The Commonwealth Times; October 20, 2021

FY21 Sponsored Funding by Department

BUSINESS $872,118.00

SOCIAL WORK $1,150,236.00

NURSING $2,762,685.00 CHP $4,191,917.00

DENTISTRY $4,876,699.00

PHARMACY $9,372,761.00

VCU RECEIVES $363 MILLION IN RESEARCH FUNDS; 25% INCREASE SINCE 2018

LINDSEY WEST

Contributing Writer

THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED A RECORD amount of research funds collected, totaling about $363 million for the 2021 fiscal year. Nearly all VCU departments received an increase in research budget, according to P. Srirama Rao, VCU’s vice president for research and innovation.

VCU departments that received funding include business, social work, nursing, the college of health professions, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, the college of humanities and sciences, arts, medicine, and government and public affairs. Medicine received the most funding with over $183 million.

Various VCU schools and departments received the research grants for their proposed research ideas on July 1, the start of the fiscal year, Rao said.

According to Rao, who has no relation to VCU President Michael Rao, the money came from national funding, state funding and funding from industry or foundations gifts. For example, the Massey Cancer Center received national funding from the National Cancer Institute.

“They [researchers] compete on the national scene and they receive this funding,” Rao said. “So for instance, if you are a fac ulty in mass communication and you wrote a grant and you got funded this time around from a national agency, the funding would flow to your col lege or school.”

The university’s research funding totals $362,906,366. VCU ranks highly in research funding in com parison to other public research universities, Rao said.

According to the National Sci ence Foundation, VCU ranks No. 64 for Higher Education Research and Development expenditures for pub lic institutions.

VCU’s MCV campus received more funding than the Monroe Park campus, however the Monroe Park research funds, including the College of Engineering, the College of Humanities and Sciences and the School of Business, have been increasing, Rao said. The Qatar campus receives funding from the Qatar Foundation.

engineering and systems biology, according to his faculty biography.

Fong is the director of the Center for Integrative Life Sciences Education (CILSE) and the Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program at VCU.

VCU departments and schools are continuously beginning research projects and ideas as well as working on studies that have already begun. Fong has been working on a collaborative project with the Science Museum of Virginia and the University of Richmond, analyzing the heat levels across Richmond and the subsequent impacts on health.

“This summer we were going around and measuring air quality, using air quality sensors in a similar fashion, which can be linked to things like respiratory illness, asthma, other things like that,” Fong said. “So we were also trying to figure out if there’s variation on air quality and related illnesses on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, essentially.”

Both undergraduate and graduate students have the chance to become involved in research at VCU, Fong said.

“The medical school was roughly half of the entire 363 [million],” Rao said, “so they are the biggest recipient of funding. Following the medical school, it was the school of education, en gineering and humanities and sciences, if you look at our dual campuses.”

The university is partici pating in a handful of ongo ing research projects. One includes research by Stephen Fong, a professor in the department of chemical and life science engineering specializing in metabolic

“It really becomes an opportunity for undergraduates and graduate students to be doing things outside of the classroom, to be having experiences that are really value-added that you just don’t get by reading about it,” Fong said.

The application process for receiving research grants presents research opportunities to many institutions, professionals and students. Proposals tend to be 15 to 25 pages of scientific or scholarly content, a budget and paperwork related to VCU research, Fong said. is funding that they’ve been successful at obtaining by going through that process of writing a proposal, getting it reviewed and getting it funded,” Fong said.

See RESEARCH on page 3

ENGINEERING $31,368,257.00

EDUCATION $35,536,647.00

CHS $22,338,517.00

ARTS (INCLUDES VCUQ) $40,046,399.00

MEDICINE $183,412,511.00

WILDER $2,067,189.00

OTHER (OVPRI, PROVOST, FINANCE) $24,910,430.00

VP FOR FINANCE & ADMIN $239,353.00

VP FOR RESEARCH $21,046,855.00

PROVOST OFFICE $918,743.00

VP FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS $440,000.00

VP FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS $2,265,479.00

TOTAL $362,906,366.00

It really becomes an opportunity for undergraduates and graduate students to be doing things outside of the classroom, to be having experiences that are really value-added that you just don’t get by reading about it.”

Stephen Fong, Director of the Center for Integrative Life Sciences Education

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Stories of the week

national: Jury selection for those charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery — Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan — has begun in Georgia. international: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro is set to face homicide charges by a Brazilian congressional panel, which is accusing him of willfully letting COVID-19 kill hundreds of thousands in an attempt to gain herd immunity.

Little Ram Pantries pilot program aims to combat food insecurity among VCU students

KATHARINE DEROSA

News Editor

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROFESsor John Jones said the only times he felt food secure growing up were when he was on his university’s meal plan, which was funded by the student loans Jones is still paying off.

Now, Jones is working to address food insecurity on VCU’s campus and destigmatize the use of the campus food pantry by creating miniature versions readily available in various campus locations. The miniature versions are called “Little Ram Pantries.”

Food insecurity is defined as a social condition of uncertain or limited access to food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“A lot of administrators or adults in the regular world, who went to college, think that you know, college kids eating ramen is kind of like a right of passage, that’s just kind of like what has to happen, and I think that that’s actually pretty awful,” Jones said.

Jones said he was affectionately known as “Soup” by his housemates during college — because of the amount of soup he ate on a daily basis.

Little Ram Pantries is a pilot program that extends the university’s food pantry across campus. The Little Ram Pantries are boxes located in five different indoor locations on campus, according to Jones. The locations include the James Branch Cabell Library, Academic Learning Commons, Cary Street Gym, Cary & Belvidere residence hall and the University Student Commons.

Students can open up the boxes and either take food or leave food. Only nonperishable items can be donated, Jones said.

Jones said he wishes the “idea” of having emergency access to food or nutritional

assistance would “fade into the background of day-to-day life at VCU” in the coming years.

“A student sees another student, getting some food out of the pantry. Nobody thinks twice about it. It’s just like getting The Commonwealth Times out of the box,” Jones said. “Not weird or strange or any sort of negative affiliation at all.”

Jones said he was first inspired to develop the idea when he was on a walk around the Church Hill neighborhood last December. He saw someone put food into a pantry there.

“I was still very surprised that it existed and that people were actively putting food in there,” Jones said.

More than just food can be donated to the pantries, Jones said. The program is also encouraging students to donate or take various hygiene items to the boxes, including menstrual products.

“The pink tax is real,” Jones said. “We need to be doing a job of making sure that those products are available for the people that need those products.”

Success of the Little Ram Pantries program is being measured by sensors located inside the doors, Jones said. The sensors track when the boxes are opened and closed to measure how often people are either taking products out of or putting products in the pantries. The sensors were developed by engineering student Lauren Linkous, Jones said.

Jones also said there is a virtual survey that he encourages students to take to help provide feedback on the pantries.

Youngmi Kim, a professor in the School of Social Work, has an interest in food insecurity, according to her faculty biography. Recent research of hers show that 35% of students are experiencing food insecurity, according to VCU News. Jones said Kim’s research was a factor in his idea to establish Little Ram Pantries.

“But with more than 35% of VCU students suffering from food insecurity, I was pretty motivated to try to come up with some way of trying to help mitigate that problem,” Jones said.

Kim worked on a presentation with Kaija Craft, alumna of the School of Social Work graduate program, and Jennifer Murphy, a doctoral student in the School of Social Work, titled “Food is Last on My List.” The project, which was released this year, is focused on food insecurity on an urban college campus, according to the VCU Scholars Compass, which exhibits student and faculty research.

“Students discussed often picking quick, easy and less healthy options because they were so involved with their responsibilities,” Craft said in the presentation.

This research was done in conjunction with the Sustainable Food Access Transdisciplinary Core at the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry, and Innovation, otherwise known as iCubed, which provided faculty support for Jones’ work with the Little Ram Pantries. Other support for Jones’ work was funded by the Office of Community Engagement and VCU Service Learning, Jones stated in an email.

How are we supposed

Junior English major Althea Laughon-Worrell said they’ve never been to the Ram Pantry and haven’t been inclined to visit because they previously lived at home, and groceries were not a concern for them.

“I haven’t needed to use it because I’ve been fortunate enough that my parents are willing to help me out and I also have a job,

so I am also working, so with the two of those I haven’t had to experience any food insecurity,” Laughon-Worrell said. They said they believe more can be done to support students in their nutritional needs. However, Laughon-Worrell said they grocery shop for four days at a time so they don’t see themselves having extra goods to donate.

Senior English major Kaitlyn Diana said she remembers feeling hungry late at night when she lived in a dorm because of how far away the closest grocery store was.

“I literally ate cereal with water one time because I was so hungry and I had nothing else to eat,” Diana said.

She called the idea of the hungry college kids “stupid” and referred to how it’s in complete oppositon to the idea of the “freshman 15” in which college freshmen gain 15 pounds their first semester.

“How are we supposed to be struggling college kids who don’t eat, but also gain 15 pounds of weight, because all we’re doing is eating in college?” Diana said. “It’s a paradox that makes no sense.”

Jones said he’s hopeful the “narrative of a hungry college student” is diminished through the access to food and he feels hopeful for the Little Ram Pantries’ results.

“I’ve got a strong suspicion that it is going to do something,” Jones said. “So I think we’re on the right track.”

Donations can be made to the Little Ram Pantries, or the main Ram Pantry at any time. People can also donate to the main Ram Pantry through its Amazon.com wishlist.

to be struggling college kids who don’t eat, but also gain 15 pounds of weight, because all we’re doing is eating in college? It’s a paradox that makes no sense.”

Kaitlyn Diana, senior English major

Little Ram Pantries are satellite versions of VCU’s food pantry. Students are encouraged to take food if they are in need. Photo by Megan Lee

The Little Ram Pantries pilot program began on Oct. 8. The pantries are located across campus. Photo by Megan Lee

New living-learning program combines former programs into one

VARSHA VASUDEVAN

Contributing Writer

THE NEWEST STUDENT LIVINGlearning program, VCU Transform, was launched this fall. VCU Transform focuses on “leadership potential” and “career readiness” for its members, university spokesperson Matt Lovisa stated in an email.

The three former living-learning programs, VCU ASPiRE, VCU LEAD and VCU Globe, have merged into this single new LLP, according to the VCU Division of Student Affairs. The reason for merging the programs was to create a single program with a common mission, according to Director of VCU Transform James Gahagan. Gahagan became director of the LEAD LLP in 2015 and was hired as director of Transform in 2021.

“There’s an interconnection between the themes of the LLPs,” Gahagan said. “We want to refine those themes and also help students with deep experiential learning.”

The program aims to assist students in pursuing career and research opportunities, according to Lovisa. The LLP has already welcomed 43 students in the fall and plans to welcome 150 to 400 students in the fall of 2022, Lovisa stated in an email.

The VCU Division of Student Affairs website states that in order to stay in the VCU Transform program, students must be enrolled at VCU for at least two years, register for a nine to 12 credit curriculum, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and also stay in West Grace North Residence Hall.

A total of 60 “beyond-the-classroom” hours must be completed, for activities such as connecting with local Richmond leaders or otherwise serving the greater Richmond community. Members must also complete a “pathway experience,” which may be entrepreneurship, community service, peer leadership, research, an internship or studying abroad, and construct and submit an ePortfolio.

“The intent is to keep the best elements of the former programs and include new elements that will enhance the student experience,” Lovisa stated. “The essence of the LLPs will be retained: living, learning and engaging together.”

The Student Affairs Blog states that all expenses for VCU Transform come from the cost of on-campus housing in Grace and Broad Residence Center and the fees for the courses necessary to meet the required academic credits. There is no payment for the program itself.

Junior psychology major Taquoia Kilby has been in the Globe program since the second semester of her freshman year, and said in an interview that she was concerned about not being able to

graduate from the program due to the merging of the programs.

“Since the communities are merging, a lot of the programs like Globe are trying to speed up the graduation process by telling students to double up on Globe courses, and if we don’t, then there’s a possibility that we may not graduate from the program,” Kilby said. “To think that I may not be able to graduate from the program because they went to merge programs is very annoying.”

“A lot of the lectures or some of the programmatic events that we’re doing in Transform, we’re also offering to Globe and ASPiRE and LEAD students as well to make sure that they finish,” Gahagan said. “We’re also providing opportunities like, you know, different kinds of service opportunities and leadership opportunities so that they can get their co-curricular hours.”

The Division of Student Affairs website states that students who are currently enrolled in VCU ASPiRE, VCU LEAD or VCU Globe may complete their certificate and program as it had been initially outlined. However, those applying in the fall 2021 cohort will follow a new curriculum that is unique to VCU Transform.

Since the former programs began off campus for most students, due to COVID-19, students in those programs are given the flexibility to opt in or out of on-campus housing, according to Gahagan. However, because VCU Transform was launched this fall, VCU Transform students are required to live on campus.

According to the Student Affairs Blog, students currently participating in the former living-learning programs moved to Grace and Broad Residence Center on Aug. 1. The spaces that were occupied by VCU ASPiRE and VCU Globe have been returned for other upperclassman housing.

The Division of Student Affairs website states that VCU Transform provides apartment-style housing, early registration for classes and lectures and trips offered only to Transform members.

Kilby stated in an interview that she doesn’t prefer the merging of the programs and that they would be more effective as separate programs.

Gahagan said that the committees for each program are working to ensure that students will be able to complete the programs by providing access to more courses and opportunities in the program that would fulfill their credit requirements.

Any undergraduate student with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA and at least two years remaining at VCU is eligible to apply for VCU Transform. Applications opened on Oct. 11 and will close on Feb. 22, 2022. The application can be accessed on the Division of Student Affairs website.

RESEARCH

VCU RECEIVES $363 MILLION

IN RESEARCH FUNDS; 25% INCREASE SINCE 2018

LINDSEY WEST

Contributing Writer

Continued from front page

Another research study is from VCU Health’s Smell and Taste Disorders Center, which is tracking the long-term effects COVID-19 has on sense of smell. The study has found that individuals under 40 are more likely to fully recover their loss of smell from COVID-19.

Co-researcher on the study, Evan Reiter, stated in a VCU Health press release that four out of five people infected with

COVID-19 regained their sense of smell within six months.

“However, 20% is still a lot of people, given the millions that have been afflicted with COVID-19,” Reiter stated.

COVID-19 shutdowns originally hindered the researchers’ ability to access lab equipment and other resources, according to Rao.

“There were some who were able to do computational research where all they needed was a computer from where they were in their homes, but a number of them had to work in labs; for them, it was a huge problem,” Rao said.

On the contrary, COVID-19 provided many opportunities to study the virus itself and virus-related topics, according to Rao. “Whether it had to do with vaccines or tri als or issues related to rental evictions or labor issues, or issues that the elderly were facing, they [researchers] quickly came up with op portunities for addressing that,” Rao said.

A webinar will be held by P. Srirama Rao and VCU President Michael Rao on Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. to discuss future research plans, including interdisciplinary research between schools. Questions regarding research fund allocations can be submitted through the webinar’s sign-up page.

The intent is to keep the best elements of the former programs and include new elements that will enhance the student experience.”

Matt Lovisa, VCU spokesperson

Two student dorms, West Grace North and West Grace South, face each other on Grace Street. The buildings used to house students in the VCU Globe and ASPiRE programs, respectively. Photo by Jay Stonefield

Students in the VCU Transform living-learning program are required to live on campus while in the program. Photo by Jay Stonefield

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

COVID-19 booster shots now available at Richmond Raceway Community Vaccination Center

MAE OETJENS

Contributing Writer

THE RICHMOND AND HENRICO HEALTH Districts recently reopened its mass vaccination center at the Richmond Raceway, known as the Community Vaccination Center, according to the RHHD website.

The CVC is offering the initial COVID-19 vaccines as well as booster shots to those eligible for them. The Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson primary vaccines will all be available to anyone 12 years old and older at the CVC, according to VDH.

The CVC reopened on Oct. 12 and is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., according to VDH.

Availability for a booster shot is dependent on age, medical conditions and employment or residential setting, according to the Virginia Department of Health. In Virginia, anyone over the age of 65 or those living in a longterm care facility is eligible for a booster shot. Additionally, individuals ages 18 to 64 with underlying medical conditions can receive a booster dose. Underlying medical conditions that may put people at high risk for COVID-19 include chronic diseases, cancer, pregnancy and substance use disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Virginia’s requirements for who can get the booster vaccine are the same as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to both websites.

Eligible VCU health science and university students will be able to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from the university starting Nov. 1, according to VCU spokesperson Dedrain Davis.

“We offer both free COVID and Flu vaccines to all students through our Student Health clinics on each campus,” Davis stated. “We continue to partner with VCU Health System who supply the vaccines for our COVID vaccination clinics.”

On Sept. 22, the FDA officially authorized the emergency use of a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. It was previously granted Emergency Use Authorization on Dec. 11, 2020.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster cannot be administered until six months after the two primary doses of the vaccine.

On Oct. 15, a FDA panel called the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted unanimously to authorize the Johnson & Johnson vaccine booster shot, according to the FDA’s website. The Johnson & Johnson shot is available to adults 18 and older who received the initial single-dose vaccine at least two months before, according to the company’s website.

The raceway can serve as a larger administration site for vaccines to ensure that everybody has access.”

The CDC and the FDA have not released information on vaccine mixing, or the act of getting a dose from a different company than the initial dose. However, the CDC has advised against vaccine mixing for the two primary doses of the vaccine.

The FDA is expected to announce an approval for booster vaccine mixing, according to The Washington Post. The FDA has not released an official statement on vaccine mixing as of Oct. 19.

Amy Popovich, a nurse manager at the RHHD, said the Raceway CVC is reopening because of its previous success in administering vaccines. Popovich said that the recent addition of the vaccine boosters is a reason for the CVC reopening.

“It is a way to ensure access for our community and for the broader Richmond area. Also for when the Pfizer vaccine gets authorized for five to 11 year olds,” Popovich said. “The raceway can serve as a larger administration site for vaccines to ensure that everybody has access.”

Popovich said the CVC was originally closed in May because of the progress made in vaccinations, leading RHHD to focus on smaller clinics. There have been over 12 million vaccine doses administered in Virginia and over 124,000 people in Richmond City have received a first dose, according to the VDH.

“The Raceway gave over 165,000 vaccines from January until the end of May,” Popovich said. “The strategy of vaccines changed once it was available for everyone.”

According to the VDH, 62.2% of Richmond City adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine. In Henrico County, 77.7% of adults have received at least one dose.

Popovich said RHHD is still seeing people coming in for initial doses of the vaccines. RHHD has been conducting surveys with these people to see why they are going in for a vaccine now.

“About a third of folks are coming in because of it being mandated at their place of employment or a school setting. About a third are coming in because of family and friends encouraging them to get it and a third are various other reasons, including travel,” Popovich said.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the COVID-19 booster vaccine is an additional dose of the initial vaccine. The booster shot is meant to develop more antibodies to protect an individual from COVID-19.

“Typically, you would get a booster after the immunity from the initial dose(s) naturally starts to wane. The booster is designed to help people maintain their level of immunity for longer,” stated Dr. Lisa Maragakis and Dr. Gabor David Kelen of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots, visit the CDC, FDA and the VDH websites.

Richmond City Vaccinations

Vaccine Doses Administered

People With At Least One Dose

237,714

124,871 People Fully Vaccinated

People With Booster/Third Dose

113,381

7,790

numbers.

Amy Popovich, Nurse manager at Richmond and Henrico Health Districts

Richmonders receive their COVID-19 vaccine at the Richmond Raceway on April 13. The vaccination center at the Raceway reopened on Oct. 12. Photos by Enza Marcy

ARRICK WILSON Contributing Writer

POPCORN IS POPPING, THE PEPPAS ARE playing and the Stuart C. Siegel Center is filling up with fans. For the first time in almost a year, VCU basketball is back in full force with rowdy Ram fans. Havoc basketball is back in Richmond once again.

“How long have we been waiting for this?” said men’s basketball head coach Mike Rhoades in his season-opening introduction speech to Ram Nation fans in their seats.

On Saturday, the men’s basketball team opened up the season with their annual Black and Gold scrimmage, filled with fans for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main event was six segments of 4-minute scrimmages that involved all players switching teams. The switching allowed viewers to catch up on some of the newcomers to the program.

The game featured newcomers like freshman guards Jayden Nunn and Nick Kern as well as freshman forward Jalen DeLoach, who all made a combined 23 points throughout the scrimmage. Nunn was seen playing the point guard position, running the offense at times for the duration of the game.

“Jayden [Nunn] is a freshman point guard. He can guard the ball and he can make plays. You see him get in the lane and all that stuff, you just got to continue to make the game easier and you’re a student of the game, which he is,” Rhoades said during a postgame press conference.

Nunn will have a big impact on the team in the guard position, as sophomore guard Ace Baldwin is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon injury from early June, according to VCU Athletics. Baldwin is making progress, as he was seen

Men’s basketball program debuts new team at Black and Gold scrimmage

getting up shots before the scrimmage, and is scheduled to be back in action in early January, according to Rhoades.

“He’s done a good job of following the plan. He’s been working really hard and I’m very proud of him,” Rhoades said of Baldwin’s progress with his injury.

Win the [A-10] league, man. How about that? You know, let’s go win the league.”

Mike Rhoades, head coach

The Rams also lost key contributors sophomore forward Jamir Watkins and redshirt-sophomore guard Jarren McAllister, on account of ACL injuries. Rhoades explained how the freshmen are getting used to the “next man up” mentality with the three players out.

Rhoades said he believes that his younger freshmen players have realized that they have to step up and play in response to the injuries.

“Those guys have done a good job of finding where they fit in and how they can help impact winning and help the team,” Rhoades said.

Another key newcomer is transfer and junior guard Marcus Tsohonis, who had five points in the scrimmage. Tsohonis transferred from the University of Washington, where he averaged 9.2 points in his first two seasons. Tsohonis played both the point and shooting guard positions during the scrimmage, running the offense with Nunn.

A returning key player observed during the scrimmage was junior forward Hason Ward, who had 15 points, eight

rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Last season, Ward was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference AllDefensive Team.

Senior forward Vince Williams Jr. had 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Williams was the sec ond-leading scorer for the Rams last year and was named to the A-10 All-Conference Third Team.

Senior guard KeShawn Curry also had an energetic 16 points and five rebounds. Curry played aggressively at the rim, throwing down two massive dunks for the Rams. On many occasions, Curry scored off-the-dribble and finished with ease in the paint.

Along with the scrimmage game, there was a 3-point contest between the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The winner of this contest was junior guard Arnold Henderson VI of the men’s program, who outscored everyone else from downtown for the win.

The Rams will try to bring their 10th all-time conference tournament cham pionship win, as well as their second A-10 championship win since their first in 2015.

Rhoades wants the most out of this upcoming season with respect to confer ence play goals.

“Win the [A-10] league, man. How about that? You know, let’s go win the league,” said Rhoades.

The Rams will have a chance this season to showcase their work from the offseason, playing some of the top teams in the A-10 lineup, such as reigning conference champions St. Bonaventure, who defeated the Rams in the A-10 tournament final last season.

Stat of the week

Volleyball senior Alyna Draper and freshman Kialah Jefferson have been named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week and Co-Rookie

Left: Graduate forward Levi Stockard III attempts a layup during the Black and Gold intrasquad scrimmage. Right: Senior guard KeShawn Curry looks to attempt a dunk during the annual intrasquad scrimmage. Photos by Alessandro Latour and Megan Lee

THE WAIT IS OVER: Basketball is back at the Siegel Center

GAME RESULTS

OCTOBER 14

WOMEN’S SOCCER - VS. FORDHAM

WON 1-0

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 15

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

8TH OF 9

XC23 INVITATIONAL

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

8TH OF 8

XC23 INVITATIONAL

VOLLEYBALL - AT SAINT LOUIS

WON 3-0

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 16

MEN’S SOCCER - AT GEORGE MASON

WON 1-0 (OT)

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 17

MEN’S TENNIS

OVERALL 14-3

ITA REGIONALS

FIELD HOCKEY - AT SAINT LOUIS

LOST 1-0

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

WOMEN’S SOCCER - AT LA SALLE WON 1-0

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 19

MEN’S SOCCER - VS. UNCW WON 2-1 (OT)

UPCOMING GAMES

OCTOBER 20

VOLLEYBALL - VS. AMERICAN 6 p.m.

OCTOBER 21

WOMEN’S SOCCER - AT DAVIDSON 7 p.m.

ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 22

GOLF

Oct. 22-23

GRANDOVER INTERCOLLEGIATE (Greensboro, N.C.)

MEN’S TENNIS

Oct. 22-25

ITA SUPER REGIONALS (Norfolk, Va.)

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Oct. 22-25

ITA SUPER REGIONALS (Charlottesville, Va.)

FIELD HOCKEY - VS. WAKE FOREST 3 p.m.

Sophomore guard Josh Banks looks to score for the gold team during the annual intrateam scrimmage. Photo by Megan Lee

From left to right: freshman forward Jalen DeLoach, senior guard KeShawn Curry and freshman guard Nick Kern. Photo by Megan Lee

The VCU cheer team performs in between rounds of play during the Black and Gold game.

Photo by Megan Lee

Senior forward Vince Williams Jr. protects the ball from sophomore guard Josh Banks. Photo by Megan Lee

Senior guard KeShawn Curry takes possession for the black team during the intrateam scrimmage. Photo by Megan Lee

Junior forward Hason Ward takes possession after a black team foul.

Photo by Megan Lee

Junior forward Jimmy Nichols Jr. dribbles up the court toward the black team’s offense. Photo by Megan Lee

Sophomore forward Mikeal Brown-Jones attempts to block a shot by junior guard Marcus Tsohonis. Photo by Megan Lee

On this day

In 1964, Vice President Kamala Harris was born.

‘The Cardinal Club’ exhibition celebrates Asian stories, highlights VCU’s Asian community

JIANA SMITH Staff Writer

EORGE KUBO WAS A PRIVATE MAN, EVEN TO his own family. A survivor of the Japanese internment camps in World War II, Kubo set aside his dreams of film school to become an accountant and live a quiet life in Detroit, Michigan, according to his granddaughter Bella Kubo.

When George Kubo died in 1998 and one-third of the attendants at his funeral turned out to be from “The Cardinal Club,” a semi-secret Japanese golf community of which he was a member, his family was surprised, Bella Kubo said.

“[The Cardinal Club] became this symbol for this community that wasn’t spoken of,” said Bella Kubo, a VCU kinetic imaging graduate student.

Inspired by 8 mm film footage shot by George Kubo of his fellow golf club members, Bella Kubo curated the exhibit, “The Cardinal Club,” which explores how narratives across the Asian diaspora affect one’s sense of self and sense of community.

“I want people to be aware of different Asian histories and narratives,” Bella Kubo said.

“The Cardinal Club” exhibition de rives its name from the golf club in Detroit, which was composed of Jap anese-American golfers, according to Bella Kubo.

The exhibit also includes the works of nine other Asian Master of Fine Arts students and alumni, such as crafts and material studies alumna Sayaka Suzuki and photography and film alumna Cecilia Kim. Su zuki and Kim are also adjunct faculty at VCUarts.

Bella Kubo said she wanted to use the exhibit to collaborate and create community with other Asian artists across disciplines.

“‘The Cardinal Club,’ I feel like, is this amazing project for me to collaborate, because that was something I’ve been wanting

to do more of since coming to grad school,” Bella Kubo said. “So there’s this idea of networking being this exploration of place, identity and self.”

Bella Kubo said the collaboration felt particularly important due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 9,000 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported, according to AP News. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism stated in a March 2021 fact sheet that anti-Asian hate crimes surged by 145% in large U.S. cities between 2019 and 2020.

“It’s been this large year of reflection,” Bella Kubo said. “I really felt like I needed and we all needed to have this space of community in our culture.”

The first piece viewed in the exhibition was done by Bella Kubo in collaboration with her grandfather. The piece takes the name of the exhibition, and consists of video clips of men of Japanese heritage playing golf. The sound alternates between golf commentary and War Relocation Authority director Milton Eisenhower’s description of

Bella Kubo said she wanted the contrasting commentaries to capture the viewer’s attention.

“I think with the sections of commentary, people might stop and be like, ‘What are they saying? Are they talking about internment?’” Bella Kubo said. “I wanted to have this be the entry point and get the gears turning.”

I’m really glad Bella [Kubo] organized an Asian show, because I think it’s so rare to see so many Asian representatives, especially at VCU, in one place. That’s been a great process to be included in.”

“Brought To You by FDR Circa 1942,” a series of framed prints by Suzuki, shows artwork by cartoonist Milton Caniff that attempts to teach viewers how to differentiate between Chinese and Japanese people. Caniff’s artwork was sponsored by the U.S. government during WWII, according to Suzuki.

Suzuki, who began conceptualizing the piece during the Donald Trump presidency, said she wanted the piece to highlight how “the idea of the other” begins in light of xenophobic rhetoric and hate crimes.

“The fact that it was government-sponsored otherness — like, isn’t that what just happened, what’s been happening in this country?” Suzuki said. “You could point and

say, ‘That was 80 years ago.’ But not really; that just happened. That just happened five years ago.”

“Inherited Labor” by Kim explores the traditional values and gender expectations passed down between generations in South Korea.

The 17-minute piece features footage of Kim’s close and extended relatives discussing women’s positions in Korean society, as well as scenes of celebration and food preparation.

“I’ve always been interested in food and cooking and how that gets passed down through generations, and how it bridges human connections between people, between generations and the family,” Kim said. “So I was casually asking them questions while we were making food together.”

Kim said she was honored and glad to be part of the exhibition because it was a chance to display Asian heritages.

“I’m really glad Bella [Kubo] organized an Asian show, because I think it’s so rare to see so many Asian representatives, especially at VCU, in one place,” Kim said. “That’s been a great process to be included in.”

VCU art history graduate student and exhibit attendee Ajana Bradshaw said she enjoyed the exhibition.

“I love the different mediums that are included, and how it highlights the different stories and experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander artists and curators,” Bradshaw said. “Since it’s coming from the direct community, it makes it all the more worthwhile to look at.”

Bella Kubo said she hopes attendees will be inspired to learn about more Asian history and have broader conversations about community at VCU.

“It was amazing too, at the opening, all of the conversations and feedback I’ve gotten about VCU as an institution,” Bella Kubo said. “Like, ‘How can this school be better to support people of color, marginalized communities, whether Asian or not?’ This needs to bring in a much larger conversation.”

From left:“Pterodactyl couple considering adoption of an eleven child” by Umico Niwa, “2007 Barclays Singapore Open” by Damien H. Ding, “We have only the evidence of our own lives left all around” by John Chae and “Brought to you by FDR circa 1942” by Sayaka Suzuki. Photos by Lily Doshi

Cecilia Kim, photography and film alumna

A centerpiece is surrounded by artwork highlighting current and former Asian American VCU students. Photo by Lily Doshi

Maymont’s annual ‘Garden Glow’ illuminates outdoors with lights, community activities

ZAHRA NDIRANGU

Contributing Writer

Colored lights brightly paint every inch of Maymont’s Glow Village as guests look on with awe. The lights change color, from blues to reds and greens, reflecting off of the foliage of the garden.

The Maymont Foundation held its annual Garden Glow event on Friday where the Carriage House Lawn was transformed into the Glow Village. Garden Glow is a self-guided walking tour where guests can experience food trucks, fire pits, walk through the lights in the Japanese Garden, a Glow Bar and Glow Shop.

“This is my first time to Maymont and this is such a beautiful way to experience the park,” event attendee Meghan Pavlovski said. “It’s so gorgeous, they did such a beautiful job setting it up.”

Maymont’s senior director of marketing, strategy and advancement, Suzy Rohler, said that she hopes that this event will bring a pocket of peace to an otherwise tumultuous year for many Richmond residents.

“This has been so critical for us this past year,” Rohler said. “People need time to have some solace and some solitude and be with themselves and nature.”

The event returns to the Japanese Garden of Maymont after being hosted in alternate locations in the park last year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic with increased precautions such as masks and limited time slots for guests.

“Garden Glow did happen last year,” Rohler said. “Because there are so many tight spaces walking down to the Japanese Garden, we really had to limit capacity and we decided to move the event up to the Carriage House lawn and around the Maymont Mansion.”

For Rohler, this year’s event returning to the Japanese Garden is thrilling.

“It was a bit of a different experience last year,” Rohler said. “It was still really lovely and people had a great time, but we know that our hearts are with ‘Garden Glow’ being in the Japanese Garden, so we’re excited that it’s back there this year.”

VCU graduate student and recent Richmond transplant Lynanne Bopp attended the event and noted the uniqueness of the Garden Glow activities.

“It’s beautiful, I am absolutely loving it,” Bopp said. “I feel like where I lived in New York doesn’t have a ton of events like this that are also affordable, so I feel like Richmond is so special in that way.”

The Japanese Gardens at Maymont are maintained year-round by both Maymont staff and volunteers, and the event highlights their work.

“It’s an opportunity for me to share my love and knowledge of Japanese gardens,” said Garden Glow volunteer Scott Martin. “I’m retired so it was an opportunity for me to give back to the community.”

For Martin, the serenity of the Japanese Garden has become a constant in his life, as he’s spent the last 12 years volunteering at Maymont.

“I spend all my time in the Japanese Garden,” Martin said. “I get to enjoy it before 10 o’clock when everyone shows up.”

Rohler hopes the event allows the Richmond community to embrace Maymont even more than it already has.

“I’d like to think that Maymont is Richmond’s hidden gem,” Rohler said. “I remember bringing my daughter here, I remember attending a wedding here. It seems like throughout all of the life stages for those of us that know Maymont, it has a special place in all of our hearts.”

Light-based projection of the event name in multicolor is displayed on a building at Maymont’s Garden Glow event. Photo by Lily Doshi

Paper lanterns strung between the trees, illuminating the woods around the gardens at Maymont’s Garden Glow event. Photo by Lily Doshi

The event included sections for children to play with lights, such as a maze made out of hay bales wrapped in lights. Photo by Lily Doshi

A building near a pond at the Garden Glow event was brightly lit by projector lights to illuminate the space for the event. Photo by Lily Doshi

At Maymont’s Garden Glow event, there were a variety of food trucks, a popcorn tent and drinks available for purchase for attendees. Photo by Lily Doshi

VCU music professor tours internationally yet connects with students

SAHARA SRIRAMAN Spectrum Editor

HEN ERIC WHEELER ISN’T TEACHING

VCU music students as an adjunct professor of double and electric bass, he’s often touring with various musicians, such as Grammy-nominated trumpeter Theo Croker, or holding international music workshops.

Wheeler started teaching at VCU last year and teaches his students virtually most of the time, as he doesn’t live in Richmond and is often traveling for various jazz shows he is a part of.

Wheeler said he’s been playing for almost 30 years, his first gig having been at a small hotel in Washington, D.C.

“I’ve always had a deep passion and love for playing music,” Wheeler said. “I started when I was about nine years old.”

He said that as a child he didn’t have much interest in playing music, but when he started attending high school at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., he began to develop a strong connection with playing and performing.

He said he currently teaches in a hybrid format in order to teach around his touring schedule. Often, he’ll teach virtually from an international location, which he said he’d never done before teaching at VCU.

“I’ve learned to be more efficient as a teacher because, of course, when you’re not in person you can’t physically demonstrate,” Wheeler said. “So, you have to really be efficient and clearly articulate what you’re trying to get across to your students.”

Wheeler said that although this is only his second year teaching at VCU, he enjoys it a lot, even though it’s often a challenge to guide his students while ensuring they maintain their own musical style.

“Jazz has a lot of liberties, there’s a lot of improvisation — improvisation is the base of it all, so teaching someone how to improv or freestyle is the biggest challenge,” Wheeler said.

He said that although his schedule is very busy and he’s constantly working, whether he’s playing music, giving lectures or teaching students, he enjoys it and would never give it up.

“I always say if you love something and you’re passionate about it and you work at

it, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have success,” Wheeler said.

Adam Jones, a sophomore music student, said he’s excited to have Wheeler as a professor this semester. He said although he hasn’t had him as a professor for very long, he already feels like he’s learned a lot.

“He’s had a huge impact on my musicianship and my playing,” Jones said. “What I’ve learned from him so far is the importance of strong, healthy technique.”

Wheeler as a private teacher because of his wise knowledge and positive energy. He also said it’s been good to have a Black male mentor to guide him as he develops as a bassist.

“I would like to keep that connection just because growing up, I didn’t always have the Black, male mentors very often. I mean, I had them but there weren’t many of them,” Jones said. “And, so it’s really nice to have that now in my life.”

Antonio García, the director of jazz studies at VCU, said he knew of Wheeler’s work before he started working at VCU. He said that he’s seen how well Wheeler works with his students.

“His students find that he is a great communicator and very constructive to them,” García said.

García said that he would describe

EDITOR’S LIST OF HALLOWEEN FILMS

TO WATCH

“Scream” (1996)

In this classically terrifying Halloween film, a teenage girl and her friends start receiving strange phone calls from a local serial killer, known as Ghostface, who continuously asks them what their favorite scary movie is. Through satirizing classic Halloween movies, this film combines all the stereotypical motifs to add comedy to fear.

Available on Amazon Prime Video | 79% Rotten Tomatoes

“Halloweentown” (1998)

Marnie always knew she was different from other kids. When her grandmother comes to visit on Halloween, Marnie and her siblings, Dylan and Sophie, find out she’s a witch. The kids then secretly follow her back to her hometown of Halloweentown. The kids must then work together to save the town and their family from a dark force that threatens to destroy Halloweentown.

Available on Hulu | 80% Rotten Tomatoes

“Edward Scissorhands” (1990)

Starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder and directed by Tim Burton, this film tells the story of Edward, an artificial human with scissors for hands who lives isolated from the world. When a human woman finds him and invites him to live normally with her family, Edward and her daughter Kim fall in love against all odds.

Available on Hulu | 90% Rotten Tomatoes

“The Haunted Mansion” (2003)

When workaholic realtor Jim Evers, played by Eddie Murphy, and his family are invited to see a house they could potentially sell, Evers refuses to pass it up, much to the chagrin of his wife who argues his work is having a negative impact on their family. When they visit, however, they soon discover the house is haunted and that the owner has unfinished business with them.

Available on Disney+ | 14% Rotten Tomatoes

He said Wheeler has given him a lot more confidence as a bass player through en couragement and guid ance, especially because he hasn’t been playing for that long.

Jones said he looks up to Wheeler as a role model and as a musician he hopes to be like one day.

“Having someone of that kind of status as my private teacher has set up a good example for the future, and it really shows me where I want to be,” Jones said.

Jones said that it’s been very beneficial to have

“The

Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)

A staple to watch every Halloween season, this film follows Jack Skellington, the beloved “pumpkin king” of his home, Halloween Town, who feels bored of the same annual routine. When he accidentally discovers Christmas, he decides that Halloween Town will take over the Christmas holiday, leading to disastrous consequences.

Available on Disney+ | 95% Rotten Tomatoes

“Carrie” (1976)

In this film adapted from Stephen King’s novel, Carrie White is a shy, lonely high schooler whose mother is a religious zealot who rarely lets Carrie out of the house. When her fellow classmates who constantly bully her decide to play a cruel prank on her at prom, Carrie decides to finally get revenge on everyone who’s ever wronged her.

Available on Amazon Prime Video | 93% Rotten Tomatoes

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

Eric Wheeler is an adjunct professor of double and electric bass at VCU and currently teaches hybrid classes. When he’s not teaching his students in person, he’s traveling to perform jazz internationally. Photo courtesy of Eric Wheeler

Having someone of that kind of status as my private teacher has set up a good example for the future, and it really shows me where I want to be.”

Adam Jones music student

Musician Eric Wheeler has been playing the bass for almost 30 years since he was nine years old. His first gig was at a small hotel in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Eric Wheeler

INSTAGRAM FILTERS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND BODY IMAGE

MONICA ALARCON-NAJARRO Contributing Writer

INSTAGRAM WAS ONE OF THE FIRST APPS

I downloaded as a middle schooler. I remember using it to post embarrassing, yet wholesome pictures of my friends and myself. People were posting solely to create a collection of memories on their profile instead of worrying whether their picture followed a specific aesthetic or would get them more followers.

Today, people post with the intent to possibly become an Instagram influencer through edited photos, and it’s affecting how younger generations think of themselves.

In the past few years, social media platforms such as Instagram have transformed society’s perception of beauty and success for the worst. I believe that Instagram has directly affected the beauty standard across all ages, especially younger audiences.

I remember being drawn to Instagram because of the variety of filters I could add to my photos. Filters used to solely change the color of your photo but have now evolved into transforming a person’s entire look.

New filters change the entire shape of a person’s face, lips and eyes, making them look unrealistically perfect. Original photos end up looking nothing like the finished product after editing.

A study published in Computers in Human Behaviors Reports — “The relationship between Instagram use and indicators of mental health: A systematic review” — identifies a link between time spent

on Instagram and effects on body image, such as disordered eating.

Photo filters are definitely not making this any better. As a young girl, I felt like my unrealistic body goals stemmed from pictures that were most likely overedited. I would fantasize about living the lifestyles of the insanely rich people I followed and looking the same way they looked. Influencers such as the Kardashians are known for photoshopping and overediting their photos, making people want to match their unattainable, flawless look.

When it comes to younger generations, kids today are easily able to bypass the age limitations on social media apps such as TikTok.

According to TikTok’s Guardian Guide, the age limit to use the app is set at 13 years old in the U.S. If users are under that age, they’ll be added to the “TikTok for Younger Users experience” which includes more privacy and safety protections.

Though, I’ve seen tons of children recording from their iPads on my “For You” page, making me wonder how these kids are being affected by the media they see on the internet. The newer generations are spending more time looking at screens than they are looking at the outside world.

According to the Child Mind Institute, a survey conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health asked people ages 14 to 24 how social media affects them. “Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all led to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image and loneliness,” according to the survey.

As a society, we should push the idea of being outside and getting off our phones a lot more. Even though many people find this irritating, I think that the TikTok page that alerts you when you’ve been scrolling for too long is extremely beneficial and should be added to other social media apps.

Social media is negatively affecting the way we see each other online, and the amount of time we spend on our phones is contributing to it. It seems that many of us deal with the fear of missing out because social media posts tend to make us feel more lonely than we are. We can all relate to the nights where we mindlessly refreshed our social media pages to avoid missing out on anything happening with our friends.

In addition, COVID-19 made being on my phone a lot easier as I had nothing else to do while in lockdown. Instead of finding new

hobbies, it seemed easier to mope around on social media to see what other people were doing with their time in lockdown. I remember my screen time hit an average of about 10 hours a day during quarantine.

According to a study published by Frontiers in Human Dynamics, the daily screen time usage for people in India, China, the United States, Canada and Australia increased by five hours, reaching 17.5 hours for heavy users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and adolescents are among the higher average of screen time usage.

This year, I’ve tried to combat my phone usage by limiting my time on social media. I haven’t been on Instagram as much and usually don’t post on there unless I have an urgency to post, which would mostly go on my stories.

The older I get, the more I realize how precious my time really is and it shouldn’t be wasted looking at a screen comparing myself to others. It all boils down to your perception of social media and how you like to use it; just remember everything on social media is always too good to be true.

There is no one-size-fits-all option to being Black

TAGWA SHAMMET Opinions Editor

Black.

A word that carries an array of connotations. To some, it’s just a color; others understand its existence as a race. There are many who associate it with hate and discrimination; while there are those who find resilence and strength behind it.

To me, it is power.

Being Black is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences to exist. There is no denying that there has been an ever-flowing stream of greatness from the Black community. From art to music to knowledge to activism, the Black community has provided versatility and efficiency in every field.

There is a misconception around what it means to be Black — a false narrative behind a “true” Black person. Let me set the record straight: There is no one-size-fits-all option to being Black.

Being Black isn’t all hip-hop and good food; it comes with generational trauma and invasive insecurities. Growing up in a world that hates you for the simple color of your skin is exhausting. We live to disprove stereotypes we didn’t create and meet beauty standards we didn’t set. We have to work twice as hard just to level the playing field.

Yet, we persevere.

That being said, Black people continue to struggle with our unity. This isn’t a comment for anyone else outside of the Black community. However, as a collective, we must call

one another out on the intensively divisive standards we set within our own community.

For the longest time, there has been a running joke in the Black community of an individual’s “Black card.” It’s basically a Black person’s entire identity condensed into this idea of a card. Your card, like any other card, gets your privileges and rights that only someone with the card has. However, there is a debate about whether or not one’s Black card can be revoked.

This possible revokage of one’s Black card is actually an extremely divisive and toxic concept that must be removed from our community. To dictate what a “true” Black person is completely invalidates the reality of the diversity present in the Black coalition.

I’ve always found that the “true” Black person falls into many stereotypes that

were originally created by white folks. For example, this notion that Black people only listen to hip-hop music and watch BET. I’m Black. I don’t watch BET and I listen to a combination of alternative R&B and soft jazz. Black people aren’t all “sneakerheads” who exclusively dress in streetwear. While some of us do, some of us also prefer to stunt our schoolgirl look or the latest cottage core trend.

Being Black can be full of art. Being Black can be full of knowledge. Being Black can be full of wealth. Being Black should not be boxed into one category.

The point of a community is to have an array of people who bring different attributes that the collective can benefit from. There are Black people who make our entertainment: our music, our television,

our artistic culture. There are Black people who take to the streets and protest against the injustice plaguing our people. There are Black people who write poetry and drink tea. There are Black people who have a passion for video games. Black people come in all different shapes, sizes, personalities and lives.

In trying to joke within our community, we have created a monster of divisiveness. As Black people, we need to realize that our power lies within one another. We have a linkage that nobody can experience — nor break, but ourselves. To marginalize our own people within our own already marginalized collective is disheartening and unacceptable.

There is a certain admiration that comes with a group of people turning the hate and violence they endured for their skin color into peace and power. One of the Black community’s greatest accomplishments has been reversing the stigma surrounding their race through protest and talent.

Black unity is greatness. To stand behind the single cause of wanting better for our community is enough to strengthen our bonds.

Angela Davis once said: “Unity by itself is abstract. Unity makes more sense when there is something around which we organize and a reason for creating the unity.”

The reason is our bond. We are different; but there is a subliminal chain that connects all Black people. We must unite behind one another and absolve each other of these unattainable standards of what is and what is not Black. We are beautiful in our Blackness — in all different types of our Blackness.

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

Illustration by Lauren Johnson

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