The Commonwealth Times; Nov. 3, 2021

YOUNGKIN WINS GOVERNOR SEAT, FLIPS VIRGINIA RED

KATHARINE DEROSA

News Editor

REPUBLICAN GLENN YOUNGKIN IS projected to win the Virginia gubernatorial election, after a close race against former governor and Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe.

Youngkin took the stage at his election night party in Chantilly, Virginia around 1:04 a.m. The Associated Press called the race in his favor at 12:37 a.m.

“Alrighty Virginia,” Youngkin said. “We won this thing.”

Youngkin garnered 50.97% of the votes, while McAuliffe secured 48.34% of the votes, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, as of 1:59 a.m. on Wednesday morning. His other opponent, Liberation Party candidate Princess Blanding, received 0.69% of the votes. McAuliffe previously served as Virginia governor from 2014 to 2018. Blanding is the sister of VCU alumnus Marcus-David Peters, who was shot and killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis on Interstate 95 in 2018.

Youngkin is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and has never held public office before, according to Ballotpedia. During his victory speech, he said his win is a “defining moment” in Virginia.

“Together we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth,” Youngkin said in his victory speech early Wednesday morning.

Youngkin’s “day one” plan as highlighted on his website includes cutting taxes, expanding funding for the police, banning critical race theory in public schools and investing in transportation infrastructure.

“There is no time to waste,” Youngkin said. “We work in real people time, not government time.”

Critical race theory is not currently being taught in Loudoun County Public Schools, located in Northern Virginia, according to reporting from The Loudoun Times-Mirror.

Critical race theory is the idea that racism is “inherent” in United States social,

economic and political institutions, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. These systems maintain current unequal social hierarchies between white people and people of color, according to Britannica.

During his victory speech, Youngkin said he plans to “restore excellence in schools” by creating charter schools and allowing parents to select which public schools their children attend.

theory isn’t even taught in public education in Virginia. It’s sort of just an imaginary thing that are getting people on the right really motivated.”

Virginia’s political landscape will change under Youngkin, Keena said, even if Democrats maintain control of other local offices.

Youngkin previously worked at The Carlyle Group, which is a private equity firm, according to his website. He also holds a MBA from Harvard University.

Youngkin’s plans for cutting taxes include eliminating Virginia’s grocery tax, which is currently at 2.5%, according to the Virginia tax website.

After he was declared the projected winner of the governor’s race, Youngkin said he would declare the “largest tax refund in Virginia history.”

Youngkin said he plans to double the standard deduction from taxes for “everyone” in Virginia.

Gubernatorial Results

Youngkin raised more than $57 million for his campaign, as of Oct. 21, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Youngkin himself is the top donor to his campaign, having contributed $20 million. The Republican Governors Association and the Republican Party of Virginia fall behind Youngkin with donations, contributing $10.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Youngkin outraised McAuliffe by over $360,000. Blanding has raised $34,771 as of Oct. 21, according to VPAP.

VCU political science professor Alex Keena referred to a win by Youngkin as a “complete shift.” He said Republican voters may see Youngkin as “untainted” by politics.

“There’s been some promises and a lot of focus on anger about teaching kids racism in schools,” Keena said. “Critical race

Trump also claimed fraud ahead of the election in his statement, similarly to how he claimed the presence of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Trump lost to a record-breaking turnout for President Joe Biden, who garnered over 81 million votes, according to The Associated Press.

Youngkin’s website has a section where his supporters can sign up to become poll watchers and join the “election integrity task force.”

“As governor, Glenn will ensure every legal vote is counted quickly and accurately,” according to his website.

Toward the end of his victory speech, Youngkin referenced the founding fathers while saying his campaign reflected “the spirit of Virginia.”

“My fellow Virginians, this is a moment,” Youngkin said. “Together we can build a new day.

TERRY MCAULIFFE (D)

PRINCESS BLANDING (I)

GLENN YOUNGKIN (R)

So it’s hard to imagine what exactly he would do — he’s never actually run for office before. That might be part of the appeal.”

Alex Keena, VCU political

science professor

Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin won the gubernatorial election early Wednesday morning. He will be the first Republican governor since Bob McDonnell won in 2009. Photos by Megan Lee and courtesy of Glenn Youngkin

national: The Virginia general election took place on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Virginia House representatives, governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor were up for election.

international: The United Nations Climate Change conference began on Oct. 31 and is set to end on Nov. 12. The conference is being held in Glasgow, Scotland.

LOCAL HOUSE RACES

Carr retains Democratic seat in the 69th District

VARSHA VASUDEVAN

Contributing Writer

Betsy Carr, Democratic candidate in the Virginia House of Delegates, will keep her delegate seat after winning against Republican candidate Sheila Furey for the 69th District.

Carr was first elected to the 69th District of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2009, according to Ballotpedia.

Carr garnered 85.25% of the votes while Furey received 14.65%, according to the Virginia Public Access Project as of 3:58 a.m on Wednesday.

Carr, the incumbent in the race, stated in an email on Oct. 25 that she mainly advocates for health care reform, affordable housing and reforms in the education system.

“Education is the greatest opportunity maker for all,” Carr stated. “It must be equitable, accessible and affordable for all students.”

She raised $393,733 for this election as of Oct. 21, according to the VPAP website.

Furey is a psychiatrist who has practiced in Richmond for about 20 years, according to her website. She said that she ran for the first time on the platform of ensuring the reopening of businesses and providing “quality education.”

“The amount of regulation that is put upon small businesses continues to increase,” Furey said. “And as I walk around the city of Richmond and my district, people are hurting.”

Carr advocated for the right to vote, especially for minority communities, according to her website. Carr said she “supports expansion of early voting, including Sunday voting, use of secure drop boxes.”

Carr stated that she prepared for Election Day by directly hearing from and collaborating with constituents.

“I’m holding meetings, attending events and working to promote our ticket so Democrats can hold the majority in the House and continue the progress we’ve made,” Carr stated.

Incumbent Jeff Bourne wins the 71st District, securing Democratic win

VARSHA VASUDEVAN

Contributing Writer

Democratic candidate Jeff Bourne will retain his current position in the Virginia House of Delegates for the 71st District, winning against Republican candidate Nancye Hunter in the Virginia House election on Tuesday.

Bourne held onto his seat with 85.58% of the votes, while Hunter received 14.25%.

Bourne said that his experience working for the Richmond City School Board gave him perspective to help better the education system, specifically the K-12 system.

“It gave me a perspective, having seen first-hand how much need there is in our public education system,” Bourne said.

Bourne was the 3rd District representative for the Richmond City School Board in 2013, according to his website. He was elected as General Assembly representative of the 71st District in 2017 with 20,311 votes, according to the Virginia Public Access Project website.

Bourne’s platform advocates for criminal justice reform and ensuring affordable housing; according to his website, he “was guided by one principle: equal justice under the law.” After introducing the

Virginia Fair Housing Law, which prohibits the refusal of housing on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national origin or sexual orientation, he continues to advocate that “housing is a human right,” according to Bourne’s website.

He raised a total of $246,032 for the 2021 election as of Sept. 30, according to the VPAP website.

Bourne’s challenger, Republican Nancye Hunter, is a “concerned citizen of Richmond City,” according to her website. She said she ran on the platform of promoting small businesses and providing shelters for the homeless.

Hunter said it was important to have programs, providing resources like clothes and food, for homeless people to turn to.

“Those services in the long-run would cost a lot less than bringing a homeless person or a homeless family completely out of homelessness,” Hunter said.

Bourne plans to continue working on issues like increasing access to affordable housing, bettering the public school system and criminal justice reform.

“I think those are the issues that still need lots of work to help Virginia right a lot of wrongs of the past,” Bourne said.

Nancye Hunter (R)

Jeff Bourne (D)

Betsey Carr (D) Sheila Furey (R)

RICHMOND VOTES AGAINST PROPOSED CASINO AND RESORT, 51.44%

KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor MAE OETJENS

Contributing Writer

RICHMOND VOTERS HAVE Rejected the Casino Authorization Referendum, which proposed construction of the ONE Casino and Resort. The referendum was on the Richmond City ballots to vote on during Tuesday’s general election.

The referendum was rejected by 51.44% of Richmond voters opposing the casino, with 48.56% of voters in support of the casino as of 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday.

Most voters in the Southside voted for the casino while voters in the West End and North Side of Richmond voted no.

The ONE Casino site would have been on land currently owned by the Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company based in Richmond, at Commerce Road and Walmsley Boulevard, according to rva.gov.

Mark Hubbard, spokesperson for the ONE Casino and Resort, said the failed referendum will be passed to the Virginia General Assembly for a different casino site to be considered in central Virginia. Hubbard referenced the success of four other casino referendums in Virginia and said that the General Assembly can decide to choose another locale in central Virginia to vote on a casino.

Four other cities in Virginia voted on a proposed casino in November 2020. Bristol, Virginia voted to approve a casino by 71%. Danville, Virginia voted to approve a casino by 68%. Portsmouth, Virginia approved a casino by 66%. Norfolk, Virginia approved a casino by 65%, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

“Basically back to the drawing board for the state, and the city for that matter,” Hubbard said.

On Nov. 3, when the results of the decision were confirmed, Richmond For All released a press statement, announcing that the organization is “proud of our organization and our city” and their work as “grassroots organizers.”

Winsome

DAVINA EFETIE

Contributing Writer

Republican Winsome Sears will be the next lieutenant governor of Virginia. Sears won the race by 2 points against Democratic candidate Hala Ayala, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Sears won the lieutenant governor seat with 51.01% of the votes, and Ayala garnered 48.99%.

“I am at a loss for words for the first time in my life. I’m here because of you all and because you voted for me and put your trust in me,” Sears said in her victory speech at Glenn Youngkin’s election night party. “I’m telling you that what you are looking at is the American dream.”

Sears will be the first Black woman and woman of color to serve as lieutenant governor of Virginia. She also is the first and only Black Republican woman, female veteran and legal immigrant elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, according to Sears campaign spokesperson Delceno Miles. Sears moved to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica when she was 6 years old.

Sears stated in an email she previously served as the vice president of the

“Following Election Day, Richmond For All’s membership will celebrate the defeat of a casino referendum in solidarity with Richmond community members who turned out in record numbers to avoid this iteration of extractive corporate development,” the organization stated.

VCU political science professor Alex Keena has worked at VCU for four years and holds a doctorate in political science, according to VCU’s website. The casino issue has been one to divide Richmonders, however not necessarily among political lines, Keena said.

“Richmond is overwhelmingly Democratic, but I think this is an issue that like splits the Democratic party,” Keena said. “There are much bigger issues at stake in terms of theories of economic growth and whether casino, and the economic effects on a community would be good or bad.”

The decision has also brought class issues into the election, Keena said. The referendum has been “interesting” for Keena to follow, because “it doesn’t fit neatly into the traditional sort of like, left-right split,” he said.

One argument made by those in opposition of the casino referendum is the potential for the casino to take large sums of money out of the community, Keena said.

Keena said the idea of opposing the casino because of worries about the community could be considered “paternalistic,” meaning people assume they know what is best for another group of people.

“On the other hand, you can also argue that it’s kind of like paternalistic to tell people who are low income that we know what’s good for you, and this is not good for you and you can’t really make decisions for yourself,” Keena said.

The median household income in Richmond city is $51,285 and the median income for nonfamily households is $36,394,

according to the latest available data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Nonfamily households include those who live alone and those who live with people unrelated to them, according to the census. The median household income in Virginia overall is $76,456.

“So it’s a really interesting issue that has all sorts of implications for class and race, and so there’s a lot to unpack there,” Keena said.

One concern expressed by those in opposition to the ONE Casino were related to the effects of gambling, according to nocasinorva.com. Politicians who have publicly stated their opposition to the casino’s construction include Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, according to casino.org.

Richmond School Board members Kenya Gibson, who represents the 3rd District; Stephanie Rizzi, the 5th District representative and Jonathan Young, the 4th District representative, have all opposed the casino, according to ballotpedia.org.

Reverend Al Sharpton, civil rights activist and founder of the National Action Network, visited Richmond on Oct. 29 to voice his support for the casino at a private event.

“I think that they have a historic opportunity in a community that has been ignored,” Sharpton said in a video interview from NBC12. “You’re talking about a half-billion dollars in tax revenue and a focus also on the southside that has been neglected.”

Richmond for All and Vote CasiNO RVA released a press statement on Oct. 29 in opposition to the casino plans. The organization stated Richmond needs “real economic development.”

“The administration should be looking to grow our economy by expanding public sector work, helping create local business, and enticing companies with high-quality, union jobs to come to our city,” the press release stated.

Leslie Rubio, a Richmond resident and women’s rights advocate, stated in an email that she opposed the ONE Casino because she thinks the city could bring in profit, specifically the Black community, in other ways rather than a casino.

“I cannot understand why the leaders of a city filled with rich African American history aren’t developing tourism around it,” Rubio stated.

Rubio stated that Richmond has other ways to bring in tourism than a casino, especially if such plans utilized the African American history in the city to draw in tourists.

“Richmond is a hub and could be a destination for those who seek to learn more about their African heritage and roots. This would be a more fitting development, instead of gambling,” Rubio stated.

takes victory in race for lieutenant governor of Virginia

returning and nontraditional student will face,” Sears stated in a press release.

Sears stated she plans to provide an inclusive society that would support small businesses by enacting a 12-month small business tax holiday. In addition to that, she plans to provide a “space” that would help the formerly incarcerated become productive members of society.

“To help Virginians by providing economic resources (remove food tax, remove tax on veteran’s benefits, etc.) for their full recovery from the pandemic, an education system that equips our students to have a hope and a future with marketable skills to create generational wealth,’’ Sears stated.

Sears raised about $2.5 million dollars for her campaign, with her top two donors from political committee organizations being the Republican State Leadership Committee, which donated $386,950, and Virginia Wins Political Action Committee, which donated $75,000.

Virginia State Board of Education, and previously served in the U.S. Marines, where she learned a trade as an electrician and diesel mechanic. The Jamaican-born lieutenant governor-elect is a mother to three children,

who were under the age of five right before she started her college career, Sears stated in a press release.

“I am very much aware of the different needs and difficulties that the traditional,

“It’s a historic night, yes it is but I didn’t run to make history, I just wanted to leave it better than I found it and with your help we’re going to do that,” Sears said.

Sears

HALA AYALA (D) WINSOME SEARS (R)

Lieutenant Governor Results

Infographic by Gabi Wood

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Many students oppose Youngkin, casino referendum at polls on Tuesday

KATRINA LEE

Contributing Writer

STUDENTS AND RICHMONDERS

gathered at the University Student Commons, which served as a polling location on Tuesday morning, to vote in the Nov. 2 general election.

Freshman art foundation student Campbell Duncan voted for the first time Tuesday morning at the Commons to model her parents, who “always made an effort to vote.”

“Every vote matters. If enough people believe their vote doesn’t matter and doesn’t exercise that right, then no one’s opinion will be heard,” Duncan said.

Polling places for students for the Virginia general election this Tuesday were divided by voting district and housing locations. For the City of Richmond, there were races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House of Delegates, Commonwealth’s Attorney, sheriff and treasurer on the ballot.

Those registered at Gladding Residence Center could vote at the Clark Springs Elementary School, while students living in the Brandt, Rhoads, Johnson, West Grace South and West Grace North halls could vote at the Commons. Students registered at Broad and Belvidere could vote at the George W. Carver Elementary School, according to the Richmond government website.

Selene Norman, a senior political science student, was one of the first students at the polling location Tuesday morning to cast her vote.

“I came to vote because I just didn’t want Youngkin to win,” Norman said. “I care very deeply about reproductive rights for everyone, and seeing what’s happening in Texas with the abortion ban and knowing it can potentially happen here has caused me to vote and encourage others to do the same.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill on May 19 to ban abortions if a fetal heartbeat

is detected, which usually occurs around six weeks of pregnancy, according to the Miscarriage Assocation.

These locations were open for voting from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the Virginia Department of Elections website.

Junior communication arts student Jane Rinaldi also expressed concerns about reproductive rights going into this election. Rinaldi voted at the Institute for Contemporary Art on Tuesday morning to oppose Youngkin and favor Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe as well.

“I saw last night that Youngkin was ahead in the polls and I found his platform very harmful and dangerous, so I came

mostly to vote in opposition to Youngkin,” Rinaldi said.

A referendum, concerning the building of a ONE Casino and Resort in the 8th District, was also on the ballot for this election, according to the City of Richmond website.

Homeland security and emergency management student Xzavier Mashack said that one of the biggest reasons he came to vote for the Casino Authorization Referendum.

“I want to make sure that a casino will not be detrimental to the community. I don’t want it to be some cash grab by politicians,” Mashack said. “I want it to be something that actually helps the citizens of Richmond.”

Mashack also advocated for the importance of voting to get individuals’ voices heard on political issues.

“Voter apathy is real, but staying silent doesn’t help anything. Use your vote to be heard,” Mashack said. “We have a privilege and we should be using it as such.”

Richmond resident Arthur Rogers also claimed that the casino was one of the main reasons he came to vote on Tuesday morning.

“I only have lived in Richmond for about a year, but I am worried about how this casino will affect the people of color in Richmond so I came to vote at least for that,” Rogers said.

Richmond For All, an organization fighting for social justice and economic development for Richmonders, released a statement in opposition of the referendum.

“By voting down the casino, we can finally put a stop to politicians using exploitative economic development to further their political careers,” the press release stated. “Casinos will not grow our city’s economy, and they will rob working people of their livelihood.”

Many polling locations, such as the Commons, the ICA and George W. Carver Elementary School had signs posted up around the building saying “vote no casino, one bad bet,” as well as campaign signs for McAuliffe and Mark Herring for governor and attorney general, respectively.

Senior criminal justice student Katherine Cardozo was at the Commons on Tuesday to cast her vote in support of McAuliffe.

“The reason why I voted is because it is my civic duty, and I feel like voting is important since I have the privilege to,” Cardozo said. “Everything that has happened in the last year in terms of equality also encouraged me to vote today.”

Republican Miyares outseats Democratic incumbent Herring for AG

KATHARINE DEROSA

News Editor

GRACE MCOMBER

Audience Editor

Republican candidate Jason Miyares will replace incumbent Democratic Mark Herring as Attorney General of Virginia, according to the Associated Press. Miyares is finishing up his term in the Virginia House of Representatives, representing the 82nd District.

“We really are looking forward to a new day in Virginia and I think there’s going to be a new sheriff in town when it comes to the Attorney General’s office,” Miyares said in an interview with ABC. “It’s going to have a safety-first mindset.”

Attorney General-elect Miyares won by 50.75% of the vote and Herring received 49.25% of the vote, as of 2:39 a.m., according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

During his interview with ABC, Miyares recalled the story of his mother immigrating to the United States from Cuba and witnessing her son “be the top law enforcement officer potentially in Virginia after fleeing a country that had no respect for the rule of law.”

“It’s been a special moment for us — a special moment of reflection,” Miyares said.

According to Miyares’ campaign website, the former criminal prosecutor’s main priorities are reopening schools, economic growth for small businesses and criminal justice.

“Jason has a record of putting violent criminals behind bars, consistently defending Virginians and if local prosecutors are unable or unwilling to prosecute violent criminals he will step in,” Miyares’ website states.

Miyares has raised approximately $6.7 million and Herring raised $7.7 million, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Miyares received $2.6 million from the Republican Attorneys General Association and $913,524 from the Republican Party of Virginia.

Miyares was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2016 and has served on the House’s Courts of Justice Committee, General Laws Committee, Transportation Committee and Privileges and Elections Committee.

In 2020, Miyares voted against allowing local governments to remove Confederate monuments throughout the commonwealth and opposed legislation to increase the minimum wage. In 2021, he voted against marijuana decriminalization and extending voting rights to citizens on parole.

Attorney General Results

Miyares was the first Cuban-American elected to the Virginia House, according to his website. He will be the first Latino attorney general, according to The Washington Post.

“So if your family came to this amazing country seeking hope and opportunity,

there’s a good chance your family is a lot like my family and it would be the biggest honor of my life to be the attorney general,” Miyares said.

Clockwise from top left: senior criminal justice student Katherine Cardozo, senior political science student Selene Norman, junior communication arts student Jane Rinaldi and Richmond resident Arthur Rogers. Photos by Megan Lee

MARK HERRING (D) JASON MIYARES (R)

Infographic by Gabi Wood

Stat of the week

On Oct. 30, men’s cross-country freshman Kendall Phillips finished 45th overall in the Atlantic 10 Conference championship. This is the best conference championship finish by a freshman since 2012.

New coaches, decorated players bring optimism to upcoming lacrosse season

OLIVIA DILEO

Contributing Writer

LAST SEASON, THE VCU WOMEN’S lacrosse team had a record of seven wins and nine losses. The team came close to qualifying for the Atlantic 10 tournament, but fell to Davidson College 17-10, at the end of the spring 2021 season.

Junior attacker Juliana George said that for this upcoming spring season, the talent of players along with the new coaching staff will help the team produce a winning record and pursue success.

“The coaches want to make it to the A-10 just as much as we do, and even though it’s their first year, they are in it and ready to go and they are acting like they’ve been a part of the team forever,” George said.

Nicole Flores was recently picked as the team’s new head coach. She has worked in various collegiate assistant coaching roles for over 10 years, according to the VCU Athletics website.

Flores is also the second head coach in the team’s six-year history, replacing former head coach Jen O’Brien.

“I wanted to become a coach at VCU because of the outstanding support staff that was highlighted throughout my interview process,” Flores stated.

The core values of the coaches this season to help the team grow are trust, bravery and community support within the city of Richmond, according to Flores.

With new coaches coming in, George sees the team being successful and having a “good shot at a winning record this season.”

“So far I think they’ve been great, they bring the intensity to our team, our team needs structure and they give us that; being able to know they are going to push us, and want us to succeed and be the best team and are there for us is great,” George said.

In August, VCU Athletics also hired Maggie Chizmar as the new assistant coach, who has previous coaching experience at Babson College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Earlier this year, Chizmar and the women’s lacrosse team at Babson College won the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Championship, and were able to secure an appearance in the 2021 NCAA tournament.

“I think my experience has been unique, I’ve been extremely fortunate to coach at I think six different institutions, each one different but amazing in it’s own way,” Chizmar stated. “I’ve been able to come to teams that aren’t developing, and I’ve been really fortunate to be successful and have opportunities to play in final fours and conference championships, so it’s been a really fun journey.”

On top of boasting a new coaching staff, the Rams will also feature several returning players that were recognized by the A-10 for contributions and performance last season, including George and sophomore midfielder Kelsey McDonnell.

McDonnell was named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team last season with two assists, 20 draw controls and nine ground balls. McDonnell was also third in goals, ultimately accumulating 27 goals, adding up to 59 points in total.

George was named A-10 Offensive Player of the Week for her part in the victory over Radford on Feb. 24, when she tied the VCU school record for total points in a game, at 10. By the end of the season, George had a total of 57 points, according to the VCU Athletics website.

George said the A-10 recognition is a “huge accomplishment,” because it signals that other teams perceive the players as a threat on the field and that the conference sees those athletes as impactful players.

The Rams have the goal of making it to the A-10 tournament to win the championship through making progress as individual athletes or working together to beat opponents, according to McDonnell.

“We want to see at any point this year progress, whether it’s shooting percentage going up individually or team-wise, or beating a team we haven’t beat before — just making adjustments that will then make us successful,” McDonnell said.

for us as a team. We have always had talent on this team, and with the new coaching staff taking it up a notch intensity wise,” George said. “We were just short of making the tournament last year, so I think this year we are going to make it and be a team people don’t want on their schedules.”

Copy Editor Rachel Rivenbark contributed to this report.

Above: Junior midfielder Lauren Marosi takes possession of the ball in practice during the 2021 season. Below: Junior defender Julia Klein cradles the ball during a practice in the spring 2021 season. Photos by Megan Lee

ARRICK WILSON

In the 75 years of the NBA’s tenure, fans have always been an essential part of the game. Whether featuring courtside seats held by high-profile celebrities, or packed arenas with rowdy spectators, however, there has always been a prevalence of negative incidents involving fans.

Over the years, fans across the world have become overly accustomed to treating athletes as only entertainers, rather than viewing them as talented professionals doing their job. This sense of entitlement was put on a pause toward the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when fans would no longer be a factor in games.

On March 12, 2020, the basketball world stood still when the NBA halted all play “until further notice,” after players from the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19.

We would not see the NBA return to play until July 30 of that same year, but this time without fans. To give the league an opportunity to reset its season, the NBA created a “bubble” — a place where the league could continue its season in a controlled and isolated environment.

The bubble was held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida and included an adjusted season consisting of 22 out of the 32 NBA teams. The original 16 teams were based on NBA standings at the time of the league stoppage of play, and the additional six were based on teams on the brink of playoff contention.

Games were allowed to continue, but with no outside spectators. For the first time in the NBA’s history, there was no in-person fan presence at games, as fans tuned in virtually. NBA athletes and coaches were forced to isolate themselves from family members for more than two months. As a result, the bubble was hard for some players mentally.

“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,” said Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, who went on to win the NBA championship that year.

Mental health also played a big role for some players, like Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George, who noticed a decrease in playing ability in the bubble playoffs of 2020, averaging a little over 20 points per game.

Instead of encouraging George, fans on Twitter trolled George’s self-

given nickname, “Playoff P,” changing it to “Pandemic P,” due to his decrease in points per game.

After a game-five win against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA playoffs, George admitted to having a hard time in the bubble. At that time, George revealed it was due to dealing with depression and anxiety.

The abuse that both fans and nonfans put athletes through should be considered criminal; it also takes away from the game itself. Abuse from fans can take away from an athlete’s capacity to play their game.”

Arrick Wilson, Interim Sports Editor

“I underestimated mental health, honestly,” George said in a postgame interview. “I had anxiety, a little bit of depression, from being locked in here. I just wasn’t here, I was checked out. Games two, three and four, I wasn’t there.”

The bubble taught me that we as fans are spoiled, to the point where we don’t respect other athletes in their own right. We forget that these athletes are humans. We forget that these athletes are more than entertainers. We take these athletes who risk their bodies and minds for their respective sports for granted.

Fan abuse has moved beyond mentally attacking and trolling, it has gotten physical. During the 2021 NBA playoffs, fans were allowed back in arenas due to the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions. One would think fans would be grateful after one year of no in-person games. But it was the opposite — fans were very disrespectful to players. This was very evident on May 26 of this year, in the first round of the NBA playoffs, where three prominent fan incidents occurred. Fans threw food at the athletes, made racist comments to the players’ families and even spit on the players.

The first incident was in the second game between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks, where a fan spit on Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young. This fan was later banned from Madison Square Garden. Young declined to press charges, but took to Twitter to respond to the incident.

“Damn... Crazy !” Young said when quoting the tweet from a user that posted the video.

In the second incident, a fan pelted popcorn at former Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook as he was going to the arena tunnel after suffering an ankle injury. The incident happened in game two of the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards. The fan was also reprimanded by the 76ers Wells Fargo Center by being banned indefinitely and losing their season tickets.

“To be completely honest, this shit is getting out of hand, especially for me,” said Westbrook in response to the conflict. “The amount of disrespect, the amount of fans just doing whatever the fuck they want to do — it’s just out of pocket. There are certain things that cross the line.”

In the third incident, three Jazz fans were banned for making lewd and racist comments during a game toward Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant’s family. Morant’s father, Tee Morant, said the words that were exchanged were more than heckling.

“I know heckling. We were doing that the whole game. But that’s different than heckling. That’s straight-up disrespectful. That was too far out of line. You don’t say nothing like that heckling. That’s beyond heckling,” said Tee Morant in a phone interview with ESPN.

According to Tee Morant, another Jazz fan told him, “I’ll put a nickel in your back and watch you dance, boy.”

Tee Morant also said another fan yelled at Jamie Morant, the mother of Ja Morant, swearing at her.

The abuse that both fans and nonfans put athletes through should be considered criminal; it also takes away from the game itself. Abuse from fans can take away from an athlete’s capacity to play their game.

Fans and people across the world should make it their responsibility to not only respect athletes, but to treat athletes like humans.

GAME RESULTS

OCTOBER 27

MEN’S SOCCER - AT INDIANA LOST 4-0

OCTOBER 29

FIELD HOCKEY - AT RICHMOND WON 3-1

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL - AT DAVIDSON

WON 3-1

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 30

MEN’S SOCCER - AT MASSACHUSETTS

TIE 0-0 (2OT)

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

NO. 1 WOMEN’S SOCCER - VS. NO. 8 SAINT JOSEPH’S LOST 1-0

ATLANTIC 10 QUARTERFINALS

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

OVERALL 13 th OF 14

ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS (Cedarville, Ohio)

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

OVERALL 13 th OF 13

ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS (Cedarville, Ohio)

OCTOBER 31

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALLVS. DAVIDSON

WON 3-0

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 1

GOLF Oct. 31-Nov. 1

TIED OVERALL 7th OF 20 DANIEL ISLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE (Charleston, S.C.)

MEN’S BASKETBALL - VS. VSU WON 74-55

More than entertainers, athletes are real people, too

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Interim Sports Editor

On this day

In 1992, Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd president of the United States, defeating incumbent George H.W. Bush.

VCU fashion design student breaks barriers, wins design scholarship

SAHARA SRIRAMAN Spectrum Editor

MICHAEL ROBINSON ALWAYS knew he wanted to pursue a career in fashion design. Ever since he was young, fashion has always been a form of expression and empowerment.

“To be able to build off my own experiences to help others, but also to bridge communities and build that intersectionality between different cultures is an exciting thing about fashion that I really enjoy,” Robinson said.

Now, he’s able to wear his own designs and showcase his talent.

Robinson, a VCU fashion design senior who uses both he/they pronouns, showcased his work in the Fine Arts and Flowers show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Oct. 23, where he walked in the show wearing his own design in front of judges.

Nineteen other VCU fashion design students showcased their designs during the show; out of all the VCU fashion students who showcased their work, Robinson was one of only two who won a scholarship for the best designs at the show. He was awarded the scholarship along with junior fashion design student Zoe Pettit, as decided by the judges.

“Being that it was my first scholarship achievement in the department, being recognized for something that I hand painted and worked so hard on just really felt good to experience,” Robinson said.

The specific piece Robinson wore during the fashion show was what he calls his “Nazar dress,” a hand-draped tent dress with a hand-painted evil eye pattern, which he worked on during the pandemic.

Robinson stated in an additional email interview that the COVID-19 pandemic allowed him to further discover his passion as a designer, as he’s now grown and able to expand his creativity as a designer. Recently, he’s been utilizing eye motifs, as it translates to protection from evil energies.

“To incorporate this motif to symbolically protect the wearer in this dress is a concept I’ve been fascinated in develop ing into my senior thesis of transforming, and creat ing shapes from within shapes,” Robinson stated.

Robinson said de signing has also been a form of self-expression for him, and walking in the show was “empowering.”

“To be appreciated and celebrated for the first time in the fash ion dept. for something I created from start to finish was very gratifying,” Robinson stated. “Not to mention the fact I was wearing and represented my piece for all that it is and more.”

In the future, Robin son wants to design for people who come from similar backgrounds. He said he wants people who feel like outsid ers, especially “young

Black queer boys,” to find comfort and representation from his designs.

“Being in this position and just knowing the endless possibilities of where I could go with my career is just so exciting,” Robinson said. “There’s always something new I can implement in my own design and aesthetic.”

Kimberly Guthrie, associate chair of the fashion design and merchandising department, stated in an email that Robinson is a “unique” student and designer. His work at the fashion show was based on Robinson’s innovative and inclusive approach to fashion.

“He/they love color and is not afraid to be bold with their color choices and combinations and artistic details,” Guthrie stated.

Guthrie stated that Robinson is also able to implement his own experiences into his work while celebrating individuality.

Guthrie stated that she’s proud that Robinson was one of two students who won a scholarship at the event, as she’s seen how hard they’ve worked this past year. She stated that Robinson will add a new perspective to the fashion industry.

New RVAFW beauty director aims to uplift local beauticians, promote diversity of beauty

JIANA SMITH

Staff Writer

Richmond-based hair and makeup artist Brittany Johnson said she never planned to work in the beauty industry. Despite enjoying beauty since youth, Johnson always considered beauty to be a hobby, not something she wanted to do as a career.

After feeling limited in her self-expression by her previous field of social work, Johnson said she was encouraged to get her cosmetology license by family and friends.

“I got to a point in life where I was like, ‘Okay, maybe I will take you guys up on that idea,’ and I did,” Johnson said. “It has been working in my favor ever since I made that final decision.”

Today, over five years into her career as a professional hair and makeup artist, Johnson is the new beauty director for RVA Fashion Week.

RVAFW announced Johnson as the fashion show’s first beauty director on social media channels on Oct. 21.

Johnson said she was honored to have her leadership potential recognized when being chosen as beauty director.

“I’m still at a loss for words a little bit,” Johnson said. “It’s a grand opportunity for someone to recognize your potential and that you’re able to lead in that capacity.”

Johnson’s responsibilities as beauty director include building relationships with local makeup artists, salons and hair stylists who

help create fashion week looks, according to RVAFW Executive Director Jimmy Budd.

Johnson first worked as a volunteer for RVAFW in 2015, an opportunity which she heard about through word-of-mouth from other volunteers. She also served as a behind-the-scenes photographer in 2019.

After connecting with Budd and discussing her views on beauty, Johnson took on the role of RVAFW beauty coordinator for fall 2020. As beauty coordinator, Johnson reached out to local hair and makeup artists and organized beauty volunteers.

“[The roles] run a little bit together, but now it brings forth a higher position for me to do more and cultivate that part of fashion week a little bit more,” Johnson said.

Johnson said one of her goals as beauty director is to highlight different aspects of beauty, including natural features, in an era of negative social media and beauty trends.

“I think a lot of times, we get caught up in social media,” Johnson said. “We lack the opportunity to have realistic conversations about what beauty is and how to obtain it.”

Specifically, Johnson said she wants to make sure that everyone has the opportunity and resources to feel comfortable with their appearance.

“The industry is always growing, so there’s always new products, new tools, new techniques,” Johnson said. “It’s about keeping everyone up to date with the new trends, but also giving people the opportunity to feel beautiful, to look beautiful every day.”

Budd stated Johnson was appointed to the beauty director position because of her professionalism, leadership and organizational skills.

“These past two seasons in 2021 have been so organized and streamlined with the teams she put together in the back of house,” Budd stated via email. “I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in future seasons!”

Model and RVAFW spokesperson Brickell French co-hosted the Ignite workshop with Johnson on Sept. 12, which was meant to serve as an introduction to RVAFW for new models, hair stylists and makeup artists.

“She handles everyone respectfully and makes sure that everyone is contributing, and if they’re not on the level they need to be, then she offers them more opportunities to practice,” French said. “It’s just a real genuine care, to make sure that everybody has a seat or space to really get recognized.”

Johnson has traveled to New York and Miami for various fashion events, such as New York Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week.

Outside of fashion week, Johnson also does bridal and editorial makeup with her company, BJohn Beauty LLC. Johnson’s

“My hope is that Michael [Robinson] will bring a newness and freshness to the industry, not just as a designer but as a citizen,” Guthrie stated. “They/he will certainly be an inspiration to the students in the department.”

Hawa Stwodah, a VCU assistant professor of fashion design, has had Robinson as a student for the past two years and describes them as a very thoughtful and innovative designer.

“At a personal level, I like a lot of the things he’s exploring, he likes to explore identities and he likes to expand a little into the metaphysical,” Stwodah said. “He enjoys pushing traditional ideas.”

She said Robinson is very connected to his work and the designs he creates, making his pieces much more meaningful. She said he has a unique eye for shapes and colors when putting together pieces that make his design skills unique.

Stwodah said she appreciates how Robinson’s designs are mostly inspired by experience.

“Again, it has to do with that authenticity,” Stwodah said. “I appreciate how he’s designing with a human in mind and he’s using his own kind of vessel, his own body, to be the one who’s showing you, ‘This is what it looks like.’”

She said she thinks his involvement wearing his own fashion pieces at the VMFA’s Fine Arts and Flowers show is just the first step in his fashion design career.

“There’s nothing really holding him back, I think he’s going to be jumping full force into it,” Stwodah said.

work has been featured in magazines, including Richmond Bride Magazine and New York City-based Promo Magazine.

Johnson said working in different countries and cities has helped her improve her hair and makeup skills, and expand her view of beauty.

Johnson said she is excited to see where the role as beauty director takes her career.

“People are going to see more of who BJohn is and what she has to offer, and the transparency of what beauty looks like,” Johnson said. “I’m excited about that new journey of taking a step forward from behind the stage and coming to center stage.”

VCU fashion design senior Michael Robinson, wears the “Nazar dress” that he walked in during the Fine Arts and Flowers show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Oct. 23.

Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

Hair and makeup artist Brittany Johnson does a model’s makeup at RVA Fashion Week’s Ignite event at Immortal Beloved Salon on Sept. 12. Photo courtesy of Michael Hostetler Photography

VCU alumnus creates featured artwork for blockbuster film ‘Candyman’

HADIA MOOSVI

Contributing Writer

VCU ALUMNUS CAMERON SPRATLEY remembers the initial fear he felt in 2019 when he joined the artistic team for the sequel of the 1992 film “Candyman.”

“It was the scariest possible thing to do, but it ended up being super, super fun,” Spratley said.

“Especially with [director] Nia DaCosta and the producers, they would come to the studio every couple of days to see what I was doing and that fear went away.”

Spratley created featured artworks for the film, including a self-portrait of the protagonist, paintings of nooses, hands surrounded by fire and a man being attacked by fists.

Spratley graduated from VCUarts in 2016 with a degree in painting and printmaking. He also graduated this spring from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he received his Master of Fine Arts in painting.

Set and filmed in Chicago, “Candyman” follows the legend of a hook-handed murderer through the lens of artist Anthony McCoy, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. He explores the history of Candyman only to discover that when the legend’s name is repeated five times into a mirror, he comes to life to kill the summoner.

In the film, McCoy creates artwork inspired by the legend, which sets off a series of deaths and unleashes the artist’s sanity as he begins to discover his own ties to Candyman and a history of racial injustice.

The movie has grossed over $77 million worldwide as of Nov. 2, according to IMDB box office reports.

Spratley said he was “lucky” to have the opportunity to be a part of “Candyman” and to contribute artwork to such a high-profile movie.

Spratley said he got the opportunity to create for “Candyman” in 2019 after receiving a phone call from Arnold Kemp, the former chair of the VCU department of painting and printmaking and current dean of graduate studies at SAIC.

“He [Kemp] called me and he was like, ‘I just met with these producers for a Jordan Peele movie for artists to make work, and I recommended you,’” Spratley said.

At the time, Spratley said he was in Richmond and was about to move to Chicago for graduate school. After receiving the call, he met with the producers for an interview.

Spratley said seven of his paintings were featured in the movie, some of which depict a noose wrapped around a person’s neck with a fist in a clutched form.

“I think there’s a very strong pressure within those words of like, what position is this person that has this noose in front of them actually in?” Spratley said.

Spratley said he also drew a self-portrait of McCoy for the movie and the paintings behind an interactive mirror in a scene where McCoy holds an art show. The paintings depict hands on fire and a man attacked by fists.

“I wanted to just, more than anything, channel those feelings into the work so that it was believable that the character who’s involved and all these things that are happening around them actually made that stuff,” Spratley said.

Spratley said his artwork for “Candyman” was less specific than his other works. Instead of involving collages in the artwork, Spratley solely focused on painting and keeping them secondary to the movie’s cultural references.

Spratley said some of the classes he took while he was at VCU helped him expand his ways of working, including painting, sculpture and animation classes.

Spratley’s former drawing studio professor, Nathan Tersteeg, said that as a student, Spratley would try to change assignments in a way where he could integrate his own voice into the work.

Tersteeg said Spratley would take the risk of going against the assignment, but it would ultimately be fulfilled, with his own voice involved.

Alongside the work for the movie, Spratley has had exhibitions in Richmond, Chicago, London, New York City and Philadelphia.

Last month, he published his first monograph of works from 2016-2021, called “Necropolis,” through M. LeBlanc, a gallery in Chicago where Spratley showcases some of his work.

Gallery owner Marc LeBlanc said he wanted to represent Spratley as an artist at his gallery after viewing his artwork.

EDITOR'S LIST OF FILMS TO WATCH

“Monster-in-Law” (2005)

Charlotte, played by Jennifer Lopez, is thrilled when her boyfriend proposes — she doesn’t think anything can ruin their relationship.

However, his mother, Viola, played by Jane Fonda, is not so fond of Charlotte and will do anything to make sure her son calls off the wedding. Charlotte and Viola both will stop at nothing to win the fight and get what they want.

Available on HBO Max | 18% Rotten Tomatoes

“In the Heights” (2021)

Based on the Broadway musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, “In the Heights” follows various characters from Washington Heights, a neighborhood in Manhattan that has a large Hispanic demographic.

Usnavi, played by Anthony Ramos, is a bodega owner who is saving up money to move to the Dominican Republic, his home. Everyone in this tight-knit neighborhood has a dream of their own, which the film follows, voicing them through music and dance.

Available on HBO Max | 94% Rotten Tomatoes

“The Post” (2017)

“The Post” is based on the true story of Washington Post editors who attempt to publish an exposé of the U.S. government based on top-secret documents, revealing the country’s extensive involvement in the Vietnam War, now known as the Pentagon Papers.

The Post’s first female executive publisher, Katharine Graham, and editor Ben Bradlee must decide whether to risk their jobs and publish the documents against actions of the government trying to silence them, leading to one of the most significant freedom of speech conflicts in history.

Available on Hulu | 88% Rotten Tomatoes

“Spirited Away” (2001)

One of the most famous anime movies of all time, this Studio Ghibli film follows 10-year-old Chihiro after her parents take a wrong turn on the way to their new house. The three of them then stumble across an abandoned amusement park with a buffet of food. Chihiro refuses to eat any and soon watches as her parents turn into pigs, cursed by the food they ate.

“I find it deals with topical issues in a very fantastical way,” LeBlanc said. “There’s devils — there’s angels. There’s signs of betrayal, there’s signs of deceit, there’s all the things that you need for modern drama in Cameron [Spratley’s] work. So that really kind of drove me to want to represent him.”

Spratley said VCU helped him network with people who were interested in the art field. While at VCU, he did art shows in people’s apartments and garages.

“It allowed me to have these solo shows, but they were at places where you could just do whatever you wanted,” Spratley said. “They weren’t commercial spaces.”

Spratley said he hopes to give people a historical perspective through his overall artwork.

“I really appreciate artwork that documents the time that it was made within,” Spratley said. “So, if that is my experience in the world now, I hope that in 50 years it’s not the experience for people and they look back on this work and they’re like, ‘Well, what was going on?’”

As she tries to find help, she discovers the park is home to a bathhouse where demons and spirits come to vacation, a place in which humans don’t belong. To prevent being found out, she gets a job at the bathhouse, and must befriend different creatures and defeat an evil witch in order to save her parents and escape before their time runs out.

Available on HBO Max | 97% Rotten Tomatoes

“Double Jeopardy” (1999)

When Libby Parsons’ husband Nick mysteriously dies, an investigation begins to find out how he was killed. The investigation discovered that he was in deep financial trouble and had a $2 million life insurance policy.

Libby is arrested and wrongfully convicted for Nick’s murder, although she later discovers he faked his own death for the insurance money. After she gets released from prison, she seeks revenge — this time with nothing holding her back.

Available on Netflix | 27% Rotten Tomatoes

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

A film still from the 2021 film, “Candyman” depicting paintings created by Cameron Spratley, hanging behind an interactive mirror. The paintings portray hands surrounded by fire and a man being attacked by fists. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions

A piece by Cameron Spratley titled “OTP” that is a part of his “D’Evils” collection, where he created similar devil paintings in different styles. Spratley created artwork for the film “Candyman,” which has grossed over $77 million worldwide as of Nov. 2. Photo courtesy of Cameron Spratley and Marc LeBlanc

I really appreciate artwork that documents the time that it was made within.”

Cameron Spratley, VCU alumnus

Quote of the week

TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

FOR MANY STUDENTS TODAY, the recollection of 2008 is faint. I was only eight years old and most of my time revolved around being a child. However, that year was revolutionary in American history.

Barack Obama made monumental progress as the first Black man to be elected into one of the highest seats of power in the world — president of the United States of America. Even today, Obama continues to make an impact with his historical win. But, what else do we know about him?

You see, many people today know of Obama’s historic achievement, but struggle to share a handful of his legislative and executive decisions throughout the eight years he was president.

That has become the reality of our society. Today — in the United States — our politicians and government figures have become more of celebrities than agencies of change. We have glamorized those elected into office as some highly revered and popular social figures, rather than realized their distinctive purpose: to serve their electorate.

Over the past few years, I’ve begun to see politicians on my social media more than on my television screens. Former President Donald Trump would tweet more than he would lead and, unfortunately, many government figures followed suit behind him.

We’ve seen politicians on social media, at Hollywood events, at Fashion events; basically, anywhere you’d find a celebrity. Yet, I rarely saw many politicians and government heads on the street protesting the xenophobic violence against the Asian American community during the COVID-19 pandemic, or side by side with Black protestors in the

The glamorization of political figures needs to end

summer of 2020 as they begged for this nation to stop killing them.

Celebrities exist in an entertainment-social dimension. Their purpose primarily resides in entertaining the public — whether that be in music, film, sports, etc. A political figure is not meant to entertain me; they are meant to execute the desires and needs of the electorate that put them in their position.

Political figures have no business walking the red carpet when electorates in Flint, Michigan still don’t have clean water.

This shift in political priorities is the fault of government figures themselves, but it also must be accepted that much of the issue lies in our society. We, as a collective, have pushed

this new narrative upon one another that our political figures are somehow on the same level as celebrities. In reality, only one of those two is elected to make change.

On Oct. 23, former President Obama visited VCU’s campus to campaign and rally support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, among other Virginia Democrats running for office this year. Obama’s presence on camps was all the rave; it became a conversation point for many students on the day leading up to the event.

When I returned to campus after that weekend, many students were still not over Obama’s arrival. One might even say they were starstruck. But, Obama is not a star —

he is a politician. As students basked in all of Obama’s glory, I fought the urge to ask students if they even remember what Obama was discussing, if they knew the candidate Obama was endorsing or if they could reveal one fact about the rally that wasn’t about Obama himself.

There’s nothing wrong with being excited to see politicians and other government authorities. Many of them inspired me to enter the study of politics. However, I know to draw the line between my favoring of their political ideologies and their personal lives.

Public opinion in politics is important. It is imperative for political figures to resonate with their electorate and showcase attractive and alluring traits. However, these figures need not confuse public faith and conviction with fame and glory.

The glamorization of political figures can also pose a danger. For example, the insurrection in the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 earlier this year was fueled by the obsessive glorification of former President Donald Trump. The idealization of an egregious and delusional man resulted in such unprecedented violence and the death of five people.

That is exactly what the glamorization of celebrities can do. The beliefs of these politicians, regardless of how ludicrous, can unduly influence poor behavior. We cannot place these overly obsessive — and frankly, disturbingly imaginative — perspectives onto our government figures and not expect dangerous and deadly consequences.

We, as a society, ought to reshift our societal expectations of political figures to demand prioritization of our civilian lives. Our politicians must redirect their focus to cleaning our country up and executing the needs of their electorates, rather than attending the next Met Gala.

THIS SEASON, TREAT THE HOUSELESS WITH KINDNESS Tea Time with Tagwa

TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

TEA TIMERS, MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR is here. The crisp, cool weather mixed with the smells of brown sugar and sweetness — the fall time brings so much joy to my heart.

I roam VCU’s campus with a sense of calmness as the leaves fall and the warm orange colors flood my eyes. This season is full of exciting activities and cozy times, but every year I realize that this season is missing one essential trait — kindness.

Many of us enjoy this time of year from the comfort of our homes. We revel at the gray skies and colorful trees as we snuggle comfortably on our couches, drinking warm beverages and appreciating the glory of our heaters. However, we tend to overlook the reality that there are people on the streets struggling this season.

The houseless population in Richmond has been ignored and dismissed for too long. When I first came to VCU, it didn’t take long for me to notice the extensive houselessness presence in the area. While houselessness exists everywhere, Richmond is plagued with it.

In fact, the houseless population in Richmond has increased 53% from 2020, according to an article by CBS6.

Read that number again. In the span of a year, the number of houseless people in this city nearly doubled.

To not see the deep-rooted issue in this is a disrespectful and selective choice. There are people on our very streets that don’t know where they will be putting their head down at night. It’s heartbreaking to become aware of my privilege as I type this story from the comfort of my heated home.

The city of Richmond has done poorly in trying to aid the houseless community. Earlier this year in April, the Salvation Army of Central Virginia sought to relocate their central office to Chamberlayne Avenue. The move was contested by Richmond City Council Vice President Chris Hilbert. Hilbert argued that the move would negatively impact the area as they progress to clean up.

“We saw some positive things happening on Chamberlayne Avenue, but recently we’ve had a spike in drug activity as well as prostitution,” Hilbert said.

The stigmatization of houselessness somehow attracting crime is repulsive. Hilbert’s perpetuation of such a notion is proof that this city has no regard for the human life of our houseless population.

To insinuate — or in Hilbert’s case, actually say — that those less fortunate than us are instigators of crime is preposterous and absolutely inhumane. If Richmond

politicians and government figures aren’t interested in assisting these innocent people, who can they rely on?

Perhaps, instead of concerning ourselves with the potential crime and negativity that comes with houselessness, we should be doing our due diligence to get these folks off the street and into homes to satisfy their basic human rights.

Homeward — a local organization that collects data on houselessness — stated that in July of this year, roughly 700 peo ple in Richmond were houseless.

Seven hundred people are suffering on the streets of our city. Seven hundred people are freezing without any end in sight. Seven hundred people are wan dering the city to find their next home.

This number was reported in July; it’s now November. I can only imag ine how much that number has increased. Not to mention, this report may not be 100% accurate because some people might not have reported their housing status. So, that 700 is simply the base number of reality.

Tea timers, I’m coming to you as a friend; please show more kindness to those around you. They are suffering. They are struggling to live their lives without their basic human necessities and

the last thing they need is someone turning their nose to them. Remind yourself that just because some people are less fortunate, does not mean they are less human. And that’s the tea.

“Wealth, beauty, and fame are transient. When those are gone, little is left except the need to be useful.”

— Gene Tierney

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Complacency by Jesse Beck

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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INTERIM SPORTS EDITOR

Arrick Wilson 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

STAFF WRITERS Jiana Smith, Spectrum

What The People Want by Anthony Duong

DESIGN EDITOR Gabi Wood designerssmc@vcu.edu

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jayce Nguyen Madison Tran Clare Wislar Bailey Wood designerssmc@vcu.edu

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SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

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OFFICE MANAGER Owen Martin martinso@vcu.edu

Clawmunnist by Loki Bischoff

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis