Thursday, September 1, 2022

The Cavalier Daily

Vol. 133, Issue 2

Thursday, September 1, 2022

KHUYEN DINH & DOMENICK FINI | THE CAVALIER DAILY

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2 | www.cavalierdaily.com

NEWS

The Cavalier Daily

This week in-brief CD News Staff

McIntire School of Commerce supporter Julian Robertson, Jr. dies at 90 Julian Robertson, Jr., the namesake of the McIntire School of Commerce’s Rouss-Robertson Hall, passed away last Tuesday. Robertson was deeply connected to the McIntire School of Commerce, frequently hiring and mentoring Commerce School graduates through his hedge fund Tiger Management.

Aged 90, Robertson died of cardiac complications in his home in New York, according to his son Alex.

Robertson founded Tiger Management — one of the first hedge funds — in 1980.

His innovative investment techniques revolutionized the financial industry. Over sixteen years, his fund’s capital increased from an initial $8 million to $7.2 billion. He ran the company for 20 years before closing the fund in March 2000. At the time of his death, Forbes estimated his net worth to be about $4.8 billion.

Nicole Jenkins, dean of the School of Commerce, said Robertson would often visit Grounds and interact with University students face-to-face. Jenkins has observed a lineage of successful McIntire alumni that began with Robertson’s mentoring.

“There’s no denying that [Robertson’s] friendship and mentorship and his ability to open doors for members of the McIntire community has had a long lasting impact on our school,” Jenkins said.

DOMENICK FINI | THE CAVALIER DAILY

8.23

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Court grants University’s motion for summary judgment in Bhattacharya case Senior U.S. District Judge Norman Moon granted the University’s motion for a summary judgment in the case of Kieran Ravi Bhattacharya v. James B. Murray, Jr., et al., Friday. Former medical student Kieran Bhattacharya was dismissed from the University’s School of Medicine in 2018. Bhattacharya later sued the school, claiming he was dismissed for asking Beverly Colwell Adams — then-assistant dean of students and associate professor of psychology — several questions about whether microaggressions could only be directed toward members of a marginalized group at a panel event.

Moon ruled Bhattacharya was dismissed following a series of behavioral issues rather than for the content of his statements at the panel. In the opinion, Moon said there was no connection between Bhattacharya’s dismissal and an attempt to obstruct his right to freedom of speech.

“Simply put, discovery has failed to produce a single piece of evidence indicating that Defendants retaliated against plaintiff because of his protected speech,” the opinion reads.

In an email to The Cavalier Daily, University spokesman Brian Coy emphasized that the case is about behavioral issues, not Bhattacharya’s right to free speech.

Coy said the University will continue to uphold the First Amendment rights of all members of the community.

“The University has and will continue to promote and protect the rights of community members to express their ideas and to challenge ideas with which they disagree,” Coy said. “We are pleased that the judge has granted the University’s motion in this case.”

Robertson was a signatory of the Giving Pledge, which means he formally pledged to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropic projects.

University Democrats and the Democratic Party of Virginia call for Ellis’ resignation or removal University Democrats and the Democratic Party of Virginia released a joint statement denouncing Governor Glenn Youngkin’s appointment of College and Darden alumnus Bert Ellis to the Board of Visitors Monday evening. The statement characterizes the appointment as insulting to students and organizations who have worked to make the University and Charlottesville more equitable.

“As the flagship institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth, Ellis’ appointment imperils the reputation and direction of the University,” the statement reads. “The regressive and dangerous positions that Mr. Ellis has taken at the University should disqualify him from making any long term decisions on behalf of Virginia and the student body.”

Ellis serves as president of the conservative alumni group the Jefferson Council.

He also holds executive positions in three Atlanta-based businesses and is a co-owner of White Spot, a restaurant located on the Corner.

As a student, Ellis faced controversy for supporting the invitation of William Shockley, a eugenics supporter, to debate “The Correlation Between Race and Intelligence.” A month later, Ellis refused to co-sponsor an event with the Gay Student Union.

After Ellis’ initial appointment, he also drew criticism for an incident in 2020, when Ellis traveled to the University following controversy over signage on Lawn room doors that criticized the University’s history of inaccessibility and enslavement.

Per a statement made by Ellis himself, he was “prepared to use a small razor blade” to remove part of the sign before two University ambassadors explained this would be considered “malicious damage” and asked him to leave.

Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 3

NEWS

Business changes prompt mixed reactions Multiple restaurants and cafes around the University have closed since April Elizabeth Rambo | News Writer

AVA PROEHL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Both Brewbike and Pronto cited the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for their businesses’ closures.

Multiple business change-ups have altered the landscape on and around Grounds within the past few months. Pronto — a popular pasta spot — and Sammy’s — the cheesesteak restaurant that opened Oct. of last year — both recently closed their Corner locations. On-Grounds, the coffee chain Brewbike also closed its doors, and a new Grit location will replace the Starbucks in Nau Hall.

Other recent closures on the Corner include Little John’s, The College Inn, Sheetz and The Juice Laundry. Little John’s served customers for 40 years before its closure, and The College Inn was also a fixture on the Corner, having opened in 1953.

The former location of Sheetz remains vacant, but The College Inn has since been replaced with Chipotle. Little John’s was replaced with Sammy’s on the Corner before its closure this year, and The Juice Laundry’s former Corner location will soon be re-

placed with vape and tobacco shop Carytown Tobacco.

While the former owner of Sammy’s could not be reached for comment, both Brewbike and Pronto cited the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for their businesses’ closures.

Pronto’s former co-owner Daniel Kaufman said the pandemic began to slow business a few months after its Jan. 2020 opening.

“When students returned in 2021, business was back, but far from the levels we saw with our initial opening,” Kaufman said.

“At this point, we were playing catch up, and by the time we got close to catching up, students were gone for the summer and we began accruing debt again.”

In an email to The Cavalier Daily, Aramark Marketing Manager Sarah Gordon similarly pointed to the pandemic as the primary culprit for Brewbike’s closing. Gordon noted that

COVID-19 left closing as the only option for the coffee shop.

“Unfortunately, Brewbike will be shutting down operations this semester as the lasting impact of the pandemic has made it impossible to continue,” Gordon said.

In addition to the economic impact of the pandemic, property leases in Charlottesville have increased steadily over the past few years — posing further challenges to local businesses.

Second-year College student Chloe Renken was disappointed in the recent closures. Renken said she found Brewbike convenient, and she noted the closing’s impact on the student workforce.

“I would go [to Brewbike] at least twice a week last year because it used Flex Dollars, and it was right near my chemistry classes,” Renken said. “Also, a lot of students worked there, so I feel bad. I guess they don’t have a job now, and I wonder where they’re finding work.”

Despite the challenges faced

by other businesses, Grit — the popular Charlottesville coffee shop chain — was able to expand onto Grounds. Dan FitzHenry, Grit’s chief operating officer, stated that he hopes to maintain the strong relationship between the University and local businesses in an email to The Cavalier Daily.

“It’s clear that U.Va. and Aramark care a lot about partnering with local food and beverage brands, and we’re honored to be among those with a physical footprint on Grounds,” FitzHenry said. “Our hope is that we can continue to have a great partnership with the U.Va. community and provide a great service for the students, faculty and staff that come to visit us.”

Despite the closures, students are still looking forward to what the changes will bring to the University. Second-year College student Annabelle Hartch is excited about the option for Grit coffee on-Grounds.

“I’m hoping that the Grit will be of similar quality as the one off of the Corner,” she said. “That would be amazing for studying — they have lots of different drinks.”

Renken echoed these sentiments. She appreciated the fact that a local business is replacing a multinational chain.

“I’d much rather get Grit because I think they have better quality coffee,” she said. “Starbucks is a big chain that doesn’t always give you good quality — it tastes different everywhere.”

When asked about the recent closures on and around Grounds, Hartch remained optimistic about the possibility of new businesses.

“I’m sorry to see all of those restaurants close, but hopefully some interesting businesses will take their place,” Hartch said.

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NEWS

Whispering Wall inscription removed, fencing withdrawn The University’s choice to not remove the memorial has drawn criticism from student groups Merrill Hart | Senior Associate

DOMENICK FINI | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Following the petition by the Minority Rights Coalition, the Board voted to change the official name of the monument and replace the inscription with contrasting bricks.

The fencing surrounding the Whispering Wall has been removed following the replacement of the bricks containing an inscription to Confederate soldier Frank Hume.

The updates have received mixed reactions from students, many of whom originally called for the wall’s full removal.

Designated in 1938 as the Frank Hume Memorial Wall, the structure is named after Confederate soldier and Virginia politician Frank Hume, who had no connection to the University.

Students have informally used the name “Whispering Wall” for years to describe the structure’s ability to carry sound from one side to the other. Located in Newcomb Plaza, the marble memorial also contains a fountain surrounded by a curved bench.

The Board first approved a recommendation made by the Naming and Memorials Committee to change the official name of the monument and replace the inscription with contrasting bricks in June 2021. The Comittee was created in Feb. 2021 after the formation of the Racial Equity Task Force in response

to nationwide “Black Lives Matter” protests and the murder of George Floyd.

The inscription formerly located on the structure described Hume as a “devoted Virginian who served his native state in the Civil War and Legislative Hall.” Now officially known as the Whispering Wall and with the dedication to Hume removed, the structure was unveiled to the public.

The memorial’s continued presence is not supported by all. In 2020, the Minority Rights Coalition called for the University to remove the memorial in a petition that received over 2,000 signatures. The MRC is an alliance of 10 organizations with the common goal of facilitating learning and cooperation.

The MRC referred to the Whispering Wall and its inscription as a reminder of the University’s racist past because of Hume’s time as a Confederate soldier.

“The Whispering Wall, no matter what it has evolved into, is still a Confederate monument,” the petition reads. “If the University truly wants to atone for its past and ensure that its future is more just,

more accepting and more inclusive, the Whispering Wall will be taken down.”

After MRC leaders published the petition and sent an open letter to University President Jim Ryan, the Board voted to either remove or rededicate the wall in Sept. 2020. After this vote, the memorial was vandalized with painted phrases reading “You can’t silence us” and “BLM” twice in April 2021.

Following the Board’s vote to have the wall rededicated in June 2021, Student Council responded by passing a resolution denouncing the Board’s decision to alter the wall instead of removing it.

“The continued presence of this memorial and its physical foundation serves as a reminder to Black students and students of color that white supremacy is still protected today and the University has a hand in this protection,” the resolution reads.

Today, resolution co-author Gaby Hernandez, chair of the representative body and fourth-year College student, reiterated her disapproval of the Board’s decision to have the wall rededicated.

“Personally, as a student of color, I’m very frustrated,” Hernandez said.

“I feel like the University completely ignored marginalized students’ calls to remove the wall.”

With the University did not releasing a public announcement regarding the wall’s unveiling, Hernandez noted many other students are likely unaware of the recent development.

“I think that once people start seeing [the Whispering Wall], especially with a lot of people in these organizations, we’re probably going to come together to have a serious conversation,” Hernandez said.

Resolution co-author Tichara Robertson, co-chair of the MRC and third-year College student, said the replacement of the inscription with different bricks cannot overcome the weight of the wall’s original purpose.

“A change in the structure does not change why it was built and who it was built for,” Robertson said.

“Any attempt to contextualize will fall short because there will always be a direct misunderstanding of the true history.”

Michael Suarez, chair of the

Naming and Memorials Committee and professor of English, led the effort to submit a proposal regarding the memorial to University President Jim Ryan and the Board.

Following the unveiling of the wall, Suaraez emphasized the importance of contextualizing the memorial’s role in the University’s history.

“We will be providing a sign, similar to the recently installed changeagent markers around Grounds, to tell the story and to affirm the University’s commitment to be a more welcoming and inclusive community.” Suarez said.

The group’s recommendation highlights the structure’s role as a focal point of Newcomb laza where students socialize and promote organizations.

“It is our hope that the newly configured and repurposed fountain and bench, with its Whispering Wall stripped of all memorializing inscription, together with the landscaped plaza and surrounding environment on which it stands, will be a place that fosters authentic community, promotes nuanced and complex historical understandings and occasions debate,” the document reads.

Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 5

NEWS

University struggles to retain faculty in ‘war on talent’ The University currently faces historically high vacancy rates, an issue for which the Board of Visitors proposed various solutions at a recent meeting John Bedell | Senior Writer The University is experiencing historically high vacancy rates among faculty and staff due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and limited state funding. This issue was discussed extensively at the Aug. 23 Board of Visitors meeting, which included a presentation from Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis on the so-called “war on talent.”

A Freedom of Information Act completed by The Cavalier Daily revealed that a data set of 3,195 University faculty had a mean salary of $136,013 annually, with a median salary slightly above $100,000.

Nearly 50 percent of all faculty listed make $100,000 or fewer, with roughly 5 percent of professors making $60,000 or less. These figures do not include statistics on staff compensation, though the portal will be updated soon with that information.

Faculty members fall into either the teaching and research faculty or administrative and professional faculty category. Employees who do not fall into this category are classified as staff — which includes operational and administrative staff, managerial and professional staff and others.

In 2013, the Board resolved to ensure that the University would sit in the top 20th percentile of competitors in terms of faculty salary. Today, the University has slipped to around the 29th percentile, contributing to the loss of talent as faculty seek out higher-paying positions elsewhere.

At the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard and Columbia, faculty salaries average around $200,000.

Some faculty leaders make significantly more than average — including Craig Kent, executive vice president for health affairs, who makes $1,045,000 a year, and Ian Baucom, executive vice president and provost, who makes $730,000 a year.

Deputy University Spokeswoman Bethanie Glover cited a wide array of causes leading to these historic vacancies, including employees retiring after decades of service, job changes, contracts ending and competition for talent.

This competition, Glover noted, is now more intense than ever.

“U.Va. attracts brilliant faculty, skilled clinicians and patient care leaders and talented staff,” Glover said. “Our workforce is essential to our operation, and competition for employees like those we have at U.Va. has reached new heights both regionally and nationally in a war for talent.”

According to Davis, the histor-

AVA MACBLANE & ETHAN FINGERHUT | THE CAVALIER DAILY

ical vacancy rates in the academic division hovered around seven or eight percent — this year, the vacancy rates are nearly double those figures.

The academic division, Facilities Management and administrative support staff have all been affected by increased faculty vacancy rates.

“Right now, we are experiencing the highest vacancy rates in some of our key front-line operational positions in the Academic Division,” Glover said. “We are searching to fill numerous Facilities Management positions for skilled tradespeople and custodial services, as well as positions for administrative support staff, research administrators and IT [and] technical support staff.”

Davis cited COVID-19 as a major cause for the decrease in sala-

ry relative to competitors — the University had to establish hiring freezes and rescind planned salary increases.

To help address the issue, the University raised faculty salaries by 5 percent this July and will continue with three years of a five percent annual base compensation increase — a decision authorized by the state. However, the University will only receive $30 million from the state to fund these increases. The rest must come from the University itself.

Currently, the University generates revenue to fund faculty salaries through three different methods.

The largest category is institutional funds, which includes the endowment. The second largest category is tuition — both graduate and undergraduate — and finally state

appropriations from the Commonwealth.

“I think what we’re hopeful for is with the Commonwealth support, and with our ability to use our other revenue sources, is that we can make meaningful progress on faculty and staff compensation,” Davis said.

Raising tuition will be inevitable in funding the salary increase, the Board noted. The group did emphasize a desire to continue to meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need so that the financial burden of a tuition increase is not passed along to low-income students.

University President Jim Ryan proposed spending more of the endowment on financial aid to ensure that tuition dollars could be used to primarily fund faculty salaries

instead.

“If you add up the amount that we’ve raised — and then contributed from the endowment — on both the scholarship side and the faculty chair, that’s over a billion dollars at this point, which is great for the future, in terms of being able to attract talented students and faculty, but also great because this is a way to keep costs down and keep tuition down,” Ryan said.

Overall, Davis emphasized the need to develop a firm plan for further investment in talent.

“We are seeing a war on talent,” Davis said. “I cannot underscore [enough], one of the most important things for us in the next one to three years coming out of this pandemic is to invest in the talent, otherwise we will lose them.”

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NEWS

Exhibit examines response to the ‘Unite the Right’ rally The exhibit features artifacts and stories from student and community activists who were present for Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 Julianne Saunders | Senior Writer

EVA SUROVELL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Artifacts include possessions of activists who were present in Charlottesville Aug. 11 and 12

The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library is currently featuring an exhibit exploring the community and student activist response to hundreds of white supremacist descending upon the University and Charlottesville in 2017. The new exhibit — which opened Aug. 8 and will remain open through Oct. 29 — is displayed on the first floor of the Special Collections Library and features artifacts and stories collected by students, community members and staff of the Special Collections Library.

Library staff expressed their belief in truth and justice and their solidarity with the Memory Project — an initiative aimed at researching and addressing issues associated with public memory following the “Unite the Right” rally — working towards an equitable future in a large board which serves as the exhibit’s introduction.

“The students and faculty whose experience is represented in this exhibition put themselves in harm’s way to resist fascism

and white supremacy, which were nakedly and undeniably on display in Charlottesville in August of 2017,” Dean of Librarians John Unsworth wrote. “We owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Among the artifacts are the possessions of activists who were present in Charlottesville Aug. 11 and 12. Visitors can scan QR codes which accompany these artifacts to read articles, first-hand stories and other documents surrounding the events of Aug. 11 and 12.

The exhibit was primarily curated by 2018 College alumna and activist Kendall King who was present at the protest Aug. 11 and experienced the violence of the event firsthand.

Two pieces of artwork — a paper collage poster created by 2020 College alumna and curator Hannah Russell-Hunter and an acrylic painting by 2020 College alumna and activist, Natalie Romero – are on display at the exhibit. The artworks offer a look into how the process of curation and artistry allow individuals to reflect on their experiences.

“The curators of this exhibit are not only activists, community organizers, and survivors of the Summer of Hate, but also educators, scholars, and artists,” the caption for the two artworks reads. “In revisiting their experiences, the process of curation to share their story with a broad audience has been healing.”

According to Jalane Schmidt, associate professor of religious studies and director of the Memory Project, the idea for this exhibit has been in the works for several years. It was first conceptualized by King and other student survivors when they were still studying at the University.

The idea came to fruition when Schmidt began to consider possibilities for honoring the fifth anniversary of the riots.

Schmidt reached out to King and the project moved quickly as King collaborated with other alumni activists to create the display.

In addition to featuring artifacts and stories from the “Unite the Right” rally and counter-protests, the exhibit also includes in-

formation about the long history of student activism at the University. This history includes the creation of the U.Va. Black Students for Freedom organization in 1969 and May Day, anti-war protests of the 1970s.

“Something that’s celebrated in the exhibit too is all the struggle that went into student activism over the years — it wasn’t just these kids on that particular day, during the summer of hate,” Schmidt said. “[These students] see themselves as part of years of [activists] organizing at the University.”

The exhibit also sheds light onto the contentious interactions between activists and University administrators including Teresa Sullivan, the University president at the time who discouraged students from engaging in counter-protests.

A video on display in the exhibit shows a confrontation between students and Sullivan, in which Sullivan claims “we didn’t know they were coming.”

The video is coupled with a QR code leading to an exposé

which states that Sullivan and University administration were ill-prepared for the violence unleashed on Grounds. According to the exposé, this unpreparedness manifested in University police being unaware of their ability to extinguish open flames, officers employing tactics typical for nonviolent protests and held back from the crowd even as rioters surrounded counter protesters.

For Schmidt, this particular video is important because it displays how student activists continued to stand by their decision to protest even after the riots ended.

“I think that what will show in this exhibit is the measure of these students and of their moral fortitude to stand up and to [protest] even when there was a lot of pressure to not stand up.”

Schmidt said. “Not only standing up against the pressure and then standing up literally against the violent blows of fascist[s] but then afterwards being further marginalized and gaslit by the administration.”

Posters throughout the exhibit provide contextual information relating to the artifacts on display. One expresses activist’s feelings of disappointment in the University’s response which according to the exhibit included claiming that protestors were defending the Jefferson statue.

“Activists present that evening embodied their shared principle of ‘no platform for white supremacy’ with no intention of defending the institution,” the billboard reads. “They came to protect fellow students and continue their work against white supremacy.”

In addition to honoring student activists, the exhibit also allows visitors to see the connections between the “Unite the Right” rally of 2017 and events such as the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

According to Schmidt, the Charlottesville riots acted as an early indicator that the groups who enacted violence in Charlottesville still play a role in both local and national discourse.

“I think it’s important to reflect on it after five years, and to see where our experience, our trauma that happened here fits in with a larger national narrative that’s been shaping up since then, with some of the same actors and some of the same tactics being used,” Schmidt said.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 7

LIFE

Incoming transfer students find home through community Through peer mentoring and events, transfer students acclimate to life at the University Cecy Juárez & Mario Rosales | Life Editors Incoming transfer students are tackling the challenge of acclimating a rigorous university.

They’re not only stepping into a new environment, but also trying to catch up with their peers who possess experience and familiarity with the culture on Grounds.

Second-year College student Samantha DeMarco expressed some of her fears of alienation from the University community as an incoming transfer student from American University.

“I feel like coming in as a transfer student — it’s kind of ostracizing in a way. Like, you’re not really a first-year … you’ve done the college thing before,” DeMarco said.

DeMarco found some solace through the social events that the University put on such as the transfer student welcome barbecue on Aug. 21. Interacting with other transfer students like herself affirmed that she wasn’t alone in feeling lost and overwhelmed at times.

“So that’s really nice to have that fear sort of alleviated that you’re not the only one that has these fears, or has these worries

and that you have other people who you can rely on who are in the same boat as you,” DeMarco said.

Sarah Dodge, assistant director for Orientation and New Student Programs, helped put together and host the welcome barbecue for new transfer students.

Dodge conveyed how events for transfer students are planned in hopes of alleviating some of the social stress that comes with transferring to a new school.

“One of the things that’s always been really important to me is making sure that the transfer community sees each other,” Dodge said. “I think very often with only 100 transfer students, it feels like a much smaller, much more isolated welcome experience, so one of the things that we really tried to do with this particular event is making sure that transfer students really make time in the evening to hang out with each other.”

Third-year College student Arjanae Avoua, who transferred from Piedmont Virginia Community College this fall, noted the strong bonds of the trans-

fer community as a whole at the University are helping her to feel at home.

“I feel like the transfer community here is well knit, and also having [events] just for transfer students has been very helpful,” Avoua said.

Avoua went on to describe how her largest concern coming to the University this fall was attempting to establish a sustainable and comfortable lifestyle at the University while she adjusted to her new environment.

“I’m nervous about how to balance academics and social life ... academics here are much different than [at] community college,” Avoua said. “I was thinking of doing rugby and doing one other thing, and then I got a bunch of homework and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to do clubs,’ so I might join a club or two in the spring once I just learn how to be a student here.”

Having been through this process before, transfer peer mentors also participate in helping transfer students feel welcome at the University. As a student who transferred from the College of

William & Mary her second year, fourth-year Commerce student Mackenzie Mastal spearheads efforts to organize transfer student programming as the lead transfer peer advisor.

“Our goal is to make transfers feel like welcome here, and that they belong here,” Mastal said. “[We want to] get them acclimated to U.Va. and the Corner and everything — their actual new environment.”

Third-year College student Miranda Cannell attributed her satisfaction of being welcomed to the clear communication on behalf of University faculty and transfer peer advisors.

“I think there’s a good infrastructure of emails and keeping up in being transparent about how difficult it’s going to be and understanding that it’s a lot more preparation than then you might be used to in a previous university,” Cannell said.

While acknowledging the benefits of creating community by attending the welcome events, incoming transfer students still expressed feelings of anxiety.

Third-year College student Rus-

sel Thomas also transferred from PVCC and spoke about how he felt swamped by all of the activities happening on Grounds during the first week of classes.

“There’s moments where I can feel a little overwhelmed,” said Thomas. “There are so many things happening and so many events ... things like [clubs] asking you to get involved in, and it can feel kind of like I don’t even know what to do.”

While the initial transfer welcome events may have already wrapped up, Mastal advises transfer students to push themselves out of their comfort zone and reach out to the University community around them.

“I would definitely say get involved and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Mastal said.

“It can seem kind of daunting.

You’re thinking, ‘Oh, everyone already has their friend groups and study groups and everything like that. But people here [are] always wanting to make new friends ... just put yourself out there even though it can be scary at first.”

The perfect sun-kissed pesto Add variety to your weekday dinners with this sun-dried tomato pesto recipe Simran Havaldar | Food Writer During my first Trader Joe’s run of the school year, I haphazardly tossed various vegetables, fruits and snacks into my cart, not realizing the importance of preparing my weekday menu in advance. I was accustomed to dining hall dinners and severely underestimated the planning needed to cook appetizing, cost-effective meals seven days a week. After looking through my fridge and freezer for a few minutes — stumped about what to cook — my eyes landed on my saving grace — a container of homemade sun-dried tomato pesto, prepared two weeks earlier. Since the pesto can be stored in the freezer for around a month and thawed out later, it looked as though I just made it.

With my random selection of groceries, this red pesto saved me

Prep time: 15 minutes

Instructions: 1. In a blender or food processor, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and almonds.

2. Switch your blender or food processor on at the lowest setting.

3. Gradually add in the olive oil and increase speed until you have reached a thick, smooth consistency.

Ingredients: 1 8.5 oz. jar of sun-dried tomatoes 1 cup basil ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 3 cloves roughly chopped garlic ¼ cup chopped almonds ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste

The final product is incredible. The rich, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, combined with the earthy, peppery basil, pack a zesty punch. The tomatoes also add an umami element to the pesto and perfectly complement the heartiness of the garlic and parmesan. Truth be told, after trying this recipe, it’s impossible to go back to the traditional, bas-

from having to take another trip to the store. It also offered many easy dinner and lunch options, and I quickly realized sun-dried tomato pesto makes the ideal refrigerator staple. It infuses a burst of freshness into meals, requires no cooking expertise and pairs perfectly with virtually anything.

il-only pesto.

But the best part about this pesto is that it can be paired with anything. My go-to dinner using sun-dried tomato pesto is an easy pasta salad — perfect for when I need to use up all my produce at the end of the week. I simply cut up cucumbers, bell peppers, baby tomatoes, avocado and mozzarella cheese, toss them with the pesto, any leftover greens and rotini and add a little olive oil to top it off.

Additionally, marinating protein — whether it’s chicken, tofu or salmon — with the sun-dried tomato pesto before popping it in an air fryer or oven is a delicious option. You can enjoy it with rice, quinoa, couscous or other starches of your choice, resulting in a fast, balanced dinner.

I also use the pesto in my lunch-

es — to elevate sandwiches, eggs and avocado toast.

Ultimately, this smooth red pesto will save you time and energy this semester — it offers convenience without sacrificing taste. With a fridge stocked with sun-dried tomato pesto, you’ll have endless meal options to choose from all year long.

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The Cavalier Daily

SPORTS

Julie Caruccio is the new face of Virginia football tradition Virginia’s newest Cavalier on horseback will continue a legacy of rallying fans at Scott Stadium that spans decades Jacob Tisdale | Sports Writer

KHUYEN DINH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

For decades, the Cavalier on Horseback has been one of the leading Virginia Football traditions, constantly creating and facilitating crowd excitement.

Kim Kirschnick has been leading Virginia’s football team onto the field on horseback as the mounted Cavalier for over two decades. When Kirschnick announced he would be stepping down last year, an extensive hunt for his replacement went underway. As it turns out, his successor had been spending her weekdays as the interim dean of students.

Julie Caruccio, assistant vice president for research on student experience, decided to throw her hat into the ring when the job was posted by Virginia Athletics.

A Charlottesville native, Caruccio is an alumna and an avid horse rider and owner who was a member of Virginia’s riding team during her time as an undergraduate in the 1990s. With careful consideration and the blessing of her longtime friend Kirschnick, Caruccio was selected to don the cape.

“Once I decided to apply, I was all in on wanting to do it,” Caruccio said. “It was super exciting to know that I’d have the opportunity.”

She began training with

Kirschnick over the summer, and the announcement was made earlier this month. Caruccio is more than aware that she will be carrying forward a fan-favorite, time-honored tradition.

“I have had lots of folks tell me the mounted Cavalier is one of their favorite parts of football games,” Caruccio said. “I hope I can keep that part of the tradition alive.”

While Kirschnick has served as the mounted Cavalier for the most recent generation of Virginia football fans, he was far from the first to saddle up and lead the team onto the field. The tradition can be traced back to the fall of 1947 when Virginia was preparing for a historic homecoming bout against Harvard. University student and Dublin native Francis Bell and another unknown member of the Student Independent Party, a non-fraternal political organization, saddled up for the first time in front of the then record-breaking 24,000 fans and the mounted Cavalier was born.

However, the riders’ first appearance didn’t immediate-

ly catch on. The tradition of the Cavalier on horseback went dormant until 1963 when the Virginia Club Polo team re-established it. Polo team member Doug Luke was among the first to have taken the reins, but various members alternated turns in the role until 1973.

In 1974, Scott Stadium underwent a facelift which included the implementation of Astroturf to replace the field’s natural grass.

The new surface was not suitable for horses to charge out onto and the Cavalier was forced to perform on foot for the next 15 years.

Virginia football languished in the basement of the ACC for a decade after retiring the mounted Cavalier act and efforts to engage already frustrated fans with the likes of “The ‘Hoo”— a perplexing fuzzy orange mascot — were failing. However, the mid-1980s offered a fresh start with new coach George Welsh righting the ship.

Under Welsh, Virginia finally strung together consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1952 and appeared in multiple notable bowl games. In 1989,

Virginia was a top team in the nation, winning a program-record 10 games to earn a trip to the Florida Citrus Bowl. To celebrate the occasion, the mounted Cavalier made a special return and led the team out of the tunnel once more in Orlando, Fla. The entrance was a hit and the Cavalier on horseback returned to Scott Stadium the following year. Riding duties in the 1990s were shared between the polo team and the mounted police of Charlottesville.

“I think the mounted Cavalier has been established as an important tradition for U.Va. football,” Class of 1988 alumnus and longtime fan Terry Young said. “The crowd generally gets really fired up when they see Sabre and the rider come out of the tunnel and ride across the field.”

In 2000, with the introduction of the Carl Smith Center, Kirschnick made his debut as the mounted Cavalier, taking the field by storm. The 2000s and 2010s were often unkind to Virginia football fans, but Kirschnick’s Cavalier and steed Sabre endured the program’s tumult, reliably en-

ergizing fans through the good times and the bad.

“I remember the entrance to the 2019 game against [Florida State] was one of the more recent really exciting entrances,” Young said. “The crowd went crazy when they saw the Cavalier riding out of the tunnel.”

Though all good things must come to an end, fans like Young have embraced the changing of the guard.

“Kim Kirschnick was fabulous, but it was inevitable he was going to retire at some point,” Young said. “I think it was extremely important that his replacement be someone who understood the importance of the Cavalier rider and its role in the team entrance.

Julie Caruccio is essentially a lifelong Wahoo. She has worked closely with Kim Kirschnick and I have no doubt that she will do a great job.”

Caruccio has found the response from family, friends, and fans to her new position to be gratifying.

“It’s amusing to me that the splash on this has been way bigger than when I became interim dean of students last year,” Caruccio said. “The best part is I think this might be the first time I’ve done something that actually makes both of my teenage kids proud, which is no easy feat!”

Caruccio is the first woman to assume the role on a full-time basis, although a few of the rotating polo players in the 1990s were women. Her goal is to add to the fans’ anticipation and excitement, but she also knows that she has the potential to serve as an inspiration.

“I hope there are lots of little girls that see me and think they could do it too,” Caruccio said.

Virginia football fans will have to wait until Saturday to see Caruccio lead the Cavaliers onto the field once more. As the team charges out of the tunnel behind her, Caruccio will simultaneously take part in a decades-old tradition while creating something brand new.

“I think this is an example of the best way to update a tradition,” Caruccio said. “Keep the positive, fun, community-focused elements while ensuring it reflects who and what U.Va. is in its third century.”

Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 9

SPORTS

Track and field set to begin 2022 season Cavalier athletes hope to build on successful appearances in national, international competitions Luke Stone | Associate Writer After impressive individual performances in 2021-22, the Virginia cross country and track & field teams are looking to put together high-level team results this season.

With several top-tier athletes returning to the program and talented incoming recruiting classes, the Cavaliers may be able to do so.

The spring and summer afforded Virginia’s standout athletes chances to compete against the best competition in the country and, in some cases, the world. On the men’s team, graduate student javelin thrower Ethan Dabbs, who won silver at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this spring, won the USA Track and Field outdoor javelin title in June and represented the United States at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Ore. Senior discus thrower Claudio Romero — the 2022 NCAA outdoor discuss champion — represented his native country Chile at the World Athletics Championships. Last season, he set an ACC record in his event and won gold for a second consecutive season. His postseason performances earned him All-ACC and All-American honors, as well as ACC Field Performer of the Year.

For throwers like Dabbs and Romero – who are certainly now the veterans of the squad – the upcoming season is an opening to build on already established milestones. Results throughout the fall season will be indicative of the opportunity for both to excel even further on the national and global stage.

Graduate student triple jumper Owayne Owens logged his name in program history as the first ever men’s track and field athlete to be a first team academic All-American. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in March, Owens earned first team All-American status with an eighth place finish in his event.

During the outdoor portion of the season, Owens took silver at the ACC Championships and finished 19th at the NCAA Championships.

On the women’s team, sophomore distance runner Mia Barnett finished fourth in the 1,500 meter at the ACC Championships and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships last spring. She became just the second women’s athlete in program history to be named ACC Freshman of the Year, joining Morgane Gay, who won the award in 2009.

Junior thrower Maria Deaviz became the sixth Cavalier in women’s program history to compete at the NCAA Championships, where she finished fourth and set anoth-

er program record. She became the first ever Virginia athlete to earn first team All-American honors in the shot put.

Deaviz swept gold in the shot put at the ACC Championships for both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Her standout performances in the past year have been yet another indicator of the growing strength of Virginia across all throwing events.

The good news for the Cavaliers is that their program is bringing back all these outstanding athletes from last season and welcoming 15 new women and 16 new men to the program. Among the 15 women joining the women’s team are freshman distance runner Katie Dorsey — the Delaware 1,600 Meter State Champion — and freshman distance runner Amelia Maughan — the North Carolina 1,600 Meter and 3,200 Meter State Champion.

Maughan is widely expected to be a key member of the cross country team.

Virginia has also brought in six transfer women’s athletes, including sophomore distance runner Addison Cox, graduate middle distance runner Esther Seeland, and graduate distance runner Rebecca Story. Cox — a transfer from New Hampshire — finished 11th at the America East Cross Country Championships last year. Seeland is a transfer from Division III Messiah College, where she won five NCAA championships between indoor and outdoor competitions. She competed in the World Championship Trials in the 800 meter this summer.

Story, a distance runner from Stanford, helped the Cardinals secure a Pac-12 team cross country championship in 2020-2021.

The men’s recruiting class features transfer senior middle distance runner Kenton Bachmann and transfer graduate student sprinter Thomas Corel as well as several distinguished freshmen. Bachmann comes from fellow ACC program Wake Forest, where he earned second team All-ACC honors in the 800 meter indoor championship.

Corel is a 400 meter specialist from Wagner University, where his relay teams won gold at the NEC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Freshman distance runner Will Anthony represented New Zealand at the U20 World Championships.

Freshman distance runner James Donahue finished third in the 1,600 meter at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. At the U20 Outdoor Championships, freshman Justin Rogers won the pole vault.

The addition of both new recruits and transfers should make a strong pairing with existing veteran

athletes on the team. The blend of youth and experience will bode well for the Cavaliers for years to come.

In addition, new athletes to the program should serve the teams well as they head into competition this season. While the track and field portions of the schedule will not begin until later in the fall, the cross country team will begin competing Saturday at the Spider Alumni Open in Richmond. In the coming months, Virginia will host two meets and travel to Boston, Mass. and Bethlehem, Pa. for competitions hosted by Boston College and Lehigh University, respectively.

Virginia will host this year’s ACC Cross Country Championships Oct. 28, where the team will hope to improve on its 10th place women’s finish and seventh place men’s finish last season and qualify for the NCAA Southeast Regional in Louisville, Ky. two weeks later.

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS

Sophomore distance runner Mia Barnett will highlight the women’s side this season after qualifying for the NCAA championships last year.

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OPINION

The Cavalier Daily

LEAD EDITORIAL

Get your facts straight Mr. Youngkin Governor Glenn Youngkin, start doing your job If you’ve been paying attention recently, you know that this paper has had plenty of important news to cover. From the first major change to the Honor code in University history to the fifth anniversary of the “Unite the Right” rally, the students at The Cavalier Daily have been working hard to bring facts to the forefront.

Unfortunately, it has become increasingly evident that Governor Glenn Youngkin is not committed to the same fact-finding mission. Youngkin has proven himself to be an utterly incompetent leader by failing to genuinely address criticisms we have raised, instead choosing to disparage student journalism by spreading outright falsehoods about our paper.

Last week, a reporter asked Youngkin about a recent article from our publication highlighting Board of Visitors appointee Bert Ellis’ role in inviting well-known eugenics supporter William Shockley to speak on Grounds in 1975. In response, Youngkin “seemed to suggest that it was unfair to judge the 1970s controversy

by today’s standards.” The governor attempted to discredit the news story — which he admitted he had not even read — by deflecting, saying it was published by “the same newspaper that wants to remove Thomas Jefferson in all regards from the University of Virginia.”

It is worth noting Youngkin’s latter comment is simply false. While this Editorial Board has recently argued that we must continue working to align the symbolism on Grounds with the values the University claims to support, we have never said that attempting to fully erase Jefferson would be a coherent course of action.

We certainly recognize that blindly memorializing Jefferson obscures the significant harm he is responsible for, but we also know that he is an inescapable part of our collective history. It is evident to us that we must become better at properly contextualizing his role as the University’s founder. This means fully committing to teaching our history, in all of its complexities, so that we can continue

to grow as a community — not placing people on pedestals and excusing their shortcomings in light of their contributions.

Maybe more troubling, though, is Youngkin’s straw-man response to an important question about the character of the person he appointed to serve on the Board of Visitors. Youngkin has placed himself in a tough position — either he knew about Ellis’ lack of judgment and chose to appoint him anyway, or he had no idea, suggesting that he does not properly vet his nominees. Nonetheless, neither case permits him to attack students with lies in order to shield himself from the consequences of his own poor decision-making. The facts are Ellis chose to platform a eugenicist and Youngkin chose to put Ellis on the Board of Visitors. Making us the boogeyman won’t change any of that. Youngkin’s failure to simply answer the reporter’s question and instead divert attention to this Editorial Board underscores the unfortunate truth that he cannot adequately contend with genuine crit-

icism. Mr. Youngkin, let us be perfectly clear — we will not be your political scapegoat. Our reporting speaks for itself, and we will not allow your efforts at a smear campaign to go unchecked.

Relatedly, it is impossible to ignore that Youngkin attempted to dismiss a 1970s controversy involving eugenics by characterizing it as a product of its time. It would behoove the governor to know that eugenics has been scientifically discredited in the U.S. since the 1930s. Further, if Youngkin had bothered to actually read the article he was so quick to dismiss, he would know that in bringing Shockley to speak, Ellis ignored a wide array of student voices — including that of the Black Student Association and Student Council, both of whom condemned the event. If Ellis didn’t have the moral clarity to see how harmful his actions were then, it seems extremely unlikely that he has the judgment necessary to serve on the Board of Visitors now. It is absurd to suggest that Ellis’ elevation of Shockley was

somehow justified by its time period.

Simply put, we are tired of Youngkin’s lack of leadership and find his politicization of higher education dangerous. If Youngkin were a competent leader, he would respond to our criticisms with sound reasoning and solid explanations — instead, we get hollow platitudes. Rather than belittling student journalists, maybe the governor should brush up on the history of eugenics. Instead of mulling over a run for the presidency, maybe the governor should spend more time vetting his nominees. Virginians deserve better. Students at the University deserve better. This Editorial Board demands better. The governor must stop fearmongering and start finding time to actually do his job.

THE CAVALIER DAILY EDITORIAL BOARD is composed of the Executive Editor, the Editor-in-Chief, the two Opinion Editors, the two Senior Associates and an Opinion Columnist.

The board can be reached at eb@cavalierdaily.com.

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Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 11

OPINION

U. Va. should require a race and ethnic studies course The University must continue to make progress in educating their students on race Littered with syllabi and treks through the humid Virginia air, the first week of class always brings a renewed optimism to Grounds. However, it has also left me questioning what I want to contribute to or change at the University during my time here.

And so I thought back to President Jim Ryan’s note commemorating the fifth anniversary of the “Unite the Right’’ rally. He ended a difficult and painful message with a hopeful tone — eager that the memory of the events of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017 will continue “to inspire us to work to make the world a better and more welcoming place.” After reading Ryan’s email along with a recent lead editorial, I was left thinking what specifically that work should be and the role of education in that work. While the Editorial Board briefly explains the need for a required course, I would like to take this opportunity to call for a new required course category for all University students.

The California state legislature passed a law back in 2020 mandating all state universities to require completion of an ethnic studies course to graduate. The bill requires all students to enroll in a

three-credit course focusing on four historically defined racialized groups — African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinx Americans. Lawmakers in California had hoped that the bill would set an example for other states and inspire systemic change, but two years later, only two other colleges have instituted similar rules to all undergraduate

ending at the events of the “Unite the Right” rally.

Having a tour for students to learn about the hidden history of the University is undoubtedly great progress, but, ultimately, is just a one-hour window into what is the most complex issue facing the country at large. Which is why at the end of each tour, guides are quick to point out some of the

also be fulfilled by taking a wide array of classes on everything from Ancient Greek Mythology to the American Revolution.

CSW is a broad requirement that can be filled with over 100 different classes and only 26 of those tackle issues facing one of the four groups mentioned in the California bill. CSW is littered with important topics that should be

It is time to add a new race and ethnic studies requirement for the incoming class of 2026.” students — I think the University should make it three.

Members of the University community have already taken important steps in this direction, encouraging all first year students to take a guided tour of Grounds with their halls centered around the history of racial violence at the University. Additionally, the History of Enslaved African American Laborers worked tirelessly alongside members of the University Guide Service to curate an hour-long program, starting from enslaved laborers and

classes offered at the University which expand on the information that was just covered. But for many students, fitting these classes into their schedule is near impossible. And while it is true that the classes offered on race do fulfill general education requirements, limited class size can often lead to students missing out on the ability to take those classes.

Currently, one of the requirements all students must fulfill is “Cultures and Societies of the World.” While this can be fulfilled by taking a class on race, it can

explored in their own right, but not at the expense of missing the opportunity to hold meaningful conversations about race. The 26 classes on race should be used to create a new race and ethnic studies requirement.

Creating a new race and ethnic studies requirement would have an impact both at a local and national level. Researchers at Stanford University found ninth graders who completed an ethnic studies course reaped the benefits of their work for years to come, enjoying higher attendance and

graduation rates. Students would learn about allyship and face the issue of race head-on in a setting that allows for meaningful conversation. Moreover, the critical thinking skills developed in the course load of such classes carry into every field of study, not just the liberal arts. It is a no-brainer at the University level. But more than that, it shows a commitment to social change. The University is consistently ranked in the top 25 of colleges in the nation, and creating a policy similar to the one in California state schools could have a ripple effect, encouraging other colleges and universities to follow the lead of U.Va. Even if it failed to do that, the University would still be doing important work to educate students.

This is the work. The University is to be commended for remembering the events of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017. But it is time to prove that President Ryan’s statement was more than just talk. It is time to add a new race and ethnic studies requirement for the incoming Class of 2026.

DAN FREED is a ViewPoint Writer for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

Don’t fall into the trap of student loan relief Just because you struggled and made financial sacrifices to pay off your student loan debt doesn’t mean future generations should As a current undergraduate student seeking to obtain a law degree in the near future, I jumped with excitement when the news alert appeared in my inbox saying President Joe Biden created a new student loan forgiveness plan. The total cost for the institution I currently attend combined with the cost for even the cheapest law schools in my state total several hundred thousand dollars. As I continued to read the news article, however, I became rather disheartened. Not only do the limitations in Biden’s plan reveal that we need education reform, but they also open the door to discussion on education accessibility in general — now and in the future, we should not punish citizens for seeking out an education.

Biden’s plan to relieve student loan debt applies only to federal student loan borrowers — here is a guide on how to qualify, and here is a link for how to apply for loan forgiveness.

Those whose annual salaries are less than $125,000 or married couples and heads of households whose annual salaries total less than $250,000 will have up to $10,000 of their federal student debt forgiven. Meanwhile, Pell grant recipients are eligible for up to $20,000

of federal loan forgiveness.

Biden’s plan is a good start. He directs aid to those who need it most, whether because of financial stress accumulated during the pandemic or already existing financial hardship. In regards to the latter, Biden explains that the plan will help those who have college debt yet failed to achieve their degree — for instance, blue-collar workers with student loans who nev-

dle-class life that the college degree once provided.” With tuition rates skyrocketing and graduates worrying about which jobs will enable them to pay back loans, many are starting to question whether college is even worth it anymore.

Negative feedback to Biden’s plan only reemphasizes that we need education reform. The primary argument I would like to address is one cham-

extraordinary sacrifices to attend college does not mean that is how the system should continue to work. No one should have to work every minute of the day to make ends meet. No one should have to sacrifice their life or take on nearly inevitable mental health disorders with the hope that they can afford college. Not only should there be loan relief to existing debtors — an endeavor limited to retroactively fix-

Just because you sacrificed to attend college does not mean that future generations should also be forced to do so.”

er graduated college. I do not deny that aid should be most immediately focused on the multi-racial working class — which the plan will likely do.

Yet, as Biden himself seems to know, his plan remains far from a complete solution.

Simply put, college needs to be more affordable. As Biden acutely recognizes, the burden of a degree is so extensive that “even if you graduate you may not have access to the mid-

pioned by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who, among others, believes that Biden’s loan relief is a “slap in the face” to those who suffered to pay for college. The White House has already exposed the hypocrisy of this statement with a tweet thread targeting Republican lawmakers who took out Paycheck Protection Program loans from earlier in the pandemic and had millions forgiven. But, just because past generations endured

ing an existing problem — but colleges should also just be more accessible.

There are a number of reasons why a country should want its citizenry to become college educated. Among those reasons is the problem of misinformation. A surprise to no one is that half of all Americans encountered misinformation about COVID-19 online. While many with lower levels of education may be unprepared to discern what is reliable information or

not, those with higher education are likely taught these skills in college. I give this example to emphasize that the benefits of a widely educated citizenry are much more widespread than one might believe — a college-educated citizenry advantages the country as a whole.

I recognize that there is not much students at the University can do to combat expensive tuition rates or implement tuition relief programs. But one thing we all can do is change the culture. As referenced above, there are a multitude of people who believe that student loan relief is a disservice to those who have already paid off their debts. To University students — as you graduate and begin to pay back loans, if you have them, do not fall into this cynical trap. Just because you sacrificed to attend college does not mean that future generations should also be forced to do so. Just because college is so expensive right now does not mean that is how it should always be. Do not become disillusioned — college should be accessible to all who seek it.

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

12 | www.cavalierdaily.com

HUMOR

The Cavalier Daily

The ‘Funny’ Friend We all have that one friend in our friend group. You know, the “funny one.” And by “funny one,” I mean the one that calls themselves funny but has the humor of Amy Schumer. You know who I’m talking about. That one.

We all love that friend down to the bone, but when it comes to it, they couldn’t even make Michael Jackson go “hehe.” Their jokes are something like what you would see on a Facebook mom’s profile page. You know what I’m talking about. The jokes that are written in a comic sans font beside a picture of one of Gru’s minions, usually either Kevin or Dave. Those ones. Ironically hilarious when millennials post them, tragically depressing when your 19-year-old friend knows them all by heart.

But to make the whole ordeal so much sweeter, absolutely no one in your friend group has the heart to tell your friend that their jokes make people wanna cry, not laugh.

Waa waa, not haa haa. The people they talk to either leave confused or with trauma.

But at least they try. You just look at them and you can see the few gears they have in their head turning, and a little bit of steam coming out of their ears. Sometimes there is a little spark when they’ve thought too hard and have to give up. But most of the time they are at least able to remember a joke someone else told and just retell that again. Ah, yes, I love hearing “deez nuts” jokes at 8 a.m. while everyone is trying to enjoy their breakfast. Nothing boosts the

appetite more. And, for some reason, when they retell one of your jokes, it just ruins it. Like when you dip your French fry in ketchup the first time and it’s all right but then you go in for the double-dip and everybody just ends up not wanting ketchup at all. Yeah, it’s like that.

However, there are moments when I cannot seem to stand this friend, and that is when they actively claim that they are the funniest member of the group. Like, excuse me? I’m standing right here.

The Witty Wahoo. The President of Jokes, Gym Rye Anne. The Quip Queen. I cannot stand it when people come for my throne. Especially people who are still trying to figure out why the chicken crossed the road. How amateur. I taught

the chicken to drive. The chicken is crossing the road in her new convertible. Knock knock? Who’s there? It’s the chicken. I even taught her to politely announce herself at somebody’s home. The “funny friend” is out there saying “Hi Hungry, I’m Dad,” while I’m out here saying “Hi Hungary, I’m Austria.” We are not on the same level.

Now I know many will find me to be egotistical, but can you really blame me when I am — how do I put this? Ah yes, hilarious. Maybe even hysterical — but I don’t know, that may be a bit too much. No, never mind, it’s never too much.

Maybe it is not enough. But, moving on. I am the epitome of comedy. I’m so funny that people laugh so hard they cry when they hear

CARTOON A New Dining Experience Kaileigh Proctor | Cartoonist

my jokes. Okay, maybe there are more tears than actual laughter, but that’s not important. When I do stand-up, people are hollering things along the lines of “Use Uck” and “Rally Brad.” Not quite sure what those things mean, but they sound good to me.

Anyway, if there is one thing we know about the “funny” friend, it’s that they will always think they’re funny, no matter what. But don’t worry, real comedians, such as myself, will do absolutely everything in our power to shine through and be the saving grace of the conversation. You’re welcome in advance.

WARDAH KAMRAN is a Humor Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at humor@cavalierdaily.com.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 13

HEALTH & SCIENCE

U.Va. investigates the possibilities between life and death The Division of Perceptual Studies uncovers truths about reduced fear of death Carly Stender | Staff Writer With a never-ending fascination around the concept of death, near-death experiences provide perplexity. At the University, the Division of Perceptual Studies tackles the mystery of extraordinary human capacities such as near-death experiences by evaluating empirical evidence.

A near-death experience occurs under intense physiological conditions, such as a lack of brain activity, deep general anesthesia, cardiac arrest or trauma and can be a peaceful or frightening event. Common features of near-death experiences include a painless and comfortable feeling, a sensation of leaving the body or being drawn into a tunnel or darkness, a sense of peace, a review of significant past events or a preview of future events.

Psychiatric Medicine Prof.

Bruce Greyson leads research on the characteristics of near-death experiences, as well as patterns that can be found among them.

Greyson’s interest in neardeath experiences began after he observed contradictions between findings of near-death experiences as a physician and what he had known to be true about the material world as a child. This contradiction influenced Greyson’s studies of NDEs, which occur in approximately 10 to 20 percent of people who come close to death, or about 5 percent of the world population.

“Our goals are to gain a better understanding of the features, mechanisms and aftereffects of NDEs, to explore their implications for our models of the mind and the brain and to apply this knowledge to help experiencers, their significant others and our society deal more realistically with the transition from life to death,” Greyson said in an email to The Cavalier Daily.

In a recent article, DOPS examined the fear of death and other death attitudes in the context of near-death experiences.

Marieta Pehlivanova, assistant professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences, explained that the DOPS was interested in this research to further identify what makes near-death experiencers lose their fear of death in order to devise strategies to reduce fear of death among people who have not had a near-death experience.

DOPS aimed to evaluate pro-

LEXIE GAGNON | THE CAVALIER DAILY

posed intermediaries that could explain the relationship between NDEs and a reduced fear of death including positive emotions, an out-of-body experience, a bright light or spiritual beings.

Many NDE features such as positive emotions directly correlated with a reduced fear of death in the study, but were not statistically significant enough. At the same time, some features such as the experience of light negatively correlated with death anxiety, but also were not statistically significant.

Of note, the DOPS found that having a life review or encountering mystical beings are the strongest determinants of a reduced fear of death in near-death experiencers. Pehlivanova mentioned how these encounters can involve an emotional component that creates a positive association with death that may help facilitate the reduced fear of death after an NDE.

The DOPS also reported that a sense of disembodiment is not associated with a change in death attitudes. This is a finding that contradicts several studies such as one that found that 67 percent of near-death experiencers had decreased or completely eliminated the fear of death after their out-of-body experience.

“It was surprising to find that having an out-of-body experience during one’s NDE was not associated with reduced fear of death after the NDE. We expected to see such an effect because experiencing oneself as separate from one’s body may suggest that one’s consciousness can exist even if the body is compromised or dead, and thus physical death is not to be feared,” Pehlivanova said.

The reduced fear of death is one of various potential changes that a person may undergo after a near-death experience. In 2000, Greyson found that near-death

experiencers develop dissociative symptoms before and/or after having their NDE. These dissociation states involve a disturbance of the sense of self through the loss of the coordination between one’s self, body and the environment.

“Experiencers almost always lose their fear of death and dying, become more spiritual in the sense of feeling more compassion for others and more connected to other people, to the natural world and to the divine,” Greyson said.

Hence, most near-death experiencers develop a more altruistic attitude. Greyson has witnessed career military members or policemen who have experienced NDEs change careers to avoid the violence that comes with their jobs. Often, near-death experiencers go into medical care, social work or other professions with an emphasis on helping others.

Despite the death and other attitude changes that some near-death experiencers develop, there is still a prevalent anxiety surrounding death in the general population. Current interventions to reduce these anxieties have modest results. However, the findings noted in the DOPS’s research can be used to design treatments aimed at reducing the fear of death in vulnerable populations, such as terminally ill patients. Guided programmes such as virtual reality, imagery or meditations could reduce fear of death by simulating specific NDE features.

“Only when we expand models of mind to accommodate extraordinary experiences such as NDEs will we progress our understanding of consciousness and its relation to brain,” Greyson wrote.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

U.Va. a cappella community expands with auditions Fall auditions for all fourteen groups brought out students hoping to join this tight-knit community Emily Pitts | Staff Writer Each year, fall a cappella auditions bring clusters of singers to the Lawn. Some are current members of one of the University’s 14 a cappella groups, eager for talented new recruits. Others are hopeful yet nervous auditionees, making their way around to audition for as many groups as possible.

For former choir members, theater kids or just people who love to sing, the a cappella community is the place to be. Each group creates and performs their own arrangements made only for voices — no instruments.

At the University, a cappella groups originated in 1953 with the Virginia Gentlemen, an all-tenor and bass group that remains very prominent on Grounds today, still with a high caliber of musical talent and classic orange-and-blue striped bow ties.

Dean Barton, third-year College Student and current music director, knew he wanted to audition for the group before even coming to Grounds.

“Micah Iverson was on season 18 of The Voice, and he was also in the Virginia Gentlemen,” Barton said. “I saw him on The Voice and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s what I want to do.’”

At this year’s auditions, Barton is hoping to find people who are passionate about the group, which he considers family.

“Just someone that really enjoys singing, can hold a pitch and is just generally excited to be a part of a cappella at U.Va.,” Barton said.

Fortunately, this year’s fall auditions brought out many eager prospective members from all classes. Most new auditionees know the notable reputation of the University’s a cappella community, and, like auditionee and first-year College student Natalia Leaf, they see auditioning for a cappella as a way to continue a love of performing.

“I’ve always wanted to be in an a cappella group,” Leaf said. “I love to sing and perform, and I’ve heard a lot of good things about the a cappella scene here.”

With so many groups in the a cappella community, every singer can find the place they feel they belong. Though many groups on Grounds focus traditionally on Western pop, others bring different styles to the table.

Fourth-year College student Medha Prakash is the President of Ektaal, the University’s only South

Asian-American fusion a cappella group.

“I think what makes Ektaal really special is just the diversity of genres that we hit,” Prakash said.

“All of our members have such diverse stories … and they bring their music taste and contribute to our group, which is absolutely phenomenal.”

This year brought back the traditional pre-pandemic audition process, after having slightly modified auditions last year and completely online auditions the year before. After filling out an audition form and waiting outside in the summer heat, the auditionee steps into a group’s Lawn room, greeted by three or four smiling faces, air conditioning and a piano. Though each group may carry out the initial audition slightly differently, the basic structure remains the same.

“We typically have auditionees come in, they sing scales up and down and then they do pitch recalls,” said Liza Harold, fourthyear Engineering student and vice-president of Harmonious Hoos. “We play a few notes for them and they just sing it back to us … then they sing the solos they prepared, and if they can beat box, we ask them to beat box.”

Aside from talent, testing an auditionee’s personality is almost as important. If a group likes a particular auditionee, they may invite them to a social callback as well as a singing callback. The social callback is designed to help the auditionees get to know the group’s dynamic and to hopefully alleviate some of the stress of the audition process by making a few new friends.

The singing callback takes the audition to the next level, where auditionees are typically asked to learn part of an a capella arrangement and sing it with the group, along with preparing solo songs.

While the talent of the auditionees gets them past the first round, blending with existing members, both musically and socially, is what gets auditionees into the group.

Current members of groups know first-hand how stressful this audition process can become, and they try their best to alleviate some of that pressure by making sure auditionees feel welcome throughout the process. Hoos in Treble, one of the University’s all-treble a cappella groups, even set up a waiting

KHUYEN DINH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

This year’s fall auditions brought out many eager prospective members from all classes.

room next to their audition room this year where auditionees could drink tea with some of the “Hittas” — current members of the group.

“I feel like the audition process can be very, very intimidating for most people,” said Deborah Yu, president of Hoos in Treble and fourth-year Education and Batten student. “I know I was very intimidated my first year. So we really wanted people to feel comfortable

and to get to know us before they head into the audition room…And after [the audition], we try to just make sure you felt good about it before you leave.”

Despite the differences among the groups, many members came to a consensus on the top piece of advice for their incoming auditionees — audition for as many groups as possible.

“There are so many [groups]

here at U.Va., and they’re all amazing,” said Harold. “So I guess just cast your net wide and have fun.”

With another round of auditions in the books, one thing is certain — the a cappella scene at the University is thriving, and the groups hope the new members they choose will continue their tradition of excellence in both music and camaraderie.

Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Kids Are Alright: Backseat Driver Backseat Driver talks “Free Bird,” musical influences and the complicated process of writing original songs Lauren Dalban | Staff Writer As they relax on the Lawn on a particularly sunny day in Charlottesville, three members of the University band Backseat Driver sat down with The Cavalier Daily to do a deep-dive into their experiences as long-time players in the Charlottesville music scene.

Backseat Driver has a long and complicated history. Andrew Robinson, lead singer and guitarist and fourth-year Commerce student, and Ladson Ellis, singer and rhythm guitarist and Class of 2022 alumnus, were members of multiple different bands before settling on their current one. John Leo Luecke, bassist and fourth-year College student, was the last member to join.

“We had the same four people in two separate bands, but they had two different styles,” Robinson said. “We eventually just decided to just form one band and stick with the name backseat driver and to have combined influences.”

The band is also composed of two other members, Peter Wellman and Jonathan Danis, drummer and keyboardist respectively, who were unavailable for an interview.

Due to their long-term involvement in a number of different University bands, Ellis and Robinson are very knowledgeable of the Charlottesville music scene. They believe it has been an important contributor to their band’s success.

“There [are] so many bands here,” Ellis said. “It creates almost a level of competition where we’re constantly pushing each other to be better.”

The band members’ incredibly different musical interests keeps Backseat Driver floating outside of genre categorization. Robinson loves “everything from 60s, 70s classic rock,” while Ellis cites The Pixies and Weezer as important influences on his music. “[The Pixies] don’t focus so much on making everything perfect and

altogether,” Ellis said. “It’s just more like what works.”

Luecke enjoys classic artists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Wonder, as well as newer musicians like Steve Lacy and Frank Ocean because “their songwriting styles are so unique and revolutionary.”

Ellis and Robinson write the majority of the band’s original songs.

According to Ellis, Robinson’s specialty is “complicated chord structures — the more music theory kind of things,” while Ellis is more influenced by the fast-paced nature of punk music. He also asserts that the best songs come out when they work together, and they are often helped

by Luecke and Wellman during jam sessions.

“I think the best writing we get is when Andrew comes to me with something and then I change it up and we edit it together,” Ellis said.

As of now, Backseat Driver has half a dozen original songs in their

back pocket. One of the band’s favorite songs is called “Alone Tonight.”

“It’s about jealousy and freaking out and following down circular horrible thinking in your head,” Ellis said. “It’s like when you’re with a girl at a bar and she’s talking to another guy and just racing insane thoughts of jealousy is the point of the song.”

In terms of their covers, the members of Backseat Driver enjoy putting their own spin on more classic rock songs. Robinson cites their cover of the Beatles’ song “While my Guitar Gently Weeps” as an example of this.

“I love that song the way we do it because it’s so much better than the original,” Robinson said. “It’s like a hard rock song almost.”

Although the band would sometimes prefer to exclusively play their original songs, they received some advice from local band AFTM on the importance of covering crowd favorites.

“We’ve been playing ‘Free Bird’

since we started,” Ellis said. “One of the guys from AFTM was talking to me after the set and he said to me, ‘There are bands that play “Free Bird,” and there are bands that don’t play “Free Bird.” But you have to play ‘Free Bird’ until you get to the point where you can stop playing ‘Free Bird.’’”

The members of Backseat Driver are currently working on a threesong demo of original songs that will be released on Spotify. Robinson believes that the band has “a lot of promise,” and all members agree they want to continue to play together for the time to come.

“Our goal right now is to get something out there. I would like to do the whole thing, get the record deal, do the tour … we’re kind of all in,” Ellis said.

The members of Backseat Driver look forward to a future of lively gigs and increasingly large audiences — even after they stop playing “Free Bird.”

Warner Bros. Discovery is leaving creatives out to dry Cutting costs at any expense has made the company and the film industry a shadow of its former self Mary Kurbanov | Arts & Entertainment Editor In the last decade, streaming services have become some of the most dominant forces governing audience consumption of entertainment. From comedy television shows to horror movies and everything in between, corporations like HBO Max, Netflix and Hulu are constantly producing content or staking their claim in works that have already been aired.

But recent news about streaming services has been worrying. Warner Bros. Discovery –– the media conglomerate that owns HBO Max –– lost $3.4 billion dollars in its first-ever quarter as a combined company, which ran from April 1 to June 30.

Though making profits through production and in its studios, Warner Bros. Discovery is currently not making money through streaming.

Of course, losses in the entertainment industry are a given. Not every single movie or show is going to win audiences over, regardless of celebrity affiliation or crowd-pleasing dialogue.

However, a titan like Warner Bros.

Discovery failing so intensely is shocking to see, considering how popular streaming services have become over the years.

It seems that attempts to penny-pinch at every turn are to blame.

David Zaslav, chief executive officer and president of Warner Bros. Dis-

covery, has openly admitted that focusing on “financial opportunities” was a big priority for the company in a memo to his staffers. In a myriad of cost-cutting decisions, he has shutdown CNN+, is making moves to implement one streaming platform for the whole company and most recently has okayed the scrapping of content on HBO Max. Following the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery+ earlier this year, HBO Max shelved 20 originals and 36 titles overall from their library to save dough, including 200 episodes of Sesame Street and recent favorites like “Infinity Train” and “Summer Camp Island.”

To the dismay of audiences and creatives alike, Warner Bros. Discovery has been unafraid to throw films and shows away without much warning. Now, original, illustrative media on their platform will be sent to the depths of the internet where they may only be found through pirating, many Twitter users say. Creators, like Owen Dennis of “Infinity Train,” felt left in the dust following the company’s decision and “had no idea [the chop] was coming,” he writes in a Substack post.

Student filmmakers and creators are taking notice of how tense the environment is becoming in the cinema sphere, fearful of what this could mean

for their beloved artform in the future.

One of them is Max Berengaut, a fourth-year College student and president of the Virginia Filmmakers/Filmmakers Society.

“In general, the film industry sees what they create as numbers in a spreadsheet,” Berengaut said. “This somewhat new environment’s worst problem is that there is no longer any incentive to be original or inventive.

There is only the incentive to generate income for the company stakeholders.”

Educators in the field have also noticed how profit hungry streaming services have become.

“It is all about the bottom-line and what makes business sense,” Matt Marshall, professor of Media Studies, said. “It is a shell game.”

However, Marshall does point out that creators and audiences should not lose faith in where the film industry is going.

“With more platforms there are more opportunities for writers, actors and filmmakers,” Marshall said. “The downside is there is a lot more content to sift through. There will be a lot of canceled shows but a better chance that an unseen gem can get through.”

Only one of many streaming platforms out there, Warner Bros. Discovery may simply be operating as a business would in their situation, try-

ing to stay afloat after a major change in organizational structure. But –– as evidenced in their high losses this year –– taking highly-rated content away from viewers and creatives seems to have been the wrong answer.

Although Zaslav’s memo mentions creating a “collaborative culture” that operates as one team, his decisions to disregard the hard work that creatives have put in stands as rather contradictory to his desire for cohesiveness. Certainly, creators do not feel the level of trust that Zaslav is aiming for, as both Berengaut and Dennis pointed out.

Still, according to Berengaut, the way that Warner Bros. Discovery and other streaming services are conducting their businesses should not have an effect on how art is produced and received by others. Viewers and creators have the real power in film media, he believes.

“The only solution I can see is to prove with our own brains that there is still something worthwhile in art left in the world,” Berengaut said. “We need to create stuff that’s irrepressible, wonderful, new, genius, secular — and most importantly — human.”

AVA PROEHL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

To the dismay of audiences and creatives alike, Warner Bros. Discovery has been unafraid to throw films and shows away without much warning.

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