The Commonwealth Times; March 27, 2024

‘Paper genocide’: Virginia tribal leaders speak on race law’s centennial

JACK GLAGOLA News Editor

NATALIE COLLINS Contributing Writer

Leaders of Native American tribes across the state met at the Library of Virginia to host the panel, “The Centennial of the Passage of the Racial Integrity Act of 1924,” on Wednesday, March 20, discussing the law’s impact — past and present — on their communities and how the Native community recovers.

The law passed on March 20, 1924, and mandated that all Virginians must identify their race as either “white” or “colored” and forbade interracial marriage. The law was overturned in 1967 by the Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia.

The law was pushed by the Anglo-Saxon Clubs of America, a white nationalist organization led by Walter Plecker, who also served on the Bureau of Vital Statistics, according to the panel.

Included in the law was the “Pocahontas clause,” which classed those with less than 1/16 of Native blood as “white.”

The panel is the first in a series of accompanying events for the “Indigenous Perspectives” exhibition at the LVA. The exhibition showcases Native art and handiwork in revived traditional styles and methods by current members of Virginia’s Native community.

Lou Wratchford, assistant chief of the Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe, said she used to wonder why her family only went to places where Natives also went until realizing the act’s impacts caused them to retreat inward.

“We got to the point where we could only trust our tribe and the other tribes to

treat us fairly,” Wratchford said.

Native schools did not offer all grades at the time, according to Wratchford. She had to go hundreds of miles away to finish high school, and her brother traveled to Oklahoma to complete his education.

Wratchford recalled feeling at home while visiting other tribes because her family was always accepted by them.

“It’s still there today. You don’t find it anywhere else, that level of acceptance,” Wratchford said.

Wratchford said the impacts of the law are still felt today almost 60 years after it was overturned. Some tribes in Virginia were not federally recognized until recently because, under the act, records were destroyed or altered, according to Wratchford.

“However much you gain, there’s always the risk of losing it,” Wratchford said.

Wratchford warned that new laws can always come to take away what Virginia Natives regained.

“I would encourage all of our Virginia tribes to work diligently and together to see that it does not happen again — and if we see any inkling of that — to stand up and be counted,” Wratchford said.

Wratchford described a Virginia Tech student’s discovery of a letter from her grandmother, Molly Adams, to the governor in 1930. She asked the LVA to provide the original to the Upper Mattaponi and keep a copy in the records. The letter also included a drawing of a Native girl lying over top of a man.

“The letter said something to the effect: ‘One of our little Indian girls threw her body on John Smith to save his life, and so we had protected you all these years,’” Wratchford said.

Wratchford described Plecker’s efforts as an attempt at “paper genocide” of Native Americans.

We’re living history right now, but to us, it’s just living.”

Wayne Adkins, assistant chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe

After the panel, Wratchford said she enjoyed the opportunity to share information with people outside the tribe.

“What we talked about tonight, we talk among ourselves all the time. Now we do — we didn’t years ago, but now we do,” Wratchford said. “It’s good to share it with other people.”

Lynette Allston, chief of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia, said as a child she was told not to express her Native heritage.

“The Racial Integrity Act, to me, was the culmination of a persistent evolution of trying to deny the identity of Virginia’s Native population,” Allston said.

Allston shared a story of her grandfather — who often said to “not live too high” and stay within the community — asking her at a restaurant if there was poison in the food. It struck Allston that her grandfather lived with fear.

“That’s why he did not want to go beyond his community — that there is a danger, and he knew the danger,” Allston said.

Allston said the Nottoway Tribe is interested in federal recognition, but the

process demands a lot of time and money. For now, she wants to focus on educating people as to who the Nottoway are.

“We were left out of the history books,” Allston said. “We have strong documentation from the General Assembly going back through centuries, but we were left out of the history books.”

Allston spoke about an effort by young Nottoway to revitalize their language with the help of a word list collected by Thomas Jefferson.

“From that word list, we’re able to reestablish and develop a working language,” Allston said. “I’ll say again, it’s the young people — I’m not into remembering a new language. I’m grateful for our young folks who are really doing a good job in reestablishing the language.”

Allston emphasized the vital importance of forums to confront the legacy of the state’s Racial Integrity Act and its role in ethnically erasing Indigenous communities from historical narratives.

“People seem not to be interested in what happened before,” Allston said. “And all of what we do in life in layers — things just build on each other.”

Robert Gray, chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, said during the act it was a bad time to be a Virginia Native. Many traveled out of state to marry or work, many settling in Philadelphia — his family included, according to Gray.

“We lost a lot of culture,” Gray said. “It was kind of hard to show the culture because if you showed the culture too much, you’re identifying yourself, and you’re drawing attention to yourself.”

Gray sees the act as the “final nail in the coffin,” citing Jim Crow laws and earlier

See PAPER on page 2

14 terminal contracts; protest ensued at the Board of Visitors meeting Page 3

VCU alum, White House correspondent visits students Page 4

‘United sense of community’: VCU students observe Ramadan together Page 5

Panelists (from left): Gregory Smithers, VCU history professor and moderator; Lou Wratchford, assistant chief, Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe; Wayne Adkins, assistant chief, Chickahominy Indian Tribe; Lynette Allston, chief, Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia; Robert Gray, chief, Pamunkey Indian Tribe. Photo by Kyle Lesko.

Continued from front page

efforts in the 19th century to take away the Pamunkey reservation because they “weren’t Indian enough.”

“People were hiding their identity,” Gray said. “Over the last few decades we’re coming out of that mode, but we’ve lost a lot and we’re working with all other tribes to bring that culture back.”

Gray said the loss of records hampered efforts to gain federal recognition.

“A lot of that history was lost because the tribes just kind of stayed hunkered down and in hiding, losing some of their cultural activity, losing their people,” Gray said.

Gray said younger Pamunkey are engaging in traditional artwork like pottery and other forms of art and invited attendees to visit a Pamunkey art show at the Brick House.

Wayne Adkins, assistant chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, said his family was proud but careful — not hiding or whispering who they were.

Adkins said Walter Plecker, the main advocate for the law, based his view of Virginia Natives on the Natives of the western parts of the country.

“He did one time — in his effort to try to disprove that we were Indians — he came to visit our church one day,” Adkins said. “He sat there, and later on, he reported: He said, ‘I looked around, looked at everybody there, and I only saw one or two people who looked like the western Indians.’ So to him, if you didn’t look like the western Indians, you weren’t Indian.”

Adkins said a lot of birth and census records from the time were inaccurate since many did not know how to read or write.

“People who wrote down their race put down what they wanted,” Adkins said. “Quite often the information that’s in the census is wrong once in a while.”

Stories of the week

national: The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed in the early morning of March 26, six people are missing.

international: Over 130 people were killed in a terrorist attack on a suburban concert hall in Russia on Saturday, March 23.

Adkins said when he applied for federal recognition for the Chickahominy at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1990s, they said they had been waiting for him to do so; in the past, Plecker told the Bureau there were no Natives in Virginia.

“We probably would have been recognized in 1934,” Adkins said. “But because of Plecker’s thinking, that didn’t happen.”

Adkins said all tribes should consider documenting everything they can because one’s life eventually becomes history.

“We’re living history right now, but to us, it’s just living,” Adkins said.

Adkins said he wants people to know who Virginia’s Native community is and that they never went anywhere.

“The history books left us out and that’s one of the reasons why people don’t talk about us, it’s because they don’t know who we are,” Adkins said. “When people don’t talk about us, they don’t know our history, our culture, they don’t even know we

still exist!”

Adkins said it is always an honor to talk and educate others about Native history and issues.

“That’s always good to be able to educate some people and let them know something they didn’t know before,” Adkins said.

Gregory Smithers, a history professor at VCU specializing in Native American history, moderated the panel. He stated in an email that the LVA approached him to moderate the panel, and he was “honored” to do it.

Smithers stated it was important for everyone present to understand the legacy of the Racial Integrity Act — especially how it continues to impact the lives of Virginia Natives.

“It’s a reminder of how history is not confined to the long-ago past; it’s woven into our everyday experiences in seen and unseen ways,” Smithers stated.

Richmond bookstore unionizes; first in the region

JACK GLAGOLA

News Editor

Five employees of Shelf Life Books, a local bookstore in Carytown, unanimously voted to form a union with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 last week. They are the first bookstore in Richmond to unionize, according to a press release.

Growing numbers of bookstores have formed unions recently. Two bookstores in Washington, D.C., Politics and Prose and Solid State Books, who unionized in 2022 and 2023, respectively, inspired the workers at Shelf Life to launch their own effort, according to the press release.

Athena Palmer, who works at Shelf Life Books, said one of her coworkers moving away spurred the union effort, which had

been in the making for two years.

“We were thinking about legacy and what kind of state we want to leave the store in if we ever do leave or as we progress in the store,” Palmer said.

Palmer said bookselling is a vulnerable industry and having an extra layer of protection and assistance is important to those working at the bookstore.

“A big part of it was solidifying protections for future employees, and in general, the store,” Palmer said.

The store is very supportive of unions and labor rights, even going so far as to voluntarily recognize the union, Palmer said.

“We have a labor rights and organizing section, we have a ‘Richmond is for Unions’ sign in the window, we were very vocal

about supporting the UPS strike,” Palmer said. “So it wasn’t necessarily a surprise or antithetical to the beliefs of the store.”

The specifics of the union contract are still under negotiation. Palmer said she hopes to see a system for “technical things” including grievance processes, hiring procedures and specific roles, as well as an annual cost-of-living raise following cost increases in Virginia.

“Now, going into nearly our third year of business and having new, different staff, we want to solidify the security for everybody involved and who might be involved in the future,” Palmer said.

Palmer said she hopes other members of the community, especially small businesses, can look into unionizing.

“We really want to show them that it’s

not necessarily combative or scary,” Palmer said. “It can be a really easy process, very respectful and all around beneficial for the business, the employees, the owners and then the community as a whole.”

Neda Massalha, who also works at the store, said coming from a corporate bookstore background into a local bookshop made the experience of unionizing more valuable.

“I was really excited to be able to do what I really love and focus on community efforts,” Massalha said.

Massalha said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve already had a lot of encouraging messages and comments from people within the community,” Massalha said.

PAPER

The painted storefront of Shelf Life Books on Cary Street. The local shop’s five employees unionized to protect future employees.

Photo by Jack Glagola.

VCU issued 14 terminal contracts; protest ensued at the Board of Visitors meeting

BRI STEVENS Contributing Writer

The United Campus Workers of Virginia union protested the Focused Inquiry department layoffs on Friday, March 22, during the public comment period of the Board of Visitors meeting.

The Board of Visitors is a governorappointed panel that develops policies for budgetary and operational matters, according to its website. VCU’s BOV includes 16 voting members, including Todd Haymore, former head of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company and DIMON Inc., and Andy Florance, the CEO of CoStar, a real estate company, according to the BOV website.

Terminal contracts were issued to 14 faculty members of the Focused Inquiry Department by the BOV last year on June 28, 2023, according to Ryan Cales, a 12year FI department faculty member and a member of the United Campus Workers of Virginia union who received a terminal contract merely weeks after being promoted to associate professor

The Faculty Senate released a resolution that supported maintaining FI faculty on May 9, 2023, according to the resolution.

A job listing for postdocs — temporary research positions for doctoral degree holders — was released on February 22 without a public announcement, Cales said.

“When the job ad was posted, I was struck,” Cales said.

Cales said the postdocs’ job listing matched his job description and offered about the same salary, initially not realizing his job was being replaced. He believes the budget crisis is simply an excuse to fire certain faculty VCU wants to get rid of.

“The idea that we were under a budgetary need to get rid of faculty at this point just seems blatantly false,” Cales said.

Cales spoke at the BOV meeting on Friday and implored the board, “I urge you now — don’t make these mistakes. Do what is best for everyone at VCU — end this, and reinstate these contracts.”

D’Arcy Mays, the interim dean of the University College, said the terminal contracts were a result of a budgetary issue.

“Ninety-six percent of the budget is tied up with personnel,” Mays said. “Last year, all of the academic units across the university on both campuses were told that they needed to have a balanced budget.”

University College has a deficit in the

budget of $2.7 million that is rolled over, according to Mays.

There is a projected enrollment cliff of a 15% decline in age-eligible college students likely in 2026, Mays said.

Five faculty members have resigned from the FI department, and as a result, two individuals with terminal contracts were renewed, according to Mays.

“I have advocated for, and we did get two people renewable contracts who were part of this group, and we continue to advocate for others,” Mays said.

The idea of postdocs was presented as a way to ensure coverage for classes, and the postdoc position will not replace the positions held by faculty with terminal contracts, Mays said.

VCU wants faculty to hold a terminal degree or the highest achievable degree in their field, according to Mays. As a result, the positions weren’t given to those who received terminal contracts since the majority of them don’t hold terminal degrees.

Some of the terminal contracts could potentially be renewed, according to Mays.

“We have been working toward a plan that has renewed a couple of the people who did get terminal contracts, and are continuing discussions that would potentially renew others,” Mays said. “That has not happened yet.”

Mays said he understands the concerns around the temporariness of postdocs.

“Are they going to be as invested in the students as the people who have been at VCU for 12 or 20 years?” Mays said. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t still offer very highquality education.”

Faculty and the provost will likely not agree upon any proposed solution, Mays said.

Emma Draga, a fourth-year sociology and philosophy student at VCU and the current chair of the undergraduate worker committee within UCW-VA, said she feels students’ quality of education will diminish after the layoffs.

“All the students at VCU are paying money to be here, and the faculty are the people who make our education worth that cost in the first place,” Draga said. “The faculty are the people we form relationships with that make our education quality.”

Draga spoke directly to the BOV at the meeting to impress upon them the importance of FI faculty.

“I want to make it clear that any gutting

of faculty at VCU directly harms students, and that we — every student at VCU — know this,” Draga said. “I know this when my professors are overworked, given increasingly larger class sizes, and are unable to give me adequate academic support.”

postgraduate life.”

Kristin Reed, a focused inquiry professor at VCU, current Steering Committee member and the former chapter chair of UCW-VA, said the administration did not have a conversation with the faculty before

“Seeing the ad was a little bit of a punch in the gut,” Reed said. “There was no time for faculty to express concerns before the hiring committee was formed and the ad

Reed said the notion of hiring new

Kristin Reed speaks before the Board of Visitors on Friday, March 22 in the library to protest the 14 terminal contracts issued to Focused Inquiry faculty in June 2023.

Photo by Belinda Daniels.

A VCU student speaks before President Rao about the layoff of multiple staff members from the Department of Focused Inquiry.

Photo by Belinda Daniels.

TERMINAL CONTRACTS

Continued from page 3

people would be more costly than keeping veteran faculty because the search for new employees is expensive.

The administration is made up of business leaders, not faculty members, who prioritize a weak and small workforce, Reed said.

“President Rao has said explicitly in faculty senate meetings that we’re operating off of a Wall Street model to compensate our upper administration,” Reed said. “They are trying to run it as a business, like an Amazon packing facility.”

Reed said the morale among staff is very low.

“I don’t want to come to work when

all of my coworkers are fired,” Reed said. “It’s awful.”

Jenna Gabriel, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Art Education, an adjunct instructor and a former chapter chair of UCW-VA, said she feels as someone who would be eligible to apply for the postdoc position, she’s not as skilled as veteran faculty.

“Students deserve to not be taught by me,” Gabriel said. “They deserve not to be taught by people who haven’t been trained, they deserve to be taught by experienced faculty who’ve been doing this for decades.”

Kim Zicafoose, a FI faculty member who has dedicated over 20 years to teaching at VCU, was one of the 14 who received a terminal contract. Zicafoose broke down into tears when asked how she felt when

she received her termination letter.

“The administration keeps saying that we weren’t fired, but simply received terminal contracts,” Zicafoose said. “I feel fired.”

At the BOV meeting, Zicafoose highlighted her service to the school which was recognized in a letter by President Rao.

“In May of 2023, I was promoted in my department with glowing recommendations from the promotion committee, the department chair, and the dean,” Zicafoose said. “A mere month later, on June 28th, I received a terminal contract outlining that VCU was no longer interested in that fine service.”

Kimberly Portillo, a second-year radiation sciences major, said wrongfully firing faculty puts students in a difficult position as it endangers the quality of their

education and she warned the BOV that their concerns about enrollment won’t be remedied by ignoring student concerns.

“Students talk, and there is a strong sense of community here at VCU,” Portillo said. “Our words spread fast and far. If you are so worried about your enrollment and retention rates, then listen to our voices.”

BOV Rector Todd Haymore shared a statement via email regarding the public speakers.

“The board appreciated hearing from students and faculty about these important issues,” Haymore stated. “We all share the same goal: ensuring VCU provides every student an outstanding education that prepares them for their futures. Today was helpful in hearing their experiences and perspectives.”

VCU alum, White House correspondent visits students

JACK GLAGOLA

News Editor

NBC White House correspondent and VCU alum Aaron Gilchrist returned to campus on Thursday, March 21 to talk to students about journalism and his work in the field.

Gilchrist discussed the nature of the job, changes in the journalism industry and some of his favorite stories during the talk. Afterward, he answered questions posed by the audience.

Gilchrist said his most memorable experience was working full-time for WWBT, Richmond’s NBC affiliate, while still studying mass communications at VCU. He said he would practice skills

in the newsroom and learn the “why” in his classes.

Journalism’s unpredictability and its necessary role in society makes the job fulfilling, Gilchrist said.

“No two days are alike,” Gilchrist said. “You never know what tomorrow’s story is going to be, and what crazy thing may be an element of that story.”

Much has changed in his 20-year career as a broadcast journalist, especially in technology, Gilchrist said. When he started, they used camera operators, tape and satellite trucks. Recently he reported on a story with all the equipment in a backpack.

Gilchrist said it is unfortunate that the current political environment can pose a greater danger to journalists, but that it is

still important to tell the story.

“It really matters that we are making a record of some of those uncomfortable things,” Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist said TV news is more immediate, and that alleviates some of the pressure associated with the job.

“You have to trust that you’ve gathered the information the right way and then figure out ‘how do I present this in a way that’s going to be useful?’” Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist advised students aspiring to be journalists, especially TV journalists, to make sure they have the right reasons for wanting to do it — it is not all “hair, makeup, celebrities.”

“You get to go places, you get to meet people, you get to hear stories, you get to

literally roll around with pigs sometimes,” Gilchrist said. “There’s really fun moments in what we do. If you get into it for the right reasons, you can have a long, fulfilling career in this industry.”

Gilchrist, taking a question from the audience about how to sharpen journalism skills, recommended reading and writing as a way to practice. Success does not just mean a pretty face, he said. Good writing is a “skill that never goes out of style.”

“The more knowledge you’re able to amass, the better you show up in our business because it helps inform the next thing you’re going to have to report on,” Gilchrist said.

VCU alum Aaron Gilchrist spoke at the STEM Building lecture hall on Thursday, March 21. Gilchrist discussed his work as a journalist and gave students advice to develop their careers.

‘United sense of community’: VCU students observe Ramadan together

BILAN OSMAN Contributing Writer

The Muslim Student Association, like other clubs such as the Black Muslim Collective at Virginia Commonwealth University, will host weekly community gatherings and prayers for Ramadan this month.

Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, began on March 11th and will end on April 9th this year, according to the University of Virginia’s student affairs website. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during this time. For Muslims, Ramadan is a month of selfreflection, giving, praying and community, according to the Islamic Networks Group website.

VCU has an estimated 2,000 Muslim students, according to Charles Turner, the university’s Muslim Life coordinator.

Ramadan at VCU is different every year, but there have been improvements in accommodations over the years, according to Turner. VCU faculty like associate vice provost and dean of students Rueban Rodriguez and Charles Klink, associate vice president for holistic well-being, have been supportive of Muslim students.

Student organizations like the MSA have planned nightly community iftar dinners from Monday through Friday, according to MSA’s Instagram.

Students who are fasting can get halal meals from VCU Dine locations like Za’atar at the University Student Commons and Shafer or Rams Coop for halal chicken, according to Bryan Kelly, VCU Dine resident district manager.

MSA will also host Maghrib, Isha and Taraweeh prayers Monday through Friday, according to MSA President Lamies Abbas. MSA also plans to collaborate with other student organizations like Black Muslim

Collective and host a multicultural iftar, Abbas said.

Black Muslim Collective will also host weekly iftars, according to BMC’s Instagram.

MSA at VCU hosts events for Ramadan every year, and each year the community grows, according to Abbas.

“It’s a really very united sense of community, not breaking your fast by yourself,” Abbas said.

MSA is one of the largest student organizations at VCU, according to Abbas. VCU’s Muslim student population has limited prayer space; the only places to pray on campus are the meditation room in the Commons and the new reflection room at James Branch Cabell Library.

Prayer space is being accommodated by the University Student Commons on Monday through Friday nights for Ramadan, according to Abbas.

Students find a sense of community away from home through MSA events during Ramadan, according to Laila Dajani, a fourth-year business marketing major.

“We all kind of relate to each other,” Dajani said.

Dajani said she was nervous about spending Ramadan away from home when she first transferred to VCU but found a sense of community during Ramadan on campus.

Dajani said she hopes VCU can bring more awareness and educate faculty about Ramadan so that there are more accommodations for students in the future.

“The head of VCU should definitely implement that every year and let the whole entire campus know this is what Ramadan is, this is what it’s about, please be mindful of your students,” Dajani said.

Students break their fast at a weekly iftar and game night hosted by the Black Muslim Collective at Ascend RVA. Muslim groups around campus have planned various events for the holy month of Ramadan.

Photos by Bilan Osman.

Stat of the week

USF’s opponents shot 60% from the free throw line at Yuengling Stadium, while the Rams shot 85.7% from the charity stripe, according to VCU Athletics.

Rams fall short in competitive match-up against Memphis Tigers, 4-3

KYLER GILLIAM

Contributing Writer

ANDREW MCGHAN

Contributing Writer

The VCU women’s tennis team lost to the University of Memphis Tigers on Friday, March 22, 4-3, in a tight matchup.

This is VCU’s second straight loss, bringing their spring season record to 11-4, according to VCU Athletics.

VCU head coach Vivian Segnini said she was still very pleased by the efforts of her team on Friday.

“I’m very proud of them, it was a really tough match,” Segnini said.

Memphis won the doubles point after winning the first two matches to conclude, thus ending the third match prematurely.

Memphis first-year Leonie Moeller and third-year Emily Meyer defeated VCU third-year Yelizaveta Karlova and second-year Emma Valletta 6-2 in the first doubles match to conclude.

“I think it was a good set that we played, considering the fact that Emma Valletta was injured the last two weeks,” Karlova said. “Also, those girls we played against, they were really good, so I don’t feel bad about our loss.”

Memphis fourth-year Camila Soares and fifth-year Monique Woog defeated

VCU first-years Tiziana Rossini and Emma Rizzetto 6-3 in the second match to conclude. This match clinched the doubles point for the Tigers.

Rossini said she and Rizzetto tried to close the scoring gap midway through the match, however, Memphis’ Soares and Woog were playing with high intensity stopping any potential comeback.

“We were close the first games, we weren’t playing good, but still, we knew that we could do better,” Rossini said. “So we kept trying to find a way, they were playing really aggressive, and we couldn’t find a way.”

The third doubles match ended prematurely. It was a matchup between VCU third-year Anja Draskovic and first-year Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando and Memphis redshirt third-year Alice Amendola and third-year Miriam Grossmann, which saw VCU leading 5-4 before it was called off, due to Memphis clinching the doubles point.

The singles portion of the match started, and VCU needed to win four out of the six singles matches to claim victory over Memphis.

The first match to conclude was Amendola who took down Rizzetto 7-5 in the first set, and then 6-3 in the second, according to StatBroadcast. This would give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the

overall score.

Valletta and Woog split the first two sets with Woog winning the first 6-4 and Valletta winning the second 6-2, according to StatBroadcast. Valletta took care of business, defeating Woog 6-0 in the final set, giving VCU their first point of the match.

The third match to finish was between Meyer and Draskovic, according to StatBroadcast. Meyer won both sets by a score of 6-3 and 7-6.

This made the overall score 3-1 in favor of Memphis.

Karlova faced off against Soares in the fourth match where in the first set, Karolova faced a deficit against Soraes before surging back to win the set 7-5, according to StatBroadcast.

The second set was very back-andforth between the two players with Karlova winning the set 7-6.

The loss in the doubles match did not negatively impact her going into the singles match, according to Karlova.

“I was really excited about the singles match,” Karlova said. “I knew that we could do better, and doubles doesn’t really define the result of the whole day.”

With the singles win, the Memphis lead was cut to one, making the overall 3-2, still in Memphis’ favor.

VCU’s Rossini went up against Memphis second-year Micah Pierce in

a thrilling match; VCU needed to secure this match if they wanted a chance to win the game.

Rossini won the first set 6-3, and Pierce won the second set 6-2, according to StatBroadcast. It set up a back-andforth third set where it went down to the wire for Rossini to win the set 7-5.

Rossini said she had to play with more intensity against Pierce to try and get the win for the team.

“She was playing really good, and she was not missing, so I had to play aggressive and really attack, and that’s what I did, and I try to stay in the match,” Rossini said. “Fighting for me and for the team.”

VCU tied the overall score at 3-3.

The game-deciding match came down to a thriller between Andrade Sabando and Moeller.

Moeller won a nail-biting first set 7-6 and Andrade Sabando won the second set 6-3, according to StatBroadcast.

That win set up the final set of the game, which resulted in Moeller sealing the game for the Tigers by winning the third set 6-4.

The final overall score was 4-3 in favor of the Tigers.

CT

Wildcats down nine lives, VCU wins NIT first round, 70-61

THAI WILSON Sports Editor

The Rams beat Villanova, 70-61, in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament on Wednesday, March 20.

The game started with the Rams and Wildcats trading buckets, and the Rams led 8-7 with 16 minutes left in the first half.

The Wildcats went on a 6-0 run, but then VCU redshirt first-year guard Alphonzo Billups III made two threepointers and tied the game 14-14.

Billups ended the half with nine points, all of which were scored from the 3-point line, leading the Rams in scoring.

Twenty out of 31 of VCU’s first-half points were scored by players that came off the bench.

The Rams and Wildcats traded buckets until the Wildcats took a 2119 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half.

The Rams then went on a 5-0 run to take back the lead at 24-21 lead with three minutes remaining.

The black and gold and Villanova continued to go back and forth after this, but the Rams led 31-30 after a buzzer-beater 3-pointer by Villanova second-year guard Mark Armstrong.

The second half started similarly to the first with back-and-forth buckets between the Rams and the Wildcats for the first 12 minutes.

VCU second-year forward Toibu “Tobi” Lawal capped off a 7-0 run with

two free throws to give the Rams a 5349 lead with eight minutes remaining.

VCU graduate student forward Kuany Kuany continued the run to 10-0 with a three-pointer in the corner, giving the Rams a 56-49 lead, which was the Rams’ biggest lead of the game.

Villanova redshirt fourth-year forward Eric Dixon was fouled two possessions in a row on shot attempts and he made all four free-throw attempts, which lowered the Ram’s lead to 56-53 with six minutes remaining.

Dixon went on an 8-0 run to give the Wildcats a 58-57 lead at the fiveminute mark of the second half.

The Rams were in the lead, 60-58, after two more Lawal free throws going into the under-four-minute media timeout.

The black and gold started an 8-0 run out of the media timeout and this gave them a 66-58 point lead with one minute and 36 seconds remaining.

The Rams never gave up the lead back to the Wildcats and won comfortably after two dunks off of inbounding players by Lawal and VCU fourth-year guard Joe Bamisile.

Bamisile’s dunk gave the Rams the 70-61 lead at the final buzzer moving the Rams to the second round of the NIT.

The Rams will face off against the University of Utah on Wednesday, March 27 at 9:00 p.m. in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Timberwolves will devour the Rockets PICK OF THE WEEK:

BERSABEH

Staff Writer

KEMAW

For this week’s pick of the week, we’re heading to the NBA for a faceoff between the Houston Rockets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. These two teams will go head to head at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 2.

The two teams have seen each other on the court twice in 2024, and both times, the Timberwolves claimed victory.

These games have not been close games, with the Timberwolves defeating the Rockets in January, 122-95, and in February, 111-90, according to ESPN.

Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards is a lethal player for the team and is currently averaging 26.4 points, 5.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game, and is leading his team in points

and steals, according to ESPN.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is another great defensive asset to the team, averaging 12.9 rebounds per game, according to ESPN.

The Rockets do have shooting guard Jalen Green, who is averaging 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game and has helped the team to consistent wins, according to ESPN.

Although the Rockets have been on a five-game winning streak, I do believe the Timberwolves will leave this matchup with their third victory against the Rockets.

The Timberwolves are a top team in the league right now and have a homecourt advantage against the Rockets, and considering their history with their opponent, there’s no doubt they won’t get another win.

VCU second-year forward Toibu “Tobi” Lawal heads to the timeout huddle. The Rams swipe the Villanova Wildcats, 70-61, to move on to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament.

Courtesy photo by VCU Athletics.

Who will win the 2024 World Series?

DAN ELSON

Contributing Writer

MALACHI KEYS

Contributing Writer

HAYDEN BRAUN

Contributing Writer

The CT Sports staff is excited for the upcoming 2024 Major League Baseball season.

Here are some of the writers’ opinions on who they believe will win the World Series at the end of the season.

DAN’S PICK: THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The Los Angeles Dodgers will win the 2024 World Series, as they went all in during the offseason.

The Dodgers have committed more than $1 billion to free agents this offseason, according to Front Office Sports . The Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani, perhaps the game’s best player, to a historic contract.

They also brought in future star Yoshinobu Yamamoto — the most highly-rated Japanese pitcher since Masahiro Tanaka, according to MLB.

The Dodgers also have quality starting pitchers, especially Tyler Glasnow and Walker Buehler. An elbow injury will sideline Buehler for at least a month, but if the rotation is fully healthy when the games grow more meaningful, they will be as deadly as it gets.

Fans should count on the Dodgers’ opponents to have a tough time at the plate in October.

Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw will likely miss most of this season. An all-time great in the regular season and a future Hall of Famer, Kershaw hasn’t enjoyed much

playoff success. Kershaw has a career 13-13 record in the playoffs and a 4.49 ERA, according to ESPN.

Viewers should expect to see him at the top of his game after having time to rest during the regular season.

The Dodgers have three of the ten best offensive players — first baseman Freddie Freeman, shortstop Mookie Betts and Ohtani.

Third baseman Max Muncy, a power hitter, strengthens the lineup even more. Opposing pitchers will find the Dodgers’ big bats too hot to handle in the postseason.

The Dodgers’ only championship since 1988 was the 2020 60-game season, according to MLB. That’s surprising, considering how talented their rosters have been, and how well they’ve performed in the regular season.

This will be the year they put it all together across all 162 games and win the World Series. Now, there’s no more excuses.

HAYDEN’S PICK: THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The Baltimore Orioles are currently slated at the ninth-best odds to win the World Series at +1600, according to ESPN. They won 101 games in 2023 and have kept basically the same roster as last season, according to Baseball Reference.

Injuries to pitchers, Kyle Bradish and John Means, this spring are certainly concerning, especially with pitcher Félix Bautista’s Tommy John surgery leaving him sidelined for the entirety of the 2024 season, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Despite Bautista’s injury, this roster is filled with young

talent expected to experience more growth this season. Young players like pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, infielder Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Austin Hays are going to step up this season to full-time starters.

The pickup of veteran pitcher Corbin Burnes this past offseason is going to help this team out a ton. The former Brewers pitcher posted a 3.39 ERA, according to ESPN.

He has been named starting pitcher for opening day, according to masn sports.

The Orioles aren’t league favorites to win the World Series but have so much potential to be great.

MALACHI’S PICK: THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Since their World Series Champion win in 2020, the Dodgers have been clearing cap room and letting go of expensive former Dodgers specifically to build a talented roster for this upcoming season.

With the addition of pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to an already stacked roster of hitters with the likes of players such as outfielder Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman and infielder Max Muncy, the Dodgers looked primed to have an elite offense.

The addition of pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make the Dodgers pitching rotation even greater alongside their ace Tyler Glasnow.

The Dodgers seem to be in a position to have an all-time talented team, and nothing short of another World Series pennant will be satisfactory.

GAME RESULTS

MARCH 20

WOMEN’S LACROSSE AT DAVIDSON

LOST 18-7

MEN’S BASKETBALL AT VILLANOVA

WON 70-60

MARCH 21

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AT VILLANOVA

LOST 75-60

MARCH 22

MEN’S TENNIS VS. CORNELL

LOST 4-1

WOMEN’S TENNIS VS. MEMPHIS

LOST 4-3

BASEBALL AT XAVIER

LOST 7-6

MARCH 23

WOMEN’S LACROSSE VS. LA SALLE WON 12-8

BASEBALL AT XAVIER LOST 9-5

MARCH 24

MEN’S TENNIS VS. CHARLOTTE

WON 4-3

WOMEN’S TENNIS VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC

WON 4-2

BASEBALL AT XAVIER

WON 10-5

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SOUTH FLORIDA

WON 70-65

On this day

In 1790, the modern shoelace with an aglet was patented by Harvey Kennedy in England.

Richmond ceramicists, businesses collaborate to showcase clay artwork

HAZEL HOFFMAN

Contributing Writer

Dozens of small businesses around Richmond last week took down their regular window displays for artists to put up stands, signs, props and, most importantly, lots and lots of clay.

From pottery items with colorful glazing to tall vases with detailed etchings and pastel slugs with mugs, ceramics took over windows to create a living gallery of local artists in the city they work in.

The ceramics community came together from Wednesday, March 20, to Saturday, March 23, to show off the local scene with Clay Windows of Richmond. The project paired dozens of local artists and businesses to create a series of storefront displays that centered and promoted the artists and their work, according to Kelly Adams, a community partner of the project.

Adams worked with volunteers from the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts to organize the project and is the owner of STUFF in Scott’s Addition, which carries handcrafted jewelry, gifts and art from local artists. For Clay Windows of Richmond, STUFF displayed the colorful work of Ashland artist Mel Titus, who uses intricate glazing techniques in producing unique pieces.

Clay Windows happened in tandem with the 58th annual NCECA conference, which took place in Richmond last week on the same days and brought ceramics artists and educators from several countries together, according to Adams.

While the idea of displaying local potters’ work in windows has been around for several years, NCECA volunteers Sylvia Mallory and Corinna Anderson took on the project with a renewed passion this year, Adams said.

With a framework of community partners and dedicated volunteers, Mallory

and Anderson were able to connect over 50 local artists and 35 businesses in Richmond for the project despite initially only expecting a handful of storefronts, Adams said.

“We all think pottery is utilitarian, like a coffee mug, a plate,” Adams said. “Throughout time we forget about the other pieces like the sculpture and the different types of firing.”

The magic of Clay Windows is that it brings the artistry and diversity of the ceramics community to the forefront in spaces where people already are, making the community beautiful in a way that is accessible to anyone at any time, Adams said.

As a community partner and someone who has always enjoyed making connections and talking to people, Adams sought out artists and connected them to local businesses that matched their aesthetics, inspirations and aspirations to create displays that sparked conversation, Adams said.

“The electricity bill in our city has gone up tremendously since all of these kilns have been firing for the past five months to display their work,” Adams said with a laugh.

Alexandra Fabrizio, one of the artists displayed, said when Adams told her the window she’d be paired with was World of Mirth, one of her favorite stores, she couldn’t turn it down. She said she then set to work creating a colorful exhibit featuring not one, but two tea parties with little friends, slugs, frogs and cats sitting down for tea.

“With my work, I’m working through the complication of emotions — of being a human in this world,” Fabrizio said. “We still can be joyful, and not take ourselves so seriously as we work through all of, you know, the messiness of life and have a lot of fun.”

The Richmond ceramics community stands out in how warm and supportive people are, Fabrizio said. The space is not only full of talented artists, but also people who are as a whole welcoming and willing to share their knowledge and experience.

“I feel like this is a really approachable medium that people can kind of sit with and interact with that other art doesn’t have, because you could have a mug, you know, that’s your favorite mug — that becomes a ritual,” Fabrizio said.

Fabrizio hopes that her pieces and the work of artists across the city will help people see a reflection of themselves in an art form that they may not have expected and break down those expectations of what pottery and ceramics are, she said.

Rabia Kamara, the owner of Ruby Scoops, said she, like many involved, had some ceramics experience and was excited to be a part of the project when she was contacted by the organizers.

“Ruchi of Birds at Noon makes beautiful, whimsical pieces that I think, like ice cream, satisfy your inner child,” Kamara said.

In Carytown, Sugar & Twine’s window was taken over by Summer Balcom, a VCUarts graduate who’s been working out of her own studio, Summer Bee Clay, for several years, she said.

Balcom looked forward to the clay community having a wider audience for

their work and showing off how rich and impactful Richmond’s ceramic scene is, she said.

“It really is a very significant, diverse community and it’s kind of not really known unless you’re aware of it or in that circle,” Balcom said.

Balcom pointed out the versatility of the medium itself as well, saying that from sculptural ceramics to tableware and pottery — no two artists’ practices are the same in creating from the raw material, furthering the diversity of the Richmond ceramics scene.

“A lot of people see me and my work and are surprised that ceramics can look that way or are surprised that surface design can look a certain way,” Balcom said. “So I found that kind of delightful to discover that I was surprising some people’s expectations.”

While Balcom said she didn’t set out with the intention to subvert expectations, her detailed and textured works often use sgraffito, a carving technique that produces striking lines and a textured feel to push the limits of image and form.

“People are seeing different pottery and especially different styles that they don’t necessarily associate with a traditional pottery mindset — a lot of people are seeing how alternative and interesting and contemporary a lot of the potters are in Richmond,” Balcom said.

Artist Alexandra Fabrizio’s artwork fills the window of the World of Mirth toy store in Carytown with clay and color. Photo by Maggie Root.

Moon Williams’ artwork fills the windows at bbgb, a children’s bookstore in Carytown.

Photo by Maggie Root.

‘Finding meaning out of the tragedy’: Music festival honors a life, promotes heart health

GHAILAH NYEANCHI Contributing Writer

“I just want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again,” said Shannon Walls, father of Avery Walls and member of Sidepiece, a local band.

The Park RVA, a food and entertainment hall, hosted the “Avery Walls Music Festival,” which honored the life of Avery Walls on Saturday, March 23 with music, food and family-friendly entertainment. Avery Walls’ family organized the event to honor his life and raise money for heart conditions for the American Heart Association.

Avery Walls was born in Missouri and later moved to Virginia, according to the Sidepiece website.

He was born with Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome, a very rare heart condition the family was lucky to catch at birth, according to Shannon Walls.

Avery Walls had ablation surgery when he was 3 years old, and the

family thought that the condition was fixed, Shannon Walls said. Avery Walls began having issues in July 2023 and underwent testing by cardiologists and specialists.

One night, Avery Walls went to bed and did not wake up, Shannon Walls said. He had a heart attack in his sleep.

“Avery was only 20 years old,” Shannon Walls said. “He passed away last September.”

He was a super sweet kid, Shannon Walls said. He came to many of Sidepiece’s shows and helped out whenever he could, including capturing videos and film to upload onto their Facebook and Youtube channels.

Avery Walls was a maintenance technician at one of the local Amazon facilities, Shannon Walls said. He was into what all 20 year old boys are into — comic books, superheroes and Dungeons & Dragons.

“He was just starting to make his way in the world and didn’t get to do that,” Shannon Walls said. “He didn’t get to continue, so I’m hoping that the festival will be a celebration where people can come out, have a good time and remember him.”

Shannon Walls pitched the idea for the event to the rest of Sidepiece, he said.

The band was instrumental in putting it together.

“When all of this happened, I was struggling to find meaning out of the tragedy,” Shannon Walls said. “I thought it would be nice to honor him and raise money so other people didn’t have to go through what I went through.”

The festival turned out to be bigger than any of us could’ve imagined, said Blake Narron, the drummer for Sidepiece.

“I didn’t know if anyone was going to be interested since the point wasn’t to make money, it was strictly for the American Heart Association,” Narron said. “I was blown away by how many people have their own individual stories or know someone who has been affected by heart issues.”

So many bands volunteered to play in the festival that Narron had to turn people away, he said.

Sidepiece hopes the festival helps push legislation to include echocardiograms in sports physicals, Narron said.

“It’s a simple test, it takes longer to stick those stickers on than it is to run the test,” Narron said. “Obviously, Avery was able to get diagnosed at birth, but imagine how

many kids have a condition like that and they just don’t know.”

The American Heart Association also pledged to allocate funds to support local initiatives, according to Narron.

“The Powhatan community that Avery actually played football for in high school is offering CPR training and EKG testing,” Narron said.

The hall hummed with activity throughout the festival. Kids congregated around arcade games, bowling lanes and mini golf courts. Parents sipped drinks, laughed with friends and nodded along as local band Audiovault performed and rock music streamed through the speakers.

There was something for everyone at the festival, as it featured a wide variety of genres, such as funk, R&B and ‘90s grunge, according to Narron.

“I’ve liked everything they’ve played so far,” said Vanessa Roehm, an attendee of the music festival. “And it’s nice to support a good cause.”

The Park RVA fills with music and guests for the ‘Avery Walls Music Festival,’ which honored Avery Walls life and raised money for the American Heart Association.

Photo by Maggie Root.

Local bands, Dividing Face and Audiovault, play at the ‘Avery Walls Music Festival.’ Photos by Maggie Root. Collage by Victor Romanko.

Quote of the week

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.”

— Frank Herbert

‘Dune’:

Moving beyond the page

RYAN HUMPHREY Contributing Writer

Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve recently revealed that he views imagery in film to be more important than dialogue, which should not come as much of a surprise to anyone familiar with his work. Though not everyone agrees with his artistic approach, it has genuine merit — after all, visuals and sound are what set film apart from other art forms.

It makes sense that science fiction appeals to Villeneuve — its heightened and larger-than-life imagery gives him ample opportunity to put his vision to the test. However, sci-fi is also often associated with wordy dialogue and intricate lore, making it a risky tightrope to walk for someone who jokes about hating dialogue.

Villeneuve has successfully walked this tightrope in the past with films like “Arrival” and “Blade Runner 2049,” but adapting Frank Herbert’s foundational sci-fi novel “Dune” seemed like a task he might not have been suited for.

Above all else, “Dune” is dense, featuring a large cast of complex characters navigating a meticulously detailed futuristic world. It has been called “unfilmable” — though there have been attempts, including David Lynch’s overstuffed and confusing “Dune” film that he ultimately disowned.

With the recent release of “Dune: Part Two,” Villeneuve’s adaptation of the novel is complete. Though he intends to eventually make one more film adapting the book’s sequel, it seems fair at this point to say that his adaptation was a resounding success.

It is certainly true that not every line in the pair of films will make sense on your first watch. The language and workings of the world in the year 10191

can be overwhelming, particularly given Villeneuve’s reluctance to have characters explain things.

However, would we really benefit from every detail being repeatedly explained? Villeneuve knows where better to spend the time — immersing us in a beautifully crafted world that feels real, even if we don’t always understand it. After all, we can always catch more of the details on rewatch.

With “Part One” establishing the world and the story, “Part Two” is free to commit to being a pure, wildly entertaining spectacle. Naturally, this had to do with the incredible production — the imposing sets, the blaring sound, the gorgeous visuals. The film also benefited from the choice of what to withhold from the first movie — specifically, several important characters.

It might have been more faithful for “Part One” to have Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen lurking in the background, but Austin Butler’s charismatic performance was all the more impactful because of the wait. The same goes for Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, whose sparse scenes are some of the highlights of the film.

Both films had star-studded casts, but the sequel’s young cast is so exciting to watch that it makes an argument for a new generation of movie stars, a category that seemed to be going extinct. The Marvel Cinematic Universe produced a host of what you might call movie stars, but as Quentin Tarantino pointed out, their stardom often had more to do with the superheroes they played than the actors themselves.

“Dune: Part Two” has proven itself to be more than just a movie — it’s a cinematic experience.

Despite the focus on spectacle, the films are by no means devoid of thematic complexity. One of the most important

aspects of the novel is its critique of fanaticism, and “Dune: Part Two” makes this obvious with a bleak tone that clearly emphasizes the dangers of Paul Atreides’ rise.

In a way, this dulls the immersive aspect of the story. The film’s captivating presentation comes close to converting us, the audience, into blind worshippers, but we are stopped from fully getting lost in the spell by characters like Zendaya’s Chani, who in this adaptation serves as the clear voice of dissent.

At the same time, it is hard not to be reminded of a movie like “Starship Troopers,” which was so committed to its satirical pro-war framing that audiences are still arguing about it today. Maybe it’s a good thing that “Dune: Part Two” was so blatant in its messaging, so those unfamiliar with the source material are less likely to miss the point.

Whether or not it could have used a dash more subtlety, Villeneuve’s two-part “Dune” adaptation was a success.

The films sand down the nuances and elaborate worldbuilding of the book, and in doing so they lose some of what makes “Dune” so intricate and clever. However, they succeed at doing what film does best — providing an impactful multi-sensory experience that you can share with the people around you.

These movies understand they can never replace the book. Instead, they provide an alternate way to experience a story that grows even more impactful if you delve into the supplementary lore from the book.

It might be some time before we get Villeneuve’s eventual finale to the trilogy, but I have no doubt it will be worth the wait. In the meantime, is it too early to start Rebecca Ferguson’s Oscar campaign?

Illustration by Liv Weatherford.

VCU waves goodbye to Chili’s 16-year legacy: What now?

JESSICA HOLGADO Contributing Writer

After 16 years of serving up sizzling flavors and good times, it is hard to believe that Chili’s Bar & Grill at VCU is closing for good on May 10. Chili’s was the first fullservice restaurant on campus, from the fresh mex creations to the baby back ribs and sirloin steaks that turned a simple meal into a feast, according to VCU Dining Services.

Their menu had something for everyone, whether you were looking for lighter choices, vegetarian options or something to indulge in. But let us not forget the star of the show, at least for me — the Triple Dipper. I will miss crafting the perfect combo of appetizers to share, or sometimes, to keep for myself. Chili’s was the go-to spot for study groups, first dates and those nights when cooking in the dorm just was not going to happen.

The closing of Chili’s is more than just the end of a restaurant; it is the end of a chapter for all of us who found a little bit of comfort in its familiar booths and friendly faces that greeted us.

Now, as we face the reality of Chili’s closing, the question on everyone’s mind is: “What now?” What do we do with the space that was once a bustling hub of flavors and friendships? The space that Chili’s leaves behind will not stay empty

There is a world of possibilities for VCU to turn Chili’s into something we will all love. Imagine transforming that space into a vibrant vegetarian restaurant — it is something we have been missing amidst all of the greasy food joints. A fresh, green eatery would be a welcome change, offering plantbased meals that are as delicious as they are nutritious.

And then there is the sweet side of things. Who would not love an ice cream bar? Sure, Shafer’s soft serve and ShakeSmart’s acai bowls hit the spot, but think about those late-night cravings for

something decadently sweet. An ice cream bar could become the new go-to for anyone looking for that perfect scoop or sundae to end the night.

Maybe VCU could even bring back IHOP, especially if it takes over Chili’s spot. The previous setup in Laurel and Grace Place was tight, and the long waits just did not do justice to those pancake cravings. With a larger space dedicated to IHOP, there would be more room for everyone, which means faster service and an overall better vibe.

While the idea of new and different food choices is great, what if we transformed the old Chili’s into a student lounge? The Rams Lounge is cool, but it is like a well-kept secret that not enough of us know about. What if this new space had pool tables, arcade games and pinball machines? Add in some couches and cozy booths, and you’ve got the perfect spot to unwind between classes or hang out after hours.

Moving on to something a bit more on the studious side, imagine if we turned Chili’s into a study lounge. We all know the struggle of finding a good study spot on campus. What if those comfy booths became our study havens? Tables where we can spread out our textbooks, laptops and endless cups of coffee. It would be a sanctuary for cramming, group projects or just quiet contemplation.

Chili’s could also become a space for student organizations. It could be our very own showcase spot where organizations set up booths, hold events and spread the word about what they do. Whether it is a cultural celebration, an art exhibit or a pop-up charity fundraiser, having a dedicated spot for student orgs would make our campus community even tighter.

The possibilities are endless for what VCU could do with the Chili’s spot. But what is really key here is making sure we have a space that is ours. A spot where every student, no matter what they are into, has a place to go to relax, study or get involved.

Illustrations by Allison Bilbey.

Out of the ice

DYLAN HOSTETTER

Opinions and Humor Editor

Spring has sprung, and with it comes warmer weather. The occasion of 70-degree days means students can now show off those pasty arms and legs. Either that or people are still walking around in sweatshirts and jackets because they forgot to pack anything else.

This recent streak of warm weather brought something different to me, however. On one particularly balmy day at noon, I was in the library’s basement — a labyrinth of sterile white walls, like collegiate backrooms. I was walking through that labyrinth when I came upon a door I had never noticed before.

Seeping out from the gap in the door was a puddle of water. I decided to investigate and followed what became a trail of water through a long, dark hallway. I felt like Indiana Jones, though instead of a torch and cool leather jacket, I had my phone’s flashlight and a t-shirt that read “Women’s Wrestling Champion of the World.”

At the end of the hall was a small storage room with something very strange at its center. There stood a gigantic ice block, half melted, housing what looked like a person — I could not believe my eyes. I have only ever heard of cavemen being frozen in ice, not what I saw before me — a guy with long hair, wearing a taper collared flower-print shirt and bell bottoms.

As I approached the ice, a large section fell off and the young man came to life and exclaimed, “Hey, my man! What’s the skinny?” I was confused, it was like he was speaking some foreign language. It turns out he was just asking what was going on, and I told him it looked like he had been frozen in ice since 1970.

“Heavy,” he said.

I helped him from the ice and he told me his story. It was after a disco party

celebrating the grand opening of James Branch Cabell Library when the accident happened. He stayed late to clean up all of the trash, vacuum the shag rugs and peel the blacklight posters off of the walls. He had been looking in the storage room for an extra can of hairspray when one of the coolant pipes came loose and encased him in a block of ice.

He was able to rejoin classes surprisingly easily. As it turns out, there is a small clause in VCU’s policy that retains credits for any student who finds themselves frozen and preserved in an ice block for 20 or more years. So for any of you out there planning to encase yourselves in ice for only a couple of years in order to escape some responsibility, maybe rethink it.

I took it upon myself to teach him about our modern world. I introduced him to the two current most important things in our culture: Taylor Swift and boba. Then I took him to get a haircut. His long curls were replaced by a mullet fade and his popped collar was swapped out for a thrifted Carhartt jacket.

He was startled by how much the campus had changed since he had last seen it. “I can’t wait to try out that new restaurant I hear everyone talking about, Chili’s.” Boy, did I have some bad news for him.

I was peppered with questions about the state of the world: “Do we have flying cars yet? What happened to the war in Vietnam? Does John Travolta’s hair still look so voluminous?” He got some pretty disappointing answers.

“Well, what about The Commonwealth Times? I remember them being super popular back in the day,” he said. “Everybody wanted to write for them.”

“They actually have a humor section now,” I said.

“Is it funny?” he said.

“You could say that.”

Joke of the week

“I was funny. But I was not the class clown. The class clown is the guy that gets up and sets the clock ahead twenty minutes. That guy always dies in a motel shootout.”

— Conan o’brien

Comic by Emily Belson.

Comic by Dylan Hostetter.

Malicious Sun by Anthony Duong

Week 11 Project week by Daisy Nguyen

Weather Check by Bryce Griego

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Jack Glagola news@commonwealthtimes.org

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SPECTRUM EDITOR

Emily McCauley spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org

OPINIONS AND HUMOR EDITOR

Dylan Hostetter opinions@commonwealthtimes.org

PHOTO EDITOR

Arrick Wilson photography@commonwealthtimes.org

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Andrew Kerley audience@commonwealthtimes.org

ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR

Killian Goodale-Porter illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org

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MEDIA MANAGER

Mark Jeffries mjeffries@vcu.edu

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COPYRIGHT

The

By Kyle Dolan

Schiff

4

5

6

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

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle ©