The Commonwealth Times; Nov. 6, 2024

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VOL. 69, NO. 7 NOVEMBER 6, 2024

ELECTION EDITION

DANNY AVULA wins Richmond

mayoral election MOLLY MANNING ELIZA EYRE Contributing Writers

JACK GLAGOLA News Editor

Dr. Danny Avula beat four other candidates to become Richmond’s next mayor with 46% of the vote. Photo courtesy of Dr. Danny Avula’s website. Photo collage by Victor Romanko.

D

r. Danny Avula won the Richmond mayoral race, winning five out of nine districts and 46% of the vote over other candidates Andreas Addison, Michelle Mosby, Maurice Neblett and Harrison Roday, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

The path forward for us is the wisdom and the heart that is in this room, and that is true for every single person who lives in Richmond — whether or not you voted for me. Because I’m going to be a mayor for all of the people of this great city.” Dr. Danny Avula Richmond mayor

Avula shared at his watch party at The Broadberry on Tuesday night that he hopes Richmonders will share their wants and experiences with him moving forward. “The path forward for us is the wisdom and the heart that is in this room, and that is true for every single person who lives in Richmond — whether or not you voted for me,” Avula said. “Because I’m going to be a mayor for all of the people of this great city.” All five candidates are nonpartisan but ran on platforms with varying thoughts and plans for specific issues, according to Virginia Mercury. For example, Avula mentioned making City Hall more accessible to citizens a priority at the mayoral panel hosted by the VCU NAACP chapter, while Roday emphasized housing and economic development. “When I think about what are the plans, and particularly what are the plans that are most important to the people in this room, I think the first thing is using the budget to invest in housing that is truly affordable, also using our economic development tools,” Roday said at the panel. Each candidate also brought a different level of political and government experience, with Roday running for office for the first time compared to Addison who has held his Richmond City Council position for eight years, according to Virginia Mercury. Roday said he believes that the next mayor of Richmond needs to have the right balance of democratic values and experience. “I started my career working for Sen. Kaine and President Obama so I know the importance of having a level playing field

and an economy that works for everyone — ensuring that freedoms are protected like access to abortion as healthcare,” Roday said. Addison said his position on City Council allows him now as a mayoral candidate to be able to address issues with citizens and show understanding of their complexity. “Because I have such a long experience working in City Hall, that I can talk to pretty much anybody about any issue,” Addison said. Addison said there were still lots of undecided voters and that he felt the race was still anybody’s at the Oct. 28 panel. “This could be a surprise on election day,” Addison said. “I just do still think this is anyone’s race to win. I think there are a lot of undecided voters out there so like to see on election night.” Neblett said he understands voters’ concerns because, as a resident himself, he knows firsthand how Richmonders feel. “I have shared a lot of the challenges that the residents face in the city of Richmond, so I have peer research, but not only that, I have the experience of being able to navigate through issues,” Neblett said at the panel. Neblett said in an interview he wants to bring more local talent into City Hall. “My thought is making sure we make City Hall better; better interactions for our citizens,” Neblett said. “And you know — have our employees be a great representation of the city.” Neblett was optimistic when asked about the election. “I’m so excited right now because we

have the opportunity to change the dynamic of how Richmond engages with its citizens,” Neblett said. Vanessa Vargas, a political science and economics student, is not voting in Richmond but attended the panel because she feels it’s imperative to know and interact with local candidates regardless. “I think it’s important to put pressure on the candidates for those in Richmond who cannot come to these events,” Vargas said. Kaci Boone, a fourth-year political science and African American studies student, said she was planning on voting for Neblett initially but that his platform was disappointing. “Addison has got my vote, it seems like he is the most educated and well-versed in city issues, national issues, global issues,” Boone said. Scarlett Gibson, a first-year electrical engineering student, said her most important issue was affordable housing. “The affordable housing crisis is made worse by the fact that new developers are infiltrating local elections, by donating large amounts of money to campaigns with the hope that this will protect their greedy and corrupt agendas,” Gibson said. Sophia Stone, a first-year political science student, said the environment is the most important issue for her in the upcoming mayoral elections, which is a major reason she’s voting for Danny Avula. “Avula’s idea about improving our bus system, as well as investing in our walking and biking paths, is a good step in the right direction,” Stone said.

Rams declaw the Wildcats, 3-0

Clocking out: Daylight saving time’s impact on students

Hanover Avenue transforms into a Halloween celebration

see sports page 6

see opinions page 12

see spectrum page 8


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The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: Quincy Jones, composer and songwriter for numerous films and musicians, died on Nov. 3 at 91. international: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Yoav Gallant, the defense minister, on Nov. 5.

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine held on to his Senate seat, defeating Republican candidate Hung Cao with 52.7% of the vote. Photo courtesy of Tim Kaine’s campaign website.

Tim Kaine wins VA Senate race by five points PEGGY STANSBERY Executive Editor KATIE FARTHING Managing Editor LUJAIN MOHAMED Contributing Writer EMILY GRINSTEAD Contributing Writer Virginia’s incumbent Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine won a Senate seat by five points, 52.7% of the vote, as of 11:24 p.m., according to the Associated Press. He ran for his third term against Republican nominee Hung Cao in this year’s general election. Kaine celebrated his victory at the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond on Tuesday night because he said the city is where he started his campaign and his earlier work as a civil rights lawyer. He noted the theater’s proximity to the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, named after the first female African American bank president. “African American women have made a lot of history,” Kaine said. “They just haven’t been recognized for a lot of history they have made.” Kaine celebrated Virginia’s progress, going from a red state to a blue-leaning state. “There is so much more work we have to do in Richmond, in Virginia, in this country, in this world,” Kaine said. “I’m very fortified by the strength and the energy and the enthusiasm that you embody and by the progress you have demonstrated.” Kaine promised to serve all Virginians — whether they agree with him or not — and thanked them for electing him. “I won’t embarrass you, I won’t let you down, I won’t cause you to lose sleep. We

will keep moving Virginia and this country forward,” Kaine said. Michael Beyer, Kaine’s communications director, said there was a lot at stake this election. “There are two very different, contrasting visions,” Beyer said. Kaine supports reproductive freedom, according to Beyer. Kaine introduced the Reproductive Freedom For All Act, voted in support of the Right to Contraception Act and Right to IVF Act and is against a national abortion ban, according to VCU’s Capital News Service Virginia Senatorial candidate guide. Cao believes “life begins at conception” and was “thrilled” when Roe v. Wade was overturned, according to the CNS guide. Cao also supports access to IVF but doesn’t think the government should pay for it and said he would vote against a Senate bill limiting contraception access. “I am pro-life. Make no mistake: The right to life is one of the biggest differences between me and Tim Kaine. I am the father of five children, and I spent a lifetime fighting for all Americans,” Cao stated on his website. Abortion restrictions are in the best interest of the majority of Virginians, according to Cao’s website. Abortion could be a deciding factor for many voters, according to Beyer. “Your future is on the line as far as someone who looks after your reproductive rights,” Beyer said. A majority of Virginians believe abortion should be legal in almost all cases, according to a Pew Research Center study. Camden Shanks, a second-year kinetic imaging student at VCU, said healthcare is a top priority this election.

“Most important issue to me, at least, is to give people equal access to resources, especially health,” Shanks said. Cao said he wants the medical industry to “innovate and compete in order to drive down costs,” according to the CNS guide. Cao said when the government runs health care there aren’t enough choices, expressing that “Medicare for all is Medicare for none.” Kaine voted to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients, cap monthly insulin costs and provide access to free vaccines, according to the CNS guide. He also introduced the Medicare-X Choice Act to expand health care access and allow a choice between private or public insurance. Beyer said Kaine is excited about two bills in particular regarding lowering costs. “I think he is laser-focused on lowering costs,” Beyer said. “And there are two bills that he is excited about; one is a bill that lowers the cost of childcare, and then he also has another bill that would make it so that, if you use a Pell Grant, you can use it for current technical education and not only four-year colleges.” Cao believes a focus on United States energy independence will drive down the cost of living and signed a pledge not to raise taxes, according to the CNS guide. Kaine is co-chair of the Career and Technical Education Caucus, a bipartisan group of representatives committed to supporting and promoting career and technical education. Supporting and promoting education and career development is a priority for Kaine, and he believes that is something students should take into consideration when it comes to this race, according to Beyer. “Sen. Kaine has supported efforts to lower the costs of college,” Beyer said.

Cao said it’s “unfair some kids get a free ride” in an interview with The Washington Post but wants to bring interest rates to zero. “Sen. Kaine believes in climate science and is doing more to address the threat of climate change,” Beyer said. K aine suppor ted the Inflation Reduction Act, which Beyer said is “the largest piece of legislation to address the climate crisis through creating more good paying jobs of the future, right here in America.” Cao is not convinced about climate change’s existence and thinks “it’s arrogant to believe people can damage God’s creation,” according to the CNS guide. Promoting the energy industry in the United States is a priority for Cao. He stated that the U.S. should not rely on other countries with “unclean practices” for energy production, according to Cao’s website. “American energy producers have the cleanest practices in the world,” Cao said in a statement on his website. “Yet the Biden-Kaine administration continues to punish our domestic energy industry and force an American dependence on unclean foreign energy sources.” Camren Lepper, a second-year business management student at VCU, said he voted for Cao and feels passionate about the economic state of the country. “Bringing the jobs back to America and not selling as much oil out of state, more in America,” Lepper said. Caitlin Phillips, a third-year art history student at VCU, said the environment is the most important to her. “Nothing else really matters if the Earth is in flames in 10 years,” Phillips said.


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News

Harris wins VA, Trump leads electoral college end of Tuesday night JACK GLAGOLA News Editor The presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump remained inconclusive as of 12:25 a.m. with all but ten states called. Trump currently has 230 electoral votes to Harris’ 210, according to the Associated Press. Harris won Virginia’s 13 electoral votes with 51.5% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. Trump won North Carolina by two points, and the other swing states have not been called as of 12:25 a.m. The race may come down to Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes. Zuzanna Szafran, a second-year computer science student, said her most important issue is abortion rights. “It’s really important because I would like to be able to do that,” Szafran said. Szafran said she “just has a vibe” that Harris will win. “I can sense it,” Szafran said. Bailey Moncure, a third-year theater student, voted for Harris because he doesn’t want to have a second Trump term. “I’ve heard a lot of stuff about history in the past of when Donald Trump was president, and I was like, ‘I don’t want to do that again,’” Moncure said. Moncure cited abortion as an important issue for him. “I think that should be an accessible thing,” Moncure said. He cannot predict the winner because the election is so close, but Moncure said he hopes Harris wins. “I think she’s hopefully getting to the swing states,” Moncure said. Layla Robinson, a second-year fashion design student, voted for Harris and said unity was her most important issue. Harris’ campaign has embraced a message of unity — she has billed herself as a “president for all Americans,” according to the Associated Press. “Right now we’re really separate and diverse right now,” Robinson said. “Like, very, very angry, a lot of anger and hatred happening.” Robinson said as a Black person she is “always down for unity” and seeing hatred against Asian people during the COVID-19 pandemic — when it wasn’t their fault — brought her to push for unity. “You need unity,” Robinson said. “We have to bring each other together, bring each other up because life is hard and there’s no reason to bring each other down.” Cole Hurd, a fourth-year theater student, said he plans to vote for Harris even though she is a “bit too centrist-leaning for the Democratic Party.” Hurd said his most important issue is tax cuts for the lower and middle classes and that his family has been negatively affected by upper-class tax cuts. “We’ve known people in the past who are of a

higher wage, and they still get off with so much more money than we do,” Hurd said. “It’s disheartening.” Hurd said he thinks Harris will win a close race because she “realistically has the better options.” “I don’t see a lot of Trump supporters or past voters for Trump are going to still align,” Hurd said. Kay Williams, a fourth-year theater student, said she voted for Harris because people need energy to achieve reform. “There will be no time or energy for revolt if people of color and women and trans and queer people are constantly just having to struggle to exist,” Williams said. Williams also said her most important issue was taxes, specifically raising taxes on the wealthy. “I think many of our systemic and climatebased problems could very easily be solved if there were no billionaires,” Williams said. Williams said she thinks Harris will win because many Republicans have disavowed Trump. “Even those people who want to take away abortion rights and healthcare and specific healthcare access for women — they’re not even siding with Trump anymore,” Williams said. “And I feel like that has to say something.” Alexandra Reckendorf, a political science professor at VCU, stated in an email that the main reason the race seemed so close was because of the extremely polarized electorate. “This is why people supporting both candidates are generally stressed out in the run-up to Election Day; it truly feels like a 50/50 chance that we’ll get Harris or Trump,” Reckendorf stated. Both candidates’ strategies involved painting the other as unfit for office — for Harris, reminding voters of the first Trump administration, and for Trump, tying Harris to the Biden administration. In the later stages, Trump tried to cast doubt on the results should he lose, according to Reckendorf. “If it is close on election night again, or if it looks like he has lost, he can once again try to use the courts to his advantage (his attempts to do so failed in 2020) or stir unrest, and possibly violence, amongst his most ardent supporters like he did on January 6, 2021,” Reckendorf stated.

The race for the White House is still deadlocked, with Trump leading the Electoral College Tuesday night and six of the seven battleground states yet to be called. Photos courtesy of The White House. Collage by Victor Romanko


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The Commonwealth Times

Stat of the week

VCU fourth-year setter Taylor Aguano led the Rams with 31 assists in their 3-1 win against the University of Rhode Island on Nov. 2, according to VCU Athletics.

Scouting Report:

VCU vs Maryland Eastern Shore The VCU Rams women’s basketball team will start their season against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks at the Siegel Center on Wednesday, Nov. 6. at 6 p.m.

Timaya Lewis-Eutsey

Chaniqwa Gilliam

MARCUS LEARY Contributing Writer

HAYDEN BRAUN Contributing Writer

Third-year guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey will make life hard for the Hawks. She was honored with an All-Atlantic-10 Third Team selection in the 2023-2024 season and was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team in October, according to VCU Athletics. Lewis-Eutsey was an offensive threat for the Rams last season. She averaged 12.9 points per game and was second on the team in scoring, according to VCU Athletics. Eutsey also fought hard on the defensive side of the ball. She averaged 5.9 rebounds per game and was tied for second on the team in rebounds with 152, according to VCU Athletics. The Hawks must shut her down if they want to come out on top.

The Hawks are going into this season with a new head coach and without many star players from last year, according to HBCU Sports. With these changes and losses, the team is looking for a fresh start. Graduate student guard Chaniqwa Gilliam will help this team stay afloat this year. Gilliam started in 19 of 28 games last season for the Hawks, according to UMES Hawks Sports. Gilliam ranked second with 61 assists, third with 21 3-pointers made and had three-plus assists in 13 games, according to ESPN. Gilliam will continue to start and help elevate the Hawks against a tough Rams team.

Alexis Black

Mahogany Lester JENNY ALLEN Contributin Writer

THAILON WILSON Sports Editor The third-year guard transferred to VCU this year after spending two years at Appalachian State. In her second year at App State, Black averaged 9.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and shot 33.3% from the threepoint line, according to VCU Athletics. In the last eight games of her second year, Black’s scoring average increased to 14.5 points and she scored double-digit points in all eight of the games. In high school, the Washington D.C. native averaged 21 points, six rebounds and five assists and was a 2022 Washington Post All-Met honorable mention, according to VCU Athletics. Black adds much-needed depth to the guard position for the Rams and the Hawks will have to watch out for her as she can catch fire at any moment.

Graduate student Mahogany Lester will create a major challenge for VCU in this upcoming match. The 6-foot forward was one of two Hawks to start all 30 games in the 2023-2024 season, proving her significance to the team, according to UMES Hawks Sports. Last season, Lester led the team in steals with 46, ranked second on the team in rebounding by averaging 5.8 per game and ranked second in blocks, recording 14, according to UMES Hawks Sports. Lester’s versatility allows her to excel both defensively and offensively, which will test VCU’s ability to get into a rhythm. Lester was named to the Preseason Second Team ALL-MEAC for the 20242025 season giving her a confidence boost just in time for the season, according to UMES Hawks Sports. For VCU to take home a victory, they must find a way around Lester’s capabilities.

CT File Photo of VCU third-year guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey from the 2023-2024 season. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore. Collage by Zach Montgomery.


Wed. November 6, 2024

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Legitimate or LeNepotism?

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

ETHAN YORK Contributing Writer LeBron James is arguably one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. He has multiple impressive feats in the NBA, including winning four championships with three different organizations, winning four NBA MVP awards and holding the highest total point record of all time in NBA history, according to ESPN. However, one of his most controversial feats to date is playing on the same team as his son Bronny James. Bronny James played only one season for the University of Southern California before setting off on his NBA career this year. His short career in the NBA has stirred a lot of controversial debates on his legitimacy in the NBA. Some people believe he has earned his spot on the court, though some say it is nepotism, according to ESPN.

I believe Bronny James being in the NBA is a perfect example of nepotism. His father is one of the greatest to ever play, but Bronny James’ performance shouldn’t impress anyone. In his college career, he only played 25 games, averaging 4.8 points per game and only 2.1 assists per game, according to Sports Reference. These stats are hard to impress anyone, especially an NBA recruiter. If Bronny’s last name wasn’t James, would he still even be considered a draft prospect? He was still a first-year and had an opportunity to continue to develop himself as a player by staying in college, but he instead jumped into the NBA to play with his father. I believe it would ’ve been more beneficial for him and his credibility as a player to spend more time playing college basketball. While Bronny James is still highly controversial, you can’t deny it is a great thing to see the first active father-son duo

in the NBA, especially from a player like LeBron James. Unfortunately, the NBA likes to milk this opportunity. For example, when Bronny James checked into his first game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with LeBron James, the commentators made a big deal about it. When Bronny James and LeBron James both checked in together for the Lakers’ first game of the season against the Timber wolves it was a historic moment. Unfortunately for Bronny James, that was his biggest highlight of the game. He played for three minutes and had one rebound, according to USA Today. It seems like Bronny James is just a testament to LeBron James’ legacy. It’s just another achievement to play long enough to be teammates with your son. I mean, not many players have created their own teammates. The reality of it, though, is Bronny James is not going to be able to live up to his father.

This isn’t a bad thing for him, many great players won’t be able to compare to LeBron James. Just because he is his son doesn’t mean he has to either. Since Bronny James has chosen this path though, he must capitalize on it, especially since he didn’t earn his spot on the Lakers himself — his name did. The best thing Bronny James can do now is develop his game and figure out who he is as a player. He’s set to spend some of his time in the Lakers G League affiliate, according to Bleacher Report. This is a crucial moment for him as he needs the experience and some time away from the spotlight. While Bronny did make his way to the NBA through nepotism and hasn’t performed in the way an NBA draft pick should, I think he can still develop into a great player, in his own way. He needs to form his own career, he is not his dad and will never be. Only time will tell if Bronny James can prove himself in the NBA.


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The Commonwealth Times

Rams declaw the Wildcats, 3-0

GAME RESULTS

OCTOBER 30

MEN’S SOCCER VS DAYTON LOST 2-0

NOVEMBER 1 FIELD HOCKEY VS RICHMOND LOST 1-0

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS RHODE ISLAND WON 3-0

WOMEN’S SOCCER VS DAYTON LOST 1-0

NOVEMBER 2 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL VS RHODE ISLAND WON 3-1

MEN’S SOCCER VS GEORGE MASON DRAW 0-0

NOVEMBER 3 MEN’S BASKETBALL VS BELLARMINE WON 84-65

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VCU women’s volleyball celebrates after a rally in their 3-0 win against the Davidson Wildcats. Photo by Anthony Duong.

The VCU women’s volleyball team swept Davidson College, 3-0, on Oct. 29, winning their eighth consecutive game. After a slow 4-8 start to the season, the Rams came into this Davidson matchup with an 11-8 record after winning the previous seven games in a row. In fact, VCU’s winning streak began with a win over the Wildcats on the road in early October. In the first set, Davidson got off to a quick start, leading 8-4. However, many of the Wildcats’ points early in the first set resulted from self-inflicted VCU errors. Slow starts for his squad are normal, according to VCU head coach Tim Doyle. “It is pretty classic for how we play,” Doyle said. “There’s a lot of kind of dipping our toe in the water in the first part of matches to figure out how the other team is going to perform. Once we figure out their weaker points, we do a good job of locking in and trapping down on them.” VCU quickly recovered from their four-point deficit and knotted the set at 11-a-piece. VCU maintained a consistent two to three-point advantage over Davidson for the remainder of the set, ending it 25-22. In the second set, the Rams got off to a blazing start going 6-0 to begin the period. It was clear that fourth-year setter Taylor Aguano was in a rhythm with her hitters and was beginning to dominate the game. Aguano had a game-high 24 assists with nine coming in the second set. Davidson struggled to stop VCU’s first-year right side and outside hitter Lara Del Core. Del Core had a gamehigh in kills with 15, seven of them

coming in the second set as well. While the connection between Aguano and Del Core was clicking, Del Core doesn’t believe the setter-hitter connection is the most crucial aspect, she said “ We need to be all connected,” Del Core said. “The setter needs to be connected to passing and the passing is connected to the hitter because maybe the pass is not so perfect so they have to set.” After having a decent lead in the second set, the Wildcats came back and overtook the Rams, going up 19-17. VCU lost points again due to unforced errors and poor defense. However, the black and gold came back and won the second set 25-23. In the third set, VCU fired on all cylinders both offensively and especially defensively as they held a considerable lead for the entirety of the period. Second-year libero Anja Kujundzic had a game-high 18 digs and added three assists. VCU won the third set by a score of 25-12. This is the second season of VCU volleyball under the tutelage of Tim Doyle. Although only about half the roster has returned from last season, Kujundzic said she believes in what Doyle and his program are building. “I think the coaching staff is doing a really good job with preparing us for every single situation,” Kujundzic said. “We have a lot of new people and a lot of international kids that have come this year. I feel that everyone has brought a kind of different energy.”

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Wed. November 6, 2024

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On this day

In 1850, the first fire department in Hawaii was established when two volunteer fire brigades were organized.

Hanover Avenue transforms into a Halloween celebration

Illustration by Cassidy Davis.

BRAXTON HARE Contributing Writer Located in the heart of the Fan District, Halloween on Hanover Avenue is an annual event where residents decorate their homes with intricate and themed Halloween displays, creating a festive environment for families and community members. This event has become one of Richmond’s prominent Halloween attractions, known for its strong community participation. Thousands of visitors each year come to trick-or-treat, view the decorations and enjoy the holiday atmosphere, according to 12 On Your Side. Residents said they spend weeks preparing their displays, turning the avenue into a popular destination for Halloween enthusiasts of all ages. Halloween on Hanover Avenue was regarded as one of the best trick-or-treating spots in the nation in 2016, according to the Wall Street Journal. Loranne McQueen, a homeowner on Hanover Avenue, said she actually moved to the street specifically for its Halloween festivities. Since relocating, she has been decorating her home for the past five years. “The energy on Hanover Avenue during this time of year is unmatched,” McQueen said, “Every year, I look forward to seeing all the families and kids’ faces light up when they see the decorations.” Many homes like McQueen’s feature elaborate setups with lights, sound effects and interactive elements. Decorations include spooky scenes, playful themes such as “The Wizard of Oz” and Richmondinspired motifs like pumpkins carved with the city’s skyline, that bring a unique local flair.

“Every year I always do a spooky pirate theme for my decorations,” McQueen said. “It started with just a skeleton and a pirate ship and has only grown ever since.” McQueen said she feels that while the decorations are an important part of Halloween on Hanover Avenue, it is the community gathering that matters most. “Halloween on Hanover Avenue has brought me way closer to my neighbors and others in the area,” McQueen said. She said the event has been a great way to meet people she would have never met otherwise. “Halloween here brings everyone out and it really feels like the whole city comes together,” McQueen said. “It’s such a great way to build connections and celebrate with neighbors and new friends alike.” Her advice for those who are attending for the first time is that parking can be tricky and to bring a big bag because there is a lot of candy, she said. Benjamin Diddle, another Hanover Avenue resident, decorated his home for the festivities this year. “Halloween is already my absolute favorite holiday, but living on Hanover Avenue has only made me love this time of year all the more,” Diddle said. Diddle said he has decorated their home for the past seven years with the help of his family members. “We start decorating pretty early on this year — I think we put our first decoration up toward the middle of September,” Diddle said. After participating in the event many times, Diddle said he feels confident and excited to pass out candy to a multitude of Richmonders on Halloween. He actually created his own “candy chute” that slides

candy from the front door right into trick- laughing and enjoying the decorations. or-treaters’ bags. “It really shows how much people care “The candy chute is such a fun way about coming together and celebrating,” to pass out treats. It adds a little extra Compton said. “I’ve met some people here excitement for the kids and they absolutely who live just a few streets away from me.” love watching the candy slide down to Compton was pleased to see all them,” Diddle said. ages participating, from little kids to Diddle said it is a great way to keep grandparents. She said she will be back things easy and safe while still joining in next year. on the Halloween fun. “Hanover Avenue really knows how to In addition to the candy chute, Diddle’s embrace the Halloween spirit,” Compton home featured orange, purple and white said. lights hung around the windows and fake spider webs across their doorway and bushes. “Each year, we just keep adding more and more decorations to make sure there’s something that grabs your attention and makes you feel part of the Halloween magic,” Diddle said. Diddle believes the event has something for everyone, from young kids excited about trick-or-treating to adults who enjoy the creativity of the decorations and the festive atmosphere, he said. Richmond native Jess Compton said that this was her first time attending Halloween on Hanover. “The creativity that goes into each house is just amazing,” Compton said. “You can really feel the community here.” Her favorite house featured an entire graveyard scene with tons of tombstones, skeletons and a coffin. “It was so realistic, it actually gave me a little scare when I first walked by,” Compton said. Compton was surprised at how friendly everyone was. She said it was fun to see A costumed individual walks down Hanover Avenue on families and kids all dressed up, Halloween night. Photo by Kieran Stevens.


Wed. November 6, 2024

Spectrum

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‘Deep tradition in Virginia’: Local brewery hosts bluegrass festival MAEVE BAUER MOLLY MANNING Contributing Writers

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The band Stuart, Spence & Shebish played at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s bluegrass festival. Photo courtesy of Stuart, Spence & Shebish.

for that is there’s already a huge wealth of songs and tunes that exist in the tradition of folk and bluegrass.” Bearman explains that the songs he writes pertain to someone who currently lives in Richmond. Deb Shebish, band member of Stuart, Spence & Shebish, said that Bearman of The Hot Seats was the one who invited them to play at the festival this year. The band is from Indiana, Georgia and North Carolina and Shebish said the festival sounded like a great time and a good opportunity for them to do what they love — perform together. Shebish touched on how bluegrass music is embedded into the South. “That’s kind of what we draw on, the community aspect of this music,” Shebish said. Stuart, Spence & Shebish formed about a year and a half ago, but they have been friends for longer, according to Shebish. They play folk music called old-time. “Old-time music is an older form of what bluegrass is based on,” Shebish said. Shebish said that old-time music out-dates bluegrass and the majority of the songs they play are old-time classics from the public domain. She said their band keeps the legacy of old-time alive by playing at conventions and festivals and teaching the next generation. “I think taking the time to talk to people who are curious about what they’re hearing — if they’re interested in learning and hearing more of the music, kind of directing them to places they might find it definitely helps keep things alive. Spread the word, spread the music,” Shebish said.

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The Hardywood Park Craft Brewery on Ownby Lane hosted its bluegrass festival on Nov. 2. The festival featured bluegrass artists from throughout Virginia and North Carolina for a chance to celebrate music and tradition, according to the Hardywood website. Featured bands included Garden Variety Stringband, The Hot Seats, Stuart, Spence & Shebish, InBetween Bluegrass Band, The High and Wides and Dirty Grass Players, according to ABC 8 News. Hardywood’s first bluegrass festival was held in 2013, according to Justin Paciocco, the music, programs and festival director. Paciocco said Hardywood honors bluegrass music — something that ’s very important. “Bluegrass music has such a deep tradition in Virginia,” Paciocco said. “It’s rooted in blues and gospel, and African American and old-time music. It’s inclusive, authentic and fun and matches perfectly with values rooted in Hardywood’s ethos.” Paciocco said he hopes long-time fans will enjoy the line-up and that the festival will bring more fans into the bluegrass scene. “We also hope this brings a lot of new fans into the bluegrass ‘tent’ and makes people realize that bluegrass isn’t just this old-dated style of music, but instead is something that is fun, fresh and energetic,” Paciocco said. Featured band The Hot Seats have played at Hardywood since its opening, according to band member Josh Bearman. Bearman praises Hardywood for how they treat their performers. Bearman said the band has been together since 2002 when they met and began playing at VCU. Bearman said the festival has grown, noting the number and diversity of the bands increasing as well as the event setup becoming more polished as far as sound systems and organization. “It started as all local bands, but over the years we’ve been able to bring in bands from Southwest Virginia, all the way from Georgia,” Bearman said. The Hot Seats got their start in Richmond, Bearman said. Being a Richmond-based band has influenced their sound. “Throughout the band’s history, we’ve been fairly edgy with our delivery and our content, and we’ve always felt a strong connection to Richmond because of that kind of edginess and abrasiveness of many of the bands that we love that come out of Richmond,” Bearman said. Bearman said they take pride in being from Richmond, and declare at all their shows they are The Hot Seats from Richmond. Bearman said they tr y to create something new while building on top of the structure that ragtime and bluegrass music has. “I try real hard to keep my lyrics more modern, and maybe song structure more modern,” Bearman said. “I think the reason

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The Commonwealth Times

Spectrum

Art institute series celebrates DIY musicians

Local DIY musicians perform for the audience. Photo by Paige Bell.

LUJAIN MOHAMED Contributing Writer

The Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU presented the first rendition of their recurring “No Input” series on Nov. 1. “No Input” is a musical series in which the ICA invites local musicians from spaces in Richmond’s do-it-yourself scene to perform sets adapted to the ICA’s unique architecture, according to the ICA website. The title of the series represents the noninterference of the “no-input” mixing technique, according to the ICA website. Static is produced by the inner components of a mixing board and fed back into the mixer creating feedback loops that generate sounds and rhythms. The series was created by Mimi Luse, the ICA’s head of program production, as a way to bridge the gap between local DIY performers and institutions, like the ICA, she said. “The idea behind ‘No Input’ was to work with local independent promoters and DIY promoters,” Luse said. “These programmers and promoters are doing amazing work outside institutions — often they are run by volunteers and are self-funded.” Luse said she believes the DIY space is a crucible “for new music to be created.” “What I’m trying to do is to bring these underground promoters and artists into this institutional space,” Luse said. “And by doing that you’re displacing them from the DIY scene and bringing them into an art museum.” Richmond is home to numerous of the DIY musicians Luse seeks out for the “No Input” series, she said. Formal venues also tremendously outnumber private house shows, typically hosted in someone’s basement. Luse said she appreciates Richmond’s rich music culture.

“It’s so unique and also very diverse,” Luse said. “There’s so many different genres of music people are pursuing, and I do think that the community itself is very empowering and sort of feeds upon itself in this really interesting way where artists are playing for each other, learning from each other and inspired by each other.”

What I’m trying to do is to bring these underground promoters and artists into this institutional space, nd by doing that you’re displacing them from the DIY scene and bringing them into an art museum.” Mimi Luse ICA head of program production This Friday’s performance was the first installment of the series, and Luse says she already has another show planned for Dec. 13, which will be curated by noise artist and promoter Alex Capraro. Luse said it will be a more theatrical production featuring New York-based Sunk Heaven and RVA’s The ThreeBrained Robot. The title “No Input” refers to the musical technique featured in the performances, according to Luse. “There’s this musical movement where people take their quarter-inch cables that are in the mixer, and they’re putting them

into the input and then the output again,” Luse said. “Then it’s basically sitting back on itself and taking the sounds that are inside the mixer and sort of replicating them over and over again, creating feedback.” Luse said it is also a priority for her to remove her own authorship from the series. “I wanted to allow DIY programmers to provide all the input, not me,” Luse said. “So I picked the programmers and let them pick the artists.” For this month’s performance, Luse recruited Sarah Samson and Emma Draga, the creators of PENG!33, which is a zine about the Richmond music scene that values independence, experimentation and community. Samson and Draga started PENG!33 to document their friends and local music in Richmond. “At first it was to document local music in Richmond,” Samson said. “We realized it would be a good platform for Richmond musicians and bands to get more attention because there wasn’t enough spotlight on underground music.” Samson said the series is a great way for artists to reimagine what they could do. “The show is about putting DIY musicians in a space they haven’t had the chance to perform in and seeing what they could do with the ICA’s resources and architecture,” Samson said. “They are paid to perform and also given a budget of $400 in October to be used towards their performance.” The artists took different approaches to utilizing their allotted $400, Samson said. One performer decided to buy a new pedal to invest in their music long-term, while others used the entire amount on this one performance. Luse said Samson and Draga have filled an important gap by documenting the local scene.

“They are great journalists and they were the perfect people to ask to be the first programmers of ‘No Input,’ not only because they have great experience, but also because they have been working outside of institutions,” Luse said. The three artists Samson and Draga chose for this month’s show are Sprout, a solo musician with an experimental ambient sound; Destruct O Sound, a warm punk-adjacent three-piece band; and Scott Clark Landscape Trio, a band with a free jazz sound. Draga said they played around with different ideas during the curation process. “What we landed on was that we wanted to highlight three very different parts of the music scene,” Draga said. “We wanted to highlight somebody who’s done more ambient noise and also highlight the more indie pop, college rock part of the Richmond scene — and then there’s a huge jazz scene in Richmond as well.” All these performances are very different from each other, but they all share in common being an experimental part of the DIY culture in Richmond, Draga said. Josh Brown from Destruct O Sound said he used the money to fix his guitar, buy a track recorder and buy some props for Friday’s performance. “I’m really thankful we were able to get that money,” Brown said. “It was a really good amount, and I wish I could have gone all out with the props.” Brown said he is grateful Samson and Draga chose to feature Destruct O Sound at the show on Friday, and he really liked the idea of Richmond’s art scene feeding back into itself. “It’s really interesting,” Brown said, “With the ICA being sort of monument to VCU’s art scene, and us being VCU students in the DIY scene. It’s a really cool concept, and I’m really glad we got to do it.”


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Wed. November 6, 2024

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The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” — Former President John F. Kennedy

Illustration by Dani Murphy.

Clocking out:

Daylight saving time’s impact on students JESSICA HOLGADO Contributing Writer As we prepare to change our clocks for daylight saving time, I feel both frustrated and concerned. Gaining an extra hour of sleep when we turn back the clocks sounds nice, but the reality is that this change can disrupt our lives — especially those of students. While the saying “spring forward, fall back” is easy to remember, the effects run much deeper. In spring, we lose an hour of sleep, and even though we gain it back in the fall, the adjustment can still throw us off balance. This disruption often leads to confusion and fatigue, making it hard to stay focused and engaged. These clock changes can also affect our mood and productivity. Students already face plenty of academic pressure and these disruptions can add to their stress, making it difficult to keep up with responsibilities. As winter approaches, we lose about two minutes of sunlight each day, according to Almanac. While that may seem small, it can really throw our internal clocks out of sync. Many students struggle to get enough sleep, and the time change only makes things worse. I have felt like a zombie at

times, dragging myself through classes while trying to concentrate. When we do not get enough sleep, focusing becomes nearly impossible. It is frustrating to sit in class, knowing you should be paying attention, yet feeling your eyelids getting heavy and your mind wandering. Simple concepts can suddenly feel complex, making it hard to remember important information. The decrease in daylight really affects my energy and motivation. As the sun sets earlier, I feel less driven to tackle my schoolwork. On tough days, just getting out of bed or finishing assignments can feel like a big challenge. This struggle gets worse in winter, making it harder to stay positive. Weather and sunlight also play a big role in my mood. On rainy days, I like to cozy up in bed, watch a movie and enjoy the comforting atmosphere. In contrast, bright, sunny days boost my energy and inspire me to wake up early, pack a picnic or go for a run to enjoy the warmth. When the days become dark and cold, my body naturally shifts into relaxation mode. I find comfort in lighting candles and curling up with a good book at home. However, the early darkness can be a bit

disorienting; while it is nice to unwind, it often makes me feel sleepy sooner than I would like. Adjusting to a new schedule adds more stress and anxiety. With so much academic pressure, changes to our sleep routines can feel overwhelming. For some students, this transition is not just about losing an hour; it can worsen existing mental health issues or create new ones. Recognizing these challenges is crucial as we navigate school life. Schools should prioritize mental health alongside academics, and offer resources like time management workshops to help students deal with the effects of daylight saving time. I have found that establishing healthy routines can truly make a difference as we navigate these changes. Simple things like sticking to a regular sleep schedule, cutting down on screen time before bed and finding ways to unwind have helped me feel more balanced. And honestly — getting regular exercise is good for our bodies and boosts our mood too. On those cold winter days when everything feels heavy, a brisk walk or a quick workout can give us the energy and motivation we need to tackle schoolwork.

Schools and communities need to support each other during this time. Imagine a school where everyone feels comfortable sharing their struggles and discussing the effects of daylight saving time without fear of judgment. Schools could hold workshops or create safe spaces to talk about mental health and coping strategies. We also need to think about whether or not daylight saving time is still even a good idea. The negative effects, especially for students, should not be overlooked. Originally, daylight saving time was invented to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer and to save energy, according to Webexhibits. However, with modern technology and changes in our daily lives, we no longer need it, as it only serves to disrupt sleep and reduce productivity. Let us focus on what truly helps our health and productivity instead of sticking to old traditions. We can adapt to these changes, such as eliminating daylight saving time or implementing f lexible school schedules, and support one another. This way, we can ensure every student has the chance to succeed, no matter what challenges come with these adjustments.


Wed. November 6, 2024

Adulting 101:

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Opinions

seven bucks

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

NATI FELICIANO-SOTO Contributing Writer Balancing college life with real-world financial responsibilities? Now that’s a grind, and it is one I know all too well. Right now, I am a full-time student taking 15 credits, interning at a news station and working the night shift at a part-time job to make ends meet. Each of these roles is essential to my journey, but the weight of it all sometimes feels like it could crush me. My internship is critical to my future. Working in a news station allows me to gain skills, network with professionals and grow closer to my goal of becoming a storyteller. It is everything that I have worked hard to be able to do since I was a little girl. Yet despite the excitement of gaining hands-on experience, I can’t escape the constant pressure of covering everyday expenses. Rent, car insurance, groceries — the list is long and my bank account doesn’t always keep up. Even small costs, like paying for parking on campus, ends up feeling like hurdles, and don’t even get me started on the $444 the school wants you to spit out for their six month parking pass that should be a part of our tuition! Without enough money upfront for a parking pass, I’m left paying daily fees that, while minor, start adding up fast. Every little expense takes away a piece of my college experience, a reminder that I’m not just a student, but also someone managing adult responsibilities in a world that doesn’t slow down.

Yet despite the excitement of gaining hands-on experience, I can’t escape the constant pressure of covering everyday expenses. Rent, car insurance, groceries — the list is long and my bank account doesn’t always keep up.”

Working at night was never what I had envisioned. I thought I would have time to join clubs without having to excuse myself 30 minutes into a meeting because traffic lengthens my commute. I thought I would have time to study in the library or spend time with friends, but here I am instead trying to fit my life around my financial reality. A traditional full-time job might offer stability, but that would only slow down my progress toward finishing my degree. Working a night shift allows me to bring in income without taking away from the crucial hours I need for school and my internship. But it is also a sacrifice requiring energy and resilience. Going straight from classes to work, then back to assignments, feels like a cycle that never ends. I am here to tell you that if you believe no one in your life understands your struggle, or if you feel like the world is against you and that all of the temporary sacrifices you make are only a suction that will drain your life, I see you. I see you, I hear you and I understand you deeply. I strongly believe this is why many people in society refuse to go back to school — we are already living through harsh times where it feels like we can barely keep our heads above water. The cost of living only keeps increasing and it feels hopeless at times to understand how you could possibly obtain an education with so many other obstacles in the way. However, I believe that is what makes us profound and resilient. Many fail to realize that being a college student itself is

an honorary privilege that few around the world have the honor of becoming. I find inspiration from people who have walked this path of financial insecurity. It is easy to say my mother inspires me but I also look to icons like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He may have not pursued a college education, but when learning that he named his production company, Seven Bucks Productions, after the $7 he once had to his name, his journey became proof to me that no matter how challenging things get, persistence can carry us forward. My bank account might be low now, but I am investing in myself. Every late-night shift, every article I write and every dollar saved goes toward building the career I want. One day, I hope to share that story with the same pride and resilience that he does. Right now, it is just me, my laptop and a dream. I am learning, I am growing and I am laying the foundation for a future where my words can make a difference. Balancing college, a news internship and a night job isn’t easy, but I am fueled by a vision that keeps me moving forward. I know I am capable, and I know these sacrifices will pay off. So yes, it is exhausting. But this journey is worth every sleepless night and every dollar stretched. I am creating a story I will one day look back on with pride — and maybe even laugh at the hard times that got me there. For now, I am here doing what I need to do to make it happen, one shift, one class, one story at a time.


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The Commonwealth Times

Joke of the week

“I don’t mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be the only thing I’ve saved all year.” — Victor Borge

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

The case of the

halloween hangover DYLAN HOSTETTER Opinions and Humor Editor Halloween was never my favorite holiday. I hate the color orange, I hate those little beggars always asking for candy and I especially hate being scared. As it turns out, nothing scares me more than an unsolvable case. Well, that and opossums. I didn’t go to the party out of any goodwill for the holiday. I was on a job — tasked to keep an eye on a couple of high-level VCU employees, who themselves were keeping an undercover eye on the biggest party on campus. Though they were pretty easy to spot as they were the only two people standing in the corner of the party drinking Manhattans with no costumes on. I may be a professional detective, but that doesn’t mean I can’t let loose once in a while. As I was grabbing a beer, a little one-eyed yellow man wearing denim overalls and goggles approached me. I asked him what he was supposed to be and he looked offended. He told me he was some kind of “minion” from a movie I confessed I had never seen. “You’ve never seen ‘Despicable Me?’” he asked. “‘Minions: The Rise of Gru?’” I told him I was a detective, not a film critic. The last movie I saw was “Twins” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Devito — but I turned it off halfway through. I just

couldn’t be bothered to believe those two were brothers. I dismissed the strange little man and had a few sips of my drink — and then a few more. I don’t consider myself much of a drinker — I’ll crush some Capri Suns on a hot day like anyone else, but alcohol was never really my thing. I guess that explains my low tolerance. The next morning, I woke up not remembering a single thing. It was a full blackout. I had no clue what happened to the guys I was tailing or if that weird, one-eyed lemon man I talked to was just some booze-soaked fever dream. The worst thing was my magnifying glass was missing. A magnifying glass is one of the most crucial elements of a private detective’s life. It would be like if Steve lost his Handy Dandy Notebook — then he’d just be some guy talking to a blue dog. Steve and I have a lot in common actually. We’re both detectives and we can both wear the heck out of a striped shirt. I had no choice but to go back to the scene of the crime. It was the last place I wanted to be — I could almost smell the house as I approached it. In my years of experience as a private investigator, I have never seen something so disgusting. Granted, the worst crime scene I had ever been to was when someone hired me to find out why their pet hamster exploded. Turns out hamsters should

not be fed Alka-Seltzer tablets and diet soda at the same time. The door was wide open, so I let myself in. The floor was sticky, the walls were sticky and even the ceiling, oddly enough, was sticky. Cans and bottles littered the ground like landmines for the houseguests who overstayed their welcome. Stray pizza boxes served as newly erupted condominiums for ants and cockroaches. I searched through every stray candy wrapper and lost shoe, but my magnifying glass was nowhere to be found. At that point, I was assuming the worst, that the case of the missing magnifying glass would never be solved. That was until I saw him, the little yellow man — the “minion” as he so strangely referred to himself. He was sprawled out in a corner on an oversized bean bag, snoring. I approached him quietly, traversing the minefield, so as not to wake him. Once I got close enough, I could see the outline of red lipstick now breaking up the yellow of his face. I could also see my magnifying glass sticking out of his single overall pocket. I was seething with so much anger towards this lemon man, this thief, that I kicked him in his shin. “What the heck man!” he screamed, leaping up from the bean bag. “That’s going to bruise!”

I accused him of stealing my magnifying glass, and he didn’t deny it. “You deserved it after what you did to me.” “You’re mad because I didn’t understand your costume?” “No!” he yelled. “I’m mad that you spilled beer all over me and my date!” It was then that I remembered the embarrassing details of the rest of the evening. Apparently, I had approached the “minion” a few hours after our initial conversation only to find him on the couch making out with a girl. To call it “making out” honestly seems like an understatement — the level of PDA was unsightly. In my disgust at seeing this oneeyed yellow potato wrapped around some poor girl, I threw my drink all over them. I could understand his anger, and although I did not regret my actions, I apologized. He thankfully agreed to give me back my magnifying glass, and we parted ways on decent terms. Suffice it to say, I don’t think I will be going to any more Halloween parties any time soon.

Editor’s Note: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.


Wed. November 6, 2024

THE CT STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR Peggy Stansbery stansberyp@commonwealthtimes.org

Presidential Debate by Anthony Duong

MANAGING EDITOR Katie Farthing farthingk@commonwealthtimes.org COPY EDITOR Nevaeh Bouie bouien@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Jack Glagola news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Thai Wilson sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Emily McCauley spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS AND HUMOR EDITOR Dylan Hostetter opinions@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Arrick Wilson photography@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Lauren Prattis audience@commonwealthtimes.org

ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Killian Goodale-Porter illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Bersabeh Kemaw

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Victor Romanko designerssmc@vcu.edu

Why You Should Vote by Bryce Griego

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Victor Romanko Milena Paul Zach Montgomery Carter Lydon designerssmc@vcu.edu DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Jessica Clary claryj@vcu.edu CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@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

Rolling Election Results by David Beling

The opinions pages of the CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Dylan Hostetter, or by mail to PO Box 842010 Richmond, VA. 23284-2010. 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.

COPYRIGHT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning, editorially independent student news source for Virginia Commonwealth University. All editorial content is determined and produced by students. Opinions expressed in The Commonwealth Times are not necessarily those of the college. All content © 1968-2024 The Commonwealth Times. No part of The Commonwealth Times may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

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The Commonwealth Times

COLD SHOULDERS

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle COLD SHOULDERS

L o s A n g e l e s Ti m e s Sunday Crossword Puzzle

By Emma Oxford

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3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) containsSolution to Monday’s puzzle every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

11/6/24

1/15/19 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

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2

4

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, please visit sudoku.org.uk

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1

2

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

Offering New York and New Jersey deli classics plus delicious vegan sandwich options, coffee and schmears.

Finally, a good bagel in Richmond.

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Order @ www.natesbagelsrva.com 21 S. Allen Ave, corner of W. Cary Street


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