The Commonwealth Times; April 28, 2021

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THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2019, 2020 Newspaper Pacemaker Winner

VOL. 62, NO. 26 APRIL 28, 2021

UNDEFEATED

Junior back Litiana Field, center, hoists the Atlantic 10 championship trophy surrounded by her teammates on April 24 at Cary Street Field. Photo by Jay Stonefield

Field hockey heads to NCAA tournament with unblemished record

NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor

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UNIOR GOALKEEPER SASHA ELLIOTT sat down to watch a field hockey game the day before the Rams played in the Atlantic 10 semifinals and stumbled across Bucknell playing in the Patriot League tournament semifinals. She continued to watch the game, not thinking much of it. Three days later, and the Rams were paired with the Bison in the first round of the NCAA tournament. “I watched their game on Thursday and I’ve been kind of following them throughout the season,” Elliott said of Bucknell. “I definitely think they’re going to be a tough team.” The Rams earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after winning the Atlantic 10 title on Saturday afternoon, beating three-time defending champion St. Joseph’s 2-0 at Cary Street Field. Friday afternoon’s meeting with the Bison on Penn State’s campus won’t be the first, as the two teams met in Richmond during the 2019 season, when the Rams lost 2-1. Sophomore forward Lonica McKinney said she’s excited about the pairing with the Bison because it’s a winnable matchup. “I think that we really have a chance to beat them,” McKinney said. “It’s not just

like, ‘Oh, well, we don’t have much of a chance,’ like we can actually beat them.” Elliott said when the team watched the NCAA selection show together on Saturday night and saw their name appear with Bucknell, she knew it was a good pairing for the black and gold.

holding our structure in the midfield so that we can be in those interception lines, get the interception and then counterattack with numbers,” Bean said. Even though it’s the first NCAA tournament game for the entire black and gold’s roster, Bean said they’re treating the game as similar to a regular game as much as they can. The only difference is that the team has one day to watch film instead of two, so the team can travel to Pennsylvania after Wednesday morning’s practice. I think it was kind of The Rams, who are 9-0 this season, like satisfying or like logged their first undefeated season in program history and won their first A-10 title, a weight lifted off our the latter being a preseason goal set by the shoulders because we team, Elliott said. worked so hard for this.” “I think it was kind of like satisfying or like a weight lifted off our shoulders beSasha Elliott, goalkeeper cause we worked so hard for this,” Elliott said. “This year, we were undefeated and I “For them to call Bucknell, for us, is re- think it just felt very rewarding to finally ally good because we know they’re man- actually win it.” ageable,” Elliott said. “We know that we Not only did the win lift the weight from could beat them.” the players’ shoulders, but it also solidified Coach Stacey Bean said the Bison like the team’s season-long motto. to substitute a lot in the midfield, to create “We didn’t get this far to only get this far,” more space for their backs to find their for- Elliott said, reciting the mantra. wards when on offense. She said her team The Rams have logged five shutouts will have to stay focused while Bucknell this season, while only allowing five goals does that, remembering not to chase players through their first nine contests. Elliott has around the field. logged 29 saves this season en route to the “For us, it’s about being disciplined and five clean sheets.

“We would not be where we are without our defense,” McKinney said. “Our defenders always seem to come up with it and make those great tackles. And then if it does get through them, I always rely on Sasha to do what she does best and keep it out of the net.” Elliott said part of the team’s defensive strategy is “managing” teams, forcing them to take uncomfortable shots. “We try to manage every situation and give the other team the worst possible angle shot or put a lot of pressure on the ball that they get a bad shot off,” Elliott said. “And we scout another team really well in terms of their corners. So we know what’s going to happen.” Elliott added that the team’s backline is composed of juniors, so after three years of playing together, they’re on the same page defensively and know where each person will be in different situations. “Throughout this season, it just got better and we set up so strong defensively and then we don’t freak out either when we don’t get many chances,” Elliott said. “We just keep on playing and then in the fourth quarter or the end of the game, we find our chances and we use them.” The Rams will play Bucknell in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday at noon at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.

VCU labor union aims to improve wages, working conditions See UNION on page 3 Members of VCU’s newly formed chapter of the United Campus Workers of Virginia protest outside the James Branch Cabell Library on April 26. Photo by Katharine DeRosa


2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced fully vaccinated Americans don’t need to wear masks outdoors unless they are in large groups. international: The European Union is suing AstraZeneca over delays in vaccine doses.

Students, faculty favor mix of in-person and online classes if COVID-19 improves

Students walk through Monroe Park on VCU’s campus. Photo by Jay Stonefield NATALIE BARR Contributing Writer

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FTER A YEAR OF ONLINE CLASSES, VCU’s fall semester will offer a range of modality options, according to a VCU spokesperson. The semester’s course schedule will offer a majority of in-person class styles while keeping some online, Director of Communications and Marketing Matthew Lovisa stated in an email. “In person classes will contribute to the campus living and learning experience,” Lovisa stated. “More online courses than before the COVID-19 pandemic will be offered, to allow for flexibility among students.” Student voices played a role in the decision for the upcoming semester as 18.8%, or approximately 4,200 out of 29,417 students, responded to a survey in March, Lovisa stated. “Two-thirds of students who completed the survey said that, if pandemic conditions

are favorable and safety precautions continue, they want to attend a mix of in-person and online classes,” Lovisa stated. Being vaccinated for COVID-19 remains voluntary and is not required for students and faculty returning to campus in fall, Lovisa stated.

If these measures stay in place and students keep wearing masks, I feel confident to return.” Megan O’Casey, sophomore fashion design major Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring stated Tuesday that Virginia colleges and universities can require a COVID-19

A group of VCU students study in Monroe Park. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

vaccination for faculty members and students wishing to return to campus for fall. Faculty members and students will be safer on campus with a vaccine, but each university can decide whether the vaccine will be required or not, Herring stated. Fashion merchandising associate professor Deidra Arrington is excited for students to return to campus after a year of virtual classes. “I miss them all very much,” Arrington said. “Seeing students walking around campus will mean so much.” VCUarts permitted hybrid models of teaching to support administration and flexibility for studio-based classes, Arrington said. Studios remained open for students to access materials and equipment. Kikau Alvaro, an assistant professor in the musical theatre department, said he has not held an in-person class since the start of the pandemic. Musical theatre classes were offered strictly online, and the university ensured course requirements could still be met. VCU provided space on campus for safe accommodations to students who needed it, Alvaro said. Alvaro is happy for students to be back together, but he knows singing can contribute to the spread of COVID-19. He will continue to follow safety precautions and advise his students to stay home if they are feeling under the weather, Alvaro said. “After this year, we know virtual classes work, so even if someone has the sniffles, just stay home. You can join us via Zoom,” Alvaro said. “I don’t want to take any chances.” Jenna Kline, a junior in fashion merchandising, said

she was fine with virtual learning and felt supported by professors. Although, she does not want online classes forever. “I would be comfortable with being in person,” Kline said. Megan O’Casey, a sophomore in fashion design, faced challenges with virtual learning. “It is hard to learn technique through the computer,” O’Casey said. “Professors were provided extra cameras to show techniques up close, which I appreciated, but it’s still hard.” O’Casey is comfortable with design classes being in person and feels it would remain safe. Since last semester, hand sanitizer and bleach wipes were readily available, and all students were encouraged to clean down their stations, O’Casey said. “If these measures stay in place and students keep wearing masks, I feel confident to return,” O’Casey said. Cecilia Nguyen, a sophomore majoring in photography, said she is happy to return to campus moving forward. She said the energy and collaboration of being around her classmates cannot be met over Zoom. Freshman business student Reena Pidaparti has only experienced VCU through her computer screen. She said she is ready for campus life to build connections. “I will continue to wear my mask and practice safety measures,” Pidaparti said. “I hope this leadership will implore students to do the same.” When it is time to decide the plans for fall 2021, Alvaro wants the university to consider the needs of all students. “This next decision, whatever it may be, has to be accommodating to all,” Alvaro said. “It just has to. We can’t cut any corners.” The university will continue to update the One VCU: Better Together website with new information and updates regarding the fall semester, Lovisa stated.


UNION

VCU labor union aims to improve wages, working conditions

Wed. April 28, 2021 3

Events will include a virtual panel on Zoom for VCU students and parents about how an improved workplace would positively affect learning, as well as a May Day rally in Abner Clay Park, where people can learn more about Virginia labor rights. “The decision to form a union is rootKATHARINE DEROSA back a bill in the Virginia General As“As a state legislator, if this collective bar- ed in our belief that VCU could become a News Editor sembly that would allow for collective bar- gaining bill comes through, I’ll definitely be university that better serves the Richmond gaining. Rasoul said his campaign staff is a co-sponsor,” Rasoul said. community,” Szabo stated in a release. SAHARA SRIRAMAN currently unionized. Adjunct Rose Szabo also spoke at the United Campus Workers has obtained Staff Writer event and said many workers, including support from community representatives, full-time professors at VCU, are paid below including Rasoul and Democratic guberUniversity employees announced Monday a living wage. natorial candidate Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy. the formation of a VCU chapter in the “Anyone who wants to join the union will “United Campus Workers has taken a United Campus Workers of Virginia, a laget in the door,” Szabo said. giant step against the regime of the Old Anyone who wants to bor union that advocates for better working Monday’s demonstration was the first Virginia Way,” Foy stated in the release. “So join the union will get in environments. The group organized a rally United Campus Workers event of their I could not be prouder to be in solidarity in Monroe Park and a march through camnine-day-long schedule of planned events with United Campus Workers as they work the door.” pus to discuss and share the union’s goals. to inform people about the group. The event to build the VCU we deserve.” Rose Szabo, adjunct Contract worker and adjunct advocate series will take place until May 5 with five Kristen Reed led the event. Nine events scheduled. speakers were present, including a member of the University of Virginia branch of the United Campus Workers of Virginia. “You are my union family and we are one another’s union family,” Reed said. “This is how it goes at VCU moving forward.” In March, Adjuncts Organizing for Fair Pay, a university-wide adjunct organizing committee, voted unanimously to unionize, following the example of other faculty and staff throughout the university. Virginia is currently a “right-to-work” state, meaning employees do not have the right to collectively bargain, or negotiate wages and living conditions, with employers. Democratic state Del. Sam Rasoul, a candidate for lieutenant governor, spoke during the event in Monroe Members of the newly formed VCU chapter of the United Campus Workers of Virginia march in Monroe Park on April 26. Park. Rasoul said he would Photo by Katharine DeRosa

Early voting begins for Virginia June primary SAM FOWLER Capital News Service The first day of early voting began Friday for the June 8 Virginia primary election. Voters will be able to choose candidates in advance of the November state election, including for the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general races. Republican and Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates are also on the ballot. Legislators recently changed laws to allow early, in-person and no-excuse absentee voting. A record number of absentee and early votes were cast during the last presidential election, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. Turnout was at its highest since 1992. Voters do not have to fill out an application to vote early. They can go to their voting location and cast a ballot, VDOE stated in a news release. Early, in-person voting remains open until June 5. The voter registration deadline for the June primary is May 17. The deadline to request to have an absentee ballot mailed to a residence will be May 28 at 5 p.m. Nearly half of Virginia’s Democratic voters are backing former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in his second bid to lead the state, according to a report released April 22 by the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Newport News-based Christopher Newport University. McAuliffe, according to recent campaign finance reports, also leads the pack in fundraising.

is possible that maybe the rates stay the same,” Wrighten said. A record number of Democrats in the House of Delegates face a challenge from within their own party this year, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The 2020 Virginia General Assembly session marked the first time since 1994 that the Democrats controlled both chambers of the General Assembly along with the governor’s office. Virginia has shifted from a red to a blue state, which could be due to a change in deThe first day of early voting began Friday for the June 8 Virginia primaries. Photo courtesy mographics, especially around northern of Capital News Service Virginia, Wrighten said. The Republican party will hold a None of the other four Democratic can- Democratic voters are undecided about the statewide convention on May 8. The didates reach double-digit support. Also attorney general race. party will determine its candidates for on the primary ballot are Lt. Gov. Justin The gubernatorial election could be his- governor, lieutenant governor and atFairfax (8%); Richmond Sen. Jennifer Mc- toric, said Jatia Wrighten, an assistant pro- torney general by ranked choice voting Clellan (6%); former Prince William Del. fessor in the political science department among participating delegates. Jennifer Carroll Foy (5%); and Manassas at Virginia Commonwealth University in Early voters must bring an acceptDel. Lee Carter (1%). The report states that Richmond. Four Black women are running able ID to vote in person. They also can 27% of voters are undecided. for governor this year: two Democrats, one request an absentee ballot through the The field for lieutenant governor is also independent and a Republican. If any won, Virginia Department of Elections webcrowded and almost two out of three Dem- they would be the first Black woman to site or return an absentee ballot request ocratic voters are undecided, according to serve as head of any state, Wrighten said. by mail, fax, or email. the Wason Center. Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Ro“What is so very different right now in anoke, has emerged as the front runner with Virginia is that you’re not only looking at Capital News Service is a program of 12% support. one very competent, very viable, Black wom- Virginia Commonwealth University’s Attorney General Mark Herring, vying an for the governorship, there’s two [Demo- Robertson School of Media and Culture. for his third term in the position, currently cratic] women running,” Wrighten said. Students in the program provide state leads the attorney general race with 42% of Wrighten doesn’t believe there will be an government coverage for a variety of Democratic voter support. Herring’s oppo- uptick in early voting. media outlets in Virginia. nent Del. Jerrauld “Jay” Jones, D-Norfolk, “I don’t think there’s going to be [an] has 18% voter support. More than 30% of even larger increase from November but it


4 The Commonwealth Times

Seniors reflect on uncertain year, contemplate plans for future SAHARA SRIRAMAN Contributing Writer

“I’m healthy, my friends are healthy, my family’s healthy, so I couldn’t really ask for more,” White said. Although White plans to attend VCU’s ITH LESS THAN A MONTH virtual commencement, she said she’s ununtil graduation, some VCU se- likely to attend the kinesiology and health niors are reflecting on their time at sciences department’s in-person ceremony the university and the unexbecause she doesn’t think it pected events that marked is worthwhile. their final year of preparing White will miss spending for life after college. time with friends on campus The university and its deand at the library — some of partments will hold various her favorite memories from celebrations in accordance her time at VCU, she said. with Virginia’s COVID-19 “There’s not a single guidelines. VCU’s virtual memory,” White said. “It’s commencement ceremony just that feeling I already is on May 15, and some miss, and I’m going to miss departments are organizing it next year.” smaller ceremonies to recWhite received certificaognize students. For more tion as an exercise physioloinformation, visit comgist through the American Chloe White. mencement.vcu.edu. College of Sports Medicine; she’s planning to work in a cardiac rehabilitation facilCHLOE WHITE ity as an exercise physioloSenior health, physical edgist for clinical experience, ucation and exercise science although she is still looking major Chloe White said her for a job. After, she plans to last year was much better than apply to physical therapy she originally thought it would schools. be. Although it wasn’t filled “For P T schools, we with lasting memories, she’s have to have a lot of clinglad she had the opportunity ical hours and because to spend time with loved ones. of COVID, I wasn’t able “I became a lot closer with to get the clinical hours I my friends, and I became a planned on getting this year,” Kati Flamm. lot closer with my family over White said. winter break just because we were all always together,” White said. KATI FLAMM White was able to focus more on school this year by studying in her dorm rather than at Criminal justice senior Kati Flamm, on home, she said. She feels grateful that her loved the other hand, has undetermined plans. ones are staying safe. She hopes to find a Richmond nonprofit

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KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor

she can work with in order to contribute to the community. As the president of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at VCU, she hopes she’ll be able to work with the head office. “Especially with everything politically and socially, I just think it’s important,” F lamm said. “ Working with Planned Parenthood has been insane and so fun, but also has shown me how much help we need.” Flamm expected to be offered more internships and jobs, but she said many became unavailable due the COVID-19 pandemic.

planning on getting her master’s degree in public policy or public administration at either VCU, American University or George Washington University. Demarest said she probably won’t attend the virtual commencement because she’ll be attending in-person ceremonies for her departments and the Honors College. “It’s going to be kind of crazy because it’s going to be back to back to back, but I’m so excited,” Demarest said.

Nat Arcos, a biology senior, said she was excited for college but that her mental TESSA DEMAREST health was negatively affectPolitical science and ured when classes went virban planning senior Tessa tual. She’s spent two years Tessa Demarest. Demarest said she’s goat VCU since transferring ing to miss VCU’s smaller from Lord Fairfax Comcommunities, including the munity College. VCU Learning Gardens, a “I’ve struggled with varicommunal garden where ous stuff since I was younger, people can garden and and having the world shut expand their knowledge down out of nowhere, it reabout healthy food, and ally takes away the control,” the Honors Student ExecArcos said. utive Board, of which she Arcos is applying for inwas president. ternships close to northern “If I end up moving out Virginia and plans to apply of Richmond, I’ll miss the for graduate school in a year. entire city of Richmond beShe said she wants to gain cause I’ve just done so much work experience before conNat Arcos. growing up here,” Demarest tinuing her education. said. “It’s such a beautiful “It’s not necessary for you city with beautiful people.” to follow a specific path,” Arcos said. “If Demarest said she expected to go into you don’t have plans for after school, you’ll the workforce directly after graduation find your way.” but because of the pandemic, she’s going to attend graduate school. She said she’s

Researchers find e-cigarettes help reduce smoking, presence of carcinogen

A new study by VCU and Penn State researchers suggests e-cigarettes that deliver similar amounts of nicotine as actual cigarettes are useful to people looking to reduce their smoking habits. Researchers from VCU and Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, led the effort — Caroline Cobb, lead researcher, is an associate professor of health psychology at VCU and Jonathan Foulds is a professor of public health science at Penn State. Foulds began his study of e-cigarettes in 2012. He was approved for research funding in 2013 and the project got off its feet in 2015. The team landed on studying the effects of e-cigarettes in those who are trying to reduce smoking. “If it wasn’t from the nicotine that people draw from cigarettes, people would be no more likely to smoke than to blow bubbles,” Foulds said. The study consisted of four randomized groups: e-cigarette with similar levels of nicotine to a regular cigarette, lower levels of nicotine, nicotine-free e-cigarettes and a nicotine-free device. Everyone was instructed to smoke less and use their devices when they did smoke, Foulds said. Cobb said the groups were “double blind,” meaning that neither the researchers or participants knew what groups the participants were in. Foulds said he disapproves of the caps on nicotine concentration in e-cigarette cartridges established by the European Union.

NAT ARCOS

The study included 130 people in each group, Cobb said. All participants were tracked for adverse effects. Cobb said only 10 people He said the higher levels are key to helping from smoking, according to the Centers experienced adverse effects and that none people smoke less cigarettes because it im- for Disease Control and Prevention. The were linked to nicotine. itates the real thing. highest level of nicotine concentrate was Senior business major Kevin McGar“What we found was that the e-cigarette the only group that reduced NNAL levels ry said he began smoking cigarettes in with the highest nicotine concentration, a entering people’s bodies, Foulds said. high school and made the switch to vaplevel that would be banned and in all of Eu“One argument might be that higher ing by using a Juul during his sophomore rope and a level that Canada’s considering dose liquids result in less exposure,” Cobb year of college. banning was the only one that consistently said. “It’s less work but it also means they McGarry said he smoked socially in reduced the harm that you get from e-cig- have to ingest potentially less liquid to get high school and began buying cigarettes for arettes,” Foulds said. the same amount of nicotine absorbed into himself at the beginning of college. Foulds and Cobb looked at the biomark- their system, so less liquid means less chem“Back in freshman year, I pretty much er NNAL, which is known to cause cancer icals they would have to inhale.” knew that I was addicted to cigarettes,” McGarry said. Juul devices do not contain tobacco, but they always include nicotine, according to the CDC. Juul vape solutions use nicotine salts, which allow more nicotine to be delivered into the body with less irritation. The CDC reports young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future. “Once I made the decision, I had no urge to go back to smoking tobacco products,” McGarry said. McGarry still considers himself addicted to nicotine and hopes to stop inhaling nicotine. “I’ve probably done some sort of damage to my lungs, so I think the next step for me is to try some sort of other stuff to do for nicotine that doesn’t involve inhaling anything, and then go from there to try to get nicotine out of my routine altogether,” Many use Juul, an electronic nicotine vaping device, as an alternative to cigarettes. McGarry said. Photo by Enza Marcy


Wed. April 28, 2021 5

Stat of the week

Bones Hyland was named Virginia Sports Information Directors State Co-Player of the Year on April 23.

Senior Paola Expósito Díaz-Delgado plays in a match during last year’s season at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. Photo by Jon Mirador

Senior Quintin Coulaud serves against Virginia Tech at the Thalhimer Tennis Center on April 7. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS RETURN AFTER YEAR WITHOUT TOURNAMENTS KAITLYN FULMORE Contributing Writer

Martin and junior Rayane Stable with a 10-2 record. The women’s team has raised a conferEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS ARE ence championship trophy 10 times — six no strangers to Atlantic 10 A-10 wins and four wins from the Colotennis titles, combining for nial Athletic Association, VCU’s athletic 10 championships since joining the conference prior to 2013. Since joining conference in 2013. the A-10 conference in 2013, the women’s Both teams hope to continue their win- tennis team has held the A-10 champion ning streak in the upcoming A-10 tourna- title every year, except 2017, when they ment, held in Orlando, Florida, from April placed runner-up. 28 through May 2. “We’re going there with confidence,” men’s tennis coach Anthony Rossi said. “We’re looking at it as another opportunity to bring a trophy back to Richmond.” The men’s tennis team has won three It’s time to keep consecutive titles in the A-10 tournament pushing, we’re not — 2017, 2018 and 2019. There wasn’t a going to relax. We tournament in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the team plans on continuing need to go all out till the winning streak. the end of the season.” “The whole team is excited,” said senior Inigo Torre Martin. “Especially because our Inigo Torre Martin, team is still young and most of the players VCU tennis senior haven’t been in Orlando yet.” Players to look out for in the upcomFirst-year women’s tennis head coach ing tournament include sophomore Lley- Vivian Segnini said she wants to continue ton Cronje, who holds a 10-3 record this the legacy of her predecessor, former head season, along with doubles pair Torre coach Paul Kostin.

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“He was successful and he worked so hard for this team,” Segnini said. “Obviously I would like to continue what he was doing.” While the team has the pressure of previous year wins on their shoulders, senior Paola Expósito Díaz-Delgado says they are prepared. “I think we’re prepared for the conference because we have been doing well in practices,” Díaz-Delgado said. “We know what we have to do. Every time we come to practice, there is a plan.” Díaz-Delgado is a key player for the upcoming tournament, along with graduate student Noumea Witmus. The partners currently rank 83 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association doubles rankings. The women’s tournament lasts from April 28 to May 1, and the men’s tournament goes from April 29 to May 2, both being held at the United States Tennis Association National Campus. The women’s team ended the season with a 11-9 record and a 4-0 record in conference matches. The team played against nationally ranked schools, including No. 11 Duke, No. 14 UVA and No. 37 ODU. “As a team we had a tough schedule and we learned a lot from the matches,” Segnini said. “We got a lot of experience.”

The men’s team ended the season with a 14-4 record and a 3-0 record in conference matches. However, the team is not resting up for the upcoming tournaments. “It’s time to keep pushing, we’re not going to relax,” Torre Martin said. “We need to go all out till the end of the season.” After making it a goal to be in the top 40 for collegiate tennis, the men’s tennis team was able to rank at No. 36 during the week of April 7. The men’s tennis team currently ranks No. 40 in the country, according to the ITA. “If you look at where we stood a few years ago to where we are now, I think you can see we’re going in the right direction,” Rossi said. Both teams emphasized the importance of the A-10 title for the road to the NCAA tournament. Winning the conference tournament guarantees a spot to play in nationals, regardless how a team is nationally ranked. With the 2021 season record, along with past tournament history, the men’s and women’s tennis enter the A-10 tournament with confidence. “We’re a team that doesn’t like to talk a lot,” Torre Martin said. “We like to go there and let the racket do the talking.”


6 The Commonwealth Times

GOLF SETS OUT TO DEFEND A-10 TITLE

GAME RESULTS

APRIL 23

FIELD HOCKEY: VS. RICHMOND WON 1-0 Janne Wetzel: goal, A-10 semifinal

BASEBALL: AT RICHMOND

Postponed (COVID-19 within Richmond)

GOLF: VS. RICHMOND Redshirt senior Peter Gasperini reads the green before putting in the Black and Blue Cup on April 23. Photo by Megan Lee JOE DODSON Staff Writer

72.37 over 19 rounds, Vagberg suffered a preseason wrist injury and midseason back injury forcing him to miss two tournaments. After a season of individual victories but Vagberg led VCU to a first-place finsubpar team success, VCU golf is hoping ish, shooting 213 at the par-70 Golden to put in a complete performance for the Horseshoe Intercollegiate tournament in upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament. Williamsburg, Virginia, from March 29-30. “Now that everyone’s had that taste of Vagberg tied the VCU single-round record individual success, it’s time for everyone to mark and set a tournament record when he step up at the same time,” senior Kristian shot a 64 on a par-72 course in the second Tannum Donaldson said. “I think we’re all round of the East Carolina University Inready to play our best.” tercollegiate tournament from March 22-23. Over eight spring tournaments, VCU “I was just in shock that I was playing finished in first and second place twice each, that well,” Vagberg said. “After having along with two fifth place finishes. The Rams struggled a little bit with my golf, it felt will tee off to defend their conference title at reassuring to know that I had a round like the Reunion Resort and Golf Club in Orlan- that in me.” do, Florida, from April 30 to May 2. Redshirt senior Peter Gasperini leads the In their last regular season event, the team with three low man performances and Rams took down crosstown rivals Rich- in stroke average with 72.76. Coach Matt mond in the annual Black and Blue Cup Ball said the first-year Radford transfer has hosted at the Country Club of Virginia in taken on a leadership role in the clubhouse. a match-play format. “You couldn’t ask for a better guy to be a Six players have had top-10 finishes this part of the team,” senior Sachin Kumar said season, and five Rams have led the team in of Gasperini. “Just a real team player.” tournaments. Kumar has taken impressive steps in “This team has the most depth in my his development this season, Ball said. The time playing here,” junior Adrian Vagberg co-captain has improved his stroke average said. “If someone’s not playing well, there from 74.47 last season to a career best of 72.91. are five guys who are hungry to play well.” “My putting has improved significantly,” After recording the sixth-best scoring Kumar said. “I feel like I can make every average in program history last season at putt out there.” YANNI KOUIROUKIDIS Contributing Writer

Ball said this is the best pitching and chipping team he has coached in his 22 years at VCU. Tannum Donaldson said the short game helps the team remain competitive in tight tournaments. “The biggest thing with pitching and chipping is that no matter how bad you’re playing you can still put together a round,” Tannum Donaldson said. “At A-10 [tournaments] it’s especially important.” One issue for the Rams and other teams this spring is ball striking, Ball said. High winds, dormant fairways and mud sticking to the balls attribute to inconsistencies in the long game. “That’s really where inconsistency has come,” Ball said. “Spring is probably the most difficult time.” Ball said he expects great playing conditions should help ball striking for the conference tournament in Florida. “I’m hoping that ball striking becomes one of our strengths to go with our short game,” Ball said. “I think if that happens it gives us a really good chance to repeat.” VCU will travel to the Reunion Resort and Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, to compete in the A-10 championship tournament from April 30-May 2.

Florida baseball transfer sees immediate success at VCU

For sophomore second baseman Michael Haydak, a love for baseball runs in the family. “I would say my biggest influence is probably my dad and then my grandfather,” Haydak said. “They both love baseball so they taught me the way and how to play the game when I was young.” The sophomore infielder has risen to the top of the VCU baseball stat sheet, ranking second in batting average with a .318 clip, but his path to Richmond wasn’t straightforward. After moving state to state until he was five, Haydak and his family settled in Tampa, Florida, where he grew up watching the Tampa Bay Rays and their star, his favorite player, Evan Longoria. Haydak attended Plant High School, where he said he was overlooked because of his size. After high school, he attended Pasco-Hernando State College, which he credits for eventually propelling him to the top of the Rams’ roster. “I was always overlooked at my high school, we had a first-round draft pick and a few other big-time Division I commits,” Haydak said. “I was smaller and had to develop a little more, so I went to Pasco-Hernando State College and I developed a lot there and put on a lot of weight and strength.” Haydak said going to junior college was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. “I definitely wasn’t developed enough to play Division I right away,” Haydak said. “Instead of going and sitting out for a year or two at another school I got reps at junior college and I got stronger and better. I think that’s what has got me to where I am.”

Sophomore second baseman Michael Haydak watches the ball after batting against Davidson on April 18 at The Diamond. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

Pasco-Hernando,” Stiffler said. “He was hitting in the high .400s at junior college in Florida and not striking out. His strikeout to walk [ratio] was really good, which is something that we value here.” Haydak is currently second on the team in batting averages, with .318 and on base percentage, with 42%. To get to this level, Haydak had to have faith in himself at junior college, he said. “I wouldn’t say I saw this coming but I definitely knew I was prepared to step in and produce right away,” Haydak said. “Just coming from a junior college … I was ready to come and fit in.” Although Haydak’s two years at Pasco-Hernando helped prepare him for the college game, he still learned three things from Stiffler, he said: accountability, maturity and leadership. “Being an older guy coming in here, we have a lot of younger guys,” Haydak said. “He’s definitely told me that I need to be mature and help lead, and he’s helped me a lot with that.” Haydak said he’s keeping an eye on the conference championship as an ultimate goal, hoping to someday play at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. “Obviously anything can happen in the playoffs,” Haydak said. “You see so many underdogs go and make crazy runs, so I’m hoping we can be one of those teams to maybe Omaha one day.”

Coach Shawn Stiffler and his staff at VCU noticed Haydak during his time at Pasco-Hernando. After losing some players to the draft the past year, Stiffler said he was looking for a mature player to come in and help the squad. He found that in The Rams take on George Mason at 6:30 p.m. Haydak, he said. this Friday at The Diamond. The game will be “One thing that really stood out to us was televised on ESPN+. how well he was performing offensively at

WON, 6.5-1.5 Black and Blue Cup at Country Club of Virginia

LACROSSE: VS. GEORGE MASON WON 19-9 Keriann McTavish: 3 goals

APRIL 24 FIELD HOCKEY: VS. ST. JOSEPH’S WON 2-0 A-10 championship

BASEBALL: AT RICHMOND

Postponed (COVID-19 within Richmond)

APRIL 25 LACROSSE: VS. DAVIDSON LOST 17-10 Keriann McTavish: 2 goals

BASEBALL: AT RICHMOND

Postponed (COVID-19 within Richmond)

APRIL 27 BASEBALL: VS. VMI

WON 15-5 Michael Haydak: 2-for-3, 3 RBI


Wed. April 28, 2021 7

On this day

In 2003, Apple launched the iTunes Store, allowing users to purchase and download music from the internet to their streaming devices.

Bizhan Khodabandeh, an assistant professor of advertising at VCU, works on illustrations in his home art studio. Khodabandeh provided the artwork for “The Day the Klan Came to Town,” a graphic novel about a KKK riot. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh

New graphic novel explores untold history of the Ku Klux Klan

HADIA MOOSVI Contributing Writer

said. “But the participants, the people who met the klan in the streets — that wasn’t written about.” ORCHES FUME THE NIGHT SKY As a result, Campbell said he reas a mob covered in white attire trieved census data and photographs from and conical hoods congregate in the museum during the time period of the streets. An opposing group emerges the riot to piece the story together. He with weapons, ready to take a stand for was also able to speak with the people their identity and rights. working at the museum. After unraveling an untold and vioCampbell said he discovered a small lent part of history involving the Ku Klux population of Black people in CarneKlan, writer Bill Campgie at the time of the riot bell and Bizhan Khodthrough pictures, as well as abandeh, a local artist and census data on immigrants VCU assistant professor, based on what languagpartnered to create the es they spoke. He found graphic novel “The Day the people from a wide array Klan Came to Town.” of places, including Libya, The graphic novel is a Turkey and China. fictional retelling of the Along with having to 1923 KKK riots in Carresearch outside of his own negie, Pennsylvania, acexperiences, Campbell said cording to Campbell. As his conversations with peothe group’s membership ple about the immigrant exBill Campbell. Photo courtesy of Bill Campbell grew nationwide in the perience and race fascinated early 1920s, it made its way into Penn- him prior to writing the novel. sylvania and fogged itself as a civic orga“My dad, when he came to America, he nization to attract white, Anglo-Saxon was like, ‘I literally had no idea growing and Protestant individuals. The KKK soon up that I was Black because everyone was established an intolerance for immigrants Black.’ It wasn’t a thing,” Campbell said. “I and Catholics, leading to a riot against a was talking to a friend from Colombia and crowd of protesters. he was like, ‘I didn’t know I wasn’t white “I grew up in the town and nobody ever until I moved to Boston.’” talked about this,” Campbell said. “It was The main character of the novel, Primo totally hidden history.” Salerno, is a Sicilian immigrant who the Campbell said he first learned of the story town relies on to take a stand against the from his brother in 2019 and that it sparked klan. The idea for Salerno’s illustration starthis interest in creating a graphic novel. ed to form during his trip back home to The research process for the project Washington D.C. from the Toronto Comic included a few trips to the Historical So- Arts Festival, Campbell said. ciety of Carnegie, a history museum, as “When I was driving late at night going there was not much written about the around Carnegie [Pennsylvania], the main event, Campbell said. character of the book, Primo Salerno, popped “What the klan did that day is written into my head, and he popped into my head about and what the government officials as Bizhan [Khodabandeh]’s art,” Campbell did that day was written about,” Campbell said. “It only made sense to ask him.”

T

After Khodabandeh expressed interest in being part of the project, they both formed a private Facebook page that included part of their research for the project. Khodabandeh said the page served as a place to collect photos of clothing, food and Carnegie during the event’s time period to ensure the illustrations would be accurate to immigrants during the 1920s.

It’s a matter of reimagining and just re-censoring what American history actually is because it’s a lot browner than we ever think of.” Bill Campbell, author of “The Day the Klan Came to Town” “I did some research when those pages came because it’s mostly Irish and Italian folks, but there’s some Armenian, Syrian immigrants, there’s some Chinese immigrants,” Khodabandeh said. “It’s interesting. It’s sort of a mixture between traditional cultural artifacts and suits.” From that point on, Campbell said he would write scenes down as they came into mind while he researched, and he would give the scenes to Khodabandeh to illustrate. Khodabandeh said the project is stylistically similar to his other artwork. His illustrations use a geometric style of art influenced by Cartoon Saloon, an Irish animation studio, and artists such as Genndy Tartakovsky, the illustrator for the children shows “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Dexter’s Laboratory.”

Khodabandeh said depicting the cars from the time period of the riot was his biggest challenge, as well as completing the illustrations within a year while having to teach and do other artwork. “I decided to go black and white,” Khodabandeh said. “I decided to go a lot more simple in the cartooning than I typically do. I usually do a lot more detail. The pages would have taken a lot more time.” The churches, coal cars and a shooting incident at the riot are all accurately depicted in the illustration and story, Khodabandeh said. “There’s a lot of key moments, but the timeline is very loose,” Khodabandeh said. “It’s definitely a dramatization, kind of Bill [Campbell] reimagining what it would be like for these immigrants to engage with one another.” Campbell said the project also aims to shift the lens of the immigrant experience and the dialogue around it. “It’s a matter of reimagining and just re-censoring what American history actually is because it’s a lot browner than we ever think of,” Campbell said. Katie Logan, a VCU assistant professor who studies graphic novels and social issues, previewed the novel’s pages and said it seeks to narrate history in a way that is accessible and eye-opening. “Immigrants have had to confront xenophobia in the United States,” Logan said. “A text like this is really forcing us to do a lot of mental work as we engage with it to make these connections for ourselves and then to decide how we’re going to act on them.” “The Day the Klan Came to Town” is slated to release in August, though a specific date has not been confirmed. It is available for preorder on the project’s Kickstarter website.


8 The Commonwealth Times

Richmond program helps formerly incarcerated individuals through transportation access GRACE MCOMBER Contributing Writer For more than 250 formerly incarcerated people, attending weekly bike classes with the Opportunity Alliance and Reentry Richmond Inc. represents a second chance at life. “I think that’s really important,” said Alex Slipow, coordinator of community engagement and volunteer services at OARRIC. “The bike is a representation of this second chance and reclaiming that, and whether it’s getting to employment or just going out and being a human and having access to things.” The Ride 2 Reentry program provides bicycles, helmets and weekly maintenance lessons to mitigate the transportation barriers often faced by formerly incarcerated people, Slipow said. The program aims to increase access to employment and social outings among its participants. Ride 2 Reentry initially began in 2016, but Slipow said bike donations and community engagement have increased following nationwide Black Lives Matter protests over the past summer. She said it’s been interesting to see the program expand and interact with different groups of people than before, such as the Richmond cycling community. “Following the murder of George Floyd, everyone’s been looking to engage in criminal justice reform in various ways,” Slipow said. “So people have been finding us and learning about Ride 2 Reentry.” Ride 2 Reentry is open to those who have been released from jail or prison within the past year. The participant’s bike, which is often their first possession following incarceration, helps reduce Richmond’s recidivism rate, or criminal re-offense, Slipow said. Slipow said the OARRIC conducted a study in 2018 on the effectiveness of the program and its impact on its clients. The study showed a direct correlation between

possession of a bicycle and an increase in access to social and recreational activities, according to Slipow. Virginia currently has the lowest recidivism rate in the country at 23.1%, according to a 2020 press release from the Virginia Department of Corrections. This has been attributed to evidence-based reentry programs and services by the VADOC. “In measuring recidivism, there’s risk factors that are involved and one of the risk factors is antisocial behavior,” Slipow said. “So that was a pretty cool outcome to see that there was a direct link to how recidivism is defined.”

said. “A lot of times, it’s an expired license, or not having a car or being incarcerated while your car is parked on the wrong side of the street and it gets towed. It tries to address some of these concerns.” The amount of people serviced by the program is determined by how many bikes and supplies O’Brien is able to distribute per week, he said. “We have a mixture of new bikes and used bikes that come into the program,” O’Brien said. “I then tune them up, fix them, basically bring them back up to a safe riding standard. And The bike is a then we hold class, which representation of is the best part of it.” this second chance The weekly c lasses, where O’Brien teaches up Ride 2 Reentry program coordinator Kyler O’Brien fixes up and reclaiming that, to three clients in accor- donated bikes for formerly incarcerated people. and whether it’s getting dance with COVID-19 Photo by Lily Doshi to employment or just social distancing guidelines, begin with traffic laws and lessons on “People are always pretty excited to be going out and being how to safely navigate Richmond’s streets donating towards that particular cause,” a human and having as a cyclist. After these classes, O’Brien Govoni said. “I think it’s something that access to things.” teaches the participants basic bicycle just resonates well with a lot of people in maintenance, which he said is crucial to our customer base that would rather doAlex Slipow, coordinator of the success of the program. nate it than just like sell it on Craigslist community engagement and “We want our participants to be self-sufor give it away.” volunteer services at OARRIC ficient,” O’Brien said. “If that means using Having access to reliable transportation their bike to get to work, we want them is an important aspect of the program, espeSlipow said the program’s operations are to show up on time and keep that job. If cially when it comes to getting to and from supported almost exclusively by commu- that means learning how to change a work in the city, Govoni said. nity donations, which can be made on the flat tire on the side of the road, we want “Richmond’s public transportation sysorganization’s website. Used bicycles and them to have that knowledge.” tem isn’t always the best it can be, and it can equipment can be donated at the organizaBraden Govoni, owner of Outpost be limiting as far as where it can potentialtion’s headquarters, or Ride 2 Reentry pro- Richmond, a small grocery and bicycle ly take people to where their job may be,” gram coordinator Kyler O’Brien can pick store that has partnered with the pro- Govoni said. “Having a bicycle to use solely them up from the donor. gram to provide cycling equipment and for transportation or in conjunction with “The program tries to address one of repairs, said that the program allows access to public transportation has been a the difficulties of just being an everyday for Richmond residents to easily give huge thing for so many people who have person, which is transportation,” O’Brien back to the community. come to the program.”

PARKER BARNES Contributing Writer

The tickets will be sold by pod, which come in capacities of two, four and eight. Masks will be In the absence of live music this required outside of pods and enpast year, a piece of Lucas Fritz, couraged within them, Lecky said. co-owner of local music venue The “The crowd that typically comes Broadberry, was missing. to Friday Cheers is a mindful, “It’s such a part of who I am thoughtful, hopefully considerate and what I’m passionate about,” crowd, and I hope it’ll remain that Fritz said. way,” Lecky said. Many concert venues were Further adaptations include forced to close last year due to the digital placement of food and COVID-19 pandemic, but with beverage orders. Patrons will renew safety precautions, some are ceive a text to alert them when now prepared to reopen. their order is ready to reduce wait Although The Broadberry retimes, Lecky said. mains closed, Fritz has begun Tim Miller, director of sales Illustration by Lauren Johnson promoting newly scheduled events and marketing for ASM Global through a concert-promoter partin Richmond, which managnership with The Trigger System, es the Altria Theater, said his named the Broadberry Entertainvenue has events scheduled ment Group. The group books next month with new precaulive music events at venues across tions, such as social distancing the Richmond area, such as The and limited seating, but said Broadberry, The Camel and Gallery5. masks for the entirety of the events. Guests return of “meaningful work” for him and his they may be delayed to this fall since This summer at Brown’s Island, pod will be required to wear masks outside of employees is something he is anticipating it’s an indoor venue. seating will be used at performances pods, and masks will be encouraged within in the upcoming months. Miller said operating expenses have by Grace Potter, Melvin Seals and JGB, pods. People should only leave pods when “I feel responsible for helping to provide prevented ASM’s ability to host shows at Fitz and The Tantrums, and St. Paul & using the bathroom, Fritz said. employment for them so they can, in turn, limited capacity this past year. The Broken Bones. This arrangement alFritz has coordinated drive-in shows and provide for themselves,” Fritz said. “From a business perspective, it won’t lows groups of audience members to buy other modalities over the past year to test Friday Cheers, an annual outdoor sum- make financial sense, unless we’re at full their tickets together and sit in the same the waters for this summer’s lineup, he said. mer concert series, will also return this sum- capacity,” Miller said. area, separated by a distance of six feet or “It’s kind of everything we’ve been doing mer at Brown’s Island, said Stephen Lecky, Despite this, Miller said he is hopemore from other pods. for the last year, but just all at once,” Fritz said. director of events for Venture Richmond. ful about the return of live shows as To safely coordinate these events, Fritz Fritz said the toughest part of navigatThis edition marks Friday Cheers’ 36th soon as possible. said the staff has undergone training on ing this pandemic was the reduced em- year and features local names, such as Pira“I think it’s just seeing the building come cleaning procedures and will be wearing ployment opportunities at his venue. The nha Rama, No BS! Brass Band and Leon III. back to life,” Miller said.

Live music returns to Richmond after year of pandemic cancellations


Wed. April 28, 2021 9

EDITOR'S LIST OF FILMS TO WATCH “Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat” (2017)

Never-before-seen art, writing and photographs help paint the life of Jean-Michel Basquiat, an influential neo-expressionist painter during the ’70s and ’80s. His signature scribbles and elusive symbols were a product of his upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, and the documentary further explains the city’s youth culture to contextualize Basquiat’s artistic vision.

VCU alumna Celeste Taica, who plays Lupita in “El Eterno Femenino,” shares a quiet moment with a maid, played by Milena Gutierrez, in a scene from the last act of the play. Photo by Liza Hazelwood

‘EL ETERNO FEMENINO’ evokes satirical message on feminine stereotypes

CLAIRE DARCY Contributing Writer

the 20th century. Luci Harris, a senior student who applied for the grant, said the play still has social relevance. “This play was written in the 1970s but I feel like a lot of the themes still carry over to today and the issues we’re still dealing with,” Harris said. Harris, an international studies and Spanish double major, said she came across the play while trying to find a piece that combines theater, politics and feminism. “I like to do a lot of research about the intersection of politics and theater in Latin America and the impact that theater can have on politics and spreading a political message,” Harris said. Harris said the grant application encouraged interdisciplinary arts projects. In addition to theatre, the play contains elements of Spanish, international studies and gender studies. To apply for the grant, Harris said she and her team had to outline a plan, which included a detailed budget, an explanation of the significance of the project, who would benefit from it and the COVID-19 precautions they would implement. The $3,000 grant was used to fund components of the play, such as props and costumes. It was also used to rent the space at Firehouse Theatre, where the play was filmed. The play is available to stream

online on weekends from April 23 to May 2. Tickets are sold on the project’s website. “Even though it may have been an option to have a couple people come to the theater, we felt that filming it would make it so that more people could see it and it was just so much safer,” Harris said. Taica said this was the first production she worked on since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was very important for me that this play especially reached an audience of women of color … but unfortunately not that many people were able to audition,” Taica said. “Once that was clarified, I was able to feel more comfortable stepping into the role.” “El Eterno Femenino” contains universal themes that resonate with effeminate individuals, Taica said. It tackles the notion of the “perfect woman” through exploration of concepts such as virginity and what it means to be a good wife and mother. “There are all these societal ideals placed onto women that they have to be pious but still appealing to the eye,” Taica said. “They have to be smart, but not too smart; they have to love having children, but motherhood will destroy you.” While “El Eterno Femenino” was written in Spanish, this adaptation was primarily performed in English. The second scene, a dialogue between Lupita and her husband Juan, remained in Spanish. The high-energy scene occurs during the night after their wedding, in which Juan, played by senior theater performance major Will Cardozo, details Lupita’s duties as a wife. When Juan asks Lupita if this is her “first time,” she breaks the fourth wall, speaking to the audience to proclaim in outrage that all men ask the same questions before resuming a more calm, collected persona to address her husband. “This play hosts universal themes for every effeminate person,” Taica said. “It’s just important to see something like this and to understand that these experiences are not exclusive, and you are not alone.”

AS THE CURTAIN OF A THEATER RISES, a fast-talking salesman attempts to sell the owner of a beauty salon a way to make her hair dryers more efficient — by preventing her female clientele from exercising thought. “El Eterno Femenino,” which translates to “The Eternal Feminine,” is a filmed play that dissects stereotypes of feminine social behavior. The production, which was produced under the 2020-21 VCUarts Undergraduate Research Grant, involves 22 VCU students and graduates, including a seven-person cast. “This play is essentially about being a fem being in the world and how, essentially, effeminate people are perceived by the patriarchy, society, everything,” said VCU theater performance alumna Celeste Taica. “It’s all of these experiences bottled up into one thing.” Directed by VCU alum Drewe Goldstein, “El Eterno Femenino” tells the story of the soon-to-be-wed Lupita, played by Taica, as she visits a beauty salon on her wedding day. The trip to the salon prompts a series of dreams of what her future holds while she sits under the hair dryer. “‘El Eterno Femenino’ is a dream play that explores femininity in a truly abstract way,” Goldstein said. “It demands that we look at femininity and fem bodies through hyper-abstract situations to really understand at our core what those realistic situations look like.” To spark conversation on the themes, the play employs farce comedy, often painting scenarios as absurd and dramatic. Goldstein said they chose to direct the play in a comedic fashion to make the content more palatable. “In laughing at these really realistic, terrible situations, we are able to allow the audience to consume it and allow them to think about it further,” Goldstein said. The three-act play was originally written in 1975 “El Eterno Femenino” will be by Mexican poet and author Top: Celeste Taica poses for promotional photos for “El Eterno Femenino.” available for streaming at Rosario Castellanos, a sig- Bottom: Cast members Calie Bain, Lina Romero, Avery Michael Johnson select times through May 2. nificant figure in Mexican and Andrés Fontán perform the climactic moment of the second act. Tickets are available on the feminist literature during Photos by Liza Hazelwood project’s website.

Available on Hulu | 88% Rotten Tomatoes

“Palm Springs” (2020)

In this science fiction romantic comedy, Adam Samberg and Cristin Milioti play two strangers — Nyles and Sarah — who meet at a wedding in Palm Springs, Florida and become stuck in a time loop. Every day, they wake up in the same location, and it is still Nov. 9. While they are forced to endure this mind-boggling journey together, Nyles and Sarah develop romantic feelings. The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy at the 2021 Golden Globe Awards. Available on Hulu | 95% Rotten Tomatoes

“Gemini” (2017)

Starring Lola Kirke and Zoë Kravitz, this thriller follows the aftermath of the murder of a Hollywood actress. Kirke, who plays the friend and personal assistant blamed for the killing, must unravel the mystery to prove her innocence.

Available on Hulu | 72% Rotten Tomatoes

“The Cleanse” (2016)

After losing his job and fiancée, Paul Berger, played by Johnny Galecki, is depressed and lonely. He enrolls in a self-help program and attends a “purification retreat,” where he is instructed to drink a cleansing formula to rid his life of negativity. Rather than extracting toxins, his body vomits a foreign creature, and he is left to figure out what it is and what it means.

Available on Hulu | 83% Rotten Tomatoes

“His House” (2020)

In his debut feature film, director Remi Weekes paints a chilling picture of the Sudanese refugee experience. Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku play a South Sudanese couple seeking refuge from their war-torn home. After coming to the United States for solace, they have a hard time adjusting as their new residence is haunted by ghosts.

Available on Netflix | 100% Rotten Tomatoes

“Uncut Gems” (2019)

In this crime drama, Adam Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a New York City jeweler whose gambling addiction has left him in immense debt. As he faces angry debt collectors, the jeweler embarks on a mission to find a rare uncut rock of Ethiopian gems, but his high-stakes bets don’t come without consequences. Sandler was praised for his performance, with many film critics citing “Uncut Gems” as his career-best.

Available on Netflix | 91% Rotten Tomatoes

Have suggestions for our watchlist? Email spectrum@ commonwealthtimes.org


10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” — Harriet Tubman

As the seasons change, so does our mental health MONICA ALARCON-NAJARRO Contributing Writer

Being stuck in a room all day, staring at a screen doing schoolwork can be stressful and detrimental Unlike other universito students’ mental health. ties, VCU announced Not only has this caused that there would be no me to be burned out, but it spring break for students has also made me extremethis semester on Oct. 15. ly unmotivated to continue Now, students are battling doing schoolwork. both being in a pandemic Mar y Barazanchi, a and mental burnout from sophomore majoring in having only two reading health and physical exercise days this semester that sciences, said she has gotten most used to catch up more anxious by not being on schoolwork. around people as much due Finals are coming up, to the pandemic. and the burnout is real. “Just being in a room Finding time to not only with people makes me less finish my last projects but anxious because I get comalso make sure that the fort by getting to know Illustration by Marisa Stratton quality of my work stays other peers or having study up has been difficult to deal with when class online. I am not looking forward to Services and The Well. University Coun- groups,” Barazanchi said in an email. “With my brain has gotten zero breaks other than going to classes like I once was. seling Services provides group counseling the semester being online I have to put more on the weekends. However, Elias has found the University and one-on-one counseling to help relieve effort to talk to people or place myself in safe James Elias, a sophomore studying Counseling Services as a way to cope with mental stress from school. social situations or using technology more to mass communications, is taking 18 cred- stress from school. The Well offers similar counseling ser- talk to people.” its this semester and is looking forward to “It’s tough to find ways to destress from vices through virtual events, such as guidIt’s no shock that students, like Barazthe spring semester ending. He said he is school because there are a lot of things I ed meditation sessions at 2:30 p.m. every anchi, are feeling anxious being alone when “extremely burnt out” in an email. am either unwilling or unable to do because Wednesday and Thursday at noon. there’s a campus filled with lively students. “I lost motivation sometime around of the ongoing pandemic,” Elias said. “But As I’ve stayed cooped up in my room, Among the student body, the fear of missfall semester, to be honest,” Elias said. “I I’ve been going to counseling through UCS, counting the weeks left until the se- ing out is definitely present. thought I would be able to adapt to the and I feel like that’s helped at least a little.” mester is finally over, I hope that VCU The lack of a spring break and the final online learning environment, but I find As Elias said, it’s a lot harder now to learned that a spring break is an essential weeks of the spring semester creeping up on it extremely challenging to stay engaged find different ways to de-stress. The pan- mental break for students. This mistake students has caused a lack of willpower for with most, if not all, of my classes.” demic has limited students socially. should be one that we learn from, even students to finish off strong. Instead, we are Similar to Elias, I have found myself VCU offers mental health resources for if it took a toll on the mental health of inching bit by bit and crawling toward the getting distracted easily while attending students through the University Counseling students this year. finish line, barely making it.

Tea Time with Tagwa

ACCOUNTABILITY IS NOT JUSTICE. IT IS A REQUIREMENT TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

Tea timers, can you tell the difference between bright yellow and black in color? The difference between 34 ounces and eight ounces? If you answered yes, congratulations — you are more intelligent and aware than yet another Minnesota police officer. A Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer shot and murdered Daunte Wright, another unarmed Black man, on April 11, just 10 miles outside of the courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the Derek Chauvin murder trial was being held. This shows that nothing has changed, despite a guilty verdict in the matter of George Floyd’s murder. Officers pulled over Wright during a routine traffic stop, but nothing about this stop ended how it should have. Wright was only 20 years old. He was a father to a little boy. Now, he is just another statistic to prove that police brutality is an epidemic in this nation’s Black community. A disease that seems incurable. While this nation turns a blind eye to police brutality, while they continue to dismiss the Black community’s cry for help — more and more Black people end up dead. At the hands of this nation’s greatest protectors. Part of me wants to say that this stop was not normal policing, how officers

aren’t trained to turn basic traffic violations into fatalities. Yet, I can’t help but think this was a perfectly executed routine stop. I mean, it’s becoming more and more clear that part of police procedure is killing innocent, unarmed Black people in the streets. I think a lot about how privileged, white people are probably tired of hearing about police brutality on the news or reading my articles — that almost feel weekly at this point. And I have to ask them: Don’t you think we’re tired, too? I am tapped out. I am fatigued of having to share with the world how innocent Black people are dying relentlessly. I am sick of comparing these dead Black people to what could’ve been my father, my brother, my sister — or even me. Wright’s son will always have to live in fear of the same police who took his father from him. He has lost the opportunity to grow up with his father and it is all thanks to a group of heavily armed forces that can’t tell the difference between a taser and a gun. In the graphic video detailing Wright’s last few minutes alive, the officer pulls out her gun and shoots Wright twice. Seconds later, she turns to her fellow officers and states that she mistook her gun for her taser. Now, can we all agree that an officer who can’t tell the difference between a taser and a gun shouldn’t be carrying a gun in the first place? It just sounds like an excuse meant to cover the officer’s behind when

footage of her murdering a Black man is later released. The former officer, Kim Potter, resigned and was charged with second-degree manslaughter in the shooting of Wright. I want to cheer for the swift accountability that occurred — but I can’t. Because nothing has changed — nothing will change. Chauvin received a guilty verdict on April 20 and was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. His conviction seemed to spark joy and a sense of justice. Then, we heard about Ma’Khia Bryant. Bryant was a 16-yearold Black girl who was shot by Columbus, Ohio, police officers on April 20. Not an hour had even passed since the Chauvin verdict was made and the police were out shooting Black people, yet again. This time, a child. Chauvin’s trial was not justice, it was accountability. Only 121 officers have been arrested on charges relating to on-duty shootings since 2005, according to Philip M. Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University. Yet, only 95 cases were concluded and of those, only 44 were actually convicted. Holding police officers to the same rule of law that the rest of the American population must adhere to is not justice — it

is necessary. We are not going to praise the system for actually holding guilty officers accountable. We watched George Floyd’s murder. We watch Bryant’s murder. We watch Wright’s murder. Why would we rejoice now that their killers have been asked to answer for their actions? Not knowing a gun from a taser does not serve as a reasonable excuse to get away with killing an innocent man. It does, however, highlight how gravely under-trained and useless police forces around the nation are. And that’s the tea.

Illustration by Karly Andersen


Wed. April 28, 2021 11

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12 The Commonwealth Times

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60 Appliance found in

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Contact Dominique Lee @ leeds3@vcu.edu

1 Get gray, say DIRECTOR’S CUT61 Provence? Survivalist Stroud 8 Iraq port city

L o s A n g e l e s Ti m e s Sunday Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

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Sudoku

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By The Mepham Group

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Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) containsSolution to Monday’s puzzle every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

4/28/21

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Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, please visit sudoku.org.uk

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