Thursday, February 9, 2023

This week in-brief

CD News Staff

Nicole Eramo, assistant vice president for student affairs, leaves after 25 years at the University

After 25 years at the University, Nicole Eramo, chief of staff and assistant vice president for student affairs, has left to take on the role of Chief of Staff at Lafayette College. During her long career in the Division of Student Affairs, Eramo aimed to foster a meaningful student experience both in and out of the classroom.

“I have had amazing colleagues and opportunities to work with amazing people, including the students that I’ve been able to work with,” Eramo said. “It’s just been a real privilege.”

Eramo has extensive experience supporting students. Serving on the University’s Sexual Misconduct Board and the Board of Directors at the Sexual Assault Resource Agency in Charlottesville, Eramo specialized in aiding victims of gender-based violence.

In 2014, Eramo was swept up in the now-retracted Rolling Stone article which falsely detailed a female student’s rape by a University fraternity and criticized University administrators, including Eramo, in their responses to the rape.

Eramo has remained in the Office of the Vice President and continued her work in helping survivors of sexual assault as president of SARA’s Board of Directors. Reflecting upon the responsibility of working directly with students, Eramo said she has developed valuable skills of collaboration and coordination.

Despite her anticipation for her new role at Lafayette, Eramo said she will miss the connections she fostered with University students and staff.

“It was a hard decision to leave because I feel like I learned from my students and colleagues every day and I continue to, to the very end,” Eramo said.

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Honor Committee discusses standards of evidence, debates pending co-sponsorship

The Honor Committee met Sunday to discuss the standards of evidence in Honor proceedings, as well as consider a pending co-sponsorship for the Accomodation Access Fund.

21 out of 26 members attended, meaning the Committee met quorum to vote on constitutional matters and by-laws. Last week the Committee discussed four new proposals for additions to the Committee’s constitution following the vote last spring to remove single-sanction. Two of the proposals suggest changing the Committee’s current standard of evidence for finding students guilty — currently, the constitution requires that evidence prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Fourth-year College student Rep. Sullivan McDowell said there is difficulty and rarity in finding students guilty under the current standard of evidence and said he is in favor of a lesser standard of guilt. Three of the four proposals determine the sanction based on what percentage of the panel to vote that the student is guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

“As an official observer, it is very rare these days that votes find people guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” McDowell said. “So I think if we land somewhere around 75 percent confident that this person committed an offense, I’m totally comfortable with that.”

The Committee did not make an official decision on the standard of evidence and the Constitution.

The Committee also heard feedback from its members about a pending co-sponsorship from the Accommodation Access Fund, but did not make a definitive decision and decided to table the discussion until a later date.

State Senate confirms Bert Ellis’ appointment to U.Va. Board of

Visitors

The Virginia Senate confirmed College and Darden alumnus Bert Ellis’ appointment to the University Board of Visitors Tuesday. Ellis’ confirmation to the Board comes after months of protest from students, faculty and community members including the Student Council representative body, University Democrats and Faculty Senate.

The amendment to strike Ellis’ name from Senate Joint Resolution 276 — which confirms a number of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointments — failed in a 20-20 vote prior to the passage of the resolution. Two Democratic senators, Sen. Lynwood W. Lewis and Sen. Chapman Petersen, broke rank and voted alongside Republicans to reject the amendment in an otherwise party-line vote — Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears cast the tie-breaking “nay” vote.

Youngkin appointed Ellis and three other new Board members July 1, 2022. Since his appointment, Ellis has objected to progressive reforms at the University. In a 2021 year-end update to the Jefferson Council, Ellis painted his mission as a “fight” against the “onslaught” of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on Grounds.

As a member of the Board of Visitors, Ellis is one of 17 appointed officials responsible for long-term planning for the University, including approving funding for initiatives and licensing the University’s system of student self-governance.

Ellis will serve on the Board through June 30, 2026 alongside fellow Youngkin appointees Stephen Long, Education alumna Amanda Pillion and College and Law alumnus Doug Wetmore.

RILEY WALSH THE CAVALIER DAILY

Ellis has objected to progressive reforms at the University. In a 2021 year-end update to the Jefferson Council, Ellis painted his mission as a “fight” against the “onslaught” of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on Grounds.

This spring Student Council will operate with a budget of $177,020 — almost five semesters of tuition and fees for an in-state student — and will focus on student-centered support such as free Sexually Transmitted Infection testing and providing Cavalier Advantage Grants. This spring’s budget is a four percent decrease from last spring’s budget of $184,671 but a nine percent increase from $162,470 in the fall.

$168,485 of the budget comes from the Student Activities Fee — the $50 fee students pay yearly as part of their tuition — and $8,535 comes from private, non-SAF funding. Historically the non-SAF money comes from the $25 table fee for Contracted Independent Organizations at the Fall Activities Fair. This year saw no substantial flow into this pool following the elimination of the tabling fee.

Ceci Cain, Student Council president and graduate student, said she sees the budget as concrete evidence of the organization’s evolving efforts to benefit the student body.

“[The budget] shows a shift in the amount and type of resources that we have been able to provide as a student government,” Cain said. “More first-generation, more low-income students and students of color

Where does your student activity fee go?

A deep dive into Student Council’s spring 2023 budget

John Bedell and Merrill Hart | CD News Staff

are being prioritized through our budget.”

Though the Student Council allocates money in categories ranging from the community food pantry to alumni relations, this semester two major agencies are receiving significant increases in funding — the Safety and Wellness Agency and the Financial Accessibility Agency, both of which directly service students in need of financially accessible resources and support.

This semester the Safety and Wellness Agency will receive $16,000 of SAF funding, a dramatic increase from the $1,675 allotted last spring. $15,000 will cover transportation to and testing at STI clinics.

This fund will continue the free STI screening program that Student Council initiated Jan. 18 but had to pause less than two weeks later following high student demand. According to Cain, over 200 students have already been screened. With the increased budget allotment, students can continue to access free screening through Student Health and Wellness.

“This semester STI testing is probably the thing that I am most excited about,” Cain said. “I’m excited to see where these projects will be in a couple of years and ideally with

this program, STI testing will be free for everyone through Student Health at all times.”

Some of the remaining money will be used to provide free menstrual products in all female-identifying hall restrooms and all male-identifying restrooms on the first floor of five dorm buildings.

The Financial Accessibility Agency will receive $8,000 in SAF funding, in contrast to the $3,500 given last spring. This funding will go towards Cavalier Advantage Grants, a program designed to support students by way of grants to be used for printing, laundry and personal care items. Students can apply for up to five $5 grants throughout each semester.

Allocation and utilization of the budget have historically presented two separate challenges for Student Council — increases in agency budgets are only effective when the money is actually used.

Lillian Rojas, chair of the representative body and third-year Batten student, said that advertising efforts are instrumental in increasing awareness of the programs available and increasing utilization rates.

“It’s hard to get the whole student body to engage,” Rojas said. “I feel like if the whole student body

actually knew exactly what we were doing, there would be no problems with having the money being used.”

Last fall 52 percent of the budget was utilized, an increase from historical levels ranging from 15 to 30 percent. Jaden Evans, vice president for administration and fourth-year College student, said that while this number may appear low, it is much higher than in previous years. According to Evans, between 2017 and 2020 utilization fell somewhere between 15 and 30 percent.

“It sort of indicates a really high level of engagement with the resources we’re offering,” Evans said.

Most initiatives, Evans said, either use almost all of their funding or close to none, which may indicate a given program’s progress as opposed to issues with advertising.

“[The utilization is] more a matter of which initiatives were successfully launched and kind of got off the ground, and which just never happened at all,” Evans said.

Rojas said she hopes that more students will take advantage of the widely-available Student Council initiatives like Cavalier Advantage Grants this semester, especially given complaints over having to pay for laundry within dorms.

“For your essentials and your day

to day life as a University student, you need to print, you need clean laundry,” Rojas said. “We want to have more students know about it because we have the money so they can be helped. We just need to find a way for them to know that.”

Student dollars will also go towards providing funds for a total of 23 agencies and initiatives including the President Cabinet Agency, Diversity Engagement Agency and the Student Life Agency.

The PCA has a budget of $100,100 — an increase of $37,465 from last spring’s budget. The PCA is responsible for the administration and carrying out of the president’s short and long-term goals, which include diversity grants and more support for historically underserved CIOs.

Additionally, The DEA will receive $31,500 in SAF funding and $500 in non-SAF funding, which will be directed toward diversity grants. This figure represents an increase from the $26,075 given last spring.

The Student Life Agency will receive $3,500 in SAF funding designated to the creation of roughly 100 nonperishable meal kits for students who experience food insecurity during Spring Break.

The spring’s budget is a four percent decrease from last spring’s budget of $184,671 but a nine percent increase from $162,470 in the fall.

A legacy for the ages: Mark Mincer’s impact on Grounds

Owner of classic University Corner store will be succeeded by his son, Cal Mincer Diem

Trinh and Merrill Hart | CD News Staff

From eager prospective students after their first tour of Grounds to fourth-years looking for that final perfect memento of their time at the University, Mincers on the Corner is the go-to Wahoo store, selling everything from University-branded teddy bears to classic t-shirts.

A longtime Cavalier and involved Charlottesville resident, Mark Mincer was a man who bled blue and orange. Mark passed away Jan. 30 at 60 years of age. He is remembered by friends, family and the larger community for his passionate support of University athletics and students.

Mincer’s on the Corner was established in Charlottesville in 1948 as a pipe shop called Mincer’s Humidor by Robert W. Mincer, Mark’s grandfather. To create additional income, Robert and his wife Clara rented out spare bedrooms to students. In 1954, Robert relocated a few hundred yards up the Corner to where Mincer’s now stands. The store has since been owned by three generations of Mincer sons.

As time passed, Mincer’s redirected its focus and started selling non-smoking products. Now called Mincer’s U.Va. Imprinted

Sportswear, the store currently sells sports apparel as well as casual clothing articles, fashion items, toys and household goods.

Mark’s son, Cal Mincer, described his father as a family man who cherished University sports and his position working on the Corner in the middle of the University bustle.

“Most of his life was family and Virginia sports and retail,” Cal said. “And I think he found a good amount of joy in those things.”

Given Mark’s passion for sports, the store has a strong relationship with University athletics. Growing up, Cal initially didn’t spend much time in the store, but he began to help out with what Mincer’s called the “scoreboard special” — for every point scored by the football team, Mincer’s added a percentage point to its sale. Since then, Mincer’s has continued to faithfully outfit and celebrate alongside Cavalier athletics supporters. Cal remembers the excitement of the 2019 men’s basketball championship as a highlight of working alongside his father, when hundreds of fans sought out t-shirts to commemorate the win.

“It wasn’t like usual retail where he’s in his office doing stuff and we’re just kind of pushing the systems forward — it was all hands on deck,” Cal said. “We were basically trying to make as many customers happy as we can and it was just a really fulfilling time to be able to work next to my dad.”

Mark was also deeply invested in the University community and an avid reader of student media outlets. Andrew Joyner, College alumnus and associate director of development at McIntire, remembers an article he wrote during his time on The Cavalier Daily in which he argued that the University should be considered for the 1995 ACC football championship over Florida State University in the ACC’s first Bowl Alliance. Joyner said Mincer’s should make t-shirts to celebrate. He said that Mark read the article and personally invited him to talk more at the store.

Mark and Joyner remained friends afterwards. Joyner would often text Mark photos of his children wearing clothing from the store or celebrate friends’ acceptances to the University with Mincer’s gift cards.

“As I often hear from U.Va.

graduates, both here in the area and outside, Mincer’s is a store they just love to be at, and I think Mark deserves a lot of credit for that,” Joyner said.

The store remains popular among current students, both as a place to buy fresh prints for game days and as a desirable workplace.

Third-year College student Rana Naimi formerly worked at Mincer’s and remembers the store as a relaxed and comfortable working environment. Although Naimi had only worked with Cal and never personally met Mark, she commented on Cal’s generosity and easy-going personality.

“If that’s what his dad was like, then it’s very obvious where all that kindness comes from,” Naimi said in a statement to The Cavalier Daily.

The store announced in a tweet Jan. 29 that they would be closed on the same day to mourn the loss of their owner. Hundreds gathered at Paramount Theater Friday for a memorial celebrating Mark’s legacy.

As the University remembers Mark’s impact, the classic Corner store’s legacy will continue. Cal will take on the longstanding

family responsibility of managing Mincer’s.

“For those of us who’ve seen a lot of family stores unfortunately closing here in the Charlottesville area, to see that his family will maintain and keep that means a great deal,” Joyner said.

Cal has worked full-time at the store since 2018, and said he learned much from Mark but wishes they had more time together. Inspired by his father’s dedication, Cal plans to stay at the store for the long haul.

“Something will come up and I’ll be like ‘wow, I wish I would have asked Dad that,’” Cal said.

“I’m never going to get past those questions and those moments, but I did learn a lot from him and I am proud of our store and proud to be running it… I’m confident we will continue to be there for years to come.”

ALEYNA BUYUKAKSAKAL THE CAVALIER DAILY

As the University remembers Mark’s impact, the classic Corner store’s legacy will continue — Cal will take on the longstanding family responsibility of managing Mincer’s.

Hughes and Baddeliyanage announced as HRL co-chairs

The incoming chairs list student self-governance and upperclassmen housing among their priorities

Elizabeth Rambo | Staff Writer

Third-year College students

Morgan Hughes and Roshan Baddeliyanage have been chosen as Housing and Residence Life cochairs for the upcoming 202324 school year. The team’s main goals are to improve the program from within by balancing student self-governance with support from professional staffers in addition to prioritizing upperclassman housing.

The HRL co-chairs work with full-time staff to hire, supervise and mentor student Resident Staff members. Chairs also serve as a liaison between student staffers and University administration.

“What makes housing so special is student self-governance — we’re a program that really runs itself,” Hughes said. “Promoting that student self-governance of the program while also building a foundation with professional staffers so the program can move forward into the coming years.”

Hughes and Baddeliyanage said that student self-governance within HRL involves creating roles where students can have an impact on other students.

“Whether you’re co-chair, vice chair, SR or RA, you’re really just

all working toward that goal together, and you’re kinda given that opportunity to build community in your own unique way,” Baddeliyanage said.

In addition to broader goals regarding self-governance, Hughes and Baddeliyanage will be responsible for navigating the daily aspects of residents’ housing experiences. Hughes said the role of co-chairs is to advocate for both resident staff and residents — especially when issues in quality of living arise.

In the fall, many students felt unsatisfied with HRL’s response to reports of mold found in first-year dorms earlier. Students reported physical symptoms associated with mold exposure.

“We are concerned about reports like this that we’ve seen,” Hughes said. “We encourage residents and staffers to continue to report maintenance issues, and we will use to the best of our ability our efforts as co-chairs to advocate and support the best interests of our staffers at the administrative level.”

Fair and equal accessibility to all University housing is also an HRL priority. Students with dis-

abilities often need differentiated housing assignments in order for their residences to be fully accessible and compliant with SDAC accommodations.

Hughes said accommodations are designed to be flexible and that HRL tries to allow every student with a disability to live where they wish.

“Housing approaches [accommodations] on a case by case basis to see what is the best accommodation for that student,” Hughes said. “That applies for all of our communities — wherever a resident wants to live, they work with housing to see where it is feasible for them on a case by case basis.”

Hughes and Baddeliyanage are also considering how an increase in upperclassmen housing can be supported by Resident Staff. The Board of Visitors has been considering requiring all second-year students live on Grounds as part of University President Jim Ryan’s 2030 Strategic Plan. The plan — not yet implemented — would involve a significant expansion of current on-Grounds housing.

While the co-chairs are not directly involved in the decision-making process for the sec-

ond-year housing requirement, Hughes and Baddeliyanage include the upperclassmen housing experience in their vision for the co-chair position.

“[We] are interested in really thinking about what that upperclassmen housing experience looks like as we move towards more and more second years transitioning to live on Grounds, and making sure it is a meaningful experience for student staffers — as well increasing the number of upperclassmen residents that will live on Grounds,” Hughes said.

Upperclassmen are currently in the process of selecting their onGrounds housing for the 2023-24 school year. Incoming first-year students will receive their housing assignments over the summer.

Hughes and Baddeliyanage have both previously served as RAs and are currently SRs in first-year dorms. RAs are chosen through a competitive, three-round application process. To be eligible for the SR position, the candidate must have at least one year of experience as an RA.

Hughes and Baddeliyanage said they are looking forward to their new tenures as co-chairs and the

potential to empower all members of HRL — both residents and staff.

“Our motto is ‘make housing a home,’ but that really is what it is, and that doesn’t just mean for residents,” Baddeliyanage said. “Yes, we’re putting so much work into making sure that residents… [are] having an amazing experience and they can call that place their home, but also focusing on our staffers.”

Both chairs said they had positive experiences with first-year housing, which motivated them to become involved with HRL leadership — and ultimately apply for the co-chair position.

“[HRL] truly has made my [University] experience, whether it’s being able to grow as a person or meet amazing people and building relationships that I hold very dear and fostering those connections throughout dorms,” Baddeliyanage said. “I definitely want to pay that forward, overall increasing that sense of togetherness in the community.”

Hughes and Baddeliyangage will replace fourth-year Batten student Holly Sims and fourthyear College student Karissa Ng.

ALBERT TANG THE CAVALIER DAILY

Hughes and Baddeliyanage said they are looking forward to their new tenues as co-chairs and the potential to empower all members of HRL.

Top 10 ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day long-distance

Valentine’s Day can be a struggle when you’re 1,000 miles away from your significant other, but there are still ways to celebrate, speaking from experience.

1. Cook dinner together

This is how I’ll be spending Valentine’s Day this year with my boyfriend. We are going to pick a recipe and both cook together while FaceTiming. It’s a fun way to hang out and also do an activity together. If you end up liking the recipe you pick then you can make it again together the next time you see each other. Challenge yourself to cook a fancy dish and consider sharing the delicious product with your roommates.

Mail gifts

This idea largely depends on the type of couple you are. My boyfriend and I typically do not exchange gifts very often, but since being long distance for the past two Valentine’s Days, we have exchanged something small. We have done anything from just sending each other cards, to him delivering me flowers via my roommate. The surprise is honestly the best part, and coming home to a special package in the mail or fresh flowers is just so uplifting. Plus it doesn’t have to be expensive.

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Write letters

Writing letters can be a romantic way to keep in touch with one another and, similar to mailing gifts, receiving mail is always a fun treat. Writing a letter is also a much cheaper alternative than mailing a gift. You can mail letters throughout the year and hold onto them to read them on a certain day together, or you can just keep an ongoing correspondence. Valentine’s Day is just an extra excuse to write a letter to each other.

Anna Mason | Top Ten Writer

4. Movie night

Movie nights are one of my favorite date night activities, whether I’m in a long-distance relationship or not. While my boyfriend and I are apart, we will voice call or video call each other and start shows or movies at the same time together so we can both watch the movies and talk about what is happening, similar to if we were together. You could even use the Chrome extension Teleparty to watch a movie on Netflix with your significant other at the same time.

5.

Order in

In my opinion, Charlottesville has some of the best take-out. My personal favorite takeout order is pad thai, and there are numerous Thai restaurants such as Monsoon Siam downtown — just a short drive from Grounds. A fun way to hang out on Valentine’s Day would be to order each other takeout and have it delivered to each other. Try to surprise one another with their favorite dish — it could be fun!

8. Plan your next visit

A neat thing you can do together on Valentine’s Day that will potentially brighten up the rest of your semester too is to start planning when you will see each other next. Once you set a day, it can give you something to look forward to, even if it is far off. One year my boyfriend and I split the cost of a plane ticket to visit each other as our Valentine’s Day gifts for each other and it worked out great.

6.

Visit each other

This is obvious, but arguably the best way to spend Valentine’s Day long-distance is to visit each other. This is hard to do especially because February is a very busy month, but if you can make it work, then Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to take a weekend trip to visit your significant other. Bonus points if you manage to surprise them unexpectedly.

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Galentines / Palentines

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Virtual game night

Lockdown due to COVID-19 was a rough time, but one thing the pandemic made popular is group online games and other ways to be social virtually. A cute way to spend Valentine’s Day night together could be to play some online games and just have a good time together. It won’t quite be like a game night together, but it is something different than a typical routine phone call or FaceTime. My personal favorite games to play on a date night are question or problem-solving games.

10.

Reaffirm your feelings about each other

On Valentine’s Day it is very natural to talk about your feelings, but there are ways to make it special too. My friend does this with her boyfriend every year. They send each other a good morning text and then FaceTime throughout the day like normal, and then at the end of the night, they send each other a long goodnight text and say the things they appreciate about each other and love about one another. It is a really sweet idea I may steal for myself as well.

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AVERY SURIANO THE CAVALIER DAILY

AVERY SURIANO | THE CAVALIER DAILY

AVERY SURIANO THE CAVALIER DAILY

Chatting about ChatGPT

Students and professors explore OpenAI’s new language model ChatGPT and its potential to change the standards of education

Srilakshmi Medarametla | Features Writer

ChatGPT has inextricably changed the landscape of artificial intelligence capabilities. This generative A.I. application developed by OpenAI can provide written content in response to any text-based query. For the University community, it affects students and professors alike as questions arise regarding how students may choose to utilize the software and if it will affect the integrity of their work. Opposing attitudes toward the software have risen from both sides of the classroom, ranging from excitement to unease.

Computer Science Engineering Prof. Aaron Bloomfield has already acknowledged the tremendous capability now available at students’ fingertips and how it could affect academic integrity.

“There certainly is a desire amongst students at every level to focus more on grades and this is something that I think is going to enable students to cheat more,” Bloomfield said. “I think a lot of college assignments and college courses are going to have to adapt, and I think that’s going to be challenging on many levels because the standard college essay is now writable with

generative A.I.”

Despite the existence of resources like Chegg and forums like Reddit and Stack Overflow available online, Bloomfield pointed out not only how cheating via ChatGPT would be harder to detect, but could also deepen issues of inequity if the service were to be completely gated behind a paywall. In fact, since its release last November, ChatGPT took a step in this direction and announced Feb. 1 that it will offer a new subscription plan for $20 a month.

While this technology has incredible potential, there are some drawbacks. Because ChatGPT does not cite where it gets its information from, it is difficult for a user to fact-check and know whether its responses are accurate.

Assoc. Public Policy Prof. Andrew Pennock said that some professors are unaware of the lack of citations and fallibility, especially for University students who plan to employ the A.I. for their assignments.

“It’s dangerous if you don’t know that it’s nonsense,” Pennock said. “Or if you’re in an area where you don’t know what nonsense is, then

it will give you nonsense and you’ll have no filter to be able to check it.”

As ChatGPT becomes more prevalent, however, some professors are beginning to adapt their teaching methods to the existence of this new technology. Pennock recently led a forum where at least 100 professors discussed how generative A.I. can and will impact academia.

“There are the professors who, for good reasons… understand that training people to think without a computer is important, and so they’ll go old school,” Pennock said. “But then, there are also professors who will embrace the change and say, ‘This is a new reality. How can I teach and help students learn in this new reality?’”

Pennock and Bloomfield both place themselves in the latter category. While Pennock permits his students to use ChatGPT to assist with their assignments rather broadly, he encourages them to think about the issue for themselves first and then discuss their findings with the group.

Bloomfield hopes to promote a better understanding of the AI’s imperfections by incorporating it into

his Introduction to Cybersecurity course. He plans to have his students ask the software an ethical question and then discuss how ChatGPT’s response is incorrect or incomplete.

“I think there are ways to design assignments that avoid just being able to use ChatGPT to cheat and I don’t know if my way is going to work or completely flop, but I think this is something that collegiate instructors are very interested in,” Bloomfield said.

Amidst criticisms, many see endless opportunities for advancement with such technology across the University. Third-year Engineering student Saahith Janapati noted how any student in any specialization could utilize the software and realize its full potential.

“I think that some of the hype is warranted because if you want to deploy these systems in the real world, the interface of language is useful for everyone to interact with — you don’t have to have any specialized domain knowledge about how this model works,” Janapati said.

Although the concern for academic integrity is prevalent across the University, Janapati envisions an

optimistic outlook where the software could promote education.

“You can imagine that in the future there’s gonna be a tutoring version of ChatGPT where it not only knows the topic that you’re learning about, but it can actually customize itself to you and how you learn,” Janapati said.

Regardless of having an optimistic or suspicious attitude toward the software, students and professors agree that generative A.I. and ChatGPT specifically have great potential as a resource at the University and must be handled carefully.

Pennock likens the progress of generative A.I. to advances that have irrevocably shaped our past where it is yet unknown the full extent to which the changes on the horizon may affect our society, economy and lives.

“This is a once-in-a-generation change to how students learn and how professors create learning environments — it’s a big deal,” Pennock said.

Prepare your own meal at the U.Va. Teaching Kitchen

Whether you are a novice or an expert in the kitchen, Hoo’s Cooking classes deliver nutritious, yummy meals and tips to improve your culinary skills

Shriya Nambula | Food Writer

The delicious aroma of simmering vegetables and spicy chili permeated the air last Thursday in the University’s Teaching Kitchen. Students bustled around the kitchen to check up on their dishes and chop vegetables to add to the meal.

Located in the Teaching Kitchen in the Student Health and Wellness Building on Brandon Avenue are the “Hoo’s Cooking” nutrition education and culinary skills classes. Students can sign up online as individuals or groups with a registration fee of $6 which goes toward paying for the materials but can be waived based on financial needs. As someone who rarely cooks from scratch, I found that the class met its promises — it enables students to learn how to cook delicious meals in a positive, supportive environment at a low cost.

During class last week, we prepared a golden harvest chili and cornbread muffins — the recipe changes each week during individual classes held every Thursday

from 5 to 6:30 p.m. I was hesitant at first because I had never eaten chili and I don’t eat much meat, but after viewing the calendar of classes, I saw that the meals can be modified to fit any dietary restrictions.

Upon entering, I was greeted by bright, friendly instructors and a positive atmosphere. The kitchen features floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing sunlight to pour into the room. Arranged in the center of the kitchen are five spacious stainless steel-top tables for the students, and directly across, was a counter where instructors demonstrate each step of the process.

I appreciate how well looked after we were. When I sat down at the table with my partner, all ingredients and supplies needed were measured out and laid neatly in front of us. All the produce, bowls and utensils were clean and ready to go. Instructors provided plenty of clear instructions on what to do and I was given space for my belongings and an apron

to put on, as well as cut-resistant gloves to keep my hands safe when using knives. Excitement filled me as I took in the stunning kitchen and delicious potential before me and prepared to begin.

After first learning and practicing knife safety, we began to cut the vegetables. During this process, the other instructors and assistants walked around the room and advised those who had questions or any difficulties. I felt relieved to have extra help when my partner and I got behind the others. We cut a variety of hearty vegetables including carrots, onions and butternut squash.

As we cut and began to saute the vegetables, the air in the kitchen started to smell like fall as the spicy scent of the chili started to fill the room. I was starting to grow eager as I saw what was previously a pile of ingredients turns into a cohesive meal.

In the meantime, we started to prepare the cornbread muffins, splitting up the work by table. My partner added the muffin batter

into the buttered tin and afterward, the instructors placed the tin in the oven. The instructors’ support made me more confident in my cooking skills. As we neared the end, I beamed with excitement as the aroma of buttery muffins began to mix with the fragrant chili.

Both the chili and muffins finished cooking around the same time. The assistants swiftly set up the muffins and various other toppings for the chili on the front counter along with utensils and plates. Everyone lined up and served themselves and I decided to garnish my chili with finely chopped parsley, green onions and sliced avocado. As I took in my creation, my bowl of chili was a mosaic of autumn colors — I couldn’t wait to dig in.

At last, we were able to eat the meal we had cooked from start to finish. I was pleasantly surprised by the explosion of flavors and textures in my mouth, shocked that I had made the chili myself. I found the chili to be spicy, but

not overwhelming. The savory chili was complemented perfectly by the fluffy, sweet and buttery cornbread muffins. I took up the offer to take home leftovers and regret not taking more.

The class was a fun way to wind down in the evening and get away from the typical University hustle and bustle. I enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone with cooking and I liked that I was able to eat an affordable, nutritious meal. I felt supported and looked after throughout the process — it helped cooking feel fun instead of feeling like work. I recommend this class to anyone who wants a change from flavorless dining hall food or instant ramen, students who want to do a fun activity with their friends or anyone who wants to improve their culinary skills.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Kendall Street Company: from 14th St. to national venues

The bandmates, who met at U.Va., made their return to The Southern to kick off their second annual Virginia-centered tour

Tanner Rowe | Arts & Entertainment Editor

Even after touring the nation and gigging coast to coast, there’s no place like home for Charlottesville-based band Kendall Street Company. The five piece — all of which graduated from the University between 2015 and 2020 — returned to their hometown this past Thursday to play at The Southern Café & Music Hall, kicking off their second annual Kendall Street is For Lovers Tour.

The genre-fusing band has dedicated the month of February to spreading local music love to legendary venues and bars across Virginia, zigzagging between Charlottesville, Blacksburg, Richmond, Harrisonburg and Virginia Beach. Kendall Street Company’s Charlottesville fanbase is particularly excited about their residency at The Southern, where they will be returning every Thursday this February.

To mimic the worn-out cries of a true jam-band aficionado, nothing compares to the live show experience. During their show at The Southern this past Thursday — the first of their residency this month — the band

brought with them their usual spirit of spontaneity and disdain for setlists.

According to bassist and backing vocalist Brian Roy, the band chooses songs on the spot based on the crowd’s energy.

“Each show is really drastically different,” Roy said.

Roy — who graced the stage in a kaftan robe, accessorized with shimmering hair tinsel and a perpetual grin — looked and played like he just jumped off the cover of Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book record.

The band’s wide range of musical influences were dispersed all throughout their set, which featured notes of psychedelic rock, jazz, R&B, bluegrass and folk. It was a wild ride as the band transitioned effortlessly between complex key changes, thumping bass lines looping like a 70s disco track and solo serenades from Louis Smih, lead singer and rhythm guitarist.

As if unhinged musical chops and syncopated stage lighting wasn’t enough, Smith’s on-the-fly comedy bits and crowd engagement add to the full scale of the Kendall Street

Company experience, for which they have gained quite a reputation.

“Who’s even driving this thing, dude?” Smith said in the facetious voice of a 70s West Coast surfer to the giddy crowd.

After playing together for nine years, the band has learned how to communicate without words, a skill that aids their extended improvisational jams.

Lead guitarist Ben Laderberg and saxophonist and keyboardist Jake Vanaman alternated jazz-infused call and response licks as if they were having a conversation. The musicians may have learned a thing or two from the University’s Department of Music.

“I do use my degree every day,” Smith, who studied music at the University, said “You know, I use it more than most people probably use their degrees.”

Laderberg quipped that Smith used his degree more often for “rolling papers” with a smirk as the band chuckled.

After meeting at the University

nearly a decade ago, the five-piece moved into a house on 14th and Grady. Roy reminisced on the cramped stage set-ups that could barely contain the band’s sound and lighting gear.

“Pretty much any place on the Corner that had live music at any point when we were at the University, we played,” Roy said. “Thursday night, Friday afternoon, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night. All between fraternities, live shows at bars and venues and downtown.”

Getting their start as a student band helped to build a foundation of loyal fans.

“It’s great to be in a community that fosters that sort of togetherness on such a regular basis,” Roy said.

When members of their class graduated and moved away to places like Washington, D.C. and New York City, NY, their fans took with them memories of watching the band play, establishing fanbases for Kendall Street Company up and down the East coast.

Before fully committing to his career as a professional touring mu-

sician, drummer Ryan Wood recalled his Brewery shifts getting in the way of band practice.

“I was like, dude, ‘One foot in and one foot out, There ain’t no way to live like that,” Smith said, quoting the Avett Brothers. “I think that that really got to him. He quit the job.”

With seven studio albums now under their belt, the talented ensemble has come a long way from playing at fraternity parties and house shows on Grounds. Returning to Charlottesville to play for friends and fans that got them their start is a full circle moment.

“It’s kind of like playing a home game,” Roy said. “You get to wake up where you live, and it’s the same locker room and the fans all come out and it’s a much more packed stadium with people that really are into what you’re doing.”

As for the future, Kendall Street Company looks forward to returning to The Southern on Feb. 9, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, where fans may be able to catch their new single titled “Lost Together,” out Friday.

LEON ARCEO THE CAVALIER DAILY

As if unhinged musical chops and syncopated stage lighting wasn’t enough, Smith’s on-the-fly comedy bits and crowd engagement add to the full scale of Kendall Street Company experience, for which they have gained quite a reputation.

Student exhibition “Hearts” showcases passionate artists

The exhibition provides University students the opportunity to showcase meaningful creations with the Charlottesville community

Emily Pitts | Staff Writer

The McGuffey Art Center is typically home to works from a number of professional Charlottesville artists, but the second floor of the gallery houses a hidden gem — a hallway recently lined with student masterpieces. University studio artists, whether enrolled in the major or just a studio art class, contributed a selection of thought-provoking and personal pieces to the exhibit.

Many of the student artists said their studio art classes are an expression of personal emotions, stories and ideas. Third-year College Student Heeran Karim — who has two of her pieces on display — makes connections between the personal and academic facets of her life in her art.

Karim, as a double major in human biology and studio art, often focuses her work on the human body and its power to tell stories. For her piece titled “Protrusion”, Karim used an online simulator to fix the image of a superior view of a human heart, using it as inspiration for her piece.

“I want to show, metaphorically, the life of a heart being taken, but it’s also the pain that you would feel if you lost someone,” Karim said.

Karim often uses the corporal

body as inspiration for her pieces. Her other gallery submission, entitled, “Almost”, features two hands reaching towards each other, representing relationships in her own life, though she opens her audience to their own interpretations. She is currently working on a children’s book, in which this piece will be featured on the last page.

Like Karim, the students used many different materials while creating their pieces. Some made sculptures, some painted and a few even compiled video projects.

Liv Cochran, second-year College student and studio art major, experimented with a variety of materials for a collage she entitled “The Traveler”. The work is a woven depiction of a world map, constructed using materials she sourced — food labels, masks or old prayer flags — to bring the meaning behind her idea to life.

“It’s sort of a representation of unity yet lots of fragmentation,” Cochran said. “You can see it in a couple of ways… from the back it’s a map, and then as you get closer you can kind of get lost in the details.”

Through assignments from studio art professors, students like Cochran drew inspiration for

the projects they would later submit to the exhibition. Cochran recalls a weaving assignment in her class that took a mind of its own, leading to her vision for “The Traveler.”

For fifth-year College student Valentina Maria Deshler, who picked up an art major during the pandemic, the piece “Govinda” was the product of Studio Art Professor Marlatt pushing her out of her artistic comfort zone.

“I was too afraid of using ugly colors,” Deshler said. “So [Marlatt] was like, ‘I want you to make a really ugly one.’ Ugly colors, ugly shapes, ugly ideas, ugly everything… I ended up spending a lot of time on it, and it ended up being one of my favorite paintings, though supposedly everything about it was ugly.”

Deshler’s piece — gouache on paper — is an amalgamation of jarring colors and shapes, that when put together, create a beautiful abstract ensemble.

No two pieces in the exhibition are alike, and neither were any of the artists’ processes. One work of art can take any length of time to complete, some only lasting a day and some stretching out over months.

“When I do art, the minute I

start it, I want to finish it within that day,” Karim said. “I might have sat down for 18 hours and just knocked [“Protrusion”] out in one day.”

Each student shows dedication to their work, spending countless hours to perfect it on an abnormal schedule.

“If I’m in the mood to paint, I’m gonna go to the studio. I don’t care if it’s 2 a.m,” Deshler said,

who would often use her keycard to swipe into Ruffin Hall after hours.

The dedication to their artwork is evident through the striking final products hanging in the gallery today.

“Hearts: A U.Va. Student Exhibition” will be open on the second floor of McGuffey Arts Center until Feb. 26, free for all who wish to attend.

Behind the scenes at the Paramount Theater

Take a special look into the building’s vintage architecture and unique rooms only accessible to staff and performers

Leon Arceo | Senior Writer

For many, the experience of the Paramount Theater likely extends from the concession stand to the physical seats in the theater. Beyond the theater, though, there are many rooms rich in detail that complete this historic landmark.

Exclusive to staff and performers, at the corner of the stage is a stairwell that leads to the first floor of the theater referred to as an “artist wonderland” by Education and Outreach Manager Cathy von Storch. The backstage wall of fame is illuminated by bright yellow paint and includes thousands of signatures from artists who have performed at the theater since 2004. Among the signatures are award-winning artists Diana Ross and Tony Bennett, who performed at the grand reopening of the Paramount.

In a section of the backstage floor, a big green cartoon dinosaur winks up at viewers. As the

story goes, when painters were working on the basement, the production team asked their boss what color he preferred for the floor. In a rush to head out of town, their boss replied that he wasn’t interested — they could paint it dinosaur for all he cared. So once returning the boss was surprised to see a dinosaur painted on the floor thanks to his crew.

“[The dinosaur] is how we give directions down here, because it can get a little confusing where someone is at — someone would say, go to the [dinosaur] head and make a right,” Technical Manager Kyle Schneider said.

Along the hallway, the backstage has two large premier dressing rooms and two choral dressing rooms, each with a bathroom and shower for its guests.

The layout of the first floor concludes with an original public lounge that includes a room that once served as a men’s smoking

lounge. While backstage is made for preparing for the show, the stage is the heart of performances and screenings.

Above the backstage floor lies the renowned two-story theater, which underwent renovations in the early 2000s. The center stage was expanded by 15 feet, creating ample space for performance.

The number of seats was reduced from over 1200 to 1041, and each seat was replaced with cozy soft velvet, providing maximum comfort and legroom. Furthermore, an interesting detail awaits the keen observer — not all seats are the same size, with a variation of three sizes.

“I always tell people to go in and find the right size for you and pick that seat because there really is a variety of seats,” Schneider said. “We host a gala every year and last year we actually took out another four rows of seats — in doing so we learned

that the seats are not all the same as we were trying to put them back together.”

For live performances, the theater stage can accommodate a variety of events. The stage floor itself has springs and multiple layers of protection so that ballerinas can go en pointe easier and have extra support during dance performances. Beyond the stage, the Paramount features many rooms for socializing and hosting parties.

The grand staircase leads to the fourth floor with two large lounges, the Balcony Lounge and the Fonder’s Lounge, both of which can be rented for events. Donors to the Paramount Theater are invited to the Founder’s Lounge to enjoy the built-in bar and concession stand during intermission.

One magnificent design in the lounge, making it feel like a mystery movie, is a secret door that

leads atop the Paramount marquee. Every floor of the theater — from the basement all the way to the fourth floor — proves to be enriched with history and details.

These days, the Paramount Theater is home to a multitude of events from live performances to The Virginia Film Festival. Thankfully to those involved in the renovation and reopening in 2004, the theater maintains its antique aesthetic with new inclusions to improve the audience experience, allowing it to stay alive and thrive.

“It was so important to those making the decisions about the restoration to hold onto the history [and] hold onto the architecture and its influences,” Storch said. “They were all a part of having this wonderful experience, escaping from the outside and entering a completely different place, spiritually and physically.”

ADAIRE BURNSED THE CAVALIER DAILY University studio artists, wether enrolled in the major or just a studio art class, contributed a selection of thought-provoking and personal pieces to the exhibit.

It has been almost a year since the student body voted to reform the Honor Committee’s 180-year-old single sanction system. Recent developments suggest that the progress we witnessed last semester may be in jeopardy. Four proposals were introduced last week in preparation for when a multi-sanction constitution is eventually drafted. While we recognize the necessity of a multi-sanction system, these proposals — much like the process that produced them — are deeply problematic.

As long as the Committee continues to operate with a lack of transparency, no true progress will ever be made to their system.

This past fall, the Committee announced they would be holding a Constitutional Convention to solicit feedback for a multi-sanction system.

The Committee invited delegates from Contracted Independent Organizations to participate in the convention — this invitation was a single sentence at the end of an email which asked CIOs to respond if they were interested in attending. Of the hundreds

Honor — you can do better

of CIOs on Grounds, 30 reached out. The Committee made no discernable public attempt to further advertise their invitation. Special Status Organizations — including the University Judiciary Committee, which currently operates under a multi-sanction system and has for years — were also excluded. The whole point of the Convention was to solicit feedback and draft language for a multi-sanction system, but the Committee’s lack of preparedness ultimately prompted the delegates to crank out proposals behind closed doors days before the start of this semester.

The first proposal has a panel of non-Committee members convict students on either of two standards — “clear and convincing evidence” or “beyond a reasonable doubt.” A separate all-Committee panel would then decide the appropriate sanction based upon the standard of conviction. The second proposal staffs the two panels in the same way, but the available sanctions are determined based on whether or not the initial guilty ver-

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dict is unanimous and open to “the full range of sanctions.” In contrast to the first two, the third proposal says the panel that determines guilt should also include Committee members. The last proposal has one group of non-Committee and Committee members decide both guilt and sanction.

If you struggled to understand these, you’re not alone. Much like with the Convention, the Committee hasn’t attempted to explain anything about these proposals They are incredibly confusing, and what’s more, each is riddled with problems. Sanctions should be proportionate to the offense committed, not the standard of evidence or the number of votes in favor of the conviction. The proposals are also unethical — having a panel which convicts students and having another which sanctions students may lead to significant miscommunications between the two groups. A two-panel system may also stretch out the already notoriously long processing timeline for cases. While the proposals are problematic, they are only a

reflection of the system which led to their creation.

At the end of the day, these are just proposals, drafted by students who were ill-prepared and short on time. The Committee must recognize the ideas presented in these plans do not envision the multi-sanction system that the student body deserves. A new constitution should allow the Committee to hold overtly punitive measures in abeyance, in order to deter future violations of the honor code. The Committee should focus on implementing sanctions that help convicted students learn from their mistakes while rebuilding trust within the community — much like the process already used by the University Judiciary Committee. Reforms of this nature would foster a system of justice that recognizes nuance and promotes restoration.

Let us be clear — we need an Honor system that recognizes that no two situations are the same and that everyone deserves a second chance. While we appreciate the Committee’s recent

efforts to rethink how we safeguard our Community of Trust, this process will be unsuccessful if it relies on these flawed proposals produced by an unrepresentative slate of delegates. The Committee must work to increase transparency if it wants to achieve the necessary changes — amending the constitution behind closed doors limits exposure to the student body, and we will not vote for a constitution that we do not understand. This moment is an opportunity to create a system that is representative, accessible and rehabilitative. We are at the precipice of a new beginning for the Committee — members must decide if they want this next chapter to be any better than the last.

THE CAVALIER DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD is composed of the Executive Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the two Opinion Editors, their Senior Associates and an Opinion Columnist. The board can be reached at eb@cavalierdaily.com.

MANAGING BOARD

Editor-in-Chief

Ava MacBlane

Managing Editor

Lexi Baker

Executive Editor

Nathan Onibudo

Operations Manager

Ava Proehl

Chief Financial Officer

Charlie Healy

EDITORIAL BOARD

Grace Duregger

Ava MacBlane

Ford McCracken

Leila Mohajer

Nathan Onibudo

Songhan Pang

Shaleah Tolliver

JUNIOR BOARD

Assistant Managing Editors

Claire DiLorenzo

Alexandra Holmes

(SA) Ella Dailey

(SA) Isabella Gattuso

(SA) Kate Jensen

(SA) Sahil Patel

(SA) Karen Shin

Assistant Operations Manager

Honor Wood

(SA) Mary Kurbanov

(SA) Alexa Mosley

News Editors

Avery Donmoyer

Merrill Hart

(SA) Eleanor Jenkins

Life Editors

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Sports Editors

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Arts & Entertainment Editors

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Tanner Rowe

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Health & Science Editors

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Podcast Editors

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Opinion Editors

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Humor Editors

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Shuqi Ye

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Finance Manager

Wilson Simmons

Advertising Manager

Mason Lewis

Archivist

Grace Franklin

Committee members have an opportunity to create a fairer system for Honor, but they must move past the recent proposals to do so

The current U.S. Supreme Court seems intent on sending the United States back to the 20th century. First it was overturning Roe v. Wade and challenging tribal sovereignty, now the Supreme Court has the potential to overturn another 1960s precedent — affirmative action. It is extremely concerning to see a handful of old, white men — who are both unelected and who hold life-long appointments — make decisions that will primarily affect low-income people of color. This Court is set to make a decision by June on two cases which challenge the constitutionality of considering race as a factor in college admissions.

Affirmative action arose from the civil rights movement and was intended to expand the opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities in employment, which eventually expanded to colleges and universities. The original executive orders which eliminated racial discrimination in employment were created and supported by several U.S. presidents, including John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon. The phrase affirmative action derives from the exact words that Johnson used in Executive Order 11246 to describe the manner in which employers should act to ensure racial equity. Over six dec-

In defense of affirmative action

Affirmative action is as relevant and necessary today as it was in the 1960s

ades of affirmative action have paved the way for more women and people of color to pursue opportunities that would have otherwise been impossible under the previous legal racial discrimination that occurred in employment and education.

Despite all the good that has arisen from affirmative action, it has also been a source of controversy. The most recent challenge began when Students for Fair Admissions filed lawsuits against The University of Texas, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Harvard on the basis of race-based discrimination in college admissions. They claim that white and Asian students are being discriminated against in the admissions process. Much like the plaintiffs of another case the Supreme Court is hearing regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act, SFFA is essentially claiming reverse racism against a policy that is intended to protect minorities from historically racist policies.

These cases are a blatant example of the zero-sum mentality that prevents the alliance of racial minorities and instead creates a kind of oppression Olympics pitting minorities against one another. This zero-sum mentality manifests itself as the belief that admission of more Black or Latinx students means that a spot is being taken away from an Asian or a white student that has a higher test score or a higher GPA. SFFA claims that colorblind admissions is best for everyone and that affirmative action tells Black and Latinx students that they are less intelligent and less capable of scoring highly on tests and were only accepted based on their race. Is SFFA claiming that students of color accepted into elite universities have not earned their spots, especially since many selective universities claim to use a holistic approach? What SFFA does not consider is the extensive research on the racist and eugenicist origins of standardized testing and how historically racist pol-

icies — like exclusionary housing practices, medical racism and more — have resulted in less opportunity for many people of color, and therefore less expendable income and security. Lost opportunities as a result of this intergenerational racism can negatively impact academic performance.

Instead of targeting affirmative action, SFFA should turn its attention to the selectivity of elite universities and fight to make higher education more accessible for all those wishing to pursue it — especially considering that for women and people of color, admittance to an elite university positively correlates with increased job prospects and earning potential. If affirmative action is ruled unconstitutional, though, it is not a matter of if these colleges will become less diverse — it is when. Unfortunately, college admissions are not the only thing that is threatened by the overturning of affirmative action — scholarships on the basis of race are also in jeopardy.

Learn to teach with ChatGPT

Efforts to limit student use of chatbots are misguided and will prove futile

Despite the historical progress made under affirmative action, racial discrimination persists in employment, and college remains out of reach for many people of color due to systemic racism. While affirmative action does not replace the need for monetary reparations for descendants of enslaved individuals or Indigenous communities, it is a type of reparation for the historical barring of people of color and women from higher education. We do not live in a race blind society. Nor should we, lest we ignore the many barriers people of color face in an intrinsically unequal society.

Affirmative action is a topic that is very important to me as I consider myself a beneficiary of the policy. While I do not claim that affirmative action is a perfect policy, it is clear that we are still fighting for liberties fought for by the original 1960s civil rights movement — until those visions are achieved, affirmative action must be vehemently defended.

YSSIS CANO-SANTIAGO is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

Just as quickly as it came, the warm embrace of syllabus week has passed. While students are typically bombarded with the same class policies about lying, cheating and stealing, this semester there was one notable addition to many syllabi — ChatGPT. Although ChatGPT was launched only in December, its arrival has dominated discourse in education. Teachers and parents have rushed to declare the English class and even the college essay dead. In response to growing concerns, the school districts of New York and Seattle banned the so-called “cheating device,” with Fairfax County following suit in January. Although uncertainty within academia is understandable, the alarmist rhetoric and outright bans are shortsighted. We must begin to realize ChatGPT’s capability as a teaching tool both at the University level and beyond.

ChatGPT is the latest release from the artificial intelligence company Open AI. A conversational chatbot, ChatGPT uses machine learning techniques to produce thoughtful responses to requests. OpenAI gives several examples of potential uses for the program on the site’s homepage — from asking ChatGPT to explain quantum

computing in simple terms to requesting a list of ideas for a ten-year-old’s birthday party. While it may be easy to dismiss the program as just hype, it is hard to deny its successes, as it managed to both pass an MBA exam and

safeguards put in place by administrators. There have been developments to solve the threat of cheating, including GPTZero, an app created by a current Princeton student which claims to be able to detect whether a text was AI

students who have trouble processing information at high speeds in a lecture setting. ChatGPT can supplement learning by providing the user with a conversational partner to talk through difficult concepts. If embraced,

Instead of running from it, why not use it? When used correctly, ChatGPT can be a revolutionary tool in the classroom.”

even help write legislation. Just spend a couple minutes playing around with the user-friendly software and you will be astounded by its capabilities. Its capability has fueled fears that cheating will be an inevitable consequence of widespread access to this AI. While it makes sense that many districts’ first instinct would be to block ChatGPT, this simply is not feasible.

Schools can ban the AI on schoolowned electronics and even the wifi system, but students have their own phones and computers. Even if they do not, it does not take a person with a tech background to access a VPN — allowing students to circumvent any

produced. However, just changing a few words of an AI-generated text easily fools the software.

Instead of running from it, why not use it? When used correctly, ChatGPT can be a revolutionary tool in the classroom. For starters, it could help level the playing field by aiding students who struggle to translate their ideas into prose, especially those with learning disorders like dyslexia. One of ChatGPT’s most valuable features is its ability to digest difficult concepts into easily understood terms, effectively turning the program into a personal teaching assistant. This would prove particularly beneficial to

ChatGPT would quickly become a go to tool for students with SDAC accommodations, helping to promote access and inclusion at the University.

It is not just students with learning accommodations — this technology has the potential to benefit everyone. ChatGPT is a chatbot, meaning that its primary function is to engage the user in conversation. In practice, this means English second language learners would always have a practice partner. Need someone to debate? ChatGPT’s ability to give all sides to an argument makes it the perfect partner. The Generative Pre-Trained Transformer software lends itself to

developing points and counterpoints, which teachers could use to help strengthen students’ arguments.

The biggest concern among University faculty is what the advent of ChatGPT would mean for the Honor system. It is fair to wonder how a program that can write its own essays could coexist with the University’s rich history of academic honesty. But innovation and Honor coexist in every corner of the University. Calculators enabled greater advancement in math. The da Vinci surgical robot is used in our medical school. The reality is that these tools can be used to help students achieve more and reach greater heights.

Universities have been drivers of innovation for centuries. Both the Internet and GPS originated at MIT. Modern seat belts were envisioned in a lab at Cornell. And the notion of an Academic Village — well, you know where that started. We must embrace innovative concepts, not fear them. And ChatGPT is no exception.

DAN FREED is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

Lost opportunities as a result of this intergenerational racism can negatively impact academic performance”

Five ways to not be bored while on Grounds

The void of time after the beginning of a semester can be such a drag. The adrenaline and busyness of attending your classes for the first time wears off, and the tinge of regret in your schedule choices is extinguished after you accept your dreadful fate. You know midterms will approach faster than you realize, and yet, the boredom persists. Fear not, my close-but-notso-close-friend-since-I-do-not-knowwho-you-are, I am here to rescue you from your University-shaped prison.

Until you lock yourself in Brown Library twelve hours straight for a quadruple-shot espresso-fueled study fest when exam season comes to greet you with its cold claws, allow me to enlighten you with a few tips on how to banish your boredom.

Walk across Grounds — and I mean all of Grounds Did you know that the University encompasses almost two thousand acres? I certainly did not before researching said information for this

very article. If my STEM major serves me well for once, I can tell that number equates to quite the distance. Such a vast expanse can fill quite a bit of time. Can you tell where I am going with this? I hope so. You want to cure your boredom? Start on one edge of the school map and walk straight until you hit the end, take one step to your right or left, walk all the way back in the direction you came in and repeat. It may take you quite a few hours, but can you imagine how much sightseeing you can accomplish during such an extended journey?

Write, direct, and star in a one-person performance of your favorite syllabus

Have you ever been forced by educational obligation to take a syllabus quiz, or has some random project deadline ever blindsided you? Worry no longer, not only can this suggestion give you a real purpose in life, it can replace your dignity with embarrassment as well. Stitch your own cos-

tume to mimic your professor’s style, design a set replicating your classroom — the possibilities to diminish your boredom are endless. No matter your major, I assure you that producing a one-person play of a multi-page syllabus will fill you with such satisfaction and accomplishment that you will wait in agony until the next semester when you gain access to more syllabi to perform. Heck, ask your friends for theirs and educate them on your own dime.

Start your own secret society, or a cult

The emptiness in your life may be due to a lack of idolization of the ground you walk on and an absence of devoted followers who would sell their soul to buy you a bag of chips. If you think this is the case, I would advise you to devote yourself to the construction of a secret society, or a cult — I certainly can’t see the difference. The creation of such an organization will consume so much of your time that

you will be too preoccupied with buying new velvet cloaks and coming up with places to hide your emblem on Grounds so people do not forget your existence to even think of the word ‘boredom.’

Visit every single accessible room and rate its interior design on a scale of one to ten

Let us be honest, some of the classrooms on Grounds are lacking in style, to say the least. Most are quite dull in color, and the most exciting aspect of them is seeing how the previous class rearranged the seats. In fact, I had never before considered that classrooms or offices could be objects of interest until a human-sized cardboard cutout of David Tennant peeking out of an office doorway in Bryan Hall scared the absolute crap out of me. After this frightening encounter that almost caused me to regenerate — and before you ask, that is a Doctor Who reference — I have since concluded that perhaps there are some interesting

CARTOON

Updated Map, New Side Quest

Kaileigh Proctor | Cartoon Editor

spaces around Grounds. I encourage you to seek them out — all of them, in fact — and grade them. You can keep these ratings to yourself, or better yet, write them down on a sticky note and leave it in the room so the inhabitants can be blessed by your opinions.

Commit arson

Less is more, with this suggestion. Will it possibly lead to criminal charges and a hefty fine? Yes, yes, I think it will. But, will you be bored? Oh, you certainly will not be bored anymore — I can assure you of that.

There is a secret sixth way to not be bored on Grounds. Do you want to guess what it is? No? It’s writing an article like this, that is what it is.

CAMILA COHEN SUÁREZ is the Humor Editor for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com

SPORTS

Ricky Miezan leaves Stanford for Virginia lacrosse

The former Cardinal football captain’s unorthodox athletic journey brings him back to his roots

William Smythe | Staff Writer

Ricky Miezan did not go quietly from high school lacrosse.

A pouring rain cascaded down at Randolph-Macon College in May 2018. A Virginia state semifinal matchup between No. 1 ranked Paul VI (15-3) and lower-seeded Episcopal High School (11-7) waged on. Standing above the rest, Episcopal’s Miezan took control of the ball in his defensive half and galloped down the field with little resistance.

The midfielder swept to the right, swiftly eluding his defender and beelining towards the cage. Around 10 yards out and trucking along — rain and all — Miezan dropped his stick and let it fly.

Water exploded from the net as Paul VI’s goalie looked on helplessly. Miezan would tally three more goals in the contest — including two assists — in a wire-to-wire battle under the lights. One could not help but think about what he could do at the collegiate level. Episcopal ultimately fell in overtime, yet No. 28 shined, wondering if he would ever take the field again.

Virginia’s men’s lacrosse will be welcoming graduate student midfielder Ricky Miezan this coming season. However, the journey back to a Virginia pitch took him across the country as he pursued an entirely different athletic career for five seasons playing Stanford football.

At Episcopal, head lacrosse coach Scott Conklin knew immediately that he had something special on his hands. A combination of speed, size and pure athleticism popped off the page even before he could officially don a uniform.

“We did an on-campus clinic, and he flashed,” Conklin said. “He wasn’t as big as he is now, but you could tell he had the athletic ability and the skill.”

In 2017, the midfielder, striker and sprinter decided to go out for football and immediately turned some heads. A senior season with 55 tackles and seven sacks as a linebacker made things increasingly interesting in terms of recruiting.

If there were to be one school to flip Miezan, it would be Stanford. The stars had aligned, with several linebackers in his class choosing to decommit from the Cardinal and thereby opening up a roster spot.

“I wanted to get the most out of my educational experience using athletics,” Miezan said. “And that’s why when Stanford came around, I really couldn’t turn it down. Because that’s — in my eyes — the best school in the country, so you don’t really turn it down.”

Despite an unbelievable 2018 lacrosse campaign— one in which he tallied 60 goals, 11 assists and ended the season as the Virginia Independent Schools Athletics Association Player of the Year— Miezan had made his decision in March 2018 and departed for Palo Alto shortly thereafter.

The transition to Division 1 football was not as smooth as anticipated, largely due to two season-ending injuries — the first coming after week two of his sophomore season and the second coming in the first game of his junior campaign. Miezan, however, fought through the adversity and earned a key role in his final two seasons in Palo Alto. Posting 68 tackles in 2021 and earning a spot as a captain last season, the inside linebacker ended his five-year college tenure as an All-Pac 12 honoree.

Having accomplished plenty in his career in Palo Alto, Miezan still could not count out a return to lacrosse.

“I didn’t grow up playing football, I grew up playing lacrosse,” Miezan said. “And, you know, that’s the sport that I really, really loved. And it just felt like I wanted to come back.”

The body of work from Miezan’s high school lacrosse career — including his multi-sport pedigree at Stanford — naturally threw Virginia into the mix. The former midfielder did not want to undergo a process quite like his past recruiting cycles. Instead, he knew exactly what he wanted to do — return home.

Virginia lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany could not have been more excited.

“We all bring our prior experiences to new decisions and new adventures, and what an experience he has at being a captain of a football program,” Tiffany said.

“Football brings such a unique approach to sports. That grit and that mandated toughness could only benefit us.”

The multi-sport component marks Miezan as one of the few yet memorable college lacrosse

players who have made the switch from football to lacrosse, or vice versa. Similar to Miezan, Maryland’s Dante Trader started at safety this past season and has joined the Terps’ lacrosse team this spring.

“There’s just a lot of correlation between the two sports in my opinion, especially for linebackers,” Miezan said. “I think overall it builds your athleticism and your ability to pick up on specific schemes and learn quickly.”

Having enrolled at Virginia for the spring semester, Miezan has had to adjust to a completely new environment and grow more comfortable with college lacrosse’s rapid pace. Virginia’s coach speaks highly of Miezan’s progress, a gradual improvement each and every day in Charlottesville. A meteoric rise could be in store.

“Anticipate a left-to-right moving chart,” Tiffany said. “We’re slowly up-ticking as we get further to the right; as we go further into the preseason, that line on the graph continues to rise. And that’s what we’ve seen from Ricky.”

Miezan understands that the road ahead may not be as smooth as planned. This challenge — a word which Miezan has never shied away from — will only allow him to improve.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge, it’s going to be somewhat of an experiment,” Miezan said. “And I understand that, but I’m just happy to be playing again… I’m ready for it.”

With the Cavaliers currently holding the No. 1 spot in Inside Lacrosse’s preseason poll, expectations for the upcoming season are sky-high after the addition of Miezan. Two scrimmages against Navy and most recently against Georgetown have witnessed the former No. 1 recruit’s return to action, tallying two goals. Not everyone can pick up a stick after five years and score twice in Division 1 ball.

Miezan still has plenty to learn, yet so much to bring to the table. By dodging downhill against often overmatched long poles and short-stick defensive midfielders, the 6-foot-2, 235 lb. transfer will open up opportunities for the rest of the offense — frequently bringing

double-teams and limiting the defense’s advantage. As of right now, he is just soaking everything in.

“My role right now is to learn and then — when the time’s right — try and step in to help improve this team and, you know, leave it better than when I came,” Miezan said.

From Conklin to Tiffany, Stanford to Virginia and lacrosse to football, Miezan has a story to tell and a scary, untapped level of potential even after his fiveyear hiatus. On that day in 2018, Miezan could not possibly know if he would make the return back to the sport he loved.

“I don’t really think I was ready to walk away from [lacrosse], and then it ended so suddenly,” Miezan said. “So I’m definitely happy to be playing again.”

No. 1 ranked Virginia lacrosse will take on Michigan at home Saturday, Feb. 11, in their first game of the 2023 season. Everyone — as they did at Episcopal, on the club circuit and in Palo Alto — will be looking at No. 50 at Klockner Stadium.

COURTESY STANFORD ATHLETICS

Miezan has the raw potential to make an immediate impact on Lars Tiffany’s already-elite squad.

Is Tony Bennett’s small ball lineup here to stay?

Debating the pros and cons of Virginia’s frontcourt conundrum

Jacob Knapp | Staff Writer

Virginia basketball is in the midst of a dramatic resurgence. The Cavaliers (18-4, 10-3 ACC) are currently situated at No. 8 in the latest AP men’s basketball poll and have risen as high as No. 2 this season. Coach Tony Bennett’s squad has come a long way from last season’s disappointing end — a loss in the National Invitation Tournament after missing out on the NCAA Tournament for the first time in almost 10 years, excluding the pandemic-disrupted year.

Despite the success the Cavaliers have enjoyed this season, Bennett has shown that he is not afraid to shake up his lineup. Anyone who has watched Virginia’s last few games may have noticed his rotations shifting. The 6-foot11 junior forward Kadin Shedrick has seen his minute share steadily decrease, culminating in a “did not play” in Saturday’s loss to Virginia Tech. Tuesday night, Shedrick returned to action off the bench, logging 27 highly impactful minutes en route to a home victory over No. 22 NC State.

Shedrick’s near-disappearance during a multi-game, in-conference stretch was surprising because many believed he was in line for a breakout season. He claimed the starting center role from sen-

ior Francisco Caffaro at the end of last season and did not look back. In addition, Shedrick’s offensive efficiency — like many of his teammates — improved, most notably through his 80.8 percent clip from the free throw line. When combined with his blocking ability, why did Shedrick find it so difficult to get in the game? To that point, should Virginia move forward with a reduced role for Shedrick or grant a bigger lineup more minutes as they have for most of the season?

The case for small ball

Clearly, “small” is used relatively here, since the player who benefited most from the lineup change — graduate transfer forward Ben Vander Plas – is 6-foot-8. Still, Bennett’s small ball lineup — consisting of graduate guard Kihei Clark, graduate forward Jayden Gardner, junior guard Reece Beekman, senior guard Armaan Franklin and Vander Plas — has no player taller than 6-foot-8 or that functions as a true center. This is an oddity for a Bennett-led team since his lineups have almost always featured a traditional big man — whether it be Jay Huff, Mamadi Diakite, Caffaro, or most recently, Shedrick. Vander

Plas – who has often proved more comfortable shooting from the arc than backing someone down in the paint – is certainly not the prototypical Virginia big man. Despite its abnormality, so far, Bennett’s small ball gamble has been moderately successful. In games that Shedrick logs fewer than 15 minutes, the Cavaliers have gone 5-2. One of the reasons Bennett has installed the small ball lineup could be to lean into the team’s newly-forged offensive identity. His Cavaliers have been shooting 38 percent from three — 23rd in the NCAA.

For proof that small ball can pay off, look no further than Virginia’s victory over Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have two players in their starting five that are taller than Vander Plas. Despite their momentum and decent matchups against the Cavaliers, they ultimately fell in their first home loss against Bennett’s small ball lineup 76-67. Shedrick logged just three minutes.

Virginia shot 44.1 percent from beyond the arc, with Vander Plas knocking down two threes in the win. Despite the size disadvantage, the Cavaliers also secured 38 total rebounds to the Demon Deacons’ 32. For the most part, Vander

Plas, Gardner and freshman guard Ryan Dunn have proven capable of matching up against larger players.

Presently, three-point shooting is one of the Cavaliers’ strengths, and Virginia is averaging its most points scored per game since the 2019 NCAA Championship team. Pulling Shedrick for Vander Plas adds yet another shooter to the floor that opposing teams have to account for behind the arc.

The case against small ball

Bennett’s investment in perimeter shooting had not resulted in significant rebounding or interior defense issues — at least until Saturday’s loss to the Hokies. In a game where Shedrick never touched the court, the Hokies torched Vander Plas and co. in the paint en route to a 74-68 victory. Though the Cavaliers defeated Virginia Tech just a few games prior with minimal involvement from Shedrick, the Hokies adjusted and never trailed in the rematch.

Crucial conference losses like Saturday’s and an earlier loss to Miami where Bennett played Shedrick for just 11 minutes are largely the reason that Virginia shares the top spot in the ACC rather than owning it outright.

The clearest argument in favor of Shedrick remaining in the rotation is Tuesday night’s victory over No. 22 NC State. The Wolfpack challenged Virginia with graduate forward D.J. Burns Jr., a 6-foot-9, 275-pound problem for Vander Plas and Gardner.

Though Bennett stayed with his new lineup at tipoff, Shedrick checked in early and defended Burns Jr. exceptionally, limiting NC State’s offensive potential as they scored just 50 points— well below its 78.4 average. Shedrick added 10 points, 12 rebounds and a block in a statement victory.

Down the line, Shedrick will likely have his number called again in key conference matchups. Duke (17-7, 8-5 ACC) has three starters that are 6-foot-8 or taller.

Conclusion

Bennett will have a decision to make when it comes time to face teams like Duke and the North Carolina Tar Heels (15-9, 6-3 ACC) that both have dangerous big men that function as the focal points of their offenses. His decision to prioritize perimeter shooting or interior defense could make or break a highly competitive Virginia team’s season.

Coach Tony Bennett’s new rotations have mostly led to success on the court - but will they last until March?

Way-too-early football schedule preview

Cavaliers fans get a glimpse of what next season will look like for the first time

Stephen O’Dea | Staff Writer

The ACC released each one of their constituent team’s schedules for the upcoming 2023 football season earlier last week. Among them was that of the Cavaliers, who find themselves at a crucial crossroads in program history and especially in the tenure of Coach Tony Elliott. Many questions were raised at the end of the season and the team is looking for answers.

This new season brings with it unprecedented challenges following the loss of junior wide receiver Lavel Davis Jr., junior wide receiver Devin Chandler and sophomore linebacker D’Sean Perry in November. On-field obstacles have been made apparent as well, with junior quarterback Brennan Armstrong and senior wide receiver Billy Kemp IV transferring and sophomore wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and senior receiver Keytaon Thompson entering the 2023 NFL Draft. The problems that the Cavaliers face this season do not just revolve around the events in Charlottesville.

Due to roster and coaching staff turnover, especially on the offensive end, Virginia is sure to have its hands full this fall in an attempt to right the ship. The schedule release does little to reassure skeptical Cavaliers fans as the slate presents challenges at every turn. Whether it’s facing two teams from last year’s AP Top 25 in Tennessee and James Madison back-to-back to

start their schedule or having to play a daunting duo in Louisville and Duke followed by a raucous rivalry game to end the season, this year is sure to be full of challenges. However, if a few things break Virginia’s way, bowl eligibility is not entirely out of the question. With this in mind, let’s analyze the Cavaliers’ 2023 schedule.

Key Games

9/9 vs. James Madison

In their inaugural season in FBS play as a part of the SBC, the Dukes (8-3, 6-2 SBC) reached the 25th spot in the Week 7 AP Poll. Even though star graduate student quarterback Todd Centeio has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, do not expect the Dukes to go quietly into the night next season. Two separate quarterbacks are transferring to Harrisonburg to try and nab the starting job— redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Griffis from Wake Forest and senior quarterback Jordan McCloud from Arizona. This game is even harder to evaluate given the fact that the two teams have not faced off in nearly 40 years, with their last matchup occurring in 1983.

The Cavaliers can compete in this game, but their defense will have to force more turnovers against an aggression-prone offense than last year’s average of

1.3. However, defensive coordinator John Rudzinski’s unit recently suffered a key loss in the form of senior linebacker Nick Jackson, who led the team in tackles with 104 in addition to five sacks and a fumble recovery. Unless Rudzinski is able to get similar production out of the current roster’s reserves or a new addition, my bet goes with the Dukes.

10/21 at North Carolina

The Tar Heels (9-5, 6-2 ACC) had an unbelievable start last season, going 9-1 in their first 10 games and even reaching the 13th spot in the Week 12 AP Poll. However, their season ended with a whimper, losing their last four games of the season. They also suffer the loss of draft-ready wide receiver Josh Downs. The Heels still have a bright future ahead of them, though, signing head coach Mack Brown to a one-year extension and bringing back 2022 All-ACC First Team freshman quarterback Drake Maye.

Though the offense faces question marks from top to bottom, Virginia will win or lose this game based on whether senior quarterback Tony Muskett or junior quarterback Jay Woolfolk is able to keep pace with a high-scoring Tar Heel offense while minimizing mistakes and protecting the football. The Cavaliers kept it close in a

28-31 loss to Carolina last year, but I expect this game to be a drubbing.

11/25

vs. Virginia Tech

The 2023 season brings with it the return of the classic rivalry between the Cavaliers and the Hokies (3-8, 1-6 ACC). Following the tragedy that occurred in Charlottesville towards the end of last season, the Commonwealth Clash in Blacksburg was canceled. This year, the Hokies will journey to Scott Stadium for the 104th matchup between these two programs. This game sees these two teams in grim circumstances following two seasons that were nothing short of disastrous. The Cavaliers very narrowly topped the Hokies in the ACC Coastal Division standings with both residing in the cellar of the conference. The Hokies head into the season with a potential quarterback battle on their hands between incumbent junior quarterback Grant Wells and Baylor transfer junior quarterback Kyron Drones. The problems within this Virginia Tech program spread far beyond quarterback, however, as head coach Brent Pry must prove himself in his second season.

Any number of factors could change the outcome, but as we saw in former Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s last game with Virginia, Elliott’s staff’s play calling could

determine a win or a loss. While both squads face uncertainty at quarterback and under the headset, the Cavaliers have one clear advantage with what is going to be a raucous home environment at Scott Stadium.

Takeaways

Though challenges may seem abundant, there are certainly some places where the Cavaliers can pick up some wins. In particular, there are two separate three-game stretches that Virginia will have to play well in to keep their hopes of bowl eligibility alive. Maryland (8-5, 4-5 B10), NC State (8-5, 4-4 ACC) and Boston College (3-9, 2-6 ACC) are facing some offensive instability and new questions going into next season. Virginia’s defense is entirely capable of locking them up. Later in the year, a stretch consisting of Miami (5-7, 3-5 ACC), Georgia Tech (5-7, 4-4 ACC), and Louisville (8-5, 4-4 ACC) will likely make or break their season.

After a disappointing season last year, it will certainly be interesting to see how Tony Elliott and his team handle this new schedule and try to accomplish yet another successful season of Cavalier football.

KHUYEN DINH THE CAVALIER DAILY

The Cavaliers will have a chance to assert a new identity this fall against a challenging slate.