The Commonwealth Times; February 10, 2021

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THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2019, 2020 Newspaper Pacemaker Winner

VOL. 62, NO. 17 FEBRUARY 10, 2021

VCUARTS BUILDING REOPENS AFTER COVID-19 INVESTIGATION The Fine Arts Building, recently renamed the Dr. Murry N. DePillars Building, hosts the departments of Craft and Material Studies, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture and Extended Media. The building is located at 1000 W. Broad St. Photo by Enza Marcy KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor

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HE FINE ARTS BUILDING REOPENED Wednesday after a weeklong closure due to COVI D-19 concerns.

Students who work in the building’s art studios said the closure began with a short notice evacuation of students and employees.

The location at 1000 W. Broad St. houses VCU’s departments of Craft and Material Studies, Kinetic Imaging, Painting and Printmaking, and Sculpture and Extended Media. It closed due to numerous unreported COVID-19 symptoms and positive test results, according to an email sent to students and employees on Friday.

VCUarts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham said in the email that the building would be “closed indefinitely.”

“Let me be clear,” Higginbotham said in the email, “It is imperative that students, faculty and staff report any positive cases to the university hotline.”

A follow-up announcement on Tuesday stated the building would reopen Wednesday at noon after an investigation into the unreported COVID-19 cases was closed.

“As we reopen studio spaces, it is so important to our arts community that students, faculty and staff continue to follow COVID safety protocols enacted by the university,” Higginbotham said. “I am grateful to those who have adhered to them and those who continue to do so.”

Senior craft and material studies major Madeline Maier said she was in her casting and stone setting class with professor Susie Ganch when she was called to the front of the room and told she had 15 minutes to collect her things and evacuate the building.

“I was kind of in shock,” Maier said. “I didn’t know what was happening.”

Maier said she didn’t believe the arts department’s narrative of student neglect in reporting COVID-19 cases.

“Anyone that I know who has tested positive has done everything in their power to report it to the school,” Maier said.

Maier said the university should provide more safety precautions, such as temperature checks at building entrances. She said hand sanitizer stations are often empty at the Fine Arts Building.

Maier said she was tested for COVID-19 through a third party with her roommates.

She said VCU was unable to immediately schedule a test for her.

Senior craft and material studies major Tyler Hurwitz said she was also in class on Feb. 3 and was told to evacuate the building within 15 minutes. Hurwitz said she felt “attacked” by the email from Higginbotham.

“We don’t want to lose access to the building under any circumstances,” Hurwitz said. “That’s why we pay tuition.”

Officers from VCU’s Police Department walked around the building at 9 p.m. on Friday night to enforce the closure, according to VCUarts spokesperson Teresa Engle.

“We remind everyone entering the FAB to follow VCU’s public health measures,

including required face coverings and physical distancing,” Engle said in an email.

All students, faculty and staff are required to complete the university’s daily health checks, which screen for symptoms of COVID-19. Completed checks are required before entering some VCU buildings, per VCU’s new Entry Pass system.

Students, faculty and staff must report symptoms or possible exposures to the COVID-19 hotline at 804-628-7425.

Officials on the hotline will decide if individuals need to quarantine, isolate or get tested for COVID-19.

The university suggests students with possible symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and call University Student Health Services at 804-828-8828 to discuss testing.

VCU announced in January that the Fine Arts Building will be renamed to pay tribute to Murry N. DePillars, Ph.D., a former dean of the arts school.

Community fridge project provides free food for Richmond residents CLAIRE DARCY Contributing Writer

The first community fridge, designed by artist Ayana Love, is located at 2025 Venable St. Photo by Enza Marcy

at that, and if we can do that, I think that would be amazing,” said Taylor Scott, the project’s founder.

A vibrant pink fridge on the sidewalk of Scott, a 2019 VCU alumna, started Venable Street reads “free food” in painted the RVA Community Fridges project letters. Inside the brightly colored appliance in October. She posted information are mountains of grocery essentials, such as about the project on Instagram and fresh produce and loaves of bread.

Facebook to garner the public’s interest Richmond’s free community fridge made in contributing. its debut on Jan. 30 at Pomona, a plant and Scott said the project has become a coffee shop located in Union Hill. The large community effort run by a team of fridge is open to the public at all hours, of- volunteer organizers.W fering goods and accepting donations. It is “I’ve received so much support in makthe first of many free fridges that its orga- ing this dream a reality,” Scott said. nizers plan to set up around the city.

“I definitely want to make sure people have access to free food, free healthy food See COMMUNITY FRIDGE on page 8

2 The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

national: Former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial began on Tuesday. international: The United Arab Emirates launched the Hope spacecraft toward Mars on Tuesday.

COVID-19 variants and number of cases

WA 5

2

OR

MN

4

WY 5

NV 5

CA

IL

PA NJ 11 12 MD

IN 8

17

13

145

29

IA CO

3

42

MI

1

3

UT

NY

WI

16

VA

KY

4

2

AZ 3

AK

TN

NM

2

2

TX

LA

12

5

AL 6

1

GA

1

NC

MA CT

7

17 3

12

3

5

SC

2

23

1

U.K. ⊲ B.1.17

FL 187

SOUTH AFRICAN ⊲ B.1.351 Information compiled by Christina Amano Dolan Infographic by Gabrielle Wood

BRAZILIAN ⊲ P.1

New COVID-19 strains seep into Virginia as cases decline CHRISTINA AMANO DOLAN Contributing Writer

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WO NEW RAPIDLY SPREADING STRAINS of COVID-19 have been detected in Virginia. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are beginning to drop since cases peaked in Virginia on Jan. 8, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

The VDH announced another confirmed case of the new U.K. variant in a release on Feb. 3. Virginia has identified a total of four cases of the variant in its northern and northwest regions, according to the report.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced in a briefing on Friday that another variant from South Africa has been detected for the first time in Virginia.

“In Israel, for example, the new variants account for more than 80% of the cases in a country that is about the same size of Virginia,” Northam said. “These variants make it even more urgent to get as many people vaccinated as we can, as quickly and as equitably as possible.”

The U.K. variant, B.1.1.7, was first detected in the U.K. in December, spreading to more than 75 countries as of Monday, according to PANGO lineages. A total of 932 cases of the U.K. variant have been reported in the U.S., though it is predicted that a larger number of cases are circulating, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Other variants were detected in the U.S. in late January. Nine cases have been reported with the South African variant B.1.351, and

shares similar mutations with the U.K. variant.

Another variant first detected in Brazil called P.1 has been reported three times in the U.S. Although new developments of these variants are quickly emerging, scientists have yet to determine how widely they have spread, if they cause milder or more severe disease, and how they may respond to existing treatments.

The CDC and public health departments have speculated that the U.K. and South African variants spread more easily and rapidly than other circulating variants through direct person-to-person contact. Multiple public health departments are conducting studies to determine if they may cause a higher risk of death.

The Virginia Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services continues to track these variants in the commonwealth through laboratory analysis of virus specimens.

The effects of the new variants on currently authorized vaccines also remain unknown.

Though CDC studies have suggested that the antibodies created by these vaccines will protect people against these variants, further analysis is needed.

Bon Secours Memorial College nursing student Maggie Rombach remains skeptical about the effectiveness of the vaccine. She said she believes the COVID-19 pandemic is far from being over.

“There is no research stating whether or not these new vaccinations can protect you from all strains of the coronavirus,” Rombach said.

“We just have not had enough time to under-

stand how it can affect people in the long run or if it can protect people from other variants of the disease.”

Rombach said she is scared for the new variants emerging and their rapid spreading.

From working her clinicals at multiple local emergency rooms, specifically in COVID-19 units, she has seen that the current number of cases is already overwhelming for healthcare workers.

“Just yesterday, I was working in the ER, and every bed was filled with COVID patients,” Rombach said. “Not only do hospitals not have enough room but they have been trying to treat people in waiting rooms, which poses other issues as well.”

Despite a spike in cases following the holidays, a VDH report indicates that total cases in Virginia have recently experienced a sharp decline. The department reported 2,811 probable and confirmed cases on Feb. 2, down from the department’s Jan. 8 count of 5,208 cases.

Some VCU students worry that cases will worsen despite their recent decline, as there remains a lot of uncertainty surrounding the variants.

“They definitely make me nervous because they’re so unknown and I don’t know if the vaccine protects against it, or if it will affect people who have already had COVID and have antibodies,” said Shayna Wolin, a junior majoring in criminal justice and sociology.

Wolin said she will continue to follow social distancing guidelines and hopes to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Senior pre-nursing major Elizabeth Gilmer said she fears cases will worsen as the virus continues to mutate. Although she is worried about the variants reaching campus, she feels safe in a virtual learning environment.

“I do feel safe as a VCU student,” Gilmer said. “When I start nursing school, I will be more concerned, but there’s really nothing VCU can do that they aren’t already doing right now.”

Tammie Smith, a VDH spokesperson, said in an email that Virginians should continue to practice current safety protocols as new variants emerge.

Current protocols include wearing a face mask, hand-washing, remaining six feet away from others, avoiding large gatherings, staying home if infected by or exposed to the virus, and getting vaccinated when the opportunity arises.

CORRECTIONS An article in last week’s issue of The CT incorrectly indicated that Marcus-David Peters was killed at The Jefferson Hotel. Peters was shot and killed on Interstate-95.

An article in the Jan. 27 issue misspelled Reggie Gordon’s last name.

Local org funds $5 million grant for research of COVID-19 treatment SAGAL AHMED Contributing Writer

Criteria for recipients includes:

• Must be a company founded and A Richmond nonprofit organization is headquartered in Virginia accepting applications for a $5 million • Actively conducting U.S. Food and grant to go toward deDrug Administraveloping a treatment for tion-approved clinical life-threatening symptoms trial of a COVID-19 of COVID-19. treatment Virginia Catalyst, also • Working with invesknown as Virginia Biotigators from at least sciences Health Research one Virginia research Corporation, began acuniversities cepting applications for • Must issue the Virthe grant on Jan. 28. The ginia Catalyst a sensible deadline is Friday, and resum of value on terms cipients will be announced accepted by Virginia March 26.

Catalyst’s Board of Applicants will tell Directors Virginia Catalyst how • Able to match funds they would spend the and other money, the nonprofit’s required funding Mike Grisham. Photo courtesy of president and CEO Mike Mike Grisham Grisham said.

Virginia Catalyst is a non“They’re going to lay out what profit organization funded by the General they’re going to achieve, for the mon- Assembly and seven research universities: ey, what their milestones would be,” VCU, University of Virginia, Virginia Grisham said.

Polytechnic Institute and State University, VCU pharmaceutics professor Ju- George Mason University, The College of lian Zhu said the team who receives William and Mary, Old Dominion Univerthe grant should contact the Food and sity and Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Drug Administration to ensure they Applications are scored by a team of have data to support their tests for the volunteers, scientists, CEOs of life science therapeutic drug. companies and venture capitalists, who The process for making a drug is will allocate the money for the grant. The quite long, averaging about seven to 10 team includes Ali Andalibi, an associate years, Zhu said. But due to the pressure dean of research at George Mason Uniof COVID-19, the process could take a versity, Scott Meza, a shareholder and atshorter amount of time. torney-at-law at Greenberg Traurig, and “As long as the new drug has demon- Rony Thomas, the CEO and president of strated clinical benefits, without much LifeNet Health. toxicity, then the FDA or other countries’ There have been more than 534,000 FDA can approve,” Zhu said. “So, I see COVID-19 cases and 6,898 deaths in that maybe the amount for a drug approval Virginia, according to the Virginia Departis a very fast process.” ment of Health website. There have been Virginia Catalyst’s plan manage- a total of 13,563 cases and 143 deaths in ment and oversight panel will review Richmond as of Tuesday. and rank applications before making a Virginia Catalyst will give the grant in recommendation as to who should re- stages, and funding can cease if the drug ceive the fund. Criteria for applicants becomes unsafe or ineffective. and more information is available at the VCU spokesperson Mike Porter said organization’s website. he was aware of VCU’s participation in the effort.

“Under the effort detailed in the news release, a company would team up with a university research partner and submit an application to be considered for a grant,” Porter said in an email.

The Virginia General Assembly selected Virginia Catalyst to run a competitive program to allocate the $5 million, Grisham said.

Grisham said he is happy to be a part of the program as it aligns with the goals of his company. He said the grant will improve the health of Virginians and people around the world.

“Our fundamental mission is to help improve human health and create jobs at the same time,” Grisham said.

Zhu shared Grisham’s positive sentiment.

“It is very hopeful that this drug development can have the resources to proceed,” Zhu said.

“People are very hopeful that these drugs can slow down the pandemic.”

Illustration by Noelle Hepworth

Wed. February 10, 2021 3

Advocates frustrated by Democratic leadership on police reform JOSEPHINE WALKER Capital News Service

against local government and local and state police. VSPN said city leaders and law enforcement violated the group’s right to free speech, Virginia has made headlines in recent months assembly and protest. Last June, VSPN stufor criminal justice reform measures but ad- dents hosted an overnight teach-in outside vocates say more needs to be done. They are Richmond City Hall. After several hours, the disappointed lawmakers in both chambers of Richmond Police Department declared the the General Assembly recently killed proposals event an unlawful assembly and discharged to reduce qualified immunity protections for tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters. police officers.

“That night is still on State lawmakers so far replay in my head,” Harris this session have advanced said during the House subbills to legalize marijuana, committee meeting. “Words remove mandatory minican’t explain the trauma that mum sentences and abolish we experienced.” the death penalty. During Blanding said it’s difficult the special session called last for victims of police brutaliyear, the General Assembly ty to get lawyers to take on a banned police from using qualified immunity case due no-knock search warrants to the power of police unions and chokeholds. and the relationship of proseQ ualified immunit y cutors to officers. shields government officials Blanding also said if the from civil liability while number of positive interacperforming duties in their tions the public has with ofJeffrey Bourne. Photo courtesy of Capital News Service ficers outweighs the instances line of work as long as their actions don’t violate “clearly of police misconduct, the few established statutory or consuits alleging misconduct stitutional rights of which should not have an issue proa reasonable person would ceeding to court. It is importhave known,” according to ant to recognize that police a Congressional Research misconduct causes irrefutable Service report. damage and changes families House Bill 2045, introlives’ forever, Blanding said. duced by Del. Jeff Bourne, “What we have to underD-Richmond, would have stand is that, when you take given citizens the power to somebody’s life, you can’t pursue damages in state civil take out the magic eraser, lawsuits where their rights and erase it and try it again,” were violated by a law enBlanding said. “You cannot forcement officer. The bill also press restart.” placed a cap on an individuHarris said the ability to Princess Blanding. Photo sue law enforcement agents al officer’s liability. Bourne’s courtesy of Capital News Service proposal was tabled 6-2 in the for misconduct was the “bare House Courts of Justice subcommittee. minimum” of a judicial system that works Senate Bill 1440, sponsored by Sen. Scott for everyone.

Surovell, D-Fairfax, was a narrower proposal “It doesn’t mean that they’re going to all be that provided a path for lawsuits when an of- convicted,” she said. “It does mean that folks ficer used excessive or deadly force and neck are able to see their day in court.” restraints. The bill died in the Senate Judiciary Police officers do not qualify for qualified Committee in a 9-5 vote. immunity if they can not demonstrate the Qualified immunity is a federal doctrine actions that they took were reasonable, said established by the Supreme Court in 1982. A Wayne Huggins, the executive director of the state legislature can’t repeal qualified immuni- Virginia State Police Association. He said ofty, but proponents of ending the practice have ficers must prove they upheld the U.S. Constiasked local and state governments to create tution, the laws of the commonwealth and the legislation allowing citizens more freedom in policies of their individual department. pursuing lawsuits against police misconduct.

“The word that needs to be focused upon During a subcommittee hearing, Bourne and understood is qualified,” Huggins said. questioned opponents of his bill who he said “We have to qualify for that immunity.” consider themselves to be proponents of conOfficers can be denied qualified immunity stitutional rights and law and order. if the Supreme Court or local federal appeals “It seems when we’re talking about this, and court finds another officer’s conduct under the when we’re talking about people getting hurt same circumstances illegal or unconstitutional, and their constitutional rights deprived by law according to the Institute for Justice. The officer enforcement officers,” Bourne said. “The story automatically qualifies for immunity if a case becomes different.” with the same circumstances does not exist.

Princess Blanding is a gubernatorial canMartin, Harris and Blanding said they didate who has advocated for criminal jus- hope to see legislation reducing qualified imtice reform since the death of her brother, munity protections introduced again. This is Marcus-David Peters. Peters was naked and the second time that Bourne’s qualified imunarmed when he was shot by a police offi- munity measure failed. cer on the side of a highway. Peters charged Harris said the “Democratic trifecta” means at the police officer who deployed his Taser very little to her if Democrats don’t use their and then shot Peters at least twice. Peters was majority to pass progressive legislation that experiencing a mental health crisis, according voters support. All 100 of Virginia’s House of to his family.

Delegate seats are up for reelection in 2021.

Blanding said eliminating qualified immu- Harris said legislators unwilling to pass comnity is a necessary step to end discrimination prehensive police reform will face progressive and achieve racial justice in the commonwealth. challengers this June.

“It’s like no matter what we do to prep “If they’re not passing meaningful legislaour kids, our loved ones, it is still going to be tion, then we have to really push what it means our fate because of the pigmentation of our to be blue, and start to think further outside of skin, coupled with the fact that there is no ac- the box,” Harris said. countability,” Blanding said. “To me, that’s the harsh reality.”

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Kalia Harris, co-host of the show Race Commonwealth University’s Robertson School Capitol and co-executive director of the Vir- of Media and Culture. Students in the program ginia Student Power Network, or VSPN, provide state government coverage for a variety said she was “extremely disappointed” when of media outlets in Virginia. a judge dismissed her organization’s lawsuit

4 The Commonwealth Times

Stat of the week

Sophomore guard Bones Hyland was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after scoring 23 points against Rhode Island on Feb. 3.

Junior libero Alyna Draper serves the ball in the Stuart C. Siegel Center in a Feb. 5 game against St. Louis. Photo by Megan Lee

Draper and Knight reconnect with VCU volleyball

Freshman middle blocker Jasmine Knight hits the ball over the net in the Stuart C. Siegel Center. Photo by Megan Lee

that I’ve been with for so long that’s not on Louis on Feb. 5. Draper had 17 digs at the the volleyball court but outside.”

Saint Louis match.

Draper and Knight are both regulars in Knight and Draper are natural leaders the VCU rotation and are seeing a lot of on and off the volleyball floor, Roger said, success early on in the season, as the Rams describing them as “self-motivators” and are 5-1 through their first six matches. “high achievers.”

BEN MALAKOFF “I love getting kids from the same kind of Knight’s first game of the season on Jan. “Jasmine’s that type of kid where she Contributing Writer cloth,” Rogers said. “It was easy to recruit.” 22 was highlighted by 12 kills, the most by walks into a room and people gravitate After the VCU coaching staff contacted a VCU freshman since 2012. That record towards her,” Rogers said. “Just like they HEN VOLLEYBALL COACH JODY Knight, the thought of playing with an old stood until fellow freshman middle blocker did with Alyna.”

Rogers walked into a practice last teammate along with getting to know her bet- Lauren King logged 14 kills against Saint year, she went over to now junior ter helped influence her decision to commit. libero Alyna Draper and told her she was Being two grades apart kept the playheaded to a high school tournament to ers from maintaining a close relationship. watch a player named Jasmine Knight.

Playing together in college has helped Draper was caught by surprise that them develop a relationship outside of p Knight, an old high school teammate, was ractices and games. being looked at by VCU’s coaching staff.

“We’ve hung out a lot,” Draper said. “It’s Draper gave high praise when speaking just fun to get to know that side of someone about Knight to Rogers, telling her that she was “very good.”

RAM STAT “We used to play in high school and she jumps really high,” Draper said. “So, I was really excited for her [Rogers] to go see her.”

Jasmine Knight’s first During Draper’s four years at Xavigame of the season on er College Prep in Phoenix, the Gators Jan. 22 was highlightwent to three state championships, including winning one during her senior ed by 12 kills, the most year in 2017. by a VCU freshman At that same time, Knight was watching since 2012. and developing her game while still making an impact on the varsity team as a freshman.

Knight had 107 kills, 75 total blocks and 17 digs in 81 sets played during 2017.

Sophomore guard Jimmy “Tre” Clark III attempts a layup against N.C. A&T on Dec. 9.

The freshman middle blocker is now at Photo by Megan Lee VCU and is off to a fast start with 21 kills in 13 sets played through the first six matches. a “university suspension,” coach Mike Knight said her sophomore year of high Rhoades said. school is one of her favorite memories. She Clark scored four points in his final played with team captain Draper to lift the game as a Ram against La Salle on Jan. Gators to a state championship title.

30 throughout his 15 minutes of play.

“It was a fun journey,” Knight said. “EsThe Covington, Georgia, native pecially for me, my first year on varsity, I NOAH FLEISCHMAN played in 16 games this season with the was playing with a lot of older people.

Sports Editor black and gold, averaging 5.9 points. He When I was a sophomore, there were a lot also logged 29 assists and 29 steals comof older people who had strong leadership Sophomore guard Jimmy “Tre” Clark ing off the bench. like [Draper].”

III is slated to enter the NCAA transClark played in 17 games during Rogers said Knight was recognized not fer portal after men’s basketball an- his freshman campaign, averaging 2.1 just for her athleticism, but also because of nounced he was no longer a part of the points. He recorded 14 assists during the her personality. team on Friday.

2019-20 season.

“It’s not always that we are recruiting just VCU Athletics released a two-sentence His departure leaves the Rams withthe talent,” Rogers said. “There’s a personstatement announcing Clark’s departure. out a third point guard option, behind ality piece. She’s a self-motivator just like “Tre Clark is no longer a member of sophomore Bones Hyland and freshman Alyna is. … It was just an easy get to be the men’s basketball program at VCU,” Ace Baldwin. honest with you. She had all the tools that the department wrote. “We are not alIn Clark’s absence at Rhode Iswe need to succeed at VCU.” lowed to comment further on this matter.” land, Hyland played a career-high 38 After recruiting Draper from the same Freshman middle blocker Jasmine Knight Clark didn’t play in the road matchup minutes, and Baldwin logged a seasonprogram just two years earlier, Rogers knew rises in the air in the Stuart C. Siegel Center. against Rhode Island on Feb. 3 due to high 32 minutes. exactly what she would be getting in Knight. Photo by Megan Lee

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Clark departs men’s basketball program

Wed. February 10, 2021 5

Golf aims for fifth A-10 title JOE DODSON Contributing writer The VCU golf team is counting on experience as they set out to defend their 2019 Atlantic 10 tournament championship title this spring, despite coming out of a longer-than-expected offseason.

“Our college experience is all about playing, competing and being on the road,” senior Kristian Tannum Donaldson said. “The whole coronavirus situation definitely put a damper on that, but everyone is buzzing for the season.”

The team was on their way to the Mission Inn Spring Spectacular tournament in Florida last March when they learned that their season was canceled due to COVID-19. The team was coming off a sixth-place finish at the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate tournament in South Carolina.

“We’re heading to Florida with some positive thoughts and swings,” junior Clifford Foster said. “And then COVID hit.”

Due to the Atlantic 10’s July 17 announcement, postponing fall sports to the spring, the team trained during what would have been competition time. Tannum Donaldson said the fall offseason was a good time for the team to get closer as a group.

“I definitely think that it’s brought the team closer,” Tannum Donaldson said.

“Everyone is looking out for each other and each other’s health.”

Foster said the team had no problem maintaining their competitive spirit during the offseason. The players spend time in practice competing against each other in intrasquad matches.

“Everyone on the team just loves golf,” Foster said. “They love being out on the course and competing.”

Coach Matt Ball said having the fall off gave the team a unique opportunity to focus on fitness. The VCU alumnus, who has spent 22 seasons coaching the Rams, said

he was impressed with the professionalism his team showed in the offseason.

“My guys are rock stars, they did a fantastic job,” Ball said. “They realize that things happen in life that you have no control over and we are always talking about worrying about things you can control.”

VCU returns five golfers, including Tannum Donaldson, a two-time all-conference selection that notched a career best 71.79 scoring average over 19 rounds last season.

The team lost one of its top talents as last season’s scoring leader and 2019 all-conference selection Ian Peng transferred to the University of South Florida.

Foster returns after having surgery in August to fix a torn labrum injury from last January. He is now cleared to play and said he has been practicing.

Senior Sachin Kumar putts the ball on the green. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics Ball has two new additions to the team, including Radford transfer Peter Gasperini. The senior was the Highlanders’ scoring leader over the past two seasons. Gasperinini had a 72 scoring average this past season over 18 rounds and notched four top-10 finishes.

Kristian Tannum Donaldson, “He is a very good golfer and knows the VCU golf athlete game very well,” Foster said about Gasperini. “He has a great outlook on golf and “It was perfect timing with COVID,” works super hard. He is one of the hardest Foster said. “I got really lucky with that.” working golfers I’ve ever seen.”

The returners have combined over 300 The team also welcomed freshman Joe rounds of collegiate golf experience. Junior Retford from Wiltshire, England. Retford Adrian Vagberg recorded a 72.37 scoring won the West of England U18 championaverage over 19 rounds last season, which ship in 2019. was the sixth-best scoring average over a “Joe comes with a good pedigree from season in program history over in England,” Ball said. “Great golf “It’s quite an experienced team now ev- swing, and he’s played a lot of really eryone knows how to handle the situation,” high-level golf over there.”

Tannum Donaldson said. “We’ve all won Ball brought on professional golfer Kevthe A-10 together and gone to the NCAA in O’Connell as an assistant coach. O’Conregionals, so we have experiences of what nell has collegiate experience from his times it’s like to succeed at the highest level.” as a golfer for the University of North

It’s quite an experienced team now everyone knows how to handle the situation.”

Carolina. He participated in the 2019 Masters and the U.S. Open Championship of the same year.

“We were excited for him to come. He is gonna be an awesome part of our team,” Foster said. “He knows the game of golf at every level.”

The team will participate in seven tournaments before playing in the conference tournament, slated for April 30 through May 2 at the Reunion Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. There will be several familiar courses, including the Golden Horseshoe Intercollegiate tournament in Williamsburg, Virginia, where VCU finished fourth out of 16 teams in 2019.

“It’s been a while,” Foster said. “But we are super excited to be back.”

VCU will travel to Georgia to play in the Invitational at the Savannah Harbor from Feb. 20-21.

Women’s soccer freshman forwards to make a splash NILE MCNAIR Contributing Writer

selection. Perry ranked No. 82 on IMG Academy’s national top 200 list and Freshman forward Annascored 97 goals during her bel Anderson was able to high school career. get a feel for the traditional Perry said she feels like collegiate soccer experithe unpredictability of ence when she arrived on COVID-19 and its imcampus during the spring pact on the team’s daily semester last year. Then, the schedule has limited her COVID-19 pandemic haltdevelopment. ed everything.

“COVID is holding me “I got a month with no back personally from really COVID and played in a being the best me possible, half of the Georgetown especially since it started Annabel Anderson.

Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics game,” Anderson said. “It over a year ago,” Perry said. sucks that I got a taste of “It’s like I wasn’t allowed to what it’s like without COVID but it defi- develop during that year.” nitely changed how things would be.”

The Waldorf, Maryland, native is recovDespite a one-day snow delay, women’s ering from a stress fracture injury in her soccer kicked off its season hosting Liberty dominant left foot. Perry said the injury on Tuesday and winning 2-0. will keep her out for six weeks.

“I’m just excited because we’ve been work“My main focus is working hard on geting so hard and we haven’t played a game ting back where I used to be,” Perry said. “I in so long,” Anderson said before the game. know that’s going to be a long journey filled “We’re really pumped to play against Liberty.” with disappointment, embarrassment and The team has two freshman forwards stress but it’s a process I’m ready to take on.” this season with standout careers at the For Anderson and Perry, their paths to high school level.

Richmond weren’t like the traditional reAnderson was a three-time MVP at cruiting process. They both committed to Fairfield Area High School in Fairfield, different colleges before picking VCU. Pennsylvania, and scored 140 goals during Anderson decommitted from the Army her four years. during her senior year of high school, feelAnderson was joined by Kale’a Per- ing that the military would take away from ry, a two-time Washington Post All-Met her aspirations to play professionally.

While trying to be reand I just need to be conficruited by universities after dent that I can go as far as I decommitting, Anderson allow myself to.” impressed VCU head coach Not only are the coachLindsey Martin at one of es invested in these two her games and committed freshmen, but so are their to play with the Rams. teammates. Perry and An“VCU just felt like where derson have been able I wanted to be,” Anderson to bond with teammates said. “And I liked the city during practice, team culbecause I’m not from the ture zoom calls and in team city at all.” accountability groups.

Perry originally com“There’s a time to be mitted to the University of selfish but more times to Maryland, but the rigors of be selfless and bring my Kale’a Perry.

Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics the recruiting process led to team with me and play for her reopening her recruitmy team cause that’s who ment during her junior year of high school. will always have my back at the end of “VCU came to me and was really inter- the day,” Perry said. ested in me, so I took my official visit and After just a few scrimmage games, Perry kind of fell in love with the school,” Per- raved about the hard work Anderson puts ry said. “I kind of felt like this place was in to be so skilled. home, so the process the second time was a “I think Annabel is an amazing player, lot less stressful.” probably one of the best forwards I’ve ever Although Anderson and Perry were played with and her talent goes beyond standout players in high school, they still measure,” Perry said. have room to grow from a mental aspect.

Anderson feels the two play well togethMartin said Anderson could be more de- er and are hard to defend against. tailed orientated and that, “I need to work “We’re really good at playing off of each on the little things because it will really help other cause she’s left footed, I’m right footme open the game.” ed so it just works,” Anderson said. “We’re For Perry, the coaches want her develop- both pretty fast, so when it’s just us up there ment to center around “believing in herself.” we have a good connection.”

“The main thing is that I need to be confident,” Perry said. “I came in with talent

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Wed. February 10, 2021 7

On this day

In 1940, “Tom and Jerry,” an MGM cartoon created

by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, made its debut in theaters as a short film.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROFILE:

Local doula highlights racial inequities in maternal care EBONIQUE LITTLE Spectrum Editor

For some, their first brush with racism occurs before they are born.

After talking with new moms about their birthing experiences, Nikiya Ellis learned that Black women face greater disparities in maternal care than white women due to racial biases, ultimately impacting the well-being of both mother and baby.

In 2017, Ellis became trained as a birth doula — or a companion who provides emotional support to a woman during pregnancy and childbirth — to provide better outcomes for pregnant women of color.

“We’re not being heard,” Ellis said.

“We’re not being valued.”

Ellis founded her company, The Diverse Doula, a year later. It seeks to “honor the birthing person’s cultural beliefs, preferences, rituals and practices during pregnancy and childbirth,” according to its website.

By celebrating the diversity of her clients, Ellis said she is able to provide a more comfortable and equitable experience than normal health care providers create for Black women and other women of color.

“In a hospital situation, where the anxiety is high and the birthing person’s body is saying, ‘This is not a safe place,’ the baby isn’t going to come out, which causes labor to be longer, which causes an emergency C-section,” Ellis said.

A cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgical procedure where an incision is made in the mother’s abdomen in situations where vaginal delivery would pose significant risk to the mother or baby. With this operation, women have a higher chance of infection, blood loss and death, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

Ellis said it is important for Black women to have a midwife or doula who looks like them on their journey to motherhood, as it can alleviate stress.

“It’s going to be easier to talk to her. It’s going to be easier for her to understand the stresses that we have and the environment around us because of racism,” Ellis said.

“Representation matters.”

Toccara Wilson, a former client of Ellis, echoed those sentiments and said sharing a similar background with Ellis was important.

“I really did want another person of color that also experiences life the way I’ve experienced life and seen a lot of things that I’ve seen,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she would’ve had an anxious birthing experience if not for Ellis.

“Me being a minority Black woman — it’s just the statistics and the rates and the deaths and the different stories I was hearing was horrifying,” Wilson said.

Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth than their white counterparts, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families. This demographic is more likely to experience a host of other complications during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure and fibroids, which are benign uterine tumors that cause heavy bleeding postdelivery.

Discrimination in the health care industry affects the quality of medical care and slows the practitioner’s responsiveness to the patient’s needs, the partnership stated.

Nikiya Ellis, a birth doula, poses for a portrait in front of the Stockton Community Garden in the Manchester district in Richmond, where she helps provide healthy food for new mothers. Photo by Enza Marcy “With all the microaggressions and things in the world, it really helps to have someone who understands and doesn’t question whatever it is that you’re showing emotion or just facts of things happening,” Wilson said.

Ellis said being able to provide this sort of compassion during life-altering moments is why she continues her work in the field.

“I want to support the moms,” Ellis said.

“And that’s what took me on the line to being a doula is just because I’ve always had really good relationships with other women, supporting them through tough times.”

Ellis said there is no official entity in charge of doula training. Most programs consist of some form of childbirth education, though the learning process can range from a few days to a few weeks.

Despite this variance, Ellis said she has a natural ability to connect with her clients.

“I’m in tune with the mother,” Ellis said.

“I really feel like I have a gift of intuition.

I kind of know what they need before they need it.”

Ellis builds a relationship with her clients over the course of their pregnancies through countless phone calls and meetings.

During the client’s labor, dancing, holding hands or being quiet fosters a strong connection, she said.

After the birth, Ellis said she participates in the mother and family’s cultural traditions, such as the burial of the placenta. In Jamaica, this practice involves burying the mother’s placenta and umbilical cord. Family and friends then plant a tree sapling at the burial spot.

Ellis’ support for Black women continues through educational summits, panel discussions and Birth in Color RVA, a collective of doulas she co-founded with Kenda Sutton-EL in 2019. At the end of the year, the group will be composed of about 100 doulas of color and include a chapter in Lynchburg.

By expanding their group and training new doulas, Sutton-EL said they hope pregnant women will feel empowered to communicate their needs.

“As a Black woman, I’m looked at as a ‘strong Black woman,’” Sutton-EL said. “And that’s not true. Like, my pain is justifiable, and I want you to listen to me, not overtalk me.”

Ellis and Sutton-EL also lead efforts to provide mothers with healthy food options and breastfeeding educational resources.

“Breastfeeding in the Black community is sometimes unheard of, or looked down upon,” Sutton-EL said. “If you look at the data, Black women don’t breastfeed as much simply because ancestrally and culturally, Black women were forced to breastfeed their slave master’s children.”

Sutton-EL said Birth in Color RVA has provided racial bias training to over 20 health care organizations. Through this initiative, they work to debunk stereotypes and medical malpractices to ensure Black women feel safe when they seek medical help.

“We go throughout Virginia making sure that Black women are educated on their rights, that providers are educated on their biases and trying to overcome them,” Sutton-EL said.

8 The Commonwealth Times

COMMUNITY FRIDGE

Nikki Daniels, a Richmond resident, visits the community fridge once a week to bring fresh food for her family. The project, founded by VCU alumna Taylor Scott, aims to provide free food for the public. Photo by Enza Marcy

Community fridge project provides free food for Richmond residents

Continued from front page

A group of 45 volunteer organizers work to monitor the fridge daily to ensure it is kept clean and well stocked. Items for the fridge are provided by the volunteer team, public donations and community collaborators, such as Ruby Scoops and Virginia Free Farm.

The group posts donation guidelines and requests on the fridge and its social media pages. Encouraged contributions include fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy products, bread and bottled water. The group discourages raw meats, open containers, alcohol and items with sugar, like soda.

“Part of this is to promote green, healthy eating in the community,” said Kristina Wilborn, a member of the volunteer team.

The project offers pantry items, including canned goods, hygiene products such as toothpaste and menstrual products, face masks and first aid kits. These items are kept in clear plastic bins next to the fridge.

“We don’t want to just supply food,” Wilborn said. “We want to supply essential items that you may need on a daily basis as well.”

Wilborn provided the fridge located at Pomona. She was inspired to help after witnessing a man steal meat from a store.

She said this made her realize the difficulties faced by the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What really inspired me to be on top of it and donate my fridge was seeing that older gentleman take food because he needed it,” Wilborn said. “People out here are in need. We may not see it on the news every day or you may not even walk down

your neighborhood and see it, but you never know.”

Food insecurity, or the lack of access to affordable and nutritious food, is a significant issue in Richmond, especially in the East End, where grocery stores are few and far between. Richmond had a food insecurity rate of 15.8% in 2018, according to Feeding America, a nonprofit that aims to provide food to people in need.

“It’s a real important challenge to overcome to get food to the 24% of people in Richmond City who live below the poverty line,” said Joseph Cates, an assistant professor in VCU’s department of focused inquiry.

“In the United States, we don’t experience food insecurity because there’s any lack of food — it’s a distribution problem.”

Cates teaches Food for Thought, an online asynchronous course about food justice and insecurity in the Richmond area that will run during VCU’s five-week February “minimester.”

The expense of dining out when grocery stores are unavailable compounds the issue of food insecurity, Cates said. Cooking at home with ingredients, such as those provided by the free community fridges, provides a more affordable alternative.

“You want to make sure that you have enough affordable local options that are healthy and meet the cultural needs of the people that they’re meant to serve,” Cates said.

In addition to providing food, the fridges will serve as an artistic space for the community.

Each fridge will be painted by a different artist to showcase multiple local talents. The first was painted by Richmond artist Ayana

Love and depicts a fictional plant species “We want to protect those in our comcalled “The Give.” munity and provide,” Wilborn said. “We “It’s supposed to be this little plant that want to provide something for the comsprouts up in places of generosity,” Love said. munity that doesn’t cost money, that there Love said painting the fridges gives aren’t any big rules.” them a level of visual appeal and makes them seem more exciting and inviting.

The first community fridge is located at “In charity work, I think we get so caught 2025 Venable St. up in providing the need that we forget that people in need also want a little beauty and a little joy,” Love said. “It’s just something extra to put a smile on somebody’s face instead of walking up to a dingy, old, dirty, white fridge.”

Love also designed a flyer for the group’s social media pages with a similar image of the plant. She got connected with the project

by Deena Ramadan, her colleague and a member of the fridge’s volunteer team.

According to Wilborn, the volunteers hope to build a shed and start community pantries in addition to the fridges they will be placing around Richmond.

The second fridge will be located on Hull Street, outside of The Bearded Kitchen. This location is part of Richmond’s Southside, in contrast to the first fridge being positioned in the East End. Wilborn said the group aims to cater to all The first refrigerator of the RVA Community Fridge project areas of the city. was installed in Union Hill on Jan. 30. Photo by Enza Marcy

Wed. February 10, 2021 9

EDITOR'S LIST OF FILMS TO WATCH “SOUL” (2020)

Featuring the voices of Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey and Angela Bassett, this Pixar-animated film follows an unfulfilled school music teacher on his obsessive quest to land a professional career in music. After a near-death experience, he realizes the life he took for granted. The film, which teaches life lessons about finding purpose, presents Pixar’s first Black protagonist and the fourth American animated feature with Black leads.

Available on Disney+ 95% Rotten Tomatoes

“THE BANKER” (2020)

This film, which stars Anthony Mackie, Jessie Usher and Samuel L. Jackson, tells the story of two of the first African American bankers in the United States.

The film details the lengths the men had to go through, like hiring a white man to be the face of their business ventures, in order to gain success.

Available on Apple TV+ 78% Rotten Tomatoes

“ATLANTICS” (2019)

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Five ways to achieve mindfulness from VCU and University of Richmond experts ANNIE PHAN Contributing Writer It can be hard to view 2021 as a fresh start after a year like 2020. As COVID-19 spreads and politics flood every screen, conversation and newspaper cover, it’s important to prioritize your mental health.

Two local professors are seeking to impart mindfulness and leadership skills to students in the new year. VCU management and entrepreneurship professor Chris Reina and University of Richmond political science professor Monti Datta held a virtual event, “A Mindful Approach to 2021,” on Feb. 2.

“What better time to do it than now as we enter 2021 with all the challenges we’ve seen in the past year, as well as the current challenges we are in now?”

Reina said.

Here are some tips from both professors: Practice informal and formal mindfulness

your attention. It may not be as structured as meditation, but being attentive in your daily interactions will help you navigate your conversations and actions with those at work, school and home.

Be an attentive leader Be conscious in how your physical and verbal mannerisms convey a message, positive or negative. Compassion stems from acknowledging others’ ideas and feelings while simultaneously working on your own emotional awareness.

“Leaders need to be aware that everything they do, everything they say, everything they don’t do and everything they don’t say sends a message,” Reina said. “The best leaders make me feel valued, important, cared for. It’s not just a leadership thing. It’s a human thing.”

Separate fact and emotion during difficult discussions

Datta, who holds a doctorate in political Set aside time for sensory-focused med- science, said that intense emotions such as itation. Sitting upward in a chair or lay- sadness or anger are expected to emerge ing down helps you focus on your senses during heavy discussions over topics such such as touch and sound. as politics or the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Use your breath as an object of Datta said metacognition, or conscious awareness,” Datta said. “Allow your stray awareness of how one’s thoughts form, plays thoughts to run and return gently.” a role in differentiating emotions from facts.

Designating a period of meditation, “When we have a thought that is filled even if it is only for a few minutes, will with anger or stress, metacognition alhelp remind you that you do not have lows us to step back and say, ‘I can feel control over the external, but over your that emotion and recognize that doesn’t internal breathing. define me,’” Datta said. “It’s important Informal mindfulness is about how to listen with your body and not just talk you pay attention and the quality of with your head.”

Approaching difficult conversations requires an open mind. Taking away judgement will allow clearer understanding to new perspectives and current events.

“I’ve come to understand that nonjudgement is really just acknowledging and being able to step back to see what goes through our mind,” Reina said.

Pay attention to your physical body “If we can listen to our bodies at the physiological level, it can inform why we think what we think,” Datta said. “It can influence the nature of our thoughts.”

The body can tense up, and the heart rate can increase during high-stress situations. Neglecting the physical symptoms of stress may lead to long-term health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Repetition Similar to any physical lifestyle modification, effective change comes from incorporating healthy habits into our daily routines.

“Practice, practice, practice,” said attendee Roger Mancastroppa, an adjunct in the academic skills development department at the University of Richmond.

“The more we practice both in formal and informal situations, the easier it becomes to really notice what is happening and what might happen as we engage with the outside world.”

This romantic drama is intertwined with elements of the supernatural. The French film, which has English subtitles, centers on a woman named Ada and her lover Souleiman who is lost at sea.

“Atlantics” takes a turn after the spirits of Souleiman and other shipmates begin to visit Ada. French filmmaker Mati Diop made history as the first Black woman to direct a film featured in a competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019.

Available on Netflix 96% Rotten Tomatoes

“LITTLE WOODS” (2018)

Starring Tessa Thompson, this Western drama follows two estranged sisters who are pushed to the limits after the passing of their mother, leaving them with one week to repay her mortgage.

Available on Hulu 95% Rotten Tomatoes

“I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO” (2016)

Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, this documentary is based on James Baldwin’s unfinished book. Baldwin, a renowned African American novelist, includes stories from Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to paint a detailed narrative of racism in America.

Available on Netflix 99% Rotten Tomatoes

“DA 5 BLOODS” (2020)

In this war drama, four African American veterans return to their old battleground in Vietnam in hopes of finding the remains of their deceased squad leader and misplaced gold fortune.

Available on Netflix 92% Rotten Tomatoes

“WIDOWS” (2018)

Starring Viola Davis, “Widows” captures a police shootout that kills four thieves during an armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows are united by their husbands’ criminal activities, and eventually develop a criminal mindset of their own.

Available on Hulu 91% Rotten Tomatoes

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

10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

— William A. Ward

Tea Time with Tagwa

BLACK HISTORY SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO SLAVERY TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

We learn about one or two slaves who managed to fight against the power that saw them as nothing more than mere property; Tea timers, happy Black History Month. as three-fifths of a person. Yet, history laThis month, we highlight and celebrate beled them as rebels, as rioters — as people the extensive success of the Black who were violent against their captures. community through the nation and worldwide, spanning for centuries.

However, our desire to learn and educate ourselves should not stop in March. We owe it to the Black When will this country community to teach ourselves what was never taught to us. realize that the people Looking back to my early educawho shaped it the tion years, I find myself struggling to most — the people who grasp a time where I was learning Black history that was positive. I remember shaped it through all of learning about slavery; it’s almost like their adversity — were I can still feel the stares of my white Black?” classmates burning a hole through the back of my head.

Tagwa Shammet, I remember my teachers discussOpinions Editor ing the reality of white folks selling and owning Black people throughout my education. Yet, we never truly Nat Turner’s rebellion is often presented get to the brutality of the times. We as a bloodbath that could have been avoidlearn about slavery for a week or so ed. Avoided through what, exactly? Conthrough a delightful song and then it’s versation? It’s naive to assume that Turner on to the next white man who helped would’ve been granted freedom simply by shape this nation. asking, like a good little slave. If converWhen will this country realize that sation was enough to free slaves, slavery the people who shaped it the most — would never have existed. the people who shaped it through all of Don’t get me wrong, teaching students their adversity — were Black? about slavery is vital. But in an effort to

ensure such a disgusting injustice does not happen again, we cannot sugarcoat such topics. I’m not saying we need to show whipping videos to fourth graders, however, as students grow through the education system, their understanding of how gravely slavery infringed on the rights of human beings must also grow.

Slavery is not our exclusive history. The Black community has done endless, upstanding work to help better this nation, help better this world. Still, our education system spends more time teaching its students about how in 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, instead of the magic of the Children’s Crusade in 1963.

Fu r t h e r m o re, the civil rights movement was not the only time the Black community rose up against the tyranny that is white supremacy. We’ve seen the Black Power movement, the Pan-Africanism movement and even more presently, the Black Lives Matter movement.

Black leaders are limited to a small group of change.

History teaches us that Martin Luther King Jr. was a good Black person; he is what we should all aspire to be. Then they slander Malcolm X as the bad Black person who chose violence.

What they don’t tell us is that Malcolm X simply advocated for self-defense against a community — a government — that uses and abuses his people. We teach children to stand up for themselves; to never allow anyone to bully them. Yet when Malcolm X preached a similar message, we tell students it is not okay.

Well, it’s time to stop limiting students on Black history. I was so fatigued of taking American and European history growing up. I wanted to learn about the formation of the Black Panthers. I wanted to learn about the Pan-African movement. I wanted to learn about the Harlem Renaissance.

I wanted to see all of the tragic beauties of being Black in America.

Blac k histor y does not stop at slavery. Black history does not stop at the civil rights movement.

Black history does not stop in February. And that’s the tea.

Illustration by Karly Andersen

Raising the minimum wage is long overdue ISHAAN NANDWANI Contributing Writer As a college student, I spend a lot of money every week. In addition to tuition expenses, I’m spending on food, rent and utilities, textbooks, the occasional Starbucks splurge and more. I’m grateful to attend VCU on an academic scholarship and have parental support because otherwise, such a lifestyle would not be sustainable.

Unfortunately, that reality is not possible for many college students, especially those who have to pay for college and living expenses while working minimum wage jobs. Additionally, there are countless single parents and struggling families who solely rely on hourly wages that are simply insufficient to live off of.

The federal minimum wage, which sits at $7.25, has not been raised since July 2009 — more than a decade ago. Although many states and localities have amended this minimum, it has taken Virginia far too long.

The Virginia General Assembly approved a measure last year to increase the commonwealth’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.50 an hour beginning May 1, to $11 on Jan. 1, 2022, and to $12 on Jan. 1, 2023.

While the raise is appreciated, it feels like a major amount of damage has already been done.

According to the bill, our minimum wage won’t reach $15 until 2025. Of course, I understand it seems impossible to jump to nearly doubling the minimum wage. However, the pure neglect of human well-being

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

is clear. Why it has taken so long to finally pay people a living wage is beyond me.

It must be noted that this raise does not apply to the federal minimum wage. Although Virginians may finally receive the bare minimum they deserve, many Americans will continue to struggle.

Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 has been an integral part of left-wing ideologists’ campaigns through the past decade. Politicians like Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders strive for economic justice for the most vulnerable Americans.

President Joe Biden’s administration introduced legislation just this past week to raise the federal minimum wage to $15.

Unfortunately, the bill did not pass in the Senate, with a 54-46 vote in support of the act, six votes under the required 60 to pass the legislation.

This is simply unacceptable. According to journalist Ari Berman, 67% of Americans support an increase in the minimum

wage, but a group of Republican Senators that represent just 21% of the population have the ability to deny such an increase.

Now more than ever, times are truly perilous for millions of Americans who’ve seen their livelihoods turned upside down by the pandemic. Although the government has begun to offer stimulus checks and established social support programs during this time, the long-term negative effects of not being paid an hourly living wage are undeniable.

A study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health found that raising the minimum wage is correlated with a decrease in suicide rates. From 1999 to 2015, a $2 increase in the minimum wage of each state may have prevented 57,000 suicides, according to the study. These trends were especially apparent during periods of high unemployment, such as now.

The study argues that lower-wage workers deal with a poorer lifestyle due to their

financial shortcomings. These same shortcomings cause negative effects on their well-being, unfortunately causing a correlation between the amount of minimum wage and suicide rates.

On the flip side, those who oppose an increase in the federal minimum wage cite the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary reason to hold off on such a measure.

“A $15 federal minimum wage would be devastating for our hardest-hit small businesses at a time when they can least afford it,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

It’s true that many small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many have had to lay off employees to keep their stores alive. But instead of using these businesses as a justification for preventing an increase in the minimum wage, the government should do more to support them and their workers through said increase.

As college students, we’ve all worked a minimum wage job some time in our lives.

Sometimes we find ourselves frustrated with the low pay we receive in these jobs.

We are unable to purchase those new shoes we wanted or grab a bite with friends. However, there are some who make just as much you do, struggling to feed their families.

There is little evidence that increasing the minimum wage would stunt economic growth; rather, by allowing workers to lead dignified lives, this will stimulate the economy. Ultimately, this issue comes down to protecting hard working Americans who have been abused by the system for too long.

The answer is clear.

Wed. February 10, 2021 11

THE CT STAFF

Time Isn’t Real by Sarah Brady

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andrew Ringle ringlea@commonwealthtimes.org MANAGING EDITOR Iman Mekonen mekonenib@commonwealthtimes.org COPY EDITOR Rachel Rivenbark rivenbarkrs@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Katharine DeRosa news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Noah Fleischman sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Ebonique Little spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Tagwa Shammet opinions@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Enza Marcy photography@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Sarah Elson elsonsp@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Lauren Johnson illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org

Mystery Mask by Carleigh Ross

STAFF WRITERS Anya Sczerzenie, News

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Andy Caress designers@vcustudentmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jayce Nguyen Ni Sang Raymond Liu Gabrielle Wood designers@vcustudentmedia.com AD SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kofi Roberts advertising@vcustudentmedia.com AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE John Rudolph rudolphjd@vcu.edu WEB MANAGER Chranjitpandian Murugapandi web@vcustudentmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tibebe Gebiso distribution@vcustudentmedia.com TEMPORARY EDITORIAL ADVISER Mark Robinson robinsonmw@vcu.edu CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Dominique Lee leeds3@vcu.edu (804) 827-1642

Confusion Illusion by Audrey Garrett

OFFICE MANAGER Owen Martin martinso@vcu.edu

ABOUT THE CT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning independent student newspaper at VCU, since 1969.

The CT staff maintains all editorial and operations discretion. There is absolutely no prior review by the public, university or VCU Student Media Center administration or staff. The Executive Editor writes and manages the Operations Budget.

ADD YOUR VOICE The opinions pages of the CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Tagwa Shammet, by mail or in-person at 817 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23220. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Commonwealth Times.

Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The CT staff.

The Commonwealth Times strives for accuracy in gathering news. If you think we have made an error, please email the appropriate section editor.

Corrections will appear on the news pages and/or online. One CT per person. Additional copies can be purchased at the Student Media Center for $1 each.

12 The Commonwealth Times

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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Contact Dominique Lee @ leeds3@vcu.edu

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