Thursday, October 5, 2023

The Cavalier Daily

Vol. 134, Issue 4

ADAIRE BURNSED & AVA PROEHL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Thursday, October 5, 2023

2 | www.cavalierdaily.com

NEWS

The Cavalier Daily

This week in-brief CD News Staff

Inter-Fraternity Council introduces new Recruitment Counselor program The Inter-Fraternity Council is beginning a recruitment counselor program for formal fraternity recruitment this winter. The recruitment counselors will be mentors to those rushing, similar to the “Pi Chi” role the Inter-Sorority Council uses.

Joseph Kratz, president of the IFC Governing Board and fourth-year College student, said the recruitment counselor program is part of a larger effort to increase accessibility to students who are interested in rushing a fraternity.

“IFC rush is weird and unique, and lots of people just don’t know where to turn to with questions they have,” Kratz said. “The goal is that every person going through rush will have a specific person whose name they know that can be an older person who can help answer any of those questions as they go through it.”

Ben Ueltschey, IFC vice president for membership and third-year College student, said the IFC introduced recruitment counselors after students asked for more rush resources from the IFC. The IFC received over 80 recruitment counselor applications — more than they were expecting, according to Kratz. He said they plan to accept the majority of applicants, which will allow them to pair roughly 10 students with each counselor.

This year’s IFC recruitment will be kicked off with a rush orientation where students will meet their recruitment counselor. Over the following two weeks, counselors will be available to answer questions and concerns, but there will be no formal requirements for when students have to meet with their counselor.

Ueltschey said this year will be a trial run for the counselor program.

“We know they’re going to do good things and lessen the gap between fraternities who are struggling for members and guys [who aren’t receiving bids],” Ueltschey said.

IFC recruitment will begin Jan. 14, before the beginning of the spring semester.

10.4

10.5

University releases Annual Fire Safety and Security Report, sees increase in rape and aggravated assaults The 2023 Fire Safety and Security Report — released in early September by the University — shows an increase in reported rapes, aggravated assaults and motor vehicle thefts in 2022 compared to in 2021.

The report includes statistics for all reportable crimes under the Clery Act, a federal mandate that requires the University to disclose information about certain crimes that occur on and off Grounds. Reportable crimes include sexual offenses, robberies, burglaries and hate crimes. Data in the 2023 report includes statistics across three years, from 2020 to 2022 — the report is released annually.

Meghan Rapp, assistant vice president for Clery compliance and youth protection, played a key role in writing the report.

“We want people to have this information so that they can be able to make decisions about their personal safety,” Rapp said.

Compared to 2021 in which 40 total sexual assault related cases were reported, only 35 were reported in 2022, a 13 percent decrease. In 2022, 17 counts of rape were reported, all but one on Grounds. In 2021, 15 counts were reported.

Aggravated assault reports increased by 171 percent — 38 in 2022 compared to 14 in 2021 — and motor vehicle thefts jumped from 19 in 2021 to 106 in 2022. Rapp said that a key reason for the increase is the higher presence of mopeds, motorized bikes and scooters on Grounds — the Clery Act includes these types of vehicles under the definition of “motor vehicle thefts,” and the increase was largely due to thefts of e-bikes and scooters.

EMILY HORN | THE CAVALIER DAILY

The IFC recieved over 80 recruitment counselors, more than they were expecting to, according to Kratz.

U.Va. Recreation changes its payment structure and internal affairs system for intramural sports The University’s recreation department has restructured the payment model for its intramural sports programs, requiring students to buy individual memberships for participation rather than paying to register by the team. The department also changed the platform that hosts intramural games to a software called Fusion Play.

Erica Goode, U.Va. Recreation associate director for programs, said that aligning with industry trends and peer institutions was the primary motivation behind the payment change.

“Many schools nationwide, including most of our fellow ACC institutions, have transitioned to the per-person model, yielding overwhelmingly positive outcomes and feedback,” Goode said in an email statement to The Cavalier Daily.

The goal of the payment structure change is to eliminate certain obstacles to participation and foster greater engagement in intramural sports, according to Goode. Under the new system, teams are registered for free and students can join a team once they have purchased a membership, which costs $15 for the semester or $25 for the full school year.

Previously, each team captain was responsible for paying the team registration fee. Students who wanted to play on multiple intramural sports teams needed to split the registration fees every time. Fees for teams ranged from about $50 to $60.

Second-year College student Adarsh Shah said this new payment system is part of the reason why he is pursuing additional intramural sports this semester.

“I personally really like [the payment change],” Shah said. “It’s one fee, and you can play as many sports as you want.”

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 3

NEWS

Public gardens in Booker T. Washington Park draw support The proposed community space would convert part of the park to public gardens serving minority communities Eleanor Jenkins & Ford McCracken | Staff Writers

ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

The Booker T. Washington project is located close to several popular off-Grounds residents, including Cambridge Square, Woodrow and Oxford Hill Apartments.

Cultivate Charlottesville, a local nonprofit organization centered around food equity, has gained support from both City Council and local community members for its proposed urban agriculture project in Booker T. Washington Park. If approved by City Council, the project would convert 10,000 square feet of public land in the 10th and Page neighborhood to public gardens for growing produce for underserved communities.

Cultivate Charlottesville’s mission centers around building a more just food system, with a special focus on addressing the ways racism affects food justice in minority communities.

The project in Booker T. Washington Park is at the center of Cultivate Charlottesville’s “Power to Grow” campaign, which aims to educate community members about racial inequities in Charlottesville and center Black voices in creating sustainable urban agriculture within underserved parts of the city.

Aleen Carey, co-executive director of Cultivate Charlottesville, said the campaign is built on the understanding that community involvement, communication and intersectional awareness are key to achieving food

justice.

“It’s all about being a curious citizen of Charlottesville, being a lifelong learner and also being focused in racial equity, and what that looks like with food equity,” Carey said. “What’s the transportation look like? What does community wealth building look like in your area? What does affordable housing look like? What does climate justice look like? A lot of times people don’t make that connection.”

The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department is currently considering the Power to Grow campaign, which will not be formally voted on by City Council until the Department submits their strategic plan for local parks and public spaces in late 202425. However, during a City Council hearing Sept. 19, several council members — including Leah Puryear and Michael Payne — expressed support for the project.

Booker T. Washington park was selected for the project not only due to its proximity to underserved Black neighborhoods, but also because of its history. The park was donated by Paul Goodloe McIntire in 1926 along with the larger McIntire Park.

Booker T. Washington park —

known as “Washington Park” until 2001 — was originally designated as a “Blacks only” park. It has since remained an important gathering place for Charlottesville’s Black community long after the end of segregation, housing family and community gatherings, as well as events such as the Chihamba African-American Cultural Arts Ceremony.

Carey said that wider community use of the park needs to be accompanied by centering Black voices and educating Charlottesville residents on the history and cultural significance of Black citizens in the area.

“I think a larger piece of the project, or what could happen at Booker T. Washington Park, is more of a reclamation of that space for Black families,” Carey said. “I think that would just involve additional nonprofits and organizations and the City putting in the work to make that space feel like home again.”

Per Cultivate Charlottesville’s website, rising gentrification in Charlottesville has made Black community members feel isolated from the park.

Since the 1990s, Charlottesville Parks and Recreation has formalized programming for the park and began

requiring permits for events and gatherings, which some community members have cited as a deterrent from using the park.

One organization working with Cultivate Charlottesville on the Booker T. Washington Park project is the Sustainable Food Collaborative, a University-based initiative formed in 2016 as part of the 2016-2020 U.Va. Sustainability Plan. The Collaborative recently provided Cultivate Charlottesville with an $8,000 grant towards its Power to Grow campaign.

Fourth-year Architecture student Mallie Bowerman has worked as an intern for the Collaborative and directly participated in compiling data about Booker T. Washington Park for Cultivate Charlottesville. According to Bowerman, students have special obligations to the community because of how it supports their time at the University.

“I think it’s really important for all students to connect with the Charlottesville community in whatever way that they can because we rely on the resources and labor of the Charlottesville community just to exist at this University,” Bowerman said.

“Forming reciprocal relationships with

community members, community residents and community organizations is really important to help repair the harm that’s been done.”

The Booker T. Washington project is located close to several popular offGrounds student residences, including Cambridge Square, Woodrow and Oxford Hill Apartments. Carey said this proximity means that students have all the more reason to educate themselves on the park’s history and get involved in its future.

“We always talk about town and gown and how there can be that separation,” Carey said. “But if you’re gonna live in a place for four years, or maybe more — [it’s important] that you’re leaving that place knowing something about it, having felt like you were a part of it for that time in a positively contributing way.”

Parks and Recreation told Charlottesville Tomorrow they anticipate a final plan will be ready for review by late 2024 or early 2025. Work on a garden will not commence until City Council approves the plan.

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NEWS

School of Engineering expands first-year advising program Students will take introductory classes throughout their first year under a team of trained advisors Cecilia Mould & Arshiya Pant | Staff Writers A new advising plan for firstyear students has been implemented in the School of Engineering this year to improve upon the current embedded advising program.

Under the new system, students will take foundational engineering courses over a full year with their advisor as their instructor, someone who is also a faculty member within the School of Engineering.

First-year Engineering students will take a sequence of courses titled “Engineering Foundations” throughout their first year. These courses will be taught by a team of six advisors who will focus solely on advising the students in their classes. Classes will be capped at 48 students per section, and each advisor will have around three groups of students. The classes will meet twice a week throughout the year.

William Guilford, associate dean for undergraduate affairs for the School of Engineering, said this “embedded” model brings more consistency to the quality and frequency of advising. Guilford has served as an academic advisor in the past for these courses.

“It [will] definitely help with

the social aspects of these courses,” Guilford said. “Having taught a pilot myself, when the students know you’re their academic advisor, and they know that you are there, not just to teach them, but to support them — that makes a palpable difference in the classroo Revamping undergraduate student advising has long been central to the University’s 2030 plan.

Last month, the Board of Visitors discussed progress made in both the Engineering School and the College to continue strengthening advising.

In past years, first-year students took one semester-long course in the fall titled “Introduction to Engineering” with their advisor. Advisors included members of the Engineering faculty from around the school. After declaring a major in the spring of their first year, students received a new advisor specific to their department within the school.

Though the new expanded program had pilot phases during the past two years, this year will mark the first full-scale implementation, with first-year students taking the two Engineering Foundations

courses over a full academic year as opposed to one semester.

This year’s new team of advisors, a combination of new faculty and faculty already at the University, will only instruct first-years in Engineering Foundations courses.

The advisors underwent training this summer to prepare them for the role. Throughout this year, they will continue to undergo monthly training surrounding advising and teaching their introductory courses.

Leyf Starling, First Year Engineering Center lecturer and an instructor on this team, said the training was primarily devoted to developing curricula for these courses and better understanding the University’s network of resources. According to Starling, continuous training throughout the year will enhance the program’s success.

“We have weekly meetings where we will talk about advising issues and I feel like we have incredible support,” Starling said.

“If any questions come up and we don’t know the answers, then we can help find the answers.”

Another advisor who partici-

pated in this training, Engineering Associate Prof. Esther Tian, said that students have received the new program positively, aligning with the excitement and hard work put in by advisors.

“Seeing the excitement in the classroom, and then the connection they have already started [forming] among themselves, I think this is really something good,” Tian said.

Discussions surrounding these changes began in 2019 but implementation was delayed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Guilford said. After returning in person plans were made to implement them during this academic year.

First-year Engineering student Albert Sein said advisors who instruct courses often gain a more detailed understanding of individual students’ needs.

“I think it’s really helpful to have [my advisor] as a professor because she gets to know the type of student that you are and your strengths and weaknesses because she’s grading your work,” Sein said.

The School of Engineering will continue to build upon other facets of the embedded advising

model, which includes an Assistant Dean of Students and Center for Diversity in Engineering, who specifically serve Engineering students.

In recent years, Engineering has also added two embedded Counseling and Psychological Services counselors for its students, as well as a specialist from the Student Disability Access Center, who focus on fulfilling the needs of students within the school.

Guilford said stronger advising supports overall learning within the Engineering school. The advising classes offer a chance for instructors to work hands-on with students through projects that introduce both engineering concepts and interpersonal connections.

“You’re able to explore a lot of different things in a very simple format and the very first week of class, when everyone’s just kind of still trying to figure out how to find a classroom,” Guilford said.

Who’s on the ballot for the 11th District State Senate Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Phillip Hamilton will face off Nov. 7 Priya Kommu | Senior Associate In a tight race for the 11th District State Senate seat, incumbent Creigh Deeds, who recently won the Democratic nomination, will run against paralegal and historian Phillip Hamilton when Virginians head to the polls Nov. 7. Here’s where the candidates stand on key issues in this election cycle, including gun control, reproductive healthcare and education policy.

Deeds’s platform includes prioritizing mental health reform by building community capacity for care, protecting access to abortions, promoting gender equity and enacting gun safety reform. Deeds has been serving the Commonwealth for nearly 22 years, both in the House of Delegates and in the State Senate, where he remains today.

Hamilton, the Republican candidate, supports a platform that includes limiting gun control legislation, banning abortion after 15 weeks with some exceptions and imposing term limits for politicians. Hamilton currently works as a historian and paralegal.

Following the University’s shooting last November, which took the lives of three University students, gun control remains a

heavily debated topic this election cycle.

Hamilton said he supports less stringent gun control under the Second Amendment in order to help law-abiding citizens looking to protect themselves.

“The Second Amendment isn’t just for self defense — it isn’t just for hunting and things like that,” Hamilton said. “It’s also for empowering the people against a tyrannical government.”

Hamilton questioned the basis of a bill proposed earlier this year

by Sen. Deeds, Timothy Longo, chief of University Police Department and vice president for security and safety, and other University officials, saying any individual looking to kill people already disregards the law. The bill would have banned firearms on university campuses but ultimately was not passed.

On the topic of gun control, Deeds said that every right has limits. Deeds said he applies this same logic to the Second Amendment, and argues that there should be a limit on the kind of firearms individuals should be allowed to own.

“Nobody needs an assault weapon,” Deeds said.

Following the June 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, access to reproductive healthcare proves another widely contested topic. Deeds said he’s proud that abortion remains legal in the Commonwealth, and he believes that everyone should have equal and easy access to abortion and other healthcare.

“People have to have control over their own bodies,” Deeds said.

Hamilton is in favor of heavier abortion restrictions, and he said he believes that individuals under the age of 18 should not have access to abortions without parental consent.

“Why is it that someone who’s under the age of 18, not a legal adult, [is] able to have an abortion — parental consent is not just a recent phenomenon,” Hamilton said. “This has been going on for decades.”

Additionally, Hamilton expressed support for Governor Glenn Youngkin’s idea of a 15week abortion bill, which is part of Youngkin’s conservative agenda going into November’s election. This bill would outlaw abortion after 15 weeks, except in cases of life-threatening emergencies. Currently, abortion is legal for up to 26 weeks and

six days in the state of Virginia.

“A fetus or baby is not just a clump of cells,” Hamilton said. “It’s a person and we should be doing everything we can to protect life, liberty and property under the social contract.”

Hamilton also said he believes that individuals under the age of 18 should not be allowed to make the decision to transition genders, regardless of legal guardian consent.

If elected, Hamilton said he hopes to push legislation that will ban minors’ access to transgender healthcare and implement criminal consequences for doctors and healthcare professionals that disregard the proposed ban.

On the subject of education policy, Hamilton said he sbelieves that books with graphic content and themes of gender identity should be removed from schools if they do not have a proper content warning.

Across the country, state legislatures have seen increased attempts to ban books in public schools.

Texas was the state with the most attempts to ban books in 2022, with 2,349 titles coming under question.

In contrast to Hamilton, Deeds said he believes that schools should

be safe spaces for children to read diverse books and explore diverse topics. This includes topics such as gender and sexuality. He said the state government shouldn’t micromanage which books are available to students.

Additionally, in a candidate forum April 10 hosted by the U.Va. Center for Politics and Charlottesville Tomorrow, Deeds mentioned that Gov. Youngkin’s transgender policies in schools are harmful and can lead to mental health issues in children. Deeds said he believes that these policies — such as using bathrooms in line with assigned gender — do not have a place in schools.

The general election will be held Nov 7 and students can vote at their local polling place. Early voting began Sept. 22 and continues until Nov. 4.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 5

LIFE Top 10 worst phrases to hear in class A collection of phrases overheard in classes that are sure to make hitting snooze a pleasant alternative As we trudge through midterm-season, I am sure students have had their fair share of moments in class — sometimes a little cliche — where they simply wanted to rip their hair out, me included. These are a few tried and tested classroom phrases that uniquely irk me each time I hear them. But now as an upperclassman, I’ve learned that it’s not too hard to sit through, because at the end of the day, we can all commiserate — and laugh — together. Next time you hear one of these in class, know that students across majors and disciplines are probably all feeling the same way.

1.

“Let’s go ahead and break into small groups.”

Instantly, chills are running down my spine. In a matter of minutes, this can either go one of two ways — I end up with a wonderful group of classmates that has lively and productive conversation, or I am stuck with a group that cannot generate a singular word. The stakes become even higher when a group project or assignment is at play, a whole new level of torture.

Elizabeth Parsons | Senior Associate

4. “Just to play devil’s advocate…”

Let’s go ahead and hit pause right here. The statement on the other side of this infamous phrase could be so many things, and frankly, I am not sure if I want to hear them. In my experience, “playing devil’s advocate” is often an excuse to go completely off the deep end in a discussion, like completely overhauling a classmate’s interpretation of a reading for the sake of the argument. Let’s stick to disagreeing and providing an alternative viewpoint — and leave the devil out of it.

2. “Don’t make me cold call someone.”

You’ve been there — your professor poses a question to your small discussion-based class and the classroom is full of blank stares and the sound of crickets. Your professor then threatens to call someone at random. Perhaps you begin furiously scribbling notes in hopes of evading the cold call, or you continue your blank stare, wishing the clock would move faster. Regardless of the strategy, my heart rate rises at the thought of being called on to share my ideas with the class in my 8 a.m. lecture.

3. “Piggy-backing off that idea…”

We desperately need a new transition phrase during class discussions. Piggy-backing this, piggy-backing that — the sheer abundance of piggy-backing occurring in classrooms across this University is concerning. I am all for being inspired to share a thought based on what a classmate previously said in discussion, but I am sure there is a way to avoid the ever-cringeworthy piggy-back. Perhaps trying “in addition to…” or “based off of that idea…” would be a good start.

This is a classic statement, especially from Teachers Assistants, and I cannot blame them for trying to fill the awkward silence that is felt across Grounds. Nevertheless, being on the receiving end of this phrase is also quite uncomfortable — it is often followed by more silence and me shifting around uncomfortably in the chair thinking of something to say or a question to ask.

see everyone packing up, but I 5. “Ihaven’t said class is over yet.”

I am sure that it is undoubtedly frustrating to devote years of your life pursuing a Ph.D. as a professor only to be met with students packing up their things while you are still talking. It is, however, also very nerve-wracking to be held beyond class time when you are currently in Nau Hall and your next class starts in 10 minutes at the School of Architecture. I sympathize with this sentiment, but I cannot help but feel weary about staying past the end of class time when I am about to embark on a speed-walking marathon across grounds with an inhumanely heavy backpack.

6.

LEXIE GAGNON AND MIX RUDOLPH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

8. “Don’t everyone speak at once!”

“This is not an assignment that you can wait until the last minute to complete.”

It is a truth universally acknowledged that starting most assignments or projects at the last minute is a bad idea, especially if you want anything remotely well-thought out or well-executed. No matter how much I need to hear this quintessential truth, I despise being reminded of it — nothing hurts more. Starting an explanation of the upcoming midterm or research paper with this warning generally clues me into the fact that I have a grueling and time-consuming task ahead of me, which is never a pleasant realization.

7.

“Is this actually related to *insert niche random reference here*?”

Obviously asking questions in class is a good thing.

It is an essential part of the learning process. Asking a question that is not intended for genuine learning but instead to display your knowledge in front of the class is a whole other story — like interrupting a lecture to drop an obscure reference into a question that is only at-most tangentially related to the content at hand. Please know that I am sincerely unimpressed and am most definitely rolling my eyes.

LEXIE GAGNON AND MIX RUDOLPH | THE CAVALIER DAILY

wants to read this para9. “Who graph aloud?”

My eyes are immediately scanning the passage to make sure there aren’t any words I may accidentally mispronounce. I am doing mini-rehearsals in my head to make sure I can flawlessly nail the performance of a lifetime that is reading a passage aloud from Aphra Behn’s “Love-Letters Between a Nobleman and His Sister” to my English novel class. Spoiler alert — there is always something in that passage that I inevitably stumble over.

Will I be reliving that in a loop in my head for the next two to three business days? Obviously.

10.

“Please be well and take care of yourselves” *while handing out the most unforgiving and scary syllabus known to man*” When you open a syllabus and see the Counseling and Psychological Services contact information plastered onto the helpful resources section, you are surely in for a doozy of a semester. Something that I cannot reconcile is a professor’s ability to have the most inflexible and unforgiving course requirements while telling students to take care of themselves and their mental health in the same breath. Here is a crazy possibility, professor — the very nature of your course is directly taking a toll on my own mental health.

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LIFE

The Local celebrates Virginia with refined American cuisine The restaurant’s warm ambiance and emphasis on locally sourced ingredients make for cozy vibes and quality food Kate Johnson | Food Writer The Local is a restaurant that lives up to its name. Their chefs have served Charlottesville diners contemporary American fare since 2008. The Local’s dishes celebrate local products, highlighting ingredients from nearby farms, butchers and distributors.

It’s worth the moderate expense to taste their food and unwind in their cozy space — the experience will ground you in the flavors and character of Central Virginia.

The Local is nestled in the heart of Charlottesville’s Belmont neighborhood on Hinton Avenue — a 10-minute drive from Central Grounds. They serve dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Diners can make a reservation with the OpenTable widget on their website.

The Local was already buzzing when my date and I arrived early Friday evening. A variety of patrons made themselves comfortable inside, from laughing groups of friends to rehearsal dinner guests. The scene gave me the impression that The Local is

a favorite amongst Charlottesville residents for social outings, romantic nights and special events alike.

Plain wooden tables lined weathered brick walls. Lanterns hovering above the bar cast a soft, amber glow over the dining room.

Textured wall art and new-age funk beats added playful, modern touches to the scene. I was charmed by the homey elegance of the place, and I looked forward to the continued sensory experience of tasting our dishes.

The chefs spotlight the restaurant’s local food partners on their menu, manifesting their mission to live locally and support local entities. Menu items feature fresh ingredients like Appalachia Star mixed greens, Caromont Farm goat cheese and River Oak Farms chicken. Their menu also designates several dishes that can be prepared gluten-free and vegan.

We started our meal with two appetizers — The New Frontier bison empanadas and the fried cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

The empanada was a lovely melt

of meat, cheese, sauce and pastry. The goat cheese crumble and bright salsa complemented the gamey bison, and the arugula underlay added freshness to each bite Our second appetizer arrived minutes later — a plate piled on with crispy cauliflower and brussels sprouts. The light fry on the vegetables brought a nice crunch to our first course. The spiced batter found its way into the crevices of the cauliflower pieces, seasoning them more thoroughly than the sprouts. A creamy sriracha aioli coated the bottom of the plate, but to my dismay, there wasn’t enough of the aioli to drench all of the vegetable pieces.

For dinner, we ordered the Buffalo Creek Beef short ribs and the truffled mushroom ragout.

Our waitress informed us that those happened to be their two most popular entrées, which was a happy surprise.

The short ribs were tender, falling apart on the tines of my fork. An aromatic red wine jus doused the dish in savory glo-

ry. Caramelized carrots and rich mashed potatoes rounded out the hearty plate of food.

The mushroom ragout, a twist on the traditionally meaty stew, delivered my favorite bite of the night. A delicious truffle aroma filled the air when the bowl arrived at our table. The fettucini was thick and doughy — it seemed to melt in my mouth — and was tossed with velvety parmesan and robust, earthy mushrooms. The dish was a simple one that unexpectedly overwhelmed my senses.

For dessert, we embraced our inner kid and ordered the brownie sundae. Though it was perhaps the most unoriginal dessert selection, it did not disappoint. Peanut butter added a nutty goodness to the brownie. House-made vanilla ice cream dripped down the sides.

Pillowy, semi-sweet whipped cream speckled with vanilla bean topped the sundae. The components oozed together for a decadent end to the meal.

After we scraped our dessert plate clean, we sat back in our chairs, delightfully stuffed. I en-

joyed our visit to The Local. The satisfying, organic flavors and the intimate ambiance acquainted us with the spirit of Charlottesville.

We walked out of the restaurant feeling like locals — pun intended.

The Local delivers fairly upscale dining at a reasonable price.

Our dishes averaged $14 each, which I thought was a bargain for the quality and quantity of food we received. The Local is the perfect spot to indulge on occasion with family, friends and partners without breaking the bank.

The Local is also available as a venue for celebratory dinners.

They boast several private spaces above their downstairs dining room. For anyone looking for a venue over graduation weekend, note that they are already booking reservations.

How a change of scenery changed everything Exploring my developing sense of self through adolescence and beyond Ella Powell | Life Columnist Prior to the big move in the summer of 2016 — following my father’s pressing military orders to Japan — I was a very busy middle schooler, with hobbies such as playing soccer and making Rainbow Loom bracelets in my bedroom. In between all of my activities, I was also consumed by worry — always wondering how other people perceived me and always torturing myself to be something they liked.

It turned out the real scare in middle school wasn’t so much the occasional insect in my locker, but the mean girls scurrying around the halls as if they owned the place — and me. This pattern of self-loathing continued the longer I continued to remain within my demanding friendships.

I had strived for the unattainable ideas of popularity and perfection — an impossible feat for anyone, let alone a clumsy and shy 12-year-old. I didn’t realize how truly miserable I was living until I was given the opportunity to reset by living in another country. Living in Japan physically removed me from the toxicity I had experienced at my dingy, cockroach-infested middle school.

I vividly remember beaming with excitement and passion one sixth grade morning upon christening my brand-new short-alls at school while I was still living in the U.S. I paired them with colorful leggings and my Converse with the silly rubber shoe laces that never came undone. I remember even more clearly the reaction I received from all the popular girls that day.

My so-called “best friend” at the time asked in disgust, “What are you wearing?” as if I had made some terrible mistake that would cost me my reputation — my entire life.

The shame I felt for the rest of the day was unbearable, and I never dared layer leggings under my short-alls ever again. I continued to wear fun pieces, but with extreme caution. If the girls at school didn’t like what I was wearing, then I simply wouldn’t wear it. These people sought control over my thoughts and emotions without any regard for my personal desires. I remained trapped in this cycle of people pleasing to keep the friends I had while failing to understand my own self-worth.

Remembering moments like these makes me think back on the

pressure I felt growing up to fit in with those around me. It was important for me to be liked by everyone — an ounce of rejection would kill me. I based my worth on the opinions of others. I thought the girls on my soccer team hated me because I was the quiet one. I wondered what separated me from everyone else. It is now clear to me that there was never anything wrong with me in the first place. Sometimes, all we need is a change of scenery.

After having lived in another country, I no longer remained fixated on the turmoil of middle school, but rather was open to change and the opportunity in the present. Experiencing such a drastic change in culture enabled me to realize I could be myself without having to keep up the toxic image I’d created over the years. There was no unspoken pressure to dress the same or hang out with certain friends.

I experimented with my fashion, adopting mom jeans as my go-to pants, and surrounded myself with a diverse group of friends who now live all around the world.

I can now reflect back on memories from Japan like winning my prized stuffed dinosaur “Thickie”

from a claw machine on Homecoming night, my best friends cheering me on as I rolled my last 100 yen coin into the slot. My ability to branch out and find my place made special moments like this possible.

It was an amazing feeling to finally be seen by a group who shared similar values as me. I didn’t have to worry about being discarded for something as trivial as a pair of tights I chose to pair with my outfit. I was no longer disposable within my friend group, but felt that I served a purpose and made an impact on those around me.

Now at the University, I have made friendship connections that will last me a lifetime and I’m not afraid to express myself. I share thought-provoking comments during class and display my inspiring fashion choices around Grounds every day. The strides I have made in empowering my true identity have led me to the beautiful connections and opportunities available to me at the University. These include writing for The Cavalier Daily and working as a stylist for V Mag at the University.

The move gave me the space I needed to fully develop my sense of

self and value my worth. I will forever be thankful for the opportunity I received to discover the real me while I lived in Japan. Arriving in a foreign country came along with many challenges and a plethora of mixed emotions. Excitement, curiosity and fear all loomed over me as I navigated a completely new culture.

When people ask me what it was like living in Japan, I always respond with gratitude. Not just because of the beautiful culture I was able to experience on the island of Okinawa, but the true connections I made there — especially with myself. I love getting to know myself more each and every day and I will continue to unabashedly express my identity.

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 7

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Music Resource Center is more than just a “resource” Located within a former church on Ridge Street, the organization provides access to professional recording studios, summer workshops and more Madigan Lounsbery | Staff Writer It is rare to find a community as dedicated and passionate as the one that has been cultivated at the Music Resource Center here in Charlottesville. Since 1992, the center — which is driven by a small staff and a passionate group of volunteers — has provided consistent support and important resources for young people to connect with music, and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

The MRC found its current home in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 2004 with assistance from the famed Charlottesville-originated Dave Matthews Band. Since then, the organization has built an unparalleled support system around the goal of encouraging students to find their place in the community by providing access to classes, oneon-one lessons and other amenities such as recording spaces, dance studios and summer workshops.

MRC Executive Director Alice Fox has been at the helm of the MRC since she was appointed in 2016. In this position, she says that she stresses the importance

of safety and caring relationships within.

“This is really a safe place for kids to come,” Fox said. “They really find a home here where maybe they don’t fit in at school or they haven’t quite found their people.”

Fox also said that students gain experiences here that they might not have access to anywhere else — especially in the Charlottesville area, as it is not necessarily a major musical hub.

The MRC facilities allow for art to be made in a professional setting by student members, teaching them life skills and providing them with diverse opportunities from being trained in dance to recording original music.

“It’s the same recording studio you would get if you went to a real recording studio that you pay an hourly fee for,” Fox said of the MRC’s music facilities. “And yet we offer that to members for free.”

The MRC is equipped with more than just recording studios. With a gorgeous performance space lined with mesmerizing stained-glass windows, lively

beat production spaces donned with neon signs and rooms for students to jam with their bands in, members are provided with a way to explore every facet of music.

The story of community connection is told most poignantly

by MRC Community Coordinator Ike Anderson, who has been involved in the center for a long time and helped cultivate a program for dance. He offers a unique perspective as he was a member of the center during his own youth. Anderson recalls fond memories of joining the center in his younger years and expressing an interest in dance, which at the time, was not a program that was offered there.

“They built me a dance studio,” Anderson said. “I was dancing in that thing before it even had mirrors.”

Now, Anderson is returning the favor by running a hip-hop dance program through the MRC — many alumni of the program audition for and join X-Tasee Dance Crew, a competitive hiphop dance crew at the University.

Anderson is not the only

MRC alumni who is continuing to have a major artistic influence on students and participants in the center.

“Kids who join MRC really benefit from our program, and they go on to continue to do really awesome things,” Anderson said. “There are people that I grew up with at the Music Resource Center who are still recording artists, making albums, going on tour and getting into great colleges.”

It is clear that the MRC is a staple in the community that has improved the city in unmatched ways, including through their yearly fundraising event called “Party Like a Rockstar,” where they acquire about a third of their annual budget.

Taking place this year Oct. 28, “Party Like a Rockstar” engages the community in friendly competition and an exciting party where a few chosen Charlottesville residents who enjoy performing sing and compete to win the most votes based on their performances. The votes are equivalent to pledged donations, so the winner subsequently raises

the most money for the center.

“It’s a really, really fun event,” Fox said of the fundraiser. “People look forward to it every year.”

The MRC is more than just an extracurricular activity. It is an incredible musical outlet — not just for the young people of Charlottesville — but for University students who are looking to get involved with music-based volunteering as well.

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With a gorgeous performance space lined with mesmerizing stained-glass windows, lively beat production spaces donned with neon signs and rooms for students to jam with their bands in, members are provided with a way to explore every facet of music.

8 | www.cavalierdaily.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Cougar Beatrice on new adventures post-grad The former student band has kept busy traveling for gigs, and is looking forward to dropping their new single “Yours or Mine?” Oct. 27 Grace Scott | Staff Writer Plopped on the couch of their Fairfax, Va. apartment, the four members of Cougar Beatrice — all of whom graduated from the University in 2020 — detailed the highs and lows of the live performances, original music and friendship that color their post-grad lives.

Since leaving Charlottesville and evolving past their former student band status, the group has continued chasing the “thrill” of live performance, booking shows up and down the East Coast. These big city shows certainly provide more exposure than The Biltmore or Crozet Pizza, but they also come with their own challenges — the band learned this lesson first hand in July in New York City.

Upon returning to their car Sunday morning the night after a show, the band was bummed to find a parking ticket on their windshield.

“As we consider what to do about this parking ticket, I walk around the back and see all the glass on the ground,” drummer Matthew McDonnell said. “Turns out the ticket was the least of our problems.”

The back window was smashed, and all three of the band’s guitars had been stolen, according to lead guitarist John Gordon.

“We were about, you know, five grand in the hole,” Gordon said.

With the future of the band in jeopardy, the boys were at a loss and turned to their community for support by starting a GoFundMe page.

Family, friends and fans raised over four thousand dollars for the cause, covering the expenses of the guitars and putting the band back on its feet.

“We are extremely thankful for everyone who participated in that,” bassist Jimmy Lord said.

The list of donors was long, including old friends from home with whom the band had lost touch, Lord said. “[It] included our middle school math teacher, who we used to terrorize,” Gordon said.

Now, with the help of old friends and new instruments, the band is back to creating new music and traveling for gigs, balancing the longterm importance of exposure and pay with their fervent desire to play their own music.

“There’s these private events, which pay better, but it’s kind of that trade off between…getting paid more and playing covers or potentially, like in the case of New York, sometimes not getting paid at all, but playing our own stuff,” Aguto said.

While booking shows usually presents the band with these tough decisions, returning to their “home base” seems like it’s always a no-brainer. The band will be circling back to Charlottesville to play in The South-

ern’s annual “Mock Star’s Ball” Oct. 28., covering one of their main musical influences, Red Hot Chili Peppers, with costumes and all.

In advance of returning to their old stomping grounds, the band reflected on how much playing for the Charlottesville community still means to them.

“For every ‘Freebird’ you hear chanted, there’s also somebody who afterwards is like, ‘wow, you guys are really good,’ and actually listens…

When you find them it makes you feel a lot more appreciated,” Aguto said.

Gordon, at the ripe age of 26, half-jokingly imparted wisdom to current University students.

“Kids are hilarious, god bless them, just don’t do anything stupid, okay?” Gordon said. “Drink responsibly… They’re my kids now, you know?

We’re talking to the youth now, they’re not our peers anymore.”

Building a respectful discography, Cougar Beatrice has put out nine singles, their debut album “Colors of I” in 2021 and their latest EP “The Blind Hunter” in the beginning of this year.

Flirting with genres ranging from indie rock to heavy metal to rap and pop, their sound is a unique blend of the themes that define modern alternative music.

This sound is always in the works, and ever-evolving, according to Gordon.

“I don’t know if it’s ever gonna be like ‘Oh. It’s done — this is our sound,’” Gordon said.

While the band felt held back by the limited “weapons at [their] disposal” during their early days, as their array of instruments has diversified and their skills have advanced, so has their sound.

“Being free of that limitation I think has opened up some cool sonic doors,” Aguto said. “We can not only push the limits of what we can do live but also … in a recording setting.”

Whether it’s getting to show off their developing sound to rowdy college kids, or booking private gigs throughout the East Coast, at the end of the day Cougar Beatrice values every time they get on stage.

“As long as there’s one person [in the crowd], that means a potential person … that gets to experience all the work and all the hours of practice that we’ve put in,” Aguto said. “I love playing music. I’ll do it for anyone that will listen, you know?”

Students can look forward to seeing Cougar Beatrice perform in Charlottesville this fall, where they plan to debut their new single, “Yours or Mine?” dropping Oct. 27.

COURTESY COUGAR BEATRICE

In advance of returning to their old stomping grounds, the band reflected on how much playing for the Charlottesville community still means to them.

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Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 9

The Cavalier Daily

Perfect pitch and prestige How a culture of friendship, support and tradition has cultivated a thriving a cappella community Emma Herold | Senior Associate A cappella is a serious matter at the University. With close to 15 unique groups ranging from the No Tones, a group for people who claim they can’t sing, to the Flying V’s, a “rock-appella” group, there’s something for everyone — though the intense audition process can make joining a group competitive.

A cappella is so renowned at the University that it has been rumored to be a source of inspiration for the book behind the Pitch Perfect movie, “Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory” by Mickey Rapkin.

With so much lore, prestige and attention surrounding the art, it begs the question — why does this school care so much about a cappella? The Cavalier Daily sat down with three of the oldest a cappella groups on Grounds — The Virginia Gentlemen, The Virginia Belles and the Hullabahoos — to find out what drives the dedicated, talented and numerous a cappella singers at the University.

The Hullabahoos — recognizable in their signature colorful robes — are perhaps the biggest name in local collegiate a cappella, expanding their reach far beyond the Charlottesville community. In past years, they performed as themselves in the popular film “Pitch Perfect” and guest starred

in the television comedy series “The Office.”

Today, the Hullabahoos have fun and a strong community of support to thank for their success. Nick Chu, Hullabahoos president and third-year College student, said friendship makes all the difference.

“I think at our core, we’re a group of really close friends that also enjoy singing together,” Chu said.

Since the group’s founding in 1987, generations of Hoos have sung with the Hullabahoos. Today, the group has a strong alumni community that Chu and Joseph Ascoli, former president of the Hullabahoos and fourth-year College student, say has contributed to the group’s support and connection with one another on Grounds and beyond.

“It really is so wild to think about how this one group ties together so many people that have gone to U.Va, continue to and will in the future,” Ascoli said. “It’s definitely really special.”

Kelly Snow, class of 2012 alumna and the Hullabahoo who led “The Final Countdown” by Europe in “Pitch Perfect” and guest starred in “The Office,” says that the closeness of the group is what comes first.

“The group is what matters — it’s

the friendship, it’s the relationships, It’s the cohesion,” Snow said.

With so much history and so many accomplishments behind them, there is a certain pressure that comes with being a Hullabahoo today, but Chu and Ascoli say they use this history to inspire themselves to do better.

“We have a high standard for ourselves, which is not necessarily a pressure,” Chu said. “I would just say I want to be really proud of what we put out.”

Ascoli added that the group wants to continue to “uphold that legacy” to show students what the “Hullabahoos are all about.”

The Virginia Belles — the oldest all-female-identifying group on Grounds, founded in 1977 — have a legacy of their own to uphold, but like the Hullabahoos, the connections are what matter most. Olivia Conniff, social chair of The Virginia Belles and third-year Commerce student, said that the relationships she has made in the Belles have shaped her college experience.

“Honestly, I joined as a first year and I immediately felt like I had a group of women who cared about me,” Conniff said. “I think that’s a big part of it for me. It’s how supportive and

loving everyone in the group is of one another.”

Conniff went on to say that annual traditions like Rotunda Sing — Wahoo Welcome Week’s a cappella showcase — and December’s lights spectacular-slash-performance extravaganza Lighting of the Lawn are very special for groups on Grounds.

“After the performance, you just feel so accomplished and like you’re contributing to the University community in some way,” Conniff said.

The Virginia Gentlemen is the University’s oldest a cappella group, founded in 1953. Sam Wells, president of the Virginia Gentlemen and fourthyear Batten student, elaborated on the rich history of the VGs and what it is like being a member today.

“We’re definitely trying to build off of what our predecessors have accomplished,” Wells said. “We feel very lucky to have such a strong network of alumni to advise and support us.”

This strong network was highlighted at the group’s reunion concert last year — the VGs celebrated 70 years last April.

“Being able to stand on the stage with so many of our alumni and sing these songs, you don’t realize how many of us have had this shared ex-

perience,” Wells said. “It’s amazing to be part of something [so] much bigger than yourself.”

Wells said that long-standing traditions within the VGs, like inviting alumni on stage to sing “Lonesome Road” by James Taylor at concerts, help to connect generations of singers through a shared experience.

“It is the first song that you sing when you are accepted into the VGs and it’s the last song that you sing when you leave the VGs,” said Wells.

Lastly, each a cappella group was asked why they personally thought a cappella is so popular, supported, and celebrated at the University. Chu and Ascoli said that traditions like Lighting on the Lawn and the support of the University help the a cappella community to thrive. Wells and Conniff cited the immense pool of talent at the University as the key reason behind the success of a cappella.

A cappella thrives at the University because singers love what they do.

Chu, Ascoli, Conniff and Wells all said that there is a community of support within a cappella, traditions help connect them to singers of the past, and they have fun singing with their friends.

AVA PROEHL | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Wells said that long-standing traditions within the VGs, like singing “Lonesome Road” by James Taylor, help to connect generations of singers through a shared experience.

10 | www.cavalierdaily.com

OPINION

The Cavalier Daily

LEAD EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL: Free speech does not guarantee comfort We must consider the purpose of free speech to better understand how it thrives on Grounds Few topics spark more contentious discourse than the issue of free speech, especially on college campuses. Here in Charlottesville, the University ranks number six in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s free speech ranking, if such a thing can be ranked numerically. It’s a fairly high ranking, and a student published in the Jefferson Independent claims the ranking gives the false impression that “students of different mindsets are dancing around a campfire, holding hands and singing folk songs.” This statement underscores a failure to grasp what the purpose of free speech is — it is not about superficial harmony in the wake of conflicting viewpoints, but rather the use of reason and debate to learn, grow, build consensus and move society forward. Free speech may entitle people to platform problematic individuals, but it does not entitle these people — or the controversial speakers they invite — to a harmonious, welcoming student body.

Conservative students and organ-

izations on Grounds seem genuinely convinced they have been denied their right to an environment that is conducive to free speech. It is worth pointing out that recent events suggest that this is far from true. Who could forget when Young Americans for Freedom hosted former vice president Mike Pence. Or just last week, when multiple organizations hosted Mike Pompeo, former Central Intelligence Agency director? It is clear that conservatives have space in which to speak — and they use it, unapologetically.

It should be even more clear that the University is far from a progressive paradise — in fact, it has traditionally been a breeding ground for hatred and bigotry. Conservative ideas have certainly spent their time in the limelight at this University, but they are no longer center stage. This does not mean that people on the right are being silenced, as they have tried to claim. There is a marked difference between silencing opposing viewpoints and allowing ideas that

once held sway to be recognized for their inferiority.

In a similar vein, we must also recognize that certain types of speech simply should not be tolerated here on Grounds, even if this speech is technically permissible under the law. If folks in our community use the First Amendment as a vehicle to promote bigotry, we must exercise our own rights to ensure these abhorrent actions do not go unchallenged.

When the Jefferson Council hosts a discussion in the coming days with an anti-transgender author, for example, students can and should vehemently protest this decision.

This Editorial Board unequivocally and staunchly opposes the views expressed by this author, and we’ll use our platform to say so. We hope that many other students on Grounds will also take steps to signify their disapproval. Whether this means voicing support for our LGBTQ+ peers, arguing against the decision to platform hate or choosing not to associate with individuals who have demonstrated

a proclivity for bigoted beliefs — the decision to share our discontent is consistent with our collective commitment to the freedom of speech, and so too is the claim that anti-transgender voices should have no place at our home.

In making this point, it is valuable for us to consider why we value free speech in the first place. By avoiding the arbitrary censorship of certain thoughts or opinions, we create the free exchange of ideas that is protected under the First Amendment. A direct consequence of allowing our ideas to be exchanged freely over time is that, eventually, certain viewpoints will gain enough traction to be commonplace within a community. This is the product of free speech.

It happens that today, at least at many universities, student populations are becoming more progressive — and thus they champion progressive ideas. Many conservatives, meanwhile, complain that free speech is dying on college campuses. Herein lies the issue — yes, conservative

organizations have a constitutional right to bring problematic speakers to Grounds. But, under our right to free speech, we have the right to loudly protest their presence and vehemently criticize their perspectives — and yes, this might be “heated.” It might be tense. The right to free speech does not guarantee a space in which to speak comfortably.

As students, as a University, and as a society, we must be better at combating the false narrative that free speech is dying on college campuses.

Our collective commitment to civic discourse may require that we provide space for ideas on the fringes — it does not require that we make these problematic ideas feel heard, welcome or respected.

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.

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MANAGING BOARD Editor-in-Chief Ava MacBlane Managing Editor Lexi Baker Executive Editor Nathan Onibudo Operations Manager Ava Proehl Chief Financial Officer Charlie Healy

EDITORIAL BOARD Grace Duregger Dan Freed Ava MacBlane Nathan Onibudo Songhan Pang Naima Sawaya Shaleah Tolliver

JUNIOR BOARD

Assistant Managing Editors Claire DiLorenzo Alexandra Holmes (SA) Emma Carpet (SA) Hailey Chung (SA) Isabella Gattuso (SA) William Hutchens (SA) Karen Shin (SA) Lydia Sweeney Assistant Operations Manager Honor Wood (SA) Mary Kurbanov (SA) Alexa Mosley

News Editors Avery Donmoyer Merrill Hart (SA) Finn Trainer Life Editors Miriella Jiffar Cecy Juárez (SA) Elizabeth Parsons Sports Editors Ben Anderson Jacob Tisdale (SA) Ben Istvan (SA) Alexa Mosley Arts & Entertainment Editors Olivia Garrone Tanner Rowe (SA) Jamie Jeong Opinion Editors Grace Duregger Shaleah Tolliver (SA) Dan Freed (SA) Naima Sawaya Humor Editor Camila Cohen Suárez (SA) Wardah Kamran Cartoon Editor Kaileigh Proctor

Photo Editors Adaire Burnsed Albert Tang (SA) Tess Ginsburg (SA) Kate MacArthur (SA) Alison Pike Design Editors Lexie Gagnon Mix Rudolph Video Editor Olivia Winesett Social Media Managers Covonna Bynum Ceili Canning (SA) Halle McCormack (SA) Walker Williams Translation Editors Marina Peebles Shuqi Ye Analytics Managers Bella Binder Irene Si Finance Manager Wilson Simmons Advertising Manager Mason Lewis Archivist Grace Franklin

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 11

OPINION

PANG: Support Ix Art Park and let us all be artists Donate to the park and support its commitment to uplifting art in the Charlottesville community The pandemic stifled perhaps the most integral aspect of the arts — the ability to congregate and create something great for a community. Arts in Charlottesville have braved these setbacks, but the effects are still acutely felt. Ix Art Park, a nonprofit organization and a hallmark of the Charlottesville art scene, is pausing operations due to a funding shortage, and has recently had to remove five fulltime employees from their payroll.

The University community, in our quest to become a better neighbor to Charlottesville and more cognizant of our impact, should not take this development lightly. To preserve Charlottesville’s history and the unparalleled, individualized experience of a physical art space, the University community should give back to Ix Art Park.

Art organizations losing money is, unfortunately, not new. In fact, this has been happening across the board, especially after the pandemic. What’s more, unemployment in the arts peaked these past few years. The fine arts, performing arts and music lost an estimated cumulative 2.3 million jobs between April and July of 2020.

While it is true that larger artists are more likely to rebound, the

same cannot be said for local arts initiatives, who directly serve their surrounding community and rely on it for support.

Ix Art Park, as a free art park and a staple of the Charlottesville art community, faces this same predicament and needs community support now more than ever.

This is not the first time that it has fought against a larger economic

Last year, the park hosted 290,000 people and sold 12,000 tickets to The Looking Glass, Virginia’s first permanent immersive art space that opened during the pandemic.

The park is also host of the annual Charlottesville-Albemarle Black Business Expo, which showcases and celebrates local Black-owned businesses in Charlottesville. It is clear, then, that the larger Char-

munities — selling healthy, fresh produce and handmade decor and clothing to around 3,000 people every Sunday.

In stepping outside of the socalled University bubble, one can see that Ix Art Park has truly cultivated a community of acceptance, joy and creativity for students and residents. We have relied on this space as a bridge between ourselves

Ix Art Park reminds me that we are all artists, all equally deserving of the chance to experience art.” downturn. Before it was established as an art park, it was originally a silk mill founded by Frank Ix, Jr. The mill was Charlottesville’s largest employer for decades, until it was forced to close due to competition from the international textile market in 1999. In 2014, local developer Ludwig Kuttner and local filmmaker Brian Wimer bought the empty mill and turned it into Ix Art Park.

Since then, the park has held more than 250 events a year, ranging from outdoor music festivals to artist tributes and salsa dancing.

lottesville community values Ix Art Park as a space that uplifts members’ creative soul, no matter their prior relationship to art.

The park has also supported University students — at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are threatened in Virginia at-large, Ix Art Park continues to host Charlottesville Pride, creating a safe space for the local LGBTQ+ community, both students and Charlottesville residents. The Farmer’s Market, a student favorite, sees vendors — 47 percent of which represent Black, Indigenous and immigrant com-

and Charlottesville, as a gathering place for solidarity and a sanctuary away from the bustle and stress of being a student. Ix Art Park, as a nonprofit that relies on donations, is now relying on us for donations so they can continue to be that space — we must show up for Ix Art Park much in the same way the park has been there for us.

Outside of these very tangible events, the park’s true genius lies in the way it empowers every member of the Charlottesville community to form their own unique connections with art. For me, it was

learning about the park’s commitment to partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to facilitate a yearly summer program for marginalized youth. I was reminded of my own experiences with art as a kid — evenings with my local Boys & Girls Club making crochet bracelets, or afterschool at the stop-motion animation club, where I proudly became a mini-filmmaker with clay and construction paper.

Not unlike a University liberal arts education, art has taught me patience, collaboration and critical thinking.

Ix Art Park reminds me that we are all artists, all equally deserving of the chance to experience art. This safe space has always welcomed and allowed everyone to exist creatively. So let us champion its truth, open our hearts and support art in Charlottesville.

SONGHAN PANG is an Opinion Columnist who writes about Health, Tech and Environment for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily.com.

BRUNMAN: PILOT will bridge us as a community As Charlottesville continues to struggle with an affordable housing crisis, the University has a responsibility to respond and repay its community As the Charlottesville City Council elections approach, Council member Michael Payne and City Council candidate Natalie Oschrin have endorsed a PILOT Program for the University. The PILOT Program –– which stands for Payment in Lieu of Taxes — calls for the University to pay at least $10 million annually to the City of Charlottesville in funds that would be directed towards affordable housing and public school projects. The University’s Student Council voted 221-1 in favor of the PILOT program last February, which Payne initially proposed. With City support apparent, with student action evident and with a proposal in place — the University should act now to initiate a PILOT program.

University President Jim Ryan’s Great and Good plan pledges to be a “strong partner and a good neighbor” to our Charlottesville family, yet when it comes to addressing the pernicious consequences our presence has, the University is all too often nowhere to be found. Having made this commitment to Charlottesville, we have a responsibility as an institution to follow through.

A prime example of an issue that

the University’s presence has only exacerbated is the ongoing affordable housing crisis in Charlottesville.

Charlottesville housing prices have risen 9.3 percent in the last year alone, with even heavier harm for historically marginalized communities. The University’s impact on this problem

itself from a mere shareholder in the community to an active stakeholder in the Charlottesville environment.

Such action would not be without precedent. Harvard has been engaged in a PILOT program since 2012, and Yale will be increasing their funding for New Haven, Conn. to $23 mil-

ence. But many of those who benefit from these services — those who own the hotels or run the businesses — are not the same people who are hurt by the University’s actions here.

Arguably, the allocation of wealth from the University’s presence further exacerbates the wealth divide in Char-

The PILOT program will enable us to act in accordance with the University’s commitment to being an agent for good in the Charlottesville community.”

is obvious — their purchasing of land inflates its price and lessens the supply of land left for affordable housing.

Additionally, the University does not have to pay property taxes on this land, which would amount to roughly $15 million a year — meaning that the University reaps the benefits of this city while others pay the costs.

By voluntarily engaging in a program of giving back to Charlottesville and providing funds for initiatives that address the housing and education crises, the University can provide positive aid to redress the negative effects of its actions. In short, it can transform

lion by 2027. Nor would it be majorly impactful to the University’s overall budget — the $10 million proposed makes up less than 0.2 percent of the 2023-24 budget. But where it would mean limited sacrifice for the University, it would engender immense benefit for Charlottesville, where just $7.3 million has been allocated for affordable housing in 2023.

Critics will argue, not without evidence, that the University’s mere presence already benefits Charlottesville.

And yes, among other things, employment rises and the service industries get a boom from the University’s pres-

lottesville. Those already rich profit, but those individuals who have been historically disenfranchised by the University’s exclusionary attitudes and by the city’s unjust housing policies do not. Additionally, the fact that the University happens to have some beneficial effects on Charlottesville is not enough to satisfy its commitment to be a good neighbor to this community nor to offset our impacts on this city.

Though the University may already be engaged in some efforts toward contributing to affordable housing, these programs largely center around students here and treat Charlottesville

residents as an afterthought. But the PILOT program would change this reality. In fact, it would likely even have a positive effect on current and future University students — the funding for affordable housing would help present students as they look for off-campus housing, and the funding for public schools would improve the education of Charlottesville residents who may become future University students.

The University is often labeled a “Public Ivy,” and with good reason.

But with our success comes responsibility — a responsibility that Harvard and Yale have realized, and which it is now time that we do too. The PILOT program will enable us to act in accordance with the University’s commitment to being an agent for good in the Charlottesville community. After all, a neighbor that is great and good would never turn a blind eye to their community’s struggles.

WYLIE BRUNMAN is a Viewpoint Writer who writes about Politics. He is also a member of Student Council. He can be reached at opinion@cavalierdaily. com. .

12 | www.cavalierdaily.com

HUMOR

The Cavalier Daily

Scott Stadium to be replaced with garage, and other top news U.Va. to replace Scott Stadium with parking garage During its first home football game of the season, the University was bursting at the seams. The University Department of Parking and Transportation struggled to provide parking spaces for thousands of football fans.

“At Parking and Transportation, we are problem solvers — we work hard every day to scam our students for the greater benefit of our bank accounts,” May Q. Broke said, a parking and transportation manager.

An anonymous student who feared for their safety on Grounds said they witnessed Broke muttering to herself about “stupid students” who think they “should be able to drive to school.”

“It’s really challenging,” Broke said tearfully. “The small number of parking spaces we offer limits the number of students we can tow.”

Thankfully, Parking and Trans-

portation has found a solution — simply creating more parking spaces so they can “ticket and tow more students” on game days.

“We are excited to announce that we are tearing down Scott Stadium to build a giant parking garage,” Broke said. “This new garage will give us the space we need to profit from all of our football fans.”

A second-year student told The Cavalier Daily that they were “excited” about the parking garage and have started saving up some extra cash from the three jobs they work so they can prepare for the parking tickets.

Man bouncing leg in class causes magnitude five earthquake If you felt a rumble on Monday at 10:32 a.m., you were not alone.

“I had just downed my second Red Bull of the hour. I wasn’t in control of my leg,” Shay Keyleg, fourth-year College student said. “I remember sitting in math class, watching

my leg bounce a million times per second, but I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Keyleg’s leg shook desks and made the floor rumble so violently that several students popped out of their chairs. A stream of emergency vehicles arrived at New Cabell Hall in order to survey the situation, but were unable to enter the building due to construction blocking all of the entrances.

Officials in the U.Va. Health System recommend that students limit caffeine intake to 400 milligrams per day, except for during finals, on Monday mornings and when the moon is waxing. “[The earthquake] knocked my hydroflask over. Now it has a dent.

Thanks a lot, Shay,” a dehydrated second-year student said.

U.Va. installs cubbies for Lawn streakers This morning, University President Jim Ryan announced that the

University has installed cubbies for students who wish to streak the lawn.

“I couldn’t bear to watch their clothes get all wrinkled every night,” a UNESCO representative said.

A third-year College student said that she hopes students will take advantage of the cubbies, which will replace the steps of the Rotunda.

“Sometimes I look up at the Rotunda and see hundreds of piles of clothes thrown on the ground,” the student said. “I ask myself, ‘Is this really a good look for the University? Do we not have the decency to fold?’”

The University hopes the new cubbies will encourage students to neatly stash their clothes before running across the Lawn, as well as decreasing reports that students are stealing each others clothes during streaking.

Regulars can even request to

CARTOON College Student Math Kaileigh Proctor | Cartoon Editor

install a custom name plaque in the cubby of their choice. Name plaques come in many different colors – “Birthday Suit Blue,” “Commando Crimson,” “Exposed Emerald,” “Disrobed Dandelion,” “Out in the Open Orange,” “Naked as a Mole Rat Navy,” “Don’t Look At Me Daffodil,” “Let’s Hope We Don’t Get Arrested for Public Nudity and Have to Spend the Night in Jail Without Clothes Because I’ve Heard It’s Drafty in the Cells Lilac” and green.

“I’ve been doing this every night for over three years,” a fourth-year student who frequents the Lawn said, pointing out their personalized cubby. “The Rotunda cubbies provide more than a house for our clothes. They provide a home.”

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

The Cavalier Daily

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 13

SPORTS Hoos in the National Women’s Soccer League Virginia has consistently produced key contributors to a variety of teams across the league Caroline Connor | Sports Columnist Since the National Women’s Soccer League was founded in 2012, Virginia women’s soccer has had at least one player selected in the draft every year. The Cavaliers are one of only two programs to accomplish this feat, alongside Stanford. Coach Steve Swanson has engineered a system that consistently produces talent, enabling a seamless transition to the next level. This decade of dominance indicates that Virginia is the model collegiate program for women’s soccer players who have their eyes set on playing at the professional level in the United States. With the NWSL playoffs on the horizon, it may be time to brush up on where Virginia alumnae are situated within the league.

San Diego Wave — No. 1 Seed Currently the top team in the league, the San Diego Wave may as well be called “Cavalier FC”.

Danielle Colaprio (2011-14), Makenzy Doniak (2011-15) and Kristen McNabb (2012-16) have all been crucial players for the Wave this season. Colaprico has started every NWSL game this season for the Wave, Doniak has only missed one game of the season and McNabb started every game until picking up an injury in late June.

The former ninth overall pick in 2015, Colaprico has two appearances under her belt for the United States National Women’s Team.

Doniak has been a NWSL journeyman, playing for five NWSL teams, an Australian club and a Danish club throughout her career.

Portland Thorns — No. 2 Seed Perhaps the most well-known Virginia women’s soccer alumna is Becky Sauerbrunn (2003-07). The Portland Thorns center-back is considered one of the best at her position in women’s soccer history.

While her club career predates the NWSL, she may be better known for her 2012 Olympic gold and two World Cup wins with the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Sauerbrunn missed the 2023 Women’s World Cup with an injury, depriving the USWNT of their original captain. Despite her missed game time this season, Sauerbrunn is expected to be fit for the upcoming matches and playoffs, a boost for what was already a top contender.

Gotham FC — No. 3 Seed Similar to Sauerbrunn, Sinead

Farrelly’s (2007-10) club career began before the NWSL existed.

After hitting her stride with the Portland Thorns from 2014-15, Farrelly’s career seemed to be cut short when she retired from soccer in 2016 after sustaining major injuries in a car accident. Her influence on the NWSL persisted as Farrelly and a former teammate came forward with sexual misconduct and coercion allegations against Portland Thorns head coach Paul Riley, shocking the soccer world and creating mass change in the NWSL. Farrelly was working as a barista in California until she signed with Gotham FC at the start of this season, marking her return to soccer after 2,767 days. The move to return instantly paid off as she was called up to Ireland’s squad for the 2023 World Cup. The 33-year-old is joined by Taryn Torres (2017-21), who was selected 23rd overall in the 2021 NWSL draft out of Virginia. Unfortunately, Torres is out for the season with a knee injury.

North Carolina Courage — No. 4 Seed Haley Hopkins (2021-22) was taken 11th overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft to the North Carolina Courage. During her final season with Virginia, Hopkins led the team with 14 goals and tied for second on the team with five assists.

Hopkins has been a role player for her club. Hopkins’ first goal and assist in the league came against Gotham FC earlier this September.

Hopkins’ is joined by Brittany Ratcliffe (2012-15), who also plays as a winger for Courage, but has played in fewer games than Hopkins this season.

OL Reign — No. 6 Seed Emily Sonnett (2012-15) made her case as one of collegiate soccer’s greats during her time at Virginia and was picked number one overall in the 2016 NWSL Draft. The defensive midfielder was called up for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and has been a mainstay on the national team since 2015, winning the 2019 World Cup and the NWSL title twice. Her club career even took her to Sweden one season in 2020, a league that has hosted some of the best players in the world.

Other Cavaliers currently on the Reign include Laurel Ivory (2017-21), Phoebe McClernon (2016-19) and Veronica Latsko (2014-17). The Reign are currently

in the playoff picture by a razor thin margin and will have to defend their spot in the table as well as aptly as Sonnett can defend on the field.

Houston Dash — No. 8 Seed Houston has a former sixth overall pick and seventh overall pick out of Virginia, acquiring them through trades. Diana Ordóñez (2019-21) was drafted sixth in the 2022 NWSL Draft by the North Carolina Courage after her legendary college career. Ordóñez’s 45 goals tied for third most all-time at Virginia. Her scoring prowess immediately translated over to the NWSL as the forward broke the NWSL record for goals scored in rookie season, finishing with 11 goals in 19 games. She was traded to the Dash for the 2023 season and currently represents Mexico at the international level.

Courtney Petersen (2015-19) was drafted two years before Ordóñez at pick number seven by the Orlando Pride. She proved to be a mainstay for the Pride in her first two NWSL seasons, playing in 41 games. However, like Ordóñez, she was traded to the Dash for the 2023

season. The Dash will need a top six team to drop points in order to have a chance at playoff qualification.

Angel City FC — No. 9 Seed Megan Reid (2014-17) declined to partake in the 2018 NWSL Draft after the death of her father, instead pursuing an EMT career after graduating from the University. Gradually working her way back into the sport, she played in the top American amateur league before ending up in the Danish first-tier. Reid accepted an offer from Angel City to play in their inaugural season in the NWSL in 2022. Reid played every minute for Angel City that season and continues to be a key player for the team.

Angel City is only three points behind the last playoff spot with a game in hand.

Kansas City Current — No. 12 Seed Morgan Gautrat (2011-14) was another top pick in the NWSL Draft, just a year before Sonnett.

After receiving her first national team call-up at 20 years old, Gautrat was able to lift two World Cup

trophies for the United States with Sauerbrunn in 2015 and 2019.

The veteran is joined by rookie Alexa Spaanstra (2018-22), who was selected 10th overall by the Current in the 2023 NWSL Draft.

Spaanstra’s time at Virginia featured a spot on the ACC Championship All-Tournament three times, highlighted by her play in the 2022 NCAA quarterfinals run.

Spaanstra has been a role player her rookie season, playing in 13 out of Kansas City’s 20 NWSL games, winning a starting post for three of them. Despite sitting at the bottom of the league table, the Current could still qualify by winning out and receiving some luck in other match results As the NWSL regular season draws to a close, the playoff field is far from determined. However, former Cavaliers are sure to make their mark down the stretch, a testament to the program’s consistent impact at the pro level.

KATE MACARTHUR | THE CAVALIER DAILY

After a monster season for the Cavaliers a year ago, Haley Hopkins was taken 11th overall in the 2023 NWSL draft by the North Carolina Courage.

14 | www.cavalierdaily.com

SPORTS

Mouhameth Thiam has found a home in Klöckner The Cavaliers boast a side full of technical prowess but will live and die by senior midfielder Mo Thiam’s ability to dictate proceedings Oliver Blair | Staff Writer Senior midfielder Mouhameth Thiam was not sure how his decision to transfer across the country from Oregon State to Virginia would go. But as soon as he met the men’s soccer team, he knew he had found a home in Charlottesville.

“It has been great so far,” Thiam said in an interview with The Cavalier Daily. “The coaching staff did a great job welcoming me and making sure I was part of the community.”

Coach George Gelnovatch — returning for his 28th season as the head coach of the Virginia men’s soccer program — was happy to love the senior from Dakar, Senegal. In fact, when Thiam signed as part of a 13-man recruiting class in June, Gelnovatch mentioned how a couple of players could push them over the edge.

“We were a top-four overall seed last year and we bring back a strong contingent of that squad,” Gelnovatch said. “We certainly had a few positions that we needed to replace and reinforce.”

Given that Thiam is one of only two players from the class to play in all 10 games this season, the Oregon State transfer is likely one of those pieces that can serve as the tipping point for the Cavaliers.

Thiam arrived at Virginia after three seasons with the Beavers (5-31, 2-0-1, Pac-12), where in 48 games across three seasons he amassed an impressive 15 goals and 13 assists. He also most notably led Oregon State to a Pac-12 title and Elite Eight appearance as the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2021.

After transferring, Thiam has instantly become a crowd-favorite

and the main attraction in the Cavaliers set up by way of his electric pace, dynamism, mesmerizing footwork and slashing vertical dribbles.

These distinct skills of Thiam’s allow the Cavaliers to play a short, quick passing style — known as tiki-taka — to exploit the compact defenses of college soccer.

As far as Thiam’s usage on the pitch, Gelnovatch continues his dedication to a sweeping passing style, favoring possession and precision. This has led to a series of strong starts to the Cavaliers’ matches, dominating the ball and pinning the opposition back in their own third.

But this year, Virginia has found the majority of its offensive success from devastating counterattacks and longer balls over the defenders, initiated by its high press system forcing mistakes when out of possession. In fact, despite hogging the ball for large stretches of the match, Virginia proves most lethal off the ball.

These types of games — where possession is not translating into goals — is where the talents of Thiam will be decisive. Gelnovatch commented on Thiam’s ability to change the game after the Cavaliers’ hard-fought 1-0 victory against East Tennessee State. “[Thiam] can wiggle with the ball and break lines by himself,” Gelnovatch said. “We don’t need two or three passes to break their lines. He’s a guy by himself that can do it.”

Through his first few games with the Cavaliers, Thiam has appreciated how Gelnovatch has placed him on the field. Because of the role he

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plays in Virginia’s offense, the midfielder often has free reign to become creative with his play.

“He put a lot of trust in me and gave me the freedom to operate in free spaces between the lines,” Thiam said.

One example came in the opening match, where in the second half of Virginia’s 1-0 victory over Iona, Thiam’s darting run saw a quick pass send him through on goal. He then played an unselfish ball which was narrowly missed by senior midfielder Daniel Mangarov. Mangarov would later send a blistering effort off the inside of the post, winning the Cavaliers their opening match.

Gelnovatch then realized he had something special in Thiam. “[Thiam’s] got a little bit of X-factor to him,” Gelnovatch said.

“He’s a real, real good player for us.”

Hailing from Dakar, Senegal, it is clear that Thiam has brought with him a unique and joyful passion for the game. He attributed his up-tempo style of play to the competition in the soccer academies in Senegal, where players would push the envelope when it came to what was legal on the pitch.

“I tend to bring the aggressiveness when playing because at home people tend to be honest,” Thiam said. “Like rules and boundaries and respect to the game. And I’m looking to be careful with that.”

This aggressiveness gives him a competitive advantage over any opposing defender but has also got him into a bit of trouble as of late. In the first half of the Cavaliers’ victory over East Tennessee, Thiam received a yellow card for a brave aerial challenge and then

ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Thiam did not score against Louisville, but was able to notch an assist in an 3-0 victory.

toed the line, narrowly avoiding being shown a red card after a series of physical plays. Gelnovatch acknowledged his risky play in the post-game press conference.

“Today he got himself in a little trouble with the cards and that’s why I took him out,” Gelnovatch said, referring to his extended break on the bench. “He was this close to getting a second yellow card because he was so emotional.”

Thiam attributes this aggressiveness to his innate “will to win” imparted on him by coaches and teammates in his early career.

“Growing up I went to one of the best academies in Africa and we had great coaches up there,” Thiam said. “So, I am trying to be a winner everywhere I go.”

While Thiam starts on the flanks under Gelnovatch’s system, his role as an inverted winger allows him to drift both centrally and deep.

From here, his goal is to cause general havoc towards defenses, using his lightning feet and precise passes to find holes in the opposition that can be exploited.

In Virginia’s fixture with Maryland, Coach Gelnovatch’s high press strategy paid off for the relentless Thiam. After robbing Maryland’s center back of the ball, Thiam surged towards goal, beating the trailing defender and placing an expert finish in the side netting, giving the Terrapins goalkeeper no chance. This goal would prove the winner in a tightly contested

game in which senior goalkeeper Holden Brown athletically parried Maryland freshman forward Luke van Heukelum’s missed penalty — a moment that would prove decisive in Virginia’s victory.

Thiam has shown potential throughout the year to make a large impact on both Virginia’s chances of winning and his potential professional opportunities, which are his ultimate goal.

“I know I have to work hard and improve myself as a player because I want to make it to the next level,” Thiam said. “ And I think the coaching staff is doing a great job trying to help me have that, so I can’t wait for the next step.

It’s no secret that a 6-3-1 record is not what Virginia fans were hoping for in a season hyped with potential. But this Cavalier team was always going to take time to gel, especially when infusing talent like Thiam onto the squad. Looking forward to the rest of the season, there is a lot to be excited about for Virginia fans — Thiam will be at the heart of any and all successes without doubt.

Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 15

SPORTS

Fall sports midseason check-in New members of the sports desk weigh in with their impressions of the Cavaliers at the halfway mark The Cavalier Daily Sports Staff With fall break now in the rearview, Virginia sports fans have had the chance to spend some time with each of the Cavaliers’ fall athletic teams.

Out of the gate, there have been impressive individual and team performances — as well as some that have left something to be desired. With conference play wide open and tournament time on the horizon, the newest members of The Cavalier Daily sports desk are here to handle pressing questions at the season’s midpoint.

Which student-athlete has shown the “it” factor this season?

Ryan Weiner, Beat Writer: While it has yet to translate to a lot of team victories, graduate student wide receiver Malik Washington’s performance so far this season is nothing short of amazing. The five-foot-eight Northwestern transfer has already managed to nab 37 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns in Virginia football’s first five games. He accounts for almost half of the Cavaliers’ total receiving yards with 1,264 yards for the team as a whole and has half of their receiving touchdowns. He leads the ACC in receiving yards and does so despite the fact that Virginia is last in the conference in points per game at 21.4, and only eighth in the conference in passing yards per game at 252.8.

Washington recently took home the ACC Offensive Player of the Week after the Cavaliers’ game against NC State for his big performance, and it seems like he is only trending further

upward.

Michael Liebermann, Feature Writer: He scores. He smiles. He backflips.

He does it all again. Freshman forward Stephen Annor Gyamfi has launched a torrid streak, rocketing onto the scene for the men’s soccer team. Gyamfi has tallied six goals this season, a teamhigh, shouldering the considerable burden of senior forward Leo Afonso’s absence. In a scoreless stalemate against East Tennessee State, he crept into the penalty area as a Virginia maneuver unfolded down the flank.

Soon a cross floated across the sixyard box toward Annor’s head. From there you could close your eyes. Goal.

Enormous smile. Backflip. Gyamfi has scored five goals in Virginia’s last five games. He is tall, speedy and clinical, charging after balls with staggering speed. Against then-No. 9 James Madison, he galloped after a long ball, nodding it over the goalkeeper’s head. The keeper was frozen, just as Gyamfi has left opposing defenses all season long.

Tanmayi Patil, Beat Writer: Junior cross country runner Margot Appleton is an athlete to look out for. Appleton is coming off a stellar sophomore track season, where she won the 1500 meters at the ACC Championships in May. A fourth place finish in the mile at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships earned her first-team All-American honors. This momentum has carried over into her junior year, where she has had an excellent

start to the cross country season, placing third at the Sept. 23 Virginia Invitational against a competitive group.

Appleton was named last week’s ACC Women’s Performer of the Week, and is an incredible asset to a team that is on the rise — in the 2022 season, Virginia women’s cross country finished ninth in the NCAA after finishing tenth in the ACC the previous year.

Appleton will undoubtedly play an integral role in driving the team’s upward momentum this season, with the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships set to be held in Charlottesville this November.

What team can go on a five-game winning streak with their remaining schedule?

RW: After playing a brutal start to their schedule that included five ranked opponents in 10 games, the men’s soccer team has a far easier end-ofseason stretch that only includes one ranked opponent — No. 19 Hofstra.

Combine this easy schedule with the explosive play of the aforementioned Gyamfi, and there is a real chance that this program goes on a tear in this back stretch. However, it is not just their offense that has made the Cavaliers such an enticing candidate for a breakout. Senior keeper Holden Brown has been a stalwart in the net recently, allowing one goal or less in three of the team’s last five games. This has given the team a lot of breathing room to play freely and create the

COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS, ANYA MAJJI, ALBERT TANG | THE CAVALIER DAILY

Standout Virginia athletes Stephen Annor Gyamfi, Malik Washington and Margot Appleton and Coach Michele Madison bring excitement and talent to U.Va. fall sports.

chances necessary to pour on goals, the perfect storm for a big winning streak.

ML: Women’s soccer has not had the most potent attack lately, but a cushy schedule could set the team up in prime position for an unbeaten streak.

The Cavaliers have, in its last five games, scored two goals. Two lonely goals. A potent attack has, somewhat inexplicably, gone dormant. But the Cavaliers are ready to awaken. Those rotors are primed to spin. Virginia closes the regular season with an appetizing five-game stretch, in which only one opponent — Virginia Tech — presently possesses a winning record.

The other four — NC State, Miami, Boston College and Syracuse — are floundering. Talent stocks this Virginia roster, enough to have garnered the preseason No. 5 ranking. A five-game winning streak? Maybe. A five-game unbeaten run? Absolutely possible.

TP: Virginia field hockey has lost three of its last five games, but the talent that caused pollsters to be so high on the squad coming in is still there.

The resolute defense that conceded no goals in a 6-0 win against Temple and kept No. 10 Harvard at bay in the fourth quarter to seal a 1-0 win for the Cavaliers has, as of late, faltered. No. 5 Virginia suffered tough back-to-back losses against No. 11 Boston College and No. 12 Maryland, before falling 0-2 to No. 1 Louisville. But the early-season prowess that gave the Cavaliers a four-game winning streak is not going anywhere. Coach Michel Madison’s drive to bring the program to new heights is as visible as ever. With an incredible amount of depth, standout players sophomore midfielder Daniela Mendez-Trendler and junior defender Jans Croon, and the Cavaliers’ ability to hold their own both offensively and defensively, Virginia’s No. 2 preseason ranking, narrowly behind North Carolina, was there for a reason. Recent wins against No. 14 Syracuse and No. 26 Miami of Ohio have showcased the Cavaliers’ form. While a winning streak is difficult, there is every reason to believe that it is possible.

Which fall sports coach has had the most impressive showing so far?

RW: She might already be a hall-offamer and one of the winningest coaches in collegiate field hockey history, but that has not stopped Coach Michele Madison from continuing to impress. A staple in the Virginia field hockey program, Madison has guided the program through a lofty rebuild in the past few years. After disappointing 9-10 and 7-11 records in the

2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons, Madison captained the program to two straight ACC Championship runs, and looks well on her way to a third. The Cavaliers are currently ranked fifth in the nation after a 7-4 start that includes four ranked wins. While Virginia will need some postseason success for it to be a true improvement over the past few seasons, Madison has put all the pieces in order for the team to hit the marks.

ML: This men’s soccer season has, by the lofty standards of one Coach George Gelnovatch, been fairly pedestrian. The team chugged through its non-conference slate, covering a blemish — a loss to Loyola Marymount — with a salve, a win over then-No. 20 Maryland. The Hoos have zigzagged in ACC play, seeming a middling member of the nation’s premier conference.

But they have delivered resolute performances. Those performances have often been absent the leadership of Afonso and Brown, veterans who are battling injury. Credit Gelnovatch for gradually, steadily, firmly shepherding Virginia toward full firepower. The coach has collected every possible piece of hardware during his Virginia tenure. He has already added one massive milestone this season, becoming the second coach to ever reach 100 ACC wins and the first with a single school. Maybe it is too early to tell if his trophy collection will further expand this season, but this team feels like it is building.

TP: Track and field and cross country Coach Vin Lananna has shown an impressive ability to recruit high-impact new talent and produce stellar performances from his athletes early in the season. According to the latest USTFCCCA poll, the Cavalier men and women are both ranked in the nation’s top 10.

Both the men’s and women’s teams cruised to first place at the Sept. 2 Spider Alumni Open — against stiff competition, the men placed seventh and the women third at the Sept. 23 Virginia Invitational. Last week, Virginia produced both the ACC Women’s Performer of the Week with Appleton and the ACC Cross Country Women’s Freshman of the Week with runner Gillian Bushee. Testament to Lananna’s success is the recent news of his contract extension through the 2028 track and field season. With an impressive showing this early in the season, the Cavaliers are set for an incredible fall with Lananna at the helm.

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