Thursday, February 8, 2024

The Cavalier Daily

Vol. 134, Issue 1o

LEON ARCEO, ADAIRE BURNSED, KATE MACARTHUR & HONOR WOOD | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Thursday, February 8, 2024

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NEWS

The Cavalier Daily

Last week in-brief CD News Staff

Ian Solomon reappointed as Batten Dean Ian Solomon, dean of the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, was reappointed for a second five-year term per a University announcement released Jan. 19. The third dean of the Batten School since its founding in 2007, Solomon enters his second term with ambitious plans for the Batten School, including a Batten-specific 2030 plan.

Ian Baucom, University executive vice president and provost, announced Solomon’s reappointment last week, praising his leadership and his relationship with the Batten community.

In a statement provided by a University spokesperson, Baucom said, “[Ian Solomon] models what it means to be a values-based leader and has wisely led Batten while developing a 2030 strategy to shape Batten’s second decade. He is a generous University citizen, and is accessible, approachable and beloved by students.”

Solomon has worked throughout his term with the University to develop a 2030 plan for the Batten school that aligns with the broader University goal of becoming the best public university by the year 2030. Solomon described the Batten 2030 plan as dedicated to three high priority areas: access, influence and innovation.

Originally trained as a lawyer, Solomon has worked on international and domestic economic development, conflict resolution in areas such as geopolitical disputes and U.S. race relations, teaching and consulting. Formerly an associate dean at Yale Law School, Solomon went on to work in the Obama administration and was confirmed by Congress to be the U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank Group. Before joining the Batten school, Solomon ran his own consulting practice, SolomonGlobal.

Solomon’s upcoming term will officially begin Sep. 1.

1.30

2.1

UJC looks to increase transparency on hazing cases this semester The University Judiciary Committee’s new hazing subcommittee aims to publicize its process for hazing cases by rolling out infographics on hazing, offering Fraternal Organization Agreement presentations and hosting a public hazing mock trial.

After receiving feedback from community members that organizations are confused about the UJC’s hazing case process, the UJC created the hazing subcommittee to increase transparency. Last semester the subcommittee was staffed with UJC members, and this semester the subcommittee will begin its work.

Lisa Kopelnik, UJC chair and third-year College student, said while UJC would like to see a reduction in hazing cases, the hazing subcommittee is not aiming to curb hazing, instead attempting to inform organizations about the trial process should they be reported.

The UJC typically deals with a few hazing cases each year, and have found several student organizations guilty of hazing misconduct in the past 12 months. The UJC sanctioned Delta Delta Delta, Theta Tau, Club Gymnastics and the University Guide Service for hazing last Spring. The University also terminated the FOAs of Kappa Alpha Order and Phi Gamma Delta for hazing in July 2022.

While none of the UJC’s six pending cases are organizational hazing cases, Kopelnik said those reports are typically filed in the coming weeks, after the recruitment period for fraternities and sororities ends.

Ceiling damage, mold growing on a surface and a rodent found in Chapman Development properties all seen within the past year

U.Va. Architecture lecturer under fire for recurring housing violations Real estate developer Tim Chapman serves as a part time lecturer and Foundation Board of Trustees member at the University’s School of Architecture. He also runs Chapman Development LLC, where he has received intense criticism over ongoing housing violations in his government-funded properties.

Chapman Development owns multiple developments in the Washington, D.C. area, including Maple View Flats, The Grays on Pennsylvania and Lotus Square.

These properties in particular receive extensive tax breaks from the government under the premise that Chapman provides “quality affordable housing,” as Chapman’s faculty biography puts it.

Many tenants, however, say their experiences fall short of this promise. Despite Chapman Development’s attempts to implement new management systems, residents have reported a continued failure to address basic health and safety issues across Chapman’s properties. Some have even questioned Chapman’s authority to teach a new generation of architects and developers here at the University.

Former Maple View tenant Emily Clark initially found the complex under a listing for “luxury apartments” but experienced rats, roaches, water leaks and mold only six months after moving in April of 2021. Clark provided multiple photos and videos of rats appearing inside of tenants’ apartments, along with mold and water damage on hallway carpets.

As a part-time faculty member at the University, Chapman did not teach classes this fall. However, Architecture leadership confirmed that Chapman is slated to return as a lecturer for the fall 2024 semester. Within the School of Architecture, Chapman is listed as a member of the Urban and Environmental Planning and Real Estate programs, which lists healthy built environments and affordable housing as central to the program’s curriculum.

University spokespeople have yet to respond to a request for comment.

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 3

NEWS

RFK Jr. talks conspiracies, election in private Law school event The event was not widely publicized and was closed to the media and the public Ford McCracken | Senior Writer In a closed-media event at the University School of Law Jan. 26, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2024 presidential candidate and class of 1982 Law alumnus, spoke to students in what many saw as an attempt to gain the support of young voters. The candidate, known for his controversial statements and history of environmental activism and litigation, spoke about his vaccine skepticism and conspiracies surrounding President Joe Biden and the war in Ukraine.

The event, planned, organized and moderated by third-year Law student Alexander Szarka, was hosted by the Student Bar Association after multiple other organizations, including Student Affairs and the Federalist Society, allegedly declined to do so.

Students who wished to attend the event had to RSVP and show their University ID at the door. Kennedy’s campaign team informed local media, including the Daily Progress, of the event but the press was later informed that the School of Law did not want them to attend.

University spokesperson Bethanie Glover said in a statement to The Cavalier Daily that federal restrictions prevent the University from hosting an event that provides a media platform to candidates for political office.

Szarka insisted that the event was not a campaign event and was merely an opportunity for students to hear from a prominent alumnus. He said that the event focused most heavily on giving career and life advice to law students, especially pertaining to Kennedy’s experience in environmental law. According to Szarka, the School of Law chose to deny media access with no explanation.

Glover did not respond to further requests for comment after this claim from Szarka.

“It’s hard to have something considered a campaign event when you go through such rigorous restrictions,” Szarka said.

“Whether there was media there or not didn’t make this any more or less of a campaign event than it was. And it wasn’t.”

Third-year Law student Tristan Deering, who attended the event, said that although the SBA made it clear that Kennedy’s visit would not be a campaign event, it “absolutely” seemed like one to him. “[Kennedy] was very much making a direct appeal of why he was better than the other candi-

COURTESY EVAN SMITH, ENDURANCE MEDIA LLC.

According to third year Law student Alexander Szarka, the School of Law chose to deny media access with no explanation.

dates, Biden and Trump,” Deering said.

Kennedy announced he would challenge Biden for the Democratic nomination for president last April. When polls showed he had a narrow path to victory, he announced he would instead run as an independent, breaking with the rest of his historically Democratic family whose members have held a wide variety of prominent government positions.

After developing a strong record as an environmental lawyer, Kennedy’s presidential campaign has been characterized by his conspiratorial beliefs. During the event, Kennedy talked about his mistrust in vaccines, saying that his record of suing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes him the right candidate for the presidency.

Kennedy also claimed that Biden wants the war in Ukraine to continue because of the Democratic Party’s supposed ties to BlackRock, an asset management firm. In a previous campaign speech, he alleged that the money the U.S. is sending to Ukraine is actually going to defense contractors owned by BlackRock, and that once the war is over, BlackRock will profit from rebuilding Ukraine.

Some Law students hoped they would see a more grounded version of Kennedy than what they see online. Deering said he

mainly went for “entertainment value,” having heard about Kennedy’s conspiracy theories.

“I was hoping he might calm down and somewhat moderate [his] views, but he didn’t,” Deering said.

Second-year Law student Cameron Mayhew, who worked with Szarka on the event, insisted that Kennedy did not dive into conspiracy theories, and instead that his perspective rested on surface-level facts about BlackRock, leaving the audience to interpret the situation for themselves.

The Daily Progress spoke with several students, and while many echoed Deering’s statements and affirmed their intent to vote for Biden, some noted that they were impressed by Kennedy’s charisma and how much more articulate and genuine he seemed in person than on social media.

Mayhew said that students overall appreciated the consistency of Kennedy’s anti-establishment views throughout the event. According to Mayhew, the overwhelming feedback from the event indicated that students were open-minded and pleasantly surprised about Kennedy’s remarks, until the final question which sparked mixed reactions from students.

While questions for Kennedy were not prepared ahead of the event, Szarka asked students to

submit topics of interest in advance, which he reviewed and compiled into one list of broader topics for Kennedy and attendees. However, one student chose to ask a question that strayed from their pre-assigned topic, instead asking Kennedy about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Deering said Kennedy responded to this question with another conspiracy theory, this time surrounding the death of his father. Kennedy’s father Robert F. Kennedy — also a Law alumnus — was killed by Palestinian immigrant Sirhan Sirhan, allegedly over his support for Israel.

In a 2021 opinion piece published

by The San Francisco Chronicle, however, Kennedy wrote that his father’s real killer was a security guard named Eugene Thane Cesar who had a history of racism and hatred towards the Kennedy family. At the January event, Kennedy reaffirmed his belief that Sirhan was not the only person involved in his father’s assassination.

Despite disagreeing with some of Kennedy’s views, Deering said he was hopeful to hear Kennedy discuss his opinions on free speech, a subject he feels strongly about. However, Deering was disappointed by the way the event was moderated, claiming that Szarka did not push Kennedy on his responses and that the questions were largely easy to answer.

“All the questions were pre-approved [and] there was no opportunity for counter speech or questioning him on his crazy views,” Deering said. “[Szarka] was just an objectively bad moderator. He did not know how to control [the conversation] and so he just left [Kennedy] to go on these very long tangents about these wild topics.”

After hearing from Kennedy about his beliefs, Deering says he still plans to vote for Biden.

“Some of his views are quite dangerous and harmful,” Deering said. “I absolutely already made up my mind that I’ll be voting for Biden.”

Kennedy’s conspiracy theories have drawn criticism from members of his family. Four of Kennedy’s siblings — including former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) and former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II (D-Mass.) — released a statement in October denouncing their brother and calling his campaign “dangerous to our country.”

Though Kennedy has a campaign office in Charlottesville, he has not yet qualified for the Virginia presidential ballot and it is unclear if he will do so.

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NEWS

Virginia House votes to end legacy admissions in state schools U.Va. will continue to seek an “extraordinarily talented and richly diverse” student body, per a University statement Finn Trainer | News Editor

LEON ARCEO | CAVALIER DAILY

Should the bill be signed by Gov. Youngkin, Virginia would join a small contingent of states that have effectively banned consideration of legacy status at its public colleges and universities.

The Virginia House of Delegates voted unanimously to end consideration of applicants’ legacy status in applications to its state schools Jan. 30, following another unanimous vote on an identical bill in the Virginia Senate the week prior. The legislation, which would end the longstanding practice of favoring applicants who are related to one or more alumni of the University, is expected to be signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The legislation follows a Supreme Court ruling in June that ended the practice of race-based affirmative action in college admissions. In response, the University revised their applications to remove direct questions about the applicant’s race, ethnicity and legacy status. While applicants could previously indicate their legacy status by checking a box on the application, this change instead created an optional supplemental essay that allowed prospective students to describe any “personal or historic connection” they have to the University.

In an email statement to The Cavalier Daily, University

Spokesperson Bethanie Glover said the University added this essay option to indicate that the most significant part of any applicant’s relationship to the University is how that relationship has prepared them to contribute to life on Grounds.

“As President Ryan and Provost Baucom said leading up to the Supreme Court decisions, our approach overall continues to be that we will ‘do everything within our legal authority to recruit a student body that is both extraordinarily talented and richly diverse across every imaginable dimension,’” Glover wrote.

Legacy students generally comprise anywhere from 10 to 13 percent of each class at the University, according to Virginia Magazine. Other public universities in Virginia also admit a substantial amount of legacy applicants. William & Mary currently considers legacy status as a “plus factor” for candidates during its application process, and legacy students comprise approximately 8 percent of the class of 2027.

Conversely, Virginia Tech ceased consideration of legacy

admissions beginning with the 2023-24 application cycle. This decision continues a pattern across the country of colleges and universities ditching legacy admissions in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action. Wesleyan University ended its consideration of legacy status in July, following in the steps of institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University.

The shift away from legacy admissions has been far from universal, however, with multiple Ivy League schools resisting the change.

University Law Prof. Kim Forde-Mazrui said that legacy admissions, which are not merit-based, have historically benefited white applicants and have been criticized by supporters of affirmative action. “[Legacy admission] tends to skew white, since historically, white people [are a larger percentage] of the population admitted into higher education,” Forde-Mazrui said. “So people say… ‘those are kinds of affirmative action that benefits white

people, so why can’t we help try to counter that with affirmative action to benefit Black and brown people?’”

Third-year College student Halsey Hallock has had family members attend the University for four generations. He said that he is in favor of the legislation, adding that legacy can provide an unfair advantage for certain applicants.

“Legacy has a history of propping up white people who have a higher chance [of admission] just because of what their parents did,” Hallock said. “The legacy discussion has been going on for some time now, and this is the first time we’re seeing actual change happen about it.”

Support for ending legacy admissions at state universities has been notably bipartisan, even at the national level. While the Virginia House and Senate bills were proposed by Democratic senators Dan Helmer and Schuyler VanValkenburg respectively, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has indicated that he will likely sign the legislation.

Additionally, Republican Sen.

Todd Young and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine introduced the Merit-Based Educational Reforms and Institutional Transparency Act to the Senate in December, which would amend the Higher Education Act to prohibit American colleges and universities from considering applicants’ legacy status during the admissions process.

Should the bill be signed by Gov. Youngkin, Virginia would join a small contingent of states that have effectively banned consideration of legacy status at its public colleges and universities.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis enacted similar legislation in 2021, and even though it is currently the only state to have passed such a bill, multiple other states have considered similar policies.

In addition, while not required by state law, a long-established internal policy bars California’s state universities from considering legacy status as a factor.

If signed by Gov. Youngkin, the change will go into effect July 1. The first applications to be affected would be for the 2025-26 admissions cycle.

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 3

NEWS

University sees uptick in flu and respiratory illness cases Increased health issues have impacted students’ academic and social lives at the start of the semester Arshiya Pant | Senior Writer

CLAIRE SMITH | CAVALIER DAILY

Preventative measures such as vaccinations and healthy hygiene practices have been organized and promoted by SHW and its affiliated groups, including the HealthyHoos team and the Peer Health Educators.

From COVID-19 to the flu, an upward spike in several respiratory illnesses has lowered attendance rates, altered students’ schedules and impacted their academic and social lives. Elson Student Health and Wellness has reported a rising number of cases since students returned to Grounds after winter break.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February is often the peak month of flu season in the United States.

In a written statement to The Cavalier Daily, Danielle D’Andrea Black, the associate director of marketing and communications for the Department of Student Health and Wellness, said the University shows a similar transmission pattern, with many students getting sick in January and February.

“The U.Va. student body usually experiences an uptick in respiratory illnesses about two to three weeks after returning to Grounds after winter break,” Black said. “This mirrors community rates of flu and other respiratory illnesses outside the University … COVID cases seem to occur more after students have

traveled for breaks, which also mirrors trends in the general population.”

Preventative measures such as vaccinations and healthy hygiene practices have been organized and promoted by Student Health and its affiliated groups, including the HealthyHoos team and the Peer Health Educators. To prevent respiratory illness, Student Health hosted a flu vaccination drive in Newcomb Hall for all students in November. This event had a “great turnout,” according to Black.

Nonetheless, sickness rates are high. A weekly influenza activity report from the Virginia Department of Health found that the state is experiencing a high level of “influenza-like illnesses.” Along with flu-like symptoms, some students are struggling with other respiratory issues. First-year College student Jack Wallace received a bacterial pneumonia diagnosis just over a week ago.

“I got my diagnosis from Student Health and Wellness, I used a same-day appointment,” Wallace said. “I started feeling pretty bad around 1 p.m. and I was able

to come in at 3 p.m., so it was a quick turnaround.”

Student Health offers sameday and next-day appointments, that can be scheduled via phone, for immediate needs. Otherwise, students should use the HealthyHoos patient portal to arrange a medical appointment.

Even the students who are not getting sick are still having their lives affected by the uptick in cases. Professors have also contracted some of the same illnesses as their students, affecting their courses and their students’ academics.

First-year College student Anna Russell said she has not met with her engagement class in person at all this semester, at first due to the professor’s travel situation returning from break then due to the same professor contracting COVID-19. In a written statement to The Cavalier Daily, Russell said that since the half-semester-long class only meets for seven weeks, her experience in the course has been negatively impacted.

“We already have a limited amount of meetings together, so when it’s the fourth week of

classes and we still haven’t met our professor in person it definitely feels more distanced,” Russell said. “Also in a smaller, discussion-based class like an engagement, Zoom doesn’t give the same opportunity to speak up and share ideas.”

While some professors have switched to Zoom classes or asynchronous work in an effort to avoid spreading contagious illnesses, some students still attend class while sick.

According to Black, sicknesses in classrooms pose a threat to all students’ well-being, especially those who may be immunocompromised. She said there are several measures students can take to protect themselves.

“If you are sick with a fever or new respiratory symptoms, stay home, don’t go to class,” Black said. “This will help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses — you never know if that person next to you in chem class takes immune-suppressing medication or has asthma.”

Black also said that students who stay home from classes due to sickness should take their absence as an opportunity to rest

and stay hydrated. She said small self-care measures factor into prevention as well.

“Getting good sleep, eating regular meals and managing stress all help your immune system to function at its best,” Black said. “Sometimes, the little things can go a long way.”

As students navigate this flu season, Student Health provides many opportunities for healthcare including same-day appointments, rapid flu tests, COVID-19 PCR tests and strep tests. Wallace said students would likely take advantage of these resources more often if they were more aware of what illnesses are being transmitted within the community.

“I think there could be a little more upfront communication about what’s circling frequently,” Wallace said. “When I went to Student Health I [knew] a lot of people had the flu so I might have the flu, but it was negative … I think if people were more aware of things that are circulating at the time [they would] be more conscientious of going out or just staying more healthy in general.”

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The Cavalier Daily

LIFE

Top 10 ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without a valentine Self-appreciation is this year’s love language Sam Saks | Top 10 Writer Ah, February. The time of year when the bitter cold is either blanketed by the warm love of Valentine’s Day, or perhaps more realistically, fiercely amplified without one to call your valentine. For my fellow single pringles — no moping. It’s time to pursue self-love, give yourself grace and indulge in all of the things that celebrate you. Here are a few ways to treat yourself when the holiday rolls around next week.

1.

Lights, camera, action — screen a rom-com While rom-coms are wholesome, feel-good nuggets yearround, they resonate the most on the holiday of love. Nuke that Orville Redenbacher popcorn, don your most comfortable pajamas and turn on a romance like “When Harry Met Sally.” Don’t go lamenting the woes of your own love life while watching — rather, adore the beautiful bond between the protagonists and admonish the rapscallion cheater. Remember, these movies are scripted to make you wish you had the kind of love shown on screen. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy what was designed to make you love love.

4. Bring the outside inside

Keeping with the nature theme, put your love into another life this February 14th — a succulent. These plants are the perfect size for a college dorm and are fairly low-maintenance. The vibrant, natural presence of succulents will brighten up your living space and bring a fresh change to your outlook on life. Tending to a living plant — watering, pruning and providing ample sunlight — can help you reflect on the ways you care for yourself.

Make time before the holiday to take a peak at Lowe’s for some nice options.

5. Pen positive affirmations

7. Exfoliate, rinse, repeat

Self-care is a critical component of everyone’s emotional and physical well being. Enjoy a mid-week reset by indulging in a spa night. Break out your robe, prepare those cucumber slices and rest in the most comfortable seat you’ve got — lounge chair, bean bag or bed if you’re so inclined. Practice mindfulness and focus on the moment while letting the stress drift away. If spa treatments are not your thing, consider visiting the newly renovated University Chapel for some peaceful reflection.

8.

How many times have we replied to posts, whether they be academic on U.Va. Canvas or social on Instagram, and praised the analyses or successes of others? Time to flip that admiration around and write your own replies, or rather, some self-affirmations. Take some time this Valentine’s Day to write some positive thoughts about yourself, to yourself. Reflect on your proudest qualities and accomplishments and rightfully pat yourself on the back. This year, I think I’ll write about my drive, compassion, humor … and unmistakable humility.

Curate the perfect happy song playlist Nothing is better than a steady pulse to carry you through the day. Keep on brand in your music selections this Valentine’s Day — elect for meaningful songs that will spark passion and kindle joy. A playlist that keeps your head bobbing, your voice box humming and your body grooving will provide the best Valentine’s Day soundtrack. I’ll probably queue up some ‘80s goodies from Journey and REO Speedwagon.

MARIAM SESHAN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

MARIAM SESHAN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

9. Hand-deliver cards and candy

2. Treat yourself to dinner out

This Valentine’s Day, ditch your typical Wednesday night dinner. Hit up your favorite Charlottesville restaurant or take yourself somewhere you wish a date would take you. Be your own best company or venture out with friends. Take on the roles of both Lady and the Tramp and do it up — and don’t leave before giving the dessert menu a glance. I’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day with dinner at The Ridley, taking in the comfortable, laid back atmosphere and ordering my favorite, the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.

3. You can buy yourself flowers

Did I include this top 10 item just to make a Miley Cyrus reference? No — flowers were always going to make the list.

Celebrate your beauty, inside and out, by gifting yourself a bouquet and finding the perfect place to show it off at home.

Dorm rooms make this a little tricky, but whether on a windowsill or bedside table, some vibrant, fresh smelling flowers can serve as a physical manifestation of how you see your soul. I’ll be checking out Fiori Floral Studio or The Dogwood Tree for some arrangements before the V-Day rush.

grams

Nothing says “I love you” more than going out of your way to show your appreciation for your friends in person. Seek out the best cards at the U.Va. Bookstore or CVS — unless you’re a committed hand-made card creator, and for that, I commend you — and put pen to paper to share what you love about your friendship. If you want to involve some sweets, share a shorter message through a candy gram.

Your hand might hurt by the end, but handing cards to friends will be worth it.

MARIAM SESHAN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

6. Keep good company

Though our immediate thoughts of Valentine’s Day are likely related to romantic love, February 14th celebrates love in all forms, including friendship. Plan a Gal-entine’s or Pal-entine’s celebration to show your friends how important they are to you. Stay in and enjoy a game night or karaoke, or enjoy an evening out on the town.

Celebrations don’t have to involve large groups of people — hanging out even with just one or two friends, which is my personal preference, is a great mood-boosting way to spend the holiday, catching up with your buds and sharing laughter.

10.

Start that long-awaited project or book We all have that one thing — or laundry list of things — we want to do, but cannot ever seem to find the time for.

Whether it’s digging into a good book, starting an art project or trying out a new recipe, carve out some time this Valentine’s Day to put that long-awaited bucket list item into action. Making time for a personal project can bring immense fulfillment by sparking old interests or enabling you to learn something completely new. I plan to continue reading “The Bourne Identity.” After starting on February 14th, you may just be inspired to incorporate time into your regular schedule to keep the ball rolling and focus on you.

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 7

LIFE

No days off — U.Va. students summit Mount Kilimanjaro Two students, one mountain and an unforgettable winter break Abby Snowdon | Feature Writer While most University students sought familiar comforts over winter break, returning to their beds, pets and home-cooked meals, two students explored new terrain by climbing the tallest free-standing mountain in the world — Mount Kilimanjaro.

Located in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro stands at 19,340 feet as the tallest mountain in Africa, making it one of the Seven Summits. Third-year Engineering student Scout Bale and fourth-year Engineering student Justin Brady decided to take on the challenge of hiking to its summit late last December. Although the two students hiked the mountain separately, their shared University origins, ambitions and achievements sewed common threads through their respective journeys.

The decision to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro is hardly inconsequential, but it came easily for Bale. She described it as spur-of-the-moment — something to pass the time during her travels in Africa.

“I was just visiting my grandma and looking for some things to do,” Bale said. “And I like climbing mountains. So I decided to do that one.”

Brady’s climbing adventure,

on the other hand, fulfilled a long-awaited goal. He and his father had talked about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for years.

“The idea came from my dad first — he’d been trying to do it for a couple of years,” Brady said. “When he first wanted to do it, I was too young, so this year, I decided to tag along. Six to eight months ago, [the two of us] just decided to book the trip and do it over winter break.”

From the onset of their weeklong climbs, both students experienced a routine completely different from a normal day on Grounds. Bale observed how her fellow climbers restructured their daily plans to accommodate the extreme conditions on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

“You usually start by [asking], ‘What layers do I need?’ Like rain gear, lots of fleeces, a base layer or not,” Bale said. “And then you have to make sure you have enough water.

It was pretty incredible to see what people can do on the side of a mountain.”

Brady also described how hiking the mountain exposed him to a new lifestyle.

“I just think the mountain is a really cool environment,” Brady said.

“Getting to see Africa in general was really cool. It’s very different from

how you live here in the U.S.” The first time climbers summited Mt. Kilimanjaro was in 1889. Since then, an estimated 35,000 climbers have attempted the trek each year.

However, only about two-thirds of people are successful, with altitude-related problems being the leading cause of failed attempts.

Brady confirmed that the high altitude posed a challenge when he and his father neared the summit.

“I definitely had some altitude sickness, especially on the summit day,” Brady said. “I got a bloody nose that didn’t stop for 20 minutes — just because the air is so thin and dry up there.”

On Mt. Kilimanjaro, climbers encounter five different climate zones and must pack several layers to prepare for fluctuations in temperature. Brady shared his fascination with the variations in weather and landscape.

“You go through all these different environments as you move your way up the mountain,” Brady said. “I thought that was really interesting — you start in a rainforest, and by the time you’re at the top, it’s covered in snow.”

Both students were accompanied by porters — people who travel alongside climbers, prepare routes

and carry excess gear. The porters also supplied Brady and Bale with robust multiple-course meals that gave them the energy they needed for the demanding journey. Proper fuel was essential — each day on the mountain consisted of anywhere from four to eight hours of hiking.

“You get a lot of food,” said Bale.

“They [were] really trying to pack the calories in.”

Bale emphasized how her porters alleviated much of the physical burden of the climb, allowing her to enjoy the week-long journey.

“They do pretty much everything for you — it was very fancy mountain climbing,” Bale said. “I did not have to carry more than my water for the day, or my rain layers, or a jacket. And I did not carry any of my own food or sleeping gear. Anything that I didn’t need for that specific day I could put in a bag and someone else would carry for me.”

In total, the journey took seven days — five days up and two days down. For Brady and Bale, the summit day was the longest and most difficult of the climb. It was a day of steep elevation, emotion and exhaustion.

“There was a flood of emotion when I saw that final sign and realized I finally made it,” Brady said.

“Especially after the eight hours of hiking to get to the summit, there was just a flood of relief to finally be able to say, ‘I am standing on the top of Africa right now.’”

In reflecting on their journey, Brady and Bale both described the climb as an invaluable trek that they would recommend to anyone, regardless of their climbing experience.

“I think it’s definitely doable for just about anyone,” Brady said. “It’s really just a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I don’t know that I’ll ever be back there again, so just having had that experience was really cool.

I think a lot of people would appreciate it, even if they’re not that into hiking.”

While Grounds — at an elevation of around 466 feet — cannot quite rival the height of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Brady and Bale continue to channel their climbers’ spirit at the University. Having traveled to a different continent and conquered its highest point, the two students highlight a valuable practice — the ability to step back from bustling society and see the world from a different angle, even if that means from thousands of feet above the ground.

French-American dishes with rustic flair at Belle’s “Brasserie” Getting a taste of the brunch restaurant’s new dinner service Kate Johnson | Life Editor This is one of four reviews in the Life desk’s 2024 Charlottesville Restaurant Week series. Food writers also dined at Birch & Bloom, Tonic and The Melting Pot. The chefs at Belle — the beloved brunch locale — show promise with their new French-American “Brasserie” dinner. I dined at Belle during Charlottesville Restaurant Week, where I ate an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert for $35. Though this deal has passed, it’s still worth a visit to Belle to taste their dynamic menu in their cozy, refurbished dining room.

Belle is nestled in Charlottesville’s Belmont neighborhood on Monticello Road — about a 10-minute drive from central Grounds. They are open every day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, and a brunch menu is available on Sundays. Belle also now serves dinner and drinks between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Dinner guests can book reservations online with Resy.

John and Scott Shanesy opened Belle in 2019. The brothers originally envisioned for Belle to operate as a café by day and a French bistro by night. However, as COVID-19 emerged, only half of that plan came to fruition — but not to the detriment of Belle’s success. Belle became a local brunch staple with their coffee, bakery delights and popular sandwiches.

Three years after the start of the pandemic, the Shanesy brothers were able to realize their full vision for Belle. They entered the local dinner scene in May 2023 with a fresh dinner concept and a redesigned space.

Now in the evening, Belle becomes a “Brasserie” — a relaxed, French-style eatery that serves simple, hearty food.

The cooks use local ingredients and American flavors to infuse French dishes with southern charm, crafting a French-American cuisine unique to the restaurant.

Unlike their fixed breakfast, lunch and brunch menus, Belle’s dinner menu is “chef-inspired” and changes

on a regular basis. As such, the threecourse menu I encountered during Restaurant Week will soon be reimagined and replaced. However, our waitress pointed out a few Restaurant Week selections that also appear on Belle’s current à la carte menu.

I arrived at Belle Saturday with my date for an early evening dinner. Walking into the dining room, we were met instantly with Belle’s warm ambiance.

The room was small — only seating around 10 parties — giving it an intimate feel. The space was restored in earthy tones, furnished with dark turquoise chair cushions, wooden tables and curtains the color of corduroy brown. Classic country music rounded out the rustic elegance of the place.

I started my meal with the potato and leek soup — the only dish I tried that is on Belle’s current dinner menu. To be candid, I would not recommend this dish to prospective diners. Though the soup had a pleasant, creamy texture, I had gripes about its taste and presentation. A hint of

floral honey made for an unflattering addition to the starchy, root vegetable puree. A garnish of whole hazelnuts and minced chives felt like random embellishments that muddled — rather than enhanced — the flavor profile.

The soup also came out lukewarm, and I was unsure whether it was supposed to be chilled or hot.

Fortunately, my second course of roast duck redeemed my disappointment in the soup. The duck was tender and juicy with a crispy skin.

It laid atop a bed of smooth mashed potatoes bathed in a Calvados brandy jus. Layers of caramelized apple and onion added sweetness and crunch to each bite. The course was a medley of hearty, warm flavors — far more cohesive than the soup. The components complimented, rather than contradicted, one another.

To finish, I tasted the chocolate torte, which was easily the highlight of the meal. The chocolate cake arrived with a wintry dusting of powdered sugar. The cake was fudgy — almost

ganache-like. But it was not too dark nor too dense — the cake struck a delicate balance between sweet and velvety rich. Beside the torte sat a scoop of pillowy vanilla cream. The dish masterfully elevated the unassuming chocolate and vanilla pairing. My date and I later joked that we wished our meal had been three courses of cake.

I enjoyed my evening at Belle.

Though the meal suffered a discouraging start, the courses progressively improved. As with any rotating menu, there will be successes and failures.

But therein lies the fun of Belle’s dinner concept, at least in my opinion — every time you visit, there is something new to try. I would certainly return to explore their updated dinner menus — and delight in more of their desserts.

From the charming interior design to the — fairly — refined dishes, Belle becomes worthy of her name. I would recommend an outing to the “Brasserie” for a quaint, intimate dinner with loved ones or friends.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

UVA Stepmom blends school spirit, style and sarcasm Mary Walton Petersen has built a local fashion empire from one witty joke Amelia Preble | Senior Writer If you’ve walked around Grounds in the past year, chances are you have seen a t-shirt brandishing the phrase “UVA Stepmom.” The iconic, satirical t-shirts have become a fashion staple among the University student body, and their design, production and promotion can be accredited to one student creative — third-year Commerce student Mary Walton Petersen.

What started as a one-off joke intended for some of Petersen’s friends has morphed into an inside joke held between hundreds of students that serves as a quintessential symbol of University social culture.

In the summer of 2022, when Petersen decided to launch a clothing brand to sell a few of her personal designs, the first “UVA Stepmom” shirt was born as a comedic way to gain some traction for the brand.

Parodying the classic “UVA Mom” and “UVA Dad” shirts, Petersen was inspired to release a “sexier alternative.”

Since then, Petersen’s brand has

become not only an outlet for her own self expression, but a space to build community. In every aspect of the business, Petersen’s original objective has not changed — to keep creating content and merchandise that makes herself and others laugh.

“I just want to make my friends laugh and try to accumulate as many friends as possible under the brand,” Petersen said. “UVA Stepmom really was, and always will be for U.Va. and the students.”

Following the success of the first “UVA Stepmom” shirt, Petersen went on to sell more iterations in various sizes, styles and colors. Soon after, she released several more designs including “UVA Stepdad,” “UVA Menace” and — Petersen’s personal favorite — “UVA Ginger.”

As the brand continues to grow, Petersen has maintained her values as a clothing retailer, focusing on sustainable production. Every shirt the brand sells is second-hand and screen printed with water-based ink.

“I really don’t want any part of this process to be bad,” Petersen said. “[We’re] just trying to keep it as localized as possible.”

Having originally been inspired to design clothing by the exciting and experimental outfits dawned by iconic female pop stars — like Britney Spears and Doja Cat — Petersen uses her brand to bring this same style of fun and original fashion to Grounds and hopes that customers will be inspired to do the same.

“I wanted something on a scale for the college campus so that everyone feels free enough to show who they really are,” Petersen said.

“To be able to take that into their own hands and show their story in what they wear.”

Having gained traction with a wide audience of students, the brand has opened up opportunities for Petersen to create online content. The brand’s Instagram — which has amassed over 800 followers — is filled with memes about

student culture and jokes about life on Grounds. This platform has also allowed Petersen to create relevant and relatable content to be appreciated by the student body, and has given her a place to highlight the individuality of her friends and customers.

“In short, we are an ironic college apparel company,” Petersen said. “But really what the whole brand is about is really, I suppose, acknowledging individuals for how special they are and what they bring to the table.”

Growing beyond social media content, the brand has further accomplished its goal of showcasing student individuality by hosting events. Last spring, the brand held “Step Comedy Jam,” an “intimate picnic-style porch comedy concert” offering a venue and audience to several student comedians. “[Step Comedy Jam] was my favorite thing to do,” Petersen said.

“I don’t really think there’s a great outlet for people who have artistic

talents and want to actually be able to do that in front of a friendly environment.”

Petersen is planning another similar event for this semester. As “UVA Stepmom” continues to grow in popularity and reach a broader audience, Petersen said she hopes to get more people involved in both the community and business.

Petersen said she values the opportunity “UVA Stepmom” has given her to express herself and share her passions with a larger community.

“I really think that owning your own business should be like a form of self portraiture,” Petersen said.

“Everyone has a gift that they can give to the world.”

Information on upcoming “UVA Stepmom” releases and events, as well constant comedic content, can be found on the brand’s Instagram, and products can be purchased on its website.

Spotlight on Light House Studio The youth nonprofit film center serves as a beacon of creativity for the Charlottesville community Caroline Lee | Senior Associate This year marks the 25th anniversary of Light House Studio, a Charlottesville organization that seeks to remove barriers to access and provide film education for youth.

Program Director Rachel Lane explained how — through programs and projects — Light House is able to uphold its mission of fostering collaboration, creativity and community through film.

“Teaching community members storytelling through filmmaking is the heart of what we do,” Lane said.

“We have over 50 community partnerships every year, so that includes going into schools as an arts elective during the school days and teaching filmmaking.”

In these school programs, filmmaking is often paired with another subject, resulting in a combination of curricular and cinematic focuses that allows for students to meld work with play, picking up valuable skills both academically and artistically.

According to Lane, film is a particularly powerful medium for keeping young students engaged and excited both intellectually and imaginatively.

“I always love being in a classroom and seeing students laughing and working together in positive ways and feeling proud of the stories they’re telling and proud of the skill sets they’re learning,” Lane said.

The biggest program organized

by Light House each year is their summer Film Academy — an eleven-week film workshop for children of all ages. The workshop is hosted at Light House’s own Vinegar Hill Theatre, and is staffed by college students with film and production experience — some even from the University — who are looking to share their knowledge with a younger generation.

“Students, even the youngest ones, will learn everything from creative collaboration [to] writing stories together in small groups [to]

cinematography,” Lane said.

Lane explained that the academy gives students the opportunity to hone both their hard and soft skills, allowing them to work with their peers to write, direct and edit a three-to-five minute short film.

In addition to programs like the Film Academy, which is more based in production, Light House also aids in the presentation of films, organizing and operating their own annual film festivals and programs.

The Odds and Ends Film Festival receives submissions from all over the world, allowing the festival to highlight a diverse and innovative range of voices. Conversely, the Climate Film Challenge draws more closely from specific Charlottesville programs that produce climate themed films and PSAs. “It’s a cool way to expose people here to perspectives and subjects and from people that they might never have the opportunity to access otherwise,” Lane said, adding that both festivals are great oppor-

tunities to highlight new voices and new ideas.

Another program organized through Light House is the Adrenaline Film Project, a three-day filmmaking competition that culminates in a screening at the Vinegar Hill Theatre. Third-year College student Quinn Smith has served as an events coordinator for the competition for the past two years.

According to Smith, Adrenaline Film Project participants are put into teams and given 72 hours to create their own short film. These teams are composed of members spanning geographical locations and generations, with filmmakers coming from all over Charlottesville and Virginia to participate.

“It was really cool to have such different ages working together … we’ve had high schoolers all the way up to people in their 50s and 60s joining us,” Smith said.

For Smith, this is part of what makes Adrenaline, and the Light House community at large, so

special.

“The whole point of Adrenaline Film Project is collaboration, learning to work within the … confines of the filmmaking industry process, the studio filmmaking process,” Smith said. “But also it’s learning to work with other people … and it’s really cool to be able to see everyone collaborating and bouncing ideas off of each other.”

Lane added that her favorite part of Light House is seeing the sparks fly within children through their exploration of new mediums and media.

“Working with kids who are really excited about their ideas and their stories, it’s just a great way to add a kind of sense of humor and levity to my own life. Sometimes as adults, we lose that sense of excitement about things and optimism.

So it’s really fun to kind of always be around that energy.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 9

Explore Yolngu culture through the Fralin’s “Madayin” exhibit To find a plethora of Aboriginal Australian art, look no further than Charlottesville Charlotte Walden | Staff Writer A pounding voice chants rhythmically alongside a projection of waves crashing as one enters the Fralin Museum of Art. The museum’s newest exhibit, titled “Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala,” is an all-encompassing sensory experience that showcases traditional bark paintings of the Yolngu Aboriginal Australians.

For millennia, Yolngu people have been partaking in this ever-flowing, continuous art. The method of creation for bark paintings involves stripping Eucalyptus bark, which is flattened, dried and sanded to create an optimal surface for painting.

Then, Yolngu artists use natural pigments and ochres alongside water and an adhesive binder to create a material that can be used for paint.

They use this paint to depict their respective family’s deeply important clan designs — called miny’tji — onto the bark.

When it comes to the name of the exhibit, “Madayin” roughly translates to mean the sacred, or something extremely sublime or beautiful. From the bark paintings to the connections being created by Yolngu artists, this exhibit fully encompasses the meaning of “Madayin”.

A big misconception in Western interpretations of Aboriginal and Indigenous art is that it cannot be modern. However, the paintings in “Madayin” are indeed contemporary art. While these pieces are deeply rooted in a rich artistic tradition, they are ever flowing and ever evolving — all while honoring the legacies of ancestors by preserving their techniques.

The Fralin is home of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, which is the only museum outside of Australia purely dedicated to art from Aboriginal Australians, thanks to the donated collections of John Kluge and Edward Ruhe.

Because of the presence of Aboriginal art in Charlottesville, Yolngu leader W. Wanambi wanted to strengthen the rich relationship between these two vastly different geographical regions. He played an integral role in the creation and curation of “Madayin” at the Fralin. In his lifetime, Wanambi took many long journeys from Australia to Charlottesville where he masterfully developed the Fralin’s newest exhibit. “[The exhibit] is an incredible testament to his courage and willingness to cross boundaries, and work with institutions to change the ways in which museums operate,” said Henry Skerritt, assistant professor and Kluge-Ruhe curator of Indigenous Arts of Australia.

A part of the innovation and

ROBBIE FAVARO | THE CAVALIER DAILY

A big misconception in Western interpretations of Aboriginal and Indigenous art is that it cannot be modern — however, the paintings in “Madayin” are indeed contemporary art.

change that Skerritt is referencing is the structure of the exhibit. Both unique and extremely intentional, the physical space is meant to represent vital Yolngu systems of belief.

“Madayin” is based on a key Yolngu concept known as Dhuwa and Yirritja. This concept splits everything in the world into either Dhuwa or Yirritja, similar to Yin and Yang. To demonstrate this quintessential duality, “Madayin” is split in two. As one enters the actual gallery space, you choose which way to go — either left for the Yirritja side or right for the Dhuwa side. The art displayed on each side is symbolic of your choice, and at the center of the gallery Dhuwa and Yirritja meet as one, representative of the Yolngu belief in the interconnectedness of the world, known as “Country.” To try and put a very complex and significant term into just one sentence, “Country” describes how everything living and in nature and spiritually is connected.

Artist Gunybi Ganambarr explained that this total, all-encom-

passing idea of reality and connectedness is the reason why the flowing water visual is displayed at the entryway. As Ganambarr describes, water connects us all, and we all interact with it.

“We cross the river and we bring water from that end to this end to meet other people and other nations … sharing the knowledge and carrying the knowledge,” Ganambarr said.

Mayatili Marika, a deeply influential Yolngu leader for education and advocacy, further articulated this idea of connection.

“We are not just related to each other as humans, but we are related to everything else within the cosmos as well,” Marika said.

Many of the pieces in “Mayadin” are themselves concerned with human connection — specifically connections across cultures. One piece — “Journey to America” by co-curator Djambawa Marawili — serves as an example of the contemporary nature and bridging of culture in Yolngu bark painting.

In Marawili’s piece, there is a depiction of the Statue of Liberty at the very top, while the Australian coat of arms is emblematically placed in the lower left. The combination of imagery from the United States and Australia highlights the ever-growing connection between the two nations, and the history of bark painting shows the connection of past to present.

Symbolic of this international connection is Dhukumul Wanambi, daughter of W. Wanambi. She traveled to the United States for the opening of “Madayin” at the Fralin in honor of her father and his love for sharing his community’s art and deeply-rooted traditions.

Marika discussed the importance of this long-lasting familial legacy for Yolngu artists working as a part of “Madayin.” “[The elders] paved the way for us to be able to come here to places like Charlottesvile and other places in America through mediums like the “Madayin” exhibition … it is a great honor to be able to keep show-

ing our art and culture to audiences throughout the world,” Marika said.

The curators of “Madayin” — Marawili, Wanambi, Skerrit, Yinimala Gumana, Wäka Munungu and Kade McDonald — alongside the Yolngu artists and innovators who have contributed to the exhibit, have effectively elevated the voices of Aboriginal artists on an international scale in the art world.

The “Madayin” exhibit is a part of Charlottesville’s Indigenous Art Takeover — a program that includes five different Charlottesville-area exhibits, all of which center Indigenous art in Oceania and Australia.

Each exhibit in the Indigenous Art Takeover will be open at different times, with the final one closing July 14 — giving audiences ample opportunities to experience internationally famous and profound pieces.

10 | www.cavalierdaily.com

SPORTS

The Cavalier Daily

A look ahead at what 2024 brings for Virginia women’s lacrosse Despite a disappointing end to 2023, the Cavaliers can combine fresh faces with tenured starters to find success in the upcoming season Peter Kratz | Staff Writer The start of the 2024 Virginia women’s lacrosse season is upon us, and the No. 16 Cavaliers are looking to improve on a disappointing 2023 season in which they lost in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals and the first round of the NCAA Tournament. With continued high expectations and new coaching, Virginia will hope to finish stronger than last year.

A stronger finish, however, will be a tough task for the Cavaliers, who are competing in an always-difficult ACC that has seven teams ranked inside the top 25 in the preseason poll, including Virginia itself. The gauntlet of ACC play this season will no doubt be a robust challenge for the Cavaliers, who will have to navigate personnel losses and a trying schedule to find glory in May. Changes in Leadership Longtime coach Julie Myers resigned at the end of the 2023 season, ending a 28-year term at the helm of the Cavaliers’ women’s lacrosse program. Myers was an extremely decorated leader, bringing Virginia to the NCAA Tournament in every full season of her career. But, according to Virginia Director of Athletics Carla Williams, Myers was not just a coach — she was profoundly influential in shaping the women’s lacrosse program into what it is today.

“Julie Myers has established an amazing legacy at the University and her name is synonymous with U.Va. women’s lacrosse,”Williams said. “Her contributions to the University and the sport, as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach are enormous.”

Stepping into Myers’ shoes will be Coach Sonia LaMonica, the former Towson coach who led the Tigers to a 139-91 record during her tenure. LaMonica was also a player for the Australian National Team and played college lacrosse at Maryland.

With a preseason top-20 national ranking comes the expectation that LaMonica will craft this young team into a fighting force in the ACC and a national title contender in the spring.

Players to Watch On the goal-scoring side, 2023 All-ACC attacker Ashley McGovern exhausted her eligibility. The Cavaliers also lost 2023

All-ACC attacker Rachel Clark in a transfer to Boston College.

The Cavaliers are sure to miss McGovern and Clark’s scoring prowess, as the duo combined for 124 goals last season.

In the 2024 season, Virginia will need to lean on senior attacker Morgan Schwab and junior attacker Kate Miller, who each started all 18 of the Cavaliers’ games last season. Schwab picked up 69 points last season to finish second on the team — only behind the departing Clark — while Miller racked up the second most assists with 26.

Rounding off the attacking depth will be graduate attacker Katia Carnevale — a transfer from Lehigh where she led the Mountain Hawks with 53 goals — and freshman attacker Madison Alaimo, who was ranked as the No. 24 recruit nationally in this past recruiting class by Inside Lacrosse.

In the midfield, senior midfielder Mackenzie Hoeg will be a crucial player for Virginia’s success. Hoeg tallied 40 goals last season and led the team in ground balls with 27, making her presence in the midfield the key for Virginia this season. Right beside Hoeg is graduate midfielder and team co-captain Kiki Shaw, who started 16 games last season. Experience in the midfield will allow for newer players to get into their groove early in the season.

Shoring up the defense is the senior defender tandem of Devon Whitaker and Maggie Bostain, a duo that started 17 of 18 games together for the Cavaliers last season. Whitaker was third on the team in draws controlled with 39, while Bostain led the team with 18 caused turnovers. A solid pairing at the back will be critical for Virginia after all of the lost firepower in the attack.

There will also be a fresh face making appearances in the backline, as the Cavaliers were able to land freshman defender and No. 25 ranked player Alexandra Schneider. Her skills paired with Whitaker and Bostain’s experience should help Virginia keep other teams quiet this season.

Finally, the goaltenders for this season also bring experience.

Graduate goalkeeper Ashley Vernon and junior goalkeeper Abby Jansen split time between the sticks in 2023 and both bring a

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS

Junior attacker Kate Miller recorded 43 points for the Cavaliers in 2023.

high shot-stopping level to the field. Fans can expect the pair to share goaltending duties yet again in 2024.

2024 Opponents The road to an ACC title and NCAA Tournament appearance won’t be easy for Virginia. The 16-game season starts with a road trip to Liberty Friday, and two days later, Stanford will come to Charlottesville for an early season clash. The Cardinals achieved a respectable 10-8 record last season, so this matchup should be a good test of strength for the Cavaliers.

The first ACC game will be Feb. 23 at home against No. 3 North Carolina, whom Virginia fell to 17-12 last season. Getting

a result against the Tar Heels will be important in the quest for a higher ACC Tournament seed and an NCAA Tournament run.

The Cavaliers’ first road trip in the ACC will be March 2 against No. 23 Clemson. The Tigers have a difficult atmosphere to play in and represent yet another top-25 opponent with which Virginia will battle. But the Cavaliers won handily last season, so confidence will be high.

The last two games of the regular season may just be Virginia’s most important ones. The Cavaliers have a home clash with No. 2 Boston College April 13 followed by the Commonwealth Clash against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg just four days later. The ACC and NCAA Tournaments

will be looming by then, and Virginia will likely need a pair of wins to set themselves up for success in the postseason.

All in all, despite a tough schedule, new faces and new leadership, the Cavaliers can lean on their veteran players to guide them through a gauntlet of a schedule. As LaMonica settles in and Virginia’s top new recruits find their groove, the Cavaliers will have all the tools to make a deep run in May.

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 11

SPORTS

Fast and curious, Virginia pioneers autonomous racing Virginia’s autonomous car racing crew is accruing accolades on the international stage Xander Tilock | Sports Editor The University is home to some of the best coaches in the world. Lars Tiffany, Andres Pedroso and Todd DeSorbo are regarded as arguably the very best in their respective sports.

The Cavaliers also boast a handful of other prestigious coaches, though, and one of them teaches mechanical engineering in Olsson Hall.

When one thinks of collegiate athletics, racing self-driving cars is certainly not the first event that comes to mind. Yet in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Associate Professor Madhur Behl is rising as one of the University’s best coaches, leading a cohort of all-star mathletes. Currently composed of 21 undergraduates and a handful of graduate veterans, the Virginia autonomous car racing team is a pioneer on the frontier of artificial intelligence, with an autonomous racecar that has reached a top speed of nearly 150 miles per hour.

Autonomous racing is certainly unique. It is a sport, art and science combined into one easily defined task — getting an autonomous AI car to cross the finish line first. Racing is ingrained in American media, demonstrated by famous quotes like, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” Despite this common line from a Will Ferrell movie, sometimes progress is worthy of praise as well. Rising from a mere concept to near-champions, the Virginia autonomous racing team has become a global leader in just four years.

After completing his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania back in 2015, Behl wanted to research the possibility of commercial driverless cars. Behl’s accolades are extensive, as he is a respected leader in mechanical engineering. When he arrived on Grounds, he sought to experiment with autonomous vehicles — setting out to autotomize remote control miniature race cars.

By using relatively inexpensive cars, Behl created a new discourse of accessibility in AI by using AI toy racecars as entertainment.

Then, he upped the ante.

Working initially with graduate students, Behl formed a team of engineers and began working on a life-sized, fully autonomous AI racecar. While Behl himself is incredibly humble, it must be said that he is clearly one of the founding fathers of autonomous racing. The esteemed professor discussed the incredible story of

COURTESY CAVALIER AUTONOMOUS RACING

The Cavalier Autonomous Racing Team prepares for the Championship Match in Las Vegas.

his program with The Cavalier Daily.

The racing team first began officially competing in 2020, when the Indy Autonomous Challenge invited Behl’s team to a competition against other collegiate programs — marking the very first fully autonomous racing competition. The Indy Autonomous Challenge features two cars at once — an attacker and a defender. The competition begins with the defending car coasting at up to 80 miles per hour, and the attacker must pass them within two laps. If the attacker clears, then the roles switch. If both attackers succeed, then the speed is increased until one car cannot keep pace or commits a penalty.

The AI can commit infractions such as accelerating past the coasting speed as the defender or operating in an unsafe manner with braking or steering.

Again, the car is fully autonomous — the engineers cannot communicate with the car and are essentially high-profile witnesses for the race.

At its inception, Virginia was an underdog program, having never finished higher than fifth place at any competition from 2021-2023. However, much like

the classic comeback of other Cavalier athletic programs, the team began to rise exponentially.

At the famous Las Vegas Motor Speedway Challenge in January, Virginia made history.

The Cavaliers entered the competition unseeded — meaning they had to earn a spot through a trial race. In that trial, they finished first and were awarded the top seed. Virginia kept advancing, eventually facing off against a team of students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Waterloo — dubbed MIT-PITTRW — in the semifinal. The Cavaliers and MIT-PITT-RW fought in a tight battle, but Virginia ultimately triumphed due to a game-ending technical penalty on MIT-PITT-RW. The final then positioned the Cavaliers against the world-leading University of Munich team.

“This is the race we have been preparing for,” Behl said. “We were happy to be fighting for the top position … this race was going to go the distance, no one was backing out.”

In a heated offensive round, the Virginia car was running out of time to pass Munich. With mere seconds remaining, the car

moved onto the rigid bank side of the track and passed Munich at an incredible 120 miles per hour in the middle of a difficult turn. While Behl’s squad wanted to push even further, Virginia unfortunately fell victim to game-ending defensive penalties — a similar circumstance to how it advanced to the final but with the roles reversed. Despite the loss, Behl’s team proved they belong among the world’s best.

“I’m very happy the team was able to demonstrate their capability,” Behl said.

The Munich team was 40 people strong and featured significantly more graduate-level experience than a Cavalier squad mostly composed of undergraduate students. However, despite a series of untimely penalties in the championship round, Virginia had reached its greatest peak yet.

“What they have achieved is nothing short of extraordinary,” Behl said.

The close loss aside, the Cavaliers have made their mark on the international stage. While Behl continues to work towards his goal of safe autonomous vehicles for commercial use, Virginia aims for a shot at glory on one of the most prestigious racing

tracks in the world. In June, the Cavaliers will compete at the historic Monza Circuit in Italy — home of the Italian Grand Prix and several Formula 1 campaigns.

Virginia is redefining the boundaries of sport, art and science as the team continues to soar.

“I see faster cars, more cars, and a brighter future in auto racing … Other leagues are popping up. This is not a one-off,” Behl said.

Behl then posed questions of potential races against human-controlled remote racing cars or even actual NASCAR drivers. Future races could also take place outside of a standard oval track or even in harsh weather conditions, according to Behl. As autonomous racing grows, Behl noted that the team is currently accepting applications.

What was intended to be a contained science experiment has morphed into an entirely new sport — and the future of AI. As the entire world continues to forge new horizons regarding AI, a crucial global leader in the field can be found here on Grounds — and he happens to be one of the greatest coaches at the University.

12 | www.cavalierdaily.com

SPORTS

Jack Boyden, a superstar in Division III, reaches a new frontier The Tufts transfer dazzled college lacrosse’s lower tier, and now faces a fresh challenge Michael Liebermann | Senior Associate Graduate attackman Jack Boyden joined a cluster of experienced Division III talent migrating to Division I when he jumped from Tufts to Virginia this offseason.

But Boyden’s leap is the most notable, as the graduate student enters a preseason top-three program holding a collection of records that have created lofty expectations.

These expectations are perhaps best displayed by graduate attackman Connor Shellenberger, who was full of praise when asked about his new teammate.

“Jack [Boyden] is … ridiculous,” Shellenberger said.

Shellenberger’s compliment fairly accurately summarizes Boyden’s playing ability because Boyden is an absolutely ridiculous lacrosse player. At Tufts, he registered eye-popping statistics, stockpiled a hefty amount of accolades and crafted a truly impressive highlight reel.

“He can do really anything on the field,” Shellenberger said, speaking on the Wahoo Central Podcast in early January.

Boyden’s exploits on the field over the last couple seasons have been constrained to visitors of Division III lacrosse fields. But his success has finally emigrated from that generally inconspicuous world of athletics and arrived at perhaps the grandest stage in all of lacrosse.

“It is pretty crazy,” Boyden said.

“Thinking about playing a game on Klöckner [Stadium].”

Boyden spent his adolescence in Toronto as a relatively unheralded lacrosse player who attracted only lower-level Division I interest. The idea of making it to Klöckner Stadium, dressed in a Virginia jersey, was never on his radar, but his lacrosse journey has now landed him in a place he could only dream of half a dozen years ago.

He contributed at Tufts his freshman and sophomore years but never escaped a loaded roster’s second line. However, roster turnover before Boyden’s junior year opened the door, and he took advantage of that opening, switching from offensive midfield to attack and gathering 86 goals and 47 assists as Tufts finished 19-3.

Boyden’s junior season’s success served only as a warning sign.

Tufts, a perennial powerhouse, became a steamroller of a lacrosse team last season, and Boyden rested at the heart of that team. He recorded 157 points across 23 games, a season after recording 133 points across 22 games.

In response, a pile of awards showed up on Boyden’s doorstep.

The list of accolades stretches on

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS

Graduate transfer Jack Boyden brings a record-breaking pedigree to the Cavaliers.

forever, but the 2023 Iroquois National Outstanding Player of the Year award summarizes them all — it anointed Boyden the premier player in Division III. But beyond the individual recognition dangled a deeper goal — winning the national title. Tufts reached championship weekend in 2023 undefeated, backed by a thunderous wave of momentum. Then along came Salisbury. The two titanic programs clashed at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, each gunning for a triumphant end to a commanding season. But it was clear that Salisbury’s focus was channeled towards keeping the action away from Boyden.

“We gotta get the ball out of that kid’s stick,” Salisbury Coach Jim Berkman said. “If somebody else is gonna beat us, we’re gonna make sure somebody else does.”

Berkman and Salisbury’s goal of quieting Boyden was realized — Tufts trailed throughout the game and was eventually met with a season-ending 17-12 defeat.

“It was tough,” Boyden said.

“Losing the last game. You always, I feel like, want to go out on a win.”

Boyden immediately had to consider the pressing question of where he would play lacrosse the next season. He had entered the transfer portal in the fall, wanting to measure interest before his senior season started.

But perhaps the most significant moment in his recruitment occurred before he even entered the portal. During Boyden’s junior season, Tufts traveled south to play Lynchburg. The Jumbos stayed at the Charlottesville Holiday Inn, close to the Division I lacrosse powerhouse of Virginia.

One night during the stay, Sean Kirwan, a Tufts alumnus and then Virginia’s offensive coordinator, joined the team for dinner and met Boyden. Some months later, after Boyden entered the portal, he received an inquiring text from Kirwan.

Other suitors approached Boyden, of course. He visited

North Carolina and talked to some Big Ten schools while also considering returning to Tufts.

“That was a really tough decision,” Boyden said.

But he ultimately chose Virginia and is now poised to compete in Division I athletics. He has spent months toiling away on the practice field, acclimating to an elevated level of lacrosse.

“There’s definitely a bit of a curve trying to make the transition,” Boyden said. “I think maybe some things you could maybe get away with at the DIII level, you can’t really here.”

In addition to the heightened skill level and stick skills, Boyden also noted the increased athleticism and depth present at the Division I level. The offensive openings are fractional compared to Division III. “The length and the closing speed just makes the windows tighter,” Boyden said. “So you just gotta make quicker decisions. And what you might consider an open

look at the Division III level is a lot tighter in Division I.” The learning curve seems daunting, but Boyden has handled the transition deftly, drawing the admiration of Coach Lars Tiffany.

“He’s fitting in incredibly well culturally,” Tiffany said Tuesday during his media availability. “And his ingenious type of feeding and shooting, it’s really captivating.

And everyone’s enjoying playing with him.”

Virginia fans inside Klöckner Stadium this season will soon experience that captivating talent.

They will witness a player stepping between dominant programs, looking to write a successful last chapter in what has been a historic career. Boyden may only get one chance at Division I lacrosse, and he will look to make the most of it at Virginia.

The Cavalier Daily

HUMOR

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 13

Are They My Soulmate or Did They Just Give Me Attention?

Editor’s Note: This article is a humor column Judging by the fact that you clicked on this article, you, my friend, are single and struggling.

Struggling to make sense of some weird tension you experienced with a stranger, that is. Maybe you brushed hands with a cute stranger in an amazing outfit while grabbing salad in Newcomb Dining Hall, and now are wondering if salad was the only thing on their mind. Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, it is crucial that we find your soulmate as soon as possible. After all, how are you supposed to show all of your two Instagram followers that you are perfect if you don’t soft launch your relationship on the day of love? There is no time to waste.

However…

This is not actually about your potential lover, this is about you.

Anyone can be your soulmate if you are delusional enough. The

key to finding a soulmate lies in your heart only. How are you going to love your soulmate if you are not even open to a stable relationship? To figure out if you are ready to embrace your potential soulmate with open arms, you have to answer one question –

to do is get them to realize that they are your soulmate. Considering you told me that you are up with no hesitation, you are clearly a master at love, so I do not have to tell you how to do this.

Good luck, my little cupid, go get your boo thing.

U up? a) Yes <3 b) No >:( c) Read 2:47 AM

Answer Choice B If you answered B, you are never going to find love. Not only are you a menace, but you are a liar. I know you are up, you know you are up, I cannot believe this betrayal. Let us remember where we are right now. We are in Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village, a place that prides itself on its honor code. That answer was not honor-code-compliant. Aside from your betrayal of the community of trust, you are clearly relationship adverse. And, you know what, I can respect it.

You do not need a partner, much less a poorly made stuffed animal with a plush heart haphazardly sewn to its arms. You just need

Answer Choice A If you answered A, heartshaped chocolate and a mid-tier dinner at an overpriced restaurant are in your future. By acknowledging that you are up, you acknowledge that you know what it means to be in a relationship.

There is no doubt about it — if you think they are your soulmate, they are. It does not matter if they have never spoken to you — they looked in your direction.

They saw your eyeballs. You saw their eyeballs. Now, all you need

to spend time with a lie detector.

Answer Choice C You have commitment issues.

You read my question and chose to ignore me — ouch. That was an arrow through my heart. Do not worry, I am not mad. Running away is the easy option, the safe option. Maybe your fear of commitment started in second grade when you asked the nice girl with the cute bow in her hair to be your best friend, and, the next day, you caught her making BFF bracelets with another girl.

Maybe you decided to play it safe when you were the only one in middle school who did not end up in the nurse’s office with a rash after refusing to touch poison ivy with your friends. Whatever your reasons, I get it. You might just want to consider getting a therapist before someone gives you a Valentine’s Day gram composed of a flimsy note and a thorny rose.

CARTOON Judgement Day Sarah Elder | Cartoon Editor

And that is it. You have either realized that Valentine’s Day is about to be a killer Instagram post or a dull day of dodging couples. Sorry I had to expose you to get you here, but sometimes we need an intervention. Hopefully, I did not worsen your unresolved trust issues. See you in the candy aisle of Harris Teeter on Feb. 15! I will be the one hoarding the cheap candy and wondering why someone did not buy it for me when it was full priced. You know — you could always be my valentine — just kidding — unless …

MAGGIE MCHATY is a Humor Columnist for The Cavalier Daily.

She can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com

14 | www.cavalierdaily.com

OPINION

The Cavalier Daily

LEAD EDITORIAL

No half-measures — let’s end legacy admissions We should support the Virginia Legislature in fully banning legacy preferences at the University Kudos to our Virginia Legislature.

They have taken an important step to address a persistent inequity in the college admissions — the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate unanimously voted to end preferential treatment for legacy applicants. In doing so, legislators from both sides of the aisle recognized the unfairness of a system in which the often-privileged children of alumni are given preference in college admissions. For Virginia, this bill is a necessary step towards greater accessibility, one that builds on precedents set by other states. It is a step which we, as students, and the University, as an institution, should commend for its insistence on equitable admissions processes.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling last year which banned racebased affirmative action in admissions, there has been increasing scrutiny around legacy admissions.

Legacy preferences started in the 1920s as a way to maintain the dominance of white Anglo-Saxon Protestants in elite schools. To this day, legacy re-

mains a bulwark against establishing greater diversity on campuses. In giving such preference to a group who tend to be wealthy, legacy admissions privilege a group who have already had the advantages of private tutoring and greater access to extracurricular opportunities. And these advantages are not marginal — for example, at Harvard, the legacy admission rate averages 33 percent, more than five times the rate for non-legacies. In short, legacy admissions have long been a tool of the already privileged to further increase the inaccessibility of college.

Despite such a reality, many continue to support legacy admissions on the basis that legacies donate more.

However, recent studies show no statistically significant evidence that legacy preferences make alumni more likely to donate. Proponents also argue that legacy admissions help to inculcate school spirit. In reality, this assertion is misleading — a study at Harvard found that school spirit was largely consistent irrespective of legacy status and was, in fact, slightly lower

among legacy students. Despite these clear rebuttals to common arguments, however, many schools continue to rely on legacy admissions.

Such a persistent norm makes legislative bans doubly necessary. Virginia is not the first state to realize the profound inequity of this system and attempt to ban it. In 2021, Colorado banned legacy admissions from their public universities. Moreover, none of the public universities in California use legacy-preferred admissions. Even Virginia Tech banned legacy admissions in August 2023. And right now, other states, such as Massachusetts, are considering banning this practice.

Especially at our University, a legal ban may be the best way to restore genuine equity in admissions. The University, instead of banning legacy admissions outright, continues to skate around the issue. Last year, the University removed the legacy checkbox on the Common Application.

However, they simultaneously added an optional essay prompt that gave students space to elaborate on their

personal or historical connection to the University. President Jim Ryan described this prompt as a way to combat the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action by expanding legacy admissions to include descendents of the enslaved laborers who built this University and the indigenous people displaced by it.

In reality, however, the University’s invitation for students to share their connection to this institution is simply further proof of how legacy admissions continue to stain our institution.

Not only did this prompt explicitly include applicants whose relatives were alumni, it also neglected to take into account historical erasure. Both of these groups have been systematically excluded from the historical record, making it unlikely that prospective applicants will even know of a connection. Thus, while we applaud the University’s removal of the checkbox, ultimately, the prompt likely gives more support to the children of legacies than to the descendants of groups marginalized by the University. It is

this exact sort of round-about perpetuation of legacy admissions which the Virginia law will illegalize.

Legacy admissions structures persistently perpetuate a dated status quo that is white and affluent. No institution of higher education should employ such structures if they are genuinely committed to improving the accessibility of their institution.

Our own University says it stands for progress and diversity, yet its actions speak to continuing the primacy of the privileged. Our legislature has now taken a momentous step towards formalizing a policy against such discriminatory structures. We, as students, applaud this bill that will finally put an end to a system that values last names over accessibility.

THE CAVALIER DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD is composed of the Executive Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the two Opinion Editors, their Senior Associates and an Opinion Columnist. The board can be reached at eb@cavalierdaily.com.

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The opinions expressed in The Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the editorial board. Cartoons and columns represent the views of the authors. The managing board of The Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and responsibility for all content.

No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily online edition may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief.

The Cavalier Daily is published Thursdays in print and daily online at cavalierdaily. com. It is printed on at least 40 percent recycled paper. 2022 The Cavalier Daily Inc.

HAVE AN OPINION? The Cavalier Daily welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns. Writers must provide full name, telephone number and University affiliation, if appropriate. Letters should not exceed 250 words in length and columns should not exceed 700. The Cavalier Daily does not guarantee publication of submissions and may edit all material for content and grammar. Submit to opinion@cavalierdaily.com or P.O. Box 400703, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4703

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS To better serve readers, The Cavalier Daily has a public editor to respond to questions and concerns regarding its practices. The public editor writes a column published every week on the opinion pages based on reader feedback and his independent observations. He also welcomes queries pertaining to journalism and the newspaper industry in general. The public editor is available at publiceditor@cavalierdaily.com.

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MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Nathan Onibudo Managing Editor Grace Thrush Executive Editor Naima Sawaya Operations Manager Honor Wood Chief Financial Officer Charlie Healy

EDITORIAL BOARD Nathan Onibudo Naima Sawaya Songhan Pang Dan Freed Scarlett Sullivan Paul Kurtzweil Wylie Brunman

JUNIOR BOARD

Assistant Managing Editors Hailey Chung Blaine Hutchens (SA) Catherine Kuryla (SA) Vera Woody (SA) Olivia Nammo (SA) Ella Kotok (SA) Mikayla Wolf (SA) Emma Carpet Assistant Operations Manager Olivia Winesett News Editors Finn Trainer Thomas Baxter (SA) Caroline Hagood

Sports Editors Ben Istvan Xander Tilock (SA) Grace Gould (SA) Michael Liebermann Arts & Entertainment Editors Delores Cyrus Delaney Hammond (SA) Caroline Lee Life Editors Mia Tan Kate Johnson Podcast Editor Evelyn Lewis Focus Editor Avery Donmoyer Opinion Editors Dan Freed Songhan Pang (SA) Scarlett Sullivan (SA) Paul Kurtzweil Humor Editor Wardah Kamran (SA) Adair Reid Cartoon Editor Sarah Elder (SA) Ada Malpani Photo Editors Leon Arceo Adaire Burnsed (SA) Alison Pike (SA) Albert Tang (SA) Tess Ginsberg (SA) Kate MacArthur

Design Editors Lexie Gagnon Sarah St. John Mariam Seshan Chinese Translation Editor Huijing Zhu Social Media Managers Covonna Bynum Bianca Blancaflor (SA) Halle MCCormack (SA) Cody Scarce Finance Manager Wilson Simmons Advertising Manager Will Peres Analytics Managers Elisabeth Bass Bella Binder Andy Lin Archivist Grace Franklin DEI Chair Leena Fraihat

Thursday, February 8, 2024 | 15

OPINION

Leave government to those we elect, not those others select Reform governance in Charlottesville to ensure all leaders are accountable to voters There is a new mayor in town. If that statement sounded like important news, don’t worry — it’s not. Here in Charlottesville, the mayor has no outsize influence on who gets hired and fired, which projects continue and how plans are implemented. The mayor is merely the member of the elected City Council chosen to lead it. Instead, the responsibilities of city governance fall to the city manager, an unelected post that has been historically ineffective in meeting the needs of Charlottesville residents. To ensure the chief executive personifies productive leadership in Charlottesville, reform of our local political system is needed — we should replace our city manager with an elected and empowered mayor.

Before 1922, this was the system we had — a strong mayor equipped to enact the policies that the City Council passed. There was not a city manager overseeing democratic legislation despite not themselves being elected.

But amid nationwide reform, mayors were deemed less effective and a risk to exacerbating corruption in government. And so, the mayor-council system was replaced with the council-manager form of governance that

remains today. The elected City Council chooses the city manager to carry out the changes planned and voted upon by the Council. In this way, the City Council functions more like the board of a company. They possess mainly oversight powers, as opposed to serving as a democratic legislative body for those who elected them.

Since the appointment of a city manager is a step away from represent-

issues can effectively be achieved.

City manager unaccountability is already clear in Charlottesville. For example, in 2021, then-City Manager Chip Boyles fired Charlottesville’s first black female police chief RaShall Brackney without cause. This decision received opposition from those in the community, but citizens could not hold him directly accountable. And though Boyles ultimately resigned, the

an elected mayor, there would be a double layer of representative insurance. While a mayor-council system would not guarantee that every action was to voters’ likings, the legislative and executive forms of governance would be more attentive to citizens.

Defenders argue that the council-manager system produces more efficient and qualified governance.

However, in Charlottesville at least,

Contrary to what the City Council and city manager seem to believe, Charlottesville is not a corporation. It is a city and a democracy.” ative democracy, we risk our governance becoming ignorant to the issues of the voters and unaccountable to their sentiments. Having a city manager who is not accountable to the people, and is often an outsider, inevitably creates a disconnect where the city manager is neither intimately aware of city problems nor beholden to voters.

By putting decisions in the hands of representatives who must be reelected and are thus responsible to Charlottesville citizens, progress on critical

fact that he fired Brackney is indicative of the obstinance that the current status quo perpetuates. Such an example is not an uncommon reflection of the council-manager system — other cities have had similar issues where city managers acted against the interests of voters.

The system leaves the residents of Charlottesville with only one recourse for wrongful action — they must hope their calls for change align with the whims of a weak City Council. With

the current system has proven to be inadequate. In the last six years, there have been six city managers, and the frequent vacancies do not stop there.

Because the city manager is empowered to hire and fire city employees, new leadership often means changes within bureaucracy in the middle.

At one point in 2021, for example, vacancies in Charlottesville government included the city manager, the human resources director, the human rights director, the Housing director

and several deputy city managers. This slew of departures from the top down causes a struggle to even compose an annual budget, the bare minimum of local governance. Having an electoral system for those who make decisions and control Charlottesville’s city employees might help ease these vacancy troubles by ensuring regular transitions at the top, which would depress turnover at lower levels.

Contrary to what the City Council and city manager seem to believe, Charlottesville is not a corporation. It is a city and a democracy. Governance should always be of the people, by the people and for the people — this is the way we ensure responsible governance that responds to the issues of voters.

By reverting to the mayor-council system, we can better establish proper, accountable and effective representation for every member of our Charlottesville community.

WYLIE BRUNMAN is an opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

The study abroad devil is in the details The International Studies Office needs to become more conscientious about how small structures foster systemic inaccessibility In the 2021-2022 school year, the University ranked 21st in the nation for students studying abroad among doctoral-granting institutions of higher education. This is a ranking in which the University should take pride. Nevertheless, inaccessibility remains an issue. White students make up a disproportionate percentage of the student population studying abroad — in 2022-23, 64 percent of University undergraduate students abroad were white despite making up only 52 percent of the undergraduate population. The rankings are proof that the larger systems that the University has put in place are sound, but the demographics remind us that these systems are not perfect. Thus, the International Studies Office must look at smaller details which inhibit growth and accessibility.

Study abroad programs have historically been inaccessible to students from diverse backgrounds. As recently as the 2016-2017 academic year, nationally, 71 percent of American students abroad were white despite the fact that white students make up only 57 percent of the college population. And while the University has had more favorable representation abroad, it has not been

exempt from these trends. Because of this persistent inequality in participation rates, many have studied underlying causes. The consensus is that cost is the primary barrier to studying abroad.

Given that cost is such a barrier to equity in study abroad, universi-

cations will not close until March, and 70 percent of decisions will not be released until mid-March or later.

Taken in a vacuum, perhaps these dates would be acceptable. However, many students who are planning their summers are navigating a variety of deadlines. If they are not going

the two UVA in Morocco programs cost, on average, $896. The same trip, at the end of March 2023, cost $1,586.

This epitomizes the danger of March deadlines for study abroad.

Given that summer study abroad costs upwards of $8,000, the price differences of flights may seem in-

Asking students to wait this long to have certainty about their summer plans is not only inconvenient, it actively preselects a certain group of affluent students.”

ties have a responsibility to reduce costs wherever they can. The University can do this by examining small structures. International travel will always be expensive. ISO cannot change that. However, examining smaller incidentals will allow ISO to diminish costs, or more general inaccessibility, without diminishing the quality of the programs. Let’s consider the example of summer study abroad application and decision deadlines.

This summer, ISO will offer 24 University-run programs in fifteen countries. Most University programs will begin between mid-May and early-June, but 70 percent of appli-

to be studying abroad, many need to have an internship or job lined up, which becomes more difficult with such absurdly late deadlines. Asking students to wait this long is not only inconvenient, it actively preselects a certain group of affluent students.

Consider the price of plane tickets alone. Most experts recommend buying international plane tickets four to ten months in advance. This means that international tickets for May or June should be bought, at the latest, in January. Any time after January, experts explain, ticket prices will be inflated. For example, in January 2023, a flight from Washington D.C. to Casablanca for one of

significant. However, when taken in relation to the program cost, a difference of $700 can be almost 10 percent of program cost. Moreover, the majority of University students study abroad in the summer, which raises the stakes on summer program accessibility. Luckily, a change would be relatively straightforward.

The application cycle for the summer must be moved into November or December.

And March application deadlines and decision dates for summer programs that the University runs are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other structures which ISO should be examining in an ef-

fort to improve overall accessibility.

For example, the transfer credit process for non-University programs is wildly complicated and decentralized. Moreover, Student Financial Services refuses to increase grants for study abroad, which signals an inability to understand benefits of study abroad.

The summer program example is simply a reminder that small, seemingly insignificant structures have an impact on accessibility. When interviewed by UVA Today, Vice Provost for Global Affairs Steve Mull said, “We are … focused on making education abroad as affordable as possible for our students.” If this is true, ISO has a self-declared responsibility to be attentive to smaller details which, when ignored, can multiply to produce an ethos of inaccessibility. The devil is in the details, and future accessibility lies in being conscientious of these details vis-à-vis study abroad.

NAIMA SAWAYA is the Executive Editor for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily. com.

16 | www.cavalierdaily.com

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