Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Illustration By Schaffer Gayle

Marlin s new tradition makes a splash

By jed lynch

jelynch@vwc.edu

In Fall  08, a water run-off retention pond was built in compliance with regulations set by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. It is part of the construction of Lingo Stadium, the future home for the Virginia Wesleyan Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams.

As part of the beautification process the area has been landscaped in addition to the large bronze marlin statue situated in the center of the pond.

On one seemingly uninteresting Sunday night myself and two accomplices, Brock Waddell and Katie Dunstan, set out on a dare to do the  Marlin Swim.

We walked from Village IV with a group of fans for morale support. We walked to the edge that seemed to be the shortest distance away from the statue. As I stripped down to my navy blue Joe Boxers, I gave one more look for security s silver Toyota 4-Runner before stepping into the opaque waters.

As I stepped into the water I quickly fell up to my waist. After another two steps I found myself up to my neck in stagnant pond water. I was careful to keep my head above the surface of the lukewarm water, unlike my cohorts who dive head first.

I swam between two of the four lights that shine on the marlin and reached to touch the caudal fin. I pulled my feet underneath me and kicked off the slippery, cement pillar that holds the marlin above the water.

After swimming back to the bank I looked up to see security circling the round-about.

 Is that security? asked Waddell.

 Yep! I said, already gathering my book bag and clothing.

I didn t notice that Dunstan didn t follow. She instead ran the opposite way and jumped into a ditch.

 I had like, 20 splinters in my foot, said Dunstan.

We ran behind the Trinder Center and waited as security left. Once we didn t see 4-Runner anymore, Waddell and I began to walk back to Village IV. Then we heard the cop that security had dropped off to look for us.

 You go left and I ll go right, I said.

Instead, we decided to see what he had to say, still prepared to run at the sight of hand-cuffs.

 You guys look a little wet, said Officer Karl Schmid.

We didn t respond.

 Why don t you guys take a seat on the curb, said Schmid.  What were you guys doing in there?

 Um, said Waddell.  It was a dare.

Schmid held back a laugh.

 A new school tradition? I suggested, still unaware of where our third had run to.

This idea came to me when I remembered a study done in Spring 2007, five undergraduate Virginia Wesleyan students enrolled in a Research Methods, and going by the name Traditions Researchers Inc., conducted a survey of senior students attitudes about college traditions.

In their research they found that traditions  have proven to be important in many aspects of life including institutions of higher education.

I don t want to claim that Dunstan, Waddell and I were the first to swim to the marlin. However, according to Village II coordinator, Melissa Fowler, we are the first to get caught. And even if this does just end up as a one-time swim, we will wear those badges proudly.