The Marlin Chronicle Senior Copy Editor Kirkland Butler captures the greenery and wildlife on campus in the springtime. Collage arranged by Lily Reslink.
Discussion encourages inclusivity THURSDAY 4.24.25|| MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
BY MIA DIEHL
mjdiehl@vwu.edu
To account for changes surrounding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, Virginia Wesleyan University replaced what was known as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEIC) with The President’s Council on Inclusive Communities (PCIC). According to Dr. Keith Moore, vice president of Campus Life and co-chair to the PCIC, the council is appointed at the beginning of each academic year.
“The committee is made up of a cross-section of campus groups to include faculty, campus life, academic affairs, and athletics. We also welcome members of the student government association to participate,” Moore said. Part of the mission of the DEIC is to provide programs enhancing the educational value of the campus through dialogue. These include the Virginia Center of Inclusive Communities (VCIC) workshops, one of which occurred on April 17. This workshop was sponsored by the PCIC and
Theresa Dill|Marlin Chronicle Participants gather in Pierce Suite for the dialogue-centered workshop on inclusive leadership strategies.
VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
the Robert Nusbaum Center in partnership with the VCIC. “The council is responsible for the planning and coordination of programs celebrating the vibrant culture of our campus community and greater society,” Moore said. “Through our collaboration with the Virginia Council for Inclusive Communities, whose Hampton Roads office is located on our campus, we offer opportunities for faculty, staff and students to come together for workshops throughout the year.” The workshop, “The Hidden Costs of Groupthink: Leadership that Builds Inclusive Teams,” was led by Meagan Starks. Starks is the Director of Hampton Roads Programs at the VCIC. The aim of this workshop, according to the Robert Nusbaum Center, is to challenge students to think critically about how decisions are made, whose voices are heard and how to lead with intention and impact. During this event students were given the opportunity to identify their own leadership style. These included action-oriented, big picture thinkers, analytical and empathetic styles of leadership. Students then discussed the strengths and weaknesses of these leadership styles and strategies for building inclusive teams. “Inclusivity to me ultimately means being able to understand different perspectives and allow everyone to have a voice,” freshman Grace Whitt said. “Overall, it’s important to strive to be a good leader that focuses on inclusivity to make sure that the most effective result is produced based off combined effort of everyone involved.”
See DEI Page 3
Homeless shelter project highlights shared humanity
Kathy Stolley|Courtesy Taken when the project was active, a student talks with a guest. The students began their service BY AIDEN CROGHAN accroghan@vwu.edu by distributing sandwiches to For ten years, Virginia homeless people on the streets, Wesleyan’s CMAC became a but they aimed for longevity. “They were working on week-long shelter for people building something sustainable; without permanent housing. they first came up with the From 2007 to 2016, Wesleyan’s midnight sandwich runs, then Winter Homeless Shelter took they came up with the idea for the place each winter session (now shelter,” Stolley said. January term). This overnight The project received funding shelter provided what many from the PORTfolio program, other shelters could not, such which was directed by the nowas haircuts, games and freshly retired professor, Dr. Larry cooked meals. This shelter gave Hultgren. As a program dedicated people a place to stay and students to engaged learning and service a place to learn about how to help learning, many students and staff others through service. involved volunteered at local Alumni Felecia Kiser and Nuni shelters and churches. Rae started the shelter, which was “The idea was, ‘let’s try to paired with a service learning do this on our campus,’ because course taught by Dr. Kathy Stolley, it was difficult for some of the professor of sociology, and Robin churches we were visiting to do Takacs, adjunct faculty. Kiser and this. Some were not able to do it,” Rae were sophomores working Hultgren said. for the Office of Community Service (now Wesleyan Engaged) when they started the shelter.
‘If you’ve been on the fence, the time is now’ --- Page 2
With a disproprtionate number of foster homes to children in in-progress casino near Norfolk’s Harbor Once hosting legends such as Jimi Park, and the proposed transformation need, foster care advocates like Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles of MacArthur Center into a walkable, Andrea Grant call for support. and Louis Armstrong, The Dome was btblack@vwu.edu
a concrete cradle of sound, a seaside spectacle representative of the area’s music-loving culture. Torn down in the ’90s, The Dome is now being reborn at the heart of a massive new entertainment district in Virginia Beach. As it rises again, locals are asking what this means for the future of music, culture and community in the 757. Set to open in spring 2025, the new Dome is no ordinary concert hall. It’s a centerpiece of Atlantic Park, a $350 million development that blends entertainment with lifestyle. In addition to the indooroutdoor venue capable of hosting over 7,000 guests, the project includes a Wavegarden surf park, 300 apartments, a boutique hotel, restaurants, shops and two new parking garages. The Dome’s design leans into flexibility, with massive hangarstyle doors that open onto an outdoor lawn, making it suitable for everything from concerts and comedy shows to weddings and corporate events. The Dome’s rebirth isn’t happening in isolation, it’s part of a larger wave of redevelopment attempting to reshape the 757. From the opening of Rivers Casino in Portsmouth more than a year ago, to the
See SHELTER Page 4
Inside Look:
Straight off The Dome BY BRENNAN BLACK
Kirkland Butler|Marlin Chronicle
Lily Reslink|Marlin Chronicle
mixed-use promenade, cities across the region are reimagining how they attract both residents and visitors. These massive projects reflect a broader push to modernize the area’s identity — not just as a beach town or a military hub, but as a full-fledged cultural and entertainment destination. For some, it’s a long-overdue investment in local potential. For others, it’s a sign of gentrification creeping in, raising questions about who gets to benefit from this so-called progress. Among local musicians, the buzz is loud, and so is the anticipation. Chesapeake native and metal musician Jordan Requizo first heard about The Dome from a classmate working on the construction crew. His reaction? “Very excited,” Requizo said. “I thought about how this will bring in a lot more bands to the local scene.” He’s already got his eyes set on upcoming shows, including a performance by metal band Mastodon in May when the venue opens. Other acts following the venue’s opening include Three Dog Night, Melissa Ethridge and Joss Stone, Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo, and Killswitch Engage.
See THE DOME Page 9
Andrea Grant|Courtesy
VB Cherry Blossom Festival --- Page 10
Duda Bernardo|Marlin Chronicle
There’s no need to go all the way to DC to experience the warmth of a Cherry Blossom Festival. The City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation department hosted its annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
3 tips to surviving campus as a commuter student --- Page 6
“But whether you are driving 50 miles or five, with the right tricks up your hoodie sleeve, it is not just doable — it can be downright cozy.”
Elliot Fylstra|Marlin Chronicle