The Commonwealth Times; September 22, 2021

Page 1

JOB SCRAMBLE

VCU struggles to staff on-campus dining locations

LINDSEY WEST

Contributing Writer

VCU DINING SERVICES IS CURRENTLY 175 people short of its employment goal according to Pam Neff, Aramark’s resident district manager. Dining locations are currently plagued by long lines, shortened hours and hiring signs across campus.

The decrease in foot traffic at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic forced staff cuts to be made for not only food service locations, but across all VCU departments, Neff said. In the 2020-21 academic year, VCUDine was down to about half of managerial staff, and few dining locations were open at a time. Student enrollment in Fall 2020 dropped by 686 students from the previous year, according to data from the university. With the return of students on campus in Fall 2021, dining locations are struggling to match how they operated before COVID-19.

“We knew that we were going to have a much more robust fall semester than we did last year,” Neff said, “but like everyone else, we didn’t know what that would look like.”

The university is striving to implement various hiring methods to increase the number of employees at on-campus dining locations; however, they are continuously understaffed, Neff said. Incentives for workers include free meals when working, discounted meal plans with payroll deductions, $150 referral bonuses and a $3 wage increase per hour for working after 4 p.m. and on weekends.

“With all of these incentives and things that we’ve put in place and all the advertising we’ve done, it has still been an immense struggle,” Neff said.

Richmond faced a loss of over 60,000 nonfarm jobs during June 2020 and has begun returning to normalcy, with hospitality — a broad service industry field including food service — having the greatest increase in job numbers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Richmond sits at

VCU Stomp ‘N’ Shake group hosts field day fundraiser to promote community, culture

a 27.8% increase in hospitality employees compared to the U.S. average of a 21.3% gain. VCU dining locations are not significantly increasing employment, Neff said.

We’re always open to hiring those student workers; whoever wants to come work for us, we’re willing to hire them”

“We’re seeing the difficulties, just in general across most industries, but especially the hospitality industry where we’ve been impacted by much higher wages being expected, and just for whatever reason, people were home for so long and it’s just really hard to get back into the workforce,” Neff said.

Some campus dining locations, like Starbucks and Shake Smart, are fully staffed, according to Neff. Finn Smith, a VCU junior, has been employed at the James Branch Cabell Library Starbucks since August 2020 and said he enjoys the class schedule flexibility and short commute, but feels wary about VCU’s COVID-19 protocols.

“They took away the screen protectors in front of the registers,” Smith said. “Students will come up and their masks will be under their nose or they won’t be wearing them at all and I think the students, frankly, don’t really care.”

VCU Libraries require masks to be worn at all times unless students are in a study room alone or “actively eating or drinking,” per the university’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Although the Cabell Library Starbucks is not understaffed, employees are still faced with a high demand level.

“I think they [VCU] didn’t really anticipate how much it would be coming back,” Smith said. “In particular, the library isn’t understaffed, but we are seeing too many people. We can’t keep up with the amount of people that come in.”

VCU’s shutdown caused many staff members to find a long-term job elsewhere, Neff said. Alchemy Coffee, located next to the Murry N. DePillars Building, has consistently hired students to be one-third to half of its staff, according to Alchemy Coffee owner Eric Spivack. Spivack pays $15 an hour compared to VCU’s $12 an hour.

“They stick around during their academic career,” Spivack said. “We don’t really have much turnover in that sense. It’s close to where they are and we understand the structure of class schedules.”

VCUDine plans on continuing to hire students as quickly and efficiently as possible, Neff said.

“We’re always open to hiring those student workers; whoever wants to come work for us, we’re willing to hire them,” Neff said.

VCU senior Raven Jefferson said she grew up around Stomp ‘N’ Shake cheer, the predominant style of cheer in her hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.

When she came to VCU after participating on her high school’s Stomp ‘N’ Shake team and serving as junior varsity captain, she said she felt like she did not fit in because there was not a team on campus at the time.

“I was able to do competition and Stomp ‘N’ Shake when I was younger,” Jefferson said. “So I just felt like both my needs weren’t satisfied when I came here.”

Jefferson is one of the original members of the Elite Rams, a Stomp ‘N’ Shake cheer group on campus founded in 2019, by VCU alumna Precious Prailow and current students Jasmine Gladney and A’miaya Poindexter. Jefferson became president in spring 2020 upon Prailow’s graduation. VCU has a competition Stomp ‘N’ Shake group, named Atomic Gold.

The Elite Rams practice Stomp ‘N’ Shake cheer rather than traditional cheerleading, which emphasizes stunts and tumbles. Although it is a student organization, it is not officially affiliated with VCU like the VCU cheerleading team or the Gold Rush dance team.

Stomp ‘N’ Shake cheer is a style of cheer that incorporates African American cultural aesthetics such as dance and stomp/step, which emphasizes footwork. The style originated in North Carolina and Virginia in the 1970s. Jefferson said with Elite Rams, she feels like she can teach others on campus about Black culture.

VOL. 63, NO. 5 SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2019, 2020 Newspaper Pacemaker Winner COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG @theCT
See Elite Rams on page 8 VCU Elite Rams members play a game of kickball at the organization’s field day, held at Petronius S. Jones Park on Sunday. Photo by Alessandro Latour Aramark signs are posted outside of VCU dining locations. Photo by Megan Lee Students order food at Twisted Taco, an on-campus restaurant that opened last school year. Photo by Megan Lee

Stories of the week

national: Veterans discharged because of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy are now eligible for full Veterans Affairs benefits.

international: Pfizer and BioNTech announce its COVID-19 vaccine is safe for children ages 5 to 11.

VCU researches received grant for $1.3 million for e-cigarette study

RESEARCHERS AT VCU WILL CONDUCT a study in early 2022 to examine electronic cigarette flavor regulations and their effect on African American menthol smokers.

VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers Caroline Cobb and Andrew Barnes were awarded a three-year grant of $1.3 million on July 1 from the National Institution on Drug Abuse to conduct this study, according to the researchers.

Cobb and Barnes’ previous collaborative work explores tobacco use behaviors, including e-cigarette and cigar smoking. Through this work, they noted a high prevalence of menthol cigarettes being used by adults and youth living in Virginia, with a focus on African American and lower-income communities.

Cobb explained how there is limited data surrounding communities where menthol cigarette use is prevalent. She also recognized how tobacco harms specific groups more than others, such as African Americans and low-income communities.

“I want to use my research to help reduce these disparities by informing equitable tobacco regulatory policy that will maximize health-promoting effects and minimize unintended consequences among African American smokers,” Cobb stated in an email.

Barnes said that the study will give more insight on the connection between African American menthol cigarette smokers and their relationship with e-cigarettes in an effort to reduce smoking.

“We expect that having access to menthol-flavored e-cigarettes may promote higher levels of e-cigarette use during the intervention period, resulting in reduced smoking and reduced exposure to tobacco-related toxins,” Barnes said.

The university adopted a smoke- and tobacco-free campus policy in June of 2019, to “provide a safe and healthy working and learning environment for faculty, students, staff and visitors on its campus.”

Junior business student Connor Murphy said he started using e-cigarettes because all of his friends were doing it and it seemed like the “cool thing to do.”

“When I first started smoking, certain vape flavors were more enticing than others. The flavors I liked were mango, cucumber and fruit medley Juul pods.

I am not sure I would be addicted to nicotine right now if it wasn’t for the good-tasting flavors,” Murphy said. “Now, flavors don’t affect my decision to smoke.

I do it for the nicotine it provides.”

Murphy also stated he would like to quit using nicotine soon if he can, but believes that due to the accessibility of vape devices, it will be difficult to quit.

In a 2020 tobacco survey conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3.6 million young adults are currently users of e-cigarettes. More than eight out of 10 of these smokers use flavored e-cigarettes, including mint, fruit and menthol flavors.

Cobb and Barnes will be conducting a short-term clinical trial beginning in early 2022 due to COVID-19 related setbacks. This study involves study participants

being randomly grouped into one of three conditions. These conditions are: access to menthol and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, access to tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes and access to unflavored e-cigarettes.

Participants are asked to replace their cigarettes with their assigned e-cigarette product as much as they can, but they are not penalized or incentivized for using their assigned product. Cobb and Barnes said they do this to see if smokers will replace their cigarettes with e-cigarettes for their nicotine intake and reduce their smoking of tobacco toxins.

The tobacco plant is the main ingredient in cigarettes, chewing tobacco and more, according to the U.S National Library of Medicine. Nicotine is the chemical found in tobacco leaves, which is highly addictive. E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco; instead they are made up of the chemical nicotine, flavors and other chemicals that are converted into vapor.

The primary measures of this clinical trial are through the participants self-reporting their smoking and e-cigarette use, physiological measures of tobacco and

e-cigarette exposure, and behavioral measures of abuse liability.

The participants will also be interviewed throughout the process. Cobbs and Barnes will ask questions about their experiences using the e-cigarette they were provided during the study, what they like and don’t like about it and what makes it easier or harder for them to use it instead of smoking their own brand of menthol cigarette.

In January of 2020, the FDA issued an enforcement policy to limit the sale of e-cigarette flavor options, including mint and fruit flavors, due to its appeal to kids. However, menthol-flavored e-cigarettes remain on the market as of now, according to the FDA.

“If e-cigarettes are intended to serve as cigarette substitutes for adults and not initiate products for youth, tobacco regulatory science research is needed among all populations, but particularly those at risk for tobacco-health disparities like African American smokers,” Cobb stated in an email.

University to honor previous graduates this fall

The university will honor May 2020, December 2020 and May 2021 graduates after the cancellation of their commencement ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a VCU News article.

Previous graduates will be welcomed back to campus earlier this fall as well for the university’s homecoming celebration. Graduate portraits will also be offered to

all students honored at the fall commencement ceremony. This will include May 2020, December 2020, May 2021 and December 2021 graduates.

“Graduates will be contacted by the University Events and Special Programs Office to register for commencement,” according to VCU News.

The university is continuing to monitor COVID-19 cases in Virginia, according to VCU’s news staff. Any updates on the upcoming celebrations can be found on VCU’s commencement website.

2 The Commonwealth Times
Andrew Barnes. Photo courtesy of Andrew Barnes Caroline Cobb. Photo courtesy of Caroline Cobb KATHARINE DEROSA Illustration by Lauren Johnson Students decorate their caps for the 2019 graduation commencement ceremony. CT File Photo

STUDENTS CONTEMPLATE SAFETY ON CAMPUS FOLLOWING SHOOTING

after the fact.

“It didn’t bother me too much because I know I’m living in the city, so things like this happen and the chances of it happening to a particular individual is low,” Manns said. “It was a little bit surprising, but at the end of the day, I know where I’m living.”

The shooting that took place on Sept. 11 is on VCU’s campus, according to the boundaries set by the VCU Police Department and the alert sent by the university. The alert system either characterizes the alert as on campus or off campus.

VCU’s official campus boundaries fall between Cumberland Street to the south and Marshall Street to the north. The western boundary of campus is Harrison Street, south of Grace Street. Campus boundaries expand to Ryland Street on the 1100 block of Grace Street and expand to Bowe Street on Broad Street, to include Bowe Street Parking Deck and the Stuart C. Siegel

the alert and texted his friends to check in with them.

“My friend was close by so I was really worried about what was going to happen to them,” Johnson said.

The junior, who is Black, said he believes he experienced racial profiling by VCU Police during his freshman year outside the same 7-Eleven where the shooting occurred. Johnson said an officer asked him to check his bag “just to make sure that everything is on the receipt.”

“I don’t really trust the VCU Police as it is and this sort of proves my point,” Johnson said.

Despite this, Johnson said he feels safe “for the most part” in Richmond. He believes the size of VCU PD needs to be decreased and the officers need more training.

“I feel like it’s sometimes too big, with that size you think shootings like this won’t happen,” Johnson said. “They still happen.”

Wed. September 22, 2021 3
Incident Information Center. Carver is located north of campus, the Fan is located ing is located 600 feet from where the incident occurred.
VCU Campus Boundaries The Fan District WCarySt. WBroadSt . NHarrisonSt. Hollywood Cemetery S. Belvidere St.
VCU
Jackson Ward
I don’t really trust the VCU Police as it is and this sort of proves my point,”
Oluwarotimi Johnson, junior environmental studies student An emergency call box is located on the side of university student housing building Grace and Broad. The dorm is located across the street from a recent on campus shooting. Photo by Alessandro Latour Infographic by Gabi Wood West Grace Street houses many campus locations, including dorms and dining locations. Photo by Alessandro Latour

Lack of menstrual products in university restrooms prompts questions from students

Contributing Writer

OVER 60% OF VCU STUDENTS ARE female according to the university website; however, student Kaitlyn Dawson said she doesn’t rely on menstrual product machines in the bathroom because they are “always empty.”

While Dawson can’t find products in the public campus restrooms, Ram Pantry, an organization aimed at reducing food insecurity and providing students with free and fresh produce, also provides students free hygiene and menstrual products such as pads, tampons and panty liners, according to university spokesperson Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth.

Disposable menstrual products, such as pads and tampons, are also provided through donations from other organizations such as RecWell and the Free Store. Every product at Ram Pantry is donated and free to students. The majority of period products, 80%, are donated by the Interfaith Campus Ministries Association, according to Mathews-Ailsworth. Disposable products such as pads and tampons are available, however reusable menstrual products, such as menstrual cups, have not been donated.

“I guess they [VCU] could make it more obvious that there’s stuff available,” Dawson said. “They should let people know and make it more available if there isn’t.”

University public relations did not respond in time after multiple contact attempts about how often menstrual product machines are filled and how much each product costs.

“University funds aren’t used to purchase anything for distribution by the Ram Pantry at this time, everything is on a

donated basis,” Mathews-Ailsworth stated in an email.

Other organizations on campus, such as Planned Parenthood Generation Action at VCU, have held menstrual product drives and donated the products to nearby organizations in the Richmond community.

Teenage girls say that they struggle to be able to afford tampons, pads and et cetera, and so of those, many say they’ve missed school or know somebody who has.”

Kayla Simpson, president of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at VCU, said providing free menstrual products is something that the organization has thought about doing and hopes to have a more active role in.

“It does sound like a good thing that we should definitely become a part of more, because VCU, I feel like, should have a more actionable role when it comes to that too,” Simpson said.

Assistant professor of political science, Jessica Trisko Darden, teaches a women and global politics course at VCU, and believes access to menstrual health products is closely related to education, because individuals may have anxiety related to attending classes while menstruating.

“I actually see this as an important access-to-education issue,” Trisko Darden said. “To the degree that the university is able to provide these products on campus, we’re actually helping ensure that our students are able to attend classes, able to participate in athletics and spend time in the library without having an additional stressor.”

Trisko Darden said if the university were to provide such free products on campus, they’d be helping to “level the playing field” for families and individuals, by not burdened them with this “additional cost because of their biological sex.”

“What we want to do is have them publicly accessible so that those who need to access them for free can,” Trisko Darden said.

Ram Pantry does not require people to provide proof of need when obtaining products and food, menstrual or otherwise, stated Mathews-Ailsworth.

Studies have shown that 84% of teenage girls in the U.S. have either missed school or know somebody who has while menstruating, according to the National Education Association.

Virginia Code 22.1-6.1 states that all school boards must have free menstrual products such as tampons and pads available in all middle and high school restrooms and in elementary schools “as it deems appropriate.” The code was established in 2020.

This past year, Richmond Public Schools have installed touchless, free menstrual product distributors in all girls bathrooms, locker rooms and in some gender-neutral bathrooms, according to RPS superintendent Jason Kamras.

Michelle Hudacsko, RPS chief of staff, said it was always something the school division wanted to do.

“Teenage girls say that they struggle to be able to afford tampons, pads and et cetera, and so of those, many say they’ve missed school or know somebody who has,” Hudacsko said.

The installation cost just under $200,000 between the cost of the dispensers, waste receptacles and the initial menstrual products, according to Hudacsko.

“We made it work, we moved some things around in our budget because it was a priority as we think about menstrual equity,” Hudacsko said.

In 2019, Senate Bill 1715 reduced the state sales and use tax on all menstrual products to 1.5%. Senate Bill 231 calls for the elimination of these taxes on all menstrual products. This bill passed in the state Senate in 2020 but has never made it past the Virginia House of Representatives.

“Just as we think about access to education, access to basic health and wellness things, we just knew that this was the right thing to do,” Hudacsko said.

CORRECTION

Last week, a story about single-use plastics misspelled the name of the food service company, Aramark. In a caption for a story about Puerto Rico Family Day, Marisol Sotolongo’s name was misspelled.

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

4 The Commonwealth Times
Illustration by Tia Blumenau

Stat of the week

VCU Women’s Soccer Samantha Jerabek was named Atlantic 10 Co-Offensive Player of the Week, as Sept. 20.

Women’s basketball athlete alleges unfair treatment from program

Former VCU women’s basketball player

Jenna Nelson is alleging unfair treatment and long-standing opposition from the women’s basketball program, brought on by “retaliation over ongoing issues in the treatment of walk-on players.”

Jada Nelson, the athlete’s sister, posted a five-paragraph statement on Instagram announcing her sister’s release from the women’s basketball team on Sept. 9.

“Since the beginning of Jenna’s basketball journey at VCU, she has faced a lot of opposition,” Jada Nelson stated in the photo’s caption. “She has constantly been given less opportunities and treated differently since she walked onto this D1 [Division I] team.”

Since then, the post has circulated on social media and has received almost 4,800 likes along with over 195 comments, as of Sept. 21.

Jenna Nelson joined the Rams in 2019 as a walk-on freshman and played in eight games over the course of two seasons, with a total of nine minutes played, according to her VCU Athletics profile.

The athlete alleges situations where she was “embarrassed, humiliated or felt belittled due to her walk on status.” The post also states that before the tryout, the athlete reached out to “administration and other people in charge in order to be treated fairly” as a walk-on athlete.

“It’s so hard to speak out about something that goes on without the knowledge of other people,” Jenna Nelson said in a phone interview. “I honestly did not expect that post to blow up the way it did.”

After her first two seasons, forward Lonica McKinney began her junior year with a bang by scoring five goals in two games.

“Usually I struggle a bit with getting the ball in the back of the net so to start off like that, I was really excited for the season,” McKinney said. “Hoping to continue that scoring streak once I get back out there.”

VCU won 7-1 at Villanova on Sept. 5 in what was McKinney’s most efficient game yet as a Ram. She managed to score four goals off of five shots, earning the Ram her first collegiate hat-trick. McKinney scored one goal during the Rams’ game against American on Aug. 27.

Recently, McKinney has missed four straight games this season due to an injury. Head coach Stacey Bean said that the junior forward will likely miss at least one of this coming weekend’s two home games.

McKinney’s offensive production has grown during her time as a Ram. She ended her freshman year with one goal on 11 shot attempts, earning her a 9% conversion rate. In a COVID-19 pandemic-shortened sophomore season, McKinney improved to a 14.3% conversion rate after scoring two goals on 14 shot attempts.

Although the sample size is small, McKinney’s latest conversion rate has skyrocketed to 62.5% after scoring on five of eight shots through her first two games of this season, according to VCU Athletics.

“She’s always been a very positive and hardworking player, that hasn’t changed,”

The NCAA defines a walk-on athlete as someone who is not typically recruited by a school to participate in a sport, nor receives financial aid, but becomes a member of an athletic team. Preferred walk-ons can earn a scholarship during their second season, but according to NCSAsports.org, “nothing is guaranteed.”

The post claims that Jenna Nelson was told that she would have to participate in tryouts for the team due to “high interest in the team” a week prior to the trials. After the walk-on trials, she was later released from the team.

According to Jenna Nelson, she was not required to try out as a walk-on after her first season ended, and it came as a surprise to the athlete, who is now a junior.

The post claims that during the tryouts, players had to scrimmage against male basketball players, which was “unexpected” to the athlete.

“I had a full team practice two hours before the walk-on trials,” Jenna Nelson said. “So I had got to the walk-on trials and I thought it was very strange. I saw all the men and, you know, I was just like, ‘what’s going on?’”

The post also claims that only three other players showed up to the tryout, despite the program telling her there was a high interest.

“I felt humiliated,” Jenna Nelson said about scrimmaging against male players. “When he [a male during the scrimmage] easily backed me up with his height, it just felt humiliating.”

Neither VCU Athletics nor the VCU women’s basketball team as a whole have addressed the allegations publicly. VCU Athletics issued a statement to The Commonwealth Times regarding the allegations.

“VCU Women’s Basketball held open walk-on tryouts on Sept. 1 for VCU students that met all NCAA eligibility guidelines.

The coaching staffs for all VCU intercollegiate athletic programs have sole discretion each season as to whether to add a walk-on to the roster. At all walk-on tryouts, the staff evaluates each individual based on need, skill level, academics and programmatic fit.

Walk-ons do not receive any athletic grants-in-aid but receive VCU Athletics equipment, clothing, meals, lockers, training opportunities and the same access to athletic training and support staff as all recruited scholarship student-athletes.

VCU Women’s Basketball, alongside numerous other Division I programs, historically has used male practice players when available. These male practice players do not have eligibility to participate in any collegiate competition for the women’s basketball team nor do they fill any roster spot.

VCU Athletics aims to compete for Atlantic 10 and national championships while

providing a world-class experience to all its student-athletes regardless of scholarship status.”

The individual women’s basketball players issued a statement regarding the allegations from Jenna Nelson publicly on their Instagram stories. According to Evan Nicely, the director of athletics communications, this statement was not an official statement from the athletic department or the women’s basketball coaching staff.

“In light of recent events, we as a team feel the need to address the slander against VCU women’s basketball. It came as a shock to see the accusations made against our program. We take pride in our core values which we strive to embody everyday … We are a championship caliber team and feel the need to surround ourselves with competitors that will challenge us to be better,” according to the statement.

Jenna Nelson’s mother, Lakisha Nelson, said in a phone interview that she and her daughters are still working to be heard by VCU.

“Our goal is still we want to speak to the president [of VCU,] we would like to speak to someone over the athletic department so that at least we can be heard,” Lakisha Nelson said. “We had reached out to ask for help and it felt like we’re now being penalized — because we did reach out.”

In response to the statement, the athlete said despite being offered the same “materialistic” items, referring to equipment, meals and clothing, she was still not treated fairly.

“What I’m emphasizing is, I’ve been told many, many times, it was because I was a non-scholarship player that I would not advance,” Jenna Nelson said. “I just wanted to be given, you know, the same respect, fairness and opportunities as well.”

Kaitlyn Fulmore contributed to this report.

During her first two seasons at VCU, McKinney has had plenty of in-game and practice time to develop her skills. This offseason, McKinney trained with the Canadian Junior National Team as a reserve for the Junior Pan American Games team.

“I really wanted to come into this season having fresh skills,” McKinney said. “We focused quite a bit on finishing — I was really excited to work on that a lot and bring it back to VCU.”

Despite not scoring on a game-to-game basis her first two seasons, Bean said that McKinney has been a large contributor to the team’s success without always finding her way onto the score sheet.

As an aggressor in front of goal McKinney has contributed heavily to the Rams’ 199-124 penalty corner advantage over the last three seasons.

MCKINNEY BEGINS JUNIOR YEAR SEASON WITH OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION

senior back Janne Wetzel said. “I think she gained more confidence over the year in herself.”

McKinney had never played field hockey before moving from the Canadian Prairies to British Columbia in grade seven. She participated in a variety of other sports including baseball, ice hockey and soccer.

McKinney said that the coaches she has played for in her various sports would all

describe her as aggressive, tenacious and fast. McKinney said she lacked skill and relied heavily on athleticism and determination in field hockey before playing for VCU.

“Her speed and athleticism obviously got her on the field,” Bean said. “As she got more and more comfortable being a student of the game that was reflected obviously in her play last year.”

“We’ve had quite a bit of success on our short corners and scoring with those,” McKinney said. “I’m so happy being able to get a short corner and then having them put it in the back of the net.”

Whether the scoring streak continues or not, McKinney hopes to continue contributing to the team wins once she returns from her injury.

“If I’m not scoring when I get back I’m going to be a little upset,” McKinney said, “but as long as our team is winning I really don’t care too much about whether it’s my name on the stats.”

Field hockey will be back in action on Friday when they start conference play against Saint Joseph’s at 3 p.m. at Cary Street Field.

Wed. September 22, 2021 5
Junior forward Lonica McKinney plays against American on Aug. 27. Photo by Jay Stonefield Former VCU’s women’s basketball player Jenna Nelson during her second season as a walk-on player in 2020. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics

Sports shouldn’t take priority over mental health

Contributing

The importance of mental health in athletes has been given public attention thanks to courageous professional athletes in the public eye.

Tennis player Naomi Osaka and gymnast Simone Biles — both regarded as top players in their sports — have recently prioritized their mental health over competition, earning both applause and criticism from the public. Applause is deserved for these athletes’ choices to prioritize mental health over sports, and more support from fans should be normalized.

At the Tokyo Olympics this summer, the USA Gymnastics released a statement on July 28, revealing that Biles was withdrawing from the Olympic individual all-around competition to focus on her mental health. Biles then proceeded to withdraw from uneven bars, vault and floor events.

“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said in an interview with the Associated Press. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

Osaka withdrew from the French Open on May 31, after being fined for not attending press events. Osaka later admitted in a Twitter statement that she suffers from depression and social anxiety.

“Here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences,” Osaka stated.

Twitter users were quick to call both of the women weak for putting their mental health before their sport, but the opposite is true. The ability to step down from a sport that is almost integrated with their identity shows bravery and they should be applauded.

Despite the controversy of both athletes pulling from competition, their actions have made many other athletes,

including U.S. Olympic basketball players Damian Lillard and Britney Griner, come forward about their own mental health struggles.

The actions of Osaka and Biles help not only other professional athletes talk about their own mental health, but student-athletes as well.

“This was brave to do, and needed,” said VCU Sports Psychologist Dana Blackmer, referring to Biles and Osaka’s decision to prioritize mental health. “The impact I hope that it has is helping destigmatize mental health treatment, and helping student-athletes see that mental wellness is something important.”

mental health, despite the societal pressure on men to regulate their emotions.

“I think we’re all aware that just culturally, it’s more difficult for people of color to ask for help because of how they’ve been socialized,” Blackmer said. “There are a lot of potential obstacles and barriers.”

Although student-athletes deal with similar performance-related stress that professional athletes go through, they also differ from professional athletes with the sheer amount of roles they have to play in their lives.

“The balance is really hard,” senior field hockey goalkeeper Sasha Elliott said. “Finding the right balance between having a lot of commitments you have to make for your team and your sport, as well as the commitments you have to class and your teacher, as well as wanting to have a social life outside of that.”

Elliott is a student ambassador for The Hidden Opponent, a student-athlete-led organization that helps spread mental health awareness. Elliott said she came across the organization on social media when she was struggling with her own mental health.

GAME RESULTS

SEPTEMBER 16

VOLLEYBALL – AT PEPPERDINE

LOSS 3-0

WOMEN’S TENNIS

OVERALL 6-4

Battle in the Bay (San Francisco, CA)

SEPTEMBER 17

WOMEN’S TENNIS

OVERALL 13-6

Virginia Tech Invitational (Blacksburg, VA)

MEN’S TENNIS

OVERALL 6-11

Duke Invite (Durham, NC)

MEN’S TENNIS

OVERALL 7-3

Milwaukee Tennis Classic (River Hills, WI)

VOLLEYBALL –AT UC SANTA BARBARA LOSS 3-1

Thunderdome Classic

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 3RD OF 7

JMU Invitational

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY 6TH OF 8

JMU Invitational

FIELD HOCKEY –AT LOCK HAVEN WON 3-0

Atlantic 10 Conference

SEPTEMBER 18

MEN’S SOCCERAT RHODE ISLAND LOSS 2-1 (2OT)

Atlantic 10 Conference

VOLLEYBALL –VS. WASHINGTON STATE LOSS 3-0

Thunderdome Classic (Isla Vista, CA)

SEPTEMBER 19

FIELD HOCKEY –VS. BELLARMINE WON 6-1

While strides have been made in promoting the conversation of mental health, obstacles with gender and race remain. Male athletes, specifically Black males, undergo societal pressure to not open up about their mental well-being. Blackmer said that energy needs to be placed into making help more accessible for marginalized groups.

“In the media and also just in general we are stereotyped to be angry and emotionless and that’s not really the case. I deal with it by actively wearing my heart on my sleeve,” junior hurdler Sebastian Evans stated in an email.

Evans said he has a great support system that allows him to talk about his

“I was like ‘this looks like a good outlet for me to find more resources, as well as to spread those resources among other people who are struggling,’” Elliott said. “Especially because once I figured out what I was struggling with, and why I was struggling with it, and I was like ‘I can’t be the only one who struggles with the same things as a student-athlete.’”

The mental health of athletes is just as important as any physical injury, even though anxiety or depression is not as tangible as a broken ankle or ACL tear. However, putting mental health over a sport an athlete loves will continue being an internal battle for many student-athletes.

“I live for the games that we play, that’s what I want to do,” Elliott said. “So it’s really hard to actually make that step to be like ‘I have to take care of my mental health, so I’m putting my mental health first.’ That’s a big step.”

WOMEN’S SOCCERVS. GEORGE MASON WON 3-2 (2OT) Atlantic 10 Conference.

SEPTEMBER 21

MEN’S SOCCERAT OLD DOMINION WON 2-0

PRESS BOX
I think we’re all aware that just culturally, it’s more difficult for people of color to ask for help because of how they’ve been socialized, there are a lot of potential obstacles and barriers ”
Dana Blackmer, VCU Sports Psychologist
From left: VCU field hockey goalkeeper Sasha Elliott and junior track and field athlete Sebastian Evans, photos courtesy of VCU Athletics. Tennis player Naomi Osaka, photo by Peter Menzel. Gymnast Simone Biles photo by Agência Brasil. Photo illustration by Madison Tran
Wed. September 22, 2021 7 ADVERTISEMENT

On this day

In 1961, Congress approved President John F. Kennedy’s executive order to establish the Peace Corps as an agency under the government.

New app gives virtual tour of Monument Avenue, illustrates Richmond history

Contributing

ICHMOND RESIDENTS ARE NOW ABLE

to get an in-depth look at the history of the city through the landmarks that define them. The new app, “Monumental Conversations,” allows community members to get a spoken history of the city they live in.

Sponsored by a few museums throughout the city, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the app’s initial purpose was to explain the history behind the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue, according to Grady Hart, a spokesperson from Richmond Public Schools Community Partnerships.

The app developers decided to limit the focus on Confederate monuments and instead tell stories of Black resilience upon discussion with community members and historians.

“We asked the Black community what stories they wanted to see in the app,” Hart said. “It was not our story to tell, but we would provide the coordination and development.”

Development of the app was put on pause at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, according to Hart. While production was down, Black Lives Matter protests took place in Richmond, resulting in the removal of many of the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue.

When production on the app restarted in August 2020, the public opinion of Monument Avenue had changed, prompting the committee to decide to reevaluate the app’s focus.

Continued from front page “A lot of people don’t know what [Stomp ‘N’ Shake] is. They’ve never seen it before; they’ve come from areas where it’s not really much of a thing, they didn’t go to [historically Black colleges and universities],” Jefferson said. “I feel like it’s just important to embrace and showcase the culture as a whole.”

Markiya Thomas, treasurer of the Elite Rams, said she discovered the group after being sent their page on Instagram by a friend. She joined in 2020 after trying out a second time.

“I’ve found a sense of community and family at VCU,” Thomas said. “Being able to meet like-minded people on campus has been really great.”

“Black resilience has been an untold story over the course of our country’s history,” said app developer Julia Beabout. “Our goal was to elevate the voices of those that have been unheard on a systemic level.”

The app takes users on a guided tour of Monument Avenue. QR codes are placed at the site of the statues and users scan them to listen to stories about the history of the statues and of Black resilience during the Civil War era. The tour is approximately 1.2 miles long and starts at the VMFA and ends at the former site of the Robert E. Lee statue.

The app, which has been in development since December 2019, was funded by a $10,000 grant given by the U.S. State Department, according to Beabout and Hart.

It was designed to be used by Richmond Public Schools as well as locals looking to learn more about Richmond’s history.

The app’s development was a collaboration between RPS, local museums, local historians and community members, according to the app’s website. The museums involved were the VMFA, the Black History Museum and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. These groups formed a committee to ensure the app’s information was accurate.

“It was a community-driven process from the very beginning,” Hart said.

RPS teachers, students and families played a role in the app’s development, Hart said. Teachers were consulted on how they would like to see the history curriculum be refocused. Students taking a Richmond history course were also asked to contribute to the app.

Five groups of students designed their own monuments based on how they view the future of Richmond. A student-designed statue featured on the app was of two young girls, one Black and one white, holding hands. The app developers said that they hope to feature more student monument designs in the future.

“We wanted to give students the opportunity to tell their own stories and share their ideas,” Hart said. “They are the future of Richmond.”

On Sept. 12, people gathered outside of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to mark the launch of this new software that gives an augmented reality tour of Monument Avenue.

Present at the event were RPS superintendent Jason Kamras, representatives from Richmond’s museums, the developers and collaborators who created the app and members of the community.

The event took place just four days after the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue.

“It’s about telling the full history of Richmond,” Kamras said at the event. “The good, the bad and the ugly.”

Future plans for the app include adding new student-designed monuments and expanding the virtual reality tour to other areas in Richmond, including Jackson Ward.

Audio on the app was also community oriented. RPS students were asked to narrate

the stories on the app. Also featured are local activists such as 2019 National Teacher of the Year winner Rodney Robinson. Robinson was a social studies teacher at Virgie Binford Education Center and a VCU alumnus, according to the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Beabout said that she believes the app, which is free and self-guided, has the potential to be expanded. Although it is currently only used in the RPS curriculum, they believe it can eventually be included in other schools outside of Richmond.

Hart said he sees it as a useful tool for VCU students. The app will reach the App Store and Google Play store, for Apple and Android products respectively, by the end of September. The developers hope to expand its outreach afterward.

“We intentionally designed it for anyone, including national and international visitors, to learn about Richmond’s history,” Beabout said.

following the Elite Rams since they were created and was excited when they reached out to him about the field day.

“When any individual, organization, or group creators on campus come together, they create the culture and environment of VCU with their events and projects,” Harold stated in an email.

Elite Rams redefines Stomp ‘N’ Shake at VCU, hosts communitywide field day

Thomas said she came up with the idea for the field day after seeing a TikTok that featured a field day hosted by adults.

theater performance major. “I think they go off every time, so I’m just trying to be here for every performance.”

Besides campus performances and events, the Elite Rams is also involved in the Richmond community. The group attended a community day cookout in Creighton Court on Sept. 4, where they performed and connected with the local recreational cheerleading team.

The Elite Rams recently performed on Saturday in Petronius S. Jones Park as part of a field day event hosted to raise funds for the organization’s upkeep, according to Jefferson. This includes services such as music and media, as well as items for event activities.

Other activities from the field day included kickball, a giant Jenga game and a water balloon fight.

“I thought it would be a cool fundraiser activity for us, as well as bringing something that other African American students would enjoy on campus,” Thomas said.

The event drew students from VCU, as well as Virginia schools like Norfolk State University and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

“I one-hundred percent support the Elite Rams,” said Kellie Bolden, VCU senior

Jefferson said the Elite Rams also used the fundraiser to spotlight other Black students on campus and their businesses. VCU students Shawn Blake of Shawn Eats and Armond Harold, founder of Big Mon’s Le’MONade, were asked to cater for the field day. Both students maintain Black-owned businesses.

Harold, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies, stated he has been

“One of our values is to spread culture and awareness,” Jefferson said. “It’s important that we work with other people, and we just get our culture out and meet organizations and other people. We like to get our people together.”

Jefferson said that the Elite Rams still have much planned for the semester, possibly an upcoming fall festival, performances and competitions.

“We are definitely cheering at a few events,” Jefferson said. “You’ll see us around.”

8 The Commonwealth Times
VCU Elite Rams members dance in sync to the music at the organization’s field day, held at Petronius S. Jones Park on Saturday. Photo by Alessandro Latour
R
Students try out the new app, “Monumental Conversations,” outside of the recently removed Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore ELITE RAMS

VCU ALUMNA TIRTHA

Ratnam never thought she would be a well-known Richmond runway model, let alone an international one. However, four years after she went to her first casting call on an impulse, she’s signed with IMG Models, an international modeling agency.

VCU ALUMNA signs with international modeling agency

“It was something I wanted to do for a really long time, even at the beginning of high school, but it also wasn’t something that I ever assumed would end up being my career,” Ratnam said.

Ratnam, who graduated from VCU’s interdisciplinary studies program this spring, said she didn’t ever intend to audition for any modeling gigs. During her second year at VCU, she went to a casting call for RVA Fashion Week and was “surprised” to get a call back requesting she model for the fall show.

Ratnam said after that experience, she connected with a lot of other models, photographers and designers which gave her networking and modeling opportunities. Later, she started receiving modeling inquiries from other companies in the Richmond area.

The work she was doing in Richmond gained the attention of the first agency Ratnam signed with, Kim Alley. Ratney said the agency sent out her portfolios to agencies after she graduated from VCU, before she was noticed by IMG Models. Ratnam is currently represented by both modeling agencies.

“IMG was definitely an agency that seemed interested in me, so I told her that I would love to go to New York and meet them,” Ratnam said.

She’s currently in New York auditioning to be casted for modeling jobs. So far, she said it’s been very unexpected and more fast-paced than she’s used to.

“It’s doubly intimidating because no one in these rooms knows me and I honestly don’t know many people in these rooms,” Ratnam said.

Throughout her modeling career, she said she took advantage of the opportunities offered to her and the possible

exposure that came with them. Ratnam said that a good model is not only able to walk and look photogenic, but able to be a well-rounded person.

“You have to have multiple things going for you that make people want to work for you because they see you’re interesting in more than one way,” Ratnam said.

She said it was important that she finished her studies in cognitive science before she started modeling outside of Richmond, so she would convey herself as a well-rounded person and not just a runway model.

“It feels very humbling in a sense, like, it feels really special to be recognized by an agency of this grandeur that I’ve always had admiration for,” Ratnam said. “And I think I view Richmond very much as a community that really raised me up and hyped me up for this kind of success because I feel like everyone I’ve worked with and known in Richmond is rooting for me.”

Ryan Azia, the executive director of RVA Fashion Week, said the first time Ratnam auditioned for the show in spring of 2019, everyone at RVAFW was amazed. The first time the two worked together was for an impromptu photoshoot.

“She came out and she just wowed all the model coordinators with her walk and the way she carried herself,” Azia said. “She did the right things by networking and going to the events.”

Azia said he knew Ratnam had the potential to be a professional model since the first time he met her, and knew she would be successful because of her modeling skills, work ethic and adaptability.

“I think she’ll go far internationally because her look is very unique, very diverse. I hope she becomes big; if she doesn’t, I know she’ll learn a lot from the industry,” Azia said.

Jermaine Anderson, a freelance photographer, said Ratnam contacted him about scheduling a photoshoot after she saw his work on social media.

“We met, we connected right away,” Anderson said. “It was about the third picture that we hit it dead-on, what we were looking for, because we’re both coming in with the expectations of what we wanted.”

EDITOR'S LIST OF FILMS TO WATCH

“Atonement” (2007)

Based on the famous novel, this movie tells the stories of Briony Tallis, Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner as they grow and change during World War II. When young Briony makes an accusation that cannot be taken back, she unknowingly affects the lives of those around her, causing deadly consequences.

Available on Amazon Prime | 83% Rotten Tomatoes

“A Walk to Remember” (2002)

This heart-wrenching film follows the love story of two high school students with opposite lives, the innocent and religious Jamie Sullivan and the troublemaking and detached Landon Carter. As the two form an unlikely bond, Jamie teaches Landon how to open his heart amid an unexpected tragedy.

Available on Hulu | 27% Rotten Tomatoes

“Judy” (2019)

Renée Zellweger takes on the role of iconic Judy Garland in this biographical film that takes place decades after “The Wizard of Oz,” during the last year of Garland’s life. As she performs for sold-out shows in London, she reflects back on her life while her health declines. Zellweger won an Academy Award in 2020 for this role.

Available on Hulu | 82% Rotten Tomatoes

“American Sniper” (2014)

Based on the true story of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, Bradley Cooper depicts Kyle’s story of trauma, death and horror while serving in Iraq, as he becomes one of America’s deadliest snipers. Although Kyle’s accomplishments were celebrated, the film showcases how Kyle faced the personal consequences of his actions.

Available on Hulu | 72% Rotten Tomatoes

“Maid in Manhattan” (2002)

A twist on the classic “Cinderella” story, Jennifer Lopez plays a hotel maid living in New York City who accidentally falls for a high-profile senatorial candidate played by Ralph Fiennes. As the two get closer, Lopez’s character hides the truth about her life from Fiennes’ character out of fear of losing him. Their love is put to the test as class lines threaten to divide them.

Available on Hulu | 38% Rotten Tomatoes

“Dumplin’”

(2018)

Willowdean “Dumplin’” Dickson never saw herself as one of the beauty pageant contestants her mother trained for the annual Miss Teen Bluebonnet Pageant. However, when she decides to sign up for the pageant as a form of protest, she unknowingly challenges their small Texas community’s definition of beauty.

Available on Netflix | 86% Rotten Tomatoes

Ratnam said it’s been slightly difficult to not live in Richmond anymore because she left behind familiar people and surroundings.

“[Richmond] was a very lovely community that I felt there, full of people who have such diverse interests and talents,” Ratnam said.

She said the city helped her grow as a model because she was able to connect with so many people who thrived in different ways artistically, some of whom she is still very close to.

Anderson said that he is very confident that Ratnam will have a successful modeling career, because of her drive and skills, and looks forward to saying that he was one of the first photographers that worked with her.

“It also, in a way, feels very full-circle because I do think that for years and years I’ve put out these hopes and dreams into the world and it’s kind of coming back in a cool way,” Ratnam said.

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

Wed. September 22, 2021 9
SAHARA SRIRAMAN VCU alumna Tirtha Ratnam walking the runway at RVA Fashion Week in 2021. Ratnam recently signed with international modeling agency, IMG Models. Photos courtesy of Mx. Bex
I think she’ll go far internationally because her look is very unique, very diverse. I hope she becomes big; if she doesn’t, I know she’ll learn a lot from the industry.”
Ryan Azia, executive director of RVA Fashion Week

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME

I drove on Monument Avenue my freshman year. As an out-of-state student at VCU — and a newbie to Richmond — I was blissfully unaware of the abundance of history my new home came with.

At over 60 feet tall — towering over all other monuments on the street — the Robert E. Lee monument instantly drew my attention. “Wow. This must be to commemorate someone really influential,” I thought to myself.

However, as I would learn very soon, I could not have been more wrong.

The monument, installed in 1890, was built to honor Lee, the commander of the Confederate army. As a Confederate general, Lee was a white supremacist, traitor and steadfast opponent of racial equality.

BUT WE CAN’T GET COMPLACENT

I was immediately surprised by the statue’s glorification in Richmond; a progressive city with a large Black population. Why had such a man been glorified for so long?

I discovered that many locals echoed my feelings. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, the statue was graffitied during the racial justice protests that ensued, and officially ordered for removal by Gov. Ralph Northam on June 4 of that same year.

Earlier this month, Northam’s order went into effect as the monument was removed from its pedestal on Sept. 8. I was there on that historic day, and as I cheered amid hundreds of community members as the crane lifted the statue from its base, I knew that the tide of history had begun to change.

However, while the removal of the monument was certainly a step in the right direction, our crusade against white supremacy

and support of Black lives must not end there. We must do more.

For too long, the Black population in Richmond has suffered under the culture of white supremacy. These issues have persisted for years in our local schools, the criminal justice system and so much more. And they will continue to persist after the statue’s removal.

So, you might wonder — what’s next? We need to continue to work on critical

issues that affect people of color in Richmond. One important area to address is education.

The government needs to invest more money into the underfunded public school system, which espouses a dropout rate greater than any other county in Virginia with Latino and Black students disproportionately affected, with a 33% and 81% graduation rate in 2020 respectively, according to the Richmond Free Press. Moreover, critical race theory and preservation of Black Lives Matter signage is essential to take a stand against white supremacy. With respect to the physical space on Monument Avenue, the green space surrounding the monument should be maintained as a space for the community. The colorful pedestal should remain standing, as a reminder that history is ours for the making, and up to us to redefine. Recreational activities around the statue, such as basketball and use of the community garden, should continue to take place.

Richmond is a city that is a work in progress. It’s certainly inspiring to see the structures of elitism and power that have harmed the city’s most vulnerable for decades start to fall, but if we are to cultivate long-lasting change, there’s more to be done, and complacency is not an option.

ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FASHION IS UNAFFORDABLE TO THE POOR Tea Time with Tagwa

Opinions Editor

Tea timers, fashion has been around since the dawn of time. From the first realization of the need for clothes in prehistoric times, to the reveal of new gowns during royal times; from expressive fashion during the Civil Rights era to catwalk shows at New York Fashion Week — fashion is everywhere.

The desire to stay fashionable has become a priority to our younger generations. However, the absolute need to keep up with the ever-changing fashion trends has become a plague on our society; specifically taking a toll on our depleting natural resources and harming our environment.

Prior to the industrial revolution and its inevitable evolution into mass production, clothes used to last individuals nearly half a lifetime. That is, those who could afford clothes. In older times, only the upper class could afford to be draped in the best of what fashion had to offer. A majority of the population wore whatever they could afford.

That reality doesn’t seem to have changed much throughout time. Today, we still see segregation in fashion. Not racial segregation, but economic segregation.

As trends continue to dawn catwalks all across the world, those on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum find themselves falling behind trends.

However, “fast fashion” stores and sites such as H&M, Forever 21 and SHEIN have made a popular resurgence. With their mass production of new stylish trends that replicate high fashion almost daily, staying fashionable on a budget has proven a bit easier.

Yet, even with the benefits of fast fashion, a new issue has arisen: Fast fashion is deteriorating our environment.

Fast fashion has been shown to produce a large carbon footprint, which in turn only worsens global warming and climate change. In 2019, Insider reported that the fashion industry is the cause of 10% of our carbon emission. It is also the second biggest consumer of the world’s water supply and continues to pollute our oceans.

And yet, while the disapproval of fast fashion from an environmental standpoint is validated, these stores and sites provide a feasible shopping experience for poorer people.

In a previous story of mine — “Tea Time with Tagwa: Caring about the environment is a privilege not many have” — I wrote about intersectional environmentalism. I discussed how the conversation of climate change and the overall health of our

environment cannot happen without understanding race and economic stability.

So, let’s compare some prices for a simple satin dress — a classic, staple item that can be dressed up or dressed down.

• At REVOLVE — a designer clothing brand — a satin dress costs $260.

• At Macy’s — a department store — a satin dress costs $108.

• At Forever 21 — a fast fashion retailer — a satin dress costs $22.99.

• Finally, at SHEIN — a fast fashion web site — a satin dress costs $8.

While I understand the desire to stay environmentally conscious, paying $260 for a dress that I could similarly get for $8 seems ridiculous.

I am a college student at a universi ty that prides itself in its tasteful fashion trends. Therefore, I’m constantly buying new clothes to keep up with the trends. As much as I care about our environment, I don’t have the privilege to spend half my rent money on a dress.

The same can be said for poorer people, some that even live in the streets of our Richmond city. Staying clothed and fed is the priority; unfortunately, the effects on the environment take a back seat.

Staying trendy, yet environmentally conscious, is unfortunately a privilege that many people cannot afford. So, next

10 The Commonwealth Times
of the week
Quote
“Trouble brews when we steal from the poor and give it to the rich.” — RobeRt Kiyosa Ki
Illustration by Anna Yang Illustration by Karly Andersen
The removal of the Lee Monument is a step forward,

Falling by Audrey Garrett

Season’s Greetings by Anthony Duong

False Fall by Sarah Brady

THE CT STAFF

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Iman Mekonen mekonenib@commonwealthtimes.org

MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Elson elsonsp@commonwealthtimes.org

COPY EDITOR Rachel Rivenbark rivenbarkrs@commonwealthtimes.org

NEWS EDITOR Katharine DeRosa news@commonwealthtimes.org

SPORTS EDITOR Vacant sports@commonwealthtimes.org

SPECTRUM EDITOR Sahara Sriraman spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org

OPINIONS EDITOR Tagwa Shammet opinions@commonwealthtimes.org

PHOTO EDITOR Megan Lee photography@commonwealthtimes.org

AUDIENCE EDITOR Grace McOmber mcomberge@commonwealthtimes.org

ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Lauren Johnson illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER

DESIGN EDITOR Gabi Wood designers@vcustudentmedia.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jayce Nguyen Madison Tran Bailey Wood designers@vcustudentmedia.com

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Jessica Clary claryj@vcu.edu

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

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.

Wed. September 22, 2021 11
12 The Commonwealth Times
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