MC Fall 2020
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
MACE & CROWN
FALL 2020 EST. 1930
2020
old dominion university student magazine
CONTENTS
FALL 2020, ISSUE 9
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Natalie Hockaday
COPY EDITOR
Ashley Mazza
NEWS EDITOR
Carly Herbert
A & E EDITOR
Fatima Rivera
TECHNOLOGY EDITOR
Tyler Eddins
SPORTS EDITOR
James Onuska
DIGITAL EDITOR
Kieran Rundle
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Amber Wilson
FRONT COVER
Collage
ASSISTANT EDITORS
AviYonce Scott
Paula Phounsavath
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ciera Seymour
Leah Chavez
AviYonce Scott
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jorge Zamudio
@SellerMedia
@Joztakethosee
@shootsbyb_
@shot.by.suave
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
03 Editor’s note
2020 OVERVIEW
NEWS
04 Year Review
06 COVID Changes Life as we Know It
10 Nailed The Artform
TECHNOLOGY
SPORTS
12 The Games We Play
14 New School of Cybersecurity Seeks to Build National Alliance
18 Esports
20 ODU Women’s Basketball Eyes On C-USA Title and More
22 Advocating for Equality in sports
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Annastasia Bimler
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Sean Fitzpatrick
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Nicholas Clark
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Dr. Joyce Hoffmann
Jen Cohen
Mace & Crown is a student-run magazine written and published for the students of Old Dominion University. Originally
founded in 1930 as The High Hat, the paper became The Mace and Crown in 1961. Mace & Crown is primarily a selfsupporting
magazine, maintaining journalistic independence from the university. All views expressed in this collegiate
magazine are those of the author, not of the university, Mace & Crown or the editors.
Colophon: This magazine was produced in Adobe Indesign in accordance with Mace & Crown Style guide. Most of the
copy is Arno Pro 9 pt Typeface with complimentarty type families designed by Amber Wilson.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
24 Artist Spotlight: Jorge Zamudio
26 Top Albums and Films During COVID Quarantine
CREATIVE ENCLAVE
27 Kyla Bennett
28 Christina Lindsey
30 Skin
32 What Made Me Go Into Painting
33 143
01 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 02
EDITOR’S NOTE
EDITOR’S
NOTE
I think I speak for everyone when I say that this
year has not gone as expected. With the high
hopes of counting down to the new year we were
all hit with a series of events that changed the
dynamic of how we live that will affect us for the
rest of our lives. The uptick in the coronavirus
has forced us to most things completely virtual
with limited human connection. Yet despite all
the negativity, we all have been able to find a way
to keep our heads up and seek entertainment
through other outlets. Whether we tuned in on
the Versuz battles, zoom called old friends and
family or started a new hobby, we all found a
way to keep going and that’s what you’ll see in
this issue.
Taking a look back on this year is sort of
weird for me because time has simultaneously
moved slow and fast at the same
time. March feels like it was last week
yet forever ago at the same time. It’s as
if everything has been put on pause and
the world will resume as normal as soon as
this is all over. But it won’t, with the presidential
election and the continuation of
the Black Lives Matter movement over
the past few months, as a country we are
shifting and reconstructing once again.
This magazine issue gives insight on the
beauty and pain this year has given us.
JAN
MAR
MAY
JUL
2020 started out as a whirlwind with the COVID-19 first travel bans for the US
being imposed on the 6th. It wasn’t until the 20th that the first COVID-19 cases
reached the US. Donald Trump’s impeachment trial for obstruction of Congress
and abuse of power began on the 16th. To end off the month, Kobe Bryant and his
daughter Gigi were killed in a helicopter crash on the 26th.
In February, President Trump was acquitted in his impeachment trial while
Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison
for sex crimes after dozens of women came forward during the #MeToo movement accusing
him of sexual abuse. The first Americans to die of COVID-19 pass away.
FEB
The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Colleges across the country send home their students and close their campuses.
The 2020 Summer Olympics are postponed. The US Stock Market reaches its
lowest day since 1987.
In April the U.S. Department of Defense releases 3 declassified videos of UFOs,
sparking an alien buzz on social media with everyone talking about how they are
real. During this time, rumors were also circulating the North Korean leader, Kim
Jon Un, had died or faked this own death, after a few weeks it was released that he
was still alive. Protests against Coronavirus restrictions and precautions begin.
In May, the deaths of two African American men, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd
sparked massive protests, with hundreds of thousands of people flooding the streets of
cities across the country to protest racial injustice and police brutality. These protests
would go on to last months. During this time, “murder hornets” also make their first
appearance in Olympia, Washington.
Halfway through 2020, in June, the Black Lives Matter protests continued to gain
more traction and spread past America’s borders, reaching countries across the
world. President Trump gets back on the campaign trail to host rallies in preparation
for the 2020 election as the primaries begin. The Supreme Court blocks the
Trump administration’s attempt to block DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals), allowing young immigrants to be protected against deportation.
In July, Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested for her involvement with Jeffery
Epstein and his sex crimes. The NFL’s Washington Redskins make a statement
saying that they will be changing their name after years of questioning the cultural
accuracy and effect of their current name. During this time, COVID-19 restrictions
and regulations begin to loosen up as the country attempts to reopen. At the end of
July, a national coin shortage begins, which comes as a result of fewer people using
cash during the Coronavirus.
As summer comes to an end, the West Coast begins to catch fire, with recordbreaking
wildfires spreading from Oregon to California. These fires are so big
that smoke from them was able to be seen on the East Coast. Meanwhile, on the
East Coast, Hurricane Isaias makes landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1.
Democratic Presidential Candidate, Joe Biden, nominates California Senator,
Kamala Harris, as his running mate.
By Carly Herbert,
News Editor
APR
JUN
AUG
SEP
By September, schools and businesses were re-opening with strict regulations. On Sep.
18, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies of cancer, she was a trailblazer
in women’s equality and was the 2nd woman, after Sandra Day O’Connor to serve on the
Supreme Court. On Sep. 23, the grand jury decision of Breonna Taylor, indicting one
of the three Lousiville Metro Police Officers involved in the fatal shooting. Trump and
Biden have the first fiery debate of the 2020 election season.
Natalie Hockaday
Editor and Chief
On Oct. 1, only two days after the debate, President Donald Trump tests positive for
COVID-19. Oct. 7 California Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence
faced off during the Vice Presidential Debate. Amy Coney Barrett nominated to fill
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court Bench.
OCT
NOVEMBER
Joe Biden & Kamala Harris.
03 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 04
NEWS
COVID-19
Changes Life
As We Know It
Looking back on the past months and
the pandemic that paralyzed the world
By Carly Herbert, News Editor
On Jan. 9 the World Health Association
reported on a mystery illness that was
affecting the population of Wuhan, China.
The illness, SARS-Cov-2, better known now
as Coronavirus or COVID-19, was causing flulike
symptoms such as fever, headache, and
sore throat for those infected.
“The U.S. reported
its first cases, and
on Feb. 3 the U.S
declared a Public
Health Emergency,...”
In under a month, the symptom list had
lengthened to include loss of taste or smell,
nausea, and intense fatigue. Only a week and
a half later, the U.S. reported its first cases,
and on Feb. 3 the U.S declared a Public
Health Emergency, knowing the virus was
soon to turn into a global pandemic.
With flights being canceled and statewide
lockdowns being put in place, colleges
were put in the position where they needed
to decide if they were sending their students
home to quarantine.
For ODU, the lockdowns began to go into
effect while their students were on Spring
Break, so instead of sending them home
right away and immediately converting the
rest of the semester to virtual learning, they
added an extra two weeks to their break.
This was so administrators and executives
could monitor the spread of cases and the
state of the country before moving everyone
out.
On March 20, the University sent out the
email, alerting students that the rest of the
semester would be continued online. For
many, this was a time of crisis. Grocery stores
were experiencing shortages on just about
everything and travel bans prevented people
from leaving their states.
Freshman, Jonathan Dowd, was supposed
to have his high school graduation
last spring, but the virus started his summer
break prematurely. “We were definitely sent
home to do online school work which was in
the senior year,” said Dowd. “That screwed
up prom, that screwed up graduation, it
screwed up everything that was important
that last stretch and senior.”
When Dowd went home, he realized how
severe some of the shortages in grocery
stores were. “Towards the beginning
was wipes, it was toilet paper and it
was non-perishables but even then
that’s always a shortage especially
nowadays,” explained Dowd. “ It’s
a bit easier [now], but it’s still hard to
find a good like 20 pack of Clorox wipes
when I go to Office Depot 10 months ago
and get them for two bucks. It’s a five-pack
for like 20 bucks so it’s like I’m not willing to
pay those prices.”
In some states and counties, curfews were
even enforced for their residents to try and
keep the distance and slow the spread.
“I think at that point, it
will be the one that will
be widespread enough
that we’ll have it.”
While schools and restaurants are open
again, grocery stores are maintaining the
necessities, and masks are more readily
available. The end is not quite here yet and
the long-term effects of the past six months
are still up in the air.
Masks are still mandatory in restaurants,
gyms, and especially classrooms. Colleges
have had to crack down on their rules and
regulations regarding any form of gathering,
whether it be, involvement meetings, extracurricular
events, sports, and even lecture
classrooms.
This semester ODU has begun hybrid
learning, where classes are either held on
online platforms such as Zoom or WebEx,
or they are held in much smaller numbers
in classrooms big enough to properly social
distance. For many students, even if their
classes are listed as “in-person” they still
have the option to stay home and join the
class virtually if they are sick or aren’t comfortable
going into class.
Freshman Logan Smith had almost all
of his classes switched to a virtual platform
which has caused him to realize how
different it is learning at home compared to
learning in a classroom. “I prefer my in-person
classes,” said Smith. “My online classes
I just find it too hard to focus and not get
distracted.”
Throughout campus, there are signs to
help remind students to be safe, wear their
masks, and keep a six-foot distance. Despite
it being such a major adjustment to college
students’ way of life, ODU has had a relatively
low number of cases. In order to keep the
community and students up to date on the
status of the virus on campus, the University
created an online dashboard that tracks the
number of cases, tests, available quarantine/
isolation spaces on campus, and a weekly
breakdown of how many new cases there
are.
While college students have been able
to adjust well, Dowd makes the case that
younger children may be the most drastically
affected by this pandemic coming through
during their formative years. “It’s gonna be
a problem because especially for younger
kids,” said Dowd. “I would say ages five to
10 because those are crucial growing years
and, you know, meeting friends and gaining
that social interaction to build up into social
interaction in adulthood. But to take that
away, you’ve got to go find a good five
chunk of growth so then when they go out
into college and they don’t know what to
do.”
While there’s still so much uncertainty as
to when the country will return to a sense of
normalcy, there is also hope. “I’ve heard a lot
of people say that they don’t think things will
ever get back to like a normal,” said Smith.
“Personally, I think they will, I just think it
takes time and everyone like cooperating
and working together, and following like the
CDC guidelines, I think, I think I can get back
to normal just.”
“Maybe like a year after a vaccine hopefully
comes out,” continued Smith. “I think
at that point, it will be the one that will be
widespread enough that we’ll have it.”
Over the course of this pandemic, the
ODU community has come together to
provide students, staff, and so many more
access to important technological resources,
places to stay, and meals to put on the table.
While the country waits for a vaccine, we will
continue to work together as a community
to ensure the safety and security of
all those that ODU serves.
05 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 06
NEWS
Nailed
The Artform
Diamond Frost sits down for a
discussion on business and nails.
By: Carly Herbert
Photo by: @SellerMedia
This summer, during the reemergence of the Black Lives
Matter protests, Black businesses across the country found
themselves in the spotlight. During this time where support
was pouring in for the Black community, one of the ways
people choose to show their appreciation and respect was
through supporting Black owned companies.
Across social media specifically, people
shared their favorite Black-owned
businesses including boutiques, restaurants
and cafes, and hair and nail salons.
One of Old Dominion University’s own,
Diamond Frost, started her nail business
on Instagram while she was still in
school. Her Instagram @nailbydime__
has over 23,000 followers and her business
is fully booked until November!
Based out of Chesapeake, VA she began
her nail empire in 2018. She began
doing nails as a hobby and a way to
pass time. When she realized how much
she enjoyed the process, she ordered
her own supplies and started practicing
on her self.
“When I came back for my sophomore
year at ODU I moved into the Village,
into those apartments and I started
doing [nails] out of there,” said Frost. “It
just kind of blew up from there.”
When Dime first started out, she never
anticipated her business to grow the
way that it did.
“It still shocks me to this day,” Frost
admits. “Sometimes when people get
asked who did their nails and they say
my name, they already know who I am
which is crazy.”
Frost thinks that living on-campus at
ODU contributed to how she grew her
clientele so fast.
“Even though I wasn’t charging that
much at first, but I was pretty good
for being a beginner and when you’re
on campus with thousands of girls,
they want to get their nails done,” said
Frost. “When you’re first going into college
you’re more self-conscious of your
looks, you’re trying to find yourself.”
Nailsbydime was accessible and good
quality for a good price for college students
which helped fuel the fire of her
rapidly growing business. Frost pointed
out that students not having their cars
on campus and not being able to afford
some of the other places around campus
contributed to her success.
For Frost, she believes that the reason
women take the time and spend the
money to get their nails done is for selfcare.
“As a woman, I just know if I’m ever
going through something, just having
my nails done, or my hair or my lashes,
it just makes me feel ten times better,”
said Frost. “It’s just pretty and nice, and
it’s definitely a pick-me-up.”
But Dime is not one to do the bare
minimum, she wants her customers to
feel as taken care of as possible, which
is why she likes to give hand massages
with lotion or hand scrubs to her clients
to make them feel pampered.
“A lot of people come not just for the
nails, but for the conversation which is
why all my appointments are confidential,”
explained Frost.
When it comes to the culture surrounding
black beauty, Frost thinks that
nails are something that have come in
and out of history going through all different
cultures.
“Right now we are at a point where
there are more black nail techs in the
field,” said Frost. “I’ve had people tell me
that having a black nail tech inspired
them to be a nail tech which definitely
07 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 08
NEWS
“A lot of people come not
just for the nails, but for
the conversation which is
why all my appointments
are confidential”
makes me feel good.”
“This is something that gives people
the opportunity to be their own boss
and work for themselves,” says Frost.
Lately, Frost says she has noticed that
black women have been leaders in nail
trends. She also points out the influence
of things like music that inspire certain
trends in the nail industry.
When it comes to cultural appropriation
of black beauty, Frost believes that
doing nails is an art form.
“Everyone has hands and the nail
beds, but it’s a little different when it
comes to hair and clothing, especially
when you get into actual cultural
clothing,” explains Frost. “I, personally,
wouldn’t say that it doesn’t apply to nails
but it’s not really something you see in
the nail industry.”
“At the end of the day, what I do is a
luxury, it’s not a need-based industry,
which I always have to remind myself,”
said Frost. “But I charge what I charge
because there will always be people
who are willing to pay to get their nails,
hair, lashes, and stuff done before they
even pay their bills.”
“I grew up going to a private school for
a little while and I feel like looking the
part, or at least what I call looking the
part, definitely made me feel a lot better
because I wasn’t from the same place
as everyone else.”
Now, Frost thinks that its important to
take pride in their ancestors and their
beauty. “I think that Black pride is definitely
now showing through, so just like
really soaking in that culture,” said Frost.
She has also noticed the rise in support
for Black businesses.
“This is a time where more people are
trying to tap into different stuff whether
it be hair, nails, lashes, all that stuff.”
Frost also included that she tries to be
conscious of what businesses she supports
as well.
“When I think about where I can go
get lunch and stuff I’m always like ‘Well I
can go there but there’s this other place
that’s a Black-owned business’ and even
if I hadn’t tried it before I would much
rather give my money to them,” explained
Frost.
Frost has big plans for her future in the
beauty industry, starting with growing
her business’s social media platform.
She also hopes to keep selling her
products and teaching others to appreciate
the art of doing nails.
“It’s not just about the money for me,
it’s my passion. I just want to become
the best nail artist that I can become. I
want to be able to keep supporting my
family.”
Frost also wants to continue teaching
others how to be successful in the nail
industry and just in owning a business.
@nailbydime__
Nails are an
Artform
Photo by: @Joztakethosee
09 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 10
TECHNOLOGY
THE
GAMES
WE
PLAY
Leah
Chavez
We found a handpick of games
released to help you through
quarantine. From hard parties
to thoughful words.
PARTY
HARD
Party Hard was released back in 2015 but
it’s never too late to partake in this pixelated
gem published by tinyBuild. In this indie
game of action and stealth, you are a man
that just wants peace and quiet. It’s 3:00am
and the neighbors are partying way too loud.
That’s when you decide to do something
about it by any means necessary. Cleverly
take out rooms full of partygoers ranging
from girls in bikinis and boas to cowboys
and bikers. The trick, or main mechanic,
here is to make sure you aren’t seen or risk
being chased down by the cops. As you
progress, you’re able to find out more about
this mysterious masked man you’re playing
as while taking on new levels. These levels
are full of noisy house parties, beach parties,
rooftop parties, cruise parties and more.
Take the life out of the party, literally,
on Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One,
Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Linux
and Mac for only $9.99.
MONSTER
PROM
Dating and monsters? You heard right, coming
from a mature quirky game by the name of
Monster Prom, originally released April 27,
2018. Monster Prom is best described as a
competitive dating sim; play alone or up to
four friends. Either way, you will only have
three weeks to get a date for the prom! In
these three weeks, you are expected to have
an interest in mind as you build your stats.
Invest in smarts, boldness, creativity, charm,
fun or money in the hopes of impressing
one of six main love interests. Will you
choose Vera Oberlin, the business-savvy and
money-hungry Gorgon? Or, maybe Liam de
Lioncourt, a purple vampire hipster that only
orders food to take pictures of it? Getting
a date is not easy, rejection is a normal and
regular occurrence in this game. Regardless
of possibly getting your heart broken, the
dialogue is funny and unapologetic. Coming
from the developer and publisher, Beautiful
Glitch and Those Awesome Guys, they truly
want you to be your worst self. Catch this cool
indie game on
3
60
PARSECS!
Halloween is all about being spooky and space
can be just as spooky, if not more, as haunted
houses and vampires. Space can be even
spookier when your space station is about to be
attacked by an incoming missile and you only
have 60 seconds to escape to your shuttle.
Before taking off, you have to grab as many
supplies and crewmates as possible. The shuttle
can hold three other crewmates, not including
your choice of captain. One of the biggest
necessities is soup. After escaping, it is now up
to you to determine how your crew will survive
through this text adventure with occasional
pictures. Spend your time in space exploring,
crafting, leading, surviving and making
important decisions. Anything could mean
the end in this game with mechanics such as
permadeath and procedural generation.
Starve, get a soulmate, get attacked by aliens,
get sick or make peace. There are tons of
possibilities in 60 Parsecs! But, the difficulty lies
in surviving long enough to get that victory.
Discover the importance of soup for $9.99 on
Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and
Android.
COFFEE
TALK
Coffee Talk is a visual novel talking-simulator
developed by Toge Productions. In this chill
and jazzy game, complete with 90s inspired
pixel art, you are a barista in an urban fantasy
Seattle. There are a variety of fantastical patrons
that will come into your shop to vent about their
problems. Fix up a cup of joe with your own
choice of latte art and watch life happen in front
of you. The most unique feature about this game
is that the story will change and branch not by
the dialogue options that you choose but by how
you serve your customers. It’s hard not to relax
in this cozy cafe environment complemented by
warm drinks and lo-fi music.
Coffee Talk was released earlier this year
for $12.99 and is available on Microsoft
Windows, Nintendo Switch, PS4
and Xbox
KIND
WORDS
Have you ever had a need to be listened to?
Or, maybe needed some advice? In these
trying times, it’s good to know that games
like Kind Words exist. In Kind Words, you
receive your very own tiny pink room where
you write and receive letters. In these letters,
you can write about anything bothering
you or that you need help with. Or, if you’re
feeling kind and helpful, you can write
replies to the letters of others. The best thing
about this system is that it is all anonymous.
No one knows who you are, so let out
some steam and breathe. The game is wellmonitored
so trolling should be the least of
your worries. Enjoy your safe space, vibe to
the lo-fi beats, trade desirably cute stickers
and have a good time with your newfound
pen pals.
Kind Words was released on
Sept. 12, 2019 and is readily available
on Steam for just $4.99.
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch,
Linux and Mac for $11.99.
11 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 12
TECHNOLOGY
New School of
Cybersecurity
Seeks to Build National Alliance
By AviYonce Scott
Image by: NICHOLAS CLARK
Since the beginning of this year, many of our
mid-pandemic social experiences have become
solely digital. As our lives become more public
and present online, increasing amounts of data
about us is more available on social platforms
like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Zoom, and
others. We like to think the information we put
on the web is protected by privacy policies and
two-step authentication, but what if there is a
breach? Breaches can compromise your identity,
private, and financial information, and even
the most secure institutions could expose you.
The more information we trust online makes us
more vulnerable, which increases our need for
protection or cybersecurity.
“Sanzo says they use
what is called a network
improvement community
(NIC) where each team’s
findings are reported
back to a larger network
for discussion and deeper
understanding.”
Old Dominion University has found a way
to begin to address our vulnerabilities with
tech and education while also bridging a
gap within the cybersecurity workforce. The
Cybersecurity Inclusive Pathways toward
Higher Education and Research (CIPHER) is a
project created by a team of faculty researchers
who are redefining cybersecurity education
for students at ODU and beyond. The initiative
was headed by the project’s principal
investigator, Dr. Hongyi “Michael” Wu and
project manager, Dr. Karen L. Sanzo. CIPHER
has made significant strides to work alongside
the Center for Cybersecurity Education and
Research (CCSER) to establish the first ever
School for Cybersecurity in the fall of 2020.
As a growing research institution, ODU’s
Cooper, M. (2017, July 24). 36,000 unfilled Va. jobs have $88,000 starting pay, governor says. Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.wtvr.com/2017/07/24/virginia-computer-jobs/
Garvey, J. (2020, August 06). ODU Team Working on Initiative to Grow and Diversify Cybersecurity Education. Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://www.odu.edu/news/2020/8/cipher_project
Morgan, S. (2020, August 04). Cybersecurity Talent Crunch to Create 3.5 Million Unfilled Jobs Globally By 2021. Retrieved October 06, 2020, from https://cybersecurityventures.com/jobs/
“The program was a great opportunity to build
an inclusive community for future cybersecurity
workforce, so we developed a proposal which was
selected by the NSF for funding.”
decision to open a School for Cybersecurity is
a direct response to growing student interest
in the cybersecurity program. Student enrollment
grew from 11 to over 800 students in
only the span of a few years. Principal investigator,
Dr. Wu states that CIPHER’s goal is to
address various issues within and around the
campus’ community.
“The program offers cutting-edge educational
experiences to students and professionals
in the field of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Wu “It
also develops high-impact, cross-disciplinary
research initiatives that center cybersecurity
so we can be a source of cybersecurity expertise
to the community, Hampton Roads, the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and the nation.”
According to predictions from Cybersecurity
Ventures and other experts, an estimated
3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs will be
available in the U.S. by 2021. In 2017, former
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe reported
that there were 36,000 unfilled cybersecurity
jobs in the commonwealth, and the Governor
went as far as signing a bill establishing
Computer Science as part of the core curriculum
for K-12 in every school in Virginia making
it the first state to ever make this change. In
Virginia today, there are over 50,000 cybersecurity
jobs openings. Although cybersecurity
offers attractive salaries that range from
$80,000 a year or more, this is compelling evidence
that education is what can fill those
empty positions. One of the first steps to introducing
educational programs is by securing
funding and thorough research.
Dr. Wu says his involvement with CIPHER
started when he and his multidisciplinary team
of researchers secured funding through the
National Science Foundation (NSF). “The program
was a great opportunity to build an inclusive
community for future cybersecurity workforce,
so we developed a proposal which was
selected by the NSF for funding.”
With a $100,000 grant from the NSF, the collaborative
team of faculty researchers were
able to determine key issues to address as
they plan to implement cybersecurity into
K-16 curricula. However, securing the funding
is only the beginning, while the real challenge
is addressing implementation, inclusivity, and
building a solid cybersecurity curriculum.
CIPHER’S project manager, Dr. Karen Sanzo
brings a fresh perspective, with a background
in K-12 education leadership. Dr. Sanzo says
her involvement in the project began through
a two-year fellow position.
“I came on board to this project through
work I did as a fellow for design thinking and
strategic planning that I concluded last year,”
Sanzo said, “And through that work I had the
opportunity to be engaged in the tech talent
pipeline work with computer science and computer
engineering, and through there I became
connected with cybersecurity.
As a former school administrator, Dr. Sanzo
has a unique background in education that
allows her to serve as the project’s K-12 liaison.
CIPHER has reportedly collaborated with
over 175,000 students from ten different local
school districts and faculty from dozens of universities
through a series of working group activities
which include organizing work meetings
and forming task forces to address different
facets of the project.
“When we launched the project in the
summer, we had over thirty partners. I reached
out and I asked our partners if they would like
to be on one of these task forces. There were
originally five, but we’ve condensed them
to four. When we had our first organizational
meeting for each team, I organized those
meetings while also leading colleagues in those
teams who have volunteered to co-lead those
taskforces.”
Dr. Sanzo helps coordinate these meetings,
but she says the goal is to encourage the partners
to drive the conversations as stakeholders.
To do this, Sanzo says they use what is called
a network improvement community (NIC)
where each team’s findings are reported back
to a larger network for discussion and deeper
understanding.
“We’re using what’s called network improvement
community to collaborate in different
components of the project, said Dr. Sanzo. “We
have leads that lead back to the hub. When we
learn about what’s happening in each of the
teams, we take those collective learnings to
meet the goal outlines of the project and set
high level objectives. And every three weeks,
the plan is to come back and talk about the
outcomes of what we’ve done to meet objectives.
We also talk about how we can advance
the work further.”
When it comes to the future of CIPHER and
the potential impact it could make on the community
locally and nationally, Dr. Sanzo says
one of the program’s goals would be to establish
a regional consortium where the team can
collaborate with and help K-12 partners connect
around cybersecurity to create resources
for school divisions to engage in research
around common problems and address the
lack of clarity around what cybersecurity is.
“We see a lot of different messages around
cybersecurity from external sources. We’re
working to align a common understanding of
cybersecurity, because that is too a barrier,
so I think it’s a matter of education,” said Dr.
Sanzo.
Dr. Wu also believes that among many challenges,
there are three key issues that the
program faces now. “There are challenges in
implementation,” said Dr. Wu, “Where do we
fit cybersecurity into the K-12 curricula? How
do we ensure time allocation? How do we
ensure resources and infrastructure in different
schools? There also challenges in student
access. How do we ensure students with different
socioeconomic status (SES) to have equal
access to curricula, teachers, resources, and infrastructure
needed for cybersecurity education?
And lastly, there are challenges in teacher
preparation. How do we ensure teachers have
access to solid cybersecurity curriculum and
learning sources? How do we prepare competent
teachers to have sufficient knowledge to
teach learning modules and increase students’
interest in cybersecurity?”
Dr. Wu states the main goal for CIPHER is to
pave the way for a national alliance between
universities, students, faculty, and researchers
through a “research-practitioner partnership
that engages all stakeholders.”
With this amount of progress made, many
local parents could see cybersecurity curriculum
in their child’s [virtual] classroom very
soon. A career in cybersecurity is not just rewarding
for the salary; it is about forging a
path in a demanding new field that desperately
needs a workforce to protect the network
we all share online.
13 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 14
TECHNOLOGY
New Plans
“We’re up over one hundred
people that are a part of
the program currently”
for ESports
By
Tyler Eddins
Follow ODU Varsity Esports
on Twitter at:
@ODU_Esports
Grant Deppen is the Assistant Director of Intramural
Sports and Esports within Recreation
and Wellness here at ODU. Mace & Crown
Technology Editor Tyler Eddins sat down with
Mr. Deppen to discuss the details of the new
Monarch esports teams. Below is a portion of
their conversation
What has been the process to bring the
sports team to what it is now? Any particular
hurdles that you can talk about?
Mr. Deppen: The program as it exists now
was brought to us by Dr. Don Stansberry who
is now the Vice President of Student Engagement
and Enrollment Services. He had
been to some conferences and talked to a
bunch of people around the country about
the growth and proliferation of esports on
other campuses.
He wanted us in Recreation and Wellness
to investigate what students are doing here
and what’s happening on other campuses.
That started in fall of 2018… We have several
groups that are related to esports and
gaming that actually began earlier than that.
The esports Club, which is a recognized
organization, started back in 2016…
They had been operating for a little while
and as we started moving through the process
of creating an esports program and investigating
what we had, we had this entity that
already existed and was already competing…
Our recognition was pretty straightforward that
we could support this at a higher level and engage
these students in a bunch of different ac-
“WE’RE FOCUSED ON THE BETTERMENT
OF STUDENTS, AND IF IT MAKES IT EASIER
FOR THEM TO PAY TO FINISH SCHOOL BY
MAKING SOME MONEY STREAMING THEN
I’M ALL FOR IT.”
tivities while provide leadership opportunities
for them…
A varsity esports program is not necessarily
something that falls based on skill level. It’s
really more, does the university support the
program in a way beyond providing them with
money? As we provide them with the space
and all these other things that we’re doing,
they naturally become that varsity esports program.
The biggest hurdle has been identifying a
place that we could utilize as an esports facility,
and part of that is the natural necessity to
have something that is accessible to students.
Something that is large enough to house the
size of the program that we have, but also has
the technological infrastructure to operate the
things that we need to in order to have a quality
program.
You mentioned the esports club and it
seems like this program gives them more university
support and brings them into a more
legitimate field. How is this different from the
club?
Mr. Deppen: Right, that’s the big difference.
With our club, when they’re buying uniforms,
they’re paying out of pocket for that. They’re
playing in their residence hall on their own consoles.
Once our facility is up and running and
we’re doing competitions in person, they’ll be
using computers, games and equipment that’s
provided. Jerseys and apparel will be provided.
We are looking into how we can provide
coaching that’s high quality and beneficial for
them. Those types of things are different than
what the club has been doing in the past.
That’s what takes it up a notch.
You held tryouts in September. How did
those work and was it different from what you
had planned previous to the pandemic?
Mr. Deppen: We had planned to have a
couple of events in the springtime building
up hype. Being able to give out t-shirts, have
a game display and have a lot of stuff set up
for people to see to build the energy around
the program as we went into the summertime.
Going into the fall, there was an understanding
that we weren’t going to be
able to put people into the space. As we
programmed out and set up all the tournaments
and tryouts, it was actually pretty
logistically easy for us. People already have
at least a copy of the game and their own
equipment that they can utilize, and we
could do it all digitally.
The biggest hurdle for a lot of students
was capturing their own gameplay. We had
so many teams playing at once that it was
impossible for me to sit in on everything at all
times. We had the players capture their own
gameplay and then send it to me through the
ODU Box large file sharing system so I could
review that…
Most of my job then was watching video
games, taking notes and trying to divvy up
the talent. There weren’t too many changes
just because it was our first time through…
But I know going forward, when we do tryouts
we’re going to be able to have the facility to
ourselves and have all the people in the same
place.
About how many people came out for the
tryouts versus how many have been placed
on the teams?
Mr. Deppen: The official number of people
that registered to try out was upwards of
one hundred and twenty-five. We did have
some people, based on academic commitments
and other things, that have stepped
away. We expected that to happen just with it
being a new thing. We made a commitment at
this point since we are a new program, we’re
still building something and there’s a lot of
people that want to be involved, to not cut
anyone.
We kept as many people that were willing
to stay on. We’re up over one hundred people
that are a part of the program currently… Going
forward we may have to dial that back, but
it hasn’t become unwieldy at this point. We’re
going to naturally have some attrition over
time as people have things come up or maybe
lose interest, but I think we’re in a good place
numbers wise right now.
You mentioned a space in the Webb, both
in our email and briefly here. What are the
plans for that?
Mr. Deppen: If you’ve ever been where the
TVs are, where a lot of guys and girls are playing
video games right now, it’s directly above
that. It formerly was the Office of Intercultural
15 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 16
TECHNOLOGY
Relations… It’s been vacant for about a year
now and we took basically that entire center
component; around three thousand square
feet. It’ll have three sections. The main section
is a lab with a stage, a big wall graphic and
backdrop for our varsity teams so they can play
in a LAN match with another team. It’s set up
to handle six vs. six playing there and, as you’re
shooting it and streaming it, it’s got a cool view
with the graphic.
There are thirty-four computers throughout
the rest of the lab that can be used for
other gaming. Initially that space was intended
to open up all at once and be open to the
general student population during set hours
as an open gaming space. People could come
in, they could see where the varsity sports
players participate, but then they could also
play games themselves and jump in to do their
own thing. We didn’t want it to be hyper exclusive
to where it’s just a varsity esports space.
Additionally, there’s two smaller wing
spaces. One of those is going to be our
broadcast area. We’re going to be able to
do the live streams and broadcasts from the
space, which is going to be not only highly
entertaining, but it’s going to be a great
creative opportunity for a lot of students. There
are students that are interested in the casting
side of esports, and that space will also be
open to a select number of content creators
that want to do their own streams…
The other wing of the space is strictly for
console play. There’s going to be some couches
and some big TVs. Just a place for people to
chill, relax and hang out together and be more
communal…
I think we’ll be able to open right around the
time that students are leaving [for Thanksgiving]…
So, within the next six or seven weeks, I
think we’ll be able to get in and be operational.
How does esports work on the collegiate
level? Is that underneath the NCAA banner,
or is there something completely different?
Mr. Deppen: The NCAA has no contact
really with esports in any kind of way… At
the division one level like at ODU, players
within esports can win prize money, gifts,
scholarship funds and things like that. That’s
where there’s a big amateurism issue for the
NCAA at large schools. Because of that, the
NCAA has basically said we’re not going
to get involved with that at this point. So,
there is no NCAA contact with esports, but
there are several national governing bodies
that oversee esports. The biggest one
right now is the one that we’re a part of. It’s
called NACE, the National Association of
Collegiate Esports…
NACE runs internal tournaments, but
then also works with game developers in
running tournaments that those developers
have created. One of the big things about
esports that is not known, is that the game
developers that create the game… they
have complete authority over who can play
their games and in what settings, especially
when it comes to tournaments. Some of
those companies are stricter than others…
Blizzard and their subsidiary, Activision have
a group called Tespa who runs everything for
Overwatch, Hearthstone and Call of Duty,
but there are other game titles that are a little
more flexible…
There’s a relationship between a national
governing body and the game developers
to help bridge the gap. NACE has a pretty
good relationship with Tespa, so we’re able
to run a large-scale Overwatch tournament
and Blizzard isn’t going to be upset about
us doing that. If it was another organization
that didn’t have that connection, it might
be something completely different… The
power dynamic there is something that’s
different compared to what you would see in
traditional sports.
So under NACE there wouldn’t be a problem,
for instance, if one of your players was a
streamer and they promoted that they are a
part of Monarch Esports?
Mr. Deppen: NACE is a relatively open
organization and they’re not making rules
about what specific esport athletes can do
or not do. That would be up to us as an
institution. If students can and want to try
to make money doing streaming or signing
sponsorship deals, they’re more than
welcome to continue to participate with our
program. That’s good for them and it’s good
for us… We’re focused on the betterment of
students, and if it makes it easier for them to
pay to finish school by making some money
streaming then I’m all for it. There aren’t
really any restrictions. There could be if we
wanted to, but realistically there isn’t any point
for us to do anything like that.
Does that bring in a problem with potential
scholarships down the line?
Mr. Deppen: One of the things that I think is
misunderstood when people talk about scholarships
with esports is the size of those scholarships.
Right now, I think maybe five schools
in the United States offer a true full ride scholarship
for esports. Most other institutions are
offering smaller amounts. The scholarships
that people are getting are more likely to be
supplements rather than something that’s a
complete coverage of cost of attendance…
Based on the size of the program and where we
are right now… it’s difficult for us to offer scholarships
at this point in time. But, if we were able to,
I would imagine that we would have to start out
with smaller sums of money rather than going
directly into full scholarships.
What do you think about the growth of
gaming that has happened recently here at
the university?
Mr. Deppen: When we talk about esports,
a lot of it has to do with capitalizing
on the interest that students already have…
Young people are interested in games and
moving into that type of realm is a natural
progression that follows both the career interests
of students and also their leisure and
recreational activities as well…
It’s about being able to complete all of our
university goals and initiatives with esports
outside of just having high-quality teams and
good facilities. We want to be able to bring
students in that are already interested in
games so we can meet them halfway and say
‘You’re interested in games, and we have game
design majors that can prepare you to a career
in the gaming industry, or we have cybersecurity
inside the IT area’. We have computer science,
computer engineering and all these other
academic majors that can be the end point for
students. The middle ground where we meet
them is going to be gaming.
That’s how we see esports fitting into
the university mission. It’s not going to be
this standalone thing that doesn’t interact
or engage academically. It acts as this
direct pathway to all these other careers
and opportunities that students can have.
Maybe that’s something more creative, like
the game design component, or maybe
that’s a little more tangential like broadcasting
and media.
Follow ODU Varsity Esports
on Twitter at:
@ODU_Esports
“IT’S ABOUT
BEING ABLE TO
COMPLETE ALL OF
OUR UNIVERSITY
GOALS AND
INITIATIVES WITH
ESPORTS OUTSIDE
OF JUST HAVING
HIGH-QUALITY
TEAMS AND GOOD
FACILITIES ”
Images by: NICHOLAS CLARK
17 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 18
SPORTS
Coach D – Last Year’s Body
odu women’s
basketball eyes
on c-usa title
and more
The Old Dominion University Women’s basketball team is preparing to
build on what was a phenomenal season in the eyes of most people. In
the off season Coach Nikki McCray departed for Mississippi State after
turning around the program and finishing 53-40 in three seasons with
the Lady Monarchs. It didn’t take long for the team to find a replacement
when they hired Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones. Coach D took over a
Pepperdine squad in March 2017.
By James Onuska Highlights and Sports Updates 20202020
Photos by:
@shootsbyb_
She then led Pepperdine team to a
22-12 record in the 2018-19 season before
taking a position as an assistant at
Syracuse which eventually was a quick
stop to her taking the Head Coaching
job in April at ODU. According to
Coach D, “last year they fell short losing
to Rice in the conference tournament,
this year we plan on winning.” Confident
words from an individual with a championship
pedigree.
Coach D has won two gold medals
and two WNBA championships when
she won back to back titles in 2001-
2002 with the LA Sparks. “Everything we
do here will have a pro type mentality,
and will be done professionally and
classy,” said Coach D. This is just the
swagger that the university needs
to follow up a 24-6 overall record, which
included 14-4 conference play.
“Last year they fell
short losing to Rice
in the conference
tournament, this year
we plan on winning.”
The team has taken protective
measures to assure the well being of
the players and staff. They practice and
meet in their bubble environment which
allows them to practice and prepare
for this upcoming season. When asked
how the team has handled the Covid-19
citation, Coach D responded with “the
team has done an exceptional job keeping
the Monarch bubble safe due to the
players being educated with the lurking
danger of the coronavirus.”
This is the leadership and advice to
keep these athletes safe and assure
Monarch Nation an exciting season
of women’s basketball. Senior guard
Victoria Morris responded with “we’re
making sure that we’re only going out
for essentials and staying safe because
at the end of the day we want a season
and we want to win.”
So many elements are factored in
when determining the decision making
on an upcoming season. The team
looks focused and prepared to do
what’s necessary to avoid any setbacks
and start their season with no interruptions
throughout the season.
The team returns several key parts
of last year’s body that went 14-1 at
Chartway Arena. Last year’s reigning
C-USA Co-Sixth Player of the Year,
Aziah Hudson, played in all 30 games
while knocking down 48 three pointers
and averaging 6.5 ppg which included
scoring in double digits for five of those
thirty games. Another star performer
from last season who returns to lead
ODU Lady Monarchs is Ajah Wayne.
Wayne’s performance against Auburn
last year was lights out as she deposited
six three pointers on her way to a
35 point game showing. The team will
be led by senior guard, Victoria Morris.
Morris, led the team with 83 downtowners
while averaging 11.8 ppg while
playing in all 30 games. “We want to be
a championship team, we want to be
2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 CURRENT
2 2 24-6
Gold Metals
WNBA Championships Overall Followup Record
LAST YEAR KEY PLAYER PPG
14-1 30 6.5
Chartway Arena
C-USA Co-Sixth Player of the Aziah Hudson ppg
Year Aziah Hudson, played
in all 30 games
great and go to the tournament,” said
Morris on expectations for the team.
The team faces a schedule that
includes a home game November 15th
versus Auburn, a big five opponent and
an away game that could determine
number one seeding in conference
playoff play against Rice February 20th.
Regardless, the team is mentally prepared
and with experience at the helm
the team is in good shape to not only
win C-USA but also a trip to the NCAA
Tournament.
We’re still unsure what the future
holds for the team and fans with the
current pandemic taking a toll on sports
nationally. Players have responded courageously
and responsibly complying
with safety regulations. One question
that exists is how will ODU handle the
fanbase and the amount of attendees
at campus home games.
Home court served as a big advantage
in last season’s play and with
Coach D looking to push the envelope
in conference play to improve on last
year’s accomplishments it’s imperative
that fans and the student body meet
that entitled amount of participants.
19 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 20
SPORTS
Advocating
for equality in
CREATIVE ENCLAVE
sports
By James Onuska
Fans look to see their favorite players drop 30 in
a victory on the hardwood. They look for their
quarterback to distribute the football among their
teammates and lead their team to victory, and they
look for their leading r.b.i. left fielder to go 3-4 while
driving in three runs in a team win. What fans see
now are players using their platform to advocate for
ending racial injustice and police brutality. In 2016,
a rising star used his platform to call for the end of
those heinous practices and requesting equality.
Colin Kaepernick has found himself blackballed
from the game he cherished playing as a youth and
building a career in the NFL which included taking
the San Francisco 49ers to the Superbowl in 2013.
Since Kaepernick’s stance on social injustice and
police brutality, other players have followed suit.
Is this behavior unacceptable in any level of sports
or are they supposed to “shut up and dribble”,
words famously uttered by Fox News host Laura
Ingraham to NBA star LeBron James.
Regardless of the status of these athletes, their
advocating for equality is worthy and necessary.
Since the revolutionary campaign on behalf of
coequality and fairness by athletes Kaepernick,
LeBron and others, the spread of peaceful
demonstrations have been seen throughout all
levels of sports. High school football teams have
taken a knee during the playing of the National
Anthem with hopes of bringing light to impartiality
seen in America. Players from the WNBA down to
the high school have elected to wear apparel that
requests justice and equal
opportunity in women’s sports. These actions have
brought a tremendous amount of criticism and even
cost immense amounts of controversy through
social media outlets. What these athletes are
doing is exercising their First Amendment right of
freedom of speech that is supposed to be protected
by the US Constitution.
“As this country
continues to fight for
equality, it is everyone’s
responsibility to stand
up for what’s right. “
Numerous organizations and people have
called for some sort of course of action. Suggestions
of defunding the police which is when you
redirect funding to a police department to other
government agencies. By doing this, training
and other resources could be made accessible for
departments to use to help with training and create
a more obliging atmosphere. There’s also the Black
Lives Matter movement which is a social movement
that advocates against incidents of police brutality
and all racially motivated violence against Black
people. These have been discussed with enormous
variance and should just boil down to having
respect for your fellow brothers and sisters. This
country is a very diverse nation in the world and it
would behove everyone to unite as one and have
mutual respect for one another while embracing
equality.
With the nation in monumental agitation,
people look for ways they are able to show their
objection for the social injustices carried out by
fellow Americans. Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones,
the women’s basketball coach described how the
coaching staff has approached the team and says
“we have clearance to do certain things from higher
ups and the administration and that’s something
I’m going to take to the team and where they want
to go with it,” said Coach Milton-Jones goes on to
say how the team is a unified front and definitely
for equality and stand firm on that notion. ODU’s
women’s basketball forward Victoria Morris
explained how the team has considered several
options but haven’t decided on what they will do
but know that they 100% stand for equality. We
asked ODU’s football cornerback Kaleb Ford-
Dement the same thing and his response mirrored
Victoria Morris’s and also stands for equality.
As this country continues to fight for equality,
it is everyone’s responsibility to stand up for what’s
right. Athletes are not exempt, they have as much
of a right as the people who are protesting.These
courageous individuals are conducting themselves
peacefully and doing so to achieve equality. If
taking a knee or wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt
during pregame warmups is offensive, the lives lost
because of social injustice should be what is really
addressed. When voices start to be heard, maybe
people will start to change for the better.
21 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 22
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:
JORGE ZAMUDIO
By Fatima Rivera
The photography world continues to rise
and students on campus are taking advantage
of the scenery every chance they get. Jorge
Zamudio is one of those students who create
magic with the camera and editing skills.
Born in Mexico, Zamudio immigrated to
the U.S at a young age. He lived in Atlanta,
Georgia for seven years until moving to Virginia
Beach in 2011. He is currently a senior
with plans to graduate in 2021 as a mechanical
and aerospace engineering student with
a minor in engineering management.
When did you first begin
photography?
Zamudio: “March 13, 2019, was the day
I started taking it seriously because it was
the first time I ever had an actual shoot and
saw that it was possible I could take it seriously.
I just kind of woke up and I saw it on
social media and decided to try it out. I had
a few people ask me to do some shoots for
them and they really liked it so I decided to
pursue that.”
What’s the story behind
these pictures?
Zamudio: I was really trying to learn photoshop,
I didn’t have it at that time so I was
trying to experiment, I was out in the woods
on the day and It sparked an idea. What if I
had someone step out of their frame and then
I photoshop the rest of their body into it. I
pitched the idea to her [the model] but she
didn’t get it because it was hard to explain,
she was agreeing to it and then we did it at
First Landing State Park at Virginia Beach. It’s
between Chic’s beach and Oceanfront.
What program do you use?
Zamudio: I use photoshop, its a powerful
program and you can’t go wrong with it.
It’s been over a year and I still have so much
to learn because its a powerful machine and
there’s so much you can do with it. Every
time you use it, you learn a new lesson, you
learn how to do something better or efficiently
in a new way. And I can see that between
my older pictures and newer pictures
in my editing styles, colors make more sense
I learned more about the color wheel and
complementary colors. I go more towards
warm tones than cold tones,
What direction do you hope
your photography goes in?
Zamudio: I always see it as being a part
of me and don’t plan on stopping anytime
soon. I definitely would like to get published in
a bigger magazine or more people to see my
work. I think that’s what every creative want.
What advice can you give to
those aspiring in photography?
Zamudio: Just keep shooting, its the
simplest and most used advice you can give
to anybody. I was given it back then and its
first-hand experience that you need to learn
to become a better photographer. Shoot
your friends and others to create magic. You
learn to ride a bike by going out there and
riding it and it’s the same concept.
23 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 24
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Top Albums and Films
During COVID Quarantine
Lady Gaga
(Chromatica)
1.0 million streams
When the stay-at-home orders came into effect, millions of
people found themselves having more time on their hands for
hobbies and relaxation than they did before. Baking pastries
from scratch and interactions with one another on social media
rocketed to create a feeling of getting through this.
Music and online streaming sites weren’t impacted but many
artists and directors took advantage to release their work to
help pass the time and fight for the top ratings on the board.
Here are the top five albums and films of the year so far.
Bad Bunny
(YHLQMDLG)
3.1 million streams
Dua Lipa
(Future Nostalgia)
2.0 million streams
Released on March 27, this is her second studio album that has
a nostalgic pop and disco theme, influenced by the music in her
childhood. “Don’t Start Now” became the lead single for the album and
that was soon joined by “Physical” and “Break my Heart” as the second
and third singles. Her Future Nostalgia Tour begins in January 2021.
The album charted as number one for five consecutive weeks, topping
charts in thirteen countries and the top ten in thirty-one.
Released May 29, Gaga’s sixth studio album was originally
scheduled for April 10th but delayed for seven weeks due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Guest features include Ariana Grande, Elton
John, and K-Pop group Blackpink. The first single “Stupid Love”
peaked top ten over fifteen countries and its second single “Rain
on Me” featuring Grande followed shortly after. The album has
elements of dance-pop and house-pop with house and disco have
influences in the songs. The album peaked at number one for two
consecutive weeks and became her sixth number one album as well
as the fastest-selling album in the United Kingdom.
Movies
Hamilton:
An American Musical
The critically acclaimed Broadway show was released in July
on Disney +. Created by Lin Manuel Miranda, it won eight Drama
Desk Awards and broke a record of 16 nominations and 11 awards
including “Best Musical.” The film is a live stage recording from
three performances, including a one-minute intermission, and has
the original broadway cast, including Miranda himself as Hamilton.
Released on February 29, Reggaeton artist Bad Bunny (Benito
Martinez) dropped his second solo album which features artists like
Daddy Yankee and Jowell Y Randy. The album title, “Yo Hago Lo Que
Me De La Gana”, translates to “I do what I want.” This album debuted
at number two on the Billboard 200, becoming the highest Spanish
album ever on the charts. The album continued to hit charts during
the intense quarantine period. He released a follow-up album “Las
Que No Iban A Salir” translating to “The Ones Who Weren’t Going
Out” in the theme of the ongoing pandemic on May 10. He hosted his
first-ever virtual concert on September 20 based on the album and
celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
The Weekend
(After Hours)
3.0 million streams
Released March 20, the heavily anticipated album comes four
years after his Starboy album, which is a completely different tone
than many fans were hoping for. The album stayed on the charts for
four consecutive weeks and broke the record for most preorders in
Apple music history. This became his fourth number one album and
reached number one in 20 other countries. His After-Hours tour was
to begin in late 2020 but was delayed to 2021 due to the pandemic.
The top leading singles off the album are “Heartless” and “Blinding
Lights” which have music videos for it as well.
Pop Smoke
(Shoot For The Stars
Aim For The Moon)
1.5 million streams
Pop Smoke, known as Bashar Jackson, was an American rapper
who began his career in 2018 and quickly rose to fame after this
breakout single “Welcome to The Party” in 2019. “Shoot For the
Stars, Aim For the Moon.” released on July 3rd was his debut album
and first posthumous project following his murder on February
19th. A few artists featured are Quavo, DaBaby, Swae Lee, Future,
and 50 cent who executive produced as he was Pop Smoke’s biggest
inspiration. The album debuted number one upon its release and its
deluxe version was released on July 20th, what would’ve been his
21st birthday. Controversy over the cover art was met by fans who
felt the cover by Virgil Abloh was lazy and rushed. 50 Cent posted
over 35 fan-made designs and the final cover was revealed hours
before the release, which was personally chosen by Smoke’s mother.
[image: source Pitchfork], [Image: source theweeknd.com/Republic Records], [Image: source dualipa.com], [Image: source Genius.com], [image source: Time
Magazine], [Image: source Variety], [image source: The Verge], [image source: IndieWire]
Trolls:
World Tour
Sitting at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes, Trolls: World Tour is the
sequel to its 2016 movie, Trolls. Its original release was delayed
to COVID-19 and settled for April 10th, where it was released in
limited theaters and available on digital rental the same day. It
became one of the most successful digital releases, topping the
charts to where Universal is looking into releasing future movies
the same way; leading to AMC theatres and other chains pulling the
movie and shortening windows to watch. It made $26 million in the
box office and is available to stream on Hulu.
Parasite
The Academy Award-winning 2019 film became available for
streaming on Hulu in April 2020 and continued to make a change
in the industry as well as be one of the highest streaming movies
during the quarantine period. It became Bong Joon-Ho’s first movie
to gross over $100 million worldwide and stay on box office charts
as more countries released it. It sits at a rating of 98% on Rotten
Tomatoes and sits first on a survey conducted by IndieWire.
Mucho Mucho Amor:
The Legend
of Walter Mercado
Released on Netflix in July, the documentary goes into the
childhood and life of one of the most influential and acclaimed
astrologers in Latin America and the world. Walter Mercado rose
to fame after an impromptu tv segment for astrology brought
in ratings. Mercado faced homophobia during his career for his
flamboyant and androgynous image but also was a fashion icon in
later years. The documentary catches up with him after his final
television appearance in 2006, learning what he has been doing
away from the spotlight. He makes one final appearance in Miami of
2019, three months before his death on November 2nd.
The film sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with praising reviews from
countless fans and critics.
By: Fatima Rivera
25 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 26
CREATIVE ENCLAVE
CREATIVE ENCLAVE
Kyla
Bennett
Christina
Lindsey
27 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 28
ATIVE CREATIVE
Skin
ENCLAVE ENCLAVE
While they tighten the claws around their neck
suffocation consumes them
Black blood dribbles towards their chest
Author: Ashley Mazza Feet hang lifeless
Twitching in the wind
Crumpled bones quake with each shaking breath
Years of consumption appear on their legs
Reminding us of our previous indulgence
Thickened blood tastes sour too
Vapor rises towards the windows of their soul
Tickled hair rises under the sensation
Harboring memories of past trauma
Creature leave this fickle being
Their muscles ache for their release
Scraping away skin from skin
Only to be torn once again
**Given everything that has happened
with the Black Lives Matter movement,
this piece was included to reflect on
the horrendous treatment of the Black
Community throughout history.
29 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 30
CREATIVE ENCLAVE
at
e get
ainting
made me g
into paintin
what made
me get into
Seymour
painting? Ciera
“
I initially hated painting at
first because I was more into
photography and just drawing
as a whole. Then during my
sophomore year of high school
my art teacher told me that if I
didn’t paint then I would fail
that unit, so I was forced to do
it. After that unit I took a break
from painting because I still
didn’t like it. Time went on and
through college I rediscovered
painting. Throughout quarantine
I picked up painting again and
I’ve been keeping up with it ever
since. I started painting over the
past couple months because I was
tired of being on my phone and
being on social media. I’m the
type of person who likes to try
new things, expand and pick up
multiple skills and I wanted to make
painting one of them. I tried other
things and activities throughout
quarantine but painting is just the
one that stuck out the most to me.
It’s very peaceful.
what made m
me get into
painting wh
made me g
into paint
Follow Ciera on Instagram:
”
@canvasxciera
31 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 32
CREATIVE ENCLAVE
143
She took a breath and tried to focus all of
herself into a clear, concise thought that
could be pressed down like peonies, while
the anxiety warbled and fought against
the leather-bound depressive episodes
sugarcoated in blanketed nightmares, and
the rabid suicidal tendencies and ideations
bit and snarled at one another like children
fighting over the last bit of cotton candy at
the fair, and with each tooth prick these
monsters strained, moaning and wailing
like lovers they tousled every angry
impulse, their claws leaving blowod trails
down the girl’s frail arm which crumbled
under the slightest hint of a hug, that first
knife of human contact, like wet paper
pulling against dry air she would peel like
grapefruit with no intention of comfort or
pain and as the panic attack of his hand left
her she tried, again, to breathe once more.
Author: Ashley Mazza
31 | maceandcrown.com Fall 2020 | 32
WE LIKE YOU.
COME JOIN OUR TEAM.
facebook.com/maceandcrown
M&C
est. 1930
@maceandcrown
@maceandcrown
maceandcrown.com