Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 @commonwealthtimes @theCT1
VOL. 72, NO. 1 JAN. 14, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
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Immigrant students at risk of losing in-state tuition following Trump Lawsuit
2025 ACP NEWSPAPER PACEMAKER WINNER
OPINIONS
Illustration by Sophie Dellinger.
Richmond has a pedestrian safety problem. Public transportation could be a solution. Illustration by Zoë Luis.
HECIEL NIEVES BONILLA News Editor SAL ORLANDO Assistant News Editor Some Virginia immigrant students are fearing they will lose access to higher education as an agreement between Virginia and President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice, pending the approval of a judge, would remove their in-state tuition eligibility. FEATURES
The DOJ sued Virginia on Dec. 29, challenging laws that provide instate tuition and financial assistance to residents regardless of immigration status — including those benefiting from the Virginia Dream Act of 2020, which expanded in-state eligibility to refugees and other immigrant-status students provided they meet residency and economic requirements. The DOJ took issue with the protection extending to “ illegal aliens,” claiming the act discriminates against U.S. citizens and incentivizes
undocumented immigration. Outgoing Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares chose to enter an agreement with the DOJ just before the new year, instead of fighting the case. If the agreement is approved by a judge, undocumented students receiving in-state tuition and financial assistance would lose in-state resources immediately. DOJ LAWSUIT Continued on page 2
NEWS
Charlie Schmidt was arrested ‘a lot’ protesting as a VCU student Now he’s Richmond’s next lawmaker ANDREW KERLEY Executive Editor Charlie Schmidt took it all the way. Once like many-a-VCU-student; riding the city bus lines and organizing anti-war protests — the academic turned activist, civil rights lawyer and public librarian recently secured himself a seat at the Virginia State Capitol after winning a special election to fill a House of Delegates seat between Southside Richmond and Chesterfield in an upset victory. In a shuffle between deep-blue districts — Schmidt was running to replace the seat held by Del. Mike Jones, who will soon be known as Sen. Mike Jones after running to
fill the seat left behind by Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi. Schmidt’s main hurdle was the Democratic primary, in which he defeated well-known former Richmond City Council Speaker Michelle Mosby, who finished second in the 2024 Richmond mayoral race. Schmidt received 639 votes to Mosby’s 488. It took a lot of community organizing to defeat the more established Mosby — who had the endorsements of multiple city council members, Mayor Danny Avula and even Jones himself. CHARLIE SCHMIDT Continued on page 10
KATIE MEEKER Opinions and Humor Editor As Richmond begins the new year, it has seen a recent uptick in tragedy — multiple people, including the beloved director of the Valentine Museum Bill Martin, killed in pedestrian-related traffic accidents. Richmond has some of the riskiest drivers nationwide, according to Axios. While trafficrelated deaths in the city have declined since 2022 (a year that saw a record-high 26 deaths), the average is still higher than the 20172019 decline. For the past year, City Hall — in collaboration with VCU — has committed to a global strategy called “Vision Zero,” an initiative aimed at preventing traffic-related fatalities. The program has since taken a few main courses of action: building infrastructure that promotes pedestrian safety, such as curb extensions and crossing signs; increased police presence to ramp up speed enforcement; and initiatives such as “Heads up, Rams!” to educate and enhance pedestrian awareness. The rollout of these programs, while efficient, is still ongoing. In Richmond, there were 13 trafficrelated pedestrian deaths in 2025. In just the past three weeks, we have seen six. Richmond’s pedestrian safety issue is better classif ied as a crisis. Mayor Danny Avula addressed these recent concerns directly in a Jan. 8 press release, announcing a series of immediate actions aimed at improving pedestrian safety in the city and stating that “everyone deserves to get where they’re going safely.” The new actions Avula described include an expanded safety camera program, accelerated street safety improvements and the creation of a “Pedestrian Safety Task Force” in partnership with VCU. ROAD SAFETY Continued on page 12
Sing Karaoke every night in RVA
We pay the price when nursing isnʻt ʻprofessionalʼ
How VCU Athletics teams fared over winter break
see SPECTRUM page 8
see OPINIONS page 12
see SPORTS page 6
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Stories of the week
News
national: Federal prosecutors opened an investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, with whom President Donald Trump has a long-standing public feud, over comments made to Congress last summer. international: Thousands of protestors have been killed in Iran over the last week by state security forces, as civilians rally aganist its current regime.
VCU officially adopts terminal degrees for tenure BRYER HAYWOOD Contributing Writer ROMAN PARHAM Contributing Writer A new faculty tenure policy is now in effect at VCU after being approved by the Board of Visitors in November. Under the new policy, all faculty members must hold a terminal degree, usually a Ph.D or MFA, in order to receive tenure. Only faculty hired on or after July 1, 2026 will be affected by the terminal degree requirement. Faculty members were allowed to leave comments on the tenure policy prior to its approval and give feedback. Many faculty members argued that not having a Ph.D. does not make them less qualified to do their jobs. They noted that in some fields, such as mass communications and math, having hands-on career experience is often more valuable than a Ph.D. According to former interim provost Beverly Warren, the new tenure policy is intended to position VCU among other top research institutions in the nation such as the University of Virginia, Florida State University and Princeton University. The
policy is designed for the “promotion of an engaged, learner-centered environment that fosters inquir y, discover y and innovation in a global setting,” per page 2 of the policy. Under the new policy, consideration for promotion will follow the same guidelines for both term faculty and nonterm faculty — including the terminal degree requirement, which extends to term faculty. Term faculty are ineligible for tenure, but are still able to be promoted and can receive pay increases with each promotion. The key difference is that term faculty work under year-long contracts, renewing each academic year. W hen facult y are considered for tenure, they are evaluated in three areas: scholarship, service and teaching. Faculty members are rated excellent, very good, satisfactory or unsatisfactory in each of those categories. In order for a facult y member to become tenured, they must be rated excellent in scholarship and at least very good in service and teaching, according to the new policy. Many faculty members are feeling burnt out trying to keep up with the new policy, according to Mark Wood,
associate professor of World Studies and board member of the VCU chapter for the United Campus Workers of Virginia. “The new guidelines focus primarily on research, causing faculty to devote more time to research and less time to teaching which could make the evaluation process feel unbalanced,” Wood said. Wood believes policies like the new tenure guidelines cause faculty to become frustrated and quit their jobs, which puts more strain on remaining faculty as the people who quit are not replaced. Wood added that the new tenure policy sows division between term faculty, who are ineligible for tenure, and faculty who are on the tenure track. The changes to the tenure policy also place higher expectations on faculty, exacerbating burnout. “Will there be a commensurate increase in overall support along with the raise in expectations?” Wood said. Wood argued that the gap between administration, faculty members and students should be closed to allow administrators to see the effects of policies like these in real time, and that the struggles of faculty and students are largely invisible to administrators. “Do administrators even know what it’s like to teach?” Wood asked. Illustration by Niranjana Rathinam.
DOJ LAWSUIT Continued from front page The CT spoke to several Virginia university students and alumni who could be affected by the change, and will protect their anonymity for their safety. Some declined speaking to The CT out of fear for potential retribution by ICE. One anonymous alum, who graduated in December with a mass communications degree, held an immigrant status for much of their time at VCU. They now work at a nonprofit organization supporting individuals with a rare genetic condition, and hope to work in advertising. “Because of this specific law I was able to get in-state tuition and go to college due to my immigration status,” they said. “It quite literally changed my life.” VCU does not keep records of how many students hold noncitizen statuses, per a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The CT. The university declined to comment on the lawsuit itself.
“It’s a weird situation to be in and since you’re so scared of the wrong person finding out about it, it feels very lonely at times,” the anonymous student said. “It’s just nice that people are being informed about something they might not even have to consider.” An anonymous current student at Germanna Community College told The CT they were able to pay for their first college semester with in-state rates, but did not receive financial aid. This semester, they were able to receive aid through the Virginia Application for Student Aid (VASA), which allows students to file without being a citizen or an “eligible non-citizen,” which is required for the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. “Hearing all these news and new laws is just disappointing to say the least,” the anonymous student said. Daniel Morales, co-director of VCU’s Migration Studies Lab and assistant professor of history, stated that having a higher educated population in Virginia is positive and increases the productivity
of people over their lifetime. Without financial aid and lower in-state tuition, people will be priced out of college. 72.1% of noncitizen Virginia residents are in the civilian labor force, compared to 62.7% of U.S. born residents, according to the Migration Policy Institute. “We are not talking about foreign students with no ties to the community, but people who have lived here, in our communities across the commonwealth since they were little kids or babies,” Morales said. “By being children here, they have a right to public education and they have gone through high school in Virginia already. We as a society have already invested in their success.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Legal Aid Justice Center f iled an emergency motion to intervene in the lawsuit on Dec. 31. The challenge to the lawsuit was on behalf of the Dream Project, a Virginia nonprofit that provides scholarships and mentorship to immigrant students. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which describes itself as “the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization,” has also sued on behalf of immigrant students in other states targeted by the DOJ on the basis of their in-state tuition policy. Miyares’ successor, Democratic Attorney General-elect Jay Jones, commented on the suit, describing it as an “attack on our students and a deliberate attempt to beat the clock to prevent a new administration from defending them” in an X post. “This is the exact kind of federal overreach Virginians rejected in November, and it’s what I remain committed to fighting as the next attorney general,” Jones stated. “My team is reviewing all legal options available to the Commonwealth.”
Jones will be sworn into off ice on Saturday, Jan. 17 along with Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi. EDITOR’S NOTE: The CT made the decision to protect the anonymity of students interviewed for this story to shield them from potential ICE retribution.
Illustration by Zoë Luis. Collage by Milena Paul.
ʻICE OUT OF VIRGINIAʼ Anti-ICE protests ramp up in Richmond at tail end of Trump administration’s first year
Around 50 People gather at Monroe Park Wednesday night to protest the shooting and killing of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration Customs and Enforcement agent. Photos by Andrew Kerley.
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HECIEL NIEVES BONILLA News Editor Multiple demonstrations took place throughout Richmond throughout the weekend in response to the presence and actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the region and around the country, following the killing of a Minneapolis resident by an ICE agent last week. On the morning of Jan. 7, ICE officer Jonathan Ross shot Renee Nicole Good in her vehicle as she was pulling away from multiple officers following a verbal confrontation, according to the Minnesota Reformer. That evening, the Richmond chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a demonstration at Monroe Park. Attendees carried signs reading “ICE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES” and speakers spoke broadly against violence by federal agencies, including shootings beyond Good’s. Her killing was the 9th ICE shooting since September of last year, according to the New York Times. Most recently, an off-duty ICE officer shot and killed Los Angeles resident Keith Porter according to the LA Times. The day after Good’s shooting death, two Portland residents were shot by federal agents on Jan. 8, according to a City of Portland press release. As of Tuesday, a majority of U.S. voters found the Good shooting to be unjustified, per a Quinnipiac University poll. “This murder is part of a campaign designed to sow terror and pursue a whole white supremacist agenda to expel huge numbers of people from this country,” said PSL member Reed Baldwin in a speech. “Last September, Silverio VillegasGonzalez was also shot and killed by an ICE agent in Chicago. Murders like these are an inevitable part of the massive crackdown by the Trump administration.” Friday was the first of multiple “ICE OU T OF V IRGINI A” protests in Richmond and throughout the country organized by 50501, the movement behind the massive, regular No Kings protests held since Trump re-took office. The largest recent Richmond demonstration occurred on Saturday at Maggie L. Walker Memorial Plaza. It was organized by PSL, along with 50501, RVA Indivisible, Richmond Defensa and Punks4Liberation. Hundreds of Richmonders heard speakers on the details of Good’s death, the impact of ICE raids locally and efforts to involve residents in self-defense against potential targeting by ICE and other officials. The speeches were separated by chants including “No justice, no peace, we want ICE off our streets,” “¡Aqui estamos y no nos vamos / We are here and we’re not leaving!” and “¡Chinga la migra! / F**k ICE!” The latter was twice led by Violeta Vega, an organizer with Richmond Defensa — and PSL — who also invited demonstrators to attend the upcoming No Kings protest on Jan. 20 during her speech. “History shows us that we have the right to call wrong wrong, and the right to fight back,” Vega said. The protests in Richmond over the weekend added to the over 1,000 events held over the weekend, according to Indivisible, which is also planning a candlelight vigil to “wage peace at home” on Martin Luther King, Jr. day at the Virginia War Memorial. On Jan. 9, criminal prosecutors in the DOJ’s civil rights division told CBS News they would not investigate the Good shooting, despite typically doing so after a fatal shooting by a federal officer. On Monday, many of those prosecutors resigned from their posts, as DOJ sources said the federal investigation is being treated as an assault on Ross, according to CBS News.
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An organizer with the Virginia chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation speaks to the crowd. PSL members have been active demonstrators against President Trump during his second term, along with 50501 Virginia. Photos by Andrew Kerley.
Around 15 Richmond Police officers oversaw the spontaneous Monroe Park rally. Police vehicles surrounded the perimeter of the park. One officer told The CT they wanted to make sure everyone was safe, and not escalating akin to the ʻBlack Lives Matterʼ protests of 2020.
Spanberger cabinet picks include notable VCU alums
From left to right, recent appointees of Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger: Sesha Joi Moon, Nick Donohue, Stanley Meador. Photos courtesy of the Spanberger Transition Team. Collage by Zach Montgomery.
ERIKA VASQUEZ Contributing Writer Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger has been gradually releasing her list of appointees to run the Virginia government ahead of her inauguration on Jan. 17. Some of them share common roots in Richmond — as well as ties to VCU. The appointees include Sesha Joi Moon and Nick Donohue, both of whom are VCU alumni. Another notable appointee is Stanley Meador, who previously partnered with the Richmond FBI STEM Collegiate Academy at VCU. Moon served as a student leader at VCU, which she says allowed her to “hold space for those who are underserved within the community,” according to VCU News. In 2005, she graduated with a B.A. in African American studies and later graduated from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs with a master’s degree in criminal justice and a concentration in human resource management. Moon received the VCU Black History in the Making Award and VCU Alumni
Stars Award. She went on to become the first Black, queer woman to establish an endowed scholarship fund in university history, according to a previous report by The CT. The Dr. Sesha Joi Moon Endowed Scholarship Fund provides need-based support to students in pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree in African American studies. Moon was the chief impact officer for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and most recently was chief diversity officer of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 117th and 118th Congresses, until the office was removed in 2024. A press release by Spanberger’s transition team noted the insight provided by her past experiences in announcing her as her new “chief diversity officer” and director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — stepping away from a name change the office underwent by outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Nick Donohue holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and urban and regional planning from VCU. Donohue, a Richmond native, has served in senior leadership roles under three
Virginia governors. Donohue has shaped many of Virginia’s recent transportation infrastructure initiatives, including improvements to Interstate 81 and expanding public-private toll roads along interstates in Northern Virginia, according to Richmond Times-Dispatch. Donohue is also credited for reforming the state’s process for funding highway projects, securing the first dedicated capital funding for WMATA, and advancing the Transforming Rail in Virginia Initiative, according to a press release from Spanberger’s transition team. Upon announcing Donohue as the state’s next secretary of transportation, the transition team called him a “visionary leader” whose experience will strengthen the state’s transportation networks and prepare Virginia for new economic opportunities. Meghan Gough, an associate professor and interim chair of the urban and regional studies/planning program at VCU, said Donohue has been invited to speak for one of their transportation courses this semester. Stanley Meador, a native of Galax, Virginia, will serve as Virginia’s next secretary of public safety and homeland security.
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Meador began his career in 1997 as a special agent with the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. He was awarded Virginia’s “Declaration of Valor” for an action of response on 9/11, according to the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundations. Meador served over a decade in the FBI as a special agent, and partnered with the FBI Richmond STEM Collegiate Academy at VCU while working as the regional FBI director. The program exposed students to career opportunities within the bureau, ranging from lab technician to an intel specialist, according to VCU News. During Meador’s time in Richmond, he was credited with strengthening relationships with local law enforcement, according to the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, which awarded him its “President’s Award” in 2023 for being a “key asset” to the state’s policing community. Richard Meager, a political scientist at Randolph-Macon University and host of the “RVA’s Got Issues” podcast, said the appointees’ ties to Richmond and to VCU showcase the opportunity of every Virginian. “One thing to note about these VCU ties, right, and it’s a theme throughout the Spanberger’s appointments — these are Virginian people,” Meager said. He noted the unique focus of the transition team on hiring people from Virginia and with work experience in the state, which is not a requirement for gubernatorial appointments. “I think that it can suggest that she’s really looking to build on the talent of Virginia rather than look elsewhere for people who have already made their name from elsewhere,” Meagher said.
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Stat of the week
Sports Sports
Women’s basketball first-year guard Laia Crespín scored 14 points on a perfect 6-of-6Stat from the line and 2-of-4 of free-throw the week from deep in the 61-54 winStat over Duquesne University. of the week this is where it goes
Women’s basketball win in nailbiter against Dukes 61-54 ALEXIS WASHINGTON Assistant Sports Editor VCU women’s basketball started the week strong and continued its winning streak against Atlantic 10 opponents, beating Duquesne University on Jan. 11. The Dukes fell to 0-5 in conference play while the Rams improved to 2-3. VCU was without its star player fourth-year-guard Mary-Anna Asare who is out for the rest of the season with an injury. Duquesne won the tip off, but both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Missed shots were traded until Dukes’ firstyear guard Alexis Bordas scored a jumper. Duquesne then went on a 5-0 run until VCU shut it down with a jumper by fourthyear forward Makennah White. Shots were exchanged on both ends, but the Dukes tightened their defense and forced turnovers. VCU tried to take control in the last two minutes of the first quarter. Redshirt second-year forward Hawa Doumbouya shot back-to-back free throws during the last minute. She made 3-for-4 to tie the game at 10. The Dukes’ third-year guard Reina Green immediately responded with a driving layup with four seconds left ending the first quarter 12-10. The second quarter opened up with made free throws from VCU second-year forward Katarina Kneževic, tying the game at 12. Both teams struggled scoring, but the Dukes found momentum. A three-point exchange followed, beginning with Dukes’ Bordas drilling a deep three from the logo. Kneževic answered on the next possession with a three of her own. The Rams did not slow down their tempo. Third-year forward Lucy Ghaifan
scored back-to-back layups at the two minute mark. Duquesne responded with another deep three from Bordas to regain control. A late turnover from the Rams led to a layup from redshirt second-year guard Gabby Grantham-Medley to end the half, giving the Dukes a 30-27 lead. Both teams shot under 50% from the field – Duquesne at 41.4% and VCU just below at 36%. Duquesne made a statement to start the second half with a three pointer by secondyear guard Nadia Moore. However, the Rams’ third-year forward Lucía Sotelo drove the ball to the basket to answer back. The Dukes’ first-year forward Raevin Washington anchored their defense, recording three blocks in the same possession. On the other end, Bordas went on a personal 6-0 run shooting back-to-back threes at the six-minute mark. VCU’s first-year guard Laia Crespin answered with a three, providing an aggressive spark for the Rams. “Coach Nsiah always told me if you are the smallest on the court, then you have to be the smartest, so that’s what I always try,” Crespin said. Free throws from both teams picked up towards the end of the third quarter, but Dukes’ remained with the lead 50-43. White started the fourth quarter with a three point jumper, cutting the lead down to four. That was the last of the Rams however, as they went into a five minute drought. A timely timeout gave the Rams newfound momentum. Second-year guard Cyriah Griffin shot a three pointer tying the game at 51 with less than four minutes in regulation. “We just talked about moving the ball and
VCU second-year guard Katarina Kneževic goes up with a close shot over a Duquesne University defender. Photo by Ashley Davis.
then we will get some good open looks,” head coach Beth O’Boyle said. “That was a huge three from Cyriah.” White gave VCU its first lead of the match with a three pointer with one minute to play. She then extended the lead to 55-51 with two additional free throws. Crespin then followed with two of her own. In an attempt to take the lead back, Bordas shot a three pointer cutting the lead down to three. However, VCU did not back down — closing the game with made free throws from
Griffin at 61-54. O’Boyle said the night’s win was a team effort. Crespin had a team high of 14 points, White followed with 11 and Griffin with nine. “We keep saying, it doesn’t matter who we are playing, we are building how VCU basketball is,” O’Boyle said. “Today was a great one.” VCU is set to take on Rhode Island at the Siegel Center on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.
Here’s what you missed with VCU basketball, volleyball over break: The fourth-seed Rams faced off against No. 5 George Mason University in the first round and took a 3-1 victory, giving them momentum as they entered the semifinals. After the hard-fought win against GMU, VCU faced off against No.1 Dayton University. Over three sets, the Rams stunned the top-seed Flyers with their teamwork and individual skills. VCU’s victory prevented Dayton from reaching the A-10 Championship match for the first time since 2013. The f ive-set championship match against Loyola University Chicago put an unfortunate end to the Rams’ season. The back-and-forth match ended with a total of 46 ties and 23 lead changes.
VCU women's team huddles together in front of the home bench. Photo by John Brown. JENNY ALLEN Staff Writer While many students returned home for winter break, the Rams did not rest. Practices, games, tournaments and hard work continued for VCU Athletics.
Atlantic 10 Volleyball Tournament at The Siegel Center As the A-10 volleyball season came to an end, VCU entered the A-10 tournament for the first time since the 2020 season with a 16-13 record.
Women’s basketball conference play Conference play began on the road at Saint Joseph’s University — ending with an unfortunate 10-point loss, 45-55. The losing then continued at home when GMU came in strong to beat VCU 68-58. The 0-2 conference record only brought encouragement to the Rams as they took on Saint Louis University and defeated
them 50-39. The momentum continued, giving VCU a 2-2 record as they ended on top against Duquesne University 61-54. Sticking together as a team, the Rams continue to take on the conference games. VCU’s fourth-year guard Mary-Anna Asare dropped almost half of the team’s points against Saint Joseph’s, with a game high of 20 points. Despite the loss against GMU, the Rams matched their best single-quarter this season with 30 points in the fourth quarter. They also went on a 17-0 run against Saint Louis. An unfortunate injury to Asare against Duquesne will cause her to miss the remainder of the season, requiring the rest of the Black and Gold to step up and match her ability to score.
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Graphics by Marty Alexeenko.
Men’s basketball conference play The conference opener was a successful one for the Rams as their teamwork and individual skills shined in a 89-82 win over Saint Bonaventure University.
The win began their 2-0 conference streak after they defeated Duquesne, 93-80, on the road. Despite the strong start to conference play, a tough loss against Saint Louis made them 2-1. The Rams then traveled to George Mason, where theWy made their record 2-2 after a 86-80 loss. Even after two consecutive losses, VCU players had
proven themselves. Secondyear guard Brandon Jennings scored all of his career-high 20 points in the second half only against Saint Bonaventure. T h i rd-yea r for wa rd Lazar Djokovic also tallied his f irst double-double in a VCU uniform, helping the Rams to their victor y a g a i n s t Duquesne. In the very next game, Djokovic racked up his fourth
career double-double against Saint Louis. The second-year guard led the Rams this game with 17 points and a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line. Djokovic contented to prove himself as he dropped a gamehigh of 23 points against George Mason. As a team, VCU has scored at least 80 points in f ive straight games for the first time since the 1975-76 season.
GAME GAMERESULTS RESULTS JAN. 7# DATE MEN’S VS. SAINT TEAMBASKETBALL NAME - AT TEAM NAME LOUIS UNIVERSITY WON #-# LOST 62-71
TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME WOMEN’S DRAW #-# BASKETBALL AT SAINT LOUIS WON 50-39 TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME LOST #-#
JAN. 10
MEN’S BASKETBALL AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY LOST 80-86
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY WON #-# WON 61-54
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DATE # TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME WON #-# Illustration by David Beling.
PRESS BOX
Paying athletes was the right thing to do, but it ruined college basketball BEN MARTINDALE Staff Writer On Jan. 3, 7-foot center James Nnaji checked into his first college basketball game for the Baylor University Bears. The 21-year-old was greeted with a chorus of boos that would continue throughout the game. If you’re wondering what reason fans could have for booing a player before he’d even touched the college hardwood, the answer is simple – Nnaji should never have been a l lowed onto the cour t in the f irst place. For decades, hoopers from all around the world have dreamed of the NBA. While there are many routes to get there, the most traditional has typically been via college basketball. For Nnaji, the opposite is true. Nnaji, a native of Nigeria, officially declared for the NBA draft in 2023. He was selected No.31 overall by the Detroit Pistons. Despite this, Baylor still successfully recruited him three years later. This makes Nnaji the first ever former NBA player to play in a college basketball game. While Nnaji never technically played in an NBA game, he did get summer league minutes, even matching up against
NBA superstar Victor Wembenyama. Nnaji’s draft rights have also been traded numerous times. First from Detroit to the Boston Celtics, then from Boston to the Charlotte Hornets, before finally landing in New York after being acquired by the Knicks, who still own his draft rights to this day. The NCAA’s decision to allow Nnaji to retain his college eligibility despite his former NBA status came as a shock to the sports world and set new precedents across the college basketball landscape. The response to Nnaji ’s signing has been largely negative among fans and coaches alike. Earlier this month, legendary University of Arkansas coach John Calipari sounded off on the state of college basketball. “Look, I don’t blame coaches,” said Calipari. “You know I’ve got friends that are playing with 27-year-olds and they feel bad. I said don’t feel bad. We don’t have any rules, why should you feel bad?” “But let me give you this, real simple, the rules be the rules,” belted Calipari. “So if you put your name in the draft, I don’t care if you’re from Russia, if you stay in the draft, you can't play college basketball.” The rules state that once a basketball player elects to go through the draft process, they cannot play college basketball afterwards. Nnaji managed to skirt past on
a technicality as the NCAA states this rule only extends to American players. The bizarre ruling by the NCAA is yet another example of a rapidly changing college athletics scene that now finds itself ruled by the transfer portal and billionaire donors. It is unfair to blame Nnaji for the controversy surrounding his debut, but it is fair to be frustrated at it’s happening. Nnaji is just the latest case in a string of NCAA eligibility controversies, and he certainly won’t be the last. While the NCAA has acknowledged the need for rule changes, it seems to be taking no action to actually make it happen. Instead, the NCAA has seemingly kicked the can to Congress in hopes it can implement legislation that could solve its problems. While the move to ask for congressional assistance may appear genuine, in reality it’s performative and useless. The same billionaires that are pouring endless money into college sports, are also funding the seats of the very congressional members whom the NCAA would be asking for regulation. As always, the rich will get richer, and they will do it with little thought to the high school prospects and college athletes who fall victim to the current NCAA system along the way.
TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME DRAW #-#
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DATE # TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME
WON #-# FOLLOW TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME DRAW #-# @THECTSPORTS TEAM NAME - AT TEAM NAME ON LOST INSTAGRAM #-#
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On This Day
Spectrum
On this day Jan. 14, 1952, Today debuted, NBC’s longest running morning new program with host Dave Garroway.
The Richmond guide to singing karaoke every day of the week Richmonders showing up to Sticky Rice and singing their hearts out at Karaoke. Photo by John Brown. Collage by Quinn Lysek.
MAEVE BAUER Spectrum Editor Richmond is full of bars catered to people from all walks of life, and on any given day there is bound to be at least one hosting karaoke. Whether you are old, young, gay, straight, an emo or a “normie,” karaoke does not discriminate. Everyone needs to escape the stress of city life and office cubicles now and then — why not do it on stage to your favorite song, voice cracking and beer in hand in front of all your friends? The Commonwealth Times’ guide to singing karaoke every day of the week has options. SUNDAY Skybox 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 1911 W. Main St. According to Malik Robinson — also known as Big Bone — who bartends at several spots around town, Skybox is one of the few bars in Richmond that will consistently play hip hop and r&b music. Buddy’s Place 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. | 600 N. Sheppard St. To be honest, the CT has yet to go to Buddy’s but according to their website they have been around since 1976 and they cater to the young and young at heart. Bryan Park Bar & Grill 6:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. | 5516 Lakeside Ave. MONDAY Helen’s Restaurant Currently taking a hiatus, Check their Instagram for updates | 2527 W. Main St. Only a short 10 blocks away from VCU’s Monroe Park Campus is Helen’s, which has been operating since the 30s. The bar has become a staple for debriefing over brunch after a late night out in Richmond. As you recover from the weekend, come by for a quick drink and song. Buddy’s Place 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. | 600 N. Sheppard St.
TUESDAY Get Tight Lounge (every first Tuesday) 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 1104 W. Main St. For all the cowboys, cowgirls and cowtheys; stop by Get Tight the first Tuesday of the month to sing about your broken heart and rusty truck at their western-themed karaoke nights. Sticky Rice 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 2232 W. Main St. Sticky Rice is a sushi bar by day and a social bar by night. For those who want to sing karaoke but are not ready for the limelight, Sticky Rice is what you make of it. You may also find The CT staff there after production, if we make it out the newsroom before 1 a.m. … Babes’ of Carytown 9 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. | 3166 W. Cary St. The longest-running lesbian bar on the East Coast, Babes’ serves the queer community of one of Richmond’s most beloved districts, Carytown. Their karaoke starts after trivia, on the night dubbed “Industry Tuesday” on their Instagram. Harlem Blue’z 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. | 210 W. Brookland Park Blvd. WEDNESDAY Bandito’s Burrito Lounge 10 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. | 2905 Patterson Ave. Located over in the Museum District is a delicious (and affordable) burrito joint that doubles as a venue for punk shows. However, if you do not have the talent to take the stage for a paying audience, stop by on Wednesdays from 10:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. R. I. P. Ipanema Ipanema was one of Richmond’s most popular place for late night Karaoke was sadly closed in February of last year. This artsy vegetarian restaurant is widely missed and with each song sung we remember it’s legacy.
Monk ‘Walk for Peace’ to pass through Richmond in February Professor explains how to respect the ritual FAKEHA NAEEM Contributing Writer
Photos of Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace as they walk from Texas to D.C. Photo courtesy of Sarah Anne.
THURSDAY Barcode 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. | 6 E. Grace St. If you are gay, or a fierce ally, and looking for some dive bar karaoke, look no further than Barcode. According to Malik Robinson (again, Big Bone), Barcode’s karaoke night sets itself apart because of the support that patrons share with each other. Performers stand on a stage with a mic in hand and the attention of everyone in the room. The words are played on several TVs throughout the bar and a sign-up code is shown between sets, with the queue rising to upwards of 40 people on busy nights, according to Robinson. You will find Andrew Saunders there every Thursday in the D.J. booth. He is the director of operations for Painted Red Promotions, who have been collaborating with Barcode for three years. Saunders said most Barcode-goers find the event therapeutic, especially the younger groups coming in. “I’ve got this young group who comes in, like 15 of them, and it is a beautiful thing cause they all sing individually and every time it’s somebody from their group singing, they all approach the stage as if they’re like the first three rows at a concert,” Saunders said, “You can tell this is therapeutic for them, they’re living up fantasies up there.” Penny Lane 9:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 421 E. Franklin St. Do you ever wish Richmond, VA, was more like Richmond, United Kingdom? (shoutout Michael Belle.) Well then, do we have the bar for you! Penny Lane is an authentic English pub, with Beatles, bangers, mash, fish, chips, pints and, of course, karaoke. The lovely Liverpool location gives guests a cozy atmosphere to sing along to their favorite ditties alongside some nice chaps. New York Deli 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 2920 W. Cary St. You can stop by at lunchtime for a sandwich and then come back at night to be a star. The vibes here have been described as being more like clubbing than your average karaoke night, so if you yearn for the club, yearn no further. The Buddhist Monk “Walk for Peace” — which has captivated the American South as it passes through 10 states on its way from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington , D.C. — is set to reach Richmond sometime in February. The estimated 2,300 mile, 120-day-long walk began in October 2025 and is led by 24 monks from Fort Worth, home to where the large Dhammacetiya complex is being built to honor the teachings of Buddha Gotama and His Holy Disciples, according to their website. Upon arriving in Washington, the group will ask Congress to recognize Vesak, the day of Buddha’s birth, as a federal holiday. The act is meant to generally promote peace, love, kindness and compassion in America. The peace walk has made national headlines, particularly over the group’s new recruit; a once-stray dog they named
Bryan Park Bar & Grill 6 p.m. - 12 a.m. | 5516 Lakeside Ave. They also have trivia! FRIDAY Fallout 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 117 N. 18th St. For the dreadful and the macabre, stop by Fallout for their Goth Karaoke Nights. For those who want to party but still haven’t hit the milestone of 21, Fallout’s Karaoke nights are 18+, so as long as you have an ID you can come in and sing some Evanescence. My Noodle & Bar 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 1600 Monument Ave. Apt 204 Located in a little underground nook in Richmond’s Fan District is a delectable Thai restaurant My Noodle. They hold Karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. This botanical- boozed filled -basement is the perfect place for a night of good food, drink and company. It is a great spot to meet new people, according to Jayson Willow and Bea Saunders, two met at My Noodle’s karaoke night. “We both just ended up meeting here, and then after the second or third time we were like, ‘we should be friends,’” Willow said. Willow enjoys My Noodle because of the memories he has tied to the restaurant, which have helped him find confidence. Saunders shares that sentiment, claiming My Noodle as her “church.” Thirsty’s Queer Bar 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 3516 Forest Hill Ave. SATURDAY My Noodle & Bar 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. | 1600 Monument Ave. Apt 204 EDITOR’S NOTE: The Commonwealth Times does not encourage underage drinking. Students under the age of 21 can visit commonwealthtimes.org to learn about alternative, alcohol-free events. “Aloka,” meaning “light” in Sanskrit. The peace walk will pass Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina before reaching Petersburg and then Richmond sometime in early-mid February. Jennifer Garvin-Sanchez, an adjunct world studies instructor specializing in union theological seminary, said the walk is a tradition monks have been carrying out for centuries — along with people of different religions and faiths. “Mindful meditation is seen as crosscultural. There is a walking and sitting meditation. Walking meditation really sort of guides you in a way by itself. Each step in a walking meditation is supposed to be mindful,” Garvin-Sanchez said. “The second aspect is [engagement]. Buddhist monks have walked for peace, harmony and for healing of war.” Story continues on next page
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Peace coming from within and the changing of oneself through meditation are some of Buddhism’s core values, which will be observable at the walk, according to Garvin-Sanchez. “The core value of Buddhism is to do no harm, change your practices and your mindset to practice peace and harmony,” Garvin-Sanchez stated. Students and Richmonders looking to view the peace walk as it passes should respect its silent nature, Garvin-Sanchez stated. “A more respectful approach for
students would be to bow with your palms together to them, which represents ‘the light in me response to the light in you’ to them, and not rush up to them or give them a high five or hug as they walk,” GarvinSanchez stated. “They are on a mindful, silent meditation.” While the monks are happy to engage with the crowd, take photos and accept small gifts such as flowers, onlookers are requested to not touch them, be respectful and bow down slightly when meeting them. Spectators should refrain from
photographing the monks while they eat, as they perform certain chants or prayers at the beginning of each meal. First-year mass communications graduate student Risham Qureshi said the monks coming to Richmond feels timely, allowing for much-needed peace and harmony amid the times we live in. “Seeing something so quiet and intentional show up in the middle of all this noise feels grounding, almost like a reminder to slow down and breathe,” Qureshi said.
Despite her skepticism on the impact of the walk itself she believes that it is a welcome change. “Even if it doesn’t f ix anything, it interrupts the chaos for a moment. And right now, even a small pause, something gentle instead of aggressive, feels kind of rare and necessary,” Qureshi said. A live map showing the monks’ trail is viewable on their website dhammacetiya. com/walk-for-peace/live-map/. You can also follow them on their Facebook page.
From runways, red carpets to Richmond Christian Siriano brings exhibition, workshop for fashion students DEVYNN ALSTON Contributing Writer RACHEL NICHOLAS Contributing Writer Christian Siriano, a well-known fashion designer who has dressed Lili Reinhart, Jennifer Lopez, and even former First Lady Michelle Obama, will be exhibiting a collection of his work at the Branch Museum of Design starting Jan. 17 — as well as providing a unique opportunity for VCU fashionistas. The exhibition, “Undeniable,” will showcase Siriano’s red carpet designs and artist Ashley Longshore’s paintings. It will highlight the interconnectivity of the fashion and art worlds. A self-taught painter, Longshore has built her brand as a powerhouse pop artist. She officially debuted in 2024 during Miami Art Week, addressing themes found in pop culture and collaborating with several celebrities, art houses and designers, according to the Branch Museum’s website. Before her debut, Longshore appeared in and inspired the fall collection of Siriano’s runway designs in 2019. Her pieces are composed of strong, vibrant women in pop-art fashion, lining the
runway, the show ending with her and Siriano walking themselves. Siriano will also be teaching a fashion drawing workshop for VCU fashion design and enterprise students. VCU student volunteers have been helping to set up the Branch Museum for the exhibition; a perk for all of their hard labor will be getting a chance to meet Siriano at a private event before the official opening. “I wanted to volunteer because I wanted to get more opportunities and make more connections in the art world, see the dresses close up and be able to feel the fabric,” third-year fashion student Emory Bartenstein said. The biggest challenge posed to the volunteers so far was to have Siriano’s designs look the same on mannequins as they did on the celebrities who wore them. The work includes dressing, painting, constructing and stuffing the figures. “The whole goal of us stuffing the mannequins and getting the outfits on them is to bring life to them,” said student volunteer Aspen Oracio Lewis. “Because they are moving works of art, but they are stationary, and they are on inanimate objects,” said student volunteer Aspen Oracio Lewis. Longshore’s work was included as a
At Nowhere Cinema’s pop-ups: big screens, and belonging Clubs at Studio Two Three provide affordable films for Richmonders ASH JONES Contributing Writer Last Tuesday’s screening of “Darkman” (1990) at Studio Two Three was met with a room full of infectious laughter, as well as a palpable sense that everyone was hooked to the screen. It was the first of two free showings highlighting the blood-pumping 90s works of filmmaker Sam Raimi — before he broke out big with “Spider-Man” — by Richmond pop-up theatre Nowhere Cinema. The next? Rugged outlaw film “The Quick and the Dead” (1995), which will show on Jan. 20. Beyond that, Nowhere has a months-long slate of events for 2026, and it is only one of multiple cinema clubs in Richmond showcasing the weird, niche and cult-followed for a relatively low price (or at least cheaper than Movieland). Nowhere, established in April 2025, has become a hub for “weirdo movie lovers” in Richmond — and along with nonprofit host Studio Two Three, they align in a mission to provide accessible, creative outlets to the public. There is also Hard Light Cinema, which shows films from around the world; the
Moviegoers watch a screening by Exposure. Photo courtesy of Exposure. critical and discussive Exposure, keen on highlighting Black film; as well as Good For Her, a monthly fundraiser celebrating femme-rage in film. Richmond’s cinema clubs often hold their showings at accessible locations like Studio Two Three — sometimes even collaborating with the Richmond Public Library. Nowhere screenings are typically free or listed with a “pay-what-you-can” ticket price that makes them more accessible for all movie-goers.
roundabout way to expand reach, according to Kyle Sargent, the exhibitions and collections manager of the Branch Museum. The dream of those who work at the Branch Museum, a hidden Richmond gem for fashion, is for the space to become nationally recognized, according to Sargent. Because of that aspiration, choosing VCU students to volunteer was very intentional. The Branch Museum reached out to Siriano’s team directly to secure the exhibition in the river city.
“With VCUarts being the absolute powerhouse that it is, on a national scale, it puts Richmond with the sort of arts education background like SCAD [Savannah College of Art and Design], or RISD [Rhode Island School of Design], despite being a more medium-sized city,” Sargent said. More information on the exhibition could be found at branchmuseum.org/undeniable/.
Pieces being shown at the Branch Museum of Design’s exhibition 'Undeniable.' Photos by Alex Robinson.
One attendee at the “Dark man” screening noted their disdain for rising ticket prices at corporate theaters. Nowhere has allowed them to consume entertainment in a communal space. “Everytime I go to the movies, I just think about how I could be pirating it at home instead of spending up to twenty bucks at A MC,” the attendee said. “Nowhere is cool ‘cause I love movies, I love watching them with other people and here, I get to do that without emptying my wallet.” “Darkman” follows an unner ving scientist who is physically mutated after a vicious attack by ruthless mobsters. The f ilm, fervent with action and resemblance to 1930’s superhero f licks, was adored by the crowd. One attendee highlighted the weird factor many films on the Nowhere screen seem to possess. “I come here all the time,” the attendee said. “I love weird, off-kilter movies like this and it’s hard to find similar stuff at big theaters.” Charles Case, the devoted founder of Nowhere, emphasized the importance of fostering community through the arts. “I really think of Nowhere as a means to show people what makes the theater special,” Case stated. “To me, there’s nothing more powerful than a room of people laughing together or sharing emotions.” Case’s goal was to build a creative space from the ground up. “I was very inspired by the scrappy passion it takes to put on your own screenings, promote and build an audience,” Case stated. “That’s really where Nowhere Cinema stems from ... wanting to do my
own take on what others were already doing well, and having a larger sense of ownership over what movies people are introduced to in the theater.” UPCOMING FILM SCREENINGS Nowhere Cinema — nowherecinema.com Jan. 20 — “The Quick and the Dead” Feb. 2 — “Hollywood Shuffle Feb. 14 — “Polyester” Feb. 24 — “Uptight” March 3 — “Be Kind Rewind” March 14 — “Son of the White” March 24 — “Millenium Actress” Hard Light Cinema — hardlight.online Jan. 21 — “By the Stream” Jan. 29 — “La Strada” Feb. 8 — “A Night of Knowing Nothing” Feb. 19 — “A Fistfull of Dollars” March 1 — “The Act of Killing” March 19 — “The Great Silence” April 9 — “The Consequences of Love” Exposure — exposurecinema.org None announced (yet) Good For Her Films — goodforherfilms.org Jan. 15 — “May” Feb. 10 — “Bride of Chucky” Prices, locations and showtimes for upcoming screenings can be found on Richmond’s cinema club’s respective websites.
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The Commonwealth Times
Features
RVA Spotlight
Check out the Made in Virginia Market this Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the 17th Street Market for the chance to catch a performance by Virginia Beach native Pusha T! The market is free to attend and will feature local vendors, food and will kick off the inauguration weekend of Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.
Charlie Schmidt was arrested ‘a lot’ protesting as a VCU student Now he’s Richmond’s next lawmaker CHARLIE SCHMIDT Continued from front page “I was like, ‘I’m gonna go talk to voters and have this ground game’ that really disrupted the usual ‘oh here we’re gonna christen our heir-apparent, and I’m gonna pass off my seat to this person, get all the endorsements,’” Schmidt said. Schmidt said he has high regards for both Jones and Mosby. Though Schmidt’s campaign — which he only had a week to formally conduct — speaks for itself. The delegate-elect set aside some time on a busy general election day to speak to The CT about his upbringing, policy goals at the General Assembly and how VCU taught him about organizing, activism and civic engagement. HUMBLE, AND UNHUMBLE BEGINNINGS Schmidt was born out of a union of economic class. His father was a welder, a real “blue collar guy,” Schmidt said. He was the type of man who saw justice differently. “He instilled in me a particular value and belief against this fake meritocracy, this bootstrap conservatism,” Schmidt said. “He understood that he was standing on the shoulders of his parents and their parents and the parents before them that benefitted him, and did not benefit others.” Schmidt’s father saw the people he worked with get “passed over” as he kept moving forward in his career — he understood and saw that privilege, and really did not like bullies. “It kind of boils down to elementary school politics,” Schmidt said. “We would talk a lot about somebody just being a ‘bully,’ because he didn’t go to university, he wasn’t highly educated, so he just put it in plain terms.” Schmidt’s mother, on the other hand, came from a well-educated family with long roots in Richmond. She taught him it was his civic duty to be engaged in politics; not just give money to the church, but to carry out his obligation to people as a person of privilege. “There was a civic duty instilled by both my parents, but the messaging was totally different,” Schmidt said. PURSUING JUSTICE IN THE COURTROOM, CAPITOL AND COMMUNITY After college Schmidt filled roles at the Virginia Holocaust Museum and the Richmond Public Library before becoming a civil rights attorney, often working with the American Civil Liberties Union. At the time, Virginia was lacking in criminal justice reform and critical protections for LGBTQ+ students, Schmidt explained. He sought to protect constitutional rights, mostly through lobbying at the General Assembly. “When I started, Virginia had some of
the worst immigration laws on the books,” Schmidt said. S c h m idt a l s o d id c i v i l r i ght s investigations for the Virginia Department of Justice — digging into complaints against staff, probation officers, deputies and jail staff, often by incarcerated youth and their parents. Finally, in 2023, Schmidt landed at his current gig: a “law librarian” for the city, which he utilizes to help people file complaints and hire private attorneys, teach know-your-rights workshops and ensure people know which legal aid they need to contact for their cases — especially those who cannot afford an attorney. “The law library at the Richmond Public Library is an access point for trying to bridge the justice gap,” Schmidt said. It was out of that justice-access work that Schmidt and three others , including VCU assistant professor of focused inquiry Kristin Reed, founded the Richmond Community Legal Fund. “We knew that we needed to build a legal fund to address what we knew was a constitutional crisis coming with Trump two-point-o,” Schmidt said. Virginia is a hotspot for immigration enforcement, data shows. Over 2,000 Virginia residents received deportation orders in March 2025 alone — 300 of whom were in the Richmond area. Arrests in June 2025 were six times higher than in June 2024, according to previous reports by The CT. The Legal Fund does much of what Schmidt does at the library: connecting people, mostly noncitizens, with resources, such as good, vetted attorneys who will provide good legal aid. “There are still some attorneys that’ll be like ‘yeah sure, I’ll take your case for $5,000,’ knowing that it’s not gonna go anywhere,” Schmidt said. Unlike other cases, there is no bail bond system for immigration. People have to pay the full amount upfront, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars.
In response, The Legal Fund raised $130,000 for immigration help — which has gone toward 42 individuals and families for legal costs and “stabilization costs” like rent and food. In 2025, attorneys for the Legal Fund hosted 21 know-your-rights workshops and 25 “legal clinics” to help families prepare for court, according to their Instagram. They installed 1,000 anti-ICE yard signs and 500 of the now-famous “ICE IS NOT WELCOME HERE” business signs. VCU WAS ‘FUNDAMENTAL’ FOR SCHMIDT Schmidt graduated from VCU in 2004, where he was “getting arrested a lot” while protesting, he said. While Schmidt was attending, students, faculty, staff and community members were working on a Living Wage Campaign to ensure contract workers and Aramark workers — who provide VCU dining services — were earning their fair share. Schmidt and others lobbied officials and tried to get like-minded students and faculty into university council so they could pass a resolution. When the Sept. 11 attacks happened, Schmidt was riding the city bus into school — and almost immediately the coalition they built for economic justice turned into an anti-war, anti-spying movement. “Just about every month there was some sort of anti-globalization, anti-war protest up in D.C.,” Schmidt said. Schmidt mentioned how similar the current conf lict between the Trump administration and Venezuela is to the Global War on Terror of the 2000s.
“America seems to be stuck on this revolving door of colonialism, capitalism that leads to war,” Schmidt said. “And these cycles of war against countries that have natural resources that we want, or they’re strategically located.” People talk about Venezuela the same way they talked about Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Vietnam, Schmidt said. 20-somethings protest, and then they despair because their generation “failed” to stop their particular war. “I quickly learned from VCU and from my mentors at VCU that that’s a selfish world view,” Schmidt said. “What we have to do is continue to engage, pass on to the next generation and help them build that connective tissue so that they can understand ‘you are part of this longer, more important history.’” In Schmidt’s view: people do not tangibly know what their impact is, but they can see it as they grow older. To Schmidt, that is what public universities are for: to ensure public knowledge is passed on throughout the long, unbroken chain of history. “I’m honored and privileged and humbled to be a tiny part of it, to see that we are connected in the same way to the
Charlie Schmidt sits for an interview with The CT at the main branch of the Richmond Public Library. Photo by Andrew Kerley.
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
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Features
GREATEST
“ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT VCU IS YOU ARE LITERALLY BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE
REAL POWER.”
DEL. CHARLIE SCHMIDT
The Virginia State Capitol. CT file photo. students that did the sit-ins in the 50s and 60s, and the communists and socialists against World War I that were arrested and jailed for simply speaking their mind,” Schmidt said. The VCU Living Wage Campaign returned over a decade later, as Schmidt himself is featured in an article by The CT from 2014, when he was working as an adjunct political science professor. Schmidt started teaching after he was asked to Dr. Dierdre Condit, the longtime director of political science and gender, sexuality and women’s studies. His other mentor was Njeri Jackson, the first African American studies director to oversee a dedicated major for her department. “They were like ‘you need to support others in your work, be in the fight, be out there,’” Schmidt said. When Schmidt first started teaching there were many DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students whose legal statuses were up in the air. “They were quite worried they wouldn’t be there the next semester,” Schmidt said. “That shaped my worldview tremendously. I realized I can no longer just enjoy my status as an american citizen, I need to do as much as I can in the immigration legal space.” Schmidt tried to be a professor of “practical application,” relating all sorts of lessons to constitutional issues. He wanted
to ensure students understood the realities of America, show them pathways to get out in the streets and ensure they would be a part of the solution. “I love academia, I love teaching, but it’s not called the ivory tower for nothing,” Schmidt said. Schmidt is also a founding member of the VCU chapter for the United Campus Workers of Virginia. Schmidt’s Rate My Professor score is 4.1/5 — pretty solid. Students have described him as funny, laid back, having a heart of gold and as one of the most understanding professors at VCU — though his lectures can be long-winded or circular. Schmidt said he hopes to be similar as a legislator: inclusive and ensuring people are connecting to each other, and something bigger in the community. He currently teaches at the University of Richmond, and hopes to teach a class at VCU again (though that is hard to imagine given the busy schedule of a General Assembly member). “I’ll try not to be so long-winded as a legislator,” Schmidt said. ON IMMIGRATION, ICE AND THE ISSUES Schmidt’s 77th District stretches from Southside Richmond down Midlothian Turnpike to north Chesterfield and Bon Air, where the effects of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement activity have been “devastating.” 39.5% of residents are Black, 35.6% are white, 7.5% are multiracial, 2.1% are Asian and 15.4% identify as “other.” 20.4% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. “They’re scared,” Schmidt said. “My neighbors in my community have to do a certain amount of retreating from public life unfortunately.” Despite all the “vile rhetoric, xenophobia and absolute filth and sludge” coming out of the Trump administration, the people of the 77th District are still incredibly gracious, Schmidt said. “They are amazing neighbors,” Schmidt said. “They’re doing what they can for each other, they’re rallying mutual aid, they’re supporting each other and overcoming oppression that would absolutely cripple most Americans.” While Schmidt and other Democrats might not agree on every little thing, he is confident Gov.-elect Spanberger and other party members will help him protect Virginians from ICE, he said. Schmidt will be joining the legislature too late to introduce bills of his own this year, though he plans to support ones patroned by other Democrats to tackle the biggest problems in Southside, namely attacking junk fees, maintenance fees — such as the $100 fee to replace an air filter — and lack of code enforcement by
unscrupulous landlords, he said. Also on his to-do list is using the state government to investigate polluters and corporations, capping security deposits and campaign finance reform. Schmidt wants to cap campaign contributions around $10,000-$20,000. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that somebody can dump $200,000 into a governor’s campaign coffers,” Schmidt said. Schmidt’s advice for students: Get involved now. “One of the greatest things about VCU is you are literally blocks away from the real power,” Schmidt said. T he easiest and fastest way to make connections is down at the General A ssembly, accord ing to S c h m idt. It was an eye-opener for him — to learn how the system works and obtain hands-on experience. “The real power in Virginia sits at the General Assembly,” Schmidt said. “There is no reason for students not to be down there during the General Assembly session every day; every chance they can, chime in, speak at a hearing, volunteer, be down there.” As the sun set and polling stations winded down for the day, Schmidt wrapped up his lengthy interview with The CT. He won with 79.93% of the votes — no surprise there. “Sorry, that was a long lecture,” Schmidt joked. “A little long-winded.”
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The Commonwealth Times
Opinions
Quote of the week
“So many books, so little time.” — Frank Zappa
We pay the price when nursing isn’t ‘professional’ Why the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ rug pull hurts health care SHINY CHANDRAVEL Assistant Opinions Editor If you want to fully understand the health care crisis, don’t look at the trauma bay — look at the waiting room. I work as a patient care technician in an emergency room, assisting nurses with labs, IV lines, patient care and flow of the floor. Yet, the most stressful part isn’t at the patient’s bedside, it’s behind the front desk of the waiting room, deciding who can afford to wait. It’s weighing the feverish baby against the grandpa with chest pain. As more critical patients arrive, rooms become scarce. Patients are seen spilling into hallways, chairs and eventually, as a last-ditch effort, the waiting room. As a tech, I once helped a patient who had been in the emergency room for 16 hours. He was angry, and understandably so. His story was not unfamiliar, but what stood out the most to me was what he said. “The nurses just want to keep me waiting long enough so they get paid more. I know how these games work,” he said. I immediately became angry — not at him, but at how wrong, yet widely-held that belief is. As daunting as it feels to be a patient watching the clock tick, you aren’t alone — the nurses feel it too. They feel it in the minutes before an ambulance arrives, knowing the room they need doesn’t exist. They feel it in the seconds after the time of death is called, before they’re rushed to move on to a different patient. They feel it in the time it takes to answer
every beeping call bell, alarm and monitor. They feel it because time isn’t something nurses can sit with. It’s something they are required to manage, ration and borrow every single day. The ticking time bomb that is a fragile emergency room has little to do with bad nurses — but the scarcity of any. The nursing shortage crisis has existed since World War II, and has only been strained further by the COV ID-19 pandemic, the retirement wave of the Baby Boomer generation and poor workplace retention. Sadly, as the consequences of the shortage grow dire, recent federal policy has only made it more bleak. Abiding by plans laid out in President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” the Department of Education has cut loan access significantly. Previously, any graduate student was able to qualify for loans equivalent to the cost of their degree. However, the standards have since changed. New rules, effective July 1, 2026, limit the amount of the loans graduate students can take depending on whether their degree is considered “graduate” or “professional.” The “professional” degree programs have been limited to fields such as medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy and even theology. This proposal has garnered extensive criticism and fear as it has notably excluded nursing, physical therapy, dental hygiene, occupational therapy and social work, as well as architecture, education
and accounting. Many have recognized the disproportionate effect this will have on our middle-class and femaledominated professions. Professional degrees now have loan caps of $50,000 per year with a lifetime maximum of $200,000. Any degree not on this list is considered a graduate degree with a loan cap of $20,500 per year with a lifetime maximum of $100,000. These caps fall short of covering tuition for lower-income students, effectively shutting out many from pursuing essential careers. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing stated the impact of the proposal “on our already-challenged nursing workforce would be devastating.” It’s important to understand the Department of Education’s proposed reasoning. The Education Department’s website — under the Trump administration — now argues capping federal tuition loans will ultimately lower tuition costs, referencing the 1984 Bennett Hypothesis. The theory proposes that large student loans enable colleges to raise tuition. However, the Bennett Hypothesis has a contentious reputation. The Center for American Progress identified that college tuition continued to increase despite consistent loan limits, attributing the increase to state funding cuts.
A 2003 University of Oregon study showed the effect only really applied to private, elite, small colleges. Ultimately, in 2014, a bipartisan Congressional Research Service study concluded the hy pothesis remained unsubstantiated due to inconsistent findings within studies. There are those in our generation willing to fill in the massive shoes left by our health care shortage. Today, there are nearly 1,000 students enrolled in the VCU School of Nursing. These students — our peers and future health care professionals — deserve ou r suppor t. T he Depa r tment of Education’s policy only creates more barriers in the meantime. The price of the policy will not solely be paid by nursing students drowning in debt. It is a price we will all share when it’s our turn to wait in a congested emergency room. It won’t be because nurses failed to show up, but because we pulled the rug from underneath them before they could even try. Illustration by Lauren Smith.
ROAD SAFETY Illustration by Sophie Dellinger.
Continued from front page Most notably, the release included the creation of a new Department of Transportation within Richmond’s greater Department of Public Works. It is set to lead the city’s street safety programs and mobility work, as well as head the planning, execution and maintenance of a public transportation system. The creation of the department marks a major step forward for the city of Richmond and its residents. A study by the American Public Transportation Association found that transit-oriented communities are f ive times safer than automobile-oriented communities.With fewer cars on the road and more people relying on public transit, there are fewer opportunities for accidents. With any luck, this new department will help R ichmond start to make the transition. Achieving this, though, means more than just the creation of a new department and promises of a better, safer Richmond. It means making public transit more appealing and accessible to the average Richmonder; it means properly funding and maintaining the Greater Richmond Transit Company, or GRTC, for the use of all. The city’s main public transit option has been free to ride since 2021, established in the wake of COVID-19. Since then, there has been a notable
increase in crowding on buses which many attribute to the elimination of fares. A March 2025 report found that over half of local bus riders make less than $30,000 annually — a demographic more likely to be affected by pedestrian fatalities, according to a different 2023 study. However, ever since VCU ended its funding agreement with the GRTC last summer to begin a new, VCU-exclusive shuttle service, the longevity of the freeride program has been suspect. While free fares will continue through the fiscal end of 2026, without a new source of funding the future of the program is uncertain. While VCU attests to operating first and foremost in the interest of its students, it seems like the institution needs a reminder that VCU and Richmond are deeply intertwined. The safety concerns of the city are the concerns of students, and vice versa. It is important to consider the issues of both populations in tandem — while the new shuttle may be helpful for students, it leaves the rest of the city — including off-campus students — at a disadvantage. To keep R ichmond sa fe for a l l pedestrians, students and community members alike, VCU and the city need to work together. That means funding and supporting initiatives that help all citizens. Assets like the GRTC, Vision Zero and the new Department of Transportation are amazing steps towards achieving this goal — let’s hope we can see some lasting improvements.
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
LETTER: Gender divides in STEMM start earlier than you think CHINEME JEANFRANCES ONUKWUGHARA PhD Candidate, VCU Chemistry W henever we think of the gender gap in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine), the adult woman often comes to mind. However, the seeds planting the disparity are often sown much younger than you might think, as early as pre-adolescence. According to the World Hea lth Organization, adolescence for girls is typically between the ages of 10 and 19, the period where physical, psychological and behavioral changes occur. The phase is also the onset of puberty and is associated with drastic hormonal changes.
An adolescent girl faces physical, cognitive, emotional and psychosocial changes capable of inf luencing their learning choices. Another significant aspect to puberty is menstruation in girls. Many struggle to manage their periods and often deal with extended severe cramps, lower back pain, nausea, headaches, fatigue and heavy flow, causing them to be absent from school and/ or lose focus when present. Additionally, period poverty comprises of access to sustainable and affordable sanitary products across the globe. To what
extent do these developmental struggles reshape the priorities and motivations of young girls in embracing science and technology? There are also social and cultural stigmas, as well as a lack-of or inadequate menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities — causing additional distress. Those experiences, even for adult women, are uncomfortable and exhaustive — making engagement in STEMMrelated programs even harder. The mood swings, stress and frustrations that set in can also erode a girl’s enthusiasm and confidence, thereby affecting their ability to concentrate in science projects or handson experiments where prolonged focus and/ or complex problem solving are required. However, the adolescent boy carries
Illustration by Al Almahizai.
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Opinions
on without interruption. Sadly, the “suffering” period is hardly discussed nor acknowledged by schools or work places, or considered too embarrassing or taboo to talk about by many girls and women. Conversely, adolescent boys gain the upper hand as they are deemed the “more stable personality” to dominate in a rigorous STEMM discipline, leaving girls relegated to supportive roles or less-critical tasks. The result is an unintentional tilt in classroom dynamics that begins to favor boys over girls from an early age. T hose nat u ra l “pena lt ies” l imit young girls’ engagement, erode their cognitive confidence and downplay young girls as a lesser f it compared to their male counterparts. It creates a narrative that STEMM is inherently masculine — a stereotype unconsciously reinforced by educators who praise boys for technical skills while complimenting girls mostly on their behavior or effort. The International Day of the Girl Child, established by the United Nations, focuses attention on addressing the unique challenges girls face around the world, recognizing and promoting female empowerment and the fulf illment of their human rights. Movements like this encourage a conscientious reawakening to come together and foster an equitable and inclusive world for girls to thrive. Last year’s theme of “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis” remains a call to action to better empower the young girls to stay healthy, educated and reach their full potential by addressing overlooked systemic barriers. The spotlight needs to shift from workplace-level gaps involving adult women to also include the early-stage factors — developmental, societal, mental and psychological inf luences — that quietly shape a girl long before she makes a professional entry into STEMM.
‘New year, new me’ A once tired sentiment given new meaning JALYN THOMAS Contributing Writer 2026 is the year of change. It’s the year of the horse — a symbol of freedom, energy and responsibility. It’s also a year that, unlike years past, I have not heard people use the phrase “new year, new me.” T h is ph ra se used to dom inate conversations around the new year, so much so that some considered it a “cringey” thing to say. Growing up and seeing people hate on the sentiment was confusing. What’s the point in discouraging someone who is just trying to change for the better? Though this year the phrase seems scarce, there have been new variations of its message. Vision and mood boards for the new year, craftier counterparts of the phrase, have seen a surge in popularity. But what could have brought on this change? Why do people seem to have given up on “new year, new me?” Maybe people have become overwhelmed by change — the current administration has turned our culture and society upside
down, leaving many upset and confused. This year feels exponentially different already, with ever yone f inding new ways to cope with the shifts within our culture. Maybe the change that people seek this year is not individual, but rather societal. Instead of “new year, new me,” maybe people would prefer “new year, new reality.” 2025 was a year filled with strife and confusion. It is a year many are happy to see the end of — hoping 2026 will come with promises of change. Well, we’re only two weeks in, and 2026 is already historic. In Virginia, we will soon be swearing in our first woman Governor — Abigail Spanberger — a member of the Democratic Party. As seen back in November, her election brought about a positive change in attitude for despairing people across the country. Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim mayor of New York City on Jan. 1. He has wasted no time in committing to his promises, which include developing safe and affordable housing,
Illustration by Ro Horner.
childcare and public bathrooms to all New Yorkers. Both Spanberger’s win and Mamdani’s work have generated hope for our future as a nation. On the other hand, President Donald Trump conducted a historic bombing in Venezuela on Jan. 3. Trump plans to “run” Venezuela and extract the country of its oil. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being held in New York on drug charges, an unlawful capture and escalation of war. I am not the only one who noticed this is openly unconstitutional and deeply imperialistic, something many of us are deeply frightened by. Staying informed, especially now, is important now more than ever. Especially
during an administration that has continuously made choices and actions that harm us, especially following the recent Minneapolis violence where an ICE agent shot and killed an unarmed woman in broad daylight. While “new year, new me” is an ageold phrase, so is “with knowledge comes power.” Reality cannot be unwritten, no matter how much we want it to be, so the best thing we can do in the midst of times where change feels bleak is to stay in the know. So while you’re creating your New Year’s resolution, please remember that staying informed should be at the top of your list.
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Comics
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Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026
Puzzles
THINK HARD
Lo s Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle
Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle THINK HARD
By Rafael Musa & Rebecca Goldstein
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a phrase by 12 __ on the side of 28etched Primatology focus 86 Check-in items caution 93 variety GPS heading 19 Big shake 30 __ oneself on 88 Eco orinsport, 94 Swimwear Fire in Golden diamond? 13 Write music 95 Blue-green cars Islandsome Pines, often 23 Tiered temples figure Muppet 40 Enjoys31a Big finepigs meal 100 *Newspaper 14 iMessage whowith plays the guitar 33stop? __ Ababa 9185-Across Ursa Minor star 25 Unlikely to catch status 96 See who works 42 Start to 15 Gets around 97 Stage name of 35onMulligans 92 Ask for details 97 Franchise with a feelings, informally peridot? 43 Played repeat 16 Busspeech customers 36 *Latin cornerstone a breakup, Crèmeabout Brûlée Latte 102 Quietly Park Jae-sang 29 Simplified 44 Bout-ending letters 17 Deems 99 creator Cookies with a 32 Praising phrase etched by Pooh’s dropped? poetryessential98 Namesay 104 45 *Approach bearing 19 Big shake 94 Swimwear in Fire presentations, “My god!” 101 Expo locationvariety 34 Spanish garnet? diamond? 106 GenesisGolden 23spot Tiered temples *Newspaper figure 40 Enjoys a fine107 mealSoft100 Island Pines, often perhaps 35 Cozy wool 47 Sphere 25 Unlikely to catch102 Trivia works with 36 Often Start to stop?108 Seller ofwho 96 See 85-Across fodder Poäng 48 Heads42south? feelings, informally 43 Played on repeat chairs peridot? 97 due, Franchise 103 Uno, __ with a 37 Filmmaker Ephron 50 Text scam 29 Simplified speech Quietly 44 Bout-ending letters Crème Brûlée 105 “The Silence of the Latte 38 Choice that requires 109 Red102 Muppet who portmanteau 32 Praising poetry 45 *Approach bearing 104 Pooh’s creator 98 Name dropped? __” little thought plays the piano 52 Conductor Zubin 34 Spanish “My god!” 101 Expo presentations, 106 Genesis location garnet? 39 “I should getspot going” 108 Nastyperhaps 111 Border 56 Scale47 button 35 Cozy 107 on Soft wool Sphere 110 Chair supports 41 For theOften __ time 115 *Hockey puck drop 58 Wise biblical king 36 108 Seller of Poäng 48 Heads south? 102 Trivia fodder 112 Lucky break 46 Compañeras spot composed 60 Soaked thescam sun, 37 Filmmaker Ephron chairs of 50 up Text 103 Uno, due, __ 113 __ send: handy 49 Exceed citrine? say 38 Choice that requires 105 “The Silence of the 109 Red Muppet who portmanteau feature on some 117 Cold-hearted, or an 62 Captain’s band little thought plays the piano 51 VMA figure 52 Conductor Zubin __” platforms 53 House apt description of location 39 “Icall should get going” email 111 Border on 56 Scale button 108 Nasty following? 54 Time rollthe the__ time 114 Ump’s answers to the 64 Outdoor spot king the 115 41toFor *Hockey puck drop 58 dining Wise biblical 110 Chair supports Contessa” starred clues 65 Asian60 ethnic group 46maybe Compañeras 116 “Barefoot spot composed of dice, Soaked up the sun, 112 Lucky break host 55 Working hard 120 Plant with a trunk in “The Spirit 49 Exceed citrine? say 113 Garten __ send: handy 118 __ plancha 121 Jet-black Catches and band 51 stumble VMA figure 117 Cold-hearted, or57 anVocal 62 You Captain’s feature on some 53 House call aptsites description of location platforms 59 Elevator innovator 119 Quickemail moment 122 Many Wix You Fall Down” 54 Time to roll the the answers to the 64 Outdoor dining spot 114 Ump’s following? dice, maybe starred clues 65 Asian ethnic group 116 “Barefoot Contessa” 55 Working hard 120 Plant with a trunk in “The Spirit host Garten 57 Vocal stumble 121 Jet-black Catches You and 118 __ plancha 59 Elevator innovator 122 Many Wix sites You Fall Down” 119 Quick moment
Edited by Patti Varol
Think Hard by RAFAEL MUSA & REBECCA GOLDSTEIN
L os Ange l e s Ti me s Su n da y Cr os s wor d P uz z l e Edited by Patti Varol
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