The Commonwealth Times; August 25, 2021

WELCOME WEEK

Students gather for Convocation

Mask mandate returns, some students skeptical

EMMA CARLSON Contributing Writer

Students across campus are feeling the full effects of a reinstated mask mandate with the fall semester beginning.

Psychology graduate student Patricia Basta expressed disappointment with the return of the mask mandate.

“It’s a little frustrating because you started getting used to having to not wear masks, and now they’re bringing it back, but I’m just happy to be in the classroom again,” Basta said.

VCU announced on Aug. 9 that, effective immediately, indoor masking would be reinstated throughout the university and continued in all health systems facilities for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

VCU’s updated mask guidelines come from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and evolving COVID-19 data, which shows cases in Virginia on the rise. Cases in August have averaged almost 2,000 per day, compared to 100 in early June.

August 2020 had a seven-day moving average of around 1,000 cases per day, with rates peaking in January at around 6,100 per day, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Basta has three in-person classes this semester with one online. She said she is excited to get to experience grad school in person compared to online last year.

KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor

STUDENTS GATHERED IN MONROE

Park as Rodney the Ram rode on the back of a pickup truck with the university’s pep band on Monday during New Student Convocation.

Last year’s Weeks of Welcome activities were mostly virtual due to COVID-19, however, the university plans to host certain events in person this fall to welcome new students and returning sophomores who lacked a proper welcome last fall. The University’s Weeks of Welcome will take place between Aug 23. and Sept. 23.

Sophomore finance major Alex Barton just transferred to VCU. He said he feels safe attending larger events because of VCU’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement. All students, faculty and staff are required to get a COVID-19 vaccination unless they have a religious or health or exemption.

“I don’t think I’d ever be excited to be in a classroom,” Barton said.

The university reinstated its indoor mask mandate on Aug. 9, which affects indoor activities hosted at the University Student Commons, such as movie nights. University spokesperson Matt Lovisa stated masks should be worn in outdoor situations where six feet of distance cannot be maintained and at events with over 50 people.

VCU hosted New Student Convocation from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. complete with food trucks, a bouncy house, a concert by Echosmith and speeches by both President

Michael Rao and men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades. Many students attended the event, and most were unmasked.

Students of all ages gathered in Monroe Park to walk to The Commons to complete a university tradition of touching the ram horns while making a wish. Fraternities, sororities and community members lined the streets and cheered the students on as they walked around campus.

“I’m pushing myself by being more social,” Karo said. “A lot of freshmen are kinda in the same boat.”

Events the university is boasting include The Commons Take-Over and the Student Organization Fair. The Student Organization Fair is one of the largest events VCU hosts, according to the university website. It’s held biannually at the beginning of each semester.

The fair will be held virtually between Aug. 23 and 26 and an in-person Student Organization Fair will be held on Aug. 27 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m in Monroe Park. The virtual fair will be held via RamsConnect where students can search for clubs and contact student leaders.

The university is also offering grab-andgo activities, where students can pick up materials needed at The Commons and participate in activities on their own time. Students must register in advance on RamsConnect for grab-and-go events as spots are limited.

Sophomore communication arts major Elianna Karo attended the event, despite not being a freshman. She lived on campus last year and is living in West Grace South as a sophomore this year.

“I missed a lot last year, so I wanted to see what VCU usually does for freshmen,” Karo said.

She said she’s looking forward to pushing herself out of her comfort zone while being on campus. The sophomore said she has already met more people in the past few days than she did her entire first year.

Those events include paint night, movie night with provided snacks and game night with provided card games. All events are free to students. The Commons is also hosting virtual game nights for students who don’t wish to gather in groups.

A full list of Weeks of Welcome activities are available on RamsConnect.

A full list of Weeks of Welcome activities are available on RamsConnect.

The delta variant is the primary COVID-19 strain that is causing new cases, according to the VDH. The week of July 18 through 24 saw at least 382 new cases in Virginia. Of those cases, 375 were caused by the delta variant. The number of cases caused by the variant heightened the following week to 403 out of the 404 new cases. The VDH notes that July 11 and onward contains evolving data, meaning not all cases have been reported yet.

See MASK MANDATE on page 3

I missed a lot last year, so I wanted to see what VCU usually does for freshmen.”

Elianna Karo, sophomore communication arts major

Students move into Gladding Residence Center on Aug. 18.

Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

Photo illustration by Gabi Wood

Photos by Megan Lee and Jay Stonefield

Stories of the week

Hurricane Henri caused power outages and flooded areas in the Northeast.

international: The Taliban is forbidding Afghans from leaving the country under its new rule as of Tuesday.

DYAD STRATEGIES REVIEW RECOMMENDS NEW POLICIES FOR GREEK LIFE

KATHARINE DEROSA News Editor

DYAD STRATEGIES RELEASED AN independent review of Greek life at the beginning of August to provide VCU with recommendations for Greek life on campus. The university released its internal review a few days later.

Senior economics and finance major Michael Portillo of Phi Gamma Delta said he thought the independent review was “surprisingly accurate.” Portillo previously served on the executive board of Phi Gamma Delta, known as “Fiji” on campus, and has been a member since his freshman year.

“I don’t think people were expecting them [Dyad Strategies] to be as real and as hard hitting with their findings,” Portillo said.

The independent review, while a response to Adam Oakes’ death, is not meant to be an investigation into his death, Dyad Strategies stated. Oakes died at a Delta Chi gathering on Feb. 27. The Richmond Police Department is leading the investigation. No arrests have been made, however Oakes’ death was ruled as a result of ethanol toxicity, which is a type of alcohol poisoning, on May 25.

Courtney White, Oakes’ cousin, wrote in an email on behalf of herself and Oakes’ parents that they have read the review and are grateful for the recommendations.

“We only wish this was done sooner so Adam would be alive today,” the family stated.

Dyad Strategies’ review recommended the university take either an “all in” or “all out” approach to Greek life, meaning VCU either needs to be completely invested in Greek life at the university or completely remove it.

Dyad Strategies has 14 different recommendations for fraternities and sororities at the university. The recommendations are applicable if VCU decides to take an “all in” approach to Greek life on campus.

“VCU finds itself in the awkward position of being ‘half in’ in their relationship

with campus fraternities and sororities,” Dyad Strategies stated. “VCU is invested in the fraternity and sorority community enough to make themselves aware of risk in the fraternity/sorority community, but not invested enough to fully manage the risk of campus fraternities and sororities, in particular the risks associated with unrecognized, off-campus housing.”

years of experience, an initiative Dyad Strategies recommended.

The university stated in its report that Dyad Strategies’ recommendation on implementing a diversity, equity and inclusion plan for Greek life needs to be evaluated further before being “explored” in the fall of 2022.

VCU is an institution with a large minority population, according to 2020-2021 demographics. Less than half the students who attend VCU are white and the Black student population makes up the largest percentage of minorities as 17.8% identify as Black. However, Dyad Strategies found that members of color are “tokenized” among fraternities and sororities.

Portillo agreed with Dyad Strategies in saying that VCU needs to do more to address diversity in fraternities. He believes some fraternities are more inclusive, while others are “not as open minded.”

Brother program and traditional pledging as part of the recruitment process.

“These traditions are outdated, destructive, and make a tremendous impact on the safety and health of students,” the family stated. “They select people based on judging them by what is on the surface, not what’s in their heart.”

On top of Dyad Strategies’ recommendations, Oakes’ family stated VCU should create advisor training.

“They need to have adequate training to support the leadership development, ensure best practices during all fraternal events, and be present to supervise these events,” the family stated.

VCU’s internal report stated it would further review Dyad Strategies’ Big Brother recommendation.

Michael

Senior Phi Gamma Delta member

University President Michael Rao stated in a press release the university is dedicated to collaborating with Greek life students on creating a prosperous Greek environment.

“These reviews make important recommendations about how VCU can improve safety, oversight and accountability of our fraternity and sorority organizations,” Rao stated. “The Board of Visitors and I will ensure that we receive updates about the recommendations and implementation no later than December 1.”

VCU’s internal report states that recommendations from Dyad Strategies will either be implemented, declined or referred to a “workgroup” for further review. The report also includes which recommendations have already been taken.

For instance, VCU is actively searching for a Director of Greek life with five to seven

“You can’t force an organization to be more inclusive, but there’s not even any effort, I don’t think, that’s been made to try to make these organizations more inclusive or address things like implicit bias,” Portillo said.

Oakes’ family has stated they believe he died of hazing at a “Big Brother” event for Delta Chi. One of Dyad Strategies’ recommendations included revamping the Big Brother program to create more responsible Big Brothers by requiring training.

Portillo said his fraternity has certain rules in place for the Big Brother program similar to those Dyad Strategies laid out. He said Big Brothers are at least two years older than their Little Brothers and people with similar majors are matched up. He also believes there should be some type of standardized training for Big Brothers in Greek life, as only certain members of his fraternity are picked to be Big Brothers.

“If you’re leaving it up to a 20 year old or a 21 year old on how all this stuff is going to go, it doesn’t always have the best outcomes as we’ve unfortunately experienced,” Portillo said.

Oakes’ family stated in an email they believe the university should eradicate the Big

The university agreed with Dyad Strategies’ recommendations for the university hazing policy, which include hiring a hazing prevention coordinator and developing a campus-wide hazing prevention plan. The new policy is expected to be in place by Summer 2022 and VCU will begin the search for a hazing prevention coordinator this fall.

VCU registration data shows the majority of students recruited to fraternities and sororities are under 21, therefore, the university banned alcohol at all recognized student activities effective Aug. 2 of this year.

Dyad Strategies recommended VCU create an independent organizational misconduct policy. While VCU stated it needs to evaluate this point further, Portillo agreed with Dyad Strategies. He believes there need to be a clear set of guidelines and punishments for Greek organizations to follow to prevent situations such as Delta Chi coming off a suspension early.

“Delta Chi has always been a problem, since I was a freshman,” Portillo said. “They should have never been allowed to come back to this campus.”

For the full report, visit news.vcu.edu.

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

If you’re leaving it up to a 20 year old or a 21 year old on how all this stuff is going to go, it doesn’t always have the best outcomes as we’ve unfortunately experienced.”

Portillo

VCU gives half a million for faculty research

EMMA CARLSON

Contributing Writer

VCU has granted half a million dollars to support unique research endeavors of its faculty this year through the annual Presidential Research Quest Fund (PeRQ).

The PeRQ offers financial support to select research projects from both the Monroe Park and MCV campuses every year, according to the PeRQ website.

This year, the PeRQ announced 18 projects in fields such as business, education and pharmacy were receiving a total $512,000 to assist in their research. The fund seeks to encourage faculty scholarship as all faculty who receive approval from the dean of their college are eligible to apply, according to the PeRQ website.

One of the Quest Fund projects to receive funding is being conducted by Hayley Cleary, a criminal justice and public policy professor at VCU. Cleary holds a doctorate in developmental psychology and is studying how young people react when placed into a police interrogation room through a virtual reality headset.

“I’m hoping to use virtual reality to have youth experience interrogation, and we can learn more about how they experience coercion,” Cleary said.

Cleary’s research will involve placing two adolescent actors in a virtual interrogation room, with a suspect being interrogated by a police officer. The VR headset will help Cleary study how the participants react in real time to a scenario that often happens behind closed doors.

Policing in the U.S. has a history of physical coercion, which was eventually outlawed, according to Cleary. Police then shifted to psychological manipulation, which Cleary described as “too effective,” and often resulted in false confessions.

Cleary said the research also focuses on the systematic discrimination faced by

youth of color in interrogation settings with the goal of better educating police on interrogation mechanisms and implicit bias awareness.

“There’s this widely held stereotype that associates people of color, especially Black people, with criminality,” Cleary said. “I’m hoping to test whether youth of color, who are already overrepresented in the justice system, face additional disadvantage.”

The PeRQ began in 2014 and has produced over 200 peer-reviewed papers and at least five patents, according to a VCU News article.

“The 202 1 Quest fund recipients represent a diversity of disciplines,” VCU President Michael Rao stated in the article. “Although vastly different, each research project has the common goal of improving the human condition.”

The PeRQ has specific criteria which determines what projects will receive funding. These include the project’s intellectual merit, potential for copyrights or patents, degree of campus collaboration and external funding, according to an email from A.J. Hostetler communications director for the VCU Office of Research and Innovation.

Adam Blandin is an economics professor at VCU. Blandin was inspired to research remote work after having experienced working from home with his wife and two year old. His research is titled “Remote Work, Geographic Mobility, and the LongRun Economic Impact of COVID-19.” The project is aimed at understanding the lasting effects of remote working due to the pandemic, according to Blandin.

“One of the main things that determines where people live is their work,” Blandin said. “In that kind of world where people are untethered to their jobs, the structure of cities and the structure of the U.S. could look totally different.”

Blandin’s work began with a previous survey through partnering with his co-au-

Research Quest Funds Distribution

Optimizing health ◊ $320,673

Achieving a just & equitable society ◊ $54,638

Enriching the human experience ◊ $93,688

Supporting sustainable energy ◊ $43,000

thor at Arizona State University and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas for extramural funding. The funds from the PeRQ award will help him develop this current project as a more relevant labor survey regarding remote work.

Blandin’s research involved a new labor market survey different from others. Standard government labor market surveys do not include questions about working from home, because it was not previously common, according to Blandin. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, Blandin stated around 15% of workdays were done from home. During the summer of 2020, work from home increased to around 40% of workdays.

“It looks more and more like a lot of the increase in work from home is going to remain,” Blandin said. “So that could have a

lot of important and interesting implications that we want to understand.”

Blandin said he hopes his research will provide important information for future generations of researchers trying to understand the economic impacts of COVID-19.

“We’re seeing a once in a lifetime change in this relationship between a worker and their workplace,” Blandin said. “We want to take the first step in understanding all those spillover effects.”

Although undergraduate students are ineligible to apply for PeRQ awards themselves, there are potential opportunities to be mentored by the Quest Fund awardees, according to Hostetler. Students can also visit https://provost.vcu.edu/initiatives/urop/ for more research opportunities.

Mask mandate returns, some students skeptical

EMMA CARLSON

Contributing Writer

Continued from front page

VCU requires both students and faculty on campus to receive a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a religious or health exemption. The vaccination dashboard displays current percentages of vaccinated individuals, and as of Sunday, 90.2% of students and 86.6% of faculty have verified their full vaccination status.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use in the United States: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson (Janssen).

On Monday, the Pfizer vaccine became the first to receive full FDA approval for those 16 years and older, according to the FDA.

As of Tuesday, 55.9% of Virginians are fully vaccinated and 63.2% have at least one dose, according to the VDH. In Richmond, 51.9% of the adult population is fully vaccinated and 58.1% have at least one dose.

Richmond City is considered an area of high transmission of COVID-19, which is

determined by having over 100 new cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day moving period. For areas of high transmission, the CDC recommends additional prevention strategies such as masking indoors and physical distancing for all individuals.

Spokesperson Michael Porter failed to elaborate why VCU only reinstated the mask mandate and not physical distancing. Porter did not comment on the delta variant.

“VCU’s decisions are based on recommendations from the university’s Public Health Response Team,” Porter stated in an email.

Porter is a member of the university’s PHRT.

Social work graduate student Rebecca Shannon was frustrated about VCU’s decision to reimplement the mask mandate. Awaiting her first year of grad school in person, she was disappointed in the policy.

“I think it’s safe to err on the side of caution,” Shannon said, “but I also don’t love it.”

Shannon felt that although VCU is taking CDC recommendations into consideration, those who determine the university’s policies are not all medical personnel. Of the 15 members on the PHRT, eight have a doctorate of medicine or M.D., but this is not stated directly on the webpage.

The PHRT reviews current guidelines from the CDC, VDH, and VCU’s own medical personnel when determining uni versity public safety policies, according to Porter.

Shannon also felt VCU was not being upfront with why they decided to reinstate masking and not physical distancing.

“You can’t have this many students on campus and physically distance the way you’re supposed to. You can’t. It’s not pos sible,” Shannon said. “VCU is a business, and they’re trying to stay in business as best as they can, but I think when you’re try ing to make money, you can never be fully transparent.”

The VCU announcement from Aug. 9 stated that mitigation strategies such as masking and vaccination will be effec tive, and the university will continue to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community to determine public health policies.

Members of the VCU community can receive the latest information on VCU’s COVID-19 response from One

VCU: Better Together.

Infographic by Gabi Wood

Adam Blandin.

Photo courtesy of Adam Blandin

Hayley Cleary.

Photo courtesy of Hayley Cleary

Signs in the James Branch Cabell Library inform students that masks in the library are still required.

Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

Hyland becomes third first round draft pick in VCU men’s basketball history

JOE DODSON

Contributing Writer

WHEN NAH’SHON “BONES”

Hyland was a freshman at St. Georges Technical High School, his coach, Rod Griffin, asked him what his five-year plan was.

Hyland told Griffin a simple plan: graduate high school, play one year of college basketball and then get drafted into the NBA. The then-high school freshman’s dream quickly became a reality, starring at VCU for two seasons before entering the draft this year.

“He was right, but he was one year off,” Griffin said.

Hyland’s dream came true when the Denver Nuggets selected him 26th overall in the NBA draft on July 29. He became the first sophomore in VCU program history to be a first-round pick.

He joined former basketball athletes Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders in the program’s record books as the only three players to be selected in the opening 30 picks.

“The energy went through the roof when his name got called,” said VCU assistant coach J.D. Byers, who attended Hyland’s draft party in Wilmington, Delaware. “Just to see him hug his mom was a very special moment.”

Hyland said in the Nuggets post-draft press conference that he felt like he belonged in the Mile High City after his predraft workout with the team.

“The whole staff there — I just felt love from them and just feeling that love from

a NBA team it’s like ‘wow,’ just a dream come true,” Hyland said.

Byers, who recruited Hyland to VCU, said his work ethic is what made him a good fit for the black and gold and a first-round NBA draft prospect.

“Whatever you gave Bones that day, he attacked it,” Byers said. “That’s why he just kept getting better and better and put himself in this position.”

That work ethic and the desire to get better didn’t start at VCU — it had already been ingrained in Hyland’s head since high school.

Griffin said that when he would drive Hyland home from practice he would often ask to be dropped off in another gym so he could get work in with other coaches.

“Even after we practiced for a couple of hours he would go home and work on his game at a city gym,” Griffin said. “The work ethic was unparalleled.”

Passion for the game is something Griffin said Hyland has always had, which has helped him succeed over other talented players.

“His fire for the game is just intense,” Griffin said. “I love it because he’s always had that –– some guys are really, really talented but they don’t have that type of fire in them.”

Griffin first saw Hyland in the eighth grade at a travel basketball game and he saw the beginning of what the Wilmington, Delaware, native would do for the rest of his career.

“I was like, man, that little skinny kid there is feisty, but he’s good too,” Griffin said. “He was really a leader playing the point

guard position, could shoot the ball and had tremendous intensity as an eighth grader.”

That intensity carried over to his time as a Ram where he was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie first team as a freshman and A-10 Player of the Year as a sophomore. He led the team in scoring averaging 19.5 points his sophomore season, leading them to an A-10 championship game appearance.

During his junior year of high school, Hyland was involved in a house fire that killed his grandmother and cousin. After this event, Byers said there are people who look at Hyland as hope that no matter what circumstances you come from, hard work can lead to success.

Byers said that Hyland doesn’t plan on just being in the NBA, he plans on staying in the NBA.

“He’s going to keep working and maybe even work harder to continue to give those people that look up to him or hear about his story hope,” Byers said.

Hyland got his first taste of NBA basketball as a part of the Nuggets Summer League team. In four games, Hyland finished 3rd in summer league, averaging 19.8 points — shooting 40% from deep. Hyland also added 4.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

Griffin said that it’s not just Hyland’s story of overcoming adversity that draws support from fans but also that he is simply a fun player to watch. Hyland’s tragedy in high school didn’t stop him from fulfilling his goal he set forth as a freshman, according to Griffin.

“It’s no harm being down on the carpet, but if you stay on the carpet and don’t get up and fight again, then shame on you,” Griffin said. “But he got up and kept fighting and look where he’s at.”

VCU First Round Draft Picks

After taste of NCAA tournament, field hockey is back to defend A-10 title

NOAH FLEISCHMAN Sports Editor

The sting of losing last season’s NCAA tournament game in double overtime is still fresh for practically the entire field hockey roster. The loss to Bucknell was just under four months ago.

“I think everyone is so fresh in their minds about how that loss felt,” sophomore midfielder Bridget McCormick said.

The Rams, who outshot the Bison by 10 shots in the game, lost on a goal with less than 15 seconds remaining in the overtime period.

The overtime loss has provided added motivation for the team this season,

following a undefeated run to the Atlantic 10 crown before being bounced early in the national tournament.

“Once you get a taste of what you want, you want to experience that again,” said head coach Stacey Bean. “You just want to keep building and getting better.”

Unlike a normal cycle of seasons, where there’s almost a year in between seasons, this fall is different. The Rams had their fall 2020 season moved to the spring 2021 due to delays presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the team faces a quick turnaround for the new campaign.

“I think one of the biggest hurdles right now for the team is just to understand that we don’t have these four months to grow as a team and prepare ourselves for the season again,” senior defender Janne Wetzel said.

Before last season, the team had a four-month preseason during the fall to train and bond on and off the field. That time served to be beneficial for the program as the team had its best season to date, winning its first A-10 title.

“We’ve had so long to work together and trust each other and understand how one another place, which is definitely important,” junior forward Lonica McKinney said. “I think

that having last year the way it was will definitely help with that.”

This season’s team is almost the same squad that made history in the spring as the black and gold returns 10 of its 11 starters, losing midfielder Emily van Hijfte.

With very little turnover on the roster, the team can quickly build on last season.

“The more kids you can bring back at a high level the better, because you don’t necessarily have to regress too much to start to build again,” Bean said.

This season, the Rams will be a team to watch and no to be underestimated — similar to when they were picked No. 4 in the preseason in the spring. Now they’re No. 1 in this season’s A-10 preseason poll that was released on Monday.

“There’s definitely a lot of added pressure this year on knowing teams are gunning for us,” McCormick said. “Obviously that’s another huge motivator for people but I think we’re gonna be ready.”

McCormick was the A-10 Rookie of the Year last season, scoring five goals on 15 shots.

“We need to go in a different headspace this year, because we definitely have a target on our back this year because everyone obviously wants to beat us now,” Wetzel said. “So I think just still being humble — go humble into games — but still be confident.”

Even though the Rams only lost one player from last spring, they’ve added four freshmen to the roster, including Carolina Mujica-Robles.

Mujica-Robles isn’t the typical freshman field hockey player. She played the last two

years in her home country, Chile, before her stop at VCU. At 20 years old, Bean said Mujica-Robles will have an immediate impact on the team.

“She’s physically a little bit more mature than your typical incoming student athletes,” Bean said. “She’s going to have that maturity and that ability to have that impact because of it and because of her playing experience.”

Mujica-Robles is currently playing for Chile in the junior Pan American Games and will be arriving to VCU in early September.

Bean said she won’t have any hesitation playing Mujica-Robles when she joins the team in a couple weeks because of her “high hockey IQ.” Bean added that she’ll be able to slide into the VCU system fairly quickly as well.

During this season’s two-week preseason training, Bean said the team has focused on executing better on offensive chances.

“Where we’re getting a lot of outcomes and the other team’s defensive circles, we’re getting, you know, some corners or getting some shots,” Bean said. “Finishing on some of those at a little bit higher rate is definitely something we’ll look to, we always look to improve on our possession game, in the attacking play.”

McCormick said the team’s mantra from last season still holds true this fall: “We didn’t come this far to come this to come this far.”

Field hockey opens the season against American University on Friday at 3 p.m. at Cary Street Field.

Field hockey had five players named to the A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team on Monday.

Photos by Jay Stonefield

Information compiled by Noah Fleischman

Photo by Megan Lee

After abrupt season ending, WOMEN’S SOCCER RETURNS

KAITLYN FULMORE Contributing Writer

A COIN TOSS ENDED THE VCU women’s soccer postseason hopes in the spring, leaving the team devastated, according to redshirt-senior goalkeeper Grace Young.

“We thought it was really unfair and really unjustified,” Young said. “It felt like we were robbed of a chance to do anything.”

The Rams were edged out by Dayton for the final spot in the Atlantic 10 tournament last spring, ending their season as a result of a tiebreaker.

While last season’s ending stung in the moment, junior midfielder Anna Bagley says that it set the tone for not taking any game for granted this season.

“We’re just going into every game as our last game,” Bagley said. “Giving everything we have for that current game, and not worrying about the rest of the season.”

The A-10 preseason poll, which was released on Aug. 12, ranked the team to finish third this season. The Rams were one point shy of Dayton, who is ranked second, and the defending conference champion, Saint Louis, was ranked first.

“I definitely think we have something to prove,” Young said. “That we are, and should be, number one.”

After last year’s season ended in the spring, the team dealt with a quick turnaround with their next season starting in the fall. Unlike previous years where the team would have up to nine months

to rest, regroup and train, the team had less than three months of rest before practice began in the fall.

The Rams opened their season with a 1-0 victory over James Madison on Thursday night at Sports Backers Stadium, led by senior midfielder Aileen Guthrie’s goal in the final 15 seconds to win.

The team continued their winning streak with a 2-1 win on the road against University of North Carolina Wilmington on Sunday. Redshirt-senior forward Samantha Jerabek scored the first goal 14 minutes into the game and redshirt-senior midfielder Emma Kershner added the second goal just 90 seconds after.

“Even though they weren’t the prettiest wins it shows we’re here to fight,” Bagley said. “We’re gonna stick it out through the entire game — even if we’re scoring in the last ten seconds.”

A large number of upperclassmen return this season. A total of five redshirt-seniors

KICKING OFF:

YANNI KOUIROUKIDIS

Contributing Writer

CU MEN’S SOCCER IS RETURNING

this year with new challenges to face — this time, it’s the opponent.

The team dealt with three cancellations and five postponements over the course of their season last spring and missed the Atlantic 10 tournament. Team injuries and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic also affected the team’s goals.

“Last spring, prior to this fall, we probably had the most good players we’ve ever had and our team was probably the worst we’ve ever had here,” said head coach Dave Giffard.

Last season, the Rams found it hard to establish connections with each other due to the strict COVID-19 restrictions, according to multiple players.

The team also said they didn’t spend enough time together during the season to establish a true connection on or off the pitch. For instance, after an opposing team would score a goal, instead of coming together as a group, the Rams would find themselves arguing and placing the blame on each other.

“It was hard for us to really find that team connection,” said redshirt-sophomore defender Jared Valdes. “I think it was just the isolation during COVID. We’re going to be different this year though, I think we are bringing the right energy.”

What isn’t seen by spectators is what goes on in the players’ lives. Redshirt-junior

midfielder Pierre Fiorre Mane said he had a lot of trouble balancing practice and his life outside of the sport.

“Last year was tough for me,” Mane said. “I was working at a place 10 minutes off of campus and it would just be constant school, practice and then work. It was challenging.”

Mane wasn’t the only player who was facing challenges outside the locker room; many on the team were having difficulty adjusting to what was going on in the world, according to Giffard.

“If we had 30 guys on the team last year, 27 of those guys had the worst year they’ve ever had in their life,” Giffard said. “You had a bunch of guys who couldn’t spend any time together, stayed in isolation 24/7, and the only time you really got to interact with other people would be in competition at training.”

Injuries also plagued the Rams during last season’s nine-game schedule — Junior midfielder Célio Pompeu only played in four games last season due to a leg injury. Despite missing more than half the season, Pompeu still led the team in goals last year with three.

Pompeu endured injuries in both of his seasons at VCU. During his freshman year, the Fortaleza, Brazil, native only played in the team’s final three games but led the team in a comeback win over George Mason in the A-10 tournament quarterfinal.

“I mean, he’s the most talented player in the country,” Giffard said.

“If he stays healthy and is able to deal

and five seniors, including A-10 first team selections Jerabek and Kershner, return with advice and leadership for the underclassmen.

“There’s no replacement for that level of experience,” coach Lindsey Martin said. “It makes our job easier as a coaching staff because the expectation is there and they know what it is.”

Martin says that sophomore transfer defender Natalia Santangelo, freshman midfielder Kanna Matsuhisa, freshman defender Greta Kraszula and freshman midfielder Isidora Gajdobranski are key newcomers to the team.

“There wasn’t a particular need for an impact player, it was more that we needed depth,” Martin said of the freshmen. “They’re all doing some really good things.”

The Rams have competed twice in the A-10 championship during the nine years they have been competing in the conference, but have never been able to snatch the title.

“There’s always pressure, but it’s not something that we feel unsuccessful without,” Martin said. “We know we have the ability to reach those goals, and it’s more about us attaining a standard we know we’re capable of.”

However, with 10 out of the 11 starters returning from last season, Young says there is pressure to bring home the title.

“With the talent and the skill and this team right now, there’s a lot of internal pressure to actually do really well and win it.”

SOCCER SCHEDULE WOMEN’S SOCCER

AUG 19

AUG 22

AUG 26

AUG 29

SEPT 2

SEPT 5

SEPT 9

SEPT 19

SEPT 23

SEPT 26

SEPT 30

OCT 3

OCT 10

OCT 14

OCT 17

OCT 21

OCT 24

VS. JMU WIN 1-0

AT UNCW WIN 2-0

VS. WAKE FOREST @ 7 p.m.

AT LIBERTY @ 1 p.m.

AT ODU @ 7 p.m.

AT EAST CAROLINA @ 1 p.m.

AT WILLIAM & MARY @ 7 p.m

VS. GEORGE WASHINGTON @ 2 p.m.

AT ST. BONAVENTURE @ 7 p.m.

AT GEORGE MASON @ 1 p.m

VS. NO. 21

SAINT LOUIS @ 7 p.m

AT UMASS @ 1 p.m

VS. DAYTON @ 1 p.m.

VS. FORDHAM @ 7 p.m.

AT LA SALLE

MEN’S SOCCER

AUG 26

AUG 29

SEPT 4

SEPT 10

SEPT 14

SEPT 18

with some of the pressures, then I think he’ll be very successful.”

Pompeu, like many others on the roster, is looking to bounce back from the previous year. However, it won’t come with ease as the Rams are scheduled to play 12 opponents that are either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll this season, including three top 20 teams in the first four games.

The black and gold will open the season on the road against No. 7 Wake Forest on Thursday before traveling to No. 4 North Carolina on Sunday.

VCU will also face No. 18 Charlotte on Sept. 10, No. 23 Fordham on Oct. 23 and No. 2 Indiana on Oct. 27.

“It’s just another game,” Giffard said. “Obviously you get a little more excited when you play against the other top teams. The season’s a journey and what you can do is learn about your team.”

Men’s soccer will begin the season at Wake Forest on Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ACC Network Extra.

SEPT 21

SEPT 25

SEPT 28

OCT 2

OCT 6

OCT 9

OCT 16

OCT 19

OCT 23

OCT 27

OCT 30

AT VIRGINIA @ 7 p.m.

AT LA SALLE @ 7 p.m.

VS. DUQUESNE @ 7 p.m

VS. SAINT LOUIS @ 7 p.m.

AT GEORGE MASON @ 7 p.m.

VS. UNCW @ 7 p.m.

VS. NO. 23

FORDHAM @ 7 p.m.

AT NO. 2

INDIANA @ 7 p.m.

AT UMASS @ 1 p.m.

Freshman midfielder Jonathan Kanagwa battles for the ball in men’s soccer’s exhibition against Akron on Aug. 20.

Photo by Megan Lee

Senior midfielder Aileen Guthrie, left, celebrates with her teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against JMU on Aug. 19.

Photo by Jay Stonefield

Men’s soccer looks to bounce back after a year filled with hiccups

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On this day

In 1916, the National Park Service was created by Congress.

DePillars building commemoration to celebrate late dean’s artistic, educational legacy

JIANA SMITH

Contributing Writer

FORMER VCUARTS DEAN MURRY

N. DePillars, known for his widerimmed glasses and his pipe, was somewhat of a pleasant presence on campus. As the first Black dean of VCUarts and one of the only Black deans on VCU’s campus in the early ’80s, many students and community members felt a lasting impression from his commitment to artistic growth.

“It was really amazing seeing this man of my same race be in an office,” Suzanne Boone Gwathmey said during the “Memories and Milestones: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Murry N. DePillars” event held in April. “I had just never seen that. And to see that he was in a high position and could make decisions, I was totally amazed.”

DePillars earned his bachelor’s degree in art education and master’s in urban studies from Roosevelt University, and later received his doctorate degree in art education from Pennsylvania State University. Before becoming dean of VCUarts in 1976, he started as assistant dean in 1971. He was credited with expanding funding for the arts and nearly doubling student enrollment before retiring in 1995.

In addition to his achievements in academia, DePillars was a talented artist. As a member of the Chicago-based African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (AfriCOBRA,) a Black art collective

founded in 1968, he used his art to explore both African and African American culture and history.

“He believed that art unified and empowered communities and that art told stories that have not yet been told or listened to,” Holly Alford, VCUarts director of inclusion and equality, stated in an email. “He was an advocate for all types of art.”

In his later years, DePillars was the recipient of a Presidential Medallion and a Professor Emeritus title. In 2008, DePillars died in Richmond at the age of 69.

Early this year, VCUarts renamed the Fine Arts Building, located at 1000 W. Broad St., to the Murry N. DePillars Building to honor his achievements in the field. There will be a commemoration celebration of the Murry N. DePillars Building on Sept. 30 from 5 - 6:30 p.m.

“The DePillars Building is a manifestation of our shared vision for the future of VCUarts,” VCUarts Dean Carmenita D. Higginbotham said during the “Memories and Milestones” event.

DePillars’ passion for Black art and stories carried over into his role as an educator. Many of his former students, such as Gwathmey, Alford and painting and printmaking alumni William E. Johnson, describe him as a warm, caring mentor who challenged them academically and artistically.

Alford, an alumna of the master’s in fine arts in the costume design program, expressed how DePillars helped her find ways to fund her education.

DePillars’ artwork has been exhibited in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, the African American Pavilion of the World Expo and the Whitney Museum of Art, among others.

In 2017, the exhibit “Double Vision,” a retrospective of DePillars’ life’s work curated by Richard Woodward, founding curator of the African art collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and Ashley Duhrkoop of the VMFA, was held at Richmond’s Black History Museum.

The decision to rename the Fine Arts Building was recommended by VCU’s Committee on Commemoration and Memorials as part of a proposal to remove plaques and building names connected to the Confederacy after the 2017 Unite the Right white supremacy rally in Charlottesville. The board of visitors approved the name change in September 2020.

Alford stated that the renaming not only honors DePillars’ legacy but highlights the significance of diversity within the VCU community.

“Dr. DePillars is a national figure and the Richmond community and future students and young boys and girls need to know the accomplishments of this prestigious artistic figure at VCU and his contributions and accomplishments in American arts history,” Alford stated.

“Many will say that Dr. DePillars increased enrollment at VCU and made the School of the Arts not only the largest in the country, but he brought worldwide attention to VCUarts. For me and others, Murry DePillars always placed students first,” Alford stated. “He was not only an inspiration, but he counseled so many students.”

DePillars was also an avid jazz enthusiast. He showed his love for jazz at VCU not only through the creation of the jazz studies program but through the establishment of the Richmond Jazz Society and the Richmond Jazz Festival.

“I just feel very fortunate to have been there when it was all taking shape,” musician and jazz studies alumni Steve Wilson said during the “Memories and Milestones” event, stressing DePillars’ commitment to VCU and the Richmond community.

Registration for the DePillars Building commemoration celebration opens in September. For more information about the event visit the VCUarts event page.

The

DePillars

Building is a manifestation of our shared vision for the future of VCUarts.”

Carmenita D. Higginbotham, VCUarts Dean

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Richmond mural project aims to use creativity to highlight underprivileged communities

ANGELIQUE JAMES

Contributing Writer

Expressive murals and community cleanups are just some of the changes the “More than Art: Inner City Mural Project” are making to the Richmond community. Developed by Crenius LLC, artists are painting artwork on the side of local businesses in order to elevate underrepresented communities.

The start of “More than Art” began with the aim to connect art, culture and community, according to the Crenius website.

For Richmond artist Ron Stokes, the project is about art justice and art inequalities in areas where it’s needed the most. While working on the mural, Stokes said that he wanted to bring underrepresented neighborhoods the same artwork that people see at galleries.

“I imagined a young kid riding his bike down the street that doesn’t have the ability to get to like the VMFA or the ICA and give him the same piece of artwork but in his neighborhood,” Stokes said. “He’s just riding his bike down the street, and he looks up and sees it.”

Stokes explained the project was started due to a lack of artwork in inner-city communities by Ra-Twoine “Rosetta” Fields.

“When you look at a lot of things in our community, we haven’t always been given the best full access and it’s nice now to look at a project like this where we’re tearing down some of those walls and giving that

same access to members of our communities,” Stokes said.

The “More than Art” project represents something personal to local photographer Phuong Tran. As an immigrant from Vietnam, taking photos of the project and

being around other artists created a feeling of commWunity for them.

“As someone who wasn’t born here, who came to Richmond just five years ago, and who constantly struggled to find my home and find my, kind of, ground enrichment,”

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Tran said, “I find a sense of home and a sense of community right there.”

Tran explained that when they arrived to paint the mural the community greeted them with music and food, showing that “More than Art” created a tangible impact on Richmond residents.

“Art is like a reason for people to show up, but when they show up, there will be interaction, there will be a conversation, there will be inspiration going on, it’s the entire package that like makes it 100 times more powerful,” Tran stated.

Jered Fykes, a local Richmond artist who contributed to the project, said he was happy to be a part of the project.

“It’s cool to get that [practice] on top of knowing that we’re doing something good … And I think that’s what drives me to want to keep being a part of it,” Fykes said.

Fykes said that people around the neighborhood began to give back by picking up trash and handing out water bottles, once they saw the murals in their communities.

In the future, the “More than Art” project plans to expand to other cities in Virginia and paint more murals in underprivileged communities.

“I would love to see it go, you know, outside of Virginia, and just continue and just get bigger and bigger,” Fykes said.

The project is being funded by a GoFundMe page, which is helping provide supplies.

A mural honoring Erik McCorkle and Marcus-David Peters is part of the More Than Art: Inner-City Mural Project. The work is located on Hull Street, painted by Genevieve DeMarco and Nadd the Nomad, per their GoFundMe.

After a year of uncertainty, Richmond museums adjust to reopening while maintaining safety

SAHARA SRIRAMAN Spectrum Editor

ART INSTITUTIONS IN RICHMOND have begun reopening and preparing exhibits in the midst of increased vaccine distribution. The COVID-19 pandemic caused these institutions to limit visitors and alter exhibits and events in the past year.

The Institute for Contemporary Art is planning to carefully advance with the in-person events they have planned for the semester, such as lectures, exhibits and poetry readings, according to Michael Lease, the director of facilities and experience design for the ICA. If capacity limits become required, the museum will offer hybrid versions of events.

“Given the news, we’re being cautious and not trying to pack lots of folks into the building. But with that said, we have a facility that is incredibly spacious, clean, and safe, and we’re eager to see students, faculty, and staff return to the ICA this semester,” Lease stated in an email.

By following all safety instructions set forth by VCU and Virginia and maintaining an advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, the museum is continuing to keep COVID-19 cases under control, according to Lease.

“We hope the VCU community feels welcome to take in our exhibitions, post up alone, or with friends, to study, or have meetings,” Lease stated.

On Aug. 9, VCU announced an indoor mask requirement for all students and faculty to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The university’s guidelines include required vaccine reports through University Student Health Ser vices, daily health surveys for unvaccinated students and asymptomatic surveillance testing for all unvaccinated on-campus students.

Virginia is also re quiring masking in doors for everyone “in areas of substantial and high transmission.”

“We enjoyed the brief period when the world felt safe and COVID-19 seemed to be ebbing, and we fully

support the return to the masking requirements,” Lease stated.

Starting July 2021, the ICA has been open six days a week, compared to a previous schedule of three days a week. The ICA is now holding some exhibitions in person, while also distributing photos and videos of the exhibits online as a virtual option.

The VCUarts department adjusted to the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting virtual events like guided meditations, Instagram live exhibition tours, artist interviews and virtual galleries of student art, according to VCUarts associate director of print and digital content Kim Catley stated via email.

“From a programming perspective, the ‘silver lining’ of the pandemic has been the opportunity to try new things. In some cases, these were ideas we’d been considering for a long time, but hadn’t yet pursued,” Catley stated.

In terms of VCUarts’ plans for making adjustments due to the delta variant and safety precautions, the school will be following all instructions and guidelines set forth by VCU, according to Catley.

She also stated that VCUarts will most likely limit the number of people in a building or gallery, especially as the number of visitors increases this fall.

“In proportion with the severity of those limitations, we will add virtual and other supplementary means of access to ensure that our artists can continue to share their vision, and that their audiences can continue to be inspired,” Catley stated.

“Sound of Metal” (2019)

This drama follows drummer and recovering drug addict Ruben Stone, played by Riz Ahmed, as he gradually loses his hearing and comes to terms with it. Director Darius Marder constructs the sound in order to make the audience understand Ruben’s perspective and the difficulty of losing hearing.

Available on Amazon Prime Video | 97% Rotten Tomatoes

“Mystic River” (2003)

In this mystery crime film directed by Clint Eastwood, a man investigates the murder of his teenage daughter. As he discovers more details about the murder, him and his two childhood friends, one of which is the lead detective on the case and the other the prime suspect, are forced to face the demons of their pasts while coping with the present.

This film was nominated for six Academy Awards in 2004 and won two — best actor in a leading role and best actor in a supporting role.

Available on Netflix | 88% Rotten Tomatoes

“Untold: Malice at the Palace” (2021)

This docuseries looks at the details and subsequent consequences of the 2004 Pacers-Pistons brawl (better known as “The Malice at the Palace”) that occurred in 2004 during an NBA game when a major fight broke out between the players and the spectators. It led to nine of the players being suspended afterwards, while five of them were charged with assault.

Available on Netflix | Unrated on Rotten Tomatoes

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)

This film is centered on both romance and justice, focusing on two lovers, Tish and Fonny, in the ’70s who struggle to build their new life together as a young Black couple. When Fonny is accused of rape, Tish attempts to clear his name so they can have a free life together. This powerful film looks at what the American dream meant for people who had to fight for it.

Available on Hulu | 95% Rotten Tomatoes

“The Half of It” (2020)

The ICA follows the instructions of Gov. Ralph Northam, VCU’s Public Health Response Team and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with guidance from Virginia and the VCU Health System. Lease stated that the ICA will continue to do so as the number of Richmond residents increases.

“We have been closely following state and university guidelines since all of this began and are happy to report that we’ve had very, very few cases among staff and

Similarly, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has been following both Northam’s and Richmond’s instructions and will continue to do so. The museum closed from March 14 to July 1 of last year and reopened July 4.

Some of the safety rules the museum will continue to implement include required face masks, regularly sanitized facilities and hand-sanitizing stations.

The VMFA is planning to hold completely in-person events such as galleries, art shows and interactive exhibitions with limited capacity.

VCUarts is planning on having various in-person events this fall including an international arts conference, public exhibitions and book launches, according to Catley.

Makai Walker, a theater performance junior, said that before the pandemic their experience with VCUarts was interactive and hands-on. They said after VCU sent students home last spring, classes weren’t as organized and collaborative, especially for theater classes.

“It was messy and a lot of the actual fun of learning how to be an actor and learning how to do your actual craft was taken out of it because it was online,” Walker said.

Walker said while their fall classes were all online, their spring classes were hybrid, so they were able to do more in-person learning. They said all their classes this semester are in person, which Walker is excited about.

“This whole summer, this past year became so much about the kind of artist I want to be. And going into this semester, I just have more confidence in my own abilities. I have more faith in knowing I can handle it and I

This coming-of-age film follows the story of Ellie Chu who decides to write a love letter for a jock at her school to another girl, Aster, in order to make money to support her and her father. As Ellie forges bonds with both the jock, Paul, and Aster, Ellie is forced to come to terms with her relationships with both while evaluating her future.

Available on Netflix | 97% Rotten Tomatoes

“I Am Sam” (2001)

This emotional film, starring Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning, follows the trial of Penn’s intellectually disabled character, Sam Dawson, as he fights for custody of his young daughter. Sam and his lawyer, a woman who takes the case pro bono in order to prove her generosity, become close as the case advances, confiding in each other about their problems.

A moving film, it looks at the story of this disabled man and work-obsessed lawyer while they fight for their families and become unlikely friends.

Available on Netflix | 35% Rotten Tomatoes

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

can do it,” Walker said.

This whole summer, this past year became so much about the kind of artist I want to be. And going into this semester, I just have more confidence in my own abilities. I have more faith in knowing I can handle it and I can do it.”

Makai Walker, theater performance junior

Playing to Win #7, a mixed media painting by Aziza Claudia Gibson-Hunter, is displayed at The Anderson at 907 1/2 W. Franklin St. Photo courtesy of The Anderson

Photo courtesy of The Anderson

Tea Time with Tagwa FIRST WORLD PRIVILEGE AT ITS FINEST

TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

Tea timers, let me start by asking you what’s seeming to be the most controversial question of the summer: are you vaccinated?

For some of you, the answer is yes. Others, no. But for most of you, the answer is obvious. You see, the conversation of the vaccine seems to be strictly split in two. Those who support the vaccine believe that there is no other decision to be made, while those who are opposed to it stand firmly on their disapproval of it.

Me? I’m proudly vaccinated. I ensured that all my family members in my home received both of their doses. So, take that to mean what you want.

But, you know who I wasn’t able to help get vaccinated? My family in Sudan. One March morning, my mother — who lives in Sudan — excitedly called to let me know that she had just gotten her first dose of the vaccine. Surprisingly, Sudan was the first nation in the Middle East and North Africa to receive any form of the COVID-19 vaccine.

After Sudan received 800,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine — with help from UNICEF and the World Health Organization — there seemed to be hope for those in the developing world.

Fifteen percent of Americans had been fully vaccinated in the same month that Sudan obtained its first grouping of vaccines. I was fully vaccinated when my

mother and country members received their first shipment of vaccinations.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 51 million Americans had acquired both doses of the vaccine by the time one shipment of vaccinations even arrived in both the Middle East and North Africa.

Think about that. Millions of Americans sat in comfort and safety while an entire chunk of the world hadn’t even seen a dose of the vaccine in their area.

This pandemic is worldwide. It does not exclusively affect the Western world. According to the University of Oxford, 32.7% of the world’s population has received one dose of the vaccine and 24.6% of the world is fully vaccinated. Yet, the vast majority of countries who lead in vaccinations are made up by the Western world.

Meanwhile, the 10 least vaccinated countries are all located in underdeveloped countries. It’s important to note that not every country is listed in the University of Oxford’s study. Many developing countries either didn’t report their vaccination rates or haven’t even received enough vaccinations to report.

The university’s study states that only 1.4% of civilians in developing countries have received at least one dose.

1.4%.

For those of you who are refusing the vaccine, would you be adamant against the vaccine if only 1.4% of our nation had access to it?

Citizens of the Western world — regardless of race, gender, sexuality, etc. —

live with first world privilege, a notion of unwarranted and unearned advantages acquired simply by being a citizen of a first world country.

Before you jump in to tell me that poverty, depression, death and all otherworldly tragedies also exist in the United States and the first world, let me clarify a point. First world privilege doesn’t mean that an individual’s life isn’t hard; it just means that their nationality doesn’t play a role in their struggle.

Major access to the vac cine and more advanced healthcare is an example of first world privilege. Government aid pro grams such as welfare and unemployment relief are an example of first world privi lege. Legislation that bans dis crimination in employment, service, etc. is an example of first world priv ilege. The availability of decent public schooling and free lunches is an example of first world privilege.

While many of you contemplate the le gitimacy of a scientifically proven vaccine, those in the developing world don’t have that privilege. That same developing world where many of you are spending your sum mer vacations. Your week in Jamaica seems like a wonderful time but only 9.6% of their population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. So, while you reap all the benefits of their beautiful country while un vaccinated and comforted by the abundance of medical resources back in the United

States, most Jamaican natives don’t have the same luxury.

The reality of the matter is this pandemic affects every single person in the world. Yet, the fight to end it only seems to be present in the Western world. Your unwillingness to utilize such a scarce resource that could potentially help end this pandemic is a slap in the face to all those who don’t have access to the same opportunity.

Whether you’d like to admit it or not,

A not-so-normal welcome back to college

The excitement and wonder I felt as a freshman on campus faded as I returned to VCU for the 2020-21 school year, as the university navigated its first full year of education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, a new and different fall semester is upon us this year. The university has required COVID-19 vaccinations for students and faculty who attend classes either in person or remotely, excluding those who have filed for religious or health exemptions, alongside students who are in an entirely virtual degree program.

As we haven’t had in-person classes in a year, it’ll be bittersweet to get back into the groove of campus life. Yet, the pessimistic thought that classes could go virtual again infiltrates my mind.

Though, my expectations aren’t too high. The delta variant is still out there. There is still that small, nagging chance that everything can be taken away from us again. We will still have to wear masks and abide by the regulations and policies put in place, such as masking, social distancing and hybrid/fully virtual classes.

MONICA ALARCON-NAJARRO

Contributing

Writer

It was an early summer morning in 2019. I woke up in my bed back at home while boxes filled with dorm essentials and books littered my living room. It was the moment I had been waiting for the entire summer — my freshman move-in day.

An exciting new era of my life was beginning and I couldn’t wait to finally be a college student at VCU. I remember the feelings of freedom and responsibility consuming me as my family said their goodbyes like it was yesterday.

Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of being on campus and walking to class. I loved seeing classmates and friends on my way to the library, going to the gym to work out and spending time reading in Monroe Park.

This feeling was disrupted at the start of my spring semester. Classes had been moved online, COVID-19 regulations went into effect, people stayed inside and college was something that everyone dreaded thinking about. Businesses closed, recreational activities were cancelled and the social aspect of college changed drastically.

Once COVID-19 vaccinations are uploaded online, students will automatically receive a green check mark on their Entry Pass, which exempts students from filling out a daily health check. Those who are not fully vaccinated are still required to complete the daily health check in order to enter buildings such as the University Student Commons and the James Branch Cabell Library.

When it comes to classes, faculty can choose to use the Entry Pass for in-person classes but should notify students beforehand. In this case, I think this semester will be a little weird to adapt to at first, as some classes of mine will still be online while others require my attendance and compliance with safety policies.

As of Aug. 24, 2021 there have been 19,208 COVID-19 cases in Richmond City. The number of cases are starting to spike again, showing that the delta variant should be taken seriously even among the vaccinated.

Yet, because of my expectations being ruined by the pandemic, it will undoubtedly be hard to look forward to graduating a year early this spring. All I can do is hope that graduation will be as normal as possible, but still I am accustomed to the fact that this will take time.

Even though it has taken a year out of our lives, all we can do now is be patient and stay safe. Even with regulations still in place, take whatever small ounce of normalcy you can get and find joy in it. One day we’ll go back to normal but we can be grateful for the fact that we’ve made it this far.

“Privilege is when you contribute to the oppression of others and then claim that you are the one being discriminated against.”

— DaShanne StokeS

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Online Classes by Loki Bischoff

Back to Reality by Sarah Brady

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Iman Mekonen mekonenib@commonwealthtimes.org

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ABOUT

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

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.

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Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis