The Commonwealth Times; February 3, 2021

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DINING DOWN

VOL. 62, NO. 16 FEBRUARY 3, 2021

OPEN CLOSED Au Bon Pain Avo Kitchen Chick-fil-A Chili’s Einstein Bros. Bagels Market 810 Panda Express Pizza Hut P.O.D. Market Shake Smart Starbucks Coffee

Bento Sushi Bleecker St. Jonah’s Culinary Emporium Raising Cane’s Subway Taco Bell Twisted Taco

Infographic by Raymond Liu Photo illustration by Raymond Liu

Laurel & Grace Place houses Bento Sushi, Raising Cane’s and Twisted Taco. The building is currently closed because of construction on the Laurel Street Deck. Photo by Fabian Fontanez

VCU adds variety to dining options with some locations closed

KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor

Students are navigating nutrition options with fewer locations available on campus as familiar favorites, such as Raising Cane’s and Bleecker St. Cafe, are out of service.

Freshman pre-nursing major Maya Madore said she enjoyed getting Raising Cane’s at Laurel & Grace Place last semester and was disappointed to hear that it was closed.

The building houses Raising Cane’s, Twisted Taco and Bento Sushi. VCU spokesperson Anna Obermiller said it is closed due to construction on the neighboring Laurel Street Deck.

Madore said she believes it’s possible to maintain a healthy diet on the meal plan, but that a lot of it comes down to self-discipline.

“I think it’s possible, but I go for whatever is faster and easier,” Madore said.

VCU’s registered dietician, Erin Thornton, works with students to advise healthy decisions regarding their diet and possible allergies.

Thornton said she has seen a decrease of students seeking her help, due to less frequent on-campus activity. In a typical semester, she said she has appointments with between 20 and 40 students, with more either emailing her a list of questions or approaching her in Market 810 at the Shafer Court Dining Center on campus.

Avo Kitchen, a new dining location on the university’s meal plan that replaced Cary Street Market & Deli, is Thornton’s favorite location because of the healthy choices available there, she said. It’s open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m at 355 W. Cary St. The location has different food stations, similar to Market 810. Students can swipe to enter and use an extra swipe for a meal at the Chef ’s Table station, which has a new menu every week. Other options are available to students with the initial entry swipe.

Avo Kitchen also houses the True Balance station, VCU’s first option free from the eight major allergens listed by the Food and Drug Administration — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. Thornton highly recommends this to students with allergies, since absence of cross contamination can’t be guaranteed at other locations.

“We take all steps necessary to limit the cross contamination as much as possible,” Thornton said. “It’s not a guarantee with many of our locations with just the nature of open kitchens.”

Students living in Brandt Hall, Gladding Residence Center, GRC III, Johnson Hall and Rhoads Hall are required to purchase what VCU calls “essential meal plans,” which include 200 or more swipes.

Options include: • 300 Swipes Plan + 100 Dining Dollars

• 250 Swipes Plan + 300 Dining Dollars • 250 Swipes Plan + 175 Dining Dollars • 200 Swipes Plan + 300 Dining Dollars • 200 Swipes Plan + 150 Dining Dollars

now opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is closed on the weekends.

Obermiller said the size of the on-campus population and student habits from last Students with severe food allergies can semester informed the decision to reduce the negotiate a smaller meal plan through a dining halls’ hours. committee, Thornton said. The committee “We continue to monitor the traffic at consists of Thornton, VCU Dine Business our locations and make adjustments as Manager Lauren Hay and Assistant Di- needed to locations and hours throughout rector of Student Accessibility and Educa- the semester to make sure we can best serve tional Opportunity Ricardo the VCU community safely,” Clauden-Cross. Thornton Obermiller said in an email. said students typically apAu Bon Pain at 944 W. proach her for guidance Grace St. was closed in the first, then proceed to submit fall but has reopened this a request. semester, partly due to the Thor nton said stuclosure of Laurel & Grace dents looking for healthy Place. Au Bon Pain is open snacks can find grabseven days a week and acand-go options at P.O.D. cepts swipe exchanges all Market in the University day. The location serves Student Commons. She breakfast and lunch oprecommends the boxed tions, including breakfast salads, boxed sandwichsandwiches, soup and salads. es, yogurt cups and lowThornton said students Erin Thornton. fat cheese. Thornton said can contact VCUDine for Photo courtesy of Erin Thornton s h e s u g ge s t s p i c k i n g help maintaining a healthy snacks that include both diet on university meal plans. c a r b ohyd r a t e s a n d p ro t e i n , s u c h “It’s not always the easiest, but, you as protein bars. know, we are definitely here as a resource,” Market 810, known as Shafer among Thornton said. students, has reduced hours compared to previous school years. The dining hall

Local farmer embarks on a community-led farm initiative A plot of land in Mechanicsville, Virginia, is home to Mark Davis’ community farm. Photo courtesy of Mark Davis

See BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROFILE on page 8

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: Jeff Bezos is stepping down as CEO of Amazon. international: Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine proves safe and effective in trials.

College parties increase COVID-19 concerns KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor SAGAL AHMED Contributing Writer To avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19, sophomore mass communications major Julia Pasette chose to cancel her housing contract for the spring semester.

While Pasette isn’t directly aware of any partying, she said she remembers seeing girls in “fancy outfits” walking down Main Street on the weekends while she drove around campus in the fall.

“They clearly went somewhere, but where — who knows?” Pasette said.

Twenty-four VCU students and 10 employees were reported to have COVID-19 within the first week of the spring semester, according to the VCU dashboard.

Classes began Jan. 25. VCU has 40 active student cases as of Tuesday and none among employees.

Pasette’s weekends before COVID-19 consisted of dodgeball practices and Shabbat dinners with Jewish Life at VCU. Now, she cooks, hangs out with her cats and plays Dungeons & Dragons. Pasette said she resents the people who are choosing to hang out with large groups of people.

“I hate them,” Pasette said. “They’re the people that prevent me from being able to go to religious services, they’re the people that prevent me from having classes in person, and they’re the people that prevent me from having a college experience, which I am actively mourning.”

The University of Richmond reported 54 positive COVID-19 cases in its first

week of spring classes, which began Jan. 18 with in-person instruction. The administration cited this increase in cases of partying. The university announced on Jan. 24 that students living off campus would take classes remotely for a two-week period, beginning on Jan. 25.

“It’s disappointing that we must remind some of you that unwavering adherence to our health and safety protocols is the only option,” said University of Richmond Vice President for Student Development Steve Bisese in a statement.

Bisese said the university’s administration was aware of at least two parties that took place within the first week of classes. These gatherings have the most potential to shut down campus operations due to the lack of social distancing and masks, Bisese said.

The University of Richmond reported 103 active COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday.

There have been a total of 208 cases, with 192 being from students and 16 from employees. The university has administered 5,661 COVID-19 tests this semester and currently has a 3.6% positivity rate.

Parties are considered any social gatherings on or off campus that consist of more than 10 people, according to VCU Director of Communications and Marketing Matthew Lovisa. He said many students have been following preventive measures such as washing their hands, wearing masks and social distancing.

There have been a total of 270 cases throughout the 2020-2021 school year, with 204 student cases and 66 employee cases, according to university data. VCU has

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

administered a total of 5,758 COVID-19 tests with a 0.9% positivity rate. This includes symptomatic, surveillance, entry and at-will tests.

Sophomore pre-nursing major Michelle Ugarte-Nunez said she feels as though students are being responsible in VCU public spaces, partly because of new restrictions and employee enforcement.

Ugarte-Nunez has seen social media posts of groups larger than 10 people gathering with no masks.

“It’s an interesting thought experiment to have in class, but it’s terrifying to have in real life,” Ugarte-Nunez said.

The pre-nursing major said the choices of those students remind her that people often choose themselves over the “greater good.”

Lovisa said VCU requires all students to follow the same safety measures that were in place during the fall semester.

ANNA CHEN Contributing Writer As VCU transitions into a completely virtual start for the spring semester, students and professors alike are working together for the return to classes.

“We will evaluate the feasibility of moving forward with previously scheduled in-person classes and hybrid courses by mid-February, with the hope to resume them on or before March 8,” VCU President Michael Rao said in a Jan. 12 press release.

For students who have not had in-person classes since VCU initially went online during the spring 2020 semester, not much has changed regarding the classroom structure.

Sophomore nursing major Winston Kakande said the main challenge from transitioning to Zoom learning is how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that professors assign.

“I often feel that if I don’t start ahead of time, I will always, without a doubt, fall behind,” Kakande said.

History professor Carolyn Eastman, who holds a doctorate in history, has been exclusively teaching online and said it’s no question that she prefers teaching in person, despite the many benefits of an online structure.

“You can imagine when I’m preparing my material and I have to stare at my face the entire time, it’s awful,” Eastman said.

Eastman said the hardest part of teaching now is trying to ensure all her students can benefit and succeed from this kind of teaching.

“As a teacher I believe in being in a room

Illustration by Seulgi Smith

Students, professors weigh in on virtual start to spring semester

with real people,” Eastman said. “It gives me more energy and the environment is more dynamic.”

Sophomore graphic design major Ashley Choi said that although it was nice to come back to campus for the fall semester, learning from home has helped her to stay more focused and motivated.

Choi previously had one in-person class but didn’t notice much change after transitioning online. As long as she had the necessary materials for assignments and communicated efficiently, Choi said she was able to stay on top of her deadlines.

Sophomore English and political science double major Hannah Torma said it

was hard for her to transition online from in-person classes.

“I think all things considered, my professors handled the transition really well,” Torma said. “They tried to adapt discussions into our work but I still felt that the quality of learning went down.”

Torma said it was harder to focus and learn sitting in front of a computer compared to sitting in a classroom.

“I was astonished by how different it was,” Torma said. “I know my professors are doing the best they can but actually putting your phone down, being able to look at the profesor and be engaged — it made all the difference.”

“We are grateful for their efforts to support the collective health of our community both at VCU and locally,” Lovisa said.

Anyone who gathers in groups of more than 10 people will face student conduct charges, which include interim suspension.

If a student is suspended, they are immediately removed from the university and can face exclusion from university properties and activities and, in some cases, administrative withdrawal from classes.

VCU police officers will be encouraging students to wear masks and social distance.

Any reports of VCU students or faculty members violating these regulations will be sent to the Division of Student Affairs and Human Resources.

“Those steps allowed us to have a successful fall semester, and we are looking forward to a safe and successful spring semester,” Lovisa said.

With the unique circumstances surrounding this semester, VCU’s Residential Life and Housing allowed students to cancel their housing contracts by Jan. 21.

“One of our values is student-centeredness, we believe that students should have the opportunity to make a decision on housing that best supports their success,” said Residential Life and Housing communications manager Jessica Buchanan in an email.

Currently, the housing capacity for each of the 2021 spring and fall semesters is 5,200 beds, with a little over 3,400 students currently living in on-campus housing.

Freshman English major Soeun Park felt that there were many reasons to dissolve her housing contract, but the main reason was because the instructional format changed.

“It’s a waste of money to continue my housing and meal plan,” Park said. “I also didn’t feel safe living in a building with hundreds of students.”

Despite the change in her classroom format, freshman biomedical engineering major Amanda Pearson decided to keep her contract and stay in her dorm for the purpose of functionality.

“Being in an environment where I’ve trained myself to work with a productive mindset allows for me to do better than if I were at home,” Pearson said.

Pearson said she realized that as long as she keeps herself accountable, virtual learning is not as difficult as she expected it to be.

“Everyone here on campus is in the same situation,” Pearson said. “I find that if I stick to a routine, pay attention to the lectures and keep track of my workload, it can keep me from slacking off.”

Wed. February 3, 2021 3

Vaccine shortage delays distribution, VCUHealth stops new appointments ANYA SCZERZENIE Staff Writer

doses are sitting on shelves unused, according to a New York Times article.

Over 742,000 Virginians have reA shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, a slow ceived at least one dose so far, and rollout and a prioritization of the most vul- 130,735 people have been fully vaccinatnerable groups means that the majority of ed, according to data from the Virginia Virginians — and most VCU students — Department of Health. will have to wait many more months to get Virginia has a population of more than fully vaccinated.

8.5 million people. Out of the 300,000 vacVirginia is among the states in the U.S. cine doses that the commonwealth requestthat are currently experiencing a vaccine ed per week, only 105,000 were delivered shortage. As of Jan. 21, there are enough per week as of Jan. 21. Dr. Danny Avula, vaccines in the entire country to cover only director of Richmond and Henrico Coun185 million Americans, and some of these ty’s Health Departments, told CBS 6 this caused supply problems.

Due to the shortage, VCU stopped scheduling first-dose appointments for COVID-19 vaccines after VIRGINIANS FULLY VACCINATED Jan. 30, according to VCU’s (NBC HEALTH TRACKER) website. However, students who have received a first dose already can still receive a second dose.

Junior exercise science Vaccinated Not vaccinated student Linsey Martin said she knew about the vaccine shortage in Virginia, and that the first dose she got VIRGINIA POPULATION RICHMOND POPULATION on Jan. 27 was one of the (2020 ESTIMATE) (2019 ESTIMATE) last ones the university gave.

“In fact, I was lucky to schedule mine right before VACCINATED VACCINATED they stopped taking appointVIRGINIA POPULATION RICHMOND POPULATION ments because they were running out,” Martin said.

Martin has still not reInformation compiled by Anya Sczerzenie ceived her second dose, but Infographic by Jayce Nguyen will be getting it Feb. 17.

Vaccine distribution in Virginia

1.5%

8,500,000

226,622

130,735

2,681

Gov. Ralph Northam said during a press conference on Jan. 27 that there would be a 16% increase in the number of vaccines shipped to the commonwealth.

As of Tuesday, 1,306,800 doses have been distributed to Virginia, and 901,213 of those have been administered, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official website.

In Richmond, there are 2,681 fully vaccinated people as of Tuesday, according Bon Secours nursing student Hannah Worsham receives to the VDH. her COVID-19 vaccine at St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond Samantha Robertson, on Jan. 25. Photo courtesy of Ellie Badgley. a senior nursing student and an employee of VCU nated, according to VCU Public Relations.

Health System, said she received her first Robertson said that although she can’t dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 23 and control what others do, she urges other peoher second on Jan. 21. ple to get the vaccine. She said COVID-19 “I didn’t want to risk people’s health by has affected family visits to the hospital. not doing it,” said Robertson, who hopes to “I worked the day they let visitors back start her nursing residency after graduating. in, and the morale did a complete 180,” “For me, it was a no-brainer.”

Robertson said. “Now that visitors aren’t Robertson says that she hasn’t heard allowed, it’s gone back to what it was. Some anything about a shortage of vaccines, and patients can’t even see their families.” was able to get both doses.

The commonwealth administers around “Getting the vaccine has given me peace 35,880 doses every day of both Moderna of mind, and I feel like I can see the light and Pfizer vaccines as of Tuesday, accordat the end of the tunnel,” Robertson said. ing to the VDH. The number administered VCU President Michael Rao said in a has grown steadily since the commonwealth Jan. 12 release that clinical students could gave its first dose on Dec. 14. begin receiving vaccinations and that 2,100 This number now surpasses Northam’s students were eligible for the vaccine. As of goal, stated in a Jan. 6 release, to vaccinate Monday, 1,343 students have been vacci- 25,000 people daily.

Progressive third party emerges from calls to action ZAREEN FARHAD Contributing Writer

prioritize the needs of the people and not allow profit nor politics to be put over that.”

Blanding said the difference between the Princess Blanding is the sister of Mar- Liberation Party and the Democratic Party cus-David Peters, a 24-year-old Black high is that the former calls for more progressive, school biology teacher and VCU alumnus comprehensive and immediate change on who was fatally shot by a Richmond police issues affecting marginalized Virginians, officer in 2018. such as ending qualified immunity.

After the killing of her brother, BlandQualified immunity is a legal principle ing became an outspoken grassroots activist that protects a government official from for racial justice, criminal justice reform and lawsuits alleging that the official violated a mental health accessibility. In December, plaintiff ’s rights, according to Cornell Law the career educator anSchool. It only allows suits nounced her bid for Virginin which an official violated ia governor under the newly a “clearly established” statuformed Liberation Party. tory or constitutional right.

Peters graduated from Blanding said that with VCU in 2016. Blanding control of the entire state says he was experiencing a legislature, Democrats are mental health crisis when capable of critical reforms he was shot three times at yet continually fail to deliver the Jefferson Hotel by Offimeaningful legislation. cer Michael Nyantakyi. His According to Blanddeath was ruled twice as a ing’s campaign website, the justifiable homicide.

Liberation Party’s platform “The thought process beincludes criminal and rahind the third party started cial justice, environmental to push into gear this sumjustice, education, housing, Princess Blanding. Photo mer, during the Richmond healthcare, LGBTQIA+ courtesy of Princess Blanding uprise, among community rights, labor and food members within Richmond sovereignty. and beyond,” Blanding said. “It started “The Liberation Party is a fearless party, from the disappointment and failures of we believe in raising up strong leaders who the Democratic Party.” are going to be courageous voices for the Blanding said one challenge the Liber- unheard,” Blanding said. ation Party faces is persuading frustrated, Blanding said the Liberation Party ultypically Democratic voters that there is a timately aims to achieve what the Demoviable alternative to voting for a major party. cratic Party of Virginia has not been able to “As the Liberation party, we are here to do due to party interests and political gains, say that there is a better option,” Blanding such as ending qualified immunity. In Blansaid. “There is an option that is going to ding’s critique, the two-party system offers

incremental legislation and does not allow voters to hold their legislators accountable.

Junior political science major and President of VCU Young Democrats Anthony Belotti said both parties are experiencing division on a national scale.

“There is a visible divide but I don’t think that’s necessarily abnormal, or even worrisome yet,” Belotti said.

Political science professor Jatia Wrighten said the emergence of third parties is a healthy format for democracy that increases representation.

“At the end of the day, what third parties are doing is pressuring these two major parties to take up platforms that matter to more than just them,” Wrighten said.

“That’s an important advantage and benefit to having more parties.”

Wrighten said third parties typically struggle to win elected positions. Lack of name recognition, fundraising, and political track record all push voters toward more familiar party affiliations. Even at the elected level, there is a steep challenge presented in the institutional processes of passing legislation.

The professor also said experienced legislators in the race — such as former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy and Sen. Jennifer McClellan of the Virginia General Assembly — are accustomed to having to get policy passed through both the House of Delegates and the state Senate.

“No matter how much we want things to be passed quickly as voters, there is an institutionalized process that, in its nature, makes it so that progress is incremental and a lot slower,” Wrighten said.

Blanding joins a crowded field of diverse candidates in the gubernatorial race. Two

other Black women, Foy and McClellan, are running in the Democratic primary.

“It’s exciting that there are different representations of Black women at this level,” Wrighten said.

The gubernatorial presents the potential for Virginia to elect its first female governor and for the U.S. to see its first Black female governor.

“I think one of the major takeaways should be that yes, Black women have similar interests, however, the speed at which we feel that these policies should be implemented are definitely different,” Wrighten said.

Wrighten said that although Blanding’s issue with the Democratic Party is that it is not progressive enough, the Liberation Party has not adopted a different platform altogether. Wrighten said many of the issues Blanding is running on are also issues that Foy and McClellan prioritize, and that Blanding’s presence in the race may help shape their stances on such issues.

CORRECTIONS Last week’s issue of The CT was published on Jan. 27. An incorrect date was printed on the front page.

Casey Clauberg was referred to using incorrect pronouns. Clauberg uses he/him pronouns.

Connor Stankard was referred to using incorrect pronouns. Stankard uses she/her pronouns.

Hank Ehrenfried’s last name was misspelled in a story in last week’s issue.

4 The Commonwealth Times

Wed. February 3, 2021 5

Stat of the week

Men’s soccer was picked to finish 2nd in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.

NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor

S

OPHOMORE FORWARD HASON WARD didn’t start playing organized basketball until his sophomore year of high school. He didn’t play travel basketball growing up like others at the Division I level, so he’s had to work hard to improve his skill set.

Ward’s work ethic has been on display this season, with his playing time doubling more than his first year.

“I just think he’s starting to understand how hard he has to play all the time,” head coach Mike Rhoades said of Ward. “I think sometimes, when you start having success and success in games, you realize what you’re doing … is working.”

The St. Thomas, Barbados, native put up career-best numbers this season, including five blocks against Dayton on Jan. 23 and his first career double-double against La Salle on Jan. 30.

“I can’t even explain it, it just started happening,” Ward said. “I just started playing harder. Everything just started to go better, so I continued to do it.”

Ward’s increased playing time leads to improvement

Hason Ward's season averages 2019-20

MINUTES POINTS BLOCKS

2020-21

7.1 18.3 3.0 6.4 0.6 2.3

Information compiled by Noah Fleischman Infographic By Andy Caress

Sophomore forward Hason Ward contests a layup against Dayton on Jan. 23.

Photo by Megan Lee Junior forward Vince Williams Jr. said Ward has been playing harder in practice this year than he did in his freshman year.

“What you work on at practice, it comes out in the game,” Williams said. “It’s him

getting his own mindset to come out and play hard every game — sky’s the limit.”

Ward has appeared in all 16 games this season after making his first career start against La Salle on Saturday. He ranks

second in the Atlantic 10 in blocks per game with 2.3, trailing George Mason’s AJ Wilson’s 2.6 blocks.

Assistant coach Brent Scott said Ward has improved on his overall skills as he’s gained collegiate experience.

“He knows he’s the first guy coming off the bench,” Scott said. “So, he can be ready mentally where sometimes, if you don’t know for sure, you might not be as mentally prepared.”

Scott said Ward keeps the defense together by stepping up on the next player, sliding over to make a block and guarding anyone on the floor with his athleticism.

“Even if it’s not my role to help in that situation, even if it wasn’t my help, I’d still try to get there to help,” Ward said.

Sophomore guard Bones Hyland said Ward acts like the glue on the defensive end, “keeping the team together.”

“When it falls apart, he’s right there to help us out,” Hyland said.

Standing at 6 feet, 9 inches, Ward has become a popular target for lobs around the basket. The alley-oops bring the crowd at the Stuart C. Siegel Center to its feet.

“Guys love playing with him because he can clean up their mistakes at times, but it’s also fun to throw to someone where you can throw it vertical,” Rhoades said. “Not everybody in college basketball can play vertical where he’s at.”

Ward said his goal this season was to improve creating offense on his own, instead of producing alley-oop dunks. He said he’s been working on his post moves to be able to generate his own offense.

Rhoades said Ward’s athleticism allows him to move up and down the court well.

“He doesn’t need the whole court to get to full speed,” Rhoades said. “He can get to full speed in two or three steps. He can get by guys if it’s a 50/50 ball up in the air.

He has a better chance to go up and get it than anyone.”

Ward and the rest of the Rams will face Duquesne on the road on Sunday at 4 p.m. The game will be televised on NBC Sports Network.

FROM CANADA TO THE SIEGEL CENTER: freshman guard makes immediate impact for Rams YANNI KOUIROUKIDIS Contributing Writer In basketball, trust among coaches and teammates is a key to player success. Coach Beth O’Boyle’s trust in freshman guard Sarah Te-Biasu is simple: take advantage of being open.

“If it comes to you, shoot it with confidence and be ready to defend,” O’Boyle told Te-Biasu after a women’s basketball win over Buffalo on Dec. 3.

Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Te-Biasu’s contributions are heavy, currently averaging 11.2 points per game while shooting 42% from the field.

Playing on a big stage isn’t anything new for Te-Biasu. She played on the U19 Canadian National Team in 2018 and averaged eight points and four assists during the 2018 U17 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Te-Biasu has scored more than 10 points in four straight games, with three contributing to the wins over conference opponents George Washington and George Mason.

Not only does she score on the offensive end, but Te-Biasu is a leader on the court among her skill group.

“I think Sarah plays like a veteran point guard,” redshirt-junior guard Madison Hattix-Covington said after the Dec. 3 game against Buffalo. “Coming in as a freshman, point guard is one of the hardest positions to play. Coach gives her something and she goes out there and does it, whether it’s on offense or defense.”

Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and living in a different country, Te-Biasu has still found a way to adjust to the changes.

“My motivation would be my family,” Te-Biasu said. “They are always supporting me even though I’m far away, and they are always calling me, wishing me luck before my games.”

Te-Biasu has repeatedly shown her heart and passion for the game on the floor, leaving an immediate and beneficial impact on her teammates.

“Sarah brings so much to the game,” O’Boyle said. “She has a high basketball IQ and plays with so much energy when the ball is in her hands.”

Te-Biasu said her experience playing at the college level is very different from high school.

“In university, girls are a lot stronger compared to high school,” Te-Biasu said.

“When you’re playing, you can definitely feel it.”

Against George Mason on Jan. 29, she got five rebounds on the night — her fifth game with at least five rebounds.

With the pressure of being a starting point guard as a freshman and the constant difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, TeBiasu turns to meditation to ease her stress.

“I usually meditate before and after my games,” Te-Biasu said. “I also love just talking and laughing with my teammates to not feel stressed.”

In between her pregame meditation, TeBiasu says she turns to her pregame playlist — highlighted by rappers Roddy Ricch, Lil Baby and Rod Wave — to get her in the zone.

Just a game over .500, the Rams will play four of their last nine games at home after playing nine of their first ten on the road.

“We want to keep playing our best basketball,” O’Boyle said. “Every game that we play this year, we keep getting really good learning lessons. We try to take each one and get us better for our next game.”

The Rams host Davidson on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

Freshman guard Sarah Te-Biasu stands at center court in the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Photo by Megan Lee

6 The Commonwealth Times

Throwing powerhouses dominate first events back MICHAEL LEAHY V Contributing Writer Through 10 months of uncertainty, senior thrower Makayla McGowan stayed motivated to return to competition when it was safe to do so.

“I definitely made an effort to train every day that I could, just because I wanted to stay on top,” McGowan said. “I knew in this field, any time off that we have, you could regress so much.”

After COVID-19 halted track and field competitions, junior thrower Jaekob Vollbrecht and McGowan experienced differences in how they were able to train and find access to both coaching and support in staying active.

Despite this, both athletes used their competitive mindsets to remain among the top in the Athletic 10 conference upon their return.

McGowan’s return resulted in a firstplace shot put of 13.51 meters, as well as placing third in the weight throw competition on Jan. 16 at the VMI Keydet Invitational.

The Nokesville, Virginia, native attributed her combination of competitive work ethic and drive to the support of throwing coach Ethan Tussing.

During her time off, McGowan recorded videos of her practicing throwing drills, which she sent to Tussing over social media for feedback.

“I appreciated that a lot because of course it’s helpful to get any kind of correction or critique from him,” McGowan said.

While available, the new reality of online coaching came with previously unexperienced difficulties for both the coaches and athletes. Navigating new norms of

It’s still weird for me.

I think from the time that I was five years old, I had never gone a full calendar year without competition.”

Jaekob Vollbrecht, Junior thrower

VCU women’s soccer is tapping their disappointment from finishing 10th in the Atlantic 10 as fuel for this season as they prepare to launch their spring campaign against Liberty on Sunday.

“We’re super motivated to get this redemption season back,” said senior midfielder Emma Kershner. “This is our time to show the conference and other teams that that was just a fluke, and that’s not who VCU is.”

When the A-10 postponed fall sports to the spring due to COVID-19, the team decided to make the best of it.

“It was a great time for us to really build as a team,” Kershner said. “We have 11 new faces, so we were able to get them into our methods, ideas and how we want to play.”

The new additions to the team are expected to have immediate impacts. Freshman midfielder Aisha Maughan joins the Rams after playing internationally for the U19, U17 and U16 Scottish National Teams.

“I would say Aisha is going to be super crafty and fun to watch,” Kershner said. “She is good on the ball, has good technical skills and provides a fun way to watch the game.”

Personal Bests: JAEKOB VOLLBRECHT Shot Put: 17.74m Discus: 49.98m Weight Throw: 17.88m

coaching, social distancing guidelines and a lack of access to equipment was difficult for Tussing.

“I didn’t want to be pushing people into MAKAYLA MCGOWAN an unhealthy situation,” Tussing said.

Shot Put: 15.21m McGowan, an experienced athlete, is no Discus: 49.20m stranger to adapting. A torn ligament in her Weight Throw: 17.55m wrist during the 2019 season forced her to sit out the entire year.

McGowan said her previous injury prepared her for a positive mindset during the Information compiled by Noah Fleischman time off by setting her focus on training Infographic By Andy Caress consistently, rather than pining for a return to competition.

“It helped me more mentally than anySimilarly to McGowan, Vollbrecht’s thing,” McGowan said. “At that point, I competitiveness kept him focused on was expecting to come back, and it didn’t training to prepare for whenever their happen as soon as I wanted it to.” return would come.

Vollbrecht also dominated the shot “It’s still weird for me,” Vollbrecht said. put competition with 17.15 meters, al- “I think from the time that I was five years Track and field is back in action on Saturlowing him to take a first place win at the old, I had never gone a full calendar year day at the Brant Tolsma Invitational at Keydet Invitational. without competition.”

Liberty University.

Women’s soccer seeks redemption during postponed season JOE DODSON Contributing Writer

Illustrations by Cecilia Ford

The Spotsylvania, Virginia, native said even though he was at home, his lifting routine didn’t change. Instead of lifting with his teammates, he trained with his brother.

Both McGowan and Vollbrecht highlighted the team’s chemistry and passion to support each other through their time away from the field.

“There’s a big support network here,” Vollbrecht said.

McGowan added that the team was supportive of one another, “trying to be there for each other.”

With fresh and motivated mindsets, both athletes are ready for the rest of their season.

The A-10's Nov. 16 decision to cancel the indoor conference championships, originally set for February, leaves the team set on competing in the outdoor conference.

Tussing has set this year’s goals for the outdoor conference, aiming for overall team success in medals and improvement in personal records. As McGowan said she aspires for a team victory, it’ll have to wait until the outdoor A-10 championships.

The NCAA granted track and field athletes the opportunity to return with an extra year of eligibility due to schedule changes presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

McGowan is undecided on taking advantage of the extra year.

Tussing said training on their own will make McGowan and Vollbrecht successful.

“All the stuff that people don’t see, the preparation is what gets you the result that you want,” Tussing said. “The great ones show up every single day, and that’s what makes them great in the end.”

This season, A-10 teams will play a shortened nonconference season before competing in a five-team pod. Teams within the groups will play home and away matches, and the winners will advance to the A-10 tournament held April 15-17.

The A-10 split the conference into three groups based on geographical location in order to reduce travel distance. VCU will play George Mason, George Washington, University of Richmond and Davidson.

“This is the year that we pick up the pieces that broke down from last season and really put it together and finally get the result we really want,” said senior defender Karen Lohrmann.

Coach Lindsey Martin brought VCU alumna and former player Gabby Muncy over the offseason to join her staff as volunteer assistant coach to help readdress the team’s culture.

“Sometimes we lose sight of the culture piece,” Martin said. “So I think for us, we felt like Gabby was a really impactful addition for us in that she can focus on that.”

The squad has had open discussions about what they want their team values to be moving forward.

“By us restarting our culture, we brought in new ideas and values people really believe in,” Kershner said. “It got people to buy into what we are trying to do.”

looking really, really solid at the attacking mid position.”

The team also welcomes newcomers who are no stranger to finding the back of the net. Freshman forward Annabel Anderson scored 140 goals and dished out 114 assists during her high school career.

“She plays target forward, and she’s exciting to watch in the attack,” Martin said Redshirt-junior midfielder Emma Kershner is defended by of Anderson. “She’s fun on freshman forward Annabel Anderson at practice. the dribble, and she causes Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics a lot of disruptions for the defending team.”

Kershner said the team has focused on beA big part of VCU’s attacking presence ing more committed to one another by put- last season was defender Susanna Friedrichs, ting the team’s goals before individual success. who led the team in goals with six in her se“We expect to keep our culture that nior season. Lohrmann is expected to prowe’ve created and to show professionalism,” vide versatility to the back line this season Lohrmann said. “Pretty much just like a as a wing-back, who looks for opportunities team-first mentality and just always playing to join the attack. for each other.”

VCU will play all six of their nonconMartin will have no shortage of at- ference games before starting confertacking options among returning red- ence play at the University of Richmond shirt-junior midfielder Samantha Jerabek on March 14. and Kershner. Both players had five goals “A lot of the group is returning, and we each last season. feel that we got something to prove,” MarSophomore midfielder Anna Bagley tin said. “That we’re a really challenging also returns after a productive last season team and able to accomplish a lot together.” as a substitute.

“She kinda paid her dues waiting behind VCU kicks off their season Sunday at 2 p.m. [former midfielder] Alyssa Tallent,” Martin against Liberty at Sports Backers Stadium. said. “Now, she’s ready to go and has been

Wed. February 3, 2021 7

On this day

In 1995, American astronaut Eileen Collins became the first woman to pilot a space shuttle, the Discovery.

ACTIVISTS, ARTISTS CONCERNED FOR FUTURE OF MARCUS-DAVID PETERS CIRCLE

Beth Almore, a cellist who frequently visited Marcus-David Peters Circle, holds her 8:46 sign, which represents the length of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Photo by Enza Marcy EBONIQUE LITTLE Spectrum Editor

E

VERY DAY FOR EIGHT MONTHS, members of Black Lives Matter RVA occupied a circular grassy area to celebrate the arts, host recreational events and tend to community gardens — until a fence barred their entry.

“This fence kills what that is — a healing place,” said activist Wilnitka Morrison, pointing toward the painted signs inside Marcus-David Peters Circle.

The Virginia Department of General Services installed a fence around the circle on Jan. 25 in preparation for the expected removal of the Robert E. Lee Monument.

Memorials and artwork honoring Black people killed by police officers, such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and VCU alumnus Marcus-David Peters, sit at the base of the monument, leaving community members to discuss the proper fate of those pieces.

“It united people, no matter their color,” said Morrison, who said she has continuously visited the community space since May 29.

Beth Almore, a Richmond resident and school music teacher, brought live music to the circle last summer by performing songs on her cello for eight minutes and 46 seconds. The number signifies the amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on Floyd’s neck. Floyd’s death ignited nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations against police brutality.

Almore said she created and reinstalled memorials after they were damaged from weather and debris. Now that the area is enclosed, she is concerned about

how her artwork, of which she dedicated an hour a day working on, will be maintained.

“The community has almost every reason to distrust everything the government does at this point,” Almore said. “We believe that once the memorials are moved and stored, we will never see them again. The goal is to sanitize, to disinfect this space of protests.”

On Jan. 26, Almore wrote an open letter to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — the institution Gov. Ralph Northam tasked with “reimagining Monument Avenue” — asking the museum’s director, Alex Nyerges, to leave the memorials and gardens in place, officially recognize the circle as Marcus-David Peters Circle and allow the space to remain an “open air park” that celebrates local artists.

Amy Peck, a spokesperson for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, said they are awaiting final approval from the Virginia General Assembly to undertake Monument Avenue’s redesign. The museum has not yet begun outlining their plans for the initiative, but Peck said it will be a community-driven effort.

“Inclusivity will be central to this initiative, and it must involve community leaders, stakeholders, artists, urban planners, archivists, and historians in its planning and implementation,” Peck said in an email.

Almore said she doesn’t agree with Northam’s proposed $11-million initiative. She said community activists have already transformed the space with new artwork to reflect more inclusive ideals and that this funding should be reallocated to housing projects and other impoverished communities.

“The truth is, it’s already been reimagined,” Almore said. “Why don’t we reimagine

A fence surrounds Marcus-David Peters Circle. Photo by Enza Marcy

Mosby Court? We need to reimagine how we treat the most vulnerable in this society.”

Mosby Court is one of four public housing projects located in Richmond’s East End. This area has one of the highest concentrations of poverty in Virginia, with a median household income of about $15,500, according to a 2019 report by the Mixed Income Strategic Alliance.

Kate Fowler, artist and development director for the local nonprofit art center Studio Two Three, said Almore’s letter resonated with her. She said the “profound” artwork in the circle should stay in place after the statue’s removal.

“The living items that people are putting there — it’s active. It’s not like the monument comes down and then suddenly, police violence ends,” Fowler said. “These altars have been going up because people are still being killed and because the system has not ultimately shifted.”

To encourage unity, Fowler and other artists from Studio Two Three began orchestrating free community print days last summer, where they printed messages such as “Defend Black Life” on T-shirts and other materials.

Without the ability to host community events at the circle, Fowler said she is disappointed and questions the city’s motives in erecting the fence prior to developing a plan for future use of the space.

“If for the long term they’re planning to privatize or close off or sterilize or suppress the history of this movement by taking out any grassroots artwork, then I think that’s really sad,” Fowler said. “And it’s not going to go over well.”

Prior to the fencing, an activist who goes by the name

Bee, helped cultivate the space through community gardens. He said he is upset that the city has not made an effort to acknowledge those who have tended to the space.

“Everybody knows the gardener. Everybody knows who put these signs up. Everybody knows who replaces the signs when they get washed down with acid,” Bee said.

“Everybody knows it’s a community thing.”

Artwork and community gardens in the circle have been a target for racist graffiti and vandalism in the past. Activists occupying the space reported in December that people poured acid on the graffitied base of the statue and around the grounds. In August, a handmade sign marking the space as Marcus-David Peters Circle was cut down, according to a report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Bee said he doesn’t want the city to take the art and capitalize from the work of Black people, considering many activists have been arrested for peacefully protesting at the circle.

“They’ll literally come lock you up, claim it, sell it, make a profit from it, change the fucking history and don’t include you,” Bee said.

If the city decides to take the art along with the monument, Bee said he would find another outlet to continue his community efforts.

“They don’t think we know how to scratch,” Bee said. “And that’s all we know how to start from anyway.”

8 The Commonwealth Times

BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROFILE:

Local farmer embarks on community-led farm initiative EBONIQUE LITTLE Spectrum Editor

A

f ter several rejected applications for a loan from the Department of Agriculture, local farmer Mark Davis said he was growing impatient.

Davis hoped to use a Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Loan from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency to start a farm rooted in food sovereignty, a concept that gives the consumers a say in how their food is grown.

“I could spend the next five years basically building a perfect application, or I could turn to people who want this to happen, who know that this needs to happen right now,” Davis said.

Davis launched a Kickstarter campaign in January to expand the capabilities and efficiency of his farm, RealRoots Food Systems. He said he received overwhelming support from Richmond residents and exceeded his initial goal of $25,000.

“It’s all about community, and food in particular is culture,” Davis said. “You take away people’s right to grow food, you take away their connection to the earth itself.”

After years of planting community gardens, Davis said he wanted to serve the public in a greater way. Davis began RealRoots Food Systems in May 2019 to further his mission of food sovereignty. The farm has three locations across the Richmond metropolitan area.

Guests can participate in the farm’s daily operations by volunteering, apprenticing or working in exchange for produce or compensation at the farm's primary location in Mechanicsville.

“Richmond kind of has a collective consciousness,” Davis said. “I think it’s evolving

Mark Davis, owner of RealRoots Farm Systems, tends to the callaloo, a popular Caribbean vegetable. Photo courtesy of Mark Davis to where it seems like people really are ready to change what we’re doing day to day, and how we’re engaging with our food system.”

Davis said food sovereignty goes beyond ensuring access to food in neighborhoods that lack healthy food options.

“Sometimes, food access is not enough, like access to food that’s low quality or access to food that only is there for you because other people were abused and exploited to be able to get it there,” Davis said.

Davis’ passion for RealRoots Food Systems stems from common misconceptions around agriculture. The industry poses health and environmental consequences, such as toxic waterways, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Food sovereignty principles FOCUSES ON FOOD FOR PEOPLE

The right to sufficient, healthy and culturally appropriate food is at the center of all farming policies.

VALUE FOOD PROVIDERS

Everyone who grows, harvests and processes food is valued.

LOCALIZE FOOD SYSTEMS

Food providers and consumers make joint decisions on food issues that benefit and protect all.

PUT CONTROL LOCALLY

Food providers have control over their land, seeds and water and reject the privatization of natural resources.

BUILD KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Local knowledge and skills are shared and passed down over generations for sustainable food production free from technologies that undermine health and wellbeing.

WORK WITH NATURE

Production and harvesting methods that benefit ecosystems are emphasized.

Source: The US Food Sovereignty Alliance Information compiled by Ebonique Little Infographic by Jayce Nguyen

“It’s almost like a trauma response to the fact that my community, my neighborhood, my family, my friends are experiencing a disconnection from how their food is grown,” Davis said. “Food is such an integral part of all of our lives that we kind of take for granted and have for a long time, especially in America.”

Food sovereignty has gained traction nationwide. The U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance, founded in 2010, has nearly 60 organizations representing thousands of members, according to Stephen Bartlett, a farmer within the Family Farm Defenders.

The U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance advocates for small farmers by supporting policies that favor small- and medium-scale farming, farm labor rights, urban and rural gardening, food processing, marketing and efforts to democratize farming decisions.

Bartlett said Davis’ work toward food sovereignty will have a strong impact on Richmond.

“It empowers local self-reliance and economic strength, provides livelihood, improves health through exercise and nutrition, enriches culture and reconnects people to ecology and soil,” Bartlett said in an email.

Bartlett said many beginner farmers face barriers such as limited access to land and lower crop yields because of their refrain from the use of genetic modification.

To receive startup loans from the USDA, farmers must own their land, have acceptable debt repayment history and several years of farm managerial experience.

These prerequisites affected Davis’ ability to get approved.

“So it’s a lot of the conventional blocks that keep people of color out of consideration,” Davis said.

Collective farming, or farming with others on the same land, is a way Davis is able to decrease operating costs and support other farmers by sharing resources.

Ash Carr, owner of Hazel Witch Farm, shares land with Davis and grows medicinal herbs, flowers and bio-regionally adapted seeds, such as the Choctaw sweet potato squash.

Davis provides compost while Carr’s cut flowers serve as pollinators for other crops.

The pair met after farming together at Tricycle Urban Ag, a former nonprofit in Richmond that promoted urban agriculture.

Davis adjusts the farm lights.

Photo courtesy of Mark Davis Like Davis, Carr said she cares deeply about food sovereignty and its impact on health.

“If we don’t have control of our seeds, we don’t have the capacity to actually grow food,” Carr said. “And I found that there was a lot of folks really interested in herbal wellness and wellness outside of the scope of Western doctors, and not enough access to green spaces in which to acquire those herbs.”

For Davis, the land also serves as a space to acquire “culturally relevant” produce, such as collard greens and Jamaican scotch bonnet peppers, which nod to his African American and Afro-Caribbean roots.

Davis opted to grow tropical produce to take advantage of Virginia’s hot summers, when farm staples like kale and sweet potatoes don’t grow well.

“The foods are very different,” Davis said.

“We’re not a monolith as Black people, and so I want to basically give honor to both sides of me.”

This year, the items grown on the farm are available through a subscription-based weekly food box, as well as volunteer organizations, such as MAD RVA, to provide food for those in need.

“My skill set and my spirit told me that I need to do this on a real scale,” Davis said.

Wed. February 3, 2021 9

EDITOR'S LIST OF FILMS TO WATCH “PIECES OF A WOMAN” (2020) Starring Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf and Ellen Burstyn, this heartbreaking drama portrays a woman coping from the traumatic loss of her baby during a home birth. Kata Wéber wrote the film based on personal experiences, leaving viewers with an intensely emotional story. The movie is available to stream on Netflix.

76% Rotten Tomatoes

“THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7” (2020)

Based on a true story, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” follows the 1969 trial of seven defendants who were charged with conspiring to provoke violent protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. This Aaron Sorkin film is meant to draw parallels between the public response to the social movements of the ’60s to that of today.

Viewers can stream this film on Netflix.

89% Rotten Tomatoes

“PALMER” (2021) Ellen Cockerham Riccio, a Richmond Symphony violinist, performs socially distanced concerts in the backyards of Richmonders upon request. Photo courtesy of Jeff Kelley

‘Backyard violinist’ brings live music to Richmonders

KOFI MFRAMA Contributing Writer

Live performances are hard to come by amid COVID-19, subjecting many to seek out virtual and pre-recorded performances as reminders of how things used to be. A local violinist, however, is giving people a glimpse of the past right in their own backyards.

Ellen Cockerham Riccio, also known as the “backyard violinist,” puts on solo, socially distanced performances outside of the homes of Richmond residents. She started doing the intimate performances in April as a way to bring live music to people during a time of “digital overload.”

Music has the power to say what words can’t, and live music in particular gives us the opportunity to connect with each other on a deep level.”

Ellen Cockerham Riccio, violinist “Live music is so important, now more than ever,” Riccio said. “Playing backyard concerts has afforded me the opportunity to see what music means to people, a gift I will carry with me back to the symphony stage.”

Riccio said she has given over 150 live performances that vary from wedding proposals to private concerts and educational performances.

The idea started as an in-person, interactive educational opportunity for children

whose learning opportunities are limited to Zoom calls and other virtual media.

“I noticed that so many kids were spending too much time on screen — educational or not,” Riccio said. “So I started this entire thing as educational work for kids.”

Riccio, who has played the violin since she was five years old, has taken her project to birthdays, anniversaries, date nights and family reunions.

When booking performances for events, music can be requested to best fit the occasion.

At one performance, Riccio was asked to play an excerpt from “The Barber of Seville,” an opera written by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini.

Sam Revenson, Richmond resident and VCU alumnus, said he has booked Riccio twice to play for his family.

“One for Father’s Day and a second because we wanted her violin ‘magic’ for a second time during these COVID times,” Revenson said in an email. “She explains and shares her passion. She is an elixir during these unprecedented times.”

Cassie Poindexter, another Richmond resident, booked Riccio last year to play during her proposal. She said she appreciated the additional element of romance brought to the occasion by the performance.

Riccio has been principal second violinist for the Richmond Symphony since 2009. Due to

COVID-19, musicians in the group and audience members must follow safety guidelines during performances.

“All of the musicians have to be 10 feet apart on stage. This means that we’re doing things like turning our own sheet music,” Riccio said. “Audience members are also socially distanced, and all the performances are live-streamed so that people can watch from home.”

Riccio founded the Richmond chapter of the global initiative Classical Revolution in 2012, a group comprised of 150 Richmond-based vocal and instrumental musicians. According to its mission statement, Classical Revolution RVA aims to make music more accessible by incorporating classical music to local bars, restaurants and art galleries.

“I think we are all experiencing some very strong feelings this year, both in reaction to the events in the world around us and as a result of spending more time at home,” she said.

“Music has the power to say what words can’t, and live music in particular gives us the opportunity to connect with each other on a deep level.”

Riccio poses for a portrait while holding her violin.

Photo courtesy of Didier Brival Jr.

Justin Timberlake stars as a former high school football star and ex-convict who returns home to put his life back on track.

He begins mentoring an outcast boy from an unstable home, and they form a surprising bond. Viewers can see this drama unfold on Apple TV+.

75% Rotten Tomatoes

“NIGHT STALKER: THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER” (2021)

This four-part docuseries follows a police quest to find Richard Ramirez — a Los Angeles serial killer and rapist during the ’80s — through interviews of police officers, victims and reporters. The truecrime drama captures the killer in fascinating detail and can be streamed on Netflix.

69% Rotten Tomatoes

“THE PHARMACIST” (2020)

In the aftermath of his son’s death, smalltown pharmacist Dan Schneider noticed the high dosage prescriptions for opioids, such as OxyContin, given to seemingly healthy people in 1999.

Troubled by his findings, he embarked on a journey to call out pharmaceutical companies profiting from drug addiction. This documentary can be streamed on Netflix.

89% Rotten Tomatoes

“NOMADLAND” (2020)

This indie film is based on the 2017 book “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” by Jessica Bruder.

It follows a widow who, after a recession, trades her house for an RV and travels with no destination in mind. Viewers can stream this drama on Hulu beginning on Feb. 19.

95% Rotten Tomatoes

Have suggestions for our watchlist? Email spectrum@ commonwealthtimes.org.

10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

— James Baldwin

Illustration by Marisa Stratton

Black lives should be valued far beyond February TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

I

T’S OUR FAVORITE — AND SHORTEST — month of the year. Black History Month is upon us. White people, grab your wallets; this past year needs a hefty payment for reparations.

Last year was a significant one for Black America. Our community changed the nation in unimaginable ways — that is, unimaginable to the rest of the world, but a normal occurrence for us.

The Black community has been revamping this nation since we arrived, constantly putting our own lives and safety on the line to show the country and the world that we are not the second-class citizens America has made us out to be. We are Americans, just like Jim and Sue down the street.

We fought for our freedom. And won.

Yet, every day the community asks itself, “Are we truly free?”

And every day, this nation says, “Not really.”

The undignified murders of our people this past summer was no new show.

Rayshard Brooks was not the first nor the last Black man to die while sleeping in his car. Daniel Prude was not the first nor the last Black man to die while having a mental health episode. Breonna Taylor was

The KKK is at our doorsteps

THAO HO Contributing Writer

Details in this article may be upsetting to some readers.

As students on a liberal campus in an urban environment, we may feel that the world of the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy is distant, perhaps even disconnected from our day-to-day lives during the post-Donald Trump era.

However, just a 15-minute drive outside of our campus bubble, Black community members still face an undeniable amount of racism propagated by the Trump presidency.

Residents in the Richmond metropolitan area received racist propaganda straight into their mailboxes in January, days before

not the first nor the last Black woman to die while in the comfort of her own home.

George Floyd was not the first nor the last Black man to die with a knee on his neck.

It truly infuriates me writing such things.

I see how innocent and common these people were, how they could’ve been someone I knew. They could’ve been me.

I wonder to myself, ‘How is it that these individuals, who were practicing normal activities of life, die while doing so? What did those people do to deserve this sort of punishment?’ Then, I realize these people didn’t die while doing all those miniscule acts.

They died while being Black.

Living in America today, being Black feels like a disease that takes so many lives.

Our color is out of our control. Yet, the initiative to murder us for it is so great.

We’ve lost so many beautiful souls in our community this past year. The deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant marked painful losses in their family, and our community resonated with the pain. The anniversary of their deaths in January sent a sadness that I had forgotten about.

I remember when Chadwick Boseman passed away. My 8-year-old brother called and said, “Black Panther died.” It was an honor to have seen such a wonderful soul

play a revolutionary character. Our community lost a real life superhero.

That’s what being Black is. We feel each other’s pain. When one of us is lost, we all endure the trauma and shock. Researchers call this “linked fate.”

An idea originally developed by University of Chicago’s professor Michael Dawson in 1994, linked fate is the belief that the actions of one Black person affects the realities of the entire community.

When the Black community lost such gems this year, we were reminded of all of the lives we have lost throughout this nation’s history. The distaste of the Black body is as American as apple pie.

So, let me propose a challenge to all of my non-Black readers. Start realizing that not everything is about you.

There is a key difference between empathy and sympathy. You can never live the Black experience, so I can never expect empathy from you. However, you can understand the Black experience through education and questioning, therefore providing the community your sympathy.

When Black people are offended by something, it is not up to you to decide whether or not the situation was “deep.”

If I tell you that the N-word offends me, don’t ever tell me it’s just a word. Until the

the inauguration of President Joe Biden, according to ABC 8 News. One resident from Sandston, Virginia, received a letter from the Loyal White Knights, an organization affiliated with the KKK. The atrocious letter from an unknown sender served as a chilling reminder that just because Trump has left office does not mean that the effects of his rhetoric and enabling are leaving with him.

The transcript of the letter is below: “Greetings fellow Patriot! These BLACKS cost us the election of our GREAT LEADER...we ask that on the morning of the 18th, that you place a watermelon slice or a box of KFC Chicken on the road in front of their homes so we can identify where they live.

We wanna make sure we get to the right houses. Thank you for your assistances in helping to Make America Great Again!”

Yet again, we witnessed another incident of horrendous racism, intimidation and the threat of violence from white supremacists.

This time, they used a platform created by a former president.

Ever since this past summer, during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, more people began to understand what it is like to be a Black person in America. They began to understand the reality and the extent of police brutality.

They began to understand how a Black person might feel walking down the streets. But the fear is not just from the police. It is from the people living right next door to them as well.

No one should feel afraid living in their homes. We are failing as a country if we have come to a point where a person can comfortably send out threats to an entire community on behalf of a legal and racist organization because they were enabled and tolerated by a former president.

As we enter Black History Month this year under a new administration, there is

generational trauma and oppression the word carries is hurled at you, do not dismiss my feelings.

Here at VCU, we have a bit of a problem with non-Black people consistently downplaying Black feelings. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hopped on Twitter this past semester and seen non-Black people of color putting braids into their heads and calling it appreciation. When called out by Black women, many of these appropriators defended themselves and expelled the thoughts and opinions of Black women.

Being Black is not easy. It’s not a trend. It is tiresome and exhausting. Every day, I have to work twice as hard as my counterparts to dispel stereotypes and stigmas that were placed against me before I was even born.

We are a strong community. But we fall and we hurt just as much as everyone else.

We just get back up quicker than anyone else.

2020 was no different from the past years for Black people. We protested, we elected, and we changed. The only difference is, the rest of the world has started to notice.

2021 will be no different. Black History Month might have commenced, but Black excellence does not stop once this month is over — and neither should its recognition.

Illustration by Cecilia Ford

more hope in the air for a better country, but addressing deeply rooted societal racism will require a lot more than just a new administration.

It will require students having conversations with each other, children having conversations with their parents and neighbors standing up for each other. Most of all, it will require people to listen to one another as human beings.

Wed. February 3, 2021 11

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12 The Commonwealth Times

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle

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SPORTSCAST Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

By Paul Coulter ACROSS

1 Apollo’s home SPORTSCAST 7 Cartesian concept

By Paul Coulter 11 Edwards, in Calif.

19

20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 39 42 43 44 50 54 55 56 57 58 59 62 63 70 71 72

12 Early hr.

65 Floor coverings 13 On a tight schedule 66 LAX listings 14 Louisiana’s county 67 See 60-Down counterpart 68 One of three 15 Request help from seen in Wood’s 16 Halloween charity “American Gothic” 65 Floor coverings Early hr.

What history Managed care gps.

66 LAX69listings On17 a tight schedule repeats?

“Tosca” tune 67 See7460-Down Louisiana’s county 21 Whopper topper68 One75of Make three the first bid counterpart 23 Condo, e.g.

76inAroma seen Wood’s Request help from 24 Ship’s-keel 77 OneGothic” often talked “American Halloween charity constellation down to?gps.

69 Managed care What history 31 Herring prized for 78 Brian 74 “Tosca” tune of ambient repeats? its roe music 75 Make the first bid Whopper topper 33 “Piano 79 Env. contents Condo, e.g. is not my76 Aroma forte,” e.g.

82 Salmon serving 77 One often talked Ship’s-keel 34 Reindeer in 83 to?

Fla. NBA team down constellation 84 ofItaly’s equivalent of 78 Brian ambient Herring“Frozen” prized for its 35 roe “Don’t worry about music the BBC Muslim leader 79 Env.85contents “Pianome” is not my 36 e.g.

Polite address 82 Salmon 86 Omelet servingingredients forte,” 37 __ canto forteam some diets 83 Fla. NBA Reindeer in “The Addams 38 Dinghy drivers 84 Italy’s 87 equivalent of “Frozen” Family” cousin 39 Org. the BBC “Don’t worryfunded about by 90 Algerian 85 Muslim leader quarter me” FICA 91 Look up to 40 address “If I __ to do it 86 Omelet ingredients Polite Astronomy Muse again ... ” for 92 some diets __ canto 93Addams Consumed greedily 41 “__ seen worse”87 “The Dinghy drivers 94 Squealed 45funded Apple by variety Org. Family” cousin 95 Sites for vows 46 Prefix with byte 90 Algerian FICA quarter 96upBirthplace of “If I47 __ Mediterranean to do it 91 Look to Solidarity sailing vessel 92 Astronomy again ... ” Muse 97 Muralist José Milkworse” source “__48 seen 93 Consumed greedily María __ 49 variety Authorize Apple 94 Squealed 98for Moon 50 with Passel Prefix byte 95 Sites vowsof Saturn 102 Gunk 51 City WSW of 96 Birthplace Mediterranean of 103 Reggie Miller, for sailing Bogotá vessel Solidarity entire NBA Milk 52source “Absolutely!”

97 Muralisthis José Authorize career María __ 53 Unhip type Passel 98 Moon Saturn __ 104 of Australia’s 57 Honk City58WSW 102 Gunk Rock The of America’s Cup Bogotátrophy, e.g.

103 Reggie Miller,Road for to 106 “Hard “Absolutely!” his entire NBAauthor Glory” 59 One-eighty Unhip career 107 Cool drinks 60 type With “and” Honk and 67-Down, 104 Australia’s 108 “We__ have met the The America’s Cup Rock enemy and he is occasionally trophy, e.g. and spinal 106 “Hard Road to us” toon 61 Brain One-eighty Glory” 109 author “My treat” cord: Abbr.

With 107 Cool 112drinks Antipollution org.

63“and” “__ bien!” and6467-Down, the 113have “At met Seventeen” “Today” co-host108 “We occasionally enemy singer and heJanis is __ Kotb Brain and spinal us” toon 4 cord: Abbr.

109 “My treat” “__ bien!”

112 Antipollution org.

“Today” co-host 113 “At Seventeen” Kotb singer Janis __

by Rich Lee Norris@and Joyce Nichols Lewis Contact Edited Dominique leeds3@vcu.edu

Lo s A n g e l e s Ti me s Sunda y C ro s s w o rd P u z z l e Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Sportscast by Paul Coulter

Level

Sudoku

1 3

By The Mepham Group

1

2

3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) containsSolution to Monday’s puzzle every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

4

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

1/15/19 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

2/3/21

2

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, please visit sudoku.org.uk

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

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1 7 11 14 18

14 Spitting sound 18 Early ball game ACROSS 73 score Apollo’s home 19 His given name Cartesian concept 74 was in spelled Edwards, Calif. with 75 horseshoes in the76 Spitting sound show’s intro Early ball game 80 20 Former French coin score 81 21 Ride, but not in a His given name nice way was spelled with 22 The troublesome horseshoes in the 86 show’ssoccer intro player __ 25 Fragrant root used Former French coin 88 Ride, in butperfumes not in a 89 26 way Actor Morales 90 nice 27troublesome Covent Garden The Jones 99 soccerarchitect player __ 28 Sprightly Fragrant root used 100 Chop finely in 29 perfumes 101 30 “Sure” Actor Morales 102 31 Biol. and chem. 105 Covent Garden 32 Genetic architect Jones 106 “messenger” initials Sprightly 33 Many a Degas Chop finely 107 34 The bombastic 109 “Sure” archer __ Biol. and chem.

39 The Destroyer, in Genetic 110 Hinduism “messenger” initials 111 42 Appearance Many a Degas 43bombastic 2020, por ejemplo The 114 44 The archer __ frugal lacrosse 115 goalie __ in The Destroyer, 116 50 Printer function 117 Hinduism 54 Mideast gulf port118 Appearance 55 Unassuming 2020, por ejemplo 119 The 56frugal Dashlacrosse lengths 120 goalie __ a finger at121 57 Point Printer function Abbey” 58 “Downton Mideast titlegulf port Unassuming 59 Open, as a bottle 1 Dash lengths 62 Fisherman with 2 Point a finger at 3 pots “Downton 4 63 The Abbey” daredevil title baseball pitcher __5 Open, as a e.g. bottle 6 70 Beat, Fisherman with 71 Scolds, with “out” 7 pots 8 72 Live wire’s opposite The daredevil 9 baseball pitcher __ Beat, e.g.

10 Scolds, with “out” Live wire’s opposite 11

73 First name in mystery 74 Pro 75 Vintner’s prefix 76 European auto 80 Back talk First name in 12 81 The politically mystery 13 ambitious sprinter Pro 14 __ Vintner’s prefix 86 Nintendo European auto debut of 15 2006 Back talk 16 88 “Dies __”: hymn The politically 17 89 Power source ambitious sprinter 90 The lucky football __ 21 receiver Nintendo debut__ of 23 99 Masterful 2006 24 100 Feverish, maybe “Dies __”: hymn 101 Judge Power source 31 102lucky Marienbad, The football for one 105 Sting receiver __ 33 106 Single chip, Masterful perhaps Feverish, maybe 34 107 In pieces Judge 109 Big name in Marienbad, for one 35 Sting cosmetics 110 Pig out Single chip, 36 111 The foolhardy 37 perhaps hockey player __38 In pieces 114name Astrological ram 39 Big in 115 Part of HMS cosmetics 116outCoatrack parts 40 Pig 117foolhardy Kvetch The 118 Principal, hockey player __for one41 119 Magazine Astrological ram VIPs 45 120of“Dilbert” Part HMS intern 46 121 Scornful Coatrack parts smiles 47 Kvetch DOWN 48 Principal, for one 49 1 Contrived Magazine VIPs “Dilbert” internflavoring 50 2 Biscotti Scornful 3 Gosmiles back over 51 4 Mythical trickster 52 DOWN 5 Biloxi-to-Mobile dir.

53 Contrived 6 Sawbones 57 Biscotti flavoring 7 Mischievous Go back over 8 Slow party, say 58 Mythical trickster 9 MIT Chapel 59 Biloxi-to-Mobile dir. designer Saarinen Sawbones 10 Dean’s email 60 Mischievous address ending Slow say__ 11 party, For the 61 MIT Chapel 1 2 3 Level designer Saarinen 63 Dean’s email 64 address ending For the __

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