The Commonwealth Times; Nov. 4, 2020 by VCU Student Media Center

COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG @theCT

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

VOL. 62, NO. 11 NOVEMBER 4, 2020

‘EVERY VOTE COUNTS’ Protesters march in Richmond, Trump declares early victory as election results remain unclear

KATHARINE DEROSA Staff Writer

Electoral College votes in the presidential race*

JACKSON REBRACA Contributing Writer

Ore. 7

Idaho 4

Nev. 6

Utah 6

Ariz. 11

Maine 2

N.D. 3

Wyo. 3

Minn. 10

S.D. 3

Iowa 6

Neb. 2 Colo. 9

Kan. 6 Okla. 7

N.M. 5

Wis. 10

Tex. 38

Mo. 10

Mich. 16 Ind. 11

Ohio 18 Ky.

Tenn. 11

Ark. 6 La. 8

Alaska 3

Ill. 20

Miss. 6

N.Y. 29

Ala. 9

Pa. 20 W. Va. 5

Ga. 16

Va. 13

N.C. 15 S.C. 9

3 D.C. 3 Del. 11 Mass. 10 Md.

Fla. 29 Hawaii 4

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Mont. 3

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“We will win this, and as far as I’m concerned, we already have won it,” President Donald Trump said early Wednesday morning as several key battleground states lacked a clear winner and Democrat nominee Joe Biden sat ahead by eleven electoral college votes. As election night ended without a clear indication of who would fill the Oval Office, demonstrators marched through Richmond in opposition to Trump’s leadership. Some carried political signs, while others checked their phones for the latest vote count in a race that will define the country’s next four years. “A lot of people are afraid of the backlash from the far-right and Trump supporters,” said Katy Russel, a first-year dance and political science major at VCU. “I was expecting to see a caravan.” A “Trump train,” consisting of several pickup trucks and cars, traveled through downtown Richmond on Tuesday night, passing the Robert E. Lee monument and areas near VCU’s Monroe Park and MCV campuses. As anti-Trump protesters followed, one in the crowd carried a Biden/Harris poster while others wrote more vulgar attacks against Trump on handmade signs.

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*Results as of 5 a.m. Wednesday

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: According to a survey by CNN, Edison Research and Catalist, more than 100 million Americans voted before the polls opened on Election Day. international: At least four are dead and 22 are injured after a shooting in Vienna, Austria on Monday.

Students head to polls with COVID-19, equity in mind

From top-left, clockwise: Goad Gatsby, David Schafer, Nyia Chusan, Anh Hoang, Alexsis Rodgers, Myles Baldwin, Neya Singh, Roscoe Adams, Patrick Gadams, Zachary Deuell Photos by Enza Marcy KATHARINE DEROSA Staff Writer “EVERY VOTE COUNTS.” Junior mass communications major Selena Shaw echoed the popular sentiment when asked why she decided to vote. Amid what has been called the most important election in our nation’s history, voting has been encouraged by VCU and nearly every public organization. Shaw and her roommate, junior homeland security and criminal justice major Kaylee Penn, voted at the University Student Commons on Tuesday morning. The pair said they cast ballots in support of Democrat nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden. Shaw and Penn said in their opinion, the last presidential election didn’t have a favorable outcome, and the two wanted to use their vote to elect a new president. “He speaks a lot out of instinct without actually thinking before he talks,” Penn said of President Donald Trump, who is running for re-election. This year’s November general election included a variety of races. Virginians cast their votes for president, one U.S. Senate seat, and all of the commonwealth’s 11 U.S. representatives. Locally, U.S. House seats in Virginia’s 4th and 7th districts were up for grabs. Richmonders voted on four-year terms for mayor, city council and school board representatives in the city’s nine districts.

Students at VCU voiced concerns about racial equality, increasing student debt and health care. COVID-19 caused early widespread voting with more than 2.7 million Virginians voting early, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. In the 2016 presidential election, about 560,000 people voted absentee. Zachary Deuell, VCU medical student and president of student organization Medicine with Pride, said he’s been in Richmond the past 10 years. Deuell said he and his partner are focused on LGBTQ rights this election cycle. “Pretty much everything Trump stands for is not something I can vote for or identify with,” Deuell said. Deuell said while Biden is a great candidate, he is more excited by having Sen. Kamala Harris on the ballot. “I’m hoping that this is a stepping stone for her in the future,” Deuell said. In terms of local elections, Deuell said he felt conflicted. Deuell said he voted for VCU alumna Alexsis Rodgers because Mayor Levar Stoney has not “held up his promises to the Richmond community.” As of seven days before the election, more than 281,000 early votes were cast by Virginians under the age 30, according to a study by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. In the 2016 general election, around 629,000 total votes were cast by the same age group.

VCU Votes, a group of university students and staff, created a voting information landing page that included a calendar of school events, important deadlines, polling locations and transportation options. The organization coordinates voter-engagement events to increase civic engagement among students. Junior history major David Schafer is a member of College Republicans at VCU. He voted early by mail and was spending the day canvassing for Leon Benjamin Sr., the Republican candidate for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District. Schafer said he is drawn to Benjamin because he supports the Second Amendment and is a pastor. He said it feels good to be a part of College Republicans and “go against the grain.” “I love America, and I feel like there’s a hostile rhetoric against it right now,” Schafer said. “I’m just doing everything I can to show my support.” Sophomore biology major Ross Adams was canvassing for his former UNIV 111 and 112 professor Stephanie Rizzi, who is running for the Richmond’s 5th District school board seat. Adams voted absentee and said he is not normally involved in politics, but was eager to support Rizzi. “She’s compassionate,” Adams said. “She really believes in communication between teachers, students and parents.” Adams said he would like to see COVID-19 handled in a way that allows

students to safely return to in-person classes. Junior and senior music performance majors Myles Baldwin and Patrick Gadams both said they voted early to avoid crowds at polls. Gadams voted at Richmond City Hall, and Baldwin voted at home in the Hampton area. Polling places on Tuesday in the downtown Richmond area included the University Student Commons, the Institute for Contemporary Art, Randolph Community Center and other buildings that allowed for social distancing. Gadams said they’re passionate about climate, health care and racial justice in the election. “I feel that in a developed society like ours, it makes no sense why healthcare shouldn’t be a guaranteed right to all people,” Gadams said. Baldwin said he was primarily concerned with protection of marginalized communities. Biden wasn’t Baldwin’s first choice of presidential candidate, but Baldwin still supports him over Trump. “I feel like this current administration has very clearly shown that they don’t care when it comes to protecting the rights of those who don’t align with their own identities,” Baldwin said. Gadams, who is registered in Richmond, said they’re hopeful Rodgers will win the mayoral race. “I think that she actually will listen to all of the people in Richmond,” Gadams said.

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Stoney leads mayoral race following first-day election results

News Editor Eduardo Acevedo, Contributing Writer Sagal Ahmed and Staff Writer Katharine DeRosa contributed to this report. Results are as of 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday. Election updates and results will be posted on commonwealthtimes.org.

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Mayor Levar Stoney led the Richmond mayoral race Wednesday morning with more than a third of counted votes. A city councilwoman and VCU alumna both trailed the incumbent by less than 10 percentage points. Some absentee ballots had not been counted by the end of election night. As of early Wednesday morning, according to the Virginia Department of Elections, Stoney led the race with 37.12% of votes. VCU alumna Alexsis Rodgers and 2nd District Councilwoman Kim Gray followed with 26.86% and 26.24%, respectively. Winning the mayoral position requires a candidate to receive a majority of votes in five out of the nine city council districts. “Everyone take a deep breath - Richmond’s Election Officials are working hard to ensure every vote counts in this critical election,” Rodgers wrote in a tweet. “We still have 70K early votes outstanding and multiple districts in play.” The candidates’ platforms have focused on Richmond’s COVID-19 response, Black Lives Matter protests, police reform and funding for Richmond Public Schools. Stoney campaigned for his second term, while the other four candidates sought first bids for city leader. Stoney announced his reelection campaign on Sept. 1, referencing his experience as mayor as a reason to vote for him. “To tackle these challenges facing our city, we need a leader who has the experience and partnerships to get the job done,” Stoney said when kicking off his campaign. “I am the only candidate in this race who can accomplish that mission.” Richmond has reported 5,521 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Of the 78 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the city, 53% were Black people, compared to 27% statewide. In an interview with ABC 8 News, Stoney said he would continue to work with health officials to increase testing and tracing of COVID-19 infections. Candidates have differing opinions on the response to civil unrest that occurred over the summer. Protests

erupted in Richmond and other cities in May after George Floyd, a Black man, died in Minneapolis police custody with a knee on his neck. Richmond and Virginia State Police officers deployed chemical agents, flashbangs and rubber bullets against protesters on several occasions throughout the protests. During a peaceful June 1 demonstration, Richmond police deployed tear gas on people gathered at the Robert E. Lee monument. Stoney publicly apologized for the incident, and former Police Chief William Smith resigned at Stoney’s request. Rodgers believes in reducing the responsibilities of officers and supports an independent civilian board with subpoena power. The VCU alumna advocated for the collection and reporting of demographic information for all arrests, stops, charges and use of force during protests. Gray called Black Lives Matter protesters “terrorists” for being “armed and often threatening” in Jackson Ward, the area she represents in city council, according to the Richmond Free Press. As mayor, Gray wants to help better the education system by developing a regional approach for students with disabilities, creating a secure budget and fixing unsafe school buildings. According to her campaign website, Rodgers would replace school resource officers with social workers, nurses and other health professionals to help disruptive students, largely because suspension and expulsion heavily impact Black and Brown students. During his term, Stoney approved funding for three new public schools serving Black communities in the Southside and East End. As of Wednesday morning, lawyer Justin Griffin won 7.32% of the vote, Michael Gilbert — who dropped out of the race in September — received 1.32%, and author Tracey McLean received .97%.

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Richmond City Council Districts

Graduate Programs + Undergraduate Certificates

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Va'.s Richmond-area Congressional Districts

Counted absentee votes

*DISTRICT

4: 80%

7: 85%

Virginia's 4th Congressional District

*60.69%

Richmond

DONALD MCEACHIN (D)

11 8

LEON BENJAMIN (R) *39.19%

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Virginia's 7th Congressional District

ABIGAIL SPANBERGER (D)

*49.89%

NICK FREITAS (R)

*49.95%

Tuesday night results show close 7th District race, possible incumbent return in 4th

Infographics by Andy Caress

ANYA SCZERZENIE Staff Writer

Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia State Senate. He is the husband of Commonwealth Attorney Colette McEachin. The couple lives in Richmond and have three grown children. Benjamin is an evangelical Christian, a pastor at the New Life Harvest Church in Southside and the chairman of Richmond’s Republican party. He is a conservative who supports the Second Amendment and an alternative to the Affordable Care Act. In October, the candidates spoke to the Virginian-Pilot about how they would respond to the coronavirus in the district if elected. “We need to extend unemployment, provide additional loans for small businesses so they can pay employees,” McEachin said. “We need to suspend evictions, we need to provide access to quality health care and we need to provide adequate essentials such as food for those who are struggling.” Benjamin called on Congress to make a second round of stimulus checks and allocate additional funds for a federal paycheck protection program. “Congress must continue their mission to protect employment and American businesses,” Benjamin said. The 4th Congressional District contains the City of Richmond, areas south of the city, and the Hampton Roads area. The 3rd and 4th districts were redrawn in 2016 after the previous map was deemed unconstitutional. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, the 4th District shifted toward Democrats by 24 percentage points after being redrawn. The district is 51% white, 43% Black, 2% Asian and 4% other races, according to VPAP. It was 62% white before redistricting took place.

Incumbent Rep. Donald McEachin was ahead of his Republican challenger on Tuesday night in Virginia’s 4th Congressional District, although absentee ballots and several precincts have yet to be counted. The district is considered “safely Democratic,” according to Ballotpedia. If McEachin wins, he would serve his third term in the House. His challenger, Leon Benjamin, would be serving his first congressional term if he wins. As of Tuesday night, according to the elections department, McEachin had a lead of 60.69% over Benjamin’s 39.19%. Four precincts out of 270 have yet to be counted as of Tuesday night, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. The elections department stated Tuesday that results will continue to be counted through Friday afternoon and possibly throughout the weekend. Localities will certify their results Nov. 10. McEachin was expected to keep his seat in what is considered a “solid Democratic” district by the Cook Political Report. He won the 2018 election with 62.6% of the vote and the 2016 election with 57.7%. The last time 4th District constituents elected a Republican congressman was in 2014, when former Rep. Randy Forbes was reelected. As of Nov. 3, McEachin’s campaign raised about $890,000. His opponent raised around $445,000. Neither candidate in District 4 has spent much money on political advertisements. During his first term in Congress, McEachin was one of many representatives who voted to impeach President Donald Trump. He supports expanding the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and COVID-19 relief funds, according to his website. McEachin served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Natural Resources. Results for this race are as of 4:14 a.m. on Before being elected to the House of Wednesday. Election updates and results Representatives, McEachin served in the will be posted on commonwealthtimes.org.

ANYA SCZERZENIE Staff Writer

elected to the House of Delegates in 2016. Freitas’ campaign experienced an early challenge over the summer when he was almost barred from running in the Republican primary after submitting paperwork late. However, after winning 57% of the vote in the primary as a write-in candidate, he was allowed to be on the November ballot. In an interview with CBS 19 in Culpeper, Freitas said the main issue facing his district is the coronavirus. He said he wants to prioritize healthcare for at-risk communities and help small businesses survive the crisis by not imposing additional taxes or regulations. He also said he was against defunding the police. The 7th District includes rural and suburban Central Virginian counties, located west of Richmond. Republicans held the district for more than 40 years before Spanberger was elected in 2018, defeating former Rep. Dave Brat, who held the seat from 2014-19. Spanberger, who grew up in Henrico County, is considered a moderate Democrat. She focuses on bipartisanship and voted against the Democrat-backed HEROES Act, a coronavirus relief package, because she found it too partisan. “My focus remains on working with Democrats and Republicans to get relief to my district immediately, and partisan gamesmanship will not do it,” said Spanberger in an Oct. 1st press release. “Just as I opposed the first Heroes Act, I will respectfully vote against this package.” Spanberger aims to help families in Central Virginia by lowering prescription drug prices and increasing broadband internet access. Her website also says that she is concerned about national security, citing her experience in the CIA.

With absentee ballots missing from the total count, Democrat incumbent Sen. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Del. Nick Freitas are neck-and-neck in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. The race between Freitas and Spanberger was projected to be close on Nov. 2 by Politico’s 2020 election forecast, which called the decision a “toss-up.” As of Tuesday night, according to the Virginia Department of Elections, Freitas held 49.95% of votes just over Spanberger’s 49.89% with 228 precincts of 232 reporting. The elections department stated Tuesday that results will continue to be counted through Friday afternoon and possibly throughout the weekend. Localities will certify their results Nov. 10. “We still got a ways to go,” Freitas said to supporters at an election night watch party. “However, as of right now, we’re 20 points up. So, bottom line, I don’t want to trade places with Congresswoman Spanberger at this point — at least, not in vote totals.” FiveThirtyEight, a poll analysis site, predicted on Nov. 3 that there is a 79% chance of Spanberger winning reelection and a 21% chance that Freitas will win. The site also predicted that Spanberger would win 53% of the total vote, while Nick Freitas would win 46%. “As we continue to monitor the results and wait for every vote to be counted, I want to take a moment to thank all of you for your tremendous support!” Spanberger wrote in a tweet. Freitas is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates’ 30th District representing Culpeper. He has been described as having “a conservative voting record and lib- Results for this race are as of 4:13 a.m. on ertarian streak” by U.S. News & World Re- Wednesday. Election updates and results port, and is a strong supporter of the Second will be posted on commonwealth times.org. Amendment. A U.S. Army veteran, Freitas worked in defense contracting until he was *Results as of 5 a.m. Wednesday

Wed. November 4, 2020 5 PROTEST

Protesters march in Richmond, Trump declares early victory as election results remain unclear Continued from front page Final presidential election results are expected to be reported no earlier than Friday. As of early Wednesday, according to The Washington Post, Biden secured 224 electoral college votes over Trump’s 213. Neither candidate reached the 270-vote benchmark required for election. The Virginia Department of Election stopped counting votes at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, and early votes in many states have not been counted as of early Wednesday. The elections department stated Tuesday that results will be counted through Friday and possibly throughout the weekend. Localities will certify their results Nov. 10. Trump said he is going to order the Supreme Courts to stop counting votes. Legal experts on ABC News said there

is no legal basis for telling the courts to stop counting votes. At Richmond City Hall, activists said ending police brutality and holding police accountable would require a Biden presidency. Early Wednesday morning, Biden spoke to the country during a livestream from Wilmington, Delaware. “We knew this was going to be long,” Biden said. Trump addressed the country from the White House around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Trump said he and his family were getting ready to celebrate. He declared victory in a number of states, including Georgia and Pennsylvania, which hadn’t been called by the time of his speech. “We didn’t win it. We won it by a lot.” Trump said of Florida, which secured 29

U.S. Senate: Virginia

*55.63%

MARK WARNER (D)

DANIEL GADE (R)

*44.27%

Infographic by Andy Caress

Warner inches ahead in tentative election results JACKSON REBRACA Contributing Writer

victory over Republican opponent Ed Gillespie, where Warner won by only 0.8%. “There’s nothing in my outer imagiAfter polls projected incumbent Sen. nation that makes me think Warner can Mark Warner to win the Virginia seat by lose this race,” said Quentin Kidd, pomore than 10 percentage points, election litical science professor at Christopher night ended Tuesday with the Democrat Newport University. only a few points ahead of Republican As of early Wednesday morning, accordchallenger Daniel Gade. ing to the Virginia Department of Elections, Warner held a comfortable lead during Warner held a lead of 55.63% over Gade’s most of his reelection campaign, leading in 44.27% with 2,579 precincts of 2,585 repolls by no less than 13 points since Au- porting. Tentative results include votes that gust, according to RealClearPolitics. This were cast on Election Day and do not inwas in stark contrast to the senator’s 2014 clude all absentee ballots.

electoral votes for the incumbent, according to The Washington Post. Richmond resident Kaitlynn Herrington, who plans on attending VCU next year, voted at the University Student Commons. She said people who don’t vote don’t have the privilege to complain about issues. “The mentality of that ‘not every vote matters’ is what’s causing such a big issue.” Herrington said. “If all of us vote for Biden, but then Trump wins, we obviously know something’s wrong.” Herrington said she is ready to “settle for Biden.” She said the U.S. deserves better than the former vice president but that she’s excited to see Trump potentially leave office. Biden served 36 years as a U.S. Senator representing Delaware before joining the 2008 ticket of former President Barack Obama. Trump won the electoral college but not the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election. During his term, the Trump administration rolled back environmental regulations and repealed the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which required Americans to have health insurance or bear a fine. Trump was impeached during the third year of his presidency for abuse of power

and obstruction of Congress. The trial largely concerned Trump’s threat to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigated the Biden family. Biden has said that as president, he would implement plans to fight COVID-19. His website includes specific tactics, such as doubling the number of drive-up testing sites, encouraging Congress to pass an emergency package for public schools and small businesses, reconnecting with the World Health Organization and creating a mandatory mask mandate. Biden has plans to expand the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as “Obamacare.” Biden has stated that he will not ban the process of extracting oil and natural gas through drilling into the earth with high pressure mixtures known as fracking, but supports the Green New Deal, which is meant to strengthen the economy and the environment.

Representatives from the elections department said during a Tuesday press conference that results will continue to be counted through Friday afternoon and possibly throughout the weekend. Localities will certify their results Nov. 10. Warner graduated from Harvard Law School in 1980 and worked in telecommunications venture capital. Warner has served as a senator since 2009 after serving as Virginia’s governor from 2002-06. The Democrat serves on multiple committees, most notably as vice chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, which worked with Robert Mueller in finding evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Gade served in the U.S. Army and holds a doctorate in public administration and policy from the University of Georgia. He served in George W. Bush’s administration and was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve on the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, though Gade rejected the nomination. While running as a Republican, Gade broke from some established GOP talking points. He criticized Trump’s unwillingness to condemn white supremacists and supports ending qualified immunity for police officers. Qualified immunity protects government officials from being held personally responsible for violating constitutional freedoms so long as no “clearly established” law is broken, according to Cornell Law School. It has come under fire in the wake of protests against police brutality, as

activists argue that police operate with too much impunity. As with every other political race this year, the coronavirus was at the forefront of the U.S. Senate race. In the third debate between Warner and Gade, Gade praised the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic, while Warner criticized the president’s response as inadequate, referencing a lack of national testing plans and other issues. Gade criticized Warner for voting against a Republican-backed COVID-19 relief bill, one which was widely opposed by Democrats for not providing enough help to unemployed citizens. In the final debate of the race, Warner accused Gade of wanting to repeal the Affordable Care Act and end protections for people with preexisting conditions. Gade, who lost a leg in a Humvee explosion while serving in Iraq, denied the allegation. “I have a pre-existing condition myself because I got my leg blown off in Iraq,” Gade said. Warner ’s campaign raised a total of $16,766,370, while Gade’s raised $4,016,205, according to the Federal Election Commission. The largest contribution to Warner’s campaign was $214,015 from the Warner Victory Fund. The largest contribution Gade received was from the Gade Victory Committee for $5,375.

Results for this race are as of 3:21 a.m. on Wednesday. Election updates and results will be posted on commonwealthtimes.org.

Results for this race are as of 4:19 a.m. on Wednesday. Election updates and results will be posted on commonwealthtimes.org.

‘Yes’ votes lead for proposed Va. constitutional amendments EDUARDO ACEVEDO News Editor A majority of Virginians voted in favor of two constitutional amendments that would change the commonwealth’s redistricting process and veterans’ tax exemption status, according to unfinalized results from the state department of elections. Amendment 1 would change the process for redistricting, which occurs every 10 years based on the census. The Virginia General Assembly currently draws the state and congressional lines, largely approved by the political party in power. This year, Democrats hold the state house, senate and governorship. As of early Wednesday morning, more than 67% of ballots checked “yes” for the

Republican-backed Amendment 1, according to the Virginia Department of Elections. Results do not include all absentee ballots. Localities will certify results Nov. 10. The amendment would give redistricting power to a bipartisan commission of eight legislators and eight citizens, evenly drawn from both parties. Voting “no” would keep redistricting powers solely within the General Assembly. Supporters of Amendment 1 believe that it will combat gerrymandering and make the redistricting process more fair. Opponents believe the amendment is unnecessary and would increase gerrymandering by putting redistricting powers into the hands of fewer people. Amendment 2 would make one automobile or pick-up truck owned by or used

primarily for a veteran with a service-connected, permanent and total disability exempt from local and state taxes. If passed, the amendment would only allow the veteran to exempt one vehicle from their taxes. As of early Wednesday, 86.16% of counted votes were in favor of the measure. Virginia’s state constitution generally calls for all property to be taxed, but this amendment would exclusively benefit disabled veterans. Results for this race are as of 12:31 p.m. on Wednesday. Election updates and results will be posted on commonwealth times.org.

Illustration by Gabrielle Wood and Andy Caress

*Results as of 5 a.m. Wednesday

6 The Commonwealth Times

Stat of the week

Former VCU basketball standout Mo Alie-Cox logged three catches for 37 yards for the Indianapolis Colts against the Detroit Lions on Nov. 1.

Senior forward Sydnei Archie dribbles against Richmond during the 2019-20 season. CT file photo

‘Leading by example’: Women’s basketball upperclassmen hype roster newcomers

JOE DODSON Contributing Writer

Redshirt-junior forward Madison Hattix-Covington returned to her hometown in Texas after last season’s end. She spent the summer grinding early in the morning to beat the heat with her dad and trainer, determined to set the standard. “We’re up early in the morning outside,” Hattix-Covington said. “I know our neighbors didn’t like it, outside dribbling and shooting.” Women’s basketball is hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. Head coach Beth O’Boyle said she is impressed with her team’s determination to get better after losing in the Atlantic 10 championship game last season. Usually, the offseason consists of a structured schedule of weight training and practice. Due to COVID-19, players had to hold themselves accountable for staying in shape. With eight new teammates, the returning players wanted to set the tone. “They were leading by example,” O’Boyle said about her upperclassmen. “I’m excited that when we got here and the newcomers were here, there was already an elevated level of play.” VCU has eight returning players, including three-time program scoring leader Tera Reed. The senior guard averaged a career-high 15.2 points last season, helping her get a second consecutive All-A-10 selection. “Being their last year, they have a lot to prove coming out on the court,” Hattix-Covington said. “You can really see it in the workouts.” Hattix-Covington said it has been easier to get back into the swing of things compared to previous years, largely due to the number of returning players.

The team continues to try and find new ways to improve its offensive production. With the departure of two of the team’s leading scorers — last year’s conference defensive player of the year center Danielle Hammond and point guard Nyra Williams — O’Boyle said she expects freshman point guard Sarah Te-Biasu to have an immediate impact with her playmaking. “She’s a freshman, but she plays like a veteran,” senior forward Sydnei Archie said about Te-Biasu. “I’m really excited to get out on the court with her. It’s fun to play with her.” Te-Biasu has competed for the Candadian youth national team and averaged 8 points and four assists in the 2018 U17 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. “She’s a really energetic 3-point shooter that can really make great decisions and get her teammates involved,” O’Boyle said about the 5-foot-5-inch guard. Hattix-Covington thinks the newcomers have adapted well to the program. “They learn fast, and they ask a lot of questions,” Hattix-Covington said. “They’re really coming into their own, and I think they’re going to be great additions to the team this year.” Along with the five freshmen added, O’Boyle will have three transfer players that she expects to play a large role in the season. O’Boyle is hoping sophomore Oklahoma transfer Chloe Bloom, as well as redshirt-sophomore Central Michigan transfer Sam Robinson, can bring the competitive edge in the paint that Hammond provided. “She’s a really strong post player,” O’Boyle said about Bloom. “It’s great to get her into practices.” O’Boyle is excited about the versatility 6-foot-1-inch Robinson can bring to the team. She said Robinson can play with

her back to the basket, run the floor and shoot threes. Freshman center Camila Contreras has impressed her new teammates with her physicality and ability to finish at the rim. “She’s so physical,” Archie said about Contreras. “More physical than I’ve ever played against.” Redshirt-junior guard and Murray State University transfer Janika Griffith-Wallace brings versatility to the position with her ability to create her own shot and play off the ball. “She’s a fun player to watch,” O’Boyle said about Griffith-Wallace. “She makes some plays and you’re just like, ‘Whoa, did she just do that?’ She has that side to her.” The team was happy to be back on the court practicing after a summer of uncertainty. O’Boyle and her staff had to get creative, as contact was not allowed for the first

months of practice. O’Boyle held shooting competitions to keep the team engaged. “What are some things we can do that are fun? What are some things we want to get better at?” O’Boyle said about her approach to fall practices. “How can we really enjoy being together and start to build that cohesiveness as a team?” After going 26-3 in conference play and losing in consecutive A-10 championship games, VCU’s veteran-driven team is preparing to get over the hump. “That piece of cutting down the nets and playing in the NCAA tournament is still out there for us,” O’Boyle said. “We are still chasing that.”

The NCAA announced in September that college basketball can resume on Nov. 25. VCU’s schedule has not been released for the upcoming season.

New players on the 2020-21 roster Te-Biasu #0 Sarah Guard

Bloom Forward/Center #25 Chloe

Griffith-Wallace Motekaityte #33 Elze #2 Janika Guard Forward Townes #12 Dasia Guard

Robinson Forward #35 Sam

Green #23 Rain Guard

Contreras #54 Camila Center Infographic by Raymond Liu

Wed. November 4, 2020 7

VCU esports membership expands in virtual landscape JOE DODSON Contributing Writer

Freshman Kimberly Nguyen sees college as a time to do what you love. When she joined VCU Rec Sports’ esports club, she found an inclusive community of students who shared her love for video games and competing. COVID-19 has made socializing on campus nearly impossible. VCU’s esports club, however, is giving students a way to make new friends from the safety of their homes. “There was really nothing like that in high school,” Nguyen said. “I know college is a place where you can really get into what you love because there are other people like you.” Club president Joshua West said more than 150 new members joined this fall and around three new members join the club’s Discord, a group messaging software, every day. “We definitely have a lot more people this semester,” West said. “I imagine it’s because everyone is online.” The club has grown a lot since forming more than eight years ago. As esports has grown on campus, it allows for less competitive players to enjoy the sport.

Top, students participate in an on-campus esports tournament on Nov. 8, 2019. Below, an esports club table at a 2019 event offers mementos for gamers. Photos courtesy of Joshua West

“It’s been really taking off,” West said. “It’s been allowing a lot of people who might not exactly be the best at the sport to compete for the school and represent the school.” West said gamers of all skill levels are invited to join the club. “It’s just a very casual environment where you can meet all different kinds of people,” West said. “I think the highlight of our group is how diverse it is.” To gain new members, the club has been posting on Reddit and Facebook. Senior Dane Aggen said he became interested in esports because it gave him another way to compete. “I played a lot of sports growing up,” Aggen said. “It kind of just felt natural to play competitive games.” The club’s League of Legends division head, Lokesh Narayanan, said VCU should look into gaming as a way for students to socialize. Unlike most clubs this fall, esports still provides weekly opportunities to play with peers. Although League of Legends is the primary game for the club, students can participate in over six different games including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant and Call of Duty. The club’s competitive teams have been busy this fall playing against colleges across the country. The Rocket League team, VCU Havoc, competed in an Atlantic 10 esports tournament on Oct. 30, but they lost to University of Massachusetts in the quarterfinals. The club has two competitive League of Legends teams, which competed in the Collegiate Star League and other matches. The esports club hosts an annual League of Legends tournament for any VCU student who wants to compete. West said the month-long event was difficult to organize because the club’s funding was cut due to COVID-19. The club is always seeking new members. West said students should consider joining whether they are looking for a competitive or casual gaming experience. “I think the beauty of the club is that anyone can join and find a place,” West said.

Gradual workouts minimize risk of player injuries ahead of season NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor

Some didn’t have any training equipment, and others created makeshift squat racks at home. For VCU student-athletes, staying in peak condition without regular competition became a unique hurdle — but the university’s sports medicine professionals are rising to the challenge. The student-athletes were given individualized programs over the summer based on what they had available to them, said Director of Sports Performance Tim Kontos. Now that players are back, workouts are similar to those of an injured athlete. “When we give out summer programs, we’re always going to anticipate somebody coming back and have not done anything,” Kontos said. “We always have to proceed with that in mind, regardless of what the student-athletes tell us.” Jeff Collins, director of sports medicine, said the training plans were intentionally planned to be a “gradual progression.”

“We knew that our student-athletes didn’t have access to the normal training facilities that they had or the sport fields that they would have had,” Collins said. “So, we knew that for the most part, our student-athletes were coming back at a different level of preparation than they normally were.” Kontos, who is in his 20th year as sports performance director, said players started with 50% of the volume that student-athletes would normally lift and slowly increased it by 10% each week. “There’s no fast way to do anything,” Kontos said. “Overall, athletic development, we’re referred to as slow cooking the athletes, and that’s one of those things we tried to do when we came back from quarantine.” Collins and Kontos both said soft tissue injuries are most common when returning to play from a layoff of activity. These injuries include muscle and ligament strains, and Collins said those can happen anywhere in the body.

“It’s something that you do your best to avoid it, but you plan for it,” Kontos said. Men’s soccer coach Dave Giffard said during an Oct. 16 interview that his team dealt with soft tissue injuries. “You basically take this break and then try to return to very high level demands,” Giffard said. “We started to see different injuries and issues start to creep up because of the lack of training for five months. The guys’ bodies just aren’t used to it.” Giffard said his players did body weight workouts at home and ran to stay in shape without using equipment that would be available on campus. Collins said he doesn’t think there has been an increase in the number of soft tissue injuries and his office is seeing average numbers for the fall semester. “Hopefully because of the planning that we did before we started, we are able to avoid a lot of either soft tissue injuries or Director of Sports Preformance Tim something that would be more major like Kontos stands in the Stuart C. Siegel an ACL rupture,” Collins said. Center weight room. Photo by Jon Mirador

8 The Commonwealth Times

On this day

In 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected governor of Wyoming, making her the first female governor in the U.S.

UPCOMING EVENTS See something

THURS. 11/5 VCU Jazz Orchestra I in concert

Jazz students will sight-read music from famed musicians such as Duke Ellington and Charlie Barnet during a virtual concert. The students will practice performing pieces they have not seen or learned before. For more information, contact Director of Jazz Studies Antonio Garcia at ajgarcia@vcu.edu. 8 p.m., livestream at go.vcu.edu/concerthall

FRI. 11/6 ‘She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms’

VCUarts’ Department of Theatre will present the final screening of its virtual production, “She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms,” a fantasy drama created by Vietnamese American playwright Qui Nguyen. The play follows Agnes Evans as she enters her sister Tilly’s world through a game of “Dungeons and Dragons.” Tickets can be purchased on the theatre department’s website or on the event’s Showclix link. 8 p.m., showclix.com/events/1318, $5 for students

Do something

Signs for Richmond mayoral and city council candidates populate outside of the Institute for Contemporary Art, a polling location for the Nov. 3 election. Photo by Enza Marcy

Richmond museums transform into spacious polling locations

FRI. 11/6 ‘Afro Fest RVA’

Several African artists will perform at this free, outdoor concert. Several DJs including NuKe Major and Rhythim are on the lineup. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for this family and pet-friendly event. Food trucks will offer authentic African cuisine. 2 - 9 p.m., Hard Line Brewery, 1603 Ownby Lane

‘Tip O’ the Season’ artist market Irish eatery O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub will host more than 20 local artists and vendors in their parking lot for an art fair and artisan market. The event is hosted alongside Muse Me Decor, a Richmond antique shop with art, gifts, jewelry and vintage goods created by local artists. This socially distanced event is free to the public, and guests are encouraged to grab a bite from O’Toole’s before browsing. 3 - 8 p.m., O’Toole’s Restaurant & Pub, 4800 Forest Hill Ave.

Learn something LETTER SAT. 11/7 TO THE EDITOR Learn Tai Ji on Zoom

Participants will learn the Chinese martial art practice of Tai Ji, and explore its health benefits and meditative qualities through a Zoom workshop. This virtual event is free, and guests are required to register at the Mindful Tai Ji website at least 24 hours in advance. 4 - 5 p.m., mindfultaiji.com/event-registration

MON. 11/9 ‘History Happy Hour: No Safety for Union Men’ With historian Brianna Kirk, the American Civil War Museum will lead a discussion on a race riot that erupted in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1866. The conversation will explore the U.S. Army’s protection of African Americans during the Reconstruction era. This webinar is free, but donations are encouraged. Viewers can register at the event’s page on Eventbrite. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., acwm.org/experience

Have suggestions for the events calendar? Contact spectrum@ commonwealthtimes.org

GRACE MCOMBER Contributing Writer

Virginia House Bill 1, which was enacted in April, permitted excuse-free absentee voting up to 45 days before Election Day. Previously, voters had to provide a reason for voting absentee. To mitigate the risks for those that chose to vote in person and to control the amount of voters in the space, the ICA utilized a single entrance and exit. Additionally, the gallery set up floor markers for social distancing and kept doors open to increase airflow in the building. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended voters wear face masks to the polls, Nemer was told by election officials that polling locations throughout the state were not allowed to implement a mask mandate for entrance to the building. “It’s the one day that we can’t do anything about it,” Nemer said. “If someone doesn’t want to wear a mask, there’s nothing we can do.” Despite the extra precautions needed on Tuesday, McCadden and Nemer were confident in the electoral officials’ use of the ICA to keep voters as safe as possible. Michael Plumb, vice president of guest engagement at the Virginia Museum of

History and Culture, echoed these sentiments. As a first-time polling location for precinct 207, the VMHC closed to the public on Tuesday and served voters in parts of the Museum District. Plumb said transforming the VMHC’s space into an area suitable for a large number of people was a familiar process. Many of the necessary protocols were already in place after the museum reopened in July. Voters were restricted to the ground floor and followed a one-way route, already established by the museum for daily tours. “It was really just thinking through the protocols we already had in place, and how we could help on the day of the election,” Plumb said. Plumb also hoped the change in precinct location would make first-time visitors more interested in viewing the museum’s exhibits in the future. “It’s another way for us to really engage with our local community,” Plumb said. “We hope people will think about coming back and seeing what the museum has to offer and the stories we are striving to tell.”

HE INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY Art closed its doors to gallery enthusiasts on Nov. 3 and — for the first time since opening in 2018 — transformed into a polling location for Richmonders to cast their ballots. Due to COVID-19, the crowds and foot traffic typical of past elections caused concerns about maintaining social distancing and ensuring voter safety at the polls. Now, larger venues, such as art and history museums, have subbed for smaller churches and school buildings used in years past. “I think it’s a really great location, especially for students that are busy,” said Jessica McCadden, director of communications and content strategy at the ICA. “Hopefully, having more places will spread people out and help them feel safe voting.” The Virginia Department of Elections reassigned voting locations for several precincts that included the Fan, Westover Gardens and Forest Hill Farms. The ICA replaced Dominion Place as the voting site for precinct 206, which includes part of the Fan neighborhood near Monroe Park Campus and VCU’s Grace and Broad Residence Center. Daniel Nemer, manager of visitor experience and facilities, said the ICA was contacted by election officials in July to determine if the museum would be a suitable venue for in-person voting. “It was an interesting process,” Nemer said. “I learned that any polling location is basically just a shell that is being used by the electoral board.” As of Nov. 1, more than 2.7 million Virginians voted early –– which included in-person and mail-in absentee ballots –– according to the department of elections. In the 2016 presidential election, 566,948 Virginia voters casted The Institute for Contemporary Art transformed its downstairs lobby area into a polling an absentee ballot. place for the Nov. 3 election. Photo by Enza Marcy

Wed. November 4, 2020 9

‘She Kills Monsters’: VCUarts students debut virtual production from home EBONIQUE LITTLE Staff Writer Tillius the Paladin walks through a whimsical forest before being stopped by a menacing fairy, who she strikes with a magic missile. The VCUarts theatre students who act in this scene of “She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms” interact as though they’re in the same room, despite being miles away from each other. “Filming at home was different because it was like we were the guinea pigs of this process,” said Kaili Fox, a junior theatre performance major who played Lilly. “But I had a really good time being on Zoom with the cast.” “She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms” follows protagonist Agnes Evans as she is immersed in her deceased sister Tilly’s notebook of the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. Co-directed by theatre professors Sharon Ott, Wes Seals and Dorie Barton, the dramatic comedy explores themes of severed familial relationships, sexuality and gender identity, as Tilly used Dungeons & Dragons to escape everyday struggles before her death. The play marks the VCUarts theatre department’s first production of the school year, with students also adapting to their first virtual performace. “It was a nail biter all the way along,” said Ott, chair and artistic director of the theatre department, of the play’s first virtual screening on Oct. 28. Playwright Qui Nguyen adapted his popular 2011 play for online performances

as COVID-19 continued to pose challenges for in-person gatherings. Because the cast couldn’t meet physically, each student had to record their scenes in their own homes, leaving faculty and students unsure of the final product’s quality. “I warned my parents. Like, if it doesn’t look good, this isn’t an indication I’m a bad actor, I promise,” said sophomore theatre performance major Erik DeMario. “This is something we’ve never done before.” Though virtual, the play’s release mirrors a traditional format. The theatre department partnered with Concord Theatricals to broadcast the play, which is available on Vimeo until the last performance on Nov. 6. The viewing link is sent after purchasing tickets on the VCUarts theatre website. The casting was done virtually, and interested students sent a video recording of a monologue that best reflected their talent. Afterward, they were called back for certain roles and auditioned based on those characters. “We had no clue who was going to get the part,” said DeMario, who was cast as the underworld demon Orcus. “We didn’t even get to see each other do the scenes because we were going in separate meetings.” Once production began, some of the members allotted time to visit a green screen studio at the W.E. Singleton Center to utilize the play’s imaginative backgrounds. For the scenes that took place on Zoom, senior theatre student and stage decorator Faith Carlson instructed the cast on how to decorate their spaces to best reflect their character. Costumes, makeup and other props were delivered to the actors and had to be

Sophomore theatre student Paige Smeltzer plays Evil Tina, a cheerleader who teases Tilly. Photo courtesy of VCUarts theatre department. assembled themselves. The actors used Zoom and Open Broadcaster Software to capture and upload video simultaneously. Over the course of a month, they followed a tight production schedule, shooting about five scenes per day. During this process, Ott said many students encountered technical difficulties and some had to use computers provided by VCUarts to reshoot scenes. “I was facing constant tech issues,” DeMario said, “but we worked through it.” Ott said the editing process was difficult because it required more digital rendering techniques than normal. Virtual backgrounds, sound and music were applied to the film last. “We were rehearsed enough with the scenes,” Ott said, “and they did a really good job with the difference between their fantasy — their D&D characters — which was hard.” Paige Smeltzer, a sophomore theatre performance student, played one of the

protagonist’s adversaries, Evil Tina. Smeltzer said she enjoyed embodying the fun character as it “revived her creativity.” Smeltzer said she had to picture the characters in her head to overcome the challenge of not being near her peers. “It was fun,” Smeltzer said. “It’s just, I couldn’t really connect with the cast.” Despite setbacks, Smeltzer was “blown away” with the final outcome. “I had no idea that a Zoom play could be altered with the green screen and the CGI and the ADR,” Smeltzer said. “It was just phenomenal to see what was filmed on Zoom and on camera to be almost like a feature film.” The fantasy elements in the play served as a form of escape for the fictional characters as well as their real-life counterparts. “It’s really something special,” DeMario said, “when we can create collaborative art in the midst of a pandemic.”

VCU alumnus creates new worlds in intricate, map-inspired art CLAIRE DARCY Contributing Writer

recalled creating architectural drawings and playing with Lego bricks as he grew older. Hundreds of miniscule He drew inspiration from buildings, including skyvisiting local model houses scrapers and rotundas, are with his family for fun. contained within a 22-inch “I would always be diameter circle. Swirling drawing architecture, plancityscapes, mountains and ning my own houses and hints of human anatomy castles,” Sack said. drawn with microscopic deSack said classical music tail extend beyond the paand historical cartographper in “Leitmotif,” the latic drawings are among his est piece by visual artist and primary inspirations. Many Ben Sack. Photo courtesy of VCU alumnus Ben Sack. of his installations’ titles refBen Sack The title of the piece is erence music and academia. a musical term that signifies an association “Art, music, drawing and poetry — with a particular subject. Examples include they’re all the same,” Sack said. “I like to the “Jaws” theme or “The Imperial March” in borrow from the poetic lexicon as well.” “Star Wars.” “Leitmotif ” was completed on Sack also cited M.C. Escher, a Dutch Oct. 24 and will soon be shipped to the Rob- graphic artist known for his mathematically ert Fontaine Gallery in Miami for auction. inspired ink drawings, as a stylistic influence. Sack graduated from VCU in 2011 with Sack’s art has traveled around the world, a degree in communication arts. The artist’s including in France, Switzerland, Mexico pen-and-ink images have been featured in and Germany. He has lived and completdozens of exhibitions since his graduation. ed artist residencies in Virginia, Italy and He creates large-scale drawings of city ar- aboard a cruise ship. With his art rooted chitecture that often span over six feet long in cartography, the opportunity to travel and are full of meticulous detail. the world has been an inspiration to the “I have found cities to be an excellent sort VCU alumnus’ work. of medium — a paint, in a way — to convey “Everyone when they graduate, they want a lot of different meanings and stories. … to travel,” Sack said. “I was very much like that.” It’s a very infinite sort of medium,” Sack Attending school in Richmond was a said. “[I] kind of jump into a map and make “fascinating” experience to Sack, who took my own, so to speak, through my art.” notice of the countless architectural styles Sack only uses a black, fine line pen found throughout the city. He said he reand paper, which adds a level of sim- flects fondly on his time at VCU, and that plicity to the complex images he creates. he is grateful for the influence of his profesThe artist said his only other tools are sors — especially the late painting professor patience and persistence. Albert Epshteyn. “I try to keep the process as simple as It was at VCU that Geraldine Duskin, possible ... because one can get lost in the a Richmond gallerist and interior designer, details,” Sack said. first discovered Sack and his art. Sack said his interest in geometry and “[Sack’s pieces] have a kind of univermaps started from a young age, and he sal appeal, and they have an intellectual

component as well,” Duskin said. “I think something that I have visually never seen architecture is something that has a big before, and that’s what led me to beg him to impact on people’s lives, whether they rec- come on board.” ognize it or not.” A custom circular frame for “Leitmotif ” In January 2013, Sack had his first solo will be used by the gallery to display the exhibition in Richmond at Ghostprint work. Fontaine expressed confidence that Gallery. The gallery, which was open from the piece will soon have a buyer. 2007-17, was owned by Duskin and her The gallery owner described Sack’s art daughter, Dorothea Duskin. as contemporary with a “classical edge,” a The exhibition was called “Eroica” — clear academic influence and an element a reference to Beethoven’s Symphony of the mythological. No. 3 — and contained four large city“These kinds of works don’t last long scapes, each of which corresponded with on the market,” Fontaine said. “They’re a movement in the symphony. One piece highly sought after.” in the exhibit, “What says the Deep Midnight?” takes on the pattern of Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” “It has depth. It has the ability to bring you into the work, and it’s got such a rich sense of detail that it absolutely captivates your attention,” Duskin said of the artist’s style. “You can just be looking at it for ages going from one very special, beautiful moment to another.” D uskin referred Sack to the Robert Fontaine Gallery, where he is now a permanent member. O wner and namesake of the Miami-based gallery said he was blown away by the “sheer patience” Sack had after watching a timelapse of his art on YouTube. “Good art is art that’s new to the eye, and this work was very new,” Robert “Leitmotif” (2020) is VCUarts alumnus Ben Sack’s latest artwork, Fontaine said. “As a com- which carries the common symbols of cities and architecture, position, he was creating drawn with pen and ink. Image courtesy of Ben Sack

10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment.” — robert m. hutchins

NEW PRESIDENT, OLD PRESIDENT It’s the same life for minority communities

TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

WAS CONSTANTLY asked when I was younger, “ What do you want to be when you grow up?” Without hesitation, I would respond: “president.” Even at a young age, I’d admired the power and elegance that had to be held by someone who was running a global superpower. I wanted to be a phenomenal president as I believed every former president had been. But, I’d yet to comprehend the dangerous consequences of mistakes and apathy in the Oval Office. Now, more than ever, I am living those dangerous consequences. The 2020 presidential election was disheartening. It highlighted this nation’s obsession with success, rather than human compassion. Both candidates threatened minority Americans through apathy toward civil rights, education, police violence and healthcare. As we await election results, I want to make one thing clear. Regardless of who sits in that Oval Office, communities of color will still face an unbearable amount of hardships. I voted last week but even after casting my ballot, I didn’t feel an overwhelming sense of pride. I voted for someone who was more interested in winning than my undeniable right to affordable healthcare. I voted for someone who found more satisfaction in beating his opponent than dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. I had voted for someone who yearned for victory rather than justice.

Illustration by

So, with a new presidential term upon us, I wonder what our justice system’s fate will look like. Mass incarceration has been widely discussed in relation to police violence and the Black Lives Matter protests. It is a fact that Black men fill up American prisons at a disproportionate rate. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Black men are incarcerated at a rate nearly six times higher than white men. For every six Black men sent to prison to rot away, one white man follows. Some might argue that Black people commit more crimes. I won’t even dignify such bigotry with a response when the system’s inherent racism and oppression is so blatant. Neither candidate has any interest in restructuring the justice system to provide fair and equal opportunity to all Americans. Let’s not forget that if President Donald Trump were to have it his way, the Exonerated Five would be put to death for a crime they did not commit. In 1989, he printed a full-page advertisement calling for the state of New York to adopt the death penalty after five Black and Latino teens

DON’T HATE, EDUCATE

Illustration by Isabelle Roque

ANGELICA TSVETKOV Contributing Writer An information war is being waged against the public. Many unknowingly further the reach of misinformation, while others have the insidious intent of deceiving voters across the nation and even here in Virginia. I’m currently a senior at VCU studying political science and working on two political campaigns. This connects me to networks of people who have direct access to accurate, up-to-date information on the election and other political news.

However, not everyone has access to such privileges. Few people can spend the majority of their time studying, researching and discussing politics. Most people — particularly college students — are more focused on how they are going to pass their classes, find a job after graduation, and take care of themselves and their families. Despite your civic engagement, all Americans should be aware of misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is false information spread without the intention to deceive people; disinformation is spread with the intent to deceive.

were wrongly accused, and later convicted, of raping a jogger in New York City. On the other hand, former Vice President Joe Biden would prefer to “lock the S.O.B.s up” in his version of law and order. In a 1994 speech on the U.S. Senate floor, Biden criticized the Democrats’ handling of violent crime rates. “Every time Richard Nixon, when he was running in 1972, would say, ‘Law and order,’ the Democratic match or response was, ‘Law and order with justice’ — whatever that meant,” Biden said. “And I would say, ‘Lock the S.O.B.s up.’” While we’re on the topic of criminal justice reform, neither of these candidates could find it in their oh-so-big hearts to protect children of color from the horrific school-to-prison pipeline. The pipeline criminalizes young children, particularly children of color, by forcing them into disciplinary action and punishment — more specifically, punishment by law enforcement. It baffles me how this country can subject children to disturbing and dangerous interactions with law enforcement at such a young age and then expect them to get over it with ease. The 2016 election showcased the extensive nature of disinformation campaigns. Russian operatives flooded people’s social media pages with assaults from bots, troll farms and fake Facebook groups. However, researchers from the Election Integrity Partnership found the majority of disinformation regarding this year’s election is being purported by domestic right-wing media groups. These campaigns aim to create public distrust in the legitimacy of the election and to confuse people about voting procedures to suppress turnout. These disinformation campaigns utilize both mainstream media and social media as platforms to spread their messages. They usually begin in niche Facebook groups, Reddit threads or Discord chats that facilitate conspiracy theories. So, what do you do when disinformation or misinformation has affected the views of your peers, friends or family members? What do you do when you see a Facebook post or tweet that is misinformative? It is instinctive to want to share that story with your friends, make fun of those who are sharing it and move on. However, that doesn’t address the problem, and it leaves a large portion of the country misinformed. Here is my guide for college students trying to fight disinformation campaigns:

I have an 8-year-old brother — a Black boy. I could only imagine the trauma if he had an uncivil interaction with the police at his age. Trump nor Biden will protect my brother. Trump is too busy buying libraries at Ivy League schools and then sending his children there. Meanwhile, Biden’s running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, has a history of imprisoning Black men as the former attorney Marisa Stratton general of California. I can find comfort in my brother’s safety, seeing how schools are closed due to the pandemic. But, then I remember the dangers of COVID-19, specifically to those with no access to healthcare. Again, I contemplate the state of my welfare. Access to healthcare is a basic human right that should never be monopolized or politicized. Nobody should have to give an arm and a leg simply because they’ve broken one. Nobody should worry about the survival of their child because of the expenses of medicine. Neither candidates value human life and all of its glory. Trump has spent the past four years trying to repeal the only form of affordable healthcare we have. On the other hand, Biden lacks creativity and is simply complacent with the work done during his vice presidency. Can you see the point? I’m not excited to see who wins this election because it makes no difference to me. I’m still Black in America. I’m still Muslim in America. I’m still a woman in America. I’m still an immigrant in America. My struggles and fears do not disappear regardless of who steps into that office. First, stay informed by reading and listening to a diverse set of resources. You will not recognize disinformation or know that you are falling prey to it if you are not educating yourself. Second, when you see a problematic or inaccurate post, take a deep breath. It is valid to feel frustrated and angry but do not let your emotions cause you to further misinform the public with a quick response. Finally, reply to posts that spread disinformation by leading with the correct information. The only way to combat misinformation is with the truth. You can still post your witty takes and give your friends a good laugh in the replies, but remember to always lead with the truth. We must build our community. If it is safe and feasible, have difficult conversations with your peers, friends and family members. Listen to them, offer them reliable resources and data, and include your perspective. This doesn’t all boil down to one election. Growing an informed and engaged populace is a process that must exist beyond elections. Misinformation and disinformation pose a dire threat to us. It is our duty to stay up to date and informed. Without education, there can be no revolution.

Wed. November 4, 2020â&#x20AC;&#x192;11

THE CT STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrew Ringle ringlea@commonwealthtimes.org

Debate Blues by Sarah Brady

MANAGING EDITOR Hannah Eason easonhd@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Eduardo Acevedo news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Noah Fleischman sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Iman Mekonen spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Tagwa Shammet opinions@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Enza Marcy photography@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Alexandra Zernik zernikal@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Lauren Johnson illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Katharine DeRosa, News Anya Sczerzenie, News Ebonique Little, Spectrum

Class Project by Carleigh Ross

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Andy Caress designers@vcustudentmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jayce Nguyen Ni Sang Raymond Liu Gabrielle Wood designers@vcustudentmedia.com AD SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kofi Roberts advertising@vcustudentmedia.com WEB MANAGER Chranjitpandian Murugapandi web@vcustudentmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tibebe Gebiso distribution@vcustudentmedia.com TEMPORARY EDITORIAL ADVISER Mark Robinson robinsonmw@vcu.edu CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dominique Lee leeds3@vcu.edu (804) 827-1642 OFFICE MANAGER Owen Martin martinso@vcu.edu

Coping with Caffeine by Lauren Johnson ABOUT THE CT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning independent student newspaper at VCU, since 1969. The CT staff maintains all editorial and operations discretion. There is absolutely no prior review by the public, university or VCU Student Media Center administration or staff. The Executive Editor writes and manages the Operations Budget.

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16 The Commonwealth Times 12 The Commonwealth Times

For answers to this week’s puzzles, check commonwealthtimes.org/puzzles every Friday at noon.

Los Los Angeles Angeles Times Times Crossword Puzzle Crossword Puzzle FLIGHT OF FANCY IT’S TIME