Best small, non-daily — 2017 Virginia Press Association @theCT
VOL. 60, NO. 2
THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
|
COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG
|
AUGUST 29, 2018
SPORTS
City of Richmond workers prepare to clean the paint-splattered A.P. Hill statue. Photo by Erin Edgerton
Second Confederate statue vandalized with red substance this month LOGAN REARDON Contributing Writer
A
nother statue of a Confederate general was vandalized with a “red, paint-like substance” around midnight on Aug. 22, Richmond police said. The bloodying of the monument to Ambrose Powell “A.P.” Hill, Jr., which houses his remains underneath, came just weeks after the Robert E. Lee statue on the historic Monument Avenue was sprayed with a similar red substance. The Lee statue had
the letters “BLM” written on it in addition to the paint splatters. Hill was a lieutenant general during the Civil War and commanded the Third Corps of Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. This instance of vandalism occurred in the wake of the recent destruction of the “Silent Sam” Confederate statue by protestors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Aug. 20. The Hill statue is located at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage
Road. Amid talks of removing the statues along Monument Avenue, the Hill statue has been largely left out of the discussion due to its location. The department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is responsible for the monument’s clean-up, which could cost the city thousands of dollars. Richmond police said if damages to the monument exceed $1,000, the perpetrators could face felony charges. Police are offering a monetary reward to anyone who can help lead them to the responsible party.
Sophomore forward CiCi Fox Photo by Jon Mirador
Rams tame Panthers for second consecutive victory NOAH FLEISCHMAN Contributing Writer Women’s Soccer (2-1) defeated the High Point University Panthers 3-1 in convincing fashion Friday night at Sports Backers Stadium, as the Rams outshot the Panthers by a wide margin, 29-6. The Black and Gold scored all three goals on headers to earn their second win of the season. See WOMEN’S SOCCER on page 4
NEWS
Bird isn’t the word amid city decision to confiscate electric scooters LOGAN REARDON Contributing Writer VCU students have been riding electric scooters throughout the city for the past Hey @BirdRide! I like several weeks. these scooters. How about Ve h i c l e - s h a r i n g c om p a ny B i rd has been placing the scooters around we get our teams around Richmond — apparentl y without the table and make this permission. work the right way? After the Department of Public Works ordered the confiscation of the scooters Levar Stoney, Richmond Mayor twice, Mayor Levar Stoney tweeted to the rental company. On Aug. 17 he wrote, “Hey @BirdRide! I like these scooters. How The company spoke with officials from the about we get our teams around the table mayor’s office on Aug. 21 to initiate the and make this work the right way?” process of making them legal in the area. Bird brand scooters, as well as bikes in some areas, can be found in more than See SCOOTERS on page 2 30 cities across the U.S. and internationally in Paris, France and Tel Aviv, Israel.
NEWS Shockoe shooting 2
SPORTS Field hockey 5
The dockless scooters are few and far between since the city began collecting them. Photo by Jon Mirador
SPECTRUM Tintype 8
OPINIONS Tipping 11
2 The Commonwealth Times
9 injured in 2 Shockoe Bottom shootings
A shooting at PLUSH Restaurant and Lounge Aug. 22 left three injured. Photo by Erin Edgerton
LOGAN REARDON Contributing Writer
after an investigation. Liquid Cafe is licensed by Virginia ABC to sell beer and other mixed-alcoholic beverages, but beA shooting early Saturday morning at cause the restaurant is not registered as a Liquid Cafe in Shockoe Bottom left six private club, they are not permitted to sell people injured, five of whom were wound- alcohol past 2 a.m. ed by gunshot. Richmond police said two gunmen came into the restaurant at 5 a.m. Saturday morning with their faces covered. The gunmen proceeded to announce they were I don’t feel safe. We go robbing the store and opened fire on the to these places to have people inside. This shooting came just four days after fun and mingle with another shooting in Shockoe Bottom at our peers without fear PLUSH Restaurant and Lounge, which left of having something three people injured with gunshot wounds. Some VCU students are concerned with terrible happening to us.” the recent rise in violent crimes in the area. Malik Terry, VCU junior “I don’t feel safe,” said VCU junior Malik Terry. “We go to these places to have fun and mingle with our peers without fear of RPD is currently looking at ways to rehaving something terrible happening to us. duce the crime rate in Shockoe Bottom. So It makes you not want to go out because far this year, 11 people have been shot and you fear your life could be even more at risk.” four people have been stabbed. Police said they are unsure as to why “I am certain that we can all agree that Liquid Cafe was operating at 5 a.m. when this increasing gun violence in Shockoe the restaurant’s listed operating hours are Bottom is unacceptable. This cannot be only until 3 a.m. the norm,” said Richmond Police Chief AlThe Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Con- fred Durham. trol Authority decided not to take action
Dining locations to open, reopen during fall semester GEORGIA GEEN Managing Editor Two new dining locations, whose collective offerings include salads, soups and smoothies, are set to open later in the fall semester, which will see the reopening of Einstein Bagels in Shafer Dining Court. Au Bon Pain, a bakery and café chain originating in Boston, Massachusetts, will open at 944 W. Grace St. in November, said Director of Campus Services Stephen Barr. Shake Smart — a smoothie bar started by college students opening at universities across the country — will open by the end of September in the space once occupied by Market 810-2-Go in Shafer Dining Court. Einstein Bros. Bagels, also located in Shafer Dining Court, will reopen after renovations prior to the start of September, Barr said. “After so many years, the franchise comes to us and lets us know we have to do a refresh of the location,” Barr said. “At the same time, Einstein’s popularity and the traffic that was there warranted us to do some expansion.” New equipment and doing-away with
Au Bon Pain, a Boston-based bakery, will open at 944 W. Grace St. in November. Photo by Jon Mirador the paper-ordering system will help the location serve guests faster, Barr said. Einstein’s will also serve Caribou brand coffee, a product introduced last semester which wasn’t fully integrated due to the upcoming renovation. Students directly selected Au Bon Pain
in a survey sent out by Dining Services, while the demand for a smoothie concept location was determined in a similar survey sent out mid-spring. Shake Smart — where dining-plan-holders will be able to swipe for different smoothie flavors — fit the bill. At Au Bon Pain, dining-plan-holders will
be able to select from a “cross-section of offerings,” Barr said. The restaurant’s full menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods and other items. “We’re trying to run through all of those right now to make sure we do a good cross section and a good offering,” Barr said.
SCOOTERS
Electric scooters taken off streets by city ordinance
need to file an ordinance and permits to be approved by the city before the scooters will be free to stay. Bird’s service is provided through a mobile app. The app allows users to find available electric vehicles in the area — since they are dockless, they can be Continued from front page parked virtually anywhere and unlocked for the user’s enjoyment. The app also has A spokesperson for the mayor of Rich- tutorials for riding the vehicle, instrucmond said Bird scooters will remain illegal tions on where to park and how to lock it in the area for the time being, meaning when finished. the city will continue to confiscate the veAccording to the company’s founder hicles as they come across them. Bird will and CEO Travis VanderZanden, Bird’s
scooters and bike sharing service is part of an initiative to promote clean transportation. The company’s website features a Save Our Sidewalks — or “S.O.S.” — pledge, which details Bird’s promise of daily pickups for vehicles in need of maintenance and repairs, responsible growth in the cities they are located in and revenue-sharing with the local governments they’re partnered with. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to reduce car trips — especially the roughly 40 percent of trips under two miles — thereby reducing traffic, con-
gestion and greenhouse gas emissions,” VanderZanden said in an open letter to CEOs of other vehicle-sharing services. One of these other services is Lime, another scooter and bike-share company with open job listings in the Richmond area, potentially suggesting an appearance of their competing vehicles as well. Discussion and voting on Bird’s services have not been listed in Richmond City Council agendas for at least the next month.
Wed. August 29, 2018 3
Board of visitors member receives lifetime achievement award as woman in law NIA TARIQ News Editor Meet Jacquelyn E. Stone, a VCU board of visitors member and former member of the VCU Health Systems Board who was honored with a lifetime achievement award for NaImage courtesy of tional Women in Jacquelyn E. Stone Law by Corporate Counsel and InsideCounsel on Aug. 13. Stone is a partner with the McGuireWoods law firm in Richmond, has served on boards concerning higher education institutions for the past two decades and works to promote diversity in legal practices. How did you prepare yourself to become a leader in the field of law? I grew up with a father who was a lawyer and a judge. I wasn’t convinced that that’s what I wanted to do with my career because he worked so hard, but I did feel as though having an understanding of the law was going to be positive for me no matter what. So, I went to the University of Virginia and took a lot of courses in all different types of subjects. I was (later) able to get a job on Capitol Hill and, when I finished my work on Capitol Hill, I was very fortunate to be accepted into Harvard Law School. In the summers, I was lucky enough to get internships at law firms as an associate. Fortunately, McGuireWoods was one of the firms where I had the chance to work as a summer associate before I graduated from law school. I was able to join the firm as an associate when I graduated in 1985 and I’ve been here ever since. So, a combination of really working hard at my academics, then taking the opportunity to see first-hand what’s involved in both the practice of law
and other careers that someone who has a law degree can pursue really helped prepare me for where I am now. How did you end up being appointed to the VCU board of visitors? In Virginia, the members of the boards of visitors throughout education institutions are appointed by the governor. Governor (Bob) McDonnell asked me if I would be willing to serve on the board. My first term started in 2011, then I had the great fortune of being re-appointed by Governor (Terry) McAuliffe, so I continued to serve. While I’ve been on the board, I was able to serve as the secretary and also the vice rector. It’s been a lot of fun — a lot of wonderful are people on the board with me. It was really a wonderful opportunity to be able to to serve on an actual board of a higher education institution because that allowed me to be so much closer to the students that were being served and to really help understand the issues that an institution like VCU is dealing with on an everyday basis. Have you ever faced any instances of discrimination in school or the workplace? It’s hard to imagine that discrimination has not factored in at some point in time, but I would have to say that I have worked as hard as I can to avoid looking for discrimination in my work and in my life. I was the first woman of color to come to my law firm, but I wasn’t really willing to let that convince me that I couldn’t make it in that environment. I have worked really hard to just not allow what might be discrimination to hold me back in pursuing my goals. I’ve spent a lot of time with our recruiting efforts here at McGuireWoods to increase our numbers of diverse candidates and help diverse students get into law school. Students that are coming out of school might be one of a very small num-
ber of diverse associates, but you can’t look around and say “I don’t want to go work at this organization because they don’t have much diversity.” You’ve got to be part of the solution of getting that fixed. The place with less diversity needs you even more. What have you done to help young women who want to be on the same career path as you? I’ve worked really hard to identify women to come into the law firm, be able to work on important legal matters, expose them to the clients that are going to provide opportunities to work on good cases and to make sure that there is the kind of support that women need in place. It’s difficult when you see a lot of women leaving the profession when they start their families and have a lot of commitments that make it difficult to balance with a career.
I was the first woman of color to come to my law firm, but I wasn’t really willing to let that convince me that I couldn’t make it in that environment. Jacquelyn E. Stone, BOV member There are also national organizations I’ve been involved with that are helpful to women overall. So, it’s just been a combination of activities that I’ve been fortunate to be a part of that try to give opportunities to women to meet each other and develop skills, but at the same time help them navigate the process of having a career and personal life as well.
“Someone complimented you!” NIA TARIQ News Editor No, they did not. However, numerous VCU students — along with virtually anyone who owns a smartphone — may have received an automated text message from the app called IRL - Let’s Hang, that makes such a claim. A recent tweet by a Utah woman promoting a false theory about the app went viral on Aug. 24. “LADIES, if you have received a text recently saying ‘a friend has complimented you IRL’ with a link attached below it, DO NOT open the link!” she said in the now-deleted tweet. “It is linked to sex trafficking. All your information (including location) can be taken simply by clicking on the link. SO DON’T DO IT!” Concerned VCU students, such as Jake Cerulli, said that the messages are not exclusive to women. “Sheesh, I’m a guy and get those almost everyday,” Cerulli said. Ella Gray, also a student, said the frequency of the messages creep her out. “I’ve gotten multiple messages and I heard based on reviews in the app store it’s sketchy,” Gray said. The app, developed by Genrikh Khachatryan, “makes it easy and fun to send and receive invites to hang out with friends in real life,” according to the IRL website.
Based on its users’ interests or location and the time of year, the app makes suggestions on what the user and their friends should go out and do. Some students like Olivia Duke said the spam-like message has nothing to do with sex trafficking. Her theory is that the app has a bug that will text others in the user’s contact book. “Don’t worry,” she said. “It’s a real app that was first created to encourage teens to hang out in person. It now is just a spam app, it collects phone numbers. If you allow it to sync with your contacts it will send the same text using those numbers.” The frequently asked questions webpage Some unsuspecting people may have refor IRL suggests that there are only three ceived this text message from the IRL - Let’s reasons an unsuspecting person should have Hang app. Image courtesy of Suha Hafeez gotten a text to download the app: a friend who uses the app invited someone else to CORRECTION use the app, invited someone to an event within the app, or nominated someone as likely to partake in a particular activity — In the Aug. 22 issue, one article, “Rewhich is another feature of the app. membering VCU alumna among slain The app’s website also claims that it does Capital Gazette Journalists,” was cut not send mass text messages to all of a user’s off several words early. The last line phone contacts. should have read, “‘At the Robertson Anyone can opt out of receiving the School, we are appalled by today’s IRL messages. Simply reply “STOP” to climate of hostility towards journalists.’” the number that sent the text message, and unsubscribing confirmation will be sent The full version of the story is available back. Additional problems can be reported online at commonwealthtimes.org. to hello@irl.co.
CRIME LOG WED. AUGUST 22 All Other Larceny Kroger 901 N. Lombardy Reported by Outside Agency City Code Violation — Open Container 100 N. Madison St. Reported by Outside Agency Destruction of Property — Private West Hospital 1200 E. Broad St. Pending Drug Violation & City Code Violation — Possession of Controlled Substance & Panhandling 810 W. Grace St. Closed CBA
THURS. AUGUST 23 Drunkenness & Trespassing Henry St. Parking Deck - West 200 N. Henry St. Closed CBA Hit and Run 1500 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency Simple Assault 1200 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency Theft From Building Cary St. Gym 101 S. Linden St. Pending
FRI. AUGUST 24 Drug Violation & Liquor Law Violation Henry St. Parking Deck — West 200 N. Henry St. Closed CBA
SAT. AUGUST 25 Drug Violation — Possession of Marijuana 822 W. Franklin St. Closed CBA Hit and Run 118 N. Morris St. Reported by Outside Agency Indecent Exposure North Hospital 1300 E. Marshall St. Pending
SUN. AUGUST 26 Drug Violation — Possession of Controlled Substance CCH 1213 E. Clay St. Pending False Information to Police & Obstructing Justice ACC 417 N 11th St. Closed CBA Harassment 830 W. Grace St. Pending Hit and Run 1500 W. Broad St. Reported by Outside Agency Liquor Law Violation Rhoads Hall 710 W. Franklin St. Pending Robbery — Individual 300 W. Franklin 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
4 The Commonwealth Times
Stat of the week
Field Hockey senior forward Emily McNamara was named A-10 player of the week after scoring three goals in two games last weekend.
Rams down High Point 3-1 at Sports Backers Women’s Soccer —Continued from front page The shot total from the game was higher than VCU’s first two games’ combined. The Rams had five games last season of 25 shots or more. VCU shot early and often, amassing three shots in the first ten minutes of the match. Sophomore forward CiCi Fox had an early penalty kick in the fifth minute that was saved by Panthers goalkeeper Emily Lyon. Sophomore midfielder Samantha Jerabek kicked off the scoring for the Rams as her head connected for a goal on junior defender Susanna Friedrichs’ cross in the seventh minute. “It’s amazing because I’m not a real good header and I’m really short, so it felt amazing (to score on a header),” Jerabeck said. The Panthers did not take a shot until the 15th minute of the match when VCU had already taken four shots, two of them on goal.
I think we have good confidence now coming off a two-game win streak. We are playing our style and that’s what we couldn’t say after the first game” Head coach Lindsey Martin High Point evened the match at one apiece when Skyler Prillaman beat VCU senior goalkeeper Audrey Sanderson in a one-on-one. Prillaman’s goal marked the only Panther shot that was on-target of the six attempted.
Junior midfielder Alyssa Tallent appeared (9) in all 20 games last season, scoring three game-winning goals. Photo by Teresa Bricker VCU kept the intensity up during the latter stages of the first half as senior defender Stephanie Stahl scored on a header off a cross by freshman defender Amber DiOrio. Stahl placed the ball on the far post, out of Lyon’s reach. The Rams held a 2-1 lead at halftime, outshooting the Panthers 13-4. VCU added an insurance goal in the second half off the head of Jerabek for her second goal of the night. Jerabek recorded her first two goals of the 2018 season Friday night after logging one last season.
“Sam was very good today,” said VCU head coach Lindsey Martin of Jerabek’s performance. “She was explosive, she was an attacking presence from moment one and for her to score two goals with her head is unusual for her, but I love the trend.” VCU took 29 shots, but only eight were on goal. “We just need to keep (shots) on target and keep shooting,” Jerabek said. VCU went 2-1 during the three-game homestand to open the season, defeating the University of North Carolina at Char-
lotte and High Point. The Rams will hit the road for a three-game trip starting Aug. 31 against the University of Northern Iowa. “I think we have good confidence now coming off of a two-game win streak,” Martin said after the Rams’ second win of the 2018 campaign. “We are playing our style and that’s what we couldn’t say after the first game. We didn’t look like ourselves, these past two games we’ve looked more like ourselves.”
Volleyball comes up short in season openers NILE MCNAIR Contributing Writer Volleyball opened its 2018 campaign 0-2, returning home from the N.C. State Invitational winless — the Rams fell to hosts North Carolina State University 3-2 before losing to Washington State University in straight sets. WASHINGTON STATE The first set against WSU was VCU’s worst-scoring set of the season thus far — the Rams were only able to score 13 points to open the match. Meanwhile, Washington State jumped out to a 5-0 lead early-on.
In the second set, the Black and Gold kicked up their performance but still came up short. VCU started up 3-0, but Washington State quickly tied the game at three all. Trailing 21-20 in the second set, the Huskies scored three straight to take a two-point lead that they carried on to a 25-22 victory. In the third set, VCU tried to avoid the sweep but were unable to do so, losing 25-18 to finish the N.C. State Invitational winless despite a hotly contested opening match against the hosts.
NC STATE In the first match of the tournament, VCU faced the host N.C. State Wolfpack Aug. 24. This match went the distance with all five sets played. With the energy of the home crowd behind them, N.C. State came out fast, winning the first set 25-21 and the second 25-15. N.C. State pulled away in the first set when they scored three points in a row after the score was already 14-15 in their favor, while VCU appeared overwhelmed in the second set. The third and fourth sets were dominated by VCU — the Rams won 25-21
and 25-17 to tie the match at two sets apiece, setting the stage for a fifth, decisive set to 15. Junior outside hitter Vicky Giommarini led the way, scoring three points in the third set. However, in the game-deciding fifth set, the Rams were unable to carry their momentum through the finish line. The Wolfpack defended their court and won the final set 15-11, ending in a 3-2 match victory. VCU returns to Richmond for their home opener vs. Wichita State University Aug. 27 and then goes back on the road to play three games in the Seton Hall Classic.
Wed. August 29, 2018 5
pressbox
The Dying Era of Sportsmanship JESSICA WETZLER Sports Editor
W
hen I was little — and I am sure I wasn’t the only one brought up this way — I was always taught to play fair when it comes to sports and competition. Whether that was while playing the game or the way I acted afterward, it was the way you handled yourself in tough situations that mattered and was most noticeable. These days, fans and players alike are too quick to broadcast their competitive impulses. I grew up playing softball, so by the time I was old enough to lift a baseball bat above my head, I was in little league. At first I never knew what I was doing and would get confused when the coach yelled at me to run to the base after hitting a ball — but I was a six-year-old kid who didn’t know a tennis ball from a baseball. By my second year in little league, I remember taking time during practice to go over handshakes, lining up after the game quickly and uniformly. The coach wanted us to understand that after every game, you always line up one-by-one and shake the hand of every member of the opposing team. You say “good game” to every single person no matter if you won or lost. Sportsmanship changes over time. With age, I find that taking the time to shake everyone’s hands gets drowned out by the competitiveness of the game. By the time I played softball in high school, it wasn’t really a requirement anymore. I didn’t have to say “good game” to everyone and I could even get away with not lining up after the game and staying in the dugout until we left the field. Times changed and so did my manners. Sportsmanship differs between athletes and fans. Both parties have the right to display it or deny it, but when you are on a team, you are representing every player before you that wore that jersey. You become bigger than yourself. But does that give you an excuse to ignore the opposing team just because they play a better game than you? The line breaks between childhood
illustration by Steck Von
and adulthood. The control taught to children is lost with age.
With age, I find that taking the time to shake everyone’s hands gets drowned out by the competitiveness of the game.” Jessica Wetzler, Sports Editor During the past couple of weeks, the eyes of the sports world — along with my own — have been glued to the Little League World Series. On social
media, viewers have pointed out how teams still root for their opponents when they make a tremendous play or hit a home run. The teams seem to detach themselves from the game and sense of competition. Instead, the two sides start playing as a whole. The goal seems to be to play baseball, plain and simple. The way children handle themselves when playing a game compared to professionals can be seen very differently, particularly in the context of this exemplary event. Players are looked up to by kids, adults, cities and past players. They represent so much to hundreds of people and how they act reflects on the team. It has become normal to watch a game and see a fight break out or a punch thrown. Earlier in July, a fight broke out at
a youth basketball game in Atlanta between players and referees. Back in April, the Red Sox and Yankees had to clear their benches when Tyler Austin slid spikes-up into Brock Holt’s ankle. The incident resolved itself and the game continued until Austin returned and Joe Kelly tried to hit Austin. The National Hockey League even has a postseason fight log. I know you all remember The Malice at the Palace, the infamous NBA brawl between the Pacers and Pistons in 2004. What happens on the field gets noticed by fans, and they find it okay to be disrespectful because the players have set this precedent on the big stage. USA Today reported that an Eagles fan paid $5,000 to display a billboard outside of Gillette Stadium showing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady getting sacked and Eagles quarterback Nick Foles catching the Lombardi Trophy. A banner displaying the final game score, 41-33, was flown over Gillette. Although I’m sure the billboard design was all in good fun, the question arises of whether it was necessary. Now don’t get me wrong, I wanted the Eagles to win last year’s Super Bowl just like every other fan who dislikes the Patriots. But I don’t think placing a billboard outside the New England’s home turf sends the right message. Decorum, people. Act like you’ve been there before (even though the Eagles haven’t). When people drive by that billboard, they see a petty message being sent from the Eagles to the Patriots, not a fan having fun. Personally, I would not want to misrepresent any team that way. This is where sportsmanship comes full circle. Sportsmanship doesn’t just apply to people who play sports but to fans, too. It is about respecting other people and treating others the way you want to be treated. That message gets lost in the fog of competitiveness and the drive of winning, particularly in the social media age when it is so easy to display one’s competitive impulses. Everything people do sends a message, so think about the message you are sending every day.
Cross Country: Women turn to upperclassman leadership, men welcome seven freshman JESSICA WETZLER Sports Editor
Junior Bryce Catlett earned all-conference honors in 2017. Photo by Shayla Bailey
VCU’s Cross Country teams had a slew of top finishes during their 2017 season but came up short at the Southeast Regional Championships as the teams were ineligible for scoring due to their inability to field enough runners. With the women’s team comprised of mostly juniors and seniors and the men’s team primarily made up of freshman, the 2018 season will be a test of leadership. Ashley Greenlee and Nichelle Scott will lead the women’s team as this season’s only seniors. Juniors Delaney Savedge, Judith White, Ashley Brown and Emily Mul-
hern all return for a third season, and will welcome freshmen Julia Squillante from Stafford, Virginia and Sara Levitch from Midlothian, Virginia. Levitch, a Midlothian High School graduate, won her conference championship in Cross Country in 2014 and 2015 and was selected three times for the All-Conference teams in both cross country and track. The men’s team introduces seven new members as the freshman class takes over. Archie Blaes, Alvin Hamilton, Vohra Hishman, Evan Leach, Sean Moulton, Jacari Sain and Owen Walker all begin their first season as Rams. Cross Country star Bryce Catlett returns for his junior year along with James de la Rama, Jordan Fountain, Lucas Sidle and
Michael Villagomez. Catlett placed in several invitationals during his freshman year and and closed out his 2017 season earning A-10 Honors at the Conference Championships. Villagomez also had his fair share of placing during last year’s season. He placed 120th in the five-mile run at the Atlantic 10 Championship, placed 16th in the 8k at the CNU Cross Country Invitational and placed 24th in the 5.9K at the JMU Invitational. The Rams will open up their season at the Spider Alumni Open on Sept. 1 and travel to North Carolina Sept. 14 for the Adidas XC Challenge.
6 The Commonwealth Times
Junior midfielder Fortia Munts (11) finished third on the team in assists last season with four, a career-high. Photo by Shayla Bailey
Men’s Soccer falls to Eagles, tops Highlanders ADAM CHEEK Staff Writer Men’s Soccer kicked off the season with an even record in two home games, as the Rams fell to Georgia Southern University 2-0 but rallied two days later to top Radford University 3-0 at Sports Backers Stadium. RADFORD Sunday afternoon’s in-state matchup pitted the Rams against the Radford Highlanders. After a scoreless first half, VCU netted three goals in the latter 45 minutes to secure victory. The Black and Gold managed five shots on goal, while doubling Radford’s overall shot total of seven with 14 on the home side. Highlander players had only two shots on goal, with VCU sophomore goalkeeper Mario Sequeria saving both attempts. Senior midfielder Joseph Gonnella
scored the first goal in the 49th minute, breaking the tie and giving VCU the lead with an assist from junior forward Biska Biyombo. Senior midfielder Eli Lockaby followed up with a score in the 82nd minute, and sophomore forward Jared Greene netted a third goal just 20 seconds later. All three players notched their first goals of the season, and Gonnella led the way for the Black and Gold with four total shots, two on goal. Junior midfielders Travis Cooke and Fortia Munts added assists, tallying their first statistics of the 2018 season. The Rams scored their final two goals within the last ten minutes of play, extending their lead and setting the victory in stone. GEORGIA SOUTHERN Friday evening’s match found VCU kicking their 2018 fall season off against
the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Eagles scored a goal in both halves of the match to shut out the Black and Gold by a score of 2-0. Despite the scoreline, Sequeria played solidly in net, kicking off his season with three saves.
RAM FACT
VCU trumped Radford 14-7 in shot attempts and tied 2-2 in saves. Junior midfielders Cooke and Siad Haji proved to be standouts for the Rams. Cooke led the home team with three shots while Haji added a pair of scoring opportunities, coming close both times. Cooke’s 24th minute opportunity was stonewalled by Geor-
gia Southern freshman goalkeeper Jokull Blaengsson, as were back-to-back shots in the 65th minute by Cooke and senior midfielder Peter Pearson. Blaengsson topped another VCU breakaway as the first half clock wound down, preserving the Eagles’ 1-0 lead as the game entered halftime. Three other Rams contributed one shot apiece, but VCU struggled to match the Eagles for shots, finishing down 13-8 in attempts. The Black and Gold squad rallied for several attempts on goal late in the match, but were denied by a misplaced shot and a strong Eagles defense. Next up, VCU will off against the Temple University Owls on Friday, Aug. 31, and Santa Clara University on Sunday, Sept. 2, with both games kicking off at 7 p.m. at Sports Backers.
Rams close River Hawk Classic 1-1 JESSICA WETZLER Sports Editor Field Hockey opened up its season away from home, falling to the Hofstra University Pride 3-2 in penalties and defeating the Bryant University Bulldogs 2-1 in Lowell, Massachusetts in the River Hawk Classic. BRYANT Continuing their stay at the River Hawk Classic, VCU went up against the Bryant Bulldogs to pull off their first win of the season. Sophomore defender Emily van Hijfte scored during the first half after hitting a reverse chip shot high into the cage, taking the lead 1-0. Senior star forward Emily McNamara followed with another goal for VCU in the second half, hitting off a rebound and increasing the score 2-0. Trailing behind, the Bulldogs managed to score their first and only goal when Leyna DiMarco hit a penalty corner in with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Bulldogs fell short as VCU took home the win, rounding out their trip with a 1-1 record. VCU racked up a total of 17 shots compared to Bryant’s one throughout the game, but Bryant made the most saves with 9 compared to zero by VCU.
VCU racked up a total of 17 shots compared to Bryant’s one throughout the game, but Bryant made the most saves with 9 compared to zero by VCU. HOFSTRA McNamara wasted no time getting in the first shot after passing across the cage and tipping in from the far post, taking a lead for the Rams they carried into the halftime break. Outshooting Hofstra 14-0 in the first half, the Pride scored against the run of play to tie the match when Hannah Zemaitis hit a goal in off a rebound in front of the cage. The Pride defended their cage resolutely, collecting 16 saves throughout the game, but the Rams held on to a 16-2 shot advantage. Hofstra struck again to take the lead when Cami Larsson hit in the direct corner in the 65th minute. Two minutes later, McNamara equalized after scoring off a penalty corner with more than three minutes left in regulation. Heading into overtime, the Rams and Pride remained tied 2-2 through the second overtime period — they would go to a shootout to decide the winner. VCU put in what looked like a game-winning goal during the shootout, but the score was quickly called off by officials, leaving the door open for Hofstra to
Freshman defender Janne Wetzel from Germany lead her team to eight Bavarian Championships priod to VCU. Photo by Jacob Medley advance and win the game 2-3.The Rams outshot Hofstra 30-4 and only had one penalty in what proved a frustrating defeat.
The Rams’ home opener is Sept. 2 against American University.
Wed. August 29, 2018 7 ADVERTISEMENT
GETTING AROUND TOWN Consider using these options to get you where you're going, while saving fuel, money, and the environment.
• Unlimited access to Pulse, local, and express fixed routes • Use VCU ID to ride • Find your bus route at go.vcu.edu/grtc
• Rent a car by the hour or day • Includes gas, insurance, etc. • Rental rates available at zipcar.com/vcu
• Free 72-hour bike rentals; free repairs • Use your VCU ID • Learn more at bikes.vcu.edu
• Connect with other VCU commuters • Request/offer rides • Learn more at zimride.com/vcu
Learn more about each of these transportation options online at parking.vcu.edu/transportation. an equal opportunity/affirmative action university
8 The Commonwealth Times
On this day
The late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson was born on Aug. 29, 1958.
White has a wall of tintype portraits of her friends and family which she refers to as her “VIP wall.” Photo by Erin Edgerton
A Richmond photographer is capturing the present with photographic processes of the past KATIE BASHISTA Spectrum Editor Emily White’s green metal desk is covered in gold picture frames, a baby blue vintage Coronet typewriter and tintype portraits. “Craigslist,” she said of the desk. “I will say it’s really heavy. It’s also fireproof so all of my precious things are in my desk.” White is a Richmond area tintype photographer with a studio nestled in Manchester. She’s from the rural town of Bremo Bluff, Virginia, an hour-and-a-half upstream on the James River. She studied sociology at Middlebury College in Vermont and lived in Charlottesville for a year before landing in Richmond. White started exploring tintype photography in 2013 while planning for an artist residency. She wanted to find the best photography method to fit her environment and came across tintype. “The way I simplify tintype for people is that it’s the polaroid of the 19th century,” White said. Tintype uses a process called wet plate collodion. It’s one of the first photographic processes to use wet chemistry to create a direct exposure onto a sheet of metal. The process takes about five minutes from start to finish, not including framing the subjects and focusing the camera. White describes herself as an intentionally slow-working person who is also easily excited and eager to see the end result of her projects. She likes that the tintype process is
something that forces her to take her time. “It’s almost ritualistic in the steps of it,” she said. “I love having my hand in every step of the process. I do everything from mixing the chemicals, to exposing the image, to setting the image up.” White values the fact that tintype portraits allow for greater collaboration between her and her subjects. Portrait photog-
I was thinking about the portraits I take and how I don’t think a man could take them. I think there’s an obvious female eye behind them.”
pieced together with a lens from 1901 and parts from two other cameras. While she enjoys digital cameras for things like event photography, she takes issue with the idea that owning a digital camera means you have to upgrade constantly. “There’s this interesting idea — specifically in photography — where a lot of people don’t acknowledge the craft behind it,” she said. “They think if you have the best equipment, you’ll take the best photos and I think that’s completely wrong.” White intends to continue tintype portraits for as long as it will sustain her. She plans on embarking on a cross-country trip in the spring, photographing women using tintypes. White also wants to do more artist
residencies photographing subjects in their own personal spaces. In the social media age, many are guilty of taking hundreds of photos a day and leaving them on phones or laptops. White feels since each tintype image is the only one of its kind, the photographer has already decided it’s a special photo. “These are tangible photos that intentionally are not supposed to live on a screen,” she said. “This format really encourages returning to the idea of a photo being something special.”
Emily White, Photographer raphy is a somewhat intimate process and being a woman in the field allows White to take photos that others can’t, she says. “I was thinking about the portraits I take and how I don’t think a man could take them,” White said. “I think there’s an obvious female eye behind them. I don’t know why, but that was yesterday’s driving-inthe-car thought.” Beside her desk stands what White calls her “Frankencamera.” It’s a camera she
White also creates ambrotypes, which are printed on sheets of glass rather than metal. Photo by Erin Edgerton
It’s impossible to make duplicates of tintype portraits. White’s clients take home the one and only copy of their portrait. Photo by Erin Edgerton
Wed. August 29, 2018 9
Gallery produces publication to commemorate end of physical location GEORGIA GEEN Managing Editor Despite moving out of its physical location, Corner Office gallery will continue working to provide guidance and opportunity to emerging women-identifying artists through a publication — to be released Aug. 31 — of the same name. Adele Ball founded the Scott’s Addition gallery with her friend, Ava Lonergan, in March 2017. Upon learning the building housing the space was to be sold, the duo still wanted to find a way to inform on new artists’ studio practices, Ball said. “But we won’t necessarily have a physical space to do that, so we’re bringing it into a published realm,” Ball said. The approximately 100-page, magazine-style publication consists of interviews, writings and images relating to the gallery’s year-and-a-half long run in Scott’s Addition. In addition to its main theme of studio practice, the piece includes other topics, like how young artists can finance themselves and how to define “home” for a millenial generation that moves constantly and works multiple part-time jobs, Ball said. “There’s a lot of things in the artistic process that people don’t talk about,” Ball said. “Like, how do you actually make money? How do you support yourself ? Do you make art for money, do you make art for yourself ? How do you showcase it, is it activist art?” Ball said she thinks the Corner Office publication could help start those conversations and push their message to a wider audience. The process of preparing the publication took about four months, combining Ball’s graphic design background with Lonergan’s writing abilities. Making the work brought out memories and emotions from their time in the gallery, Ball said. “We’ve been really nostalgic throughout this whole process,” Ball said. “Honestly, it’s a pretty long process starting with pulling all of the content from the past year-anda-half, editing it and organizing it. Editing
Corner Office hosted an exhibition by Mahari Chabwera, a VCUarts graduate. Photo courtesy of Ava Lonergan it, publishing, proofing, editing, proofing … editing, proofing.” Since its opening, Corner Office has hosted 11 exhibitions, including “He burned our drums, So we drummed our bodies; a developing dedication to The Vulva,” featuring works by 2017 VCUarts graduate Mahari Chabwera. Serving as Corner Office’s final exhibition, Chabwera’s works opened at the gallery in June. Ball said Chabwera “really transformed” the space not only with her displayed pieces, but by painting the gallery space, too. “That was really cool, having an interactive element,” Ball said. The gallery space has given Ball and Lonergan the opportunity to meet artists through studio visits and other events. “Talking about their artistic processes and struggles, things like that and feeling
like we’ve created a safer space for sharing,” Ball said. “That’s what I’ve loved most about that community.” That “small bit of community,” offered professional opportunities for new artists. In order to gain rapport, artists need to have done art shows or completed a residency. And to obtain a residency, it’s beneficial to have already completed a residency, Ball said. “It’s almost like putting the cart before the horse,” Ball said. “It’s hard to start if you don’t have anything.” Ball said she found it difficult to “jumpstart” her career, a common experience for young artists. According to research conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2014, the unemployment rate for primary artists — those who spend a majority of their working hours as artists — was nearly double that of other profes-
sionals, at 7.1 and 3.6 percent, respectively. Additionally, the employment rate for artists has recovered more slowly than other professions’ following the recession. Although no definite date or location has been set, Ball said she and Lonergan plan to reopen a physical gallery space in the future — hopefully one that will accommodate an artist residency. “I think that part of the impetus in starting this space and publishing this publication is to provide a resource that perhaps we didn’t have,” Ball said. “A resource into the artistic process, especially for people in our community, who are in our age range.” Corner Office will host a release party for its publication on Aug. 31 at 3012 W. Broad St., Second Floor from 5-8 p.m. Price of publication is TBA.
Listening sessions lead up to Shockoe slave memorial plans ANDREW RINGLE Contributing Writer Listening sessions lead up to Shockoe slave memorial plans The first drawings for a memorial honoring enslaved people who were trafficked through Shockoe Bottom could be revealed by September. Lumpkin’s Jail, also known as Devil’s Half Acre, was an infamous prison for enslaved African-Americans before the Civil War. The project has been a subject of debate since its proposal in 2016 by SmithGroup, an architectural firm with an office in Washington, D.C. Through a series of public listening sessions held throughout August, SmithGroup presented its plans for the future of the new memorial and answered questions. After the meeting, people in attendance were encouraged to fill out surveys which listed several proposals for what will eventually be built at Lumpkin’s Jail. Suggestions on the survey included turning the site into a museum, a memorial or a genealogical research center. “The whole idea was really to meet with the community,” said Hal Davis, senior vice
president at Smithgroup. “It was to understand what should be done in the eyes of those we spoke with.” The project is still in the concept design phase, but the group in charge plans to release drawings of the final plans after a large public feedback session in early September.
The whole idea was really to meet with the community. It was to understand what should be done in the eyes of those we spoke with.” Hal Davis, Senior VP of Smithgroup The three-acre site near Main Street Station operated as a slave auction complex under the ownership of Robert Lumpkin until April 1865 when Richmond fell to the Union army. Robert Lumpkin died shortly after the sack of the city. Mary Lumpkin, his former slave and the mother of his children, inher-
The slave auction site was owned by Robert Lumpkin until 1865. Photo by Ben Rivelis ited the property. In 1867, Mary Lumpkin leased the property to Nathaniel Colver, a Baptist minister seeking to start a Black seminary in Virginia. Finally, the site was transformed into the original location of Virginia Union University, the historically Black university now located on Lombardy Street. Although it is not yet clear what will be
built on the land, Davis said SmithGroup is working closely with historians and educators in the Richmond area to deliver “the truth” about the slave trade in Shockoe Bottom and the world. To find out more about the new memorial and the historic site in Shockoe Bottom, visit lumpkinsjail.org or devilshalfacre.org.
10 The Commonwealth Times SAM’S TAKE
“The Happytime Murders”: Sex, Drugs and Cotton SAMUEL GOODRICH Staff Writer Puppets have been a staple of children’s television since the 1970s with the likes of “Sesame Street” and “The Muppet Show,” the brain children of Jim Henson. His production company went on to create films like “Labyrinth” and “The Dark Crystal,” as well as other Muppet and Sesame Street series. Puppets have appeared in explicit R-rated cult-films for about the same amount of time. Without going into the obligatory porn parodies, there was most famously “Meet The Feebles,” directed by Peter Jackson. It was a filthy — and at times horrific — look at the behind-thescenes life of puppet show actors. In 2018, these two worlds collided. Jim Henson’s son, Brian Henson, produced the raunchy buddy-cop comedy “The Happytime Murders.” Despite some chuckles and interesting ideas, the film fails to live up to either legacy. Taking place in an alternate modern day where puppets live among us as (sort of ) marginalized citizens, Phil Philips is an excop-turned-private-detective puppet haunted by his past mistakes. After members of the ‘90s television show “The Happytime Gang” start showing up dead, Philips reunites with his old partner, Melissa McCarthy’s Connie Edwards, as they investigate the case.
Illustration by Sammy Newman
“The Happytime Murders” is an odd amalgamation of a few genres, but it doesn’t excel at any of them. As a noir film, it’s lazily predictable. The plot is full of poorly executed cliches and cul-de-sac-like plotlines, introducing themselves and never going anywhere. Phil is an alcoholic, but he only drinks once; Connie is addicted to sugar, but it’s unclear if she has a history of abuse, or if the issue is even resolved. These aimless story beats reflect the little effort put into creating this alternative
human-puppet world. Instead of exploring how radically different this society would be, the filmmakers opt to just throw contradicting ideas at the wall. The largest missed opportunity is the theme of puppets being treated like second-class citizens, reflecting how racism works in modern time. This idea is never developed, simply used for one-off gags or a means to an end within the plot. The humor is just as low-brow as the premise of “puppets, but raunchy” entails,
ADVERTISEMENT
but it’s rarely obnoxious. I’ll admit there is something inherently funny about puppets acting like adults, casually cursing and smoking cigarettes. There are jokes beyond simply a puppet doing something dirty, and I did find myself chuckling here and there just at the way a puppet looked or acted. Performances by McCarthy and Bill Barretta offer the most laughs. While McCarthy is talented when she avoids her usual pratfalls and loudness, Barretta doubles as a great comedic actor and puppeteer. He never misses a beat with Phil’s movements and gruff, grizzled voice. I was also continually impressed by the film’s puppeteering. The variety of puppets and situations featured are as funny as they are admirable. One fight scene between McCarthy and a room of larger puppets is well shot and choreographed — It must have been a nightmare to figure out how to shoot that sequence — but it pays off as the puppets themselves are seamlessly woven into the film. While it’s clear everyone on set was having a good time, it’s difficult to feel that joy when watching “The Happytime Murders.” The inconsistent plotlines and characters mixed with average dirty humor damage the few stand-out elements, like the puppets or the disappointingly undercooked concepts. The movie is a mess at times, but the laughs make it worth watching, though it’s nothing to rush out and see.
Wed. August 29, 2018 11
Quote of the week
“Servers don’t feel the need to work as hard for their tips because tipping culture makes customers feel obligated to.” — marlon mckay
The Stigma Around Tipping
MARLON MCKAY Contributing Writer
Whenever you eat in a full-service restaurant, it’s expected to add a tip to the staff for their service. Since the 1960’s, it has become so much of an expectation that when a customer leaves a less-than-satisfactory tip — or doesn’t leave one at all — they are often subject to ridicule and backlash by the restaurant staff and others in the community. In some instances such an action, or lack thereof, can make it to the news. This current stigma surrounding tipping makes the practice unfair to both the customer and their server. When people think of tipping, the thought that usually comes to mind is an extra amount of cash left for the server if you’ve received excellent service. When did it become so ingrained in America that customers need to tip their servers no matter how the service was? “Mandatory” tipping runs deep in American culture, but really emerged when Congress passed The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 allowing restaurants to pay their servers only $2.13 an hour if they typically received more than $30 a month in tips. Knowing servers are paid less makes people feel obligated to tip, and can lead to a server feeling entitled to one. KTRE News in Texas reported how a waitress shamed her customers “by posting their receipts, name and all, online.” She did this if they didn’t leave a tip and she thought she gave them excellent service. Humphrey told KTRE News she does it so people can realize how much she relies on her tips because of how little she gets paid. While it is a shame she has to go through this, these actions will not encourage customers to tip more.
Illustration by Summer McClure
The entitlement to tips that so many servers have also leads to a decrease in customer service. Servers don’t feel the need to work as hard for their tips because tipping culture makes customers feel obligated to tip regardless of service quality. In a sense, it “robs” the customer of that extra cash the server may not have deserved. There is no denying the fact that servers need to be paid more than $2 if they want to survive, and they shouldn’t have to live off tips. Some restaurants, such as Sushi Yasuda in New York, pay their servers well above minimum wage by adding an extra service charge to bills. But that extra charge scares customers away from restaurants because they think it’s an extra charge they can avoid. According to a Huffington Post article, the added charge “would be roughly equal to what you would have paid in tips anyway.” Because of the additional charge, their servers aren’t allowed to receive tips from customers. This type of policy can also be unfair to employees in the long run. Why shouldn’t a waiter or waitress who gives outstanding service be rewarded by the customer? That extra bit of money can help with any expensive bills or emergencies. These servers aren’t allowed to take tips they probably deserve because the practice of tipping in our country has become a supplement of payment. That’s not what tipping should be. It shouldn’t be the backbone of a server’s survival. Tipping should be a little bit extra given as a reward no one should expect to receive for their service, and customers shouldn’t be chastised for not leaving one. Tipping should be a voluntary practice for each customer for their server — a nice gesture, but not a guarantee.
A PSA for Bicyclists CAITLIN BARBIERI Opinions Editor Richmond is taking strides to reduce the number of cars on the road through projects such as the GRTC Pulse and an increase in bike lanes. There are more than 25 miles of bike lanes in the city and as more bicyclists take to the streets, Richmond police are monitoring both motorcycles and bicycles. While riding a bike to work might seem like a more economic and eco-friendly option, bicyclists are not immune to traffic tickets. Virginia code states bicycles are considered vehicles when driven on roads and are therefore subject to tickets for disobeying any traffic laws. As a bicyclist myself, I often think more like a pedestrian than a motorist, but the police officer who gave me an $85 ticket for riding my bike with both headphones in informed me that is not the case. However, I am not using this as a platform to complain about my ticket. I want to warn my fellow students that this can happen to you, too. Many of these infractions are considered moving violations, which can
affect your car insurance. At first, this ticket seemed like a wild abuse of power; but upon further reflection I recognize the true injustice was my lack of education on the law. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, a bicyclist can be ticketed for biking in the left lane when cars are present. Bicyclists are also expected to stop at stop signs and red lights. When stopped at a red light, bicyclists must either wait until the light turns green or wait at the red light for two minutes before crossing an intersection. When riding in a bike lane, bicyclists must follow pedestrian crossing signals. Sidewalks and bike lanes are the best places to avoid tickets. And when turning, don’t forget to use your hands and arms to signal. When turning right or changing lanes, extend your right arm, and when turning left or moving into the left lane, extend your left arm. Lastly, all bicyclists must have at least one head lamp when biking at night. A report from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles revealed there were nearly 700 bicycle crashes in 2017;
Illustration by Steck Von
almost all of which resulted in injury, and 14 were fatal. These laws are put in place to help bikers stay safe. But I had driver’s ed in high school, not biker’s ed. It is important that bicyclists are educated on the rules of the
road because no one wants to receive the same $85 ticket I did. These simple actions can save you from the same major inconvenience I suffered. So bikers, watch out for police this semester. And pedestrians, please get out of the road.
12 The Commonwealth Times THE CT STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR Zach Joachim joachimz@commonwealthtimes.org MANAGING EDITOR Georgia Geen geengr@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Nia Tariq tariqny@vcu.edu SPORTS EDITOR Jessica Wetzler wetzlerjg@mymail.vcu.edu
Sophomore Perks by Sammy Newman
SPECTRUM EDITOR Katie Bashista bashistakp@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Caitlin Barbieri barbiericm@mymail.vcu.edu COPY EDITOR Saffeya Ahmed ahmedss2@vcu.edu MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Erin Edgerton edgertonee@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Steck Von steckvon@gmail.com SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR Fadel Allassan allassanfg@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Adam Cheek, Sports cheekan@mymail.vcu.edu
Pink Hat by Bobby Miller
Sam Goodrich, Spectrum goodrichs@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF COLUMNISTS Shaun Jackson, Opinions jacksonsk@commonwealthtimes.org
VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ryan Rich Mai-Phuong Bui Kim Peters Jeffrey Pohanka designers@vcustudentmedia.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Anna Bernardo Dana Cantor advertising@vcustudentmedia.com (804) 828-6629 WEBMASTER Chrislin Hearn webmaster@vcustudentmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Kayleigh Conway distribution@vcustudentmedia.com DIRECTOR Allison Bennett Dyche abdyche@vcu.edu (804) 827-1975 CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu BUSINESS MANAGER Jacob McFadden mcfaddenjc@vcu.edu ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER Andrew Salsbury smc_assistant@vcustudentmedia.com
ABOUT THE CT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning independent student newspaper at VCU, since 1969. The CT staff maintains all editorial and operations discretion. There is absolutely no prior review by the public, university or VCU Student Media Center administration or staff. The Executive Editor writes and manages the Operations Budget. 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 Caitlin Barbieri, 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.
Monroe Park by Summer McClure