‘Scouts Honor’ talk sheds light on sexual abuse THURSDAY 4.18.24 || MARLINCHRONICLE.VWU.EDU
Boy Scouts of America reported that over 72 years, more than 7,800 of its former leaders were involved in sexually abusing a child, according to ASK LLP. In Kennedy’s presentation, a quote from the Washington Post described how common sexual abuse is in Boy Scouts. “The Boy Scouts are a magnet for men who want to have sexual relations with children. Pedophiles join the Scouts for a simple reason: it’s where the boys are,” the quote said. Kennedy was a cornerstone piece in the recent Netflix documentary titled, “Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America.” The documentary recounts the coverups of sexual abuse the Boy Scouts of America went through to guard their reputation.
BY COY CAMISCIOLI clcamiscioli@vwu.edu
On Thursday, March 28, Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions Dr. Doug Kennedy, held a talk on the issues of sexual abuse in Boy Scouts and its impact on his own life. Kennedy’s presentation, “Beyond Scouts Honor: Sexual Abuse, Leadership, and Institutional Failure,” centered around informing people about how common sexual abuse is and the challenges in speaking up about these problems. “If you are abused as a Scout, it is incredibly difficult to come forward,” Kennedy said. He pointed to several factors, such as the hierarchical nature of Scouts and the stigma surrounding victims of abuse.
Ultimately, Kennedy said he was “tired and worn out from hiding,” which led to him reporting his experiences to authorities, and after a long and winding road, sharing his story with the public. “The best thing you can do when you run from your problems for so long is to turn around and run right at them,” Kennedy said. The decision to come forward takes immense courage, but also tactful navigation of the legal system to reach justice. 60% of rape or sexual assault cases are not reported to the police, according to the Central MN Sexual Assault Center. This leads to most abusers never spending a day in jail. In short, survivors have no
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VIRGINIA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
McKenna Howenstine|Marlin Chronicle Dr. Doug Kennedy shares his experiences and advocates for sexual abuse victims during a talk in Brock Commons. He stresses that he is available for those who need the space to talk.
NIL rules create DIII financial opportunity BY KYLON LEWIS khlewis@vwu.edu
Laila Jones|Marlin Chronicle Junior Annie O’Shea stands center stage during a dress rehearsal of “Anastasia,” in which she plays the female lead Anya.
‘Anastasia’ musical offers ‘a constant sense of nostalgia’ BY VICTORIA HANELINE vfhaneline1@vwu.edu
“Anastasia,” a 2017 musical set just after the Russian Revolution, was performed at Virginia Wesleyan in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center from Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7. The musical centers around lost memories, especially those of Anya, a female lead. Dr. Travis Malone, professor of Theatre and Anne B. Shumadine Dean of the Batten Honors College, said that the musical was selected to “push” performers. He picked a musical that would showcase
and hone their talents, as well as because of the current political climate. Malone also emphasized the themes of memory. “There’s this constant sense of nostalgia,” Malone said. Songs such as “A Rumor in St. Petersburg” and “Land of Yesterday” get across this longing for an idealized Russia, that might not have ever existed and is regardless in the past. Malone said the musical asks us to confront the power of our own memory. The musical centers around Anya, an amnesiac who, in her desire to escape a newly-
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communist Russia, falls into a scheme with Dmitry and Vlad Popov. These men are con artists who convince Anya to pretend to be Princess Anastasia, the presumed dead daughter of the late Tsar Nicholas II. Rumors surround Anastasia’s survival and put the leads on the run from the communists who overthrew the Romanov government. Through the course of the musical, Anya is shown to be Anastasia herself, but in the end rejects the title of princess to run away with Dmitry. Anya is played by Annie
Sophomore J-Term not justified -- Page 6
“I feel that it is unfair to make a graduation requirement with such a large price tag.” -- Opinions Co-Editor Kara Hopkins
O’Shea, a junior majoring in Music Education. “Anya was one of those roles I dreamed of performing,” O’Shea said. She described watching the movie, and then, once the musical came out, daydreamed about performing her. She said she didn’t ever think she would play the role. O’Shea said she “really resonates with the character” of Anya and that she felt she had to prove herself worthy of the role. One of the most prevalent themes is memory, with Anya
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Bookstores value ‘collaboration over competition’-- Page 10 “The book crawl is a wonderful way to let the community know about all the indie bookstores in our area.” -- Tera Alston, The Printed Word Bookstore
In the world of college sports, a gamechanging transformation has taken place with the adjustment of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules. For years, studentathletes faced tight restrictions on their earnings outside of school-sponsored scholarships and benefits, but now, with these rules removed, it has produced changes in their finances, experiences and overall well-being as student-athletes. The ability to profit from NIL has provided college athletes with financial opportunities that were previously out of reach for many years. Now, athletes can leverage their status to secure endorsement deals and sponsorships, easing their financial burdens and providing stability during their college years. With NIL regulations in place, studentathletes can negotiate deals with game developers to feature their likeness in the game, sell their own personalized merchandise to further expand their brand or make endorsement deals at a younger age. This allows student-athletes the opportunity to see another side of business. Although NIL is permitted in all three
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