Locals travel to Russia on National Young Leadership mission
Story published on May 3, 2019 for the Jewish News of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
Andrew Nusbaum and Eric Miller departed Norfolk on March 31 to attend their first study mission with the National Young Leadership Cabinet in Russia.
The National Young Leadership Cabinet, an elite leadership-training program of the Jewish Federations of North America, educates and connects the next generation of global Jewish leaders and philanthropists, ages 30–45. Cabinet members participate in study missions to experience Jewish life abroad, as well as to interact with people who have been impacted by Federation.
“The purpose of this trip was to connect with other like-minded Jewish leaders from around North America and travel together to see the impact of the Federation dollars we raise in Russia and Georgia,” says Nusbaum.
While in Russia, Miller and Nusbaum explored the Jewish community in St. Petersburg, visiting the ORT de Gunzberg Secondary School—known for its language’s curriculum (English and Hebrew), Jewish education, STEM, and IT programs. They also visited the YESOD Jewish Community Center, the first major Jewish construction project in St. Petersburg in nearly 100 years.
“YESOD, Hebrew for foundation, serves as the hub of Jewish communal life,” says Miller. “Thousands of Russian Jews are touched by the services and programs offered through the YESOD, such as Hebrew classes, drama clubs, and help for high school students to attend the International BBYO Conference.”
Miller and Nusbaum also traveled to Georgia, where they saw how Federation helps vulnerable populations.
“While in Tbilisi, Georgia, we visited homes of people who, through the JDC, are provided food, medical assistance, home repairs, and other necessities, as well as the opportunity to participate in Jewish life through activities at their daycare center,” says Miller.
“One of the women we had the privilege of meeting was 63 and had been living in her one-bedroom unit for several decades,” says Nusbaum. “She would not have enough income to live off of if not for support the Federation provides.”
“Mission trips like this are truly amazing,” says Miller. “Not only are you able to see the positive impacts you are helping to make on those in need, you are able to interact with those people and hear their stories.”
Tidewater Learning Connection: For parents and educators
Story published on February 4, 2019 for the Jewish News of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
An initiative of the Hebrew Academy of Tidewater Konikoff Center of Learning, the second annual Tidewater Learning Connection (TLC) brings high quality parenting and educational programming to Tidewater. Workshops and prominent experts in education, child development, and parenting will offer a variety of tools and insight for educators and parents.
“TLC is an event that provides school administrators, teachers, educators, and parents with tools to make them successful in the classroom and in the home,” says Heather Moore, Hebrew Academy of Tidewater head of school.
The event includes world-class speakers and presenters, such as Dr. Wayne Holmes, lecturer at the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University of the United Kingdom, Julie Morgenstern, author of Time to Parent, and April Johnson, a pediatric occupational therapist, whose topic is Sensory Processing 101.
Holmes has been involved with education and education research for more than 25 years, receiving his PhD in Learning and Technology from the University of Oxford. He is the co-author of the upcoming book, Artificial Intelligence in Education: Promises and Implications for Teaching and Learning.
“Companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google are investing millions of dollars developing AI in education (AIED) products, while by 2024 the global AIED market is expected to be worth around £4.5 billion,” Holmes notes in an interview for the Open University.
Holmes’ research is focused on artificial intelligence in education and explores how AI might be used to enhance learning and how to ensure the application of AI is socially responsible.
“Whether students and academics welcome it or not, artificial intelligence is increasingly being deployed in universities around the world, and will significantly impact the future of university education,” says Holmes.
At the event, Holmes’ colleague, Sir Anthony Seldon, will deliver a pre-recorded presentation describing how artificial intelligence will change the education landscape. Seldon is the vice-chancellor of The University of Buckingham and a British historian, educationalist, commentator, and political author.
New York Times bestselling author Julie Morgenstern—who comes to TLC through the Jewish Book Council and the Lee and Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival—will share strategies and frameworks from her latest book, Time to Parent, on how to structure and spend true quality time with kids.
“TLC attendees are going to learn a completely different way of viewing time as parents, educators, and caretakers in a way that’s liberating,” says Morgenstern, who will explain how to divide one’s time to be present and focused on each activity, whether it’s related to children, work, or personal growth.
April Johnson, a pediatric occupational therapist who has been helping children and their families in Tidewater since 2002, will address sensory processing in children, a hot topic in child development.
“Sensory Processing is the way in which our bodies interpret the senses in the world around us,” says Johnson. “When someone is having difficulty interpreting sensations, it can make even the simplest of tasks very difficult. It affects the social, emotional, and educational aspects of our lives.”
Johnson’s presentation will show parents and teachers how to find the hidden sensory clues that could contribute to a child’s lack of attention, emotional instability, or learning difficulties.
“I hope to inspire teachers to look at their classrooms with a new lens and to understand that each child has different sensory needs to help them find their optimal level for learning, growing, and socializing,” says Johnson.
This year’s event has been streamlined to make it more accessible to educators, parents, and the entire Hampton Roads community. Tickets are just $10 and the event is one day at one location. A book sale, book signing, and a light breakfast are included. Professional development points will be available.
“Anyone who is interested in education is welcome,” says Patti Seeman, Hebrew Academy of Tidewater development director. “This is an inclusive event for the entire community.”
Boxing World Champion Dorin Spivey joins Simon Family JCC team
Story published on January 21, 2019 for the Jewish News of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
Photo/Thomas Mills UJFT
Dorin Spivey has been boxing for more than 26 years. He’s won two National Boxing Association titles and the World Boxing Association NABA lightweight title, and has fought in some of the biggest fights on television. Now, Spivey has joined the fitness staff at the Simon Family JCC to help members get fit and learn the art of boxing.
His class, World Champion Boxing Class with Dorin Spivey, utilizes high intensity training to build agility, strength, and stamina. He also teaches the principles of boxing and strength training to help develop the lean, strong, and confident physique that fighters are known for.
“I want people to be able to learn a skill, learn a trade such as boxing, and learn how to get in shape with it,” says Spivey. “I would like people to enjoy themselves. It’s really a skill, an art, and a fun time.”
Spivey began his career in 1992 when he got his professional boxing license, despite having no amateur experience. “I had to learn on the job,” says Spivey. “The guys I had beaten in the beginning all had amateur experience. I beat them by conditioning and hard work.”
Inspired by watching boxing legends Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker on TV, Spivey began pursuing boxing after he graduated high school.
“When I first started, people kept telling me, ‘You can’t do it, you’re too nice, you’re too this, you’re too that,’” says Spivey. “But, somehow, boxing clicked for me and it was like my alter ego and I was this ferocious fighter in the ring.”
Spivey’s ferocity led to an extraordinary career, one that saw him compile a 50–7 record, with 33 wins coming by knockout. Now, Spivey is ready to move on from competitive boxing and help people feel confident and empowered through the sport.
“When you’re boxing, it makes you feel invincible—like nothing can touch you, and you can protect yourself regardless of where you go, plus it’s a great stress reliever,” he says. “This is what I want to do: share the things I know so everyone can experience these amazing benefits.”
An Economic Dance: The latest chapter in the Classic City's struggle between national and local business
Five-part story published on April 10, 2017 for the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Local Athens residents are concerned that the Classic City’s culture and vibe are being slowly ousted in favor of large, big-box retailers, hotel chains and residential apartments.
Melissa Tufts, the director of the Owens Library and the Circle Gallery at the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design, feels that the closures of several local establishments in downtown Athens will leave a lasting, negative impact.
“The changes will definitely de-personalize the street life,” Tufts said. “I just think people feel less comfortable when they're surrounded by these cavernous buildings that shut out the light and air, it just changes the dynamic of how you experience the street.”
Over the past two years, several local establishments, such as Jackson Street Books, NONA and East West Bistro have closed. On the other hand, national stores and student focused apartment complexes, such as Georgia Heights, J. Crew and CVS, have opened up downtown.
Some locals feel that the recent commercialization in downtown have brought forth cultural, architectural and aesthetic changes.
"It changes the character of downtown, it changes the traffic patterns," said Meera Naqvi, a graduate student at the University of Georgia. "Downtown used to be very kind of locally owned places where you got to know people over the years and their families. You felt that you were part of a community."
However, the question remains: Is the issue as big as residents are making it out to be, or are the changing dynamics making some positive impacts on the Classic City?
Photo/Courtesy CED
Story published on November 2, 2016 for the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design
When the University of Georgia Capital Campaign kicks into full swing this month, some of the content used to promote the campaign can trace its roots to the College of Environment and Design.
Seth McWhorter, who graduated from the CED with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in 2011, has been helping UGA create graphics to promote its fundraising initiatives. His work, which was discovered through the online commerce site Etsy, fit the style the university was looking for.
“I was actually contacted by someone in the UGA Development Office who had seen several art prints that I sell on Etsy,” said McWhorter. “So far, I’ve completed illustrations for the Arch, Uga, the Chapel Bell, Herty Fountain, and the Old College building.”
During his time at the CED, McWhorter discovered that while he enjoyed landscape architecture, his true passion was for graphic design.
“Upon starting the landscape architecture program at UGA, it became obvious that my favorite part of the curriculum was going to be anything that dealt with drawing and illustration,” said McWhorter. “It wasn’t until a portfolio class during my third or fourth year that I was ‘exposed’ to the graphic design world – I believe it was Professor Doug Pardue who showed us the typography documentary, Helvetica, which is nerdy and awesome. From that point forward, I kept a keen interest in graphic design while I finished the program.”
Even after taking a landscape architecture job in North Carolina after graduation, McWhorter found himself sketching, drawing, and “looking at various design, illustration and typography blogs.” After starting a blog to post his sketches and drawings, and getting positive feedback, the CED alumnus realized that he might be in the wrong career.
“Pretty soon I found myself staying up late to design, draw and paint,” said McWhorter. “It took a couple years at that job in North Carolina to realize that maybe I should pursue this little ‘side hobby’ full time.”
McWhorter switched gears completely and applied for the graphic design program at the Creative Circus, an advertising portfolio school in Atlanta. After being offered a job at Fitzgerald & Company, the Atlanta based advertising agency where he was interning, McWhorter’s transition from landscape architect to advertising creative was complete.
“Once they offered me a full-time position as a designer, I left the Creative Circus,” said McWhorter. “I am now an Art Director for Fitzco, working on Coca-Cola and a number of other clients.”
Despite his career shift, McWhorter acknowledges that the CED prepared him well for the professional world.
“At every turn I was amazed at how many skills I had picked up at the CED came in handy,” said McWhorter.
Photo/Thomas Mills, College of Environment and Design
Chloe Weigle is the CED's first member of the UGA Arch Society
Story published on October 4, 2016 for the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design
Fifth-year University of Georgia College of Environment and Design student Chloe Weigle is a busy person these days. Besides her class work, preparing for graduation in May, and looking for opportunities when she leaves UGA, Weigle has the proud distinction of being the only CED student in history to be a member of the prestigious UGA Arch Society.
“I just wanted to do it from the beginning because it was the best way I could have imagined spending my fifth year, doing that service for the university,” said Weigle, who is getting her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture. “I’m super honored. Every round that they accepted me back for another interview I was like ‘I can’t believe them.’”
The Arch Society, which was founded in 1992 and named after the most famous symbol of the university, is a unique student organization for students in their third year or higher. Members provide service to UGA as official hosts and goodwill ambassadors.
For Weigle, the transition to become an Arch Society member was an easy one since she had been a student ambassador for the CED.
“I was an ambassador for CED for two years, so that really got me interested in being in the Arch Society,” explained Weigle. “There’s a two year cap that they have for ambassadors, so I did the two years and I wanted to keep doing more.”
Weigle’s drive to serve the university and her community comes from her past experiences and her interest in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other service organizations after she graduates in May 2017.
“I did a spring break trip my freshman year that was an alternative spring break, so it was all about service and I was like, ‘Wow, I would really love to be at this place for a year if I could,’” said Weigle. “It might be really good to take a year of just service and not really worry about how much money I’m making and just more worry about nothing but the service I’m doing for someone else.”
While Weigle weighs her post-graduation plans, her commitment to the Arch Society has allowed her to not only serve the school she loves but also promote UGA to various students, parents, and alumni.
“That’s the real reason I want to do the Arch Society: to talk about UGA and show how much I love this school to other people and get them excited about it,” said Weigle with a smile. “I get to do that.”
Attentive CED student's notification leads to cleanup of chemical spill in Lilly Branch
Story published on September 23, 2016 for the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design
Photo/Thomas Mills, College of Environment and Design
On the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 3, University of Georgia College of Environment and Design graduate student Kiley Aguar noticed something strange on campus.
Aguar, along with friend and masters of fine arts student Zachary Harris, were exploring the Lilly Branch watershed for the UGA Watershed competition, one of the four watershed outfall locations on the UGA campus meant to pipe storm water, when they noticed a “noxious odor.” As the two students investigated further, they realized that something was very wrong at Lilly Branch.
“We noticed fish swimming in the stream, but knew something was wrong when we watched a beaver leave its bank den and walk to a little sandbar,” said Aguar, a CED graduate student. “The beaver looked confused, and was not concerned with us at all. It was almost like it was asking for help.”
The next morning, after the two graduate students contacted the UGA Police, they found dead fish, crawfish, and insects washed onto sandbars. The stream was also littered with clumps of styrene resin, a white chemical substance, and a translucent film floating on top of the water.
“As we walked downstream we continued to find dead creek wildlife and residue along the creek banks,” said Aguar. “The smell lingered the entire length of the stream, but we didn’t notice any evidence of the chemicals or dead wildlife at the confluence of Lilly Branch and the North Oconee River, so that’s good.”
Aguar believes this incident shows how environmental stewardship programs, such as the UGA Watershed competition, are important to promote local natural landscapes in the community.
“People need to be exposed to natural landscapes because most of these natural areas are out of sight, out of mind, which makes it easier for others to mistreat or neglect the landscape,” said Aguar. “There is a good chance this spill would have gone unnoticed.”
As a result, Aguar asks students, community members, and even passersby to take action if they see something is wrong.
“It might seem easy to walk by an unattractive, stinky creek, and expect someone else to take care of it,” said Aguar. “But, trust your instincts, talk to a friend, tell the authorities, and investigate if you think something is wrong.”
Photo Courtesy CED
Yoldez Halleb is CED’s first Fulbright Scholar
Story published on September 13, 2016 for the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design
Sousse is one of the oldest cities in Tunisia. Pronounced “Sousa,” the city was founded by the Phoenicians in the 11th century BCE and later became a Roman colony in the second century. In addition to its great beaches and olive groves, the city is also host to an authentic medina, an Arab town with ramparts and markets, that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
With such a rich and vast collection of culture and inspiration, it is no surprise that University of Georgia graduate student Yoldez Halleb, who is from Sousse, Tunisia, decided to join the Master of Historic Preservation program at the College of Environment and Design.
“I started reading about the MHP programs from different universities,” said Halleb, who started classes at the CED in August. “Each university offered different courses. However, the flexibility of the CED’s MHP program allows students to explore a wide array of interests thanks to the variety of the courses offered, not to mention the CED’s impressive staff and faculty members.”
Additionally, Halleb looks to channel her passion of historical conservation to the preservation of historical sites.
“In my studies of the history of art and architecture, environmental impact, and protection of built patrimony, I developed a strong passion for historic conservation,” said Halleb. “I realised the great challenges of protecting the world’s architectural, cultural, and historical heritage in the face of the world’s development and destruction.”
Most impressively, however, is the fact that Halleb will be paying for her education with a grant from the prestigious Fulbright Program, a United States government-sponsored program designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” Signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1946, the Fulbright program is now active in over 160 countries and provides grants to approximately 8,000 students annually.
“The CED believes that the Fulbright Program provides an important way to engage in collaborative international scholarship and encourages student and faculty participation,” said Professor and Graduate Coordinator of the MHP program James Reap, who was a Fulbright Scholar teaching at the Jordan University of Science and Technology from 2005 to 2006 in Irbid, Jordan.
The first Fulbright Scholar the CED has ever had, Halleb is honored to represent both her country and the program.
“I feel fortunate and honoured to be a Fulbright scholar,” said Halleb. “Although I know I have a big responsibility to present the Fulbright Program and my country Tunisia the best way I can, getting an American education was a dream come true.”
Halleb feels confident that through the education she will get at the CED, and her passion for historical preservation, she can make a difference back home.
“I would like to go back to my country Tunisia and apply what I have learnt here,” said Halleb. “As an architect, I feel that it is crucial to give back to humanity and help in preserving what is left. Combined with my architectural background, I can actually play an active role in protecting the significant historic sites.”
America's best idea: Our National Parks celebrate 100 years
Story published on August 25, 2016 for the University of Georgia College of Environment and Design
On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the National Park Service Organic Act, officially creating the National Park Service. Tasked with protecting and managing the 35 national parks and monuments of the United States, the NPS’ main mission was to, “conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Today, 100 years later, the NPS cares for over 400 parks with over 20,000 employees. The agency’s size, scope, and mission for preserving natural and historic resources have, unsurprisingly, struck a chord with students at the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design.
Cari Goetcheus, associate professor at the CED, who teaches in the graduate historic preservation program, sees a strong correlation between what the CED teaches and what the NPS practices.
“The NPS is definitely very integrally connected with what we do at the college,” said Goetcheus, whose previous work includes being a historical landscape architect with the NPS in Atlanta and Washington D.C.
“Whether it’s being a park ranger or using landscape architecture design skills to create new areas for parks—additional parking, signage, visitor education, etc., or heritage conservation skills to identify and interpret cultural resources to the public— it directly relates to what we teach at the CED,” said Goetcheus.
Several CED faculty emeriti, including Ian Firth, Richard Westmacott, Allen Stovall and Catherine Howett set the precedents for the study of historically significant landscapes in America’s National Parks and Goetcheus continues that tradition.
“When I first got here, there was a huge amount of interest from the MLA students,” said Goetcheus. “Now we’re beginning to get more interest from the MHP students and, broadly, undergraduate students, which is awesome.”
The burgeoning interest can be attributed to the founding of the CED’s Cultural Landscape Laboratory, whose main mission is to explore how society can best sustain the ecological, social, and cultural systems that constitute America’s most treasured landscapes. In addition to the lab, the college has added two courses (Introduction to Cultural Landscape Documentation and Introduction to Cultural Landscape Conservation) and continues to offer the Rural Preservation course. Students can also get undergraduate and graduate certificates in historic landscapes. Goetcheus points out that cultural landscapes are all around us, sometimes right under our noses.
“You might not think that you’re in a cultural landscape, but you usually are, as it is any geographic area that has been manipulated by human kind,” said Goetcheus. Places that hold significance for people, “like presidents’ birthplaces, farmsteads, maritime parks and even hiking trails, are all cultural landscapes.”
Moreover, due to the overlapping philosophies of the NPS and CED, many students have expressed interest in joining the NPS for their careers.
“Traditionally, the NPS has been one of the key employers of landscape architects, planners and historic preservation professionals if you wanted to go into a federal career position,” said Goetcheus. CED is teaching people how to do cultural landscape inventories and reports and many students come to her and say ‘I want to work for the NPS. How do I do that?’”
At least three students (Fielding Link, MLA, Laura Bradford, MLA, and Daniel Weldon, MHP) have gone to work for the NPS recently, and long-time career employees like Lucy Lawliss (MLA and certificate in Historic Preservation from CED) and Susan Hitchcock (MHP) continue to make their marks on the national park landscapes.
In addition to the long-term management of these important cultural landscapes, landscape architects had a long affiliation with the design of National Parks, going all the way back to their inception.
For more information about the Cultural Landscape Lab at CED, or the cultural landscape courses, contact Cari Goetcheus at cgoetcheus@uga.edu.
To learn more about cultural landscapes in the NPS, visit https://www.nps.gov/cultural_landscapes/
Raising Hope: Mission trip inspires student documentary on human trafficking recovery program, leads John Davis '15 to life of film
Story published on June 22, 2015 for Virginia Wesleyan University
Recent Virginia Wesleyan graduate John Davis ’15 wants to change the world. But instead of using political prowess, advanced technology, or complicated algorithms, he plans to use something else: his video camera.
For the last four years, Davis has accompanied VWC Chaplain Greg West on an annual Nicaragua Spring Break Mission Trip organized by the Chaplain's Office. There, the group worked with House of Hope, a rehabilitation organization for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Deeply impacted by this experience, Davis wanted to give back but didn’t know how.
“Before going to Nicaragua, I was clueless about third world countries and how people in them live,” says Davis, a native of Kailua, Hawaii. “I had very little knowledge about the problems they face. House of Hope provides a safe space for a select number of women—most of whom are raising children—to live and educate themselves and earn a little bit of money while learning a trade.”
Davis, who majored in communication and minored in history, began to conceptualize a project in November 2013 that would allow him to give back. Around the same time, VWC Professor of Communication Stu Minnis approached him about a collaborative independent study of documentary film. The two ideas clicked and the foundation for a film about House of Hope was formed. That spring, Davis returned to Nicaragua armed with his video camera.
The result was “Nica Esperanza.” Under the guidance of Minnis, his faculty mentor, Davis created a 10-minute documentary that showcases House of Hope’s Tuesday Morning program—a worship and work initiative that combines faith and jewelry making. The program gives trafficking survivors hope and offers them an opportunity to forge a better life for themselves and their children.
“I want people who are absolutely clueless on the issue of human trafficking and sexual slavery to come away wanting to learn more and wanting to help with the solution,” he says. “If there was an organization like House of Hope in every country, the world would get a whole lot closer to solving this horrifying crisis.”
In April, Davis presented “Nica Esperanza” at the Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival in Oklahoma, where it won Best Student Documentary Short. This was a turning point for the young filmmaker, who says it helped him discover what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. This fall, he will begin pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media at American University.
But his own personal achievements aside, Davis hopes that viewers will see his film and recognize the importance of organizations like House of Hope. Moreover, he hopes it compels them to action.
“It's going to take a lot of people's efforts to solve this crisis,” he says. “And you cannot solve a problem you do not know about.”
A call to action: Participation in the "It's On Us" campaign part of a nationwide stand against sexual assault and domestic violence
Story published on February 10, 2015 for Virginia Wesleyan University
If you’ve been around campus lately, you may have noticed something different. Amid the plethora of posters, announcements and event schedules lining the walls of the Batten Student Center, the words It’s On Us stand out prominently for the Virginia Wesleyan community to see. The phrase encapsulates a campaign launched by the White House in September 2014 that seeks to engage college students and members of campus communities nationwide in the fight against sexual assault and domestic violence.
In partnership with Generation Progress, the campaign aims to fundamentally shift the way people think about sexual assault and domestic violence and to inspire individuals to take personal responsibility in helping to prevent these crimes. Endorsed by mainstream celebrities like actor Jon Hamm and hip hop artist Common, the initiative has gained serious momentum. At the 2015 GRAMMY awards, President Obama delivered an important appeal message.
“It's on us, all of us, to create a culture where violence isn't tolerated, where survivors are supported, and where all our young people—men and women—can go as far as their talents and their dreams will take them," he told viewers.
Dean of Freshmen Jason Seward and Director of Residence Life McCarren Caputa brought the initiative to Virginia Wesleyan last fall when it launched, viewing it as an opportunity for important dialogue.
“The It’s On Us campaign has really focused on sharing people’s thoughts about sexual assault and how it’s impacted us,” says Seward. “It was something we could do very simply by talking with students, faculty and staff, by getting their thoughts and making it public.”
Posters across campus feature the strong sentiments of student leaders like R.J. Bonniwell ’16, who says It’s On Us has helped bring VWC’s student population together for a good cause.
“I am taking a stand against sexual violence because it is our job to enforce morals,” Bonniwell’s poster reads. “Sexual violence is the most immoral crime against humanity.”
Since its inception at VWC, the It’s On Us campaign has seen significant and positive reception. That reaction can mostly be attributed to the way the campaign was communicated, says Caputa.
“It’s passive and not in your face,” she says. “It’s nice to have other people talking about this. We've had students come to us and ask, ‘How can we get involved?’”
While the initial stages of the campaign have been successful, in order to make a lasting impact at VWC, It’s On Us will need to be a community effort led by students.
“It’s awesome that students have said ‘We’re not going to take this,’” Caputa says. “Students are pushing it forward.”
Seward and Caputa plan to expand the initiative at VWC in the near future, maintaining one of the campaign's most important aspects: unity.
“We don’t want to see a small group of people taking the lead and moving this forward,” says Seward. “We want to see the community as the solution, the awareness and education process. The more we can unite in this and say, ‘This isn’t OK in our communities; this isn’t OK period,’ the better off we’ll be.”
How Do They Do It?
Piece written for the September 20, 2014 edition of The Sunday Read
As the Virginia Wesleyan Women’s Soccer team took the field yesterday, they trotted out from their locker room in unison, clapping loudly and shouting, “Let’s go white,” for all of Trinder Field to hear. The squad resembled a well oiled machine, tuned for success much larger than a simple conference game on a cool and windy Saturday afternoon. Battle hardened experience, confidence and youth took the pitch as the starting 11 were announced from the press box. The day was theirs and they knew it.
30 feet next to them, nine young women, with their backs turned to the stands, braced themselves for another long day. Their world couldn’t have been more different than the young, swagger filled Marlins.
As the nine green and yellow horizontal jerseys took their place, the players heard some last words of encouragement from their head coach, the lone human on their end of the sideline. It mattered not as the stench of their fear hovered over the pitch.
As the game whistle screeched into the still air, the massacre began.
54 seconds in, VWC freshman forward Lauren Shular’s goal affirmed what everyone already knew: this team of green and yellow stripped jerseys, this team with a 5-foot-3 goalkeeper, this team that fielded just nine players against the third ranked team in the conference, this team, well, this team had no chance.
For Hollins University, it was nothing new. Coming into the game on Saturday, Hollins had been outscored 43-0 in five games. By the end of their match against the Marlins, it was 52-0.
One must wonder: what is it like to lose before ever having a chance to win? Hollins University, a small, private four-year college of about 700 students in Roanoke, Virginia, was in turmoil before anyone in the conference kicked a soccer ball this season. Their athletic director and women’s soccer coach quit during the summer, prompting a massive, and quick, turnaround within the program. Little is expected this season, especially when much of the attention is being placed off the field.
It’s a testament to the nine young women who wear the signature green and yellow uniform. To be doused in such a colossal amount of loss, turmoil and hopelessness, one must ask: how do they do it?
In their six games so far, Hollins only has six shots on goal, zero corner kicks and 101 saves by their goalkeeper. Their opponents? 220 shots on goal, 45 corner kicks and just three total saves by goalkeepers.
In the face of that terrible nightmare, those nine players are still playing and not quitting.
For all the blunders, lack of physical play and miscommunication they’ve had so far, Hollins has never stopped. They’ve showed up to every match and played like respectable collegiate athletes. They’ve been placed in such a situation that no matter how much tenacity, toughness and heart they show, they most likely won’t win a single game all year.
So, for the nine young women representing a Hollins program currently in shambles, success will be on a much smaller scale. They’ll be fighting for that one goal, which will surely bring an eruption of joy, elation and excitement to a team barren of such traits. They’ll be fighting for the scoreless draw, a result that will require more blood, sweat and tears than any other match this year. They’ll be fighting for hope, something so foreign to them this season, any glimpse of it might ignite a spark of pure soccer bliss.
When the final whistle broke the silence on the field Saturday, Hollins had once again been utterly pummeled, this time 9-0. Hollins had been beaten, battered and worn down for the sixth straight game. Amazingly, the team never held up the white flag, never begged to have the whipping stop and never complained about their two person disadvantage. Because, somehow, this team has not done what anyone would have after their 10-0 season opening loss: quit.
Photo/Thomas Mills, The Marlin Chronicle
Story written for the November 15, 2013 issue of The Marlin Chronicle
As the soccer ball nestled itself in the back of Randolph College’s goal net in Wildcat Stadium, senior and center midfielder Brian Cornell immediately began running towards the Virginia Wesleyan sideline. When he arrived to the crowd of elation, celebration and joy, he knew what to do.
“I fell to the ground ‘cause I knew the dog pile was coming,” said Cornell with a laugh. “I was waiting for it.”
Not only did Cornell get mobbed by his teammates in the corner of the field, his game winning penalty kick 90 seconds into overtime sealed the Marlins 2-1 comeback win over the Wildcats. In the process, the team captured the programs first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship in five years and an automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament.
“It took me a while to kind of grasp what had happened,” said junior and forward Isaac Arrington. “I mean all offseason, spring season and summer is about making your craft better all for that one moment. But, I just sort of stood there. I kinda just took it all in.”
“We felt all along that we were the best team in the ODAC,” said first year Head Men’s Soccer Coach Christopher Mills.
However, the ODAC title game was no easy feat. The Marlins, who had suffered a 4-1 defeat to Randolph College during the regular season, needed to find a way to stop the fourth ranked offense in the country, which was averaging 3.44 goals a game.
Anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Connor Kirkham, the Marlins defensive back line held the Wildcats to a clean sheet for the first half.
“The back line would bend but not break,” said Arrington. “They would not give up. Our defense, phenomenal stuff.”
Yet, Arrington and the rest of the Men’s Soccer team knew that it was only a matter of time before the offensive juggernaut made it’s strike.
In the 76th minute, the Wildcats punched first. Senior forward Corey Sindle launched a long, low strike that landed itself at the back of the Marlins goal net.
“I was mad. I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me,” said Cornell. “This is not happening, not against Randolph.”
“We still had 14 minutes left on the clock,” said sophomore center attacking midfielder Josh Kemp. “There was a bunch of us that were saying, ‘We’re still in this,’ and ‘We still got it.’”
One of the team members gearing the Marlins ready for their counter-attack was captain and junior midfielder Josh McNamara, who had pulled Arrington aside after the Wildcats goal to explain the new game plan.
“They scored and Josh McNamara, our captain, walked over to me and said, ‘Alright, I’m giving you the ball, you’re running down the side of the field and you’re going to put in a good ball,’” said Arrington.
26 seconds later, Arrington did exactly that. Sprinting down the left flank of the Wildcats back line, the junior forward lobbed a perfect ball into the Randolph box. Yet, instead of hitting a Marlin player, the ball deflected off Randolph junior and defensive back Coulton Watson, scoring the goal and putting the game at 1-1.
With neither team breaking through in the final minutes of the game, the match was extended to overtime. Fittingly, the Marlins wasted no time getting in position to score as they were awarded a penalty kick 90 seconds into overtime.
“We got the penalty kick call after Isaac Arrington got taken down by two guys inside the box,” said Mills.
As Cornell lined up to take the penalty kick, no one had any doubt that the senior center midfielder would make it.
“He went right over and grabbed the ball,” said Mills. “He just had that look in his eyes.”
“The look Cornell had walking up to take the penalty kick, I was like, it’s going in,” said Kemp. “He was as confident as I had ever seen him. I was ready to run to the corner and celebrate.”
And celebrate they did. Hugs, tears and joy spread throughout the Marlin’s sideline as the ODAC trophy passed from one hand to another. The win was especially important for the team’s seniors, who could finally breathe a small sigh of relief.
“Before us, every class that came through Wesleyan had won an ODAC title and we had just accomplished it,” said Cornell. “It was a little bit of pressure. But, we definitely handled it really well and got the title.”
“They worked so hard for four years,” said Mills. “They’ve been a part of the program with a lot of the lows and to end it on this extreme high is definitely exciting for them. Something they definitely deserve.”
“We wanted it, we needed it because the last time we won the ODAC title was five years ago, so our seniors had never won one,” said Kemp. “It was due really.”
However, the celebration will be short-lived. After defeating the offensive juggernaut in Randolph College, the Marlins are set to face the defensive juggernaut of Carnegie Mellon University. The 13th ranked Tartans have nine shutouts in 16 games and are 14th nationally in shutout percentage. The Marlins, however, are not fazed by their new challenge in the NCAA tournament.
“We’re not at our goals yet,” said Cornell. “We haven’t achieved our goals, we still have work to do.”
“I’m going to treat it like another game,” said Arrington. “They’re going to have to match us. We’re not going to settle for their level. We’re pretty confident.”
The Marlins will play the Carnegie Mellon Tartans on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Sequestration nation: Governmental budget cuts threaten the Hampton Roads area, leaving Wesleyan worried about financial aid
Story written for the March 28, 2013 issue of The Marlin Chronicle
First came the sequestration: a government proposal to cut billions of dollars in spending to help balance the national budget. Then came the shock: spending cuts that affected essential programs, placed thousands of workers on unpaid leave and reduced hours for millions of jobs.
Yet, a very serious question remains: How will the sequestration, with its drastic cuts taking place across the nation, affect the Virginia Wesleyan community?
“From what we can tell and what we’ve been told, it doesn’t look like it’s going to affect Wesleyan,” said Director of Financial Aid Teresa Rhyne. “What they’ve budgeted for us is what they’re going to keep. A lot of schools around us are seeing cuts.”
However, that is not to say that Virginia Wesleyan will be completely immune to the effects of the sequestration.
According to Rhyne, parent loans will see an increase in interest, going from 4 percent to 4.2 percent. Also, new loans that are being processed will have a higher origination fee, being raised to 1.05 percent.
“Hopefully, before fall semester comes around, the sequestration will be over” said Rhyne. “Then the loans will go back down and we won’t have to deal with it.”
For students, a major area of concern is the Work Study program, a program that provides money for students to use on tuition, living and necessities.
Dr. Leslie Caughell, an assistant professor for the Political Science Department, understands the importance of the Work Study program for students.
“For students, Work Study is a great thing,” said Caughell. “It’s one of the ways the government levels the playing field for students that are disadvantaged.”
“Work Study helps me pay for my gas and all my things that I need to do,” said sophomore Morgan Piero, who works for the history department as a Work Study student. “My family could cut out my car, cable and we still could not afford the tuition. Work Study helps.”
For sophomore Jules Whitehurst, who is an employee at the school bookstore on Work Study, any potential cuts to the program would impact not only his livelihood, but also his education.
“Most of my earnings go to buying books for class,” said Whitehurst. “I need books for class. It would definitely reflect on my grades.”
The Work Study program benefits not only the students, but it also helps universities and colleges.
“Universities and colleges like to hire people on Work Study,” said Caughell. “Part of their pay is coming from the federal government, so the universities and colleges are paying them less.”
Ryhne indicates that the Department of Education has yet to release any guidelines on how to deal with potential cuts to the Work Study program.
“We still would have to pay students minimum wage,” said Ryhne. “Maybe we would reduce the amount of student workers we have. Or, we would reduce the amount they earn. So, instead of $1500 for the year, it would be reduced to $1000 on the year.”
However, Ryhne is confident that the sequestration will not affect Work Study or the other financial programs on campus.
“Right now, from what we can tell, our funding is going to stay the same,” said Ryhne. “Everything looks like it will be stable for the 2013-2014 year.”
The good news for some students is that there is more aid coming to them for the upcoming year.
“The Virginia Tuition Assistant Grant, for students that live in the state of Virginia, is going up by $300 next year,” said Ryhne. “The Pell Grant is also going up by $95, which will help out a lot of our students.”
However, students are still apprehensive about the sequestration. Since there is no finalized budget in place, anything can happen.
“You never know with politics,” said Piero. “I don’t know what would be the outcome.”
Thankfully, the financial forecast for VWC doesn’t seem to have grey, cloudy skies anytime soon.
“I don’t see any changes coming,” said Ryhne. “I’m not foreseeing that. Everything is set for the upcoming year.”