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Wednesday, September 16, 2026 @commonwealthtimes @theCT1

VOL. 73, NO. 5 SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

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Punk goes pirate for a night of mutual aid RACHEL NICHOLAS Assistant Spectrum Editor

On Sept. 11, Odin’s Underground became a place for pirates, punk music and mutual aid. For $10, attendees could walk into the benefit hosted by Punks4Liberation dressed as a pirate, in their strangest outfit or whatever they chose to wear. The event combined a night of live music with an effort to raise money and awareness for people affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. For three years, Sudan has faced a devastat ing hu ma n ita r ia n c r isis since f ighting broke out amongst the countr y, leaving millions displaced and facing uncertainty, according to the UNICEF website. The benefit was organized as a way for the local punk community to come together around an issue happening thousands of miles away and to turn a larger conflict into something tangible for the local community. SUDAN PIRATE GIG Photo by Ryan Hensley.

Contiued on page 10

’Thank you, Mr. Paul’

Photo by John Brown.

BOV’s only response to parent’s concerns over police-student altercations during 2024 encampment Photo by Chiara Wells SAL ORLANDO News Editor KAYLA MUÑECAS Assistant News Editor VCU’s Board of Visitors provided no response to remarks and a letter from Andrew Paul, the parent of a VCU alum during the Sept. 11 meeting. Paul’s letter included a call to action demanding oversight from the Board over VCU’s use of police force on its students.

However, the BOV did not issue a response to Paul or the public. The letter posed two questions: “What oversight action has the Board of Visitors taken, if any, regarding VCU’s police attack on its own students on April 29, 2024?” and “What were the results of that oversight? Or if no action was taken, please explain why with a relevant, substantive answer.” Paul stated in his remarks that VCU has no evidence to support their claims that actions taken during the altercation

were appropriate, did nothing to resolve the altercation, is underdeserving of public trust, is lucky no one was more seriously k illed or injured, ignored public petitions and outcry and restricted students’ self-expression. Paul said when he initially heard about the altercation, he was shocked, but understood the situation may have been blown out of proportion. BOV RESPONSE Contiued on page 5

Richmonders honor legacies through community

Richmond globe trotters; International VCU athletes

see SPECTRUM page 9

see SPORTS page 6

Both Virginia and Richmond propose changes to Flock Safety cameras amongst backlash MADELEINE BIONDI Sta" Writer

SANIYAH PULLEN Contributing Writer FLOCK UPDATE Contiued on page 3

Adult literacy gaps create more setbacks than we can imagine

see OPINIONS page 12

The Commonwealth Times

News

Stories of the week

NATIONAL: A federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding President Donald Trump’s name on the building or site. An hour later, the board of the center voted to close the center for renovations. INTERNATIONAL: Police detained dozens of demonstrators protesting outside a courthouse in Istanbul. Protestors were demanding the release of LGBTQ+ activists taken into custody.

VCU President Michael Rao speaks at Friday’s Board of Visitors meeting at Cabell Library.

VCU’s Board of Visitors convenes for a meeting at Cabell Library, Friday, Sep 11.

Photos by Chiara Wells.

A member of the BOV speaks at Friday’s meeting at Cabell Library.

VCU BOV votes to combine several Master of Science programs SAL ORLANDO News Editor The Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors voted to consolidate six Master of Science programs into one in a Sept. 11 meeting. The M.S. in Anatomy and Neurobiology, M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology, M.S. in Biochemistry, M.S. in Human Genetics, M.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology and M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics will now become one program: the M.S. in Biomedical Sciences, according to the proposal.

Each program's discontinuation is reasoned to be from a struggle to uphold “sufficient student enrollment.” Student enrollment in the five programs range from one to six students. The changes will take effect this year, however students currently enrolled in the program will still be able to complete their original degree, David Oglethorpe, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs Communications, stated in an email. The merged programs will no longer admit students at the beginning of the Fall 2027 semester.

Facult y who teach in any of the discontinued programs will continue teaching in other programs in the School of Medicine. Staff who are involved in the program will continue in other programs in the department, college or school. “ T he academ ic a f fa i rs tea m is consistently evaluating demand and viability of all of our academic programs,” Oglethorpe stated. “Our goal is ensure that VCU offers our students the widest array of programs and flexible degree options.“ Current and lapsed students will be notified through email about their

respective program’s closure. The committee that oversaw the proposal approved to recommend the merger in one motion, rather than the full committee voting during the Sep. 10 meeting. No committee members raised an issue with the method of passing the motion. The board approved the merger in one block vote, including other action items, rather than voting on it individually during the Sep. 11 meeting.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Both Virginia and Richmond propose changes to Flock Safety cameras amongst backlash MADELEINE BIONDI Staff Writer Restrictions enacted by the Flock camera company and local legislators limit access and use of Automation License Plate Reader data following a growing number of ending contracts and safety concerns. Since their 2023 introduction, Virginia has a totals of 3,285 Flock camerascameras — technically named Flock Falcons — statewide, with 99 located in Richmond, according to rva.gov. Over 20 of Virginia’s counties, including Goochland and King William have ended their contracts with Flock, according to Cardinal News. Gov. Abigail Spanberger called for collaborative legislation that protects privacy and policing after stating that the demands to prohibit Flock cameras are ‘overly simplistic,’ according to WTOP. On Aug ust. 13, F loc k c a mera CEO Garrett Langley established new restrictions to limit data retention length and implement safeguards against misuse that will be instated in January 2027, according to a Flock press release. Richmond statesd that law enforcement agencies use the data received from Flock cameras to investigate missing and endangered persons, stolen vehicles, and limited ongoing investigations. When starting an investigation, off icers are required to input a valid reason code, which allows them to view findings. Richmond Chief of Police Rick Edwards acknowledged community concern in the February Public Safety Standing Committee meeting, but insisted on its efficacy and the strength of new regulations. “I thought it was understood by our community that this is powerful, that it works, but it seems like I have to talk about it because the argument’s being made that it’s a waste of money,” said Richmond Chief of Police Rick EdwardsEdwards said. Edwards credited Flock cameras for solving multiple homicides, including the 2022 case of Tynashia Humphrey, the 2024 case of Marvin Ramos-Hernandez and the 2025 case of Darnell Christian. He also creditscredited the technology for helping solve a recent arson, multiplearson, multiple hit-and-runs, and a child abduction. In each case, police were able to use a suspected vehicle’s identifying factors visible in security footage, such as make and model, to locate the suspect. Edwards says said that in all cases the suspect was found guilty due to Flock’s strong evidence, with Humphrey’s and Ramos-Hernandez’s killers pleading guilty. VCU Police public relations specialist Jake Burns, VCU Police communications officer statesd in an email the department’s investigators have used ALPAuRtomated License Plate Readers in 95 cases, 48 of which used Flock technology. As Flock cameras are only present on the MCV campus, VCU uses an additional 23 ALRPs called Leonardo ELSAG throughout both campuses. “ALPR cameras may play a role following a criminal traffic incident or active threat,” Burns saidstated. “This means ALPR is

SANIYAH PULLEN Contributing Writer

A Flock ALPR camera at the intersection of North Davis Avenue and Monument Avenue. Photo by John Brown. used in a reactive nature to help identify previously unidentified vehicles related to a criminal traffic incident”. The camera footage provides data including license plate information, car details and over time, a historic pattern analysis of travel. Flock uses Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, not including facial recognition, according to assistant professor of criminal justice Brad Lehmann. This system differs from other law enforcement surveillance, such as red light cameras and speed cameras due to its expansive, searchable and often interconnected database, which Lehmann believes is the root issue. “We want to believe that Flock can be used for altruistic purposes, but when ‘too many hands get into the cookie jar,’ it becomes difficult to regulate transparency of access,” said Brad Lehmann, assistant professor of criminal justice. “If this tool was only used for stolen vehicles, AMBER alerts, and proper investigative techniques, it likely wouldn't be as visible as it is,” Lehmann said. Beginning July 1, 2025, Virginia instated laws narrowing data usage and limiting the time footage is able for viewing to 21 days. The laws prevent data sharing with other state and federal agencies including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a restriction only present in Virginia and California. Elaina Cooke, a second-year mass communications student, said she felt other

means of surveillance were sufficient and the addition of Flock cameras changed her experience in public spaces. “It’s a love-hate situation,” second-year student Elaina Cooke said. “At one point, the government’s trying to keep us safe but at the next they’re taking advantage of that.” FA fourth-year public relations major Andrea Mack said that her exposure to Flock cameras has been mostly through negative news about their misuse or locations by churches, parking lots and schools. “I will say my opinion definitely has changed with people talking about they'’re being used for watching people and not necessarily trying to catch the things they’re claiming to try to catch,” Mack said. “I guess I could see how Flock cameras in some areas could be helpful but I also think that can’t be the only solution. I like to be without being influenced and I feel like the presence of the Flock cameras influence people to be more on-guard.” Richmond’s camera totals fall on the lower end of the spectrum, according to Edwards. In addition to Flock cameras, technically named Flock Falcons, Richmond uses an unknown number of gunshot censors called Flock Ravens and two mobile ALPRs with plans to add two more. Following public backlash, Flock made an announcement to remove vocal distress detection technology from Ravens, limiting the technology to gunshots, vehicle damage sounds and other specified disturbances. Beg in n ing in 2 025, R ic h mond Democratic Socialists of America have

been campaigning to “Block Flock” out of concern for privacy rights and data misuse. “Richmond has experienced improper access to its ALPR system, while concerns about immigration-related searches, political surveillance, racial disparities, and the security of these databases have continued to grow,” the organization DSA said. “Richmond’s experience shows that having policies on paper does not eliminate the possibility of misuse, even when we do have a police department that is trying to be compliant with state limits.” Sen. Glenn Sturtevant is one of several Virginia General Assembly members who plan to introduce legislation regarding ALPR cameras during the upcoming 2027 session. Sturtevant said he does not believe that reform of the cameras is a realistic option to address Virginians’ concerns. “As time has gone on people have learned more about them and they’re coming to the realization that it’s actually an interconnected, searchable surveillance network,” Sturtevant said. Sturtevant encouraged citizens with concerns to contact their state legislatures on the matter. “We need to focus on protecting people’s privacy and freedom and not allow these advancements in technology to infringe upon these rights,” Sturtevant said.

The Commonwealth Times

News

Dominion Energy and NextEra merger causes concerns among citizens

Photo courtesy of Shaban Athuman.

TADEK WIECZOREK Contributing Writer Local citizens voiced their energy cost concerns to a panel of Virginia Democrats on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Energy Costs Listening Tour. The tour, hosted by Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, was designed to allow energy experts, politicians and Virginians to discuss the Dominion Energy and NextEra merger. Present were Del. Charlie Schmidt ( D-R ic hmond), Del.L esl ie Mehta (D-Chesterf ield), Del. May Niva r (D-Henrico), and Shelby Green, an expert on mergers from Florida. Two Virginia Senators, Schuyler VanVa l kenbu rg ( D - H e n r i c o) a n d M i k e J o n e s (D-Chesterfield), were in the crowd. Virginia’s main electric utility company, Dominion Energy, is prepared to merge with Florida-based company NextEra in what would be the largest public utility corporation in history, according to Dominion Energy.

NextEra is already the largest public utility company in the U.S. by market capitalization, according to Yahoo Finance. Virginia’s State Corporation Commission is closely reviewing the potential impacts of the merger. On Sept. 10, numerous Virginia localities, including Richmond city, decided to formally intervene in the process, according to CBS6. Among the top frustrations voiced at this meeting were heightened electricity costs for residents, alongside data center demands and extreme weather. Kelsey Bagot, a former NextEra senior attorney and current member of Virginia’s State Corporation Commission, sparked discussion at the event. Critics, including House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), have called on Bagot to excuse herself from reviewing the merger due to concerns over conflict of interest. Bagot declined the request in August, stating that the circumstances do not require her to

recuse herself. Numerous residents voiced their dismay at this decision. Some supporters of the merger were present. After their comments, there was audible discontent among audience members, which prompted admonishment from the moderator. Hashmi said the most moving public comment came from a woman who works for Dominion Energy and is the mother of a disabled child. “Delegate Mehta sitting right beside me, I know her story personally, she, in fact, ran for office because of the challenges she and her husband faced with a severely disabled child, the loss of that child’s life was a motivating factor,” Hashmi said. “It’s these personal connections that are motivating so many of us to do the work that we’re doing.” Fr ust rat ions over Gov. Abiga i l Spanberger having not yet called a special session for the General Assembly to review the merger was also brought up. The General Assembly is in a special session after passing

the state budget on June 29, but the special session was never completely adjourned. Senator Mike Jones (D-Chesterfield) said that he does not have the power to reconvene the special session and that it is up to House and Senate leadership. “We’d create one monstrosity of a corporation,” Jones said. “There are times in which it’s not good to be the record breaker. I don’t think that’s good for us necessarily.” Members of the General Assembly are aware of the SCC’s mid-January deadline to make a decision on the merger and want to quickly reconvene the special session to pass a law extending the deadline, so that the merger can be fully reviewed during the 2027 regular session. Gov. Spanberger declined to launch a second special session to review the merger, according to Virginia Scope. The SCC announced that it will hold three public comment hearings, with the first being on Nov. 5 in the SCC’s Richmond courtroom, according to CBS6.

Confederate statues leave Capitol Square as Richmond rethinks its history MADDY THURBER Staff Writer

Former site of William ”Extra Billy” Smith statue at Capitol Square.

Photos by Mary Ngodoki.

Richmond removed three Confederate statues that stood in Capitol Square on Fr iday, Aug. 28. T he stat ues relocated to battlefield sites managed by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation. The Virginia Genera l Assembly authorized the removal and the relocation in the final budget. Former Virginia Sen. Adam Ebbin introduced Senate Bill 636 in January, which called to have the Department of General Services remove the monuments. The bill passed the Senate 21-19 in February and was later tabled by the House Appropriations Committee in March. The budget allocated 1.79 million to the Department of General Services to relocate the three statues and gift them to the SVBF.

Ebbin, who initiated the relocation, said a former member of the General Assembly approached him about it several years ago. He said he pursued the relocation as leaving the legislature because he did not want to miss the opportunity to act. T he stat ues were of T homas J. Jackson, William Smith, and Hunter Holmes McGuire. The removal of the statues is part of a broader movement within Richmond and across the U.S Southeast to remove Confederate monuments from public spaces. In 2020, Richmond City Council authorized the removal of the Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B. Stuart, Jefferson Davis and Matthew Fontaine Maury statues along Monument Avenue,

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 including the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors and the A.P. Hill monument, according to rva.gov. According to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Jackson, Smith, and Mcguire were placed in the Capitol of Richmond as part of the “Lost Cause” historical movement. “I think the thing to think about is what message does having Confederate monuments sent to children on school visits or family visits to the Capitol,”

Gabriel Reich, professor at the School of Education said. “I think it sends a message about who the state believes is important, who the state believes should be revered as historical figures.” Reich studies how people remember and understand the past, with a particular focus on historical consciousness and history education. His research examines how young people understand the Civil War and how historical memory is shaped through education, culture and public monuments.

R eic h sa id st udent s c a n h av e different interpretations of Confederate monuments, meaning their presence in public spaces can shape how they understand Richmond’s history. Ebbin said the decision to relocate them to Shenandoah does not change the history itself. “We’re not changing history, just changing what we celebrate in our public spaces,” Reich said. First-year forensic science student

Ja’Nia Hollingsworth said she believes the statues should have been removed sooner, but their removal does not erase the history connected to the men they represented. Hollingsworth said the history is present even though the statues are no longer in Capitol Square, and that removing the monuments simply means the men or their roles in history are no longer being glorified.

‘Thank you, Mr. Paul’

Photos by Chiara Wells. CT file photo by Andrew Kerley.

BOV’s only response to parent’s concerns over policestudent altercations during 2024 encampment SAL ORLANDO News Editor

KAYLA MUÑECAS Assistant News Editor

Story continued from front page

Paul says that an in-depth investigation by the Board of Visitors is necessary, regardless of who was in the wrong, in order to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. “ I F VC U I S R IGHT A N D CONFIDENT IN ITS DECISION, IT SHOULD WELCOME AN UNBIASED INVESTIGATION – LET’S LEARN ALL THE FACTS,” read Paul’s remarks to the BOV. Paul explained that even if the university was not at fault for the altercation, it is only right for an organization to investigate “crisis-type incidents.” Paul mentioned he was born in Ohio in 1970, the year of the Kent State shooting,

The day after he heard the news, Paul said he went on a deep dive to find all of the information available. “It only seemed to confirm that VCU made a very dangerous decision to attack its own students with riot police against students who were otherwise peaceful and it was unnecessary,” Paul said. VCU Police was involved in the altercation and later conducted the investigation into the incident. According to VCU spokesperson Brian McNeill, the investigation’s conclusion was that the university’s response was in compliance with protocol.

where four students protesting the Vietnam War were fatally shot by authorities. In response, protests broke out across the country, as well as here in Richmond. “It's not identical to what happened in 2024, but VCU in 1970 had a very responsible reaction to Vietnam protests on its campus,” Paul said. “That was a proud moment for VCU, but that pride is erased by not learning from the past, by basically going the wrong direction and choosing to attack its own students.” Paul also expressed feeling outraged by a lack of response from the Board of Visitors, despite being present at several meetings. At one particular meeting in December of 2024, eight months after the altercation

occurred, the board did not offer Paul much reassurance outside of a thank you. “I thought maybe they would even have some sort of prepared response because it had been several months. All I got was, ‘Thank you, Mr. Paul’ and nothing else,” Paul recalled. Paul solidified his dedication to the cause saying, “I kind of personally committed to it, I'm not going to let this one go. I will keep reminding them when I can.” In a follow up exchange with Paul, he confirmed that neither the Board of Visitors nor any VCU administration contacted him after the meeting on or after Sep. 11.

The Commonwealth Times

Sports

Stat of the week

The VCU women’s tennis roster is made up exclusively of international recruits.

GAME RESULTS 9/10/26 VCU WSOC - ECU TIED 2-2

VCU WVB - AT WVU LOST 3-1

9/11/26 - 9/13/26 VCU MT - ELON INVITATIONAL 8 WINS - 19 LOSSES

9/11/26 VCU WVB - VS TOLEDO LOST 3-0

VCU MSOC - VS UCF LOST 2-0

VCU FH - AT #6 WFU

9/13/26 VCU FH - AT #9 DUKE LOST 4-0

9/14/26 VCU MSOC VS #22 ODU From left to right. Fourth-year Josefina Ventimiglia, photo taken by Kayelyn Tate. Fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmerón, photo courtesy of VCU Athletics. Fourth-year forward Lucía Sotelo, photo taken by Ashley Davis. Collage by Michael Wynne

The wide world of VCU athletes DEVYNN ALSTON Staff Writer

Before becoming Rams, three VCU athletes built their sports careers far from Virginia. From Argentina to Costa Rica to Spain, these athletes’ experiences have followed them to Richmond. As Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15, Andrey Salmerón, Lucía Sotelo, and Josefina Ventimiglia represent the international backgrounds that have become a part of the VCU athletic landscape. Their journeys to VCU were shaped through different sports and different countries, but each arrived with years

of experience competing outside of the United States. Andrey Salmerón, a fourth-year midfielder from Costa Rica, brought high-level experience to VCU soccer. Before joining the Rams, he represented Costa Rica on the U15, U17 and U20 national teams while also helping Fútbol Consultants Edson Soto win a national championship. His success continued at VCU, being named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, the first Ram’s soccer player to win that honor since 1997, according to VCU Athletics. He also helped the Rams win the Atlantic 10 regular season. Lucía Sotelo is a fourth-year forward on the women’s basketball team. Coming from Spain, Sotelo entered VCU as a winner.

Lucía Sotelo → Ourense, Spain Photo by Ashley Davis. Andrey Salmeron → San José, Costa Rica Courtesy of VCU Athletics.

Josefina Ventimiglia

CT file photo by Kayelyn Tate

She debuted with Ensino Lugo in Spain’s top division, Liga Endesa, and competed at the U17 and U18 levels, helping her team win league championships. She also won a league championship at the U16 level with Bosco Salesianos Ourense. At VCU, she made an immediate impact. She was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team and started 27 of 32 during her first season, according to VCU Athletics. Josefina Ventimiglia’s path shows that international experiences extend into many different sports. The fourth-year player from Argentina played and won for Club Regatas San Nicolas. Ventimiglia was also selected to play for an Argentine

LOST 2-1

9/14/26 - 9/15/26 VCU GOLF - AT REDHAWK INTERCOLLEGIATE 1ST PLACE/ 14 TEAMS

regional team. Throughout her time at VCU, she has climbed the ranks, moving from little playing time in her first year to making the Atlantic 10 Second Team All-Conference last year, according to VCU Athletics. These athletes’ paths to being Rams all looked different, each bringing athletic experience from outside of the United States to VCU. Their backgrounds span Costa Rica, Spain, and Argentina, adding to the international presence within VCU athletics. Hispanic Heritage Month provides a reason to recognize those of different backgrounds.

MEN’S SOCCER FALLS 2-0 TO UCF IN HOME OPENER MAEVE BAUER Executive Editor VCU men’s soccer matched up against the University of Central Florida on Friday. Players and fans began the game with a moment of remembrance for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Both teams worked the ball up and down the field for the better part of the first period, with multiple attempts made on both sides. During the first half VCU attempted two shots, made two saves and committed four fouls. UCF scored two goals on nine shot attempts and committed one foul. With a little over 10 minutes left in the first period, UCF forward, third-year Drew Hansen scored the first goal of the game. Soon after, second-year UCF defender Hugo

Vogel, with an assist from Hansen scored another point, bringing the score to 2-0. The two teams battled it out for the rest of the half, but ultimately VCU was unable to settle the score. VCU head coach Dave Giffard said that he was very disappointed with the first 45 minutes and hopes that his team learns from it. “I think the part that was very disappointing was, I think we allowed some less experienced, less mature kind of psychological things to creep in and it impacted our kind of first 45 minutes’ belief and fight,” Giffard said. “Some of that’s going to come with the team with a lot of new people. Not that it’s acceptable, but to be fair, some of it is going to come with that.” The score for the rest of the game stayed at 2-0. However, Giffard saw a noticeable improvement in the Ram’s play.

Looking forward to the Rams’ next game against Old Dominion University on Sept. 14, Giffard hopes that they will not have a repeat of today’s first half. “You’re not going to make wholesale changes to the level of readiness to carry a game or to do anything,” Giffard said. “Maybe you don’t have enough time to train between now and then. You know, those things take weeks, months, in some cases years.” Second-year captain and midfielder, fourth-year Theo Drennan, said he was disappointed with both his performance and his teammates’ performance today. “I think our effort today wasn’t good enough. Our effort wasn’t there, and, you know, whatever happens with the ball, what they can do, what we can do, that depends on the day, but, you know,

Fourth-year defender Pedro Salmon vs UCF on Sept. 11. Photo taken by Landon Walker. if our effort’s not there, then it’s not good enough,” Drennan said. Drennan’s plan going into Monday is to try and put in more effort than ODU. “If they’re outworking us, then already that’s the base that we can’t build on,” Drennan said.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Photos Courtesy of VCU Athletics. Collage by Michael Wynne

VCU women’s tennis: United internationally

BENNEY KOCH Staff Writer Fo r t h e VC U w o m e n ’s t e n n i s team, the road to R ichmond begins t housands of mi les away. Since t he l a t e 19 9 0 s , VC U w o m e n’s t e n n i s h a s b e e n p r o m i n e nt l y s h a p e d b y international recruits. Beginning with tennis legends Martina Nedelkova and Andrea Ondrisova, VCU women’s tennis established a vision to elevate its level of tennis t h r o u g h i nte r n at ion a l recruiting. W hen Paul Kostin took over as head c o a c h i n 2 0 01, i nte r n at ion a l recruiting became an established part of the program. The strateg y has continued to this day. Under the current head coach, Rifanti Kahf iani, the women’s tennis roster is entirely international, with players representing Ecuador, Eg ypt, Slovak ia, Venezuela, Austra lia, the Czech Republic and Indonesia.

“My philosophy is very simple,” Kahfiani said. “We recruit the best player that will fit our program, culture and our standard.” Kahfiani said she has tried to recruit American players, but many choose other programs. VCU has continued to find talented international players who fit the culture she wants to build – one that values the hunger to uplift one’s self and one another. “I think first and foremost, work ethic is number one, wanting to compete and love tennis,” Kahfiani said. “The skills can be elevated, but something that is hard to teach is the work ethic.” Still, Kahfiani says international identity has become part of the team’s culture. Fourth-year Tania Isabel Andrade Sabando came to VCU from Ecuador and initially struggled with the transition. Adapting to a new culture while being away from her family presented a huge challenge for Andrade Sabando, but she said her teammates helped make the transition easier.

“When I just arrived I didn’t speak the language so that was the main problem,” Andrade Sabando said. “Then all the team received me very well and everyone was really nice.” Now, Andrade Sabando said she considers VCU a second home. That same sense of community is something first-year Anjali Junarto said she experienced when she arrived from Indonesia. Junarto chose VCU due to its kinesiology program and the opportunities it offered her tennis career, but the team’s diversity also stood out to her. “Usually, most likely, you will have Americans on the team, but here we have none,” Junarto said. Instead, she practices alongside players from different countries and backgrounds, something she believes will help prepare her for tennis beyond college. Andrade Sabando and Junarto said the team’s international diversity was a large part of what drew them to VCU over other universities. The players learn from each other both on and off the court, according to Andrade

Sabando. The team hosts dinners where players bring food from their home countries, while conversations introduce teammates to different languages, traditions and worldviews. As she enters her final year at VCU, Andrade Sabando is considering internships, working in fashion merchandising and potentially returning for a fifth year to pursue a master’s degree. “Meeting people from other parts of the world makes you grow up and change your mindset… people come into your life to teach you something important and I continue to learn from [my teammates] every day,” Andrade Sabando said. Whatever comes next, Andrade Sabando believes that her time at VCU has prepared her for it. “As a coach I want to develop them as players, but more importantly as people and as leaders,” Kahfiani said. “I see [our internationality] as a strength. We are very diverse and we learn a lot from each other. We have a lot of different personalities and that is something that allows us to grow as people.”

VCU Men’s Soccer finishes non-conference matchups losing to ODU 2-1 BENNEY KOCH Staff Writer On Monday VCU men’s soccer went up against Old Dominion University in its final non-conference matchup of the season. Despite an energized effort in the second half, VCU lost to ODU 2-1. ODU scored within the first five minutes of the match. VCU responded with secondyear defender Parker Simkins capitalizing on a Monarch turnover, scoring the first official goal for the Rams in the history of the VCU Athletic Village. The score would remain tied until the final minutes of the first half, when ODU headed in a go-ahead goal. The Monarchs entered halftime with a 2-1 lead. VCU controlled much of the second half offensively, finishing with 17 shots compared to ODU’s nine. The Rams were able to keep ODU on the defensive and controlled 62% of possession in the match, according to statbroadcast. Despite 11 shots on goal and hitting the crossbar twice, VCU was unable to save the tying goal.

Simkins said the team’s inability to capitalize on their chances to score was ultimately what kept them from being able to make a comeback in the second half. “I think that we really controlled the game very well. We just couldn’t find that last goal or we couldn’t find that last finish,” Simkins said. The loss came only two days after VCU got shut out by UCF, 2-0 on Friday. Despite losing back-to-back games, head coach Dave Giffard said there was a lot to be proud of about the level of energy his team showed against ODU. “I challenged the guys and I said, ‘Look, win, lose, draw, I don’t care. I want the energy right.’ And the energy was good today, you know it’s just really the execution,” Giffard said. The Rams now turn their attention toward Atlantic 10 play which will begin next week when they play against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Olean, New York. “I think we’re starting to improve going forward with how we attack the box and such. If we can keep doing that, we’re gonna find a lot of success in the A10’s,” Simkins said.

Third-year defender Nikita Hayes battles for control of the ball during VCU’s match against ODU on Sept. 14. Photo by John Brown

Fourth-year defender Pedro Salmon kicks the ball away from the opposing team during VCU’s match against ODU on Sept. 14. Photo by John Brown

The Commonwealth Times

Spectrum

On This Day

On Sept. 16, 2022 in Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino hosted a two day event to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Richmonders honor legacies through community ELLE COTA Spectrum Editor $e recent deaths of influential figures, including Tim Curry and Dolly Parton, have been followed by something more lasting than a moment of mourning: people continuing to perform their work, celebrate their influence and find their own place and one another within the culture they helped create. A Parade For Dolly Parton On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 13, Richmonders gathered at Babe’s of Carytown for the city’s first annual Dolly Parton parade. Babe’s also hosted a Dolly Parton brunch and karaoke from 1-7 p.m. Children, grandparents and everyone inbetween joined the parade, wearing blonde wigs, cowboy boots and Dolly-inspired outfits. Music played as participants walked the sidewalks while people watched and drivers honked in support. Carrie Craven, a community member, attended to celebrate Parton’s life and her advocacy for kindness, generosity and community. Craven sported a large foam breastplate beneath a tight, shiny blue dress, paired with a hot pink ruffled slip and a white feathered wig. Parton’s music provided personal connections for Craven. She said “9 to 5” represented female empowerment, while “Coat of Many Colors” reflected family, hardship and finding value in what others may overlook. Craven said Parton embraced feminism while playfully challenging traditional feminine stereotypes. Lauren Gwaley, an attendee, saw the parade as another natural addition to Richmond’s tradition of unconventional celebrations.

Gwaley’s outfit came from a thrift-store find in Dallas: Resembling herself in a pin-up cowgirl outfit, complete with fringe across the back, embroidered horseshoes and roses with a large collar and pearl snaps. However, the costume was secondary to what Gwaley considered Parton’s more significant contribution: her philanthropy and how she carried herself. $e same idea came through for Tina Martino and Noelle Lavach, two longtime friends who attended together. Martino leaned into Parton’s cowgirl image, including a bra two sizes too big and a blonde wig to top it o%. Martino grew up listening to country artists, such as Parton and Patsy Cline and later came to appreciate Parton’s broader influence. Lavach initially considered finding a blonde wig and something sparkly, but ultimately decided that dressing like herself was a better tribute, wearing a “9 to 5” inspired shirt and Dolly Parton earrings from her daughter. Lavach said she personally connected with “9 to 5” and the film “$e Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and became more aware of Parton’s literacy efforts after becoming a teacher. “I love ‘9 to 5’ because I’m a product of the ‘80s and I just thought she was funny,” Lavach said. “She inspired me to be a professional woman.” Lavach connected Parton’s message of being yourself rather than allowing others’ expectations to dictate your life to a lesson from her grandmother: You manage, you get through, find a way, appreciate what you have and give to others. Other Richmond events have honored Parton, including Studio Two Three’s production of “Steel Magnolias” and a children’s memorial storytime.

Carytown spread the love with Dolly Parton on Sept. 13 with a walk to commemorate the country star. Photo by Catt Brito.

Dolly Parton fans of Richmond gathered to celebrate her life and legacy in Carytown on Sept. 13. Photo by Catt Brito. Keeping Rocky Horror Alive

Orgasmic Rush of Lust brought “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to Fallout on Sept. 13. Photo by Catt Brito.

Rocky fans showed their love by dressing in costume for the OROL “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Fallout. Photo by Catt Brito.

It all ends on Sept. 13 at the OROL “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at Fallout. Photo by Catt Brito.

Later that same Sunday, Tim Curry’s legacy took the stage at Fallout. Orgasmic Rush of Lust, a Richmondbased “Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadow cast performance group, hosted a performance with the original 1975 movie playing behind. Sam Foster, director of OROL, has spent about 13 years with the group. She joined the cast at 20 years old after attending a performance and deciding she did not want to remain in the audience. $e group has performed in Richmond since 20 04, building a communit y around the f ilm’s costumes, music, audience participation and celebration of self-expression. $e performers do not try to replicate the movie exactly. Instead, they interpret the characters through their own costumes and performances. “It’s much more difficult in my mind to do screen accurate costuming,” Foster said. “$e way we do things is basically based on vibes.” $at freedom reflects what Foster sees as the lasting importance of Rocky Horror. She said the film gave people a place to experiment with identity and presentation at a time when doing so publicly could carry greater consequences.

$e cast’s goal is to create a space where queer people, outsiders and people who feel pushed toward the edges of society can gather without having to conform, Foster said. Curry’s death changed the tone of Sunday’s performance. The cast had already selected its lineup, but the actors approached the show differently after learning of his death. “We are all very much ready to cry on stage,” Foster said. In the original movie, Ri% Ra% shoots Frank-N-Furter with a laser gun. Instead, this showing ended with f lowers being thrown at Frank-N-Furter’s feet and a final group hug. $e performance became both a tribute to Curry and a continuation of the culture he helped create, Foster said. Foster recalled seeing comments about Curry’s death that focused on him being unmarried with no children. “No, he has hundreds of thousands of children, we all look up at that screen every month and just, you know, that’s the man that helped raise a lot of us,” Foster said. “Just being there and being a person we could all look up to and be like, ‘Yep, he can be himself up there, therefore I can be myself right here.’”

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

To cultivate and celebrate: Latine Student Association

Spectrum

A group photo of Latine Student Association members at the beach. Photo courtesy of LSA. DEBORAH AGUILERA Contributing Writer Virginia Commonwealth University’s Latine St udent Association blends cultural celebration, social support and campus advocacy into a welcoming space. Whether students are looking to reconnect with their roots, discover new perspectives or simply f ind a place to belong, the organization o%ers a built-in family in the middle of Richmond. Alessandra Caceres Mendoza has been a member of LSA since her freshman year. Now a senior, she serves on LSA’s executive board as co-chair of public relations, overseeing the organization’s social media, event flyers and recording its events throughout the year. For Caceres Mendoza, joining LSA gave her a solid group of people to lean on and connect with. “It’s my home away from home,” Caceres Mendoza said. LSA’s purpose is to build a community and safe environment for all, according to Caceres Mendoza. Although the organization is Latine inclusive, they are not Latine exclusive, students of all backgrounds are welcome. LSA k eeps a pac k ed sc hedu le throughout the year, Caceres Mendoza said. Members stay involved beyond regular meetings by competing in intercollegiate

sports games, organizing local Richmond community service projects, participating in charity, going on group trips and attending formal galas. Caceres Mendoza explained LSA’s familias program. $e program is to help members build connections by pairing members into small groups based on shared interests and hobbies. New students are matched with “padres” and fellow “siblings” giving everyone a built-in support system. According to Caceres Mendoza, LSA is bringing the VCU community together to celebrate and represent Hispanic Heritage Month. $e club is spotlighting members on social media and hosting a lineup of events, including a Loteria game night with prizes, a hands-on pupusa making night, a Día de los Muertos celebration and a potluck featuring dishes from the members’ home countries. LSA is just one piece of a much larger network on campus, working alongside groups such as Society for Advancement of Chicanos/ Hispanics and Native Americans in Science, Avanzando Latinos con Motivación y Acción, Latinos and Hispanics in health at VCU, $e Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at VCU and several other organizations, according to Caceres Mendoza. Janelle Lapid joined LSA last spring without knowing what to expect. She had encountered the organization through

Butthole Thrasher performed at Odin’s Underground on Sept. 11. Photo by Ryan Hensley. SUDAN PIRATE GIG Story continued from front page While the cause was serious, the event itself was made to be anything but traditional. $e pirate theme further gave attendees a chance to participate in the event, adding their own flair to the night. “$is is my first time coming to an event like this, and the idea of a pirate theme is really cool,” said William Levy, an out-ofstate college student. Lev y was visiting his friends in Richmond when he saw the flyer for the event on P4L’s Instagram. $e theme also fits with the spirit of P4L, which has used punk spaces in the

past as a way to bring people together around political causes and shared communities, as previously reported by the CT. Alongside the music, local punk vendors sold handmade items throughout the night. The tables consisted of posters, knickknacks, clothing, jewelry and more. Lumen Magnolia, a Richmond local, who sells craft items under the name Count Cvntula, has been making their art for several years. $ey decided to use the event as a way to branch out and sell to more people in the punk community. “I design all my collages by hand and then blow them up to make the posters,” Magnolia said. “I made a TikTok about a phrase on one of my buttons and it just blew up.”

events with Filipino Americans Coming Together. Although Lapid does not come from a Hispanic background, she had an overwhelmingly positive experience with LSA, with her favorite part being the opportunity to join a familia. “Your race and/or ethnicity does not matter in LSA,” Lapid said. Lapid said the group’s energy and spirit stood out to her. “Everyone there loves their culture and embracing each other,” Lapid said. $ere is never a dull moment in LSA, according to Lapid. The organization balances friendly competition, cultural pride and pure enjoyment. Kenyaz Rajabi joined LSA as a search for visibility and representation on campus. Within the organization, she discovered a close-knit community of peers who share similar cultural backgrounds and lived experiences. Rajabi’s understanding of culture is deeply intertwined with her upbringing and family roots. The music she listens to, the food she enjoys and the values she holds are all reflections of the environment in which she grew up, Rajabi said. “It’s pride, my identity, my family,” Rajabi said. Rajabi said she believes it is crucial to amplify voices and accomplishments that often go unnoticed. She hopes Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a dedicated

platform to highlight the community’s major achievements and contributions. She said Latine milestones are too frequently glossed over or minimized in mainstream conversations. Rajabi said she hopes to see LSA expand its community outreach initiatives while encouraging students from all walks of life to engage with the group.

Two Latine Student Association members standing next to an inflatable heart costume. Photo courtesy of LSA.

Audience members danced at Odin’s Underground on Sept. 11. Photo by Ryan Hensley. For the vendors, participating o%ered a way to combine their creative work with a cause they supported. It also allowed them to showcase their items and branch out to new people, according to Magnolia. Sappho Heavey and Jessie Phillips, coowners of Sacred and Profane clothing brand, further commented on being able to display their work while supporting a good cause. “$e stu% that’s going on over there, we don’t have to deal with that,” Phillips said. “We just need to band together to support them, even just the $10 at the door is a benefit to them.” After meeting in community college, Heavey and Jessie Phillips realized they both have the same creative passion. Being at the event allows them to highlight the

pro-environmental way they run their business, on par with the theme of the night. “Ever y t h ing we ma ke is eit her handmade or upcycled from things meant for landfills,” Heavey said. “It’s just another step of not wasting stu%, using the materials alright out in the world and bettering them through art.” As trinkets exchanged hands and performers sang their last songs, the event was more than just a swashbuckling showcase. It was an example of how Richmond’s punk scene used its own spaces, art and creativity to support another community in crisis.

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Features

RVA Spotlight

Join the members of St. James Armenian Church at the 66th Armenian Food Festival from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 19. Featuring dishes such as chicken shish kebabs, cheese boreg and other Armenian delicacies. The festival is free for all, with all proceeds going towards local and international charities.

VCU students raise awareness for vascular disease with new initiative SKYE HATHAWAY Copy Editor Young adults are usually not concerned about blood clots, but VCU students Sarah Ralston and Mollie Wheeler are looking to change that by working to educate college students on deep vein thrombosis. While blood clots often affect older individuals, young people are still at risk of being a%ected, according to Ralston. She said it is important for students to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in order to medically advocate for themselves. Ralston and Wheeler, both secondyear Doctor of Physical $erapy students, created the project after meeting a father who wanted to spread awareness for DVT in young women after losing his daughter. Together, they work to teach young people about what causes DVT and how they can identify it. While putting posters up in an exam room at the Medical College of Virginia campus, Wheeler said that she and Ralston spoke to the medical director for VCU Health, who had sent two college-aged

women to the hospital for DVT concerns that summer. DVT may appear as a small patch on your leg or arm, which young people may brush o% as a bruise, Ralston said. DVT most commonly occurs in the leg, but can appear in the arm, according to Dr. Mark Levy, chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery at VCU Health. Triggered DVT is the most common type, occurring when people experience long periods of immobilization, according to Levy. $is often happens when people fracture a leg or have a major surgery. Untriggered DVT occurs without being triggered by long periods of immobilization and is most often caused by a genetic abnormality in the blood that makes it thrombotic, meaning sticky. Ralston said her family has a history of blood clots, giving her a genetic predisposition to them. “I feel like I’m really lucky in the sense that I know that I might be more at risk for developing one,” Ralston said. “I know how to recognize one and I know there’s certain behaviors that would increase my risk even more.”

Oral contraceptives increase the risk of blood clots in women by three times in comparison to those who do not take it, according to Ralton. According to Levy, young women on birth control should be aware that DVT is a risk, although it affects less than 1% of all women who are on the oral contraceptive pill. “It [DVT] is, under some circumstances, life threatening because the blood clot that’s formed in a leg and occasionally in the arm, can break o% from the wall of the vein and head for the lungs where it causes something called a pulmonary embolus,” Levy said. “A pulmonary embolus refers to a clot that was created or started somewhere else and then traveled in the bloodstream to the lung where it can block o% a piece of lung tissue and make it difficult to breathe and oxygenate.” Ralston recommended that women who have a family history of blood clots ask their doctor whether estrogen is a safe option for them. VCU Student Health has partnered with Ralston and Wheeler to integrate DV T awareness materials into their

standard virtual packets for students. “When a student comes into the health center inquiring about birth control as a first time user, they send that information out in the virtual packet, just about signs and symptoms, risk factors, stuff like that, which wasn’t previously done,” Ralston said. Ralston and Wheeler completed their first tabling event with VCU’s RecWell at the Student Organization and Volunteer Fair on Aug. 21, where they spoke to students and handed out CDC approved flyers on DVT. $ey plan to attend the Petersburg Health Fair and will continue to partner with RecWell for their more targeted events. Maeve Bauer helped contribute to this article.

Sarah Ralston (left) and Mollie Wheeler (right) at VCU’s SOVO fair educating students on DVT. Photo courtesy of Wheeler.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Opinions

Quote of the week

“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” — Dolly Parton

Adult literacy gaps create more setbacks than we can imagine A row of books at the main Richmond Public Library on Sept. 13. Photo by Burke Loftus. LILIAN CHINEME-UGWU Adjunct Instructor, Department of Political Science Bridging adult literacy gaps goes beyond teaching people how to read and write. It entails addressing economic, social, civic and personal challenges, such as completing job applications, understanding prescription instructions, participating in the electoral process without assistance, making financial decisions, helping their kids with homework and processing online information without bias. Despite the many benefits of adult literacy, some adults still lack access or opportunities to acquire basic literacy skills. Others who have the means to improve their literacy skills might sometimes face an inferiority complex, family challenges, sickness and balancing work and life. According to the literacy sur vey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD,) 28% of adults’ scores were at Level 1 or below, which indicates low literacy competency. At Level 1, they were only able to comprehend short words and

could arrange or search for information w ith deta i led instr uctions. People below Level 1 could only make sense of short, simple sentences. Consistently, reports from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy indicate that over 54% of American adults can read below a sixth-grade level yet only 10% of adults who need literacy assistance are receiving support. When adult literacy gaps persist, the consequences can impact families, communities and society at large. It may have hidden economic, social, civic and personal consequences. Specifically, the hidden economic e$ects of adult literacy gaps can directly impede job opportunities, productivity and economic mobility. Those who cannot read or write may encounter barriers to obtaining stable employment, qualifying for promotions or adjusting to technological changes in the workplace, especially given the increasing demand for analytical skills across industries. For example, the U.S. Department of Labor confirms that people who have advanced literacy skills can get employed faster, receive higher salaries and

work in more well-established institutions than those without literacy skills. Therefore, improving adult literacy is an economic strategy and priority that reinforces long-term economic stability. Another hidden setback of literacy gaps are the social impacts. This is because our day-to-day activities revolve around the ability to understand basic concepts. For instance, adults without adequate literacy skills might find it challenging to read food labels, interpret medical information, pass the driving test, read road signs, complete required forms,or manage household finances e$ectively. Consequently, these limitations can complicate health issues, foster financial insecurity and could lead to overdependence on others. On the contrary, parents with strong literacy skills are likely to better support their children’s academic activities, wh ich promotes posit ive lea r n ing outcomes at home. Additionally, literacy gaps may have unforeseen civic consequences, as a strong democracy and political participation may depend on how informed and engaged the citizens are. Adult literacy can enable

people to understand public issues, and participate actively in electoral processes. On the other hand, literacy gaps might limit civic participation, reduce citizens’ confidence and make people more prone to misleading information, thereby limiting their political choices and public trust. Tackling adult literacy requires a collective e$ort, including policymakers, educational institutions, employers, non-profit organizations, citizens and the community at large. Adult literacy education should be treated as workforce preparedness and self-development rather than an alternative educational aid. More funding opportunities can support adult education programs and training. It would be highly beneficial to learners, families and communities if more people were willing to volunteer to support the adult learners who need literacy services. It is important to raise awareness of literacy support, as this might motivate and boost individual confidence in learning. More evidence-based literacy research is needed to guide e$orts to address low literacy in the United States.

Tricked into tradwife: how wellness influencers are marketing conservatism GRACE MIGLORIE Contributing Writer It is a simple life: wake up, cook breakfast from scratch to feed your multiple children and husband — but not before doing your hair, makeup and putting on a modest white dress. Then the rest of the day you can take care of the household, wash the dishes, do the laundry, cook two more meals — do not eat too much of the meal yourself, though, you would not want to gain weight. Post this routine to your followers and caption it “a day in my life embracing my feminine energy.” Maybe it is more subtle, a clean girl makeup tutorial or a video encouraging viewers to “marry a provider so you can go to Pilates on a random Tuesday.” We are being sold the fantasy of traditionalism, a “soft life” of financial dependency and home labor whilst reaping few benefits for ourselves. Misogyny is being wrapped up and handed to us in the pretty package of self-care and femininity. Under the veil of these seemingly harmless posts is one message: submit.

Influencers like Nara Smith and Hannah Neeleman have been blowing up on social media over the past few years. They preach the importance of homemaking, maintaining your beauty and serving your husband and family. This content is a more obvious form of a misogynistic narrative, most easily recognizable as a step back into traditional values and disdain for feminism. However, an influx of more covert posts displaying this same message can be seen across these platforms. The clean girl makeup trend highlights looking natural and organic products. This is not inherently bad, but can soon lead to wanting only natural products in the home, with a direct pipeline into distrust of schools, medicine and the government and wanting a return to the antiquated natural lifestyle with core conservative values, such as small governments and traditional household roles, ultimately upholding the patriarchy. The word “biological” is often thrown around in this content, stressing women’s “biological wiring” of having an emotional brain and men’s of having a logical one. It encourages young women to fulfill their

“biological desires,” allowing themselves in it due to its adverse effects on the to be feminine by “turning their brains o$ feminine cycle. around their boyfriend” and letting him Conservatives have long been pushing for make the decisions. an abortion ban, being met with much success At first glance, it may seem natural — in recent years. Discouraging contraceptives scientific, even — and the right thing to leads to an increase in unwanted pregnancies, do, especially to a younger audience, but which then leads to unplanned of course, science supports none of this. children, stripping you of Contrary to popular belief, both men’s your autonomy and women’s emotional processing centers function in the same way, and varying levels of emotional intelligence are due to outside factors, not biolog ica l ones, according to the Nationa l Instit ute of Health. A long w ith the tradwife na r rat ive comes the resurgence of “natural” medicine. Inf luencers are speaking out against birth control, c it i n g its disruption to hormones and harmful e$ects on bodily chemistry, attempting to discourage young women from partaking Illustration by Jamie Ryan.

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and control and giving it over to a child and family — a straight pipeline to a tradwife lifestyle. Purity culture is a key player in this discourse. It describes food, skincare and women. Women participating in this culture are making their own food because processed products from the grocery store are “impure.” They use beef tallow on their faces so as not to infuse their body with chemicals and live a lifestyle of labor in the household and forever faithfulness to one man so as not to taint themselves. This traces back to biblical language, referencing the individual as pure and the devil as impure, invoking an extreme divide between those who choose to partake in the “natural” lifestyle and those who do not. Demonizing the women who choose

alternatives to this traditional lifestyle roots and upholds the narrative of the tradwife. Last year a new trend popped up on social media: “demure.” Whilst many took it as lighthearted, it grew bigger and bigger, penetrating an audience that had never heard the word. It turned from a joke into something to aspire to. Demure: reserved, modest, quiet. Why is that something we are striving towards now, after years of fighting for a woman’s right to be heard? These trends are cloaked under the illusion of just being trends, but what they really are is harmful propaganda. What viewers are not seeing is the trap these women fall into. The lack of freedom. The lack of having anything to their name — no escape if something goes wrong. The standards they must uphold,

both personally and in the household, to maintain this type of lifestyle. It is easy to view this and wish you could spend $1000 at Lululemon on a Thursday afternoon too. But what happens when that money is taken away and you are left with an empty bank account and a 10-year gap in your resume? Being a homemaker is not inherently bad. In fact, it can be incredibly fulfilling for many women and men. However, we must be able to choose if this is the life we want and we must be able to keep our freedoms and liberties while partaking in it. Young viewers are absorbing this content without seeing the message behind it, and quickly falling down the far-right pipeline with which it is intertwined. One day it is a makeup tutorial, the next it is

Opinions extreme views on medicine and eventually it is the hate of feminism and the desire to become a subservient homemaker. As trite as it may be, knowledge is power and understanding the content you are consuming will help you make more informed decisions on what to engage with. We must learn to recognize these messages, do research for ourselves and deny the narrative that is pushed upon us. If not, we face losing the next generation of women to this trap. We face giving up our rights, which have been tirelessly fought for for years. We face our control and autonomy being taken away from us. We face becoming a tradwife ourselves, with no choice behind it.

VCU needs to vote more Illustration by Jaz Chalmers.

MARITZA BAPTISTE Staff Writer

Coming from Alexandria, Virginia, a city where people take their civic responsibilities seriously, it surprises me that some of my peers at VCU seem to have little knowledge of — or interest in — basic civic processes, such as registering to vote. Moreover, even among my fellow freshman classmates who are registered to vote, many appeared not to consider updating their voter registration. This is especially concerning since updating your voter registration is far easier than having to travel back home or ask for a mail-in ballot to vote in a district that you do not even live in. Considering the fact that midterm elections are coming up, it is an important time to remind VCU about the importance of voting, as well as how to do it. This information may seem obvious to the civically engaged students at VCU. However, it does not hurt to try and educate those who may not know how our system of elections work, such as first generation students, new citizens or first time voters — those whose voices are needed more than ever in our democracy. My overa l l goa l is to educate the incoming generation of voters to bui ld an env ironment at VCU w h e r e c i v i c e n g a g e m e nt i s n o t just a responsibilit y, but a passion. The importance of registering to vote cannot be overstated. It secures your

vote by preventing voter fraud, meaning it ensures that no person can vote in two different locations. There are many ways to register in our commonwealth. You can visit the Virginia Department of Elections website, go to iwillvote.com or register the old-fashioned way: being stopped by a random person on the street and asked, “Are you registered?” It is important to note that the last option comes with a physical form to fill out. In Richmond, you must register by Friday, Oct. 23 to vote in the upcoming midterms. If Election Day comes around and you realize that you forgot to register, you can do same-day voter registration when going to cast your vote. When registering, be sure to have your Social Security number memorized or your card handy. Within two weeks of registering, you will receive mail confirming your address and voting district. If you are already registered and moving to a new area, I would strongly suggest that you update your voter information if you are going to be there for an extended period of time. After all, it is not worth voting in a place that you are not living in. Secondly, be informed. I hope that goes without saying, but always know what, and most importantly, who, will be on the ballot. Know when and where you must vote. Understand what type of election it is and what is at risk. For example, here in Richmond, we have a U.S. Senate race between incumbent

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa. Additionally, there is a U.S. House of Representatives race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Republican candidate Robert Murray Jr. and independent challenger Joan Bell. Citizens will also vote on three proposed amendments to the Constitution of Virginia that deal with the enshrining of the right to reproductive freedom, the removal of a ban on same-sex marriage and the restoration of voting rights for felons after they have served their time, according to a previous report by the CT. For those that live in Richmond’s 6th district, there is a special school board election between incumbent Anne Holton and challenger Jackie McDonnough, both of whom are nonpartisan, according to WRIC. There is also a local sales tax referendum for public school construction and major renovations, according to Orange County Public Schools. I will not try to tell you how to vote (for now, at least) but I urge everyone reading this to take an hour or two to research all the options so that come Election Day, you can make an informed decision. To this end, it can be helpful to look at the websites of each candidate, as well as any of their recent statements or debates. Keeping up with and taking part in contemporary politics can be annoying — trust me, I know. But that is not an excuse to voluntarily blind yourself to the options that you are given, limited though they may be.

In other words, do not silence yourself because of the messy and divisive state of American politics. Rather, become an informed voter despite it. Lastly, go out and vote. Do not let Richmond become a place where voters are apathetic and democracy dies in darkness. Early voting starts Sept. 18 and lasts through Oct. 31, so you have time to consider it as an option. If you are like me and prefer the chaotic ambiance of Election Day, you are more than welcome to wait for Tuesday, Nov. 3, so long as you commit to voting no matter what. VCU is an institution full of diverse opinions and backgrounds. While there will always be much disagreement and controversy, I choose to see that as something that strengthens our democracy, not as something that hinders it. So the next time you walk into a voting booth and cast your vote, remember that you are not just choosing a school board member or a U.S. Senator, but that you are engaging in a conversation about your future, your loved ones’ futures, Richmond’s future and America’s future. If there is anything that I want you to take away from this article, let it be this: if voting were not important, then certain people would not try as hard as they currently are to limit your right to do it.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Opinions

Anti-dating app rhetoric is anti-queer MARITZA BAPTISTE Sta" Writer I have seen movies and TV shows portray college as an idealistic place where love is everywhere, at co$ee shops, latenight study sessions or frat parties. While I value my education, love played a much stronger role in my college decision than I would like to admit — especially as a young, queer person. I am in my fourth year of college and I have not met anyone at a co$ee shop or during a late-night study session. Even after I turned 21, I have only been approached at the club a handful of times. Most of the time, I am approached by men. Despite these unmet expectations, my dating life is quite fruitful. I do not feel like I have missed out on a key college experience — it is just that most of my chance romantic meetings happen online. I understand the appeal of wanting to meet someone off line. Some college campuses have students who engage in “ See A nd Be Seen,” wh ich is intentionally spending more time outside or in public so that you can be visible and approachable to a potential love interest, according to VICE. I think deep down we are all craving a rom-com-worthy meet-cute, where the music swells and cherry blossoms swirl around us as our love interest sweeps us o$ our feet. It is not that queer people are not having these experiences, but the reality is that most people are straight. Trying to determine who is queer when you are not

at a gay bar can be di%cult — so much so that many queer people have found comfort and safety in dating apps. However, we are seeing a cultural shift with more people wanting to find ’real’ love by meeting someone ’organically’ as opposed to online. If ’real’ love is only found through perfect chance meetings, then we are excluding many queer people from the conversation. Love can look many di$erent ways — so why is it less valid just because it happened on a screen first? Dating apps are not perfect. Having spent three years on Tinder, I am well acquainted with swipe fatigue and the superficiality of the whole experience. But once in a while, you strike gold. You match with someone your type, the conversation f lows over dinner and you make plans to see each other again. To me , d at i n g apps are far more intentional than the act of approaching an attractive stranger. We are screening each ot her f irst, combing through each other’s profiles, liking a response to a prompt or a funny pose in their photo. We have the chance to choose each

other based on actual information, not just a passing attraction. We are sold on an idea of love in every piece of media that we consume — even in queer media. But even the queer love stories we have do not reflect the realities of modern dating. Unless, of course, you have the hots for your professional hockey rival. So why not dow nload a dating app? Why not find love, a casual date

or a hookup without the stress of “are they straight?” The love you may find online is just as real and authentic as the love you see in movies.

Illustration by Sophie Dellinger

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tTHE CT STAFF EXECUTIVE EDITOR Maeve Bauer editor@commonwealthtimes.org MANAGING EDITOR Ellie Waltman managing@commonwealthtimes.org COPY EDITOR Skye Hathaway copy@commonwealthtimes.org NEWS EDITOR Sal Orlando news@commonwealthtimes.org ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Kayla Muñecas asstnews@commonwealthtimes.org SPORTS EDITOR Ben Martindale sports@commonwealthtimes.org ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Tyrese Perkins asstsports@commonwealthtimes.org SPECTRUM EDITOR Elle Cota spectrum@commonwealthtimes.org ASSISTANT SPECTRUM EDITOR Rachel Nicholas asstspectrum@commonwealthtimes.org OPINIONS & HUMOR EDITOR Kylie Grunsfeld opinions@commonwealthtimes.org ASSISTANT OPINIONS & HUMOR EDITOR Shiny Chandravel asstopinions @commonwealthtimes.org MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Ashley Davis multimedia@commonwealthtimes.org ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Abriana Ridgley asstmultimedia@commonwealthtimes.org PHOTO EDITOR Burke Loftus photo@commonwealthtimes.org ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Zoe Luis illustrations@commonwealthtimes.org AUDIENCE EDITOR Naveen Griscom social@commonwealthtimes.org

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS Devynn Alston Maritza Baptiste Madeleine Biondi Molly Christianson Benney Koch Olivia Rine Maddy Thurber

PHOTOGRAPHERS John Brown Catt Brito

ILLUSTRATORS Abbos Soliev

PRODUCERS Sophie Tran

VCU STUDENT MEDIA CENTER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jackson Bechtold El Race Michael Wynne William Love designerssmc@vcu.edu DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Jessica Clary claryj@vcu.edu ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR CREATIVE MEDIA Mark Je"eries mjefferies@vcu.edu

ABOUT THE CT The Commonwealth Times is the free, award-winning, independent student newspaper at VCU, first published in 1969. The CT sta" maintain all editorial and operations discretion. There is absolutely no prior review by the public, university, or VCU Student Media Center administration or sta". The Executive Editor writes and manages the operations budget. The CT strives for accuracy. If you believe we have made an error, please email Maeve Bauer.

ADD YOUR VOICE The CT welcomes graduate and undergraduate students to contribute across its seven writing and visual teams. Contributors can apply to become paid sta" members.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Puzzles Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle A.I. APPLICATIONS

A.I. APPLICATIONS

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 Betsy Ochester & Andrew Gutelle

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dited by atti arol A.I. APPLICATIONS by Betsy Ochester & Andrew Gutelle

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle dited by atti arol

Level

Sudoku By The Mepham Group

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1

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

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

9/16/26