The Commonwealth Times; Nov. 11, 2020 by VCU Student Media Center

COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG @theCT

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VOL. 62, NO. 12 NOVEMBER 11, 2020

‘A CLEAR VICTORY’ Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore Illustration by Andy Caress

Students react to Biden’s win with hope for future ‘I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify.’ — President-elect Joe Biden

KATHARINE DEROSA Staff Writer

Musa said she’s happy about the outcome of the election but doesn’t want to get complacent without seeing systemic change. In RESHMAN POLITICAL Biden’s victory speech Saturscience major Nya Musa day night, he preached a mesvoted for Sen. Bernie sage of unity and reconcilSanders in the Virginia priiation for America. mary but shifted her support “I’m humbled by the to former Vice President Joe trust and confidence you’ve Biden in the presidential placed in me,” Biden said. election. Although Biden “I pledge to be a presideclared victory Saturday, dent who seeks not to Musa said there’s “a little bit divide but unify.” of hesitance to celebrate.” Biden said he wants to Biden passed the benchwin the confidence of all peomark of 270 electoral ple, regardless of partisanship. votes needed to secure the “The people of this napresidency after winning tion have spoken,” Biden Nya Musa. Photo by Katharine DeRosa Pennsylvania on Saturday said during his speech. morning. President Donald “They have delivered us Trump’s campaign hasn’t conceded the elec- a clear victory.” tion and pursued legal challenges in states Freshman art foundation student Savansuch as Pennsylvania and Georgia. nah Brown said she voted for Biden and

believes Trump supporters could stand election, when approximately 25 million in the way of unity through prejudic- votes had not been counted, according es against the LGBTQ communi- to NBC News. ty, the Black community Trump said he would orand women. der election officials to stop “I don’t even know if we counting ballots, but his camcan ever be truly united,” paign ran into several obstaBrown said. cles finding legal ground for Biden, the nation’s secthat order. Some litigation ond Catholic president, is ongoing, including one referenced the Bible during lawsuit that is attempting his speech and called the to dispute if ballots received upcoming months Ameriby the state of Pennsylvaca’s “time to heal.” nia after 8 p.m. on Election “I feel like we can’t really Day should count. Experts heal unless we have progresare unsure if the Supreme sive policies,” Brown said. Court will take the case and Many Republicans, do not expect it to change Savannah Brown. Photo by Katharine DeRosa inc luding Senate Mathe election’s outcome, Time jority Leader Mitch Magazine reported. McConnell, have failed to acknowledge Biden’s win. Trump falsely declared See BIDEN on page 3 victory the morning after the Nov. 3

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to acknowledge Presidentelect Joe Biden’s electoral victory when talking with reporters Tuesday. international: An African biomedical institute is close to producing an affordable, handheld COVID-19 testing kit that could produce results in minutes.

Richmond races near end with projected reelection for Stoney JACKSON REBRACA Contributing Writer

Challenger Mike Gray has received 38.2% of the vote, and Michael Dickinson received 12.7% of the vote in unofficial election results. After last week’s elections, many familThe 2nd District was a tightly contested iar faces are expected to maintain power race between Democrats Tavarris Spinks in Richmond’s political sphere. The city’s and Katherine Jordan, at one point showmayor declared victory in his reelection ing Spinks ahead by just 26 votes. As of campaign, and six city council members are Tuesday night, Jordan has received 54.3% projected to return to their seats. of votes, and Spinks has received 45%. The Mayor Levar Stoney seat was left open when is expected to secure his Gray did not seek reelection second ter m, leading in mayoral pursuits. against Richmond CounBoth candidates promotcilwoman Kim Gray and ed policies to address racial candidate Alexsis Rodinequity in Richmond. Jorgers by a 10-point mardan outlined redlining and gin in unofficial election underfunded public eduresults on Tuesday. cation as two primary ar“To get another four eas of concern. “Redlining” years to complete the work, was coined to describe the as I’ve stated in the past, is Federal Housing Administhe greatest honor of my tration’s practice of refusing life,” Stoney said in a Nov. mortgages in and near pri4 press conference. marily African American 5th District Councilwoman To win the office, mayorneighborhoods. Spinks Stephanie Lynch. al candidates must win five also said public housing out of nine city districts recould be improved by lowgardless of the popular vote. ering the eviction rate and As of Tuesday, Stoney had a other strategies. majority of votes in districts Ann-Frances Lambert 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. is expected to win the 3rd Stoney’s campaign emDistrict seat by capturing phasized his political expe37.1% of the vote. Chalrience in contrast to that of lenger Elaine Summerfield his challengers, who all were has secured 35.2% and seeking a first mayoral term. Willie Edward Hilliard has During his second term, received 27.1% of the vote. Stoney plans for the conThis would be Lambert’s struction of at least one first term on the council, school in Richmond ’s replacing long-standing 6th District Councilwoman Southside. However, the member Chris Hilbert, who Ellen Robertson. city council’s five-year buddid not seek reelection. get does not include conKristen Nye Larson ran struction for schools until uncontested in the 4th Dis2024. Stoney intends to trict to secure her second transform public housing, term on city council. Larson overhauling existing housemphasized rebalancing the ing projects and erecting city’s budget and investing 10,000 new units of affordmoney into local businesses able housing by 2030. amid COVID-19. Stoney faced criticism Councilwoman Stephduring his first term as mayanie Lynch is projected to or concerning his proposed win the 5th District seat Navy Hill development, with 57.6% of the vote, which was shot down by coming one year after she city council in February. won a special election to S t o n e y a l s o f a c e d Richmond City Council President replace former councilCynthia Newbille. backlash for his hanman Parker Agelasto, who dling of summer protests moved out of the district. against police brutality. Rodgers and Lynch said the housing crisis, exacerbatmany other citizens criticized his autho- ed by the coronavirus, was her top priority rization of the Richmond Police Depart- this term. She plans to put $300,000 in the ment’s use of tear gas and other weapons Affordable Housing Trust Fund and create against protesters. tax breaks for longtime Richmond residents In the 1st District, incumbent Andreas in order to combat gentrification. Addison is projected to enter his second “We have accomplished a lot together in term on Richmond City Council with a short time, but the last few months have 48.3% of the area’s vote. Addison’s campaign laid bare the ongoing systemic injustices in focused on increasing funds for Richmond Richmond,” Lynch’s website states. “Our Public Schools and the greater Richmond city is facing a dual economic and health community to recover from the economic crisis-- a severe budget shortfall, struggling impacts of COVID-19. local businesses, thousands out of work, and “I am honored to have earned your sup- an ongoing pandemic that is disproportionport to serve the First District on City ately affecting Black residents.” Council,” Addison said in a Facebook post. One of her challengers, Jer’Mykeal Mc“Now it’s time to make our vision a reality.” Coy, said he wants to expand community

health initiatives in order to get on the road to economic recovery. McCoy has received 21.8% of the vote, and candidates Mamie Taylor and Nicholas Da Silva have received 11% and 9%, respectively. In the 6th District, longtime city council member Ellen Robertson is expected to enter her fifth term over challenger Allan-Charles Chipman. Robertson has received 63.2% of the vote to Chipman’s 36.3%. Robertson’s plans include addressing food accessibility and racial equity. Chipman, a progressive, outlined the housing crisis as the main challenge facing the 6th District. “During this campaign, I heard from so many about the challenges that we have to overcome: COVID-19, childcare, affordable housing, equity and so many other things,” Robertson said in a Facebook post. “There is considerable work to be done, and I know we will get it done.” In the 7th District, Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille is projected to win her fourth term and has secured 61.2% of the vote. Her challenger, Joseph Rogers, has received 38.2%. Newbille highlighted COVID-19’s disproportionate effects on African American communities as the focus of her coming term. She planned to give residents personal protective equipment and housing assistance. Rogers’ campaign focused on police brutality, supporting the Marcus Alert — which would send mental health experts into the field with police responding to individual crises — and banning the use of tear gas as a form of crowd control. “I look forward to the collective work across the District over the next 4 years,” Newbille said in a Nov. 5 Facebook post. “Thank you to families of the East End, volunteers, contributors and partners.” In the 8th District, Councilwoman Reva Trammell is expected to win her sixth term on city council with 51.6% of the vote. Challenger Amy Wentz has received 40.8% of votes, and Regie Ford has received 7.5%. “As we work together through these unprecedented, ever-changing, and revolutionary times, we must continue to think of ways to improve our communities, listen to new ideas and perspectives, and break through challenges,” Trammell said on Facebook ahead of the election. Councilman Michael Jones ran uncontested in the 9th District, securing his second term on the Richmond City Council. Jones emphasized housing ownership for Black and brown communities as a priority for his term, as well as addressing police brutality. This year, Jones and Lynch co-sponsored a resolution to ban the use of tear gas as a form of crowd control. The resolution failed in committee last month. “I want to thank everyone who voted,” Jones said in a Facebook post. “We have work to do and I can’t wait to continue to bring change to our neighborhoods.” Election results were obtained from the Virginia Department of Elections and have not been certified. Follow election results at commonwealthtimes.org.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Photo by Jon Mirador

Mayoral candidates quarantine after registrar’s office outbreak EDUARDO ACEVEDO News Editor Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and former mayoral candidate Alexsis Rodgers have isolated themselves after employees of a Richmond elections office tested positive for COVID-19. Richmond General Registrar J. Kirk Showalter confirmed during a press conference Monday that three registrar staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. Showalter said 90% of her staff will quarantine until Nov. 17. In a tweet from the mayor, Stoney said a member of his campaign team tested positive for COVID-19 after interacting with a staff member of the registrar’s office. Stoney said his office will isolate pursuant to guidance from the Richmond City Health District. In the Twitter thread, Stoney said news coverage of the pandemic has died down, but it “doesn’t mean it’s no longer a threat.” “This should serve as a sobering reminder that the pandemic is still very real,” Stoney said. Since March, Virginia has reported 3,713 deaths due to COVID-19. Black and Latino people account for 1,317 of these deaths. In Richmond, 53.2% of those who died from COVID-19 were Black. Thirty-one percent were white. Rodgers was one of Stoney’s opponents in the mayoral race and has begun quarantining out of caution. The former candidate said on Twitter that she has been tested for the virus and was at the registrar’s office near individuals who tested positive. Stoney and Rodgers both stated they would be working from home during their quarantine periods. Rodgers took to Twitter to criticize the General Assembly’s lack of COVID-19 relief. “Today sparked a fresh anger that under Democratic leadership this General Assembly didn’t pass paid sick leave or emergency COVID leave for VA workers,” Rodgers said in a tweet. House Bill 5116, which would have required employers to provide two weeks of paid sick leave for those that have to quarantine, was killed by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee in September in a 14-1 vote.

Wed. November 11, 2020 3

BIDEN

Students react to Biden’s win with hope for future Continued from front page Lawsuits compelling election officials in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan and Georgia to stop counting or disqualify ballots were rejected. Members of College Republicans at VCU spoke in favor of Trump during an Oct. 26 debate with VCU’s Young Democrats. Member Josh Hartt criticized demands to abolish the Electoral College during his opening statement, saying the system prevents states such as Texas and California from deciding federal elections. “There’s a lot of talk about abolishing the Electoral College, the very system that allows for minorities to have a voice in the United States,” Hartt said. “They are willing to tear down our judicial system based off of petty, party squabbling.” As of Tuesday, Trump secured 214 electoral votes, and Biden won 290. Georgia, North Carolina and Alaska have not been called for either candidate as votes continue to be counted. In the 2016 presidential election, Trump secured the presidency with

a win in the Electoral College but lost the hypocritical because Republicans around popular vote to former Secretary of State the country participated in voter intimiHillary Clinton. dation. A group of Trump supporters proBiden garnered more tested outside of the Fairfax votes than any presidential County Government Cencandidate in history with ter during early voting in 76.3 million votes as of September, disrupting peoTuesday night. The record ple who came to vote. for most votes was previous“He should just give it ly held by former President up at this point,” the sophBarack Obama’s election in omore said. 2008, when he received 69.4 Trouslot, like Musa and million votes. Brown, is looking ahead Musa was one of 2.9 at the next four years. He million Virginians who votsaid he wants to see policy ed with an absentee ballot, changes before people foraccording to the Virginia get what they asked for in Department of Elections. this election. Alex Trouslot. Photo by Katharine DeRosa She said the president’s “I fear we’re going to not claims of voter fraud are have any drive to go forbaseless and discriminatory against people ward,” Trouslot said. with health issues. Biden has more moderate policies than “I think it’s just a slap in the face to those former Democrat hopefuls for president, people who had to vote that way,” Musa said. such as Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Music education major Alex Trouslot Vice President-elect Sen. Kamala Harris. said Trump’s claims of voter fraud are Biden stated he does not support defunding

the police, which is an unpopular opinion among many young Democrats. The majority of youth voters, ages 18 to 29, supported Biden, according to a report from Tufts University. Black youth favored Biden the most with 87% voting for him, and white youth favored him the least with 51% voting for Biden. More youth voters voted in this election, the university found, with 50-52% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 casting a ballot. The same data methodology in 2016 found 42-44% of youth voters participated in the general election. Forensic science major Yusrah Ahsanullah said she’s relieved by the election results. “He’s a politician versus a reality star,” Ahsanullah said of Biden. The junior said she’s hopeful for the next four years and wants to see change in policies, including the abolishment of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. “I hope they stick to their word,” Ahsanullah said.

From left, Emma Reynolds, Meghan Mastroberti, Katie Lehmann and Kelly Le wear masks on VCU’s campus. Photos by Kaitlyn Fulmore

Freshmen reflect on semester of limited socialization

KATHARINE DEROSA Staff Writer

any activity that doesn’t allow for social dis- 25.7%, and the asymptomatic testing tancing as “highest risk.” positivity is 0.2%. University spokesperson Mike PorVCU allows students to volunteer During a semester filled with uncertainty, ter said in an email that there were no for prevalence testing, which tests for freshmen at VCU navigated academic and VCU-sponsored Halloween gatherings in COVID-19 antibodies. Porter said in an social life while trying their best to adhere on-campus residence halls. He added that email that a total of 3,808 people have to safety precautions. face coverings are required inside VCU signed up this semester. More than 1,000 COVID-19 spread across campus buildings and in outdoor spaces when phys- students signed up the day the program throughout the fall semester, leading to ical distancing is not viable. launched, and sign-ups have been relatively an outbreak in the university’s athletThe second week of classes brought steady since then, Porter said. ics department and requiring exposed the largest increase in COVID-19 casAccording to the Virginia Department students to quarantine in empty dorm es with 83 reported new cases, accord- of Health, the commonwealth has reported rooms. As of Tuesday, VCU reported ing to VCU’s dashboard. As of Tues- 194,912 confirmed cases of COVID-19. more than 30 active cases among students day, there were 31 active student cases As of Tuesday, the seven-day percent posiand employees. and seven active employee cases. VCU’s tivity rate is at 6.2%. Near Halloween, the “I don’t hang out with people,” fresh- symptomatic percent positivity rate is rate rose to around 8%, and during April, man mass communications major Emma Reynolds said. “All of our friends ended up 90 being crazy partiers.” Reynolds and her roommate, freshman 83 pre-nursing major Kelly Le, said they had 80 to tighten their social circle as the semester continued. The two of them live in a suite 70 in Gladding Residence Center. Le said a friend caught COVID-19 60 at the beginning of the semester and proceeded to put themselves at risk in 50 social situations. “We had to kind of politely ban him from 38 40 the suite,” Le said. Le and Reynolds said that five total peo30 30 ple hung out in their suite on Halloween, including one extra guest that didn’t live there. 20 17 The roommates said they felt safe 14 during the semester because they wore masks when outside. 10 “As long as you don’t go to the dorm ragers that people try and throw,” Reynolds said. 0 People in costumes walked around camAug. Aug. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Nov. Nov pus the weekend of Halloween, some with 23 30 4 11 18 25 2 9 16 23 30 6 11 Source: VCU END OF WEEKS masks and some without. The U.S. Centers Infographic by Andy Caress for Disease Control and Prevention defines STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE CASES

COVID-19 cases at VCU during fall semester

the rate was near 20%. COVID-19 testing encounters in the state have steadily increased since then. In Richmond, the average number of cases per 100,000 people has increased from 6.6 on Oct. 1 to 17.4 as of Tuesday. Twenty-seven new cases were reported in Richmond on Nov. 10. The incubation period for COVID-19 is between two and 14 days, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Many VCU students return home for winter break, which begins Nov. 24. Porter said in an email that decisions regarding the university’s schedule are based on VCU’s Public Health Response Team. Classes end the Monday before Thanksgiving, rather than early December. The schedule change was announced in July as a part of VCU’s reopening plan. Freshman forensic science major Katie Lehmann said she has been wearing masks and avoiding large crowds. Lehmann went home for Halloween with her friend, freshman mass communications major Meghan Mastroberti. Mastroberti said the two have developed a small group of friends since the beginning of the semester. “We’re trying not to branch out too much,” Mastroberti said. Lehmann and Mastroberti said they’re hopeful for the spring semester and their future at VCU. Lehmann said she feels good about COVID-19 since cases at VCU have stayed relatively steady after spiking the first couple weeks of classes. In late August, VCU converted the Honors College into an extra isolation unit after an outbreak in VCU Athletics of 44 cases. “I kind of feel like the worst is over,” Lehmann said.

4 The Commonwealth Times

Pantry sees fewer Rams, plenty of food on shelves

ANYA SCZERZENIE Staff Writer

With VCU’s Monroe Park Campus eerily quiet, it’s unsurprising that shelves in a room of the University Student Commons are full of fresh, donated produce and boxes of food. The room is home to Ram Pantry, a service that provides donated grocery items to food-insecure students. Since the onset of COVID-19, limited contact has left much of the food up for grabs. “People used to just come in,” student volunteer Mary Villegas said. “Now, it’s by appointment only. There’s no contact.” The sophomore nursing and psychology major, who has volunteered at the pantry since August, said she usually sees around five people during her three-and-ahalf-hour shifts. Before COVID-19 restrictions, students could walk into the pantry and select items off the shelves. Now, they order pantry items through an online form. Volunteers box students’ orders and bring them to a back door at the commons, where pantry users can pick up the boxes. The shelves in the pantry are lined with food including cereal, canned vegetables, peanut butter and other non-perishable goods. Refrigerated items are kept in a large cooler in the back of the room. The pantry is open Monday through Thursday from noon until 5 p.m. For a full schedule, visit Ram Pantry’s website. Kendall Plageman, assistant dean for student affairs at VCU, said one reason the

pantry is getting less use is because many students are off campus this semester. “The overall usage has been lower during the pandemic as you would expect given less students in the Richmond area,” Plageman said in an email. The Ram Pantry intake form, which all users must submit before they can receive food, lists some requirements to use the service. The form states users must be a VCU student, may only visit once per week and must accept the food in “as-is” condition. The form also states students must not “sell, barter, nor give away” any of the food they receive from the pantry. Ram Pantry receives food donations from Kroger and Target, as well as local organizations such as the Pace Center. Produce comes from Hungry Harvest, a delivery service that sells rescued produce that would have otherwise been thrown away by farms. Sydney Wojcieszak, a senior chemical engineering student, is conducting her work-study at Ram Pantry. She said the organization is still accepting individual donations, and food is quarantined in a storage room for two days before distribution. Wojcieszak said because they have so much produce, they’ve had to throw some away. They recently started a “surplus program,” which donates extra produce that’s about to go bad. “Older produce, basically when it’s not super fresh, we’ll have that out and tell people just to take as many as they want,” Wojcieszak said. In a Richmond Times-Dispatch article from Oct. 29, Lisa Matthews-Ailsworth, who runs the pantry, said around 20 to 30

Professors criticize Trump’s order for ‘patriotic’ education SAGAL AHMED Contributing Writer

“Critical race theory, the 1619 Project, and the crusade against American history is toxic propaganda, ideological poison that, President Donald Trump’s administration if not removed, will dissolve the civic bonds is expected to come to a close in January that tie us together,” Trump said in the Sept. following the election of former Vice Pres- 17 speech. “It will destroy our country.” ident Joe Biden, but experts say one of the Wintersieck said the 1776 Commission incumbent’s executive orders could leave a aims to portray America’s founders as infallasting impact on schools. lible to students. The 1776 Commission, “The fact is that many of which aims to give stuthem were slave owners, and dents a “patriotic educathat even many of those that tion,” went into effect on were not slave owners were Nov. 2. The executive order still OK with the enslavestates “polemics grounded ment of African American in poor scholarship” have peoples, or African peoples,” vilified the country’s foundWintersieck said. ers in recent years and stuWintersieck said the dents are now taught antimeasure could discourage American history. speaking out against the “Despite the virtues and country’s mistakes. The accomplishments of this professor said Trump is a Nation, many students are nationalist who has turned now taught in school to the Republican Party into Amanda Wintersieck. hate their own country, and a party of white extremists. to believe that the men and “That includes some fairwomen who built it were not heroes, but ly specific tactics to rewrite American hisrather villains,” the order states. tory, particularly as it relates to great white Amanda Wintersieck, assistant professor men,” Wintersiek said. of political science at VCU, said the execuThe commission will have no more than tive order is a “direct rebuke” of recent na- 20 members, all appointed by the president. tionwide efforts to remove racist language The members will not be compensated, but from school textbooks. the commission will be administratively Trump criticized “left-wing indoctrina- supported and funded by the Department tion” in schools during a September speech, of Education. referencing The New York Times Magazine’s The 20 members will produce a report of 1619 Project. The project recommends re- “core principles” in America’s founding and framing public school curricula to focus state how the principles can further “the on slavery and the contributions of Black blessings of liberty” and “a more perfect Americans, starting with the first arrival of Union.” The commission will also work with enslaved Africans in Virginia in 1619. other departments to promote education in

students come for food per week. Before the pandemic, around 50 students would come in weekly. The article cited a VCU estimate that 8,000 of its students are in need of food assistance, far less than the number of people the pantry is currently serving.

Business administration major Sam Diso said he may consider volunteering at Ram Pantry when the pandemic is over. “I would say, with the extra food they should donate it,” the junior said. “Maybe help out with canned food drives around the area.”

Shelves and refrigerators full of food and produce line the walls of VCU’s Ram Pantry. Photo by Anya Sczerzenie national parks, battlefields and other places that relate to the American Revolution. In addition, the 1776 Commission mandates educational institutions that receive federal funding to celebrate Constitution Day by holding an educational program for students on Sept. 17. “We will state the truth in full, without apology: We declare that the United States of America is the most just and exceptional Nation ever to exist on Earth,” Trump stated in a White House press release. Assistant professor Jatia Wrighten said the measure would strengthen revisionist history, or the distortion of history in a way that drastically contradicts historical records. “ We have a very Eurocentric perspective on American histor y, and this 1776 commission really is trying to reinforce that,” Wrighten said. “The 1776 Commission, in my opinion, is a thinly veiled attempt to ensure the storyline of white supremacy in this country.” Wrighten said there’s been a “pushback” in the Trump administration against progressive policies enacted during former President Barack Obama’s term. Notable examples include efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, a health insurance program that provides coverage for nearly 23 million Americans. According to the executive order, the commission will be created within the Department of Education on March 2 — more than a month into Biden’s presidency. The commission will terminate in November 2022. Once he is in office, Biden will have the authority to review, revise or revoke Trump’s executive orders. Former leaders had the same option; Trump had the ability to

review Obama’s orders, and Obama had the ability to review those of former President George W. Bush. Wrighten said the president likely used an executive order to bypass the House of Representatives due to a lack of bipartisan support for the measure. “The House is much more representative, in terms of ethnicity and religion and race,” Wrighten said. Sophomore political science and history double major Nyah Graham said the country’s founders are glorified enough, and Trump has been setting the U.S. back during his administration. “It seems Trump’s version of America is rooted in the 1950s,” Graham said. Graham said the measure is another way for Trump to deny racism in America. “Just because his administration seeks to erase the truth of our nation’s dark past doesn’t mean it’s true,” Graham said. “While we may not have all our problems solved, we must learn from the past, not glorify it.” Jatia Wrighten. The executive order was a key issue for Graham in the presidential election, she said. “If we nationalize our children to an extreme degree, there isn’t telling what could happen, how that could affect issues in the future regarding immigration, foreign relations and race,” Graham said. Graham said the classroom could become a volatile environment if the measure goes into full effect. “Open forums for students within the class or in the community are important, and I feel like this just deepens the divisions between students,” Graham said. “It’s very polarizing in terms of red and blue.”

Wed. November 11, 2020 5

Stat of the week

Lanto Griffin will make his first career appearance at the Masters this week in Augusta, Georgia at Augusta National.

Athletics to allow limited basketball spectators Illustration by Lauren Johnson

BEN MALAKOFF Contributing Writer

It’s been more than 250 days since men’s basketball last played a game at the Stuart C. Siegel Center. In fact, there has not been a game played in the Broad Street arena since March 3 due to COVID-19. Now with the team looking forward to a late November return, VCU is implementing a plan to allow fans back into games. The Rams will travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to play Charlotte on a to-be-determined date and the University of Tennessee on Nov. 27. The home opener hasn’t been announced yet, but the Rams will host Mount St. Mary’s on Dec. 5 and Old Dominion on Dec. 12 at the Siegel Center. The Siegel Center will be following Virginia’s phase 3 reopening protocol, which allows up to 1,000 fans in the venue, said Nate Doughty, assistant athletic director for facilities and event management. There will be 150 tickets put aside for students, as well as a group of tickets marked off for family and friends of coaches and student-athletes. The rest will be allocated for donors to the Ram Athletic Fund and sold as season tickets, according to Kevin Jackson, associate athletic director for external operations. The facility’s E.J. Wade Arena, which normally seats more than 7,600 spectators, has sold out over 150 consecutive men’s basketball games, dating back to the 2011 season. Fans will have to follow social distancing guidelines in the arena. Only households will be allowed to sit together in groups

of four and two, separated from others by 6 feet. Students will have to remain 6 feet apart from each other at all times. The first four rows of the Siegel Center will not be open to any fans, Jackson said, leaving roughly 25 feet of space between players and spectators. “That creates a barrier from the fans and the people on the court and on the playing surface,” Jackson said. Jackson said human contact will be limited by a shift to digital ticketing. “The experience itself will be a lot of the same things you see around at the grocery store,” Doughty said. “Masks are going to be required for everyone. All the personal precautions — wash your hands, social distance.” In comparison to University of Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, which seats more than 14,500 people, VCU’s guidelines are fairly similar. Both follow Gov. Ralph Northam’s “Forward Virginia” plan, which was announced in May to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. University of Virginia will allow up to 1,000 fans in the arena and require masks with six-feet social distancing at all times. Concession locations at the Siegel Center will be limited, but the menu options will stay the same. The north concession stands across from team benches will “probably” not be open, Doughty said. Food and drink locations in the lobby will remain open and lines will be “queued appropriately.” These guidelines are subject to change depending on future recommendations from the commonwealth, Doughty said. If

restrictions are increased or lifted in the coming weeks, the Siegel Center will follow. “We are definitely going with the flow,” Doughty said. “We can only do a thousand right now, but if in some circumstance in January, they open it up to 2,000 people, we will be ready to go ahead and release those seats to be sold.” Doughty said since there is a limited number of fans, the normal entrances at the east and west lobbies will be used. There will be no set arrival times for fans coming into games, and doors will open an hour before tip-off. Jishnu Purihella, a VCU alumnus and fan of the team, said he has mixed feelings on spectators being permitted in the arena. “I think it’s great that fans are in if proper precautions Men’s basketball is planning to admit 1,000 fans at games are taking place, but it’s very inside the Stuart C. Siegel Center, pictured above. risky,” Purihella said. Photo by Meaghen Flynn Purihella said he would not attend a game because he does not want “Of course the inner fan in me wants evto “risk possibly contracting COVID.” eryone to be allowed in to create the havoc Taylor Jackowski, a junior at VCU that we normally do on gameday,” Jackowsand social media director for the Row- ki said. “However, the pandemic we’re living dy Rams student section, supports the through right now shouldn’t be ignored, so department’s decisions and will plan on we will just have to adjust.” attending games.

6 The Commonwealth Times

PRESS BOX

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Men’s basketball in prime position to disprove early polls RYAN GRUBE Contributing Writer

S THE RAMS PREPARE TO KICK off the 2020-21 campaign, coach Mike Rhoades and company find themselves near the bottom of early preseason polls and rankings. While VCU shouldn’t be the undisputed favorite to finish atop the conference, the black and gold are in a great position to silence the doubters. CBS Sports basketball insider Jon Rothstein released an early power rankings list that has VCU sitting at No. 10 in the Atlantic 10, which would mark the Rams’ lowest finish since joining the conference in 2012. Rothstein’s rankings have Saint Louis, Richmond and Dayton sitting at the top, with George Washington, LaSalle, Saint Joe’s and Fordham as the only teams below VCU. But with a combination of youth and vital offseason moves, the black and gold are a sure bet to exceed such atypical, low expectations. Before the 2019-20 season, men’s basketball was picked to capture the A-10 conference title, receiving 19 first-place votes over the likes of Davidson and Dayton. The confident pick came just one year after VCU went 16-2 in conference play, securing the No. 1 seed by two games. The Rams essentially lost their entire starting lineup that opened the 2019-20 campaign. Senior forward Marcus Santos-Silva, VCU’s leading scorer last season, opted in April to transfer to Texas Tech for his final season of play. Meanwhile, VCU graduated seniors Marcus Evans, Issac Vann, Mike’L Simms and De’Riante Jenkins, who — combined with Santos-Silva — started the team’s first 14 games of the 2019-20 season. It’s easy to write off the Rams with such a massive haul lost in the offseason. Santos-Silva, Evans, Vann, Jenkins and Simms accounted for 67% of the team’s point production on a pergame basis last year.

However, as they’ve notoriously done in the past –– ranking in the top 100 of recruiting classes every year since 2012 –– VCU reloaded ahead of its 2020-21 schedule. Coach Rhoades and his staff enter the season with the No. 57-ranked class in the nation. The class is headlined by 3-star point guard Ace Baldwin from St. Francis Academy in Baltimore. Baldwin is expected to make an immediate impact in the Rams’ backcourt, joining fellow 3-star recruits Jamir Watkins from Trenton, New Jersey, Josh Banks from Charlotte, North Carolina, and Mikeal Brown-Jones from Bradenton, Florida, to form VCU’s 2020 freshman class. The four freshmen help complete a roster already oozing with young talent. Sophomore guard Bones Hyland set the single-season program record for 3-pointers made by a freshman with 63 in 2019-20, and he became the Rams’ first all-rookie team selection since Melvin Johnson in 2013.

Stockard arrives with experience –– having been a part of three NCAA Tournament teams for the Wildcats –– and will have one year of eligibility remaining with the Rams. “We are super excited to have Levi join our VCU family,” Rhoades said in May. “He fits our needs and style of play tremendously. He will be put into a leadership role from the start, and we can’t wait to get started working with him.” Meanwhile, Medley-Bacon finished No. 31 in the nation in blocked shots per game last year with 2.1 per contest. He’s become VCU’s first 7-footer since former fan-favorite DJ Haley, who played from 2010-13. Medley-Bacon and Stockard received waivers from the NCAA on Nov. 5, and they were declared immediately eligible for the upcoming season. Under current NCAA rules, both players needed the waiver to avoid having to sit out a year before playing for the Rams. The additions provide the Rams with much-needed depth in their frontcourt and two athletic, rim-running big men that should RAM STAT create havoc for opposing teams. The Rams also have sophomore forward Hason Ward, who progressed nicely throughTransfer Brendan out last season, recording 15 blocks in just 171 Medley-Bacon was No. minutes of action. Add Ward into the mix, along with red31 in the U.S. in blocked shirt-senior forward Corey Douglas, and the shots per game in 2019. black and gold enter the 2020-21 slate with one Baldwin should serve as crucial depth at of the deeper frontcourts in the conference. guard behind Hyland. And with their abilities There are a lot of questions surrounding to run the floor in transition and get to the rim, the black and gold as they prepare to open the Watkins, Banks and Brown-Jones will give 2020-21 season with such a young roster that VCU options at forward. hasn’t proven much. VCU was also aggressive in the transfer porBut, there is just too much talent and depth at tal. Following the departure of Santos-Silva, the every position to write this team off. With a lineRams were left with an immense void at the up that presents Rhoades and his staff with unforward and center positions. limited options, the Rams should have no problem Rhoades went out and secured the trans- surpassing their projection in the early rankings. fer commitments of 6-foot-8-inch forward In a year where offseasons have been overLevi Stockard from Kansas State, along with shadowed by COVID-19, keep an eye out for 7-foot-1-inch Coppin State transfer Brendan VCU in the A-10. Medley-Bacon.

Wed. November 11, 2020 7

On this day

In 1918, the Allies and Germany signed an armistice to officially end World War I. This day became known as Veteran’s Day in the U.S.

REST IN PIECES:

Justin Torone, co-owner of Rest in Pieces, inspects a table of skulls. The shop features the heads of two-headed beings, a hippo, a human and other animals. Photo by Enza Marcy

Shop nestles curiosity with one-of-a-kind, niche products CLAIRE DARCY Contributing Writer

BEHEADED HUMAN SKELETON SITS ON a red velvet armchair inside the shop on South Laurel Street, joined by a taxidermied skunk in its lap and a similarly stuffed hyena at its heel. The trio are surrounded by thriving green plants — a delicate balance between the living and the dead. Visitors to Rest in Pieces at 349 S. Laurel St. will find animal and non-animal products behind its black, brick frame, etched with white letters that read “ODDITIES & CURIOSITIES.” “It’s this immediate overwhelming, immersive experience in the store, and that’s what we want,” said co-owner Justin Torone. Rest in Pieces is unique to Richmond and the only store

of its kind in Virginia, Torone said. He owns and operates the store with his girlfriend, Alaina Gearhart. “We try to sell things that you won’t find anywhere else in the city or in the state of Virginia,” Torone said. “We try to bring in just crazy stuff that will be something different to look at.” Items for sale include mammal skulls, taxidermied animals, framed bugs, plants, incense and crystals. Torone said this selection often causes the business to get labeled as a “goth shop,” although he prefers to view it as a “lifestyle store.” Every product is hand-picked by Torone and Gearhart, and as a result, the shop reflects many of their personal tastes — such as Gearhart’s passion for plants and Torone’s love for skulls. “The first time I got a giraffe skull … I literally couldn’t believe my eyes that I had such a beautiful creature’s skull sitting right in front of me,” Torone said. All animal

Rest in Pieces at 349 S. Laurel St. is a lifestyle shop that specializes in taxidermy animals, skulls, bones, specimens and other oddities. Photo by Jay Stonefield

items sold in the store are ethically sourced; the store does not encourage hunting for taxidermy, but instead partners with farms and zoos for recently deceased specimens. These partnerships tend to begin with a group reaching out to the shop with inquiries about items they no longer need. For example, farms may process livestock for meat but have no use for an animal’s head, so rather than throwing it out, they can sell it to the store. “A lot of the taxidermy pieces, we actually know exactly where they came from,” said store manager Tazmine Beggs. “We have a baby zebra in the shop that passed away at the Pittsburgh Zoo and a lemur that passed away at another zoo.” Beggs said Rest in Pieces prides itself on its cleanliness and customer service, striving to maintain a clean aesthetic. The store offers custom preservation services, such as taxidermy or skull preservation — both often utilized by pet owners. The store partners with a local taxidermist for preservations and utilizes its own fleet of dermestid beetles — a type of beetle that eats flesh — for skull cleaning. “It’s important to me to offer that service for people,” Torone said. “Bringing it up to people was a kind of taboo subject. We’re not like that here. We’re not going to make you feel uncomfortable or weird about anything, and we’re very open about death.” The shop also offers preservation through the creation of a wet specimen. Wet specimens are fixed with a formaldehyde solution and kept in a jar filled with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Typical wet specimens in the store include snakes and frogs. Torone and Gearhart founded Rest in Pieces in the summer of 2014. The couple began collecting unusual items and sold

them out of their home until they found a storefront in 2015. Torone said it was initially difficult to find a building because most landlords did not understand the couple’s vision for their business. “A lot of people kind of laughed at us when we said what we wanted to do, what our store was going to be and what we were going to sell,” Torone said. “It seemed like no one understood it and no one wanted to understand it.” The store’s first location was a 500-square-foot building in the Fan District. In January 2017, the store closed its doors to prepare for a relocation to a larger space. In April of the same year, Rest in Pieces opened its new and current location in Oregon Hill, where it now sits near Hollywood Cemetery. The store tends to receive foot traffic from VCU students and tourists. “We’ve quickly turned into more of a destination-point shop, where people are coming to Richmond just to come to our store,” Torone said. Freshman psychology major Ellis Miscavage discovered Rest in Pieces shortly before moving to campus while searching online for Richmond attractions. “When I first walked in I was like, ‘this is the coolest place I’ve ever been to,’” Miscavage said. Miscavage has purchased merchandise from the store and admires the extensive selection of crystals and its overall inclusive environment. “It’s for everyone. Anyone who would visit a museum would come and visit our store,” Torone said. “We’re very welcoming and happy to have anyone come through our shop.”

8 The Commonwealth Times

Students use fashion to raise awareness about human trafficking EBONIQUE LITTLE Staff Writer This story contains information about human trafficking and may be unsettling to some readers. If you or someone you know is affected, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Most students bundle up in chunky sweaters, fleece-lined pants and snow boots to trek across campus during the winter. But in December, six VCU students insist on only wearing dresses. “I get questions like, ‘Sammy, it’s like, four degrees outside, why are you wearing a dress again?’” said biology major Samara Shabon. Dressember at VCU uses attire to educate people about human trafficking, or the forceful trade of individuals for labor or sexual exploitation. Shabon said her peers have been supportive, and some have donated to the cause. “It sparks conversation,” said Shabon, president of the VCU chapter. “Then, people get awareness about what human trafficking is.” The group uses donations to support human trafficking preventive programs, efforts to identify and free people who have been trafficked and comprehensive care for survivors. Dressember was founded in 2009 by CEO Blythe Hill. Since then, thousands of people have participated in the style challenge, raising more than $10 million for human trafficking survivors. When Shabon came to VCU in the fall of 2019, she said making a Dressember chapter at VCU was a priority. Shabon got involved with Dressember’s national organization in high school and wanted to continue social justice advocacy through a student group. “The first thing that I did was I looked around for an anti-human trafficking organization,” Shabon said. “There’s like two, but they weren’t very active.” The sophomore reached out to students at Honors College events, sharing facts about human trafficking in Richmond to gauge interest in starting a VCU chapter of Dressember. Shabon said starting the chapter was easy. She signed up to be an advocate on the organization’s website and expressed interest in making a school-affiliated team. “We, as VCU students who live in Richmond, think of it as like this cool, urban city,” Shabon said. “And we’re so privileged to think that because Richmond is like one of the worst cities in Virginia for human trafficking.”

Richmond is favorable to human traffickers because interstates 64, 95 and 295 all intersect in the area, according to the Richmond Justice Initiative. In 2019, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 11,500 survivors or victims of sex and labor trafficking. In Virginia, the hotline reported 189 cases last year. “People don’t really know how prevalent human trafficking is,” Shabon said. “They don’t know that it exists in their own country — in their own backyard.” Stunned by the statistics, biology major Manitha Mulpuru joined Shabon’s initiative in 2019. “I didn’t understand its prevalence,” Mulpuru said. “I felt obligated to take part in it and make a difference in any way that I can because the world is a messed up place.” Mulpuru now serves as communications liaison for Dressember at VCU. She informs professors and students about the realities of human trafficking and encourages them to get involved in the club. The sophomore said raising awareness in-person has been difficult during COVID-19. This year, the group plans to wear dresses every day at home and document their journeys on social media. Mulpuru said they’ve also reached out to students from different departments at VCU to help spread the word. VCUarts students created infographics for the group’s social media. Bioinformatics major Mallika Datta, who served as Dressember’s treasurer in 2019, said the pandemic motivated her to expand her role in the organization. “Due to the ongoing pandemic and everything, I just felt like I wasn’t doing anything,” Datta said. “I wasn’t giving back to the community in the way I should.” In her sophomore year, Datta is now the vice president of advocacy, creating posters on campus and brainstorming other creative methods to educate the public. Datta said other students’ curiosity and donations mean a lot to her, and the group hopes to help survivors around the world. “Even though it’s such a miniscule part, I feel like I’m a part of something bigger and something that’s really important,” Datta said.

Clockwise from top left, Dressmber at VCU members Manitha Mulpuru, Samara Shabon, Katherine Noble, Shahad Musa, Jasmine Ngyuen and Mallika Datta wear dresses every day of December to raise awareness for human trafficking. Photo courtesy of Dressember at VCU

VCUarts annual magazine exemplifies artists’ role in creating social change GRACE MCOMBER Contributing Writer Before opening this year’s edition of the VCUarts annual magazine, readers are struck with a portrait of George Floyd overlaid on a map of Minneapolis. The powerful image featured on the publication’s front cover represents its central theme: social change. “His image has become a symbol that should remind us, as a society, to strive for equality, inclusion and equity,” said Suzanne Silitch, the art school’s executive director for strategic communications. “I couldn’t have imagined featuring anything or anyone else on the cover at this specific moment in history.” Floyd, an unarmed Black man, died in May after he was detained by Minneapolis police with an officer’s knee on his neck. His death sparked nationwide protests over police brutality. Since 2006, the arts department has published at least one edition of Studio, an online and print magazine, to showcase the work of VCUarts alumni, staff and students from the school’s various departments. “Each edition of Studio is a representation of a moment in time in our school’s history,” Silitch said in an email. “This year is no exception.” Production began in late January, starting with developing a theme, finding design inspiration, writing stories and sourcing content. “It is a time-consuming process, but one that is extremely rewarding,” Silitch said. “Especially when we get to tell the successes of VCUarts students.” The team had to shift to virtual production in March, which meant changing story ideas and finding topics that would remain relevant in the fall. Silitch said some of the changes presented new opportunities for creativity. The cancellation of in-person art events posed challenges for getting photos, and a lack of resources restricted the magazine’s production. “We didn’t want to show Zoom screens for everything because that gets old fast,” Silitch said. “This actually turned into a great opportunity for us to explore illustration and typography for our visuals — which I think were extremely successful.” Inside this year’s Studio, readers can find stories from fall 2019 to summer 2020, including an introduction to the newly inducted VCUarts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham, photos of the VCUarts Qatar virtual “Color Lab” exhibition and general news about the school. The Studio team was made up mostly of VCU alumni — including photographer Steven Casanova, art director Emily

VCUarts’ online publication, “Studio,” features stories about VCU students as well as alumni from Richmond and Qatar. Photo by Alessandro Latour

The cover art of the 2020 edition of Studio, created by VCUarts grad student Eric Millikin, features the likeness of George Floyd overlaid on a street map of Minneapolis. Photo by Alessandro Latour Yaeyoung Park, contributing writer Richard DiCicco and senior associate director of communications Teresa Engle Ilnicki. VCUarts Associate Director of Print and Digital Content Kim Catley and Silitch worked closely with the dean to select stories for the magazine. The theme of the issue, “change,” was decided in January as a way to signify how VCUarts students, alumni and staff have utilized their art for social good. This has remained the focus throughout the pandemic and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. “We knew we had a really strong story to tell about the ‘change makers,’” Silitch said. “The pandemic and the social unrest sparked by the killing of George Floyd only augmented this theme.” DiCicco, who helped plan stories for the magazine, said one of the biggest challenges was considering which stories would still be relevant when Studio was published. “This is just a problem with magazines. You plan out everything and you’re ready for small changes, you’re ready for some things to go wrong,” DiCicco said. “But you’re not ready for everything to go wrong.” DiCicco worked as a full-time arts writer for the department’s communications office since 2017 and wrote nine stories in Studio. The 2014 VCUarts alum said he was laid off “due to budgetary issues” in July and was not included in much of the execution of the final publication. Despite changes made during production, the issue highlights some of 2020’s historic events, starting with Floyd on the front cover. Created by MFA candidate Eric Millikin, the piece is a part of his ongoing series, “Street Portraits,” which documents Black Americans who have been killed by police since 2010. “The idea is to memorialize these people and make sure they’re not forgotten and what happened to them is not forgotten,” Millikin said. “It being on the cover of Studio hopefully gets to people that might not necessarily see something in that context otherwise.” Millikin said he hopes this year’s publication will showcase the talent at VCUarts and the school’s commitment to the Richmond community and social justice. “Hopefully, people will pick up the magazine and maybe think about the same things that I think about or have the same reaction I have,” Millikin said. “There are so many little things that can push you in a certain direction, and that’s how you make change.”

Wed. November 11, 2020 9

UPCOMING EVENTS See something

THURS. 11/12 ‘This is Us: Mental Health in Art and Story’

A student showcase of art and written works will explore themes of mental health. Hosted by VCU groups Storytelling & Healing and Active Minds, this virtual event is free. Viewers can register through the Zoom link on Storytelling & Healing’s Instagram page. For more information, contact the organization’s vice president, Elysia Lin, at lineh@vcu.edu. 6 - 7 p.m., @story_and_heal on Instagram

FRI. 11/13 Holiday music with Richmond Symphony

From left, VCU’s Black Theatre Association members Darren M. Johnson, Kellie Bolden, Khadijah Franks, Asjah Janece Heiligh, Trinitee Pearson, Obadiah Parker sit together onstage. Photo by Alessandro Latour

VCU theatre club provides artistic safe space for Black students IMAN MEKONEN Spectrum Editor

“Racism in theatre is built around racism in America,” the senior said. “So when that happens, it goes into every other facet of life, KOFI MFRAMA i.e. theatre, movies and dance.” On Saturday, the organization collaboContributing Writer rated with the Playwright Club at VCU for “Blue Light Past, on Thy Brother’s Path” tells “A Night of Culture,” a competition that feathe tragic, yet common story of police bru- tured three one-act plays written by Black, tality against a young, Black man. The play Indigenous and other artists of color. was one of three shown during a competiStudents competed for the chance to tion held by the Black Theatre Association have their play filmed by F.A.D.E.D. Proat VCU, an organization for Black students ductions, a Richmond-based production entering the theatre industry. and entertainment company. The liveOrganized in fall 2019 by theatre per- streamed Saturday event is available to formance major Trinitee Pearson and VCU watch on the Black Theater Association at alumnus Camarey Chambliss, the group pro- VCU’s Facebook page. vides resources and outlets to Black students “Blue Light Past, on thy Brother’s Path,” looking to gain exposure in the industry. directed by Christopher Martin and written “We created a sense of community, by Darren M. Johnson won the first round friendship and family within our depart- of the competition. On Wednesday, the play ment,” Pearson said. will go against “Trilogy: A Three Part MuThe group provides theatre students with sic Video Movie” by Jamar Powers, and a a space for play readings, group discussions winner will be determined. and exposure-gaining activities, such as “With theatre we are all, in some sense, low-cost headshot photoshoots. telling a story,” said Johnson, senior theatre According to senior theatre major Oba- performance major and VCU Black Caucus diah Parker, the organization provides a safe member. “A night of one-acts is sort of built space for Black creatives to have open and on that –– being able to tell your story.” intellectual dialogue on the issue of race As part of its mission to increase Black and its pervasiveness in the theatre industry. visibility in theatre, the group has raised concerns about what they call a lack of diversity in the department. Pearson said the organization met with the theatre department over the summer to address concerns about Black representation at the school. Since the meeting, members say many professors asked for guidance increasing diversity in the department. In August, the theatre department released a statement condemning racism and stating theatre in the U.S. is “inextricably linked” with white supremacy. It stated the department is committed to developing anti-racist curricula and creDarren M. Johnson of the Black Theatre Association wrote ating a culture “where BI“Blue Light Past, on thy Brother’s Path” and performed it POC students feel seen and during “A Night of Culture.” Photo by Alessandro Latour all our students feel valued.”

The Black Theatre Association stemmed from VCU’s Black Caucus, which originally served as the “backbone of VCU’s minority organizations,” according to its Twitter page. Members of the caucus decided to increase communication and official group meetings through an organization specific to Black theatre students. Social media is the group’s main vehicle of promotion amid the pandemic. On Instagram, the group shares info about virtual movie nights and auditions for future productions.

Everyone can name Shakespeare, everyone can name these great, white playwrights But how many Black playwrights can you name?” Khadijah Franks, senior theatre performance major The student organization has been expanding membership through virtual readings of works by of Black playwrights, such as Pearl Cleage and Jeremy O. Harris. “Everyone can name Shakespeare, everyone can name all of these great, white playwrights,” said vice president and senior theatre performance major Khadijah Franks. “But how many Black playwrights can you name? How many Black shows can you think of off the top of your head?” The group said several summer events –– the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and police killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and other unarmed Black individuals –– gave members a sense of perseverance moving into the fall semester. “We felt like we couldn’t slow down and not be there and not provide a place for Black students in this theatre department,” Franks said.

Music director Valentina Peleggi will lead the Richmond Symphony as they play sounds of the holiday season. Musical selections will include the works of European composers Johannn Strauss, Richard Wagner and Franz Schubert. Attendees can purchase tickets for this socially-distanced show on the Richmond Symphony website. 7 - 8:30 p.m., Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 600 E. Grace St., $10+

Do something

THURS. 11/12 Weekly open mic night

Coffee shop Urban Hang Suite and entertainment company Unlocking RVA will host an open mic night where singers, emcees, poets, comics and musicians can join an Instagram Live to perform their choice of artwork. Attendees can participate alongside a variety of local artists every Thursday throughout the year. This event is free and can be accessed on Unlocking RVA’s Instagram page. 7 - 10 p.m., @unlockingrva on Instagram

SAT. 11/14 ‘Richmond Night Market’

This outdoor market will provide a platform for local artists and handmade crafts. Guests can explore creativity at this free event while enjoying live music and activities for all ages. TO THE EDITOR 5 - 10LETTER p.m., 17th Street Farmers Market, 100 N. 17th St.

Learn something

SAT. 11/14 ‘Paradox of Liberty: Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello’

Lives of the six enslaved families who lived at Thomas Jefferson’s plantation will be highlighted at this exhibit. Through documentaries and oral histories, guests will explore themes of marital and family devotion, religion, struggles to gain literacy and the pursuit of freedom. The event is free, but donations are encouraged. “Paradox of Liberty” will be on display until Nov. 29. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, 122 W. Leigh St., donations encouraged

SUN. 11/15 ‘Would I Lie to You?’ mural walks

This tour will lead guests on a journey through Monroe Ward, downtown and Jackson Ward while telling the stories of 25 murals. Participants will have to guess if stories are true or false. These tours occur every weekend with the option of exploring other neighborhoods. For ticketing and tour information, visit the event’s website. 2 p.m., wouldilietoyoumuralwalks.com, $15

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

10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“I raise up my voice — not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” — Malala Yousafzai

As seasons change and winter nears, our emotional health is at stake TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor Have you ever found yourself feeling more down as we near the winter? Have you wondered how the season’s change managed to affect your emotions? Have you ever heard of seasonal depression? I can answer all of these questions with a simple “yes.” The change in seasons, more specifically toward the winter, consistently takes over my emotions. I’ve always contemplated the drastic flip; I feel best in the fall but as the season nears its end, so does my joy. Suddenly, I’m riddled with unease and anxiety. I’d heard of seasonal depression — as I’m sure many of you have — but I never truly understood it. Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as seasonal depression or SAD, is not just a random feeling. Instead, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, it’s a type of depression that reoccurs seasonally and tends to last for the duration of the season. As students, we frequently find ourselves neglecting our own mental health in an effort to further our success. We prioritize education, internships, jobs, social life and everything in between, yet constantly forget to pause and collect our sanity. Many of us return home for winter break, isolating ourselves from friends and daily routines. That seclusion is enough to throw someone off. The depression and anxiety that stems from such a change is unfortunately unavoidable for many.

Illustration by Madeline De-Michele

This year, there is a fear that SAD will hit harder than ever. With COVID-19 already distancing us from our loved ones, that comfort we garner from their presence diminishes. Many of us won’t be celebrating the holidays with family and friends due to fears of traveling. My family’s annual Thanksgiving reunion is canceled, and I can attribute a lot of sadness to that. I have friends from other countries who have no way to go home for the holidays because of travel restrictions.

Cold weather and earlier sunsets make outdoor outings nearly impossible. In order to combat COVID-19, many of us have utilized the outdoors as a mode of social interaction. For college students who returned to campus this semester, winter break is going to feel like reliving the quarantine period over the spring and summer. If you or someone you know is struggling with SAD, please visit The National Institute of Mental Health for information

and treatments including light therapy, psychotherapy and medication. Students can contact University Student Counseling for virtual meetings, support groups and resources by visiting counseling.vcu.edu or calling 804-828-6200 during business hours. Your emotions are always valid, regardless of season. However, with the season in transition, please don’t allow your mental health to falter.

Tea Time with Tagwa Kamala, the Black community got you elected. Now, we expect greatness. TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor Tea timers, the wait is over. There will be a Black female leader in the White House. To say it has been an exhausting few days would be an understatement. For nearly a week, people in America and around the world sat at the edge of their seats and waited for the news — our 46th president will be former Vice President Joe Biden. With the president-elect decided, we now have a vice president-elect: Senator Kamala Harris of California. As I proceed through this story, it should be noted that my political ideology is set aside. I am not politically attached to Harris. The support stated throughout is simply in solidarity with a fellow Black woman. So, let’s get started. MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, where do I even begin? The audacity of a Black woman to sit in one of the highest offices in the country is heartwarming. The pain felt

by old white men and racist Americans as community put into getting you in the they watch your beautiful, Black face plas- White House. Take note of our love and tered all over their television screens is de- care for you and return the same compassion. lightful. I can only imagine the anger felt Madam Vice President, I urge you to throughout the Midwest. deflect any form of disrespect. Don’t allow You are a step this country to make you pick a side. You in the direction are a woman, and you are Black. Your inof the progress tersectionality is empowering; there is this countr y no right side. Fight for women and needs. Madam fight for minorities — there is no Vice President, I exclusivity between the two. hope you take this Similarly to how I felt after forpower to finally look out mer President Barack Obama’s for your fellow Black Amerelection, today, I feel hopeful. icans. You haven’t had the best Don’t get me wrong: We track record with your prioritizaare far from the evolution tion of Black people. and racial equality we You spent 27 years as a need. However, there’s prosecutor in California, a an unmatched sweetstate where African Americans ness to seeing a Black are five times as likely to be imwoman in a building built prisoned. As the state’s attorney centuries ago by enslaved general, you enforced laws that African Americans. disproportionately sent Black Madam Vice President, people to prison. So, I pray with you in office, my you see the effort the Black Illustration by Karly Andersen hopes to sit in a position

of power become more real. With you in office, Black girls across the nation feel the satisfaction of winning. With you in office, the minority community has a friend in their corner. This nation’s countless attempts at preventing female rise is closer to being over. You are the first woman, first Black woman, and first person of South Asian descent to hold the title. But, it doesn’t sit well in my soul to know that you haven’t truly looked out for minorities in the past. I cannot emphasize enough how much we need you to utilize your position and power to help uplift us to our deserved equality. You’ve danced with the cops, now show us that Black lives truly matter. Hold those who have attacked us accountable. Help create legislation that will protect us. Be strong for us. History was made this year. Regardless of political ideology, give credit where it’s due. Madam Vice President, we are expecting greatness from you. Please don’t disappoint us. And that’s the tea.

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

THE CT STAFF

Dress to Impress by Lauren Johnson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrew Ringle ringlea@commonwealthtimes.org 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

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Andy Caress designers@vcustudentmedia.com

Imagine All The People by Audrey Garrett

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jayce Nguyen Ni Sang Raymond Liu Gabrielle Wood designers@vcustudentmedia.com AD SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 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

The Power of Thought by Sarah Brady

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.

ADD YOUR VOICE The opinions pages of the CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Tagwa Shammet, by mail or in-person at 817 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Commonwealth Times. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The CT staff. The Commonwealth Times strives for accuracy in gathering news. If you think we have made an error, please email the appropriate section editor. Corrections will appear on the news pages and/or online. One CT per person. Additional copies can be purchased at the Student Media Center for $1 each.

16 The Commonwealth Times 12 The Commonwealth Times

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

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