The Commonwealth Times; January 17, 2024

COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG @theCT

THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY 2019, 2020, 2021 Newspaper Pacemaker Winner

VOL. 68, NO. 1 JANUARY 17, 2024

Photo by Anthony Duong.

Richmond’s Main Street Station. Over $1 billion will support the construction of a high-speed rail line between Richmond and Raleigh, N.C. Photos by Andrew Kerley.

ANDREW KERLEY Audience Editor The U.S. Department of Transportation is putting over $1.7 billion into Virginia’s trains and rail services, a move that will increase daily trips and further connect Southern states to Washington, D.C., according to their website.

Over $1 billion will support the construction of a high-speed rail line between Richmond and Raleigh, North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The project will restore miles of abandoned track along the S-Line Corridor, a rail line running through the Southeast that connects Richmond to Tampa, Florida.

Portions of the currently closed line between Richmond, Virginia, Petersburg, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina have been under development for decades, according

Virginia is on track for more trains, VCU students are all aboard to Amtrak.

The rail line once saw the daily passage of dozens of trains carrying passengers and cargo, serving as a “lifeline for its surrounding communities,” as described by NCDOT. The current active rail line from Raleigh to Richmond runs southeast to Selma,

North Carolina before turning toward Petersburg, Virginia. Booking websites like Wanderu only list about four daily trips between the two capitals.

A map by NCDOT shows the reconstructed S-Line will go straight north, cutting down on travel time on top of adding more daily trips.

While construction won’t begin until the latter half of the decade, NCDOT says preliminary design on the S-Line will wrap up between 2024 and 2027.

The money for the S-Line is coming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed into law by President Biden in 2021, as shown on DOT’s website.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin, gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Rep. Jennifer McClellan and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner were all present when it was announced that $729 million in federal funds would go toward upgrading Northern Virginia rail corridors. The upgrade includes plans to build a new bridge across the Potomac River between Washington, D.C. and Virginia, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.

The two-track Long Bridge is the only See TRAINS on page 2

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Stories of the week

national: Trump wins Iowa caucuses with 51% of the delegates. international: U.S. launches missiles in Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks on shipping.

Illustration by Liv Weatherford.

Continued from front page railway bridge across the Potomac, hosting every train traveling between the two territories. The Long Bridge Project seeks to add a second bridge and two more tracks, doubling service to a near-hourly rate. The bridge is expected to be constructed by 2030, according to VPRA. From the coast to the mountains, two other rail service projects are also being considered for funding through the federal Corridor Identification and Development Program. One would boost services between Virginia cities Newport News, Richmond and Charlottesville. The other would extend the line running from Washington to Roanoke further southwest, hitting Bedford, Blacksburg and Bristol on the way to Tennessee, documents show.

Saturn Reynolds, a VCU alum, said they use Amtrak so they don’t have to worry about “merging on I-95.” They said they want more trains running through Appalachia.

“I think trains are a great way to connect more rural areas outside of interstates,” Reynolds said. “Being able to put focus on smaller areas that don’t necessarily have as much access to train lines.”

Raj Frattare, a VCU chemical engineering student, takes the Amtrak between Northern Virginia and Richmond to visit his family during the holidays.

“This is the only way I travel because most of my family is like, ‘Oh, I don’t really have time to come pick you up when you’re two hours away,’” Frattare said. “You can just use the Amtrak, and it’s cheap.”

Frattare said his biggest gripe with the train system is how “pricey” the tickets can get when you don’t order them ahead of time.

“I can end up spending $70 on a ticket, when if I planned a week in advance, I’d only spend $15 on the ticket,” Frattare said.

Wyatt Gordon, who covers transit and infrastructure for Greater Greater Washington and the Virginia Mercury, is teaching a class about active and sustainable transit at VCU

this semester. He said trains are important because “mobility is access.”

“It’s job access,” Gordon said. “A lot of the time people think of Virginia as being anchored into the mid-Atlantic.

But, this gives us a lot of opportunities to better connect ourselves with growing powerhouses. The Research Triangle, which Raleigh is a part of, is a huge hub of innovation.”

Gordon said that a disproportionate number of students don’t have access to cars.

“You know, people j u s t d o n’t h a v e money for that with housing costs the way they are, student tuition, loans and all of

that,” Gordon said.

Gordon said the number one advantage trains have over cars is their safety.

Over 19 thousand people died in motor vehicle accidents in just the first half of 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Clearly the system of having everyone pilot their own two-ton plus vehicle has collateral damage,” Gordon said. “If we can allow people to get to and from big cities without having to drive, we’re giving people back a lot of time. Whenever I ride Amtrak up to D.C., that’s time that I can do emails, be on a call or write a document.”

Gordon also said he believes it is “paramount” that the new route between Richmond and Raleigh is electrified to open up the use of far faster trains that have a smaller

environmental impact.

VPRA has not yet made the necessary environmental evaluations to convert to electric, but the rail’s design won’t prevent the possibility of doing so in the future, according to their report. The documents also reveal a commitment to adhere to the Virginia Scenic Rivers Act for a possible new railroad bridge over the James River.

1.26 million passengers traveled using Amtrak between July 2022 and July 2023, setting a new all-time record for ridership, according to the VPRA. “You don’t have to look far to see the success of trains and transit,” Gordon said.

Snow falls on Richmond’s Main Street Station. Over $729 million will support upgrading Northern Virginia rail corridors, including the construction of a second railroad bridge over the Potomac River. Photo by Andrew Kerley.

AMID RISING COSTS, VCU ASKS VIRGINIA TO PAY FOR TUITION WAIVERS

Tables highlighting military benefits outside the Military Student Services office in Harris Hall. VCU is asking the state to make up the difference for a program that waives tuition and fees for dependents of disabled veterans. Photos by Anthony Doung.

Wed. January 17, 2024 JACK GLAGOLA News Editor The cost of a program that waives tuition and fees for survivors and dependents of military service members is becoming unsustainable for VCU, according to a press release.

The university is asking the state to pay for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, which is currently supplemented by student tuition and fees, according to the press release.

The press release cited the program’s increasing cost — which has grown by about $13.8 million since 2017, according to a presentation by Karol Kain Gray, senior vice president and CFO of the university — as a reason for the state to support it. VCU also accounts for nearly 25% of all waivers in Virginia.

There’s a lot of military families in Virginia and a lot of people that have a disability rating as a result of their service, and that’s a great benefit.”

Stephen Ross, director of Military Student Services David Allen, assistant vice president at the Office of Budget, Analysis and Financial Planning, said in an email statement that expanded eligibility and growth of the VMSDEP has created “a need for sustained and reliable funding to ensure the continued success and accessibility of the program.”

Between 2019 and 2023, eligibility for the program has been greatly expanded — most notably in 2022, when it was extended to stepchildren of qualifying service members, according to the program’s

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factsheet.

The growing numbers, combined with “the greater demand for educational opportunities from military members and their families,” have driven up the cost significantly, Allen said.

Allen said any savings resulting from state funding would be put toward general needs of the university that have been affected by budget cuts and tuition hikes.

Stephen Ross, director of Military Student Services, said the VMSDEP program used to be for combat-related disabilities only.

“After they changed the legislation, so that it encompassed all disability ratings — it no longer had to be combat related — our numbers have grown steadily,” he said.

“We’re always trying to educate the public on the availability of this program, so we’ve seen the numbers increase and more and more students utilizing that benefit.”

Ross said that VCU has a large population of military students receiving benefits, especially the GI Bill, a federal program which reimburses the cost of tuition and fees for veterans. This is different from the VMSDEP, which waives tuition and fees with no reimbursement from the state or federal government, he said.

VCU has 327 militar y students, including active duty, reserves and veterans, according to the Institutional Research and Decision Support office.

Militar y Fr iend l y — a r ating organization that surveys schools based on opportunities for veterans and others in the “military community,” according to their website — ranked VCU on the “Silver” tier of higher education institutions.

A “Silver” ranking indicates that the institution is “within 20% of the 10thranked organization,” according to the website.

Ross said the state of Virginia works hard to help military families by providing programs like VMSDEP. “There’s a lot of military families in Virginia and a lot of people that have a disability rating as a result of their service, and that’s a great benefit,” Ross said.

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Sunset over VCU Monroe Park Campus. Photo by Julia Garrett.

Illustration By Jada Artis.

VCU community responds to Harvard president resignation, plagiarism allegations

VARSHA VASUDEVAN Contributing Writer JACK GLAGOLA News Editor Former Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned on Jan. 2 after a series of backlash and criticism regarding the university’s statement about the latest Israel-Hamas war and later plagiarism allegations in her academic career, according to the Harvard Crimson newspaper.

Gay was Harvard’s first Black president with a six-month tenure, the shortest in the university’s history, according to the article by the Harvard Crimson.

Mikay la Lindsey, a third year communication arts student at VCU, said it was “shocking” to hear about the accusations against Gay. “When I saw a Harvard president — like a president of a very prestigious school being accused of plagiarism, like, that’s crazy,” Lindsey said.

MK Rubio, a second year nursing student at VCU, said there is a wide “cancel culture” perpetuated by social media, and that bringing up older issues can cause problems.

“I just think it comes with a lot of weight and so we should make sure that we’re very thorough and clear when doing things like that — we should never do it lightly,”

she said.

The accusations include allegedly plagiarized material dating from the 1990s to 2017, according to the Washington Post.

Gay received backlash from Harvard students and faculty over the university’s initial statement about the Israel-Hamas war, which did not directly condemn Hamas nor the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee, which stated Israel was fully responsible for the violence beginning Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Following controversies surrounding statements about the Israel-Hamas war, Gay faced allegations of plagiarism due to inadequate attribution in her academic work, according to the Harvard Crimson.

While Gay acknowledged the failure to properly cite certain sources, she stated she never misrepresented or fabricated research findings nor claimed credit for work that was not her own in a New York Times opinion piece.

“I believe all scholars deserve full and appropriate credit for their work,” Gay wrote in her article. “When I learned of these errors, I promptly requested corrections from the journals in which the flagged articles were published, consistent with how I have seen similar faculty cases handled at Harvard.”

VCU African American Studies

professor Clyde Ledbetter said plagiarism in academia is taken “very seriously,” however, in this situation, Gay had made an “editorial mistake.”

Ledbetter said critics of Gay were “very calculated” in using the word “plagiarism” to describe Gay’s citation errors to add to the allegations that pressured her to resign.

“This is just another example of what happens when you fail to appease a particular lobby in the U.S. for Israel.

And this is what can be the result of that,” Ledbetter said. “It wasn’t about the plagiarism at all.”

Ledbetter said that while this event alone did not directly cause Black scholarship to be questioned or undermined, it acted as an example of how microaggressions and hostility towards Black individuals in academia could become overwhelming for them.

Gay may have become overwhelmed by this and recognized how taxing giving her time and attention to “answering foolishness” was, Ledbetter said.

“I think she got to the point where she realized it’s not worth the money and the so-called fame,” Ledbetter said.

Gay stepped down as Har vard University’s president due to a series of “sustained and unprecedented challenges” on Jan. 2, according to a statement by Harvard.

University administration should address allegations of plagiarism with a “board of academics” by first clearly outlining the varying levels of seriousness within plagiarism, according to Ledbetter.

“Whoever’s doing the official review should put it out to the public to let the public understand the levels of the offense,” Ledbetter said. “It should be handled in a way that it brings the scholar in to explain themselves.”

With advancements in technology and AI such as ChatGPT, students need to be reminded of the purpose of a university to deter plagiarism and inspire original and creative work, Ledbetter said.

“We have to be more creative, but we have to push the idea of ‘you’re here to learn and learning is in itself beneficial for your development, whatever it is that you want to do,’” Ledbetter said.

VCU director of student conduct and academic integrity Karen Belanger also emphasized the importance of the motivation to learn in an email interview.

“With regard to students, I hope that their desire to learn and develop expertise in their area of study will inspire them to pursue their academic endeavors, with honesty, truth and integrity,” Belanger stated.

Graduate students busy at work at James Branch Cabell Library. Photo by Julia Garrett.

Empty auditorium before classes return this semester. Photo by Julia Garrett.

Wed. January 17, 2024

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Stat of the week

Sarah Te-Biasu had 26 of the Rams’ 52 points in their win over Loyola Chicago on Jan. 13. Te-Biasu shot 50% from the field as well as 50% from the three-point line, according to VCU Athletics.

Illustrations by Allison Bilbey.

CT’S SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS The regular season of the NFL has come to an end and playoffs are set to start.

The CT writers chose who they think will win the Super Bowl.

BERSABEH KEMAW Staff Writer

KYLER GILLIAM Contributing Writer

I believe the Baltimore Ravens will walk away with the 2024 Lombardi Trophy.

The Ravens were my dark horse pick earlier this season, and considering how far they have come, it’s safe to say it was a good pick.

The Ravens are currently ranked No. 1 for scoring defense in the NFL this season, according to Fox Sports.

This defense, alongside their high level offense, has allowed the Ravens to have the most wins in the league with 13 wins and four losses, making them the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, according to ESPN. Quarterback Lamar Jackson has had an exceptional season and is predicted to be the MVP, according to Yahoo Sports.

Jackson currently has 3,678 passing yards and 821 rushing yards, according to ESPN. Wide receiver Zay Flowers has been a key contributor for the Ravens, leading with 858 receiving yards, according to ESPN. The team also welcomes back tight end Mark Andrews after he was out due to an injury, according to Fox Sports.

The return of Andrews will add to the team’s already great offense and pose a threat to their opponents.

The Ravens have a first-round bye, so it will be interesting to see which team they face off in the second round of the playoffs.

I pick the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl, as they are led by MVP favorite quarterback Lamar Jackson and the number one scoring defense in the league, averaging 16.5 points allowed per game, according to Fox Sports.

The Ravens have been playing at their best against other quality opponents. The Ravens have 10 wins against teams that finished the season .500 or better. They also had huge wins over legitimate contenders such as the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

Jackson is the star of the show, totaling 4,499 combined rushing and passing yards and 29 total touchdowns, according to ESPN. He also has various weapons at his disposal, as the Ravens have six receivers with over 350 receiving yards this season, and three of those six having over 500 receiving yards, according to ESPN. His most reliable weapon has been Zay Flowers, a rookie receiver out of Boston College.

Flowers has 858 yards and 12 receptions of 20-plus yards, according to ESPN. The Ravens’ defense is also full of playmakers, including four All-Pro players: Linebacker duo Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen, safety Kyle Hamilton and Justin Madubike at defensive tackle. This unit

boasts the most sacks in the league, the number one turnover differential and is tied for second in the league for interceptions with 18, according to ESPN. Combine that with an MVP quarterback, and the Ravens have a lethal combination.

I pick the Baltimore Ravens to win the Super Bowl, as they are led by MVP favorite quarterback Lamar Jackson and the number one scoring defense in the league, averaging 16.5 points allowed per game, according to Fox Sports.”

Kyler Gilliam, Contributing Writer The Ravens will have a first-round bye, getting extra rest for the playoffs. It also gives time for star tight end Mark Andrews to return from injury. The Ravens activated Andrews off the injury reserve list on Jan. 12, according to ESPN. The Baltimore Ravens have too much star power on both sides of the ball to not be holding the Lombardi Trophy after the final whistle.

DAN ELSON Contributing Writer The San Francisco 49ers will win the 2024 Super Bowl.

The 49ers are arguably the best team offensively. Running back Christian McCaffrey could easily win Offensive Player of the Year. He had a total of 2,023 yards and 21 TDs, according to CBS Sports.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy proved this year that the nine games he played in last season weren’t a fluke. He had 4,280 passing yards and threw 31 TDs. Purdy has three key weapons that will be too much for defenses to handle: Wide receivers Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle.

Sometimes, playoff experience doesn’t determine how a team does in the postseason, but in this case, Purdy will thrive in this postseason and play like a quarterback who’s been around the game for a long time.

The 49ers largely looked unstoppable with some of their most impressive wins against the Dallas Cowboys, 42-10, and the Philadelphia Eagles, 42-19, who, right now, have problems. This is the year for the 49ers to win the Super Bowl.

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PRESS BOX: VCU Men’s basketball faces changes, must adapt

GAME RESULTS

JANUARY 3RD

VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AT RICHMOND LOST 72-65

VCU MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. ST. BONAVENTURE LOST 89-78

JANUARY 6TH VCU MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. GEORGE WASHINGTON LOSS 84-82

JANUARY 7TH VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AT DAVIDSON WON 65-55

JANUARY 9TH VCU MEN’S BASKETBALL AT GEORGE MASON WON 54-50

JANUARY 10TH VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. FORDHAM WON 57-54

JANUARY 13TH Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

BERSABEH KEMAW Staff Writer The Rams are sitting at No. 8 in the Atlantic 10 conference, with a record of 10 wins and seven losses.

Considering all of the changes, adjustments and growth the team has had to experience in a matter of one season, I think this is a great place to start and build from.

With all these changes, it will be a process to find balance and team identity.

The skill set of the players and coaches is without a doubt there and it’s interesting to see because this is our first time as fans and viewers watching this team come together.

Most of these players have never played with one another before and there is a heavy freshmen presence on the team, which is another factor to keep in mind when watching the Rams.

The change doesn’t stop there. This team is also being coached by an entirely different coach and new coaching staff.

It will naturally take time for them to find their groove as a team in comparison to a team that is mainly consisting of players who have competed together in prior seasons under the same coach and staff.

The Rams have had standout players this season such as team captains: senior guard Max Shulga, graduate student forward Sean Bairstow and senior guard Zeb Jackson.

Shulga, who is one of the new players on the Rams, has had a good season so far.

He’s been a key player for the team and is averaging 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, according to ESPN. Shulga has maintained consistency in his offensive performance this season.

Bairstow, also new to the team, is averaging 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, according to ESPN. Both Shulga and Bairstow are in the 40% range from the field goal, which is great considering the fact that they’re guards.

Jackson, a returning member for

the Rams, is averaging 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, which is a significant improvement from his averages last season, according to ESPN. In addition to these three guards, the team also has sophomore forward Toibu “Tobi” Lawal, freshman guard Michael Belle, sophomore guard Jason Nelson and freshman guard Alphonzo “Fats” Billups III, to name a few.

Now, I think an important area of improvement for the team is toughness.

The Rams lack a bit of aggressiveness when it comes to winning close games.

Great examples of this are their games against the University of Memphis and Norfolk State University.

In my opinion, they didn’t lose because they lacked the skill set or couldn’t perform, their loss came from their lack of grit and fight.

An o t h e r a re a o f i m p ro ve m e n t is consistency.

In a post-game press conference after an upset by St. Bonaventure University, Zeb Jackson talked about the team’s lack of consistency in their performance on the court.

He also mentioned that the team is still trying to find their identity since they are a new team.

So far this season, the black and gold have not lost by significant numbers.

The games have mostly been relatively close games.

The Rams performance this season shows they’re close to finding their sweet spot and once they do, it’ll be easier for them to keep up their consistency throughout games.

Again, when it’s a new team coming together with a new overall organization, all we can do is give them time to adapt and get things set in motion.

Overall, I believe the Rams are playing as well as they can for now, but by next season, I think we’ll see growth in their performance on the court and in the A-10 for the better.

VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AT LOYOLA CHICAGO WON 52-36

VCU MEN’S BASKETBALL AT LA SALLE WON 71-65

Wed. January 17, 2024

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On this day

Today in 1929, the “Popeye the Sailor” cartoon first appeared in “Thimble Theatre.”

VCU events honor MLK, inspire a beloved community

Lanterns glowed at the James Branch Cabell Library to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

EMILY MCCAULEY Spectrum Editor “It’s important to take the opportunity to celebrate the legacy and life of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Stephen Davenport, assistant vice president for social and economic development for the Division of Community Engagement at VCU. The Division of Community Engagement at VCU presents the Thriving Communities: The Legacy of MLK’s Beloved Community to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and his goal to create a beloved community with qualitative and quantitative change. The celebration will be at the Institute for Contemporary Art on Jan. 18 at 5 p.m., according to Davenport.

The new year brings reflection and Martin Luther King Jr. Day comes at an appropriate time to set the anchor for the work we want to accomplish moving forward with the rest of 2024, according to Davenport.

This year VCU selected a quote from Dr. King that reflects his ideology of thriving communities to use as a guide

for the year, according to Davenport. Dr. King’s quote reads, “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.”

We really will be bringing the community together to really envision the work of MLK and his concept of beloved community.”

Verenda Cobbs, senior manager for civic innovation and partnerships at VCU Davenport encourages VCU students to find whatever they are passionate about and understand how they can impact those systems in disruptive and impactful ways that don’t cause physical harm, he said.

“When you look at most political movements, they start on college campuses, so it’s really important that we continue that vitality, and I’m always encouraged when I see students engaged,” Davenport said.

The VCU Division of Community Engagement partnered with VCU Health, VCU students and faculty and the Richmond community to bring people together to celebrate and envision the work of Dr. King, according to Verenda Cobbs, senior manager for civic innovation and partnerships at VCU. “ We really will be bringing the community together to really envision the work of MLK and his concept of beloved community,” Cobbs said.

The keynote celebration features speeches from author, pastor and coach Vernon Gordon as well as a Fireside Chat with community leaders Micah “Bam Bamm” White, Dr. Shantell Chambliss, Damon Jiggetts and Enjoli Moon, according to Cobbs.

“We’ll bring those folks together for a conversation, and we will also have some entertainment, some live painting and a

reception, and it will be an opportunity for us to hear, but also be encouraged and inspired by the speakers that’ll be sharing with us,” Cobbs said.

The event’s goal is to bring the concept of love, justice and equality to VCU faculty, staff, students, community members and leaders together in one space for an evening of inspiration with a call to action, according to Cobbs.

“When you think of the life work of Martin Luther King Jr. he really was led and guided by non-violence — that was the premise for his focus and motivation,” Cobbs said. “He talked a lot about love and not continuing to move in a posture of hate.”

VCU Health System will present a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and community walk on Jan. 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. aiming to provide an opportunity and create a space for diversity, equity and inclusion, according to Dr. Marcelle Davis, the vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VCU Health.

The walk will start with Dr. Elliott giving opening remarks, and attendees plan to sing See MLK on page 8

Attendees, students and alumni marched along the streets in silence, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

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MLK Continued from page 7 and walk together as a beloved community while learning of Dr. King’s legacy and the work he has done for the civil rights movement, according to Davis.

“Together we will join our voices as we walk to learn our history together – that history is a part of our community — and it’s a part of us as a Richmond community and a part of our people — our leaders, our health system, et cetera,” Davis said.

Together we will join our voices as we walk to learn our history together – that history is a part of our community – a ­ nd it’s a part of us as a Richmond community and a part of our people – our leaders, our health system, et cetera.”

Dr. Marcelle Davis, vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VCU Health When we think about diversity, we think about difference, and because difference can make us uncomfortable, nonviolence is the way to get us talking and listening to each other, according to Davis.

“Dr. King’s approach is the most effective way to bring our community together to talk about the things that are plaguing us and to craft a path forward,” Davis said.

Dr. King was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Theta Rho chapter aims to make sure he is commemorated, according to Rayvean Graves, president of Theta Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at VCU. For the past seven years, Theta Rho has hosted a candlelit, silent march around campus to show solidarity and commemorate Dr. King, according to Graves.

The attendees prayed, hosted a silent vigil and had speaker Rev. William Marcus Smalls share about how life has changed since the Civil Rights Movement, according to Graves.

Participants stood to honor Martin Luther King Jr. while visual media played on a large screen. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

Dr. King’s approach is the most effective way to bring our community together to talk about the things that are plaguing us and to craft a path forward.”

Dr. Marcelle Davis, vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VCU Health

Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity led the march down West Broad St. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

The walk began at 6 p.m. at the Art Depot at 814 W. Broad St. on Jan. 15 and marched around the VCU Barnes and Noble, ending near the James Branch Cabell Library, where there were glowing lanterns all around the circle, according to Graves.

“I’m honored to be in a position where as a president I can plan a march for him,” Graves said. “A lot of things wouldn’t be the same if Martin Luther King wasn’t there.”

Attendees marched while commemorating Dr. King at the 7th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Silent Candlelit Vigil March. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

Candles glowed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

Wed. January 17, 2024

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Varied cinematic approaches, experimentation seen at long standing film showcase

Micheal Jones (far-left) on-stage with filmakers. Photos by Kyle Duncan.

KERRI GENTIUS Contributing Writer Content experimentation is encouraged at the James River Short Film Showcase by the James River Film Society, according to Michael Jones, co-founder and co-director of the society.

The showcase featured various short films utilizing varied cinematic approaches, including digital, stop-motion clay, hybrid animation and live-action films.

The James River Short Film Showcase premiered for its 29th year on Jan. 11 and 12 at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The event, co-sponsored by the Virginia Film Office and the JRFS, featured 10 films under 20 minutes from filmmakers from Virginia, Los Angeles, California and Paris, France, according to the JRFS website.

The short film showcase began in April 1994 by the JRFS. The organization consists of Richmond area university faculty members, media professionals and volunteers dedicated to the art of film,

according to the JRFS website.

The JRFS drew their inspiration for the showcase from Stan Brakhage’s short film “Mothlight,” according to Jones.

When you walk into Richmond — it just feels eclectic — it feels like artists shaped this space, so I think it is important to continue to support new aspiring artists and just continue to have arts as part of the community.”

Shawntell Griffin showcase attendee “Stan Brakhage made a film without

even using a camera,” Jones said. “It’s called ‘Mothlight.’ You watch that film for three minutes, and it’s like watching a moving abstract painting, and I think if anything is a real inspiration for us as far as the founding of the festival — it’s films like that.”

The annual event is the oldest juried competition in Virginia with many jurors sitting on the board for the last 25 years, Jones said.

Judging is subjective, but each entry receives at least two jury votes to advance to the next round, Jones said.

Winners of the showcase split a prize of $2000 as well as the chance to have their film showcased on the big screen, according to the JRFS website. The 1st place winner was “Judy’s Garden,” 2nd place was “Kill Time,” 3rd place was “Adieu Gaston” and 4th place was “Telephone Bingo.”

“It’s a very special tradition in this city that there’s a shorts program like this,” said Nick Daley, local film enthusiast turned filmmaker who submitted the short film “Judy’s Garden” to the competition. “I was

aware of it before I submitted. I always thought it was high-quality stuff, and the chance to screen at the museum is great.”

Showcasegoers had the chance to vote for the showcase’s People’s Choice Award, and the results are currently announced on the JRFS website.

The showcase gave actors their first chance to be on the big screen, said Jerazya Griffin, a showcase attendee.

“I really think the arts are important to the community and especially Richmond,” said showcase attendee Shawntell Griffin.“When you walk into Richmond — it just feels eclectic — it feels like artists shaped this space, so I think it is important to continue to support new aspiring artists and just continue to have arts as part of the community.”

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Jan 17th

CELEBRATION KICK OFF 12pm | LOBBY

TOTALLY TUBULAR! AN 80’S CELEBRATION 1-4pm | VIRGINIA ROOMS

Cake, IG scavenger hunt, time capsule, photo booth, and performance.

Custom airbrush activity, board games, food, giveaways, and prizes! Share what you see as a new Commons.

CELEBRATE THE 2000’S 1-4pm | RICHMOND SALONS

GAME ON AND GROOVE THROUGH THE 80’S 6-9pm | RAMS LOUNGE

Walk down memory lane with us and view photos taken in the Commons throughout the decades! Create your own memories with our photobooth and fun backdrops!

Karaoke, pizza, and giveaways.

Video games, board games, giveaways, and pizza!

For more information or questions, contact the University Student Commons at (804) 828-6500 or visit thecommons.vcu.edu

10

The Commonwealth Times

COUPLE FOUNDED EVENT TO SUPPORT, CREATE SPACE FOR ALL VENDORS SALMA ESCOTO Contributing Writer

Booths overflowing with handmade trinkets, vintage clothes and miscellaneous items for sale, all from local small businesses and vendors, took over Main Street Station at Swap Meet RVA.

I don’t want it to be something that my vendors relied on for six months and then is gone — so the goal was to find somewhere inside to be able to do it and that’s where I came across Main Street Station.”

Cameron Hadnot, Swap Meet RVA co-founder Swap Meet RVA took place on Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside of the station.

Local vendors of all backgrounds were welcome to sell their products — most selling vintage wear. The event also included food trucks, a live DJ and other sales, such as art and jewelry.

Swap Meet RVA hosts 70 to 75 vendors every month on a Sunday at the Main Street Station, according to the Swap Meet RVA website.

Husband and wife duo Cameron Hadnot and Deja Hadnot founded Swap Meet RVA with the intended purpose of giving small businesses and creators from all demographics the opportunity to participate as vendors, according to Cameron Hadnot.

The inspiration for Swap Meet RVA came from Cameron Hadnot’s hometown of Los Angeles, where he witnessed the growth of other flea markets, he said.

Swap Meet RVA was initially held outside during the summer of 2020, but they decided to host it inside to keep the market running year-round so vendors would have a reliable space for selling their products and a somewhat reliable income, according to Cameron Hadnot.

“I don’t want it to be something that my vendors relied on for six months and then is gone — so the goal was to find somewhere inside to be able to do it and that’s where I came across Main Street Station,” Cameron Hadnot said.

Having the indoor space at Main Street Station and the ability to run the market year-round has also been a gamechanger for the Hadnots and their business, according to Cameron Hadnot.

Flea markets such as Swap Meet RVA contribute to the artistic aspect of Richmond and offer a place for vendors and artists to follow and share their passions, according to Cameron Hadnot.

“I wanted to get the folks to get their vintage game out there – get your game out there, get a party, make it cool, live event, DJ music and all this kind of stuff,” Cameron Hadnot said.

Vendors utilize flea markets as a source of income and to share their artistic passions with others, according to John McKinney of Shop Lyric’s Boutique, a vendor at the market.

Having markets like Swap Meet RVA to make sales is convenient for Shop Lyric’s Boutique, McKinney said.

McKinney believes flea markets have not only positively impacted his business, but also his lifestyle, he said.

Participants sort through vintage clothing. Photo by Julia Garrett.

Artwork displayed throughout the train station. Photo by Julia Garrett.

Attendees at Swap Meet RVA. Photo by Julia Garrett.

Smiling vendors of Power of Vintage sell vintage clothing. Photo by Julia Garrett.

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12

The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he’s gone.”

— Steven Wright

DYLAN HOSTETTER Opinions Editor

Illustration by Dani Murphy.

Humor:

Going is on a real upturn. My awkwardness has garnered me seven dates just this month and they have all gone perfectly awful.

Girls now love it when I over-explain simple concepts which, if you did not know, is called “mansplaining.”

Maybe the best part is that for once in my life, my parents are actually proud of me, unlike my older brother who they now despise for being a successful dentist.

That is what you get, Carl! Who is going to get kicked out of Mom and Dad’s will for driving their life into the ground now, huh?

I have no plans of ever using that elevator again — I do not think I could ever go back to the real world. Walking up and down 15 flights of stairs to my dorm every day is totally worth it. I’ve even lost some weight.

If I have learned anything valuable from this experience, it is this: Sometimes it really pays to be an awful person.

Down

This was just another average morning for me — extremely late, totally unprepared and running on two hours of sleep and a breakfast of iced coffee and fruit snacks.

School, or life for that matter, was never really something that I was very good at.

But you see, things were about to change.

While riding the crowded elevator down to the lobby, I realized I had once again forgotten my laptop. As the doors slid open, I was caught in the wave of my peers and shoved out into the lobby where I quickly thumbed through my bookbag to confirm my fears.

I had to go back up for it. I rushed to press the elevator button but was too late to realize I had pressed the wrong one.

As the down arrow illuminated with a sly glow, I thought to myself: Why is there even a down button? This was the ground floor, after all.

The doors slid open with a cruel ding, and I had no choice but to step inside. I did not have the time to wait. As they closed and the elevator descended, an ominous feeling rose in my stomach.

Thinking back, it could have just been the iced coffee and fruit snacks.

It went down only one floor, the lights flickered and when the doors opened I was seemingly right back in the lobby — though something felt a little off. At this point I decided to bail on my laptop, it was not like it was really going to help me much when I was failing everything anyway.

Things got weird when I arrived at my first class of the day — 30 minutes late. Normally such a tardy arrival would have been met with a disapproving glance from my professor and groans from all my classmates that I had to squeeze past to get to my seat.

Instead, my late arrival was met with a grand applause. My professor approached me with a large blue ribbon which she pinned to my shirt. She explained to me that I was the first student in the history of her career to have an unbroken tardy streak of an entire semester. She was genuinely proud — I was bewildered.

Things only got weirder as finals week progressed and grades were released. Of course, I failed every test horribly, even my single-credit physical education course wherein all I had to do was list 10 exercises we had learned.

Seems easy enough, but I soon ran out of real exercises that I remembered and resorted to making up fake ones. To say I was less than confident in “Three Hour iPad Scroll” and “Chick-fil-A Chest Press” would be an understatement.

Here is the crazy thing: I was lauded for my bad grades. My classmates were jealous that I was the only student who had failed all of my finals so horribly, for they had only gotten C’s and D’s. Some of them even — dare I say — passed their tests.

Now, I may have failed all my exams and just about every other test I have ever taken in my life, but I do not consider myself a moron. It is clear to me that the elevator ride somehow transported me to a parallel universe where my negative actions yielded positive outcomes. Some people would be freaking out, but I am in heaven.

Good grades are now a bad thing and tardiness is celebrated. My GPA of 0.3 now sits me at the top of my class. Continuing at this rate, I am set to graduate Summa Cum Laude. My complete lack of experience now puts me ahead in the job market — I could be president one day!

This newfound luck even extends beyond the classroom — my dating life

Wed. January 17, 2024

Illustration by Mikayla Lindsey.

A brand new FAFSA: The good, the bad, the ugly

NATI FELICIANO-SOTO Contributing Writer Since the devastating pandemic of 2020, an economic crisis has taken over the United States and caused many hardworking Americans and eligible noncitizens to express concern over the affordability of college.

In response, FAFSA has created a new system that hopes to change the way Americans and eligible non-citizens can pursue their education.

The new — mostly unhelpful — updates to the 2024-2025 FAFSA mainly focus on simplifying the application process and expanding eligibilit y. S pecific alter ations included modifications to income protection allowances, adjustments to the Simplified Needs Test and potential changes in Expected Family Contribution.

Some of these changes, such as possible complexities in determining eligibility criteria, might end up hurting certain demographics more than they help them. For example, adjustments to income protection allowances might negatively affect aid calculations for various income brackets.

Precisely determining financial needs becomes a significant challenge as there

is a lack of necessary adjustments to effectively address the ongoing problem of inflation. The status of the economy is constantly fluctuating, moving from periods of grace to resembling a recession — which affects the job markets of our contributors.

Those with complex family financial structures, such as those receiving multiple sources of income or with non-traditional family arrangements, may find it challenging to accurately represent their financial situation on the new FAFSA. Despite these negative changes, the new changes aimed at improving accessibility and accuracy in determining financial aid for all working-class Americans and eligible non-citizens are working some-what better.

For example, it provides earlier visibility into Pell Grant eligibility, which allows low-income students to have a clearer understanding of the financial aid they can receive and facilitates better-informed decisions about college affordability and enrollment.

As a newly-wed student, the new FAFSA process was very straightforward for me because of its minimization of questions. I didn’t have to worry about the thousands of confusing assets or residency questions that, in previous

years, had my parents and me crying in a ball.

While I do appreciate the benefits, I find myself largely dissatisfied about the changes because of the misrepresentation that is created by the inaccurate picture of one’s financial situation.

For instance, FAFSA applicants should not be required to list a contributor if they are an independent.

Listing a contributor as an independent or independently married student, when they are not financially contributing, can potentially impact the accuracy of financial aid assessments being default.

I find needing a contributor signature at all to be very unnecessary, as unlike in previous years, my contributor — which is my spouse — will not be expected to contribute anything to my educational expenses.

Also, if I became a recipient of Pell Grants and other means of government assistance, I do not understand why a contributor is a necessity.

One thing that additionally became aggravating was the amount of crashes and bugs that were present throughout the process. Despite battling through the mishaps due to these crashes and bugs, I am still currently being prevented from getting my contributor’s signature to complete the entire process.

Nevertheless, it’s evident that the Federal Student Aid office needs to address these serious concerns that many other college students have pointed out via social media platforms such as TikTok. Rather than doing so, FAFSA simply streamlined the number of questions students encounter in the application process.

I empathize with their frustration, especially those who may be dependents or have parents without a social security number.

Instances such as the inability to include siblings on the form or seeking leniency for those living with undocumented parents highlight the need for a more tailored approach to the individual circumstances that may impact a student’s financial needs.

Training their customer service specialists on these new changes so they may offer better help to apprehensive students, along with extending the deadline, are ways the Federal Student Aid office could begin addressing these concerns.

13

14

The Commonwealth Times

New year! New me?

DYLAN HOSTETTER Opinions Editor

It’s not only the beginning of a new year but also a new semester. Many students are returning bright-eyed and bushytailed from their time at home, ready to tackle their new schedules, while others may find themselves dreading the return to campus.

For those who do find themselves in a less-than-positive mindset, I believe there are steps that can be taken to ensure a positive and healthy spring semester.

Though it may be a bit cliché, let us call them “New Year’s Resolutions.”

MENTAL HEALTH While it’s easy to let the stresses of a new semester and new schedule overwhelm you, there are steps you can take to keep your mental health in check.

January is the month of mental wellness after all, so let that take priority and make a promise to yourself to take your mental health seriously.

Starting a meditation routine is a great way to keep your sanity in check. Take just a few minutes away from that essay to sit in silence and clear your mind. Not only will this calm you down, but it may even open your mind enough to lead to a breakthrough in that thesis.

Find a study buddy. Isolating yourself with your work only increases the weight of all of your responsibilities. Forming a study group, whether that be roommates or classmates, can help lift that weight

and give you someone to not only bounce ideas off of but share the stress with.

No matter your schedule, you will find yourself with some free time. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through your phone, take the time to commit to a hobby.

Learn to crochet — make a blanket or hat. If you must be on your phone, learn a new language through one of many apps.

In the end, accomplishing something outside of your academic pursuits will not only make you a more well-rounded person but also fill you with a sense of satisfaction.

Organize your space. Whether you live in a dorm or apartment, clutter is harmful to your mental well-being.

A clean space is a clean mind after all.

Take that pile of dirty clothes and put them in a hamper. While you’re at it, take that pile of clean clothes and fold it!

about your packed schedule. If you feel uncomfortable working out in public, there are plenty of alternative at-home workouts that will get the job done.

Promise yourself that you’ll eat at restaurants other than Chick-fil-A. Look, I get it, their chicken sandwich is the best thing you’ve ever tasted but there are plenty of fantastic restaurants waiting around every corner in Richmond, so check them out!

A healthy eating habit is just that — healthy. I’m sorry, but the two pickles on that chicken sandwich don’t count as your vegetables for the week. Committing to more health-conscious meals not only

PHYSICAL HEALTH Just because many people use the excuse of the new year to commit to a gym routine doesn’t mean that you can’t do the same. Every student has access to the Cary Street Gym, so why not use it?

Time at the gym is a good way to clear your mind. You are one scan away from not only breaking a sweat but breaking through all of your stresses ADVERTISEMENT

aids your physical fitness but also — you guessed it — helps your mental health too.

Now, I’m not going to throw all of these resolutions your way without following some of them myself — that would make me a hypocrite. I plan to start a meditation routine and diversify my meals beyond chicken sandwiches and apple juice. It’ll be hard, but in the end, it’ll be good for me.

Don’t ask me to hit the gym though, I’m saving that resolution for 2025.

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

Wed. January 17, 2024

THE CT STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR Peggy Stansbery stansberyp@commonwealthtimes.org

Spring Semester by Anthony Duong

MANAGING EDITOR Katie Farthing farthingk@commonwealthtimes.org COPY EDITOR Nevaeh Bouie farthingk@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Jack Glagola news@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Thai Wilson sports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Emily McCauley spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS EDITOR Dylan Hostetter opinions@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Arrick Wilson photography@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Andrew Kerley audience@commonwealthtimes.org

ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Killian Goodale-Porter illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org STAFF WRITERS Bersabeh Kemaw

New Semester by Emily Belson

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER DESIGN EDITOR Solimar Santoyo designerssmc@vcu.edu GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Victor Romanko Olivia McCabe Gabriel Molina Solimar Santoyo designerssmc@vcu.edu DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Jessica Clary claryj@vcu.edu CREATIVE MEDIA MANAGER Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu BUSINESS 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.

Distraction by Killian Goodale-Porter

ADD YOUR VOICE The opinions pages of the CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Kofi Mframa, 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.

COPYRIGHT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning, editorially independent student news source for Virginia Commonwealth University. All editorial content is determined and produced by students.

Opinions expressed in The Commonwealth Times are not necessarily those of the college. All content © 1968-2023 The Commonwealth Times. No part of The Commonwealth Times may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

All rights reserved.

15

16

The Commonwealth Times

POSTED

By Darryl Gonzalez

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle

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L o s A n g e l e s Ti m e s Sunday Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol POSTED by Darryl Gonzalez

POSTED

Level 1

2

3

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol

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4

Level

Sudoku

1 3

By The Mepham Group

3

4

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

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

1/17/24

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

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

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2

4

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1

2

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

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