October 26, 2017

Wesleyan’s first swim meet

SPORTS Page 7

The Marlin ChroniCle

THURSDAY 10.26.17 ||

BY AMANDA ARCHER acarcher@vwu.edu

BY NICHOLAS MUNDY namundy@vwu.edu

National anthem protests have engulfed the lead storyline in the news for over a year now. However, recent tweets by President Donald Trump have put an even more pervasive spotlight on the situation. Across the country professional athletes have been kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem as a form of protest against racial discrimination.

Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, began the movement in 2016 claiming that he would not stand for a flag that represented the oppression of people of color and the ongoing concern of police brutality.

“I believe that people should have a right to stand up or “kneel” for what they believe in. I don’t think they are trying to disrespect the flag or even America, they just want to be heard and everyone deserves to have that right” said Kiersten Richardson, a senior student athlete.

After recently becoming a national story, colleges have begun to put into action plans or responses to kneeling within college athletics. Florida State’s football coach Jimbo Fisher proclaimed that people have the freedom to express themselves. Currently nothing has formally come from the university’s administration or athletic administration on their standpoint of whether or not they feel kneeling is appropriate within Virginia Wesleyan University’s athletics.

“I think for me as an athletic director, we as a department and the student athletes have always been able to communicate pretty well together and understand for the most part about how people feel about things. The anthem, I think, is a bit more personal for a variety of reasons,” said Joanne Renn, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Sophomore tudent athlete Madison Glaubke agreed with Coach Renn but reinforced the idea that people are allowed to express their opinions.

“I think that it’s disrespectful only because people fight for our freedom so that we are able to participate or attend college sports. Yes, I believe people are entitled to do whatever they please, but people go out risking their lives to protect us and make sure that we are safe” said Glaubke.

Renn was adamant that protest during the National Anthem only makes the issue worse.

“Here is the most important thing: I think it strengthens the negativity and the divide that is in our culture. It is part of the divide not part of the solution. And as I lead the athletic department, that is what I try to stand on. Whatever the issue is are we trying to solve it or are we perpetuating the problem,” Renn said.

Renn emphasizes that she does want to offer help for the issue. She uses a reference to the Kent State Men’s Basketball team.

Goodbye Mickey: rats vacate dorms

BY MICKELLA RAST mjrast@vwu.edu

Complaints about rats arose recently from residents primarily in Bray Village (also known as Village I), who said they had witnessed rodents in their dorms and halls.

Robert Solomon, a freshman on Old hall in VI, was one such resident. He first came into contact with the unwelcome guest late at night last month. “I honestly [didn’t] know what it was, I just knew it was a critter,” he said. “Out of the corner of my eye I saw just this little brown thing darting across the floor.”

After investigation, he and his roommate found a hole in the corner of their HVAC unit, which they then covered by “jerry-rigging a water bottle.” Students and

Solomon contacted his RA, junior Brandon Foster, who instructed him to submit a work order listing the problem as a health hazard.

“It took them a good 24 hours, I’d say, and they just came with this little tiny trap that had glue on it and food,” said Solomon regarding maintenance’s response. In the meantime, he and his roommate continually played Netflix in the hopes that the noise would discourage any visitors.

“For a few days, we kind of ran up the school’s electrical bill,” Solomon joked.

Orkin, VWU’s contracted service

provider for pest control, surveyed Villages I and II in order to ascertain where and how the rats were getting into dorms. Workers cut back the brush around residence halls, put traps in the rooms that had reported rat sightings and foamed and steel-wooled holes in HVAC units to prevent entry or exit.

Ralph Chittams, the director of Residence Life (ResLife), also known as “RJ,” said that though this is not the first time the university has encountered rats, he is “cautiously optimistic” that the problem has been solved.

“Through wintertime is really going to be the big test,” Chittams said.

Campus culture examined after Weinstein scandal

BY JOSHUA DAVIS jwdavis@vwu.edu

More than 30 accusers have come forward with charges of harassment against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. These allegations come after the producer reportedly ruled his industry with an iron fist, using his power to exploit and abuse his colleagues and employees for decades.

Virginia Wesleyan students find the importance of a positive culture on campus as an integral part of their safety.

“Even though the act of sexual assault is sexual, it is not about sex, it is all about control. It is about having power over someone else,” said student Denise Fitzgerald.

“I feel like it speaks to a cultural issue more than anything. I think our school has great policies on sexual misconduct, but I don’t know how effective they are, because I haven’t been in that situation,” said senior Marie Lerch.

Alex Addy spoke from the viewpoint of a freshman but still agreed.

“It’s a good community here, I feel like students understand their responsibilities and know right from wrong,” Addy said.

“When we speak about sexual misconduct on campus, we speak on a basis of consent, what our policy is as an institution, ways to get help for victims, and bystander intervention. It is important that we have a community that takes care of one another. That when they see something that is not right, they address it,” said Dean of Students Jason Seward.

Seniors Becca Winslow and Marie Lerch both cited social media campaigns, such as “#metoo” and “#HowIWillChange” as a way to spread awareness about sexual abuse and misconduct.

“Some people think that if it isn’t a violent crime, then they don’t have to say anything about it,” Lerch said.

The “#metoo” campaign was created when actress Alyssa Milano tweeted, “If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘me too’ as a status, we might give

IT Services releases new student Portal

BY AMANDA ARCHER acarcher@vwu.edu

On October 17, Information Technology Services released an email on the new Portal that is available for students, faculty, and staff. The Portal is a secure single sign on site for both academic and administrative services.

The term single sign on means that once you’ve logged into the Portal, you’re logged into anything else you may need to access through Portal. Students will be able to access their emails, Web Advisor, Financial Aid, and many other services to come. Pages on the Portal will range anywhere from Student Activities all the way to Security.

“The site is as secure as online banking. It is a very secure site. All the information in there won’t go external. You can also access your Financial Aid Self Service. You can look at your balance. You can pay your tuition. I just think it’s everything that student’s need all in one area,” said Ember Jenison, who is the Help Desk Analyst for IT Services.

It is recommended that when using the Portal to access it

through Microsoft based websites such as Chrome or Internet Explorer because of its Microsoft originality. Currently the Portal is accompanied with admittance to Microsoft Office 365. As long as you’re a student at Virginia Wesleyan University, you will receive a downloadable version of Microsoft to any computer. There will be a six-month grace period for students who are graduating and will have to convert their VWU emails.

“It has a Microsoft Office feel to it. Even on the administration side. So it is really user friendly. And as departments get used to using it and we start growing, and more offices will start adopting that,” said Terry Critser, Systems Administrator and Helpdesk Supervisor. For now, the site does not have specific departments listed. However, students will no longer have to worry about their emails being filled with countless amounts of information.

“It’s really going to be open right now. The only things that have gone through for now are the notices from the President’s Office.

SEE PORTAL Pg. 2

Students bring spirit to first ever Pack the Pool event

“I want to help with the actual issue. Kent State Men’s Basketball team goes into the crowd; they leave the court when the Star Spangled Banner is getting ready to be played and they stand next to someone different than they are. And it is just a sign of unity that we can do this if we just listen and understand each other. I would love to do something like here as we move forward,” Renn said.

There are other solutions proposed by Renn. She recommends taking the same stance as the soccer team and rather than standing by yourself, stand with your opponent and honor America together as one.

“One minute and twenty-eight seconds, that’s all the anthem is. And if we can all come together as a country for one minute and twenty-eight seconds instead of trying to find a way to divide, I think we can move forward at least at Virginia Wesleyan. Let’s get it done together,” Renn said.

WEINSTEIN

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

people a sense of magnitude to the problem.”

The tweet sparked tens of thousands of people to share their stories on social media and prompted a story in the Virginian-Pilot about women in Hampton Roads who tweeted “#metoo.”

“The me too campaign, I both like, and become a little weary of, just because I don’t think anyone should feel pressured to come out with that. I have a lot of respect for the people that are speaking up, because it makes visible how predominent a part of culture this problem is,” said English professor Dr. Susan Larkin.

Student activities, Women’s and Gender Studies, Counseling Services, Residence Life, Athletics and other groups on campus hold informative sessions for students who seek to learn more about their part in preventing sexual abuse and misconduct, said Jason Seward.

“For us it comes down to a general respect for other humans. Respecting other cultures and faith bases. Respecting someone’s personal space, and not violating their civil rights. When that respect is present, the community turns into a self sustaining positive environment,” Seward added.

“The most effective ways to have these conversations do not come from the top down, they come from the bottom up. So creating a culture where people feel comfort-

PORTAL

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

What we can do since everyone is distinguished by class level is actually target certain things to students so we aren’t just filling their inboxes up,” said Critser.

Currently the site has not reached its full potential. Jenison encourages students to actively use the site and provide feedback on the positives and negatives of the site. With technology being at the forefront for youth today, an app could be in the near future as well.

“We are working on a mobile site; I know Robert [Leitgib, Chief Information Officer] said it is in beta version right now. So hopefully we will have that up and running soon … And it’s growing. We’re still under construction. It’s hopefully going to be bigger than what we have already” said Jenison.

PESTS

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“We’ll know if the treatment and the institutional response was successful or not as we go through winter.”

He stated that the rat reports primarily originated in Villages I and II, but that there were no “hard numbers” to give out.

“We don’t get work orders so there’s no legitimate statistics to be pulled from that. A lot of the situations are handled by maintenance,” Chittams added.

Chittams emphasized that ResLife and other offices would work to resolve the issue as quickly as possible should the problem reappear, and that student health and safety were the top priorities.

“One rat is one rat too many,” Chittams said. “I don’t think any student should have to be concerned about that.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Moore agreed wholeheartedly and emphasized the role students play in preventing unwanted pests.

“If students join us in the effort, we’ll have a very successful fall in that regard,” Moore said. He encourages students to clean their rooms regularly, properly seal and package food or drink and contact maintenance about any structural issues such as holes in the walls, floors and HVAC units.

“If a space is attractive to a pest, the pest is going to want to visit that space,” Chittams added. “If we make the space less desirable…then there will be a decrease in the number of reports, absolutely.

Moore also suggested that recent construction around campus could have played a factor in the increase of rats; buildings such as the newlyopened Greer Environmental Sciences Center displace animals around them, which are then driven to find shelter elsewhere.

able discussing these issues is important,” said Larkin.

“We as faculty are more permanent, and we’re here longer than students, but we also don’t live here. So it is a different kind of connection. More and more student groups are starting to step up and pay attention to this issue and people are starting to become much more aware of it. I think we are doing some good things. I think there’s always room for improvement,” Larkin pointed out.

The New York Times did an extensive article on Weinstein and interviewed people such as producer Gail Berman, director Quentin Tarantino and Nina Jacobson, former president of Walt Disney’s Buena Vista Motion Picture Group.

“I think this is a watershed moment,” Berman said. “Sexual harassment and assault allegations are a major issue in Hollywood, and help contribute to a culture of silence.”

“I knew enough to do more than I did. There was more to it than just the normal rumors, the normal gossip. It wasn’t secondhand. I knew he did a couple of these things. If I had done the work I should have done then, I would have had to not work with him,” said Tarantino.

Jacobson welcomed the coverage and said “I think the floodgates being opened is something that had to happen and that finall

Community

The MARLIN CHRONICLE

Editor-in-Chief

Justin Smith jrsmith2@vwu.edu

Managing Editor Hayley Heath hrheath@vwu.edu

News Editors

Mickella Rast mjrast@vwu.edu

Amanda Archer acarcher@vwu.edu

Community Editors

Cynthia Griffin clgriffin@vwu.edu

Brianna Kidwell bnclarkson@vwu.edu

Opinions Editor

Ashley Kline aakline@vwu.edu

Sports Editors

Corey King ckking1@vwu.edu

Luke Chiasson lachiasson@vwu.edu

The Weekender Editor

Julie Ainsley jmainsley@vwu.edu

Photo Editor

Ashlei Gates angates@vwu.edu

Illustrations Editor

Valerie Miller vgmiller@vwu.edu

Online Editor Nel Hart nlhart@vwu.edu

Chief Copy Editor

Tara Truax tmtruax@vwu.edu

Business Manager

Justin Smith jrsmith2@vwu.edu

Advertising Manager

Jasmine Demir jkdemir@vwu.edu

Podcast Manager

Brenna Will bcwill@vwu.edu

Adviser Dr. Lisa Lyon Payne lpayne@vwu.edu

New members of the Marlin family

BY BRIANA CLARKSON bnclarkson@vwu.edu

The 2017-2018 school year has brought so many new things to the Virginia Wesleyan campus and one of the greatest are the new little Marlins who have become part of the Marlin family. Within the 2017 school year many of the faculty and staff members have brought

new baby Marlins to the Virginia Wesleyan family and the university is beyond thrilled to meet them all.

Ranging from professors to coaches to directors, many members of the Virginia Wesleyan staff have new babies that have done nothing but brighten up their worlds and become part of a family they will have forever.

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

Jason Seward and his wife have just adopted a newborn boy, whom they named Colton James.

Jason Seward and his wife, softball alum Janet Seward, are so very excited to have added baby Colton to not only their family, but the Virginia Wesleyan family as well. Being a parent is a new experience for Jason and his wife but they are loving every moment of it, to include the early mornings. “The early morning feeding sessions are my favorite. I usually take the 4:30 a.m. feeding time and that’s me and him time where we stay up and watch SportsCenter and I get to just connect with him on that level,” Seward said.

The staff that surrounds Jason Seward everyday are excited as well to have the new Marlin added to the family. Virginia Wesleyan has always strived to make a family atmosphere for everyone on campus, “I am excited to raise Colton with this Wesleyan family that I have,” Seward said.

Many of the athletic coaches have also had additions to their families and Virginia Wesleyan’s as well. Coach Mills, head coach for men’s soccer, has just added to the Marlins family along with Stephany Dunmyer, head coach for women’s basketball.

Coach Dunmyer just added baby Fletcher to her family and is still in awe. “He is a little miracle every time I look at him. He is the perfect addition to our family, and the first night in the hospital I remember just looking at him realizing what that he is the best thing I have ever been a part of and it makes you see the bigger picture of life and what it all means,” Dunmyer said.

The athletic department have done so much

to help Dunmyer and Mills as they adjust to parenthood, and have really shown what being part of the Virginia Wesleyan family means. “Raising a child on a college campus is one of the coolest experiences I think. It’s an instant support system we have,” Dunmyer said, and all the new baby Marlins have a supporting family that they have not even got to meet yet which makes this so much more exciting for the staff and faculty.

Many other parts of the faculty and staff have included new marlins to the family as well, to include Professor Jeffrey Toussaint of Sociology and Criminology and Professor Kelly Holzer of Women and Gender Studies. Toussaint has added a new baby girl to the Marlin family named Shiloh Eden Toussaint. Professor Toussaint is a new professor here

at Wesleyan and is just as excited to have his daughter part of the Wesleyan community. “We have been excited to share our news with VWU and we look forward to seeing her apart of future family orientated events at VWU.” Toussaint said.

These baby Marlins have brought so much happiness and joy amongst our Virginia Wesleyan staff and their families as they have been able to witness first hand what the joy of having a child is about. “I have never experienced anything that is immediate change before, and as soon as I held Colton it was instant change on my life. I want to do everything possible to make sure that he has everything possible and every opportunity in this life. Everything I do revolves around him and my wife now, and if I have to sacrifice everything for them, I will,” Jason Seward said about the outlook he has after receiving baby Colton.

So many new baby Marlins have been added to the Wesleyan family from the beginning of 2017, with Kate Griffin adding her addition at the end of the Spring 2017 semester to the most recent birth of Professor Toussaint’s baby

|

Shiloh Eden on October 6 and with all the little Marlins that were born in between. The Marlin community is so excited to have these new family members added to the Wesleyan community and watch them grow as well. The gift of life is for all to appreciate and gives a real picture of what family is. “She is the greatest blessing of my life, teaching me so much about love, patience, and humility,” Toussaint said.

Campus tradition returns again

BY CAIMAYA ASHTON clashton@vwu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University’s annual Airband was held on Oct. 21.

Airband is an event where students are on teams that lip-sync, perform a skit, and dance in front of the rest of the Virginia Wesleyan community.

Many students participate in the event striving to win first place. Last year’s first-place winner was the group from the Black Student Union. Some of the teams that performed this year were Alpha Psi Omega, International Theatre Honor Society, the Dance Team, the Naturalista Club, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Phi Sigma Sigma, Women’s Basketball, and the Black Student Union.

“As

Virginia Wesleyan University proudly supports the

independence and press freedom of student-edited publications. We believe that student editors have the authority to make all content decisions and consequently, assume full responsibility for decisions they make.”

--Scott D. Miller, Ph.D President

Airband gives students a chance to express themselves and interact with others. Some students like the idea of Airband but did not want to participate in the event.

Juniors Cezar Gherasimescu and Terry Boasiako were asked how they felt about Virginia Wesleyan hosting an Airband event and why they weren’t going to participate in the event.

“I’m glad because it gives people the opportunity to come together and turn up, and I didn’t do it because I haven’t got enough information about it,” Gherasimescu said.

“I think it’s good, it’s something new to me and it’s something for students to do because campus be dead. I didn’t do it because I didn’t really know the nature of it,” Boasiako said.

The winners of this year’s Airband were: first place Alpha Psi Omega, International Theatre Honor Society, second place the Naturalista Club, and third place Dance Team.

Junior Alexis Washington was a part of Airband this year as well as last year. Last year, she took home the first-place title with the Black Student Union. This year she was a part of two teams in the event. She performed with the Black Student Union as well as the Naturalista Club.

This year she gets to take home the title of second-place winner with the Naturalista Club.

When asked how she felt about Airband, Washington replied, “Airband was fun and very energetic. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves whether performing or watching in the audience.” When asked about her feelings while performing, Washington said, “I was ready to get it over with, to be honest. I had a lot of fun practicing and when it came time to do it, I just gave it my all and had a lot of fun.” Washington was then asked how she felt about the judge’s decision on who won first place.

“I think the judges did okay with placing. I don’t think Theater should have won, because to me theirs wasn’t creative. They perform plays all the time and they didn’t create the skits themselves. They took it from somewhere else,” Washington said.

Junior Vanessa Brightwell also participated in the event this current year as well as last year. She was a part of the Black Student Union team both years. “I feel that Airband gives groups and organizations a chance to express their creativity in a fun manner and my favorite part was how the crowd got really into the performance. It was a genuine hype atmosphere,” Brightwell said.

Brightwell was also asked how she felt performing and if she agreed with the outcome of who won. “I felt since my part wasn’t that big, I didn’t really think too much of it. I didn’t stay for the whole thing I actually left after I performed but I know that theatre won first, naturalista won second, and the dance team won third,” Brightwell said.

Virginia Wesleyan’s annual Airband concert was a complete success. Students were able to branch out and get really creative to put on a show for the rest of the campus. Airband is more than just lip-syncing and acting out. It gives student clubs and organizations a chance to voice their opinions in a way that everyone will understand.

CAMPUS countdown

October 25th-27th

Clotheslines for Domestic Violence

Time: 10:30 a.m- 4:00 p.m

Location: Women’s Resources

The Women’s Resource Center are sponsoring “The Clothesline Project” part of Domestic Violence Awareness month. Help create a display dedicated to raising awareness about the reality of violence in our society. For more information email wrc@vwu.edu

October 28th

Marlins Open House

Time: All Day Event

Location: Virginia Wesleyan Campus

Virginia Wesleyan University welcomes future students and their families to visit our campus and meet our faculty and students. One of the best times to visit is during a Marlins Day Open House.

November 3rd

Study Abroad with Purpose

Time: 12:00- 1:00 p.m.

Location: Lighthouse

As a result of working with refugees and others around the world ranging from Uganda, to Darfur, to Italy. Walsh University seniors Amy Gilmore & Katie Paul share reflections on issues of immigration, genocide, & restorative justice. For ,more information email Lighthouse.

November 4th

One Love Festival

Time: 2:30- 4:00 p.m

Location: Boyd Dining Hall

The 12th annual One Love Festival held to celebrate peace bringing the community together as one. Multiple lectures by multiple religious leaders in the community ending with a gospel concer from the VWU Choir will be held. Call 757.455.3129 or email csrf@vwu.edu for info.

CRIME BLOTTER

Courtesy|Thinkstock

October 5

6:30 p.m. |Larceny/Theft Smith Drive

October 6 Bray Village 9:50 p.m. |Liqour Violation

October

Students misuse LiveSafe

BY MEGAN SHERMAN mrsherman@vwu.edu

While LiveSafe is designed to ensure the safety of the Virginia Wesleyan community, some RA’s are disgruntled by the misuse of it. The application that is accessible on cellular devices has yielded great success in keeping the university safe. “Every student,faculty and staff member should have that because it is our primary means of alerting people to emergency situations and that’s its primary use, to alert people of emergency situations and to direct them on how to proceed in certain situations,” Keith Moore, Vice President for Student Affairs, said. Moore highlighted the origins of LiveSafe. “Their chief evangelist was a person who was a victim, she was shot at Virginia Tech, so she was their marketing person but it was a small company to begin with and they’ve really done well and they have accounts with large state institutions here in the commonwealth around the country and we were the first to get them in

LiveSafe allows students to get in contact with campus security, call the police, report anonymous tips, and use SafeWalk, which is designed to protect students when they feel unsafe to walk

The main goal of LiveSafe is safety, however, some members of the residence life staff feel that this focus

“I do believe that there are individuals who use LiveSafe for the correct reasons, however, there are also a great number of people who use it who abuse a system that’s supposed to be used to keep people safe,” said Kellen Phillips, a senior RA in Brock Village. “There have been a number of times where a noise complaint is submitted or a complaint of underage drinking or drug use and RA’s and security have to respond and sometimes you get there

and there is stuff going on, other times you get there and there is either no one home or it seems like it may have been just an attempt to get people that you don’t like in trouble,” Phillips said.

Moore said that the app has decreased behavioral problems. “I wrote an email maybe two weeks ago that cited LiveSafe as being one of the factors in I think improved citizenship among the students. I think that we have seen a real decrease in behavioral problems, alcohol abuse, drug violations, everything has been down over the last three-four years and I credit it somewhat to LiveSafe,” Moore said.

However, some RA’s feel that the emphasis on the use of the app for behavioral issues takes away the safety aspect of it. “It’s like the boy who cried wolf,” Phillips said. She continued, “I think that there are some people who use it for the right reasons but then again there’s other people who abuse it and make petty complaints.”

Taylor Cain, a junior RA in Village II, also voiced her concern. “More than often people will report something like a noise complaint that really isn’t that much of a safety issue or they will do it out of spite,” Cain said. The RA’s stressed the importance of taking self-initiative instead of immediately relying on LiveSafe. “If there’s a noise complaint we would hope as a res life perspective that people would be willing to go next door or go upstairs to contact the people who they have a complaint with,” Phillips said. Abigail Harrington, an RA in Village I, concurred this idea as well. “When the app is taken advantage of and residents use it to be petty it then becomes ‘petty-safe.’ A lot of the situations that are put through LiveSafe could easily be resolved by a resident knocking on someone else’s door and asking them to quiet down,” Harrington said. LiveSafe plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety of the Virginia Wesleyan students. Moore described the change from having just fourteen campus officials on duty monitoring the campus for safety and security to the whole community working together through LiveSafe.

VWU goes into the woods

BY CYNTHIA GRIFFIN dlgriffin@vwu.edu

“Into the Woods”, Virginia Wesleyan’s upcoming fall play will go on Oct. 25-29. “Into The Woods” was written by James Lapine in 1986. The musical combines the stories of many fairy tale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, played by Emilee Caldbeck. Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk,” played by Michael McOsker; Cinderella, played by Abigail Horgan; and Rapunzel, played by Taryn Nunley; as well as several other fairytale characters.

The many fairytale characters come together by having wishes that they want to be granted. Jack wishes for his cow to give him milk, Cinderella wants to go to the King’s Festival and the Baker, played by Nich Hipple, wishes for him and his wife to have a child. As the musical goes on, each character goes on their own journey to make their wish come true. In the end, all of the fairytale characters have their wishes come true, but they all end up learning a lesson because of them.

Ahead of the show, the theatre department put together a panel to discuss the presence of morals in the musical. The panelists included English professor Dr. Susan Larkin, theatre professor and director of the musical production Dr. Sally Shedd and senior Julie Ainsley. During the panel, which was moderated by junior Kerstin Holman, the panelists as well as members of the audience had a lively discussion on the different morals that are evident throughout the musical. For example, the belief that no one is ever truly alone and the belief that just because you get what you want it

doesn’t mean that what you got is good for you.

With the different morals that were discussed the question of happy endings was one that stuck out the most. Most fairy tales, if not all end with a happily-ever-after scenario; the princess marries the prince, the damsel in distress get rescued and everything is ok. “Into the Woods” challenges that happily ever after ideology. One thing that makes “Into the Woods” unique is the fact that although the musical brings together a lot of well-known fairytale characters, the musical doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending. All of the characters eventually get what they wish for, but all of them learn that even though they can wish for whatever they want, what they end up with might not always be the right thing for them.

The show has had lots of buzz prior to its opening. Out of the six performances that will be put on, one of the show times sold out more than a week before opening night. There are many people who are excited for the show. Sophomore Azania Inman, who plays Jack’s Wife in the musical, stated that she loves “Into the Woods.”

“The show itself is so complex and amazing.” With all of the excitement surrounding the show Inman hopes that, “even though there are a hundred things you can get from the play, hopefully people will understand that even in the midst of so much confusion, if you’re able to make a connection with someone you will never be alone.”

OpiniOns

Val Miller|Marlin Chronicle

Celebrity relationships: age is not just a number

BY WYNTER BOND wcbond@vwu.edu

The celebrity world has never been practical or even somewhat conventional. From what they wear to what they do, celebrities make sure they stay relevant at almost any cost. Even when a public move seems like it should harm their reputation, it only boosts them higher in their world. Honestly, it’s more fun for us peasants to vicariously live through our favorite celebrities than make the same mistakes that they do. I couldn’t imagine getting myself into half the situations I see floating around on social media. I admit, I love watching the crazy messes that the Kardashian-Jenners find themselves in, even if they are the most annoying specimens TMZ has ever reported on. There seems to be a new controversy brewing everyday among members of the “Famous for Being Famous” club. Lately, there has been something in the celebrity world dominating my news feed: controversial romances.

Let’s start with a recent budding relationship: Sofia Richie, daughter of Lionel Richie, and Scott Disick. Now, if you don’t really recognize Disick’s name, or have been living under a rock/don’t use social media, he is a member of the ever-so-pure Kardashian clan. Disick is Kourtney Kardashian’s ex-boyfriend. Kourtney is known for being the boring one in the family. She and Disick have three children and officially broke up in 2015. Some may call Disick rude, but I consider him to be the snarky and quick-witted one of the group. I have never watched the heinous show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” but I have seen so many videos of him that he became my favorite.

Back to Sofia and Scott, earlier this year they were connected after his tryst with former Disney starlet Bella Thorne in May. Sofia adamantly denied any romance between her and Disick, saying they were just “homies.” Via social media, Sofia said she was, “Focusing on friends, family, and work. #againrelax.” However, rumors started three months later when the couple was seen walking arm in arm. Now, the couple is now “Instagram official (a big deal, so I’m told)” and doesn’t hide their PDA. It’s everywhere. On social media and in magazines, the couple is seen in varying degrees of physicality, from hugging to full-on making out. Nowhere is safe! Now, Sofia’s father is expressing his concern.

First of all, there is a 15-year age difference between the two. That’s a lot, especially if you consider the fact that he has three children already. I usually don’t think twice if someone is even five years older than someone they are dating, no matter the gender. But three times that? I don’t know. It doesn’t sit well with me in the slightest. The saying that “age is just a number” is concerning to me. Sofia is the third teenager that Disick has dated, and this seems like a cry for help. Newsflash Scott, all teenage girls seem to be interested in nowadays is how many followers they have on social media, lip liner, and trying all of the Starbucks’ limited edition Frappuchinos.

It seems to make anything controversial in Hollywood, it has to involve either nudity or age. Luckily for “Modern Family” star Ariel Winter, she’s got both going on. Winter has been criticized for her revealing clothes and social media posts, especially due to the fact she is a role model for kids watching the family sitcom.

If Chrissy Teigen is one of the top stars to clap back at haters, Winter is right up there with her. The 19-yearold frequently defends her actions while promoting feminism, self-love, and positive body image. While Winter is dating Levi Meaden, a man 10 years her senior, that’s not the issue most has with her. Believe it or not, it’s the fact that she moved in with him last year. Disparagers say she’s moving too fast with her boyfriend. If it’s not illegal or destructive to a woman’s health, who are we to dictate her relationship? Everyone moves at their own pace, and that’s perfectly fine. Only when the situation becomes a detriment to their wellbeing is it appropriate to intervene or even comment. Does she appear to be abused or forced? No, she seems happy. Seeing how she’s still dealing with legal and emotional distress from her mother, it’s good to see her happy for a change.

It seems like most relationships in the world of Louboutins and summer homes only become a tale of caution when they involve age. It used to be more shocking if the couple was interracial or same-sex. Today, that is the norm. When the relationship teeter totters on the thin line of a huge age gap, there’s always a bigger picture to become aware of. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with a big age gap between partners, so long as the intentions are clear. If one of them is a teenager, that’s when it becomes an issue.

Great debate

Netflix and binge watching: a great way to pass the time or unhealthy habit?

BY FARAH HAIDARI fahaidari@vwu.edu

This semester I have a lot on my plate. I am writing for “The Marlin Chronicle,” taking my Senior Seminar Course, doing an internship and taking other classes while trying to maintain a social life. A typical day for me is to wake up, eat breakfast, spend time with God, watch TV and get ready for the day. During the day, I am working in Marlin Ministries and am also a leader for Cru, Campus Crusade for Christ. At the end of the day, I just want to escape from everyone and everything and watch Netflix in bed.

I love to watch different types of TV shows. If I am in the mood for a comedy, then I will often watch “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Friends,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “New Girl,” or other comedy TV shows. If it has been a long day, then I may want to watch a comedy show and just laugh and not think about the day. I’ve watched some of these shows numerous times and they always make me laugh. This is just a good strategy that I use to escape from reality.

Sometimes I’m in the mood to watch a drama, so I will watch “Pretty Little Liars,” “Arrow,” “Hawaii 5-0,” or “Gossip Girl.” I love watching dramas because if I need a break from my studies, or from life, I can go and watch an intense show that will help me forget what’s going on in my life.

For my Senior Seminar course, I have to write 20 pages on a research topic. I have never written a paper that long. For every subject that I covered within my paper I would watch an episode of “Pretty Little

BY JONATHAN JOYNER jrjoyner@vwu.edu

Liars” after completing the section.

I feel like relaxing and watching Netflix helps me in numerous ways. First of all, after I’ve had a long day, I don’t want to dwell on what’s happened throughout the day. I would rather escape and watch my favorite TV shows.

Another reason why binge watching on Netflix helps me is because I am partially an introvert. When I feel like hanging out with my friends, but they’re busy is when Netflix helps. When I watch “Arrow,” I forget about how bored I am and focus on the show.

Every night before I go to bed, I love to watch Netflix. It puts my mind to ease. Whenever I watch shows on Netflix, I just focus on what is going on and take a break from thinking about my life.

I would recommend others watch Netflix whenever they can as well. It is truly a great source to use when you want to relax. I still watch my favorite shows on the TV, but it is much better to watch TV on Netflix because there are no commercials. Commercials get in the way of watching your favorite programs. When I watch Netflix, I find myself more intrigued by shows because there are no commercials. Netflix is also a good resource for movies. Netflix has so many movies from children’s movies to action movies and anything else that you may be in the mood for. When I am not in the mood for a TV show I will often watch a movie. The movie “Sing” is probably my favorite movie on Netflix right now.

As college students, we are always busy constantly running back and forth. When we finally have time to ourselves, the idea of Netflix may sound fairly tempting, but you should not fall for this so easily. I myself can see why Netflix sounds so appealing. It allows you to watch a wide variety of your favorite shows and movies wherever you are, but this can still lead to multiple negative habits.

First and foremost, there is the obvious issue of how Netflix costs a minimum of $9.99 - $10.99 a month. People, let’s face it, we are students and obviously can be spending our money on better things than watching Netflix. Plus, Netflix, as well as any of its competitors, normally do not even offer all the shows you want to watch. Even if Netflix does have the show you seek, shows are normally taken down so they can add more shows that nobody even knows about.

Second of all, people are binge watching Netflix for hours on end. This is the biggest reason why I believe Netflix is a trap. It tempts you to watch episode after episode, or movie after movie. To anyone who watches Netflix, I am sure you know what I am talking about. There is a curiosity you feel after watching an episode of your favorite TV show and an urge to watch more. You want to know what happens next and the curiosity just eats away at you until you give in and watch the next episode. Growing up in the era when Netflix was rising up and TV shows were getting more and more dramatic, I understand the temptation that Netflix offers, but you should not give in. Binge watching shows is making us want to actually go out and do actual activities less and less. Some of you will probably tell me later that I am wrong and that binge watching Netflix helps to ease the stress that school gives us.

I understand and acknowledge that Netflix can be a good method for taking a break from your work, but you should not allow it to become your consistent escape from stress. If you are stressed out or tired, go talk to some friends and communicate with each other, even if it’s just a text message or phone call. This binge watching habit is terrible for your mental health and tricks you into believing that you are fine, when you would not be if Netflix just suddenly vanished from your life. Netflix should not be your only way for dealing with this world and is not meant to be an escape mechanism.

The scariest side effect of constant Netflix sessions is people are getting so absorbed in their binge watching that they start to lose their sense of reality. Watching shows for long periods of time already can do enough damage to your psyche, but binge watching consistently can cause the shows to influence your way of thinking. You are never too old to be influenced by something. Watching shows for long periods of time can warp how you see the world and may cause you to begin acting like the characters you’re viewing.

I’m not saying that everyone is like what I described above, but there are better ways to spend your time and, let’s be honest, your money. Also, you know that there are better ways to get through life than Netflix. It is fine if you watch your shows now and then, I completely agree that some shows are fun to watch. Just do not allow Netflix to become the way you spend all your spare time and also do not let Netflix become a tool for running away. Face the world and move forward. Trust me, you will not regret it.

Name changes create new campus environment

BY VAL MILLER vgmiller@vwu.edu

Following the retirement of Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling, the name of the Office of Community Service will soon be changed to the Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning. This follows the trend of changing names of existing entities on campus as well as naming new ones.

These changes include the renaming of Village II and Village IV to Allen Village and Honors Village. Also, new additions to campus are called the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field, the Frank Blocker Youth Center and the Avenue of Sciences. Many of these new additions and name changes on campus are associated with President Miller’s 10 year “Master Plan” to improve the university.

The changes from Office of Community Service to Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning may be to help bring the center into the school’s academic sphere. “The term ‘community service’ is a rather outdated term,” Miller said. He intends to expand the function of the center and develop it into something more. Therefore, the name of the center should be changed to reflect its updated

purpose and goals.

This change is part of an effort to make service learning the fourth pillar of the Virginia Wesleyan experience. The other three pillars, consist of study away, internships and undergraduate research, which are included within the Lighthouse Center for Discovery.

With other new names and entities on campus, the naming process is fairly simple to follow. For the most part, things on campus have been named after individuals or families that have significantly contributed to the school, either through years of service or significant financial contributions. Naming buildings is a way for the school to recognize their contributions.

This is the case for Allen Village, the Frank Blocker Youth Center and the Betty S. Rogers Track and Field facility. Allen Village was named after the late Dennie Allen, who was the first student to receive a diploma from Virginia Wesleyan in 1970. His historical significance and generous contributions to the school made it fitting to honor him in this way. The Frank Blocker Youth Center

Let’s make-up: cosmetic advertisement controversy

BY MARLYN SILVA mhsilva@vwu.edu

In our current society, it has become common for people to support and express a more diverse motto, or societal stance, to believe in. People have become more sensitive of what any person, company, or organization may support, and sometimes rightfully so. Regarding companies specifically, consumers have started to expect their product’s company to support the majority belief that there should be equality between races and ethnicities, genders and sexualities. This then brings up the question should companies change their beliefs to fit today’s society and its standards?

Overall, maybe certain companies should think about changing their values, especially if they try to tackle diversity in their advertisements and products. While it may be tricky to change their overall brand when it’s already well established, products such as singer Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty makeup brand, have proven that they can be successful and include skin tone colors for various races.While Fenty Beauty has made a big splash in the media and make-up community, prominent examples that have recently shown what companies will do to fit the current mold of society are the controversy behind the personal care brand, Dove and the news of Covergirl changing their famous slogan. Dove recently found itself under severe backlash in early October after releasing an advertisement showing an African American woman taking off her shirt, only to reveal that under it she appears to be a white American woman. It was not surprising to see that many people and consumers of Dove were outraged and appalled by the advertisement’s message. As reported by the Washington Post, many wondered, “what mark Dove was trying to hit in the first place.” As quickly as the ad went up, it was pulled offline and Dove had released a short tweet apologizing for the ad and said that they, “deeply regret the offense it caused.” After all is said and done, one can only wonder how Dove let this happen and how are they going to learn from it?

women of color properly. Being that Dove has previously had an issue with diversity ads in the past, all we can do is wait and see if change istruly possible for them.

On the other side of the spectrum, Covergirl recently made changes to their slogan and the standards they represent. While they haven’t had as big of a public relations issue as Dove, Covergirl was recently able to make a smooth transition to being more diverse. To have more inclusivity, Covergirl decided to rebrand with a new ad campaign featuring actresses Issa Rae, Ayesha Curry and singer Katy Perry. They are particularly known for their former slogan, “Easy, breezy, beautiful, Covergirl,” and have recently released the slogan, “I am what I make up.” Aside from being a small play on words, the phrase expresses how each woman, or man, can “make up” who they are or want to be by wearing make-up. It does not matter who they may be, how they may be, or how they look on the outside. Considering that Covergirl’s new campaign was released around the same time as the Dove commercial disaster, Covergirl did a good job of using this opportunity to show that their company and product is inclusive of various ethnicities and/or races. They were able to do exactly what Dove did not do, prevent a public relations nightmare.

In the end, does it really make a difference as to what a company may believe and what societal standards they follow? Unfortunately, Dove can lose customers, but it will be just as easy to buy their packaged soap next time you need it because it is the only brand you trust. Covergirl may have change their motto,but only years after their original slogan had become recognizable for their brand. At the end of the day, one can only hope that these companies and many others can stand up to what they, or in this case society, may think is right.

Obviously, the ideal solution would be for Dove to somehow rebuild their stance, without being offensive, and prove to the public that their goal is to represent

was named after Frank Blocker, who provided the funds for the project. The Blocker family, which students will recognize from the building named in the family’s honor, Blocker Hall, has contributed significantly to the school over the years. The Betty S. Rogers Track and Field facility was named after the sister of a donor who asked that it be named after her in honor of the impact she had on their life.

However, other names of entities on campus are more functional, such as with the Honors Village and the Avenue of Sciences. The Honors Village, formerly Village IV, was renamed to add distinction to the village, as it was repurposed this year to house members of the recently established Batten Honors College. The Avenue of Sciences, the new road and parking lot in front of Blocker Hall and the Greer Environmental Center, was named as such due to its location in front of the science-centered academic buildings. Since it is also technically a street, its name also serves the purpose of designation.

Life before text messaging

BY SABRINA LEMONS smlemons@vwu.edu

We moved beyond the cave drawings of history into a society where penmanship was an art form practiced and considered a hallmark of a refined lady or gentleman. A handcrafted letter was an expensive thing to craft and send, as well as was a gift to receive. Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” is a testament to written communications between two people over time and distance. A hand written note too was a demonstration of importance. If someone went through the time and expense of sitting down to compose even a short note, it was a way of commanding attention. Handwritten notes may have been written by the per sonal assistants of the one sending the message. Even with a sliver of possibility that the writer and man credited with the writing are not one in the same, the fact remains that the writings are still as relevant as the Rosetta Stone six centuries later.

haste, but in this day and age of rapid communication rarely do we actually pause and consider the origin, or source of the communication.

Communication is currency and has value, because words do have meaning. Verbal communication may not have as much value as it once did; however, it is still essential to be sure what you want to say and what you are communicating are one in the same. Robert McCloskey once stated, “I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

We here in the United States of America attribute the modern-day postal system to Benjamin Franklin, when in fact the first one was developed as early as 500-550 B.C. Newspapers are a creation for which Julius Caesar is given a nod, before paper was paper, back in 105 A.D. Seven centuries would come to pass before there would be many advancements in communication. In the early 19th Century, communication followed the timeline of the Industrial Revolution with the development of the telegraph, radio, phone, then television. It was not long before the advent of remote controls gave rise to more advanced wireless devices, such as pagers, cell phones and computers and other notification devices.

In the 21st Century we have taken millennia of evolution in language and communication and crushed it into linguistic goulash. How can one find words to express the feeling of knowing another person took the time to write you a handwritten note? They thought enough to choose a particular form of paper or greeting card, crafted a personal note, addressed and placed a stamp on an envelope and put it in a mailbox.

A phrase many hear throughout their lives is, “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” This is as true in personal communications as in professional communications. Today’s methods of communication are fast and the etiquette in using them effectively is still evolving.

It is easy to get fired up and respond in

Creativity and advancement of a society - be it via art, music, dance, writing, communications, or other industrial means - is important. Keeping one hand in the past while we reach to the future is also important in many arenas. Those who herald and champion the electronic age, or even written languages, let us take a moment and look at times in history when we were at the pinnacle of technology previously.

There are many ways to communicate today: when choosing a method of communication, consider the message you want to send, who is the intended recipient, what is the relationship and is the intent and value being received as it was intended.

For those who desire to be the next Alexander Graham Bell, or the next Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, consider those that today might know how to use the most advanced computer codes and equipment, can do calculations for astrophysics in their head, or even recite a periodic table in Latin. Does it matter if they cannot communicate their thoughts, wishes, or desires to another person due to the impact of technology? Working with people who are living their own version of the “Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” by Jean-Dominique Bauby, it is difficult not to understand the frustration of those who love and care for these people. In this environment there is a constant reminder that there is so much knowledge, emotion, thought, expression, and so many hugs that will never be exchanged between parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, or even necessary responses between the caregiver and the care recipient due to the breakdown of tradition communication. If tomorrow you had all day to leave a message behind that could be irrefutably connected back to you in 5 to 100, years what method would you use?

Behind the athletic tape

BY LUKE CHIASSON lachiasson@vwu.edu

When fans flock to various locations around campus to watch Virginia Wesleyan Athletics in action, most just pay attention to what is going on with the game, but do not think of all the work that takes place behind the scenes for those athletes to be performing at the level they do. Whether it is practice, a game, or the offseason, one place and four people remain constants in the lives of an athlete at Virginia Wesleyan: Corey Wingen, Nicole Curry, Jess Young, and Abrianna D’Onofrio occupy the Athletic Training Facility (ATF) and serve the campus as the athletic trainers for all Marlin athletes.

Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Corey Wingen is entering his second full year in charge at Virginia Wesleyan after spending previous years at Christopher Newport University. Wingen came to VWU in the fall of 2015 after the previous Head Athletic Trainer left to pursue another opportunity. Coming into a new facility without having any time to prepare for how things were done here made it difficult, but Wingen managed to adapt while making his own mark at VWU.

“When I first got here to Virginia Wesleyan, I made it a point to sit back and see how things operated on a day-to-day basis. I felt that it was very important to understand the specific nuances of the athletic department and identify the biggest needs of the student athletes here. We have streamlined and simplified the overall operation of the athletic training facility which allows for us to provide treatment effectively to all our student athletes. The athletic training room has been re-organized to put equipment in places that allow for the most efficient operation and we have also done functional/cosmetic upgrades to treatment tables as well as having the facility repainted. I make it a point to replace or upgrade something within the facility each year so that there is never any issue with us not having all the equipment we need functioning properly,” Wingen said.

In years past, there have been two full time athletic trainers and two graduate assistants from Old Dominion University, but with a new partnership with Sentara Health and a Master’s degree requirement, changes are coming to how the ATF operates. Abrianna D’Onofrio will be the last Graduate Assistant from ODU. Although only entering her second year, D’Onofrio has had quite the experience here at Virginia Wesleyan as she pursues her Master’s degree at ODU.

“My first year was a bit of a whirlwind. Getting the opportunity to be a part of the team [softball] during their run to a National Championship was an amazing experience and I can’t think of a more deserving group of individuals to experience it with. This group truly embodied the idea to #outlove. I never would have thought that I would get to be part of a teams first National Championship, especially not during my first year. The girls will tell you that I’m not lying when I say I cried [from happiness] multiple times watching them play. As an athletic trainer, we become very close with our patients. They tell us everything from when Coach made them mad, to how their doing in school or to the fight they just had with their significant other. We know their dreams and their biggest fears. And to see my girls accomplish some of their biggest dreams makes me so incredibly happy. It was wicked awesome,” D’Onofrio said.

Nicole Curry originally came to Virginia Wesleyan in the fall of 2015 as a graduate assistant from ODU, but was hired at a full time basis through Sentara as an athletic trainer at VWU after graduating from ODU last May.

Students were very pleased with seeing Nicole’s face back on campus as she works very closely with the women’s soccer team and the baseball team.

“Having Nicole back is awesome because she is a trusted face and always welcoming to any athlete that needs care,” sophomore Jimmy Ziemke said.

Nicole echoed the same message about building a relationship with the student-athletes when asked about the best part about her job.

“The relationships you build with the student athletes is great. Working with a student athlete that suffered a season ending injury, then work hard in the athletic training facility in their off time and then excelling the next season by scoring goals puts a smile on my face. The gratitude that we receive as athletic trainers from the student athletes from the care they receive makes it worth coming into work every day,” Curry said.

The key to a successful ATF is the continuity and communication between the athletic trainers and the student athletes, and that is exactly what is being built under Wingen.

“The four athletic trainers that we have on staff work well together on scheduling practice and game coverage so that we are not overwhelmed. This is especially important during the fall/winter overlap season and winter/spring overlap season that we have strong communication between the staff so we are all having time off and practices and games are being covered,” Curry said.

Although each athletic trainer has the own sport that they cover, any one of the four is always willing to help out any student athlete that comes in for assistance as each of member of the ATF as their own specialty. Students are always encouraged to stop in the ATF even when they have a common cold so the athlete, athletic trainers, and coaches are always on the same page.

The four minds in the ATF come together to successful tend to any athletes need.

“It’s a really great group because we all have different areas of care we excel in. I am particularly good with the spine, Nicole is really good with the shoulder and elbow, Jess is more our chronic injury person and Corey is our go to person for any head injury and all the paperwork/behind the scenes stuff we do,” D’Onofrio noted.

Athletic trainer Jessica Young is in her second year at VWU and has already noticed the improvement of the training staff and program under Wignen compared to previous experiences she has had at other schools, but still realizes there is a struggle with only three full time athletic trainers to cover all athletic activities.

“There is always a struggle in athletic training with staff shortage and long days in order to cover all functions. Our partnership with Sentera has allowed us a new path of hiring more staff members to make ends meet. Our partnership with Virginia Institute of Sports Medicine has opened so many doors to us and has allowed us to get our athletes seeing fantastic physicians quickly. It is amazing that we can get our athletes into surgery within days,” Young said.

The boost that the Athletic Training staff has brought to VWU will only help the Marlin coaches with their current team and in the recruiting process as the amenities offered continue to grow.

The environment that Corey and his staff have created in such a short period of time has made the Athletic Training Facility a place where student-athletes feel comfortable and enjoy themselves even when dealing with an injury, which can be some of the toughest times for an athlete. The staff is always open to hang out with and just have a conversation about whatever is happening in the world, as long as the facility is not busy.

AT A GLANCE

Men’s Soccer Standings

1. Lynchburg

2. Roanoke

3. Randolph-Macon

4. Washington & Lee

5. Hampden- Sydney

6. Bridgewater

7. Eastern Mennonite

8. Randolph

9. Virginia Wesleyan

10. Guilford

11. Emory & Henry

12. Shenandoah

Women’s Soccer Standings

T1. Lynchburg

T1. Virginia Wesleyan

3. Bridgewater

4. Randolph-Macon

5. Washington & Lee

6. Roanoke

7. Eastern Mennonite

8. Emory & Henry

9. Guilford

10. Shenandoah

Field Hockey Standings

1. Washington & Lee

2. Lynchburg

3. Roanoke

4. Shenandoah

5. Bridgewater

6. Randolph-Macon

7. Virginia Wesleyan

8. Eastern Mennonite

Score Board

Women’s Soccer

Oct. 04 Randolph-Macon * W, 2-1

Oct. 07 Randolph* W, 5-0

Oct. 11 at Sweet Briar * W, 10-0

Oct. 1 at Shenandoah * W, 2-0

Oct. 18 Bridgewater (Va.) * W, 2-1 Final - OT

Oct. 21 Emory & Henry * Pediatric Cancer Game W, 4-0

Men’s Soccer

Oct. 04 at Bridgewater (Va.) * L, 1-0

Oct. 07 Randolph * W, 3-2

Final - 2OT

Oct. 10 at Randolph-Macon * L, 4-0

Oct. 14 Washington and Lee * Senior Day L, 2-1

Oct. 18 Hampden-Sydney * L, 1-0 Final - OT

Oct. 21 at Shenandoah * W, 3-2

Field Hockey

Oct. 07 East. Mennonite * W, 2-0

Oct. 13 at Lynchburg * L, 3-1

Oct. 14 at Sweet Briar W, 13-0

Oct. 18 Randolph-Macon * L, 5-4 Final - OT

Oct. 21 at Shenandoah *

Marlin swimmers dive into history

BY COREY KING ckking1@vwc.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan Women’s swim team won its first ever collegiate swim meet with the final score of 105-47 over Randolph. The men were outlasted by the men’s team for Randolph.

Virginia Wesleyan University made history on Saturday, Oct. 21 by having their first swim meet in the history of the school. The pool was packed with around 150 to 200 people, for this first match that had been a long time in the making.

Since the Jane P. Batten Student Center

was built, the pool has been used by swim teams across the area except for a swim team from Virginia Wesleyan. “It is appropriate that after having a world class facility like the Batten Student Center for 15 years and a magnificent natatorium that we finally have an intercollegiate athletics team that can make use of that facility,” President Scott Miller said. “For 15 years, we have allowed local high schools, clubs, and organizations to use our outstanding natatorium. Now we are putting it to full

use in the Virginia Wesleyan community,” Miller said.

“Also we are grateful for the donations from Butch Everett and John Lingo who provided the seed money that allowed us to start the program a year ago and enabled us to buy the equipment, uniforms and hire a coach. And for the seed money that enabled this first season to go off in such a strong manner,” Miller said.

Basketball faces a new challenge

BY COREY KING ckking1@vwc.edu

The Virginia Wesleyan men’s basketball team is set to be in an unfamiliar place this year. The Marlins have always been a contender in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) because they can defend well due to their quickness and athleticism, as well as being able to outscore most teams. Entering this year, the Marlins are down one key element: a solidified scorer.

Last year the Marlins finished with a record of 19-9 overall and 10-6 in the conference. Their season came to an end in the conference semi-final game against Guilford College, losing by a score of 6764. Last year, the scoring was led by seniors Khory Moore and Tim Jones. Moore averaged 23.4 and Jones averaged 11.3. With the exit of the seniors, specifically Moore and Jones, the Marlins are in a new place.

“I think we averaged about 82 points per game last year and we are returning 26 points per game, so that’s a lot of points we are losing,” said Coach Dave Macedo, who is entering his 18th season as the head coach of the Marlins.

With losing all of those points, the Marlins have a lot of question marks surrounding the team.

“This is a new team and I think it’s trying to form its own identity, a lot of new pieces, a lot of unproven pieces and some youth. So we aren’t quite sure what to expect yet … but there is definitely some talent and we definitely like the pieces,” said Macedo. This puts the Marlins in a place they haven’t been in since about 8 years ago.

D.J. Woodmore was a four time AllAmerican from 2010-2014 and left Virginia Wesleyan as the second all-time

leading scorer. Upon the exit of Woodmore, entered Khory Moore. Moore, who played one year with Woodmore, averaged 23.4 points per game this past season and ended up beating his scoring record and he now sits at number two all-time. Without having a scoring force like either of these men, the Marlins now look to find who is going to make the leap into the bigger roles this year.

“I feel we have some really good options and we are going to see how they grow into their roles. With some talent back and some guys who have got better over the offseason, I expect some new guys to emerge and that’s just the way our program has operated,” said Macedo.

Last year it seemed as though fans knew if the Marlins were going to win or lose by the way they were shooting. They would either out score every team by making 3-pointers or if the Marlins were not hitting shots they knew they were in trouble. This year the focus is to take that thought out of the equation.

“I’d like to be more complete. I think we are already getting to that point where we can be a lot better in the half court defensively, we should be a better rebounding team and I’d like to think we will be more balanced on offense. We just have more guys that can do a lot of things well, but we will see,” said Macedo.

Sophomore Devin Garrett seems to feel the same as his head coach about how this season is going to go.

“We are going to have some freshmen come in and be a huge impact to our team. Each of them adds depth to our team. As they come into their own, as we all come into our own, we will see the pieces begin to come together,” said Garrett.

Garrett knows that the Marlins can put the ball in the basket as a whole, but he thinks there is one thing that is going to really put the Marlins in a good spot.

“If we are going to be really good this year, I agree with coach, we need to be solid and consistent on defense. I personally am not worried so much about our offensive abilities because we have talent. I believe if we are able to shut down our opponent then our options are unlimited, it just depends on how bad we want it and rally around each other as a family should,” said Garrett.

One of these new young pieces that Macedo and Garrett were talking about is freshman guard Corey Pelham. Having watched Pelham play before, it looks as though Macedo found himself a new bigtime scorer but to Pelham, it’s not about scoring.

“My job as of right now isn’t to try and take over scoring, my job is to be a team player and thrive in the role I have been given by coach” said Pelham. “It’s going to be different this year. Last year for the most part it was about one guy, this year we have multiple guys that can score and make big plays on defense,” said Pelham. It seems as though everyone is aware of the hurdles to come and the Marlins all are on the same page and understand how they are going to overcome those hurdles. The Marlins start off the season against outof-conference opponent William Peace on Nov 15. Peace ended the season 15-11 last year, so that should be a good early test to see what the Marlins have to work with this year.

“The camera is rolling, so we are trying to make this movie one to remember,” said Garrett.

DIGITAL STREAM WARS

Hulu and Netflix are competing to be at the top of the streaming site totem poll

BY TONY TANN tdtann@vwu.edu

“Stranger Things” vs “The Handmaid’s Tale,” T-Mobile vs Spotify, Red vs Green, Netflix vs Hulu. It’s a battle for streaming supremacy and the lengths to which these two platforms battle for your hard-earned cash has reached new heights.

It seems that as more people cut the cord, Netflix and Hulu subscriber numbers increase more and more. So, as any natural human would instinctively think, which one is better?

Netflix has had a few problems as of recent. T-Mobile has partnered with Netflix advertising that if you get a line of service with the cell phone carrier they will pay your Netflix bill for as long as you are with them. However, when you think about it, with as much as needed to pay to keep a phone on in this day in time it doesn’t seem like that much of a deal, more of a decent perk or incentive when looking to change carriers or buy your first phone. This whole promotion could be wrecked by one single line: “I don’t have T-Mobile.” Which is exactly what senior Michelle Yates said about the fact. Most people wouldn’t switch from a carrier they’ve been dealing with years just to get Netflix.

There’s also the issue of Netflix raising their prices seemingly every couple of years. According to CNN, last year, Netflix raised its standard HD plan to $9.99 per month, up from $8.99. Meanwhile if you decide $10 is just too much, there is a standard definition option which will stay at $7.99.

Netflix has dabbled carefully with price increases since 2011, when it suddenly hiked prices 60 percent for streaming and DVD-by-mail subscribers. The trend doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon with them focusing less on gaining shows from primetime television and instead adding more and more original content which Netflix is paying for directly.

Hulu has been increasing its likability to subscribers. They have recently partnered

with Spotify Student in order to give college students everywhere a deal. Every Spotify Student premium membership not only gives you commercial free streaming of all your favorite music, but it also grants access to Hulu membership for free. It’s exclusively for students, meaning it’ll end when your college email ends. Also, it’s premium, BUT it’s not the $11.99 tier commercial free version meaning yes, those corny commercials once dodged on TV will be unavoidable.

Hulu started off as a free service, however it gained so much clout that the business was forced to make it a premium service. Hulu is the only place to watch most primetime TV shows the day after they air. With some shows it’s only hours after they air.

“Being a student, that’s very beneficial because at night, that is like your primetime where you’re doing a lot of work and you can’t really watch TV like that so once it’s on Hulu you can watch it throughout the week if you need to,” said senior Antonio Boone. That kind of speed is so much better than waiting for the whole season months later like some service that starts with a big red N.

In this day and time, it’s crucial not to suffer from spoilers waiting months when you can watch the shows everyone’s talking about the very next day. In the end, on paper, both Netflix and Hulu both have pros and cons. But compared to a couple years ago when Netflix was the juggernaut that it was and Hulu almost had no contest. Hulu has definitely pulled up in the ranks to be a true corporate competitor in both show acquisitions and original products. It’s an intense battle and the winner seems to be a back-andforth battle, depending on the month that the new popular show drops.

WINTER MOVIE LINE-UP

Tis’ the season for the newest movie trailers previewing the movies to look out for

BY JULIE AINSLEY jmainsley@vwc.edu

“Coco” premieres November 22.

“Coco” is the newest movie from Disney Pixar films. The film is about a boy names Miguel who is an aspiring magician wanting to get in tough with his roots. “Coco” gets much of its inspiration from the tradition of Day of the Dead. The feature will also include a 21 minute featurette entitled “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.”

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” premieres December 15.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is the latest installment of the revived Star Wars series. the film will continue the journey of Rey, Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker. This will be the first feature released of the Star Wars saga since Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, died in December 2016. According to IMDB, none of Fisher’s scenes that she recorded have been cut due to her death.

“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” premieres December 20.

“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jugle” takes a closer look at the beloved film from1995 starring Robin Williams. The feature is about four teenagers who enter the game and take on adult avatars. The film stars well-known people such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Nick Jonas, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black. According to IMDB, Johnson confirmed that the film is not a remake or reboot, but a sequel and tribute to the original film and Robin Williams.

“Pitch Perfect 3” premieres December 22.

“Pitch Perfect is the third and final installment of the popular saga of the Bellas; starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. The takes place after the Bellas win the world championships, showing them after college. They reunite for one more competition at an overseas USO Tour, having to use the power of accapella to beat a group who uses instruments and voices. The stars of the film are saying that the end of this saga is very bittersweet.

“The Greatest Showman” premieres December 25.

“The Greatest Showman” is a film that celebrates the life of P.T. Barnum, the mastermind behind the Barnum and Bailey circus. The film comes right on the heels of the circus’ last show in May 2017. Playing Barnum himself is Hugh Jackman. According to IMDB, this film has been a dream of Jackman’s since 2009.

FRIGHT NIGHT COUNTDOWN

The Marlin Chronicle ranks films that are sure to give you a scare

Ashlei Gates| Marlin Chronicle

The following infographic portrays the results of a poll done on the Marlin Chronicle Twitter account asking people which movies scared them the most.

PENNYWISE RETURNS

The famous novel by Stephen King makes its return to the silver screen

BY BRIANNA KIDWELL bnclarkson@vwu.edu

With Halloween approaching, so many activities are on people’s schedules, from heading to the pumpkin patches, to finding costumes to be worn on Halloween Night, to the list of scary movies that are need to be watched before the big horror night. Just in time for the scary holiday, an old favorite amongst horror movie fanatics was remade into a modern day film.

Stephen King’s IT was a novel written by famous horror and suspense author, Stephen King in 1986 about a human eating entity that comes to Earth in the form of an evil clown that preys on children. The story is based out of a town called Derry up in the state of Maine about a dancing clown, Pennywise who feeds off the children of this town. The story plot is focused on Pennywise the clown stalking and harassing 7 school aged friends living in the town of Derry; he does so by disguising himself as each of the children’s fears after grabbing their attention as a harmless, friendly clown. Each character has their own experience with Pennywise and ultimately each of the children’s experiences bring them closer to one another creating a plan to defeat the clown.

On September 8, the new movie of Stephen King’s IT was shown in theatres throughout the United States and worldwide just in time for the Halloween season. A product of the new line Warner Bros. Pictures and director Andy Muschietti created what is one of the best remakes of a classic horror film for the 2017 year. The 2 hour and 15 min horror movie hit the box office hard too.

The movie earned about $317,000,000 domestically and about $636,000,000 worldwide ranking as of October 19, 2017 on the box office charts. Opening weekend, Stephen King’s IT had made $123,403,419 which is a total gross of 39% and was ranked the number one movie in the Horror genre for movie releases. The Mojo Box Office chart, currently as of the October 13- October 15 weekend, sits as the number 4 movie currently after The Foreigner as 3, Blade Runner 2049 as 2, and Happy Death Day ranking as number 1.

The movie does a great job of keeping King’s story together but adding newer, more modern twists of what the world would find scary. Between the two movies, each character has their own experience with Pennywise the clown, creating what makes Pennywise so scary, but director Andy Muschietti creates new experiences which creates a new twist for the story.

Pennywise himself is also a scarier clown physically than the 1990 version of the child eating entity. From the facial makeup to the style of red clown hair and the old clown clothing, there are numerous changes that were made to create a scarier type of clown for this movie. Muschietti did a great job relating to what 2017 scary is from the 1990 version of the movie, and the Rotten Tomatoes ratings for the movie were only one percent apart, as the Tomatometer was 85% and the Audience Score ranked at a 86%.

Overall, the Stephen King’s remake of IT was a great success for Warner Bros. Pictures, but it does not stop there. The original movie in 1990 consisted of two parts. The first being the experiences the characters had with Pennywise as children with what they thought was the defeat of the clown and creating a pact amongst one another that if Pennywise ever came back, they would come back to stop him. Stephen King then created a second portion of the story where Pennywise comes back to the character’s lives as adults where after separating they must all come back to the town of Derry to stop the clown one more time.

Warner Bros. Pictures left the suspense for their movie fans by not including the part of the movie where the characters are adults. Ultimately, the ending of this new IT movie left all horror movie fans in a suspense knowing that Pennywise the clown will be back.

THE MARLIN UNDERTOW / By Julie Ainsley

GO TO THIS:

Haunted Hunt Club Farm: Hunt Club Farm is a Hampton Roads favorite for all things Halloween. This place has everthing that puts you into a spooky mood like haunted houses, corn mazes, and hayrides. If you aren’t up for scary activities they also have pumpkin patches and a petting zoo. The special halloween events run until Halloween night, and regular admission is $29. Hunt Club Farm is located at 2388 London Bridge Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456.

BY TONY TANN tdtann@vwu.edu

As Halloween approaches there are some brave souls that celebrate the season by watching their favorite scary movies. It’s a time for horror magic and mysticism. These cold days are perfect for heating up some popcorn, eating that early Halloween candy and scaring the soul out of your bones. It builds character. If you so dare take the challenge, try to binge these top four horror movies this month. There was a fifth, but twitter killed it in Halloween spirit. Enjoy. And maybe sleep with the lights on for a while.

#4: “Friday the 13th” This franchise is the essential warmup/cool down movie. It’s wacky and campy. Something to clean the palette in between movies or to get you in the horror watching mood or when you’ve watched that seriously traumatizing movie before and you need something not so serious to take the edge off. The kills are ironic and the older ones really had some dramatic tension between the protagonist and Jason.

#3: “Sinister” Possessed children parricide a horrifying boogeyman looking to steal the souls of kids’ parents and enough jump scares to shake a knife at. Sinister has it all. It’s also funny in a way. The characters do everything in a scary movie you’re not supposed to do in a scary movie and pay dearly for it. The ending is bleak, but fitting considering all the dumb decisions the family makes throughout. Skip the sequel. It’s just better if you act as if it doesn’t exist. But the first one is a good, chilling ride to scare the whole family, maybe the parents a little more than the children.

#2: “The Conjuring” There could be argument for “The Conjuring” being number one, and I address the reasons why it can’t be in the actual number one slot, but my goodness if number one didn’t exist, “The Conjuring” would be right there. The story, based on a true story, resembles other movies, but takes a sharp left to stand out from the rest. Spiritual powers, a terrifying demon, and open ending left deliberately for franchising. Even the other two movies and the spin-offs about Annabelle are all decent for the season and are all guaranteed to make you choke on that Halloween candy.

#1: “The Exorcist” The reigning king of horror movies. Based on true events. Simple premise. One possessed demon girl, two preachers, decades of nightmares. It is the movie that defined the entire genre of horror. The movie made people faint/vomit in theatres. There’s a real-life conspiracy that specific high-pitched sounds in the movie made those actions happen. Everybody remembers the first time they either saw or heard about The Exorcist. It is often imitated and heavily duplicated. However, it’s almost like paying respect before/after watching all the new age Horror slasher flicks. It is the Horror grace you say before partaking in the consummation of the scary movie supper. Be all. End all. The perfect movie to scare the life out of you for Halloween.

Honorable mentions go to The Ring, which had so few votes that it’s just believed that not a lot of people have seen it. It comes highly recommended. And according to a majority of the population on campus, “Hocus Pocus” must also be mentioned as an essential Halloween movie, though some feel it doesn’t fit the genre.

WATCH THIS:

Boo 2! A Madea Halloween: Madea is back again with a sequel made just for Halloween lovers. The film takes place at a campground where Madea has to escape monsters and goblins alike. The film came out on October 20 and made $21,226,953 on its opening weekend.

ENJOY THIS:

WAC’s Halloween Block Party: The Wesleyan Activities Council is throwing a block party with a seasonal twist. There will be snacks, beer and wine for purchase for people 21 and over, and a DJ. And of course, costumes are welcome and encouraged. The event is Friday, October 27 at 8:00 PM in the Grille.