The Commonwealth Times; March 13, 2019

COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG @theCT

THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2ⁿ place, weekly newspaper of the year — 2018 Pinnacle Awards

VOL. 60, NO. 23 MARCH 13, 2019

OUTNUMBERED Westboro Baptist Church picket overshadowed by opposition

Story on page 3

Westboro Baptist Church is known for its vitriolic views toward the LGBTQ community. But when its members came to Richmond Monday, they were drowned out by opposition.

Photo by Erin Edgerton

Stoney budget in doubt after heated Council meeting FADEL ALLASSAN News Editor

A majority of Richmond City Council members oppose a tax increase that many of the budget’s measures rely on. CT file photo

NEWS Police chief search 4

SPORTS Jersey numbers 5

SPECTRUM Teen art 9

Richmond City Council began deliberations Monday on a slate of measures, including new tax revenues, from a broad budget proposed by Mayor Levar Stoney last week.

Stoney told the council March 6 that he wants to raise the city’s property tax rate by 9 cents and levy a new 50-cent tax on cigarettes. The real estate tax increase would bring the city’s rate to 1.29 percent of any property’s assessed value.

The proposed budget also includes a utility rate increase for water, wastewater, storm water and natural gas. Stoney said residents would pay an increased $5.82 a month as a result of the changes.

The new sources of revenue would bring in more than $24 million for the city annually. A rise in property value is set to yield another $22 million. Stoney said he wants that money to go toward Richmond Public Schools and repairs on the city’s roads and sidewalks. In addition, Stoney is calling for a program to stem the city’s high eviction rate and funding for affordable housing.

All changes would take effect July 1 if passed.

See BUDGET on page 2

OPINIONS Natural hair 14

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: More than 40 people nationwide were charged Tuesday in a $25 million cheating scheme to help wealthy students gain admissions to top colleges. international: An Ethiopian Airlines jet carrying 157 people crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa Sunday. No one survived.

BUDGET

After heated exchanges, Council begins deliberating Stoney budget and tax hikes “This budget marks a new beginning,” Stoney said in his address in Council Chambers. “With this budget, we have the opportunity to invest in our children, our families and our neighborhoods to build the Richmond our residents deserve.”

A majority of the council opposes the property tax increases, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Five council members said the 9-cent increase is too steep. Three members did not want to take a position.

The new taxes prompted heated discussion in the council last week when the mayor announced his plan before the council. Council members began excoriating the mayor from their daises directly after the speech.

Reva Trammell, who represents the 8th District, asked Stoney to return to the podium to face the council as it responded to his presentation in the council meeting room last Wednesday, but the mayor didn’t comply.

This budget marks a new beginning. With this budget, we have the opportunity to invest in our children, our families and our neighborhoods to build the Richmond our residents deserve.”

Stoney’s budget looks to implement broad initiatives SPENDING $2.9 MILLION

Affordable Housing Trust Fund

$965,000 Greater Richmond Transit Company

$485,000

Richmond’s Eviction Diversion Program

PAY-FORS

Capital improvement budget

$10 MILLION

Restore bridges and thoroughfares and implement pedestrian traffic safety initiatives Match 5 percent state increase in teacher pay

impact other people and not yourself, you should be accountable and be able to explain why you believe it to be good policy,” said 2nd District council member Kim Gray.

Ninth District council member Michael Jones took to Twitter after the meeting to respond to Trammell.

“The exchange that took place in Council Chambers is rooted in a type of privilege that is divisive and destructive,” Jones tweeted. “To bring up someones age and Levar Stoney, Richmond mayor renter vs owner status when 60% of our res“You said that you were not going to raise idents rent is troubling. Especially when he taxes when you ran for mayor. How can you is a young African American Male.” stand here before all of us and do this to the The Richmond NAACP rebuked Trampeople?” Trammell said. “You can laugh all mell’s comments and demeanor in a news you want, but I’ll tell you right now, you release Friday. won’t be laughing much longer ... I hope to “While everyone is entitled to their opinGod this is your last laugh.” ion on the proposed budget, there is a manAnother council member called it hyp- ner in which our city leaders should conduct ocritical for Stoney to ask to raise proper- themselves in conveying their opinions,” ty taxes when he does not own property the release stated. “This was not the proper in Richmond. forum to attempt to address questions or “When you’re making decisions that will concerns related to line items in the budget.

$19 MILLION

RPS maintenance needs

Pay increases for police, firefighters and city employees

$24.1 MILLION TOTAL REVENUE Increase in property tax rate: From $1.20 per $100 of assessed value to $1.29 per $100 of assessed value.

50-cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes

Moreover, such language stated by Councilwoman Reva Trammell is divisive and destructive in nature.”

The statement continued: “The Richmond Virginia Branch NAACP is available to assist Councilwoman Reva Trammell or any other elected official with development of suitable interpersonal skills. What happened yesterday is an embarrassment and disgrace to our City.”

The money Stoney wants to raise via new revenues would fund a broad set of initiatives and programs. More than $18 million would go toward funding the public school system’s strategic plan. Richmond would match a 5 percent raise the state approved for teachers earlier this year.

“There is no investment more important, or worthwhile, than the investment we make in our children,” Stoney told the council. “Their future is our future.”

The budget proposal calls for more than $16 million to repair city roads and sidewalks. It would provide nearly $3 million to

a trust fund that supports affordable housing services.

The budget would allocate an additional $965,000 for increased Greater Richmond Transit Company service and route frequencies in “communities that need it the most.” It is unclear whether the changes would affect the decreased bus frequency in the East End, including Fulton, following the GRTC reroute last year. A VCU study found the changes to the bus system disadvantage low-income citizens.

The budget gives $485,000 to an eviction diversion program that will be the first of its kind in Virginia. The program will provide financial literacy education, access to supportive services and a payment plan for landlords who lose rent during eviction.

“From Church Hill to Westhampton, from Worthington Farms to Providence Park, these investments will allow us to support our neighborhoods in an equitable and sustainable way,” Stoney said, “not just this year, but every year.”

Humanities and Sciences dean to take position at University of Iowa FADEL ALLASSAN News Editor

North Carolina State University, where she served as head of the Department of Statistics and a statistics professor for 18 The dean of the university’s largest col- years. She was also the university’s James lege is leaving after more than two years M. Goodnight Distinguished Professor on the job. of Statistics.

Montserrat Fuentes, who heads the ColFuentes previously served as center lege of Humanities and Sciences, accepted a director for the Research Network for position at the University of Iowa, the uni- Statistical Methods for Atmospheric and versity announced last week. She will serve Oceanic Sciences, a multi-school research as the Midwestern school’s executive vice collaborative based at the University of president and provost beginning June 28.

Washington funded by the National SciFuentes came to the university for her ence Foundation. Fuentes is also a visiting current position in 2016. She joined from scientist at the Environmental Protection

Agency’s Atmospheric Modeling Division.

She has a dual bachelor’s degree in mathematics and music from the University of Valladolid in Spain and a doctorate in statistics from the University of Chicago.

“Although this is a loss for the university as a whole and the college in particular, it is a tremendous opportunity for Dean Fuentes and is indicative of the stellar quality of our leadership and the recognition of VCU on a national stage,” Gail Hackett, VCU provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, said in a statement.

The CHS has 450 full-time faculty mem-

Infographic by Mai-Phuong Bui

Continued from front page

bers and approximately 14,000 students, comprising 60 percent of undergraduates.

According to CHS’ website, 25 percent of all VCU graduates hail from the college. It has awarded 2,826 degrees this year.

Fuentes is the third CHS dean since 2015. She replaced Alison Baski, who served on an interim basis after Jim Coleman left the position in summer 2015.

The university will name an interim dean in the coming weeks as it conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

Fuentes will continue to act in her current capacity until the end of the semester.

Wed. March 13, 2019 3

The frontman of the metal band Lamb of God, Randy Blythe, organized a kazoo party in opposition to the Westboro event. Attendees wore colorful outfits and played instruments.

Photos by Erin Edgerton

Heinous Westboro Baptist Church message drowned out by ‘counter-party’ CHIP LAUTERBACH Contributing Writer GEORGIA GEEN Executive Editor CELESTE CHANCE Contributing Writer FADEL ALLASSAN News Editor Editor’s note: Some readers may find opinions expressed in this story disturbing.

Westboro Baptist Church, the notorious hate group known for crude language and strong anti-LGBTQ views, was vastly outnumbered during its visit to VCU Monday.

Six Westboro members gathered at the Capitol downtown at 9 a.m. — where they were met by a kazoo party led by Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe — and drove to campus 45 minutes later. Counterprotesters, which consisted mainly of students, gathered and chanted around police barricades set up by the Commons on Main Street.

No one was arrested, according to police spokespersons. A campus police spokesperson said the event was “peaceful.”

“The Richmond Police Department has a long history balancing the needs of safety and citizens’ rights to speak and assemble,” said a Richmond Police spokesperson.

“With our regional partners, VCU Police and Capitol Police, it was a successful morning.”

The Westboro picketers remained on campus for less than 30 minutes. Police escorted them to a minivan and out of the area shortly after 10 a.m.

Aaron Reihban of Ohio, who is in the U.S. Navy, said he attended the kazoo party to change how Christians are perceived.

“I’m a Christian, I’m straight, I voted for Trump. But for them to say ‘God hates fags’ strikes a nerve with me, because I’m a Christian and God doesn’t hate anyone,” Reihban said. “God loves everyone.”

Reihban said Westboro promotes a negative image of Christianity.

Richmond hair stylist Sam Robinson attended the kazoo party to show support for democratic Virginia Del. Danica Roem of Manassas, who Westboro cited as a reason

for picketing at the Capitol before appearing on the Monroe Park Campus.

“She has to have support, because she got into office in the first place because people supported her for her ideas,” Robinson said, “and we just have to keep supporting her for that. And it also gives us a platform to fight against hate.”

Robinson said he wanted to show support for Roem and use the kazoo party as a platform to fight against hate groups such as Westboro.

Two LGBTQ student organizations — Queer Action at VCU and the Queer & Trans People of Color Collective — organized a solidarity rally in response to the Westboro presence near campus. Lily Hamilton, Queer Action president, said counterprotesting can be “very helpful and cathartic.”

“But ultimately, my question is, ‘can that energy be used for things that can actually change?’” Hamilton said. “Westboro Baptist Church will always believe the things they do. I cannot see them kind of being wiped off the face of the earth for any reason by just a couple people with signs.”

Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of

Westboro founder Fred Phelps, said she appreciated the presence of the counterprotesters. “ They are our target audience,” Phelps-Roper said. “It makes it so much easier to spread the word when they come out.”

Both Phelps-Roper and her son, Sam Phelps-Roper, spoke against Roem and transgender people as a whole.

“So this whole business of extramarital fornication and sodomy and transgenderism all flies in the face of the God of creation,” Sam Phelps-Roper said.

Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe said he hosted the kazoo party — an intentional classification, as he says counterprotests tend to involve a lot of anger — to support Roem, who is his friend.

“The WBC lives off of lawsuits filed against counterprotesters. They will not make a single penny off any counter-partiers,” Blythe said. “We crushed them. They left in a state of abject defeat, ears ringing from the relentless kazoo assault. Mission accomplished.”

Descendants of racist Supreme Court decision speak out ALEXANDRA ZERNIK Capital News Service In a city with a history of racism, descendants of Dred Scott and the judge who denied him his unalienable rights will come together in hopes of reconciliation.

Scott was at the center of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1857 decision that “persons of African descent, whether slave or free, could not be American citizens.” The ruling stripped African-Americans of their right to petition their freedom under any circumstance and was a factor that prompted the Civil War. Lynne Scott Jackson, Dred Scott’s great-great-granddaughter, will come to Richmond April 3 to meet with Virginia leaders and walk a portion of the Richmond Slave Trail. She also will share her story of meeting Charles Taney, the great-great-grandnephew of Roger Taney, the Chief Justice of the United States who ruled her ancestor could never be a citizen due to his race.

Jackson’s upcoming visit was announced on the 162nd anniversary of the decision

by Virginians for Reconciliation, a citizen

A portrait of Dred Scott and his family featured in an 1857 newspaper. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress group that seeks to heal racial wounds.

The organization said Jackson and Taney might appear together “to discuss

their powerful experience of healing and reconciliation and a pathway forward for Virginia and the country.” Details will be announced later, the group said.

“We have seen the remarkable power of forgiveness time and time again, as people are given permission to face truth and reality honestly in a safe context,” Jackson told Virginians for Reconciliation over the phone at their quarterly meeting, according to a press release issued by the organization.

“Many obstacles and barriers fall quickly when we are able to communicate what has taken place between those whose families were once locked in bitter opposition on their fundamental right.”

Former Gov. Bob McDonnell is a member of the organization and spoke at Wednesday’s meeting.

“We are honored to have descendants of a courageous Virginian, Dred Scott, and Chief Justice Roger Taney coming to Virginia next month,” McDonnell said. “Separated by 162 years of history, these descendants have forged the path of truth-telling, forgiveness and redemption to serve as a shining example for Virginia’s road to racial reconciliation in 2019.”

Gov. Ralph Northam is also a member of Virginians for Reconciliation. He attended this week’s meeting as well as the group’s debut press conference in January.

The two officials were joined by community leaders of religious, business, educational and other diverse backgrounds.

Racial reconciliation has taken on an special importance for Northam after the discovery of a racist picture in his 1984 medical school yearbook. Northam said he was not in the photo but acknowledged that he once wore blackface that year for a Michael Jackson dance contest. The controversy led many politicians and groups to call on Northam to resign. Northam has said he will stay in office and will use his term to promote discussion about racial healing.

Virginians for Reconciliation said in the press release that the organization hopes to adopt a “wide-ranging, creative agenda designed to build trusting relationships and confront age-old biases and practices that have plagued the commonwealth far too long.”

4 The Commonwealth Times

Candidates are throwing the template for black success in politics out the window FADEL ALLASSAN News Editor Things got interesting for U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris at a recent town-hallstyle campaign event last week in Hemingway, South Carolina — a Southern democratic enclave. An attendee named Meg Oliver asked the California Democrat a question.

“I’m embarrassed to say that my father was most likely in the [Ku Klux Klan] and I grew up in the South as a daughter of the South,” Oliver said.

“I’m embarrassed at what I see with a lot of Southerners and a lot of members of our Congress and the blatant racism of the Steve Kings and the Cindy Hyde-Smiths.”

She continued: “I’m wondering what we as white people who don’t believe in that, and don’t support that — what can we do to help offset the obvious flash points of racial divides in this country?”

After a round of applause, Harris said the key to moving forward on race was to be honest about the country’s past and present racial fault lines.

“We do have to speak the truths like you spoke a very difficult truth,” Harris responded. “For too long in our country we have not had these honest discussions about race.”

Many found the exchange to be extraordinary. For one, it’s remarkable to hear a white person admit to their own family’s racist background — much less that of their father. The same was true for politicians until very recently.

But the exchange also highlights how the national landscape has changed when it comes to race, which was once deemed too vexed of a subject for the world of politics.

For politicians, particularly black ones, the issue once deemed too toxic to touch the campaign trail is now imperative. These days, being able to demonstrate dexterity when talking about race-related issues is even viewed as an asset.

No one knows this better than Harris herself. Christopher Cadelago at Politico reports the senator’s staff is closely monitoring public opinion as it relates to questions about her “blackness.”

Three of her campaign advisers told Cadelago Harris’ extended interviews with prominent black hosts like Charlamagne tha God from the syndicated radio show “The Breakfast Club” are calculated — aimed at directly tackling awkward memes and questions about whether Harris is “black enough” before they snowball.

Cory Booker, another black democratic hopeful for the nomination, seems to have subscribed to a similar doctrine.

Not too long ago, the New Jersey senator was a guest on Charlemagne’s program and discussed his love interests, revealing he had a “boo.”

“Sixty percent of the show’s daily au-

dience is African-American,” Maxwell Tani and Gideon Resnick write in The Daily Beast, “and the show’s hosts feel that their background allows them to ask questions that many mainstream political journalists and cable-news hosts couldn’t ask — or wouldn’t ever think to.”

The willingness to talk about race, among all candidates, is a clear departure from what’s been the norm for decades. For a long time, black politicians rose through the ranks of elected office by nullifying race as an issue.

Former President Barack Obama, the most prominent black politician in American history, largely avoided confronting the race question for much of his political career.

Obama’s stock skyrocketed when he delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention as a state senator. But the speech itself was a monument to the moderate, “come together” politics of the past. He painted the chasms in American politics and culture as artificial, rather than appreciable.

“There is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America,” Obama said before a roaring crowd. “There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.”

Things have certainly changed, and it’s hard to pinpoint the catalyst for this cultural shift. As with so many phenomena, it’s likely there are multiple reasons. The thinking of Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate, could help explain the change in behavior. The South Carolinian spent most of his career trying to avoid being defined by his race. But he has reshaped his image in recent years.

“I’ve been in public life for 25 years almost, and I’ve been reluctant [to speak about race] for about 22 of those 25 years,” Scott told The Wall Street Journal in February. “Trayvon Martin and other issues just kept populating the public forum, and at some point, I decided that I was doing the nation a disservice by not speaking out clearly when necessary.”

Scott, like other politicians, may be finding that moderation is outdated in today’s contentious cultural atmosphere.

Movements like Black Lives Matter, #OscarsSoWhite and the kneeling of athletes during the national anthem at games have made overtones of discussions that were previously undertones.

Meg Oliver’s question in South Carolina — and her forthright admission of her father’s racism — is a sign that Americans are moving closer to having the difficult conversations they have evaded for so long. It appears their elected leaders have received the message and are acting accordingly.

Stoney continues search for police chief FADEL ALLASSAN News Editor

Photo by Jon Mirador

After a month of town halls in February to gauge public opinion, the ball is now in Mayor Levar Stoney’s court in his search for a Richmond police chief.

At four community meetings in each of the city’s precincts, residents touted the qualities they want in their next police chief. The city’s human resources department enlisted Derius Swinton of the Soar Group, a local professional development business, to facilitate discussions.

One resident at a Feb. 21 town hall at First Baptist Church said the new hire should not discriminate or show favoritism toward any individuals or groups. They should also show openness and a willingness to compromise, said another.

“The officers in a certain community should reflect the diversity of that community — specifically of their districts,” said one person. “I think they would be more effective.”

Residents said other traits like dignity, respect and good temperament would be important for the new chief.

“Community engagement is one of the core functions of effective policing in our city,” Stoney said in a news release before the meetings took place. “We are going to conduct a national search, but we are going to listen to our residents and prioritize the input we receive in the community.”

The process began in November when the former head of the police department, 55-year-old Alfred Durham, announced he would step down at the end of 2018 to spend time with his family. Durham spent four years in the position.

For years, Richmond was marred by its

reputation as a hotbed for violent crime and homicide. In 1994, it was the second-deadliest city in the nation, with 77.2 killings per 100,000 people, according to FBI Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.

In 1997, when Richmond was the deadliest U.S. city, that number stood at 67.2 per 100,000.

The crime rate has generally been lower than it was in those years.

The city’s high homicide clearance rate is another positive. A 2018 Washington Post report found that Richmond solves murder cases at the highest rate of any city in the country. Only 26 percent of the 429 murder cases in the last 10 years in the city went unsolved.

Among the matters on the new police chief ’s desk when they take over will be the city police department’s relationship with VCU’s campus police. In January, City Council approved a measure to nearly double the jurisdiction of the VCU Police Department into parts of Richmond outside campus.

We are going to conduct a national search, but we are going to listen to our residents and prioritize the input we receive in the community.”

Levar Stoney, Richmond mayor The two departments have shared jurisdiction for more than 30 years. VCUPD Chief John Venuti, who has led the department since 2010, said his department routinely shares information, technology and resources with its city counterparts.

“This collaboration has helped us keep VCU’s students, faculty, staff, patients and guests safe. In turn, as the city’s largest law enforcement partner, we’ve helped keep downtown Richmond safe for residents, business owners and visitors,” Venuti said in a statement. “This has been a strong partnership and I fully expect our collaborative work to continue.”

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Wed. March 13, 2019 5

Stat of the week

Coach Mike Rhoades earned A-10 Coach of the Year honors this week, making VCU the first school since 1987 to have both the Men’s and Women’s A-10 Coaches of the Year.

THE NUMBERS GAME Rams share the stories

RAM STAT Five jerseys hang in the rafters of the Siegel Center — Eric Maynor (No. 3), Calvin Duncan (No. 5), Bradford Burgess (No. 20), Gerald Henderson (No. 22) and Kendrick Warren (No. 23). Players are still allowed to wear the numbers hanging.

behind their jersey numbers

Photos by Jon Mirador and Erin Edgerton

NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor

S

ome jersey numbers honor a family member, while others pay tribute to the wearer’s favorite player. But each Men’s Basketball player has his own story.

No. 0 DE’RIANTE JENKINS

“Growing up as a kid, you’re always trying to blame stuff on other people like, ‘this person did this or this person had a bad grade on a test.’ My dad always told me there’s no excuses, you gotta find a way.

Since I got here, it got me through that. It keeps me grounded knowing that I control what I can control.

I come from a small town, and another part of it is no one ever made Division I basketball. So I’m the first. Before this it was zero, so it all keeps me grounded. A lot of dudes in South Carolina has been wearing zero. Every year, somebody has been wearing zero in college basketball. So I’m just trying to be somebody to keep it going.

It always used to be 11, 15 or five since I was a little kid — those were the numbers that followed me. Then, my dad died before I got to college. And when I came on my visit, it all came in my head, and I was like ‘yeah, I’m going to wear No. 0.’”

No. 2 MARCUS EVANS

No. 13 MALIK CROWFIELD

No. 23 ISSAC VANN

“When I first got to Rice, one of my friends, Quez, called me [Deuce] and that’s where the ‘Deuce’ came from … I knew Briante [Weber] for two too. So it’s like that a little bit, but there’s no main reason for wearing it.”

“I’ve worn 13 since I was a little kid.

When I first started playing basketball it was my favorite number. Then I started wearing it throughout my high school career and then in my college years.”

“One of my favorite players is Michael Jordan, so I’ve been wearing it since about high school. I changed it when I first got here because [Ahmed Hamdy-Mohamed] had it, but once he left I seen the opportunity to go back to it. I think it’s one of my luckiest numbers. So, I mean, I stick with it.”

No. 4 COREY DOUGLAS “My dad wore it in college, and it was my senior year number in high school.”

No. 5 SEAN MOBLEY “It was just a new number. I really wanted a single digit number because I’ve never had a single digit number. It was a fresh start.”

No. 10 VINCE WILLIAMS

No. 14 MARCUS SANTOS-SILVA

“I thought I was going to be able to get No. 24 P.J. BYRD seven. But then I realized they don’t do seven here, and everything with seven revolves “I’ve been 23 all my life, but since I got around me. I was born June 7, 1997, and here [Issac Vann] wanted to change his numthat was just my favorite number. So then ber from 11 to 23. So I was like, ‘OK, I’ll take I picked 14 because seven plus seven is 14.” 24,’ because I was always a Kobe [Bryant] fan growing up. It was the next best thing.”

No. 15 XAVIER JACKSON “I picked a random number. Some people are superstitious and [stuff ] like that, but I don’t have anything like that. They gave me a couple of options, and that was the best option out of the numbers they gave me.”

No. 5 MIKE RHOADES (LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE)

“It was my little league number. The first number I ever had on a team was my Little League baseball number, five. In high school, I was 35 because that was my brother’s football number. When I got to college, No. 22 MICHAEL GILMORE coach [Pat] Flannery said ‘you can’t wear “In my eighth grade year, a guy went 35, that’s not a point guard’s number.’ So to high school at Arlington Hutcher Day, that was when single digits started getting No. 11 KESHAWN CURRY where I went to school at, named Rodney popular, so I picked five. Now it’s in the “No, not really. [In high school I wore] McGruder. He was one of the guys I re- rafters at Lebanon Valley — No. 5.” two because Kyrie [Irving] is two. I al- ally connected with on the Varsity team ways wear his shoes, so I was like why not. and he wore 22. All throughout my high RAM STAT I picked 11 once I got here when [Issac school years I looked up to him. He left No. 1 MIKE’L SIMMS Vann] decided to get 23, so I was like I’ll after his senior year, and I had the opportuThe most commonly worn “I chose one because I couldn’t have five get 11 … Kyrie’s got 11.” nity to wear 22. I wore it the rest of my high jersey numbers in the 51-year — Sean [Mobley] took five. Five was my school career. My freshman year at VCU, favorite number ever. When I first startTerry Larrier actually ended up getting the history of the program are No. No. 12 DYLAN SHEEHY-GUISEPPI ed playing, I had the No. 5, so I’ve been No. 22, so I stuck with 11. Upon my return 12 and No. 22, both sported trying to wear it ever since. But when I “It was given to me, nothing in particular. [to VCU], 22 was available so I took it. Just by 16 players. The least-used committed here, [Mobley] had taken five A lot of great players have worn 12, it’s a a little homage to Rodney and it’s somejersey number is No. 43, which so I had to go with one. I try to resemble great number to follow under. They gave me thing that I really identify and associate was worn by only two players.

Tracy McGrady.”

12, so I stuck with it.” myself with.”

“I used to wear [No. 10] back in my fifth and sixth grade tournaments, so I just like it. I used to wear five in [Amateur Athletic Union] last year. It looked good on me — at least in AAU it did.”

6 The Commonwealth Times

Women’s Basketball falls in A-10 Championship RYAN GRUBE Contributing Writer

Will Wade. CT file photo.

LSU suspends Wade after wiretap NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor Former Men’s Basketball coach Will Wade was suspended indefinitely by LSU March 8 after being caught on an FBI wiretap.

Yahoo Sports reported that a 2017 phone call by Wade to Christian Dawkins — the middleman between Adidas and the universities — was a part of a FBI wiretap on Dawkins’ phone about former top-50 recruit Javonte Smart.

“I went to him with a [expletive] strong-ass offer about a month ago,” Wade told Dawkins on the phone according to Yahoo Sports. “[Expletive] strong.”

Smart was held out of the Tigers’ final game of the regular season against Vanderbilt March 9.

Dawkins talked with Wade three times between June 19 and June 30, 2017, and Smart announced his commitment to LSU on June 30, 2017.

Dawkins was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in the first trial tied to the pay-to-play scandal. He is currently serving a six-month sentence for the charge.

Wade has been subpoenaed by the defense for the second trial on April 22. Dawkins is being tried for charges similar to those he faced in the first.

“Specific to our previous coach’s tenure, Athletic Compliance has reviewed all recruiting activity during his tenure to determine whether any inaccuracies or red flags existed,” VCU Athletics said in a statement.

“An independent review was also conducted. We found no red flags or causes for concern.”

Because Wade left Richmond to coach the Tigers, the Rams were slated to play LSU in a home-andhome series over the next two seasons.

His VCU contract included a clause that if he left to coach another team, the two teams would have to play a home-and-home series within three years of him leaving.

During a stretch that spanned 8 minutes and 37 seconds, the Rams went without a point. It proved too much to overcome for the top-seeded Black and Gold.

After winning their first two contests over Saint Joseph’s and Dayton to advance to the Atlantic 10 title game, the Rams were unable to capture their first conference championship.

VCU (23-9, 13-3 A-10) was defeated, 62-47 Sunday, by the second-seeded Fordham (25-8, 13-3 A-10). Fordham, with the win, punches its ticket to this month’s “Big Dance.”

Women’s Basketball coach Beth O’Boyle, the 2019 A-10 Coach of the Year, said the matchup was concerning given Fordham’s hot 3-point shooting.

“You look at yesterday’s game and their 3-point shooting,” O’Boyle said. “That was one of the things that we talked about from the get-go, that we had to defend the 3-point line.”

Although VCU held Fordham to 37.5-percent shooting from the field, the NCAA tournament-bound team connected on six of 16 3-pointers.

Junior center Danielle Hammond led the way for the Black and Gold with 13 points off the bench, while sophomore guard Taya Robinson added 11. Both Hammond and Robinson were selected to the A-10 All-Championship Team.

Sophomore guard Tera Reed — who entered Sunday as VCU’s leading scorer at 12.2 points — was held to just 4 points.

The Rams used strong defensive performances down the stretch to close out their

first two games of the tournament. During Sunday’s championship game, they got a taste of their own medicine.

Fordham held VCU to 38.8 percent from the field and 23.3 percent from three.

O’Boyle said Fordham’s stifling defense made it tough to hit shots down the stretch.

“Their switching defense was one of the things I think we struggled a little bit with today,” O’Boyle said. “That was hard for us to get some baskets that we needed.”

After falling behind early — 11-6 in the first quarter — the Rams cut their deficit to two, 13-11, to close out the quarter.

Two 3-pointers from Fordham’s Mary Goulding to open the second quarter propelled the team’s lead to eight, 19-11. Fordham entered the half with a 30-23 advantage.

VCU attempted to cut into Fordham’s lead with a 3-point play from Hammond, followed by a triple from junior guard Nyra Williams.

The quick run helped the Rams get back within seven of Fordham, 38-31, as the two teams entered the fourth quarter.

But VCU didn’t get any closer. With every bucket from the Black and Gold, Fordham had an answer.

Breanna Cavanaugh scored 13 of her game-high 22 points in the final quarter to seal the game for Fordham.

Goulding and Cavanaugh, who were also selected to the All-Championship Team, combined for 41 points for Fordham coach Stephanie Gaitley’s bunch.

VCU committed 18 turnovers and 22 personal fouls, which allowed Fordham to convert 92.3 percent (24-26) of free throw attempts.

Following Sunday’s loss, VCU is likely headed to the National Invitation Tour-

Sophomore guard Taya Robinson was named to the All-Championship Team after logging nine points and eight rebounds in the championship game.

Photo by Shayla Bailey nament, according to Charlie Creme, an ESPN bracketology expert.

The Rams will await the release of the NCAA tournament and NIT brackets on March 17, where they will to continue their turnaround season.

RAM IN ACTION

Veteran leadership helps Byrd develop BEN MALAKOFF Contributing Writer

out with four personals — a much-needed rest.

“I think now [Byrd] is Leading up to the 2018starting to get comfortable, 19 season, Men’s Baskethis minutes have increased ball fans were unsure who a little bit and he feels comwould be the second point fortable with the guys he is guard to redshirt-junior playing with on the court.” guard Marcus Evans. All Evans said. “With all that signs pointed to an incomcoming together, you’re ing recruit, but a freshman seeing him playing at a playing essential minutes high level.” could be risky.

Other freshmen get The Rams sit in first caught up with mistakes place in the Atlantic 10 like bad turnovers similar — bench play contributes to Byrd’s, but his work ethic to that success, including keeps him from making the freshman guard P.J. Byrd. same error twice.

The Houston, Texas, na- Freshman guard P.J. Byrd has appeared in all 31 regular season games “[I’m] trying to keep tive is one of three freshmen for the Rams. Photo by Jon Mirador my confidence up,” Byrd on the team and one of two said. “Never get too high, who has played in every game. When Byrd Byrd said. “In practice, we go at each other, and never get too low. Staying focused and was recruited out of high school, Coach and I really enjoy learning from him. He’s a listening to my coaches is going to help Mike Rhoades and his staff showed a par- great [point guard]. I look forward to being me a long way.” ticular interest in his playing style. his backup, and when he leaves making sure In terms of improvements, Byrd said he “I already had a great relationship with the VCU program is up to par.” wants to “take care of the ball better” and him,” Byrd said of Rhoades. “By him movEvans, who Byrd typically replaces off create more shot opportunities for himself ing to VCU, it was an easy decision for me. the bench, has witnessed and helped the and his teammates. As the A-10 tournaAnd it really helped me decide that I want- freshman’s development. ment approaches this week, he said those ed to be part of this VCU program.”

“I think it’s starting to click now,” Evans improvements will help the team continue But Byrd’s collegiate career start was said of Byrd. “He’s always had talent but it’s to succeed. rocky — he turned the ball over 10 times just about getting a feel for the game.”

Since becoming a Division I athlete, in seven games in November.

Since November, Byrd has played nine Byrd has learned to value his opportunity Veteran leadership has a place on every games with no turnovers, including a ma- at VCU and not take it for granted. team. In this case, Byrd has a fellow team- jor win Jan. 16 in which he played 10 min“Being a college basketball player at VCU mate — who was also once a young point utes against Dayton. In a short amount is an honor. It’s great,” Byrd said. “I work guard — to guide him. of time, he gave Evans — who logged 28 really hard to get what I want, and this has “[Marcus Evans is] always hard on me,” minutes and was on the verge of fouling been a beyond unbelievable experience.”

Wed. March 13, 2019 7 PRESS BOX

Baseball’s pace of play can be improved NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor Baseball, America’s pastime. A sport that was once the most-loved in the U.S. has lost popularity in recent years because the games are too long and, at times, quite boring.

During the 2017 MLB season, the average time it took to complete a nine-inning game was 3 hours, 5 minutes and 11 seconds. The average NFL game in week two of the 2017 season was 3 hours, 4 minutes.

Football games take over three hours because of the commercials that plague the television broadcasts. There are commercials at practically every stoppage in play, at times. Baseball games take three or more hours simply because of the slow pace of play. A baseball game with fewer ads should not take longer to finish than a commercial-ridden NFL game.

The MLB introduced a pitch clock in minor league baseball in 2015 in the Double-A and Triple-A levels. This rule implementation was aimed at minimizing the slow pace of play caused by both batters and pitchers.

The pitch clock runs for 20 seconds for each pitch, except for the first pitch of an at-bat. A pitcher does not have to throw the ball by the end of the allotted time, but they do have to start their windup.

This rule was put in place in this year’s MLB Spring Training for the first time at the major league level — to the displeasure of many star players.

“As players, it just shouldn’t be in the game,” Washington Nationals star pitcher Max Scherzer told ESPN. “Having a pitch clock, if you have ball-strike impli-

Illustration by Steck Von

cations, that’s messing with the fabric of the game. There’s no clock in baseball, and there’s no clock in baseball for a reason.”

But there is a reason to put a clock in baseball because of the sheer fact that a game takes just as long as an NFL game.

The pitch clock would also force batters to get into the box in a timely manner.

Currently, many batters leave the batter’s box after every single pitch and adjust their gloves or helmet. This slows down most MLB games.

Minor league baseball introduced the pitch clock in 2015 and saw shorter games

immediately. In the International League, one of two Triple-A leagues, games were shortened an average of 15 minutes. The length of games went from 2 hours and 56 minutes in 2014 to 2 hours and 41 minutes in 2015.

Though 15 minutes may seem like a small difference, it proves the pitch clock does indeed move the game along faster. If this were introduced in the MLB regular season, pacing would improve in a similar way.

The MLB has already shot down the idea of implementing the pitch clock into major league games until 2021 — at the

earliest — when a new collective bargaining agreement will be needed. The owners could put the pitch clock in place without the approval of the players union, but it would not go over well. So, when the new agreement is needed, the pitch clock will be brought up during the meetings. The owners are likely to favor the clock, unlike the players — the owners want to grow their brands and make more money.

The pitch clock is needed in the MLB and it will shorten the length of each game, bringing new fans to baseball and growing the sport as a whole.

Baseball wins 3 in a row over Lafayette ADAM CHEEK Staff Writer

with three RBI and two runs. Junior righthander Sam Ryan earned his second win of the season, with the bullpen striking out 12.

Baseball swept Lafayette over the weekend homestand, scoring 20 runs on the way to improving its record to 11-3. The Black and Gold had two clear-cut wins — winning by three and four runs on Friday and Sunday, respectively — but had to battle Saturday to edge out a 7-6 victory.

FRIDAY

SUNDAY The Rams’ Sunday win marked their seventh in a row and their 10th victory in the last 11 games. A 7-3 victory completed the sweep of the Leopards, as VCU lit up Lafayette’s pitching in the bottom of the first.

With the bases loaded, junior infielder Paul Witt singled, scoring senior infielder Zac Ching and sophomore utility player Hogan Brown to give VCU an early 2-0 lead. Junior infielder Steven Carpenter was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for a second time. Junior catcher Josh Simon then lined a single into left-center, scoring Carpenter and Witt, while junior infielder Brett Norwood was thrown out at third.

Lafayette recorded runs in the top halves of the second and third, cutting the deficit in half, but the Rams added two more in the bottom of the third. Witt reached base on a fielding error, while sophomore infielder Liam Hibbits singled and got to second on a wild pitch. Simon then doubled down the line in left, scoring both runners.

After a Brown double, VCU loaded the bases once again in the fourth inning.

Brown stole third, Norwood walked and

Junior infielder Paul Witt had accumulated six hits and six RBI over the three-game series against Lafayette. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics Witt was hit by a pitch, setting up a potential VCU breakthrough with Hibbits at the plate. Hibbits was also hit by a pitch, forcing in a run and giving VCU a 7-2 advantage.

Lafayette scored in the top of the seventh, but the Rams held the Leopards scoreless otherwise, recording a 7-3 victory.

SATURDAY VCU rallied to beat Lafayette 7-6 on Saturday, with the Rams battling back against a four-run sixth inning by the Leopards.

Witt doubled to right to score Ching in the bottom of the first, allowing VCU to strike first. The Rams added to their lead the next inning, as Ching doubled down the left

The Rams held the Leopards to three runs in Friday’s matchup, scoring six of their own to win the first game of the series. Junior right-hander Connor Gillispie started for the Rams, throwing four shutout innings and only giving up two hits. Norwood scored the first run for VCU in the bottom of the fourth, but Lafayette rallied for a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.

VCU answered with two of its own in the latter half of the inning, with Carpenter getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run. Witt then scored to reclaim the lead. Three more Rams crossed the plate the very next inning, with Ching doubling home Brown to start a three-run frame. Hibbits sacrificed Ching home, and Carpenter then singled home Norwood to take a 6-2 lead. Lafayette only managed one other run — VCU held the Leopards to that single run and took home its first victory of the series.

Norwood crossed the plate three times.

Senior right-handed pitcher Benjamin Dum picked up his second win of the season, while senior right-handed pitcher and infielder Mac McCarty recorded his fourth save.

field line to score junior outfielder Alex Taylor and freshman outfielder Tomas Sanchez.

After a Lafayette two-run outburst in the opening half of the fourth, Witt drove home Brown to create a two-run advantage.

After a scoreless fifth, the Leopard offense exploded in the top of the sixth, plating four runs and taking a 6-4 lead.

Ching then doubled home Taylor to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth, and a scoreless seventh beget a Rams rally in the very next inning. With Ching and Brown on base, Witt laced a double down the line in left, scoring both runners and giving VCU a 7-6 advantage. The Rams held on, shutting out the Leopards in the VCU will next host Marist at the Diamond top of the ninth to secure the win.

March 13 at 3 p.m. The Rams will then travel Witt went three-for-five with four runs to UCF for three games March 15-17. batted in, while Ching went three-for-four

8 The Commonwealth Times

ADVERTISEMENT

GETTING AROUND TOWN Consider using these options to get you where you're going, while saving fuel, money, and the environment.

• Unlimited access to Pulse, local, and express fixed routes • Use VCU ID and GO Pass to ride • Find your bus route at go.vcu.edu/grtc

• Rent a car by the hour or day • Includes gas, insurance, etc.

• Rental rates available at zipcar.com/vcu

• Free 72-hour bike rentals; free repairs • Use your VCU ID • Learn more at bikes.vcu.edu

• Connect with other VCU commuters • Request/offer rides • Learn more at zimride.com/vcu

Learn more about each of these transportation options online at parking.vcu.edu/transportation. an equal opportunity/affirmative action university

Wed. March 13, 2019 9

On this day

In 1942, Julia Flikke became the first woman colonel in the U.S. Army. In the Nurse Corps, she served in both world wars with assignments in Philippines and China.

Local high school artists visualize historic context of African enslavement ANDREW RINGLE Spectrum Editor In a local teen art exhibition, students from Richmond Public Schools interpret the history of racial conflicts in America.

The show at Art 180 is part of “Massive Resilience,” a six-month project that taught 14 budding artists about Richmond’s role in the Atlantic slave trade.

The program included guest artists and lecturers, and it brought students to the Richmond Slave Trail, where they saw the remnants of racial tension in their own hometown. Many of the teens said they weren’t aware of the site beforehand.

“The slave trail is there, but it’s not really there,” student participant Jada Battle said. “I feel like it should be a sacred place that more people know about. I didn’t even know about it before I came to this program.”

Myasia Goode, a program participant who is 15 years old, stood beside her radiant canvas painting at the March 1 opening reception. Her work, titled “Crown,” depicts a black woman wearing a red-and-white striped shirt with a full afro.

“This [project] is so significant because it’s coming from the inside out. It’s coming from the inside voice of young people who are expressing the truth of what their ancestors went through.”

Ram Bhagat, “Massive Resilience” program creator “The Afro was not just a hairstyle,” Goode said. “It was a statement to rebel against the idea that we don’t need to have straight hair in order to fit in.

It’s part of our culture and it’s part of our history.”

role is designing an equitable environment for students by working to heal the effects of racial trauma.

Many of the young artists expressed concerns that their city was not making its role in the slave trade transparent enough to the public.

Natalia Mangaroo, a student at Open High School, said that she would focus on the black community by uplifting areas like Mosby Court and Creighton Court. The former was reported to be the site of more than 20 percent of Richmond’s homicides in 2017.

“The predominantly black Richmond Public Schools are in a horrible state,” Mangaroo said, citing local high schools Thomas Jefferson, Armstrong and John Marshall. “The buildings are absolute trash.

They’re neglected and the kids are neglected.

They don’t get nearly as good an education as the students in the private schools like St. Benedictine.”

Mangaroo’s artwork used fabric to depict the African continent and symbolize the happier times ethnic groups enjoyed before white colonization.

Open High senior Sabiya Davis said she would invest in the slave trade’s remaining physical sites to make them more visible.

“It ’s technically there, but there’s no money going into it so it just grows back into the city over time,” Davis said. “I feel like if we had more emphasis on where it is and where it starts in different places throughout the city, it would help a lot.”

Davis’ painting, “Natfertiti,” mimics the name and image of the ancient Egyptian queen, but uses her friend as a model. Davis said she wanted to show a woman of color in a position of power before the enslaveArtist Myasia Goode, 15 painted “Crown,” alluding to the Afro as a statement for black ment of black people in the Americas. people. Photo by Gessler Santos-Lopez “I’ve learned that people can be connected by so many different things, more Goode said she wanted to bridge the program creator Ram Bhagat said in an than what’s on the surface,” 16-year-old gap in black culture between Africa and event preview. “It’s coming from the in- participant Tyler Fisher said. “You can go the U.S. Black women were unable to side voice of young people who are ex- much deeper into a person and find that maintain their hair, she said, and they lat- pressing the truth of what their ancestors we might not look alike, but we have a er resorted to trying harmful straightening went through.” strong bonding factor that we didn’t even chemicals like lye in order to fit into the Bhagat received a doctoral degree in ed- know existed.” “white image.” ucational leadership from VCU and he is “This [project] is so significant be- the newly hired manager for school culture “Massive Resilience” will be on display at Art cause it’s coming from the inside out,” and climate strategy at RPS. His primary 180 (114 W Marshall St.) until March 22.

Open High School senior Sabiya Davis’ “Natfertiti” mimics the image of an Egyptian queen, using the artist’s friend as a model. Photo by Erin Edgerton

People gathered in Art 180 the night of March 1 to ask the young artists questions about their work. Photo by Gessler Santos-Lopez

10 The Commonwealth Times

Playing with Legos:

VCU senior leads adult community of model builders ANDREW RINGLE Spectrum Editor Legos aren’t just a hobby — at least not for VCU senior David Hall, who has a Lego Star Wars YouTube channel with more than 260,000 subscribers.

After spending 13 months building a 100,000-piece replica of a battle scene from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” his work was praised by director Rian Johnson on Twitter. But he says he does it all for his audience, a community of “adult fans of Lego,” or AFOLs. Hall’s YouTube channel, Solid Brix Studios, publishes regular video updates on his building progress. He documents each of his projects — called “My Own Creations,” or MOCs, in the building community — from start to finish, so his fans can watch the entire process. The finale of his latest building series received more than 200,000 views in the last two months.

I wasn’t expecting the director of ‘Star Wars’ to see it, or the people over at Lucasfilm and the whole ‘Star Wars’ crew to see it as well.”

VCU senior David Hall’s model of the planet Crait from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” took 13 months and 100,000 pieces to build.

Photo courtesy of David Hall

that has even made jokes about Hall’s romantic relationships, using the “Distracted Boyfriend” format to reference two of his previous partners by their first names. Hall said the account could be offensive to some people, but he finds it “really funny.”

David Hall, adult Lego Youtuber “It’s more for my hardcore fans who like to just joke around,” Hall said. “I think the “There’s tons of people online that make average person might get offended by some these huge diorama MOCs,” Hall said. “But of the stuff that’s on that account.” the difference is that nobody has ever really When “The Star Wars Show” on Youshown how they make it from beginning Tube asked viewers this year to submit their to end.” best builds for Lego “Star Wars’” 25th anniSome of Hall’s hardcore fans share me- versary, Hall said he had to submit his modmes on Instagram about his YouTube chan- el of the planet Crait from “The Last Jedi.” nel and his personal life. There’s one account He tweeted at the official “Star Wars” ac-

count, which has almost 4 million followers.

“The ‘Star Wars’ Twitter account replied and they retweeted it,” Hall said. “I was like, ‘Oh shit, this is going to blow up real quick.’”

And it did. Within a day, “The Last Jedi” director Rian Johnson replied with clapping emojis and a tweet that read, “The more I zoom the more my jaw drops.”

Hall said this meant a lot to him after spending more than a year on the build.

“The only reason why I built [the Crait model] in the first place was for my fans and for myself,” Hall said. “I wasn’t expecting the director of ‘Star Wars’ to see it, or the people over at Lucasfilm and the whole ‘Star Wars’ crew to see it as well.”

Hall started his YouTube channel in high school, and it eventually led him to study film at VCU. But with his degree almost finished and his online presence growing, Hall is starting to focus on his brand.

Hall makes money through his channel, his webstore and other mediums. But he said he enjoys everything he does.

“The reason why I’m doing it is not because of the money, but because I personally love it and I personally enjoy entertaining people,” Hall said. “Seeing that immediate reaction from fans is the best part of YouTube.”

LANDON’S OUTLOOK

Every layer of ‘Russian Doll’ exposes perspectives on mental health LANDON ROBERTS Contributing Writer

to Jewish curses. Most of these attempts are met with an untimely death, resetting her day. These actions parallel the The Netflix original series “Russian loss of ownership associated with depresDoll” offers a breath of fresh air into the sion, offering an interesting allegory for oversaturated time loop genre while viewers to digest. also offering important commentary on Lyonne’s witty scripts and complex mental health. acting perfectly execute the discussion on The eight-episode season puts Natasha mental health. Her character’s tough exLyonne’s Nadia in a personal hell as she terior is always protected by humor that relives her 36th birthday until she can find seems quite basic in early episodes. But as the root of her misfortune. the series progresses, this protective shield As a limited series, the premise could shatters with every break in her psyche. have easily stretched itself too thin. But as Her manic decisions, ranging from bethe title insinuates, each episode spends a rating friends to abusing substances, carry considerable amount of time opening the the first three masterfully crafted episodes. layers of Nadia’s identity like a Russian doll. The series is truly ramped up, however, at Once her character’s core is established, her the end of the third episode. The show fears, anxieties and traumas are left out on introduces Alan — a character whose refull display, revealing a hardened shell of lation to Nadia I won’t mention to keep toxic traits hindering her life. from spoiling the entire series — and the The show — cleverly tied into the time storyline becomes more intriguing. He loop concept — revolves around Nadia’s has an interesting connection to Nadia learning to overcome her depression and and the entire plot, and the execution of self-destructive tendencies. When control the reveal leads to another heartbreaking over her life and her day-to-day actions character study. are manipulated by the loop, she explores Charlie Barnett’s Alan is the complete a number of theories and methods of es- antithesis of Nadia’s charming blunt nature; cape, ranging from drug hallucinations he can come off as unlikable at first. But

Illustration by Sammy Newman

diving deeper into the series reveals true tragedy. This makes the dynamic between the two palpable, resulting in an emotionally honest final four episodes that tackle mental illness head-on.

“Russian Doll” truly encapsulates the quote by Charlie Chaplin: “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy

in long-shot.” It portrays mental illness in a close, personal manner — instead of the butt of a joke like in many other forms of media. The series is a must-see for any that have felt alone or are dealing with a mental illness.

“Russian Doll” is now streaming on Netflix.

Why battle royales rule multiplayer shooters JONAH SCHUHART Contributing Writer

UPCOMING

In just a few years since the release of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” the battle royale genre has become the newest standard for multiplayer shooters. And after “Fortnite” showed the world how profitable a simply made, free-to-play game can be by killing “PUBG’s” numbers, developers started cranking out battle royales at a ridiculous pace.

The newest “Call of Duty” had a similar game mode, “Saints Row” developer Volition came out with a flop called “Radical Heights” and even “Tetris” got in on the craze with “Tetris 99.” So in the wake of a new titanic genre in gaming that I have so far neglected, I recently dipped my tardy humor come off as cringe-worthy at times. toes into the battle royale party by playing But even that is better than “PUBG’s” lack “PUBG,” “Fortnite” and “Apex Legends,” of personality. the three most popular games in the genre.

“APEX LEGENDS” “PUBG” “Apex Legends” is by far my favorite. It “PUBG” is my least favorite of the three. boasts the fine-tuned shooting mechanics It has no visual or thematic personality. In- from the “Titanfall” series and combines it stead, it tries to be a realistic, tactical shooter with the strategic elements of hero shootlike its father-title, “Arma 3.” It’s still fun ers like “Overwatch” in a free-to-play battle because it’s a simple game to sit and play royale format. That gives it enough personalwith your friends, but it’s also stale and a ity and profitability to compete with “Fortbit unintuitive. On top of that, it’s the only nite” and certainly enough to put “PUBG” to major battle royale that isn’t free, giving it a shame. It also has the most robust in-game huge disadvantage in attracting new players. communication system I’ve ever seen. The ability to ping locations, useful items and “FORTNITE” enemies removes the need for a microphone I found “Fortnite” more interesting than and makes it much easier to share vital inI expected. I definitely resented its popu- formation across the entire team. larity; but when I played it, I found it more All of this makes up a great recipe for intuitive than “PUBG.” I also enjoyed the a battle royale shooter. In fact it’s so great building mechanic because it raises the skill that, according to Forbes, it gained 25 milceiling and adds a unique flare to the game. lion players in its first week. That’s much Unfortunately, it has ugly graphics similar faster than the amount “Fortnite” gained in to a mobile game, and its attempts at campy the same time period. That may be is why

See something

WED. 3/13 Triple Consciousness: Films by Akosua Adoma Owusu

The ICA will screen three of the Ghanaian-American artist’s films, which explore identity, queerness and feminism. RSVP for free at icavcu.org.

6-8 p.m., Institute for Contemporary Art (601 W. Broad St.) Free, RSVP online.

THURS. 3/14 Illustration by Karly Anderson

“Fortnite” has adopted a pinging system like “Apex”’s and plans to include a very “Apex”like respawn system in the next major update.

So, why are these games so popular?

Well, battle royales are different because they are more accessible to new players because they’re free-to-play. But much of the popularity could also be contributed to the genre’s ability to pad losses. Taking 50th out of 100 is an easier result to swallow than fifth out of 10. Since there’s no price tag and losing in a game is less painful, people are more likely to play a battle royale as their casual game of choice.

But all of that is secondary to the success of battle royales, which lies in the social environment created by all multiplayer games, regardless of genre. Most people who aren’t playing for competition’s sake enjoy the light-hearted, social aspects of multiplayer games. Since battle royales make that environment more accessible than any other genre, it’s no question why they’ve skyrocket to the forefront of online gaming.

‘Weezer (The Black Album)’ offers more confusing pop tunes QUENTIN RICE Staff Writer Emo music’s distant and nerdy dads have returned with their 13th studio LP, “Weezer (The Black Album).” Coming hot on the heels of Weezer’s “Teal Album” — a rather fun record of covers from groups like TLC and Tears for Fears — “The Black Album” is a deeper exploration into more contemporary pop elements, rather than the beta, mid-’90s emo rock prototypes the band is typically known for.

The record opens up with “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” which sets the tone for the album with the all-too-familiar “boom bap” drum beats that are a modern pop staple.

This tune features an oddball Latin flavor, as Rivers Cuomo repeats, “Hasta luego, adiós” ad nauseam throughout the song. Like the record, the song doesn’t aim to introduce anything too avant-garde or different to the genre, but it’s a good time for the first few listens. But its staying power isn’t very, well, powerful.

“Zombie Bastards” almost sounds like a Twenty One Pilots track — it’s rife with offbeat, high-pitched guitar strums, consciously sad piano chords and devious bass synths. Cuomo sings of humans who just skate by in life, who “keep on blah blah blah.” It’s a fun tune and certainly one of the highlights of the album.

Consistent with Weezer’s most recent releases, “The Black Album” is not without its duds. “Piece of Cake” is a tired and dreary piano-led tune, which works to its detriment. A song that opens with “Let’s do hard drugs / Fix our problems” should certainly be more interesting than this track.

Wed. March 13, 2019 11

It evokes the same muse as Andy Grammer’s “Keep Your Head Up,” although the muse must have been quite sleepy the day Weezer heard from it.

Later on comes “I’m Just Being Honest,” in which Cuomo details his distaste for social scripts, or saying what people like to hear rather than what’s really on his mind. The hook is catchy, and the guitars are dreamy and distant in a way that recalls some of the bands that took after Weezer, like Jimmy Eat World and Death Cab for Cutie. One element that certainly has not faltered is Cuomo’s witty and nonchalant lyrics, as he sings about having to quit a new CD halfway through because, “Your band sounds like shit.”

The closer, “California Snow,” opens like a Travis Scott track with fluttering, pager-like synths over what sounds like guitar chords manipulated to mimic a Moog synthesizer. Cuomo espouses the confidence

only cocaine — “California Snow” — can inspire. The song was released in September 2018 for a film called “Spell” and ties a bow quite appropriately on Weezer’s latest foray into their ongoing experiments with more poppy production. That is to say, it’s done quite awkwardly and with a number of head scratches.

It’s certainly not as bad as some might have expected after being let down by some of Weezer’s recent pop efforts, but neither is it as good as some expected after 2016’s generally favored “The wWhite Album.”

“The Black Album” will almost certainly disappoint listeners interested only in Weezer’s dorky emo sounds and attitudes from the ‘90s. Those days are long gone. But for anyone looking for some radio-friendly summertime bops with Weezer’s typical cute and nerdy charm, this record may be worth the 40-minute run time.

Aissa Deebi Visiting Artist Lecture

VCUarts Painting and Printmaking will host Palestinian-American artist Aissa Deebi. He will present his early work and compare it with his latest projects on immigration and alienation.

2:30-3:30 p.m., Institute for Contemporary Art (601 W. Broad St.) Free.

Do something

SAT. 3/16 Richmond Reptile Expo

Reptiles, feeders and supplies will be on display at the event. Vendors include Outback Reptiles, T & B Reptile Zone, Maryland Reptile Farm and more.

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Richmond Raceway (600 E. Laburnum Ave.) $8, cash only.

SAT.-SUN. 3/16-17 Black Book Expo

Elegba Folklore Society will present the Black Book Expo March, featuring authors of a wide selection of books.

Guests are invited to meet the writers and buy their books.

3-6 p.m., Elegba Folklore Society (101 E. Broad St.) Free.

SUN. 3/17 Tunes for Tommie: A Benefit for RACC

In memory of Tommie the dog, who died after being being burned alive, Hazeltone and Brass in Pocket will perform, among others. All proceeds benefit Richmond Animal Care and Control. Get tickets at ticketfly.com.

12:30-5:00 p.m. The Broadberry (2729 W. Broad St.) $15

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Learn something

WED. 3/13 Racial, Social & Juvenile Justice Reformation Forum RISE for Youth will host a youth-led discussion on Virginia’s racial climate. This is an interactive event, and participants are invited to share their thoughts.

5:30-7:30 p.m., Richmond Public Library (101 E. Franklin St.) Free.

SAT. 3/16 Audio In Color

Hosted by WRIR 97.3-FM Richmond Independent Radio and Black Minds Matter Project, this is a workshop for people of color in the field of audio production.

Each workshop will be between 30 minutes and an hour. Register by emailing outreach@wrir.org.

11 a.m.-3 p.m., WRIR Richmond Independent Radio (1621B W. Broad St.) Free.

MON. 3/18 Counternarratives From Women of Color Academics

A dialogue on bravery, vulnerability and resistance will be led by co-editors Manya Whitaker and Eric Anthony Grollman, with contributions from others.4-6 p.m., James Branch Cabell Library (901 Park Ave.) Free.

Illustration by Ryan Rich

12 The Commonwealth Times

Vagisil_F1_SCHOOL_print_11x17_color web site Rite Aid.indd 1

ADVERTISEMENT

2/11/19 12:36 PM

Wed. March 13, 2019 13

Quote of the week

“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”

— Harvey Milk

Freedom of speech isn’t an excuse to preach intolerance BRIANNA SCOTT Opinions Editor “FAGS DOOM NATION” “GOD HATES PROUD SINNERS” “GOD MADE YOU MALE OR FEMALE. BE CONTENT AND OBEY HIM” This is the rhetoric us LGBTQ+ students were met with Monday morning. The infamous Westboro Baptist Church graced VCU’s campus with its lovely presence and even lovelier signs. Its members wanted to reach a diverse group of people, and they definitely met their match.

Westboro’s presence didn’t last long, and its member’s voices were drowned out by students counterprotesting. It felt unreal to be standing in front of them and to know they harbor so much hate for those of us who don’t fit into heterosexual, binary boxes.

But that wasn’t what upset me, believe it or not. What upset me was VCU’s lackluster attempts at inclusivity and the ambivalent student response.

VCU is a diverse college in terms of looks and ideas. The university plasters its diversity propaganda everywhere and people buy it — I bought it, since I am here paying tuition and considering returning for graduate school. However, VCU tends to protect intolerance in an effort to maintain a “diverse” image.

Freedom of speech is a complicated part of our U.S. Constitution, because hate speech is protected by the First Amendment.

The problem with this is that hate speech isn’t just talk. It turns into hate crimes and discrimination and can get people killed.

It was just under three years ago, June 2016, when 49 people were killed at Pulse, a gay nightclub, in Orlando, Florida. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported a 17 percent increase in homicides of LGBTQ+ people in 2016.

The rate only keeps increasing. The NCAVP reported in 2017 that 52 LGBTQ+ people were killed as a result of hate violence.

At the beginning of the year, Dana Martin, a black transgender woman, was found dead on Jan. 6 near Montgomery, Alabama.

Martin was the first reported trans person killed in 2019. The amount of reports are likely to increase this year.

A database tracking LGBTQ+ homicides since Matthew Shepard’s murder shows more than 600 LGBTQ+ people have been killed in the past two decades.

These killings are why it’s a problem to allow people and groups like the Westboro Baptist Church to have platforms. They aren’t spreading gospel; they are spreading hate. They picket dead soldiers’ funerals, and while I am not religious, there’s nothing Christian about that. You are supposed to love thy neighbor.

Freedom of speech ends when what you are saying oppresses people or gets people killed.

At a Conservative Political Action Conference, President Donald Trump spouted

CT Opinions Editor Brianna Scott stands her ground against Westboro Baptist Church members. Photo by Alexandra Zernik that he is making strides to issue an executive order “requiring colleges and universities to support free speech if they want federal research dollars.”

Whether it happens or not, Trump seems only to support this in terms of mandating universities allow conservative speech on campuses.

Conservatism doesn’t have to be synonymous with hate — but it tends to allude to social views that lean racist, homophobic or sexist.

In VCU’s case, would the university prioritize funding over the safety and well-being of their students? I believe it would. When it came to light that Westboro planned on picketing near campus, VCU’s Office of the President only sent out a response after students caught wind on social media.

VCU planned a “Unity Day” event right next to a solidarity rally — which I attended — organized by two queer student organizations, as if giving out donuts and flowers would make up for LGTBQ+ students having slurs hurled at them.

The thing is, VCU didn’t even consult LGBTQ+ students on the “Unity Day” event and didn’t advertise the events planned by other organizations.

But so many LGBTQ+ students did a lot of activist and community organizing at the risk of re-traumatizing themselves and putting ourselves in danger.

Furthermore, I saw several students on social media telling many LGBTQ+ students to simply ignore the WBC. If activists ignored oppressive groups, the civil rights movement would have never happened. We likely wouldn’t have marriage equality. Why should we stick our heads in the sand and hope for the best?

There truly wasn’t that much solidarity among students when Westboro came to campus. People can chalk it up to the fact that it was the first day back from spring break, but I believe it’s because many students simply didn’t care.

Being an activist doesn’t mean you are giving your oppressors power. You are showing them how much power you have, and that you won’t back down — that you’re willing to fight for change and equality.

The CT quote of the week is from Harvey Milk, a politician and the first openly gay elected official in the history of Califor-

nia who was assassinated in 1978. In a message he recorded in the event of his death, Milk said, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”

To stand up for yourself in the face of discrimination and oppression is one of the greatest strengths a person can possibly have.

Dozens of counterprotesters, including CT Opinions Editor Brianna Scott, gathered on Main Street behind the Commons. Photo by Erin Edgerton

14 The Commonwealth Times

Ignore the hype, black women created the natural hair movement

IMANI THANIEL Contributing Writer

The New York City Commission on Human Rights released regulations Feb. 18 in response to the discrimination of black people based on hair or hairstyle in the workplace, school and other public places. Those convicted of discriminating on this basis will have to pay a fine up to $250,000.

This change in law will apply to all New York residents, but is specifically aimed at remedying the treatment of African-Americans based on their natural hair. According to the law, targeting individuals with natural hair is now considered racial discrimination.

The specified natural hairstyles include locs, braids, cornrows, Bantu knots, fades, Afros, twists or hair that is uncut or untrimmed.

Thanks to this policy, black women not only have the ability to continue to express themselves culturally, but they also get the opportunity to continue to push for change on social issues in the black community.

Since around 2012, American makeup companies, models and YouTube tutorials have promoted the “natural look.” It has become a movement for women all over the world to use minimal makeup and wear their natural hair. In 2016, Alicia Keys started the #NoMakeup movement, and it went viral.

As a result of the natural movement, white women have culturally appropriated natural hairstyles and the natural look from black women. When white women wear locs or braids in the workplace or outside of it, they are never discriminated against like black women are. In some cases, white women are encouraged, even praised, for wearing black women’s hairstyles. It’s seen as supporting the movement and supporting black women. But in reality, white women are robbing black women of their culture without having to experience the discrimination and backlash.

Black women in the natural hair movement encourage other black women to em-

Illustration by Lilly Cook

brace their nappy curls and leave behind a white symbol of beauty — straight hair.

The natural trend only started to receive a lot of public attention when it was featured in the most-esteemed fashion and makeup magazines and stores, like Vogue and Glossier. In 2016, 78 percent of fashion models in ads were white women. It makes sense that the natural trend has taken so much time to get to the main stage, because fashion models of color account for a small percentage of the industry.

Looking back into history, the term “nappy” was a derogatory term to describe the hair of African slaves.

In the 1960s and ‘70s, racial segregation

and social activism were at an all-time high.

African-American activists and members of the Black Panther Party such as Angela Davis and Kathleen Cleaver wore Afros confidently and prided themselves in knowing their hair was a part of what made them black. Their nappy, tight curls are what differentiated them from any other race. The style became a popular trend across the U.S. Today, stars like Lupita Nyong’o, Solange Knowles, Tracee Ellis Ross and Viola Davis have embraced their curls and kinks.

They have helped inspire the movement by giving other black women the courage to embrace what they were born with, even in white-dominated Hollywood.

Since the 1980s and ‘90s, leading up to the widely popular beauty trend, white women have longed for curly hair and soft, tan skin. If I had a quarter for every time I’ve heard a white woman say, “I need to tan, I’m so pale,” I would be a millionaire.

The natural movement is now celebrated as another form of beauty by white America, but when black women started it, it was considered ugly. Black women’s skin, body, full lips, hair and noses were ridiculed for hundreds of years. Today, a black women’s natural features have become desirable to white women, and they achieve them through plastic surgery. Ninety-two percent of plastic surgery patients are women, and in 2017, butt implants increased by 10 percent. But white women did not and will never have to undergo the prejudice and denial that black women go through for being who they are: naturally beautiful.

As a black woman, I have experienced the misunderstanding and ignorance that others have about our natural hair. But it wasn’t a white person who approached me.

A black man said to me, “I prefer your hair when it was long and straight, the ‘natural’ hair makes you look boyish.”

This situation proves the brainwashing pervades both sides of the spectrum. Most of the country is so used to seeing straight hair on all women, natural hair has become a turn-off to black men.

This is the product of discrimination.

This is the product of the standard of beauty being solely based on European features.

No one should be oppressed based on their hair, skin tone or body features. Black women will continue to dominate natural hair and beauty. Support and love will come from those who choose to stop listening to the fabrications of the American standard of beauty and choose to give black women the respect they deserve for setting a different standard of beauty for themselves.

No, I don’t feel the Bern AJA MOORE Contributing Writer

There are fewer than 600 days until the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Candidates are announcing their bids. Among them are familiar faces such as U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and even former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. The latest candidate to announce his run for presidency wants us to “Feel the Bern”… again.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who ran against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 primaries, is running again, and I am not pleased. The 2016 primary was a weird one, with candidates that were all pretty wellknown and mostly capable — but Clinton was held as an elite. While she had some scandals and people often talked against her, she was still expected to win.

Nevertheless, Sanders’ progressive platform had people excited. Even though Sanders is not young himself, his platform is especially attractive to young people. Liberal and progressive millennials gave him support,

taking away steam from Clinton early on in the race.

Just one day after announcing his candidacy for the 2020 democratic primaries, Sanders raised nearly $6 million dollars, compared to Harris who raised $1.5 million dollars.

Although Sanders is running under the democratic ticket, his views align with socialism. His appealing platform differs from other candidates to include free tuition, “Medicare for All,” a $15 minimum wage, estate tax expansion and eco-friendly policies.

But there is more to Sanders that college-aged students who overwhelmingly love him might not be as aware of. Sanders recently shared his opinions on reparations for descendants of slaves, saying he feels these reparations would be very “divisive” and therefore has lost black support. Sanders said that we should be focusing on issues such as the poverty rate and high unemployment in the black community.

Candidates for the upcoming 2020 elec-

Illustration by Steck Von

tion — such as former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary and San Antonio, Texas, Mayor Julián Castro — agreed that reparations in the form of tax deductions and decreased education costs should be given to those who are descendants of slavery.

“So, if, under the Constitution, we compensate people because we take their property,” Castro told Politico. “Why wouldn’t you compensate people who actually were property?”

On an issue unrelated to policy, Sanders is almost 80 years old. Age is but a number — but our country needs youth. The world of politics needs younger, progressive minds

in office who will have more time to grow.

Having a younger leader refresh and add a sense of hope to voters.

With the long list of potential candidates, there are bound to be some flaws with others — we are all human — but I would love for candidates such as Castro or U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke to get more of the spotlight in our daily media coverage. It is time for another change, whether that is with race, age, gender or sexuality. Our country has had a long history of old white men running it. If it so happens that another white man is elected, we should elect one that has a well-rounded agenda and expresses inclusivity in all aspects.

Wed. March 13, 2019 15

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

Holly the Schnauzer by Sammy Newman

MANAGING EDITOR Saffeya Ahmed ahmeds@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Fadel Allassan news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Noah Fleischman sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Andrew Ringle spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Brianna Scott opinions@commonwealthtimes.org MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Erin Edgerton photography@commonwealthtimes.org

Still Going to Rest Anyways by Erin Joo

AUDIENCE EDITOR Alexandra Zernik zernikal@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Steck Von illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Adam Cheek, Sports STAFF COLUMNISTS Shaun Jackson, Opinions jacksonsk@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF ILLUSTRATORS Sammy Newman Erin Joo Summer McClure

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Ryan Rich ryan@ryanrichdesign.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mai-Phuong Bui Jeffrey Pohanka Andy Caress designers@vcustudentmedia.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Gabbi Bernardo Dana Cantor Miles S. Hicks advertising@vcustudentmedia.com (804) 828-6629 WEBMASTER Chrislin Hearn webmaster@vcustudentmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Evan McGrady distribution@vcustudentmedia.com

Spring is Here by Max

DIRECTOR Allison Bennett Dyche abdyche@vcu.edu (804) 827-1975 CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER Jacob McFadden mcfaddenjc@vcu.edu ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Drew Salsbury smc_assistant@vcustudentmedia.com

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 Brianna Scott, 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.

16 The Commonwealth Times

For answers to this week’s puzzles, check commonwealthtimes.org/puzzles every Friday at Noon.

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle EU TRADE

Sponsored by

L o s A n g e l e s Ti me s Sun d a y C ro s s w o rd P u z z l e

By Jim Holland Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

6 “Catch 21” airer, 78 Mark not to play 64 19th Greek letter ACROSS initially 79 Red or Black 67 Follow again 1 Dutch actress 7 Approaching 80 Red Baron’s 71 Frat guy Verbeek of 8 Starts a pot conflict, briefly 72 Composer Bartók “Outlander”

By Jim6Holland 9 Stay put until the 81 Berlin article 73 Language suffix Chews (on) storm ends 83 Like Earth 74 Good place for 11 “Point Break” plot, 10 21” “Venerable” Eng. Call for assistance driving e.g.

6 “Catch airer, 78 Mark86not to play 64 19th Greek letter ACROSS Annoying type 75 again Some junior high 16actress One coming out79 Red89 initially monk or Black 67 Follow 1 Dutch 11 Something in your “__ du lieber!” 7 Approaching 19 Type 80 Red92 Baron’s 71 Frat guystudents Verbeek of of eye layer 93 The littlest bit 8 Starts aeye 76 Marsh plant 20 348-seat Parisian conflict, pot briefly 72 Composer Bartók “Outlander” 95article Groans from a 9 Stay12 77 Word body before ball or putMor. untilneighbor the 81 Berlin 73 Language suffix 6 Chews (on) 13ends Stack Russian egg 21Break” __ drab after for figure storm 83 Like Earth 74 Good place 11 “Point plot, 14 Score-tying 82 Untouchables 10 “Venerable” Eng. shot driving assistance e.g. 22 Talkative fighter86 Call for producer?

15 Starts over 97 Virginia Red misplays? leaderhigh monk 89 Annoying type __ 75 Some junior 16 One23 coming out 16 “Lobster 99 lieber!”

End notes sheets to92 “__ du 83 Old MacDonald 11 Something in your students 19 Type26of Three eye layer Telephone” artist 102 Level-headed the wind surely had one eye 93 The littlest bit 76 Marsh plant 20 348-seat Parisian Tahari of fashion 103 Takeoff 84before Big name in frozen neighbor 95 Groans from a times? 12 Mor.17 77 Word ball or body27 Completely 18 Pieces’ partners after figure 104 Big Apple 28 Lab do-over treats 13 Stack Russian egg 21 __ drab 24 Regular mongrels?

29 Gophers 85 Sound of relief 14 Score-tying shotat Sam’s producer?

82 Untouchables 22 Talkative fighter and bar 108 Easy gardeners, say 97 Virginia 87 Choosing to skip 15 Starts over __ mark leader 23 Red misplays?

25 “__ directed” 83 Old 88 110 Short brew? 16 “Lobster 31sheets Word from Many a CEO’s notes MacDonald 26 Three to the 99 End 30 Gloomy 111 Indian wraps credential Telephone” artistGus 102 Level-headed surely had one the windFrench for “clear 32 ofVegan staple 84 Big name 113 Lowered the table” 90 20-volume 17 Tahari fashion 103 Takeoff times? in dignity in frozenref.

27 Completely 36 Fungal Marshmallow-filled It’s usually the104 hit Big119 91 Francine’s “For 18 Pieces’ partnersplant Apple treats 28 Lab 33 do-over snack 34 DDE’s sure” 24 Regularcoating at Sam’s mongrels?

85 Sound of relief 29 Gophers and domain 123mark Medium condition?bar 38 Low-tech weed87 Choosing 35 Cry say during an 108 Easy 94 __to Pérignon skip gardeners, whacker 125brew?

Looking up argument 96a Part of CD-ROM 25 “__ directed” 110 Short 88 Many CEO’s 31 Word from the between 39 Consumes 126 wraps Many get snacks 98 With 122-Down, 30 Gloomy Gus without credential 111 Indian French siblings for “clear them 32 Vegan staple 37 Golf pro’s Eagles cooking 113 Loweredduring in dignity 90 20-volume ref. classic the table” 127 Confusion about instructive 100 One“For involved in a 36 Fungal 40 plant __ price 119 Marshmallow-filled 91 Francine’s 33 It’s usually the hit stroke?

43 domain Hard shoe coating 41 One in a snack who really won sure” sweeping gesture?

34 DDE’s international38 Low-tech Inventory acronym Pong maker weed researcher’s stack 123 Mediuman condition?

94 __ 101 Pérignon 35 Cry 48 during an 50 Greek portico 125 Lookingcompetition?

105 Hinder whacker 42 Title derived from up 96 Part of CD-ROM argument between 130get Med. lab letters39 Consumes 51 Slaughter of old 106 Complained “Caesar” 126 Many snacks 98 With 122-Down, siblings without 131 them “So long” baseball 107 classic Expanses of land 43 Some NCOs during Eagles 37 Golf pro’s cooking 132 Small-truck 52 Loser who finds 109 Salon in offering 44 Like a delirious 127a Confusion about 100 One involved a instructive stroke?

40 __ price company silver lining?

112 Quick bread choice who really won sweeping gesture?

43 Hard shoe 41 One in acrowd Freshwater 55 Online marketplacean 133 114maker Ring features 45 Catfish habitat101 Pong international 48 Inventory acronym researcher’s stack bulrushes 58 portico “__ Believer”: ’60s competition?

115 When required Nebraska 105 Hinder 50 Greek 42 Title46 derived from native 134labMenu general hit of old 116 Move like a crab 47 Saigon holiday106 Complained 130 Med. letters 51 Slaughter “Caesar” Pelé’s first name 59 Prius producer131 “So135 117 Fished with pots 49 NCOs OTC drug long” 107 Expanses of land baseball 43 Some 136 Snidely Whiplash 60who Becoming item,Small-truck 118offering Scold, with “down” regulator 109 Salon 52 Loser finds a an 132 44 Like a delirious look maybe 119bread Parlorchoice purchase 53 Is unsuccessful in Quick company 112 silver lining? crowd 137 Playoff rankings45 Catfish 63 marketplace Worrisome engine 120 What gamblers 54 Finished (of) Ring 133 Freshwater features 55 Online habitat 50% 114 sound ’60s weigh 56 Typographer’s bulrushes 115 When required 58 “__ Believer”: 46 Nebraska native DOWN 121like Scandinavian 134 Menu general 116 Move a crab hit 65 __ Paulo 47 Saigon concern holiday Clear 66producer Furious state 135 Pelé’s1 first capital Arizona county117 or Fished with name pots 59 Prius 49 OTC57drug 2 Sheepish?

68 Thieves’ home?

122 with See“down” 98-Down its seat 136 Snidely Whiplash 118 Scold, 60 Becoming an item, regulator 69 Major Hindu deity look 3 Big tops, e.g. 53 Is unsuccessful 124 purchase Sommer of cinema 61 Classicalin 119 Parlor maybe 4 rankings Folded food 54 Finishedbeginning 70 Mysteriously128gamblers Prefix with cardial 120 What 63 Worrisome engine 137 Playoff 50% (of) 5 Upper crust 56 Typographer’s 129 Patriotic org.

62 African antelope weigh sound appearing debris?

DOWN 121 Scandinavian 65 __ Paulo 3 concern 4 Level 1 2 57 1 Clear capital 66 Furious state Arizona county or 2 Sheepish?

122 See 98-Down 68 Thieves’ home? its seat 3 Big tops, e.g.

124 Sommer of cinema 69 Major Hindu deity 61 Classical 4 Folded food 128 Prefix with cardial 70 Mysteriouslybeginning 5 Upper crust 129 Patriotic org. appearing debris?

62 African antelope

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Have March Madness? Compete in Lo s Asports! n g e recsports.vcu.edu l e s Ti me s intramural

EU TRADE

Sunda y C ro s s w o rd P u z z l e Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

EU Trade by Jim Holland

Level

Sudoku

1 3

By The Mepham Group

3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) containsSolution to Monday’s puzzle every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

3/13/19

1/15/19 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2019 The Mepham Group. Distributed © 2019byThe Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

ADVERTISEMENT

2

4

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1

2

Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Sponsored by

Quickness RVA -Since 2010Order Online Now! @ quicknessrva.com

ADVERTISEMENT