The Commonwealth Times; April 19, 2017

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Board of Visitors considers 2017-18 tuition increase Educational and General Revenues Shift in State and Student Share

AMELIA HEYMANN Contributing Writer

FY 2001 to FY 2017

VCU is considering a tuition increase between 3 and 5 percent to make up for an anticipated $8 million reduction in state appropriations.

For the 2018 fiscal year, VCU will lose $7.8 million in budget cuts, according to meeting minutes from the Board of Visitors most recent meeting — a budget workshop held a day after the General Assembly reconvened to consider the finalized state budget.

“Are we abandoning VCU’s commitment to affordability?” asked Board of Visitors member Bob Holsworth at the April 6 meeting.

According to Karol Kain Gray, vice president for finance and budget, the university faces a revenue gap of about $10 million to pay for “unavoidable and priority needs” with “a big piece” of the funds covering a 3 percent salary increase for teaching and research faculty in the 2017-18 school year.

—see “BOV” page 4

Tuition & Fees

Other

PHOTO BY BECCA SCHWARTZ

State Support

Spectrum

PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP

Gallery5 celebrates 12 years on First Friday

Sports

VCU sophomore Angelica Martinez wins notches third MMA title belt

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELICA MARTINEZ

page 6

SIONA PETEROUS Spectrum Editor First Fridays are always a special affair, but this month was even more exciting — Gallery5 celebrated its 12th birthday with fire dancers, live music, an array of vendors and, of course, art on display.

Gallery5 was founded by Amanda Robinson and opened as a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit in April 2005. Although Robinson left in 2013, the venue has continued providing platforms for local artists, comedians, designers, musicians and other creatives.

The venue was originally built in 1849 as the Steamer Company No. 5, and was the oldest firehouse in Virginia and oldest police station and jail-

house in Richmond.

The National Historic Landmark was on the verge of destruction, but 12 years later it is known as a celebrated community space that has maintained the stylistic open-layout aesthetics of the 19th century architecture unique to Jackson Ward.

In many ways, the building continues its original service of providing good for the public benefit — Gallery5 hosts multiple fundraising events for other nonprofits focused on intersectional issues such as racial inequality, education and poverty.

“I’ve been coming to Gallery5 since I first moved to Richmond from Newark,” said Jenna Kremper.

—see “GALLERY,” page 8

Warner targets student loan debt The Democratic Sen. from Virginia is sponsoring two bipartisan bills on the hill TYLER HAMMEL Contributing Writer Debt is a sobering reality for many graduating students, but U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) introduced the Dynamic Repayment Act in Congress last week an attempt to help college students better pay off the cost of college.

Warner’s legislation would allow borrowers to spend a varying percentage of their salary above the $10,000 exemption rate. For example, a student making $20,000 a year would pay $1,000 a year — 5 percent — well below the current rate.

“Student debt is now at $1.4 trillion — that’s more than credit card debt or auto loan debt,” Warner said. “When I got out of college and law school I had $15,000 in debt. If I’d had $50,000 I’m not sure I’d be here now.”

According to 2014 statistics, the average VCU student accumulates more than $32,000 in debt alone.

Warner said he views the bipartisan legislation as a way for students to pay off their debt more easily while encouraging entrepreneurship; he also noted the more difficult job market and lower pay rates affecting this generation of graduating students.

“If you’re right out of college and you want to go be a Peace Corps volunteer or start a business or travel, it really is hard to do that because even though your income may be very low, they’re still charging you a large amount,” Warner said.

“Income-based repayment basically is what (this legislation is) — if you come out of college and you only make a little bit of money, you can’t pay more than 10 percent of —see “WARNER” page 4

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CRIME LOG Monday, April 3 Drug Violation 1200 Parkwood Ave. Closed Simple Assault 1246 Parkwood Ave. Pending Drug Violation 300 N. Laurel St. Closed

Obstruction of Justice 1300 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency

Tuesday, April 4 Drug Violation/Alcohol Violation Johnson Residence Hall 801 W. Franklin St. Closed Drunkenness/Alcohol Violation 1100 W. Grace St. Closed Drug Violation 904 Catherine St. Closed Hit and Run Main St. Deck 801 W. Main St. Pending Motor Vehicle Theft Domino’s Pizza 111 N. Belvidere St. Reported by Outside Agency All Other Larceny ALC 1000 Floyd Ave. Reported by Outside Agency Burglary/B&E - Residential 401 N. Madison St. Reported by Outside Agency

Wednesday, April 5 Drug Violation/Drug Equipment Violation/Alcohol Violation Rhoads Residence Hall 710 W. Franklin St. Closed Drug Violation/Trespassing IHOP Express 805 W. Grace St. Closed

General Assembly reconvenes for veto session SARAROSE MARTIN Staff Writer Legislators returned to the state Capitol last Wednesday to consider 39 bills that Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed during the General Assembly’s 2017 session.

To override a veto, the Republican-controlled Assembly had to muster a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

Legislators voted on the governor’s vetoes of legislation covering a range of topics, including whether to impose more requirements on voter registration, restrict absentee voting and expand access to handguns.

McAuliffe vetoed a record 40 bills during the legislative session that ended Feb. 25. On the session’s final day, the General Assembly dealt with one of the vetoes — McAuliffe’s rejection of HB 2264, which would have cut off state funds for Planned Parenthood and other groups that provide abortions. The veto was sustained by a 62-

JULIE ROTHEY Contributing Writer Terry McAuliffe not only set a record for the number of bills vetoed by a Virginia governor, but he now has a perfect record for the number of vetoes sustained.

Republicans in the General Assembly failed to override any of the 40 vetoes that the Democratic governor issued on bills passed during this year’s legislative session, including measures that sought to increase voting requirements and make it easier to carry concealed weapons.

Theft From Building Honors Residence Hall 701 W. Grace St. Pending Obstruction of Justice/False Information to Police 907 W. Franklin St. Closed

70 60

Hit and Run 700 W. Franklin St. Reported by Outside Agency

50 30

Drunkenness 1001 W. Grace St. Reported by Outside Agency

20

Suspicious Situation 1100 W. Grace St. Reported by Outside Agency

To contact the VCU PD: (804) 828-1196.

For an on-campus emergency: (804) 828-1234.

For an off-campus emergency: 911.

Tim Kaine (D): 2006-2009

40

Hit and Run 1500 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency

Download the VCU LiveSafe mobile phone app to report crimes anonymously.

Terry McAuliffe (D): 2014-2017

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Theft From Building Cary St. Gym 101 S. Linden St. Pending

Tampering with Auto 320 W. Grace St. Reported by Outside Agency

The number of vetoes issued by the last five governors, broken down by year in office.

Jim Gilmore (R) 1998-2001

90

All Other Larceny Cary St. Field 1001 S. Linden St. Pending

Drug Violation 1134 W. Grace St. Reported by Outside Agency

families.”

Republicans see it differently. They say McAuliffe and Democratic legislators have shunned bipartisanship and blocked commonsense legislation that would prevent voter fraud and let Virginians defend themselves.

For example, McAuliffe vetoed SB 1299, which would have allowed Virginians who are under a protective order to carry a concealed handgun while they wait for their concealed weapon permit to be issued.

“The bill perpetuates the dangerous fiction that the victims of domestic violence will be safer by arming themselves,” McAuliffe said.

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Theft From Building Cary St. Gym 101 S. Linden St. Pending

Alcohol Violation 1500 W. Broad St. Closed

expand access to weapons. He vetoed HB 1582, which would allow 18-year-old active members of the military to apply for concealed handgun permits, and SB 1347, which would allow concealed carry of a switchblade knife.

McAuliffe also turned down bills that Republicans say would prevent voter fraud but the governor said would be obstacles to voting. They included SB 1581, which would require voter registrars to verify with the Social Security Administration that the name, date of birth and Social Security number of voter registration applications. Another vetoed bill, SB 1253, would require electronic poll books to contain photo identification of registered voters.

Another development on Wednesday was the growing list for Republican lawmakers who will not seek re-election to the House of Delegates, giving Democrats an opportunity to pick up seats in the legislature.

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Theft From Building Student Commons 907 Floyd Ave. Pending

Thursday, April 6

During his four years in office, McAuliffe has vetoed a total of 111 bills — more than any of his predecessors. None of them have been overturned said Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

“Whether he is fighting for the rights of women, immigrants or the LGBT community, Governor McAuliffe has promised to keep Virginia open and welcoming for all its citizens,” Swecker said in a statement. “With the help of Democrats in the General Assembly, the Governor has formed a wall of reason to protect Virginians from harmful legislation that would hurt our economy and working

History of Vetoes by Virginia Governors

Drunkenness 700 N. Lombardy St. Closed

Hit and Run 100 N. Plum St. Reported by Outside Agency

33 vote in the House.

McAuliffe warned at the beginning of the session that he would veto any socialissue bills that he believed may harm the rights of women or the LGBTQ community. Republican leaders in the House have said that McAuliffe has reneged on his pledge to be bipartisan and that his office has been “the most disengaged administration we have worked with.”

Among legislation vetoed were six education-related bills, such as SB 1283, which would allow the state Board of Education to create regional charter schools without the permission of local school boards.

McAuliffe also vetoed bills to allow a freestanding agency to offer online education programs to Virginia students (HB 1400) and to require schools to notify parents of sexually explicit material (HB 2191).

McAuliffe said these bills collectively would “undermine” the state’s public schools.

The governor also rejected legislation to

McAuliffe has promised to keep Virginia open and welcoming for all its citizens.”

Susan Swecker Democratic Party of Virginia

Gov. McAuliffe keeps a perfect veto record

Mark Warner (D): 2002-2005

10 INFOGRAPHIC BY ERIC NGO

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0 Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Bob McDonnell (R): 2010-2013

“It would inject firearms into a volatile domestic violence situation, making that situation less safe, not more.”

Last Wednesday, the General Assembly reconvened to consider the governor’s vetoes and legislative recommendations. The Senate voted 23-17 in favor of overriding McAuliffe’s veto of SB 1299, with Democratic Sens. Chap Petersen of Fairfax and Lynwood Lewis of Accomack County joining the 21 Republican senators in voting yes. However, it takes 27 votes — a two-thirds majority — to override a veto in the Senate.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Winchester), was disappointed. She said the bill would have “allowed law-abiding victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual abuse to carry concealed weapons on an emergency basis so they are not left defenseless while waiting carry permit paperwork. Many other states have passed similar emergency provisions and victims’ lives have been protected.”

Legislators also sustained McAuliffe’s vetoes of bills that would have required more identification for in-person and absentee voting and increased scrutiny of registration lists.

Republicans said such measures would make it harder for people to vote illegally. McAuliffe said that voter fraud has not been a problem, that the bills could prevent qualified people from voting and that the legislation would put a financial burden on local governments.

In addition to the vetoes, the governor sent 85 bills back to the assembly with recommendations. More than 80 percent of the recommendations were accepted.

However, the General Assembly rejected McAuliffe’s recommendations to expand Medicaid and to reinstate a law limiting handgun purchases to one per month in Virginia.

“I remain disappointed that Republicans chose to block our efforts to expand Medicaid and reinstate the one-handgun-per-month rule,” McAuliffe said after Wednesday’s session. “Both pro- posals are common-sense measures that would save lives in Virginia.”

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, April 10, 2017

PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP

Gubernatorial hopeful campaigns in Richmond after Bernie Sanders endorsement

Charlottesville-native Tom Perriello held a town-hall at Virginia Union University.

TYLER HAMMEL Contributing Writer In his bid for the Democratic nomination for Virginia governor, Tom Perriello said he would make community college free, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and confront President Donald Trump’s controversial policies on immigration and other key issues.

Perriello, a former U.S. Representative who has won an endorsement from Vermont Senator and former-presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders — discussed those topics last Monday night during a town-hall at Virginia Union University in Richmond. The Charlottesville native promised to combat President Donald Trump’s administration and help create a “community of conscience” — one of several comments that received applause from the crowd.

Perriello also touted his support of the Affordable Care Act — otherwise known as “Obamacare” — when he served in the U.S. Congress in 2009-11.

Trump has vowed to repeal and replace the ACA and Perriello credited demonstrations such as the Women’s March on Washington for preventing that from happening.

“Five months ago, people could have curled up on the couch and cried, and I’m sure all of us did. But instead, people decided to say, ‘No, this isn’t who we are as a Commonwealth; this is not something we are going to stand by passively and watch,’” Perriello said. “Because of these efforts, because of the marches, because of the protests, because of the stories, today the Affordable Care Act remains in place.”

Perriello also discussed his hope to provide free community college to Virginia residents, calling it a “good investment.” He said trickle-down economics — the notion that tax cuts for the wealthy will generate benefits for poorer people — doesn’t work.

“What the evidence does show you is when you actually increase wages and invest in people, then you do get growth locally, and more growth for small business,” Perriello said. “This is not something we’re doing out of the goodness of our hearts. We’re doing this because it’s a good investment strategy.”

A big part of Perriello’s speech was focused on establishing himself as a viable candidate in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Perriello announced his candidacy in January when it appeared that Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam would be uncontested in seeking the nomination.

Perriello encouraged supporters to knock on doors and volunteer on his behalf to spread the word about his campaign. That was a critical strategy: in January, only one in five Virginians even knew his name, according to a poll conducted in February by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University.

Last week, a new Watson Center poll had Perriello and Northam tied; each candidate had support from 26 percent of Democratic-leaning voters. Almost half of the people polled were undecided.

At the VUU event, Perriello had few critical things to say about Northam.

Instead, he mentioned issues on which the two candidates agreed — although Perriello said he was the first to take

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those positions.

“We came out and led the way on standing up for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. A few weeks later, we saw (Northam) and others court that decision,” Perriello said. “Same thing with criminal justice reform and debt-free community college. I think what we need right now is someone who’s actually leading a policy agenda.”

Perriello echoes many of the same positions Sen. Sanders espoused during his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination last year. On Tuesday, Sanders issued a statement endorsing Perriello.

“We need to elect progressives at every level of government if we are going to beat back the dangerous agenda of the Trump Administration and its Republican allies,” the statement said. “Tom is committed to fighting the rigged economy and income inequality. He was the first major statewide candidate in Virginia to run on a $15 minimum wage and the first to say two years of community college should be tuition-free.”

Perriello will face off against Northam in the Democratic primary election on June 13. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, has the support of outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe, most Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly and the state’s congressional delegation.

On the Republican side, three candidates are vying for the nomination for governor: former chairman of the Republican National Committee Ed Gillespie, state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach and Corey Stewart, chair of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and Trump’s former state campaign manager.

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U mer YJ OB OT c ha i rPH man of the Republican National Committee; state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach; and Corey Stewart, who chairs the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.

“I will continue to fight for access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Virginians along with the Governor and our administration,” Northam said in a statement.

I will continue to fight for access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Virginians.”

Ralph Northam Lieutenant Governor

PHOTOS BY ERIN EDGERTON

Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe blasted Republican legislators last Wednesday after they rejected his budget amendment to expand Medicaid in Virginia.

“Virginia Republicans block #Medicaid expansion once again,” McAuliffe tweeted after the General Assembly reconvened to consider legislation that the governor vetoed or wanted amended.

“400k Virginians remain w/o healthcare. We’re losing $6.6mil every day,” McAuliffe wrote after the GOP-controlled House of Delegates rebuffed his Medicaid proposal.

The vote was made when legislators returned to the state Capitol on April 5 to consider 39 bills that Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed during the General Assembly’s 2017 session. In addition to the budget amendment, legislators reviewed a record breaking 40 vetoed bills by McAuliffe during the legislative session that ended Feb. 25.

McAuliffe and other Democrats reiterated their call for Medicaid expansion after the U.S. House of Representatives last month failed to reach an agreement on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. That federal law, also known a s

Obamacare, encouraged states to expand Medicaid, accepted Medicaid expansion have Republican the health coverage program for low-income Ameri- governors. Earlier in the session, cans.

Del. Jimmie Massie (R-Henrico) outlined the The proposed amendment would have given McAu- Republicans’ position on the issue. liffe the authority this October to direct the Depart“Our Republican caucus believes in minimal ment of Medical Assistance Services to expand Med- government, in government doing only what it icaid if the Affordable Care Act is still in place. State must,” Massie said. officials say the expansion would cover about 400,000 He said Medicaid is the largest entitlement prolow-income Virginians. gram in the state and costs are rising.

Every year since he was elected in 2013, McAuliffe “As such, we cannot prudently responsibly expand has advocated expanding Medicaid. And every year, such an entitlement program at this time,” Massie said.

Republican lawmakers have voted against the idea.

“We must reform it and look for the Virginia way. And “We rejected expansion in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 that is exactly what we’re doing in this house.” and again in 2017 because it was the wrong policy for Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a practicing pediatric the commonwealth,” the GOP House leadership said neurologist, pushed for McAuliffe’s proposed amendin a statement. “The lack of action in Washington has ment just before the veto session began. not changed that and in fact, the uncertainty of federal “We need to do the right thing here in Virginia. We health policy underscores the need to be cautious over need to go upstairs, both in the House and the Senate, the long term.” and pass the governor’s amendment to move forward Under the Affordable Care Act, states can expand with Medicaid expansion,” Northam said.

Medicaid to cover people making up to 138 percent of Liberal organizations like Progress Virginia were the federal poverty level, or about angered by the GOP’s decision on the matter. $16,640 for an individual.

“Health care is a basic human right. It is beyond outAbout half of the rageous that House Republicans have prioritized petty 31 states that partisan politics over real human lives by refusing to expand Medicaid,” Anna Scholl, executive director of Progress Virginia, said in a press release. “These politicians should look in the eyes of individuals they’ve denied health care access and explain their vote.”

The issue is likely to remain contentious as McAuliffe finishes his term and Virginia elects a new governor in November.

Northam is competing with former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello for the Democratic nomination. Three candidates are seeking the Republican nomination: Ed Gillespie, for-

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MAURA MAZUROWSKI News Editor

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General Assembly rejects governor’s bid to expand Medicaid in Virginia

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The Commonwealth Times

Groups fight for $15 at Great Shiplock Park

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Community members gathered on the 49th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death.

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More than 50 activists met in Great Shiplock Park last Wednesday where speakers Helen Alli, a congressional candidate running against the incumbent David Brat (R-Glen Allen,) rallied for a living wage and a strong voter turnout for the primary election on June 13.

“If we don’t get it, shut it down,” protesters chanted.

The rally was held the 49th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination

by Raise Up, an activist group fighting for higher minimum wage and union rights, Fight for $15 and Black Lives Matter to discuss how economic and racial inequality intersect.

“I think it’s a crime to not pay someone a living wage,” Alli said. “Every day we watch news and we talk about all of the crime in our communities but we’re not talking about why these crimes could be possibly happening and that people without being paid a living wage have no way of taking care of their families without doing crimes.”

Supporter Zack White marched as a member of Democratic Socialists of America’s new Richmond chapter. He said they also have plans to start a Young Democratic Socialists chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“Minimum wage is on our platform,” White said.

“We reject capitalism and fight for working people so we’re showing solidarity for their movement and hopefully building relationships with them for the future.”

Event organizer Jill Mcelgunn got involved with Raise Up as a child care worker unable to pay back her student loans.

She said the three groups decided to hold the march on the day of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination to shine light on his Poor People’s campaign, an effort to gain econom-

ic justice for disadvantaged Americans.

“We are largely out today to talk about what (Martin Luther King Jr.) was doing when he died, which was the Poor People’s campaign and how these fights are connected,” Mcelgunn said. “We can’t have racial justice without economic justice and vice versa.”

Raise Up leader Priscilla Evans said the event was also intended to call on state legislators.

The group also rallied in support for Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s proposed amendment to the state budget (HB 1500) that would allow him to expand Medicaid, an optional provision of the federal Affordable Care Act. House Republicans unanimously voted on April 5 to block the expansion for fear that if Virginia expands Medicaid, the state will get stuck with the bills in the future. The expansion would have enabled coverage for 400,000 Virginians who don’t currently qualify for Medicaid but can’t afford health insurance.

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SARAROSE MARTIN Staff Writer

The event’s organizer, Jill Mcelgunn, fights for a $15 minimum wage after being employed as a child care worker at the current mimimum wage of $7.25/hour and still struggled to pay off her student debt.

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Warner is “hopeful” bills will pass — “WARNER,” from page 1 your income in student debt.”

Warner and Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) have also introduced another bipartisan bill, The Employer Participation in Repayment Act, to help students overcome their debt. The bill would allow employers to contribute a portion of their workers pre-taxed income to student loan debt — an update to the Employer Education Assistance Program, which allows employers to contribute pre-tax income to help employees finish their education.

“What we’re simply trying to do

is say if the employer can have an employee continue their education, why not give the employer that same tax advantage if you want to pay down your student debt,” Warner said. “It’s good for the young person because it means getting their debt paid down by their employer — good as well for the employer because it’s a great retention tool to keep people focused.”

With bipartisan support for both bills Warner said he is hopeful they will pass to help stem a very real problem. Both bills were previously introduced in the 114th Congress before being struck down in committee.

When I got out of college and law school, I had $15,000 in debt. If I’d had $50,000, I’m not sure I’d be here now.”

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Mark Warner U.S. Senator (D-Va.)

— “BOV,” from page 1 VCU is currently the third most expensive university in the state for in-state full-time students, behind the College of William & Mary and the University of Virginia, respectively. Since the 2013-14 school year, William & Mary and U.Va has seen a tuition increase of more than 25 percent, compared to VCU’s tuition increase of 7.6 percent.

According to VCU’s Fiscal Year 2017-18 Budget Overview, tuition and fees are the main source of university revenue and are anticipated to bring in $399 million this year while State General Funds are estimated to produce another $175 million.

VCU has been dependent upon term and adjunct faculty to a far greater extent than other Virginia universities, according to the April 6 budget overview. In fall 2015, 35 percent of VCU’s faculty was tenured; 62 percent of Virginia Tech’s faculty was tenured; 57 percent of the University of Virginia’s faculty was tenured; and 47 percent of George Mason University faculty was tenured.

The budget overview also stated VCU has increasingly had to “depend on tuition & fees” to cover faculty salaries due to reduced state support. Raising the

tuition from 3-5 percent will increase the university’s revenue anywhere from $10,670 to $19,74.

Although there would not be increases in mandatory fees, the Board discussed raising housing and meal-plan costs to generate additional income.

Since the 2014-2015 academic year, in-state tuition rose 3.5 percent, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. In the 2006-07 school year, tuition for in-state students was $5,819.

During the 2016-17 academic year it has risen to $13,190 — an increase of more than $4,000 in the past 10 years.

This is not the first time tuition increase has raised concern on campus. Last spring, students disrupted the Board of Visitors budget workshop and demanded a tuition freeze. The Board raised tuition and fees by 2.8 percent for the current academic year, a $358 increase for in-state undergraduates.

The BOV will vote on the tuition increase at their next meeting.

Institution

2013-2014

2016-2017

% Increase

CWM UVA VCU VT GMU ODU

$ $ $ $ $ $

$ $ $ $ $ $

37.3 % 26.1 % 7.6 % 12.2 % 14.0 % 13.9 %

15,463 12,458 12,202 11,455 9,908 8,820

21,234 15,714 13,130 12,852 11,300 10,046

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VCU Board of Visitors to vote on tuition

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SWEPT U Mass - Sunday The Rams completed a threegame series sweep over in-conference foes the University of Massachusetts at Amherst after taking a decisive 11-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the Minutemen’s Earl Lorden Field.

The red-hot Rams came rearing out of the gates Sunday. A pair of home runs by senior outfielder Logan Farrar and freshman infielder Steven Carpenter gave the Black and Gold a 3-0 lead in the game’s opening frame.

VCU’s starting pitcher — sophomore right-handed hurler Michael Dailey — picked up where the Rams’ previous two starters left off, fanning seven batters and holding the Minutemen hitless through the game’s opening four frames.

In the third inning, the Rams’ omnipotent offense erupted once more when Carpenter hit his second homer of the night and gave VCU a six run advantage early on.

In the top of the fourth, Minutemen starting right-hander Mike Geannelis’ struggles continued, allowing the Rams to load the bases without earning a hit.

With men on and no outs, Farrar grounded to second scoring junior outfielder Haiden Lamb. The play earned Farrar his second RBI on the night. After again loading the bases with two outs, Geannelis was finally able to stop the bleeding by striking out junior infielder Mitchel Lacey to end the frame with the Rams up seven.

The Rams’ offense simply couldn’t be stopped. In the fifth, with men on first and second, senior catcher Dylan Isquirdo singled to score VCU’s eighth run of the night. Two batters later, Farrar once again drove in Lamb for his third RBI of the afternoon.

After the Minutemen’s third error of the night, Isquirdo and Farrar scored giving the Rams a commanding 11-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, UMass — for the first time all weekend — were able to get on the scoreboard after an error by sophomore shortstop Zac Ching gave the Minutemen’s Cooper Mrowka the opportunity to score.

That would be the extent of the Minutemen offense Sunday, as the Rams would close it out to take the 11-1 victory and the commanding series sweep.

U Mass - Saturday

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Stat of the Week:

Women’s tennis shut-out GW 7-0 on Sunday, improving their record to 13-7.

Baseball breezes past the Minutemen, falls to the Tribe

The Rams clinched an important series win Saturday afternoon, silencing the Minutemen 2-0 in the second of a three-game weekend series.

For the second game in as many days, the Black and Gold were led by superb starting pitching; senior left-hander Brooks Vial carried a no-hitter through six innings in Amherst, Mass.

For the second straight night, both teams’ offenses struggled to get in a groove early on, and the game was scoreless heading into Star center-fielder Logan Fararr has been an offensive catlyst this year hitting .297 with 14 RBI and 23 runs. the third frame. VCU once again broke the stalemate as Farrar scored off a single to left field from Gold up 1-0. scoring only one run — a stark offense came to life. The Tribe’s U Mass - Friday his outfield partner, senior Alex They would double their lead in comparison to the 25 in three Brandon Raquet, Cullen Large Gransback. the top of the sixth when Gransgames against the Colonials the and Hunter Smith each singled Vial’s dominance would conFollowing a tough loss early in back hit a double into the right field weekend prior. putting Rams pitcher Jonathan tinue into the game’s sixth frame the week where the Rams’ offense gap to score the Rams’ second run.

VCU started the game seemEbersole in hot water with no outs when Minutemen shortstop Ryan struggled to get going, the Black In the eighth, the floodgates ingly poised to carry their ofin the frame.

Lever gave UMass their first hit of and Gold returned to form Friday, opened as VCU erupted for six fensive momentum against the Next, William & Mary’s Charles the night. The next batter, Lever knocking off UMass 8-0 in in their runs in the frame behind RBIs Tribe when, at the bottom of the Ameer smashed a triple to left center stole second, but that was the clos- opening game in Amherst. from freshman infielder Paul Witt, first, Farrar doubled in the Rams’ field to score three runs and conseest the Minutemen were to scoring Junior right-hander Sean junior infielder Daane Berezo, second at-bat of the night. Gransquently ended Ebersole’s night. Two all night.

Thompson led the way for the Isquirdo, Ching and Lamb. back came to the plate and singled batters later, W&M’s Kyle Wrighte The Rams’ trusty senior closer red-hot Rams Friday. The PennsylIn the end, the Rams finished off to put runners on the corners, with drove in Ameer on an RBI double, Sam Donko once again took the vania product tossed seven shutout- the Minutemen 8-0 with two games the Rams in position to strike early putting the visitors up 4-1. mound in the eighth inning, innings, allowing just two hits and on in the night.

In the top of the eighth, the fanning two in the game’s final striking out four on the night.

Moments later, Gransback Tribe scored their fifth run of the William & Mary two frames to preserve the Rams’ Carpenter provided the offenbolted towards second base on a evening after Wrighte knocked second-straight shutout. sive yin to Thompson’s yang, as the remaining in the weekend series. steal attempt and, while he was in Smith on a fielder’s choice off A single by Lamb scored Ching rookie DH went 2-4 with a double Coming off a demonstrative thrown out, Farrar headed towards Rams closer Sam Donko. Donko in the top of the ninth inning to and his first career home run. He series win over conference-foe home to score the game’s opening closed out the game as the Rams secure the Rams 2-0 victory. also led the team with two runs George Washington last week, run. Unfortunately for the Black fell 5-1, dropping their record to The win moved the Black and scored Friday.

VCU sputtered last Tuesday night, and Gold, that would be their lone 16-13 on the season.

Gold to 18-13 on the season, safely The game’s opening frames falling to the visiting Tribe of The run of the night, as they put up placing them second in the Atmoved quickly as both sides went College of William and Mary 5-1 just one hit during the game’s final lantic 10 Conference standings — 1-2-3 in each of the first two inat the Diamond. eight innings.

The Rams seek redemption against three games ahead of third-place nings. The Rams got on the board The Rams, led by the outfield The Rams held the one-run adthe Cavaliers when the Black and George Mason with five conferin the third as Carpenter’s deep duo of Gransback and Farrar, vantage until the top of the fourth Gold travel to face the University of ence series left to go. jack to left field put the Black and struggled to get hot on offense, inning, when William & Mary’s

PHOTOS BY ERIN EDGERTON

NICK VERSAW Staff Writer

Monday, April 10, 2017

Lacrosse drops two games, Sky Hyatt nets seven goals PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP

ADAM CHEEK Contributing Writer

Men’s tennis drops two nailbiters The team has a chance to conclude the season 11-11 in their last match on Wednesday against William and Mary.

The Rams fell to Middle Tennessee on Friday April 7 in a nail bitter, 4-3.

The match moved indoors to the Raintree Swim & Racquet

RODNEY ROBINSON Contributing Writer Men’s tennis dropped a pair of close games at home over the weekend against Virginia Tech and Middle Tennessee State University, bringing their record to 10-11 with just one match left in the season.

Virginia Tech

A late surge by the Rams wouldn’t be enough against the Hokies as the Black and Gold fell by a final of 4-3.

VCU looked to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss against Middle Tennessee, as they faced Virginia Tech at home on Sunday, April 9.

The Rams would get off to a slow start against the Hokies on Saturday. Tech won the first two matches in doubles’ competition, giving them a 1-0 edge.

VCU senior Daryl Monfils’ great season would continue as he bounced back from a tough loss against Middle Tennessee on Friday to win in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

The Rams struggled after bringing the score even. VT strung together two singles victories in a row, putting the Rams behind 3-1. The subsequent comeback effort was powered by underclassmen leadership.

VCU sophomores Arvid Noren and Vitor Lima carried over their success and momentum from their last matchup, as the two were victorious in singles play for the second consecutive outing.

Lima won in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Noren won in straight sets as well, 6-3, 6-4. Victories from the sophomores gave the Rams an opportunity to come away with a win against the Hokies, as the score was knotted up at 3-3.

After a tough first set, VCU senior Marten Jonsson managed to force a third set in the deciding matchup, but Tech’s Mitch Harper edged Jonsson in the final set 6-2.

Middle Tennessee

Club as a result of high winds on Friday.

The weather conditions and movement to a different facility did not stop the Rams from getting off to a lightning fast start.

Noren and Lima opened the match with a 6-4 doubles victory — the duo improved to 3-3 overall in doubles play. Sophomore Philip Mobius and freshman Javier Amantegui secured the doubles point for the Rams in a tough tie breaker to win 7-6(5), putting the Black and Gold ahead 1-0 in the match.

After a tough, two-set loss by Monfils to open singles play, the Rams would continue their streaky play.

The Black and Gold would go on to win two matches in a row, extending their lead to 3-1. After winning their doubles match, Noren and Lima would carry over their momentum in singles play, as they each tallied a victory for the Rams.

Noren defeated Miguel Negre in consecutive sets to improve to 13-3 in singles competition in the spring. After losing the first set, Lima managed to win the next two.

The Rams, however, would falter after securing a 3-1 advantage, as they lost their next two singles matches.

Everything came down to court 6, where Javier Amantegui was involved in a three-set thriller. Max Rauch would edge Amantegui 7-5 in the final set to hand MTSU the team victory.

The Rams look to bounce back after a tough home stretch as they travel to William and Mary for the final match on Wednesday.

VCU lacrosse took on the George Mason University Patriots and La Salle University Explorers in two matches last week, dropping both games 19-8 and 15-11, respectively The Rams’ record fell to 5-7, but they raised their total-goals scored to 136 on the year, and their goals-scored per game average remained nearly identical at more than 11 goals.

Sophomore midfielder Sky Hyatt starred in both affairs for the Black and Gold, scoring a total of seven goals, while freshman attack Jessica Del Rossi scored four.

George Mason VCU took on George Mason in Richmond on Sunday, falling by a score of 19-8.

Twelve first-half goals culminated in a 7-5 halftime scoreline with VCU trailing. The close 7-5 deficit did not last long, as the Patriots blew the Rams out of the water in the second half.

GMU notched 12 goals in the second half alone, while the Rams managed just three. Senior midfielder Melissa Lobaccaro was the standout for the Patriots, scoring five of the team’s 19 goals, while Hyatt tallied three goals on six shots as well as three assists for the Rams.

Freshman attacker Jessica Del Rossi netted two goals, while freshman midfielder Keriann McTavish, sophomore midfielder Clare Murphy, and freshman midfielder Nicole Morris all scored one goal apiece.

Goalkeeper Ria Peralta and Hyatt

each fielded four ground balls, while Del Rossi, McTavish, freshman midfielder Jenn Nonn and sophomore attack Molly Barcikowski all attempted three shots apiece.

La Salle La Salle edged out the Black and Gold on Saturday night in Philadelphia, squeaking by with a 15-11 victory.

After an opening goal from Barcikowsk,i only 40 seconds into the game, the Rams took an early 5-2 lead.

The Explorers rallied with six unanswered goals in the waning minutes of the first half.

An 8-6 halftime deficit for the Rams proved insurmountable in the second half, and VCU trailed the rest of the way.

Hyatt tallied four goals on six attempts, while fellow midfielders sophomore Sofia Emond and McTavish each notched two assists.

McTavish and Del Rossi netted two goals apiece, accounting for more than a third of the team’s scores. Sophomore Barcikowski and freshman defender Elisa Solomon each netted a goal, with Barcikowski adding an assist to her day’s stats.

La Salle led in total shots and shots on goal, but only by one in both categories.

Each team was perfect on clear attempts on goal, and Ria Peralta made eight saves. La Salle and VCU each only had three successful free-position attempts.

Lacrosse will travel to St. Joe’s and GW this week for a pair of inconference matchups.

sports

The Commonwealth Times

Sophomore MMA upstart wins fifth consecutive bout ZACH JOACHIM Sports Editor VCU sophomore and Mixed Martial Arts upstart Angelica Martinez defeated the favored Christy Tyquiengco to win the Spartyka Fight League 115 lbs. Title on April 1 at the Ted Constant Center in Norfolk.

The victory is Martinez’s fifth consecutive, and brings her amateur record to 5-2. The 19-yearold now holds the Sprawl and Brawl, Revolution Fight Series and Spartyka Fight League 115 lbs.

Title belts.

Martinez said the three-round war with Tyquiengco — which ended in a last-ditch submission by armbar — was the toughest test of her young career.

“She’s a very well established kickboxer so I knew it was going to be a hard fight,” Martinez said. “It was definitely my hardest. I got caught in the first couple seconds hard and it dropped me. I didn’t fully recover from that and she was honestly beating me really hard with striking, but I knew I had a better ground game.”

Jiu-jitsu is Martinez’s strongest discipline, and she said she knew bringing Tyquiengco — a kickboxing specialist — to the ground would be the key for her to win the fight.

“I wanted to keep it on the ground,” Martinez said. “Her corner knew that though so they kept telling her to stand up whenever we went to the ground.”

With less than a minute remaining in the last of three, five-minute rounds, Tyquiengco had outstruck Martinez and succeeded in staying away from her lethal ground-game. Martinez knew a decision wouldn’t be in her favor, so she turned to her only hopes — submission or knock-out.

“I was able to armbar her with less than a minute left in the last round,” Martinez said. “I was trying to set it up the whole fight but we were on the ground against the cage right in front of her corner and I heard them say there was only a minute left so I knew I had to do something.”

Martinez said the heart-stopping victory gave her valuable insight into her fighting style and mental endurance.

“It showed me my weaknesses with my kickboxing but I also learned how important it is to not second guess yourself or your training,” Martinez said.

After her victory over Tyquiengco, Martinez is now the 8th-ranked pound-for-pound woman in Virginia and the 60th ranked out of 320 active U.S. Southeast women, according to Tapology. com. Martinez — a Prince George native — trains locally at RVA MMA Academy.

“I have lots of great coaches from different gyms,” Martinez said. “My coaches Renee Forte, Danny Vidal, my jiu-jitsu coach Jimi Hoctor, wrestling coach Rob Urrutia and everyone else from RVA MMA. Also Glory kickboxer Francois Ambang and everyone from BangBang Kickboxing — I have a good team behind me and they are the reason I get better.”

With three title belts and an impressive winstreak, Martinez said she is starting to weigh the prospects of a professional career.

“My coaches think I should take some time now and just train, and look into taking a professional fight,” Martinez said. “I think I’ll take a kickboxing fight to work more on my confidence with striking and also keep doing jiu-jitsu tournaments, but I definitely want to take a pro fight before too long.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELICA MARTINEZ

Angelica Martinez has won five consecutive bouts and now holds the Sprawl and Brawl, Revolution Fight Series and Spartyka Fight League 115 lbs. title belts.

Track and field springs forward

PHOTO COURTESY OF VCU ATHLETICS

RAM IN ACTION

VCU’s 4x100-meter relay team placed second for the second weekend in a row.

JESSICA WETZLER Contributing Writer The Rams travelled north on Saturday, April 8 to visit Atlantic 10 Conference rival George Mason University and compete in the Mason Spring Invitational. Both the men’s and women’s 4x100-meter relay teams placed first while several additional Rams come home with wins in their respective events.

The men’s team had several standout performances at the Mason Spring Invitational. Sophomore Drew Hess led competition once again, placing first in the javelin out of 26 throwers. Hess threw to a mark of 59.15 meters. The 4x100-meter relay also placed, while the rest of the team produced a few top-five efforts.

Sophomore Jamik Alexander was the first leg of the first-place 4x100-meter relay team, followed by juniors Kareem Payne and Nicholas Buckingham and sophomore Justin West. They recorded a time of 41.44 seconds and currently ranks second in the A-10.

Alexander and Payne earned top-five finishes in the 100-meter dash. Alexander placed second with a time of 10.71 seconds while Payne crossed the line fourth at 10.78 seconds. West placed 31st with a time of 11.31 seconds.

Buckingham posted an outdoor personal record in the 200-meter dash, placing 21st and recording a time of 22.32 seconds. Junior Devon Thompson finished shortly after Buckingham with a time of 22.41, placing 23rd, respectively. Junior Bigal Harrison followed placing 25th with a time of 22.43 seconds.

Junior Kahlil Shepard was the last to finish for VCU, posting a time of 22.89 seconds and placing 43rd.

In his first triple jump as a Ram, freshman Bashir Idris placed fifth, leaping to a mark of 14.27 meters.

The mark currently sits at second on the Atlantic 10 leaderboards.

Freshman Chukwuezugo Aguolu led the way for the Rams in the 400-meter dash, achieving a top20 finish with a time of 49.96 seconds. Sophomore Lozie Goolsby followed placing 30th with a time of 50.44 seconds.

Freshman Bryce Catlett secured a top-20 finish

in the 5,000-meter run, placing 13th with a time of 15:06.30.

The women’s 4x100-meter relay, composed of sophomore Latrice Morris, freshmen Alexis Willis and Dajae Goulet and senior De’Nisha Smith, placed first out of 16 teams in the 4x100-meter relay, with a time 46.37 seconds.

Goulet placed fifth in the 100-meter dash, crossing the line at 12.14 seconds. Willis followed placing eighth with a time of 12.24 seconds and Morris placed 12th with 12.39 seconds, respectively.

Goulet also placed third out of 74 runners in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.89 seconds, putting her in the top five among A-10 competition.

Junior Nichelle Scott continued to shine for the Rams, placing first in the 400-meter run in just her first time competing in the event since the 2016 Fred Hardy Invitational. Her time of 55.29 seconds currently ranks third in the Atlantic 10.

Sophomore Alliyah Stevens and freshman Janelle Cheatham rounded out the top ten in the long jump, placing ninth and tenth, respectively. Stevens leaped to mark of 5.53 meters while Cheatham hit a mark of 5.48 meters.

Junior Latasha Williams recorded an outdoor season high in the shot put. The Roanoke native threw to a mark of 12.23 meters and placed 14th in the event.

Junior Taylor McCormick placed eighth out of 38 jumpers in the triple jump,with a mark of 11.81 meters.

Senior Christina Solomon leaped to 1.65 meters in the high jump and placed second in the event.

Junior Amiaya Carey secured a top-10 finish, leaping to a height of 1.60 meters and placed eighth.

Sophomore Ann Sheehy earned the bronze in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:03.10, a seasonbest for Sheehy.

Sophomore Camora Sanders placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 43.94 meters.

Up next, the Black and Gold travel to Harrisonburg to compete in the William Walton Invitational this Saturday.

PRESS BOX

Let Lonzo ball SOPHIA BELLETTI Sports Editor LaVar Ball, the father of top NBA draft prospeLaVar Ball, the father of top NBA draft prospect Lonzo Ball, excels in trumping headlines for his outrageous and controversial comments.

Sporting News reported LaVar likely will be the NBA agent for his son — presumed top-three pick Lonzo of the University of California at Los Angeles — yet LaVar does not have formal training in negotiating or working as an agent.

Hence, LaVar’s bold presence is possibly detrimental to his son’s NBA draft prospects… which it shouldn’t be.

Among his most recent outlandish statements, LaVar said, “realistically you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow. I told Lonzo ‘one of these games you might need to go for 30 or 40 points.’ It turned out that was the one game. Then once they get to the Elite 8, they’re right there.”

LaVar is proficient in doing whatever he needs to do to control his son’s life. He has already shown far-out views of his son’s abilities when he said, “I’ll tell you right now, he’s better than Steph Curry to me. To me ‘Zo is the best player in the world. (…) I don’t know if he can beat (LeBron James and Russell Westbrook) one on one, but I know he can beat them five-on-five.”

Steph Curry, as in the two-time NBA MVP?

LeBron James, one of the best players now or ever? Russell Westbrook, who is averaging a triple-double, which has only been done once before in NBA history — 55 years ago by Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 season?

But LaVar would know what he’s talking about, right? He did at one point say that “back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one.”

LaVar is in fact a former Division II basketball player — yes, he played a year at Washington State and averaged a hefty two points per game — but his best years were at Division II Cal StateLos Angeles.

Back in my heyday, I would kill Michael Jordan one-on-one.

LaVar Ball Jordan was averaging 35 points per game with the Bulls. He’s also a six-time NBA champion and 14-time NBA All-Star. He holds countless records. His number was retired by the Chicago

Bulls, Miami Heat and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Do I need to go on?

At the time, perhaps the biggest concerns are not LaVar’s ego but from a comment he made to USA TODAY about a potential shoe deal.

“A billion dollars, it has to be there,” LaVar said. “That’s our number, a billion, straight out of the gate. And you don’t even have to give it to me all up front. Give us $100 mil over 10 years.”

There is absolutely no reason he should expect a billion-dollar endorsement contract for Lonzo and his other two sons. LeBron James’ lifetime deal with Nike is rumored to be in the billions, but he’s LeBron James — a future Hall of Famer and basketball icon.

Lonzo Ball has incredible talent and NBA draft potential. He is one of the most natural passers and an excellent — although unconventional — shooter. He should have his own power of marketing, one not so directly associated with a father who bad-mouths NBA legends.

Like all sports programs, the behind-thescenes of the NBA is messy. General managers and chief marketing officers are looking for players to sign their talents away to low-risk, high-yield contracts that still pay millions of dollars. The package deal of LaVar and Lonzo Ball is unappealing to many organizations when LaVar doesn’t know when to stop talking.

Lavar is trying to get his and Lonzo’s names out there and get the brand up, but he’s taken it too far. At a certain point he needs to let his son’s game speak for itself.

Lonzo is not only a great player because he averages 14.6 points and dishes out 7.6 assists a game, but because he makes the players around him better.

Sure, no one wants the sideshow that is Lavar Ball around, but Lonzo is the one teams have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Lonzo’s the one leading the fast break — you can leave Lavar on the sidelines. It’s foolish for LaVar to jeopardize his son’s NBA chances.

LaVar, leave Lonzo alone.

PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP

6

Sophia is a junior journalism major pursuing minors in history and gender, sexuality and women’s studies. She hopes to one day be reporting from the sidelines of game seven of the NBA Finals or the World Series press box.

spectrum

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, April 10, 2017

7

On this day...

in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic book “The Great Gatsby” published.

PHOTO BY BECCA SCHWARTZ

Undergraduate artists kick-off 2017 season at the Anderson Gallery

The Undergraduate Arts + Design Show featured cross-disciplinary work from VCUarts students.

DAWN SCOTT Contributing Writer If you walked through the doors of the Anderson Gallery anytime between March 24 to April 9, you would have initially been met with the quiet, sterile silence characteristic of many galleries. Step deeper into the building, however, and the smell of aging cupcakes and a wreckage of popped balloons on the floor would have indicated a youthful chaos captured in the VCUarts Spring 2017 Arts + Design Exhibition.

Each year, VCUarts hosts a juried end-of-year exhibitions at The Anderson Gallery on 907 ½ Franklin St. The installment takes place across six weeks and is free to the public.

“There is a lot here,” said painting and printmaking student. “We got a new juror this year and some people are kind of griping about how much stuff was accepted and showcased. But I’ve also heard a lot of patrons saying this is the strongest gallery we’ve produced in years.”

The 2017 guest juror was Julia Monroe, co-director of the Reynolds Gallery, which is a fixture amongst the Richmond fine art scene.

The annual exhibit features the work of various disciplines including Craft/Material Studies, Kinetic Imaging, Painting + Printmaking, Photography + Film, Sculpture + Extended Media, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Art Foundations and Communication Arts.

Rather than separating work by medium, the pieces are instead interspersed amongst each other. The juxtaposition

of the melting, bulbous ceramics piece “Organ” by Joanna Patzig and the laser precision of Laney Engle’s “Webbing,” created from cut paper, is indicative of the exhibit’s prerogative to keep its audience simultaneously disoriented and fascinated as they move from piece to piece.

Film and kinetic imaging submissions played on a loop on the second floor directly across from the pieces voted best in their medium. The “Best in Show” overall was a fiberglass lattice entitled “Threading Error” by Stuart Shepard.

Though the top floor was not technically part of the gallery, there was a display of the artists’ sketchbooks pinned to the wall with pages fanning out. This additional exhibit, as well as a fashion display in the next room, furthered the concept of integrated and intersectional works of arts.

The Undergraduate Arts + Design Exhibit has ended, but the Anderson Gallery will host two graduate thesis exhibits on April 14 and April 28.

Richmond hosts annual Antiquarian Bookfair

La Michoacana | Traditional

Mexican ice cream melts RVA away A display of La Michoacana’s fresh paletas made with a variety of fresh fruit.

GEORGIA GEEN Staff Writer Decorated with bright, pastel walls and even brighter and vibrant array of products of homemade ice cream, popsicles or “paletas,” La Michoacana ice cream shop sits just off Jefferson Davis Highway.

Andres Morales started La Michoacana in the summer of 2010 and a friend of the business, Lucy Avila, said the name recognition helps bring in business. Statements from all parties were translated from Spanish.

“This name is well-known, they know that in Mexico there are many places with the same name where they sell ice cream,” Avila said. “So the name grabs people’s attention.”

Morales said he spent about four years learning how to make ice cream with some of his family members in Mexico.

“From there, I kept learning in order to start my own business,” Morales said.

Many paletas contain whole fruit mingling with the milk base, a mixture that employee Claudio Cortez said is the first step in most of the products. The chopping of ingredients, mainly fruit, can be heard upon opening the door.

Cortez has worked at La Michoacana since the start, he said.

“Within a month, month-anda-half, the space was finished and I started to make ice cream and paletas on that same day,” Cortez said.

After the mixtures are prepared, Cortez says the paletas are frozen in molds and are ready within 15 to 20 minutes. The ice cream is frozen in a two-gallon container for around the same amount of time.

However, none of the products spend much time in the cold.

“Everything you see here, the fresh ice cream, isn’t more than three or four days old,” Avila said. “It’s fresh, they don’t take it out of some freezer where it’s been for days that came from some other place.”

Avila said one of the things that makes La Michoacana stand out is the variety of flavors, which include gummy bear, kahlua, tequila and mamey, which is a type of fruit.

“My favorite flavor is the cheese.

It’s different because I can put a little bit of chocolate on top and it’s a little bit salty. It’s delicious,” Avila said.

Morales said if he sees an interesting ingredient, they try to think of ways to work it into an ice cream flavor.

“We do taste-tests, if they like them, we make them available to the public and if they keep buying, keep selling well, we continue,” Morales said.

Customers can see their ice cream being prepared through a glass window, where toppings like sprinkles, nuts and wafer cookies are added to banana splits and “Tres Marías,” which are sundaes containing three scoops of ice cream.

To Avila, La Michoacana serves more to its customers than just

frozen desserts.

“Being that people have liked it so much, they come here and use it as a place to spend time with family,” Avila said. She says many come to La Michoacana to chat and eat ice cream, even in the winter months.

“We work hard to have better relationships with the customers and better service more than anything else,” Morales said.

Cortez said a new location opened in September of last year, technically up the road from the first.

“It’s located up there in Woodbridge in Prince William on (U.S.) Route 1, the same as the one here,” Cortez said. “They’re the same flavors and everything.”

Morales said he found the building for the new location just over a year ago.

“I wanted to open one four years ago up there, but I didn’t see a place there. The places are very expensive to rent,” Morales said.”

Morales said he chose Woodbridge as the location because there are many Latinos in the area. In the future, Morales says he hopes to grow La Michoacana further.

“My plans for La Michoacana are that I hope, if God allows, to open more stores. I don’t know how many more, but yes, I want to open more,” Morales said.

The fifth Virginia Antiquarian Book Fair, held on April 7 and 8, filled the main floor of the Virginia Historical Society with around 40 booksellers, or dealers, specializing in antique books.

Many bookstore owners treat the fair as a way to add to their collections, in addition to selling their own inventory.

“I’m interested in cookbooks, so the cookbooks that were printed and published throughout the south and in Virginia and other places are really interesting to me, but I don’t get to see them that often up in Maine,”said, Don Lindgren,owner of Fine Books on Food & Drink.

This is the fifth time that Fran Durako, owner of Baltimore-based of The Kelmscott Bookshop, attended the Book Fair.

“Richmond is a great city, for books and for people so it’s wellattended and just important for us,” Durako said.

This is the second time the fair was held at the historical society.

One of the event’s organizers, a member of Friends of VCU Libraries Board and owner of Black Swan Book, Nicholas Cooke, said the building makes the setup easier.

“Some of the dealers have done the fair three, four, five times and they like the ambience.” Cooke said. “It’s really difficult when you’re moving your booth full of books if you’ve got to take them up four flights of steps.”

Some of the book selections included social or political books, art books and first edition copies. Holly Blakeney, of Blakeney Griffin Booksellers in London, specializes in first edition copies of modern literature.

Blakeney’s stand included a first edition copy of “Madeline,”

by Ludwig Bemelman, which Blakeney said was a revolutionary book for children’s literature. She also brought a first edition copy of James Joyce’s “Dubliners.”

“Mostly I take what our recent inventory is. Sometimes a few things will get mixed in that are standouts that should be seen at fairs. I like people to handle the books and see them,” Blakeney said.

Blakeney said she likes to give people the opportunity to interact with older books that are hard to come by.

Durako specializes in a variety of genres, but the private press books and artist books she brought to the Fair stood out in her collection.

Private press books are printed by an individual, Durako said, and the type is set by hand. For this reason, few copies are printed.

“Sometimes (artist books) look like books and sometimes they don’t. It’s an increasingly important aspect of the contemporary book,” Durako said.

Being that many of the books for sale at the fair are rare, price tags frequently danced between the hundreds and thousands of dollars.

Durako says for artist books, the bookseller sometimes acts as an agent for the artist, who set the price.

Lindgren said he began collecting and selling books on food and drink 10 years ago. His collection isn’t limited to cookbooks—some of his collection consists of books on gardening, brewery, distilling and old-fashioned food production. Lindgren says he didn’t expect culinary books to interest him as much as they do now.

“There are all these different social and cultural and technological and political pressures that shape our food world today,” Lindgren said. “All of those things were actively shaping the food world in 1650 and 1750 and 1950 and they show up in cookbooks and other related materials.”

Lindgren brought a copy of “The Virginia Housewife,” by Mary Randolph. First published in the early 19th century, he said it represents the beginning of southern cuisine, as well as being the first regional cookbook.

Cooke said some of the most prominent buyers were university libraries, like those of the University of Virginia, Washington & Lee University and VCU. However, many of the booksellers support each other by buying from each other, Cooke said.

“I absolutely love books, I love being a book dealer and this is everything in one event that I really love,” Cooke said.

PHOTO BY PILAR CURTIS

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

GEORGIA GEEN Staff Writer

You can visit La Michoacana at 9110 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Chesterfield or 14420 Jefferson Davis in Woodbridge.

The Virginia Antiqurian Book Fair sells rare books — from first-edition copies to books out of print.

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spectrum

The Commonwealth Times

Sam’s Take

"Your Name" is a love story only anime could tell Makoto Shinkai’s “Your Name” released in Japan in fall 2016 and became the fourth highest grossing film in the country. Shortly after, the American anime distributor Funimation decided to bring the sensation state-side, and after seeing the film, it’s easy to see why this beautifully animated, epic love story was able to capture the hearts and minds of millions.

The film tells the story of two Japanese highschoolers — Mitsuha, a girl living in the traditional Japanese countryside, and Taki, a boy living in Tokyo. While the duo seem quite different, they are connected because they are able to occasionally switch bodies for a day.

While light-hearted at first, this simple premise becomes dramatically more complicated as they learn about how this happened and how it has affected them both.

The opening shot of “Your Name” is a vibrant scene — a comet soaring through the clouds at dusk. This beautiful image and quality animation sets the stylistic tone for the rest of the film, and the animation never ceases to impress.

Studio CoMix Wave Films are able to capture the unique charms of countryside towns and metropolitan cities. The countryside is colorful, luscious and vibrant, and the city is brimming with life and dotted with impossible skyscrapers.

Underneath the beautiful veil lies a story that only anime could effectively tell. The high-tech equipment often used in Japanese films, whether animated or live-action, make the genre the most effective at creating intriguing drama that is heightened but relatable.

“Your name” uses this tactic and is able to take mundane characters or situations and turn them into a larger-than-life experiences. “Your Name” also excels at gradually building the dramatic elements of the plot.

The film first focuses on the hilarious results of the whimsical body-switching plot and halfway through, the audience starts to learn more about the character’s backgrounds as the larger, more complicated sci-fi narrative is revealed.

These moments change the nature of the film, building off the simplicity to create a magical doomsday scenario where the stakes could not be higher for the characters and their world. On a scale

The Party Liberation Front, also a 501c3 dedicated to the arts, performed a fire show outside Gallery5 on Friday.

Gallery5 turns 12-years-old, parties with fire on First Friday — “GALLERY,” from page 1 “It gets crowded often but you know it’s worth it,” Kremper said.

“It isn’t just good vibes and good music, they focus on a lot of good causes too.”

As Gallery5 celebrated its twelfth birthday, the line to join in the festivities winded down Brook Road. Ryan Murphy, a 2015 VCU alum, said he thinks the line is worth the wait.

“I used to do (First Fridays) every month, it’s so alive, especially with the fire-breathers,” Murphy said. “Gallery5 definitely has a huge impact — it’s like the name-brand place of Richmond art.”

Adjacent to the Gallery5 entrance was a massive crowd

watching the Party Liberation Front perform an hours-long fire show. Inside, attendees watched a performance by the Gallery5-based burlesque company Boom Boom Basics by Deanna Danger.

Live music played throughout the night and included local artists Georgie Isaacs and Lobo Marino, as well as local bands Prabir and Friends and The Trillions.

The Party Liberation Front also hosted a visual show called “Visual 2” which ran from 6 p.m. until 12 a.m.

“The art here, the showings are very approachable and very diverse,” said Katie Uyen, who said she was visiting from New York City. “You don’t really get that in New York.”

Natasha Foreman, a Richmond local, echoed Uyen.

“I haven’t been to First Fridays in a couple of years, but one thing is that Gallery5, and just RVA overall, supports local artists,” Foreman said. “It’s only going to keep getting better from here.”

It isn’t just good vibes and good music, they focus on a lot of good causes, too.

of one to 10, the emotions of the characters are turned up to 11. The imagery and music only serve to enhance these feelings and investment in the characters.

Tethering the mind-bending plot are the main characters, Taki and Mitsuha. They are generic to a fault, with their personalities rooted in the fact they are a high-school boy and country-girl. Rather than create complicated characters where they are fleshed out, the film spends most of the first half showing the duo in comedic situations.

Despite this lack of nuance, the light-hearted aspect of the film expertly coaxes viewers into caring for the characters by simply spending time with them. This means that when the story becomes melodramatic and the plot escalates, the audience is still on board and willing to accept the larger-thanlife stakes.

Luckily, the American voice actors re-dubbing the original Japanese performances do a great job at making these characters seem believable. While there are some awkward lines here and there, it’s still one of the better translations in the anime genre, rarely if ever taking me out of the movie.

During the third-act climax, I was squirming in my seat with tension as I desperately wanted to see these two admittedly bland characters get together and live a happy life as a couple.

The only thing holding these incredible moments from reaching their full potential is an odd pop soundtrack. These songs are performed by a Japanese rock group called “Radwimps” and their songs are used back the more serious or intense moments. The issue is that the music’s light tone does not fit the earth-shattering events happening on screen.

Despite some minor issues, “Your Name” is a conventional story of star-crossed lovers told in an extremely unconventional way. To explain further would weaken the impact this film has, using its Sci-Fi elements to create an engrossing romantic tale on a truly epic scale.

Rating: Most anime fans have probably already seen this, but fans of Nicholas Sparks looking for something high-concept should seek out “Your Name,” too.

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Monday, April 10, 2017

opinion

9

Quote of the week: “Traveling abroad is not a cookie-cutter experience, either. Where you go, what you do and how long you’re there can differ, and the combination is entirely up to you.” —Brittney Maddox

In our globalized world, we need more students of color to study abroad

COLUMN

An ode to self care

ILLUSTRATION BY GARETH BENTALL

SHAUN JACKSON Staff Columnist My ex says that he’s “over me.” Truthfully, I am just as “over” him, but whenever he sees me he is extremely resentful and rude toward me. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t indicate that you’re “over me.” Thoughts?

Of course he is not over you, if he was he wouldn’t feel the need to be passive aggressive around you or harbor resentment for any reason. But you probably already knew that. Try your best not to be fazed by him. Don’t make his problem your problem. You don’t need that sort of toxicity from anyone in your life, especially someone as intimate as an ex.

ILLUSTRATION BY IAIN DUFFUS

How do you deal with some dude who won’t stop entering your life like a used car because he’s a good time, but only for a few miles?

I would say stop hopping in the car and taking a drive. If you truly want this guy out of your life, why are you entertaining his postbreak up shenanigans? You are a part of the equation and you know it takes two people to tango. Don’t try to make it seem like he’s putting on a show when you’re the one giving him applause.

BRITTNEY MADDOX Contributing Columnist As a minority and first-generation college student, I never imagined myself traveling abroad. At first, I was under the impression “study abroad” was just a frivolous excuse for American students to travel overseas and play tourist — but after two successful trips that defied my initial reservations, I strongly encourage more students of color to go abroad despite their initial fears.

For me, I never thought the study abroad experience would fit into my busy schedule as a very active student on campus — I work, volunteer and lead student organizations. Not to mention, I was unsure I could afford airfare because international flights are expensive, or if I could use what I was learning in the classroom, as a student invested in social justice, in another country.

And ultimately, as a Black person, I am hyper-aware of antiblackness on a global scale.

For the 2014 to 2015 school year, the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers reported 72.9 percent of college students studying abroad were caucasian — a stark contrast to the slim 5.6 percent of black college students. In contrast, more minority students are enrolled at institutions of higher education than ever, but the number of students studying abroad has not grown at the same rate.

Hence, I really didn’t think there was any hope for me to partake in a study abroad experience — until I asked. I have now gone on two trips — both of which were shortterm programs (winter and summer) led by VCU affiliate faculty. The trips were service learning-oriented which provided me with hands-on experience similar to the work I had done during my time here at VCU. VCU has a large population of international students that attend college on both the Monroe Park campus and MCV campus pursuing a variety of degrees, and VCU prides itself for its diverse student body — varying in

ethnicity, gender, sexuality, race and class. We are a public research school invested in making our students invest in one another and global issues. This is itself should be a reason for students to seriously consider studying abroad.

Many students think that going abroad would not enhance their educational experience, often because they are unaware of the benefits.

Students are often concerned that traveling abroad could hinder them from graduating in a timely manner.

This worry stems from the misconception that studying abroad requires a full semester’s commitment, but this is not the case. There are a variety of programs, including service learning, research and academic abroad that differ in length. Traveling abroad is not a cookie-cutter experience, either. Where you go, what you do and how long you’re there can differ, and the combination is entirely up to you.

My first study abroad experience was in Belize, Central America. The program was led by faculty of VCU ASPiRE where students lived and worked in a village at a pro bono summer camp for kids. VCU ASPiRE offers an trip annual to it’s best and brightest. It should be noted that we had to prepare months beforehand.

My second trip was to Botswana, Africa as part of VCU Globe winter break 2016. That too was a service learning trip where we did social entrepreneurship and global advocacy in rural villages and NGOs. I was first introduced to the trip during a class I took in fall of 2016, and my professor convinced me I’d be a good fit. With those two experiences, I had a lot of support going abroad everyone from family members, church members and community leaders helped invested in my vision both times. If it weren’t for my support system, I don’t think I would’ve gone abroad.

Expenses, cultural/language barriers and overall safety are also very reasonable concerns, but I can attest that there are a variety of programs students can explore that VCU’s Education Abroad office can help with. It should

be noted there are other students like myself who had the same concerns pre-departure, but that is why self-research and initiative is a necessary component. If you don’t know where to start with the research process, students should feel compelled to talk to an education abroad advisor.

Many American students have preconceived notions of their citizen status and other nations — I became aware of that each time I stepped off the plane. On both of my trips, I found that most everyone I met was proud of their heritage (granted, both countries I visited were a part of the Afro-diaspora but people were perhaps more open).

I had never experienced that stateside, and it made me wonder how people could so readily accept foreigners into their homes. This is more than multiple selfies during cultural excursions with non American students studying abroad challenged so much about how I perceived the intricacies of human nature, culture, and history. In fact, I enjoyed both my trips abroad so much that I seek to travel again post grad.

For students reading this who are interested in studying abroad, they should consider the following: does my major or program have VCU faculty-led trips? Have I spoken to an employee of the Education Abroad office? Attend events on campus talking about individual programs. Also do not shy away from reaching out to previous students who have traveled abroad. VCU houses a lot of resources to help you in every part of your journey from pre-departure, during your travel and your stateside return.

It should be noted that there are going to be differences anywhere you go abroad, but your perspective is everything so do your research beforehand. Also recognize your privilege — as an American citizen, people comment on that first before anything else. This doesn’t mean that racism and sexism don’t operate in other countries. had many hesitations going abroad as someone who lives in the intersection of Black and woman, but I but didn’t let that stop me. Seize the experience — the memories, lessons and people you meet are unforgettable.

I’ve had sex with people I don’t know that well but for some reason I feel like there’s always some type of emotional connection.

Is it just me as a person or does sex always translate into some type of emotional connection?

I don’t think it is just you as a person. Sex can translate to an emotional connection for some people, but not everyone is that way and that’s not a bad thing. Sex means different things to different people. At the end of the day, as long as people are practicing safe and consensual sex, I don’t think anyone has the right to judge.

Do you think one month is too soon to fall in love? Two months? Three? Is there a point where it’s just too soon? Or should I just pay more attention to my feelings and less to my calendar?

Definitely the latter, but more importantly calm down and get to know your partner. I don’t necessarily think that love operates on a time-based scale for everyone. Ultimately, it is all about how you feel about your partner at the end of the day. Sometimes realizing that feeling can take years, but sometimes only weeks.

When do you think is the right time for a young adult to be fully supporting themself?

As soon as they are able. Honestly, if you are fortunate enough to have a family or support system that can help you out until you can stand on your own two feet in the real world I would not be in any rush. Utilize the resources around you, have plans and goals and be genuine. That way it is way easier to enter the world on steady feet.

Congratulations to the CT for winning the following Society of Professional Journalists and Virginia Press Association awards!

Society of Professional Journalists

Virginia Press Association

Writing Design Finalist: Sarah King, In-Depth Reporting

1st place: Health & Science Writing - Sarah King

1st place: General Makeup - Staff

Fadel Allassan, In-Depth Reporting

Sports Column Writing - Sophia Belletti

Front Page - Staff Andrew Crider, Breaking News Photography

Column Writing - Eleanor Fialk

Lifestyle/Entertainment Pages - Andrew Crider, General News Photography

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Staff Casey Cole, Julie Tripp, Ali Jones and Erin Edgerton, Feature

Environmental Writing - Andrew Crider

Sports Pages - Staff

Photography

Breaking News Writing - Andrew Crider, 2nd place: Page Design - Sarah Butler Jesse Adcock, Julie Tripp, Best Use of Multimedia

Fadel Allassan & Sarah King Muktaru Jalloh, General Column Writing

3rd place: Public Safety Writing - Sarah King Photo Gareth Bentall, Editorial Cartooning

Business & Financial Writing - Fadel

1st place: Sports News Photo - Julie Tripp Becca Schwartz, Sports Photography

Allassan

2nd place: Personality or Portrait Photo - Sophia Belletti and Zach Joachim, Sports Column Writing

Muktaru Jalloh Winner: Geo Mirador, General News Photography Illustrations

3rd place: Photo-illustration - Julie Tripp Eleanor Fialk, Online Opinion and Commentary

1st place: Megan James

2nd place: Jiaqi Zhou

3rd place: Skye Ali

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