The Commonwealth Times; October 7, 2026

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 @commonwealthtimes @theCT1

VOL. 73, NO. 8 OCTOBER 7, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

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The VCU Student Government Association discusses questions from Senators following the resignations from former Senator Rosalyn Harper and former Secretary of Interior Jackson Mallor. Photo by Sal Orlando.

Two SGA members resign over discontentment with leadership SAL ORLANDO News Editor Two former VCU Student Government Association members resigned from the association last month over a series of grievances. Rosalyn Harper, a former SGA senator, stated in an email that she resigned

from the association because it had reached a point where staying a senator would mean complicity with a “culture of retaliation, systemic hostility and bad-faith governance.” “Student government should be an environment where emerging leaders advocate for their peers and defend the vulnerable,” Harper stated. “Instead,

I found myself constantly fighting an executive board that margina lized disabled members, policed peers’ personal backgrounds, suppressed democratic dissent and weaponized microaggressions against anyone who pushed back.” Harper stated that two main incidents caused her to step down, one being the “bad-faith targeting” regarding disability

accommodations last semester. She stated that she watched leadership penalize a disabled senator over dress code mandates and conceal the Judicial Board ruling that excused him. SGA RESIGNATION Continued on page 5

Black and Gold game gives first look at new VCU men’s basketball roster BENNEY KOCH Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball gave fans their f irst look at a signif icantly different roster during the annual Black and Gold scrimmage on a rainy Sunday at the Siegel Center. The scrimmage marked the beginning of the Rams’ 2026-27 season after VCU went 28-8 last season, won its second consecutive Atlantic-10 championship and made NCAA Tournament history with a 19-point comeback against North Carolina in the first round. With seven players departing, including last season's leading scorer third-year guard Terrence Hill Jr., who transferred to Tennessee University, VCU will have to rely on returning players taking on larger roles and seven newcomers to make their mark.

BLACK AND GOLD GAME Continued on page 6

First-year guard Sammy Jackson attacked the rim during the VCU Black and Gold game. Photo by Ashley Davis.

From top recruit to Ram: An exclusive inside look with Sammy Jackson TYRESE PERKINS Assistant Sports Editor Fourth-year forward Lazar Djokovic during the VCU Black and Gold game. Photo by Ashley Davis.

RVA Repair

SAMMY JACKSON Continued on page 11

WWFF Capsule Upperclassmen Films loneliness see Spectrum page 8

see Features page 10

see Opinions page 12

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Stories of the week

News

national: Executions in Tennessee were halted by Gov. Bill Lee following a failed attempt to execute by lethal injection Christa Pike, who is now in critical condition. international: Tens of thousands of people in France protested claiming an underinvestment in high schools by the government. Police fired tear gas at students, teachers and parents in the streets.

Study shows anti-trans legislation causes distress among transgender individuals OLIVIA RINE Staff Writer A recent VCU study showed that antitransgender legislation causes psychological distress to transgender individuals. This follows the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU announcement to discontinue gender affirming treatments for those under 19 years old Catherin Wall, assistant professor of psychology at VCU, conducted the study, which focused on examining transgender individuals and how they navigate their current environment. “We were examining a number of factors related to psychological distress,” Wall said. “General experiences of gender-based discrimination, everyday experiences of discrimination. The study captured experiences of discrimination through a quantitative approach, focusing on how deeply people were following antitrans legislation, as well as their anxiety regarding these legislative decisions. Wall said the research showed that transgender individuals see anti-trans legislation as an existential threat. More than 2,000 legislative and policy-based initiatives have intended to reduce the rights of transgender individuals, according to the study.

“ The quantitative approach that we took showed us that above and beyond experiences of discrimination, psychological distress was mostly driven by anti-trans news and legislation, or antitrans legislation anxiety,” Wall said. Anti-trans legislation affects numerous aspects of trans individuals, influencing their access to health care and nonmedical transitions, according to the study “Several participants also discussed how legislation ‘Increased discrimination and violence,’ with one participant specifically noting that legislation was ‘Enabling and encouraging day-to-day discrimination and misgendering,’” the study stated. Another factor causing distress among trans individuals is their fear for their safety, and oftentimes when moving from their homes to access gender-affirming care. “One particular participant noted that they ‘have considered trying to leave this country out of fear of the future,’ and that they had ‘strong concerns of this progressing to an attempted genocide of all trans people,’” the study stated. The rise of anti legislation has caused trans individuals to be more cautious in fear of harassment from an anti-trans individual, according to the study. These concerns often lead some transgender individuals to avoid social interactions.

The participants in Wall’s study were all above the age of 18, but Eli Coston, Associate Chair of the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at VCU, said these laws affect trans minors as well. Coston said that for trans youth in particular, the most common treatment to receive is starting puberty blockers, a medication that stops the human body from producing the main two sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone. They said that anti-trans legislation can put transgender youth’s access to these medications at risk. “Lack of access to gender-affirming care causes distress for a lot of trans people,” Coston said. “That can cause anxiety and depression. Obviously, going through some of those changes of puberty makes it difficult sometimes to live as the gender you identify with rather than how you present physically.” According to Coston, hospitals at universities such as VCU or University of Virginia rely on federal funds to provide a wide variety of services, not just gender affirming care. “By continuing to provide gender affirming care to those under the age of 19, they would risk losing funding that supports all of their patients,” Coston said. Gender affirming care for minors is still legal in Virginia, though most providers

Illustration by Ivy Saunders.

who did provide that type of care no longer provide it because they are major hospital systems, according to Coston. “There are still providers that provide those ser v ices, but they ’re la rgely independent and don’t rely on federal funds,” Coston said. Jude Fisher, a second-year music student at Bridgewater College, stated in an email that gender-affirming medical care is important for trans youth, most commonly, hormone-blocking procedures. “Being able to medically transition, whet her it ’s hor mone s or ac t u a l surgeries, is life-saving for trans people everywhere,” Fisher stated. “Luckily for me, I transitioned pretty early in life, so I wasn’t directly affected by any of the newer legislation.” Fisher said they find the consistent attacks on transgender people in schools worrisome, including transgender bans in schools, such as in sports, locker rooms or bathrooms. “My heart goes out to all of the parents and trans kids brave enough to push back against school boards and state legislation,” Fisher stated. “It saddens me to see the same bills trying to be passed over and over again to hurt such a small minority of kids that just want to fit in and be treated normally.”

Richmond public transit ranking drops significantly SANIYAH PULLEN Contributing Writer R ic h mond ’s publ ic t r a nsit h a s experienced a drop in ranking this year, from fourth in 2024 to 26th this year, according to the latest ConsumerAffairs evaluation. Richmond ranks third nationally in affordability, according to the study. Greater Richmond Transit Company’s Zero Fare Program has free fare for all Richmond residents, according to the GRTC.

The program began in 2020 with funding support from a state grant as well as VCU. GRTC has continued the program since then, receiving funding from Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation, advertising, community partners and a rider incentive program according to the Richmonder. Chad Sanders, the executive director for RVA Rapid Transit, said zero fare transit is an essential economic driver and important to the community.

Photos by William Spencer.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

“Saving $1.50 to $1.75 per trip keeps money in their [Richmond residents’] p o c k e t s for ho u s i n g , fo o d , a n d healthcare right when they need it most,” Sanders said. Despite its high affordability ranking, Richmond ranks 34th in accessibility and 43rd in operational safety. “This data mirrors what our riders tell us every day: A transit system cannot be truly world-class if it is free, but hard to safely access,” Sanders said. Sanders pointed to the infrastructure of bus stops as one of the issues needing to be addressed, including improving systems beyond the buses. Tara Vaughn, a third-year biology student, believes the rank ing drop R ic hmond ’s publ ic t ra nsit is due to unreliability. “They’re pretty much always late, and equally as upsetting, they’ll be early as well,” Vaughn said. Vaugh said the ranking itself did not shift her opinion on GRTC, but her personal experiences with the transit system do.

“I don’t keep an eye on the rankings, but something I absolutely notice is when the public transit is unreliable,” Vaughn said. Aiden Lazenby, a third-year art communications student, said the high ranking surprised him. “I feel like it was only high because it was free, rather than because of the experience people were having on the bus,” Lazenby said. Last year, VCU announced they would not be renewing their contract with GRTC, due to exploring their own transportation options for students, according to a previous CT report. Ashley Potter, communications manager for GRTC, said that VCU students have continued benefitting from the GRTC despite losing funding from VCU. She said that receiving sustainable funding is still a top priority for the GRTC. “ We’re looking at anything from schedules to service to improve our reliability, and have also expanded our public safety efforts while continuing to focus on education and awareness for both riders and drivers,” Potter said.

Facing a $39 million budgetary shortfall by 2031, GRTC has cut back on route service in an effort to preserve funds. These service reductions have led to longer wait times and some routes losing all service during weekends. Photos by William Spencer.

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News

Potter said this year’s ranking was based on new methods, which she believes may have caused the shift in ranking. “It doesn’t really apply to an applesto-apples comparison with 2024, we pay close attention to outside rankings, but our biggest focus is really on our riders and their experiences,” Potter said. A ndy Boenau, Di rec tor of t he Richmond Department of Transportation, said he believes that a cohesive transit system within the city is the best solution for transportation efficiency.

“The city is working with GRTC to open more locations, adjust routes, ensure pedestrian safety and create a more comfortable and reliable transit experience in Richmond,” Boenau said. Boenau said that despite the shift in ranking, Richmond has advanced accessibility and will continue working to improve transportation. “We want to get to a point where everyone views access to public transit as a necessity and utility,” Boenau said. Photos by William Spencer.

The “You First” display at Cabell Library, meant to highlight and celebrate first-generation students at VCU. Photo by Cameron Powell.

VCU’s first-generation student population reaches a new high MADDY THURBER Staff Writer VCU’s class of 2030 has the most f irst-generation college students in university history, The university’s current first-year profile lists the number of first-generation students at 40%, according to VCU News. VCU reported that 36.9% of freshmen were first-generation in fall 2024, compared to 36.5% in fall 2023, according to its 202425 annual report. Hernan Bucheli, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Global Initiatives, said VCU has taken a more “intentional approach” to reaching students who may not have a traditional roadmap to college. “We do not simply want to enroll more first-generation students, we want to create the conditions that enable academically

prepared students to thrive, earn their degrees and fully realize the value of a VCU education,” Bucheli said. VCU defines first-generation students as those whose parents or legal guardians did not earn a bachelor’s degree. For these students, entering college can mean learning how to navigate higher education without family members who have gone through the experience themselves, according to VCU admissions. VCU offers support through You First at VCU, which provides programming, mentorship and opportunities for firstgeneration students to connect with faculty and staff. The university’s FirstGeneration Student Success and Research Center focuses on engagement, retention and degree completion, according to the university’s website. Elizabeth S. Banbacus, director of First-Generation Student Experience, said

the program aims to “demystify the college experience and remove barriers” for firstgeneration students. “The wraparound support services that VCU has for students take the firstgeneration college student experience into account more and more each year,” Banbacus stated. The You First Mentoring Program connects first-generation students with peer mentors who can help them navigate academics, campus resources and other parts of college life, according to its website. Jorge Piocuda, a VCU faculty member and f irst-generation college graduate, said his transition to college was sometimes isolating and he faced big f inancial challenges. He said his past experiences influence how he works with students. He tries to recognize that students enter college with different levels of experience and access to resources.

“Understanding how to navigate things alone and knowing that at times this journey was very isolating because my parents had never been to college, it was just me,” Piocuda said. Piocuda said connections with faculty and other professionals can be particularly valuable for students who may not have family members with college experience. VCU ’s g row ing f irst-generation population has prompted the university to consider how faculty and staff can better support students once they arrive on campus. “Faculty and staff may not know that the incoming class is 40% first-gen,” Piocuda said. “So, how do they structure their classes, how do they provide information and support to those students and get it to them in a timely fashion?”

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Two SGA members resign over discontentment with leadership SGA RESIGNATIONS Continued from front page “When I advocated for accessibility, [then] Press Secretary Bowen pulled me into a private, unsanctioned meeting to audit that student’s wardrobe and dismissively suggested he purchase alternative business attire — completely ignoring the financial realities of workingclass students,” Harper stated. Harper stated that the second incident was the mistreatment of a written response following the shooting at Virginia State University. She stated that the response was plagiarized from a tribute that she had written following the shooting at Old Dominion University. “When I wrote an original statement honoring VSU’s history as an HBCU, leadership and senators spent 45 minutes during a public meeting tearing it down, deriding it as ‘too flowery’ and ‘too much like Maya Angelou,’” Harper stated. “Using the name of an incredible Black poet as an insulting statement written for an HBCU mourning gun violence was a profound cultural microaggression and it made it unmistakably clear that our leadership had lost its moral compass.” Harper stated she believes the current SGA is ineffective at representing the real interests of the student body, and wants to see the association prioritize basic human decency over the culture they currently implement. She said she feels that the association relies on a system of containment, suppression and narrative control whenever its misconduct is exposed. Harper stated that when former Secretary of the Interior Jackson Mallory resigned from the SGA, leadership moved to censoring discussion in the association’s Slack channel. President Natalie Bowen sent an email following the resignation to the Senate to control the narrative, rather than addressing the mistreatment Mallory cited in his resignation, Harper said. Mallory said he resigned from the SGA because of incidents that unfolded in the spring 2026 semester, and felt it was clear that the organization was dysfunctional, which he did not expect to change. Mallory said he disagreed with the mishandling of dress code accommodations extended to a senator with a disability. Delinquencies toward the senator were pressured by Bowen, Mallory said. Mallory said the SGA’s response to the VSU shooting was another reason for his resignation, after wanting to give this year’s leadership a chance to improve. Mallory said he feels that the SGA does not have much to show for its work, and often concerns itself with internal matters. “ T he comment [under an SGA Instagram post] had said something along the lines of, I wish you all would stop focusing on internal matters and instead make change for students,” Mallory said. “I clicked through each of the five or six bills that we had passed, and that student or person was right.” Mallory said that in February, he passed a bill that would embed software into the SGA’s website allowing students to see meeting minutes, legislation, agendas and other documents. He said that the software is still not up. “Should it be taking our student body a year to implement simple changes?” Mallory asked. “I think not, and that’s why I find myself in agreeance with that, that

person who had made a disheartening but real comment on our Instagram page about our effectiveness.” Mallory said some new leadership board members deserve time to adjust to their positions, but that Bowen has already served on leadership before. Mallory said that as a leadership member, he was required to go on a threeday retreat with the rest of the leadership board, which would cost him over $6,000. Due to financial struggles, he had to inform President Bowen that he would be unable to attend. “She asked if I could come for a day or if I could do this, and that ‘we spent a lot of money,’ and that’s when the passiveaggressive comments of ‘your job’s not optional,’ or ‘please keep in mind that you get paid for this position.’” Mallory said his final push to resign was leadership’s decision to remove former Senator Sadman Mahmood after not providing an exception for him turning his required volunteer hours in half a day late. Mallory said that then Press Secretary Natalie Bowen brought up false testimonies that Mahmood did not serve his volunteer hours, skewing the decision of the chief justice. “There is proof that he did do his hours, and I believe that false testimony is certainly a ground for appeals, however, there was not much done to reconcile with the former senator,” Mallory said. For me r S GA S en ator S a d m a n Mahmood said that he had witnesses present during his volunteer hours, and brought forth the evidence to the former president and chief justice, but they could not do anything because it was just after they had handed over power. He then reached out to the SGA advisor to schedule a meeting with President Bowen and Chief Justice Rodrigue Gomado. Mahmood said that Bowen admitted in the meeting that the comments she had made were not appropriate and that she had relayed information without verifying it. The chief justice required Bowen to send an email to the association admitting she had mischaracterized Mahmood and exonerated him of the claims made against him, according to Mahmood. He said the email was intended to be sent at the beginning of the fall 2026 semester, but he had to reach out to receive it. “The email was essentially just saying that she had heard all this stuff from other people as she just sent it out, it wasn’t really an apology,” Mahmood said. On Sept. 21, the SGA addressed Harper and Mallory’s resignations during its senate meeting. During the meeting, Bowen said that leadership had reflected on the messages sent following the resignations, and requested that members give leadership grace because the majority are new to their positions. She said she believes that new leadership should not be held accountable for the mistakes of past leadership. Bowen stated in an ema i l that the conf lict surrounding dress code accommodations last year was a series of “m i s c om mu n ic at ion s b e t w e e n leadership and senators and leadership amongst themselves. “We were able to f inally sit down with advisors and the involved senator to ef fec t ively work t h rough t hat miscommunication privately, clear the air and apologize for the series of events that contributed to alleged hostility, hurt feelings, humiliation and confusion on both sides of the situation,” Bowen stated.

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SAL ORLANDO News Editor

Bowen stated that current leadership has undergone discussion to ensure they are good role models and a calming presence during times of high tension. Bowen clarif ied that the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity held an investigation and found that the SGA was not responsible for discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Bowen stated that following Mallory’s resignation, all but two members of leadership were left off of the resignation email and the press secretary requested that conversations stay out of the Slack channel while leadership further understands the situation. “I have sat in many different seats during my time in SGA: Senator, Press Secretary, caucus chair and founder, President,” Bowen stated. “Through all these positions, I have maintained a consistent effort of advocating for more public transparency regarding behind-the-scenes occurrences and SGA history.” Bowen stated that the SGA strives to enforce an environment where people can express their opinions, disagree and give constructive feedback. “Our bylaws, however, are not perfect and do not cover every possible subject or scenario that could transpire,” Bowen stated. “In those instances, decisions are left up to the discretion of the leadership board or judiciary committee. If personal issues ever prevent them from meeting the expectations and requirements of our Senate, we openly encourage senators and delegates to talk to the leadership board to work out a pragmatic solution to the issue.” Bowen stated the SGA is sometimes limited in what they can do by VCU,

citing financial allocations or government restrictions. In those circumstances, the SGA will ask what can be done to mitigate the obstacle, resulting in collaboration bet ween administration, the SGA and students. Bowen stated that messages sent to Mallory regarding the leadership r e t r e a t w e r e on l y s e nt t h r o u g h Slack and the message she sent was completely professional. Bowen stated there was no room for discussion regarding the removal of Mahmood from senate, given leadership and advisors confirmed the language in the SGA bylaws mandated the removal of senators for not completing volunteer hours. He was encouraged to reapply the following Fall semester, but his decision not to was respected, according to Bowen. SGA Press Secretary, Reagan LaFleur, stated in an email that current leadership has ref lected on previous experiences with the SGA and identif ied where communication and transparency could be improved. “Following the recent concerns shared about communication and transparency, leadership introduced several concrete changes,” LaFleur stated. “These changes include bi-weekly updates from leadership, committees and senators, as well as more detailed leadership meeting minutes.” LaFleur stated that the SGA has worked on several changes to improve upon itself, including a public agenda of the president, giving senators opportunities to develop solutions for campus issues, creating strict deadlines for projects and increasing opportunities for committees to work together.

The VCU Student Government Association discusses questions from senators following the resignations from former Senator Rosalyn Harper and former Secretary of Interior Jackson Mallory. Photo by Sal Orlando.

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The Commonwealth Times

Stat of the week

Sports BLACK AND GOLD GAME

First year forward Stefan Plisnic stops on a dime and rises for a layup. Photo by Ashley Davis. The first four-minute period showed an immediate emphasis on defense. Both teams frequently applied full-court pressure, allowing them to create turnovers and opportunities in transition. Secondyear guard Nyk Lewis led his team offensively while also positively impacting the game with his playmaking abilities. Throughout the scrimmage, Nyk Lewis showed why he is expected to take on a much larger role this season. The reigning A-10 Rookie of the Year had a perfect day – finishing 5-for-5 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point range. Lewis suffered a right ankle injury in the second round of

March Madness, but says he’ll be 100% by the season opener. “It’s great that I get these live reps,” Lewis said. “We’re treating every day like it’s a real game because we have a real test next week.” Lewis also reunited with his former high school teammate Blake Harper, a thirdyear guard and transfer from Creighton. Harper, who previously won MEAC Player and Rookie of the Year honors at Howard, provides another scoring and playmaking option on the wing. The offense became more fluid as the scrimmage continued. Sammy Jackson, a 6-foot-7 first-year wing from Philadelphia, began heating up in the second period, knocking down difficult shots and helping the Gold team build a lead. Jackson finished 4-for-9 from the field on the day. Jackson is one of seven newcomers to join VCU and was one of the highestranked recruits in program history. As a senior at Roman Catholic High School, he averaged 20.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Coach Martelli and the rest of the program have a lot to love about Jackson’s game and are expecting him to make a big splash in his collegiate debut, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch. The Rams also showed a strong presence around the basket. Third-year forward Torey Alston, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, led the team with six rebounds, while fourth-year guard/forward Michael Belle’s defense helped anchor the Gold team. Fourth-year forward Lazar Djokovic, a returning senior and First Team All-A-10 selection last season, is another player who is expected to shoulder more responsibility this season. Djokovic averaged 13.2 points and a team-best 5.2 rebounds last season. Third-year guard Brandon Jennings,

Ranked No. 86 in the 2026 SportsCenter Next 100, Sammy Jackson is one of the highest ranked recruits in VCU history.

who started 35 games last season and earned A-10 All-Defensive Team honors, led the team with four assists. Jennings said he expects to embrace a larger leadership position. “Coach wants that from me and that’s what I am expected to do,” Jennings said. “It feels natural for me, and that’s what I want to do, so I will.” With the season approaching, Sunday offered an early indication that the Rams will lean on returning leaders while giving their talented newcomers plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

GAME RESULTS 10/2/26 VCU FH - VS #20 CAL LOST 4-0

VCU WVB - VS GWU WON 3-0

10/3/26 VCU WVB - VS GWU LOST 3-0

VCU WSOC - AT SJU LOST 2-1

VCU MSOC - AT DU LOST 3-0

10/4/26 VCU FH - VS TU WON 1-0

10/6/26 VCU GOLF - AT CULLAN BROWN COLLEGIATE T 9/15 TEAMS

VCU WVB - VS DC WON 3-2

Second year guard Jordan Tillery rises toward the rim for a dunk. Photo by Ashley Davis.

Bears prove too much for shorthanded Rams squad BEN MARTINDALE Sports Editor VCU field hockey matched up against the University of California on a hot October afternoon. The Rams entered the matchup battling injuries and were notably without leading scorer fourth-year Josefina Ventimiglia. The two teams got off to a quick start in the opening minutes. Each squad pressed the pace but was unable to find an opening to score. Cal got on the board first with just under five minutes remaining in the period when second-year Josefina Moyano found the back of the net. The Rams’ defense tightened up for the remainder of the first quarter, allowing the offense to rack up more control time, but they were unable to capitalize and tie the score. Despite falling behind early, VCU head coach Stacey Bean said she was pleased with her team’s effort in the first period. “I thought we came out with that energy and that attitude in the first quarter,” Bean said. “That was one of the best first quarters we played this year.”

In the second quarter, Cal regained momentum and put VCU on the back foot early and often. The Rams’ defense stepped up and met the challenge but was consistently kept on the retreat. With nine minutes remaining in the half, Cal broke through the Rams’ defensive perimeter and attempted a shot on goal, but third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements darted forward and slid to make the save. Cal’s persistence and pressure paid off with 1:47 remaining in the half, scoring to extend their lead to 2-0. The continued pressure from Cal began to take its toll to open the third quarter as

VCU struggled to get the ball past midfield. Fou r t h-y e a r M a nue l a S e condo highlighted the middle of the field as a weak area for the team today. “We saw a lot of breakdown through the middle,” Secondo said. “So definitely working on that tomorrow in training.” With just over 3 minutes remaining in the quarter, Cal capitalized and scored their third goal of the game. The Rams continued to fight in the fourth quarter, scrapping on defense and pressing the pace every chance they got but Cal was too strong in the end, scoring another goal and winning the game in commanding fashion, 4-0.

VCU field hockey players stand together on the field as the starting lineup is announced. Photo by Ashley Davis.

Fourth-year Mackenzie White battles a defender for control of the ball. Photo by Ashley Davis.

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Sports

Outside hitter Gabby LaPata prepares to hit the ball during VCU’s game against The George Washington University at the Siegel Center on Oct 2. Photo by John Brown.

VCU beats GWU in first game of weekend series DREW CLEMENTS Contributing Writer VCU volleyball pulled off a decisive 3-0 victory over The George Washington University at the Siegel Center Friday night, moving to 4-7 on the season. The first set went back and forth, with VCU jumping out to an early 15-10 lead, only for GW to tie it up and keep the score close throughout the set. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core and fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova landed kills to help VCU secure the early lead.

“I think we’re really good at finding our identity right now and how we want to play as a team,” Boledovicova said. “For me it’s easy to really kill the ball if the ball is right there.” GW led for most of the second set, taking a lead back whenever VCU tied things up. Third-year MB Letizia Galli led the team with 5 blocks and kept VCU close with several key blocks throughout the set. “I really take my position as middle blocker very seriously,” Galli said. “I try to be useful any way I can.” Down 22-18, VCU charged back

to tie at 24-24 and won the set 27-25 a few serves later. VCU head coach Tim Doyle thought the second set played a big part in how the rest of the game played out. “The difference maker was the second set,” VCU head coach Tim Doyle said. “What we said in the locker room was, when you start to make the small little plays time and time again, and you can convert those plays, you build trust. You build trust between teammates, you build trust within the coaching staff.” VCU jumped out to a strong 10-4 lead

in the third set, thanks to back-to-back aces served by Del Core. VCU kept the lead the rest of the way, with Galli recording another block to extend their lead to 2014. First-year outside hitter Dunja Martic served up an ace to make it 23-16, and VCU secured the victory shortly after. “We need to continue to get our middles the ball, Ledi and Nina,” Doyle said. “I thought our connection was off on some of those plays where we can be more efficient on offense.” Doyle said it is important for the Rams to stay in control ahead of the next game vs. GW.

VCU falls to GWU in second game of weekend series BEN MARTINDALE Sports Editor VCU women’s volleyball lost 3-0 in the second match of a weekend series against The George Washington University on Saturday. According to VCU third-year setter Casin Sendir, today just was not their day. “We didn’t show up with our game,” Sendir said. “It was not our game and everyone was aware of that and we couldn’t play together.” The loss comes after the Rams won the first game of the series comfortably, 3-0. Kills from VCU third-years, middle blocker Letizia Galli and outside hitter Lara Del Core, gave the Rams a quick lead out of the gates.

GWU responded by scoring twice to tie the set. The two teams remained knotted up for the next few minutes, going back and forth with neither team able to extend their lead past two points. The Rams put together their best run of the first set, scoring three points in a row to give them a 15-12 lead, but just as they had throughout the set, the Revolutionaries responded with a 3-point run of their own to tie the match at 15. GWU used their momentum to extend the lead to 18-16, forcing a VCU timeout. The Rams came out of the timeout and responded, putting together a run of their own and taking a 20-19 lead. Ultimately, GWU edged out VCU to win the first set 25-23.

In similar fashion to the first set, the Rams got on the board first and quickly put together a 3-0 lead. GW U bat t led bac k , but VCU maintained their lead as the set continued, taking an 11-8 advantage. A chaotic rally that saw both teams nearly score resulted in the Revolutionaries’ fourth consecutive point as they took a 1211 lead. From that point, GWU dominated, putting together a 10-0 run to take a commanding 21-11 lead in the second set. VCU head coach Tim Doyle believes being on the wrong end of runs was a big factor in the Rams’ defeat. “That run and then the way the first set ended even, in my opinion. it instilled some

belief on their side,” Doyle said. “After a tough 0-3 loss to us yesterday, they kinda came out like, ‘How’s this gonna go?’ And then I think once you get a run like that you’re like ‘oh yeah we’ve got their number’.” The Revolutionaries went on to complete the comeback, winning the set 25-12. The Rams came out energized to start the third set and jumped out to a 4-2 lead, but in similar fashion to the previous set, the Revolutionaries took control, mounting a 13-7 lead. Things went from bad to worse for VCU as GWU went on a 4-1 run to extend their lead to 17-8. From that point GWU cruised, winning the final set 25-11 to earn the victory.

Libero Jordan Baksh hits the ball during VCU’s game against The George Washington University at the Siegel Center on Oct 2. Photo by John Brown.

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The Commonwealth Times

Spectrum A little fix goes a long way at Repair Cafe RVA, Richmond ELLE COTA Spectrum Editor Lots of tinkering and fixing took place at the Repair Cafe RVA’s event on Sunday, Oct. 4 and, as the name might suggest, people’s trash became treasure again. At the cafe’s monthly gathering, broken zippers, furniture, bikes, electronics and more filled tables at the Robinson Theater Community Arts Center from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Volunteers worked alongside visitors to repair items rather than sending them off to the landfill. Repair Cafe is a worldwide movement most commonly found in Europe. After learning about the concept from a friend in France a decade ago, its founder, Jenny Kobayashi Malone, said she decided to start a Richmond chapter in 2024 after years of interest in the movement. She said she spent months planning the Richmond location. The organization held its first event in January 2025 and has since built a community of volunteers. “I love that Richmond has an enduring

culture of mutual aid and resourcefulness, plus a growing interest in caring for our planet,” Kobayashi Malone said. The events typically bring 25 to 45 volunteers together, with specialists working on everything from sewing to electronics. Volunteers are encouraged to keep repairs to 20 or 30 minutes and bring their own tools, while the organization provides commonly used supplies through community donations. “I want us to be able to rely on each other more instead of giving our hard-earned money to corporations — we have so much of what we need already, especially when we work together,” Kobayashi Malone said. Elizabeth Taylor, a four th-time volunteer, specializes in sewing. She repairs zippers, stuffed animals, buttons and hems while teaching visitors basic techniques they can use at home. Taylor has sewn since childhood and is passionate about sustainability, choosing secondhand clothing and repairing or making her own clothes. She joined Repair Cafe RVA to meet people while lending a helping hand.

On This Day

On Oct. 7, 1982, the original Broadway premiere of ‘Cats’ opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.

“Overall, probably just my confidence in doing repairs for strangers is the biggest thing that’s changed,” Taylor said. J a c q u i B a u e r, a s e c o n d - y e a r volunteer, said repairing for her is about understanding how items are put together. She described the process as a “reverse puzzle,” deconstructing an item and figuring out how to put it back together. “People are so excited, especially if it’s a beloved item they’re bringing in that’s broken,” Bauer said. “It’s so exciting to see their reactions when we’re able to fix it.” The group’s collaborative atmosphere is part of what keeps her returning each month, with volunteers sharing tools, knowledge and materials while learning from one another. She said the organization weighs the repaired items to track how much is kept out of the landfill, though the bigger goal is encouraging people to think twice before throwing something away. JaNyah Gholar, a first-time attendee, brought a Victrola record player she had owned for about a year and a half. Its arm mechanism was not working, causing the record to spin without playing. A volunteer examined the item for about half an hour, but could not fix it with the available tools and time constraint. However, Gholar said she would return to another event if she needed another item

A person browsed the clothing swap at Repair Cafe RVA on Sunday. Photo by Andrew Carr.

repaired. “I think it’s good for the community to just have what they already own and be able to fix it so they can keep it for longer,” Gholar said. Repair Cafe RVA’s next event is Sunday, Nov. 15 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Richmond Main Library, with repairs accepted until 3:15 p.m. More information, including volunteer and repair request forms, is available through Repair Cafe RVA’s Instagram and Facebook, @repaircaferva.

Weenie Wonderland: Dachtoberfest returns to Richmond

founded the Richmond event, said her involvement began with her husband’s childhood connection to the breed. “My husband grew up with dachshunds,” Ryan said. “I married into it, and then I of course became the crazy dachshund lady because we have two.” Ryan’s love for the breed eventually grew into a small business and involvement with a dachshund Oktoberfest in Maryland. “When the past organizers could no longer do it, I got a phone call and they were like, do you want it?,“ Ryan said. “And

I go, ‘are you kidding? Absolutely.’ I mean, it’s a big event. It’s wonderful.” Ryan took over the event in 2021, with the first Richmond Dachtoberfest b e g i n n i n g i n 2 02 2 . Si nc e t hen , participation from attendees and event organizers has continued to grow. “Participation has been booming,” Ryan said. “Not just people coming out, but taking the time to design really fantastic costumes or being very, very die-hard about getting into the races and going for it.” Ryan said the celebration has become a way for owners in the dachshund community to meet one another. While there are smaller dachshund meetups throughout the area, Ryan said the Dachtoberfest gives owners a chance to gather in one place. Attendees traveled from Williamsburg, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and several other states, with one traveling as far as Australia. Andrew Clarke, a VCU alumnus and a Dachshund Enlightenment Foundation board member, has been involved in Oktoberfest celebrations for much longer than the Richmond event has existed. Clarke’s experience began in Frederick, Maryland, where he participated in the event for several years before it moved to Richmond. He also brought his expertise as a presenter, a role he has made his own through costumes and performances. “I would change costumes every year,” Clarke said. “One year, we were all in

Disney costumes. My son-in-law was Buzz Lightyear, I was Woody.” Michael A l len, a Dachtoberfest attendee, decided to go to the event after seeing a post on Facebook. Although he does not own the breed himself, Allen said he was still excited to go as he is a big fan of dogs. “I’ve never seen so many weenie dogs all in one place,” Allen said. “Of course, there are the other dogs here, but man I didn’t know there could be this many in Richmond.” A llen said the event offered the opportunity to explore the dachshund communit y f irsthand. He said the welcoming atmosphere made it easy for someone who does not know much about dachshunds to enjoy the event. “It’s cool seeing how much people care about their dogs,” Allen said. “Like, even if you don’t have one, you can still come out, have a good time and feel like you’re part of it.” The event offered attendees more than a chance to watch dogs race or show off their costumes. It has become an opportunity for dachshund owners from different cities and states to meet, share their love of the breed and celebrate the community surrounding it. More information about the Dachshund Enlightenment Fund can be found on their website www.definc.org.

Shalom Farms’ fifth annual Harvest Festival celebrated another year of work toward its mission to provide healthy, local produce to Richmond families. The festival was hosted on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at its Northside Farm. The Harvest Festival was free to attend and included music, dinner, bonfires and children’s activities. Shalom Farms is an organization dedicated to combating systemic challenges

of food insecurity and access for Black and brown communities, which have been historically denied in Richmond, according to its website. Volunteers greeted visitors by directing them through the parking lot, leading to the festivities. A smorgasbord was laid out in the pavilion, including fresh fruit, homemade hummus and chips, rosemary popcorn and a selection of warm autumn soups made by Chef Jason Muckle.

Live music, performed by blues and folk duo Andrew Alli and Josh Small, put guests in an autumnal mood. Several bonfires were spread throughout the area with ample seating and ingredients for guests to roast s’mores. Volunteers passed out cider to wash dessert down. Alistar Harris, executive director of Shalom Farms, said he was excited to further engage with the community and enjoy the fall season at the festival. He

Dachshunds running in a race at the fifth annual Dachtoberfest on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Dachshund Enlightenment Foundation. Photos by Corbin Kell. fifth annual Dachtoberfest on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Dachshund Enlightenment Foundation. Photo by Corbin Kell.

RACHEL NICHOLAS Assistant Spectrum Editor Short legs and long backs took over Richmond as dachshunds and their owners gathered for the f ifth annual Dachtoberfest hosted by the Dachshund Enlightenment Foundation. The event brought dachshund owners, vendors and rescue organizations together for a day filled with fun costumes and exciting races. Tanya Ryan, a VCU alumna who

A bountiful fall at Shalom Farms’ Harvest Festival ARIEL LEBOW Contributing Writer

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Spectrum

Live music performed during the fifth annual Harvest Festival at Shalom Farms on Oct. 1.

Guests roasting marshmallows during the 5th annual Harvest Festival at Shalom Farms on Oct. 1. Photos by John Brown.

said it is important for the community to experience what the farm does and learn about why their work is important. Harris believes that it is vital to prioritize healthy food produced within Richmond that adheres to environmental practice standards and prioritizes nutrition and sustainability. “I think there is a justice element to it that thinks about: Who are the families in which neighborhoods that don’t have adequate or equal access to fresh nutritious

food and how do we reach those people?” Harris said. “So that they can, one, afford to purchase what we grow and two, that they can know that what they eat is good for their bodies. So, in a way, thinking about food as medicine.” Shalom Farms is conscious of the increasing pressures that the over 10,000 community members they serve may face, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cuts, housing and transportation insecurity and education and healthcare diff iculties, according to Harris. Dave Grennagel, a volunteer at Shalom Farms, said the festival is a chance for attendees to see the farm’s beautiful operation. Grennagel said the community unites like-minded individuals who share a passion for making healthy food accessible for everyone. More information about Shalom Farms can be found at shalomfarms.org.

BridgeUSA brings peaceful political conversations to VCU SILOE BROWN Contributing Writer I n Au g u st , a ne w st udent-le d organization called BridgeUSA at VCU was added to the university’s long list of groups. They focus on empowering students to participate in politics with confidence, including encouraging students to vote in upcoming elections and holding political debates. BridgeUSA at VCU places an emphasis on civil political discourse and reduced political polarization with a multipartisan approach. With 300,000 members nationally, the VCU chapter is looking to continue its growth. BridgeUSA at VCU was founded in February of 2017 at UC Berkeley and as of 2026, it has spread to schools all over the country, working to establish roots as

a respectable organization for students to exercise healthy and productive political conversation skills. Lauren Zuber, a second-year student and BridgeUSA at VCU secretary, sets the group’s schedule and tracks their meeting minutes and votes. “We promote political literacy among college students and campuses through debates,” Zuber said. Killian Korchnak, a fourth-year student and co-president of BridgeUSA at VCU, said that progress can only be made if people start understanding one another. “We want to bring a solution where we can all move forward and hopefully have a positive outcome,” Korchnak said. Erica Powell, a second-year student and co-president of BridgeUSA at VCU, said their discussions are similar to a socratic seminar, where there is no right or wrong

conclusion, only good or bad reasoning. She suggested that students go into these debates with an open mind. “It’s a good way to learn more if you want to challenge your own thoughts,” Powell said. “It’s also a good space to just meet people and hear different perspectives.” According to BridgeUSA’s website, its ultimate goal is to create “A thriving US democracy where leaders and citizens engage in respectful, productive dialogue.” The club sets parameters for each debate to ensure that they remain respectful and safe for everyone. These parameters include addressing statements rather than people, absolute silence while one is speaking, having participants represent themselves and listening with the intent to understand, not respond. This way, students practice the skills necessary to participate in other aspects of political life with the same

BridgeUSA at VCU organization logo. values. Members of BridgeUSA at VCU are working to raise awareness about the club and build their student-led organization. Visit @bridgeusa_vcu on Instagram for information on their latest events and activities.

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Head down to Brown’s Island Oct. 9 through 11 for the Richmond Folk Festival to celebrate the roots, richness and variety of American culture through live music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling and food. Admission is free all three days for everyone.

Through the lens, VCU filmmakers tell stories that connect ELLE COTA Spectrum Editor Graduates from the Robertson School of Communication will take their documentaries beyond the classroom this Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Washington West Film Festival. The films are part of (CAP)SULE, a capstone program designed by Robert Milazzo, an assistant professor and media production sequence coordinator, gives media production students opportunities to publicly share stories on how they see Virginia. It is conceived as a “time capsule” of the people, places and communities that hold meaning through a generational lens. R o b e r t s on s t u d e nt s p r o d u c e d , directed, shot and edited documentaries, with original scores created through collaborations with graduate composer programs at Johns Hopkins University and Berklee College of Music. “Film Team,” a 15-minute documentary directed and produced by Anastasia Hines, follows students at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County as they create a film of their own. After spending years creating films, Hines found herself back where her filmmaking journey began — at a high school film team. Hines f irst became interested in filmmaking as a child, making YouTube videos with her brother before joining her high school’s newly created film team. Since then, she has made more than 30 films. Hines wanted the documentary to have a reality-style, comedic approach and spent a couple of months filming the students from a fly-on-the-wall perspective. “I kind of thought about, you know, maybe it could be part of an homage

Still from ‘Film Team,’ a short film featured in (CAP)SULE. Courtesy of Robert Milazzo. to myself as well and back to my film roots,” Hines said. The documentary follows Valentino, one of the high school students, as they create their own film, with some making a film for the first time. “ It wa s rea l ly e xc it ing to just follow along their journey as young filmmakers,” Hines said. Hines said she wanted audiences to see the work and commitment required to create a film. “I really hope audiences when they watch the film that, of course, they’re having a good time and they’re enjoying it, but also that they can focus on the reality of what it takes to create a film,” Hines said. The rest of her crew could not regularly travel to Manchester High School, meaning Hines handled most of the filming herself. The students also disappeared for about three weeks during production, creating an unexpected conflict that eventually became

part of the documentary’s climax. “After Class,” created by Nellie Suleymanian, Ceanne Rennie and Sofia Feliciano, takes a different approach to documenting young people and their experiences. Suleymanian co-directed and co-wrote the 15-minute documentary. The film explores the similarities between people who share the same spaces but may know little about one another outside of them. The project began as an idea about “third spaces” and human connection before the f ilmmakers centered the documentary around a VCU drawing class for non-majors. To capture the participants’ experiences outside of class, the filmmakers gave four subjects inexpensive voice recorders and asked them to create audio diaries for four days. Suleymanian listened to more than eight hours of recordings to determine which moments could form a cohesive story. The filmmakers had only 3 ½ weeks to film.

“You really have to learn to let go of a lot of things that you might like to for the sake of what is a consistent storyline here,” Suleymanian said. The documentary focuses on the idea that people may have more in common with those around them than they realize. “What we found when we were doing this film was that a lot of the time these people, even in their private time, even though they’re all very distinct and different, a lot of them have so many of the same fears and anxieties and desires in their life,” Suleymanian said. Sof ia Feliciano, who ser ved as a producer, co-director and co-writer, said the film also explores how people’s insecurities can make them feel more isolated than they actually are. “How ironic is that we are so worried about what other people think when they’re doing the same exact thing as us,” Feliciano said. Feliciano said the filmmaking process reinforced the importance of collaboration. R en n ie w a s i n it ia l ly a ssig ned a s cinematographer and editor, but all three filmmakers contributed to the film’s visuals, editing and other parts of production. “By the end of it, we kind of just took away roles and we were like, ‘this film was made by these three girls,’” Feliciano said. The festival screening is also an opportunity for Feliciano to see their work alongside other emerging filmmakers. “It’s hard to feel like we fit in a space like a film festival,” Feliciano said. “No one else is going to know that we’re mass comm students, we’re just going to be filmmakers.” “Eyes On Me” is a 12 ½ minute documentary by producer and co-creator Larkin Denton and director and cocreator Spencer Pannill. The film explores

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imposter syndrome through the experience of Richmond performer, Maeve Hickey, also known as Shartchan. The production lasted about a month and collected 11 hours of footage before cutting the documentary to its final runtime. Filming took place primarily in Richmond, with one day spent in Virginia Beach visiting Hickey’s family and childhood home. “I chose an idea behind imposter syndrome because I feel like imposter syndrome is something that I really had to overcome like my four years here,” Denton said. The filmmakers wanted to examine how identity can become intertwined with other

people’s perceptions, particularly for artists and other people with public-facing careers. Denton said the film centers on the internal doubts that can persist even when someone appears successful from the outside. Through the film, the filmmakers hope audiences look beyond the personas people create online and recognize the person behind them. Denton said Richmond’s growing “microcelebrity” culture can make it easy to forget that people with public followings still experience ordinary emotions and insecurities. “When you are your only you, you kind of have to be your only supporter when you’re doing or creating something,”

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Denton said. Pannill and Denton said the experience also taught them the importance of collaboration. Denton focused largely on production and gaining access to people and performances, while Pannill handled much of the camera work and editing. “Both of our names are written all over it so much because we continued to collaborate on it and I would never do a project any different than that because it was awesome,” Denton said. “I’m super proud of both of us.” The film also looks at the pressure of being an independent artist. Pannill said creators can become their own primary

source of support while simultaneously dealing with self-doubt. “It is just about the voice inside your head telling you that you’re not good at these things that you do and that the people around you think a certain way about you, even though it’s not true,” Pannill said. Pannill said that every filmmaker’s voice deserves to be heard. “If people walk away from the film feeling that it’s not just about me, it’s also about you watching it, then I would think we had succeeded,” Pannill said.

for the game,” Jackson said. “Seeing what basketball can do for you is crazy…It's a job that people have a lot of fun doing. It's not like a job people would dread. You get to play basketball professionally and make a lot of money doing that.” Reaching the professional ranks requires mastering the daily grind, and Jackson has quickly adapted to the demanding routine of a Division I student-athlete. “A typical day starts early with classes ending around 11:00 a.m., followed by treatment. I either workout before or after class, then team weightlifting, and immediately after, practice starts,” Jackson said. “Afterward, I spend time studying with our academic advisors, and conclude my day with additional treatment.” When it came to recruiting, Jackson narrowed his final four choices down to Indiana, VCU, Texas, and St. Joseph’s, before choosing the Rams. “I love the way they play,” Jackson said. “They play so fast, up-tempo, and they put a big emphasis on defense. That's one thing I feel like hasn't been my strongest suit throughout my high school career, but I know they're going to push me every day... they're going to make sure I'm not being lazy on defense.” Jackson’s decision was also shaped by a deep sense of trust with the coaching staff, including head coach Phil Martelli Jr. and assistant coach Jimmy Martelli, both of whom have strong Philadelphia ties and have followed his development for years. Martelli Jr. emphasized that Jackson’s feel for the game is natural. "He’s got an offensive understanding of the game that’s well beyond his years,” Martelli Jr. said. “Plus his ability to pass and make others better... you can tell he loves the game of basketball." Jackson’s natural feel for the game stems

from a career spent seeing the floor from every angle. His versatile frame has allowed him to play a multitude of positions over the years, but his core identity has always been in the backcourt. "Ever since I was a kid playing AAU, I always played point guard," Jackson said. The Rams have embraced that instinct, and Martelli Jr. sees Jackson’s size at the guard spot as a distinct advantage in the Atlantic 10. "He’s learning to play against smaller guards when they get up underneath him, but his ability to see the floor at that size really helps," Martelli Jr. said. "There are passes that he can make that smaller guards can’t make, because one, they can’t see it, and two, they can’t get it over the defense." “My best attribute is creating for my teammates, and I love doing that, it brings me the most joy,” Jackson said. Jackson’s goals for his freshman campaign are very ambitious: an A-10 championship, a deep run in March Madness, and he has his sights set on winning A-10 Rookie of the Year. “Having an A-10 Rookie of the Year without an A-10 championship just wouldn't feel right,” Jackson said. Off the court, Jackson has a wellrounded personality, he enjoys fishing, playing golf, meeting new people, and traveling. He has visited Greece, Paris, and Barcelona, with Morocco holding a special place in his heart. He models his play-style after versatile, high-IQ playmakers, such as Luka Dončić, Cade Cunningham, Deni Avdija and Kyle Anderson. VCU’s basketball team is growing in confidence as the 2026 season approaches and fans are excited to see the development of Jackson and a Rams squad that lives by the motto “win with us or watch us win.”

Still from ‘Eyes On Me,’ a short film featured in (CAP)SULE. Courtesy of Larkin Denton.

VCU basketball player Sammy Jackson participates in an interview with writer Tyrese Perkins. Photo by De Smaw. SAMMY JACKSON TYRESE PERKINS Assistant Sports Editor First-year guard Sammy Jackson is stepping into a new chapter at VCU. Wearing the Black and Gold may feel like a fresh start, but producing at a high level on the court remains second nature. Ranked no. 86 on the 2026 SportCenter Next 100, the 6-foot-7 prospect comes to VCU with a unique blend of size and skill at the guard position. While many know Jackson from his time playing at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his basketball journey began much earlier.

“ I ac t u a l ly d id n't g row up i n Philadelphia,” Jackson said. “I grew up in Tampa, Florida and then we moved to Philly when I was 12.” Jackson’s early childhood in Tampa contributed to the lasting presence basketball has within his life. “We had a full-court [basketball court] in the backyard,” Jackson said. “My dad used to play in the NBA and my brothers play basketball too, so basketball has always been around me. But one day I picked up a basketball and really worked out for the first time with my dad, and then I knew that I wanted to do this for real.” For Jackson, the realization went beyond following in his father's footsteps. “I'd say it was really just me finding love

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Opinions

Quote of the week

“In order for me to write poetry that isn’t political I must listen to the birds and in order to hear the birds the warplanes must be silent.” — Marwan Makhoulq

Rapists are protected before women; The Cornell Seven case is proof SHINY CHANDRAVEL Assistant Opinions & Humor Editor When I was 10, I knocked on my neighbor’s front door to play outside. Her brother opened the door and pulled up my shirt to look at my chest. When I was 13, I downloaded Snapchat for the first time. A boy from school sent explicit images to my phone. When I was 15, a man groped teenage girls in my high school parking lot. When I was 18, a student at VCU slapped my behind. When I turned to face him, he was grinning. Growing up, I was taught that girls biologically mature faster than boys — but I do not think we are given a choice. Now I am 20, the same age that a former Cornell University student states she was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in Oct. 2024, according to BBC News. The alleged assault was reported to campus police in Nov. 2024. Now, almost two years later, the nation is solemnly observing how one of our country’s most respected institutions, an Ivy League university, reacted to reported sexual violence. Tragically, that reaction was far from appropriate. Two expulsions. This was the most severe action taken by Cornell’s administration and interim president, Michael Kotlikoff, on only two of the seven students accused of participating in the assault. According to a CNN report, the woman’s attorney stated the rest of the accused students received smaller punishments, inc luding tempora r y suspensions, workshops or written essays to mitigate their conduct. They say false allegations can ruin lives. It appears even legitimate ones rarely do. Universities are not meant to replace a judicial system, but that does not absolve them

from the responsibility to, in Cornell’s own words, “preserve a higher education community and residential campus where ‘any person’ in the community can pursue their education in a secure and nourishing environment.” If the woman in this case had not filed a lawsuit against the university on Sept. 14 as reported by CBS News, if Cornell’s student journalism staff had not followed her story or if the allegations did not catch social media’s attention, the identities of Matthew Ingalls, Jonathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar would have successfully been concealed. For almost two years, they were. That is not something that happens by chance but by design. According to the Cornell Daily Sun, a student who allegedly cheats on a test receives a written notice. They are given three business days to request a hearing, followed by a resolution within two weeks as outlined in Cornell’s Code of Academic Integrity. Cornell ’s administration has the capacity to enact swift and organized justice on violators of their code of conduct. It is their choice when they do not. Its ad m in ist rat ion desig ned “punishments” that would permit the alleged assaulters to return to the college campus with no published reason. Its administration decided not to disclose the findings of their Title IX investigation to the victim, as reported by the Cornell Daily Sun. According to the New York Times, Cornell’s campus police chose to exclude portions of the woman’s statement to the district attorney’s office. According to CNN, Cornell chose not to report the incident to the Ithaca Police Department. The reported actions of the Cornell seven men are gruesome, but it is inactions like these from everyone else that scare me most.

Illustration by Charles Zhang.

For instance, there were other people in the group chat where the alleged perpetrators invited others to participate in the assault, according to NBC News. Yet it appears not a single one of them stood up for her — not during, not after, not ever. It is this deafening silence that leaves the rest of us grappling with the possibility that this is not the first cover-up by the Chi Phi fraternity — and it may not be the last. We wonder why so many celebrities, businessmen and politicians remain in positions of power despite histories of inciting sexual assault and violence. It is because when the incidents occur, no one reacts. As a VCU student and a woman, I am told that I will be safe as long as I avoid the shady parts of Richmond and refrain from taking nighttime strolls. However, sexual assaulters do not only exist in dark shadows on isolated streets or in fraternity houses in the dead of night. They can be powerful lawyers, wealthy businessmen and influential doctors — just as the Cornell seven were likely studying to become. Am I to avoid courtrooms,

business meetings and hospitals as well? You cannot open your arms to alleged rapists and expect women to feel welcome in those spaces too. After news of the case unfolded, the public court of opinion took it upon itself to determine whether or not the alleged rape truly occurred. People online are analyzing the district attorney’s report, the screenshots of messages and statements from the university to decide for themselves what happened that night. Unfortunately, much of this energy is entirely misplaced. Whether the woman was telling the truth was never the point. Even if she was lying, no one at Cornell cared to find out. They had already moved on. Whether willingly or not, I have learned from a young age how to curate my choices to best avoid unwanted advances and violent behavior from men. I walk in groups. I carry my pepper spray. I share my location before I go out. I have done my part, but does that matter if no one else will do theirs?

students. When you see yourself so where everyone is scrambling for the same If you are an upperclassman at frequently reflected in media, it is much thing. It is even harder when you are to believe people when they tell you under the impression that many — if not VCU experiencing loneliness, you easier that you are doing nothing wrong. most — people have already found their However, I have found that there are far communities. Nobody wants to be the first are not alone comforted by the fact that there was so fewer resources available to guide you once to admit that they are still struggling after KYLIE GRUNSFELD Opinions & Humor Editor As of this August, I am officially an upperclassman at VCU, which comes with a lot of perks — I can make my way around campus with my eyes closed and I no longer have to hurry down several flights of stairs at midnight because the student housing fire alarms have gone off once again. When I started college, I was immensely

much guidance available for the transition. Everybody and their mother had words of wisdom to offer about leaving home for the first time. I cried many nights my first semester, certain I would never be able to top the memories made with friends that were now scattered around the country, but I knew that was natural. I was told it would happen. No one could blame me for feeling unmoored. Freshman year is an extremely welldocumented period in the lives of college

Illustration by Abbos Soliev.

you are no longer new to the school. VC U of fe r s m a ny e v e nt s a nd opportunities aimed at new students — orientation, Weeks of Welcome, Summer Scholars, a mandatory Introduction to the University course, dorm activities hosted by RAs, the Student Organization and Volunteer Opportunity Fair and so on. I am more than glad that new students have dedicated places to engage with the VCU community. But what happens when these activities no longer become available to you? When you have moved out of student housing and live on your own? At a certain point, you are more or less left stranded. Any feelings of loneliness or isolation you may have are no longer a topic of conversation. Instead, they are now issues to figure out on your own. The support that was so present and well-advertised that first year dies down. You wonder, am I supposed to have it figured out by now? Is there something wrong with me because I do not? Those who corroborate your experience feel few and far between. It is hard enough to make community when you are thrust into a new environment

the dust of freshman year has settled. The truth is, clubs can be remarkably cliquey. Friend groups that have been going strong for months, even years, are tricky to infiltrate. I understand how hard it is to put yourself out there because I refused to do it for a long time. I understand it is not always as easy as just walking up and asking someone to hang out — some people are simply not wired that way. What we need is to create more campuswide conversation around the fact that people acclimate at different rates. Just knowing that other people feel similarly could be enough to, at the very least, take away some of the shame that comes with feeling behind. I know it would take it away for me. The struggles of finding belonging both at school and in the city do not end after freshman year. If anything, it gets even harder to find your place the older you get. It is vital that upperclassmen do not feel cast aside once a new batch of freshfaced students join the community. As the window of opportunity seems to close, we deserve more support, not less.

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

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Opinions

Richmond, stop giving me parking tickets NICK ECHARD Contributing Writer Do you ever feel like you cannot find a place to park? Like you circle the block over and over again just to find a spot you will have to leave in an hour? Richmond has a parking problem, and to understand this issue we need to look at the multitude of layers causing it, such as VCU, the SP Plus Corporation and the increasingly strict enforcement of parking violations. Richmond has seen a 280% increase in parking citations this year, with stop sign parking citations jumping from 358 to 1,300 over the last year, according to the Richmonder. This comes as a result of a 2025 rule to increase the distance one can park behind a stop sign to 30 feet. One can also assume that this increase in parking citations has played a hand in the approximately $460,000 Richmonders pay in parking tickets each month.

As a Carver resident, I am no stranger to SP Plus. Their red and yellow logo and flashing yellow lights have become a beacon of dread for my friends and me. SP Plus is a private company hired by the city of Richmond for a $28 million contract. SP Plus manages park ing infrastructure in Richmond, including parking garages, parking fees and parking enforcement. Police officers still give out parking infractions, but SP Plus has mainly issued parking tickets in recent years. Speaking from experience, the weekly

street cleaning in Carver makes for quite the scramble to find parking spaces and SP Plus is always there to issue tickets if your car is on the wrong side of the street. VCU has also played a hand in Richmond’s parking problem. VCU’s campus expansion creates construction, temporarily removing parking spots, while new VCU buildings limit or remove parking. VCU Health recently closed its 12th street parking deck, according to VCU Health. VCU’s student enrollment is up 4.4% since 2024, and yet with the increase in student

population, the number of parking spaces has not increased at a similar rate. A possible solution to limiting the $460,000 that Richmonders spend every month on parking tickets would be to use some of that money to create more parking spaces available to Richmonders. Perhaps this is a sign for Richmond to become a less car-dependent city and put some of its money toward public transportation and bigger bike lanes.

Illustration by Nathan Persson.

not be silenced when they speak up However, there is a difference between displacement and loss of life, the argument The politics of being must for the oppressed,” on his Instagram post. expecting commentary on every single that celebrities should simply “stay out of What makes Finneas and the rest of political issue and expecting people with politics” becomes much harder to defend. famous: When Sheeran’s openers who pulled out of the enormous platforms to acknowledge a If someone has the ability to use their tour’s responses especially significant is humanitarian crisis when they have the platform to raise awareness about people should celebrities that by leaving the tour, they gave up an ability to reach millions. who are suffering, it becomes their opportunity. Finneas was scheduled to open Politics do not stop existing when responsibility to do so. for Sheeran on six South American dates, someone walks into a concert or opens That does not mean every celebrity needs speak up? meaning his decision was not simply about social media. When artists speak about to become a political activist. However, it MOLLY CHRISTIANSON Staff Writer

A concert is supposed to be simple — people buy tickets, listen to music and spend a few hours enjoying themselves. Politics are not necessarily a part of the experience. However, for some of the biggest names in entertainment, separating a career from politics is becoming increasingly difficult. Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour became an example of that. During a Sept. 4 performance at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore spoke on his views and told the audience “Free Palestine.” He also performed his song “Hind’s Hall,” which was written in support of Palestinians. Fol low ing t he per for mance, some venue owners objected to Macklemore’s participation in the remaining shows and Sheeran’s promoter eventually announced that he would no longer be part of the U.S. leg of the tour. Sheeran and Macklemore are part of a much larger conversation happening in the entertainment industry. Celebrities are constantly faced with the question of whether they should use their platforms to speak about political and social issues. Taylor Swift has also used her platform in a political manner but in a much different way. During the 2024 presidential election, Swift publicly announced that she planned to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, while also encouraging her followers to research the candidates and make their own decisions. Her post demonstrated just how much influence a celebrity can have simply by telling millions of people their stance. She had no responsibility to share who she planned on voting for, but she did anyway in hopes of achieving a safer world. Finneas is another example of an artist who has used his platform to speak about Palestine. His support did not begin with removing himself as an opener on Sheeran’s tour. He has previously spoken publicly in support of Palestinians and has been very vocal about his humanitarian stances. When he withdrew from Sheeran’s upcoming tour dates, he wrote, “Artists

posting his opinion online. He was willing to give up professional opportunities to stand behind what he believed. This is one of the biggest reasons why celebrities do not want to “be political.” By choosing to speak up for people who are being silenced, they run the risk of losing tour venues, fans, friends, opportunities and money. This is why the argument is more complicated than just asking, “Why do they not just speak up?” While the aforementioned celebrities have monetary safety nets to fall back on, some celebrities do not. Celebrities should not be forced to speak about politics and being famous does not automatically make someone an expert on all topics.

issues involving human rights, war or humanitarian crises, they are not necessarily trying to turn entertainment into a political rally. Instead, they are using the platform they already have to talk about something that they believe is just as or more important than the entertainment itself. When someone is removed from a platform because of a political statement, silence from the person in charge can have just as many consequences as speaking up. This is especially important when the issue is something as serious and inhumane as genocide. Remaining completely separate from politics may make sense when the issue is an election, a tax policy or a political disagreement. When millions of people are experiencing violence,

does mean that celebrities have to decide what their platforms mean to them and what they are willing to risk. Macklemore chose to speak. Finneas and the other supporting artists chose to leave. Sheeran chose to continue the tour while trying to navigate the situation between his friend, his promoter, the venues and his fans. Other celebrities have chosen to speak publicly, while others have remained silent. Each decision comes with a cost. Saying nothing is a choice, speaking is a choice and staying neutral is a choice when millions or potentially billions of people are listening. The question is, what happens when an artist decides that something is important enough to risk everything else for?

Illustration by Diane Tornel.

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Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Puzzles RANGE OF MOTION

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle RANGE OF MOTION

Lo s A n g e l e s Ti me s Sunda y C ro s s w o rd P u z z l e

By Zhouqin Burnikel

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Sudoku By The Mepham Group

2

3

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Edited by Patti Varol

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Level

Level

1

2

1

2

3

4

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

10/7/26

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1

Edited byVENOOK Patti Varol DROP IN ANYTIME! by JEREMY

Solution to Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle Tuesday’s puzzle

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