Thursday, November 16, 2023

The Cavalier Daily

Vol. 134, Issue 7

Thursday, November 16, 2023

ADAIRE BURNSED, KATE MERCER, AVA PROEHL & ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

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NEWS

The Cavalier Daily

This week in-brief CD News Staff

Incumbent Creigh Deeds wins re-election to District 11 State Senate Incumbent Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds defeated Republican nominee Phillip Hamilton to win Virginia’s District 11 State Senate seat. With 93 percent of votes reported, Deeds led with a 66 percent majority as of 11:36 p.m. Nov. 7.

Deeds, Democratic candidate and state senator since 2001, ran on a platform focused on mental health reform, healthcare accessibility, abortion access and gun control. He also aims to increase educational funding and access to affordable higher education.

Republican candidate and paralegal Philip Hamilton lost after receiving 34 percent of the vote. Hamilton aimed to set term limits for career politicians and restrictions on campaign finance from companies. His platform also opposed “promotion of gender fluidity” and Critical Race Theory education in schools.

The City of Charlottesville is part of the 54th House of Delegates District, representing Charlottesville and parts of Albemarle County. Democratic candidate Katrina Callsen, current deputy city attorney for Charlottesville and chair of the Albemarle County School Board, ran unopposed for the 54th District House of Delegates seat.

The other positions on the City of Charlottesville ballot were all unopposed. The three open City Council Seats will be filled by Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook, Council Member Michael Payne and Natalie Oschrin, a wedding sales manager at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards.

The four open seats on the Charlottesville School Board will be filled by Chris Meyer, a renewable energy project developer who lost an election for the seat in 2019, Amanda Burns, a member of the Walker-Buford Parent Teacher Association and healthcare administrator, Nicole Richardson, a homeless prevention administrator with The Haven and Shymora Cooper, a housing counselor with Piedmont Housing Alliance.

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The U.Va. community prepares for one year anniversary of the Nov. 13 shooting A year after the tragic shooting that resulted in the deaths of three University students and football team members, the University community continues to memorialize and reflect on the lives of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry. Support networks are looking to finalize funding allocations to those most affected by the tragedy and student leaders have provided gathering spaces and memorial events to offer support on this anniversary.

Tichara Robertson, Student Council president and fourth-year College student, said that she thought the University community has provided good opportunities for gathering and reflection in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“I really thought that the ways in which the University community…especially student leaders, coming together to create specific community spaces and events for Devin, D’Sean and Lavel was pretty well done,” Robertson said. “[We’re] all in the midst of grieving together.”

Robertson shared Student Council’s plan to memorialize the lives of Davis Jr., Chandler and Perry by declaring a day of peace, love and joy every Friday before the first home football game of the season in their honor.

The University community has also held reflective and memorializing events for Davis Jr., Chandler and Perry over the past year, including awarding posthumous degrees to the three students, planting a memorial tree at Arts Grounds and painting a memorial message on Beta bridge, which has become the longest standing single message to stay on the bridge.

ANNAGRACE PARMER | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Deeds ran on a platform focused on mental health reform, healthcare accessibility, abortion access and gun control.

Student Council announces creation of unprecedented $750,000 endowment fund Student Council announced the creation of a three-year endowment that will almost double the money invested in the Support and Access Services branch and increase money given to student organizations. During Tuesday’s General Body meeting, leaders said University President Jim Ryan will allocate a minimum of $250,000 of discretionary funds over the next three years, in addition to assisting Student Council in fundraising an additional $5 million endowment.

The first round of $250,000 will be available to Student Council by the end of this semester, according to Holly Sims, vice president for administration and graduate Batten student. In light of this new source of funding, Sims will present an amended annual budget to total around $450,000 — an increase of over $130,000 from the original annual budget passed this September — during next week’s General Body meeting over Zoom.

The current Student Council budget relies on two forms of funding — the SAF and private Student Council funds. The SAF, a $58 fee included in tuition that goes towards funding student organizations, currently funds about 95 percent of Student Council’s annual budget. Student Council uses limited private funding to pay for other goods and services not approved for SAF use, which can include food and beverages, direct philanthropic contributions and religious activities.

Since Student Council is not immediately spending the entirety of the $250,000, Sims said the leftover emergency fund provides increased flexibility for future unanticipated needs.

“We do fully intend to spend almost the entirety of the $250,000,” Sims said. “One of the reasons that this [endowment] will be really useful is that we don’t have to wait for any administrative approval to start spending funds. If there is an emergency from the student body — like there’s a new need for new SAS service — it gives us an unprecedented amount of flexibility.”

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 3

NEWS

Faculty responds to one-year anniversary of shooting Faculty and administration continue to demonstrate a long-standing commitment to remembrance and healing on Grounds Merrill Hart & Abigail Barr | News Staff

AVA PROEHL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

In the year that has followed the shooting, some faculty members have sought ways to create spaces for students to heal.

1, 15, 41 — three numbers splashed across the front of hundreds of t-shirts, lovingly etched onto the side of Beta Bridge and formed with sticky notes upon dozens of dormitory windows. They are the jersey numbers of University students and football team members Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry and Devin Chandler — three students who were killed in a shooting on Grounds one year ago.

Davis Jr., Perry and Chandler were more than just teammates, sons, brothers — professors across Grounds recognize the lasting impact that the young men had on their peers and in the classroom. It is an impact that was just as significant as the one they made on the field.

In the year that has followed the shooting, amidst collective mourning and efforts to support affected students, some faculty members like Asst. Sociology Prof. Dr. Ian Mullins have sought ways to create spaces for students to heal.

“It’s nice for the students to hear from a professor that the professor understands that they’re still dealing with this,” Mullins said. “And then it could still affect them personally, emotionally, it could affect whether they feel safe, but it can affect their coursework.”

While the University did not cancel classes on the anniversary of the shooting, Mullins did not hold any of his classes Monday out of consideration for the mental and

emotional health of his students — many of whom are upperclassmen and were on Grounds during the shooting last year.

“It’s just a little gesture,” Mullins said. “It’s a little bit of time where they don’t have to do reading for that particular class, they don’t have to be in the classroom and they can just have that time to themselves to do what they think they need to do.”

In a similar effort, Assoc. Computer Science Prof. Nada Basit held a moment of silence for the three victims before beginning her introductory computer science class Monday. Basit said that even though many of the students in the class are first years who didn’t experience the shooting firsthand, she wanted to offer a chance to pause and reflect.

Professors did not receive specific instructions on how to acknowledge the anniversary in class, but a University-wide email reminded them to be flexible with accommodations for students. Basit says the University has overall done well in its efforts to remember the three students, with memorials on Grounds like the planting of an overcup oak tree by the site of the shooting.

“You can’t undo the situation, but I think any gesture is a great thing,” Basit said. “And I think the University has done a number of things and that’s a lovely sentiment, that tree is going to grow and continue.”

While the year since the shooting has seen healing and compassion, Mullins described the difficulties that accompanied a return to routine last fall in the weeks following the shooting, particularly because he had students who were on the bus when the shooting occurred.

“I just made significant modifications to my course, the content and tried to create a space where students could work through their reactions,” Mullins said.

This sentiment is especially true of professors who taught the victims themselves. One such faculty member was Prof. Ying Gao, who teaches Chinese in the East Asian Languages department. Gao taught Perry in Elementary Chinese in the Fall of 2020 and was deeply touched by his commitment to her class.

Her experience instructing a student-athlete like him has encouraged her to reach out to the Chinese Language program director in pursuit of better support systems for language learners like her former student.

“The thing that we can do in memorial for them…is to offer support for student-athletes [in the future] who really want to learn critical languages,” Gao said. “They are time-consuming. I think the University can probably offer some… courses in a special way to help athletes who want to learn.”

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Gao expressed her

sadness over the loss of her student in an email shared with fellow East Asian Language teachers and students. Within the email, she included screenshots of his online postings for the class, which ranged from introductions to class projects and reflections.

“Moving back here from home, I was unsure what the future had in store for me and the entire University,” Perry wrote in his final semester reflection. “I’ve been doing OK, just trying to stay level-headed through everything and keep going.”

While still teaching him, Gao — feeling touched by Perry’s unwavering commitment to taking such a difficult course on top of an already difficult sports commitment — gave him the Chinese name Xiāo ( ), a character meaning valiant.

When she returned to China over the summer, Gao frequently considered ways to give back to Perry’s family. She eventually decided on a frame that included her favorite discussion posts of Perry’s for his family as a token of her continued respect and remembrance of her former student.

“I very much cherish these things,” Gao said. “And I’d like to make it a gift to his family to let them know that he was very brave and had lots of spirit.”

Beyond individual choices by professors, the University has offered resources for students dealing with grief on the shooting’s anniversary.

On Monday at 12:55 p.m., the University Chapel rang its bells in an act of remembrance for the students. Students and faculty observed a long moment of silence in response. In a video statement released the day before, University President Jim Ryan expressed his hope that that moment might help bring the University community closer together in a time of great difficulty.

“Tomorrow will be a hard day.

There is no single right way to spend it,” Ryan said in the video. “We can honor them by holding those who are still grieving close to our hearts, and we can honor them by supporting one another.”

Numerous resources were listed in the video to support community members, such as an open house at Carr’s Hill and the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program. Both Counseling and Psychological Services and Student Affairs were also listed as viable options for students to reach out to.

The University has not mentioned any further plans for new memorials in the near future, but members of the community are free to visit the recently planted overcup oak tree for Lavel, D’Sean and Devin on Arts Grounds, or continue to write messages on Beta Bridge.

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NEWS

Support for Thanksgiving on Grounds Most out-of-state students elect to travel home, while many international students spend the holiday on Grounds Ashley Mosby | Senior Writer Thanksgiving is a time for students to gather with their families, eat good food and take a break before the finals period inevitably rolls around. However, for students who can not easily travel home for break, Thanksgiving break presents its own unique challenges. Organizations on and off Grounds have started offering support for students staying on Grounds, from meal kits to Thanksgiving dinners with local families.

Thanksgiving break begins Wednesday, giving students three class days off in addition to the weekend. Prior to 2007, the break was an entire week long. Quickly after the change from one week to three days, out-of-state and international students argued that the break did not consider the extensive travel they would have to undertake.

Roughly 32 percent of undergraduate students are out-of-state, and roughly 5 percent are international. Unlike in-state students, Thanksgiving is not a time where these students can go home easily — or even travel at all, due to high transportation costs and long travel times.

For students who do opt to stay on Grounds, many organizations have undertaken initiatives and events to ensure that students feel at home — including ensuring they have access to a low-cost or free meal when Thanksgiving arrives, as on-Grounds dining options are open with limited availability over break.

Newcomb Dining Hall offers breakfast and dinner Tuesday but will close from Wednesday to Saturday. All U.Va. Dine options will be closed Thursday, with only Crossroads and other Observatory Dining Hall to-go options opening Friday and Saturday.

The Student Life Agency of the Student Council has partnered with U.Va. Community Food Pantry to provide around 200 free meal kits to students that require food assistance. Students can reserve the kits, which provide food from the Blue Ridge area food bank, along with donations from Trader Joes and Harris Teeter, through first-come, first-serve basis on an online form.

Any leftovers will be donated back to the pantry.

Christopher Joseph, director of

the Student Life agency and thirdyear College student, is a first-generation, low-income student, and has used the meal kits while staying on Grounds over Thanksgiving break since his first year. “‘It’s just really helpful to know that there are resources out there for students, and it’s part of the reason why I was so enthralled by the Student Life agency,” Joseph said. “[The meal kits] really made me feel like I was supported and that I was welcomed at the University.”

In addition, the Lorna Sundberg International Center annually organizes the Thanksgiving Meal Match — an event where international students are matched with local families for a Thanksgiving meal.

These events allow international students to feel at home and integrated into the University community and broader American culture.

As an international student from China, second-year College student Huijing Zhu chose to stay on Grounds last Thanksgiving break, and will do the same this year.

“Flying home is a costly choice to make, especially when there is only

one week [of break],” Zhu said. “I think I prefer the quiet environment [at the University during the break], and I think it helps me concentrate more on work.”

Despite the advantages of the quiet environment, Zhu said she often felt isolated on Grounds during the Thanksgiving break. All onGrounds housing remains open over break, but Housing and Residence Life offices and mailboxes will close Nov. 22 to Nov. 26.

“The dorms and Grounds are so empty,” Zhu said. “I definitely feel restricted and [as if] I am locked in my own room.”

For out-of-state or international students who choose to go back home, the short break also imposes travel challenges for the three day break.

Third-year College student Kiersten Freeman spoke about her own troubles flying back home from Charlottesville to Tennessee. For Freeman, her travel takes roughly five hours without any delays or cancellations. Currently, a round trip flight costs upwards of $600.

“Given the fact that the Univer-

sity doesn’t give us the full week off for Thanksgiving, that makes it kind of difficult to gauge how to book flights and how my class schedule plays into my travels home,” Freeman said. “With how costly flights are, it wouldn’t be worth it to go home for three days, so I try to get the full week.”

While classes officially meet Monday and Tuesday, some professors choose to cancel class, or meet online. Still, inconsistency across schedules means most students can not count on a longer break without missing important information in the classroom.

Though the University ensures that students have housing over break, Freeman still thought the University could do more to accommodate these students as well as their travels.

“The three days that we do get [of break] doesn’t really take out-ofstate and international students into consideration given the fact that we often have more extensive travel plans,” Freeman said. “I feel like the University could do better.”

University objects to proposed Ivy Road apartment building The decision to greenlight the development now rests with City Council Cecilia Mould | Staff Writer Debates over a new 10-story apartment building proposal at 2117 Ivy Road have escalated with a recent letter from the University to Charlottesville’s City Council asking the city to consider the impact of the proposal, saying that the development does not align with the city’s stated goals for the specific space. The City Planning Commission, however, unanimously approved the rezoning request during Tuesday’s meeting — City Council will now decide whether the project moves forward.

The new construction project now hinges upon an application for City Council to rezone the property for the new apartment building from “urban corridor” to a “planned unit development.”

University leaders submitted a letter opposing the development ahead of the Tuesday meeting of the City Planning Commission, the first organization required to approve the request.

The letter, signed by University Architect Alice Raucher and

Colette Sheehy, senior vice president for operations and state government relations, highlights discrepancies between the proposal and the existing design of the area.

“The proposed building height of 130 feet [and] 10 stories with minimal supporting pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure creates a mismatch with the corridor’s intended scale, traffic and character, potentially affecting safety and neighborhood quality,” the letter reads.

The U.Va. Foundation, a group offering financial and real estate management on behalf of the University, also submitted a letter “to note several inaccurate depictions” in the proposal.

University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover added that while the University does not oppose general construction on the site, currently occupied by Truist Bank, Raucher and Sheehy want the City Planning Commision and City Council to reconsider this particular building plan.

“What we are asking the Planning Commission and the City Council to consider on this project is how the proposed structure fits in with the existing residential and commercial character of the area and the City’s own, established guidelines,” Glover said in a written statement to The Cavalier Daily.

The University’s letter received widespread pushback from the Charlottesville community. Livable Cville, a local organization focused on advocating for affordable housing and sustainable transportation, published its own letter to the City Sunday voicing support for the proposed structure.

The building, with 242 units housing up to 600 people, would be built on one of the few privately owned plots on Ivy Road.

The University owns many of the other properties on the street, which is considered an entrance corridor to Charlottesville and the University. The University is currently constructing multiple

new buildings in the plot of land across the street, including the School of Data Science, building space for the Karsh Institute of Democracy and a hotel and conference center.

Co-chair of Livable Cville Steven L. Johnson said the University’s opinion is likely based on its control of the student housing market.

“This is blatantly anti-competitive,” Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “U.Va. is the largest single provider of U.Va. student housing. Killing off a directly competing housing project would reduce student housing choices and increase student expenses.”

In a written statement to The Cavalier Daily, Matthew Gillikin, another co-chair of Livable Cville, also supported the project as a means towards rectifying Charlottesville’s affordable housing issues. In addition to providing more housing, the 2117 property developers have promised $2 million towards the Charlottes-

ville Affordable Housing Fund.

“If this project is not approved, it is almost certain U.Va. will buy the land and the city will lose out on the new housing, $2 million in affordable housing funding and ten of millions of dollars in real estate tax revenue over the next few decades,” Gillikin said.

Tuesday’s vote recommended that City Council approve a rezoning of the geographic area from an “Urban Corridor,” to a “Planned Unit Development,” to allow for the construction of the 10 story building. Entrance corridors are regulated by Charlottesville’s Planning Commision to ensure that development in these areas is compatible with Charlottesville’s historic landmarks, buildings and structures.

The Council will hear the proposal next, with a meeting set for next Monday.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Iota Beta discovers brotherhood step by step

Stepping and strolling provide members of Black Greek-letter organizations at the University a way to express unity, culture and community Leila Mohajer | Staff Writer Dating back to the mid-1900s, step dancing — or stepping — and strolling have become an integral part of Black fraternities and sororities across the United States. This is no exception in the Iota Beta chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the members of which see the unique art form as a way to bond and assert their identity within their community.

Stepping is a highly-energetic form of dance that uses the body as an instrument to produce percussive, syncopated beats through chanting, stomping and clapping. Members similarly partake in the practice of strolling, in which individuals line up one after another and move forward in the same dance motion. Strolling distinguishes itself from stepping by focusing more on the visual representation of the unifying bond that ties members together.

According to Ian Yeaton, stroll master of Iota Beta and fourth-year College student, these two forms of artistic expression serve as an outward assertion of the Alphas’ identity, pride and presence on Grounds.

“I think it’s just one of the purest forms of self expression and joy in what we do and who we are,” Yeaton said.

While Yeaton said he was initially drawn to the organization due to its commitment to community service, one of the Alphas’ many values, stepping and strolling quickly became ways for him to relieve stress and connect with his brothers.

“When I first crossed into the fraternity, I was a terrible stroller,” Yeaton said. “Really, really bad. You can ask pretty much anybody. But I remember because I was so happy to be in the organization, I would do it anyways.

I’d be right there with all of my other brothers.”

Yeaton has since grown into one of the organization’s most well-versed strollers, taking on the role of stroll master this past spring. His responsibilities as stroll master include choreographing strolls, facilitating rehearsals and fostering an encouraging environment for members who decide to take up the art.

“Strolling to me is pure joy, “ Yeaton said. “I really enjoy making strolls. I find a lot of fun in it, and it’s a positive way to express

COURTESY IOTA BETA

According to Isaac Henderson, step master of Iota Beta and fourth-year Education student, the Alphas incorporate movements in their performances intended to resemble that of an ape or cobra by bending their arms and knees into different poses that mimic the animals.

myself.”

An interesting aspect of strolling and stepping is that across the nation, each fraternity and sorority have their own signature moves that members of Black greek-letter organizations can immediately identify. According to Isaac Henderson, step master of Iota Beta and fourthyear Education student, the Alphas incorporate movements in their performances intended to resemble that of an ape or cobra by bending their arms and knees into different poses that mimic the animals.

In recent semesters, the Alphas have worked to expand their repertoire and bring back moves from the past, such as the “ape walk,” a move originating in the Alpha south. Yeaton encourages strollers to make it their own by adding their own flair.

Henderson also conveyed the importance of individuality in

the practice and making each move your own.

“It’s cool to embrace new ways of stepping and put my own creative spin on it when I’m making steps,” Henderson said.

While the dance is significant in performance settings, Henderson said the Alphas find themselves stepping and strolling at social gatherings as well.

“When a stroll song comes on, people move out of the way and make space for the Alphas to stroll,” Henderson said.

Songs can vary anywhere from mainstream rap music to simple beats that carry a strong rhythm.

According to Phillip Bonsu, second-year College student and member of Iota Beta, the practice also serves as a great bonding tool for brothers within the chapter, bringing them closer together.

“When you’re hanging around your brothers so much, and you

understand how everyone moves and how everyone thinks, you’re able to [switch moves] literally instantly,” Bonsu said. “Everyone kind of feels each other out.”

This Dec. 2, the Iota beta chapter is hosting their first ever Stroll Like An Alpha competition.

Stroll Like An Alpha was first introduced by the fraternity in the early 2000s and gives women interested in the practice the opportunity to — as the title intuitively suggests — stroll like an Alpha.

This contest will have three teams of women who compete for the winning title, all led by Alpha coaches. Each group has their own surprise theme and are given approximately ten minutes to impress the audience with their moves. Iota Beta hopes to make this an annual event, attracting greater volumes of interested participants in years to come.

“It will be a unique experience that I think anybody at U.Va should come to,” Yeaton said.

Expression comes in many different forms, and for the Alphas at the University stepping and strolling is the perfect way to celebrate their culture and make themselves visible to our greater community.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Brie Handford, a cool girl with a cool new job In addition to her studies as an environmental science major, Handford has spent the past year honing her craft as a model Elizabeth Shackelford | Staff Writer What’s cooler than being cool?

Being Brie Handford. The fourthyear College student just signed to a modeling agency, adding another cool-girl credential to her long list of accomplishments.

This semester, Handford added meetings with agents, photographers and designers to her already busy schedule of classes and extracurriculars. From Indieheads, V Magazine and her new commitment to modeling, Handford’s creative endeavors have only continued to develop.

Handford said that she had never considered modeling before she began last summer, when a random encounter with a photographer kick-started her passion. “[I started in] a kind of unconventional way,” Handford said. “I was just walking around [a downtown area] and one of the workers at one of the shops came out to me and tapped me on the shoulder.”

Handford said the individual introduced herself as Jeanie Bazan, a fashion major at Virginia Commonwealth University, and expressed interest in photographing Handford for a project.

While Handford said her first shoot with Bazan was a major catalyst to begin modeling, she also ex-

pressed some fears about it.

“I was really flattered, but also surprised because I didn’t know how to pose,” Handford said. “I didn’t know how to present myself in a way that would be pleasing to them.”

Despite these anxieties, Handford followed through with the shoot and has been modeling ever since, recently signing to the modeling agency Dash Talents. Handford was discovered by the agency after receiving a last-minute invitation to walk at RVA Fashion Week. A few days after being noticed by talent scouts at the show, she received a direct message on Instagram asking her if she would be interested in speaking with a modeling agent.

“It really just happened by chance, by luck and also by me saying yes to everything,” Handford said. “I think that’s a big thing — when you have an opportunity, just saying yes and being open to whatever happens.

[It’s not about] expecting money [or] any kind of direct reward. Just having fun with the experience is really important.”

Fashion is a major aspect of the modeling industry that drew Handford in. Working often with fashion majors and designers, Handford said she finds it interesting to watch the

creative process of designers on set.

While Handford enjoys wearing many of the pieces, she stressed that the purpose of being involved with fashion-oriented projects is to showcase the art of the designers.

“I think it’s important to know that not everyone’s style will be your style, so you might have to wear things that you might not like or that don’t exactly go with what you wanted to wear,” Handford said.

“You’re just the rack for the pieces of clothing. It’s all about the designers.”

While Handford has found her involvement in the craft to be rewarding, there is no denying that the job comes with challenges.

“It’s not intentional at all, but just being surrounded by models and being surrounded by people who look amazing — stunning people who have been in the business for a long time — is intimidating, and it makes you doubt your own worth,” Handford said. “So I think that’s a part [of modeling] but something I have to remember to accept.”

Despite the temptation to compare herself to others, Handford said she has had mostly positive experiences with other models, speaking highly of the community they create on sets. She also said that despite her

initial intimidation of more experienced models, she found that they often experience similar feelings.

“You have a closer bond with whoever you’re shooting with and your designer,” Handford said.

“Once you start talking to them, it’s like they’re really just the same as you.”

With a year of experience under her belt and a newfound access to professional training from her agency, Handford said she has noticed differences in her technique since her first shoot, adding that she had just gotten off a call with an agent to help train her model walk.

“Being more familiar with my face and being more comfortable in my body in front of a camera [has helped a lot],” Handford said.

As a fourth-year College student, Handford is thinking about her future after graduation from the University. Because she had never considered modeling as a career path before, its newfound presence in her life throws new and unexplored opportunities and uncertainties alike her way.

“I’m an environmental science major, so I also want to focus on my studies,” Handford said. “Having [modeling] as an alternative lifestyle

is very intriguing to me and just something I wouldn’t want to pass up.”

Because Handford is foremostly focused on pursuing her academic interests in the future, she has also considered finding ways to combine her love of environmental science with her passion for modeling.

“I’ve been interested in doing broadcast meteorology, like TV presenting,” Handford said. “I have a feeling that having a background in modeling and being comfortable in front of a camera or being a recognizable face would help in that department.”

While Handford may not yet know exactly how modeling will tie into her future career aspirations, one thing is for certain — as of now, her passion for modeling is stronger than ever. From the creative photography shoots she’s done with V Magazine on Grounds to the professional shoots she’s done with photographers far and wide, her talent and radiant confidence is evident. Handford’s success as a model and status as a bonafide cool-girl is well-deserved.

U.Va. alumna Karen Zipor makes a splash in Los Angeles After graduation, Zipor dove headfirst into a career in entertainment and has not looked back since Delaney Hammond | Senior Writer For many students pursuing degrees in the arts, graduation demands an answer to the age-old question begged by parents, grandparents and uncles — “What can you even do with that degree?” For Class of 2022 alumna Karen Zipor, the answer is easy.

Since graduating, Zipor has used her drama and computer science degrees — alongside strong connections she has formed with University alumni since graduating — to carve her path in the entertainment industry out in Los Angeles.

“Everything I’ve gotten is because of the U.Va. alumni because they’re so strong out here [in Los Angeles],” Zipor said.

As an associate producer for the marketing agency BLKBX Creative Group, Zipor has produced content for companies like Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Bros. Her role allows her to oversee the production of content every step of the way, from pitching pieces to facilitating their

delivery to clients.

“We do a lot of social media initiatives,” Zipor said. “It’s great to be in a pitch meeting where you’re like, ‘I saw this meme and I think we can do something with ‘Scooby Doo’ for it’.

You’ve got to be a little creative with your ideas.”

Before starting at BLKBX, Zipor worked as a production coordinator for the Walt Disney Company. During her time at the University, Zipor gained an impressive amount of work experience, interning with both Lex & Otis Animation and the Television Academy Foundation.

As someone who was heavily involved in the arts on Grounds, Zipor stressed the importance of being involved in many activities and organizations as a student.

“Do a lot — do a variety of things,” Zipor said. “You never know what you’re going to be applying to, and having a diverse portfolio and resumes — that’s [important].”

Early on in her studies, Zipor performed with First Year Players and the drama department. Later, she participated in Light House Studio’s Adrenaline Film Project, in which groups collaborate to write, record and produce a short film in 72 hours.

She also enrolled in Overcranked, a program that allows students to create short films for class credit.

Despite her ambition, Zipor didn’t always have her sights set on being a filmmaker. She initially came to the University hoping to pursue theater, but her plans shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All of a sudden, the world changed when a pandemic hit and there was no longer any theater,” Zipor said. “I had to really reevaluate and readjust like, ‘What am I interested in? What should I give a try?’

And that’s actually when I started writing.”

Her newfound interest in writing led Zipor to write for Overcranked,

as well as to submit a play to the drama department’s New Works Festival, a program that allows students to write and direct their own short plays.

As a computer science student, Zipor was also interested in the intersection of art and technology — specifically in animation. She completed a thesis in 3D Animation and Motion Capture technology.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Zipor not only has not only found success in her marketing roles, but she also has begun investing more time in her independent creative endeavors.

She recently penned a feature-length script and developed a script for a short film that will go into production next month.

Zipor said that moving to Los Angeles reinvigorated her creativity and allowed her to begin working on her own films again.

“Once I had a place I was living, a job, a good solid friend group and a

support group out here, I finally had the room that I didn’t have [before],” Zipor said. “I was very burnt out once I graduated, and I finally felt like I had that energy to create again.”

Zipor said that if she has any advice for students looking to be successful in the film industry, it is to form bonds with other students.

“Make a lot of friends,” Zipor said.

“Make so many friends at U.Va., because it will amaze you how that one person who was in that one class, all the way back in first year, all of a sudden we’re hanging out in L.A. and reading each other’s scripts. We’re helping each other through.”

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 7

LIFE

Tailgates bring together generations of Virginia fans Current students and alumni converge and intermingle at a deeply rooted University sports tradition Cecy Juárez & Mario Rosales | Life Staff Whether Virginia is in the midst of a winning or losing season, one thing remains constant — tailgates.

Parking lots all across Grounds are filled to the brim with cars, food and high spirits. Students, families and alumni can be counted on to come together for the sake of enjoying one another’s company before a game. No matter the age of the fan, students, family and alumni alike share one major motivation when they attend University tailgates — to share in the company of one another.

For both students and alumni — both recently graduated and much-less-recently graduated — attending football games can mean more about the tailgate rather than the football games itself. Instead, as Class of 1992 alumna Ashley Bagby put it, hosting or participating in a tailgate and being with family and friends is the main draw.

“Many of us don’t come for the football, we come for the social hour,” Bagby said. “It’s six or seven times a season. You come and all your friends come and you have a little party … the football is the excuse for me — the tailgate is the fun [part].”

A very similar sentiment is echoed by current University students.

Fourth-year College student Sean Miller, whose family tailgates regularly, appreciates the intersection of several generations of Cavalier fans his family’s tailgate facilitate “I love how we’re able to bring together so many different people at my tailgate,” Miller said. “We’ve got all my current friends, plus my parents and all their friends who went here and then my grandparents and their friends. It’s fun to connect [and meet] so many different people … I think that’s what makes it so fun.”

This confluence of both old and young fans is by no means particular to the University. Like the rest of the country, tailgates at the University offer delicious food and a wide selection of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. At University tailgates, though, families create and offer their own unique traditions and histories.

For the Bagby family and their friends, who have been attending University football games since Bagby was a child in the 1980s, creating a theme for each of their tailgates with food and decorations brings them enjoyment.

“We usually have themes, so if it’s a morning game — we hate noon football — we’ll do breakfast food,” Bagby said. “We’re not grillers. There’s some people that grill, [and] we think it’s a big mess. We have fried turkey a couple of times.

It’s a little messy, but it’s really fun, especially [Virginia] Tech games.”

The Miller family like to set up an expansive array of brunch options for their tailgates. As the fall season sets in with crisp, cold air, the Millers bring warmth and friendly company to the lots with blankets and warm meals.

As the grandfather and one of the founders of his family’s tailgates, Class of 1969 alumnus Bill Cooper takes pleasure in hosting tailgates with his family and lifelong friends that he made at the University.

“I think on a game day I actually never went anywhere else other than my family’s tailgate,” Cooper said.

“I’ve never gone out [to] the corner on game day. I always come here to hang out with my grandkids.”

One highlight of tailgates is that they are often not exclusive. Friends removed many times over from the host frequent tailgates through the invitation of other friends and

family members. As such, tailgates not only bring together generations but also foster new relationships through mutual friend.cd Jim Miller, Sean Miller’s father and Class of 1993 alumnus, finds joy in meeting his son’s peers from the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society at tailgates. The family relishes in being a highlight of game days for University students in the club and getting to know current students more.

“Lot of the folks who come are from the Jefferson Society and it’s actually a signature event for the Jefferson Society,” Jim said.

Second-year College student Jack Hill and his family extend the invitation to their friends and share Chick-fil-A minis on the mornings of football games. For Hill, the essence of the tailgate is not so much about the sport but rather, having the opportunity to gather the people most important to him into one place.

“For me, it’s really just about family,” Hill said. “Whether it’s my direct family or my roommates, or even some of my closest friends here on Grounds — it’s kind of just like a little family. It’s super nice to just

sort of recuperate on the weekends and get together with everybody, sort of put the business humdrum and tedium of classes behind me for at least a few hours and just talk, relax, unwind, reconnect.”

Though they are not unique visa-vis tailgates across the country, tailgates at the University produce a convergence and commingling of students and alumni that spans generations. Tailgating at University sporting events for 35-plus years, Class of 1976 alumnus Carter Hoerr said that even though University tailgates are not so unique, tailgating at Virginia football games is a deeply rooted practice.

“My personal experience [is] that our tailgating is probably pretty typical as compared to other schools, but it’s certainly the case that [the] tradition itself of tailgating at U.Va. games has certainly been alive and well for a long, long time,” Hoerr said. “[Tailgating is] a great way every fall to get together with our friends who are also alumni.”

Smyrna is a new Charlottesville dining gem The Mediterranean-Aegean restaurant serves exquisite dishes with charming hospitality Kate Johnson | Staff Writer Smyrna is one of Charlottesville’s hottest new restaurants, and for good reason. They serve artfully simple Mediterranean-Aegean dishes in a relaxed, upscale atmosphere. I dined at Smyrna with my mom and dad over Parent’s Weekend. Though Smyrna is pricey, it’s a great spot to visit if your parents are in town to help foot the bill.

Smyrna is located in Charlottesville’s Starr Hill neighborhood on West Main Street — about a 20-minute walk from Central Grounds.

Smyrna is the ancient name of the modern city of Izmir, Turkey, the city where Smyrna’s General Manager Orhun Bartu Dikmen is from.

Dikmen saw similarities between Izmir and Charlottesville, two cities known for their food and hospitality.

Smyrna seeks to manifest this likeness, delivering locally-sourced Mediterranean-Aegean dishes with excellent service. The restaurant concept has been successful, receiving seemingly

unanimous acclaim from local food publications and online reviews.

The restaurant was at capacity when we arrived Sunday evening.

Sound-proof panels on the walls quieted the chatter to a conversational murmur, making the dining room feel more intimate. The older structural elements of the space clashed with modern decor — a patterned tin ceiling embellished the fifth wall, while colorful abstract panels adorned the bar. When I took a seat at our table, I had a difficult time concentrating on the menu — my eyes flitted between the food preparation in the open kitchen, the drink-mixing behind the bar and the foot traffic on Main Street through the glass storefront.

Our waiter was friendly, attentive and very knowledgeable. He gave us a tour of the menu, from the shareable “Munchies” to the individual “Mains.” He also explained that many of Smyrna’s dishes are vegetarian, and the menu indicates dishes that may be

prepared gluten-free or vegan.

We started the meal with the Meze Trio, a sampler of seasonal hummus, charred eggplant and yogurt-goat cheese dip. The hummus was silky smooth with a hint of bitter tahini, garnished with whole chickpeas for an added crunch. The eggplant was beautifully balanced — it was at once smoky from the grill char and sweet from a pomegranate reduction. The creamy yogurt-goat cheese was served with a golden compote of golden beers and apricot, which cut the tang of the yogurt with a touch of sweetness.

Next, we shared the lamb meatball skewer. Ground lamb, pickled fennel and yogurt were sandwiched between two pieces of toasted lavash bread. The dish was a harmony of spice, acid, and crunch, and the yogurt seeped into the crevices of the lavash to tie it all together.

For dinner, I tasted the “Manti” dumplings and the Smyrna burger.

The star-shaped dumplings were tiny

— about the size of shirt buttons — and filled with local Sharondale mushrooms. The dish was sprinkled with sun-dried tomatoes and baby sage leaves, and the bottom of the plate was covered in a garlic yogurt sauce. Each bite was earthy, fresh and tangy, a flavor profile that could only be likened to a forest floor.

The burger was made from a house-made beef and lamb grind, a blend that was rich and tender. The juice from the burger oozed together with the Urfa pepper aioli on the pillowy brioche bun. With the lemony sumac onions, each bite of the burger was lucious and bright. Next to the burger was a pile of shoestring fries, which I used to clean up the remnants from the meze and dumpling dishes — I didn’t want that goodness to go to waste.

For dessert, we tried the baklava cheesecake. The dish featured cheesecake layered between two triangular pieces of baklava, a dessert made of

honey-soaked phyllo pastry filled with pistachio. The creamy cheesecake was a surprising complement to the delicate, nutty baklava, making for a fun conclusion to our meal.

I was delighted by the flavor and texture of Smyrna’s menu. But it was Smyrna’s thoughtful service that elevated the dining experience to the next level, from our waiter’s thorough explanation of the menu to the silky in-house triple-filtered water. Smyrna is one of the few dining locales in the city where I have felt both well fed and well cared-for.

Smyrna is certainly an expense — these five dishes ranged from $13 to $28. Though Smyrna is out of budget for the average student, the restaurant is a great option for a special dinner with your parents or some fancy bites split between friends.

Smyrna serves dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Monday. Diners can book reservations online with Resy.

8 | www.cavalierdaily.com

LIFE

Rita Dove reflects on a lifetime of literary achievements Prof. Rita Dove was awarded the 2023 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Carly Stender | Staff Writer The National Book Foundation presented Rita Dove, the Henry Hoyns Professor of Creative Writing at the University, the 2023 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in New York Tuesday. She is the fourth poet to be honored with this award and the first African American poet. Dove’s decades-long legacy in writing heartfelt and genuine literature inspired from her own life experiences has earned her this notable achievement.

Dove is the 36th recipient of this award, which was created in 1988 as a way to recognize individuals who have contributed years of notable literary achievement. The Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters awards $10,000 to recipients and a solid brass medal.

When asked about her initial motivation to become a writer, Dove describes reading as a transient, imaginative world of her childhood, which, in turn, fueled her passion for writing.

“It was the most efficient adventure you could have — pick up a book and go anywhere in the world, be in the mind of any person in the world,” Dove said.

“So that was, for me, my private, other world. I started writing because I wanted to be in that world more often.”

Born in Akron, Ohio, Dove graduated with a B.A. in English from Miami University of Oxford, Ohio. She went on to study German poetry at Universität Tübingen as a Fulbright fellow, and then received her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa.

Among other tremendous accolades, Dove was the Poet Laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. Since 1993, Dove has been a professor at the University, where she teaches creative writing.

Dove’s body of work is varied, including 11 poetry collections, a book of short stories and several plays and songs. Among her numerous awards for her work over the years, her third poetry collection, “Thomas and Beulah” won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize. Dove emphasized the significance of winning the Pulitzer Prize for this collection, which was inspired by the lives of her maternal grandparents.

Unlike the pieces of literature that Dove frequently read about African Americans, which was usually based in a ghetto neighborhood or involved a

COURTESY FRED VIEBAHNZ

Through her time as a professor at the University, Dove also reflected on what she has learned from her students, as well as what were her primary motivations for getting involved in teaching.

major tragedy, Dove wanted to humanize African Americans in her work and demonstrate that the aspects that are common to humanity are shared among all people.

“It was a work that dealt with the underside of history, but dealt with very ordinary people,” Dove said. “They happen to be Black, they happen to be African American. It was based on my grandmother and grandfather’s life. Nothing spectacular really happens … but it’s a story of a marriage and life.”

Dove said while she likes to emphasize the unifying factors of humanity, she also attempts to focus on those lives that do not often receive the type of recognition they deserve. The elements of history and society that are not mentioned in history books — especially historically marginalized people such as women and people of color — can be equally as important. According to Dove, it is these elements

that she wishes to convey to her readers.

“I can tell you that a lot of writers, editors and reviewers have said that I write about … the things that don’t get in the history book, which is, of course, all of our lives, most of what we think and breathe and feel is never going to make it in the history book,” Dove said.

Dove’s goals for her writing often transcends different creative and literary mediums such as drama, prose and poetry. For example, in her work as a playwright, she is able to elicit the same emotional investment for her readers as in her other writing. Yet, the production process is inherently different from her poems and prose. Dove mentioned how writing for the theater has challenged the way and the amount that she focused on the tone, delivery and pace of the speech.

“It expanded my horizons in terms of the ways in which lan-

guage can also resonate on the page,” Dove said. “It challenged me to write something that could only be said a certain way.”

Through her time as a professor at the University, Dove also reflected on what she has learned from her students, as well as what were her primary motivations for getting involved in teaching.

“I’ve learned never to underestimate a student. I’ve also learned that first of all, I can learn from students, they keep me honest, they keep me up to date,” Dove said.

Additionally, Dove gives advice to students at the University who are interested in pursuing creative writing.

“I tell students, look, if you want to be a writer and a poet, you have to want it with your whole heart, you want to do it despite everything else,” Dove said. “ In a certain way, it’s like your habit, and you’ve got to find a way to feed it.”

In this respect, Dove advises students to continuously nourish their interest in writing, reflecting on how valuable it is to her that she has received recognition from her peers, mentors and role models at the National Book Foundation for cultivating her own passion for writing.

“To have them say that you’ve contributed to this, to our art world, to the literary landscape, one that I’ve always loved, means everything in the world, it’s what I’ve tried to do all my life,” Dove said. “It’s what I feel like it’s my calling to, to write, but also to contribute to the letters in every way, and that recognition is really the greatest honor.”

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 9

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OPINION

The Cavalier Daily

LEAD EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL: On carrying Nov. 13 We remember Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry, whose legacies are a light that continue to bring this community together Monday marked one year since Nov. 13, 2022. We remember this day.

One year ago, at 10:32 p.m., we received the emergency alert that an active attacker was on Grounds. Run, hide, fight, the alert said, in all capital letters. Is this really happening? At 10:40 p.m., we were instructed to shelter in place. We were stuck in libraries, the gym, classrooms and in our own dorms and apartments. We reached out to family and friends to let them know that we were okay. “Where are you? Are you good? Safe?” In between frantic phone calls with each other and doom scrolling on social media, many of us listened to a local police scanner like a lifeline.

Some of us went to sleep hungry.

Others slept little or not at all — how could we, when the attacker was armed and still at large? On the morning of Nov. 14, the University alerted us that the suspected attacker had finally been caught. Lines to the dining halls trailed outside the doors.

And then we were faced with the heavy weight of all that had happened.

Word spread that three of our fellow students had been fatally shot and two others injured. Some of us had known these students personally.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, our community came together to grieve and heal. At a vigil held by student leaders the Monday after the shooting, the candles of hundreds of attendees shone brightly against a bitterly cold November night. A memorial service was held to honor and celebrate the lives and legacies of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry through prayer and reflection. Student organizations compiled mental health resources and opened gathering spaces for their peers. Over 1,800 students turned out for the 31st annual 4th Year 5k, hosted by Peer Health Educators and Club Running, to remember the lives lost and support one another.

Hundreds of students painted Beta Bridge and wrote handwritten messages, enshrining the memories of Devin, Lavel and D’Sean and community support for their families in Charlottesville history. We gathered in sol-

idarity for each other and the victims in a powerful reminder of our strength and resilience.

Nov. 13 did not just affect our lives as students on that day — it altered the way we carry ourselves in our everyday lives. Just looking around Grounds, even now, one can find students wearing “U.Va. Strong” t-shirts. Every football game this semester has been played in Devin, Lavel and D’Sean’s memories. And with every touchdown scored, players step into an endzone bearing their numbers — 1, 15 and 41.

Yet, beyond the commemoration, there is the painful and profound realization that senseless violence can happen anywhere at this University.

Whether on or off Grounds, we find ourselves wary of our surroundings.

The facade of safety we had before that day has long been shattered. Regardless of the way we might have moved forward, each of us have been grieving with and healing from the pain, fear and trauma of that day in our own ways.

There is no one correct answer as

to how we should, if at all, attempt to find meaning in the violence that occurred on the night of the 13th.

What we can do, however, is remember. Football player Mike Hollins and student Marlee Morgan, along with everyone on that bus who witnessed and survived this violence firsthand, have shown us that their strength in living with the pain of adversity lies in carrying the legacies of their teammates and friends. They have also told us, time and time again, that they are grateful for the solidarity the community has shown them during the perpetual process of healing. This week especially, we hope that, as a community, we can show solidarity for each other so we may continue to move forward with their memories and legacies in mind.

Monday, we saw the University emulate this solidarity by providing spaces for students to reflect, including an observance at the Chapel to honor their lives. The University has also collected mental health resources to support those of us who continue to

cope with grief on this anniversary. We on the Editorial Board, too, have written in hopes that our words may help our readership to pause and remember Devin, Lavel and D’Sean.

Devin, Lavel and D’Sean brought light into the lives they touched. Devin was known by his family as a “dancing machine” — a constant source of joy.

Lavel was an older brother and a role model, whose love for his hometown proudly led him to get a tattoo of it.

D’Sean lifted his teammates up and was immersed in the world of poetry and music. Let our memories of them, and the strength of Mike and Marlee, be what inspires us to carry ourselves in a new light — a light that emboldens our responsibility to move forward while giving grace to ourselves and others.

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.

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MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Ava MacBlane Managing Editor Lexi Baker Executive Editor Nathan Onibudo Operations Manager Ava Proehl Chief Financial Officer Charlie Healy

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Assistant Managing Editors Claire DiLorenzo Alexandra Holmes (SA) Emma Carpet (SA) Hailey Chung (SA) Isabella Gattuso (SA) William Hutchens (SA) Karen Shin (SA) Lydia Sweeney Assistant Operations Manager Honor Wood (SA) Mary Kurbanov (SA) Alexa Mosley

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Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 11

OPINION

NAISH: The forgotten “herstory” of Charlottesville The city of Charlottesville needs to address the lack of female representation in its public art Over the past few years, there have been calls to remove Confederate and other hateful statues that fail to reflect the values we claim to hold as a nation. In Charlottesville, activists have worked to remove racist statues, like those of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, and have been successful in their endeavors. This work must continue but is not enough on its own. The City of Charlottesville must now be intentional about what it chooses to leave in the wake of segregationist symbols. Specifically, the City should remedy the disturbing lack of female statues in Charlottesville — today, only one statue of a woman exists in Charlottesville, an anonymous woman’s head as part of an abstract sculpture titled “Family.” Women deserve to be equally represented in our communities through an impactful approach that goes beyond symbolic statues and honors real-life women.

There have only been three female statues in all of Charlottesville’s history — Sacagewea, which was removed with the Lewis and Clark statues in 2021, an angel at the foot of Stonewall Jackson, also removed in 2021, and the woman’s head outside of an old jail. The

gender gap in public art is not unique to Charlottesville. There are currently 4,799 statues in our country that publicly honor men.

Only 384 represent women — and many of these statues are devoid of identity, often an anonymous figure that does not explicitly represent a historical woman. These figurines cater to male ideals of female beauty and imply that real

only be given their due once we recognize that this injustice exists and engage in conversations about remedying it.

Temporary installations can tackle this issue interactively.

Last year in Charlottesville, the REDress Project made its way to the University. Red dresses were hung across Grounds, each one symbolizing an Indigenous

this progress has been ambiguous. Hidden behind Gibson Hall lies an abstract metal sculpture in honor of Catherine “Kitty” Foster, an enslaved African-American woman who was a seamstress and laundress for the University. She later owned property that now belongs to the University. Her memorial casts a shadow representing where her home once stood,

If we truly value women, then we must include women in the list of people we commemorate and be explicit in our celebration of their lives” women are not worthy of commemorating, unlike their male counterparts.

In order to fix the lack of female representation in public art and address the root causes of women’s exclusion from public recognition, we must undertake the project of representing women in public art in a provocative way. This can be done with either permanent statues or temporary installations, but they must involve the community in important conversations regarding female representation. Women will

woman, girl or a third nonbinary gender known as a “two-spirit person” that had been murdered in the United States and Canada. The goal of the installation was to honor Indigenous victims, draw awareness to the dangerous realities women face and advocate for justice. Temporary art installations disrupt male-dominated landscapes in a provocative way which forces viewers to interrogate androcentrism.

The University has made some progress in acknowledging women’s contributions in history, but

but the sculpture is not a statue of Foster and instead focuses on the archaeological importance of the site rather than the significance of her life. Statues celebrating the achievements of men have existed for hundreds of years. If we truly value women, then we must include women in the list of people whom we commemorate and be explicit in our celebration of their lives.

Statues interrupt physical space to communicate community values and tower over public landscapes as a reminder of

who shaped our current moment.

Right now, there is no sense that we value or recognize women.

Moving forward, we must create physical spaces that convey the integral role women have and continue to play in Charlottesville. After all, there is no shortage of women in Charlottesville history. Charlottesville itself is named after Queen Charlotte.

Sarah-Patton Boyle, the first white woman on Charlottesville’s board for the NAACP, advocated for desegregation. And Heather Heyer died fighting to take down the Lee statue. Perhaps the most beautiful poetic irony would be to put a statue of Heyer where Lee once stood to commemorate her life and her values. Today, we should not commemorate Confederate Generals because their values are not our own. Instead, we should value women’s — and all other groups’ — equal right to be a physical part of the history in which they participate.

ANAÏS NAISH is a Viewpoint Writer who writes about Identity and Culture for The Cavalier Daily.

She can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

HUYNH: Student government elections matter The University must work proactively to boost engagement in student elections In 1979, third-year history major John S. Serpe ran for Student Council president, one of the most influential student leadership positions on Grounds. Luckily for Serpe, he was the only candidate on the ballot, making his unopposed campaign a mere formality. Or at least that’s what everyone thought until the results of the election were released, revealing that he was defeated by a write-in candidate, “Howard the Duck.”

The 1979 election serves as a humorous glimpse into the lack of weight that student elections have for many students. Although Student Council and other institutions of student self-governance — the Honor Committee and the University Judiciary Committee — have come a long way since 1979, and voter turnout is slowly improving, apathy toward student elections is alive and well. The University should take steps to combat this apathy by creating infrastructure that teaches students the importance of student self-governance.

The results of the most recent elections tell us that students are apathetic towards elections. Many important posts within student self-governance organizations were on the ballot, but

most positions had less than 10 percent turnout. Though offices with a wider scope — positions representing students of a specific year — generally received higher turnout, the vast majority of eligible students failed to vote. Maybe more shocking is the fact that students do not turn out for ex-

son, University administrators must ensure students are given the resources to engage with the tradition of student self-governance — and effective engagement requires that we vote in student elections.

Part of the problem is that many students believe that there is no rea-

el efforts to motivate participation in student elections, offering a t-shirt or a sticker is not enough to create — nor maintain — the kind of voter turnout that is needed to make these elections effective. First-year students in the College of Arts and Sciences are already required to participate in certain

There is an undeniable connection between the quality of our institutions of student self-governance and the efficacy of the education the University offers”

tremely consequential ballot measures like last semester’s Honor referendum — which introduced the Committee’s first ever multi-sanction system — with only 24 percent of eligible students casting a ballot.

Let that sink in. The biggest change ever to the University’s Honor system — a defining feature of our institution — was implemented with input from less than a quarter of the student body. There is an undeniable connection between the quality of our institutions of student self-governance and the efficacy of the education the University is able to offer. For this rea-

son to cast a ballot. These students fail to realize that they are also voting for student self-governance and for institutions which have made significant, impactful changes — exemplified by sweeping reforms to the Honor system and the Student Council’s role in the construction of Clemons Library. The impact of student leadership is seen in everything from the distribution of COVID-19 tests to making textbooks more accessible. Student self-governance is a pillar of this institution and part of what makes being a student at the University unique.

While there have been surface-lev-

events outside of the classroom — such as guest events or advising meetings, as part of the Engagements Experience portion of the College’s curriculum.

First-year students should similarly be required to participate in an educational session on student self-governance — exploring UJC, the Honor Committee and Student Council — and be required to vote in such elections in their first year. This process could also have an academic component in which students reflect on a specific area of policy within one of these institutions to promote critical engagement with the work these

organizations are doing.

This solution will not merely increase voter turnout by ensuring first years cast ballots, it will create a culture wherein students are informed about what is happening around Grounds.

By providing a structured framework within which students learn about the importance of engaging meaningfully with institutions like Honor and UJC, the University will make students more careful voters, empowering these institutions to make decisions that truly reflect student interests.

Student Council, UJC and the Honor Committee are not always involved in the hot-button issues — like foreign policy or health care reform — which so frequently occupy our minds or social media feeds. These institutions instead carry a different sort of significance to University students — they are the most direct reflection of our ability to steer the University in the direction that we students think is best. Students should never take this voice for granted.

VIET HUYNH is a Viewpoint Writer who writes about Student Self-Governance for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

12 | www.cavalierdaily.com

HUMOR

The Cavalier Daily

Bodo’s Bagels Releases Limited “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” A staple of University culture for decades, Bodo’s Bagels has been revered for its fantastic food and a consistent menu that never fails to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Interestingly enough, this past week Bodo’s underwent a rare menu change to capitalize on the most recent pop-culture craze and draw in even more dedicated customers. Bodo’s regulars and first-timers alike were surprised to find that a new breakfast sandwich had been added to the menu Monday morning. This limited edition item is a 10-layer tower of bagel, cheese, protein and all the fixings that goes by the name of “Bagel — Taylor’s Version.”

“I was really skeptical at first,” fourth-year Engineering student Abigail Ide said. “I’ve been going to Bodo’s for so long and I never change my order, but when you see something this crazy you just have to try it.”

And the “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” is crazy indeed.

“We wanted to create something original that would pay tribute to Taylor and be a great menu item at the same time,” third-year College student and Bodo’s employee Dorthea Moore said.

Moore says she and her fellow coworkers pitched the idea for the “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” a month ahead of the re-release of her latest album, “1989 — Taylor’s Version.” The idea that came to be a reality was a breakfast sandwich that memorialized each of Taylor Swift’s 10 original studio albums, starting with a plain bagel to represent 2006’s “Taylor Swift,” followed by layers of plain cream cheese, red onion, tomato, blueberry cream cheese, crispy bacon, strawberry cream cheese, a fried egg, veggie cream cheese and ending with a blueberry bagel to

represent 2022’s “Midnights.”

During its initial 24 hours on the Bodo’s menu, “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” was met with passionate reviews from students across the University.

“I immediately thought it was great,” third-year Engineering student Bobby Red remarked while munching on his third “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” of the week. “I mean, I was still totally hungover, like crazy hungover, like, can’t get out of bed hungover, from the weekend so maybe that had an effect, but still, delicious.”

Betty Lore, dedicated member of the “Swifties at U.Va.” club and a second-year College student said that she and her fellow club members all went together to try the new sandwich and were completely amazed.

“I could’ve cried,” Lore said.

“Even from that first bite, I think all of us could tell that Taylor’s

spirit was with us while we were eating that bagel. It was almost a religious experience. Gosh, I’m getting choked up just thinking about it.”

Some students, on the other hand, were not as impressed.

Self-described “casual Taylor Swift enjoyer” and first-year College student Juliet F. Less said that she did not understand the hype in the slightest.

“On some level I get it, but I mean, come on! Four kinds of cream cheese on the same sandwich? With an egg? And a whole bunch of other stuff too? It’s completely gross!”

Several others agreed, including third-year Engineering student Clyde Repp, who, when asked about “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” immediately said that it was “completely and totally disgusting.”

“My girlfriend begged me to

CARTOON U.Va. in the Year 3000 Ada Malpani | Cartoonist

come to Bodo’s and try it with her so I did. It was the worst thing I’ve ever tasted in my whole life. I broke up with her on the spot. I’m sorry, but I can’t be with someone that thinks strawberry cream cheese and tomato belong on the same bagel,” Repp remarked.

While “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” is certainly being met with its share of mixed reviews, the lines at Bodos have been as long as ever and buzzing with excitement over the mysterious new sandwich. If you’re a curious foodie, a Taylor Swift fanatic or just someone looking to form their own opinion on the latest breakfast craze, get down to Bodo’s before Dec. 13 and try the new “Bagel — Taylor’s Version” for just $19.89.

CLAUDIA HUNN is a Humor Columnist for The Cavalier Daily.

She can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 13

SPORTS Women’s rugby finds growth from past challenges The Flamingos have dominated in game after game this season, bolstered by a strong community of teammates Oli Blair | Staff Writer

ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Although the team competes on a club level, women’s rugby’s spirit can match any squad at Virginia.

When Virginia fans think of the powerhouses of the University’s athletics, the school’s varsity teams come to mind. But a new dynasty is building at the club level as well. Virginia women’s rugby has overcome injury over the past two years to stake their claim as one of the best club teams in the country. It has been a dominating season for the Flamingos (6-1), winning all but one of their seven opening fixtures before regionals this fall.

This wins are especially meaningful to the team given how last season went. Four senior players tore their ACLs, an unfathomable number considering the rarity of the injury. But as Coach Nancy Kechner said after an impressive 71-7 victory against North Carolina, this year’s squad is likely better because of it.

“The babies got some playing time, a lot of playing time,” Kechner said. “Now they’re second years and they’re starting and they have a year under them.”

Senior second row captain Ka-

tie Kasko emphasized how valuable the experience has been for both this season and future ones.

‘We learn from each other,” Kasko said. “The girl who was second row last year just graduated and now I’m the older one and I’m teaching the younger second row and then I’ll graduate and she’ll teach the next one.”

In a club sport, having a passing of the torch moment is extremely important, as the community formed in these organizations is what convinces players to devote time to the team — even if they do not have access to perks like scholarships that varsity athletes do.

For a lot of teams that do not cut players, senior players returning from injury and young players bursting through would create conflict and divide. Not for Virginia, as senior flanker captain Annika Antholis describes how the challenges the team faced in the past created even tighter bonds.

“We all love each other a lot,”

Antholis said. “We got it together pretty quickly. Our team dynamics we worked really hard on.”

The Flamingos have become a family, nurturing the new generation, and Kechner has helped facilitate the transition. Returning for her 26th year as head coach, Kechner is the orchestrator behind the team’s success and togetherness, undoubtedly responsible for their consistent top-10 national ranking.

A Virginia alumna, Kechner started playing rugby right here in Charlottesville when two students encouraged her to try it out.

“Oh my God, this is the best thing I’ve ever done!” was how she described her first taste of Virginia rugby in an interview in 2018.

After returning to Virginia, Kechner became the women’s rugby head coach, alongside getting her masters in construction technology, working as software support in the library and parttime at Harvest Moon Catering.

But what she enjoyed most by far was nurturing the team that made

her first stint in Charlottesville so enjoyable.

“This is where I want to be,” Kechner said.

Kechner is also deeply invested in the community of the team, planning activities such as cooking team dinner before a match day. Her tactical nous was also on full display. Virginia’s scrums were indomitable, causing the referee to literally bend the rules to protect the Tar Heels from their ferocity.

“We have really good props,” Kasko said. “Our front row this year especially has been absolutely solid.”

A large part of the team’s success this year has come through the lessons learned when younger players were thrown into the fire.

Kasko was quick to mention how senior prop India Glover learned how to pay it forward to the younger players. “[Glover] learned under the older people on the team for a couple years,” Kasko said. “Now she’s helping to teach Taylor

[sophomore prop]... and [freshman prop Isabella] Gega.”

Clearly the tradition of passing the torch is working, as Kechner crowned freshman prop Isabella Gega “forward of the game” after the North Carolina victory.

Virginia as a school also bodes well for Kechner’s success. The focus for the coaching team is perfecting rugby IQ, allowing for a free flowing attacking brand of rugby.

“Smart people make better rugby players,” Kechner said. “To get into U.Va., you have to be a little killer your entire life. So that when you’re asked to play rugby and go out and do your thing, you’re like, ‘I’ve got this.’”

While the team may not be part of the traditional Division 1 structure like other Virginia sports teams, women’s rugby has formed a community that is just as tight-knit and competitive, and the creation of the community will undoubtedly lead to even more success at the club level down the line.

14 | www.cavalierdaily.com

SPORTS

Offensive struggles keep women’s soccer from postseason The Cavalier offense tallied just 13 conference goals this season Calvin Roe | Staff Writer

ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Virginia ended the season with only three losses, which is less than many of the teams that earned bids for the 64-team NCAA tournament.

The setting at Klöckner Stadium was the same as always for Virginia women’s soccer — the student section filled with orange and blue, Charlottesville families scattered on the hill opposite the bleachers and Coach Steve Swanson on the sideline.

Despite the familiar home setting, the Cavaliers (8-3-6, 3-3-4 ACC) may look back at their underwhelming offensive performances at home as what kept them from playing in November.

The Cavalier defense did all they could, conceding just 11 goals on the season and collecting eight clean sheets. In home draws early in the fall, Virginia held Iowa and Michigan scoreless only to see its offense not convert key opportunities. The defense was not rewarded for its efforts, as each match concluded with scores of 0-0. Commanding possession throughout the Michigan contest, then-No. 5 Virginia came up empty from 15 shots and 7 corner kicks.

Virginia had its chances throughout the season for signature wins to boost its tournament resume, too.

Hosting then-No. 1 North Carolina, Virginia went punch-for-punch with the nation’s top team, even outshooting its opponents 5-4 in the first half. But after a Tar Heel goal in the second half, the Cavaliers’ inability to create quality goal opportunities showed. Virginia connected for only two shots on goal in the 1-0 loss.

In a late postseason push, Virginia put its best game together against its rival, Virginia Tech. The Cavaliers had 19 shots, three of them reaching the back of the net while keeping a clean sheet. The 3-0 victory was the first conference win for Virginia through seven ACC games. While the course correction was welcome for Cavalier fans, it came too late.

After a 1-0 home win over Miami, Boston College ended Virginia’s tournament hopes. The winless team in ACC play came to Charlottesville and allowed just one goal on 15 shots, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

At a time where the Cavaliers needed to assert their position in the ACC rankings and tournament discussions against a lesser opponent,

they once more came up short. A Syracuse win later that week was not enough to send Virginia to the six-team ACC tournament.

Although the offense struggled, Swanson kept virtually the same starting lineup all season. Sophomore midfielder Jill Flammia and freshman midfielder Yuna McCormack stole the show as starters, pickpocketing opponents at midfield and dribbling their way deep into enemy territory. In one of the most important goals of the year, McCormack fired a cross from deep into Clemson’s territory, which trickled to the feet of Flammia for an away goal against the Tigers.

However, the match concluded a 1-1 draw, another instance of split points in a conference matchup where Virginia simply needed more.

Given this season’s low octane offense, it would not have hurt to place these skillful dribblers in closer proximity to the forwards.

As a midfielder, Flammia had more shots on goal in less games than starting sophomore striker Merideth McDermott. Flammia and McCormack proved valuable in

stopping attacks in the midfield, but their positioning and defensive responsibilities limited the offensive potential of the Cavaliers.

This season was, among other things, an outlier. The roster was filled with top recruits and returning talent, along with a legendary head coach entering his 24th season with the program. Just a season ago, the offense was potent and has the ability to reach similar highs with roster and positioning adjustments.

In 2022, Virginia totaled 56 goals in large part to former Cavalier star striker Haley Hopkins. With less pressure to score herself, sophomore Maggie Cagle played a facilitating role that year, dishing out an ACC second-best 12 assists. To get the offense back in prime shape, Virginia needs to find efficient forwards so Cagle — the heart of the team — can play her game. Additionally, despite missing the postseason, Swanson’s starting forwards — McDermott, Cagle and freshman Allie Ross — will come back with more chemistry and experience.

On the defensive side, the Cavaliers will likely lose graduate goal-

keeper Cayla White, along with graduate defenders Lacey McCormack and Samar Guidry. However, freshman goalkeeper Victoria Safradin will have no problem picking up the slack — the No. 9 recruit in her class per Top Drawer Soccer has played in high-pressure games representing the United States.

Virginia ended the season with only three losses, which is less than many of the teams that earned bids for the 64-team NCAA tournament. However, six low-scoring draws failed to make a compelling case for postseason play. Many of the selected teams outdid the Cavaliers in wins, such as 15-win conference foe Pittsburgh. Improved scoring, especially at home, can easily propel Virginia back to ACC and NCAA title contention.

Virginia will soon be back at Klöckner for night games, its starting 11 taking their positions as fans stomp on the metal bleachers to “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. With orange hues forming over the distant mountains at kickoff, the Cavaliers will have something to prove.

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 15

SPORTS

Natasha Subhash impacts tennis on and off the court One of the most successful players in program history reflects on her impact both on and off the court Will Krehmeyer | Staff Writer Graduate student Natasha Subhash topped Kentucky’s Zoe Hammond by a score of 6-3, 6-2 at the Tennessee Invitational Oct. 28. The win was her 100th singles victory at Virginia, making her just the eighth Cavalier in program history to ever attain that mark.

Those 100 victories tell just a fraction of the impact Subhash has had on the University and community during her time here.

Earlier this year, Subhash attended a banquet at the U.S. Open to receive the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, the most prestigious honor that the Intercollegiate Tennis Association awards.

“It’s a super huge national award given to one female and male player who exhibits the qualities of Arthur Ashe, who was this amazing player, but also a leader and spokesperson — he made a huge impact on tennis,” Subhash said.

“So being able to be compared to him is a huge honor.”

During her time on Grounds, Subhash has certainly exemplified these qualities. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a tutor

for local elementary school students through Madison House’s Athletes Committed to Education program. She also ran a youth clinic for children in the poorest congressional district in New York while she was there to accept the award, an experience that she found incredibly rewarding.

“They’re all great players, and it just shows you a different perspective,” Subhash said. “It was also cool to think about how we can make tennis more accessible.

Because it’s not usually thought of as a rich man’s sport, but it’s expensive to do everything that they need to do to be good.”

The income inequality issue in the sport — particularly for American children trying to pick it up — has been well-documented in recent years. While the entry level costs of racquets and balls are relatively low, the pay-to-play nature of the highest-level tournaments can easily turn into thousands of dollars spent each year to reach the college level. While Subhash cannot fix these systemic problems by herself, she has tried to make the sport more accessible for all by

participating in activities such as hosting the clinic.

Subhash attributes her desire to help others and leave a legacy that extends beyond the tennis court to Bob Pass. A childhood coach and mentor, Pass founded the Pass Academy that Subhash attended prior to Virginia. Per the website, the Academy strives “to create the environment and provide the coaching to enable our students to pursue excellence in tennis and in life.”

“Seeing him and talking to him about his life and experiences always inspired me and pushed me to be the best version of myself,” Subhash said. “He was a great coach, but he just wanted us to be the best people possible.”

As a current student of the McIntire School of Commerce’s Masters in Accounting program, Subhash looks to bring her best in her academic pursuits as well as her athletic ones. An exemplary student, Subhash received the Walter B. Doggett Accounting Award in May 2023 for her outstanding scholarship in the field of accounting. She is also an Ac-

ademic All-American and two time recipient of Virginia’s Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

“I am really proud of the [awards] that combine this school and this sport, because it just shows how hard I’ve worked on both aspects,” Subhash said. “This semester, on a typical Monday, I have practice from 7:30 to 10 in the morning, and then I go to class from 11 to 5. And then after that, that’s when I like to do my homework. So it’s a very, very long day, and no free time, but it’s rewarding. When spring comes and our team’s doing well, it feels amazing.”

Her work ethic has shown itself in the classroom and on the court, as she has led the Cavaliers to at least an NCAA Tournament Round of 16 appearance every year of her career so far, with the exception of her first year in which the tournament was canceled due to the pandemic. While the Intercollegiate Tennis Association has yet to release their preseason team rankings, they have Subhash in the top 50 singles players in the country, and she will look to once again lead Virginia to an extended post-

season run to cap off her collegiate career.

“As a representative of the U.Va. tennis family and our University, Natasha has demonstrated excellence in so many parts of her life since she arrived in Charlottesville in 2019,” Coach Sara O’Leary said.

What happens after this season for Subhash is still undecided, primarily because she is purely focused on the present. She was candid discussing her prospects for playing professionally after graduation, but wanted to make clear that her focus is succeeding as much as possible in the spring for her final year of eligibility.

“It was on the table for a while,” Subhash said. “But I think with some of my chronic injuries, it’s not so much in the picture anymore. But I’m fully invested in the college tennis part and I want to give that my full attention.”

Whatever comes next, Subhash has left a legacy of service, scholarship and outstanding athletic performances at Virginia that will surely stand the test of time.

ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Subhash looks to end her career on a high note this spring with her final year of eligibility.

16 | www.cavalierdaily.com

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