The Commonwealth Times; April 2, 2025 by VCU Student Media Center

VCU students

‘not surprised’ by cuts to DEI

EMILY GRINSTEAD

Contributing Writer

VCU announced on March 21 that it is dissolving its Division of Inclusive Excellence, following a Jan. 21 executive order issued by President Donald Trump titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”

VCU president Michael Rao addressed students in an email sent after the resolution, promising it does not alter VCU’s mission.

“The VCU Board of Visitors approved a resolution affirming that the university must follow federal and state laws regarding discrimination,” the email stated. “The resolution directed the university to discontinue the Division of Inclusive Excellence in order to align with new federal discrimination guidance.”

Appropriate programs formerly under the Division of Inclusive Excellence will be transferred to other departments within the university, according to the resolution.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits organizations receiving federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color or nationality. The executive order issued by President Trump on Jan. 21 stated that DEI programs are “dangerous, demeaning and immoral” and violate the Civil Rights Act by promoting race and sex based biases.

See CUTS TO DEI on page 2

New VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. stands with VCU president Michael Rao and VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

Stories of the week

national: Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on April 1 that the government would seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, alleged United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s assassin. international: French far-right politician Marine Le Pen was barred from holding public office for five years following an embezzlement conviction on March 31.

The United States Department of Education released a “Dear Colleague Letter” on Feb. 14, which instructs universities to cease DEI programs within 14 days or lose federal funding.

The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights launched an investigation into 45 universities, including George Mason University, which have “race-exclusionary” practices and “race-based” scholarships, according to a March 14 press release by the U.S. Department of Education.

The University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and the Virginia Community College System have cut DEI offices and initiatives, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Nationally, 320 public colleges and universities have made changes to DEIrelated offices and activities since Jan. 2023.

Universities have already dismantled DEI programs to comply with state laws and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision which deemed affirmative action unconstitutional, according to a U.S. News and World Report. Many universities have erased DEI-related language from their websites.

VCU’s website for its Division of Inclusive Excellence is no longer available.

Tre Straughter was formerly the program and event specialist for the Division of Inclusive Excellence at VCU. Straughter stated that as a member of the Inclusive Excellence team, he promoted “constructive dialogues” and celebrated the “range of diversity” at the university.

“Although disappointed, I am proud of my team members, the VCU student body, and every community member and vendor who helped make our division successful,” Straughter stated in an email.

He met with HR representatives at the university to discuss reassignment options, Straughter stated.

Twenty-nine states have introduced 127 bills to alter or dismantle DEI initiatives, with only 16 being signed into law since Jan. 23, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Savannah Snider, a third-year philosophy student, said she was not surprised by the resolution.

Rao’s email to students promised to continue “embracing different backgrounds and perspectives,” according to Snider. She said this statement is contradictory to the BOV’s decision.

“Actions kind of speak louder than words, so you can say that in email, but your actions don’t really match up with that necessarily,” Snider said

Daniella Ruiz, a third-year psychology

student, was employed as a researcher under the Division of Inclusive Excellence. Ruiz was part of a team that developed questions for the campus climate survey, which focused on inclusivity at VCU. The study has since been cancelled due to the resolution.

“I really like the study that we were doing because it just shows how a lot of people think that VCU could do better, and we’re trying to help VCU do better, and they just shut down the department.” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said VCU’s diversity is something that drew her to the school initially, and the resolution seems to be conflicting with the university’s promise of diversity.

“That’s the reason why I came here too, was just because of how diverse they were,” Ruiz said. “So the fact that they’re getting rid of the whole department that just focuses on that and them being inclusive just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Emmy Lambert, a first-year health, physical education and exercise science student, said she was surprised by the resolution, given the diversity of VCU and the election leanings of Richmond.

“I would expect an area that’s blue and has the student diversity it has to fight for their students and go against something like that, not just bow down to it as easily as they did,” Lambert said.

The university will continue to evaluate programs and policies to ensure they are in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, according to the resolution.

Kyle Lee, a fourth-year theatre student, said he was “disappointed” and “frustrated” by the resolution. Students should keep discussing the resolution and should not let it be ignored or forgotten, according to Lee.

“It’d be nice if the school I am paying to be at appreciated diversity, appreciated people that look like me,” Lee said. “And it just overall feels like it’s like another safe space I have to fight for.”

Pope Francis released from hospital following weekslong health crisis

ANDREW SCIDA

Contributing Writer

Pope Francis was discharged from Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on March 23 after a five-week stay, during which he spent four weeks in critical condition, according to Al Jazeera.

The 88-year-old pope was hospitalized on Feb. 14 with a respiratory tract infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs, according to the Vatican News Service. Doctors said the infection not only affected his lung function but also impacted his kidneys.

The illness was particularly concerning

given Pope Francis’ history of lung issues, including having part of a lung removed at age 21. He was previously hospitalized in 2023 for lung inflammation caused by influenza.

Despite his condition, the pope continued to fulfill his duties during his hospital stay, including appointing bishops, according to the Vatican News Service. Following his discharge, Pope Francis appeared frail as he greeted crowds outside the hospital with a thumbs-up, though he seemed mentally alert. Doctors have advised the pope to rest for at least two months, avoiding physical exertion and large group meals, according to CNN.

CUTS TO DEI

Illustration by Ivy Saunders.

Photo by Long Thiên licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

House bill seeks to expand higher education access in prisons

HARSHINI KANALA

Contributing

Writer

Gov. Glen Youngkin is soon to sign House Bill 2158, a major stride in prison reform. This bipartisan bill, patroned by delegates Betsy Carr and Carrie Coyner, aims to expand higher education opportunities for incarcerated individuals in Virginia by allowing Virginia’s public and private higher education institutions to partner with the Department of Corrections to provide postsecondary education programs in state prisons.

David Coogan, an associate professor of English at VCU, founded and co-directed Open Minds, a program that started in 2010 at the Richmond City Jail that brings VCU classes to inmates.

The bill focuses on general education and accredited entry-level courses, which contradicts his program which focuses on 300-level classes that are not accredited, therefore making the program cost-free for inmates, according to Coogan.

“We did try to get funding at one point to get the residents at the jail to get them credit for the classes,” Coogan said. “But it turned out that as much as everybody liked the idea, nobody wanted to quite get on

that hamster wheel of just continuing to search for money.”

Coogan said these strides to better education for inmates was important because there is ample research suggesting that education prevents people from reoffending.

“We’ve known this for many many decades, there’s lots of studies on it,” Coogan said. “But without the funding, it’s really hard. Because the college program would come to the facility.”

Terri Erwin, the director of Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison project at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, said the bill focuses on basic literacy and general education for people in prison who are yet to earn a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Erwin said 62% of incarcerated Virginians have a high school education but lack a college education, and the bill seeks to partner community colleges to get prisoners their associate’s degrees.

“A person who gets out of a state prison with a bachelor’s degree will have many of the same opportunities as a student who graduates from VCU in May.”

Erwin said having an education would help remove the stigma attached to people who come out of incarceration and apply

for jobs with their resumes.

“They’ll have that one line on there that makes them look very similar to everyone else, and that will be part of what helps to move forward and reintegrate back into the society with a good job, having had the opportunity to get a good education.” Erwin said.

Although this bill passed both the House of Delegates and the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, the governor amended the bill to have a one year delay in implementation and sent it back to the House, according to Erwin.

“It’s problematic because already this was a study bill. So that means that we were going to take a year with this multiagency task force to study and plan how to implement these college programs,” Erwin said. “So if you don’t start your one year study till one year later, you’re now looking at two years before implementation would take place”

Erwin said the grants, scholarships and opportunities were more readily available before former President Bill Clinton’s “tough on crime” laws, which intended to discourage criminal activity by making the consequences more punitive, such as removing Pell Grants from prison

education programs.

There were over a thousand college programs in prisons across the country prior to 1994, according to Erwin.

“When you’re incarcerated, there’s not much opportunity to work, and the prison jobs that are available generally pay less than a dollar an hour. So imagine trying to make your college tuition money if that’s how much money you can earn,” Erwin said.

Erwin said the foundation for the bill is about giving people the opportunity to change because it’s human nature to make certain decisions– some good, some bad–based on their situations at a given time.

“Ninety-five percent of incarcerated people eventually return home,” Erwin said. “The question to ask yourself in the mirror is, do you want people to come home with more of an education and an opportunity to live a good life and contribute in a positive way, or do you want to handicap them by making sure that they don’t get much of an education and then have to struggle their way through their lives?”

Atlantic editor-in-chief added to top-secret group chat

ELLIE WALTMAN

Copy Editor

The Donald Trump administration faced backlash after an article published in The Atlantic on March 24 revealed that a journalist had inadvertently been added to a Signal group chat between high-ranking officials.

Signal is an American open-source, encrypted messaging service for instant messaging, voice calls and video calls. Its encryption prevents any third party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.

“Signal messages and calls cannot be accessed by us or other third parties because they are always end-to-end encrypted, private and secure,” according to the service.

Jeffery Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of

The Atlantic, was added to a group chat named “Houthi PC small group” on March 14. The group chat of 18 included several high-ranking administration officials including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Top-ranking officials discussed the details of a highly sensitive operation to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen. Following the publication of the article, multiple members of the Trump administration denied discussing war plans via direct messaging. Goldberg published a followup article in The Atlantic on March 26, revealing all the messages sent between the high-ranking officials.

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to preserve all messages

exchanged in the Signal group chat on March 27, according to The Guardian.

Three out of four Americans — and 60% of Republicans — say that the Trump administration’s use of a Signal group chat to discuss military strikes is a “very” or “somewhat serious problem,” according to a poll conducted by YouGov.

Destiny Guzman, a VCU alumnus, said they believe that the high-ranking officials were making light of a very severe situation.

“I think it’s scary that they were talking about all of it over text and not an encrypted email,” Guzman said. “The way they were communicating about it was very dehumanizing, like it was a joke rather than actual war plans.”

Guzman said the current administration has less judgment than previous presidencies.

“Even with Nixon, people did not take

Watergate lightly and he ended up resigning,” Guzman said. “I think it just goes to show how unprofessional our administration is regardless of your political beliefs.”

Alex Lin, a fourth-year marketing student, said she found the Trump administration’s response to the leak hypocritical, but was not shocked by the response.

“They were so adamant on saying it didn’t happen,” Lin said. “I find it to be hypocritical, they were all up in arms about Hillary’s emails and now they’re saying ‘Oh, but everyone makes mistakes.’”

A group chat on the app Signal with several high-ranking Trump administration officials detailing war plans in Yemen was leaked after a journalist was accidentally added to it.

Photo courtesy of Donald J. Trump Presidential Library. Collage by Milena Paul.

Sports

Stat of the week

VCU graduate student pitcher Owen Tappy struck out 10 batters in the 6-3 win against Saint Joseph’s University on March 28, according to VCU Athletics.

VCU’s new flagbearer:

I have dreamt big dreams. I don’t know if I’ve ever dreamed this big at a place like VCU.” “

-Phil Martelli Jr.

VCU men’s basketball head coach

PHIL MARTELLI JR.

MARCUS LEARY

Contributing Writer

ALEXIS WASHINGTON Staff Writer

VCU named Phil Martelli Jr. their 14th men’s basketball head coach. The university formally introduced Martelli in a press conference on March 27.

Martelli previously coached at Bryant University for seven years, two of which as their head coach.

VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin spoke before Martelli about the criteria he uses to hire head coaches. McLaughlin said he wants coaches who have coached at the highest level and have championship experience.

“To be here at VCU, you have to know what it’s like to be a champion because that’s what we are,” McLaughlin said.

Martelli meets both of those criteria. This past season at Bryant, he led the Bulldogs to an America East Conference championship and a March Madness berth.

Prior to his time at Bryant, he spent a season coaching in the NBA G-League with the then-Philadelphia 87ers, according to the VCU press release.

Martelli opened his speech by thanking the people at Bryant, claiming there’s no chance he’d be at VCU if it weren’t for them.

He said he has always wanted to be a Division I head coach ever since he was 12 years old.

“I have dreamt big dreams. I don’t know if I’ve ever dreamed this big at a place like VCU,” Martelli said.

Martelli said his coaching style is fastpaced basketball — keep the ball on the floor and keep flowing.

“I don’t want guys to stop and I say this a lot, ‘I don’t want to get hoopers and turn them into robots,’” Martelli said. “I want to get hoopers and let them hoop.”

VCU fans can expect a more defensive style of basketball that involves getting stops and rebounds rather than stopping putting the ball to your hip, according to Martelli.

He said he also takes pride in building genuine relationships with the players on the team and that started the moment he stepped off the plane with a team dinner.

“I’m not caring about the number on the jersey, I got to care about that person,” Martelli said.

Taking on any new position is not easy. Martelli said he plans on reaching out to prior VCU coaches like Shaka Smart and Anthony Grant for their input.

Phil Martelli Sr. is another figure in Martelli’s life who is going to help in navigating this new position either on or behind the scenes.

Martelli’s dad is one of the best coaches to ever coach college basketball. He is ranked in the most A-10 conference

wins for any coach and ranks second alltime in the league, according to Saint Joseph’s Hawks Athletics.

Throughout the press conference, Martelli consistently highlighted the word legacy.

“You look around at all those banners, you see the trophies, and you recognize upholding a long-standing legacy,” Martelli said. “It’s a legacy winning on the court and changing lives off of it.”

New VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. embracing graduate student guard Zeb Jackson.

Photo by Arrick Wilson.

New VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. interacting with press. Photo by Arrick Wilson.

CT Sports’ top five NFL draft picks

Seeing as how the NFL draft is less than a month away, The Commonwealth Times Sports staff teamed up to predict what the top five picks will look like.

ETHAN

YORK

Contributing Writer

NO. 4 OVERALL, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Tetairoa McMillan - The thirdyear wide receiver for the University of Arizona Wildcats would be an elite pickup for the New England Patriots. McMillan has already proven himself to be an impressive wide receiver garnering a total of 3,423 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in three years as a Wildcat, according to Arizona Wildcats. The New England Patriots are in desperate need of help on all sides of the ball after a devastating 2024-2025 season. The Patriots finished 4-13 and at the bottom of the AFC East, granting them the fourth pick in this upcoming draft, according to ESPN. New England’s offense has found an experienced veteran in wide receiver Stefon Diggs, but this won’t solve all of their offensive struggles. While Diggs is still an offensive threat, he is coming off an ACL tear and won’t single-handedly save the offense. That is where McMillan fits into New England’s scheme. McMillan has proven he can be a dominant player and support his quarterback, like in Arizona’s blowout win against the University of New Mexico Lobos, where he recorded 304 yards and four touchdowns, according to ESPN. Paired with a young talented quarterback like Drake Maye and an experienced receiver like Diggs, the New England Patriots can find a solid and potential wide receiver in Tetairoa McMillan.

MARCUS LEARY

Contributing Writer

NO. 3 OVERALL, NEW YORK GIANTS

Travis Hunter Jr. - Third-year University of Colorado product Travis Hunter Jr. would be an excellent fit for the New York Giants. Hunter is a unicorn in today’s athletic landscape. He played on both sides of the ball, playing wide receiver and cornerback at a high level. He took home eight postseason awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award for Best Defensive Player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for Best Wide Receiver, according to University of Colorado Athletics. The Giants are in a unique position to draft a player that isn’t locked in at one position. They could figure out what position he’ll play after training camp. The former Buffalo isn’t all upside though. At the NFL Combine earlier this year, Hunter weighed in at 6-foot, 188 pounds, according to the NFL. This would put Hunter on the smaller end for NFL wide receivers and the same size as other cornerbacks. NFL scouts have also complained that he relied on his athleticism in places where his technique could have been better, according to anX post by NFL Rookie Watch. The upside heavily outweighs the downside for drafting Hunter. Whoever lands him will have a playmaker on day one, and the Giants should take advantage of that.

KYLER GILLIAM Staff Writer

NO. 2 OVERALL, CLEVELAND BROWNS

Abdul Carter - Carter is arguably the most physically talented player in this year’s draft regardless of position. He played primarily at the edge after moving from off-ball linebacker for the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions this past season, becoming an All-American in his first season playing at the edge. Carter racked up 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in his third year at Penn State, according to Penn State Athletics. He matched his physical profile with top-tier production. Carter is 6-foot-3-inches tall, 251 pounds and excels using his top-tier speed to bend around offensive tackles to cause disruption in the backfield. He makes up for his lack of size at the edge position with a lethal first step and amazing power from his lower half, either going around or through blockers. Carter’s addition to a resetting Browns roster can help jumpstart a talented Cleveland defense that struggled last season alongside former Defensive Player of the Year defensive end Myles Garrett. Carter and Garrett can become the most disruptive pass-rush duo this league has ever seen.

ANDREW THOMPSON Staff Writer

NO. 5 OVERALL, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Mason Graham - The third-year University of Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham would be a great pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars were consistently ranked as one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, finishing with a 4-13 record. In the 2024-2025 season, the Jaguars finished dead last in passing defense and well within the bottom half in rushing defense, according to the NFL. They did not fare much better on offense. Under new general manager James Gladstone and new head coach Liam Coen’s reign the Jaguars have made multiple offseason moves in free agency to address muchneeded positions, like the secondary and the offensive line, according to Sports Illustrated. The only spot that sorely needs to be addressed is the defensive line, and that’s where defensive tackle Graham comes in. Graham looks to be an absolute force on the line as he stands at 6-foot-3-inches and weighs in at 320 pounds, according to CBS. The Jaguars drafting Graham would be the best option, as he is the best player available to them at this pick and fits a position

ANDREW MCGHAN Staff Writer

NO. 1 OVERALL, TENNESSEE TITANS

Cam Ward - The fourth-year quarterback from the University of Miami enjoyed a breakout season for the Hurricanes. Ward passed for 4,313 yards and threw 39 touchdowns, according to ESPN. He led the Hurricanes to a 10-3 record in the 2024 college season, just missing the college football playoffs. The Tennessee Titans finished the 20242025 season 3-14 and were rewarded with the No. 1 overall pick, according to ESPN. For the Titans to compete for the AFC South division they would need to draft a quarterback like Cam Ward. Ward is a dynamic quarterback with tremendous upside that could help the Titans become a real contender for the AFC South division.

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

Erasing the ‘stepping stone school’ narrative

ALEXIS WASHINGTON Staff Writer

Coming off an Atlantic-10 regular season championship and punching a ticket to March Madness was an exciting moment for VCU’s men’s basketball team. Yet, not enough to keep head coach Ryan Odom.

Odom was with the Rams from 2023 to 2025, and now begins his new career at the University of Virginia, according to CBS6.

This is not the first time the VCU community has had to adjust to a new coaching staff. Mike Rhoades was with the Rams for six years before Odom. Rhoades led the team to an A-10 regular season championship and tournament championship in 2023 before becoming the head coach at Penn State University.

Rhoades is on a seven-year contract with $25.9 million in total guarantees and can earn just over $1 million in additional incentives, according to ESPN.

Odom signed a six-year contract at the University of Virginia where he will make $3.25 million in his first year, according to 247Sports. UVA is in a Power-5 Conference, which is a pay raise from VCU.

All of these coaching changes have fans wondering, is VCU a stepping stone university?

The answer is simple: Yes.

There is no denying that VCU is a great basketball program, but it’s been hard to retain coaches.

This school is a resume booster. This is a common strategy used by coaches of any sport, where they join a team, achieve significant accomplishments and then move on once they’ve made their impact.

However, this is unfortunate for players which leads a lot of them to enter the transfer portal. For instance, redshirt second-year guard Alphonzo “Fats” Billups III entered the portal, according to 247Sports.

Billups joined the Rams in 2022, and Phil Martelli Jr. would be his third coach in the span of three years.

Though that may not be his only reason for transferring, it certainly plays a factor.

Programs thrive when there’s stability, rather than constant change. Athletes value coaches who are genuinely invested in their development and who serve as mentors. Similarly, coaches seek players who are fully committed to the game and who contribute to team dynamics.

Here are three ways VCU can address this challenge:

Change conferences - Compared to big conferences like the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, The Atlantic 10 is a mid-major basketball conference. I understand changing is easier said than done, but VCU should consider it. We will never grow as a basketball program if we do not compete at the highest level. Also, this could increase the program’s funding.

Use money as an advantage - The moment the NCAA announced players could make money, it fundamentally changed the landscape of college basketball. Whether we like it or not, money plays a major role in athletes’ decisions. VCU will begin to pay their athletes in a house settlement on top of Name, Image and Likeness, according to CBS6. The athletic program needs to use this as a way to retain players.

Build relationships - Coaches and players benefit from each other. Coaches need success to secure their careers, while players rely on coaches to help them grow and refine their skills — if the relationship is all transactional it can fall apart. It’s important to build connections on and off the court.

VCU has the potential and the resources to develop a national championship-caliber basketball program, but this can only happen if we don’t have to always rebuild.

I’m tired of clinging to the 2011 Final Four run — it’s time to create a new legacy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.

Rams soar past the Hawks in 2-1 series

The Rams, who are now 7-20 on the season, have won three out of their last four games and completed a series win against the Saint Joseph’s University Hawks.

DAN ELSON

Contributing Writer

STACY WATKINS

Contributing Writer

Friday, March 28

The Rams beat the Hawks 6-3 and won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

The Rams beat the Hawks 6-3 and won backto-back games for the first time this season.

Rams first-year second baseman Nick Flores went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. First-year designated hitter Adrian Jimenez went 2-for-5. Graduate student pitcher Owen Tappy pitched sixth and twothirds innings, gave up two runs, six hits and struck out 10. Tappy improved to 3-1 on the season and now has a 3.05 ERA.

“Obviously he threw the baseball really well,” said Rams head coach Sean Thompson. “We needed it. Something he’s been wanting to do for a while, to start for us and felt like it was kind of the right time for our team this year.”

Second-year right fielder Trent Adelman started off VCU’s scoring in the bottom of the second with a base hit, which led to a stolen base, and then advanced to third on a balk. VCU second-year third baseman Nate Kirkpatrick’s sacrifice bunt brought him home to tie the game.

Fourth-year left fielder Will Henson and Jimenez’s base hits set the table for VCU in the bottom of the sixth. Jiminez scored off an RBI single from Flores to tie the game at 2-2.

“And obviously a chance to tie it up, told him to go up there, be very aggressive and we have a scouting report on the guy,” Thompson said.

VCU first baseman graduate student Sean Swenson delivered an RBI single to bring home Flores, giving the Rams a 3-2 lead.

Flores lined a single to right field in the bottom of the seventh, which scored fourthyear catcher Jacob Henson to give the Rams a 4-2 lead. Later in the inning, Henson scored on a wild pitch and extended the lead to 5-2. Then Flores scored on the Hawks’ second wild pitch of the inning and gave the Rams a four-run lead.

Saturday, March 29

The Rams rallied in the ninth inning and beat the Hawks 4-3.

The Rams tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth on a fielder’s choice, which scored redshirt third-year outfielder Bobby Lane, who pinch-ran for first baseman Sean Swenson, a graduate student. Catcher Jacob Lee, a first-year, won the game for the Rams on a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored fourth-year shortstop Casey Kleinman.

“That was awesome,” catcher Jacob Lee said. “I mean, those bunts is something we practice every day. Early work, we’re here. We’re doing squeezes, we’re doing safety squeezes, we’re doing hit and runs.” Jimenez and Kleinman both produced multi-hit games and Henson went 1-for-

3 at the plate. Rams pitcher Max Moore pitched three innings, gave up one run on four hits, walked three, and struck out one batter. VCU first-year pitcher Cooper Campbell, who earned the win, pitched one and a third inning and gave up one run on one hit.

Jimenez started the bottom of the first with a double into right field. Jimenez then advanced to third on a passed ball. An RBI single from Henson brought him home to give the Rams a 1-0 lead.

A lead-off walk for Adelman set the tone for the bottom of the fourth. Kleinman laid a bunt for an RBI single that brought Adelman home and gave the team a 2-1 lead.

Sunday, March 30

The Hawks avoided a sweep on a go-ahead solo home run from third baseman Owen Petrich in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Rams 6-5.

A double by left fielder Will Henson in the bottom of the fourth was the second hit for VCU. Henson scored the Rams’ first run on an RBI double to left center by first baseman Sean Swenson to cut the Hawks’ lead to 3-1.

Catcher Jacob Lee doubled to left field and third baseman Nate Kirkpatrick tried to score and collided with Duda at the plate. This could have cut the lead to 3-2, but after the play was reviewed, the call was overturned.

“It was a little bit unfortunate the way the rules is kind of written,” Thompson said. “It’s not very advantageous for the base runner there, but it was part of the game. I thought our guys did a really good job overcoming that, you know, not letting that decide the game right there.”

First-year designated hitter Adrian Jimenez cut the lead to 3-2 on a single to left field and an error by left fielder Sam Meyer. Jimenez was able to reach second on the error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kirkpatrick brought the lead back to two on a sacrifice fly that scored right fielder Trent Alderman, who walked.

Back-to-back singles from Kleinman and Kirkpatrick started off the bottom of the eighth. A sac-bunt from Werchan put both runners into scoring position, which led to catcher Jacob Lee’s RBI single, which made the score 5-4.

Henson continued the inning with an RBI single into center, which tied the game.

Lee, Jimenez, Henson, and Swenson all had multi-hit games at the plate. For the Hawks, Petrich went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored three runs, and drove in one.

Hawks first-year pitcher Sam Greer pitched one and two-thirds of an inning and earned the win. Rams pitcher James McGrady earned the loss.

“All I can give is glory to God,” Jimenez said. “I’ve been relying on him and trusting my abilities at the plate. I don’t try to do too much, just trying to keep everything back up the middle and let my abilities take over.”

First-year infielder Adrian Jimenez up to bat. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics.

On This Day

Spectrum

Kinetic imaging unleashed at The Anderson

BELLA LOBUE

Contributing Writer

VCUarts Kinetic Imaging senior capstone exhibition, “The Art Happens Here,” opened with a reception on March 28. The project will be free for public viewing through April 3 at the Anderson Gallery.

The exhibition featured multimedia projects, mixing projectors with hanging installations, physical sculptures, scrims, cameras and more.

“This show is bringing all my closest friends together. It shows the variety of skills everyone in KI has from coding to video to animation, etc,” said J Winske, who was featured in the exhibition.

The show had a common theme of digital interactivity and surveillance, according to Winske.

Winske’s piece, “Body of Work,” showed a video of scrambling red images nestled inside a sculpture replica of her own body.

The disemboweled figure, with spray foam intestines and Winske’s own hair as veins, trailed red ropes onto the floor to reflect gore. Projected behind the body is a black-and-white video of Winske blinking and sticking her fingers in her mouth.

“Sculpture is a newer medium for me, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to try,” Winske said. “And I really wanted to incorporate a screen within a physical piece, but I’m so happy to see it

all come together.”

Winske said she aimed for a peaceful tone despite its violent appearance.

Delaney Slavik, another artist featured, had the multimedia piece “Pick Me Up, But Don’t Drop Me.” It mixed sensors, circuits and glass sculpture to create an interactive sound machine.

Slavik’s piece was comprised of many square glass bowls with circuits attached inside. When lifted and turned in a certain, unknown direction, the speaker played a cowbell sound. All coding, glass and design work was done by Slavik herself.

Featured artist Njood Albawardi constructed a large, 3D-printed exhibit that sensed certain movements of its viewers and moved accordingly, requiring the viewer to figure out how to activate it.

The piece, “Comp(U)sit(I)on,” was a comment on how people interact with digital media, Albawardi said.

“People don’t often think about the people that make the machines,” Albawardi said.

Albawardi said she wanted people to know they have the power to change what they get from media.

Nawaf Tamim’s piece, “Rebellious Light - ضوء متمرد,” filled a dark room, projecting patterns onto the floor and ceiling, and featured glow-in-the-dark structures, including a pair of green hands extending from the wall and cupping dirt. It even greeted you with perfume.

Savvy Figueroa’s piece, ‘Self_Corrupt(),’ at VCUarts Kinetic Imaging senior capstone exhibition, ‘The Art Happens Here.’

“My favorite part is the two garments hanging on the wall — traditional ‘Thawb’ in Arabic — with a projection of fire lit on them,” Tamim said.

The use of cultural symbols reimagined how heritage is portrayed within digital spaces, creating a dialogue between contemporary media art and tradition, according to Tamim.

Tamim said he hopes the piece will connect with a broad audience.

“It’s an invitation to reimagine a culture that’s often misunderstood or misrepresented,” Tamim said.

As these seniors move into the world, they hope to continue KI experimentation and creation, according to Tamim.

“While the current work stands strong, it opens the door to deeper exploration,” Tamim said. “There are several galleries in the Middle East — like AFAC, Louvre Abu Dhabi, JAX District in Riyadh and Hafez Gallery in Jeddah — that are actively seeking art that challenges and reshapes cultural narratives.”

Tamim said, “The Art Happens Here” exhibit celebrated the diversity, innovation and bold storytelling that is within the KI department.

The exhibition is available for viewing until April 3 at The Anderson. More information can be found on VCUarts website.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21, premiered in Vienna at the K.K. Hoftheater nächst der Burg, in 1800.

Photo by Emily Fuller.

Fans, cosplayers and celebrities blast off for GalaxyCon Richmond

JACIÁN PEREZ

Contributing Writer

Thousands of fans, cosplayers and pop culture enthusiasts packed the Greater Richmond Convention Center from March 27 to March 30 for GalaxyCon Richmond, a four-day celebration of fandoms spanning video games, television, film and anime. GalaxyCon Richmond aimed to foster a space where fans could engage with their favorite franchises beyond the internet, according to the event’s website.

The event featured panels, autograph signings, vendor booths and interactive experiences. Attendees traveled from across Virginia and beyond to meet celebrities, shop for unique merchandise and connect with fellow fans.

GalaxyCon has grown into a major pop

This year’s guest lineup featured a mix of Hollywood stars, voice actors and creators. John Carpenter, director of “Halloween” and “The Thing,” was among the guests. Also in attendance was Jerry Trainor, known for his roles in “iCarly” and “Drake & Josh.”

Fans of animation and children’s television could meet Kathleen Herles, the original voice actress of “Dora the Explorer,” as well as Bob West, the longtime voice of Barney in “Barney & Friends.“ “Phineas and Ferb” fans also had the chance to interact with voice actors Vincent Martella and David Errigo Jr.

The convention provided a rare opportunity to engage in person with fellow fans. Lindsay Hawks, a fourth-year theatre student and cosplayer, said she was particularly excited about shopping from independent vendors.

“Genshin Impact.” They said their favorite part of the convention was exploring the art vendors.

“I think we like checking out the little stalls around Artist Alley,” Alicia Saunders said.

Kaitlyn and Alicia Saunders said this was their first cosplay together, and they just wanted to have fun and wear matching outfits.

GalaxyCon has become an annual tradition for some. Isabelle Tuckwiler, her sister Elena Tuckwiler and their friend Allison Murphy have attended every year since 2019.

“This is kind of like our tradition. We do it every year,” Elena Tuckwiler said.

“We’ve been going here since 2019, when they first started coming here. So, it’s just kind of a tradition. It’s a little recurring thing that we do.”

celebrity interactions, said they enjoyed walking around and seeing cosplayers between shifts.

GalaxyCon After Dark: A Late-Night Fandom Experience

While the main convention activities wrapped up in the evening, GalaxyCon kept its doors open until 2 a.m. for its 18-plus after-dark sessions, offering mature-themed events for adult attendees.

The After Dark Cosplay Competition encompassed the more mature elements of cosplay, as a runway competition was held to crown the “sexiest cosplayer.”

Saturday night’s Cosplay Cabaret brought a more classic performance style to the limelight with “Nerdlesque.”

Vendors continued being present with the After Dark Market opening once the daytime vendor floor closed, offering a selection of adult-oriented merchandise including explicit artwork, collectibles, CBD products and adult toys catering to

Based on what guests stated, another successful year of GalaxyCon Richmond wrapped up on March 30. Fans left with collectibles, memories and a stronger sense of belonging within the Richmond

Fans and cosplayers congregate inside of the Richmond Convention Center for GalaxyCon Richmond. Photo by Jerry Pleasant III.

Photo by Jerry Pleasant III.

Fossil fuels, film and Green Action collide

MAEVE BAUER Contributing Writer

Green Action at VCU hosted a film screening of “Mossville: When Great Trees Fall,” in collaboration with Virginia Interfaith Power and Light on March 26, followed by a discussion surrounding environmental projects happening in Virginia.

The documentary told the story of a once-flourishing small town founded by formerly enslaved and free people of color, to a town overrun by chemical plants, forcing the residents to leave, according to the Mossville Project website.

Carolyn Hindle and Caroline May, Green Action club co-presidents, said they showed this film to bring light to power plant developments in the works in Chesterfield, Virginia.

“The issues we saw in Mossville related to community health in Black and brown communities are definitely relevant in the state of Virginia,” Hindle said. “The Chesterfield gas plant is another example of an environmental justice issue because it’s been cited on the site of an old coal plant.”

Hindle said the proposed plants show

links to childhood asthma and other health issues for residents.

Dominion Energy is spearheading the project and has plans to build five additional plants, which violates Virginia’s clean energy goals, according to Hindle.

“Under the Virginia Clean Economy Act, we’re not supposed to be building fossil fuels anymore, but Dominion is using the carve-out for energy reliability,” Hindle said.

Green Action is acting in tandem with other environmental justice groups at Virginia universities, such as the University of Virginia, the University of Richmond, George Mason University, Virginia Tech and the University of Mary Washington. Together, they are organizing a state-wide Earth Day event, according to Hindle.

The most impactful thing students can do to get involved is to hold large corporations accountable, join organized efforts and get plugged into groups on campus, according to May.

May said Green Action tries to engage students by getting out in the community.

“We do a wide variety of activities, there is something for everybody,” May said. “We do things like city clean-up and

volunteer at community gardens.”

They also try to engage with different groups that have similar goals, according to May.

The issues we saw in Mossville related to community health in Black and brown communities are definitely relevant in the state of Virginia. The Chesterfield gas plant is another example of an environmental justice issue because it’s been cited on the site of an old coal plant.”

Carolyn Hindle, Green Action club co-president

Green Action is in collaboration with Virginia Interfaith Power and Light, a

group that “envisions overcoming the climate crisis, eradicating environmental and social injustices, and living in a just, thriving, and equitable world,” according to the VAIPL website.

Kaycie Lassiter, the VAIPL community outreach organizer, said the two groups organized the Mossville Screening together after connecting at an event VAIPL held at Studio 23.

VAPIL wanted to put the heat on Dominion Energy, and they plan to build plants throughout the state, according to Lassiter.

“There are several plants being proposed in the next ten years, which typically get proposed in predominantly BIPOC communities,” Lassiter said.

Lassiter said that citizens can voice their concerns for the power plants that’ve been proposed.

“Dominion needs permits from the DEQ and a CC to move forward. We are able to make public comments of opposition to those permits,” Lassister said. “We can also attend town hall and community meetings in Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond; basically sharing our opinions and letting our voices be heard, to hold our elected officials accountable.”

Opinions

Why is a woman’s sexuality so controversial?

JALYN THOMAS Contributing Writer

One thing that has stayed consistent throughout society is how women’s sexuality is viewed. Unlike men’s sexuality, it is always talked about. Whether it’s about how it shouldn’t be judged or when others are judging it, it’s unfortunately always in the spotlight.

Sabrina Carpenter, a pop star who is open about sex with her music, recently received backlash because of the sexual poses she does during her song “Juno” on her “Short n’ Sweet Tour.” During her second night in Paris, she did a new pose themed after the city.

Quote of the week “The Earth laughs in flowers.”

This caused an uproar, and one post on X that I deemed notable, called Carpenter “male-centered” and “hypersexual.” These terms are thrown around a lot — especially toward women who are open about their sexuality.

Carpenter mainly has female backup dancers and the crowds are filled with women. In the song “Slim Pickins” the singer confirms that she is not gay, so it makes sense that she would do “Juno” poses with men.

Men talking about sex is a lot less controversial than women talking about sex in our society. Carpenter has emphasized the idea that sex is

fun and feminine — that everyone can enjoy it. Men could sing about sex as much as they want and it’s rare to hear any critiques.

The public has a long-standing issue of shaming women for embracing their sexuality and expressing their desires. If we want a sex-positive future it can’t be just for men, it needs to be for everyone.

The internet also loves to label women and their sexual preferences — whether it’s a derogatory term or simple words like “hypersexual” or “prude.” Women can never label themselves even if it is just simply saying they’re interested in sex.

I have dealt with the judgment of being a woman who has shown interest in sex and it’s hurtful. It has never once made sense and it got to a point where I didn’t know how to respond to judgment.

There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to fix the issue of shaming women for how they express their sexuality. It’s not just one thing that can be done, but we can start by not automatically assuming a performer is hypersexual. Give women the space to talk about their preferences without judgment. It’s not an easy thing to change, especially when it’s been a long-standing problem in the world. However, the little things could help create a change.

There’s more to Smithsonian than the Natural History Museum

CARLEIGH LACROIX

Contributing Writer

Don’t get me wrong, The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is a fantastic museum. For those of us who grew up with fixations on dinosaurs, mummies or all things creepy-crawly, the Natural History Museum was the place to be. However, this means that when you grow older and plan a return visit to the museum, you are faced with one major obstacle — the children.

It’s important to remember that the Natural History Museum is one of the more child-friendly choices among the Smithsonian. The content is appropriate for all ages and there are plenty of exhibits that you can reach out and touch, perfect for restless, sticky fingers. You might not realize

the target audience when you first enter the building, but by the time you reach the main portion of the museum a wall of noise stops you in your tracks.

Everywhere you look, more kids seem to appear out of thin air, shouting excitedly over their siblings or whining until their parents give in and stop at the gift shop. They form layers of tripping hazards around the exhibits and you’re forced to keep your distance, scared to upset the balance and set off a chain reaction of tears and red faces.

It’s possible that this could have just been a scheduling error on my part. The day that a friend and I were able to visit the Natural History Museum was a rainy Sunday at the end of spring break, so it’s no wonder that droves of parents were scrambling to find an indoor activity.

If you find yourself in Washington, D.C. under similar conditions and are hoping to avoid the screeching excitement of the Natural History Museum, there are so many other options for you to explore. With the entire Smithsonian system at your fingertips, there’s no need for you to feel disappointed about missing out on a single museum.

The Botanical Gardens, for example, are open year-round and provide the perfect reprieve from the rush of the city. The indoor green space is lush and fragrant and the dry heat of the desert exhibit was the perfect balm to a day of dreary D.C. weather.

Another great spot to visit is the National Portrait Gallery. There is a huge collection of art there, not just the collection of presidential portraits, so there

is something for everyone. Additionally, its location across from the Capital One Arena makes it the perfect afternoon activity for those planning to attend a game or a concert later in the evening.

The Natural History Museum itself is wonderful, but there are so many museums and galleries in D.C. that you’ll miss out on if you get caught up in the urgent, pressing crowd of the institution.

It’s also worth mentioning that most of the facilities that fall under the Smithsonian Institute have free entry, and D.C. is a convenient Amtrak ride away from Richmond. A day trip to the museums becomes the perfect weekend outing for VCU students, as long as they remember to appreciate everything that D.C. has to offer and not just the greatest hits.

— Ralph Waldo EmERson

Illustration by Zoë Luis.

Illustration by Reese Cilley.

Humor

Joke of the week

“I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don’t know what to feed it.” — s tE vEn WRight

LAUREN PRATTIS

Audience Editor

NATALIE MCEWAN

Opinions and Humor Editor

With spring weather filling the air, The Commonwealth Times staff are focusing on their health, spending time outside and enjoying springtime holidays. Naturally, they turned to Dr. Times for advice on how to have the best spring possible.

Dear Dr. Times,

I’ve been eating a lot of easter eggs lately, and I got sick to my stomach. What should I do?

Sincerely, Fried, scrambled and boiled

Dear Reader,

First, I would advise you to drive to your nearest pet store as soon as you can — you only have about 24 hours before you should expect to see any physical changes.

The first thing you need to purchase is an enclosure that is about 12 square feet. If you really want to splurge, you could get a multi-level cage with an elaborate tunnel system. To ensure you get enough fresh air, I recommend clearing a space in your backyard and securing it with a wire cage.

For your comfort, get a few packages of hay so you have a pleasant and snug place to sleep so you’re well rested during the twilight hours.

Before it’s too late, make sure to stop by the grocery store to get carrots, cucumbers and celery.

This is not the first case of too-manyeaster-eggs-itis, and unfortunately there is no cure. There is a 100 % chance that you will turn into an Easter bunny.

Dear Dr. Times,

What is your morning routine? I’m trying to develop a better schedule.

Sincerely, Up at 4 a.m.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for asking! I consider myself a health expert, so I have developed the perfect morning routine that you can use to reach all of your goals.

I wake up around 4 a.m. after going to sleep at 2 a.m.. I find two hours of sleep keeps me so wired that my eyes are actually more open than they were when I used to get the eight hours of sleep other so-called “doctors” claim we need. In fact, they don’t even shut anymore!

One thing I cannot deny is the importance of cold and heat therapy. That is why I start every morning with a superset of smoking cigarettes and dunking my face in a bowl of iced Saratoga water. First I smoke a cigarette, then I dunk my face in the water. I repeat this five times, which takes me about an hour.

I then go to the gym, where I spend three hours doing pushups, having cigarette breaks and taking mirror selfies. I usually can get a good ten reps in during that time.

After the gym, instead of taking a shower, I just dunk my face in ice water and let my body’s natural oils act as a perfume for the day. I then get dressed and do my hair. Finally, I begin my commute to work with a Bang Energy drink.

If you implement this routine you are guaranteed to be more wired than ever before, perfect for a day filled with a busy schedule. Good luck in your health and productivity journey!

Dear Dr. Times,

The weather has been nice, so I went swimming in the James River. My left pinkie toe turned green and has slowly been spreading up my leg. Help!

Sincerely, Green with envy

Dear Reader,

While I understand your concern, this is actually a blessing. The James River is such a unique ecosystem filled with all kinds of flora, fauna and powerful nutrients. It seems like your new color is going to give you some new powers as well.

Have you heard of the Hulk? He turned green and became strong enough to destroy his enemies. Likewise, Elphaba — despite being green — is one of the most powerful witches in Oz. While it seems easy to envy your less verdant friends, you might find being green isn’t so bad after all.