The Commonwealth Times; March 13, 2024

MAKING HERSTORY:

VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SETS NEW RECORDS

ALEXIS

WASHINGTON

Contributing Writer

The VCU women’s basketball program has been making history all season, from the coach to the players.

The Rams are ranked No. 3 in the A-10 Conference with a 15-3 conference record; the team set a new record with 26 wins and tied the record for most wins in program history; and VCU head coach Beth O’Boyle became the program’s all-time leader scorer, according to VCU Athletics.

O’Boyle said the biggest part of this accomplishment is the people she got to

The VCU women’s basketball team secured a 59-48 win against No. 2 ranked in the A-10 Conference Saint Joseph’s on Feb. 21, according to VCU Athletics. This win brought O’Boyle to 168 wins, surpassing former VCU head coach Beth Cunnigham.

O’Boyle has been the head coach at VCU for 10 seasons, according to VCU Athletics. However, this season she made her mark in history.

“They’re some really good coaches on the list, from Cunningham and Shaka Smart,” O’Boyle said. “And I think for me, it’s a great honor.”

“I am so grateful for all of the hard work and the passion of all of our student-athletes,” O’Boyle said. “To be part of their lives is just awesome and fun.”

The women’s basketball team witnessed history on senior night as well when they beat George Mason 6156 in front of a packed house on March 2. The attendance record for women’s basketball was broken with 6,054 fans, according to VCU Athletics.

O’Boyle said looking in the stands gave her chills and that she was thankful for the support from VCU alumni.

Three VCU alumni took care of every obstacle and provided shirts, beads and brought people in the stu, according to O’Boyle.

“I don’t know if I could have written a better script if it was a movie,” O’Boyle said. “This was by far the best experience that I’ve been a part of here at VCU.”

Coming off a hard season last year, the VCU women’s basketball team stuck together while facing adversity, O’Boyle said.

US democracy at stake in November, says officer injured on Jan. 6

Michael Fanone, one of the police officers seriously injured on Jan. 6 while defending the Capitol, speaks at the U.S. Capitol to raise awareness about the current political climate and the threat of political violence.

Photo courtesy of Courage for America.

Illustrations by Bailey Wood.

TRUMP BEATS HALEY IN VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOLLOWING VISITS TO RICHMOND

JACK GLAGOLA News Editor ANDREW KERLEY Audience Editor

Former President Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, in Virginia’s Republican presidential primary election on March 5 by a 28-point margin, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

Virginia was one of 15 states that held a Republican primary on Super Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. With Trump winning nearly all of them, a rematch between him and President Joe Biden in November is all but guaranteed, according to Reuters.

Haley, who is more moderate than Trump, won one state, Vermont, making her the first woman to ever win a state’s Republican presidential primary, according to the Associated Press. She also won the District of Columbia.

Haley dropped out of the race the following day, as announced in her speech, leaving Trump unopposed to win the Republican nomination.

“I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard,” Haley said. “I have done that. I have no regrets.”

Trump and Haley both made appearances in the Richmond area the week before the primary.

After being introduced by Susan Allen, the former First Lady of Virginia to former Gov. George Allen, Haley decried the country’s $34 trillion national debt, the rising prices of common goods and the influx of undocumented immigrants crossing the border.

“It is time we had an accountant in the White House,” Haley said.

Touting herself as an alternative candidate, Haley mentioned Trump and Biden’s old age during her rally in western Henrico on Feb. 29.

“Congress has become the most privileged nursing home in the country,” Haley said. “These are people making decisions on the future of our economy — on the future of national security.”

Trump held his own “Get Out the Vote” rally in downtown Richmond on March 2.

“Is there anything better than a Trump rally in Virginia?” Trump asked the crowd of thousands.

Trump spent most of his 90-minute speech attacking Biden — or “Sleepy Joe” as he called him — and his policies, while also repeating unbacked claims that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged” and that he “won.” If elected, Trump promised to increase border security and close the federal Department of Education to put states in charge.

Trump supporters began lining up at the Greater Richmond Convention Center as early as 9:30 a.m. the day before the rally. At the front of the line stood “Front Row Joe” Scott Knuth, who was attending his 43rd Trump rally.

Knuth said Trump gives people a “national sense of pride.” He believes Trump supporters are going to come out in bigger numbers than ever.

“Get off the couch and do what you have to do for America and our freedoms,” Knuth said.

Sheri Tew is a mother from Henrico with a daughter attending James Madison University. She said she believes Trump is America’s “best and last hope for recovering our election system.”

Many Trump supporters who attended

the event said they believed Trump won the 2020 presidential election and Democrats manipulated votes to secure Biden’s victory. However, there is no evidence of foul play, according to the Associated Press. Biden won the popular vote by over 7 million ballots.

Trump was previously caught pressuring the Georgia secretary of state to “find votes,” according to a video obtained by the Washington Post. His lies led to Georgia election workers suing his campaign for life-altering defamation, according to the Washington Post.

Nearly 70% of Republicans still believe Biden’s 2020 win was illegitimate, according to a poll by CNN.

Kenny L’Heureux attended the rally and posed with guests in a Superman costume and Trump mask. He has been to over a dozen rallies, including in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. He did not enter the Capitol Building that day, but collected some memorabilia, such as rubber bullets, he said.

“We’re just standing up for our man because we love President Trump,” L’Heureux said.

L’Heureux said Nikki Haley, whose campaign drove an advertisement truck around the convention center, is “showing her colors right now.”

“She’s hoping that she can get someone to throw Trump in jail so she can jump into the spot,” L’Heureux said. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

A menagerie of Republican lawmakers made appearances at the rally. Trump pointed out Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-CO, and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore in the crowd during his speech.

A handful of Republican Senatorial candidates were also in attendance, looking to defeat the Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, whose term is up in November. Military veterans like Hung Cao and Eddie Garcia chatted with attendees and collected signatures for their respective campaigns.

Garcia said he’s aiming to defeat the well-established, former Gov. Kaine with a “grassroots, blue-collar, working-class movement.”

“Republicans and Democrats in D.C. look the same, they sound the same, they’re both the same,” Garcia said. It’s time for something different — if we want positive change, if we want a better tomorrow, we’ve got to have people that come from us, not at us.”

Virginia will hold its senatorial primary election on June 18, and early voting will start on May 3. The presidential election will be on Nov. 5, and early voting will start on Sept. 20.

The latest polls show Biden to be favored above Trump by up to six points in Virginia. Biden beat Trump in Virginia in 2020 by over ten points, according to CNN. Hillary Clinton also beat Trump in Virginia in 2016 by over five points.

Biden gave his own comments about his predecessor during his State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7, ridiculing Trump for Jan. 6, 2021, election lies and “bowing down” to Russian leaders attacking Ukraine.

Biden opened the address by calling back to previous presidents who addressed the nation during “unprecedented times.”

“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today,” Biden said.

A dissenter holds a sign that reads ‘Abort Trump’ while supporters line up for the rally. Photo by Andrew Kerley.

Trump supporters wave signs at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on March 2. Photo by Andrew Kerley.

US democracy at stake in November, says officer injured on Jan. 6

PEGGY STANSBERY Executive Editor JACK GLAGOLA News Editor

Democracy is on the ballot this November after the Jan. 6, 2021, United States Capitol attack threatened “democracy as we know it,” said Michael Fanone, one of the police officers seriously injured that day while defending the Capitol and a native Virginian.

Fanone visited Richmond on Feb. 27 and 28 as a council member for Courage for America on its “Not On Our Watch” tour to raise awareness about the current political climate, the threat of political violence and the growing political power of Generation Z as the 2024 presidential election approaches, Albert Fuji, a spokesperson for Courage for America, stated in an email to The Commonwealth Times.

Fanone said he will visit many places across the U.S. to do so but specifically visited Richmond due to the presence of several members of Congress, such as Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-VA, and Rep. Bob Good, R-VA, who have not committed to certifying the results of the 2020 election.

“The 2020 election was not stolen,” Fanone said. “The winner of that election was the current President Joseph Biden despite the fact that many lawmakers, including the former president, continue to lie about those results. I’m concerned that, like we saw on Jan. 6, those lies will inspire more Americans to commit acts of violence.”

The threat of democracy inspires Fanone to continue advocating despite all the threats and backlash he receives, he said. Fanone said he sees the 2024 presidential election as a choice between a candidate who respects democracy — President Joe Biden — and one who denigrates it — former President Donald Trump.

“One candidate who has, over the course of a lifetime in public service, shown that he is a staunch supporter of the Constitution, that he adheres to its principles, that he respects the peaceful transfer of power,” Fanone said. “And you have another candidate advocating for violence.”

Trump spread words and lies that inspired Americans to commit acts of violence on his behalf and continues to do so — and he embraces and celebrates those we did, Fanone said.

The U.S. is an imperfect country but its current democracy affords people the ability to change things, according to Fanone.

“You may have issues that you are

passionate about as a young person that you feel like politicians aren’t acknowledging or hearing, but in a democracy, you have the ability, like I have for the past three years, to advocate for those positions and to create change,” Fanone said.

“You don’t have that in an autocracy.”

Fanone said he uses his story to educate people about Jan. 6 in the hopes they take it upon themselves to understand why it happened and how the lies of elected leaders inspired many U.S. citizens to attack the Capitol and law enforcement.

“I thought it was important for Americans to hear a police officer’s firsthand account to better understand the significance,” Fanone said.

Fanone said he turned his body-worn camera footage over to the media after receiving distraught calls from colleagues because Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-GA, testified in a congressional hearing that he found Jan. 6 akin to a typical tourist day at the Capitol.

Fanone received strong disapproval from city leaders in Washington D.C. when he shared his footage before Congress, he said. Fanone has since then learned city leaders refused to turn over other officers’ body-worn camera footage, which could’ve caused a different outcome at the second impeachment trial of Trump.

“I don’t doubt politicians lack of empathy, but I think it would be very difficult for them to vote against impeaching the president when you see police officers being beaten and gouged and hearing first hand accounts, so I think that was a big disservice that our department and our city did for stopping the future threat,” Fanone said.

Fanone said he experienced something similar to a “medieval battle scene” on Jan. 6, and nothing like anything he experienced in his 20-year career.

While defending the Capitol, Fanone was dragged down the Capitol steps, beaten with pipes, stunned with a taser, sprayed with chemical irritants and threatened with his own gun, Albert Fuji, a spokesperson for Courage for America, stated in an email.

When Trump supporter Daniel Rodriguez applied a taser device to the back of Fanone’s neck multiple times, Fanone said he started to fear he might not make it out alive. Fanone suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.

Fanone said his advocacy work has felt exhausting, especially when he goes up against national politicians with large platforms and resources who advocate for political bias. Fanone said he feels

disappointed with the politicians who may have a different view of Jan. 6 but are not open to sitting down with him to listen to his experience.

“All of this is a continuation of the battle that we fought on Jan. 6 — it never stopped,” Fanone said. “There has been no reckoning in this country. We haven’t reconciled how we got there; the way our political discourse has devolved into a free for all of violence and insightful statements.”

Amanda Wintersieck, a political science professor and public opinion expert at VCU, said extremism originates in political polarization and the resulting lack of trust among people in disagreement.

“We don’t talk to each other anymore,” Wintersieck said. “And the purpose of civil discourse is to win the argument instead of to actually seek the public good, to move the needle forward in a meaningful way. And so, when all of this happens, you’re already at this inflection point.”

The inflection point was “lit on fire” when Trump refused to concede the 2020 election to Biden, Wintersieck said.

“Just lying to his public, lying to his supporters, and when the only person you trust in politics is telling you something is true — through the process of selective perception, it’s motivated reasoning — it’s really easy to convince yourself that that lie is, in fact, the truth,” Wintersieck said.

Wintersieck said the rules and theories of political science break down with Trump.

“It doesn’t work because he doesn’t behave like a rational actor should behave, right?” Wintersieck said. “We knew we were in trouble when he started denying the election.”

Wintersieck said the state of the U.S. republic is at stake because of Jan. 6, 2021, and the lies surrounding the 2020 election.

“Because of the connectivity that we all have, because of polarization, because of low trust, because of lack of civil discourse, this is the greatest threat in American democracy that American democracy has ever seen,” Wintersieck said. “Certainly from the inside, and certainly since the Civil War.”

Incumbents who lost in the past bowed out of politics, Wintersieck said, citing former Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Trump’s continuing presence in politics is disturbing, she said.

“How do we move forward from this?

We get back on track for the model of a commitment to a peaceful transfer of power, a commitment to free and fair and regular elections and having our previous leaders get their damn noses out

of American politics when they have no longer been elected,” Wintersieck said. “I would say the same thing for Biden. If Biden loses, he needs to go away. He needs to retire.”

The U.S. hasn’t learned that divisions hurt the country, Wintersieck said.

“We can’t beat each other over the heads with facts, that’s not going to solve this political problem,” Wintersieck said. “Instead we have to start treating each other as human beings.”

Trump appeared at a “Get Out The Vote” rally in Richmond on Mar. 2. In his speech he described those detained after Jan. 6 as hostages and decried the Biden administration’s policies and attempts to convict him of inciting the breach of the Capitol.

Scott Knuth, an attendee at the rally, said Trump supporters will come out in huge numbers in November. He also said the events of Jan. 6 were a “full setup.”

“I told my friends not to go inside, but you know what, they’re patriots!” Knuth said. “But they shouldn’t have gone inside.”

Knuth recalled what the founding fathers did — fight for their rights and freedoms, he said.

“That’s your right to go out there if you want to fly a flag and you want to stand on the Capitol — but we didn’t break any windows. Us Trumpers didn’t do that,” Knuth said.

Kenny L’Heureux, another attendee at the rally, was at the Capitol that day but did not enter it, he said.

“We were close enough to see the tear gas, and collected some rubber bullets and pins from the tear gas canisters,” L’Heureux said. “It was very exhilarating — we thought it was more patriotic than it was archaic.”

L’Heureux and his son were visited by the FBI after Jan. 6, 2021, ostensibly to gain information, he said.

“I didn’t really think that was fair,” L’Heureux said. “There’s many stories going around saying how terrible it was and it really was a patriotic event.”

VCU health science 2023 graduate Erin Deighton doesn’t feel good about Jan. 6, she said. Deighton feels she has to vote more strategically in the upcoming presidential election because of it and that democracy doesn’t give people as much of a choice as she wants it to.

“Obviously there’s people that should be blamed that aren’t being held accountable,” Deighton said. “I think that’s definitely something the U.S. needs to work on.”

Michael Fanone, one of the police officers seriously injured on Jan. 6 while defending the Capitol, works to raise awareness about the current political climate and the threat of political violence. Photo courtesy of Courage for America.

SPORTS CT

Stat of the week

VCU third-year Gudrun Hallgrímsdóttir placed fourth in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championship which earned her NCAA First Team All-American honors, according to VCU Athletics.

STAR FEMALE ATHLETE HELPS CLOSE THE GENDER GAP IN SPORTS

BERSABEH KEMAW Staff Writer

The growth of women’s basketball in this generation is undeniable and Sabrina Ionescu is one of many talented female athletes paving the way.

Ionescu is a 5-foot-11-inch guard who plays for the New York Liberty of the WNBA and is currently averaging 17 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this season, according to ESPN.

She made history during the NBA All-Star weekend when she competed against four-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry for the first-ever NBA vs. WNBA three-point shooting challenge.

If you work for it and put in the time, hard work, dedication and effort, it’s only a matter of time until you are able to achieve and accomplish what you have set out to do.”

Bersabeh Kemaw Staff Writer

After Ionsecu’s incredible performance during the WNBA All-Star weekend where she scored a total of 37 out of 40 possible points and set a record for both the NBA and WNBA, she was challenged by Curry to compete in a three-point shooting contest, according to the NBA.

You may be thinking, why does she need to shoot from the NBA three-point line? Isn’t it all the same?

No, it’s not because the WNBA threepoint shooting line is about two feet closer to the basket than the NBA shooting line, according to Forbes.

Ionescu made it a point to shoot from the NBA line because she wanted to equal the playing field and push boundaries, no matter what challenges that may have posed, according to an interview with Forbes.

She did just that.

She scored a total of 26 points, which was the winning score in the men’s threepoint contest, during the All-Star weekend, which featured stars like Karl-Anthony Towns, Damian Lillard, Trae Young and Tyrese Haliburton, according to Forbes.

Curry, being the GOAT three-point shooter, scored 29 points and ultimately won the contest.

Though Ionescu didn’t win, she was able to keep up, not only with Curry, but with the other high-ranked players in the league.

She showed that WNBA players are just as talented as their male counterparts, and if given the opportunity, they could confidently showcase that.

Throughout sports history, women’s sports have been seen as lesser than or not as entertaining by the general public but also by the association as well. Generally speaking, male sports have always dominated.

We see this in things such as ticket sales, salary caps, coverage, attendance, viewership and much more.

For example, in 2023, the revenue for the NBA was a whopping $10 billion, whereas the revenue for the WNBA was $60 million, according to WSN.

The average attendance for the NBA in 2023 was 17,184 in comparison to 5,679 for the WNBA, according to WSN.

This is only scratching the surface at the battle between the sexes.

Significant differences like this have created a gap between men and women in sports because women were not — and still are not — getting the recognition and respect they deserve.

Ionescu is one of many athletes working to reshape the perception of not only the WNBA, but women in sports as a collective.

The crossover that happened between the WNBA and NBA opened a door for future opportunities that will allow for women and men to compete at the same level.

Ultimately, gender does not determine talent and skills.

After the three-point shooting contest, Ionsecu said, “If you can shoot, you can shoot,” according to Forbes.

She’s not wrong.

If you work for it and put in the time, hard work, dedication and effort, it’s only a matter of time until you are able to achieve and accomplish what you have set out to do.

Adam Silver, the commissioner for the NBA, acknowledged that there could be more crossover with the NBA and WNBA, according to Forbes.

This possibility will allow viewers to see women highlighted and appreciated in sports the same way we see men.

Illustration by Olivia McCabe.

FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETES BREAK BARRIERS

JENNY ALLEN

Contributing Writer

We have seen women’s sports at the collegiate level rise beyond expectations. For decades women faced unequal rights compared to men.

Women weren’t allowed to compete at the college level until the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments in 1972, but now female athletes are defining women’s sports as its own identity.

The NCAA created the Gender Equity Task Force in 1993, which has led to equal opportunities for women within college sports.

Most notable, the Task Force has expanded the women’s basketball bracket, approved Division-III women’s basketball broadcasting and has established an internal gender equity evaluation process.

The Task Force is currently focusing on applying gender equity values to revenue distribution.

Female college athletes are finally receiving the equality and attention they deserve, which is motivating females all over the world to pursue their dreams as college athletes.

In just the past couple of years, women’s sports at the collegiate level have made marks on history and are establishing power within college sports.

More popular than ever and currently gaining the attention of millions is women’s college basketball.

The Iowa Hawkeyes home opening game for the 2023-2024 season versus DePaul broke the record for the most attendance in women’s basketball history, seating 55,646 people, according to ESPN.

Not only was this a record breaking attendance event for women’s college basketball, it was also the first women’s college basketball game to be played in an outdoor football stadium.

This game was more than just basketball and breaking records, all net proceeds were donated to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, according to ESPN.

The Iowa women’s basketball team is drawing unbelievable amounts due to national player of the year, Caitlin Clark.

Clark won the ESPY for best female college athlete in 2023, but she didn’t stop there.

In the 2023-2024 season, Clark has broken all sorts of records, inspiring thousands of female athletes.

Clark broke the NCAA women’s basketball scoring record on Feb. 15, scoring 49 points, including a threepointer from the halfcourt logo.

Clark currently has 3,737 points and is the first Division-I player to exceed over 3,500 points, 1000+ assists and over 850 rebounds in a college career, according to HawkEye Sports.

Clark has 17 games with a tripledouble, including six just this season, which ranks her second in Division-1 history, according to ESPN.

Clark recently just announced she will be entering the 2024 WNBA draft.

All over the world, female athletes are looking up to Clark. She has shown millions that women are able to make a name for themselves.

GAME RESULTS

MARCH 7

MEN’S TENNIS AT BAYLOR LOSS 4-2

MEN’S BASEBALL VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN WON 9-7

MEN’S BASEBALL VS. WESTERN CAROLINA WON 5-2

MARCH 8

WOMEN’S TENNIS AT FLORIDA GULF COAST WON 4-0

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAINT LOUIS LOSS 65-63

MEN’S BASKETBALL AT DAYTON LOSS 91-86

MARCH 10

WOMEN’S TENNIS AT SOUTH FLORIDA LOSS 4-2

MEN’S TENNIS AT OKLAHOMA LOSS 4-1

WOMEN’S LACROSSE AT SAINT JOSEPH’S LOSS 17-10

MEN’S BASEBALL VS MICHIGAN STATE WON 8-4

Female college athletes are finally receiving the equality and attention they deserve, which is motivating females all over the world to pursue their dreams as college athletes.”

Jenny Allen Contributing Writer

Clark hasn’t only become the face of women’s college basketball but the face of women’s college sports.

In the game against No. 2 Ohio State on Feb. 29, Clark broke the all-time men’s and women’s NCAA Division-I scoring record passing Pete “Pistol” Maravich. Clark’s dedication and prestigious practice has shown everyone that female athletes are able to compete with male athletes and even surpass their achievements.

This game wasn’t only monumental for Clark, this game also became the most watched women’s basketball game in FOX networks history having an average 3.4 million viewers, according to USA today.

Let’s switch things up to women in football — yes, football. Now let’s be honest, most of the time, when we think of football, we tend to only think of male athletes, but that won’t always be the case.

We have seen female athletes appear as kickers in collegiate football games before. Liz Heaston’s Willamette College football jersey, #39, hangs in the College Football Hall of Fame representing her as the first female to score in a NAIA game.

Heaston kicked two extra points in a game versus Linfield College in 1997, but now new history is being made.

Haley Van Voorhis, a third-year at Shenandoah University, was the first female to appear in an NCAA football game as a non-kicker.

In the 2023 football season, Voorhis got her first minutes as a safety in the first quarter of the game versus Juniata College.

The Hornets took the victory home this game winning 48-7, according to ESPN.

Voorhis is also a part of the Hornets track and field team and serves as a reminder that women are just as capable as men, no matter in sports, business or life itself.

College female athletes all over are making up for the missed opportunities that unequal rights have given them.

Athletes around the world have been encouraged by college female athletes no matter the sport, but rather their ability to make a change and have an impact on women’s history.

MARCH 11

MEN’S GOLF AT SEMINOLE INVITATIONAL FINISHED 3RD OF 14

MARCH 12

MEN’S GOLF AT SEMINOLE INVITATIONAL FINISHED 3RD OF 14

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

SPECTRUM CT

On this day

In 1942, Julia Flikke of the Nurse Corps, became the first female colonel in the U.S. Army.

Artist demonstrates hats as a tool to celebrate individuality

HAZEL HOFFMAN

Contributing Writer

Hat makers gathered at The Branch Museum of Architecture & Design on Sunday, March 10 for a “Design it Yourself” workshop for a few hours of crafting and turning vintage hats into feathered, colorful and extravagant headpieces.

her own history, notably pieces of her mother’s jewelry.

Starting with a hat, a glue gun, a table of oddities, ribbons and fabrics of every color and texture, participants worked together, chatted and laughed while creating statement hats brimming with personality and celebrating the creativity of the process.

Michelle Sandler, leader of the workshop and founder of My Alternative Hats, has been making hats for over a decade, she said.

Sandler started the hobby making hats for a fundraiser, but her hats soon bloomed into a business by popular demand, she said.

Hats are a way people can express themselves without words and bring a unique energy and expression to your life, especially for women, Sandler said.

Hats are a form of silent expression, Sandler said.

“It’s just satisfying — it brings the inner you — whatever you’re feeling that day,” Sandler said.

Sandler’s hats are helping their wearers celebrate their own history and find their voice through creative expression, she said. Many of her pieces include pieces of

Sandler’s alternative hats are made of party favors, found objects, old ballet costumes and anything else that she or her customers can envision, Sandler said.

“It tells a story — it tells a story of you instead of tossing it out, because that’s what happens when you go to a thrift store,” Sandler said. “You see all these things — you’re like, oh this was from someone’s memory of something and they cleaned out — you know you can save your pieces; part of your history.”

Sandler has even made hats with real oyster shells and says one of her most inventive hats was a ‘Death by Chocolate’ hat that sported chocolate cleavers dripping fake blood, she said.

“You never know what it’s going to turn out,” Sandler said. “I’ve had hats that I’ve taken months to create because I just can’t find that one piece and then all of a sudden, you find it and it just clicks.”

She hopes that attendees will take home not just a creative hat and good memories but also a lesson in how to be a little more silly and to help them find a creative outlet away from the many worries of the world, Sandler said.

While this is the first hat making workshop held at the Branch, the

museum is no stranger to fun and extravagant hats because of the Branch’s annual fundraiser, “The Mad Hatter Garden Party and Design Auction,” according to Lucy Northup, the marketing director at the Branch.

“The Mad Hatter Garden Party and Design Auction” supports the Branch, as well as local artists and designers within the Richmond and Virginia area, many of them women, and encourages attendees to bring their most creative headpieces to the celebration of design and creative thinking, Northup said.

Today, it’s rare to see hats of these more ornate styles, but the Branch is aiming to bring awareness to the possibilities of design in everyday life and fashion is a great place to start, Northup said.

Fashion is an easy way for people to get involved in design in their personal lives, Northup said. A hands-on workshop that gets people thinking about and involved with design in fashion is something the Branch hopes will influence participants to have a deeper understanding of what design means and its impact on everyday life.

The event drew folks interested in making hats for all sorts of occasions, from Easter, “The Mad Hatter Garden Party” and even to sport at church.

came for a mother-daughter date and left with a delightful Easter bonnet and a red hat for church with hidden fairy lights gleaming from behind the ribbon and flowers.

Participant of the workshop, Daji Dvalishvili, rarely gets to be very crafty or hands-on and enjoyed working to arrange flowers and vines in the band of her hat, she said. She is considering showcasing her hat at the “Mad Hatter Garden Party and Design Auction” event in May.

Daniela Holcombe is a veteran hat maker who came well-prepared with bags of supplies and set to work right away building an elaborate hat for the upcoming Easter parade, she said.

“Elaborate hats are something missing in today’s culture,” Holcombe said as she arranged a colorful spring bouquet bursting from the top of her chosen hat. “I enjoy wearing them out whenever and wherever I can.”

Crystal and Joanne Sygeel said they

Michelle Sandler hosted the ‘Design it Yourself’ hat workshop at The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design on Sunday, March 10. Photo by Hazel Hoffman.

BIOGRAPHER DISCUSSES BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY, ITS MARRIAGES, FEMALE LEADERSHIP AT EVENT

EMILY MCCAULEY Spectrum Editor

Sally Bedell Smith, biographer for the British royal family, shared her extensive knowledge at Agecroft Hall & Gardens on Thursday, March 7. People gathered in the Williams Room, attending Bedell Smith’s discussion and conversing about her latest biography, “George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy.”

“The perspective that I bring on my writing as a biographer is digging deep, being fair, judiciously making assessments of people,” Bedell Smith said. “Finding new perspectives, new angles and deepening people’s understanding through that.”

The event was hosted by the Richmond Branch of the EnglishSpeaking Union and Bedell Smith spoke about her unique experience studying the British royal family and shared stories and facts from her eighth biography.

“This book shines a light on what is less well known,” Bedell Smith said.

Bedell Smith dove into the history of the marriage and lives of George VI, also known as Bertie, and Elizabeth I, also known as the Queen Mother, as they raised their daughters and ran the United Kingdom, she said.

George VI’s stutter began when he was about 7-years-old and the impediment caused him to be treated differently by his parents and nannies, according to Bedell Smith. As Bertie grew up to be the King, Queen Elizabeth I was a strong woman to have leading by his side and their influence trained Queen Elizabeth II well.

When her father died, Queen Elizabeth II began her reign with strength immediately and became the longest reigning female monarch, according to Bedell Smith. This was a reflection of how her parents prepared her and the examples they set during their reign.

Bedell Smith noted Queen Elizabeth II once said, “My whole life, whether long or short, will be devoted to your service.”

To write her book, Bedell Smith spent three months studying in the British royal archives at Windsor Castle with

unrestricted access to documents, she said.

“There is nothing like the royal archives; it has a sort of magic when you go up this steep medieval staircase,” Bedell Smith said.

Queen Elizabeth II was protective of how her parents, George VI and Elizabeth I, were portrayed, so she felt it was a real vote of confidence that she was given the permissions and opportunity to read through the royal archives and write these biographies about them, Bedell Smith said.

She wrote Queen Elizabeth II a thank-you letter about how helpful everybody in the royal archives were and how appreciative and privileged she felt, Bedell Smith said.

Bedell Smith received a letter back from the Queen’s private deputy secretary stating, “We have laid your letter before the Queen and she was gratified and she sends you her very best wishes.”

Bedell Smith also received letters expressing thanks from the King, the

Queen, Princess Anne and Prince William.

Bedell Smith was glad to know the King and Queen had her book in hand and inspected it, she said.

The ESU was founded in the U.S. in 1920 and is about making connections and friendships, according to Ellen LeCompte, president of the Richmond branch of the ESU and a friend of Bedell Smith.

LeCompte admires how Bedell Smith has made her way in a man’sworld, she said.

“The palace checked her out and they saw the quality of her research and the fairness of her presentations and so they were comfortable,” LeCompte said.

LeCompte and Bedell Smith have been involved in some of the same circles of people; many related to the royal family and many related to the ESU, LeCompte said.

“The ESU is very plugged into those circles,” LeCompte said.

LeCompte expressed how English

is the working language of the world and how the ESU’s goal is to encourage global understanding through the use of the English language, she said.

Agecroft Hall & Gardens was thrilled to partner with the ESU to host Bedell Smith and her book talk, according to Anne Kenny-Urban, the executive director at Agecroft Hall & Gardens.

“We were so excited because it’s a perfect combination,” Kenny-Urban said. “I think there is a great love for the Queen Mother so people are particularly excited — people love a king but they knew Queen Elizabeth for many more decades.”

It’s incredible that Bedell Smith had access to the royal archives that many people have not had the privilege of, so attendees are getting an inside first-look at information, Kenny-Urban said.

Kenny-Urban wanted attendees to learn something but also to have fun and enjoy listening to Bedell Smith’s stories, she said.

“Female voices have not had equal air time as male voices over time, and we need the voices of both genders in history to understand it,” KennyUrban said. “There will be very important male biographers, and it’s wonderful to have very important female biographers and see where they converge and see where they differ and look at all those different perspectives.”

Kenny-Urban is excited to do more with the ESU, she said.

Attendee and Richmond local Carrie Rhodes said it felt like she was meeting a celebrity when meeting Bedell Smith and attending her talk.

Rhodes and her mother enjoyed the conversation, refreshments and purchased books autographed by Bedell Smith.

Rhodes has been following the royal family since she was a little girl and feels a love for them had been instilled by her British grandmother, she said. She enjoyed learning more about the Queen Mother and George VI and their relationship, Rhodes said.

“You always hear about the king and what they do, but then you don’t hear about the support that the king had, so it’s just turning the tables of what she did for him and the support she was for him as his wife and partner throughout that,” Rhodes said.

Sally Bedell Smith spoke about her latest biography “George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy” at Agecroft Hall on Thursday, March 7.

Photo by Max Hirshfeld.

‘SELF-DISCOVERY THROUGH WRITING’: Workshop heals, brings women together

SAMANTHA GRANADOS Contributing Writer

The writing workshop “Pass Her the Pen” utilizes writing as a form of processing and healing emotions to uplift and empower women in their creative process, according to Amala Thomas, the graduate assistant for the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs overseeing the event.

The OMSA hosts the workshop in celebration of “Women’s HerStory Month” on Wednesday, March 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Thomas started this workshop last year as a part of a four-part series for “Women’s HerStory Month,” she said. The event went so well she said she decided to continue it for this year’s celebration.

When initially launching this workshop last year, Thomas reached out to local Richmond writers and was directed to Paula G. Akinwole, a Petersburg native and author, blogger and poet, according to Thomas. Akinwole also owns the business PGARTistry LLC which started when her blogging and teaching grew as a platform.

Akinwole facilitated the first event and brought a lot of experience, talent and skills, which Thomas said she was amazed by, so she asked Akinwole to facilitate the event again, and she agreed.

“She uses her skill sets and her talents with knowing how to be a creative writer, with knowing how to use that to uplift marginalized voices and women’s voices,” Thomas said.

Thomas believes the personalized atmosphere of this workshop is really important for women to share, especially women of color and queer women, she said. She hopes students who attend gain a sense of empowerment because women are constantly told to hide their emotions, especially women of color.

Therefore, it’s important the writing workshop allows students to process emotions and what it is to be a woman on their own, while sharing that in a safe space with the group, Thomas said.

Akinwole’s roots in writing stem from her family, a generation of writers including her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she said. She began writing to express her thoughts on paper and realized how beneficial it became for her.

These group setting workshops remind Akinwole of the group therapy she attended for women who had lost children, she said. This is part of her origin story for her blog “For Lack of Better Words,” as losing her son made a difference in her writing career.

Rather than writing to simply express she began writing to heal, Akinwole said. It became more intentional and a way to cope with her grieving.

Akinwole believes writing workshops have the same power of healing,

Her experience with public speaking as a poet allowed her to naturally transition to hosting workshops in 2018 when she began working with her mentor Valley Haggard, an author, teacher, energy worker and spiritual life coach,

In her workshops, Akinwole’s only goal is to get attendees to write something expressive, she said. She

believes everyone has the innate ability to help themselves work through things happening internally.

Although the writers at the workshop may not be able to solve inner obstacles, the introspection of ongoing issues may ultimately help pinpoint what’s going on within, Akinwole said.

“My goal is just to get them to write because often what happens, they begin to express their most honest, most vulnerable deepest feelings,” Akinwole said. “Things they haven’t said out loud, things they haven’t recognized within themselves yet.”

In recognizing these emotions, they’re already a step further from preventing future triggers, Akinwole said.

“If you know what your triggers are you can avoid them if necessary or you can sit in that space and not allow it to pull your emotions out of whack,” Akinwole said.

She hopes her teachings influence women who read her work or attend her workshops to gain the ability to find strength within themselves for the moments that are too hard, Akinwole said.

“Therapy is important but there are times where it’s two o’clock in the morning and I can’t get a therapist on the phone,” Akinwole said. “One thing I can do is pull out the paper and pen and start expressing myself.”

A person’s level of experience or success doesn’t matter, Akinwole said. Everyone is writing the same prompt the same way, in the same atmosphere, while holding that safe space for and amongst each other.

Akinwole also participates in the workshop to help attendees open up and feel comfortable, she said.

At the end of the workshop when everyone parts ways and recognizes they may not see each other again, they’ve at least shared that experience, bonding them all together, Akinwole said.

“If I see you in the street corner, I might wink at you because I know what we’ve shared together and that will sort of forever be life-changing for me, for them, or at least I hope so,” Akinwole said.

Margo Maier, a senior project coordinator of Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations at VCU, attended the workshop as an alumni out of personal interest. She believes this event will enhance the visibility of women writers as they share and connect with each other, she said.

“I hope it inspires students to embrace the awkward, uncomfortable journey that is self-discovery through writing and publishing, and to see it as a formative experience in their creative development,” Maier said.

Maier is a writer herself, but still feels shy to pursue publication on a regular basis so she takes inspiration from those like Akinwole, who have overcome the things that have held her back, she said.

She is eager to support a woman who is confident enough to put her work out into the world anytime she can, Maier said.

Registration for the workshop can be found on RamsConnect and attendees will be entered in a raffle to win a PGARTistry writer’s bundle giveaway. Journals and treats will also be provided.

Illustrations by Malaika Campbell.

OPINIONS CT

APPRECIATING THE US AS A STUDENT ABROAD

LILY PAWLICZAK

Contributing Writer

Before studying abroad, I wrestled with many different emotions. I was going to miss my friends and was worried about making new ones. Going to Europe alone was a huge step outside of my comfort zone.

I kept reminding myself that at least it was France — even if I did not make great friends there or if I missed my friends at home, I would still be in Europe; I would still become cultured and worldly. The United States could offer me comfort, but France could offer me a new perspective. Nothing like that could unfold for me in the U.S.

‘First Wives Club’: A step in the right direction for Black female representation in media

JULIANNA BROWN Contributing Writer

Positive representation of African Americans in the media has always been little to none, and more specifically, Black women are highly misrepresented in the media.

Oftentimes we are put in boxes such as the sassy best friend trope in which Black female characters are the “side-kick” of the white main character. In cases where Black women are the main characters, they are usually battling with hardships in which they are trying their very best to survive.

When I was a young girl, I remember reading the “American Girl” novels. For the white main characters, these books followed them going on fun adventures and being care-free preteens whose biggest problems were annoying boys, but for the only Black female character, her biggest problem is that she is a 9-year-old slave who must escape her plantation so she and her family will not be separated.

I remember not even wanting to read the only book with a female main character who looked like me because it was too heavy to indulge in. This example is the case for many Black women who grew up with American media. Stories like mine are the exact reason the portrayal of dimensional Black female leads is needed in society.

Like stated before, Black women are usually portrayed as struggling members

of society, which leads to the theme of poverty being present in the majority of shows with Black female protagonists. For example, the 2005 comedy series “Everybody Hates Chris” presents a dysfunctional Black family trying to make ends meet in Brooklyn, New York.

The Black female character Rochelle is portrayed as a mother who stresses about her kids’ safety and involvement with gang-related activities. Rochelle is often seen to be switching jobs and trying her best to save money. Though she does not have to work because her husband has two jobs, she is still painted as an unsuccessful person and her family’s financial struggle is used for comedic purposes.

Black television series can be funny without having to display poor Black female characters. Movements within the media like the “quirky” Black girl trope are highly beneficial because of this. This character trope describes Black female leads who are in control of their own lives and no longer have to minimize their personalities for white main characters. As the “quirky” main character, Black women are finally allowed to think freely and have their own special interests.

They are no longer confined to what white society wants them to be and usually live in suburban or “white” neighborhoods rather than low-income housing. Though this may seem to be the bare minimum, new positive cliches for Black women on the big screen will eventually heal the false

Quote of the week

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.

— Angela Davis

I did not have the U.S. high on my list of things that I would miss, but two months into my semester I have had to come to terms with the fact that it is one of the things I miss the most. I would not consider myself patriotic, or even say that I love the U.S. as a country, but I find myself craving an interaction with an American stranger more than I realized.

To put it into perspective: French and American people are incredibly different, as much as people can differ. Here in France, they do not smile “that smile” we do in passing, they do not engage in a little conversation over irrelevant things while waiting in line for coffee, compliment an outfit they think is cute or make small talk with the person behind the counter.

I’m compliment-deprived and learning how not to smile. People have looked at me weirdly for smiling at them if we make eye contact — mainly because here, that is too familiar an action for someone I don’t know. The same people who have no sense of personal space find it weird for me to smile or talk with them for longer than necessary.

I miss American familiarity, and I only realized how many things we get right as Americans after I experienced the cold decorum of people in France that seems to be the norm. For a collectivist society, France seems to be strangely individualistic at its personal level.

The U.S., being an individualistic society, surprisingly has a strong sense of comradery, a “No, I don’t know you, but of course I would root for you.” We seem to cheer each other on and celebrate similarities small and large; I was at a coffee shop in New York and someone came up to me, excited to tell me how much they loved the book I was reading.

I had no idea who they were but at that moment we were friends.

As a teenager I was itching to leave the U.S., to travel and find somewhere better. Even as recently as two months ago, I was that person. There is a saying that goes: “You only know what you’ve got when it’s gone.” Now having experienced this firsthand, it really does ring true.

We all love to joke about how much the U.S. sucks — it’s a funny joke — but I do not think the people suck. Something I have heard while being here is that figuring out who is an American is pretty easy since they are usually always smiling. If I had to choose between a country stereotype, I’d take that over not understanding personal space, which Europeans suffer from.

I know how to dress relatively European, and I can get by speaking French pretty well, but if smiling is my giveaway then I’m not sure how to adjust that, or if I want to.

If our identifier is smiling, I can appreciate the U.S. a lot more than I did before going abroad. I have learned a lot about myself and the world while traveling around Europe — and hope to learn more in my time left here. But by growing into this new perspective, I have learned the most about where I’m from, which is a realization that would have passed me by had I not come abroad.

So, while I get used to my sad, neutral face, smile at someone awkwardly when you make eye contact, talk to the barista at the coffee shop and compliment someone’s shoes. Realize the joys of being from somewhere people associate with smiling, and embrace the wandering hype Americans give; people everywhere cheering on and encouraging strangers for nothing in return.

stereotypes existing in real life.

Black women are now able to fall in love, be successful or go on adventures without worrying about external stressors caused by finances or family drama. In the show “First Wives Club,” the four Black female lead characters do just that.

“First Wives Club” is a comedy series released in 2019 inspired by the 1996 film with the same title. Unlike the original show, the remake is made up of an entirely Black cast and features many Black female actresses.

The show revolves around a group of middle-aged friends who met in college and ended up with successful careers as a lawyer, singer and doctor, respectively. The main characters Ari, Hazel and Bree are all hard-working Black women who spend time together while drinking wine and talking about their marriages.

They go on many adventures without having to worry extensively about their ability to survive, giving other Black women positive views of the future while also providing comedic relief. Thanks to

Goodale-Porter.

shows like these, Black girls do not have to minimize their potential due to false or negative stereotypes.

Shows like “First Wives Club” are essential for young Black women because of their positive portrayal of Black femininity. The women in this show are portrayed as dimensional and simply just exist without being trapped in the depths of oppression.

This was inspiring to me as a Black woman because it showed me that I do not have to fit negative stereotypes and that despite false representation, I can still reach success. Instead of having to base our dreams on white women in the media, Black girls are now able to create aspirations based on women from our own community.

As more shows with positive Black female representation are popularized, Black girls will know that all of their greatest dreams are possible — breaking the confines of the box that society has tried to trap us in.

Illustration by Vivian Trinh.

Illustration by Killian

Joke of the week

HUMOR CT

— Tina Fey

SOLIMAR SANTOYO Design Editor

YOU’RE JUST A GIRL

The first words I ever heard were “She’s a girl!” under the hospital’s fluorescent lights as I was cradled into my mother’s arms. “Don’t you mean she’s just a girl, doctor?” my father questioned. “My apologies, you’re just a girl!” the doctor responded embarrassingly as he corrected himself.

As I took my first steps, my dad exclaimed, “You’re just a girl!” My first words were “You’re just a girl,” repeating the words I heard on the mixtape my dad played for me every night. “You’re just a girl. You’re just a girl. You’re just a girl.”

When I would spill my milk, my dad would hand me paper towels and say these exact words: “It’s okay, you’re just a girl.” When I came home with all A’s on my report card he would comment, “You’re just a girl!” When I graduated as valedictorian in high school, the principal whispered to me, “Good luck, you’re just a girl,” before my speech.

I wrote my first book after I graduated college. When everyone talked about it, they would always include, “You’re just a girl.” It was about my relationship with womanhood.

I finally received the Nobel Peace Prize. I will never forget what they said when presenting the prize: “The Nobel Peace Prize goes to — I hope I’m pronouncing this name correctly — first name Yor — last name Jusagurl?”

“Steve Carell’s ‘Foxcatcher’ look took two hours to put on, including his hairstyling and makeup. Just for comparison, it took me three hours today to prepare for my role as ‘human woman.’”

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

Comic by Dylan Hostetter.

Comic by Emily Belson.

An

‘Eventful’ Spring Break by Bryce Griego

by Killian

6 “Yakety __”: hornheavy novelty hit

7 Algonquianspeaking people

By Brian Thomas & Kate Chin Park

8 Manicure sound 9 Salt garnish locale

73 Tic-tac-toe side 74 Slitherers in the sea 76 Freedom Rider’s ride 77 Scuffle

78 As concerns

80 Code names 82 “See what I did there?”

84 Drives too fast 86 Con text?

88 Half of quatorze 90 Spousal term of endearment 92 Toss, slangily

10 Letters after Madison or before Maria 11 Source of hemp

60 Up in the air

63 Campground sights, briefly 64 Rte. 66, e.g. 66 The “D” of CODA

6 “Yakety __”: hornheavy novelty hit

67 Baton-passing event

60

69 Boots

7 Algonquianspeaking people

12 John who completed an EGOT in 2024

70 Novelist Leon

71 Like the Resident Evil games

8 Manicure sound 9 Salt garnish locale

13 That fella’s 14 Name on a Wienermobile

10 Letters after Madison or before Maria

15 Tapenade fruit 16 Crusoe’s creator 17 Stay

93 Performed miserably 95 Put pen to paper 97 “Aida” river

freshness

111 “ I thought”

11 Source of hemp

72 Had more than an inkling

75 Rails against failure?

79 Put back

81 Crunch cousin

12 John who completed an EGOT in 2024

19 Major drama

13 That fella’s

20 Two bars and two dots, on a staff

14 Name on a Wienermobile

23 Actor Hardy

15 Tapenade fruit

82 Actor Elliott

83 Jaded feeling

84 Big name in Apple history 85 Ward of “Gone Girl” 87 “See you then!”

Edited by Patti Varol

57

98 Classic film about a football-kicking mule 100 Swing about

101 Con figure?

113 Saint-Saëns’s “__ Macabre”

117 Conscious

103 Con script?

119 Con form?

108 False move

124 Seeds, weeds, and feeds

109 Capital of Italia

125 Asteroids publisher 126 “Wait, what happened?”

127 Come up

128 Nave-y bases?

129 “Divine Comedy” poet 130 Greek vowel

dress, cut out all the polka dots 62 Maui’s Road to

63 Iranian money

64 Chart-topper 65 “Shucks!”

66 “Black-ish” dad

68 Con note?

16 Crusoe’s creator 17 Stay

19 Major drama

28 Macroeconomics abbr. 31 Actor born Laurence Tureaud

89 As per routine 91 “__ outta here!”

94 Skywalker mentor 96 GameCube successor

32 Components 34 Proclamation 35 Hasbro’s “game of unspeakable fun”

20 Two bars and two dots, on a staff

23 Actor Hardy

99 Cheap ticket spec 102 Final application

28 Macroeconomics abbr.

36 Turn 37 “Cathy” cry

110 Lacking freshness 111 “ I thought” 113 Saint-Saëns’s “__ Macabre” 117 Conscious 119 Con form?

31 Actor born Laurence Tureaud

38 Vessels in a pharaoh’s tomb 39 Follow the rules

32 Components

34 Proclamation

103 Persona non __ 104 Scull mover 105 Bahla Fort visitor, perhaps

124 Seeds, weeds, and feeds

40 1960s nonconformist 46 HS exam with a cellular energetics section

125 Asteroids publisher 126 “Wait, what happened?”

DOWN

1 Tennis great Steffi

2 Skating team 3 iPhone speaker 4 Reorganize a hard drive, familiarly 5 Cocktail sphere

127 Come up 128 Nave-y bases?

129 “Divine Comedy” poet 130 Greek vowel DOWN

35 Hasbro’s “game of unspeakable fun”

36 Turn 37 “Cathy”

48 Dadcore jeans specification

49 Lacking freshness

51 Olympic gold medalist Lee

53 Tear it up

55 Unleash 56 Spunk

58 Many an Argentine red

1 Tennis great Steffi 2 Skating team

3 iPhone speaker

4 Reorganize a hard drive, familiarly

5 Cocktail sphere

106 Yosemite peak free soloed in “Free Solo,” informally

107 Miracle-__

112 Came out with

114 Vertex, in graph theory

115 Clubs, but not cabarets

116 Jazz singer Jones

118 Kampala-to-Nairobi dir.

120 Unedited, as footage 121 OBs, e.g.

122 Racket 123 Chicago winter hrs.