Women’s rights; moving backward, forward?
BRI STEVENS SKYE HATHAWAY
Contributing Writers
The Supreme Court justices appointed by Donald Trump’s first administration overturned Roe v. Wade on June 22, 2022. Since the decision, abortion policies have been decided by individual states, according to ABC News. Trump’s return to the White House has left Americans questioning the current state of women’s rights, according to The New York Times.
United States Senator Tim Kaine said the Virginia General Assembly is advancing a plan to include the protections of Roe v. Wade in the state constitution.
“We’ve got to do all we can to make sure that Virginia stays a state that protects women’s reproductive freedom,” Kaine said.
On the federal level, Kaine said he is trying to maintain protections for women such as reproductive freedom, and is
said. “It has to take bipartisanship because Democrats are in the minority in both houses, and I don’t yet have enough Republicans to support it.”
United States Senator Mark Warner stated in an email that he is committed to fighting for women.
“President Trump is no champion of women,” Warner stated. “His administration has continued to take steps to limit women’s freedom to make their own health care decisions and make it harder to access and afford health insurance, and jack up recurring expenses that families are facing like child care and housing.”
Delegate Betsy Carr, who represents most of Richmond, said all women’s rights are at risk at the hands of a second Trump
Women’s rights on page 3
VCU wins Atlantic 10 Tournament
THAILON WILSON Sports Editor
The Rams are headed back to March Madness after coming into the Atlantic 10 tournament as the No.1 seed. VCU faced off against inner-state rivals, George Mason University, in the championship bout and beat them 68-63 to hoist up the Atlantic 10 trophy.
A-10 on page 4
Photo by Arrick Wilson.
illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter
Stories of the week
national: Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on March 18 after nine months stranded aboard the International Space Station.
international: Israel launched airstrikes into the Gaza Strip on March 18, breaking the ceasefire that took effect in January.
Students notice decreased reliability of Richmond’s free public transit system
JESSICA VIGIL
JOSHUA MIKLOS
Contributing Writers
Richmond is known for its free public transportation, ranked fourth in the country by Consumer Affairs in 2024. However, VCU students and other community members have recently reported decreased reliability in the two main systems, the regular GRTC line and the Bus Rapid Transit line, or the Pulse, which travels up and down Broad Street.
Mikhail Edwards, a third-year kinetic imaging student, said the schedule often does not adhere to the actual arrivals of the buses, making it increasingly difficult for him to correctly plan his own schedule and arrive on time. He reported being late for work and class due to the recent unreliability of public buses.
“With work, timeliness is a big thing, and I do try to be on time as much as possible,” Edwards said. “If the bus doesn’t come, then it causes me to be late.”
Scott Freese, a fourth-year psychology student, said he would get to the bus stop 10-15 minutes earlier than the arrival time on map apps, then check the GRTC
app to see where the bus is, only to find out there would be no arrivals in the next 30 minutes.
Freese said he often has to resort to walking or spending money on transportation.
Lena Elliot, a third-year English and gender, sexuality and women’s studies student, said she began noticing more delays after the snowstorm in January, and they continued after the snow melted. She said work becomes more difficult for everyone when the buses become unreliable for the few.
“If your coworkers are using the bus and they can’t get there on time, that makes work harder for you,” Elliott said.
Elliott said she was asked by her boss to prove the buses were making her late to work. She said she rode the bus with her coworker to support her story and took screenshots of the bus arrival times along with timestamped photos of her at the bus stop.
“I think that more people should be taking and caring about public transportation. I think that it’s a way for us to connect with one another and use less gas emissions,”
Elliott said. “I think about people who are commuting to
and from work from parts of the city that the bus travels out to. I wonder if those guys are okay.”
Many students rely on free public transportation to get around.
Esther Bilderback, a fourth-year English student, said the bus is the only way she gets around campus and the city.
“Public transit is really helpful and wonderful, but if it’s not reliable, it defeats the point of what it’s going for,” Bilderback said.
Bilderback said she is still appreciative of the free fare.
“I think that honestly makes up for a lot of inconveniences,” Bilderback said.
Students who do not ride the bus have heard similar complaints from community members regarding the lack of buses and long wait times.
Emily McFarland, a fourth-year sociology and psychology student, said they heard yells not “out of anger, but frustration” from bus riders waiting
with their groceries at the Lombardy & Krogers stop.
“There were a bunch of people waiting on the northbound stop, and then one of the guys said, ‘Are you kidding me. Come on, we’ve been waiting out here for 30 minutes, like, we saw two southbound buses go by,’” McFarland said.
Richmond’s free public transit is important for everyone, according to McFarland.
“Even if they’re not utilizing it, it’s what keeps the city going,” McFarland said.
Ashley Potter, communication manager of GRTC, along with members of the GRTC board, refused multiple requests for comment from The Commonwealth Times.
GRTC had a 30% decrease in customer complaints according to customer service in January, according to that month’s Board of Directors meeting. Updated statistics are unavailable to the public at this time.
VCU students and Richmonders have reported increased delays in Richmond bus service, impacting commutes. Photo by Anthony Duong.
Photo by Anthony Duong.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Continued from front page
administration, including reproductive freedom, abortion and childcare.
“I’m going to work as hard as I can to ensure the passage of the Virginia constitutional amendment and protect reproductive freedom,” Carr said. “I’m going to continue to work to protect access to abortion and contraception, and to ensure that any woman who travels to Virginia to seek abortion cannot be prosecuted.”
Thousands gathered nationwide to protest Trump on International Women’s Day, and several hundred gathered in Richmond’s Capitol Square Park, according to RVA Mag. Protestors gathered to demonstrate issues including reproductive healthcare and transgender rights, according to The New York Times.
Delegate Carr said she used to doubt the ultimate impact of protests, but hearing what Senator Warner said on television changed her mind.
“People asked him, ‘Why are you voting or not voting for the budget bill?’ And he said, ‘I am getting so many calls and emails from people saying: Please don’t vote for this.’ Now, I do think protests will make a difference,” Carr said.
President Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 5 titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which bans anyone who was not assigned female at birth from competing in women’s sports. The executive order also states that federal funding will be rescinded from any schools that do not comply, according to the Associated Press.
On March 3, a bill called the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” which aimed to ban transgender students’ participation in girls’ sports, failed to pass through the Senate. Those in favor of the bill stated that men have an unfair biological advantage over women in sports. Those against the bill argued that it could lead to genital examinations of girls, endangering not only trans girls but cisgender girls who have masculine features, according to CBS News.
The bill was amended on March 7 to include that only healthcare providers may examine children to verify their sex without the consent of their legal guardian, according to West Virginia Watch. The amendment to the bill states that sex assigned at birth will be verified via birth certificate.
Delegate Carr said President Trump has signed many executive orders, but much of what he’s trying to control is at
Congress’ discretion.
“His executive decision may not ultimately hold water unless there is congressional action to go with it,” Carr said. “I don’t think he can just make an executive order like that. He’s not King, although he thinks he is.”
People are bringing lawsuits against the government, as a lot of what President Trump is doing is illegal, according to Carr.
“What he’s doing is not inevitable and we need to confront it,” she said. “One of the big things is not giving up. The biggest thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Alexis Payne, a student in the VCU social work master’s program, explained that she believes women should be able to have bodily autonomy when it comes to their reproductive rights.
“We have to live in our body, so we should have the right to make the decision,” Payne said.
Payne said while she feels less at risk living in the state of Virginia, she and her friends remain afraid for their reproductive rights.
“My friends and I have talked about getting on different forms of birth control because we’re unsure if we’ll have access to the pill in the future. That’s how I’m seeing it impact me and my friends and the people
around me the most,” Payne said.
Claire Davison, a second-year prenursing student, said she had concerns for the safety of herself and women from marginalized communities due to the Trump administration’s policies.
“I think it’s an especially dangerous time right now for trans women with the Trump administration. Their rights are my rights and my rights are theirs, so it’s definitely a dangerous time to be a woman of color, trans woman and a woman in a state that has overturned Roe v. Wade,” Davison said.
Davison said she feels as though Richmond is an accepting community, but she doubts that the legislation prioritizes the safety of minorities in the community.
“I think that the people in Richmond are accepting, it is definitely a safe community, but I don’t know if our legislation is making it a safe place,” Davison said.
CJ Dailer, a fourth-year communication arts student, said she is frustrated that women, who make up more than half of the population, are suffering from a lack of rights.
“It’s important to protect anyone’s rights, but there’s no reason why half the population shouldn’t have the same rights as the other half. It’s just ridiculous that it isn’t the standard,” Dailer said.
‘Greetings’ no more: Richmond mural disappears
MOLLY MANNING
Contributing Writer
The “Greetings from Richmond” mural, a longstanding image of Richmond on the side of a flower shop on West Broad Street, was painted over without notice on Mar. 6, according to RVA Mag. The mural, originally commissioned in 2016 by the owner of Charm School ice cream shop and painted by Ross
Trimmer and Mickael Broth, was later updated in 2020 to include images of the Black Lives Matter protests in Richmond that year, according to Axios.
No reason has been given for the removal of the mural, and neither the artists or the shop owner were notified, according to Axios.
Alex J. Dimas, a photographer and 4-year Richmond resident, was biking
when she ran into a group of friends watching the mural being painted over. Dimas happened to have her camera on her at the time and took photos of the scene, saying she and her friends were shocked.
“We all have seen that mural and how historical it is to the Broad Street community and just the fact that it was being painted over was just really sad to us to witness,” Dimas said. “I just wish
that artists could be more elevated, and that they could be seen and continue to have an opportunity to share what is valuable to the city.”
This comes amid the removal of other Black Lives Matter murals, such as the street mural in Washington D.C., which is being painted over following a bill that called for the removal of the mural and renaming of the plaza where it’s located, according to NPR.
A well-known “Greetings from Richmond”-turned Black Lives Matter mural vanished suddenly early this month. Photo courtesy of Alex J. Dimas.
Sports
Continued from front page
VCU vs. St. Bonaventure
The black and gold defeated St. Bonaventure University 76-59 on March 14.
VCU head coach Ryan Odom said he knew this game was going to be a hard fought battle regardless of if the opponent was Duquesne University or St. Bonaventure.
“Both of those teams are coached extremely well and are playing good basketball at the end of the year,” Odom said.
The Rams started the game with a threepointer made by graduate student guard Phillip Russell.
The Bonnies and the Rams traded baskets until VCU first-year guard Brandon Jennings went on a personal 6-0 run with two three-points to give the Rams a 22-15 lead at the eight-minute mark.
Jennings had a career-high 12 points and
three blocks in the game against SBU.
“To be able to produce on the court as a freshman, I’m just blessed and glad to do it with the teammates I have beside me,” Jennings said.
The Rams held a 36-26 lead going into halftime.
The Bonnies started to trade buckets with VCU in the second half, but VCU graduate student forward Jack Clark scored nine of his 17 points at key moments to maintain a lead for the Rams.
Clark contributes his team-high scoring performance to many practice shots he takes during and after practice to prepare for games.
Despite the Bonnies aggressive offense, VCU held onto the lead and won the game 76-59 at the final buzzer.
Stat of the week
VCU first-year guard Brandon Jennings had a career-high 12 points and three blocks in the 76-59 win against St. Bonaventure University on March 14, according to VCU Athletics.
VCU beat Loyola University Chicago 62-55 in a close matchup on March 15.
The Ramblers took the initial lead with a three pointer made by third-year guard Jayden Dawson.
The black and gold retaliated instantly with a layup made by Russell. LUC and VCU traded baskets back and forth throughout the first half, until the Rams started to play heavy man defense.
The Rams held the Ramblers to 31.3% from the field in the first half, while VCU shot 50% from the field, according to StatBroadcast.
The black and gold ended the half making five out of their last seven, helping the Rams go into halftime with a 36-27 lead.
The momentum for the Rams did not last in the second half since VCU shot two out of 10 shots to start the half, according to StatBroadcast.
The Ramblers were able to take a 51-50 lead halfway through the second half after
third-year guard Kymany Houinsou made a second-chance layup.
The Ramblers outrebounded VCU by 10 total rebounds, according to StatBroadcast.
“This was just a rock fight,” Odom said. “On both sides, we were physical and they were physical.”
VCU graduate student guards Zeb Jackson and Max Shulga took the lead back after back-to-back paint touches.
Shulga led the Rams in scoring with 14 points and tacked on 10 rebounds as well.
“I’m just trying to impact the game, just everywhere and in any way I can,” Shulga said. “Just to put myself, or everybody else in a position for us to win.”
VCU third-year forward Christian Fermin hit back-to-back hook shots to increase the lead to 58-51 with one minute remaining.
The Ramblers drew up plays to try and come back but the Rams held onto a 62-55 lead at the final buzzer.
Story continues on next page
VCU vs. Loyola Chicago
VCU graduate student guard Zeb Jackson posterizes St. Bonaventure guard. Photo by Arrick Wilson.
VCU first-year guard Brandon Jennings shoots over Loyola defender. Photo by Arrick Wilson.
(Bottom Left) VCU graduate student guard Phillip Russell hugs former VCU forward Jalen Deloach. (Bottom Right) VCU graduate student guard Max shulga defends. Photos by Arrick Wilson.
The black and gold beat George Mason University 68-63 and secured a spot in the NCAA March Madness tournament on March 16.
This is the third year the Rams have made it to the finals of the Atlantic 10.
After last year’s loss, this win was important for the team, according to Odom.
Clark was named the Atlantic 10’s Most Outstanding Player award after averaging 13 points and six rebounds per game.
“This game for us started a year ago with the work these guys put in from that moment to now,” Odom said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these young men.”
VCU either tied or kept the lead for the entire game, but GMU kept it close for the majority of the contest.
VCU graduate student guard Phillip Russell scored the first six points for the Rams to give them a 6-2 lead at the 18-minute mark in the first half.
GMU scored back-to-back baskets to tie the game up at six for each team. VCU continued to take the lead back but could never leave the Patriots behind.
VCU graduate student forward Jack Clark broke the tied game curse by scoring four straight free throws to give the Rams a 28-24 lead with three minutes remaining in the half.
“I give all the credit to my teammates and my coaches,” Clark said. “They always instilled confidence in me throughout the year, whether I was shooting bad or shooting good.”
The Rams used this momentum to take a 36-28 lead going into halftime after a putback buzzer beater layup by VCU graduate student guard Max Shulga. Shulga and Clark were both named to the Atlantic 10 All Tournament Team.
Despite going into the half with an eight-point lead, the Rams and Patriots continued the dogfight that they had in the first half.
GMU went on a 7-0 run which reduced VCU’s lead to 45-43 with 12 minutes remaining in the championship.
Shulga hit a three-pointer which gave the Rams a five-point lead and eliminated the Patriots’ momentum.
The Patriots continued to fight but at the final whistle, the Rams were the team to cut down the nets.
(Above) VCU head coach Ryan Odom swings the net after the Rams’ victory in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship. Photos by Arrick Wilson. Collage by Zach Montgomery.
VCU vs. George Mason
KYLER GILLIAM Staff Writer
Yelizaveta Karlova
The 5-foot-9-inch fourth-year is the only listed senior on the VCU women’s tennis team. Karlova is a two-time All-Atlantic First Team member according to VCU Athletics. Karlova’s tall frame gives her the ability to cover space on the court with ease. Combined with her experience on the court, she is a weapon in both doubles and singles competitions for the Rams. Karlova achieved her first singles victory of the season against Davidson on March 8, helping the Rams achieve their first conference win of the season. Karlova’s experience and past success along with her physical capabilities make her one of the most important players on a young Rams roster.
MALACHI KEYS Contributing Writer
Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando
The Ecuadorian second-year is a rising star in VCU’s women’s tennis program and had a promising first-year campaign. During the 2023-2024 season, Andrade Sabando posted a 9-9 record in singles playing on courts one and two according to VCU Athletics. On all three courts, she was also victorious in seven doubles matches. Andrade Sabando’s play during the month of January 2024 landed her the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week award on Jan. 23, 2024, according toVCU Athletics. Additionally, this season she was named to the Atlantic 10 Preseason All-Conference Team; an accolade giving credence to her formidability as a part of VCU’s squad.
VCU women’s basketball season comes to an end
ALEXIS WASHINGTON
Staff Writer
JENNY ALLEN
Contributing Writer
The finale: VCU vs. La Salle
VCU women’s basketball lost to No. 14 La Salle University in the first round of the Atlantic 10 championship on March 5.
This game also marks the first time VCU head coach Beth O’Boyle stepped on the court after returning from maternity leave.
“I was just happy to have her back, she’s the energy,” said VCU third-year guard MaryAnna Asare said. “The passion that she brings to her program, it’s just always amazing.”
VCU started off strong after winning the tip-off, setting up Asare for a deep threepointer at the nine-minute mark.
Locking up the Explorers redshirt second-year guard Ashleigh Connor advanced the Rams lead to 16-11 as the first quarter ended.
Both teams suffered a scoring drought in the first three minutes of the second quarter, according to StatBroadcast.
VCU trailed 23-30 at the end of the first half, while both teams shot 35% from the field and recorded over ten turnovers, according to StatBroadcast.
Scouting Report: VCU vs. Fordham University
The VCU women’s tennis team will face off against Fordham University in an Atlantic 10 matchup where VCU will be looking to win its second straight and four of its last five. The match will take place at the Thalhimer Tennis Center here at VCU on Saturday, March 22 at 1 p.m. Here are some key players to look out for from either team.
DREW THOMPSON Staff Writer
Nevena Kolarevic
Third-year Nevena Kolarevic is undeniably a person to look out for in the upcoming matchup against VCU. Standing out 5 feet, 6 inches tall and hailing from Belgrade, Serbia, Kolarevic has yet to lose a singles match in 2025 at 5-0. Kolarevic is also coming off a recent Atlantic 10 player of the week selection, which was awarded to her March 4, according to Fordham Sports. Prior to her time at Fordham, Kolarevic found success at Illinois State University where she won back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference individual titles in 2022 and 2023 respectively, according to GoRedBirds. Kolarevic has settled in smoothly to Fordham, quickly becoming one of the Rams best players.
ANDREW MCGHAN Staff Writer
Lorraine Bergmann
Fourth-year Lorraine Bergmann is a player to look out for in the March 22 matchup. Bergmann is from Forest Hills, New York and currently has a 5-2 record in singles matches this season, according to Fordham Sports. With five wins in singles matches Bergmann is tied for the most wins in singles matches alongside Kolarevic. When Bergmann is paired with Lily Chitambar for doubles matches they have five wins to just two losses, according to Fordham Sports. Bergmann and Chitambar have the best doubles matches record among Fordham’s roster. After attending all four years at Fordham, Bergmann has improved every season, even winning the first match of the A-10 championship, according to Fordham Sports. Bergmann will be a major player for Fordham in both singles and doubles matches.
“The whole message was one possession, one quarter at a time, and that’s really what we were trying to focus on,” O’Boyle said.
VCU kicked off the third quarter with a 10-0 run after Asare’s early layup within the first five minutes.
VCU graduate student forwards Jennifer Ezeh and Mykel Parhan dominated the boards in the third, finishing with a total 20 of the team’s 39 rebounds.
The Rams entered the fourth down 36-35 and the back-and-forth scoring continued in the quarter boiling down to the last minutes.
The Explorers called their last time out to set up an inbound play for the win with eight seconds left, according to StatBroadcast.
Connor took charge and drove for anand-one layup to give them a two-point lead as time expired, La Salle won 48-50.
“We all wanted to do it for each other and play basketball, especially for our seniors. It really hit hard,” Asare said.
2024-2025 season recap:
VCU women’s basketball team ended their season 12-19 overall, according to VCU Athletics.
The transfer of their lead scorer, guard Sarah Te-Biasu, played a toll on the Rams. She ended the 2023-2024 season averaging 16 points and was named Atlantic-10 Player of the Year, according to VCU Athletics.
One thing we take pride in is the culture of our program, and I think you know that really shows up in the times of adversity,”
Beth O’Boyle, VCU head coach
The Rams struggled offensively shooting 39% from the field and 33% from the three-point line this season, according to VCU Athletics.
Despite not having the best season, Asare said her team faced a lot of adversity and is proud of her teammates for pushing through.
“There’s so many times we could have just quit and gave up,” Asare said. “There were so many games we were so close.”
Six out of their 19 losses were by three points or less, according to VCU Athletics.
With the season coming to a close, five seniors are graduating: Parham, Ezeh, fourth-year guard Natalia Tondi, fourthyear guard Valentina Ojeda and redshirt third-year guard Adebukola Akomolafe.
O’Boyle said she takes pride in the leadership from the seniors and the love her players have for each other.
“One thing we take pride in is the culture of our program, and I think you know that really shows up in the times of adversity,” O’Boyle said.
VCU third-year guard Mary-Anna Asare shoots a layup over La Salle defender. Photo by Arrick Wilson.
Illustration by Zoë Luis.
Richmond Metro Area high schools compete at the Stu
KYLER GILLIAM Staff Writer
Six teams from the Richmond Metro Area competed in the Siegel Center for the right to be crowned state champion for their respective classes on March 13-15.
Class 2 Girls:
The John Marshall High School Justices women’s team played against the Wise County Central High School Warriors for the Class 2 Girls State Championship on March 13. Central dominated in the first quarter, building a 21-6 lead after the first buzzer. The Justices clawed back and cut the lead to eight going into halftime, 3123. Second-year guard Tiara Herron had 13 in the first half for the Justices, on her way to a 30-point output, according to the VHSL. Central dominated the second half and won 75-45, securing back-to-back state championships for the Warriors.
Class 2 Boys:
John Marshall’s boy’s team secured their fourth-straight state championship with a win over the Graham High School G-Men 10781 on March 13. The Justices got out early and stayed ahead all game. John Marshall shot 80% from the field in the first half, only missing five total shots, according to the VHSL. Top-100-ranked third-year Latrell Almond scored 17 points in the first half, helping lead John Marshall to a 56-31 lead going into halftime. The Justices continued scoring, leading to the most points scored ever in a state final. The Justices also had four players score over 20 points in the contest.
Class 4 Boys:
The Class 4 Boys State Championship Final consisted of two Richmond Metro Area Teams. The Atlee High School Raiders faced off against Varina High School Blue Devils in a Class 4 Region B final rematch on March 14, where Atlee won 66-59. The Capital District foes started the game off tightly, with Atlee jumping to a 16-5 lead and Varina returning to bring Atlee’s lead to two at the end of the first quarter. The Raiders’ shooting from behind the arc helped them clinch their first state title in school history, winning 66-44. The Raiders shot 47% from behind the arc during the game, according to the VHSL. Varina third-year Caleb Slaughter led the Blue Devils in points with 16 on 54% shooting. Atlee second-year Conner Wilcox hit four threes on his way to 18 points, the highest point total in the game.
Class 3 Boys:
Hopewell High School Blue Devils matched up with the Class 3 Region C Champions in the Spotswood High School Trailblazers on March 15. A tight matchup throughout saw the Blue Devils fall just short of their second state championship in three years. Hopwell outscored Spotswood 8-0 on points off turnovers in the first half, securing a 26-22 lead going into halftime. The Trailblazers did all the little things to secure victory over Hopewell, committing fewer turnovers and shooting better from behind the arc. Spotswood won the game 57-50 over the Blue Devils. Hopewell second-year Stephon Cherry led the Blue Devils in points with 22 points and tied the team-high with six rebounds in the loss, according to the VHSL
Class 6 Girls:
The Manchester High School Lancers competed for the Class 6 State Championship against the Osbourn Park High School Yellow Jackets, out of Manassas, Virginia, a rematch of an earlier non-district matchup during the season on March 15. Osbourn Park won that matchup 64-41 in their home gym. Manchester was led by future University of Richmond Spider Rayne Wright and third-year Finley Weaver. Weaver led Manchester in points with 15 and Wright scored nine and grabbed eight rebounds during the contest, according to the VHSL. A back-and-forth game in the first half had the Yellow Jackets up 24-21 in the first half. Detrimental shooting from behind the arc in the third quarter doomed the Lancers, shooting 0-7. Osbourn Park took advantage and clinched their first state championship over Manchester, winning 60-48.
John Marshall third-year forward Latrell Almond dunks the ball.
Photo by Kyler Gilliam. Edited by Arrick Wilson.
Manchester third-year guard Rayne Wright prepares to shoot a free throw.
Photo by Kyler Gilliam. Edited by Arrick Wilson.
Press Box: Collegiate women’s flag football breaks down barriers
DREW THOMPSON
Staff Writer
The Atlantic East Conference is making waves and breaking down gender barriers in sports this upcoming spring.
The Division III conference is the first NCAA conference to officially launch a varsity women’s flag football division with optimism that this will help make the sport become officially sponsored by the NCAA, according to ESPN.
The NFL plays a sizable role in this decision with the league continuing its ongoing efforts to promote women’s flag football. The Atlantic East credited that it was able to make the season possible thanks to a grant received from the NFL, according to the Atlantic East Conference.
The significance of this decision cannot be overstated. Women’s flag football can and will become a successful sport in the near future.
Women’s flag football has been one of the largest growing sports in the world over the past 15 years, with big companies like the NFL and Nike taking notice and investing large sums, according to Just
Women’s Sports.
NFL Flag 50 is the NFL’s “call to action” to increase flag football, with a large emphasis on women’s flag football, according to Play Football. NFL Flag 50 used an ad during Super Bowl LIX to highlight the rapid growth of women’s flag football in recent years.
Women’s flag football is already a sanctioned high school sport in 14 states across the United States, according to NFL Flag.
The Atlantic East is only the beginning of this sport at the collegiate level. I believe the NCAA will come to sponsor it officially within five to 10 years and that this will be a defining moment for women’s flag football and women’s sports as a whole.
American football has consistently been viewed as a male-dominated sport. The rapid ascension of women’s flag football not only breaks down those preconceived notions, but it also has already proven to be successful.
Additionally, the Olympics announced
that women’s flag football will debut as an official Olympic sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to USA Football.
With this newfound spotlight on the sport, it is undoubtedly going to attract more attention and become increasingly popular from here on out.
I think with the Atlantic East Conference and the Olympics both taking initiatives to propel women’s flag football, many more doors will be opened.
These decisions and constant funding will see an even larger increase in the amount of women who participate in sports.
Not only that, with more states sanctioning women’s flag football as an official high school sport, the athletes will hypothetically be able to continue with the sport in college on scholarships.
This decision paves new pathways for athletes in women’s flag football and female athletes as a whole. Expect to see much more women’s flag football in the near future.
Illustration by Abigail Gleeson.
Spectrum
On This Day
American
Girl Gains VCU builds muscle and community
BRAXTON HARE
Spectrum Editor
The VCU chapter of Girl Gains Lifting Club is a part of a national organization fostering an inclusive community on every fitness level, according to their Instagram.
Whether you’re new to weightlifting or an experienced lifter, the Girl Gains community connects you with like-minded students on campus through workouts, events and meetups that build strength and confidence, according to their website.
During Women’s History Month, Girl Gains at VCU celebrates the incredible women who redefine what it means to be strong and uplifting toward each other inside and outside of the gym, according to a recent Instagram post.
Kaitelyn Nanz, membership chair of Girl Gains and fourth-year public policy student, said that Girl Gains started at San Diego State University in 2017 and has been branching out to other schools ever since.
“We have been trying to get Girl Gains here for two years, and they just allowed us to actually start last fall semester,” Nanz said.
The organization’s mission is to provide health and fitness information as well as a community of support for like-minded girls who are nervous about going to the gym, according to Nanz.
“We’ll do GBM’s which tend to just be
big meetings where we’ll discuss stuff such as how to build a split, or supplements and protein or gym etiquette for girls who may have never been to the gym before,” Nanz said. “We really just want more people to hear about the organization and come to meetings.”
Nanz said they are not focused on membership as just a number.
“If girls just want to come to meetings and become members that is great, but honestly I’ll be happy if I see more girls showing up at the Cary Street Gym,” Nanz said.
The more women go to the gym, the more comfortable they will feel as individuals, according to Nanz.
Jinal Nana, treasurer of Girl Gains and third-year science and economics student, said that Girl Gains is a beginner-friendly girl’s fitness and health club.
“We want to welcome people of all different levels and interests into health and fitness,” Nana said. “I’d say the mission is just kind of to empower college students within their fitness and health goals.”
Nana said that if you already have anxiety, going to the gym can make you feel even more anxious.
“That’s something we’ve talked about a lot because it’s a very common topic.
It can be intimidating, but we love to inspire all the girls who join and help them feel confident instead of scared,” Nana said.
The club emphasizes the importance of working out in groups and with friends, creating a supportive environment where members can learn together, according to Nana.
Exercising alongside others not only helps individuals navigate the gym more comfortably but also reduces anxiety, especially in spaces that can feel overwhelming — often dominated by experienced gym-goers, many of whom are men, according to Nana.
“We often collaborate with other schools who have Girl Gains chapters, like the University of Richmond and JMU. I know in the past we’ve done a hike collaborating with them, so that was also a cool experience,” Nana said.
Girl Gains also offers a “Bigs and Littles” program, where members are paired with a mentor, “Big,” or mentee, “Little,” to foster support and community. The program encourages participants to work out together, with Bigs providing guidance, advice and motivation — especially for beginners navigating their fitness journey, according to Nana.
Maeve Hickey, vice-president of Girl
Gains and fourth-year public relations student, said she has been into fitness for the past four years and wanted to find a community and friends who shared the same goals in fitness as her.
“There are a lot of girls in our group who’ve never been to the gym. And so that’s why we try and be really inclusive of anybody,” Hickey said. “To be honest, you don’t even have to be a girl. You can be any person with an interest in the community and who wants to get into fitness.”
A lot of girls face gym anxiety and gym intimidation because they don’t know how to get started or they don’t have anyone to go with, according to Hickey.
“We strive to create groups, social groups in which we all go to the gym together and make it a safe space and show people that it doesn’t have to be so scary,” Hickey said.
You don’t have to be a big lifter to join the club because other members are going to help you break down everything, get comfortable and create friends while you’re at it, according to Hickey.
For more information about Girl Gains at VCU be sure to check out the Girl Gains Rams Connect and @girlgainsvcu on Instagram.
singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s self-titled debut studio album was released by Columbia Records in 1962.
Members of Girl Gains VCU showcase posters promoting the organization during Bracelets and Bonding event in Monroe Park. Photo courtesy of Maeve Hickey.
Crimson Beauties: A curation of women’s creativity
MAEVE BAUER
Contributing Writer
Anne’s Visual Art Studio gallery opened its doors to “Crimson Beauties,” a Women’s History Month exhibition featuring paintings by artists Sheila Holland, Diana Urbiztondo and Anne Hart Chay on March 7.
Chay has been running her gallery since 1997 and was one of the key members in starting First Fridays, according to Chay.
Chay said it has been ten years since she has featured a Women’s History Month exhibit.
“Diana Urviztondo, she’s the one who told me about International Women’s Day. I held a show of her work in March of 2015 for International Women’s Day,” Chay said.
Chay said that she tries to select a plethora of different artists who create in different mediums than her.
“I have all kinds of artists represented here from many different countries and cultures, so it’s not just different kinds of medium,” Chay said. “I work in oils and black and white photography, so I like to find artists that do things that I don’t do. I like to find artists that are doing things creatively and that you don’t see in other places.”
Chay said some of the other artists and mediums she has featured during past Women’s History Month exhibits include paintings by visual artist Terrie Powers and ceramics by poetry artist Carolyn Gabs.
Chay has known Holland, one of the featured artists, for over 20 years. They are both VCU alumni and have been in the Richmond area ever since graduating, according to Chay.
Holland has been painting for over 35 years and teaching for 18, according to her website.
Holland said she got involved in the project after Chay called and asked if she would like to join the project.
“Anne called me and asked if I wanted to be a part of it for Women’s History Month. I have been an artist who has been a part of her gallery for over 20 years and she thought it would be a good idea,” Holland said.
Holland’s current medium of art is eggshells, creating landscapes and floral designs using a mix
of the shells with gessoed, resin and acrylic paint, according to a press release on Richmond’s Culture Week.
Holland said she started using eggshells as a way to challenge herself with art and enjoys incorporating different textures into her pieces.
“I’ve been painting for so many years. I got a little bored painting flat, so I wanted to add texture and make it more of a challenge to myself,” Holland said. I started adding different things in my paint to do that and I happened upon the eggshells because one day I was just looking in the biodegradable trash that would be thrown in the garden, and I was like, ‘Hmm, you know that might be interesting.”
Holland said it took years to get it just right, but once she did, she stuck with it.
After being in the art scene for over 20 years, Holland said her biggest piece of advice is to get your work out there.
“Just do as many shows as you can to get your name out there, because once people see your work — and if they like it — more people will see after it and want to show your work and they’ll buy it — hopefully,” Holland said.
Holland said she never felt that she was too in the scene since she was a commuter student.
“I think I’ve always just done what I wanted to do and try not to go with what everybody else was doing. I think the scene didn’t actually affect me at all, as far as my artwork anything. Ever since I was at VCU I did landscapes,” Holland said.
Information for Crimson Beauties can be found on the Richmond Culture Works calendar, an online space where different creatives can share their events.
Richmond Culture Works’ goal is to strengthen art and culture organizations to increase their impact in the region, according to their website.
They support events such as First Fridays as a way to benefit the community, according to Calie Bain, Culture Works Community engagement strategist.
“Supporting local venues and events has never been more important. Arts and culture are critical aspects of community health, in addition to clear social and educational benefits,” Bain said.
I work in oils and black and white photography, so I like to find artists that do things that I don’t do. I like to find artists that are doing things creatively and that you don’t see in other places.”
Anne Hart Chay artist and curator
‘Entangled Beauty’ by Sheila Holland 38” x 26” Acrylic, Eggshell & Resin on Canvas. Photo courtesy of Sheila Holland.
‘Chickie Baby 2’ by Sheila Holland, Oval 11” x 14” Eggshell, Acrylic & Resin on Canvas. Photo courtesy of Sheila Holland.
‘Forest Green,’ by Sheila Holland, 32” x 26” Eggshells, Acrylic & Resin on Canvas Framed. Photo courtesy of Sheila Holland.
Quote of the week
Opinions Lesbians,
“When humor works, it works because it’s clarifying what people already feel. It has to come from someplace real.”
— Tina Fey
stop being friends with your ex
LIBBY JAMISON
Contributing Writer
Female relationships in all forms are a beautiful, complex thing. There is nothing like a deep female relationship, regardless if it is platonic or romantic. Women have so much to relate to and can converse about life and the tribulations of simply existing as women in today’s society.
This creates deep bonds and is a large reason why lesbians can have such an intensity and depth to their relationship even in a short period of time.
Even if there are no internal issues and it is a happy, healthy relationship, being a lesbian comes with its own hardships. An unspeakable bond is created by two women who have to jump through hurdles just to love each other.
This connection can be hard to break after countless hours of deep conversations and leaning on each other for support in so many aspects of each other’s lives. Relationships can reach a level of emotional intimacy where your lives are so interconnected it seems impossible to see a life without that person in it.
However, you must look forward after calling it quits.
There’s a stereotype of lesbians being friends or even roommates after they split. How can you move forward if you surround yourself with people from the past?
In my past heteronormative experiences, there was never the expectation of friendship after a breakup. Many do not believe men and women can only just be friends. Now, I sit here and ponder — why did I feel the need to please my ex and be her friend, regardless of my intuition and gut, knowing that it would not be good for me?
This intense pressure I felt comes from this idea in lesbian culture that it is very normal to continue a friendship after a breakup. A deep friendship and being lovers can look very similar to each other. Being friends can create more issues in the long run. If someone is in your life after an intimate relationship, it’s hard to grow and find who you are without that person. Learning how to be independent and engage in self-discovery are some of the most important aspects of being single. With this period of solitude, it is important to deeply focus on yourself.
There is a reason you broke up. Even if it was a healthy breakup, space and time are necessary in finding who you are and in figuring out who you will become. Going from sharing life stories and imagining a future with someone to sending a quick text with a response three days later is not an easy transition without good separation. Since being a lesbian is such a beautiful and close-knit community, it is imperative to be respectful and have each other’s backs. However, that does not mean you need to be friends.
Think of the future. After your breakup, you will eventually find someone who will fit your life better than you could have ever imagined. That possibility may be limited if you continue to have past people in your life and never move forward.
It is time to move on and start this wave of independence. During a breakup, take the opportunity to see what life is like on your own and I promise it will be paid off in dividends. It is hard to walk away from someone who you love, but your future self will thank you.
Illustration by Anika Hammel.
Opinions
NATALIE MCEWAN
Opinions and Humor Editor
If there’s one phrase that has dominated social media in the past year, it would be, “But I’m just a girl!” What started as a silly saying online has become increasingly more extreme, and it has spread into real-life spaces and consumer trends.
I hear my friends and I even repeat it in real life when we don’t want to do something, and I hear more and more women romanticizing tradwives. I find this concerning, especially given the growing right-wing shift in politics.
As women, I believe we need to be careful about what we repeat, even as a joke. Platforms like TikTok have algorithms that can quickly pull you down a rabbit hole. It might start harmless — a joke about how hard it is being a girl turns into coquette fashion videos, turns
into “girl dinner,” turns into the “Pink Pilates Princess” trend — which then can turn into videos promoting eating disorders, videos romanticizing the “stay at home girlfriend” and even right-wing tradwives.
These trends are also designed to sell us products. Teen fashion brands like Hollister have new collections filled with frills, bows and pink. Wellness influencers define “self-care” as a long, detailed beauty routine filled with products and procedures we don’t need. At what point do we stray from self-care into vanity?
What I find most concerning is not the consumerism of this growing trend — I worry because this trend infantilizes us and we are eating it up. “I’m just a girl” is a response saying that we cannot do something.
Back when I was in elementary school, “You run like
a girl” was an insult. It positioned a girl as someone lesser, someone incapable, someone weak. By looking at words alone, how is “I’m just a girl” any different?
But it is not words alone. Trends don’t exist in a vacuum. Jokes don’t exist without context. We live under an administration where our vice president once stated no-fault divorce is “one of the great tricks that I think the sexual revolution pulled on the American populace.” We live in a country where twelve states have total abortion bans and six restrict abortion to the first trimester.
So, the next time you have the urge to throw your hands up and exclaim, “I’m just a girl!” ask yourself — who are you really laughing at? Is it men?
Societal expectations? Or is it a mirror turned around on yourself?
Illustration by Bryce Griego.
Humor
CRIMES AGAINST FLYER POSTING
KATIE MEEKER
Contributing Writer
Joke of the week
“A woman is like a tea bag — you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
I wake up to darkness and the faint, acidic smell of celery. I’m bound to a chair that is uncomfortably reminiscent of the horrible desks in Hibbs Hall, and my nose itches against the burlap sack covering my head. The last thing I remember is putting up promotional posters for a club event — how did I get here? And why does it smell like celery?
Suddenly the bag is whipped off my head. I hear a haunting crunch. I open my eyes and find myself face-to-face with the university president’s plastic Ken doll grin, a strip of celery hanging out of the side of his mouth like an unlit cigar.
We’re in a soulless interrogation room with a table between us and a single fluorescent light hanging above. I open my mouth to ask what I am doing here but he shushes me.
“You have been detained by campus police in the interest of maintaining student safety,” he says pleasantly, his uncomfortable smile never leaving his face. “You were spotted violating university policy.”
“Violating university policy? What are you talking about? All I was doing was putting up posters!” I shiver violently. Maybe I really am in Hibbs Hall — it’s absolutely freezing.
His lips quirk maliciously, his smile more gum than teeth. He leans back and throws a massive packet of papers onto the interrogation table. It groans under the papers’ weight.
“You violated multiple tenets of the university’s interim policy on Campus Expression and Space Utilization. We take
threats like these very seriously.” He takes a breath of cold air and with a sort of suppressed glee — he continues, “Therefore, you shall henceforth be banned from all campus property and be leveled with criminal charges for trespassing.”
I gape at him. “You can’t be serious! What policy did I violate? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”
He shushes me again and pats me on the head. He turns back to the mountain of paper and flips to a page, pointing at its contents accusingly. “Section C of the policy lays it out clearly.”
I read the page. I blink and read it again. I look up at him — why is he so shiny? — and exclaim, “You’re sending me to jail for putting up my posters with tape?”
“Section C1B states that materials may be affixed only using tacks or push pins. Poster putty, tape or staples must not be used.” He looks at me almost sympathetically, the last of his celery stalk disappearing under his gnashing teeth.
“Why my poster?” I ask, baffled. “There’s tons of posters up that don’t fit those requirements. Why me?”
He sniffs with distaste. “You put cats on your posters. I don’t like cats. For all I know, you could be purposefully exposing students to the woke agenda through subtle imaging and sending them down the crazy cat lady pipeline. What’s next, domestic terrorism?”
The President checks his watch and sighs,
shooting me a plastic grin as he pushes his chair back.
“Not that this hasn’t been lovely, but I must go attend to more important matters — local properties aren’t going to buy themselves, you know.” He stands up and pulls out his phone, tongue clicking in irritation. “Our current budget doesn’t allow for private transportation, so I’ll be calling a RamSafe to take you to the police station. Lucky for you, it looks like it’s a slow day today, so it should be here in only 45 minutes!”
The President looks at me for a moment and wistfully says, “You know, I used to have goons who could drag you to the bus stop, but I had to let them go so we could build the new science building. I miss those guys. I think I’ll fire some more humanities faculty so I can hire them back.”
He comes around to the back of my chair and grabs the backrest, intending to drag me to my doom, but I am not going without a fight.
I strike and spring into action, throwing myself with all my might out of his grasp. I slam into the interrogation table and send a flurry of policy papers floating through the air.
The President lets out a screech and throws his phone into the air in surprise, knocking the light to the ground. He grabs my arm, skin the texture of chapstick, and pulls me away from the table, but the fire from the broken lamp has already begun to spread.
Heat fills the freezing room. I turn to look at the President in horror as he starts to gurgle.
“What have you done?” he cries as he begins to melt, resembling a dripping candle more than a man. “I can’t go back to the wax museum, I can’t! Not again!” The sprinklers turn on, but it’s too late.
I scoot away as his gooey suit jacket begins to stick to my shoes and free myself from my bindings, the scorching air making the rope brittle. I look down at the President, a puddle at my feet.
He’ll be fine. They’ll fix him back up at the museum and then he’ll be back on the streets, chewing his celery stalk like nothing happened.
The RamSafe will be here in 45 minutes. Those speed demons will arrive to help him out soon. Safety is the university’s number one priority, after all.
I leave VCU’s smoldering free speech policy behind and step into a dimly lit, freezing-cold hallway. It smells like artificiality and dust. I smile. My initial assumption was right — the classrooms in Hibbs Hall really do double as holding cells!
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of the Commonwealth Times.
Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.
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By Ryan Mathiason
Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle
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Edited by Patti Varol