The Commonwealth Times; Aug. 28, 2019 by VCU Student Media Center

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VOL. 61, NO. 2 AUGUST 28, 2019

‘A legacy of segregation and oppression’

CONFEDERATE NAMES SPARK LAWSUIT

The NAACP filed a suit against Hanover County on Aug. 16 over two schools, Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh

Hanover County School Board shows no signs of changing name CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN Contributing Writer HANNAH EASON News Editor In a mostly white county about 10 miles northeast of Richmond, a petition has gained almost 7,000 signatures to keep the names of two schools named after Confederate officials, Stonewall Jackson Middle School and Lee-Davis High School. The Hanover County School Board — which covers a district that is about 86% white according to the U.S. Census Bureau — shows no sign of changing the names

of the two schools, despite a recent lawsuit filed by the NAACP. The NAACP suit argues that the usage of Confederate names forces students of color to “champion a legacy of segregation and oppression,” violating their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to free speech and equal protection. The suit states that requiring black students to attend schools that blatantly glorify Confederate figures — Lee-Davis’ mascot is the “Confederates” and Stonewall Jackson’s is the “Rebels” — forces them to experience “racial harassment” producing long-term injury. “When African American students are

I believe it has a deep negative impact on not just the students’ understanding of the Civil War, but their political sensitivity for their whole lives.” Mack Shank, VCU junior, Lee-Davis drumline instructor

required to identify as ‘Confederates’ or ‘Rebels’ in order to participate in school activities,” the suit states, “they are required to endorse the violent defense of slavery … and the symbolism that these images have in the modern white supremacist movement.” Mack Shank, a VCU junior and drumline instructor at Lee-Davis, said he tries to educate his students on the history behind their school mascot, and how it may negatively affect others. “I strongly believe the name should be changed,” Shank said. “I believe it has a deep negative impact on not just the students’ understanding of the Civil War, but their political sensitivity for their whole lives.” See CONFEDERATE SCHOOLS on page 2

Police release photos from investigation of alleged Snapchat rape

they believe it happened in an apartment or private residence. Police said the two men were walking from Oregon Hill to the Monroe Park VCU police have relased images of campus, as seen on VCU’s security camertwo people of interest in a as. Footage also showed the men sexual assault that was reportwalking along West Main Street edly recorded and posted on near Gladding Residence Center, Snapchat. known as GRC. Interim Chief of Police Police are asking students and Mike O’Berry stated in an community members who were email release that police bedowntown Saturday night and Photo released by lieve the assault occurred late early Sunday morning to contact VCU Police Saturday night or early Sun804-828-1196 or send a tip via day. The release states detectives don’t the LiveSafe app. know where the assault occurred, but “Students or community members … HANNAH EASON News Editor

NEWS Midterm evaluations 3

SPORTS PGA Tour 5

may have seen or met them at a party, cause they can’t determine the location.” restaurant or store or may know them perA tweet — posted by another user — sonally,” the public safety advisory stated. includes a screenshot of a Snapchat mes“Any amount of information you sage stating a man filmed his can provide about their identities friend sexually assaulting a and whereabouts this weekend woman, and posted it on his will help our investigation.” Snapchat account. The two individuals were askVCU Police responded on ing VCU students about parties Twitter yesterday that they downtown, according to reports were investigating the report. received by police. Police spokesperson Corey A tweet went viral yesterday Byers said in an email that Photo released by stating a VCU student was filmed VCU Police began investigatVCU Police on Snapchat while being raped,and ing the reports Sunday. that VCU Police couldn’t take action because officers “can’t do anything be-

SPECTRUM Dharma Bombs 7

OPINIONS NAACP 10

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: A federal judge Tuesday blocked a Missouri law banning abortions after eight weeks. international: Brazil’s National Institute of Space Research reports one-and-a-half soccer fields of Amazon rainforest are being destroyed by fire every minute of every day.

Lawsuit: School remained largely segregated years after opening

CONFEDERATE SCHOOLS Continued from front page

Shank said his students “passionately believe” the school’s name should be changed. “These kids I teach are remarkably smart and open-minded,” the junior said. “They resent that their mascot is the Confederates, passionately believe it should be changed, and try to spread the word to their peers to beat the ignorance that definitely exists in the school.” The NAACP suit argues that by naming the schools after two Confederate figures — both of whom have no immediate relation to Hanover County — the county’s intention was to “make it clear that African American students were not welcome.” The Hanover County School Board approved the name of Stonewall Jackson Middle School in 1969, briefly after the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Hanover County to “take whatever steps might be necessary to convert to a unitary system in which racial discrimination would be eliminated root and branch.” The school opened in 1970. According to the suit, Lee-Davis remained largely segregated a decade after its opening, as 1,140 students were white and 44 were black. Today, as the school has more than 1,500 students, and less than 10% of the student body is black. More than 1,000 students attend Stonewall Jackson Middle School and about 10% are black. As of 2018, 31 Virginia schools were named after Confederate figures, and 18 of them changed the name by the end of last year. Today, only 11 remain, including Robert E. Lee High School in Fairfax County, Stonewall

The Hanover County chapter of the NAACP filed a suit against Hanover County Aug. 16 over two schools named after Conferederate figures. Photo by Wessam Hazaymeh Jackson Elementary in Bristol, and Stonewall Jackson High School in Shenandoah. In December 2017, residents of Hanover county petitioned to change the names of Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School. In April 2018, the Hanover County School Board voted 5-2 to retain the names.

Schools in Va. with Confederate names

There are almost 7,000 signatures on a petition to keep both school names the same. A now-closed petition to change the names has 2,483 supporters. Amanda Schloss, a sophomore at James Madison University and graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Hanover County, doesn’t see anything wrong with

the school names. “I personally don’t agree with [the names] being changed,” Schloss said. “I think it’s important to protect history. It’s taught in our schools, and it’s not something that can be forgotten. The Confederate school name does not brand the students inside of it.” Grace Skelton, sophomore at VCU and graduate of Atlee High School in Hanover County, said changing the names could make the schools more inclusive. “You have to think about the present and about the social and political climate going on in today’s world,” Skelton said. “Everyone should feel accepted and proud of who they are, and if the name of their high school makes someone feel the opposite way, then it definitely should be changed.” First opening its doors in 1959 — as a white-only school until 1963 — Lee-Davis High School was founded during a time of resistance against the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954. While federal law required the desegregation of schools, many Virginia localities employed tactics to resist the ruling. NAACP members’ children who attend the schools have refrained from participating in sports or other school activities “because they do not want to endorse the school’s pro-Confederacy name,” the lawsuit stated. Victoria Dawn Smith, senior at VCU and graduate of Lee-Davis, doesn’t think the Confederate names should remain. “We’re so accustomed to the name that many people just brush it off their shoulders,” Smith said. “But I do believe it should be changed. I don’t think it’s right by any means.”

5. Stonewall Middle School Prince William County

4. Stonewall Jackson High School Prince William County

6. Robert E. Lee High School Fairfax County

3. Stonewall Elementary School Frederick County

3 2

2. Stonewall Jackson High School Shenandoah County

6 5

7. Robert E. Lee Elementary School Spotsylvania County

1. Stonewall Jackson Elementary School Bristol City

9 8

8.Stonewall Jackson Middle School Hanover County 1

11. Washington-Lee Elementary School Bristol City

10. Stuart Elementary School Patrick County

9. Lee Davis High School Hanover County Compiled by Christina Amano Dolan Infographic by Andy Caress

Wed. August 28, 2019 3

Political science grad challenges House speaker MACY PRESSLEY Contributing Writer

Sheila Bynum-Coleman is running against Kirk Cox in Virginia’s 66th District. Photo courtesy of Sheila Bynum-Coleman

Concern for her children brought VCU graduate Sheila Bynum-Coleman to leave her career as a realtor to pursue politics. Now, she’s running against the Republican House speaker. “I started running for office because my son has a learning disability and I wasn’t able to get him what he needed,” Bynum-Coleman said. “I went to my delegate and asked for a 15 minute meeting, he said no. That prompted me to run against him. Then, in 2016, my daughter was shot. So, I ran again.” Her opponent, House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, has been a member of the House of Delegates since 1990. He served as majority whip from 2004-2010, before being elected speaker in 2018. Cox has won most of his elections with ease. From 1997 to 2015, he ran entirely unopposed. This year, every seat in the Virginia House of Delegates is up for election, and Republicans hold a slim majority. The U.S. District Court imposed a redrawn congressional map after ruling that the state’s previous districts were gerrymandered. The 66th District, and 10 other districts in Virginia, was affected and redrawn to include more democratic voters. Bynum-Coleman has run for the House of Delegates twice before, and was narrowly defeated in a heavily conservative district. Campaigning on criminal justice reform and higher teacher pay, she said she can relate to even conservative voters. “Even when I ran in a district that was very Republican, the issues were still there,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Dem-

ocrat or a Republican, people still want to make sure the teachers are paid, they want to see an increase in the minimum wage.” Bynum-Coleman has taken a pledge not to take money from Dominion Energy, the biggest lobbying force in the state. She said if elected, her signature issue would be getting lobbying money out of politics. She is a champion for gun safety laws, as well as women’s rights initiatives such as the Equal Rights Amendment. She is strongly opposed to offshore drilling and wants to push Virginia toward a carbon-neutral economy. “Even though these might seem like partisan issues, they’re really not, ‘cause people want the same basic rights,” she added. Bynum-Coleman also credited her alma mater, VCU, for spurring her interest in politics and teaching her to stand up for herself. “I think VCU has such a culture of togetherness and doing what’s right,” Bynum-Coleman said. “When I was in school, there were so many people who stood up for what was right, even when it didn’t affect them.” Bynum-Colman recalled going to a speaker series on issues transgender people face. The audience was engaged, she said, and asked a lot of questions. She says exposure to diversity made her the candidate she is today. “I studied political science at VCU, I learned about politics,” she said. “I also learned about doing what’s right, and in the General Assembly, we need more people to do that,” she said. Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates race will be held Nov. 5 and polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

New midterm course evaluations seek student feedback HANNAH EASON News Editor Mid-semester course evaluations, anonymous online surveys determining a student’s satisfaction in a class, are piloting in VCU classrooms this semester. While end-of-course evaluations are required for all courses, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Gypsy Denzine said the extra feedback is wanted and needed. “We are moving forward in some courses with midterm course evaluation tools,” Denzine said. “That came up as a result of the conversation with our students in May.” The conversation, held between VCUarts students, VCU President Michael Rao and several VCU officials, addressed six demands made by VCUarts students during a sit-in at the provost’s office two weeks prior. An additional course evaluation in the middle of the semester was one of those demands. “We thought that was a really good suggestion,” Denzine said. Denzine, who started her role at VCU in August 2018, said she uses midterm evaluations in her own classroom. “It’s not required,” said Denzine, who has more than 25 years of experience in higher education, “but I want that feedback.” Senior Thora Toloczkl said her previous evaluations addressed classes needing more structure and organization toward the end of the semester. “A lot of people get their grade, then they hate their professor,” Toloczkl said. “But if you did it in the middle of the year, I think that would be better.”

The fashion merchandising and political science double major said she also felt that the current course evaluations were too broad, and could be more effective when specified to the courses’ departments.

An end-of-course evaluation tells them what to do for the next class,” the marketing major said. “But if you tell them during midterms — and they change something — it’s going to help you toward the end of the course when it gets harder.” Peyton Kapel, marketing major Yale, Princeton and Berkeley include midterm evaluation samples online as teaching resources, with some including questions divided by subject. Sophomore Peyton Kapel said he could see the additional evaluations being effective. “An end-of-course evaluation tells them what to do for the next class,” the marketing major said. “But if you tell them during midterms — and they change something

Course evaluations are generally sent to students toward the end of the semester. Photo by Jon Mirador — it’s going to help you toward the end of the course when it gets harder.” Kinetic imaging major Skyler Kaczmarczyk said she thought midterm evaluations would be better that the end-of-semester surveys. “If you’re giving feedback at the end of the semester, it’s for the next person,” the sophomore said. “It isn’t really going to affect you in any way.” After students complete course evaluations, faculty members read them and department chairs review them. They are later included in the professor’s annual review. The surveys are referenced when a profes-

sor is up for promotion, and all evaluations go through several levels of peer review. Student Troy Carpenter said he didn’t think the course evaluations “made a difference,” or that many students would complete them. “Most students don’t even do the endof-year one,” Carpenter said. “So I know they’re not going to do the mid-year one.” Denzine said the school is trying to get more students to fill out the questionnaires, welcoming positive and negative feedback. “We want very specific examples and details behind their comments,” Denzine said.

4 The Commonwealth Times

Students nab houseware, necessities from Free Store ANYA SCZERZENIE Contributing Writer

The store’s inventory is sorted into four tiers by value, with bigger items In a small store in a corlike minifridges and telener of the old Ram Bikes visions on the highest Tier building on Belvidere Four, and small items on the Street, VCU student Jeen lowest Tier One. Customers Joy clutches a book. can take a certain number “Right now I’m holdof items from the lower tiers ing a book which I’m sure each week, but are only almy friend will love,” she lowed one Tier Four item said. “[Last time] we got a per semester. few cups; we picked out a Stanforth says they’ve painting.” already run out of several The book has no price items in the back-to-school tag. Nothing in the store rush, but anticipate the flow does. Everything, big or of donations will become small, is totally free.VCU’s steadier once the store has Office of Sustainability been open for a longer time. opened the Free Store on “We are out of miniAug. 19, right before classfridges, we are out of microes began on the Monroe waves,” Stanforth said. “But Park campus. The store is once it becomes more of a located at Belvidere and fixture on campus, we anticGrace streets. ipate there might be more of Employees say the store a steady flow of stuff.” has been well received by Store items are sorted into four tiers, including everything from minifridges to hygiene products. Photo by Alessandro Latour The goals of the Free students, with a line stretchStore are to help both stuing out the door on opening day. monly donated item, according to Report- open to all VCU community members with dents and the environment by reusing items “We’ve had at least 600 visitors, and it’s ing and Outreach Coordinator and VCU a valid ID. This means that any student or that would otherwise be thrown away. just Wednesday,” said Erin Stanforth, direc- alum Parker Long, is kitchenware. staff member, regardless of need, can use the “We’re taking a lot of items that students tor of sustainability. “We’ve had a lot of books, and a lot of Free Store. would otherwise trash when they move “We came in the first day, and there was decorative items,” Long said. “I think there “We aren’t making anybody provide de- out,” Long said. “We’re taking the items out a huge crowd,” Joy said. “It took us an hour has been the most kitchen stuff, but that’s tails on their financial status,” Long said. of the refuse cycle and get them to be reused to get into the Free Store.” also such a big category of items.” “But we’re not very worried about [abuse] by other people, and we’re also trying to alThe Free Store’s inventory is exclusively Students, faculty, staff and alumni can because we have rules for how many items leviate financial burden for students, even if supplied by donations. Items that can be donate items to the Free Store. More than can be taken. By doing it that way, we’re it’s just small things that they don’t have to donated include books, art supplies, cooking 1,000 items have been donated so far. making it so that people can’t abuse the sys- buy. Sustainability is everyone having what supplies, non-perishable food and unopened Unlike RamPantry, which requires us- tem of the Free Store. We don’t want to turn they need.” hygiene products. However the most com- ers to demonstrate need, the Free Store is anyone away.”

VCU signed a three-year, $4.65 million contract with GRTC to provide free rides to students and employees, bringing the Campus Connector to a halt. Photo by Alessandro Latour.

GRTC contract concludes the Campus Connector between MCV and MP campuses NAOMI GHAHRAI Contributing Writer VCU has discontinued a university bus service that transported students between the MCV and Monroe Park campuses and entered a three-year contract with Richmond’s public transit system, which allows students and employees to ride for free. VCU first entered a one-year, $1.2 million contract with GRTC in 2018. VCU will pay a total of $4.65 million for the three-year contract that took effect in June. As a result of the high costs, VCU cut the Campus Connector. “I disagree with the removal of the Campus Connector because I know students who depended on it as their transportation to class, work, or volunteering,” sophomore Amanda Freitas said, “and now have to pay for a car service or walk long distances to get to where they need to go.” According to VCU Transportation and

Parking’s April 2019 meeting minutes, VCU and VCU Health students and employees accounted for 22% of the GRTC Pulse ridership and 12% of GRTC ridership. VCU Transportation was unavailable to comment for this story. University spokesman Mike Porter wrote in an email to ABC8News that 11,223 people rode the Campus Connector and 41,557 rode the GRTC Pulse in May. Porter added there was a trend of increased Pulse ridership, and a decrease in ridership for the connector. Senior Ashley Leahman said she used to use the Campus Connector but has yet to use the GRTC buses. “However, I do think that it is a good resource that they offer to VCU students,” Leahman said. This year, no first-year students are living in Cabaniss Hall, a residence hall on the MCV campus. Students who lived in Cabaniss used the Campus Connector for

transportation to the Monroe Park campus. With the proposed demolition of Cabaniss Hall as part of the Master Plan, the Campus Connector would no longer be needed to transport students living in Cabaniss. “I understand why some people may not like the removal of the Campus Connector, but I’m a senior who still commutes, and I have never used it once,” senior Daniel McNamara said. Students taking health classes often need transportation between the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. Pre-med sophomore Aesha Amin said she wished there were improvements to the GRTC app. “As pre-med student, I had to use the Campus Connector regularly to go to the MCV campus,” Amin said. “With Campus Connector, I could get to the MCV campus in about 15 minutes, but going to the MCV campus through GRTC is much more time-consuming. To have a better time

estimate, I wish the GRTC bus app could show the locations of the buses similar to the RamRide app for Campus Connector.” Launched in 2004, VCU initially partnered with GRTC to create the Campus Connector, a VCU-branded shuttle that transported students between the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. In 2012, Groome Transportation took over management of the Campus Connector, Porter told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. On the other hand, some students who live closer to the Pulse stop near campus are indifferent to the change. Shirly Shen, a third-year nursing student said the change doesn’t affect her. “My apartment is closer to the Pulse stop, so I prefer taking the Pulse rather than the Campus Connector,” Shen said. To learn more about the GRTC routes, download its free app.

Wed. August 28, 2019 5

Stat of the week

Women’s soccer has outshot opponents 50-5 in its first two games and outscored them 6-1.

Griffin, Campos grind their way to PGA Tour NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor He wasn’t putting well. Six tournaments to start the year and only one top-25 finish — it was 25th place. And two missed cuts. Something had to change for Lanto Griffin. Griffin, who played on the PGA Tour in 2018, was back on the Korn Ferry Tour trying to earn his PGA Tour card again. He is one of three former Rams to play at golf ’s highest level. He was playing at his home course, TPC Sawgrass, on an off week with a friend when he tried something out. Griffin pulled his friend’s putter out of the bag and wanted to see if it would make a difference. “[We] were playing, and I ended up grabbing his putter and it felt really good,” Griffin said. Griffin decided to use that putter in his next tournament after playing with it. That same day, 2000 Masters champion and longtime PGA Tour veteran Vijay Singh was at the course. Griffin told him about his putting struggles, and Singh offered some help. “He said keep your right elbow inside and bend down a little more,” Griffin said. The next tournament Griffin entered a week later, he won. “The combination of [the tips] and getting the new putter seven days after that — my first event back — I won,” said Griffin, who graduated from VCU in 2010. Griffin won the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Championship in Prattville, Alabama, at 15-under. He beat Robby Shelton in a four-hole playoff for his second Korn Ferry Tour win of his career. That win sparked something in Griffin’s game. He went on a 10-week stretch with eight top-25 finishes, including a second place finish. After his second place finish at the Dormie Network Classic in late April, Griffin knew he had enough points to secure his PGA Tour card for the 2020 season. This year differed from his first go around in 2017, when he earned his tour card in the final weeks of the season. “It put me over 800 points, so I kind of knew it was locked up then,” Griffin said. “Two years ago, I was in the 21st to 24th

Lanto Griffin is sixth on the Korn Ferry Tour’s points list this season. Photo courtesy of Lanto Griffin rank the last 10 weeks, so every single week I felt like I had the world on my shoulders.” With the Korn Ferry season running from January to September, earning his tour card in April allowed Griffin to rest more than he did in 2017. “The fact that I knew I was going back to the PGA Tour, I could rest more,” Griffin said. He didn’t play in the Albertsons Open last weekend, marking his seventh week off this year. “Whereas two years ago I played every single event I could get in,” he said. Griffin was also able to play with less pressure because he knew he was headed back to golf ’s highest level next season. On the PGA Tour, Griffin will see a familiar face dating back to his freshman year at VCU. Rafael Campos, Griffin’s freshman-year roommate, earned his PGA Tour card at the Korn Ferry Tour this year. Griffin and Campos join John Rollins as the only VCU alumni to play on the PGA Tour. Rollins, who graduated from VCU in 1997, has three career PGA Tour wins — the only wins on Tour by a former Ram. The duo have their names littered across

the record books in Richmond, as they are tied for the second-lowest round in program history (65). Campos, Griffin and Vincent Nadeau led the Rams to the lowest combined score as a team in 2009 at the Palisades Collegiate Classic. “They were in their infancy,” coach Matt Ball said. “They ran hot and cold at times. Having those three guys and a few guys to back them up, we had a few record low rounds. But man, it’s nice to have some horses on your team like that that you can count on to get you some scores.” In 2009, Griffin and Campos led the Rams to the fourth CAA Championship in program history. Griffin was named CAA player of the year and first team All-CAA that season. “He finished second seven times and never could win,” Ball said of Griffin’s college career. “A part of that was mentally believing that he could. But I said once he wins once, he ain’t gonna stop. He told me that there was only one year in mini tour golf when he made money, but he won five times. Now he’s won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour.”

Campos earned a win on the Korn Ferry Tour this season at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, becoming the first native of Puerto Rico to win on tour. The win was the first of his career on the tour, coming in the second week of the 2019 season. The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native clinched his tour card after making the cut at the Portland Open. He entered that tournament only needing one point to earn his card. “It hasn’t sunk in, but a lot of hard work …[I am] heading to the PGA Tour,” Campos told the Korn Ferry Tour after earning his card. “I’ve waited so long. So long for that. Really hard. [I] won’t lie to you.” Griffin used his experience from the PGA Tour in 2018 to focus on making it back. He made 26 starts on the Tour a year ago, finishing as high as tied for 12th at the Farmers Insurance Open. “The more you do something, the more you put yourself in uncomfortable situations, the easier it is the next time you have it,” Griffin said.

PRESS BOX

Jay-Z faces backlash for new deal with the NFL RODNEY ROBINSON Contributing Writer It ’s no question that the NFL changed on Aug. 26, 2016, when Colin Kaepernick decided not to stand for the national anthem during a preseason game. This peaceful protest divided many locker rooms. W ith Jay-Z and Roc Nation partnered with the NFL, there’s another division between players, leaders and the NFL. Colin Kaepernick succeeded in raising awareness of social injustice by taking a knee. Everyone is divided at the wrong time.

Jay-Z believes that “we’re past kneeling” during the national anthem. Some NFL players, such as Eric Reid and Kenny Stills, took offense to this statement. Jay-Z has a good track record of raising awareness. In September 2016, Jay-Z created a short animated documentary, “The War on Drugs is an Epic Fail.” In this documentary, he briefly explains the racial injustices of the court system. Jay-Z also created a series on Netflix that brought light to the Kalief Browder story, a teenager who was wrongfully accused of a crime. These are some of the things that Jay-Z has accomplished over the past few years, and he should get the benefit of the doubt from players and leaders alike. Eric Reid’s and Kenny Stills’ views on this issue are understandable, but let’s wait and see what Jay-Z accomplishes. “He’s not an NFL player, he’s never been on a knee,” Stills said in an ESPN interview.

Although Kaepernick hasn’t publicly spoken about Jay-Z, some of his representatives have. Colin Kaepernick’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, spoke out shortly after the announcement of Jay-Z’s partnership with the NFL released. Geragos described the deal as “cold-blooded.” “I can confirm to you that the deal was already done before any conversation that [Kaepernick] had with Jay-Z, and he certainly didn’t have any conversations with the NFL,” Gertagos said in a phone interview with ABC News. Both sides need to come together. This is the wrong time to be divided. Kaepernick just settled with the NFL, and over the past two or so years, he has made a lot of progress in raising awareness. One major advancement is the “know your rights camp.” He continues to work each day and with Jay-Z partnering with the NFL; both sides can work together. Division is not the solution.

Illustration by Meg Rogers If there hasn’t been much accomplished in a few years down the road, then speak out. But if Jay-Z and other players can find common ground and work together, we can get a lot accomplished in combating social injustice.

6 The Commonwealth Times

Defensive star begins final season, looks to turn pro JARON NUTTER Contributing Writer Senior middle blocker Jasmin Sneed never thought she’d be an award-winning college volleyball player on the brink of playing professionally. After dominating throughout her collegiate career and spending her summer training with the U.S Olympic volleyball team, it’s safe to say she was wrong. The 6-foot senior is undoubtedly one of the stars of the team. Her defensive prowess resulted in being named First Team All-Atlantic 10 and recording multiple school records. Sneed was a star from the beginning at VCU, after being named to the A-10 All-Rookie Team in 2016. Despite her instant success, Sneed didn’t take volleyball seriously until high school. “I didn’t start playing volleyball until eighth grade, but I was on the bench the whole time,” Sneed said. “The first time I got on the court was junior year of high school. I fell in love with it in middle school even though I didn’t make the team, but that’s what fueled my fire.” That fire fueled her from her hometown in San Antonio, Texas, all the way to Richmond. Sneed chose to attend VCU despite receiving interest from New Mexico State and UT-Arlington. “When I came here on my visit, I really enjoyed the coaches and felt like I could learn a lot. I felt like they could develop me into an amazing player,” Sneed said. “The facilities are nice and clean. I like the way they take care of the athletes here.”

Senior middle blocker Jasmin Sneed, center, logged 179 blocks last season. CT file photo As much as she enjoys VCU’s city campus, Sneed still misses the little things from back home. “Richmond is way smaller than San Antonio. The food, particularly Mexican food, is a lot better back home. The people here are nice, but I think there’s more Southern hospitality where I’m from,” said Sneed. Despite the change in scenery, Sneed has felt at home on the court. She set a school single-season record after finishing with 180 blocks her sophomore year. As a junior, she nearly broke her own record. Now a senior, Sneed is motivated to set the bar even higher. “That was an amazing feeling,” Sneed

said. “I think it was more amazing because of how much fun I had that year. That year, everyone on the team had fun and we played together. One of my main goals is to beat the record. I want to make sure I get better every year. I have to leave senior year breaking that record.” Sneed plans to play professionally after her collegiate career. The senior participated in a tryout for Team USA this summer and studies other professional players. “It was fun competing with the best talents in the country. I’m doing it again next year and I can’t wait. I was like a lost puppy when I was there, I’ll be better prepared next time. I like to model my

game after Rachel Adams. We play the same position and she gets a lot of blocks,” Sneed said. All in all, Sneed wants to be remembered at VCU for her energy and uplifting her team. “I definitely want to be remembered as an energetic player, someone who brings energy to the court when we’re down,” Sneed said. “It pumps us up when I get a block and my team goes crazy. I’d say I was coachable, kind, clutch and just a team player in general.” Sneed will begin her final season at VCU on Aug. 30, when the Rams travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Texas Tech at the Imports Classic.

Sturm sets sights on successful third season ADAM CHEEK Staff Writer Junior midfielder Maite Sturm is set to enter her third season on the field hockey team, and she has become a stalwart of the Rams’ lineup every week. Last year, Sturm was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and, for the second time, to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-South Region Second Team. The midfielder started all 19 games and scored seven goals, also tallying 11 assists and finishing second on the team in total points. This followed up a strong freshman year, in which Sturm also received All-A-10 honors — this time on the Rookie Team — and was named to the All-A-10 Championship Team. She received conference Rookie of the Week honors in late August 2017 and went on to start in all 20 games that season, scoring six goals, two of which were game-winners. Sturm hails from Waltrop, Germany, and she and her twin sister, fellow midfielder Svea Sturm, have made a name for themselves across the Atlantic and at VCU. The Rams went to the A-10 title game last season, falling 1-0 to St. Joseph’s after a 12-7 season and a 7-1 record in A-10 play. The team scored 55 goals and averaged just under three a game, recording a few blowouts along the way. “After last year, we were disappointed because [we] were so close to winning the A-10 for the first time for the program,” Maite Sturm said. “Now we are motivated to build a great team and to play good, so we tried to bond outside of the field with the team, and I think at the moment our team chemistry is good too.”

Sturm also said the team is extra motivated to face off again against St. Joseph’s, which visits Richmond in mid-October. “This year, they will come to our field, and I think it will be an interesting game,” she said, “especially because we want to beat them now after they won the final last year.” With the graduation of standout forwards Emily McNamara and Lauren Kaup last season, as well as midfielder Jessica Mays and defensive player Hannah Fox, Sturm moves into more of a leadership role as one of the longest-tenured players on the team, especially with eight freshmen joining the roster.

“After last year, we were disappointed. ... Now we are motivated to build a great team and to play good, so we tried to bond outside of the field with the team, and I think at the moment our team chemistry is good too.” Maite Sturm, junior midfielder “I hope I could help the team with my experience on the field,” she said. “Especially with the new players, if they have any questions on or off the field. I know when I was a freshman, [I was] always a bit nervous.” Sturm said, as a player coming over

Junior midfielder Maite Sturm, right, recorded seven goals and 11 assists last season for the Rams. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics from Germany, the playing style is quite different in her home country than in the U.S. “We start earlier, around five years old,” she said. “We learned, from the beginning, more technical stuff, and in America it’s more athletics.” She chose VCU after meeting with coach Stacey Bean, who visited the Sturm twins in Germany. “For me, it was good to have a talk with the coach,” Maite Sturm said. “[She] was new as a coach and she wanted to build a strong field hockey program, and I saw the potential in it.” She hopes to help the program become even stronger and draw more players to the state’s capital and the program. It’s not common for twins to play with, or against, each other, but Sturm says she and her sister have played together since they first took the field. “Between us there’s no competition,” she said. “We both push each other to be the best version of ourselves, and I think it’s good to play together because we know each other so well.”

That connection translates on the field, too, she said. “We know, ‘Oh, she’s going down the field and I can pass then,’ and things like that,” Sturm said. Sometimes we argue on the field, but it’s like that with every teammate a bit. I think it helps that you have someone on the team and someone on the field who knows how you play.” Maite Sturm said that having close connections with other teammates is also important. “It’s always nice to have someone, especially an American,” she said, “because you can talk to them and ask them questions. It’s [also] nice to have another German girl on the team and talk to her and share some stuff, because we share the same field hockey background and how we see the game.” After she graduates from VCU, Maite Sturm hopes to return to Germany and complete a master’s degree in business and continue her career. “I hope to go back and play field hockey there, [since] field hockey was always a big part of me,” she said.

Wed. August 28, 2019 7

On this day

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his “I have a dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Dharma Bombs treats The Camel to new folk bops Toes were tapped and knees were slapped as Dharma Bombs delivered their front porch bangers. Photo by Jon Mirador QUENTIN RICE Staff Writer Local Richmond country/folk band Dharma Bombs treated fans Saturday night at The Camel to a few hours of their revised sound — which they have taken to calling “Appalachian Dixie,” — to celebrate the release of their second album, “Enjoy the View.” The band was preceded by The Judy Chops, a folk act of Virginia nativity, and Weekend Plans, a groovy jazz band also from Richmond. The Judy Chops, known for their remixes and mashups, treated the audience to a familiar Americana sound to start the night and prime everyone for the riot that was to follow. “I hope there’s some square dancing, that’s why I came,” said one concertgoer who received exactly what he expected.

Weekend Plans brought the energy to the present for their set, playing some familiar tunes from their debut album “State of Nine,” as well as teasing some new unreleased songs. Few could resist the infectious grooves of “Slide” and “Get With You.” Guitarist Forrest Link exhibited his lightning-quick fingers with a few bombastic guitar solos, even playing with his tongue at one point, as all experienced showmen know to do. When Dharma Bombs took the stage, it was clear from the jump that patrons would get the barn burner they came for. “Damned If You Do” aged the floor a few years with all the stomping and dancing that took place. “Chasing Cars” delivered a brief departure from the stomping and knee slapping for a moment of introspection, as singer Trey Hall crooned “We’re chasing

time like a dog chases cars/ If we caught up would we still know who we are?” Old favorites “Abigail” and “Apocalypse Now” brought the energy back up to 11 with their big, shouty choruses, offbeat accents and familiar lyrics. The band played a sly and devious cover of the Merle Travis classic “16 Tons.” Hall dedicated the song to the coal miners of Harlan County, Kentucky, who are protesting after their employer, coal producer Blackjewel, declared bankruptcy and left them with bounced paychecks. Hall expressed sincere concern for the protesters and encouraged listeners to educate themselves about the standoff. “Enjoy the View” is a simple album of bouncy bluegrass and country jams. It doesn’t aim to do anything over-the-top or innovative. It doesn’t pretend to be anything

it’s not. Many people say country music is four chords and the truth; that philosophy seems to be appreciated here. The record opens up with “Motorcycle Race In Heaven,” which plays like the title suggests it would. It’s fast and a hell of a lot of fun, with those familiar offbeat chucks and tricky horn licks. “94 Train” may be the best moment of the record, featuring a twinkly guitar, somberly optimistic horn licks and low-key vocal deliveries from Hall and guest vocalist Mackenzie Roark. The track would not sound out of place on a record from The Head and the Heart. Dharma Bombs’ latest is not a challenging record. It’s laid back and easygoing through all eight tracks, although not without energy. It invites the listener to do as the title implies and, if the mood strikes at the right time, do a little dance as well.

Left: Weekend Plans’ jazz/hip hop fusion made for an exciting warm-up at the event. Right: Between songs, Dharma Bombs told stories about the songs on their new record. Photos by Jon Mirador

8 The Commonwealth Times

UPCOMING EVENTS See something

THURS. 8/29 Women’s Soccer vs. Loyola

The women’s soccer team is hosting the home opener against Loyola (Md.) Starting at 5:30 p.m., and there is a free student shuttle from the Siegel Center UU lot to Sports Backers Stadium. There will also be a T-shirt giveaway to the first 100 fans in attendance, as well as the chance to win a $50 Netflix gift card. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Free for students.

SAT. 8/30 Women’s Soccer vs. Loyola

The Byrd Theatre is hosting a screening of the 2011 film “Super 8.” Tickets are $4. For more information, visit visitbyrdtheatre.org. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Byrd Theatre & Foundation (2908 W. Cary St.)

Do something

SAT. 8/31 2019 Pole Green Park 5K Run/Walk

The Collegiate Running Association is hosting a 5K Run/Walk at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. Registration is $20 before the race day; $25 the day of the race. To register, visit the Pole Green 5K Run/Walk Facebook page. 8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Pole Green Park (8996 Pole Green Park Lane)

TUES. 9/3 Bingo

Join the Activities Programming Board in its first bingo night of the school year. This monthly event will include free food and prizes. Be sure to get there early and bring friends. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. University Student Commons (907 Floyd Ave.) Free.

Learn something Ongoing Cabell Library Tours

Utilize the resources the library has to offer by attending one of Cabell’s library tours. They’re 30-minute tours offered until Oct. 3. For more information, contact Sue Robinson at srobinson26@vcu. edu or visit go.vcu.edu/library-tours. James Branch Cabell Library (901 Park Ave.) Free.

FRI. 8/30 Orientation Leader Interest Meeting

Learn about how to become a summer 2020 orientation leader. The session will review the available positions, application process, job requirements, etc. For more information, contact newrams@ vcu.edu. 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. University Student Commons (907 Floyd Ave.) Free.

Alumna releases new book of short stories IMAN MEKONEN Spectrum Editor A sleepy fox lies on a quiet beach among cacti of various shapes and sizes. The turquoise environment seems unfitting for the type of animal seen on the cover of the newest book from VCUarts alumna Christine Sloan Stoddard titled, “Desert Fox by the Sea.” Released at the end of July, the book is Stoddard’s first collection of short stories. It’s a compiled collection of stories and poems that relate to marginalized feminine voices. The author said the voices are influenced by her own identity as a Salvadoran-American woman and experiences of growing up in a multiracial household. “In my case, just speaking personally, my mom is from El Salvador and my dad is American, so something that I always thought about growing up was am I American enough? Am I Latin enough? Do I fit in here? Do I fit in there? Just back and forth,” Stoddard said. The narrative voices in the stories belong to different women and vary according to their experiences and identities, which are often multilayered. “All of the stories are told from a first-person perspective and many of them have Latinx, Southern, or biracial situations involved,” Stoddard said. “One of those identities might be the specific identity of the narrator, often there’s a mix of those things, since it’s multilayered with more than one identity.” The book also includes stories of characters developing body positivity and building self-confidence. “It’s a good book for people who don’t necessarily have time to read something straight through. Most of the pieces are under a thousand words — even the fiction and short stories are ‘flash fiction,’” Stoddard said. “You could read one piece on the bus, or while you’re waiting for class to start

“Desert Fox by the Sea” is Christine Sloan Stoddard’s first collection of short stories that relate to marginalized feminine voices. Photo courtesy of Christine Sloan Stoddard or really, if you just have ten minutes,” Stoddard said. When creating the book, Stoddard said she compiled some of the stories that were included from the five chapbooks, or very short stories, that she has written that are often concise and between 20 to 24 pages long. One of the stories included in “Desert Fox” is taken from a previously published chapbook titled “The Girl with the Clam Ear.”

I’m very interested in storytelling as a ritual and as a tradition.” Christine Sloan Stoddard, VCUarts alumna The story follows a young girl who was born with an ear deformity and learns to accept her features. She devises a form of mythology about herself in which she’s actually a mermaid, and starts to call it her “clam ear.”

FRI. 8/30 Student Media Center Open House

Discover the organizations student media has to offer at the open house. Come learn about each organization and meet the students involved. For more information, visit vcustudentmedia.com. 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Student Media Center (817 W. Broad St.) Free.

“It’s just a story that she tells herself when she’s a little girl, but even if she’s older she sort of, uses it to hype herself up,” Stoddard said. “It’s her inner monologue with how she has this magical, mystical quality about her that makes her not of the same world as everyone else.” Stoddard based the title of the book off of a 2013 trip to Peru. She visited a seaside village that was actually more of a desert, because there were no trees. “There were little shriveled cacti and trees in the desert here and there, but there weren’t any palm trees,” Stoddard said. “There wasn’t a beachy vibe at all.” The contradictions at the scene inspired her to pick the title to relate to a lot of the characters in the book. “When I was brainstorming titles, I thought of that place,” Stoddard said. “There are a lot of animals mentioned in the book, and a lot in folklore and fables in general, so I was just thinking about the different animals and unlikely places where they might live. Well a ‘desert fox,’ it’s not going to live by the sea right?” Thus, the name “Desert Fox by the Sea” was born. Storytelling is a theme often seen in Stoddard’s writing pieces, as she also founded Quail Bell Magazine, a feminist magazine, and works closely with Gretchen Gales, who is also a VCU alumna. “I’m very interested in storytelling as a ritual and as a tradition,” Stoddard said. “I’m especially interested in storytelling between women, like the kind of storytelling that takes place between grandmothers, mothers and daughters.” Stoddard said the writing process took about two years, and she’s happy the book was finally published and completed. To learn more about Christine Sloan Stoddard, visit worldofchristinestoddard.com. You can find “Desert Fox by the Sea” at Target and Barnes & Noble and through the publisher, Hoot & Waddle.

“Desert Fox by the Sea” is available at Target, Barnes & Noble and through the publisher, Hoot & Waddle. Photo courtesy of Christine Sloan Stoddard

Wed. August 28, 2019 9

The bare-bones beauty of Brockhampton’s music videos LANDON ROBERTS Contributing Writer “Tell me what you’re waiting for,” echoed throughout my earbuds one night during my freshman year of college as I shuffled through my Spotify Discover playlist. This repetitive, melancholic chorus from Brockhampton’s single “Face” matched all the isolation and anxiety I faced that year. This single discovery of Brockhampton, the hip-hop music collective from Southern Texas, led me to the group’s music videos, which offered a sense of solace and friendship during a time when it was much needed. Brockhampton’s central members — Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Dom McLennon, Merlyn Wood, Bearface and Joba — met in an online music forum, where they formed a bond over Kanye West that birthed the now 14-member self-proclaimed boyband, filled with rappers, producers and graphic designers. The group’s deep-seated friendship is prominent through lyrical chemistry that informs listeners of their traumatic pasts that brought them together. But where the band truly forms is in their whimsical, off the wall music videos. The bare-bones style leads to an authentic home movie feel that echoes the feeling of picking up a camera to film your friends as they try their hardest to make you laugh. All this resulted in a year’s span of 13 videos that made me feel one with the group as they danced around in any costume they could scrounge. Their first three studio albums, dubbed the “Saturation Trilogy” birthed this guerilla-tactic style that can only be described as pure euphoria. The encapsulation of this feeling is best seen in their video for “Star” off of Saturation I. The song itself is filled with references to action movies ranging from “John Wick” to “Secret Agent Cody Banks.” The video had the members dawn the now-iconic blue body paint as they recklessly drove a golf cart through a south LA street where the members’ house was.

Illustration by Lindsay Hart

This quiet cul-de-sac hosted many of Brockhampton’s early videos, and it holds many iconic images from their videography. Whether it’s Merlyn dancing frantically in the video for “Heat” or the band members riding bikes dressed as cops in the video for “Swamp,” it produces nostalgia. Their joyous nature makes viewers, including myself, reminisce about childhood playdates fueled by imagination. This is where the genius of the Brockhampton music videos resides. It doesn’t matter if the lyrics correspond with the video. The music only acts as a soundtrack for the members’ imaginations as they entertain each other with wild ideas. This is why I think viewers like me connect with their early videos so much. I didn’t have a group like this during my freshman year, but I was able to experience it through a connection to their videos. I felt like I was the one holding the camera, filming my friends, having the time of our lives.

However, as the band has grown, so have their videos. The videos that accompanied their fourth album, “Iridescence,” was no longer located in the familiar cul de sac. Instead, the album and the videos focused on the fans like me, who found a community through the band’s music. The videos for “San Marcos” and “New Orleans” includes all the members of the group we learned to love, but right along with them are the die-hard fans who are able to live within the group’s imagination. It’s hard not to feel the love in the video for “San Marcos.” Every member delivers their verses as usual, but as the chorus kicks in, the camera glides effortlessly to us, the fans. We are no longer holding the camera, we are belting and repeating, “I want more out of life than this.” While this verse can seem depressing, the smiling faces in the crowd show us they have found more in this life, and so can you. The final shot of a group hug between everyone in the video cements this feeling.

While the video run for “Iridescence” was reflective and self-serious due to having signed with RCA records, Brockhampton’s newest video releases for their album “Ginger,” which released Aug. 23, has returned to the core group’s imagination. The fun joyous nature has been restored, and they continue to recognize their fans. The video for “If You Pray Right,” the first single off “Ginger,” is filled with the oddball visuals and frantic camera movements the group is known for, but the end of the video shows appreciation for their fans in a subtle way. The final shot presents the main members lined up, but an empty space remains. That empty space between the members can be read as a spot for us, the fans. While I may no longer be that lonely freshman who found solace in goofy music videos, the memories of joy associated with Brockhampton’s videos still remain with me and with many others.

LANDON’S OUTLOOK

‘Peanut Butter Falcon’ a meandering Mark Twain tale LANDON ROBERTS Contributing Writer The American epic “Huckleberry Finn” captured the uniquely humorous essence of the Deep South post-Civil War through its look at the common man. This classic Twain tale now has received a modern retelling through the heartwarming but misguided “Peanut Butter Falcon.” The film follows Zak, an adult with Down syndrome, who escapes from his care home to follow his dream of wrestling with his idol, The Saltwater Redneck, in North Carolina. During his escape, he stumbles upon Tyler, played by Shia LaBeouf, who is also running away from his life of crime and a man he wronged named Duncan. Zak and Tyler form a brotherly bond that carries the entirety of the film, achieved through Zack Gottsagen’s performance as Zak. The actor, who also has Down syndrome, brings an infectious charisma to the entirety of the movie. Every scene he appears in is consumed by humor from his sharp comedic timing. The film treats the actor and character with an incredible amount of respect and never makes light of his disorder. The pinpoint timing creates a chemis-

Illustration by Sammy Newman

try between LaBeouf and Gottsagen that skates on the edge of improvisational, which creates an incredibly palpable bond. Every moment of their training montage in the second act is joyous due to their chemistry, in turn, making their journey a highlight of the film. The score and soundtrack create a character out of the swampy North Carolina coast. The bouncy pluck of the banjo as Zak and Tyler walk alongside train tracks is where the film hits the pure essence of Twain. The folky atmosphere and small town aesthetic are paired with an orchestra of acoustic tunes

that echo back to a much simpler time. All these aspects are entertaining and heartwarming, however, the plot itself has no idea where it is going. The film wants to focus on Tyler and Zak’s journey, but it constantly detours into backstory that adds nothing to the plot. There is an entire subplot surrounding Tyler’s brother, Mark, that seems like it would bring meaning to the bond between him and Zak, but this thread just disappears near the beginning of the third act to focus on another meandering subplot. The new plot surrounds Eleanor, played

by Dakota Johnson, and comes off as a half-baked romantic interest. While Johnson turns in a decent performance, her character isn’t given much to work with. She is supposed to be Zak’s caretaker, however, the background of their bond is never explored. Instead we are force-fed an unnecessary romance. The film falls apart in the third act. It mostly sticks to its Mark Twain journey idea, but finally reaches a rushed attempt at an ending. This rushed conclusion leads to a reliance on cliche and offers an incredible amount of cheese, especially during a wrestling scene in the final moments of the film. A lot of this is due to the forced antagonist, Duncan. With no true bearing over the story, he acts only as a way to introduce plot conveniences to drag out their journey. If this character were completely removed, many of the film’s problems would have been resolved, which would have resulted in a tight, concise journey of self-discovery. “Peanut Butter Falcon” finds its heart through its great casting, performances and portrayal of the small town culture Mark Twain was known for. However, the film fails to match Twain’s great storytelling. Rating: 2.75/5

10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” — Angela Davis

Illustration by Sammy Newman

Hanover County doesn’t care about its black students TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

n the latest episode of “ how to oppress the black youth,” Hanover County is the star. Let’s take a little imagination trip, this one is sure to make your blood boil. Imagine this: You’re getting ready for this week’s Friday night football game. You and your friends are excited to cheer your team on, to sing the school’s chant, to hype up your student section. You get there, your team — the “Confederates” — are about to take the field. The Confederates. You try to ignore the pang of discomfort that name causes you. It’s halftime. The students from the neighboring middle school wander through the crowd — the “Rebels” from Stonewall Jackson Middle. Again, you find yourself trying to get over this growing discomfort. It’s okay, the mascot is about to rush the field, carrying the school’s flag. A white student rides atop a horse, waving a flag marked with the letters “L” and “D,” referencing Confederate leaders, the school’s namesake. This time, the discomfort subsides. It’s replaced with anger and isolation. You’re overtaken by feelings of disrespect, oppression and sadness. No way something like this actually happens — no way a school system would allow such blatant disrespect. Drive 20 minutes from VCU and take a long look at Lee-Davis High school. That’s right, exposure to Confederate symbols at high school football games is just a normal Friday night for black Lee-Davis students. I cannot even begin to fathom the pain black students at this school must feel. Writing this today has already angered me beyond belief.

This scenario has angered the Hanover County chapter of the NAACP, too. The NAACP publicly states that its mission is to secure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. Which is why the group has come forward with a lawsuit against Hanover County and the Hanover County School Board. The suit argues that using Confederate names forces students of color to “champion a legacy of segregation and oppression,” violating their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to free speech and equal protection. “Argues.” I still cannot believe we are having conversations like this. What are we arguing about? Enough of this idea that racial discrimination and oppression needs to be “argued.” Here’s my argument: This is blatant racism. As a black student, if I went to a school that honored horrific men whose entire purpose as generals and soldiers was to oppress black people and treat them as property, I would feel utterly hated in my own space. I’m sorry, but didn’t we all agree that schools are meant to be a safe space for all students — or do black students not count? To make matters worse, in December 2017, Hanover County residents petitioned to change the names of LeeDavis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School, but on April 10, 2018, the Hanover County School Board voted 5-2 to retain the names. So, let me get this straight: Residents — parents of these black students and then some — explicitly stated these names were inappropriate for a school, and the majority of the Hanover school board decided they just did not care.

Yet again, the white community just doesn’t care about black children. I mean, black students make up about 10% of the high school’s population, and almost all of the remaining students are white. We do not harm women and children — that is the universal law. Except when it comes to black children, right?

Using Confederate names and symbols as school names and mascots isn’t ‘protecting history.’” Tagwa Shammet, opinions editor I can still hear my freshman orientation class learning the chant, “V-C-U R-A-M-S. This is what we do the best.” Just thinking of having to spell out “C-O-N-F-E-D-E-R-A-T-E” for a school chant is making me sick. Stop subjecting black kids to a different childhood just because it doesn’t affect everyone else. NAACP members with students at Lee-Davis High and Jackson Middle are refraining from allowing their children to participate in school events, rightfully so. Due to this easily preventable racial harassment, black students are being forced to sit out of fundamental high school experiences. Supporters of the name preach, “Protect the history,” invoking the phrase as part of debates on the presence of Confeder-

ate monuments and the flag. The history they’re trying to protect includes the civil disobedience that stemmed from the overwhelming hate portions of the population had for black people. That’s not a history I’m itching to honor. Especially not at the cost of the black youth. Historians don’t need to omit the Confederacy and the Civil War from history textbooks, but officials, schools and community members must stop rubbing the intolerance of the era in black people’s faces. Using Confederate names and symbols as school names and mascots isn’t “protecting history.” Simply say you want to protect the racism deeply rooted in our country. The NAACP is just trying to resolve the obvious racial tension caused by these schools’ names. In return for that, the group has received violent voicemail threats. So, it’s not enough to racially harass and attack black children, no, it’s necessary also to threaten violence on those trying to protect them. All this, and some people will still claim racism doesn’t exist in this country. Like I said before, hating black people is as American as apple pie. Hanover County needs to change the names of Lee-Davis High and Stonewall Jackson Middle. Fairfax County needs to change the name of Robert E. Lee High. Bristol City needs to change the name of Jackson Elementary. Stop paying homage to these men and glorifying their deadly racism. If Americans aren’t so afraid of black excellence, prove it. Stop systematically oppressing and restricting black people and see how high they will soar. We just might impress you.

Wed. August 28, 2019â&#x20AC;&#x192;11

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

Summer Really be Like That by Lake Mannikko

MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Ringle ringlea@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Hannah Eason news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Noah Fleischman sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Iman Mekonen spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Tagwa Shammet opinions@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Jon Mirador photography@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Alexandra Zernik zernikal@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Sammy Newman illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Adam Cheek, Sports Quentin Rice, Spectrum

Ready or Not by Erin Joo

STAFF ILLUSTRATORS Erin Joo

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Jeffrey Pohanka designers@vcustudentmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andy Caress Yosef Mirakov Cohen Kamryn Gillham designers@vcustudentmedia.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Currently Hiring advertising@vcustudentmedia.com (804) 828-6629 WEBMASTER Chrislin Hearn webmaster@vcustudentmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Evan McGrady distribution@vcustudentmedia.com DIRECTOR Allison Bennett Dyche abdyche@vcu.edu (804) 827-1975 CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER Currently Hiring

3 Types of Students by Michelle Dominado

ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Currently Hiring

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

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

12 The Commonwealth Times

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

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle LITERAL LITERATURE