t need to do it all the time, so save yourself some time and money.
I hope these tips are helpful in preparing your skin for the colder weather ahead!
Photo courtesy of Claire Hall /TheCaptainsLog
Winter Night, photo taken by Claire Hall/TheCaptainsLog.
OPINIONS
CLAIRE HALL
CLAIRE.HALL.22@CNU.EDU
“The Captain’s Log is free to write anything it pleases and CNU fully respects the Freedom of the press.”— CNU Chancellor Paul Trible
TikTok v.s Lemon8:
Which is the better app?
Following the TikTok ban that recently happened, many people are wondering what the app Lemon8 exactly is. Lemon8 is a social media app that launched in February of 2023, and is used for sharing photos and short videos. It’s owned by ByteDance and is a sister app to TikTok. But what exactly does Lemon8 have to offer that TikTok does not?
As someone who has used TikTok before and didn’t exactly like it, I found Lemon8 a lot easier to manage. The reasoning as to why I didn’t like TikTok is because of how easy it is to get warped into doom scrolling, something that I already do enough as it is on Instagram reels. I also felt incredibly overwhelmed by everything on my feed, which didn’t appeal to me at all.
For my fellow individuals who aren’t
the biggest fan of TikTok, I think Lemon8 is more up your alley. The reason why I like Lemon8 so much is because of its pinterest board style that they have on the home page. It makes it easier to find what you like and feels less overwhelming because you can control what you look at. You also can’t exactly doom scroll either which makes it easier to exit the app.
I also found the community incredibly loving and kind. You end up meeting so many new people that have the same exact interests as you. Using certain hashtags, you can appeal to whatever audience you choose and can find people that have similar interests as you.
Another thing that appeals to me about this app is how relaxed it feels. Unlike TikTok and Instagram, you can turn your profile into your own digital diary, which takes the pressure off of accumulating views, likes and comments. It feels less of a chore and more of something fun to do, especially if you like scrapbooking. The app also features various challenges you can complete for real prizes, which are fun if it’s something that appeals to you.
Unfortunately, because Lemon8 is owned by the same company as TikTok, it did get shut down briefly as well. For both apps, it’s very unfortunate to see communities disappear just like that. I personally find both of these apps very important for fostering communities and bringing people together. I guess we just have to see what happens to these apps in the future.
Unlike TikTok and Instagram, you can turn your profile into your own digital diary, which takes the pressure off of accumulating views...”
Tik Tok app, from Unsplash
Do celebrities owe fans selfies?
A two-sided perspective
LINDSAY DEYTON LINDSAY.DEYTON.22@CNU.EDU
Now, of course this question seems a bit crazy when read aloud. However, I plan to argue both sides and play devil’s advocate. I will reveal my true opinion on the matter at the very end.
Celebrities are people, too. No one owes anyone anything. Whether a celebrity is at a meet and greet, dinner with their significant other, or at their house, they have every right to refuse an autograph or picture with a fan. With this, it doesn’t matter the reason. The fan in question
“If a celebrity wants to have a day to at least try to live a normal life, that’s their right.”
could perhaps make them uncomfortable, the celebrity could be just over taking selfies, or just have no reason at all. And that is their right.
On the other hand, celebrities should know that fame also comes with fans on the streets wanting a picture every two seconds. Whether the celebrity is in their sunday best or their sunday hangover outfit, a fan is BOUND to come up to them and ask for something from them. A part of their job is to give fans these things. Even just an autograph would suffice.
Now for my true opinion…celebrities don’t owe anyone anything. I do admit, if I saw one of my favorite celebrities on the street and they said no if I asked them for a selfie, I’d be severely disappointed knowing full well that that would probably be the last time I’d ever get this opportunity in this lifetime to meet them or any celebrity for that matter. However, that doesn’t mean they owe me a selfie or an autograph. If a celebrity wants to have a day to at least try to live a normal life, that’s their right.
“What did students do over break?”
The forbidden mark:
“This a hickey or a bruise?”
BRE
DORRIAN BREANNA.DORRIAN.23@CNU.EDU
SEX! SEX! SEX! There I said it, the dirty, shameful word has been said. Now that we have that preliminary awkwardness out of the way, let’s talk about hickeys. More specifically, why they’re trashy and why they’re actually maybe not so trashy.
Sometime between high school and entering my sophomore year of college, I have slowly felt my frontal lobe develop. Obviously, it’s not finished yet, but this process has cleared some things up for me.
I have to admit, my initial reaction to seeing someone with hickeys is a tad judgemental. “But I’m not a judgy person so I don’t care what someone else is doing!” You’re full of it, respectfully. I’m calling bullcrap. We’re all judgy, we are biologically programmed to be judgemental to keep our fightor-flight instincts intact. You would be correct in that I don’t care what someone else chooses to do with their body. It’s the rational thought process after the initial feeling that I come to this conclusion.
To me, displaying hickeys seems a tad immature, but at the same time, it’s your body and your relationship and you are free to do whatever you please! I would be lying if I said I haven’t walked around with my fair share of purplish marks. Whenever I find myself in this situation, I feel the need
to cover them with layers of clothes, hair and enough makeup to keep Sephora in business. Some couples do this as a way of “marking their territory.” If you ask me, that seems pretty weird, but hey we don’t kink shame here. At the end of the day, we’re all adults who make our own choices.
If you think about it, no one approaches a pregnant person in disgust and says “I know what you did!” Because for starters, that’s just wrong and secondly, it’s a natural and biological process. How are hickeys any different? The stigma surrounding hickeys is an interesting one. If anything, if you like to flaunt your hickeys, shout out to you! At least someone is getting some action!
“At the end of the day, we’re all adults who make our own choices.”
Film camera, from Unsplash
Email clog@cnu.edu to be featured in the paper
By Tori A.B
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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Nostalgic Novels
"Isn't it obvious?"
Untamed Lands 9 Briny deep
Captain with a grudge against a whale
French goodbye 15 Gum glob
16 Tagged along 17 Assumed information, in a proof
18 Word preceeding "space" or "plane"
19 Suzanne Collins' series that is credited for singlehandedly creating the teen dystopia subgenre
22 Sensible
23 Deteriorate in bed
24 Rick Riordan's series that explains why so many of us have obsessions with Greek mythology
31 What to do with a bad song on a playlist
34 CEO Sam of DropoutTV (Formerly CollegeHumor)
35 Crusty dessert
36 Belly button type (var)
37 Dashingly handsome
38 Shoe bottom
39 Government agent, in slang
40 Old jokes
41 Condition once called "shell shock," for short
42 Stephanie Meyer's series that had us all fighting over Team Edward or Team Jacob
46 Pic taker
47 PC shortcut key
“Nostalgic Novels”
49 L. J. Smith's young adult urban fantasy series (Later adapted by The CW) that left us asking "How did Elena chose Damon and not Stefan?"
56 "Don't worry, they don't ____"
57 Checked thoroughly?
58 Most important kind of office
59 Game featuring a +2 card that can definitely be stacked on top of another +2, regardless of what their official Twitter account says
60 Dolphins' home?
61 Sage
62 "Strike three! ___ out!"
63 Shenanigan
64 Soft drink from a Mountain DOWN
1 Pointy pub projectile
2 Sound of concern
3 Lord of the Dead, in Greek mythology
4 Composer of "The Ride of the Valkyries"
5 "Gotchu"
6 Not prerecorded
7 If I've got a hundred bucks but no cash, what do I have?
8 Like a song that's run its course
9 Optimal point of contact
10 Notably bunny rabbit features
11 Much ___ About Nothing
13 "Don't Worry, _______" - Bobby McFerrin song
18 Chaotic way to run
20 Half of deux
21 St. Louis feature
25 Someone you might get tongue-tied around (You only have a few more weeks to ask them out for Valentine's Day!)
26 Cases a rise in bread production
27 Vibes (with), but in the 40's
28 Abbreviation often paired with Aro
29 Essentials, to some
30 Must have
31 Search carefully
32 Formerly acquainted with
33 It's a sign!
37 Begin to buckle
38 Captain Jack
40 "___ My Ride" (old MTV show)
43 Weak, as an excuse
44 Tangy
45 Notoriously R-rated video game prominently featuring car-related crimes (abbreviation)
48 I'm so angry I forgot the roman numerals for 51, 6, and 500. Needless to say, I'm _____
49 The original short-form content platform
50 Slang for "I am going to" (AAVE)
51 Water from the heavens
52 Coup d'____
53 Singer Lovato
54 Effortlessness
55 Killed, poetically
56 Purchase