The Commonwealth Times; March 20, 2017

March 20, 2017 • Vol. 58, No. 22

The independent press of Virginia Commonwealth University

NEWS Student protests • 3

SPORTS Sanders signs • 6

SPECTRUM Islam Awareness Week • 8

OPINION Trump’s budget • 11

VCU reports breach of medical files The VCU Health System notified about 2,700 people last week that their, or their minor child’s, electronic medical records were “inappropriately accessed over a three-year period”, according to a March 10 university statement.

According to the university, the breach was detected on Jan. 10 when an “unusual pattern of accessing electronic medical records” was detected.

“I wouldn’t speculate on potential motives but would like to reaffirm that the investigation indicated the electronic medical records were viewed without malicious intent and no information was inappropriately used,” said Michael Porter, associate vice president for public affairs at VCU, in an email.

Information that may have been viewed includes the patient’s name, home address, date of birth, medical record number, health care provider, visit dates, health insurance informa

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JULIE TRIPP

MAURA MAZUROWSKI News Editor

—continued on page 4 —continued on page 4

The university reports the breach occurred sometime between Jan. 3 and Jan. 10. No “malicious intent” was cited.

Spectrum

News

Gov. McAuliffe expected to sign two marijuana reforms PHOTOILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON LEONARD

—continued on page 4

The obscurity of America’s first black news anchor

Sports

Rams lose first round during seventhstraight NCAA tournament

PAGE 5

ILLUSTRATION BY IAN DUFFUS

SEVEN STRAIGHT

Max Robinson SIONA PETEROUS Spectrum Editor It’s been almost three decades since American news outlets rushed to report the unexpected death of Maxie Cleveland “Max” Robinson — the Emmy awardwinning documentary filmmaker and journalist who became America’s first black nightly news anchor after joining “ABC’s World News Tonight” in 1978 — on Dec. 20, 1988.

Robinson was born in Rich-

mond, Virginia in 1939. He came into adulthood during the height of the Civil Rights movement when Richmond’s Jackson Ward District was the major centers of operations for NAACP activity in the south.

Despite becoming a nationally-recognized television personality and voice of journalistic integrity, Robinson’s name has been obscured, if not forgotten — even within journalism communities.

America’s collective memory lapse of Robinson’s name and impact was most recently illuminated

in 2015 when Lester Holt was named the new anchor of “NBC’s Nightly News.” Across social media and news outlets, Holt was referenced as “the first black man” to anchor a nightly news show. It was an uncomfortable reminder that Robinson’s achievements are overshadowed by his personal struggle with alcoholism and reports of increasing irritability and rage towards the end of his life and career as journalist.

—continued on page 10

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news Activists, lawmakers demand

The Commonwealth Times

In this section:

Gerrymandering. Protesting Sen. Kaine. Ticket resales. Trump’s budget cuts. Breach in VCU medical files.

CRIME LOG Monday, March 13 Alcohol Violation 500 W. Broad St. Closed

Destruction of Property - Private West Main St. Deck 801 W. Main St. Closed

Attorney General Sessions resign

Theft From Building TAB 701 W. Broad St. Pending Destruction of Property - Private West Main St. Deck 801 W. Main St. Closed Theft From Building Cary St. Gym 101 S. Linden St. Closed Simple Assault 1016 W. Franklin St. Reported by Outside Agency Trespassing 7-11 221 W. Main St. Reported by Outside Agency Destruction of Property - Private 1500 Moore St. Reported by Outside Agency Hit and Run 901 N. Lombardy St. Reported by Outside Agency Theft From Motor Vehicle 1100 West Ave. Reported by Outside Agency Theft From Building 1363 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency

Tuesday, March 14 Shoplifting Wal-Mart On Campus 910 W. Grace St. Closed All other Larceny 810 Cathedral Pl. Pending

Destruction of Property - Private 700 W. Broad St. Pending All other Larceny 933 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency Hit and Run 1414 W. Marshall St. Reported by Outside Agency

Wednesday, March 15 Fraud - Credit Card/Drug Violation 311 W. Franklin St. Pending Trespassing/Indecent Exposure/All Other Offense Grace Harris Hall 1015 Floyd Ave Closed Shoplifting Barnes & Noble Bookstore 1111 W. Broad St. Closed Theft From Motor Vehicle 101 S. Pine St. Reported by Outside Agency Hit and Run 900 W. Marshall St. Reported by Outside Agency Shoplifting ABC 1217 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency

Thursday, March 16 Fraud - Credit Card Grace Harris Hall 1015 Floyd Ave Pending Drug Violation 100 S. Belvidere St. Closed Theft From Building Cary St. Gym 101 S. Linden St. Pending Hit and Run 1111 W. Broad St. Pending Possession of Burglary Tools 1 S. Laurel St. Reported by Outside Agency Theft From Building 1510 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle 1012 W. Clay St. Reported by Outside Agency Theft From Building MoJo’s 733 W. Cary St. Reported by Outside Agency.

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

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

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

For an off-campus emergency: 911.

Activists, including the ACLU of Virginia Director Claire Gastanaga, urged Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign downtown last Wednesday.

MEGAN SCHIFFRES Contributing Writer Bearing signs such as “Perjury = Prison,” “Nyet Paid,” and “No Concessions for Sessions!”, more than 50 protesters in downtown Richmond demanded the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions last Wednesday.

Calling him “racist” and “unfit,” the protesters gathered outside the SunTrust building on Main Street In Richmond where Sessions addressed law enforcement officers on combating violent crime and restoring public safety.

“President Trump gave us a clear directive,” Sessions said. “It’s the policy of this administration to reduce crime in America.”

Sessions was confirmed by the U.S. Senate last month despite previously being denied a federal judgeship because of accusations of racism. He has also faced controversy regarding allegations that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential race.

During his confirmation hearing, Sessions denied having communications with the Russian government, but The Washington Post recently revealed he met twice last year with the Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. As a result, Sessions has had to recuse himself from the Justice Department’s investigation into whether Russia tried to influence the election.

The protesters last week marched around the perimeter of the SunTrust building, led by an enthusiastic woman rhythmically banging a pan with a wooden spoon and chanting, “No bans, no walls, sanctuary for all” and “Heyhey, ho-ho, Jeff Sessions has got to go.” Many of the demonstrators objected to Session’s alleged involvement with Russia, his record on civil rights and his stance on immigration.

“He’s the person who’s supposed to hold other people accountable for their incongrui-

It’s the policy of this administration to reduce crime in America.”

Jeff Sessions Attorney General ties and their unlawfulness, and I’m very concerned about those characteristics and those qualities in our attorney general,” said Rev. Jay McNeal, executive director of United Faith Leaders, an interfaith interdenominational group that helped organize the protest.

A number of progressive organizations including the Sierra Club, Indivisible Richmond, Equality Virginia and ICA Out of RVA collaborated to organize Wednesday’s rally. The American Civil Liberties Union was not involved in organizing the protest, but legal observers from the group were there to ensure no one’s First Amendment rights were violated.

Charlie Schmidt, public policy associate for the ACLU of Virginia, said he is concerned that the top prosecutor for the country will negatively impact civil rights in the U.S. “The administration has a lot of leeway to say, ‘Well, we’re not going to hire any more staff attorneys for the Office of Civil Rights; we’re not going to investigate police when there’s misconduct.’ They have a lot of discretion and a lot of power,” Schmidt said.

Last month, in his first speech as Attorney General, Sessions said the Justice Department

PHOTOS BY MEGAN SCHIFFRES

Hit and Run West Broad St. Deck 1111 W. Broad St. Closed

Some Democratic state legislators joined the protest against Sessions. will pull back its monitoring of police departments with civil rights abuses. He said that the authority of police departments had been undermined by scrutiny from the Justice Department, and scaling back on federal oversight would improve their effectiveness.

“We want the Justice Department to continue to root out corruption and racism in our police department, instead of falling into the false narrative that police are the victims,” said Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

A few minutes before the protest, Swecker and several members of the General Assembly held a press conference and called on Sessions to resign for misleading the Senate. The

legislators, all Democrats, included Dels.

Delores McQuinn, Jeff Bourne and Betsy Carr of Richmond and Sen. Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg.

While in Richmond, Sessions praised Project Exile, which imposes a mandatory five-year prison sentence on felons convicted of possessing firearms.

While crime rates have been at historic lows nationwide, Sessions said violent crime has been increasing in some cities, including Richmond. He blamed the increase in part on the growing opioid epidemic, saying, “we have too much of a tolerance for drug use.”

New law allows Virginians to resell tickets MARY LEE CLARK Staff Writer In a defeat for online ticket sales company Ticketmaster, a new state law will allow Virginians to resell tickets they’ve bought for concerts, sports and other public events.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed two bills March 3 that would protect people involved in reselling tickets – a practice critics call “scalping.” The law will take effect July 1, and violators could be fined up to $5,000.

The law also states an individual can’t be turned away at a venue if they purchased the ticket from someone else.

One of the measures – House Bill 1825 – was sponsored by Del. David Albo (R-Fairfax) who said he had a personal reason for proposing the legislation. It stemmed from a secret that, for a while, he kept even from his wife, Rita.

“One thing she did not know about me when we got married is – she figured Republican, lawyer – you know, straight guy.

She does not know I am a metalhead,” said Albo, 54.

One of his favorite bands is Iron Maiden, and when Albo learned they were coming to Virginia to play at Nissan Pavilion (now called JiffyLube Live) in Bristow, he bought two $200 tickets as soon as sales opened up on Ticketmaster.

Rita later broke it to her husband that the Iron Maiden con-

cert was the same week as the family’s vacation. Albo decided he needed to bite the bullet and try to resell the tickets, but he couldn’t do that on the Ticketmaster website because the show wasn’t sold out, and Ticketmaster prohibits reselling its tickets anywhere else.

Albo said he couldn’t even give the tickets to a friend because Ticketmaster’s policies require the concert-goer to show an ID or credit card of the original ticket purchaser.

After Albo told legislators about his ordeal, the General Assembly passed House Bill 1825 and Senate Bill 1425, sponsored

by Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Franklin) Critics say the legislation opens the door for ticket scalping or “touting,” in which people, sometimes using computer software, buy tickets only with the intention of reselling them at a higher price to make a profit.

Ticketmaster did not respond last Tuesday to a request for comment about Virginia’s new law, but when Albo’s bill came before the House in January, the company issued a statement.

“This scalper friendly legislation is harmful to every sports and music fan in the Commonwealth, and the bill should be rejected just as it has been in other states across the country,” Ticketmaster said in their statement.

Two other states – New York and Colorado – have adopted laws similar to Virginia’s.

On the other hand, ticket vendors like StubHub, a website owned by eBay and designed for people to resell and buy secondhand tickets, applauded the new state law.

“This legislation protects Virginia fans and ensures an open and unrestricted ticket marketplace,” said Laura Dooley, senior manager of government relations at StubHub. “We are proud to advocate in support of legislation like the Virginia bills on behalf of our users.” the bill states: Tickets to any professional concert, sporting event or theatrical production cannot be sold “solely through a delivery method that substantially prevents the purchaser of the ticket from lawfully reselling the ticket on the Internet ticketing platform of the ticket purchaser’s choice.”

“No person shall be discriminated against or denied admission to an event solely on the basis that the person resold a ticket, or purchased a resold ticket, on a specific Internet ticketing platform.”

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, March 20, 2017

3

Redistricting cases make their way through courts legally gerrymander voters. The defendants are state election officials, represented by the office of Attorney General Mark Herring and a private law firm BakerHostetler, who argue the lines are drawn fairly and constitutionally.

In Virginia, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the General Assembly after the state’s census data is released. This redistricting strategy has been criticised for years by voters and lawmakers who argue it encourages gerrymandering.

“We had a fair hearing of our evidence that the General Assembly did not account for the constitutional requirement of compactness to any serious degree when drawing the 2011 maps,” said Brian Cannon, Executive Director of OneVirginia2021, “OneVirginia2021 called

MARY LEE CLARK Staff Writer

ing plan, which the plaintiffs allege gerrymanders 12 state districts on the basis of racial demographics.

“In the challanges’ view, this approach foreclosed a holistic analysis of each district and led the District Court to give insufficient weight to the 55 percent (Black Voting Age Population) target and other relevant evidence that race predominated,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the Court’s majority opinion. “This court agrees.”

The SCOTUS concluded the lower court did not apply the appropriate standards when deciding if the new district lines were constitutional. The Justices have sent the case back to the lower courts to reexamine and determine if the legislative lines show any signs of gerrymandering.

PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP

Virginia redistricting reform made strides forward this month with two cases concerning illegal gerrymandering -- the drawing of district lines to benefit a state legislature’s majority political party to ensure reelection.

The first case, stemming from a complaint filed in September 2015, is awaiting a Richmond Circuit Court judge’s ruling after final arguments were heard last Wednesday.

The plaintiff is represented by OneVirginia2021, an organization advocating for fair redistricting in Virginia.

The complaint alleges 11 districts’ lines are drawn to il-

out districts drawn by Democrats and Republicans for these violations and maintain that these districts belong to Virginians, not to any party or politician.”

E. Mark Braden, an attorney for the House of Delegates, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the 2011 district lines complied with the law, and that if the plaintiffs wanted to change the way lines are drawn the legislature can amend the Constitution.

“What’s being requested of this court is a social science experiment,” Braden told the Times-Dispatch.

The U.S. Supreme Court also handed down its opinion in Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections, another Virginia gerrymandering case this month. The Court’s opinion also challenges Virginia’s 2011 redistrict-

Gerrymandering, or the drawing of district lines to benefit a political party to ensure re-election, is blamed for partisan imbalance in the state House and Senate.

Students lobby Sen. Kaine’s office downtown over Trump’s budget JESSICA NOLTE Contributing Writer

PHOTO BY MALIK HALL

After President Donald Trump proposed slashing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget, students with the group Environment Virginia urged Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to fight back.

Trump’s budget would cut funding for the EPA by about one-third and eliminate federal funding to cleanup the Chesapeake Bay. The proposed budget cuts follow Trump’s selection of Scott Pruitt for administrator of the EPA. As Oklahoma’s attorney

general, Pruitt sued the EPA more than a dozen times and has questioned whether humans are responsible for global warming.

About a dozen students from Virginia Commonwealth University visited Kaine’s Richmond office last Thursday afternoon to protest the Trump administration’s actions, which they say will hurt the environment. The students met with John Knapp, Kaine’s state director.

“There’s a lot of energy out there, and it’s good.

It’s exciting, and it’s good for our democracy,” Knapp said.

VCU student lobbyists met with Kaine’s state director John Knapp (center) Thursday.

The students aren’t the only Virginians worried about the impact of Trump’s budget. State Democratic officials also have expressed concerns.

“Eliminating federal support to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, doing away with the Appalachian Regional Commission and slashing investments in community development, affordable housing, home weatherization, and heating assistance will do significant harm to Virginia families and our economy,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe in a statement.

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who hopes to succeed McAuliffe as governor, also criticized the budget.

“I am particularly disappointed by the total elimination of funding to clean up the Chesapeake Bay,” Northam said. “As an Eastern Shore native, I know protecting the bay has both economic and environmental impacts.”

VCU students also are concerned about the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which the energy giant Dominion Power hopes to construct through Virginia and North Carolina, according to the Dominion Power website.

Dominion says the interstate pipeline would transmit natural gas to multiple public utilities and serve the “growing energy needs in Virginia and North Carolina.” McAuliffe supports the project.

During the meeting with Knapp, Crystal Bishop, a constituent services intern intern for McAuliffe, said she has received a lot of phone calls concerning the pipeline, which has catalyzed protests in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Charlottesville, Virginia.

Bishop also said in her hometown of Montclair, a community in Prince William County, there is not easy access to recycling.

“There’s a wide discrepancy in access to recycling across Virginia,” Bishop said.

Bishop said her concerns amplified after she spent time in Belgium, where even the tiniest piece of trash is recycled.

How students can stay involved Individual voices do matter.

Voting in state elections is crucial.

Collective voices matter.

People should run for office...

INFOGRAPHIC BY RACHEL LEE

Knapp urged individuals to call their representatives.

Elected officials do listen, he said. A lot of people get discouraged when the phone lines are busy, but that means people care and are making their voices heard.

If you cannot get through, email the office, Knapp said.

Knapp told individuals to find an organization that supports what they believe in.

No matter what your opinion or political affiliation, voting in this year legislative, gubernatorial and other elections is sure to send a message to D.C., Knapp said. Only Virginia and New Jersey are holding statewide elections this year.

or get involved by working for someone with a platform they support.

State approves $119 million VCU-partnered rehabilitation hospital JIM THOMMA Staff Writter Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital and VCU Health received approval last Tuesday for the joint construction of the $119 million Sheltering Arms Rehab Institute, a 114-bed rehabilitation hospital in Goochland County.

The hospital will treat patients with spinal cord or brain injuries, stroke victims and various neurological diseases and disorders.

The goal is to create a destination rehabilitation hospital for the state of Virginia and beyond.”

Stephanie Sulmer, spokeswoman Sheltering Arms Hospital The two health systems announced their intention to construct the hospital on a 25-acre site in the West Creek Medical Park off Broad Street Road in October and submitted an application for a certificate of public need shortly after.

Virginia’s chief health official issued the certificate for the project last Wednesday, according to a joint press release by the partner organizations. According to Sheltering Arms CEO Mary Zweifel, construction is expected to begin in fall 2017.

“We have a team from VCU and Sheltering Arms (…) sitting on this selection committee and looking at the various different components,” Zweifel said. “We’re trying to get that selection made so we can begin working on a final plan for the hospital.”

The project will consolidate beds from VCU Health System inpatient rehabilitation facilities throughout Richmond, and from Sheltering Arms hospitals in Hanover County and Midlothian.

“We’re bringing together advanced technology, research and evidenced-based clinical care in a spacious, green setting that will facilitate our joint goal of enhanced outcomes for our patients,” Zweifel said.

Sheltering Arms spokesman Stephanie Sulmer said the new site is easily accessible from the highway and will have ample parking.

“The goal is to create a destination rehabilitation hospital for the state of Virginia and beyond,” Sulmer said.

The institute will also serve as a teaching hospital, according to Marsha Rappley, CEO of VCU Health System and vice president of VCU Health Sciences. “(Its mission will be) to advance clinical education across all the rehabilitation disciplines and to support translational research in the field of rehabilitation that will advance knowledge in the industry and immediately benefit patients,” Rappley said.

The next step is to review and approve design and operational plans for a proposed fall 2020 opening.

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The Commonwealth Times

VCU reports breach of medical files —continued from page 1

PHOTOILLUSTRATION BY JULIE TRIPP

VCUHS has internal controls in place to proactively detect inappropriate access.”

Michael Porter Associate VP for Public Affairs

tion and other similar medical information. Social security numbers may have also been viewed.

Access to such files is provided to VCUHS’ partner practices and physicians throughout Richmond; these partners are not employed by the university.

In an investigation following the breach, university officials learned the unauthorized access was conducted independently by employees of certain community physician groups and “an employee of a contracted vendor.” As a result, these employees have been terminated.

Porter said the university is not authorized to release the names of these organizations or employees.

VCUHS has since instituted new “safeguards” to prevent further access into patients’ medical records.

“In order to minimize inappropriate access to data, VCUHS has internal controls in place to proactively detect inappropriate access,” Porter said. “To the extent that any inappropriate access is detected follows internal protocols and process, which are consistent with regulatory requirements and industry standards for reporting and handling.”

Following last week’s breach, Porter said similar matters at the university “have been rare,” however this is not the first time private information has been accessed at VCU. In November 2011, the VCU community was warned of a potential breach in informational security. A server containing the personal information of 176,567 current and former members of the university had been hacked, but the risk of stolen or compromised information was low.

The server contained contact information, social security numbers, phone numbers and other forms of personal identification.

Information that may have been accessed includes social security numbers, health insurance information and home addresses.

HIBA AHMAD Online News Editor

SB 1027 includes an “emergency clause” so it will go into effect immediately after being signed.

Gov. McAuliffe expected to sign multiple marijuana reforms SARAROSE MARTIN Staff Writer

Having diversity within the student popoulation isn’t enough.”

“B” VCU Student

IMAGE COURTESY OF RICHMOND STRUGGLE

Flyers with bold black letters spelling, “FUCK RAO” were handed out to students late last week by a local, grassroots organization known as Richmond Struggle.

The organization started roughly a year ago by students and community members who were troubled by VCU’s effect on the city. They raised concerns about the university’s expansion into historical neighborhoods like Jackson Ward, rising tuition costs, interactions with VCU PD and homeless individuals as well as people of color.

According to Chris Seress, a VCU student and active member of Richmond Struggle, students tend to agree and support the organization’s message.

Seress said that one of the most jarring things for him was seeing how VCUPD patrols the campus.

“It’s been told to me by many people who have attended this university that VCUPD is not friendly towards people of color,” Seress said. “It’s a terrorist force walks around campus so that ‘undesirables for the university’ do not come onto the campus and make us look bad.”

The organization said that they haven’t directly reached out to either the VCUPD or the university’s administration, but have expressed their concerns at forums.

Public Information Officer, Corey Beyers, said in an email that the Department is willing to meet with any individual or group to address any concerns they may have.

“The VCU Police Department is highly visible on both campuses, actively engages with all members of the VCU community and has strong partnerships with residents in surrounding neighborhoods,” Beyers said.

Ultimately, Seress said, Richmond Struggle would like to build up autonomous working class power, which includes

students of all backgrounds since many are in higher education to enter the workforce.

Another member of the organization who asked to only be addressed as “B” in case of backlash also expressed their frustration of how VCU doesn’t support their claims for being a diverse and inclusive environment.

“You can’t just have the people that are coming and giving their money be diverse,” B said. “You have to be engaging diverse peoples and give them positions of power-- having diversity within the student population isn’t enough.”

Richmond Struggle has said that they would be willing to sit down with the school’s administration, but do not expect anything to change until students organize and condemn the university’s actions. “[We’re] getting bodies together to say hey, we are not happy with how this place is being run and as the students of this university, you pretty much have to listen to us,” Saress said.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CAMERON LEONARD

Local organization criticizes VCU’s Rao, tuition hikes, expansions, race relations

Richmond Struggle, a group composed of both students and community members, hopes to improve relations between VCU and the city of Richmond.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to sign a handful of marijuana-related bills passed by the General Assembly during its recent session.

The bills include SB 1027, which will allow Virginia pharmacies to make and sell marijuana extract oils for treating intractable epilepsy, and HB 2051 and SB 1091, identical bills which will eliminate the state’s punishment of automatically suspending the driver’s license of adults convicted of simple marijuana possession.

It is currently illegal in Virginia to purchase THC-A or CBD oils. In 2015, the General Assembly made an exception for people who suffer from intractable epilepsy. Epilepsy patients and their caregivers are allowed to possess the marijuana extract oils, but they still face problems buying the medication.

SB 1027, sponsored by Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) will allow “pharmaceutical processors” – after obtaining a permit from the state Board of Pharmacy and under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist – to grow low-THC cannabis, manufacture the oil and then provide it to epilepsy patients who have a written certification from a doctor.

“Virginia will only be the second state in the nation that has this type of program, the first being Missouri,” said Maggie Ellinger-Locke, legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates liberalizing marijuana laws. “It’s a far cry from an effective medical marijuana program, but it’s still a step in the right direction.”

Ellinger-Locke said 28 states and the District of Columbia have full-fledged programs in which people with cancer, glaucoma and other diseases can get a prescription to use marijuana.

Marsden’s bill includes an emergency clause. In other words, when the governor signs it, the law will take effect immediately.

Del. Les Adams (R-Chatham) and Sen. Adam Ebbin (DAlexandria) carried the measures regarding driver’s licenses.

Under the legislation, which would take effect July 1, judges

will have the discretion to suspend the license of an adult convicted of marijuana possession – but the penalty would not be automatic. Juveniles would still be subject to an automatic sixmonth suspension of their driver’s license.

Ellinger-Locke said the laws are in step with reforms happening across the country.

“We are optimistic,” she said. “The polling shows that Virginians desperately want their marijuana policy changed and laws reformed in some capacity, and I think that lawmakers are starting to hear the call in Virginia as well as throughout the U.S.” Those calls went largely unheeded during the 2017 legislative session as about a dozen proposals, ranging from establishing a medical marijuana program to decriminalizing marijuana possession, failed.

For example, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel of Winchester introduced bills to make marijuana products available to people with cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and several other diseases (SB 1298) and to create a pilot program for farmers to grow hemp (SB 1306). Both bills cleared the Senate but died in the House.

Marijuana will likely also be an issue in statewide elections this year. Vogel, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor, has vowed to be an advocate for medical marijuana.

“It has no psychotropic effects, and no one is dealing it on the illicit market. For the people that are sick and really wanted the bill to pass, it was heartbreaking,” Vogel said. “I think this is a little bit of bias and a little bit of lack of education (...) The overwhelming majority of the voting public believes having access to that kind of medication is very helpful.”

Medical marijuana bills faced opposition from legislators afraid that expansion may become a slippery slope. Sen. Dick Black (R-Loudoun) recalled returning from serving in the Marines in Vietnam in the 1960s when, he said, marijuana use caused a collapse of “good order and discipline.”

sports

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Too little, too late

Monday, March 20, 2017

5

Stat of the week:

Senior guard JeQuan Lewis put up a season-high 28 shots en route to 30 points against St. Mary’s.

Rams’ comeback falls short in first round of NCAA against St. Mary’s

Senior guard JeQuan Lewis averaged 15.2 points and 4.5 assits per game in his final season for the Black and Gold.

ZACHARY JOACHIM & SOPHIA BELLETTI Sports Editors VCU men’s basketball saw its season come to an anticlimactic end against the Gaels of Saint Mary’s College by a final of 85-77 in the first round of the NCAA tournament this past Thursday in Salt Lake City.

The Rams faced a 15 point halftime deficit, and were never able to claw all the way back in the second period despite trimming the Gael’s lead to as little as two and outscoring SMC 46-39.

“I knew we were gonna come back when it was a 15 point game

at halftime,” said head coach Will Wade. “Every game has been a dogfight this year. That’s the culture of our program.”

“That pressure is hard to play against,” said Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett. “They’re really good. They just keep coming — they’re quick and aggressive.”

VCU committed a season-high 32 fouls in the contest, 21 of which were called in the second half.

Repeated whistles in the backcourt subdued the Rams’ full court pressure throughout the night.

The Black and Gold also struggled to find a rhythm from three-point-range, as they shot an abysmal 2-13 from the land beyond.

Senior guard JeQuan Lewis,

I’m really proud of our seniors, I just thanked them. It hasn’t been an easy year. I love those guys. Now we get to work on getting back.”

Will Wade Head Coach

who made the Rams’ only two three-pointers, was once again the catalyst for VCU, leading all scorers with 30 points on 12-28 shooting.

“He’s a warrior,” Wade said of Lewis. “He’s been wounded the last month of the season. He’s the guy who’s been the most consistent guard. He’s the one guy who’s made shots for us. And to play 33, 35 minutes a night like he does — that hard, flying around — we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him. He’s hit some huge shots and big free throws all season. I love the kid to death.”

Senior forward Ahmed Hamdy recorded five rebounds and 12 points on 5-7 shooting. Hamdy’s post play was rendered pivotal by

the struggles of his fellow big men — senior forward Mo-Alie Cox scored just two points on 1-4 shooting and grabbed two boards. Junior forward and perennial double-double machine Justin Tillman had six points and seven rebounds.

“The difference in the game was simply, when you get to this level of play you have to have very good big guys,” Wade said. “Hamdy gives us the best opportunity to score in the paint. He’s the one guy who can really wheel and deal down there.”

Forward Jordan Burgess had perhaps the best game of his senior campaign, contributing 11 points and three rebounds on 4-6 shooting from the field. The Midlothian native recorded 29 points in

postseason play over the past two weekends.

“Sometimes when you’re a senior you get a little tight toward the end and I think he got really excited,” Wade said. “Jordan said, ‘I’m going to make the most of this and really get after it,’ and Jordan did that.

I’m really really proud of him — I thought he played extremely well today, driving the ball, playing aggressive.

“I’m really proud of our seniors, I just thanked them,” Wade said.

“It hasn’t been an easy year. I love those guys. Now we get to work on getting back.”

“We don’t always play smart,” Wade said, “but we play extremely hard.”

THE PRESS BOX

One-and-done should be dead and gone NICK VERSAW Staff Writer With March Madness once again upon us, it’s that time of year in which everyone turns their wandering eyes to the spectacle of college basketball. From die-hard fans to those whose only connection to the game are annual office bracket pools, America’s collective eyes are focused on the country’s most beloved sporting event: the NCAA Tournament.

Like all sports, college basketball is driven by the big names.

There’s Duke, UNC, Kansas and Kentucky — the perennial powerhouses that seemingly draw No. 1 seeds each and every year. These big-time programs have fans all throughout the country and their support shows up in droves come March.

However, those programs would be nothing without their stars. Over the years, some of the tournament’s biggest moments are associated with players, not teams. There’s Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater to push Duke past Kentucky in 1992 and Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot over Georgetown a decade earlier. People still talk about Chris Webber’s fateful timeout call — or lack thereof — that derailed the Michigan “Fab Five’s” title hopes in 1993.

It’s been the case for decades. Even in the 1960s and ‘70s, it was more about Bill Walton and Lew Alcindor (later Kareem AbdulJabbar) than it was UCLA. In 1979, all of America tuned in to watch the contrasting styles and personas of Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson. It’s not like anyone outside Terre Haute cared about Indiana State basketball.

While the NCAA may lead their fans to believe it’s all about the schools and their historic basketball programs, March Madness would be nothing without its star players.

Look no further than this season. Villanova — who holds the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament — had seen little coverage until they were knocked out of the tournament by No. 8 Wisconsin, compared to star players like UCLA’s Lonzo Ball or Duke’s Grayson Allen. The players, not the programs, are the ones who dominate headlines.

Take this into account when considering the NCAA’s

“one-and-done” rule, where stars are forced to play just one season in college before they are allowed to bolt for the bright lights and fat paychecks of the NBA.

Because of the booming popularity of the NFL and college football, college basketball’s more casual fans do not begin tuning in until after the Super Bowl, once teams are fully into conference play and the postseason is just around the corner.

In light of this, they find themselves with very little time to become accustomed to the game’s star freshmen before they head off to bigger and better things in the NBA. They get a month-and-a-half to watch guys like Ball and, in the bat of an eye, they’re gone.

Now, just imagine what it would be like if Ball and other freshman sensations like Kentucky’s Malik Monk or Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen were to come back next year — the hype surrounding college basketball would be unprecedented.

For that reason, the NCAA and NBA Players Association need to find a remedy for the dilapidated one-and-done rule.

One option could be letting the most talented high school seniors go straight to the NBA and making everyone else stay in college a minimum of two years.

The way it sits now, many of these so-called “student-athletes” are no more of a student than the janitor who cleans the locker room after a big win or the lady who serves hot dogs and cheese-drenched nachos on the concourse. They have no incentive to show up or put in any work towards school when they know they will be in the NBA come June. These types of players waste everyone’s time — including their own — and take scholarships and roster spots from players who would be much more committed to the program and the university.

Let them go straight to the pros and score their inevitable big payday. Their absence won’t put any strain on the NCAA or take away from the beauty of March Madness. It didn’t in the past.

Sure, there would be potential stars missing come March, but back when there was no one-and-done rule and high-schoolers were free to make the jump to the NBA, there were usually less than a handful good enough to be drafted. The LeBron Jameses and Kobe Bryants of the world were few and far between.

Instead, by giving players the option to either forego college or stay at least two years, programs would have many more opportunities to develop chemistry and groom their star players. There would be more talent and cohesion and March Madness would become even more exciting.

Changing the rule is a no-brainer for all involved. For the talented few good enough to make the jump straight out of high school, they are able to skip college rather than risk injury in one year of what is essentially basketball purgatory. For the universities, they have more stability and name recognition, which will lead to more wins and greater buzz surrounding their programs. The fans, players and universities all come out on top. In a game where 68 teams annually compete for one coveted title, everybody wins.

...the NCAA and NBA Players Association need to find a remedy for the dilapidated one-and-done rule.

Let the most talented high school seniors go straight to the NBA and make everyone else stay in college a minimum of two years.”

PHOTO BY DANIEL PURYEAR

During his first official season wearing the Black and Gold, redshirt-freshman guard Samir Doughty averaged nine points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

6

sports

The Commonwealth Times

BASKETBALL’S BACKBONE: ERIN EDGERTON & WILL DANIEL Contributing Writers

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

The students who follow and cheer for the Black and Gold throughout the season — the VCU cheer squad and Rowdy Rams — do their best to make every road and tournament arena feel like a sold-out Siegel Center.

Rodrigo Magana, coordinator of orientations and socials for the Rowdy Rams, said he feels like the students who commit time to traveling with the team do not get the credit they deserve.

“I don’t think most people realize that there are students that actually put an effort into traveling for away games and conference tournaments,” Magana said.

In the shadow of an elite program that has reached the last seven NCAA tournaments and won 24 games each of the past 11 seasons, it is understandable how these dedicated students fly under the radar. Despite the lack of recognition from the rest of the student body, however, they’re recognized by the team itself.

“I feel they loved having us there to cheer

A $35 Rowdy Rams membership grants VCU students access to all home games and discounts at local, supporting businesses.

them on,” said Sarah Wheeler, a senior Rowdy Rams member. “They especially noticed us at the A-10 tournament and we put all our effort into making as much noise as we could.”

VCU head coach Will Wade made his appreciation for the traveling students known this past Saturday after the Rams completed a season sweep of the University of Richmond in the A-10 tournament semifinals.

“We appreciate all our fans coming — we’ve got blue collar, hard working folks,” Wade said. “Those people sacrifice a lot to come watch us play. It helped us, it was like a home game in there. The least we can do is lay it on the line for them.”

The cheer squad and Rowdy Rams took a six hour bus trip to Pittsburgh last weekend for the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament.

“It was awesome being able to experience the excitement and enthusiasm in the PPG Arena in Pittsburgh,” Wheeler said.

Long bus trips are the least of the sacrifices the student section and cheerleaders make. VCU cheer squad member Casey Cole said the time commitment is sizeable, but it’s all worth it.

“The amount of time it takes just to prepare to show up to these events adds up,” Cole said. “But in the end the thrill of the games makes us happy. I’m grateful to be a part of the support team and appreciate the opportunities we are given.”

To join the Rowdy Rams costs a mere $35 for an entire year. Members receive a complimentary t-shirt and are also eligible for discounts at various locations in and around VCU’s campus, including Hibachi Box, SweetFrog and Virginia Book Company.

Open tryouts for the cheer squad will be held on Saturday, May 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Stuart C. Siegel Center Auxiliary Gym, located on the east end of the building.

“We took away memories and experiences that will last me a lifetime,” said Erica Medina, a senior on the cheer squad. “Being part of the team is a huge sacrifice in terms of time spent and energy, but it’s been the most worthwhile experience.”

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

The Rowdy Rams and VCU cheer squad

Cheer tryouts will be held May 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Siegel Center.

Baseball struggles away from their home Diamond VCU dropped all four games against two strong baseball teams over the past week, with a lone game at home against Marist College and a threegame series at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The Black and Gold fell to 7-2 at home and 3-8 on the road in their 2017 campaign.

After the 16-5 loss to Marist Thursday at the Diamond, the Rams were unable to shut down the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington, as they were swept over the weekend. After VCU’s disheartening blowout to Marist, the Seahawks held on for a close victory in the Friday night game. Wilmington racked up 20 runs over the final two games, neither of which were close.

Sunday VCU’s third and final game against UNCW ended in a 10-1 loss, but the Rams were able to notch eight hits off of Seahawk pitching. However, four errors proved to be the kryptonite for the team’s performance, significantly hurting them in the field.

UNCW scored first, tallying three runs off of VCU senior starter Brooks Vial, who pitched five and one-third innings before being removed for senior closer Sam Donko.

Back-to-back homers in the third from Kennard McDowell and Casey Golden were the notable contributors to their scoring. Three runs came off the bats of UNCW once again in the latter half of the sixth, including a two-run shot from Clark Cota.

The Seahawks added insult to injury in the bottom halves of the seventh and eighth, scoring three more runs to increase their advantage to 10-0. The shutout of the Black and Gold continued until the ninth, when sophomore infielder Brody Cook homered to left.

Saturday The Black and Gold fell short in their second game at UNCW as well, as the Seahawk offense proved relentless in a 10-4 victory.

Plating two runs in the bottom of the first, UNCW struck quickly with a two-run shot from Brian Mims for an early lead. Golden’s secondinning RBI single and Cota’s solo homer in the tail end of the third increased UNCW’s lead to 4-0.

The game remained within reach for the Rams for six and a half innings, until Wilmington exploded in the bottom of the seventh for five runs, effectively sealing the win.

VCU struck back in the opening half of the fourth, cutting the Seahawks’ lead in half with two runs on an RBI single from freshman shortstop Paul Witt and an RBI groundout from junior third baseman Zac Ching.

Junior infielder Daane Berenzo and senior outfielder Logan Farrar each crossed the plate in the top of the fifth, with Farrar scoring the tying run, but the Rams would not drive in another run as UNCW tallied six unanswered to take the lead

and the game by a score of 10-4.

Senior outfielder Alex Gransback and Farrar each had multi-hit games with an RBI apiece, while Ching and Witt both had hits and RBIs on the day.

Friday

VCU mounted a comeback in the top of the ninth in their first game of the UNCW series, but it was not enough to top the Seahawks.

The scoring opened in the latter half of the third inning, with Casey Golden blasting a solo homer.

VCU quickly followed, getting their first hit in the top of the fourth. Freshman catcher Josh Simon and junior outfielder Haiden Lamb ignited the scoring for the Black and Gold in the top of the fifth with back-to-back singles, as senior first baseman/designated hitter Darian Carpenter drove in Simon from third to tie the game. Berezo singled to center, breaking the tie for a 2-1 lead, and Gransback singled to make the lead 3-1.

UNCW rallied with a vengeance in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs to give themselves a 5-3 advantage. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Rams in the top of the ninth, and, after Farrar flied out, Gransback patiently drew a walk to score a run and cut the lead to one. However, Witt’s flyout to center ended the game and the rally. Witt and Lamb contributed multi-hit performances, and Gransback ended the day with a hit and two RBI.

Marist The Rams’ single game against Marist ended in a blowout, as the Red Foxes scored fifteen runs over seven innings to top VCU by a final of 15-6.

The Black and Gold struck early, as Ching and Lamb’s back-to-back RBI hits gave VCU an early 2-0 lead. Marist took their revenge in the opening half of the third, plating six runs, with Andrew Rouse singling in two.

A two-run homer from Tyler Kapuscinski made it 8-2 in the top of the fourth for the Red Foxes, who were only getting started. VCU rebounded with a pair of runs in the latter half of the fourth, with senior catcher Dylan Isquirdo and Berezo notching RBIs to cut the deficit to two runs.

Marist tallied six more runs through the next three innings, extending their advantage to 14-4, while the Rams were able to add another run on a wild pitch. Marist plated another run in the eighth, but Carpenter improved on his day, launching a home run for his third of the season.

Carpenter’s homer would prove to be the final run of the game, as a scoreless ninth ended a 15-6 loss for the Rams.

The Rams return to action Tuesday to take on Longwood University at The Diamond. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

PHOTO BY KYLE LAFERRIERE

ADAM CHEEK Contributing Writer

Sanders earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year his sophomore and junior years at VCU.

Rams’ Larry Sanders returns to the NBA NICK VERSAW Staff Writer VCU legend Larry Sanders has decided to make his long-anticipated NBA return after the former Ram signed with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers last week.

Sanders, who donned the prestigious Black and Gold from 200710, last played for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2014-15 NBA season.

In Feb. 2015, Sanders unceremoniously walked away from basketball for what he said were “personal reasons” after being suspended for marijuana use for the second time in his NBA career.

Shortly after being bought out by the Bucks, Sanders said he was fighting anxiety, depression and mood disorders and, later that month, entered a program at Rogers Memorial Hospital.

In his time away, Sanders has started his own business and has worked extensively with two of his passions — art and music. However, he said, after over two years away, he was ready to once again step out on the hardwood.

“I knew I needed space,” Sanders said in his first media appearance with the Cavaliers. “I knew I needed time away to focus on myself. I said when I left that if I was ready

to come back, I would, and now is the time. I feel like I come back a little more mature, a little more stable, and just ready to perform.

“I’m enjoying myself,” he added.

“I’m excited to get back in the game with such an amazing team. I’m grateful that this organization is giving me a second chance and has invested in me.”

In four-and-a-half seasons with the Bucks, Sanders established himself as one of the league’s premier shot-blockers, averaging nearly two blocks in less than 20 minutesper-game.

In the 2012-13 season, Sanders was a serious contender for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award after averaging 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks on the season.

Cavs General Manager David Griffin said Sanders’ immense defensive potential is what drew the defending champions to the former Ram. However, he said the team is not expecting Sanders to return to his 2012-13 levels right away.

“He can be game-changing,” Griffin said. “But, that was a long time ago, so we need to just work through where we are today.”

Sanders’ contract is a one year deal with a team option to bring the 6-foot-11 big man back next season. Griffin said the team is looking more towards the future

when it comes to Sanders, who will spend the next two weeks with the Cavs’ D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, while he gets back in game shape.

Cleveland’s LeBron James said he is excited for the former VCU great’s return to the hardwood.

“For us as his brothers now, it was great to just see him back out there,” James said following Sanders’ first taste of in-game action Tuesday. “To have a two-year hiatus like he had and doing the things he needed to do to shore himself up to be a part of this league again, he was back where he belonged tonight.”

During his time with VCU, Sanders established himself as one of the most prolific big men in the program’s history. During his final year as a Ram, he averaged 14.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He is tied for third all-time in double-doubles at VCU with 28 and sits 33rd in career points, scoring 1,044 over the course of his three-year collegiate career.

Sanders is now the fourth former Ram to grace the NBA hardwood this season, as he joins fan-favorites Briante Weber, Troy Daniels and Treveon Graham among the league’s prestigious ranks.

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, March 20, 2017

7

Track and field dominates VCU Ram Invitational VCU track and field opened its outdoor season on Friday, March 17 with seven Rams placing in their events on day one of the VCU Ram Invitational.

Three Rams won events and two placed on day one, as seniors Calvin Wood and Racheed Davis built upon recent indoor success. Junior Nichelle Scott continued her distance success as she won the 1,500-meter run.

The second day was highlighted by relay and field success, as Rams came away with wins in the 4x100 and 4x400-meter runs while also securing a victory in the 3,000-meter run. Day two also saw sophomore javelin thrower Drew Hess come within two meters of the VCU school record and a dominant performance

by Bryce Catlett in the 3,000-meter run.

Wood placed first in the 1,500-meter run with a time 4.04.08. It is his best time since running 4:00.25 in the event last year at the Fred Hardy Invitational.

Sophomore Austin Conway placed second behind Wood with a time of 4:08.92.

Scott placed first in the 1,500-meter run with a scintillating performance, never relinquishing her lead. She posted a time of 4:48.17. Freshman Ashley Brown finished second in the event with a time of 4:51.94.

Sophomore Drew Hess came within two meters of the VCU javelin record with a throw 59.78 meters to win the event. Junior Shawn Scornaienchi placed second in the javelin with a throw of 53.53 meters.

Sophomore Camora Sanders won with a mark of 42.07 meters in the discus. Freshman Makayla McGowan placed third in the event with a throw of 39.46 meters.

Junior Latasha Williams and Sanders placed second and third, respectively, in the hammer throw. Williams threw to a mark of 43.86 meters, while Sanders threw to a mark of 41.39. It was each woman’s first time competing in the hammer throw for VCU. Senior Christina Solomon and junior Amiaya Carey were the top two competitors in the high jump, with both athletes leaping to a mark of 1.63 meters. It was the first time Carey has jumped to such a height since her freshman year.

Senior Racheed Davis placed atop the podium in his first triple jump of the outdoor season, leaping to a mark of 14.09 meters. Freshman Marian Osafo achieved a personal record of 11.11 meters in the triple jump.

Junior Taylor McCormick continued to perform well in the triple jump, finishing first in the event with a leap of 11.78 meters. McCormick won the A-10 Indoor Championship in the triple jump.

A trio of Rams achieved a first-second-third finish

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY VCU ATHLETICS

JESSICA WETZLER Contributing Writer

Last outdoor season, senior Racheed Davis (left) set a personal record in the long jump of 6.57 meters at the Colonial Relays. Juniors Nicholas Buckingham and Devon Thompson (right) are both Richmond natives. in the 400-meter run. James, Watkins, and Morris finished with times of 57.22, 57.56, and 57.95 seconds, respectively. Junior Kahlil Shepard finished second with a time 49.32 seconds. Freshman Chukwuezugo Aguolu placed third in his first outdoor competition as a Ram with a time of 49.81 seconds.

Freshman Bryce Catlett dominated the field in the 3,000-meter run, coming in first with a time of 9:02.77. Junior Bismillah Alidost and sophomore Michael Villagomez rounded out the top three with times of 9:09.03 and 9:20.70, respectively. Senior Emily Dyke won the 3,000-meter run for the women by more than a 15 second margin, coming across the line in 10:23.42.

Junior Nicholas Buckingham set a new personal record after placing third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.19 seconds.

Four Rams finished in a row to round out the top five in the 200-meter dash. Freshman Dajae Goulet finished second with a time of 25.64 with sophomore Latrice Morris posted a time of 25.94 to place third. Sophomore Candice James finished fourth and freshman Alexis Willis finished fifth with

times of 25.99 and 26.00.

Sophomore Jamik Alexander finished first and junior Kareem Payne finished second in the 200-meter dash. Alexander ran a time of 22.25 while Payne posted a time of 22.52. Shepard and Junior Devon Thompson rounded out the top five in the 200-meter dash — Shepard hit a time of 22.94 and Thompson followed with a time of 22.95 in his first outdoor event as a Ram. Freshman Khoi Banks finished second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.13 seconds.

Sophomore Zayd Abdul-Ali finished first and freshman Ian Davis finished second in the 400-meter hurdles with times of 57.06 and 1:00.08.

VCU won the 4x100-meter relay on the backs of Banks, Willis, senior De’Nisha Smith, and Morris. The team ran a combined 47.04 seconds in the event.

VCU’s 4x400-meter relay team ended the meet on a high note, cruising to victory with a total time of 3:56.52. James and sophomores Taylor Watkins, Erika Coleman and Ann Sheehy made up the team.

Track and field head coach Jon Riley said the

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coaching staff was encouraged by their team’s effort.

“The coaches were happy with how everything went. We were able to see what we need to work on for the next couple of weeks,” Riley said. “We have a good group and we need to continue to grind.”

A handful of VCU Track and Field alumni returned to the track to partake in a friendly 4x100meter relay. The ‘A’ team consisted of Ryan Coles ‘15, Anthony Green ‘15, Laura Siewert ‘01, and Rhyann Johnson ‘08. The ‘B’ team was made up of Joseph Edwards ‘11, Courtney Jackson ‘06, Allan Moody ‘11, and Kiara Porter ‘15. The ‘C’ team included Niema Eaves ‘15, Juan Little ‘15, Justin Snyder ‘11 and Jeff Hernandez ‘10.

Team C built an early lead, but a late surge by Porter of Team B gave her group the victory. Team B had a combined time of 48.79 seconds.

VCU will send half its athletes to the Fred Hardy Invitational here in Richmond next weekend, and the other half to the Roadrunners Invitational in San Antonio, Texas. Both meets will be held on Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25.

8

spectrum

The Commonwealth Times

On this day...

in 1969, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced he will end the Vietnam War in 1970, but it does not end until 1975.

Muslim students host Islam Awareness Week on campus

The stronger everyone is together the better we all are, faith-wise and also as people.

Y CO LE

Waleed Llyas IAW Organizer

B Y CA SE

This week is Islam Awareness Week at VCU and the Muslim Student Alliance has worked hard to create outreach and education-oriented events — ranging from seminars to prayer groups to art classes on campus.

The week is divided into morning and evening events. With evening events focusing on education, including Honors College Berglund Seminars, and morning events devoted to community service and the arts.

Vice president of the Muslim Student Alliance Nadia Rentia and former president of the organization Waleed Llyas worked together to organize the week-long series of events at VCU. “Islam is a beautiful religion,” Rentia said.

“People would understand if they took the time to really know it or just get to know the people.”

Llyas recalled his youth for inspiration for the awareness week — he said when his family immigrated to the U.S. in 2007 and there were only few Muslims in the Lynchburg, Va. community.

“It’s difficult to grow in faith in that condition and part of our faith is that we do things together.

The stronger everyone is together the better we all are, faith wise and also as people.” Llyas said. “This is my driving force in organizing Islam Awareness Week.”

Rentia’s driving force is more outreach-oriented.

“I guess for me, doing things with non-Muslims has been one of my priorities,” Rentia said, adding that she doesn’t blame non-Muslims for holding potentially-negative stereotypes, since it is what they are fed by the media, but she wants to challenge that narrative.

The first event, “Fact vs. Fiction: Debunking myths about Islam” takes place today.

“With all the shared links that you can do on Facebook it’s difficult to really see what information is authentic and what someone who doesn’t necessarily have any knowledge or credibility just kind of

published,” Llyas said. “So this event showcases authentic sources from our teachings and religion and presents them in order to divide what is fabricated and what is actually and factually correct.”

On Tuesday and Wednesday roses will be handed out and a geometric art class will take place at the Compass, followed by pool and board games at the Breakpoint room in the Commons. Scarves of Solidarity, the brainchild of a non-Muslim supporter, is an invitation for women of all denominations to experience wearing a hijab for a day.

Thursday will feature a community service event where summer crops will be planted in the VCU Learning Gardens. Faith groups such as Jewish Life at VCU and the Campus Ministry have also been invited to participate.

“Community service is something valuable to all of our religions,” Rentia said. “I feel like the Muslim community in the past has been very reactive. Something bad happens and then we have to scramble and be like ‘no we’re not all like that.’”

Rentia said she also believes in being proactive and working with other faith groups.

“We met with the church and just the way they welcomed us and said, ‘we’re with you,’ meant so much,” Rentia said. “We are not just MSA we are trying to fit in with our community and to be part of this community.”

Thursday evening will feature a seminar, “What Islam Means to Me: A Spiritual Journey,” where VCU students and alumni who have converted to Islam will share how and why they chose their faith.

The final event for the week will be an open prayer taking place in the Student Commons; this is not strictly an Islam Awareness Week event as it is held weekly.

“The way the election turned out, our understanding of our environment now is different from what we thought then.” Llyas said, “It really tells us that we have to put a focus on this. If we start these discussions, we can create something really good out of it. If we don’t put this awareness out, then who is going to?”

PH O TO

DAWN SCOTT Contributing Writer

“Scarves of Solidarity” will take place this week. The event is an invitation for women of all faith denominations to experience wearing a hijab for a day.

Grammy-nominated percussionist, VCU’s Jazz Studies program SIONA PETEROUS Spectrum Editor The VCU Department of Music’s Jazz Studies program and VCUarts is hosting Grammy-nominated percussionist John Santos for a three day artist residency from March 19-21.

Santos’s residency, titled “Salsa for Social Change,” will focus on his expansive knowledge of Afro-Latin music, Salsa and how Latin jazz can be a gateway to understanding systems of racial oppression and disenfranchisement.

“Music is the international language,” said Director of the Jazz Studies program Antonio García. “It doesn’t take the understanding of a spoken word to appreciate great music.”

On Sunday, VCU jazz students had the opportunity to meet with Santos. Today, “Salsa for Social Change,” will feature an open lecture from 12-1:20 p.m. and two percussionist workshops open to students regardless of major.

Tomorrow evening the Jazz Studies program is hosting a concert in the Vlahcevic Concert Hall at VCU’s W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.

Santos normally features small group charts with combo, but at Tuesday evening’s concert the VCU Jazz Orchestra II will perform with Santos on big band charts arranged by four VCU alumni and based on Santos’s existing combo charts. Three vocalists, two from VCU, will also perform at Tuesday’s concert.

“These big band versions will continue to live not only in VCU’s library but with John Santos as he continues to tour,” García said. “This will be another opportunity, and I believe part of our mission, for Santos to expand his outreach.”

García and Santos performed together around 20 years ago for an all-star, high school regional Latin jazz group in Chicago. García said he remembers being extremely impressed by Santos, who had already started to develop a name for himself.

“He had already formalized presentations on issues of Hispanics in America and had music and material which appropriately representing these issues,” García said. “It was chance intersection 20 years ago, and then after looking into him I realized he was already focusing on issues I wanted to discuss.”

García said the opportunity to bring Santos to VCU emerged when he applied for a grant through the VCUarts Inclusion Infusion Initiative.

The grant is designed to focus on issues such as oppression, diversity and representation through the arts. García said he finds music is the most accessible form of understanding cultures and creating avenues for discussion on topics of oppression and inclusion.

Since the 1980’s, Santos has explored and expanded on the traditions of Afro-Latin music. García said the fast-paced percussion rhythms of Santos’s pieces, as well as the inclusion of vocals, makes Afro-Latin jazz more appealing and accessible.

Afro-Latin music acknowledges, studies and embraces the strong historical intersection of the African, indigenous and Spanish cultures which have created what identify as Hispanic and Latin cultures today.

García said Santos’s celebration of these elements create a lively, hypnotizing experience where listeners are fully immersed in music and history — something García said he thinks the VCU and Richmond communities benefit from.

“For many people music is something they can appreciate and be a doorway of understanding someone is that different than them,” García said. “When tragedy occurs, music is what people turn to — whether privately in their own collection or collectively in large gatherings.”

García grew up with a Puerto Rican father and a mother from Iowa and said he was rarely exposed to Spanish language or culture until he studied Latin jazz. He said music served as a way for him to understand his own culture and he said he hopes “Salsa for Social Change” will do the same for others.

“Richmond has more art per square inch than any

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SANTOS

“Salsa for Change”

Seven-time Grammy-nominated percussionist John Santos is spending three days at VCU.

For many people, music is something they can appreciate and be a doorway of understanding someone different than them.

When tragedy occurs, music is what people turn to...”

Antonio García, Director VCU Jazz Studies program

town its size, including my own home town,” García said.

García trained in his hometown of New Orleans.

He later moved to Chicago, where he taught for 14 years, before moving to Richmond to teach at VCU in 2001.

“The VCU artists are motivated to understand culture to better understand the art — it’s related to oppression of an race, gender or culture or religious belief,” García said. “I use this quote carefully, ‘the only positive thing that comes out of oppression in any case is the art of oppressed.’”

VCU Jazz will perform with John Santos on Tuesday, March 21.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door and free for students with ID.

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, March 20, 2017

9

Roxanne, Roxanne

An ode to of one of hip-hop’s first female pioneers

PHOTO BY ERIC MARQUEZ

GEORGIA GEEN Staff Writer

Lacapa said native communities struggle with some of the highest arrest and lowest school completion rates.

Native American activist Rochelle Lacapa addresses history of oppression, solidarity SIONA PETEROUS Spectrum Editor The Highland Support Project (HSP) and The PACE Center for Campus and Community Ministry at VCU hosted, Partnering with Native American Communities Workshop with Rochelle Lacapa, on the evening of March 18.

Lacapa previously worked as a director of the John Hopkins Center for American Indian Health on her home reservation, the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona.

Currently, she is the program manager for the Methodist-sponsored Highlands Support Project.

HSP started in Guatemala in 1993 as a response to violence against indigenous populations in the country. The organization wanted to change the existing model of community volunteering which, according to HSP’s official statement, lead to outsiders, “displacing or co-opting local leadership.”

Instead, HSP wants to to provide tools for indigenous to create self-built, selfsustaining community systems based off self-determination.

“Let’s say the tribe wants a garden, it’s my job to figure out what they need, what they want to grow and to get them the tools,” Lacapa explained. “But I also have to teach and provide tools on how to make the garden sustainable so it grows year after year.”

Ben Blevins, the community organizer for HSP on VCU’s campus and the larger Richmond area, is a longtime activist for indigenous rights. He studied economic development after first traveling to parts of South America with indigenous populations in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“Our whole program is to develop resources for indigenous peoples to define their own programs and projects,” Blevins said.

Lacapa opened the three hour teach in with a historical context of Native

American subjugation with focus on the methods used by American settlers and expansionists during the 19th and 20th centuries.

“The oppression of our people in the South West is much more recent than the violence that happened to the tribes on the East Coast,” Lacapa said. “We have parents and grandparents who were forced into boarding schools, separated from families and forced to assimilate.”

Lacapa goes into detail describing

The oppression of our prople in the South West is much more recent than the violence that happened to the tribes on the East Coast.

Rochelle Lacapa, Cooridnator Highland Support Project the legislation used to first eradicated multiple tribes and then later isolate and assimilate indigenous peoples. As recently as the 1950s to 1970s, the act of forced migrations and forced assimilations, led to some tribes having upward of 70 percent of their children taken out of their communities.

“Navajo kids were sent to boarding schools in Apache regions and Apache kids were taken to schools in Navajo

region and it was policy that each kid was separated from their families minimum for eight years.” Lacapa said. “Later kids were forcibly adopted out to non-native families.”

Lacapa also focused on the inherent problem with the idea of federal Reserves and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) today. She explained that because the tribe are on federal lands, they can’t collect taxes for additional revenues and this exacerbates poverty in the reservations.

Additionally, the tribes can not protest lack of equal representation within even Tribal government because the BIA and the federal government can revoke a people’s indigenous title, or withhold the title if land has resources. In turn, a tribe like the White Apaches could lose what little federal funding they receive.

Lacapa explained that many indigenous communities, including her own White Apache community, struggle with highest rates of arrests disappearances, domestic violence, poverty, sexual assault, substance abuse and suicide in America as well as some of the lowest rates of high school completion and college education.

The reason, Lacapa explained, is that for centuries Native American communities were being subjected to violent and oppressive federal policies.

Lacapa said Native Americans are still on the basic “one and two steps” of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs — physiological security and safety.

“When generations of children are being taken from their parents, no one knows how to parent or how to enforce rules or behavior because the risk of someone’s child committing suicide, by hanging or alcohol poisoning due to lack of coping skills, is a very real thing,” Lacapa said.

“How can people move on to trying to achieve, love, esteem and self actualization when they haven’t had a chance to learn how to get by the next day?”

Hip-hop artist Roxanne Shanté spoke about of her experiences as a teenage girl entering the hip-hop industry during the movement’s conception as part of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs’ Women’s History Month presentations at VCU on March 16.

Shanté’s early life was explored in the 2017 film “Roxanne, Roxanne,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Shanté — born Lolita Shanté Gooden — lived in the Queensbridge Projects in Queens, New York. She said she began battle-rapping as a way to earn extra income for her family, because the winners would always walk away with money and Shanté said she “didn’t lose.”

“There were so many who came before me,” Shanté said. “(But) I was the first female rapper who wasn’t afraid to battle male rappers.”

Her mother, who Shanté said she knew for many years by the first name of “Miss” and the last name of “Peggy,” supported Shanté through the early stages of her rapping career. At her first rap-battle, Shanté said she had to stand on a milk crate to be eye-to-eye with her opponent.

When Shanté needed braces because of a thumb-sucking-induced overbite, she said her mother was most worried about Shanté’s ability to rap with the wires tearing at her mouth.

“Every day she’s asking me if I’m feeling better,” Shanté said, reiterating that the income from her rap battles was important to her family.

Eventually, they solved the problem with a then-popular candy, Nik-L-Nip. The candy held a variety of flavored syrups in miniature wax bottles that were sold at low prices. Shanté said they would used the wax from the containers to coat her braces so she could continue battling without damaging her mouth.

After dozens battles in The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, community centers and parks, Shanté said she was sometimes turned away from battles because she kept winning. Eventually, she made her way to the SNS Club at 145th St. for a battle whose winner would leave with $5,000, but when she got there the bouncer asked her to open her mouth. “‘No, this is just for men,’” Shanté said he told her. “‘The little girl with the braces can’t enter.’”

Shanté said the men who dominated the industry were intimidated by her.

Other female relatives, like her aunt and younger sisters, began accompanying Shanté to battles. One of her sisters served as a “traveling drum machine,” Shanté said.

Unbelivable: 20 years since Biggie’s murder MUKTARU JALLOH Staff Writer

IL LU ST RA TI BY IA IN

The rap world misses you Big.

ON DU

Rest easy.

US

We hope life after death is treating you right, Big Poppa.

FF

It’s been 20 years since Biggie Smalls, also known as the Notorious B.I.G., was murdered at age 24 in a Los Angeles drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997.

A staple in everyone’s top five emcees, in many circles Biggie is heralded as the greatest of all time. His flow, lyrical ability, wit and storytelling style endowed him the full package of a rap star. Combined with the fact that he could appeal to men and women alike made him the Lebron James of Hip-Hop. At age 24, he could do it all and since his murder, no one has quite filled the huge void left by his absence.

Born Christopher Wallace, Biggie put his hometown of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn on the map during his short lived rap career. When Sean “Puffy” Combs started his own label in 1993, Biggie quickly became the marquee act for the company.

His debut album, “Ready to Die” (1994), shook the rap world. With its “rags to riches” themes and mix of radio friendly and hard street records - the album solidified his presence as the King of New York.

In the span of two years, Biggie, with the help of his Bad Boy mastermind, Puffy, would swap out his Guess jeans and suede timbs for Versace shades and Coogi sweaters. Biggie’s style and grace introduced a new era of rap, where artists were now envisioning themselves years ahead as businessmen and moguls.

On his last album, released two weeks after his murder, Life After Death showed a different side of Biggie with a renewed sense of purpose. A now father of two, songs like “Sky’s The Limit” and “I Love The Dough” displayed a much older perspective on life. With that said, the album featured Biggie at his apex, rapping even better than his first album. Songs like “I Got A Story To Tell” and “Kick In The Door” further proved that he was rap’s greatest story teller with his precise lyrical ability.

A huge reason why Biggie’s murder remains as painful now as it was 20 years ago is the fact that he was so young, with so much more to accomplish. Imagine if the careers of rappers like Drake, Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole were cut short?

The rap world as we know it would be substantially different and with much less talent. At the time of his death, Biggie had his sights set on starting his own label and playing the role of mastermind. He was also about to try his hand at

starting his own clothing line, “Brooklyn Mint.”

Biggie’s influence still permeates the present things. Undeniably the biggest rapper in the world right now, it is no secret that Drake has followed the Biggie blueprint like many before him. His ability to create a variety of of rap records channels Biggie style. In addition, where artists like JAY Z and Rick Ross have their own labels and have given opportunities to younger rappers, Biggie sought to do the same with his group, Junior Mafia, and the rapper Lil’ Kim. Rap has changed in many ways since that night on March 9, 1997. Hip-Hop has now become Pop(ular) music and a multi-billion dollar industry. With the advent of the internet, artists now have unlimited professional possibilities.

Though hip-hop/rap culture is in a great place right now, Biggie’s void is still missed. Since his murder, many have tried to imitate the slain Brooklyn emcee, but in earnest, weren’t quite it (Shyne and Guerilla Black come to mind).

No one since has matched his all encompassing talent. Biggie had no flaws; he could do it all.

“I (was) 14 years old and I’m literally trying to keep my family together,” Shanté said. “I had little sisters and a lot of laundry to do.”

It was in the middle of doing laundry when Shanté recorded the freestyle that would launch her into fame. She was approached by Marley Marl, a hip-hop producer, and asked to record a track in response to the song, “Roxanne, Roxanne” by another hip-hop group, UTFO. The freestyle lasted seven minutes and Shanté said she returned in time to take her clothes out of the wash.

In the middle of the night, Shanté said a friend called her to tell her that her song, “Roxanne’s Revenge,” was on the radio.

Having adopted the name of Roxanne for the song, the Roxanne Shanté persona was born. Her popularity climbed and another record company created, the Real Roxanne, a hip-hop collective whose title was held by two different girls. Shanté said the first was a black girl with lighter skin than hers; the second was Latina. “(I felt) that feeling that unfortunately a lot of brown-skinned girls feel — that this is what society wants,” Shanté said. “Now I have to work twice as hard for something I created.”

Shanté said she showed up at the same battle as the “Real Roxanne” and defeated her. When the second girl came along to fill the role after the first quit, Shanté would find out where she was performing and pull the mic’s plug out of the socket, she said.

Shanté said her persistence in “reclaiming” Roxanne Shanté succeeded.

At the World Supremacy competition — which consisted of a bracket of rap battles — Shanté said the judges made her battle every round, because they hoped to knock her out before the final.

If she won, it would solidify her status as the best in the world.

“It was just me against everyone,” Shanté said. “Every time I felt (my voice) was going to give out, I would squeeze the limit and move on.”

During the final round, Shanté said a judge asked what it would take for her to lose. Someone suggested scoring her a “2,” instead of the scores of “9” and “10” she had been earning.

Shanté said she collapsed when she saw the dreaded number two flash, signalling her defeat.

“I stopped loving hip-hop that day,” Shanté said. “It’s like coming home and finding your man cheating on you.”

The industry has changed drastically, Shanté says, but she is still hailed by many as a pioneer in the industry.

“I love the fact that I am oldschool and these are the memories I have,” Shanté said.

spectrum

10 The Commonwealth Times

COLUMN

Max Robinson the obscurity of america’s first black news anchor —continued from page 1 Additionally, Robinson’s death from HIV/AIDS during the height of the global pandemic made him a subject of immediate defamation rather than appreciate for his contribution. Within his private circle, Robinson denied allegations of being a closeted gay man. Rather, as demonstrated by his numerous marriages and his nickname, “Max the Player,” he told his close friends he acquired the virus from an active sex life.

At the time of his death, the disease was being scapegoated on the burgenoning LGBTQ-rights movement, and was associated with racialized stereotypes of an “immoral” black community, but Robinson’s decision to remain quiet about the disease also offended members of the black community.

“It’s very ironic that it’s being said he wanted to be remembered for the need for black Americans to be educated about AIDS, because he never really acknowledged he was a person with AIDS when he was alive,” said Don Edwards, the former executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council in Washington, in a 1988 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Regardless of his faults, Robinson was primed from birth to focus on issues of race. His ability to breach social barriers during decisive moments of racial equality is why he successfully rose to the top hour of national news cycles.

In 1959, after completing his education at Oberlin College and Virginia Union University, Robinson was hired at WTOV-TV in Portsmouth, Virginia.

He was instructed to narrate the news each night behind a screen so audiences wouldn’t know he was black. In 1965, Robinson decided to pull down the screen during a broadcast; the station was bombarded with complaints from viewers and Robinson was fired the next day.

“He’d gotten these calls from some irate whites who’d found out that one of ‘those people’ was working there,” Robison said in a 1969 interview.

The act of defiance, coupled with Robinson’s keen eye detail and his “buttery” voice soon landed him jobs in Washington D.C. By 1966, he was a regular

on nationally syndicated “Meet the Press,” and was hired by D.C.’s Channel 4 where he won several awards and became the station’s first black reporter.

In 1969, Robinson joined the District’s WTOP as the first black reporter for the station. In 1971 he joined Gordon Peterson on the highly sought-after 6-11 p.m. newscasts and hosted their “On the Camera” investigative news cast.

Association of Black Journalists US UF F which continues to function today.

IN D Y IA B N On the contrary, signs of RobT IO TRA US IL L inson’s deteriorating mental health were exhibited in his fast paced marriages. In 1973, he shot off a round of gunfire while standing on his apartment terrace but explained he was distraught over the recent passing of his father. His popularity was so high that the incident was soon forgotten.

“The demons had made themselves known,” wrote former Washington Post columnist William Raspberry. “In- disappeared from the public eye in the last four years deed, it seemed to his friends that Max was forever of his life. He remained active with social issues he the subject of some macabre competition between his cared about, but his last public appearance was at a demons and his manifest talent.”

Howard Keynote address in 1988.

In 1978, Robinson, alongside Frank Reynolds and His HIV/AIDs diagnosis came a year before Peter Jennings, was hired on “ABC’s Nightly News,” his death in December 1988, but remained a secret which reported every night from Chicago. Robinson because, as it had been his whole career, Robinson’s was used to being the only black journalist in a news- main focus was on being a representative for the room, but seemed overwhelmed at the idea of being larger black community. Robinson was one of the the first black anchor of a nightly national newscast. most respected journalists of his time with an ability I can remember walking down the halls and to relate his concerns of racial injustice and profilspeaking to people who would look right through ing in white newsrooms and to primarily white news me,” Robinson told Peter Benjaminson in the book audiences.

Contemporary Authors. “It was hateful at times (…)

The decision — conscious or not — to remove I’ve been the first too often, quite frankly.”

Robinson as a trailblazer for black Americans in the While at ABC, Robinson was competing with newsroom is in step with a tradition of political cortwo other white anchors and often found himself be- rectness. He had a messy life of extreme professional ing regulated as a mouthpiece with little control over highs and equally extreme personal lows fueled with stories. His increasing mental health issues and erself doubt, mental health issues and isolation. ratic behaviors — visible hostility towards co-workAbove all, the collective forgetting of Robinson’s ers, not showing up to work or showing up late — in raises the question if society only wants to recognizes conjunction with his “more important” but also more idols they view as perfect or if society is willing to limited national position ate away his confidence and reconcile the nuances of success and imperfection of increased the pressure on him. the people who, in their own way, made their com“I think one of my basic flaws has been a lack of munities stronger and more inclusive. esteem, not really feeling great about myself, always Robinson’s presence attracted black Americans feeling like I had to do more,” Robinson told the and other minorities to watch national nightly news Washington Post in the early 1980s. “I never could cycles as Robinson. His contemporaries describe do enough or be good enough. And that was the real Robinson as someone who had the ability to make problem.” anyone open up, even after he fell from national favor After leaving ABC in 1984 , Robinson all but into obscurity.

Indeed, it seemed to his friends that Max was forever the subject of some macabre competition between his demons and his manifest talent.”

William Raspberry In the midst of his success in the capital he released a documentary, “The Other Washington” which recorded the lives of people in Anacostia, one of the city’s most notorious black ghettos. He focused on discriminatory laws which left the city’s black population stuck in poverty and inequality across health, education and income spectrums.

The film won four local-Emmy nominations and his coverage of the civil rights movement and the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King made him a favorite anchor personality in the area.

In 1975 he joined a coalition to start the National

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Sam’s Take

Disney’s remake is more “Beauty” than “Beast”

“Beauty and the Beast” is one of Disney’s greatest animated films, and probably my favorite in the entire collection of classics. As the signature song title even says, “It’s a tale as old as time,” and Disney portrayed it through detailed, beautiful animation and a certain magic you just can’t find anywhere else.

In more recent years, Disney has decided to start cashing in on this nostalgia for its classic films, and with admittedly impressive results. Last year’s “The Jungle Book” (2016) was a surprisingly good take on old material. Disney aimed to capture that success again with “Beauty and the Beast” (2017); while the film is good, it fails to differentiate itself enough to justify the price of a theatre ticket.

In terms of updating the original, the film rarely diverges from the original source material, and instead makes minor changes to song lyrics or events.

The focus is on refining what was already near-perfect with more modern visuals. In the latter sense, the remake succeeds.

The production design and visual effects in the movie are incredible — they create a beautiful, gothic castle brimming with rich details. This same level of care is put into creating the servants of the castle. The personified metallic objects spontaneously spring to life and their animated presence in the film makes them seem real.

The talented cast brings even more personality to these characters. Emma Watson does a fantastic rendition of Belle (“Beauty”), as does Dan Stevens in playing the “Beast”, and the actors behind the servants are equally entertaining.

The highlight of the film is Josh Gad as Lefou,

ILLUSTRATION BY SKYE ALI

Rating: Perfect for children who have yet to experience the classic, or for Disney fans who want to see their childhood in a slightly different way.

Gaston’s goofy sidekick. The filmmakers opted to highlight Lefou in a new way by portraying him as homosexual in the remake — a detail that stirred controversy prior to the film’s release.

The emphasis on the latter aspect of Lefou’s character is minor, though, and Gad’s lines bring self-aware humor to the set. This comedy is sprinkled throughout the film, introducing some much needed elements of surprise.

One of Gad’s funniest lines is during the film’s rendition of the song “Gaston,” which also happens to be the movie’s best song. Most of the other numbers, both new and old, are fantastically done as well; many invoke modern filmmaking techniques to make scenes more extravagant.

Unfortunately, issues arise whenever “Beauty and the Beast” (2017) tries to add new details to the plot and subsequently kills the pacing. In this version, the audience is given more background to the Beast and Belle, but these scenes feel more like filler than necessary character development.

This simultaneously underscores my biggest issue with the film: it’s not different enough. Everything that’s great about this version was either already done in 1991, or serves as a weighty, unnecessary addition.

Instead of trying to find a new angle on the fairy tale, Disney opted to play it safe. This ensures the remake can’t be anything less than “good,” but it does beg the question of why it even exists. Why pay $10 for a nearly identical version of a film fans most likely already own?

“Beauty and the Beast” (2017) is at times a great cinematic work, capturing and enhancing the magic and breathtaking wonder of the original, and yet, it’s also too tied to the original to make it worth watching beyond satisfying one’s curiosity.

Want to get ahead of a busy semester?

Need to play catch-up? Interested in exploring a course that fills up fast or doesn’t fit in your schedule during the academic year? Check out the Summer Studies website for courses and updates.

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SAMUEL GOODRICH Staff Writer

summer.vcu.edu

opinion

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Monday, March 20, 2017 11

Quote of the week: “None of the budget cuts help work toward a more united, compassionate and admired nation. None of these cuts will help ‘Make America Great Again.’”

Divorced from reality: Trump’s budget proposal

Letter to the Editor

“DON’T THROW IT All AWAY”

ILLUSTRATION BY GARETH BENTALL

Dear Editor:

Congress. The Veterans Affairs increase is earmarked for long-overdue health care programs.. However, the increase to spending on Homeland Security will go almost entirely to border security, the detention and deportation costs of Donald Trump proposed his first federal budget last week, and undocumented immigrants and the future construction of a like those previous, it is split into two parts: mandatory spending border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. and discretionary spending. Many programs, such as Medicare, Green’s analysis showed there are also cuts to the Medicaid, social security and unemployment are considered Homeland Security budget — specifically, and slightly “mandatory spending,” which currently accounts for 73 percent of ironically — counter-terrorism measures. New York City in the national budget. The remaining 27 percent — discretionary particular is pushing back on this cut to counter-terrorism spending — is about $1.64 trillion. The latter is where we will see programs; Trump has proposed the only counter-terrorism the most changes to military, social and developmental programs. efforts should be focused on “radical Islam” and not other While proposed military spending is receiving an unwarranted global and domestic terrorist threats. Time magazine reports increase in budget, measures that are integral to the intellectual that since 9/11, white right-wing terrorists have killed nearly development of America — school, social and scientific initiatives, twice as many Americans than Jihadists have, so Trump’s for example — would be cut. focus on “radical islamic terrorism” only leaves the country More than half of discretionary spending has traditionally less protected from the greater threat of homegrown terrorism, been slotted for the military, but Trump has proposed another and leads to fear mongering among the American people.

10 percent increase for military expenses. According to a study It is important to note that a budget which increases conducted by American entrepreneur and educator Hank Green, defense spending by 10 percent, but also cuts Anti-Terrorist a 10 percent increase in defense spending would cover the “entire Intelligence funding is essentially saying there is less need for current budgets” of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), intelligence information in the fight against terrorism, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), NASA and the more need for force. An approach that puts violence before Transportation Department. Funding for the CPB, which helps reason and knowledge is not conducive to fighting an enemy fund more than 1,500 public TV and radio stations, including such as ISIS or any other terrorist group. The Daily News PBS and NPR — would be eliminated entirely. The Institute of reported New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has issued a verbal Museum and Library Services, Legal Services Corporation — a statement saying he will fight for the increase in funding for program that provides legal aid to the poor — and the United programs like the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) States Institute of Peace would lose their funding, too. which works to prevent and protect against acts of terrorism in These combined losses account for a mere $1 billion of the high-threat urban areas. $1.64 trillion discretionary spending budget. Politico analyzed The proposed-budgetary impact on Health and Human Donald Trump’s trips to his Florida resort Mar-A-Lago, and Services includes severe cuts to funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH) for Biomedical Research — found his now 5 weekend trips cost nearly 3 million taxpayer one of the largest sources of biomedical research in the dollars each. The Washington Post reported that had Trump simply stayed at the White House for more than one of those world, and a staple in drug and medical research, the Environmental Protection Agency and NASA. The quest 5 trips he has taken since taking office, he could have funded for international cooperation in fighting climate change the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness — a program — regarded by scientists as the greatest global crisis of our set to be defunded in Trumps’ budget proposal. The New York generation — is effectively erased in the U.S. under this Times reported that Melania Trump’s decision to stay at Trump budget.

Tower in New York instead of the White House is costing The State Department, also taking a significant hit, would American taxpayers more than the entire annual budget for the see cuts leading to defunding for most international aid, National Endowment for the Arts — another program slated for United Nations peacekeeping and climate change initiatives, elimination under Trump’s budget, even though it accounts for according to Green. Trump has shown in recent weeks that his only 0.12 percent.

On the other hand, Veterans Affairs and Homeland international diplomacy skills are far from refined. According Security will see increases if the proposed budget passes to CNN’s Stephen Collinson,Trump had a “bruised” phone SRITEJA YEDHARA Staff Columnist

call with the leader of Australia and complained to the President of Mexico about their “handling” of “bad hombres” within the same week. Cutting international programs that showed global unity and respect among allies is not a step in the right direction for this unpredictable diplomat or his country.

The Department of Education would lose a whopping 13 percent of funding, leading to loss of scholarship programs for underprivileged students and before and after-school programs for low-income areas. About $1.5 billion of these cuts would go back to the Department of Education in the form of funding for a controversial voucher school program set forth by the Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Traditional public school systems are taking a big hit at the expense of such programs, particularly low-income inner-city schools. For example, this means students who cannot afford any amount of private school cannot be part of the voucher program, which only pays for a part of the private school tuition, and students whose schools are losing funding would likely not be eligible for the voucher system this funding is supporting. This budget would be detrimental to the schooling of underprivileged children in America, which is, ultimately, a loss for future generations and a proven factor in contributing to a host of social issues such as poverty, systemic crime and recidivism rates.

Earlier this year, Trump tweeted that he would “send in the Feds” to address Chicago’s murder rate, or “carnage” as Trump referred to it — but “Feds” would not resolve this issue, proper funding would. Chicago would benefit from an increase in funding for the public school system and social service programs — not an influx of “Feds.” Haven’t we learned not to fight fire with fire?

This administration’s frivolousness should not be tolerated while Trump proposes billions of dollars in cuts to programs for the arts, the elderly, low-income schools and essential scientific research. Many of Trump’s frightening campaign promises, which pundits largely discredited as “unlikely” during the campaign, are becoming a reality if this budget proposal passes the GOP-controlled Congress.

Climate change is being thrown aside as a hoax, billions of dollars are going toward an unnecessary border wall, and underprivileged school systems are becoming more underprivileged. None of these budget cuts are a good step to work toward a more united, compassionate and admired nation. None of these cuts will help “Make America Great Again.”

I'm RECYCLEMAN. I've got something to say. Please recycle - you'll save the day. It reduces pollution with sustainable redistribution, and takes on global warming along the way. Less mining and milling, I find that all so thrilling, so why am I still in such dismay?

So much is at stake, I feel we can't take a break, and to not get involved is a huge mistake.

We must come together as one great nation, while keeping in mind the next generation. We don't have forever to make things right, so all we can do now is just fight the good fight.

There's still some time, but it's not on our side, the problem I see is worldwide apathy. We've got to protect, air, water and land, who better than us to lead the command. Look at our air, it's not something we should see, it all began with our need for energy.

Smoke filled skies can now block the sun, and burning fossil fuels is public enemy number one. Now we can't stop progress because of need, so better carbon capture systems will help indeed. We know that when the rains come falling down, it takes any pollutants to both water and ground.

Acid precipitation attacks all in its path, there's not a single thing which can avoid its wrath. Now adding to that, the greenhouse effect, it's a double whammy, we have a deadly mess. Recycling is a move, that's in the right direction, less energy is needed and therein lies the connection.

We need to repair our air first and foremost, this is from my meteorological observational outpost. There's the waters of our oceans, rivers and lakes, some of the views I've seen, makes my heartache. We dump into the seas, mass quantities, of recyclable goods just to save on land fees.

What doesn't sink floats to every distant shore - I find this act despicable and truly abhor.

We must recycle all that we can, it benefits aquatic life increasing their lifespan. A fish should not drown nor should mercury be found, we need to turn things completely around.

Our sea waters are rising it should not be so surprising, we're past overdue for our planet's stabilizing. Our drinking water has to also be sound, it's all life's blood, it's getting harder to be found. We have to care for water above and underground, it's a cycle just like a Ferris wheel going round.

What about the land and all who inhabit, we've got to do better in the name of cohabit.

I'm talking trees and bees and the flowers and the feed, the animals too are so much in need.

We bury things in the ground with such toxicity, for no other reason but the overall simplicity.

Our landfills are land-full it doesn't have to be, we need to recycle to avoid further catastrophe. I paint a gloomy picture but all is not lost, we can fix what's broken but there's going to be some cost.

We can stop the insanity with technology and humanity, if the animals could swear oh there would be such profanity!

I'm RECYCLEMAN - continue to plug away, because doing the right thing is in our DNA. Here's the bottom line, something we all should keep in mind: that we are but a minuscule moment in time, but that's not true.. for all the stuff we leave behind.

George Belmore

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ABOUT THE CT

The Wall by Iain Duffus

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

The CT’s Operations Budget is a reflection of independent advertising revenue accumulated throughout the previous academic year(s). Operations expenses include salaries, phone and internet, postage, professional memberships, award submissions and banquets, FOIA requests, programming costs and travel.

Each spring, the CT staff elects the next year’s Executive and Managing Editors, who then hire the remaining staff.

ADD YOUR VOICE The opinion pages of The CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Eleanor Fialk, by mail or in-person at 817 W. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23220. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Commonwealth Times. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The CT staff.

The Commonwealth Times strives for accuracy in gathering news. If you think we have made an error, please email the appropriate section editor. Corrections will appear on the opinion pages and/or online.

One CT per person. Additional copies can be purchased at the Student Media Center for $1 each.

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER Graphic Designers

Ashley Moody Desiree Choe Eric Ngo Rachel Lee Sarah Butler designers@vcustudentmedia.com

Advertising Representatives

Abigail Keatinge Kirsten Hauser advertising@vcustudentmedia.com 804-828-6629

Outreach Coordinator

Brian Glass smc_outreach@vcustudentmedia.com

Student Media Director Allison Dyche abdyche@vcu.edu 804-827-1975

Production Manager Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu

Business Manager Jacob McFadden mcfaddenjc@vcu.edu

Assistant Business Manager Mikaela Reinard smc_assistant@vcustudentmedia.edu