‘ADAM’S LAW’

Senate Bill 439 passes unanimously through the Virginia Senate

“Today. it was 380!!!,” stated Eric Oakes in an email in regards to senate votes on the bill.

“Adam’s Law,” named after Adam Oakes, is one of the two anti-hazing bills the Oakes family have been working on since Feb. 2021. Adam Oakes, who was a freshman at the time, died on Feb. 27, 2021 at a Delta Chi Fraternity house on West Clay Street, according to a statement made by VCU.

Oakes’ cousin, Courtney White, said she has been working on anti-hazing legislation alongside legislators and hopes to use his story to address the issue of hazing on college campuses.

“We have been able to utilize Adam’s story for every single part of both bills, everything that we have modified in terms of education and punishment, we have used Adam’s story as the ‘why,’” White said. “This is why this is important. This is why this is crucial.”

Eric Oakes, Adam Oakes’ father, has been working on the legislation with White. Eric Oakes stated that representatives from some Virginia colleges have worked with the family on the bills.

“I would like to add that VA Tech, UVA, James Madison, Radford, ODU and Longwood all had representatives there that met with us and we were able to work out some slight changes and make amendments in support of this legislation now,” Eric Oakes stated in an email. “Take notice who wasn’t present, at least if any others were present they didn’t connect with any of us.”

VCU spokesperson Matt Lovisa did not comment on the two anti-hazing bills, due to the university’s policy of not commenting on pending legislation, he stated in an email.

In an email from James Madison University spokesperson Mary-Hope Vass, she stated that the university does not comment on pending legislation, but “appreciates the efforts from the bill patrons and the family.”

White said she hopes the preventative measures set in place by the bills will help protect other students and families from hazing.

SB 439, will require universities to publicly report hazing and other misconduct beginning at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

“Every university will have to put found incidents of hazing, of misconduct, of all these things that we wished, as Adam’s family, we had known about Delta Chi,” White said. “They would have to publish all of this on a website so other students can see.”

The bill requires an adviser present at all official organization events, with some exceptions. Advisers will be required to educate Greek life members and new members about hazing.

SB 439 will allow amnesty from “disciplinary action based on hazing or personal consumption of drugs or alcohol” for those who report an act of hazing during or after another individual has endured serious bodily harm.

“When you look at that amnesty clause in this bill, that is to say when you see something you say something, you get someone help,” White said.

SB 440, the other bill the Oakes family has been working on, makes hazing a Class 5 felony if it results in death or serious bodily injury to any person. Hazing that does not result in a death or injury is still a Class 1 misdemeanor. This bill includes a similar amnesty clause to SB 439. SB 440 is yet to be brought to the senate floor.

Eric Oakes said in an interview that he felt it was important to hold the larger organization responsible if it is aware of hazing.

We have been able to utilize Adam’s story for every single part of both bills, everything that we have modified in terms of education and punishment, we have used Adam’s story as the ‘why.’ This is why this is important. This is why this is crucial.”

Courtney White, Adam Oakes’ cousin

VCU’s Delta Chi chapter was suspended for four years in 2018 due to multiple infractions. The university ended up lifting the suspension after only one year, despite the chapter’s history of rule breaking, according to an article by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“Had they not rescinded that four-year suspension … Adam would be alive today,” Eric Oakes said.

The bill states that organizations which are aware of hazing and do not intervene will receive civil penalties.

One of the 11 arrested for hazing Adam Oakes, Andrew White, pled guilty in December to two Class 1 misdemeanor charges of unlawful hazing of a student and buying alcohol for a minor.

Andrew White’s sentencing is scheduled for March 1, at 9 a.m., according to the Virginia Judiciary Court Systems website. Andrew White is not related to Adam Oakes’ cousin, Courtney White.

Ten other former Delta Chi brothers were charged with unlawful hazing of a student and are awaiting future court dates and jury trials according to the Virginia Judiciary Court Systems website.

White has worked closely with legislators such as Del. Kathleen Murphy, D-McLean, and Virginia Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Herndon, to push for the bills.

“In the senate, Jennifer Boysko who is really patroning, she has been crucial in pioneering this and really getting it to fruition for us. And then Kathleen Murphy of course in the House of Delegates has too and even Sen. Jennifer McClellan has played a big part,” White said.

White extended her thanks to the students of VCU for helping the Oakes family during this difficult time.

“The students at VCU have been instrumental in ways they don’t even understand. That vigil, creating that vigil for Adam meant so much to our family,” White said.

Correction

The full version of the story is available online at commonwealthtimes.org

Stat of the week

Senior forward Vince Williams Jr. was named the A-10 Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for games played Jan. 24-30. Williams racked up a career-high of 22 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and the gamewinning three-pointer versus the Richmond Spiders on Jan. 27.

ARRICK WILSON Sports Editor

EBRON JAMES HAS HAD pressure to be great his entire life. The Akron, Ohio native was put into the spotlight at the young age of 18 and scouted as one of the greatest NBA draft prospects by many analysts. The spotlight has amplified as the Lakers are struggling to stay on track to the NBA playoffs.

James became the first-ever NBA player to score a record of 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 9,000 assists in a career, on Jan. 19, according to Basketball-Reference.

Even with all these personal accomplishments and accolades, the Los Angeles Lakers are still struggling to stay in playoff contention.

Popular ESPN writer and commentator Stephen A. Smith commented on the Lakers struggles expressing they were a huge disappointment.

“I’m bringing my brooms because it’s a mess. That’s what the Lakers are, they’re an absolute mess,” Smith said on his show “First Take.”

It wasn’t always like this. In 2020, the Lakers won the NBA Finals versus the Miami Heat, defeating teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. James spent another season in his hyperbaric chamber, defying age limits while earning the NBA finals’ most valuable player accolade. After winning the title, James went on to say how difficult it was to come on top during a press conference.

“It’s probably been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done as far as a professional, as far as committing to something and actually making it through,” James said.

The Lakers have hit its lowest of lows, currently ninth in playoff contention in the Western Conference. Now, who should fans point the finger at for this series of awful playing? One may say Russell Westbrook, or as NBA fans know him, “Westbrick,” for constantly missing shots. The former MVP was once in his prime, averaging double digits in three categories, known as a triple-double, finishing last season with an average of 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists per game, according to Basketball-Reference.

This season, Westbrook has fallen off. Fox Sports One television personality, Shannon Sharpe, criticized Westbrook after his horrible performances landed him on the bench in a game.

“How about shoot with a better efficiency? How about turning the ball over at not a higher rate as you’ve been doing?” Shannon said during his television show Undisputed. “The guy that was an MVP, the guy that’s been an All-NBA player.”

Not only has Westbrook played horribly, but James’ counterpart, Los Angeles Laker forward Anthony Davis has been fragile like glass, getting injured frequently. The three-time leader in blocks per game has been inactive due to lingering injuries and a recent Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) sprain, according to Basketball-Reference. It just seems as if Davis cannot stay healthy, constantly being injured and playing inconsistently.

Something simply has to give with this horrendous midseason push that the Lakers are going through. Here’s a solution: trade Westbrook for some promising and efficient players who will play well consistently.

Players like Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant or Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, who are both key players and have averaged double numbers this season, according to Basketball-Reference.

The Lakers organization should also look at the possibility of firing head coach Frank Vogel. Vogel has been given a very talented roster filled with four future NBA Hall of Famers, and besides one championship, what has he accomplished?

More recently, he benched Westbrook. Westbrook hasn’t been the best but benching him isn’t the solution. To put it simply, Vogel has to put the Lakers in a position to win, and he has not done that at all.

Sportswriter and television sports talk show host Tony Kornheiser criticized Vogel for benching Westbrook

“You can’t bring Russell Westbrook to your team, and then bench him in crunch time. He’s played in the league for 14 years and he’s going to the Hall of Fame. You can’t humiliate him,” Kornheiser said on ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption.”

James said he’s always endured a heavy responsibility since joining the league, when asked about taking on less burden for his team given Westbrook’s recent performances and Davis’ injuries.

“So, workload – I was 18 years old saving a franchise, so I don’t really understand a light workload,” James said in a press game conference.

The Lakers need to make a move, something needs to be done to preserve this season. At this point, it seems as if the Lakers are wasting the last years of James. Lakers Nation, fix it.

ARRICK WILSON Sports Editor

MEN’S BASKETBALL AND INdoor track have had early success in the season. Here’s an updated list of events to look forward to this week, with a mix of non-conference and conference matches.

The Women’s Capital City Classic against the Richmond Spiders will be held at The University of Richmond’s Robins Center. The rivalry between the Rams and the Spiders is still alive and well, as a loss against the Spiders ended the Rams’ fourgame winning streak last season.

The four-time Atlantic 10 champions will go against nationally ranked No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats. The black and gold were unable to face the Wildcats last season due to COVID-19 cancellations, accord ing to VCU Athletics.

The black and gold defeated the Dayton Flyers in Dayton, Ohio on Jan. 5. The highly challenging contest was back and forth, but the Rams prevailed.

On Feb. 2, the Rams will host a rematch against the Flyers at the Siegel Center. The Rams are coming off a victory against formerly nationally ranked Davidson. It should be a good one in the “Stu.”

The reigning Atlantic 10 women’s tennis champions will face the Liberty University Flames from Lynchburg.

The Rams defeated the Flames 7-0, according to the Liberty University athletics, last season on April 7. VCU looks to defeat the Flames again, this time at VCU’s Thalhimer Tennis Center.

From Feb. 4-5, the indoor track program will head to Virginia Tech for the Doc Hale Elite Meet in Blacksburg, Virginia. After five successful meets, both programs look to further improve against multiple teams in Blacksburg.