The Commonwealth Times; October 30, 2024 by VCU Student Media Center

PANEL PRESENTS LOCAL CANDIDATES, EDUCATES STUDENT VOTERS

ALEXIS WASHINGTON KYLER GILLIAM

Contributing Writers

VCU’s NAACP chapter has been encouraging and educating students to vote during their election tour, which kicked off on Sept. 25 with their “Sisters Behind Bars” event. Walking to the polls will be their last stop on election day, according to their Instagram.

On the twelfth stop of the election tour, VCU NAACP held a “Meet the Candidates” panel with Richmond mayoral candidates, City Council and school board on Oct. 28 at 6:00 p.m. in Hibbs Hall.

The panel aimed to allow students to get to know candidates on a personal level, according to VCU NAACP president Anesia Lawson.

“You want people to vote for somebody that they know and that they can have a sense of trust,” Lawson said. “You don’t really get to build that type of connection or get to understand who that person is by reading their work or policies.”

The five mayoral candidates for the City of Richmond were in attendance: Andreas Addison, Danny Avula, Maurice Neblett, Harrison Roday and Brandon Smith, who is a write-in candidate.

Katie Ricard and Wesley Hedgepeth were the two candidates for the school board present at the event.

Three council members were there as well, including Ann-Frances Lambert,

who is the incumbent for the third district city council seat, Maria Carra Rose who is running against her and Frank Wilson who is running for the eighth district.

The panel began with the moderator posing questions to the candidates. They addressed topics such as affordable housing, college students with low income, each candidate’s overall plan for office and ways for maintaining transparency with the community and students.

Here is what the mayoral candidates had to say:

ANDREAS ADDISON

Addison addressed housing with a focus on VCU students. He wants students to “hit the ground running” for housing after college and propose affordable home ownership and reworking tax structures to benefit homeowners and renters, he said.

“Richmond was a top three city for evictions across the country,” Addison said. “I watched people get evicted and said ‘this is enough.’”

Problems facing low-income residents resonate with Addison since he grew up on government assistance, he said. Identifying problems affecting Richmond residents is his priority to combat the problems that arise from poverty.

Addison highlighted the accessibility residents have to the city government and how it can improve. He wants to modernize the city government’s information

infrastructure and introduce a customer service department to streamline interactions between residents and the city government.

DANNY AVULA

Avula said housing is a big crisis in Richmond, which is why he decided to run for mayor. He wants to invest and ensure diversity in the community by providing tax incentives for people who own buildings and reasonable rates for students coming right out of college.

Hearing the needs of the community and having access to government services is important for Avula. If elected, he said he would focus on housing, invest more in education and improve the basic functioning of our local government.

“We also need a city hall that is really centered around people,” Avula said. “This work of public service is about the people we exist to serve.”

HARRISON RODAY

Roday proposed a $100 million investment for housing in Richmond. The money would come from stripped funding of the Diamond District project.

“I think our economic development should instead focus on projects that support great living wages and support affordable housing for our residents,” Roday said.

Roday plans to audit all city government agencies to ensure Richmond residents can receive the services they need in a timely manner, he said.

MAURICE NEBLETT

Neblett wants to hold landlords accountable, so residents are not living in unhealthy conditions, he said. He wants to implement policies that force a renter cap, so rent will not go up. His plan is to ensure that no one pays more than 30% of their income on rent.

Transparency has been at the forefront of Neblett’s campaign, he said.

“Once elected I want to make sure that we intertwine a policy that radiates throughout City Hall in regards to making sure that we are transparent and follow the forum request citizens may have,” Neblett said.

BRANDON SMITH

Smith said the first thing we need to do is get the people off the street. He wants to create a system where college students can find jobs after graduation.

Smith said politics is foreign to him and that he knows nothing about it. His approach is interacting with everyone like people in the projects, homeless people and college students.

“My first 100 days if I am mayor, I am going outside because that is where I be — I be outside,” Smith said. “I am going to talk to the people.”

VCU’s NAACP chapter held a forum at Hibbs Hall for local candidates on Oct. 28, featuring all five mayoral, three city council and two school board candidates. Photo by Kyler Gilliam. continued on next page PANEL

Stories of the week

national: Donald Trump held a rally in Madison Square Garden in New York on Oct. 28. Several speakers made racist comments and jokes, sparking controversy across the country, including from Republicans. international: Israel’s parliament passed a law on Oct. 28 banning the United Nations’ Rights and Works Administration, an aid organization in Palestine, sparking criticism from the United States.

VCU’s reparations project a year after its introduction

MOLLY MANNING

Contributing Writer

Project Gabriel: President’s Special Commission on Slavery and Justice released by VCU in September 2023 is an effort to “report, reconcile and heal the wounds caused by VCU’s historic ties to the institution of slavery,” according to its website.

The first commission meeting was held on Jan. 26, 2023 to discuss implementation, according to Project Gabriel, and a recent discussion on Oct. 22 allowed experts and community members to share their thoughts.

The commission bears the name of an enslaved blacksmith in Henrico who crafted a plan for a rebellion in August of 1800, according to PBS. VCU also renamed its African American Studies building in his honor in 2022, according to VCU.

The October public panel discussion featured chair of the African American studies department Shawn Utsey as well as Sesha Joi Moon, executive director of the JXN Project and former Richmond City Council member Chuck Richardson, according to VCU News.

The discussion provided a space for these individuals to share their thoughts about addressing historical racial injustice and the initiatives being taken now throughout the community to not only provide monetary reparations but also the healing and moral reparation necessary to move forward,

according to VCU News.

Project Gabriel follows a state law passed in 2021, the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program.

This law requires five of Virginia’s oldest universities to identify and memorialize enslaved individuals who were responsible for building the institutions and providing benefits to individuals or communities with connections to slavery, according to Project Gabriel.

It also requires these higher education institutions to continue reparation efforts for either as many years as the school used slavery or until they disburse scholarships to the number of students equal to the number of enslaved people who worked there, according to Axios.

VCU President Michael Rao commissioned a report shortly following the law’s passage titled “Slavery and the Medical College of Virginia: A Report for Virginia Commonwealth University.” The report was led by Jodi Koste, Ph.D. and Peter Wosh, Ph.D, archivists at VCU and New York University, which found that MCV was built using slave labor since its inception, according to Project Gabriel.

Project Gabriel recommends that VCU awards five to eight minimum “Gabriel Scholars” following the guidelines of the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship and Memorial Program for at least the 27 years that the school used

efforts to address its past. Photo by Cameron Powell.

enslaved labor, according to VCU News.

The project also recommends that VCU provide “wrap-around” services to ensure success after the Gabriel Scholars graduate.

Project Gabriel recommends that VCU work on the restoration of the First African Baptist Church on the MCV campus and use the space as a memorialization site for enslaved people who worked there. VCU has not yet determined the names or exact number of those individuals, according to VCU News.

There are also recommendations centered around the Richmond community outlined in the commission, such as working with community organizations and partners to support workforce development as well as other community needs, according to VCU News.

Some aspects of community development suggested include providing summer internships as well as mentor programs and other college readiness programs for youth in the community with an emphasis on those in Richmond Public Schools, according to VCU News.

VCU PR stated in an email that there are no current updates on the commission or its implementation at this time.

Shawn Utsey, chair of the VCU Department of African American Studies and VCU professor, said that most institutions in the antebellum South relied heavily on slave labor to not only build but to run and maintain them.

Utsey also shared the importance of acknowledging the medical colleges’ use of Black cadavers stolen from cemeteries in order to become the well-known medical center that it was at the time and is today.

“I think people are clearly enjoying the spoils of slave labor, and VCU is enjoying the status that comes from the resources they have been able to accumulate built upon their reputation as a medical center with cutting edge technology, cutting edge faculty, really extending from their exploiting Black bodies during the antebellum period,” Utsey said.

Even post-emancipation, the school stole the heart of a Black man named Bruce Tucker for a heart transplant surgery as detailed in a book about the theft, “The Organ Thieves” by Chip Jones, which was the 2022 Common Book for first-year VCU students.

“It’s impossible to calculate the harm done to the family, but also the benefit to the university,” Utsey said.

Here are the overall plans from City Council candidates:

MARIA CARRA ROSE

Carra Rose said she plans to continue to bridge the gap between the community and the government as engagement with constituents combined with education on the political process are paramount to her.

ANN-FRANCES LAMBERT

Lambert plans to continue serving the community, by generating more funding from the city to her constituents, she said. Lambert also wants to make affordable housing a priority.

FRANK WILSON

For Wilson, defining affordable housing is crucial, since in his community affordable housing may not be affordable, he said. He also wants more direct and free communication from the government to Richmond residents, highlighting the Freedom of Information Act.

Here are the overall plans from the school board members:

KATIE RICARD

Ricard strives for the public school to be a safe place for low-income students and parents, she said. She also wants to equip all schools with the resources they need.

WESLEY HEDGEPETH

Hedgepeth said he wants to move the school board meetings from City Hall — where attendees will have to pay tolls and parking fees — to rotating school sites — so school board members can walk the halls and see the real problems. He also wants to improve the social studies curriculum due to a lack of attention to the subject.

The next portion of the event was an open Q&A for attendees.

A student asked the mayoral candidates for their views on working with the Richmond police in light of the IsraelHamas war and how it has impacted Richmond and the VCU community.

Addison said he asked the police chief about the training police officers were receiving.

Roday said we have to get to a place where our law enforcement community is deescalating, not escalating, so people feel safe to practice their First Amendment rights.

A student also called out all of the candidates for not responding to the No Vote for Genocide survey — except for Hedgepeth.

The candidates were silent for a moment. Roday and Carra Rose said they did not respond because the survey was binary and did not show both sides of the issue.

The event concluded with mayoral candidates asking students what changes they want to see.

Students expressed a need for affordable housing, job opportunities after graduation and ways to enhance safety in Richmond.

“As far as the candidates were concerned they did alright,” said VCU NAACP publicity chair Khamari Pineda. “The nuance came from the students asking a lot of questions and really diving deep to break down the barriers they were talking about.”

The Egyptian Building was the first building on what is now MCV campus, modeled after an ancient Egyptian temple. Remains of enslaved people were found buried in an abandoned well under the foundation in 1994, sparking the East Marshall Street Well Project — one of the first of VCU’s

Continued from Front Page PANEL

Photo by Kyler Gilliam.

Stat of the week

Graduate student guard Joe Bamisile led the Rams with 26 points in their 102-44 win against Saint Mary’s College of Maryland on Oct. 28, according to VCU Athletics.

First-year VCU basketball guard CHECKS ALL THE BOXES

ANDREW MCGHAN

KYLER GILLIAM

Contributing Writers

First-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. is from Portland, Oregon and is now a part of the VCU men’s basketball team this season.

While attending Roosevelt High School in Portland for his senior year, he helped lead the basketball team to a district title and to an appearance in the 6A state championship game, according to VCU Athletics.

Coming out of high school, Hill said he was originally committed to Utah State University.

However, due to the coaching staff leaving to take different jobs at other schools, he changed his mind and committed to VCU, according to Hill.

He said he was unsure of what to do next until VCU head coach Ryan Odom and

assistant coach Bryce Crawford reached back out to him to see if he would be interested in playing for them.

“I didn’t know what I really was going to do. Coach Bryce and coach Odom actually reached out to me during my sophomore year,” Hill said. “So, we’ve been connected ever since then.”

Hill’s ability on the basketball court was not the only reason he was recruited to VCU, it was also his character, personality and academics, according to Odom.

“He checks all the boxes off the court,” Odom said.

Through the recruiting process, Hill’s basketball skills really stuck out to the coaching staff, according to Odom.

“From a basketball standpoint he’s got game, he can really play,” Odom said. “Doesn’t matter who he’s going against — bigger guy, smaller guy — he gets where he wants on the court.”

Hill brings a spark to offense that has impressed Odom during his short time here in Richmond, according to Odom.

“He can really score the basketball,” Odom said. “He can shoot from three, he can drive to the basket and score.”

Odom also raved about his pass ability and his “wicked handle.”

Hill said he believes his creativity in playmaking sets his game apart from others.

His teammates enjoy his creativeness, especially on alley-oop opportunities, according to Hill.

Hill is a West Coast product and is adjusting to college life and East Coast life. Portland and Richmond are different, he said.

“I would say the time difference, you just got to get used to it,” said Hill.

Hill’s adjustment is aided by his elder teammates, such as graduate student guard Zeb Jackson, he said. He credits Jackson

and VCU graduate student guard Phillip Russell for helping him improve his defensive intensity.

“I feel like you got to have a lot of defensive intensity to impact the floor,” Hill said. “Guys like Zeb and Phil, seeing how they pick up 94, so I definitely want to add that to my game and improve on it.”

Jackson said he has been impressed with the young guard’s competitiveness on the defensive side of the ball and that Hill seems to appreciate the older guards’ intensity.

“On defense, he’s just a competitor. Terrence is a hooper,” Jackson said.

Odom said he is happy Hill joined the Rams this season and is excited for the future that the young guard can have in the program.

“He is somebody that we were really confident in, we were excited and very fortunate to have him here with us,” Odom said.

VCU first-year guard Terrence Hill Jr., from Portland, Oregon, is now a member of the VCU men’s basketball team. Photo by Jason Gallardo Gonzalez.

A guide to a strong volleyball swing

MICHAEL AGHOMO

Contributing Writer

Jump, swing and boom. In volleyball, a spike is strategically crucial to scoring points and getting past defensive schemes, according to Volleyball World.

So how then does an attacker spike the ball? What are the important aspects of a spike? How do great attackers spike a ball with so much power? The answers are down below:

ATTITUDE

An attacker must have an attacking mentality, according to VCU women’s volleyball head coach Tim Doyle. They need to be aggressive no matter who they’re up against.

“A great attacker is somebody who’s willing to go for it, somebody who’s willing to be aggressive,” Doyle said.

Doyle described it as “the dog mentality” — a total focus and drive to attack whatever is in front of them with a relentless hunger for victory. Doyle said all the team’s hitters are great because they carry this mentality onto the court every game. They block out all the chatter and noise in the arena only focusing their attention on the game.

APPROACH AND TIMING

It all begins with footwork and correctly timing the approach. The most common technique is the three-step approach, which for right-handed people is left-right-

left and reversed for left-handed people, according to AVP.

After positioning themselves correctly on the court, the attacker sets their right foot slightly in front of their left with their knees bent and arms relaxed, according to AVP.

While in this stance the attacker uses their spatial awareness to gauge where they are relative to the setter. This crucial element helps them find the right timing and trajectory of the ball and helps them adapt if needed, according to Doyle.

“They have great spatial awareness, you know, they can sense when the ball is in the setter’s hands, how they need to adapt their approach, the trajectory of the set and the tempo of the set, or how fast the set is going from the setter’s hands to their body,” Doyle said.

Once the attacker is ready, they approach the ball using the three-step approach.

They first take a long and powerful step with their left foot, then quickly take the final two steps, squaring their feet shoulder-width apart and bending their legs ready to jump, according to AVP. As they take their first step their arms swing backward, then swing back down and forward with the last two steps.

VCU women’s volleyball graduate student middle blocker Jasmine Knight and third-year outside hitter Julia Rienks said that learning this sequence of steps is very difficult especially when you’re young. Early on they also struggled to learn them.

“It was really hard for me to learn that just because it had to be left, right, left. It couldn’t be little steps in between,” Knight said.

Once they learned the steps it made everything else much easier, they said. Knight and Rienks both emphasize footwork as the most important part of a great hit.

“I feel like it’s the most important thing because you have to get your feet to the ball to get power behind it,” Rienks said.

VERTICAL LEAP

After the approach and timing, the attacker must leap into the air. The goal is to jump up as high as possible. The momentum generated by swinging their arms forward in their approach helps them jump higher, according to USAVolleyball.

Strong legs are key but stability is also very important and the best way to build this in players is through lifting, said Tim Kontos, VCU’s associate athletic director.

“We use a movement called a power clean, which is a mill movement that goes from the floor to the shoulders in one very explosive, fast movement,” Kontos said. “That’s great for vertical leap.”

He also has the athletes do front and back squats, hops and jumping exercises to build strength in the lower body and prevent injury, Kontos said.

SWING AND KILL

Once in the air, the hitter’s arms go into a bow and arrow stance, cocking their right arm back and reaching their arm out to track the ball, according to AVP. When the ball is high enough for them to reach it, they swing their right arm through the ball.

The torque generated by an attacker opening up their body and then quickly closing it by swinging through the ball is key for a powerful swing, according to USAVolleyball.

Doyle said some of the hardest spikes he’s seen were the result of hitters opening up by rotating their bodies back as far as possible to create and store energy, comparing this motion to a golf swing.

“Think about a golfer, they’re here, and there’s that moment of tension, then everything comes through that strike zone,” Doyle said.

However, when someone is swinging at a ball their arm tries to come out of the socket, which is why he thinks it’s important to strengthen the shoulder and back muscles that support the arm, Kontos said.

Chin-ups are one of the exercises he does with athletes because they are a great exercise to strengthen those muscles and prevent injury, according to Kontos.

A volleyball spike is a complex motion involving the whole body. From the approach to the jump, and finally swinging the ball, an attacker’s body is asked to do a lot, which is why it’s important to build strength and stability to not only generate more power but also prevent injury, according to Kontos.

“One doing your sport is going to help the most, but to build stability and control lifting weights is probably the best way to do it,” Kontos said.

So by having great footwork, high vertical leaps, a quick swing and a dog mentality, great hitters are able to spike a volleyball with maximum power, according to Jasmine Knight, VCU women’s volleyball graduate student middle blocker.

“Volleyball is a skill. You have to keep practicing, practicing and practicing,” Knight said. “Julia and I now are still learning things as the days go on, so I just feel like reps is important and not giving up.”

Referenced from photos by Kieran Stevens. Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

THE MIND MATTERS

JENNY ALLEN

Contributing Writer

Although it may not seem obvious, sports exceed beyond just the physical elements; the psychological factors are just as crucial.

As spectators, we tend only to see the physical activity that goes into sports, leading us to overlook the intellectual side. The mental standpoint of an athlete can surpass one’s athleticism.

Yes, physical skill allows a player to excel, however, a player’s mentality provides the composure, resilience and discipline needed to succeed.

Although training and practice are key aspects of improving performance, you can’t do so to the best of your ability if you are not mentally dialed in.

To perform at your best, your mentality needs to be aligned with your physical goals. When it comes to execution, the mind can be more significant than the body and athleticism.

Taking care of your body consists of

a variety of steps involving warming up, taking the right nutrition and getting enough rest.

While these physical foundations are a core part of an athlete’s routine, taking care of your mind is just as indispensable.

“You have to take care of your brain just like you take care of your body,” Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown said in an interview with ESPN.

Mental stamina, perseverance and strength allow athletes to meet their desired results. Though equally as important, this can hold them back as well. Anyone can say they want to improve, however, being able to hold yourself accountable and take action is what will set you apart.

Whether it be a tied game, penalty kick, free throw or championship event, being able to make a clutch play or decision can not happen if you are not mentally ready.

From Micheal Jordan’s versatility, Derek Jeter’s batting, Tom Brady’s passing, Serena Williams’ power and Stephen Curry’s threes, we are shown how a mentally sharp

athlete can lead to individual and team accomplishments.

Sports offer many opportunities to easily test aggression, patience and control. A key characteristic of being a mentally reliable athlete is having the strength to separate these off-the-field emotions from the game.

Not letting distractions such as trashtalking or playing dirty get under your skin is a major hurdle for athletes as well.

If you can mentally channel your frustration in a way that improves your performance rather than discourages it, you can both establish and improve your physical and mental stability.

As beneficial — yet uncommon as it is — training your mind is just as important as training your body. Physical training goes beyond just practicing, it takes a multitude of pieces. The same idea applies to training your mind, it is not a single or simple task.

Training your mind means you must be able to overcome adversity and dedicate the time needed to build composure.

Staying calm under pressure, maintaining positive thoughts and believing in yourself are some of life’s greatest hardships, making it even more difficult when it intersects with sports and physical activity.

Many athletes constantly struggle with letting impulses or feelings overpower their performance. If this is the case, it can affect not only your long-term play but also the respect you have earned from teammates, coaches and fans.

Mental challenges in sports can quickly become a cycle of discouragement that affects the body and execution.

Getting in your head has a major effect on your self-confidence, resulting in tactical, technical and physical errors. This is another reason why mental components are just as vital as physical ones in order to keep your performance at its best.

Keeping a clear and motivated headspace is not as easy as it seems for an athlete, but it is essential for being the athlete you strive to be.

PRESS BOX

Illustration by Joseph Walker.

VCU shuts down Saint Mary’s in exhibition, 102-44

ANDREW THOMPSON

ETHAN YORK

Contributing Writers

The VCU Rams men’s basketball team achieved an easy 102-44 win over the Division III Saint Mary’s College of Maryland Seahawks.

VCU won the tip-off and drove forward. Graduate student guard Joe Bamisile managed to sink a three after a few offensive rebounds.

The Rams had little trouble containing the Seahawks offense, shutting down their first few drives with relative ease.

Frustrations began to flair as the Seahawks committed a technical foul against the Rams at the 16-minute mark with fourth-year guard Max Shulga making both free throws, according to StatBroadcast.

The Rams had another successful offensive drive immediately after the free throws with Bamisile recording the first dunk of the game.

The Rams continued the attack with redshirt second-year guard and forward Alphonzo “Fats” Billups III dribbling through three defenders.

The Rams had 25 points and the Seahawks were stuck at nine points halfway through the first half, according to StatBroadcast.

The Seahawks managed to score double digits with eight minutes left in the first half, ending their scoring drought.

The black and gold continued to dominate the Seahawks on both offense and defense, going on an 11-point run for five minutes before following it up with a

13-point run for three minutes near the end of the first half, according to StatBroadcast.

VCU graduate student guard Phillip Russell hit an amazing shot resulting in anand-one three-pointer at the eight-minute mark, creating a four-point play.

The black and gold’s defense continued to force mistakes from the Seahawks, managing seven steals and three blocks by halftime, according to StatBroadcast.

Russell said the team’s dominant performance can be attributed to their defensive tenacity.

“Our main goal is to be disruptive so you can see that principle defenses, that’s a part of our defensive possession,” Russell said.

VCU’s strong defense and intensity on the boards held Saint Mary’s to 28% from the field and the Rams outrebounded them 27 to 11, according to StatBroadcast.

The Rams wrapped up the first half with 55 points and the Seahawks had 22, holding their largest lead up to that point.

Some impressive performances from the Rams came from Bamisile with 15 points, Russell with 10 points and Shulga with four rebounds.

VCU started the second half off with the same intensity as the first, stealing the opening inbound pass and allowing Bamisile to dunk.

Saint Mary’s first points in the second half came from free throws around the 17-minute mark, cutting the Rams’ almost 40-point lead to 62-24.

VCU’s continued momentum in the second half saw them never letting their foot off the gas on both ends,

creating multiple turnovers and scoring opportunities from them.

Redshirt second-year forward Obinnaya “Obi” Okafor subbed into the game in the closing minutes and made an immediate impact on a putback layup, scoring his first points following tearing his ACL the season prior, according to VCU Athletics.

Second-year guard and forward Michael Belle hit two free throws to put the Rams at 100 points on the night with only two minutes remaining, extending their lead to nearly 60, according to StatBroadcast.

VCU first-year guard Brandon Jennings hit a layup in the closing seconds, ending the exhibition with a 102-44 win.

Playing well during the non-conference schedule is important, head coach Ryan Odom said.

“We need everyone to play as many games as we can in the non-conference,” Odom said. “It’s just the way it is, and so we’re looking forward to a really competitive season.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND WON 102-44

The Rams will play their season opener against Bellarmine University at the Siegel Center on Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.

VCU graduate student guard Joe Bamisile dunks on Saint Mary’s defenders in a 102-44 blowout win for the Rams. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

Ad by Victor Romanko.

On this day

VCU class produces album with past, present Rams

SOFIA HUSSAIN

CAROLYN SLINGLUFF

Contributing Writers

Students in MASC 410, a media entrepreneurship course, are producing a collective album under the group name the 410 Collective, consisting of music from past and present VCU students, according to Robert Milazzo, the course’s professor.

The theme of the album is “What’s Your RVA Mantra?,” according to Milazzo.

The album will go through a submission and production process in which students can submit music with the possibility of it being featured in the album, Milazzo said.

“We will decide what music we feel should live on the album,” Milazzo said.

People in the class are in charge of talent, artists and repertoire; they work with musicians to get their music in the best possible shape, according to Milazzo.

He wants MASC 410 students to be encouraged to try new things and lead projects regardless of the project’s success, Milazzo said.

“Failure is okay,” Milazzo said. “You have to be able to try now and learn because when it happens again you would have at least lived through that process.”

Milazzo hopes the album can give an opportunity for VCU students to submit music they never made public before, he said.

“I want young artists to know that they can make an impact now, and hopefully we can be the proof of their impact,” Milazzo said. “I want them to see that the path to accomplishment is both artistic and practical.”

The album is also intended to build and represent a community and culture in the larger Richmond music scene, according to third-year media production student Addie Lawrence. She’s also the co-lead on content and strategy and lead on partnership and outreach in the 410 Collective.

The 410 Collective serves the purpose of opening up a “third space” where new musicians can be heard. A “third space” creates a student culture beyond academics, and music is a shared passion among many students at VCU, Lawrence said

“The whole kind of idea is ‘What’s your mantra?’ so we want to really tap into what students at VCU are feeling — just checking the pulse on culture here,” Lawrence said.

Emmanuel Buachie, a fourth-year media production student and also a member of the content and strategy team, came up with the concept of the album, he said.

“I want to bring people together in such a divisive world right now. People need to have their voices heard.” Buachie said. “Songs and music, you can listen to it

passively and you can have so many different messages that just translate just like that.”

In-person collaboration and a passionate team are what sets this project apart from others he has worked on, Buachie said.

The students will also be creating a documentary around the production process to spotlight artists whose music is in the album, according to Spencer Pannill, thirdyear media production student and member of the video production team.

“We are giving them the opportunity to get out there and take the first step into their artistic career,” Pannill said.

Pannill hopes students will feel more confident in publishing their music without having to worry about the production and promotion process, he said.

“I hope VCU students can gain confidence from this project,” Pannill said. “It takes a lot to put yourself out there.”

Chase Kidder and Luke Headley are fourth-year media production students, and also members of the video production team. They remark on the music submissions ramping up in a really exciting way as they close in on their first deadline.

“We got a really interesting email today of someone pouring their heart out about the song they made and I thought it was

very sweet. I was like, ‘alright, this is pretty cool.’” Kidder said.

Richmond is a cultural hotspot popular for musicians and artists who can be represented by this project, according to Myles Black, fourth-year media production student and a part of the content and strategy team.

“This album may be a way to connect word of mouth with call-to-action and have people start to listen to each other’s music,” Black said.

Black hopes the project can bring a better sense of connection within different majors at VCU, he said.

“We wanted it to be a way for VCU students across disciplines to come together — mending those gaps between disciplines and trying to be a part of general culture at VCU,” Black said.

Anastasia Hines, a third-year media production student and member of the content and strategy and video production teams, said the ultimate goal of the project is to shed light on the diverse music on and off campus.

“I think it’s amazing that I can just walk down the street, and someone that I walk by is a music creator and I have no idea they’re an artist,” Hines said.

In 130 C.E., the Roman emperor Hadrian officially founded the city of Antinoöpolis in Ancient Egypt.

410 Collective students work to create a VCU student and alumni sourced music album.

Photo by Bri Stevens.

Art, flowers paired together in museum’s biennial exhibition

MAEVE BAUER

Contributing Writer

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts held the exhibition, “Fine Arts & Flowers,” from Oct. 23 through Oct. 27, which paired floral arrangements with permanent pieces in the museum.

The Council of the VMFA, a group of year-round volunteers, has hosted the exhibition biennially since 1987, according to the VMFA’s website. The council planned the exhibition for “Fine Arts & Flowers” and its’ events.

“Fine Arts & Flowers” kicked off with a gala on Oct. 23 where guests had a chance to preview over 70 floral interpretations, according to the VMFA’s website.

The exhibition is a free event, however, there were a plethora of ticketed events — including a gala, guest speakers, book signings, guided tours, workshops,

luncheons, a fashion show and a gallery hunt. The full list can be viewed here.

MaryMoss Walker, the vice president of the council of the VMFA, said the money from ticket sales will be going to the museum’s future expansion plan. She said the events add a level of excitement to the exhibition.

Members of the Council have a yearround job for the museum, according to Walker. They put on “Fine Arts & Flowers” every two or three years, which helps to bring people from all over the state.

The Council works in tandem with designers and garden clubs from all over the state, according to Walker. The designers were given a list of 120 works of art from the VMFA to decide from by ranking their choices in the spring.

The designers hail from different Garden Clubs in Virginia, according to Walker.

“The floral exhibitors are from Ikebana of Richmond, The Garden Club of Virginia and the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs,” Walker said.

On Oct. 23, the exhibitors came in at 9 a.m. and by 2 p.m., all 75 designs were completed and placed next to the designer’s chosen artwork, according to Walker.

Cheryl Ragsdale, a museum docent, said the speakers for the exhibition on Oct. 24 were Ingrid Carozzi, owner of Tin Can Studios in New York; Robbie Honey, a Zimbabwean floral designer with offices in London, according to Ragsdale. On Oct. 25 the speaker was Canaan Marshall,

I just loved how they nailed the shape of a bird, and the florist was so thoughtful because they also added similar jewels into the body of the piece.”

Avina Kei, exhibition attendee

a florist from Atlanta, who was featured on the HBO Max show “Full Bloom.”

“They are world-renowned in the area of floral design,” Ragsdale said.

The lecture speakers collectively agreed on their three favorite pieces in the exhibition. They were “Untitled” by Sam Gilliam, “Pilgrim Flask with Landscape Decoration” and “Coffin of Hor,” according to Ragsdale.

Ragsdale’s favorite piece is “Black and White Spaniel Following a Scent,” she said.

Ragsdale volunteers for the council, giving guided tours year-round. She feels like the tour allows guests to analyze art and have discussions.

“Oftentimes it is very beneficial to our guests to have a tour guide facilitate the discussion, to attract their eyes to the features both the artists wanted to show

and that the floral designer wanted to show,” Ragsdale said.

She feels like all walks of life flock to “Fine Arts & Flowers” and that the guests connect to the exhibitions, Ragsdale said.

“The guests are very engaged with both the works of art and the floral designs that interpret those works of art,” Ragsdale said.

Avina Kei, an attendee at the exhibition, said she shares a deep appreciation for the interpretations, particularly a jewel piece titled “Bird.”

“I just loved how they nailed the shape of a bird, and the florist was so thoughtful because they also added similar jewels into the body of the piece,” she said.

Her main takeaway from the exhibition was that art can be interpreted a million times over, Kei said.

‘Portrait of a Lady’ ca. 1885 by Giovanni Boldini with its imitated floral arrangement by the Little Garden Club of Winchester. Photo by Anthony Duong. Illustrations by Zoë Luis.

‘You

don’t always have to be strong’: Show explores Black vulnerability, queerness

GHAILAH NYEANCHI

Contributing Writer

The Black Virginia Theatre Alliance for Youth will premiere the “BLKS” show by author Aziza Barnes, a play about three best friends on a crusade to find intimacy and love, from Friday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 3 at the Pine Camp Cultural Center.

The BVTA is a non-profit theater company committed to bringing change and equity in theater across global and local communities, according to its Instagram.

“‘BLKS’is about three queer Black women navigating New York in 2015,” said Tariq Kareem, artistic director and production manager for Black Virginia Theatre Alliance. “2015 is significant because it was one of the most significant heights of police brutality.”

This was similar to the protests following George Floyd’s death in 2020, according to Kareem.

“It’s a historic retelling of what these women had to go through to be queer, Black and in New York at that time,” Kareem said.

“BLKS” also features a lot of intimacy between queer characters, as well as marijuana and alcohol use, according to Kareem.

“It shows the vices that we as humans have,” Kareem said. “It also shows the humanness of the characters.”

It was important for three Black queer women to be able to be human, according to Kareem.

“A lot of the time, sadly, Black women don’t get to be seen as human,” Kareem said.

The theme for BVTA’s current theatrical season is “Moving In Ebony,” according to Kareem.

“It’s a season that’s dedicated to Black women,” Kareem said. “Every show that’s a part of our season this year will be written by a Black woman and the main storyline

will be following a Black woman.”

Kareem founded the BVTA and became a professional stage manager when he was 17, he said.

At that age, he became aware of inequities Black and queer performers were facing within the theater industry, he said.

“Nothing was being done, nothing was being addressed and nothing was being talked about,” Kareem said.

Kareem decided to co-found the company to address these disparities and create opportunities for Black and queer talent, he said.

“I was super excited and a little nervous because I have never been in the position of

directing a play,” Elijah Brown, director of the “BLKS” production said.

When they read the play, they drew on moments they thought audience members would gravitate toward, according to Brown

“Set design was one of the first things that struck me,” Brown said.

One of the important choices I wanted to implement was making the couch the focal point of the play, Brown said.

You don’t always have to be strong, you don’t have to be able to do everything by yourself — you can be vulnerable.”

Marian

“The couch represents vulnerabilities for a lot of the characters,” Brown said. “I also chose red because I wanted it to be bold and to symbolize power.”

Brown did a lot of research on Aziza Barnes, the author of “BLKS,” when they were preparing to take on the role of director, they said.

A lot of themes in the show underscore the traumatic experiences Black queer women faced in 2015 and also face today, according to Brown.

“I want the audience to feel seen and heard and know that they’re not the only ones who

go through these things,” Brown said.

Marian Nicholson plays the main character Imani in the play, who is HaitianAmerican, she said.

“I feel like her character is very important in the show because it shows that being Black doesn’t mean just being part of the African diaspora,” Nicholson said.

The play also touches on the way Black women are seen in society, according to Nicholson.

“I think it’s called the ‘Black superhero’ or ‘Black Superwoman’ trope,” Nicholson said. “It’s basically when Black women are portrayed as incapable of feeling.”

Black women are expected to push their feelings down, Nicholson said.

“I feel like Imani was kind of the portrayal of that within and throughout the play,” Nicholson said. “Then, she slowly starts to unravel and she slowly starts to negate that notion.”

As the play unfolds, Imani and the audience realize that strength can take different forms, Nicholson said.

“You don’t always have to be strong,” Nicholson said. “You don’t have to be able to do everything by yourself — you can be vulnerable.”

Nicholson hopes the play speaks not only to Black attendees but audience members as a whole, she said.

Nicholson also believes the BVTA is important because it shows how Black representation in theater can inspire future generations, she said.

“You can take the fruit from the tree, but don’t forget to plant the next tree so that the generations after can also have fruit,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson actress in ‘BLKS’

(Top Photo) The founder of the Black Virginia Theatre Alliance, Tariq Kareem, and director of the play, Elijah Brown, behind the scenes on the ‘BLKS’ photoshoot. (Bottom Photo) The actors of ‘BLKS’ pose for their photoshoot. Photos courtesy of the Black Virginia Theatre Alliance.

VCU student turns yard into local Halloween attraction

CONNOR EPPLEY Contributing Writer

In a quiet Chesterfield neighborhood, Robert Yates, a 25-year-old Halloween lover and VCU fourth-year history student, proudly displays his towering animatronics, a massive graveyard with nearly 150 gravestones and a medieval skeleton army.

Robert Yates goes all out when decorating, ensuring it looks perfect for trick-or-treaters and his neighbors, he said. While he loves Halloween and all things spooky, he decorates his home to give the community something to look forward to each October, and to continue his family’s decades-old tradition.

Halloween has always been a special time for him, Robert Yates said. For him, the holiday means getting to spend time with family.

“Always growing up, Halloween time was when we would go do fun stuff as a family and go to Busch Gardens and stuff like that for the spooky time,” Robert Yates said. “As kids, we would all go trick or treating with cousins and dress up and go to our uncle’s neighborhood and that stuck with me throughout the years.”

Robert Yates started decorating his family’s home for Halloween at fiveyears-old with his grandfather, Frank Yates. His grandfather made sure he was not merely a spectator when decorating and included Robert Yates in the decision-making process.

“I was little but he would grab stuff out of the shed and be like ‘OK where do you want to place this’ and I would point and he’d put it there,” Robert Yates said.

Some of the decorations are older than Robert Yates himself, with the oldest being from the 1980s, he said.

Frank Yates passed away in 2020, however, Robert Yates was determined to continue the

family’s Halloween tradition, he said.

“As cheesy as it sounds, it’s a way to keep his memory alive more,” Robert Yates said.

“Every year, I kind of do a little nod to him in some way.”

Robert Yates paid tribute to his late grandfather this year by displaying a gravestone that reads “RIP, In memory of Frank A. Yates, 1932-2020.”

The first day of this year when I was putting up stuff I had I think at least six cars stop along the curve, a lot of families in the neighborhood will walk down to see it throughout October. On Halloween night, a lot of people will stop and take pictures in the yard and pose.”

Robert Yates

fourth-year history student

Robert Yates loves seeing the excitement the decorations elicit from his neighbors and trick-or-treaters, he said.

“The first day of this year when I was putting up stuff I had I think at least six cars stop along the curve,” Robert Yates said.

“A lot of families in the neighborhood will walk down to see it throughout October. On Halloween night, a lot of people will stop and take pictures in the yard and pose.”

One neighborhood family stands out to him because the mom knew his grandfather when she was a child, Robert Yates said.

“She said she had been trickor-treating at my grandpa’s house when she was a kid, and then she started bringing her kids to trick-or-treat,”

Robert Yates said. “She knew him when she was a kid, now her kids know us.”

Robert Yates spends several hours a day for a few weeks getting his house ready. However, the decorating often continues throughout the Halloween season and doesn’t end until Halloween night.

“I’m low-key changing stuff throughout the season — moving stuff or putting new stuff up,” Robert Yates said. “It’s never actually done-done until Halloween night.”

Robert Yates’ mom, Bonnie Yates, recalls fond memories of watching the two decorate together when Robert Yates was younger. Robert Yates was excited and enjoyed helping his grandfather decorate the yard each year, she said.

Robert Yates would notice if a decoration was in a different spot than the year prior and insisted on moving it back, according to Bonnie Yates.

“We used to laugh at him ‘delegating’ because it was cute to see a little kid ‘delegating’ and saying ‘Well, you put this here last year,’ but it was nice,” Bonnie Yates said. “I always liked watching him and Dad putting the decorations up — it was something they liked to do together.”

Seeing Robert Yates decorate the yard and continue the tradition means a lot to Bonnie Yates, she said.

“I like it when he does it because I feel like Dad is looking down pleased,” Bonnie Yates said. “I feel like Dad is up there — he loved his coffee, so he’s up there with a cup of coffee — he’s watching, and he’s very pleased. It makes me happy to see it keep going.”

Over the last few years, Robert Yates has started to enlist his friends to help decorate his yard. One year, his friend Amanda Springston helped Robert Yates as a way for the two to spend time together, she said.

“I offered to help him decorate his trees so we could hang out and so that the lights could get hung up — it was a fun experience even trying to get the lights on,” Springston said.

Robert Yates’ yard glows with jack-o-lanterns, a medieval skeleton army, gravestones and more.

Photos by Connor Eppley. Collage by Zach Montgomery.

Quote of the week

“What’s so exciting and unstoppable about the horror genre is that I view it all as metaphorical exploration. It’s the safe place that we, as a culture, can deal with things that upset and frighten us.”

- Mike Flanagan

In defense of slashers

DYLAN HOSTETTER

Opinions and Humor Editor

Of all film genres, horror is the most versatile. If done correctly, it can encompass aspects of any other genre; Horror can have comedy, romance, action or even take place in a sci-fi world. Within this nearboundless genre there are, of course, many subgenres — my favorite being slashers.

Slasher movies get a bad rap. They are known for being exploitative, cliche and cheaply produced. I’m not here to tell you they aren’t any of those things, many of them are, but many of them also outshine these negatives.

Slasher movies were not always cliche, they became cliche. Fans of “Scream” will remember Jamie Kennedy’s famous monologue on the three rules of surviving a horror movie: Never have sex, never do drugs and never, ever say “I’ll be right back.” But such concrete rules for slasher survivors were not always set in stone — they had to start somewhere.

The concept of a slasher film has its roots in the Italian film subgenre known as giallo, named after popular yellow-covered pulp crime novels of the 1920s. Giallo films, popularized in the 1960s by directors like Dario Argento and Mario Bava, follow in the footsteps of their pulp mystery roots and often feature a killer who was left unknown until the film’s conclusion. They made their name with colorful, intense set pieces and point-of-view killer shots.

Some of the most creative and visually memorable horror films came out of the giallo genre. Argento’s “Deep Red” and “Suspiria” are both pinnacles of the form,

setting the bar high for what film at large can accomplish with color and shot composition. Both films are also backed by breathtaking prog-rock scores courtesy of Italian band Goblin.

When American filmmakers caught wind of these tropes, the slasher, as we now know it, was born. Early films like “Alice, Sweet Alice” maintained the psychological thriller elements of giallo, while implementing more American stylistic elements such as a visually iconic killer.

Whereas giallo killers would often be faceless with black gloves, a staple of American slashers would be their distinct appearances. The killer in “Alice, Sweet Alice,” for instance, dons a slick yellow raincoat and an eerie mask resembling a painted female face.

Certain slashers, like “Friday the 13th’s” hockey mask-wearing Jason Vorhees, are so visually iconic that they have come to represent the entire genre. Every new slasher film renders a new opportunity to do something fresh, giving audiences something to look forward to at each new turn.

Slashers can have a domineering and physically oppressive stature like the miner Harry Warden of “My Bloody Valentine,” or they can be something as harmless and child-friendly as the Good Guy doll in “Child’s Play.” Slashers can even be children, as is the case in “Sleepaway Camp.”

Once again following in the footsteps of giallo classics, slashers also have some of the most iconic scores in American film.

John Carpenter’s score for “Halloween” has basically become the anthem of the

not the case. The high points of this genre far outweigh the lows.

I proudly return to slasher films every Halloween season, and I recommend everyone to do the same. These movies deserve their day in the sun — or rather, the dark and spooky woods.

Certain slashers, like ‘Friday the 13th’s’ hockey mask-wearing Jason Vorhees, are so visually iconic that they have come to represent the entire genre. Every new slasher film renders a new opportunity to do something fresh, giving audiences something to look forward to at each new turn.”

Illustration by Daisy Nguyen.

BookTok has lost the plot

LAUREN PRATTIS

Audience Editor

I am a big believer in the idea that one can never have too many books, so I am always on the lookout for recommendations — and like most people my age, I frequently turn to TikTok to find a community with my shared interest.

BookTok is a TikTok sub-community in which people share their love of books, reading, silly videos and character fan art. It gained popularity in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was isolated and trying to connect through niche online communities.

“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover is one of the first books that gained commercial success thanks to TikTok. It features both sexual and domestic violence and shallow portrayals of other types of abuse.

Now, this isn’t a book review, so I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. My issue with this is more related to how the internet handles books with sensitive topics such as this one. They take these traumatic life experiences and romanticize them, making them seem like the pinnacle of a healthy relationship. Time after time, the algorithm favors books that share similarly disturbing plots. BookTok frequently pushes stories centered around the main character — usually a young white woman — experiencing some sort of trauma.

Popular BookTok novels have the same formula: A girl falls in love with a man who is significantly older than her, he then goes on to emotionally or physically abuse her, but it is all “in the name of love.”

There is a sub-genre of novels with a lot of online popularity called “mafia romances.”

I find these books particularly disturbing. They showcase extreme violent crimes — kidnapping and murder — and leave readers misconstruing these as acts of love.

Some readers have become completely desensitized to this, going so far as to leave bad reviews on books that are “not violent enough.”

This is an extremely harmful way of promoting a book, especially to a younger reader who could very easily get the wrong idea about what a healthy relationship is.

While it is OK to reimagine a book cover or take creative liberty in recreating what you think a book character looks like, sometimes BookTok artists can take it too far.

I have seen countless negative reimaginings of characters’ appearances stray further and further from their original descriptions.

Most of the time, a female protagonist’s physical appearance is altered, making her appear smaller or with a lighter skin tone than she is written to have.

The books pushed on this platform rarely feature people of color, people with disabilities or those in the LGBTQ+ community. From the characters to the authors, there is not nearly as much diversity as there should be.

Because the books highlighting violence and abuse are at the forefront of readers’ minds, the stories of lesser-known characters or authors remain unknown or on the back burner.

It is OK for people to get online recommendations for their next read,

but I would also encourage people to be cautious of what opinions they let dictate their decisions.

Some readers have become completely desensitized to this, going so far as to leave bad reviews on books that are ‘not violent enough.’ This is an extremely harmful way of promoting a book, especially to a younger reader who could very easily get the wrong idea about what a healthy relationship is.”

When I go to a bookstore, I love discovering hidden gems and getting lost in that cozy atmosphere. I would rather have a conversation with a bookstore employee to find out what I like instead of solely getting recommendations from algorithm-based suggestions. Instead of scrolling for hours, maybe go to a secondhand bookstore and wander around the shelves — who knows what you’ll find.

Illustration by Layla Hajigurban.

Joke of the week

“I choked on a candy when I was a kid. Ever since then I’ve been paranoid about choking on things. I won’t even eat an artichoke because it has the word ‘choke’ in it.”

- kevin nealon

VCU vampires defend Hibbs Hall

NATALIE MCEWAN

Contributing Writer

I had originally planned to write an opinion piece regarding the outdated, windowless classrooms found across campus here at VCU. That was until the VCU vampire community expressed overwhelming support for the depressing classrooms found in buildings like Hibbs Hall.

Standing on the Compass the other day, my friends and I once again complained about the lack of outdoor access in many of our English classes. John Doeman, a human classmate, expressed health concerns over the state of the buildings.

“The fluorescent lights give me a headache,” Doeman said. “There are never any windows and there are way too many desks squished in there. It doesn’t feel suitable for learning.”

I agreed and went to scribble down his quote for use in my article. But before I could begin writing, a cloaked figure approached me and handed me an invitation to speak with the VCU Vampire Association, the VCUVA, after dusk in Hollywood Cemetery.

I approached the group of vampires that night. At any other time, I would have easily mistaken them for goth classmates — my mother was goth in the 1980s and an avid Anne Rice reader, so I’m not unfamiliar with the style.

President of the VCUVA, super-supersuper-senior Count Hibbcula, offered a

Illustration by Raya Jones.

differing view to the commonly held beliefs about Hibbs Hall. While some students may find the dark classrooms sad, Hibbs Hall ensures he and his fellow English major vampires never have to miss a class.

“In many of the other majors I could

only register for night classes,” Hibbcula said. “But as an English major many, many times over, I know I will never have to worry about seeing the sun during class.”

Other benefits of Hibbcula’s education include the ability to learn new languages

and discuss books that have been on his reading list for centuries.

A student of VCU since its creation, Hibbcula strives to expand his knowledge within the darkened classrooms of Hibbs Hall. He also politely requested the financial aid center stop laughing at him whenever he tries to request a Senior Citizens Higher Education Program tuition waiver.

“They tell me there’s no way I am over sixty, then they ask for my skincare secrets,” Hibbcula said before suggesting I apply sunscreen daily.

The VCUVA also discussed their requests for more tasty, yet garlic-free food options from VCU Dine, and stated the ban on drinking the blood of human students left them famished throughout the day.

At the mention of human blood, they began to eye me suspiciously, so I took my leave from the cemetery.

At VCU, vampire students have found both a community and a building that can support their sunlight-free studies. As for the other monsters here on campus, from the star-athlete werewolves to the mummified history majors and the brainless zombies at VCU Dine, I will continue my search to find where they can most feel at home, and where they see the school is lacking.

Editor’s Note: The characters and events depicted in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.