The Commonwealth Times; February 5, 2020 by VCU Student Media Center

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VOL. 61, NO. 18 FEBRUARY 5, 2020

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VCU proposes plan to turn abandoned school into child development center KATHARINE DEROSA Contributing Writer A former historically black school adjacent to G.W. Carver Elementary may be refurbished to serve communities on the northside of Richmond. The VCU School of Education has expressed interest in transforming Moore Street School into an expansion of VCU’s Child Development Center — at zero cost to families zoned for Carver Elementary — according to a draft agreement between VCU, the Richmond School Board and the City of Richmond. The project has not been finalized and is still in the development phase, as the school board is yet to vote on the issue. Councilwoman Kim Gray has been vocal about her hopes for the project. “We’re pushing very hard for them to make a decision,” Gray said. With the plan from the School of Education, VCU’s Childhood Development Center would expand beyond serving primarily VCU staff. According to the draft plan, it has not allowed for much racial, ethnic and economic diversity among the children and families. The plan must be approved by the school

board and the city of Richmond, which owns the property. “It’s not set in stone,” Gray said. “It’s a concept.” Even if the building were obtained by VCU, it would still have to go under renovations before it could be functional. The School of Education declined to comment, stating the project is still under development. Moore Street School was built in 1887 and was one of the first schools for black children in the area. The plan involves expanding Moore Street School to accommodate 148 children: 60 children of VCU faculty and staff, 40 non-VCU children and 48 children from families zoned for Carver Elementary, according to the draft agreement. The children from the area zoned for Carver Elementary would be given free tuition and continue their education at Carver Elementary. A neighborhood profile done by the Richmond Federal Reserve in 2017 showed that 54.1% of the families in Carver neighborhood are cost-burdened, meaning that 30% or more of their income is spent on housing. This rate is 8.2 percentage points above the cost-burdened rate across the entire city of Richmond.

“I think it’s kind of one of those full-circle stories,” Gray said of the plan that will allow Moore Street School to provide once again for a largely black community.

It instills a love of learning at an early age, and that’s a strong foundation on which we can build... It’s highquality development services.” Kim Gray, Richmond councilwoman The Child Development Center would work with children ages 18 months to 5 years old, which Gray said would be beneficial later in life. “It instills a love of learning at an early age, and that’s a strong foundation on which we can build,” Gray said. “It’s high-quality development services.”

In addition to working with the development center in Moore Street School, VCU’s plan would provide resources for Carver Elementary faculty and staff in order to promote the “educational and psychological needs” of students. The draft plan states that VCU would provide 40 hours of professional development per year for this additional purpose. In addition to the Child Development Center, VCU plans to create a Center for Urban Education and Family to establish a two-generational approach for students and their families. This approach is a way of disrupting the cycle of poverty that targets both children and adults in low-income neighborhoods, according to the Urban Institute think tank in D.C. According to the draft agreement, the center would focus on “educational attainment, economic mobility, and individual and family well-being” for children zoned to go to Carver Elementary. Moore Street School was initially built as a 16-classroom, two-story building facing Moore Street. It eventually became Carver Elementary in 1951, when an addition was built on Leigh Street to become the new front. Carver Elementary is now at 1110 W. Leigh St.

Band taps local music scene to grow business NICK ALFANO Contributing Writer Out of a bottomless pool of local acts clamoring to get closer to the limelight every day, one band has combined their musical originality and knack for the business side of the industry to carve a path of their own. The four-headed group, She, is

comprised of singer/guitarist Liza Grishaeva, drummer/keyboardist Tyler Smith, bassist Dino Sanchez and guitarist Seamus McDaniel. Grishaeva, the band’s frontwoman and architect, says she’s been waiting for a group of people to work with since she was writing songs at 13 years old. Grishaeva met Sanchez after releasing solo recordings during the summer of 2018,

and the two started collaborating. “We kind of had a proxy band with members coming in and out, and then Dino introduced me to Tyler because we needed a new drummer — and he joined in March,” Gishaeva said. “Seamus was the last to join in July, so with this lineup we’re really new.” See MUSIC PROFILE on page 6

She released their debut in November. Photo by Enza Marcy

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: A New Jersey oral surgeon has agreed to a five-year license suspension and about $300,000 in fines, after one of his patients died and 14 suffered heart infections that required surgery, CNN reports. international: The longest-serving Kenyan ruler, former President Daniel Arap Moi, died Tuesday at age 95. He ruled the country for 24 years.

State of the University emphasizes improved graduation rates, health care goals HANNAH EASON News Editor VCU and VCU Health System President Michael Rao stressed the importance of student, faculty and patient experiences at this year’s State of the University. Rao highlighted research accomplishments, innovations in student experiences and medical advancements made at the university last year. University officials, staff and students gathered at Cabell Library on Thursday to observe some of the university’s recent accomplishments and goals for the future. Board of Visitors member and Vice Rector Ben Dendy and Richmond City Councilwoman Kim Gray attended the event, which Rao hosted. “The State of the University address is an annual tradition that lets us reflect on our many successes,” said Gail Hackett, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, “and think about our goals and aspirations for the year ahead.” Research expenditures for VCU increased to $310 million dollars in 2019, a 14% jump from 2018. These studies covered many things, such as the decline of human life expectancy, overcoming traumatic brain injury, both factors that cause Parkinson’s disease. “We’re all together. This presidency is dedicated to that,” Rao said. “And as we do this, we’re going to redefine the extraordinary impact that any 21st century university can have on its communities on its people.” STUDENT EXPERIENCE Rao said VCU has reached its goal for the “Make it Real” campaign one year early. The program, which is the largest fundraising campaign in VCU’s history, expands

The State of the University was hosted by VCU and VCU Health System President Michael Rao. CT file photo the university by funding scholarships, interdisciplinary partnerships, facilities and research. The program ends June 20. Rao, who has been with the university since 2009, said graduation rates at VCU have risen 40% in the last 10 years and current rates are 10% higher than the national average. “We’ve done this at a time when across the United States, fewer than half of college students are actually graduating on time,” Rao said. “And it’s fewer than 15% of students from the lowest socioeconomic bracket, those who can of course benefit the most from a college degree.” Rao said about one-third of VCU students are first generation college students, and initiatives like “You First at VCU” can help those students thrive. “You First at VCU” was formed by Yessi-

ca Flores in 2018 and helps first generation students navigate the college scene. Flores and 25 other students were featured in an exhibit in Cabell Library, with bright colored backgrounds and inspirational quotes. “Remember to always embrace your narrative,” Flores’ quote read. “No matter how hard it gets, keep your eyes on the prize because you are the beginning of a legacy.” One in five VCU students grew up in a house that didn’t speak English, and the university is in the top 1% nationally in degrees given to minority students. Rao said online courses and degree programs — extending to the bachelor and master’s level — would make it easier for people to access VCU and would continue to be a priority. “It’s what people want,” Rao said. “It’s the access we need to give people to VCU. Not everybody’s going to be able to drop their lives and come here.” VCU’S FUTURE Rao outlined a plan to improve access to healthcare. He said currently, U.S. healthcare is behind in affordability, quality and efficiency, and said it was critical to take it “very seriously.” GOALS FOR VCU HEALTH: • VCU will be No. 1 in safety • VCU will be in the top decile in terms of patient satisfaction through quality and service • VCU will lead in its commitment to discovery, including through its Healthcare Innovation Consortium, which supports health care innovators with guidance and funding

• VCU will expand its commitment to health equity through clinical services, education and research There are also new programs on the way, like the first PhD program for pharmaceutical engineering opening in the fall, the construction of a pediatric inpatient and adult outpatient hospitals, and an engineering research building at Cary and Belvidere Streets. Soon, a new STEM building will replace the Franklin Street Gym, Rao said. VCU HEALTH One of the patients treated by VCU Health last year was Carnealius Dandridge, also known as Mr. D, a school custodian at Pole Green Elementary School in Mechanicsville. When Dandridge learned that his kidneys were failing, and later found he also had heart problems, he received a heart and kidney transplant at the same time. The surgery — done by surgeons Keyur Shah and Gaurav Gupta at VCU Health — was extremely rare, but saved Dandridge’s life. “For about 182 years, VCU Health has worked to give longer, better, healthier lives, to everybody whose life we can touch,” Rao said, “like Mr. D, and about 261,000 other patients last year.” Rao said that efforts with the opioid crisis, kidney transplants, Parkinson’s disease and life expectancy were all priorities for VCU Health. “We’re looking at new ways to support patients, especially those who have high readmission rates, keep coming back to the hospital,” Rao said. “We’ve got to do this by tackling issues that we know are affecting people like food insecurity, housing instability and transportation needs.”

Graduate, professional students’ ball illuminates Main St. Station ANYA SCZERZENIE Contributing Writer The second floor of Richmond’s historic Main Street Station is usually a cavernous, empty space, disturbed only by the occasional passing Amtrak train. But Saturday night, it was full of flashing, purple lights, a small bar decorated with flowers and 800plus graduate students and their guests. Local DJ Lady Syren was in charge of the music as attendees gathered to dance and eat at the 16th annual Graduate and Professional Students’ Ball, hosted by the Graduate Students’ Programming Board, or GSPB. This is the second year the ball has been held at Main Street Station. According to Meghan Zapiec, assistant director for student programming and campus engagement, attendance has increased to the point where they can no longer host it in a hotel ballroom. “We don’t do many events like this, which is why I think the students love it so much,” Zapiec said. “It’s something a little out of the ordinary.” The ball was once a smaller event, advertised mostly to medical students and hosted at the Omni or Marriott hotels. Three years

Students play limbo and dance at Saturday’s ball, which covered Main Street Station in purple light and flowers. Photo by Faith Redd ago, the ball expanded its advertising to all graduate students, and now students from any graduate program can attend and bring guests. “This is our biggest event of the year,” said Elizabeth Engel, graduate assistant at the GSPB. “It’s just been expanding. We moved it [to Main Street Station] so we can have up to 1,100 folks if that’s how many tickets we sell.” Sisters Vyvy and Deedee Norng, along with Vyvy’s fiance, Jamie Gentry, attend-

ed the ball. Vyvy is a third-year pharmacy student who brought her sister and fiance as guests. “I love coming, it’s really fun, the food’s great, and it’s so nice seeing people outside of school,” Vyvy Norng said. Some students who attended were there for the first time, including Ben Spence, a 29-year-old in the mechanical and nuclear engineering program. “I always wanted to come here,” Spence

said. “Main Street Station is a beautiful space on the outside, and now on the inside too.” Many students who attended were in the last year of their programs, hoping to have fun before graduating. “This is my last year in the classroom before I start my clinical rotation,” said pharmacy student Adwoa Nyame. “This is just my opportunity to get away from school, hang out with friends and meet other students.” Chemical engineering student Shani Levit came to “celebrate and relax.” “Grad school generally is very tough.” Levit said. “It’s high pressure and high stress, so it’s nice to have activities like this where you can relax and celebrate.” The event doesn’t make any money for the Graduate and Professional Studies Board according to Zapiec, and they generally break even after using the money from ticket sales and from the university to cover the cost of hosting the event. This cost includes renting the space and hiring caterers from local company Magic Special Events. “It depends on the year and ticket sales, but we definitely don’t make a profit off of this,” said Zapiec. Students paid around $40 per ticket, but could get a discounted ticket for $35.

Wed. February 5, 2020 3

FINLAND

SWEDEN

1 case, 0 deaths

1 case, 0 deaths BELGIUM

CANADA

4 cases, 0 deaths

THE UNITED KINGDOM

2 cases, 0 deaths

RUSSIA

2 cases, 0 deaths

SOUTH KOREA

16 cases, 0 deaths

GERMANY

12 cases, 0 deaths ITALY

UNITED STATES 11 cases, 0 deaths

1 case, 0 deaths

JAPAN

FRANCE

6 cases, 0 deaths

22 cases, 0 deaths

2 cases, 0 deaths 20,492 cases, 424 deaths

1 case, 0 deaths

INDIA 3 cases, 0 deaths

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths worldwide as of Tuesday

TAIWAN

11 cases, 0 deaths

CHINA

SPAIN

HONG KONG

17 cases, 0 deaths MACAU PHILIPPINES 10 cases, 0 deaths

NEPAL

1 case, 0 deaths

2 cases, 1 death

5 cases, 0 deaths

VIETNAM

8 cases, 0 deaths

SRI LANKA

1 case, 0 deaths MALAYSIA

10 cases, 0 deaths

SINGAPORE

24 cases, 0 deaths

AUSTRALIA

13 cases, 0 deaths

THAILAND

25 cases, 0 deaths

CAMBODIA

1 case, 0 deaths Information compiled by Sarah Elson Infographic by Kamryn Gillham

VCU takes precautionary measures against coronavirus HANNAH EASON News Editor SARAH ELSON Contributing Writer VCU study abroad programs to China have been “suspended indefinitely,” according to a statement from the school’s administration sent to students on Friday. The university suspended all travel to the country amid the coronavirus epidemic, which the World Health Organization is now calling a global health emergency. Gonzalo Bearman, an associate hospital epidemiologist at VCU Health and chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at VCU, said in the case of an outbreak or a VCU student contracting the virus, VCU Health is prepared to respond. “We have the appropriate facilities to deal with it,” Bearman said. “And we also have the appropriate personal protective equipment to use in the event that we need to evaluate or manage patients with a novel

coronavirus. So we’re ready.” Bearman said the coronavirus is spread through small particles or respiratory droplets that travel through the air, and an infected patient would have to be standing three feet from a person in order to transmit the virus through the droplets. There are more than 20,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, including 11 in the U.S. as of Tuesday. The respiratory illness has spread to more than 25 countries and killed more than 420 people. The Virginia Health Department tested two patients in Central Virginia, who tested negative for the coronavirus. A George Mason University student was being monitored for the virus after showing symptoms associated with the disease, but was cleared on Friday. Symptoms of the disease include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough and shortness of breath. In more serious cases, infection can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death. A program created by Johns Hopkins University that tracks global confirmed

cases of the coronavirus and deaths reports there are 11 confirmed cases of the illness in these areas of the U.S. as of Tuesday: • Boston, one confirmed case • Chicago, two confirmed cases • Tempe, Ariz., one confirmed case • Orange, Calif., one confirmed case • Los Angeles, one confirmed case • San Benito, Calif., two confirmed cases • Santa Clara, Calif., two confirmed cases • Seattle, Wash., one confirmed case VCU Health’s statement last week informed VCU students of the virus, including tips such as washing hands, using hand sanitizers and refraining from sharing food and drinks. University Student Health Services provides free flu shots for students, but there is currently no vaccine that prevents this strain of coronavirus. Matthew J. Lovisa, a spokesperson for the Division of Student Affairs, said VCU’s response protocols follow the guidelines provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention and WHO. “Institutions like VCU Health stay alert and on top of these recommendations, and work closely with the local health department and the CDC,” Lovisa said in an email. “Any samples for testing go directly to the CDC, and results are typically available within 48 to 72 hours.” Thursday, the CDC announced the first confirmed case of person-to-person spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. Later that day, WHO declared the coronavirus a world health emergency. Friday, the U.S. Department of State announced the highest level of travel advisory for China. The level four advisory told people not to travel to China, and urged U.S. citizens in China to stay at home and avoid contact with others. Coronaviruses are a family of illnesses that range from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome. The new strain of this disease originated in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China. It is an illness transmitted between animals and people.

What you missed this week in the Virgina General Assembly HANNAH EASON News Editor ANDREW RINGLE Managing Editor SENATE ROLLS FORWARD WITH MARIJUANA LEGISLATION On Wednesday, the Senate Subcommittee on Criminal Law passed Senate Bill 2, which would decriminalize the possession of marijuana in Virginia and decrease civil penalties to a fine of $50 or less. The measure passed 10-3 and was referred to the Finance and Appropriations committee. Two similar bills are currently in the House of Delegates’ Committee on Courts and Justice. House Bill 87 would legalize the simple possession of marijuana, while HB 265 would decriminalize it. SENATE PASSES BILL ESTABLISHING VIRGINIA SPIRITS BOARD TO OVERSEE FARMING, ADVERTISING IN ALCOHOL INDUSTRY Bills outlining a Virginia Spirits Board, which would improve farming practices for ingredients necessary for alcohol distillation in the state, have made it to the House and

Senate. The board could also improve revenues by entering contracts to advertise and promote the industry. The Senate has passed SB 583, while the full House read its version, HB 1436, on Tuesday. DEMS SWITCH, BLOCK ONE OF NORTHAM’S TOP GUN CONTROL BILLS The state Senate voted against a bill on Monday that would make it a felony to leave a loaded firearm unsecured in the presence of a minor, blocking one of Gov. Ralph Northam’s top gun control bills. SB 581 failed to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 7-8 following a switch from two moderate Democrats, Sens. Creigh Deeds and Chap Peterson. ADVANCING BILL WOULD ALLOW LOCALITIES TO REMOVE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS A bill that would allow localities to remove war monuments, including those honoring the Confederacy, advanced along party lines Monday out of a state Senate committee. Richmond City Council asked the

Illustration by Jeffrey Pohanka

General Assembly last month for permission to remove Confederate statues on Monument Avenue, and now that Democrats are in the majority, the council may get its way. HOLDING A PHONE WHILE DRIVING MAY BECOME ILLEGAL The state Senate approved a bill that would ban holding a phone while driving and charge such an offense with up to $250 in fines. A similar bill in the House was endorsed Monday in subcommittee. Richmond’s ban on holding a phone while driving will go into effect in June regardless of the General Assembly’s decisions.

RESOLUTION DENOUNCES ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-SEMITISM A joint resolution from the House of Delegates that passed on Friday establishes Virginia’s commitment to foster an inclusive environment for every person regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation and other characteristics. The resolution has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules. A joint resolution does not have the force of law, and it can be brought forth from either house without the governor’s signature. The bill specifies that the General Assembly denounces hate speech and crimes, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination.

4 The Commonwealth Times

Stat of the week

Junior Courtney Higgins won the long jump event at the Carolina Challenge, posting a 5.99-meter mark.

Coach forms tennis’ global profile NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor If there were tennis players on the moon, coach Paul Kostin said he’d find them. That’s because he’s gone everywhere else in the world to recruit during his 38-year coaching career. Kostin is in his 30th season in Richmond, building men’s and women’s teams that have won 29 conference titles with 38 appearances in NCAA tournaments. Kostin led the men’s team to the national championship match in 2000, falling to Stanford. For the native of Sweden, it’s about building a program that’s consistent each year. “I feel nobody’s going to remember you five or six years after you’ve done something else,” Kostin said. “But I think they will remember you more if you’re consistent and doing a good job year in and year out.” Kostin, who’s led the women’s program for 19 seasons, has built his program with hardworking players. Even though the players may not be the highest rated during recruitment, Kostin looks for potential. “I take those secondhand kids or third hands and just work at it and see what happens,” Kostin said. “Even when we were top 25, it wasn’t that I had high-notch kids, they worked hard.” Kostin has recruited globally over the years, searching for the players who fit his program. He’s used his connections from his playing days in Europe and former players he coached who are now coaches all over the world. As social media began to grow 10 years ago, Kostin said international recruiting became tougher. Now, players can see all their options on social media, especially the bigger programs. “It was a good advantage, but now with social media, everybody’s around there [Europe],” Kostin said. “So, it’s much tougher competition. I think it’s tougher for a lot of mid-major schools than it was 10 or 20 years ago.” Coaching at a mid-major school, which is any program not in a Power Five conference,

KOSTIN RECRUITS

Director of Tennis Paul Kostin has recruited globally throughout his career in Richmond. Photo by Tzeggai Isaac

Kostin said one disadvantage in recruiting against the bigger programs is facilities. VCU’s tennis facility doesn’t compare to what the dominant programs in the SEC and other conferences have. Kostin was able to recruit good players in the past who probably wouldn’t have joined if they knew there were better opportunities elsewhere, he said. “I’m dealing with kids who are mainly country club kids,” Kostin said. “It’s not easy, especially if you don’t have great facilities, to kind of lure them here. It’s reality. I’d love to have some of them, I get whatever I can.” When he first started coaching, Kostin recruited in Sweden and found success there because players were comfortable playing for a Swedish coach. Now, he said he doesn’t have any preferences in where he recruits, as long as the players have the test scores and want a degree. This season, all seven players on the women’s team hail from other countries, including Romania, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands and Japan. Kostin’s goal is not only to help his student-athletes grow as tennis players, but also as people off the court. He wants them to have successful careers. “All my players became something good besides tennis,” Kostin said. “I have a guy who’s an actor, a couple of kids who are CEOs in companies, they’re spread out all over the world. I feel good about that.” Boris Kodjoe, who played at VCU from 1992-1996, is an actor, appearing on many shows and movies including the “Grey’s Anatomy” spinoff, “Station 19.” He was an elite player for Kostin, ranking ninth in the record book in all-time career singles wins with 75. Despite winning the A-10 women’s title seven out of the last eight years, Kostin believes that the past doesn’t guarantee a future win. He has to approach each year the same. “I don’t believe in what you’ve done,” Kostin said. “So you have to start from scratch every year.”

Lacrosse gears up for season after losing 15 seniors NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor Four years ago, lacrosse kicked off its inaugural season with a roster of 22 freshmen and one senior. The team only won three games in 2016, but the same group of freshmen were instrumental in the program’s legacy. That recruiting class left Richmond after last season, but their mark on the program established a culture and an identity. “I don’t think four years ago we really recognized or knew what VCU lacrosse was,” coach Jen O’Brien said. “I’d say [now] we have a clear identity: We’re blue-collar, we play fast, we play hard. … That’s ingrained in us.” The Rams lost their top two leading scorers from last season, Sky Hyatt and Molly Barcikowski, who combined for 98 goals. With 15 seniors graduating last year, O’Brien and her coaching staff had to look ahead to this season to build a roster that could compete in the Atlantic

10. The process started three years ago, when they recruited the team’s last two freshmen classes. Those freshmen classes built the foundation for this year’s team, as they are now sophomores and juniors. Even though they might not have played a lot last year, they saw how the team operates and what the coaching staff expects. O’Brien said the coaching staff will be patient with the sophomore class this year because they lack collegiate game experience. “They went through things, they know what we want. But game experience, you can’t replicate that,” O’Brien said. “I think we’re going to have to be pretty patient with them, working through some nerves on the field.” The Rams welcomed 11 newcomers this season, including nine freshmen. O’Brien said she expects freshmen midfielders Lauren Marosi and Emma Barber to contribute right away on the field. Marosi, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, logged a school record of nine goals in a single high school game at Catholic Central.

This season, the Rams have their sights set on making the A-10 tournament at Cary Street Field as a top-four seed, an improvement from years past. They also want to play consistently throughout the season. “In our four years, we’ve had some good wins, but we’ve had some pretty bad losses against teams we shouldn’t have lost to,” O’Brien said. The program’s signature win came in 2018 when the Rams snapped Massachusetts’ 61-game win streak. O’Brien said the team’s goal this year is to win against the four teams on the schedule they haven’t beaten: UMBC, Richmond, Saint Joseph’s and La Salle. “I think that would be a very big win for our program,” O’Brien said of playing her alma mater. “A Baltimore school that attracts a lot of top talent and competes really well in their conference, that would be big for us.” Sky Hyatt graduated last season after leading the team with 56 goals. CT file photo

The Rams kick off the season on the road at ODU on Feb. 12 at 3 p.m.

Wed. February 5, 2020 5

Veteran presence yielding success for transformed Rams RYAN GRUBE Staff Writer The months that made up the 2017-18 season were tough times for women’s basketball. The black and gold concluded that year with a mere seven wins and headed into the offseason with a lot of unanswered questions surrounding their young squad. The direction of the team was unknown, as the Rams — then a roster of eight freshmen and four sophomores — were a unit without an identity. “I think we started off really young, really inexperienced, all not knowing each other,” senior center Danielle Hammond said. “The more games we played and the more experience we got, the more comfortable we got with each other.” As it turns out, the struggles the Rams dealt with over the course of their seven-win campaign would be the start of a transition into untapped success for the near future. “Obviously, it was rough, only winning seven games,” said senior guard Nyra Williams of her sophomore season. “But toward the end of that season, we really started to get a groove. So we took that into my junior year, and we just kept taking that momentum into this last year.” That groove down the stretch of the 2017-18 season led to a 17-win improvement for the black and gold a year ago

— the best in the NCAA. VCU captured a share of last season’s Atlantic-10 regular season title and advanced to the conference championship, falling to Fordham. The Rams, led by their maturing roster and revamped defense, earned an automatic bid to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, and the team was selected as the A-10 preseason favorites heading into the season. Williams said the Junior guard Tera Reed has started all three seasons for the Rams. Photo by Megan Lee drastic turnaround was a testament to her teammates getting onboard The Rams have rallied off seven consecThe 2019-20 campaign has seen VCU with the task at hand — simply, to win. utive victories, including their most recent enjoy the luxury of several proven scorers “We all know what we need to do to win, revenge win over Fordham on Jan. 29, to in its box scores. The Rams have five players and we’ve all just bought in,” Williams said. sprint into the second half of conference play. averaging over 6.5 points per game — four “We don’t really have any young players any Tera Reed said the success comes with are upperclassmen. more, so we’ve all just grown up.” knowing one another’s strengths and when The veteran scoring, combined with its The injury bug struck VCU at the be- to get the ball to certain players in various stifling defense — 57.6 points allowed, ginning of this season, as junior guards Taya game scenarios. The junior guard also men- fourth in A-10 — has VCU clicking on Robinson and Olga Petrova each missed the tioned that the team’s maturity adds a dif- all cylinders. Williams said the focus for first four and five games on the Rams’ cal- ferent element to their play style. the remainder of the conference schedendar, respectively. “It’s really valuable because I think we’ve ule is centered around the black and Coach Beth O’Boyle and company experienced so many different situations gold staying disciplined and sticking to limped out to a 5-8 start in the non-con- that we wouldn’t have known what to do their craft. ference portion of their schedule. But a before [this year],” Reed said. “Since we had “When we go into a game, just know healthy, veteran-oriented black and gold a target on our back this season, it’s really that we gotta be on our scout, and we gotta squad found a new gear to kickstart the important for us to think and be smart with be on our plays,” Williams said. “If we keep new year. our decisions.” doing that, we’ll win.”

Schwartz uses mindfulness to focus on throwing JOE DODSON Contributing Writer

When he was accepted to VCU as a student, junior thrower Willie Schwartz wanted to continue his athletic career at the next level. He talked with Ethan Tussing, the throwing coach, to see if he could walk on. Schwartz made the team his freshman year, but he wasn’t on scholarship. He had to pay for college himself. “The main thing that I’m proud of since I got to VCU is that I came in as a walkon. I didn’t have money, I just had power,” Schwartz said. “Once I got here, I put in work on top of work. I would make sure no one would outwork me.”

He did put in work, and although his coach tried not to get his hopes up, Schwartz was committed to earning a scholarship. After posting the second-best weight throw and hammer throw during his sophomore season, Schwartz was rewarded. At the track and field end-of-season meeting, Schwartz accomplished his goal: he was put on scholarship. ‘NO ROOM FOR ERROR’ Schwartz has always been strong, and he relied on his power over technique in middle and high school. That changed when he came to VCU.

“Once I got to VCU, I noticed how behind I was,” Schwartz said. “I almost got kicked off the team once because I wasn’t taking it seriously enough. That was a blessing.” He has always had a chip on his shoulder. Making the state tournament six times and never winning — and having to deal with all the stresses of being a student-athlete while worrying about how he would pay for four years of college — was frustrating. “It was really daunting,” Schwartz said. “I was rooming with two other people on scholarship, and they had a little more room to give if they messed up. I needed to be on my guard, I really needed to try. There was no room for error.” Schwartz played football from age five until his last football game, the VHSCA all-star game of his senior year. He said his strength in field sports comes primarily from the athleticism he gained from football. Schwartz spent his summer driving from his home in Powhatan to Richmond to do optional throwing work with Tussing. “He was driving an hour and a half to come train and throw,” Tussing said. “Where people that are here on campus wouldn’t come to throw, he is putting in that extra effort, and that’s the stuff I’m proud of.” MINDFULNESS

Junior thrower Willie Schwartz holds the second-best hammer throw and weight throw in program history. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics

When Schwartz isn’t at the track or in the gym, he spends his time trying to be more mindful. Schwartz struggled with anxiety when he arrived at VCU but found help by studying mindfulness. “I was stuck in my head,” said Schwartz. “That’s why I migrated to Eastern philosophies. They were all about mindfulness. Being here, not in the past or the future, because if you’re not here you miss out.” His mindfulness has helped him in his athletic career as well — the hammer and weight throws have taught him patience. He views the events like a dance, balancing weight and counterweight. Schwartz credits Tussing for not only teaching him skills in the field but life skills, too.

“Coach Tussing has been one of the most influential people in my life,” Schwartz said. “We talk about things like Eastern philosophy and how that correlates to regular life.” Tussing describes his coaching style as “Yoda-esque.” He quotes movies like “The Matrix” during practice. Tussing and Schwartz found many things in common. “We have this bond not just as coach and thrower,” Tussing said, “but also a philosophical growth, sort of Socrates and Plato sort of situation.” Schwartz understands that his interest in things like philosophy and religion aren’t typical for a collegiate student-athlete. “I’m weird,” Schwartz said. “I have really odd interests compared to the normal 21-year-old athlete.” Tussing and Schwartz’s similarities have formed a friendship unlike many coach and player bonds. “We’re both individuals,” Tussing said. “I want to be a little different, that’s part of who I am. And Will’s very much that way too.” CLOSE TO HOME Schwartz’s parents grew up in Richmond, and his hometown of Powhatan is 45 minutes away. He said his parents became more interested in sports as a result of his love for competing. Schwartz decided to pursue VCU despite several D-II and D-III football offers because he wanted to be close to home. “The thing that brought me here was the campus,” Schwartz said. “I looked around and it felt homey. It’s near my parents. I had my doubts going in but once I got here, it was just a beautiful place.” Schwartz has found a close connection with his teammates that has helped him feel comfortable being himself. “They’ve always been there for me,” Schwartz said. “We joke around, and we’ve really gotten to know each other like family. It’s an insult to call them just teammates.”

6 The Commonwealth Times

On this day

In 1972, Bob Douglas became the first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

‘She Blooms in Winter’ EXHIBIT PLANTS GARDEN-WORTHY ART IN THE BROAD GALLERY

AARON ROYCE Contributing Writer Flowers of every variety are blooming at The Broad. Paper dogwoods, acrylic poppies, printed cactus blossoms and more have turned the open-floor coworking space’s gallery into a verifiable art garden. Floral paintings, drawings and collages by local artists who identify as women have overtaken the space, turning it into a flower-laden wonderland. Rebirth, growth and enjoying the present with botanical imagery are prevalent themes in The Broad’s newest exhibit, “She Blooms in Winter.” Most visitors wore floral-printed dresses, blouses and jewelry to the opening reception on Friday. “Florals bring warmth and beauty into the environment, so it was important to express that,” said exhibit curator Michaeline Sander. Paintings, collages and illustrations were seamlessly hung between couches, propped near tables and placed at focal points throughout the gallery space. The featured artists — Sam Gray, Tucker Noelke, Raven Smith, Virginia Trobach, Nikki Painter and Amy Smith — are native to D.C. and Virginia. Each artist, although their mediums vary, created floral pieces to highlight humanity with nature. “The Broad’s mission is supporting women, so it’s special to have space to focus on women artists here in Richmond,” Sander said. Gray’s drawings and paintings highlight humans’ connections to nature; her acrylic painting of an individual embracing blossoming red poppies is one example. “For a while, I called myself an anthro-botanical surrealist,” Gray said. “The

pieces I have in this show reflect that merge of humans with plants and the dissolving of identity with nature.” Gray says the exhibit’s themes highlight flowers’ relationship to nature. “F lowers are looked down upon as feminized and for aesthetics,” she said. “They’re beautiful, but also create fruit and food. We can’t ignore nature, and need to remind ourselves to appreciate it.” Trobach, an illustrator, believes the theme is an appropriate alleviation from winter, especially consider- Featured artist Raven Smith stands with her paper ing Richmond’s lush nature. collage art included in “She Blooms in Winter.” Left: “Daffodils pop up in win- “Dogwood” Right: “Self Portrait” and “Florida.” ter, but in Richmond they Photo by Gracie Quilon come up everywhere,” she said. “When flowers come out in spring seemed like a great context. The space is — so much attachment to Richmond cool, it’s an intimate setting, and it’s a treat is to nature.” to be part of the show.” Smith, an illustrator who made paper colPainter says the Broad’s uplifting of lages highlighting indoor plants, hopes the women’s art fosters collaboration and enshow encourages others to enjoy the present. couragement. “Richmond has a lot of fast-paced busi“It’s important that women are repreness ethics, but you get bored,” Smith said. sented in any space,” she said. “This is a “Nature is a reminder to slow down and re- female-specific space, so it’s nice for them alize the beauty in your surroundings. The to enjoy work by women artists. It makes outside world is just as beautiful as fast- a really mutually supportive environment.” paced life.” Exhibits like “She Blooms in Winter” Collage artist Painter was driven to join can introduce artists to new audiences. This “She Blooms” by the themes of her new is timely for Noelke, a painter and senior at pieces and an appreciation for The Broad. James Madison University, who connected “I recently started a body of work that with Sander on Instagram to be featured in includes botanical subjects,” she said. “This her first exhibit.

“I do lots of floral pieces, so when Michaeline told me about the show, I had pieces ready,” Noelke said. “I work with feminism and beauty, what it means to me and to others.” Overall, Noelke says “She Blooms” gives female artists greater recognition. “To have this experience, I feel so lucky,” said Noelke. “Bringing these amazing women artists together, and meeting them, has been the best experience.” “She Blooms in Winter” will be displayed at The Broad (209 N. Foushee St.) until April 15. For information on gallery hours, visit wethebroad.com.

MUSIC PROFILE

Local band She is carving their own path in the Richmond soundscape

Continued from front page

Describing She’s sound is a surprisingly difficult task. While most sonically akin to indie rock, the band’s expansive and oftentimes theatrical instrumentals are more refined than the average DIY garage band sounds Richmond is known for. Whether it be for the sake of simplicity or due to their genre-bending catalog’s inability to be put into just one box, She is moving forward as a self-proclaimed pop band. “Pop is like a base dish; you can add a lot of different elements to pop, and we selectively add what we like from the music we listen to,” Smith said. “Because it’s still palatable, we like to call it pop. It’s a short answer for what would be an otherwise difficult question.” The group’s self-titled and debut single is an amalgamation of genres, with the first half of the track being upbeat and somewhat grungy, then quickly shifting to a droning outro laden with washed-out guitars.

“I finished writing ‘She’ and ran it over to Dino and said ‘Dino this is it! I did it! We got it!’ And nobody thought anything of it, but I knew its potential,” Grishaeva said. She has also decided to push innovation outside of just their music. To them, live performances present an additional opportunity to experiment and push the boundaries of their tracks. “We don’t play in the same place more than once a month and don’t repeat other bands we play with at all, so we play in front of a lot of different people,” Grishaeva said. “We try to pick something up and learn something new from every crowd.” Despite releasing their debut single this past November, the band has racked up more than 35 live performances since forming midway through 2019. Their setlists consist of a combination of yet-to-beheard tracks and Grishaeva’s solo music released prior to the formation of She. “In the past six months we’ve really been busting our asses doing shows,” Smith said.

From left to right: Seamus McDaniel, Tyler Smith, Liza Grishaeva and Dino Sanchez of the four-headed Richmond pop band She perform songs from a forthcoming EP at the WRIR 15-year anniversary event on Saturday. Photo by Enza Marcy “In October and November, we were in overhaul. We did about 15 shows in those two months.” On Saturday, She performed at the Renaissance for WRIR’s 15-year anniversary party, playing before acts including the highly acclaimed No BS! Brass Band. The setlist was comprised almost entirely of unreleased music, much of which was woven together with lush instrumental interludes. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk much because I was really nervous, but now I’m not,” Grishaeva said to the crowd before closing the set with “She.”

Despite the band’s growing musical acclaim, She aims to focus on the oftentimes forgotten business aspect of the music industry. “Our greatest goal is consistency on all fronts,” Smith said. “And we work really, really hard to make sure this works.” They even went as far as visiting professors at VCU’s School of Business during their office hours to inquire about branding and marketing opportunities. “Sure, the music always comes first, but people want an aesthetic,” Grishaeva said. “We want to be really solidified in who She is.” The band She is on Instagram @she.rva.

Wed. February 5, 2020 7

UPCOMING EVENTS

‘DISEASE THROWER’

Found objects form a narrative

See something

THURS. 2/6 ‘Queen & Slim’ Screening at the Byrd

The Byrd Theatre will host a screening of drama-thriller “Queen & Slim,” directed by Melina Matsoukas. For tickets, visit byrdtheatre.org. 9:30 p.m., The Byrd Theatre & Foundation (2908 W. Cary St.) $4

FRI. 2/7 - FRI. 2/14 Richmond Environmental Film Festival

The 10th annual Richmond Environmental Film Festival will highlight films that raise awareness of environmental and climate issues. For ticket information, locations and the list of movies that will be screened, visit rvaeff.org. Times and locations vary. Free admission.

Do something

FRI. 2/7 Jazz 4 Justice Benefit Concert

VCU’s Department of Music will present the sixth annual “Jazz 4 Justice” concert, guest conducted by Colette McEachin. The Jazz Orchestra I & II groups will be performing, along with The Commonwealth Singers and vocalist Shy Hinnant. The proceeds will go toward VCU Jazz scholarships. For more information, contact Antonio Garcia at ajgarcia@vcu.edu or visit the event’s page on grbf.org. 8 p.m., Singleton Center, (922 Park Ave.) $25 for students at the door, $20 in advance.

TUES. 2/11 “Disease Thrower” by Guadalupe Maravilla tells the story of the artist’s experience with illness and immigrating to the U.S. Photo by Jon Mirador FABIANA ACOSTA Contributing Writer

HE IMPORTANCE OF STORYTELLING can come in different forms to any narrator, such as sculptures, drawings and performances. The residual effects of storytelling in “Disease Thrower” at the Institute for Contemporary Art capture the truth of suffering through displacement and internal illness. Guadalupe Maravilla, an artist and assistant professor at VCU, examined the elements and process of his artwork in “Disease Thrower,” which tells his story of travelling unaccompained and undocumented to the United States from El Salvador. The story is transformed into a compelling sculptural piece, depicting the challenges of being undocumented. When Maravilla was diagnosed with colon cancer, he sought professional treatment and explored other paths to relieve the pain of radiation and chemotherapy. Sound baths were a powerful outlet for Maravilla to release his pain. PIECE BY PIECE, STEP BY STEP Each sculpture in “Disease Thrower” and their components are more than a display; the work connects the audience to the Latin community and the realities they face. Two of the main elements within the sculptures are the gongs and anatomical models that indicate where a loved one’s cancer began. Built with pliant material, the sculptures are constructed with found objects Maravilla collected when he was retracing his migration from El Salvador to the U.S. “All the other elements are objects that I collect for the process of retracing my migration,” Maravilla said at a lecture at the ICA last week. “That is very important to me — to go back to these places as an adult

and find parts and bring them back together to be part of the sculpture.” The sculptures all start with a wooden steel skeleton, then Maravilla added layers to them, starting with the off-white “skin” made of cotton, sea salt, glue and other elements that he microwaved. “After that it becomes malleable, and then I can add them to the metal skeleton,” Maravilla said. “Next step is collecting the objects and composing them.” From constructing the base to arranging the materials, Maravilla framed an exhibition that alludes to themes of humanity. The artist’s history of resilience and overcoming trauma at such a young age gave the sculptures a healing tone. “Once the gong and anatomical body part is chosen, “Disease Thrower” will be on display at the ICA until July 1. then after that it’s all intui- Photos by Jon Mirador tive,” Maravilla said. Maravilla’s intuition and experiences As the sculptures range from 6 to 8 helped him give life to the sculptures. To- feet tall, they’re especially heavy because kens such as conch shells and gems indicate of the weight of the gongs. That means the places he’s traveled through. the sculptures have to be well balanced and held down. “Seeing Maravilla’s exhibition in real life A WEARABLE TRANSFORMATION was one thing, but listening to his chilling The sculptures are not only objects of and graviating story of his childhood expeMaravilla’s story — they’re being made riences made me realize the impact art has into wearable materials. In the future, the on the immigration crisis,” said VCUarts sculptures will be performance pieces, worn student Jessica Foreman. “Especially how as clothing and play a role in healing rituals. he turns these pieces into a spiritual heal“It’s also scary thinking about wearing ing process for his illness and not only a them, too, because I’m gonna start wearing sculptural piece.” them now as headdresses,” Maravilla said.

Cartoonist Keith Knight Takes on Racial Illiteracy

Keith Knight will present a cartoon slideshow titled “Red, White, Black and Blue,” which discusses racial illiteracy in America, at an event hosted by VCU Libraries. The event is the library’s 19th Annual Black History Month Lecture event. A public reception will follow the presentation. For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu.edu or visit the VCU Libraries website. 7 - 9 p.m., James Branch Cabell Library, RoomLETTER 303, (901 TO ParkTHE Ave.) EDITOR

Learn something

SAT. 2/1 - SAT. 2/29 Black History Month Highlight Tours

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture will host tours of the museum’s current exhibit, “Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality.” The tours will take place every Saturday from 1-1:30 p.m. and 2-2:30 p.m. throughout the month of February for Black History Month. For more information, visit the VMHC’s website. Dates and times vary. Virginia Museum of History and Culture (428 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard) $10.

SAT. 2/8 ChinaFest: Year of the Metal Rat

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will host museum-wide events to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The event will include aspects of Chinese art and culture with dance performances, arts and crafts, films and a Lion dance by Yu Dance Arts. For more information, visit the VMFA’s website. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., VMFA (200 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd.) Free.

Have suggestions for the events calendar? Contact spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org

8 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“I do not like the man who squanders life for fame; give me the man who living makes a name.” — Emily Dickinson

Oscars’ lack of diversity is reflected in VCU cinema TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor We’ve all heard the question: “Why are the Oscars so white?” This year is no different. The awards ceremony is still very white and male-centered, making this year’s nominations unrepresentative of the country’s diversity. While the Academy has been claiming it would like to diversify its nomination pool for nearly three years now, it is to no avail. This year, the Academy only nominated five black people — Cynthia Erivo, nominated for best actress for her role in the movie “Harriet,” was the sole black nominee in all four best actor and actress categories. Even more disappointingly, an array of women, both white and of color, were snubbed. Rumored favorites were Greta Gerwig, director of “Little Women,” Jennifer Lopez for her supporting role in “Hustlers” and the biggest upset for me: Lupita Nyong’o for her leading role in “Us.” It’s not only the Academy that is so whitewashed — the entire film industry is. We have seen only recently an increase in black casts and crews. The VCU cinema department mirrors the lack of diversity in the real world, as it is primarily staffed by white men. According to the faculty and staff page on the department’s website, it appears there are no black staff

Illustration by Catherine Lee

members with administrative positions. Vanessa Moreno, a Bolivian sophomore in the department, said the teaching staff lacked color. She said her introductory classes were taught by “just white guys.” Like most of the teaching staff at VCU, the cinema department is full of professionals from the field. The first cinematography class Moreno ever took at VCU was taught by a director of photography from the cinema world. He, like most VCU professors, is white. While his race didn’t inhibit Moreno’s learning experience, it did open her eyes to the reality of the film industry.

It’s not only the Academy that is so whitewashed — the entire film industry is.” Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor I used to be a fan of the Academy during my first two years of high school. My dad

and I would wait for the nominations to come out and then watch every single movie before placing bets on our favorites. But it never really occurred to me that the Oscars were just another form of underrepresentation in the professional world.

But it never really occurred to me that the Oscars were just another form of underrepresentation in the professional world.” Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Since the first presentation of the Academy Awards in 1927, only five women have been nominated for best director; of those five, only one — Kathryn Bigelow, director of “The Hurt Locker” — has ever received the award in the ceremony’s history.

Nyong’o was completely robbed for her role in “Us.” She played a role that was just as impressively disturbing as Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker.” Yet only one of them got a nomination, while the other was harassed online for her role. I wonder what the difference is? Moreno, like me, used to enjoy watching the awards ceremony until she realized not many nominees and winners looked like her. She said she won’t be tuning in this Sunday for the show. “I don’t really believe it’s [the Oscars] something for us [people of color],” Moreno said. “I’ve watched it in the past, but this year especially the nominations weren’t something I felt to be valuable.” Just like Moreno, I am fatigued after holding my breath to see just a little bit of color on nomination day. Movies are meant to be symbolic of our dreams and fantasies while spotlighting the realities of life. All we are asking for is recognition of those women and people of color who are constantly breaking down barriers set up by the same men celebrating each other every year.

Tea time with Tagwa

PUT SOME RESPECT ON KOBE’S CHECK TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor Tea timers, on Jan. 26 we lost a legend. We lost a man who put his heart into everything he did, on and off the court. We lost a man who played basketball with talent and determination. We lost a man who was passionate about training the next generation of players. We lost Kobe Bryant. I was devastated. To make matters worse, the news was broken by TMZ in a huge breach of journalistic ethics before the family could even be notified. I was fuming. This is not clickbait. This is not gossip. This is agony. This is loss. This is a young daughter never knowing her father. This is a 17-year-old sister losing her best friend. The fact that TMZ took this and turned it into extra traction and attention makes me sick. Just when I thought there was no more pain that could come from that helicopter accident, it was announced that Gianna

Bryant, the professional athlete’s 13-yearold daughter, was pronounced dead. I could not imagine the pain and suffering the family must be going through. The thought of Vanessa Bryant having to hear the news about her husband and daughter was heart-wrenching. It’s been more than a week, and I haven’t been able to process the loss of such greatness. I, like many of you, was in complete disbelief at the tragedy. At first, I didn’t even comprehend what happened — I mean, he’s Kobe Bryant, he’s untouchable. And then, all at once, the grief took over. Bryant was an icon to all of us. He was a five-time NBA championship winner, a two-time NBA Finals MVP and the 2008 NBA MVP. But what I loved most about Bryant was that he looked like my dad and behaved like him too. They both have an undeniable hunger for success and an even more unimaginable adoration for their daughters.

I was walking through campus and overheard someone say something about the helicopter crash that upset me beyond belief: “This is what happens when you abuse your money.” Excuse me? First of all, what someone decides to use their money on, regardless of your beliefs, is truly not your concern. Second of all, have some respect. Nine people were taken from this world too soon, and you’re concerned with Bryant’s allocation of money? Disrespectful. When someone dies, we always want to talk about how they died. Instead of talking about how people died, let’s start talking about how they lived. And that’s the tea.

Illustration by Karly Andersen

Wed. February 5, 2020 9 ADVERTISEMENT

Grab-and-go food and beverage now at the ICA. Open Tuesday—Sunday | 10 am–6 pm Extended evening hours on Wednesdays & First Fridays

Opinions

10 The Commonwealth Times STAFF EDITORIAL

CORPORATE OWNERS, DARE TO INVEST IN THE NEWSROOM Most of us don’t remember a time when there weren’t whispers, talk and conjecture about the end of print newspapers. It’s been inevitable since the first days of the internet that we’ve grown up with. We’ve always known that the print dailies and weeklies that appeared in newspaper boxes and at the end of driveways would quickly become relics of an era when the news business seemed a lot more promising than it does now. Print media’s days are numbered, but they always have been. Now, there’s a more troubling threat to journalism, especially local media, and democracy: corporate ownership that cuts, sells and merges without regard for journalists or the communities that depend on their work. College journalists are looking upon the desperate situation in newsrooms across the country like passengers on a train just a few moments away from pulling into a station that’s caught flame. News of layoffs for people just half a generation ahead of us inspires dread and sorrow. The news industry needs owners who invest in the newsroom to bolster digital subscriptions and secure the future of journalism. But by and large, that isn’t happening. Virginia newspapers took a hit last week in the form of Warren Buffett’s sale of BH Media, which owned 10 Virginia papers, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Roanoke Times and Daily Progress. The new owner, Lee Enterprises, had managed BH Media’s 30 daily newspapers since 2018 and owned 46 dailies and more than 200 weeklies and specialty publications prior to the acquisition. If Lee’s effect on its other papers is any indicator on what the future will bring for the publications it swept up recently, there is much to fear. At the St. Louis Post-Dispatch — which Lee bought in 2005, along with 13 other papers, for $1.46 billion — there have been steady layoffs and buyouts. By 2010, things had gotten bad. Wages were reduced, and health insurance premiums went up. That year, the company-paid pension was frozen. “Then, there was no more fat and they went for the bone and the limbs and the non-essential organs,” Doug Moore, a reporter who worked at the Post-Dispatch for 19 years before accepting a buyout, told the Gateway Journalism Review. “Now we’re at the point where we wonder if we’re going to have people in the newsroom to produce a quality product.”

Between 2012 and 2017, Lee cut its total employment by 42% according to a review of its annual reports by Columbia Journalism Review. According to the Newsguild, Lee threatened to shutter the Missoula Independent, a Montana weekly, in August 2018 if the paper’s union didn’t agree to lay off three-fourths of the staff. By September of the same year, the paper was gone. In February 2019, it was announced that the Post-Dispatch’s editorial and news design would be moved to Lee’s design center, and nine employees would be laid off, a formula that’s become increasingly familiar to print newspapers across the country. Things are unlikely to improve for Lee’s newspapers. In a chilling move, Alden Global Capital announced via an SEC filing that it had bought a 5.9% stake in Lee. Alden is known for cutting newsrooms to the bone, to the point that the Chicago Tribune publicly called upon billionaires with a respect for the institution to buy the paper.

Buyouts have robbed newsrooms across the country of skill, talent and valuable institutional knowledge.” The Commonwealth Times staff The plea came after Alden bought a 32% stake in Tribune Publishing, which also owns The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press and other papers, in November. Making matters worse for The Pilot, Tribune recently sold the paper’s building without providing concrete plans for relocation. Announcements of buyouts were made last month, and on Friday senior editor at the Virginian-Pilot Erica Smith tweeted that layoffs and buyouts had caused six journalists to leave the papers. Managing Editor Ryan Gilchrest was one of them, and Smith noted that this week will see more departures as a result of the buyouts. Buyouts have robbed newsrooms across the country of skill, talent and valuable institutional knowledge. They’re devastating to the journalists they target, who are usually veteran staffers, to the industry, and to the communities that depend on local news. While recent college graduates aren’t

typically the recipients of buyout offers, we know what the implications are for us. We will be asked to do more with fewer resources, and for a salary that presents two options: stay in the industry and be overworked on a horrible salary, or leave it behind. Cutting from newsrooms sparks a vicious cycle: Quality suffers as journalists operate with fewer resources, and subscribers and advertisers drift away. Revenue falls, and more cuts come. This is especially poignant in an era when some of the most successful newspapers, such as The New York Times and some regional outlets, are pivoting from a focus on ad revenue to a prioritization of reader revenue, or money from subscriptions. Print ad sales are abysmal compared to what they used to be, and digital advertising doesn’t bring in much either — a Pew Research Center analysis found newspaper ad revenue fell 10% in 2015 alone. Outlets that try to fill that gap by boosting their subscriber base won’t succeed if their consumers are dissatisfied with the product because of cuts to the newsroom. Pulling resources and staffers from a newspaper is a great strategy to pad executives’ bonuses, but it does absolutely nothing to ensure a prosperous future for the news industry or even improve a paper’s financial situation. Newspapers will never succeed under ownership that strains local journalists’ already limited capacity to cover the news with few resources. Without supportive ownership, local news may very well be doomed. This article reflects the official opinion of The Commonwealth Times’ editorial staff.

Illustration by Karly Andersen

Wed. February 5, 2020â&#x20AC;&#x192;11

THE CT STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR Georgia Geen geengr@commonwealthtimes.org

Career Path Considerations by Erin Joo

MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Ringle ringlea@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Hannah Eason news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Noah Fleischman sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Iman Mekonen spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Tagwa Shammet opinions@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Jon Mirador photography@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Alexandra Zernik zernikal@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Karly Andersen illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Adam Cheek, Sports Ryan Grube, Sports STAFF ILLUSTRATORS Erin Joo

Awkward by Ellie Erhart

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Jeffrey Pohanka designers@vcustudentmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andy Caress Rey Carlson Kamryn Gillham designers@vcustudentmedia.com AD SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Harrison Powers advertising@vcustudentmedia.com (804) 828-6629 WEB MANAGER Chranjitpandian Murugapandi web@vcustudentmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Evan McGrady distribution@vcustudentmedia.com DIRECTOR Allison Bennett Dyche abdyche@vcu.edu (804) 827-1975 CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu

Wonderball by Ky Williams

SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dominique Lee leeds3@vcu.edu (804) 827-1642 OFFICE MANAGER Owen Martin martinso@vcu.edu

ABOUT THE CT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning independent student newspaper at VCU, since 1969. The CT staff maintains all editorial and operations discretion. There is absolutely no prior review by the public, university or VCU Student Media Center administration or staff. The Executive Editor writes and manages the Operations Budget.

ADD YOUR VOICE The opinions pages of the CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Tagwa Shammet, by mail or in-person at 817 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Commonwealth Times. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The CT staff. The Commonwealth Times strives for accuracy in gathering news. If you think we have made an error, please email the appropriate section editor. Corrections will appear on the news pages and/or online. One CT per person. Additional copies can be purchased at the Student Media Center for $1 each.

12 The Commonwealth Times

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Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle