The Commonwealth Times; February 19, 2018

BEST SMALL, NON-DAILY —2017 Virginia Press Association The independent press of Virginia Commonwealth University

NEWS Monroe Park • 2

February 19, 2018 • Vol. 59, No. 5

SPORTS Track meet • 5

SPECTRUM Ibram Kendi • 7

OPINIONS Parkland shooting • 9

In VCU visit, Martin Luther King III reflects on making long-sought “dream” a reality Author tackles “triple evils” of racism, poverty and militarism SAFFEYA AHMED Contributing Writer NIA TARIQ Contributing Writer In an address moderated Mayor Levar Stoney, Martin Luther King III — a community activist and son of the prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s — urged students and community members to embrace nonviolence and positivity.

King reiterated his father’s message of nonviolence — especially when it comes to guns — before a crowd of more than 500 students, faculty and community members.

“I am the recipient of gun violence,” King said. “But it did not deter me or distract me because I had to learn to dislike the evil act, but still love the individual.”

King addressed the audience with a heavy heart as he recalled Wednesday’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Advocating for gun safety rather than control, King condemned civilian use of assault weapons.

“In this society, we are obsessed and infatuated with guns. We have certainly created and sustained a culture of vio-

lence,” he said. “Until we begin to change the culture, we’re not going to be able to address these issues.”

King said positivity and nonviolence are key and youth hold power in today’s society.

“I certainly am so proud of those young people who are rising up, saying ‘enough is enough, and we’re not going to take it anymore,’” he said.

King was the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founder of Bounce TV and Realizing the Dream, Inc. and is on the board of directors for the Atlanta-based King Center, Drum Major Institute and the Metropolitan West Management Asset Corporation.

His work in the nonprofit sector focuses on battling the “triple evils” of racism, poverty, and militarism, as laid out by his father.

“The ideas of freedom, justice and nonviolence that my father championed during the movement have a special resonance in the wake of violence and hatred,” King said. “One of the most important things about the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech that I want everyone to understand is that he did not intend for it to be just a dream. Instead he intended that it be taken se-

An exclusive interview with the social justice activist

riously as a realistic vision by all Americans of good will.”

King said he blames media corporations for spotlighting events like the Charlottesville neo-Nazi rally and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

“We are a better society — a better nation — than the behavior that we are exhibiting,” he said. “It’s about money unfortunately. Ratings is how [the media] make money. That, we must change.”

VCU President Michael Rao praised King’s strength as a leader.

“His focus is really about the future,” Rao said. “He has a very perfect memory with respect to history, he has a very clear sense of a lot of the issues that we face today [and] he also has a really clear sense about where we need to go as people in the future.”

King’s keynote address received a standing ovation. His closing words echoed those of his late father.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy,” King said.

SAFFEYA AHMED Contributing Writer NIA TARIQ Contributing Writer Martin Luther King III is a social justice activist, international public speaker and author. King’s work in the nonprofit sector combats the “triple evils” of racism, poverty and militarism, mirroring the work of his father Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In his visit to VCU on Sunday, King met with student and community leaders and delivered a keynote address.

King shared his views on recent events and social justice issues.

The Stoneman-Douglas High School Shooting

“There’s something wrong when our society is stuck and chooses not to do something about an issue that’s so serious.

We should always be protecting our young people. A nation is judged by how it treats its most precious resource.

“Certainly our most precious resource would be our children. There are students all over

continued on page 7

America who feel that they’re not safe. We have to create a safe space.”

“Nothing has been done from a legal perspective for the laws to change and make gun safety an issue. There’s nothing ever that one can say positive about an incident where people lose their lives, but the positiveness is that others will become engaged and fight in the struggle and challenge the nation to become better.

“I enjoy understanding where students are today because every moment, as it relates to leadership, is infused by student engagement. Although it’s very tragic that 17 persons lost theirs lives in Florida, it’s very refreshing to see students leading a movement to say “listen, do we really need assault weapons?” I feel very positive about what the prospects — the best really is yet to come and we’re just scratching the surface.”

Embracing a Culture of Nonviolence

“I certainly believe that nonviolence is a viable option to be used, but people have to be trained and taught how to use

Grace E. Harris, the highest-ranking African-American woman in VCU’s history, dies at age 84 Remembering Grace Harris —read on page 3

nonviolence. It’s not something we automatically learn because when we are growing up, the philosophy is if somebody hits you, you hit them back.

“Now unfortunately, it’s become if somebody hits you, you shoot them. Once a gun is used, it’s the end. We have created a culture of violence and accepted it. The more violence there is, the more we seem to embrace it.

We have to teach people how to use a different methodology to address their conflict. We must find a way to create a culture of nonviolence. That will change the trajectory tremendously, I believe.

“Everything lies in teaching and training. People have to say to their educators and school systems that they want conflict resolution. That means sensitivity training, human relations training, diversity training — all of that becomes part of a curriculum. That is what we must work toward, I believe, if we want to truly change our society to create this culture of nonviolence.” continued on page 7

news

The Commonwealth Times

CNS BRIEFS

New Law Would Bring Public Meetings into the Digital Age RYAN PERSAUD Bringing government further into the digital age, the General Assembly has given final approval to two bills that aim to modernize how members of city councils, school boards and other public bodies can attend and hold meetings using electronic technologies.

Schools Still Need State’s OK to Open Before Labor Day CHELSEA JACKSON AND KATIE BASHISTA Legislation allowing Virginia school districts to start classes before Labor Day is dead for this session of the General Assembly.

After Shooting, Democrats and Republicans Mourn But Disagree Over Guns AYA DRIOUCHE Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly have expressed frustration over Republicans’ refusal to take up gun control legislation in the wake of Wednesday’s deadly school shooting in Florida.

At Session’s Midpoint, 40% of Bills Are Still Alive GEORGE COPELAND JR. AND IRENA SCHUNN The Virginia General Assembly’s 2018 session has reached its midpoint, with more than 1,000 bills passing between the House and Senate, including potential changes to health care, criminal justice and transportation.

Meals tax leaves Richmond split on school funding NIA TARIQ Contributing Writer City Council passed an ordinance to increase the city’s meals tax in a 7-2 vote last Monday. The tax, which will take effect July 1, is predicted to raise $9 million in annual revenue for Richmond Public School construction and renovation over the next five years.

The council voted to approve the meals tax ordinance the same day the Virginia General Assembly Senate passed a bill to disallow taxes to be raised for school development.

Mayor Levar Stoney, who introduced the tax increase, would not be allowed to raise taxes to fund RPS facilities modernization if the bill also passes in the House of Delegates, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

However, this would not affect the revenue to be raised from the passed meals tax ordinance.

Shannon Conway, who manages several local restaurants, spoke in opposition of the ordinance.

Conway said that despite supporting school infrastructure improvement, she disagrees with the tax because it will only help a fraction of school needs.

“We are here in opposition of this tax because it underserves the students. We are here in opposition of this tax because it uses the kids of RPS as emotional leverage to circumvent the will of the people,” Conway said. “Frankly, we ought to be holding this body and the mayor more accountable for delivering a real answer to this decadeslong issue.”

Ma’at Ahmed, a Binford Middle School student, said she doesn’t expect state-of-the-art improvement, but that she expects schools to be better for her younger brothers to attend.

“We should feel comfortable and safe,” she said. “Our school is more than 100 years old and it shows.”

Zahrya Coleman, also a Binford Middle School student, said she feels teachers get better treatment than students when it comes

to technology updates.

“Computers that we have for our schools are missing keyboards and everything,” Coleman said.

“It’s never money put into that, but teachers just got new computers and they’re touch-screen and everything … but they’re not the ones learning.”

Other students who spoke in favor of the ordinance requested construction include new football and track fields, smart boards, smaller classroom sizes, fresh carpets, bet-

VCU professor to help state negotiate new utilities legislation

Our school is more than 100 years old and it shows.

ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON HALL

Zahrya Coleman Binford Middle School student ter wi-fi and sidewalks.

RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras said he acknowledged some people do not trust the money will actually go to schools. He pledged to hold himself accountable in light of the tax increase.

“If I recommend to the board to use any of these funds, one penny, for anything other than rebuilding our schools and building new ones, ask the RPS board to revoke my contract,” Kamras said.

Council President Chris Hilbert of the third district also made a promise to his constituents to be more transparent with the use of their tax dollars.

“The minute that I hear, see [or] have wind [that] any of this money is put into special funds that’s not used for debt service or any improvement of Richmond Public Schools, I will put in an ordinance to repeal it immediately,” Hilbert said.

LOGAN REARDON Contributing Writer Mark Rubin, executive director of the Virginia Center for Consensus Building at VCU, was called in

by Gov. Ralph Northam and Dominion Energy to moderate the bill’s compromise. Rubin worked previously with former governor Tim Kaine on similar issues.

“Mark is well-known for his experience and competence in mediating discussions on complex policy issues,” stated Northam spokesman Brian Coy. “He has also worked with many of the stakeholders at the table through the years.”

The Virginia House of Del-

egates passed a bill changing how the state will control power companies Feb. 13. The bill lifts a rate freeze from Dominion Energy that has been in place since 2015 and opens the door to refunds for customers who have been overcharged.

Dominion Energy is able to keep parts of the $200 million set aside for refunds, however only if it is being used for grid transformation or renewable energy.

The legislation aims to create $125 million annually in savings from the new federal tax law, increase solar and wind plants and energy efficient programs and ensure oversight of the company’s utility rates.

The day before the bill was

passed, Del. David Toscano (DCharlottesville) proposed an amendment that would prevent utility companies from charging ratepayers twice for projects they may be working on.

The House of Delegates passed the amendment in a sweeping 96-1 vote. The bill itself passed 63 to 35 vote with two abstentions.

Toscano voted against the bill despite the fact that his amendment was included.

“The amendment passed yesterday made the bill much better, but substantial problems remain to be fixed,” Toscano stated. “I am hopeful that these problems will be fixed during the next step of this process.”

Revamped Monroe Park set to open in June

Virginia May Create Ombudsman to Help with Student Loans LIA TABACKMAN Virginia legislators are seeking to mitigate the personal and economic consequences of their constituents’ student loan debt by creating a state-level ombudsman to troubleshoot problems and educate borrowers regarding college loans.

High Schools May Offer American Sign Language As Foreign Language Credit AHNIAELYAH SPRAGGS American Sign Language may soon be offered as a foreign language credit in Virginia high schools.

These stories are courtesy of VCU’s Capital News Service. The full stories can be found at vcucns.com.

PHOTO BYMICHEL MAULDING

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Monroe Park’s $6 million, 2-year renovation will still have staple landmarks such as the fountain, but will also have a cafe, Wi-Fi and gazebo.

SARAROSE MARTIN News Editor Monroe Park will reopen this June after a $6 million renovation, according to Alice Massie, president of the Monroe Park Conservancy.

The 165-year-old park will feature a new cafe, police substation and renewed enforcement of city policy regarding public spaces.

Prior to the park’s closing in November 2016, Richmond’s homeless community congregated in the public space and received services from local churches and organizations. However, the city has policies concerning the distribution of food and leaving personal items unattended.

The Conservancy reserves the right to get rid of personal items left unattended in the park. It’s important to the safety of everyone that bags and backpacks aren’t left alone, Massie said.

“Some people say, ‘Oh that’s discriminating against the homeless’.

Well it’s more that if you can’t keep your property on you then leave it somewhere else,” Massie said.

“Any law abiding person is invited in the park, it doesn’t matter who you are.”

The Conservancy, a nonprofit group that raised $3 million for the renovation, will also enforce compliance of state health and safety laws. Organizations providing food in the park will need to provide their health and safety certificate from the state.

“You can distribute food for free.

We have no problem with that,” Massie said. “We would ask that group who wants to go spend the money — give it to a church or give it to a food bank that’s providing food in a healthier situation.”

The policies are not new, Massie said, but were previously not enforced. The park will be moni-

tored by the VCU and Richmond Police Departments to help ensure a safe space.

“Most important is public safety and we will disclose that when you enter the park — the new use policies and the fact that you’re on video surveillance,” Massie said.

“So our goal is to discourage any activity that isn’t appropriate for a public park and university.”

The city closed the park before the 2016 election so candidates couldn’t use it as political fodder, Massie said. But when Mayor Levar Stoney came into office, his administration faced city financing issues following Mayor Dwight Jones’ time in office.

The city had promised $3 million for the renovation to match funds raised by the Conservancy.

But Stoney halted construction for three months to make sure the money promised by the city was available, Massie said.

The park’s renovation is on track despite minor permitting issues because of Richmond’s high demand for construction projects.

The Conservancy chose a local entrepreneur as the vendor in the bottom level of the Checkers House, the brick building in the center of the park originally built in the 1930s. The new police substation will sit above the cafe.

The Conservancy also finished restoration of the fountain placed in the center of the park. The park will feature wireless internet, movable tables and chairs, a gazebo across from the Altria Theater, water fountains and games, such as a ping pong table and bocce ball.

The bike path going through Monroe will remain, and RVA Bike Share plans to place a station there. Massie is also working on providing a free, 24-hour restroom open to the public.

All pavement was removed from

the park and the contractor is working to aerate the ground, or put air into the soil so it can compost, because it was compacted over years of use. Massie plans for Monroe to be a sustainable site, mitigating water for trees and grass to grow happy and healthy.

VCU Facilities Management will help maintain the park when it opens. The goal is for the park to serve as a green living room everyone feels comfortable using, Massie said.

“It’s for all demographics. It’s the living room that you want to hangout in and play games, drink coffee, read a book, slackline,” Massie said.

“And you don’t feel uncomfortable.

No matter who you are — whether you’re homeless and you just want a great green park or a student or an elderly person or a family with kids.”

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Monday, February 19, 2018

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College women across Virginia say they were approached by a cult-like church Women from several Virginia universities, including VCU, have taken their complaints to Twitter about missionaries approaching them with asking their beliefs in “God the Mother”.

The World Mission Society Church of God, founded in South Korea, is the only church that believes in God the Mother, according to their website. A University of Virginia student warned other women against talking to WMSCOG missionaries in a tweet Feb. 5.

“If anyone comes up to you and tries to tell you about ‘God the Mother,’ walk away and get help!” the tweet stated. “Google it and become aware! Spread the word!”

The comments left by other women from Virginia colleges in a thread of responses shared similar sentiments: the women were invited to bible study, asked personal information and were alone when they were approached by missionaries.

The incidents were in public places like their campuses and malls.

Professor Andrew Chesnut, Bishop Sullivan Chair in Catholic Studies at VCU, said there is no doubt the WMSCOG engages in cult-like behavior, with “aggressive proselytization strategies.” He said the missionaries typically target

middle-class, Millennial women.

He said students should avoid any interaction with them.

Students should not worry about coming off as rude in declining to talk to unknown religious recruiters.

Jackson Ward resident “The church is strongly apocalyptic, having predicted the end of the world and Second Coming of Christ on several occasions, most recently for 2012,” Chesnut said. “Students should not worry about coming off as rude in declining to talk to unknown religious recruiters.”

Adrienne Beckett-Ansa, a sophomore at VCU, said she was also discomforted by the persistence

shown by similar women who approached her. She shared the UVA student’s tweet before the profile went private, adding that VCU women should also be aware of the missionaries.

“They were extremely persistent, like no backing down, even if you said no.” Beckett-Ansa said. “[They] approached me asking me if I knew about ‘God the Mother’ and if I was religious. I started to walk away and they kept asking me more questions — basically so much pressure until I gave them a [phone] number.”

Sophomore Khoi Banks said she was pressured to provide personal information to the missionaries who approached her outside the Siegel Center during a basketball game.

“They went into great detail about this religion…and I didn’t care to listen, but [the missionaries] asked for my name and my number,” Banks said. “I was so annoyed that I ended up giving them my number to get rid of them…they texted me nonstop, I never responded and eventually blocked them.”

CT FILE PHOTO

NIA TARIQ Contirbuting Writer

Students took to Twitter to warn peeres and express concern over God the Mother.

Grace E. Harris, the trailblazing AfricanAmerican VCU educator, dies at 84 GEORGE COPELAND Capital News Service Grace E. Harris, the highestranking African-American and highest-ranking woman in the history of Virginia Commonwealth University, died Monday at age 84, leaving a legacy that stretches throughout and beyond the state of Virginia.

In an email to the VCU community, university President Michael Rao called Harris “a giant in legacy and in character, a woman whose contributions to VCU and to the countless lives we touch are truly immeasurable.”

“She was one of the wisest, kindest, and most generous people I have ever met,” Rao wrote.

Harris was born Grace Victoria Edmondson on July 1, 1933, in Halifax County to a family of preachers and educators in segre-

gation-era Virginia. Harris had Harris spent two years at Boston In 1960, she returned to the five siblings. One sister, Mamye University, alongside classmates newly named VCU to complete BaCote, went on to become a such as Martin Luther King Jr. a master’s degree in social work. member of the Virginia House of She served as an assistant profesDelegates; another, the late Sue sor in VCU’s School of Social E. Wilder, was a NASA data Work from 1967 to 1976. For analyst referenced in the movie the next 30 years, Harris was a “Hidden Figures.” rising presence in the school’s Graduating as class valedicranks, becoming a dean in 1982, torian from Halifax Training provost in 1993 and acting presiSchool in 1950, Harris attended dent in 1995. several institutions of higher Along the way, Harris earned education, including Grinnell accolades and awards. In 1999, College in Iowa as an exchange the VCU Board of Visitors estabstudent. She earned a bachlished the Grace E.Harris Leadelor’s degree in sociology and ership Institute in her honor. In graduated with highest honors 2007, VCU renamed the former from Hampton University, then School of Business building as named Hampton Institute.

Grace E.Harris Hall.

When Harris was a graduate Former Gov. L. Douglas student in 1954, Virginia ComWilder, a longtime friend, celmonwealth University – then ebrated Harris’ achievements, known as Richmond Professionsaying in a statement that her al Institute – refused to admit her Tim Kaine “connection to the needs of the because of her race. Undeterred, U.S. Senator, Virginia community and its citizens had

Dr. Harris used her lifetime of groundbreaking service to help cultivate and elevate emerging leaders.

a dramatic impact on the identity of VCU and the way it engaged people.”

Though she retired from VCU in 2016, Harris’ social work never stopped. She assisted nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth, including serving on the advisory board of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. Deborah Oswalt, executive director of that group, described her as “small in physique, but she was a giant in all other respects.”

“Grace helped the Virginia Health Care Foundation flourish during a time of transition and fiscal uncertainty,” Oswalt said. “She brought a thoughtful, intelligent, kind approach to everything she did and to all with whom she engaged.”

Harris was vice chair for Mark Warner’s transition team after he was elected governor in 2001. The

following year, Warner appointed her to the Virginia Commission on Higher Education.

In a statement, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia praised the “keen insight into university administration” Harris provided when he appointed members of Virginia’s public college boards during his governance.

“Dr. Harris used her lifetime of groundbreaking service to help cultivate and elevate emerging leaders,” Kaine said.

She is survived by her husband, James W. “Dick” Harris; her two adult children, Gayle and James; and her grandson, Jullian, who earned a master’s degree in sociology from VCU in 2016.

Student activists lobby for tuition equity MARYUM ELNASSEH Contributing Writer

PHOTO BY MATT CHANEY

More than a dozen members and allies of the Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Schools, known as PLUMAS at VCU, sat in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs to call lawmakers and ask for support for tuition equity.

The students urged support of House Bill 343 introduced by Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) and cosponsored by Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (D-Prince William).

The bill permits in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students and DACA recipients.

The bill sits in the Virginia House Committee on Rules.

PLUMAS is working to get the bill heard by the Higher Education Subcommittee.

“We are calling to ask that this bill be reviewed alongside other education bills and considered with the same standards rather than be put in a committee where The bill could be killed in the if it’s not referred to the Higher Education Subcommittee.

it will not be given the same priority as other education bills,” read a post on the group’s Facebook page.

According to the 2018 Fiscal Impact Statement, the bill would apply to individuals who graduated from a high school in the commonwealth or passed a high school equivalent examination, registered in a public institution of higher education and submitted evidence of filing Virginia income tax returns.

To be eligible for in-state tuition, the student must provide an affidavit to the university stating they filed an application to become a permanent United States resident.

“This tuition equity bill is designed to provide in-state tuition benefits for students with fluctuating immigration statuses, and therefore clearly related to issues of access to higher level education,” PLUMAS stated on Facebook.

The bill could be killed without consideration if it’s not referred to the Higher Education Subcommittee.

According to data from the Division of Student Affairs, VCU

had 70 self-reported DACA students as of last September. Although Pres. Michael Rao released a statement of support for DACA students in September, he has not commented on HB 343.

“I would like to see VCU take their own action on making sure in-state tuition stays,” said Haziel Andrade, who serves as the legislative chair for VCU’s PLUMAS. Out-of-state tuition and fees are around $32,000 annually at VCU — more than double the average $13,000 for in-state students.

At some other universities in the state, such as the University of Virginia, the tuition and fees for out-of-state students are almost triple as for in-state students.

For many students, the cost difference between the two rates can mean losing the opportunity to afford and attend an institution of higher education.

“If this bill passes, it would have a big impact on people that are currently working really hard to make sure their in-state tuition stays,” Andrade said.

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news

The Commonwealth Times

VCU researchers focus on genetics, environment in treating alcoholism Dace Svikis, a clinical psychology professor, said diagnostic criteria as defined by the American Recent research initiatives Psychiatric Association most rethrough VCU’s School of Medi- cently changed to encompass more cine are focusing on genetic and factors — like drinking more than environmental links to alcoholism. intended, family or social problems These links are shaping new treat- due to drinking, tolerance and ment methods and helping identify withdrawal — into diagnosis. the risk of Alcohol Use Disorder.

Diagnosis and treatment methods aiding AUD have shifted in response to the increasing prevalence of the illness. An estimated 88,000 people in the U.S. die from alcohol-related causes every year, according to the NIAAA. AUD is the third leading preventable cause of death, after tobacco and physical inactivity. Almost 6 percent of all deaths globally in 2012 were due to alcohol consumption.

Alexis Edwards, a genetics professor in the Department of Psychiatry, works with data samples internationally to identify potential risk factors. Edwards has conducted research on samples from Sweden, Finland and the U.K. “Just knowing that you have family members who have had problems with alcohol, that’s an Alexis Edwards indicator of genetic risk,” Edwards said. “[Knowledge of genetic fac- Genetic professor tors] can be a very helpful tool for physicians … There are thousands Treatment for alcohol use disorof variants that incrementally in- ders has undergone a similar shift. crease or decrease your risk. There The NIAA has implemented an is no single gene for alcoholism.”

Alcohol Treatment Navigator — Edwards said international ge- an online resource which describes netic data plays as important of a different treatment options availrole as university-wide data. She able in specific areas. works with Spit for Science, a proj“When it comes to AUD treatect which looks at alcohol use and ment, there has been a growing emotional health on VCU’s campus realization that ‘one size does not through surveys and genetic data. fit all’” Svikis said. “The NIAA SAFFEYA AHMED Contributing Writer

ILLUSTRATION BY ALLISON VERJINSKI

Just knowing that you have family members who have had problems with alcohol, that’s an indicator of genetic risk.

MOTIVATE clinic and The Well’s RAMS in Recovery program.

The Wellness Resource Center provides recovery support and education on alcoholism. Resource options for students are expanding, according to center director Linda Hancock.

“The goal is to make VCU a recovery-ready campus,” Hancock said. “If any student is struggling with an issue, they’ll know what their resources are.”

Twenty percent of college students meet the criteria for AUD, according to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

In response, the Well offers substance abuse recovery programs ranging from the traditional 12step approach to skills-based and holistic approaches.

Hancock said offering extensive resources is not the only step necessary to aiding AUD prevalence.

More than 90 percent of Americans with an alcohol use disorder do not get treatment, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In efforts to offer treatment options to students and community members, VCU opened its outpatient clinic MOTIVATE last April. MOTIVATE provides multiple addiction treatment programs for people suffering from substance use disorders.

“I like to think of it as a continuum, where prevention, early intervention and treatment for recovery “The end result is a restriction need to be part of the same [conin patient treatment options,” versation],” Hancock said. “The Svikis said. beauty of having recovering stuSvikis said VCU’s campus of- dents on campus is that they enrich fers many resources to students that conversation.” and community members, like the

Treatment Navigator is a valuable resource that helps to educate patients and providers about AUD and the range of effective AUD treatment options.”

The Treatment Navigator di-

rects people to treatment options best suited for them. Svikis said the idea is conceptually sound, but relies on the availability of diverse treatment programming which many parts of the country lack.

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Stat of the Week

Men’s track and field placed third at the Atlantic 10 Championships with a team score of 79.4. The 4x400 relay team won their event with a time of 3:19.31.

RAMS HIT ROCK BOTTOM IN FOGGY BOTTOM Men’s basketball (15-12, 7-7 A-10) suffered its most adverse stretch of the 2017-18 season last week with a pair of losses in pivotal conference matchups.

The Black and Gold fell to the Davidson College Flyers (15-10, 10-4 A-10) 74-63 on Wednesday and traveled to Foggy Bottom, D.C. on Saturday where the Rams were soundly defeated by The George Washington University (12-15, 5-9 A-10) 80-56.

second half and scored another eight points in the second half in a poor showing relative to his recent work.

GW senior guards Yuta Watanabe and Terry Nolan Jr. put up 41 points and 11 rebounds combined.

DAVIDSON The 9-4 Davidson Wildcats entered the Siegel Center looking for a chance to boost their A-10 record and get a step ahead of the Black and Gold, who were one rank behind Davidson going

GEORGE WASHINGTON The first half proved disastrous for the Rams against GW, with a complete lack of ability to get the ball inside for senior forward Justin Tillman, who only scored three points in the entire first half.

VCU made four of six free throws against a GW team with the fourth highest fouls-pergame average in the NCAA. The Rams scored a mere 27 points in the first half.

The Colonials managed 20 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocks, which somewhat accounted for the major deficit. Free throws, something the Rams have struggled with in many games now, had a significant impact for George Washington. The Colonials scored 10 points off a 91 percent shooting mark from the charity stripe.

Going into the half down 4527, coach Mike Rhoades needed the speech of a lifetime to pull off a comeback.

Tillman did manage some movement on the block in the

Versus a good team, you’ve got to weather the storm and we didn’t tonight.

De’Riante Jenkins, Sophomore wing into the game.

VCU kept pace with the Wildcats in two and three-point shooting, but, careless mistakes led to 13 fouls, eight of which came from freshman guard Sean Mobley and sophomore wing De’Riante Jenkins. Davidson’s stellar 93.3 percent shooting from the line was a killer for the Rams.

Jenkins put forth a strong showing in the second half with

19 points and 70 percent shooting from the field. Tillman had a steady game with 21 points and eight rebounds.

Senior forward Peyton Aldridge was the showstopper for Davidson with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Davidson pulled away in the waning moments, primarily on the strength of their free throw shooting.

“You’re running, you think you are where you are...and then you’re not. That’s, you hear me use this word a lot, ‘awareness.’

You got to have better basketball awareness. And we didn’t have that on some of our shots,” Rhoades said.

Jenkins kept it simple in his explanation of the major letdown.

“They didn’t do nothing spectacular, we just missed shots.

And we tried to stay with it, but they went on a run. Versus a good team like that, we got to weather the storm and we didn’t do that tonight,” Jenkins said.

The Rams travel to Amherst, Massachusetts on Wednesday, February 21 to play the University of Massachusetts Minutemen (11-16, 4-10 A-10). VCU will host St. Bonaventure University (20-6, 10-4) on Saturday, February 24 for the second to last home game. St. Bonaventure recently defeated the #16 University of Rhode Island Rams and snapped the longest active NCAA & A-10 win streak.

Senior forward Justin Tillman is averaging 19 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season.

Fall to the Monarchs VCU Lacrosse opens season with loss at Old Dominion University

Women’s track and field takes home second consecutive Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship ZACH JOACHIM Sports Editor

PHOTO BY TERESA BRICKER

DANIEL PURYEAR Contributing writer

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Women’s track and field took home its second straight Atlantic 10 Conference title Sunday in Kingston, R.I. The Black and Gold (122.5) finished 20 points clear of second-place George Mason University.

Senior Taylor McCormick won the triple jump for the third consecutive season, setting a VCU record with a distance of 12.34m.

Freshman Aliyah Newman took home the silver with a personal best mark of 12.17m.

Senior De’Nisha Smith was victorious in the 60-meter hurdles for the second year in a row with a time of 8.64, the same mark she won the event with last season.

Junior Latrice Morris won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.6 seconds — Morris redeemed a heartbreaking second-place finish in the same event last year.

Coach Jon Riley said he knew his team had a championship mindset going into the weekend.

“This team showed resilience this weekend. I knew we were going to have a great weekend after our team meeting Friday night,” Riley said. “They were focused and locked in. They had confidence and believed in their abilities.”

Tennis two-step

Men drop first two, women win back-to-back

ZACH JOACHIM Sports Editor

PHOTO BY SHAYLA BAILEY

Both women’s and men’s tennis moved to 6-2 last week after divergent fates evened their respective records. The ladies won a pair of matches; 7-0 over Morgan State University Wednesday afternoon and 4-3 against Elon University Sunday morning. The men dropped two tight contests; 4-3 versus the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Tuesday, and 5-2 to North Carolina State University Saturday.

CT FILE PHOTO

WOMEN VS. ELON

Junior midfielder Sofia Emond scored a hat trick on just six shots against ODU. JESSICA WETZLER Staff Writer Lacrosse opened up its season fighting to maintain a lead against Old Dominion University Monarchs, but ended up falling short when it came down to the wire and lost 11-9 Wednesday in Norfolk.

The Monarchs made the first goal of the game to get things going, but the Black and Gold were able to reclaim the lead at 3-2 with less than eight minutes left in the first half. Junior midfielder Sofia Emond and sophomore attack Jessica Del Rossi scored back-to-back goals to get the Rams up to speed.

With 1:47 left before halftime, ODU tied the game 3-3, but VCU scored another pair of

back-to-back goals, both from junior midfielder Sky Hyatt. With VCU holding the biggest lead of the game, 5-3, the Monarchs got two quick goals in the remaining 50 seconds of the first half to tie the game 5-5 at the break.

At the start of the second half, ODU scored three consecutive goals and led 8-5 with 26:38 remaining. The Rams got as close as 9-8, scoring three of the next four goals to battle back with 13:36 remaining. Eventually, ODU sealed the deal after scoring the next two goals to pull away from the Rams.

Emond scored a hat trick on just six shot attempts, five of them on goal. Hyatt added two goals and three draw controls. Junior midfielder Blaire Langeler scored a goal and added an assist. Sopho-

more midfield Keriann McTavish scored a goal and added a ground ball while sophomore attack Jessica Del Rossi also scored once.

Junior midfielder Clare Murphy added a goal and a team-high four draw controls.

Overall, VCU outshot the Monarchs 28-25, including 20-18 in shots on goal. The Rams also led 11-10 in caused turnovers and 11-10 in draw controls. ODU was led by Brooke Stein, who scored three goals and added two assists

The Black and Gold will travel to Maryland to play against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers Feb. 24 at noon.

In a nail biting Sunday matinee, a pair of wins on the doubles court was the deciding factor for the Black and Gold after they split six singles matches with the Phoenixes.

Junior Anna Rasmussen and freshman Melissa Ifidzhen won their doubles match 6-2 after both secured wins on the singles court as well. Freshmen Marina Alcaide Bakari and Sofia Sualehe scored the matches final and deciding point with a 6-2 victory in the third doubles match. Both underclassman bounced back from singles losses to save the day for the Rams.

WOMEN VS. MORGAN STATE VCU dominated the Bears to the tune of a clean sweep on all courts without dropping a set Wednesday afternoon.

The freshman duo of Alcaide Bakari and Sualehe once again held down the No. 3 doubles court with a decisive 6-1 victory.

Freshman Paolo Exposito Diaz Delgado and sophomore Noumea Witmus clinched the doubles point with a quick 6-0 victory on the No. 2 court.

The Black and Gold dropped a

Sophomore Javier Amantegui finished last season 20-12 in singles competition. He led VCU in wins as a freshman. total of just nine games throughout all six singles matches.

MEN VS. ULALA The Ragin’ Cajuns came to town and spoiled the Rams’ perfect season, handing men’s tennis its first loss of 2018 in a drama-filled affair featuring a 3-3 singles split.

Junior Victor Lima (6-3, 6-4), freshman Inigo Torre Martin (7-5, 6-0) and junior Arved Noren (6-3, 6-0) all won their singles matches.

Despite falling in three sets, freshman Timo Zgraggen put on a show versus Pearse Dolan of ULALA in a 4-6, 6-3, 0-6 thriller of a match.

The doubles court failed VCU Tuesday afternoon, as the Rams failed to secure a point in pairs competition, allowing the Ragin’ Cajuns relatively easy 6-3 and 6-4 victories on the No. 2 and No. 3 courts, respectively.

Lima teamed up with fellow junior Philip Mobius to take a 6-4 doubles point on the No. 1 court. Noren and sophomore Javier Amantegui secured the point on the No. 2 court 6-3 to take the doubles point on the day. Noren and Amantegui lead VCU with seven doubles victories this season.

A slew of tight lost sets on the singles court doomed the Rams Sunday. Torre Martin dropped his match in three sets (5-7, 6-1, 8-10) despite winning the second of them in decisive fashion. Amantegui (6-4, 3-6, 3-6) and Noren (63, 1-6, 0-6) lost similarly back and forth matches.

Women’s tennis will look to continue its winning ways Thursday when the Rams welcome the Bison of Howard University to Richmond. First serve is set for 3 p.m. Men’s tennis will MEN VS. NC STATE look to bounce back when the A strong performance on the Black and Gold open conference doubles courts was not enough to play at home against George lift the Black and Gold past the Washington University at 2 p.m.

Wolfpack Saturday afternoon.

Saturday.

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sports

The Commonwealth Times

Women’s basketball woefully walloped NILE MCNAIR Contributing writer Women’s basketball dropped two conference games last week to fall to 6-20 on the season. George Mason University defeated the Black and Gold 65-42 Thursday before the University of Richmond downed VCU 59-54 Sunday.

GEORGE MASON

Marcus Santos-Silva

RICHMOND The Black and Gold looked to bounce back Sunday versus the University of Richmond Spiders.

Reed led the Rams once again, this time posting a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. This marked Reed’s fourth double-double of the season. Taya Robinson also recorded a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 boards — the first of her career.

A 9-1 VCU run in the final minute nearly turned the tables on the Spiders, but UofR made a pair of clutch free throws with 13 seconds remaining to put this one on ice

Women’s basketball returns to action Wednesday with VCU’s final home game of the season against Saint Louis University.

Tip is set for 6 p.m.

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

On Thursday morning the Black and Gold hosted the Patriots of George Mason University.

Back and forth scoring by both teams opened the game. Come the end of the first quarter, the score was 16-15, Rams up.

The second quarter was the turning point. VCU managed a mere 4 points in comparison to the Patriots 16. The Black and Gold shot a woeful 2-16 from the field in the second quarter. After taking the lead in the second quarter,

George Mason would keep it for the remainder of the game.

The low scoring for the Rams ballooned the lead for the Patriots. GMU ended up winning by 23 with a final score of 65-42. The Patriots shot lights out against the Black and Gold, shooting 53.8 percent from the three point line and 47.8 percent from the field overall.

On the flip side, VCU shot below their season averages from the field and behind the three point arc. The Rams shot 25 percent from the field and 8.7 percent from three. VCU didn’t have a single player in double digits. Freshman guard Tera Reed led the team in scoring with eight points, along with sophomore center Danielle Hammond, who had eight as well.

The Patriots leading scorer was Nic Cardano-Hillary, who had 19 to lift her team to victory.

RAM IN ACTION:

Santos-Silva had four points on 2-4 shooting Saturday at George Washington.

JESSICA WETZLER Staff Writer Freshman forward Marcus Santos-Silva has begun to make a name for himself on the Black and Gold court. Contributing 90 points to the 26 games he has played so far, the Massachusetts native from Vermont Academy isn’t ready to stop there. The CT sat down with Santos-Silva to see how the freshman dynamo is adjusting to the collegiate level.

What have been some of the struggles you have faced so far this season?

Being consistent, and also playing dudes that are older and stronger than you. That was my real struggle, and sometimes the pace of the game.

What do you find is your biggest competition?

PHOTO BY RAELYN NICHELLE FINES

Definitely Rhode Island; Richmond, they beat us twice, that was bad, and then Dayton.

What are things you’re looking to improve on and work on?

More confidence down low, and more trust in my teammates.

Freshman guard Olga Petrova (No. 55) averages 3.8 points per game in her short VCU career.

How would you describe your game play on the court?

Baseball swept away: Flames light up Rams

I just think of one thing, and that’s just do whatever I can to help the team win. Like our coach says to us, ‘Nothing but a W.’ So, basically he’s saying, ‘Don’t think about anything else, just think about what can you for this to get this win.’ That’s what I really focus on, and my game just goes on from there, whatever happens on the court. Things I’m good at here is being the hustle guy, I have a lot of energy, my motor, rebound, and score down low, and being physical.

ADAM CHEEK Contributing Writer GAME 1 Friday’s season-opener resulted in a close loss for the Black and Gold, as the Liberty University Flames edged out a 5-4 victory in Lynchburg.

The Flames took an early lead, plating two runs in the first on a home run, but VCU matched them with two of their own in the top of the second. Sophomore Brett Willett walked and junior Zac Ching was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and freshman Liam Hibbits laced a single into right field to bring home Willett.

After cutting the deficit in half, sophomore Josh Simon laid down a squeeze bunt to the first-base side, scoring Ching and tying the game. Sophomore Connor Gil-

lispie and junior Ben Dum paired up to throw five scoreless innings, limiting the Flames to just one hit.

In the seventh, however, Liberty junior Tre Todd smacked a three-run home run to extend the Flames’ lead to 5-2. Ching struck again in the top half of the eighth, driving home a run to cut the deficit to two. Sophomore Paul Witt doubled to score senior Haiden Lamb in the bottom of the ninth, and VCU threatened right afterward with runners on second and third, but the Rams fell just short of a season-opening win.

GAME 2 The Saturday tilt of VCU’s three-game series against Liberty was postponed to Sunday.

The Rams lost both of the Sunday tussles, the first by a final of 14-10. Junior infielder/pitcher Mac McCarty took the loss in the first game after an inning and

two-thirds of relief. McCarty allowed three runs — all earned — on three hits. Senior starter Sean Thompson and junior starter Michael Dailey combined to allow eleven runs in six and a third innings of work.

GAME 3 VCU lost the third game in similarly heartbreaking fashion, this time by a final of 4-2. Junior reliever Jack Alkire took the loss after allowing three runs in three innings of work. VCU starter Sam Ryan worked three innings of scoreless ball, but had to settle for the no-decision. Freshman pitcher and outfielder Jack Schroeder had both VCU RBI’s on the day in the seventh inning. Schroeder knocked in a pair on a clutch twoout, two-on single to center after junior infielder Zac Ching set the table for him by bunting both runners over.

Do you have any go-to strategies or moves to get out of a tough situation?

Yeah, if I get double teamed, I try to use my shoulders ‘cause I’m big.

I try to create space, and if I’m in a tough position to score, I’ll try to use them again so I can create space and get an easy bucket.

What do you consider your biggest strengths?

Definitely my motor. When I get going, my energy feeds off to the team, and everyone just starts to go.

What do you consider your weaknesses?

My weaknesses are finishing with my right hand. I need to work on

that more. That’s really it.

What is a typical day of training look like for you?

For practice, after class ends around 12:00, we’ll go to the BDC (basketball development center), get taped around 12:30, and then 1:30 we’ll have lift, then 2:00 we’ll have practice. Then we’ll end practice, then that’s it for the day. After practice, we’ll get what (Rhoades) calls vitamins.

We’ll get shots up and stuff. For me, if there’s nothing going on in the day, I’ll wake up, go to the BDC, and get a workout in with one of my GAs (graduate assistant), and then after that I’ll go use the hot tub or the cold tub. I get a 45 minute workout in.

How would you describe the transition from playing high school to college?

At first, people were saying it’s a huge difference. I didn’t think about it, but it definitely is. In high school, everyone who plays division one, they used to be the main guy at their old high school, and it was easy for them. Here, you’re playing a lot of guys that were the best player in their state or on their team, and everyone’s stronger. There’ll be games I’ll probably play someone that’s like 25. There’s more guys who are experienced, so that’s what is really different from high school in college.

What made you decide to play for VCU? When I came here on my visit, I just felt the connection, the love from the city and everything.

When I saw the Siegel Center, when they told me all the stuff about the crazy games, it was just crazy. I was like, “Yeah, I could definitely see myself playing here.”

Also, the practice facility center, I feel like whenever they show anyone, everyone gets excited because it’s huge and it’s new and everyone likes it. There’s a family atmosphere here.

Did you ever find yourself questioning your decision when Will Wade announced he was leaving the program and Mike Rhoades was replacing him?

I think everyone, the four recruits who were committed to Wade, I feel like we all did question. I definitely did, because when I saw it, he didn’t even call. I just saw it on ESPN. I got a notification, and honestly I was about to call and say, “I would like to come out of my commitment,” but Rhoades, he came and called me the next day and was like, “I would like to come see you and

your family this weekend.” Wade never did that, so I was like, I’ll give it a shot, let me see. That’s when I knew he really cared.

Once he came and talked to us and he was funny with my family, I knew he cared about me and what I was doing. So, it was a great decision for me to just stay.

What do you think is your best game you’ve played so far here at VCU? I don’t think I had that yet, but right now this year, I think it was definitely the Texas game, ‘cause that’s when I think everyone started to know who I was and what I could really do.

Do you think, or did you find that the freshman class merged well with everyone else that was on the team?

Yeah, we definitely did, we all get along. It’s like we’re all brothers and we all trust each other.

What are your goals for the rest of the season, for you personally and for the team?

For the team, it’s definitely finish in the top two of the A10, and then also for us is to win the A10 Tournament so we could get to the (NCAA) tournament. And then for me is just keep on playing hard and do whatever my teammates need me to do for them on the court, and what the coaches need me to do.

How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you?

I’m a caring guy. I also talk a lot and I’m a goofy kid. I can’t really take anything serious. I feel like people would like me because of that.

What is your biggest inspiration?

My family, my mom and dad, because of what they did for me to be where I’m at now. I just want to do everything I can to support them.

If you could play for any professional team, which one would it be?

Celtics, my hometown.

What’s your favorite thing to do on campus?

Mostly I just stay in. I just play video games and just relax, that’s all. I really don’t go out that much because of the season and stuff.

spectrum

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, February 19, 2018

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On this day

“The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan is published on Feb. 19, 1963. The work is credited with initiating second-wave feminism.

PHOTO BY TERESA BRICKER

Scholar discusses origins of racism at Black History Month lecture

Ibram Kendi’s lecture detailed his research on the origins of racism as presented in his book, “Stamped from the Beginning.”

GEORGIA GEEN Spectrum Editor National Book Award winner and scholar Ibram Kendi spoke at the Cabell Library on the development and perpetuation of racist ideas on Feb. 15 as part of the annual VCU Libraries Black History Month Lecture.

Kendi’s book, “Stamped from

MLK III meets with student leaders

the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” received the award for nonfiction in 2016.

Kendi shared the ideas from “Stamped from the Beginning” in the lecture, emphasizing the importance of defining the topic in simple terms.

“The first and most important thing that I had to do was prob-

ably the most difficult thing I had to do and that was very simply to define a racist idea,” Kendi said during his lecture. He said this task was difficult because many people have resisted being labelled as racist throughout history. Even slaveholders and supporters of Jim Crow laws claimed their beliefs weren’t racist. Today, Kendi said, those who perpetuate of mass in-

carceration of Black people share the same mentality.

The definition settled upon in “Stamped from the Beginning” classifies a racist idea as any idea that suggests a racial group is superior or inferior to another racial group in any way. In modern times, the idea of inferiority in racist ideas has been replaced by the idea of idea of “this is what’s wrong with

“I found that these people were not ignorant and many of them were not even hateful toward Black people,” Kendi said. “What I realized is that these people, these powerful intellectuals who were producing these ideas were producing them typically to defend other racist policies.”

If we really want to get rid of ignorance and hate and racist ideas, our focus should be on changing and eliminating racist policies.

Ibram Kendi, Scholar Kendi said his focus in recent years has shifted from using education to combat racist ideas to advocating for policy changes. He compared racist ideas to a turnedon hose, saying education is like using a towel to dry off people, while policy changes are analogous to turning off the hose.

“If ignorance and hate are coming out of racist ideas, and racist ideas are coming out of racist policies, then if we really want to get rid of ignorance and hate and racist ideas, our focus should be on changing and eliminating racist policies,” Kendi said.

Martin Luther King III on gun control, education, social media and eradicating poverty way, we haven’t made enough progress to address (poverty). Ironically, the behavior of President Trump is causing issues we thought were dormant to rise to the surface.

People are now joining together to address these issues to create a better community. And I see that happening. There are movements occurring and taking place as we speak, all the time. So I think the goal is to make sure people retain and maintain hope. We can never lose hope.”

continued from page 1

a few years ago in the Middle East. That was organized totally by social media.

“Today, the opportunity for young people to do things is far greater because you can connect with other movements around the world. All we’ve got to do is to tap into social media and we could change our local communities, states and our nation.”

Political Mobilization of Youth

“We need the leadership of you as young people. Everyone can participate in some way, form or fashion “Every movement for social today because of technology. I hope change has been lead largely by young people run for office. At 21, young people. My dad was 27 years you could be a soldier graduating old when he was leading the Mont- from military school and become a The social justice activist touched on a slew of issues in an exclusive interview with the CT. gomery Bus Boycott. My father lieutenant. If you can command a continued from page 1 $20 trillion economy, yet has the ban and suburban communities — and his team didn’t have Twitter, platoon of soldiers at 21, why can’t audacity to have poor people. We and what we found out was in all Facebook, Instagram - none of the you run for school board?

Eradicating Poverty are not a developing country, we those areas, most of the problems modalities that exist today. They “Why can’t you run for state are a developed country, yet we were the same. There was a lack of had a mimeograph machine mak- legislative offices? Young people, I “We have to first acknowledge have not created the opportunity affordable housing, the education ing flyers and they were able to hope, will become engaged in the that the problem exists. We don’t for more people to participate. system was not preparing people transform a whole nation. political elected system, because even focus on it. If we used the “I did a tour about eight years for jobs, there was poor health, “People have been killed and you guys will bring the ideas. Some same ingenuity that we use to de- ago called Poverty in America. We and several other issues. So until have killed themselves because of of us are older — we may think velop buildings and new technolo- went to 40 communities — Na- we look at a strategic, holistic plan how they’ve been ostracized on- we have the ideas — but obviously gy on eradicating poverty, we could tive American reservations, Skid to address and eradicate poverty, line. That’s technology being used some of what we’ve talked about eradicate it tomorrow. Something Row in Los Angeles, Appalachia we’re not going to do it. at its worst. But then there are hasn’t worked. We need your input.” is wrong with a nation that has a in West Virginia and a lot of ur“While we’ve made some head- other things like the Arab Spring PHOTO BY RAELYN FINES

Along with his wife Arndrea Waters King and daughter Yolanda King, he met with student and community leaders at the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs before his keynote address. Topics ranged from consumerism and activism to the current presidency.

VCU President Michael Rao praised King’s strength as a leader.

“His focus is really about the future,” Rao said. “He has a very perfect memory with respect to history, he has a very clear sense of a lot of the issues that we face today [and] he also has a really clear sense about where we need to go as people in the future.”

King’s keynote address received a standing ovation. His closing words echoed those of his late father.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.”

Black people,” Kendi said.

Kendi outlined three mentalities in the dynamic of racism: segregationist, which claims racial groups are inherently unequal; assimilationist, suggesting groups are unequal due to their environments and anti-racist, which suggests racial groups are equal.

“Anti-racists look at the history of African-America and how all these intellectual and cultural and social products came out of the extremely dehumanizing environment of slavery,” Kendi said. “It shows that you can be in that type of environment but that doesn’t make you as an individual, or a group of people, inferior. It just makes you different.”

Audience member and VCU political science alumna Ayanna McMullen said she enjoyed the way Kendi broke down racist ideas, giving a simple explanation of how and why they’re constructed.

“I really like his point about how it’s in people’s self-interest to keep breeding these ideas,” McMullen said.

Richmond native Michael Brown also attended the lecture and said Kendi’s analysis could “get people to understand the root causes” of racism.

“His lecture was excellent, it was enlightening in some ways but I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Brown said.

Fendi said racist ideas come from policy created to protect the self-interest of those who want to retain economic, political and cultural power. The racist ideas are created to justify the racist policy.

Unlike what’s conveyed in other narratives, Kendi said his research for “Stamped from the Beginning” didn’t show that ignorance or hate are the root causes of racist ideas.

The Power of Social Media

Work of first-time feature filmmaker debuts at RVA Environmental Film Festival

PHOTO COURTESY OF APRIL WADE

GEORGIA GEEN Spectrum Editor

David Schumacher produced and directed much of “The New Fire” without third-party funding.

First-time feature filmmaker David Schumacher’s film, “The New Fire” uses documentary storytelling to suggest nuclear energy as a solution to climate change.

The film screened on Feb. 15 at the RVA Environmental Film Festival, followed by a discussion led

by Schumacher and Sama Bilbao y León, Director of Nuclear Engineering Programs at VCU. “Climate change is a huge problem,” Bilbao y León said. “But instead of looking at it from that doomsday point of view, (the film) shows we have technology, we have people with fantastic ideas that are working really hard to find a solution.”

Schumacher detailed the efforts of young engineers to develop a nuclear reactor which could consume existing stockpiles of nuclear waste. While he doesn’t have a science background, Schumacher was interested in the innovations occurring in the nuclear field.

“When I found this story, on the one hand I felt like, wow, I can’t believe no one else is making this movie, or nobody else is already telling this story,” Schumacher said.

“But then when I started to try to make this an entertaining film, I realized there’s a good reason for it.

It’s a very difficult subject matter.”

Schumacher said the issue of nuclear energy alone doesn’t make a good film -- a narrative has to be present to engage audience. This balance works well, according to Bilbao y León, because viewers acquire some knowledge of technical details and an understanding of how they fit together.

“I think that the public doesn’t want a lecture on the details of nuclear technology,” Bilbao y León said. “People want to have a general vision of how it all works.”

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear energy went from producing 2.4 percent of U.S. electricity to about 20 percent in 1990, a level which hasn’t shifted much since. About 10 percent of U.S. electricity comes from renew-

able sources like solar and wind.

Bilbao y León said nuclear energy is sometimes vilified in environmental communities.

“I found that there was some really interesting innovation happening in the field of nuclear and it made me think about what role innovation and technology could play in addressing climate (change),” Schumacher said of his research process for the documentary.

The innovation on the part of young engineers inspired the documentary in part.

Schumacher and his team -which sometimes only consisted of his cameraman -- didn’t have third party funding for the first nine months of production. Eventually, he acquired about $400,000, less than half of the film’s $1.15 million cost, in funding from individuals in Silicon Valley who were interested in nuclear innovation. The rest of the money came out of pocket.

To acquire that amount of funding is “actually pretty good” for indie films, Schumacher said. In addition, it’s challenging for first-

time filmmakers to receive funding.

“I didn’t do this to make money,” Schumacher said. “When this story dawned on me, it just became an obsession all of a sudden and I couldn’t stop doing it.”

The acquisition of funding enabled Schumacher to travel to other countries, like Senegal and China, for filming in order to contrast different global energy needs.

Schumacher said he enjoyed all of the moments portrayed in the final film -- his favorite parts are those dealing with the “characters” of the film, or the prominent individuals in nuclear energy innovation.

The independent nature of the film’s production meant Schumacher had more freedom over the final product.

“It enabled me to tell a story that I think is very different from certainly any other climate film that’s been out there,” Schumacher said. “It’s just really fun and very satisfying.”

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spectrum

The Commonwealth Times

Art show explores gender-based connections, self-exploration

PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH HUMPHREYS

GEORGIA GEEN Spectrum Editor

Top: For her series, Emma Gould photographed herself alongside her mother, strengthening the relationship between the two. Bottom: Marissa Alper examined the significance of female role models in her photos for Ambiguously Yours.

The Ambiguously Yours art exhibition presented work exploring themes of gender on Feb. 16 at the Hofheimer Building.

The exhibition served as the senior thesis for Caeleigh Griffin, who attends the Savannah College of Art and Design via its e-learning program. She chose gender as the theme because of her interest in the topic -- Griffin’s work focuses on the evolution of the female nude from an art history perspective.

“I wanted to show the work of emerging artists and give them more of a community without them having to take on the financial burden of putting on a show,” Griffin said.

Griffin featured some of her own work in the exhibition. The pieces, self-portraits based off of photos, were laid against a wall on the floor instead of being hung up. This position increases interaction between viewers and the art, Griffin said.

“It makes people ask questions

and then it starts a conversation,” Griffin said.

Emma Gould, a junior in the VCUarts photography and film program, had four photographs featured in the exhibition. The collection featured two self-portraits and two photos of Gould and her mother, who is posed in business attire while Gould maintains a casual position, exposing parts of her body. The stance reflects a character Gould developed that represents femininity.

“I want people to be confronted by my really awkward stances,” Gould said. “A lot of my work ties in with how androgyny is so inherently masculine and why that is a thing only reserved for guys.”

Gould wanted to explore how “comfortable” clothing choices are usually associated with masculinity while femininity is policed to the point that it feels restrictive.

Gould had already created work regarding dysphoria, gender roles and questioning gender and thought the pieces would be appropriate for the exhibition. This series

in particular helped her connect with her mother on a deeper level.

“It’s made me feel better because I’ve connected with other people in my major, or at least in the arts in general about this topic,” Gould said.

Junior VCU photography student Marissa Alper featured a collection of photos exploring female relationships. She said she lacked a female role model for a short time in her life.

The photos feature Alper and her roommate in various positions, “being goofy” in front of pink and purple backgrounds. Like other featured artists, Alper was interested in gender.

“I felt like it was an important topic and I wanted to put my two cents into the conversation. I wanted whatever little voice I have to be heard,” Alper said. “I was just kind of delving into that and comparing female figures in my life and kind of showing how supportive and how important they are.”

In one of the images, Alper’s roommate is seen doing a head-

stand. While the action was “just kind of for fun,” Alper said, it also reflects how the two balance each other out.

Alper also created two small books of photos for the show. One of them showed her year in photos and the other was a project in which she photographed people she met on Tinder, a dating and social app. The entire project also included an instillation of paintings.

“That was my way of curating people,” Alper said. “Kind of exploring my own vulnerability and the systematic oppression of women and how we feel unsafe on Tinder.”

Griffin said she chose the Hofheimer Building as a location because the venue, and Scott’s Addition location, are unconventional for an art show.

“I think (the exhibition) is really very different, I think it’s diverse and I really learned a lot throughout the process,” Griffin said. “I kind of wanted to see how different people around the Richmond community would explore that theme.”

Cinematheque film examines oppression of women

SAM’S TAKE

drugs. The women of the film are on a journey through a thick, overgrown brush that separates them from reality due to years of sexism ingrained in their society.

The film begins with Munis, whose brother constantly berates her about being nearly 30 years old and unmarried, calling her interest in radio news ridiculous and unfit for a woman. Zarin is a prostitute whose bones show through her clothes. Years of sex work drove her so far inside herself that she can’t speak.

Farrokhlagha leaves her husband and buys an orchard where she finds Zarin, barely conscious, in a stream in nearby woods.

All the women cross paths di-

rectly except for Munis, who is involved in her own world of political unrest.

The film has recurring themes of nature, water and an open road on which all of the women travel.

The symbol of the road represents how all women in the country travel down the same difficult and alarming path due to the cruel hand of men.

Other Cinematheque films that will be screened during the spring 2018 semester include “Black Power Mixtape” on Feb. 20, which examines the Black Power Movement, and “Soy Cuba” on April 15, showing vignettes of pre-revolutionary Cuba.

ILLUSTRATION BY LIZZY COX

pur. The film tells the story of four women in politically tumultuous 1950s Tehran, Iran. Each have a The VCU cinema department heartbreaking and twisted tale of screened Iranian director Shi- men who have betrayed their bodrin Neshat’s 2009 film “Women ies, minds or wishes.

Without Men” as a part of the CinRichmond native Zach Simon ematheque program on Feb. 13 at frequents the Cinematheque feaGrace Street Theater. tures on Tuesday evenings and Through Cinematheque, the thought Women Without Men was department hosts free indie and extraordinary. foreign films projected in 35 mm “I come to a lot of these showfilm every Tuesday evening at 7 ings and this one touched me like p.m. The screenings are always no other film I’ve seen here has,” open to the public. The department Simon said. “Those women are attempts to have a variety of films stronger than I will ever have to be.” featured in each month’s array.

The theme of self-exploration “Women Without Men” is an is prevalent in “Women Without adaptation of a 2004 book of the Men,” but not in the quintessensame title by Shahrnush Parsi- tial way of exploring sexuality or MADELINE WHEELER Contributing Writer

“Black Panther” is unapologetically bold

ILLUSTRATION BY JACQUE CHANDLER

of the best blockbuster films. Ryan Coogler and his crew have crafted a film that is fun and exciting and intelligently realizes its potential within its afrofuturistic premise.

The main cast is fantastic, with every actor giving interesting and convincing performances. Chadwick Boseman owns his role as T’Challa, while Michael B. Jordan proves once again how amazing of an actor he is with his portrayal of the antagonist Killmonger.

Special mention should be made of the film’s female characters: Lupita Nyong’o as the spy Nakia, Danai Gurira as the head of the Wakandan military Okoye and Letitia Wright as T’Challa’s brilliant and tech-savvy sister Shuri. All three serve as highlights throughout the movie, playing vivid characters who steal any scene they’re in.

Ryan Coogler brings his filmmaking chops from 2015’s “Creed” SAMUEL GOODRICH making a film that looked to em- War,” Prince T’Challa takes over into the action scenes of “Black Staff Writer brace its racial identity. as leader of Wakanda, a cultur- Panther.” These expertly shot seNo matter how “Black Pan- ally and technologically advanced quences are exciting and full of The excitement for Marvel’s ther” turned out, this would be an African nation hidden from the kinetic choreography and twists latest blockbuster “Black Panther” important moment in pop culture world. Soon after taking the on older cliches. The scenes are has been infectious for over a year in terms of how representation is throne, threats from the nation’s impressive and many were done now. Not since 1998’s “Blade” has valued by Hollywood studios and past rear their heads as T’Challa in one take. there been a large budget block- audiences. This moment is made must face the dark legacy of his Coogler also uses the camera buster with a mostly Black leading all the more vital by the astounding ancestors and wrestle with how it in creative ways outside the fight cast and crew. The film is helmed quality of its catalyst. affects the present. scenes to make a dynamic movie. by the best Black filmmakers and Taking place soon after the At its core, “Black Panther” is This feeling is also supported by actors working in Hollywood, events of “Captain America: Civil one of Marvel’s best movies and one the soundtrack, a blend of tradi-

tional African music and chants with modern hip-hop and electronic beats that weave in and out depending on what’s happening in the story.

The past few Marvel films like “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” have changed up the Marvel narrative formula. The former became an outright comedy full of beautiful action scenes, while the latter reduced the scale and focused on intimate issues of family and self-growth.

“Black Panther” changes the formula by developing an afrofuturistic world with Wakanda and tying its antagonists and story to current social issues. Instead of avoiding topics some audiences might find uncomfortable, the film asks the questions and aims to answer them.

The country of Wakanda is as much of a character as T’Challa and his companions. It’s a vibrant, exciting location bursting with creativity and small details just waiting to be explored in further films or fan fictions. It’s a place untouched by outside influences, leading to a society full of its own traditions and customs.

The nation’s history of isolation is a key plot point within the narrative and becomes part of the central conflict. “Black Panther” isn’t just about T’Challa grow-

ing into his new role as king, but Wakanda deciding its place within a globalized world.

These themes may sound heavy or intense, but they are handled wonderfully, fitting perfectly within the Marvel structure that is once again given new life with these characters and script.

During the final act of “Black Panther,” when the largest action set pieces take place and the plot points reach their conclusions, I was surprised at how different it felt from the third acts of other Marvel films. It’s still exciting and crowd-pleasing -- proven by the cheering and clapping from my fellow audience members -- but there was something else there.

That “something” was a sense of a greater purpose, of a narrative reaching conclusions beyond the characters, making a statement on the world as a whole.

This focus on a message and unapologetically presenting and exploring it is what separates “Black Panther” from other blockbusters.

It never loses sight of what makes movies have a lasting impression: a cast of memorable and likable characters, a fully realized and fascinating world and a style that feels all its own.

www.commonwealthtimes.org

opinions

Monday, February 19, 2018

9

Quote of the week

“Stoneman Douglas High School will not be the end, unless Americans can muster a more permanent solution than thoughts and prayers.” — Rachel Terrel

Coming to terms with the Parkland school shooting

ILLU STRATION BY IAIN

RACHEL TERRELL Contributing Writer Parkland was named the safest city in Florida in 2017. But last week, it became home to the third deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Something as heinous as innocent children slaughtered in their own schools should not happen — much less several times each year — before America is outraged enough to make some changes. But Columbine was not the end. Virginia Tech was not the end. Sandy Hook was not the end and Stone-

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man Douglas High School will not be the end, unless Americans can muster a more permanent solution than thoughts and prayers.

After decades of cycling through gun-related tragedies, it’s infuriating to think about how little America has done to prevent them. Change can begin to seem impossible, taking action can feel futile and it can be tempting to inadvertently slip into an indifferent mentality. We know these events are taking place, but until they directly involve us, they’re only as tangible as the CNN notifications on our phones.

Blocking out these catastrophes, instead of acknowledging them, may make you feel comfortable for a while, but refusing to accept the horrific realities of events like the Parkland school shooting can lead to a phenomenon called desensitization, which can then lead to unadulterated apathy.

Desensitization occurs when people are repeatedly exposed to negative scenarios, causing their emotional responses to lessen or even diminish completely as time goes on. According to Charles Figley, director of the Traumatology Institute, spectators of trau-

matic events like last week’s mass shooting can react one of two ways: either by directly responding and taking action, or by pushing it to the backs of their minds.

As gun violence continues to plague the U.S., Americans often find themselves feeling powerless and pushing it to the back of their minds.

“The more frequently this happens, the more it reminds people that there’s nothing they can do, so they put it out of their minds,” Figley said in an interview with The Cut. But disassociating yourself from a tragedy is only beneficial

to a certain point, and if taken to its extreme, can contribute to further indifference.

So what can you do to ensure that you don’t become desensitized to events like the Parkland school shooting?

For starters, aim for the middle ground between disregarding the facts and letting the occurrence of a tragedy affect your mental health. Educate yourself on disasters like mass shootings without immersing yourself into every grisly account. Know your limits, but also know that events such as this one should upset you.

Taxing meals and funding schools A deeper look into the meals tax MARLON MCKAY Contributing Writer The Richmond city council voted to increase the meals tax from 6 to 7.5 percent Monday. The plan, proposed by Mayor Levar Stoney, aims to properly fund the Richmond school system and is set to be enacted July 1.

If you bought a meal today for $10, it would be $11.13 after tax, according to the Richmond TimesDispatch. Once the meal tax is imposed, it will be $11.28. The plan is to raise just over $9 million annually to allow the city to borrow $150 million for school improvements over the next five years.

The lack of funding for Richmond schools is a problem. The students are cheated out of the same level of education other students from more well-funded schools receive. A well executed plan is needed to help make sure our city’s schools get the proper attention needed for improvement. But the meals tax isn’t the way to do it Increasing the city meals tax is asking for the money to fund schools from a population that is already impoverished.

The poverty rate of students in Richmond Public Schools is 39 percent, double schools statewide, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. There is a correlation between the poverty rates

of a school district and the funding that district gets from the state. Matthew Lynch, award winning author and education activist explained on his website, the Edvocate, how since 2010 Title I schools have decreased. Throughout the article he explained the troubles that affect both students and the city when schools aren’t properly taken care of.

However, Lynch did put some blame on the states for not being, “vigilant in raising revenue sources through taxes and fees.”

A similar meals tax increase was enacted more than 10 years ago to fund what is now the Dominion

If you do find yourself becoming numb to gun violence, take a moment to acknowledge that ignoring the severity of the problem may be a useful defense mechanism for you but it won’t help the families of the students who lost their lives last week or the children who are may become victims in the next school shooting.

It’s natural to feel hopeless in a country that refuses to change, but desensitization is precisely what keeps America’s action toward gun violence stagnant.

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Performing Arts Studio. This was radius of Richmond, so the whole supposed to be temporary, but weight of the tax won’t be on Richwhen it was about to sunset, the mond residents. Despite that, more city council kept it in place. If the than likely because of the rise in plan does work in reforming our tax both college students and other schools, what will happen when Richmond residents will try to dethe tax is no longer needed? Will it crease their restaurant visits in orstay a burden on our citizens just as der to save money. the first meals tax did?

Restaurant owner have voiced The Richmond Times-Dispatch concern for the meals tax increase reported 1 in 3 restaurant custom- fearing the loss of business that ers come from outside a 50-mile could come as a result. Restau-

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rant owners seem to be the main voice in the crowd against the tax, while many citizens and even school students agree with the tax increase.

Richmond public schools need more funding for the benefit of their students. This tax plan just doesn’t seem to be the starting point. Is there a better way though? Have we exhausted every other opportunity to improve our schools? The city needs to ask these questions before taxing away at their public.

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