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Wednesday, September 23, 2026 @commonwealthtimes @theCT1

VOL. 73, NO. 6 SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 COMMONWEALTHTIMES.ORG

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Stories help fill gaps in Virginia’s Latino History ELLIE WALTMAN Managing Editor

MADDY THURBER Staff Writer

The Latino Virginia Oral History Project released 70 interviews with Latino Virginians to its digital archive on Sept. 16. The expansive oral history project captures the experiences of Latinos in Virginia and was conducted by VCU professors and undergraduate and graduate students, according to VCUnews. The project officially launched at a Virginia Hispanic Heritage celebration held at the Sacred Heart Center on Sept. 16. The event featured opening remarks from both professors who co-led the project, Catherine Ingrassia, the dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences and students who helped conduct the interviews.

Virginia’s Latino population continues to be a significant percentage of the state’s population, with over 8.8 million in the entire state. Richmond’s population of people self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino is 226,522, or 10.7%, according to census.gov. Daniel Morales, an associate professor of history at VCU, said that despite the growing number of Latinos in Virginia and their status as the largest minority in the U.S., academic research and projects on the population are often overlooked. IRON BLOSSOM Continued on page 4

The Virginia Latino Oral History event on Sept. 16 tied many different aspects of latino culture together beautifully during their ceremony. Photo by Catt Brito.

Richmond artist Shera Shi pointing to the crowd in the first set at Iron Blossom on Sept. 19. Photo by Burke Loftus.

Iron Blossom Festival blossoms for the fourth year ELLE COTA Spectrum Editor Bare feet pressed into the grass as live music carried through the open skies of Midtown Green, where Iron Blossom Music Festival returned Sept. 19 and 20 for its fourth year as the final days of summer unfolded.

Blankets and inflatable couches filled the grass as people of all ages played, laughed, cheered, danced, talked and sang along to the music while frisbees and footballs were tossed across the field. Music drifted between the two stages: the iron stage and the blossom stage. When the sun moved in and out of the clouds throughout the days, the crowd had

Medieval World

Roller Derby see Spectrum page 8

see Sports page 6

grown larger as the day continued and headliners took the stage. The festival, which began in 2023, included headliners this year such as LCD Soundsystem and Jack White and featured a couple of Richmond-based bands, including Shera Shi and Night Idea. IRON BLOSSOM Continued on page 10

Illustration by Jackson Bechtold.

Hispanic trailblazers of VCU Athletics TRAILBLAZERS Continued on page 6

Commercialization of HHM see Opinions page 12

The Commonwealth Times

Stories of the week

News

NATIONAL: The Trump administration ejected over 750,000 people from the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces. INTERNATIONAL: President Donald Trump will sign a security deal with the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark. This follow months of rhetoric from the president threatening to take over Greenland.

Richmond International Film Festival faces boycott from pro-Palestinian group

A sign at the historic Byrd Theater’s ticket booth announcing the RIFF, Sept. 22. Photo by Chiara Wells.

HAZEL LAIR Contributing Writer Richmond for Palestine called for a boycott of the Richmond International Film Festival on Sept. 3, in response to controversial film screenings, collaboration with the Israeli Embassy and comments from Heather Waters, the festival’s founder and producer. Richmond for Palestine is a coalition of organizations that work toward the

shared goal of supporting Palestine. In an open letter to RIFF, posted on Instagram, the group explained their motivations for calling the boycott. “For the last three years, Palestinians and Lebanese have su"ered greatly under the genocidal violence of the Israeli state,” the letter stated. “For more than a century, Palestinians have been subjected to occupation and displacement at the hands of Israel … We have a moral obligation to support the Palestinian people in their

struggle for liberation. To that end, it’s imperative that we boycott Israeli cultural institutions, as well as cultural institutions that support and normalize the Israeli state.” The letter mentioned Waters’ recent trips to Israel and her b e l ief t h at it i s not commit t ing genocide, according to Style Weekly. “It is clear that Heather Waters and RIFF endorse the dehu ma n iz at ion of margina lized groups worldwide,” the letter stated. One of the boycott's demands is for RIFF to end its collaboration with the Israeli E m b a s s y , according to Danielle DiBlasio, a member of Richmond for Palestine. “Aligning with the Israeli Embassy is an endorsement of Israel’s genocide,” DiBlasio said. “Palestinians are being killed in Gaza and the West Bank every day. Israel is carrying out massacres in Southern Lebanon regularly. By giving the Israeli state free marketing through their sponsorship, RIFF is supporting this violence.” DiBlasio said that the festival’s film choices, public statements by the festival’s founder and her handling of criticisms made it difficult to imagine supporting RIFF in the future

A gentleman reads September’s calendar of events outside RVA’s historic Byrd Theater, Sept. 22. Photo by Chiara Wells.

DiBlasio hopes that Waters and RIFF will see how many people in the community stand against the festival’s platforming of genocide. She hopes the boycott will reach filmmakers and change their views of their involvement with RIFF in the future. Waters said that excluding certain filmmakers based on the country they are from or their government’s decision is against the festival’s moral obligation to avoid censorship. She said that pulling films due to “geopolitical con$icts” silences independent artists who may denounce the structures that people are protesting “We continue to welcome open dialogue among all people and perspectives and often the best place to have those complex conversations is within the arts and cinema,” Waters said, “Boycotts do the opposite - they seek to close doors and end conversations, whereas film festivals open doors and start them. If anyone wants to understand RIFF’s position, it is perhaps most important to understand that one point.” Waters said RIFF emphasizes that cultural exchange requires people to engage in stories that represent complexities of the human experience. Filmmaker Dima Hamdan, who produced the film “Blood Like Water,” pulled out of the festival in past years. Waters said that this had little e"ect on the festival’s success. “I think this is largely in part to us standing firm on our founding principles,” Waters said. “In the long run, standing by these principles only strengthens RIFF’s reputation as a reliable, independent haven for international artists.”

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

VCUarts dean steps down, university on search for replacement HARSHINI KANALA Contributing Writer VCU School of Arts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham announced she will be stepping down from her position as dean at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. The university will conduct a national search for Higginbotham’s successor throughout the academic year, according to VCU News. Higginbotham plans to return to VCU as faculty to focus on her research and scholarship after taking a brief leave. Du r ing Higg inbot ha m’s tenu re, VCUarts ranked No. 1 in public fine arts for graduate programs and No. 2 overall in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. VCUarts received funding for the CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation and integrated the Institute for Contemporary Art into the School of the Arts. VCU approved the consolidation of several arts departments during her tenure, according to a previous report by the CT. During Higginbotham’s tenure in 2025, the school’s decision to discontinue a standalone fall commencement ceremony prompted student backlash and a petition calling for its reinstatement, according to a previous report by the CT. In March, faculty members publicly raised concerns about faculty departures, a l leged racia l ly mot ivated facu lt y termination, tenure policies and low morale within the school, with some alleging a lack of transparency from administration A situation on which Higginbotham stated that the school could not comment on the specific circumstances of Professor Monsieur “Sandy” Zohore’s employment and referred to these new tenure guidelines according to a previous CT report. Noah Mathias Birkeland, a Painting

and Printmaking alum, feels that the announcement is a result of disjointed structure, lack of consistent focus and leadership. He said these are a sign of the prof it-focused culture held by VCU administration. “In general, the arts program feels like it’s had many administrative hands involved with very little evidence or benefit for the students and faculty,” Mathias Birkeland said. “I never had much connection of the dean, in fact, the first time I saw her at all was at my graduation ceremony, at which she was booed upon the beginning of her speech.” Julia Freund, a second-year in Painting and Printmaking major at VCU, said she was initially apprehensive of the restructuring of the Fine Arts department but has not noticed any di"erence. “I wish that I was more aware of what changes she did when she was in o%ce…I think that AFO was run well overall, but there were a couple of things I wished were di"erent…some of the facilities could use an upgrade.” Freund said. Emory Bartenstein Lillard, a fourthyear Fashion Design major, hopes that the new dean will prioritize student concerns. “I have spoken to Dean Higginbotham once about the need for better supplies and buildings that aren’t moldy or falling apart for the current art and fashion students, but nothing came of it,” Bartenstein Lillard said. “Higginbotham secured funding for the new costar building for performing arts, a remarkable achievement for posterity, but one that greatly disregards the current state of the art buildings and neglects the same students they herald as tokens of their exquisite teachings.” Bartenstein Lillard, along with several of her classmates she’s talked with, feels that Higginbotham and the administration

VCUArts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham. Courtesy photo by Monica Escamilla.

only value the art students when it helps them grow their reputation, and the rest of the year they are neglected while tuition and material prices rise. “Higginbotham makes over 300k per year, but her salary does not re$ect the amount of work put into giving the art students a better school environment,” Bartenstein Lillard. Ba r tenstein Li l la rd sa id that Higginbotham’s salary does not re$ect the work she puts into giving art students a better environment. “My professors are not the problem,” Lillard said. “They care about us and want us to succeed. It’s the administration that needs to change. The turnover rate is so high, people who care about us are gone by next year.” TyRuben Ellingson, an associate profe ssor for t he Depa r t ment of Communication Arts at VCU, who worked as part of the dean’s senior director team of the narrative media group. “ I’ve been at VCU since 2013. Higginbotham was the fifth Dean and I was already in leadership when she got here, I was working with Nancy Scott and had more contact [with the situation] than normal faculty,” Ellingson said. Ellingson said Higginbotham was the fifth dean during his tenure at VCU. “It’s difficult for deans to arrive in a community and try to find their footing in a preexisting culture… Faculty are invested in it [the community] for a long time it’s a challenging position to come into. For any Dean, they learn about the culture and it takes a year,” Ellingson said. Ellingson said the dean listened to faculty and took time to formulate opinions, not coming in with an agenda. Ellingson said the new building was in the works before this Dean arrived and the

Dean was more involved with the strategy of the building. He thinks a reconfiguration of the school was very healthy. “My view, the dean is able to tell the most compelling story about the value of the things they oversee. They have to be capable of sharing that story with stakeholders who are in a position to do things for the school,” Ellingson said. “They [the dean] are the true believers of the arts. They illuminate and underscore the value of our programs.” M a t t Wa l l i n , a p r o f e s s o r i n Communication Arts, said that during his time as a department chair, he became aware of how decisions the school made a"ect individual departments di"erently. “I would describe the changes during Dean Higginbotham’s tenure as a mixed bag,” Wallin said. “There have been some positive developments and a real e"ort to move the school forward, but I’ve also seen a growing tension between institutional growth and maintaining the things that have historically made VCUarts successful. Wallin said that as department chair, he noticed it is di%cult to replace institutional knowledge and mentorship that comes with someone who has been a part of the university for 10 or 20 years. He also said that new people can bring ideas to the arts program. “One other thing that has occurred to me numerous times over the past 20 years is that, were I ever in the role of a Dean, a Provost, or a President at VCU, I would not accept such disproportionate compensation in its entirety,” Wallin said. “No one needs $350,000 to $1 million a year in compensation to live like a king or queen in Richmond, Virginia.”

The Commonwealth Times

News

The Sacred Heart Center invited Gabriela León-Pérez and Daniel Morales, founders of the Virginia Latino Oral History Project to introduce the latino residents of Richmond to their new digital archive of latino voices and stories on Sept. 16. Photo by Catt Brito. Latin Oral History Project “One in f ive Americans is Latino, they have the fastest-growing population in Virginia. It’s generally not considered important to know about Latinos and we think that’s wrong. We think that creates a distorted view of American history and we’re trying to rectify that by telling these stories and building it as an archive.” The interviews include experiences shaped by economic opportunity, family unification and education as part of a broader effort with VCU’s Department of Sociology. Morales said the interviews histories provide individual accounts of how people built their lives and found communities in Virginia. “The bulk of the archive and interviews is about making a life here,” Morales said. “It’s not necessarily about migration or leaving Latin America. A ver y large percentage of people that we interviewed were born in the U.S. and born in Virginia.”

Morales said that he hopes through the publication of this archive that the individuals whose interviews were featured feel represented and that the broader community understands that Latinos are changing Virginia. “ They’re [Latinos] changing the economy of Virginia and they’re changing the culture of Virginia. That's a good thing, not a scary thing,” Morales said. “Understand that if you want to understand American histor y, societ y, cult ure, academic or not academic, you have to include Latino voices in that.” Gabriela León-Pérez, an associate professor of sociology at VCU, said that the need to highlight the stories and diversity of the Latino community stems from t h e

stereot y pes and my ths surrounding the community. “Across the United States, almost two-thirds of Latinos are U.S. born,” León-Pérez said. “There’s always this interpretation that a l l Latinos are immigrants, but no, many were born here. They were raised here and their experience is di"erent, so it was important for us to also shed light on this community.” First- and second-generation Latinos, including immigrants and children of immigrants, are featured in interviews in the archive to show the diversity in origins within the community and breaking common stereotypes, according to León-Pérez. “There’s people who come to Virginia and the U.S. for a variety of reasons, with many different backgrounds from m a ny c ou nt r ie s ,” L e ón-Pére z said. “Our archive has people from every single country of Latin America represented.”

Alongside publishing a digital archive, the Latino Project also published a lesson plan in collaboration with the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University, León-Pérez said. “These are lesson plans local teachers created so middle school and high school students can learn about the Latino community through these interviews,” León-Pérez said. “We also have a fact sheet that was created for us that provides a bunch of demographic statistics about the Latino community in Virginia.” León-Pérez said that her main takeaway, and what she hopes others who engage with this project will take away, has been the resilience of the Latino community despite the obstacles that many of the individuals have faced. “ Many of t hese stor ies inc lude experiences, challenges and obstacles, but at the end of the day, all of these stories show us resilience and how people have such a positive outlook on life,” León-Pérez said. “It really highlights how much the Latino community has contributed to the social, political and economic life in Virginia.”

On Sept. 16. Brought Latino culture to Richmond Virginia as dancers from all parts of latino culture to put on a beautiful show at the Sacred Heart Center for the Virginia Latino Oral History Project event. Photo by Catt Brito

Dorm Storm Event elevates student activism at VCU SANIYAH PULLEN Contributing Writer The National Organization for Women at VCU kicked o" a series of canvassing events to talk to students about the reproductive rights amendment on the ballot this November. Planned Parenthood, Repro-Rising and Virginians for Reproductive Freedom collaborated with NOW at VCU for these events, the first occurring Sunday, September 2 0 t h, accord ing to a n Instagram post. Virginia Question One includes the protection of access to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management and fertility care, as well as ensuring all doctors, nurses and patients will not be punished for these decisions. “This election is so important because it prevents Virginia politicians in the future from taking away that freedom to make decisions that a"ect our health, wellbeing and our future,” Jasmine Hernandez-Reyes, a student fellow at ReproRising stated. Cheri West, Communications Manager for ReproRising Virginia, wants Virginians to understand the future protected by the amendment. “These laws are going to impact them throughout their lifetime, and they should have a say on the decisions governing their bodies,” West said. “There’s no person more

Organizers Eliana Shepard, Denisha Chisholm and NOW at VCU founder Rebecca Weil alongside student participants after organization’s Dorm Storm event on Sept. 20 Photo by Saniyah Pullen. qualified to make decisions about your body than yourself and your healthcare provider, and politicians shouldn’t be in the room making those decisions.” R e b e c c a We i l , f o u n d e r a n d president of NOW at VCU, believes

student involvement extends beyond reproductive rights. “We want to send the message that women’s rights is not an isolated issue,” Weil stated. “We’re really interested in bringing people together to f ight for

something bigger, and this bigger serves us all.” At the first of the four events, Weil spoke to VCU students about the amendment and supported them in registering to vote for the upcoming election.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

News

Ca nv a s si ng g ive s st udent s t he opportunity to put their political opinions into action and participate in civic life. Having opinions on the political process is the first step, and NOW at VCU wants students to feel encouraged to take the second step, speaking out on their beliefs. “Young people especially have so many ideas that we want to get into the world, and tabling and canvassing and talking to people is the best way to do it,” Weil said. The members of NOW at VCU who introduced the idea for the Dorm Storm event, Elaina Shepard and Denisha Chisholm, felt the event would greatly benefit VCU students. “ Not on l y w o u ld it he lp t he organization’s recognition on campus,

but it would let students know their rights are being talked about in this election, and they need to know about it,” Chisholm said. The event helped students understand how political decisions affect them, Santoria Williams, sophomore student at the event said. “It’s definitely made me more proactive, seeing how a lot of people don’t understand what’s going on in the government and politics,” Williams said. The Dorm Storm events will continue to visit student housing and educate students on the amendment on October 18th and November 1st before the November 3rd election date.

Student holding sign saying 'Vote Yes On 1' during NOW at VCU’s Dorm Storm event on Sept. 20. Photo by Saniyah Pullen.

U.S. district court judge relieves international students of fixed time rule MADELEINE BIONDI Staff Writer A day before its enactment, a judge issued nationwide preliminary relief in a Department of Homeland Security lawsuit, postponing the fixed time period rule on Visas for international students set for Sept. 15, according to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers. The rule was created on July 17 by the Department of Homeland Security to establish a fixed period of admission in place of the unspecified duration of stay rule established in 1978. F-1 international students and J-1 work-study students were to be admitted for 4 years, with I-1 foreign media and journalists restricted to 240 days. The f inal rule contained a shorter depa r t u re per iod , rest r ic t ions on transferring programs and a necessity to request extensions for all 1.03 million F students, 290,000 J students and an untracked number of I card holders. VCU enrolls 1,180 international students, or 4-6% of the student body, that would have been a"ected, in addition to its permanent resident students currently a"ected by new public charge rulings. Michael Porter, a spokesman for the Strategic Enrollment Management and Global Initiatives, said, the department continues to monitor developments on the issue. International students can also access immigration advising through the VCU Global Education O%ce. Porter said all information would be communicated with international students. Among these updates is the U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor

International and non-international students mingling at the Global Education Office’s Global Buddies matching event on Sept. 15. Photo by Burke Loftus.

IV’s ruling that the new policy would have negligible e"ect on national security and exceed statutory authority. “The damage to the higher education system and to the economy of the United States is likely to be catastrophic,” Saylor IV said. The initia l lawsuit and request for injunction were f iled on Aug. 18 in the District of Massachusetts by pla intiffs whose labor unions and or g a n i z at ion s fo c u s e d on h i gher

International and non-international students mingling at the Global Education Office’s Global Buddies matching event on Sept. 15. Photo by Burke Loftus.

education and immigration. According to the court ruling, plainti"s were likely to prove that the final rule violated the Administrative Procedure Act, meaning it did not abide by the rulemaking and executing process and was in violation of the law. The plainti"s, including NAFSA, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and the American Federation of Teachers, appeared on Sept. 3 for the hearing assigned to Judge Saylor, according to a press release from the Presidents’ Alliance. Complaints heard from plaintiffs included failure to justify the rule based on its objectives and evaluate its cost and benefit. Plainti"s maintain that the DHS did not allow adequate time for public comment or to adapt to it, failing to consider its alternatives. After the lawsuit’s success, many of its plainti"s framed the victory as part of a larger process in addressing arbitrary new immigration law. International educators work with the federal government to ensure they are complying with U.S. immigration law, said Fanta Aw, the Executive Director of NAFSA, one of the plainti"s. “At a time when countries around the world are competing for talent, the United States should be strengthening our ability to attract the best and brightest, not

creating new barriers to it,” Aw said. DHS General Counsel James Percival made statements against the injunction on X. “Come on a student visa, take one class per semester, and stay here for decades. According to Judge Dennis Saylor, ICE must permit this rampant abuse of our immigration system,” Percival said. The restrictions on those with an F, J and I classification are accompanied by other new DHS rules, notably a “public charge” rule that would allow immigrants’ use or likelihood of using public benefits to be taken into account when qualifying for permanent residency, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This rule reinstates and expands a former 2019 requirement to include a wider range of “public charges,” rescinding a 2022 ruling against consideration of government assistance. The public charge rule went into e"ect Sept. 18 despite lawsuits led by 22 states and D.C., including Virginia, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani alongside other cities, according to Stateline. Saylor’s ruling is effective unless contended against by further judicial action, according to the June 2025 Supreme Court ruling that district courts cannot provide “universal injunctions," or national order, unless necessary.

The Commonwealth Times

Sports

Richmond welcomes the River City Roller derby for its 20th year

API Fury faces off against Patuxent Roller. Photo by John Brown.

Stat of the week

Former defender Gonzalo Segares is the only VCU men's soccer player to win the CAA conference defender of the year award twice. BEN MARTINDALE Sports Editor The Richmond Convention Center hosted the River City Roller Derby, this past weekend Sept. 19 to 20. !e event, which took place in Hall D, was full of families, spectators, vendors and competitors. Team mascots, including a person dressed in giant rat costume to represent the River City River Rats, kept energy high among the crowd. Roller Derby is a contact sport where two teams skate around an oval shaped track in an attempt to score more points than the other. !e teams score points during “jams.” A jam is when blockers from each team collide while “jammers,” who are often fast and agile players, attempt to get past the other team's blockers to earn a point. Despite the fierce competition, which can sometimes lead to big collisions that send competitors flying, River City Roller Derby prides itself on inclusivity and is a safe space for women and non-cis male competitors. Adding their own unique flair to the league, players opt to identify by alternate names when competing. “Roller Derby, to me, is the only place, the only sport that centers diversity,” said River City River Rats competitor Dio Slamdo.

“Whether that’s in race, gender, background, body type, having that kind of diversity, and seeing people like you, is really huge.” !is year’s event was made up of seven squads. !e River City River Rats, Kill Devil Derby Brigade, API Fury, Patuxent Roller Derby, River City Riot, Orlando Ozone Slayers and the Virginia Vipers. A group of vendors lined the wall selling everything from jewelry to derby themed apparel. Some vendors were making their first appearance at River City Roller Derby, while others have been involved with the event for years. Sacred Roller Skate Supply, a Herndonbased full service skate shop that specializes in roller skates, has been involved with the Derby for five years now, according to vendor Katie McDonald. “We’re here supporting the Derby,” said McDonald. “We help the teams get in gear, kitted from top to bottom. Also, any maintenance stuff that may pop up during tournament weekend. Also we’re just here with a bunch of cool accessories, like stickers, bandanas, you know, fun stuff for spectators.” The final match of the 2026 River City Roller Derby season will take place on Nov. 5 at the Rollerdome in Williamsburg, VA.

Illustration by Jackson Bechtold.

Hispanic trailblazers of VCU Athletics DEVYNN ALSTON Staff Writer Hispanic Heritage Month, spanning from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, offers a chance to look back at Hispanic athletes who built significant careers at VCU and went on to professional careers. Among them are Andres Rodriguez, Vimael Machín and Gonzalo Segares. From Machín being drafted by the Chicago Cubs and working his way through the minor leagues to Oakland’s MLB team, to Segares’ decorated career as a soccer player and coach, and Rodriguez’s beginning his professional career, each of these Rams has a story that extends beyond their time at VCU. Andres Rodriguez, a Virginia native,

is the most recent graduate of the group, graduating in 2025. During his time at VCU, Rodriguez became a regular presence on the pitch. As a midfielder, he recorded 5,300 minutes, played in 65 games and finished his career as a Ram with three goals and eight assists. He was also a part of VCU’s 2023 Atlantic 10 Championship team. Post-VCU, he has begun competing professionally, playing with Sarasota Paradise since December 23, 2025. Rodriguez’s Hispanic heritage has also inf luenced his connection to the sport. Rodriguez looked to Mexico’s national team, El Tri, as inspiration while growing up, according to VCU Athletics. “El Tri were winning trophies, and I was amazed by it,” Rodriguez said. “It

made me think maybe one day I could get to that point.” Vimael Machín’s career took him from VCU to the major leagues. At VCU, Machín established himself at shortstop before beginning his professional career with the Chicago Cubs’ organization. He worked his way through the minor leagues and, in 2020, made his debut with the Oakland Athletics. Machín also represented Puerto Rico on the international stage, playing for the Puerto Rican national baseball team during the WBSC Premier12 Tournament, according to World Baseball Network. During his time as a VCU soccer player, Gonzalo Segares was regarded as a standout defender and one of the greatest to wear black and gold, according to VCU Athletics.

He won the conference defender of the year award in 2002 and 2004 and led VCU to ten shutouts, according to MLS Soccer. A f ter VC U, S eg a re s pl ay e d professionally, becoming the first Ram to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft as a third-round pick by the Chicago Fire in 2005. After his playing days, he began coaching and currently coaches the U.S. men’s U-19 national team. Soccer was introduced to Segares in Costa Rica at a young age, with Saprissa being his favorite team growing up, according to Soccer America. Later, he would go on to represent his country in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. Each former Ram carries different connections to their Hispanic roots that have influenced their lives in sports.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

RECAP:

GAME RESULTS 9/17/26

How VCU did on the road this week

VCU WVB - AT UD LOST 3-2

9/18/26

BENNEY KOCH Staff Writer 9/15 - VCU golf at the Redhawk Intercollegiate VCU golf had a great showing in Pittsburgh at the Redhawk Intercollegiate where the Rams finished first among 14 teams. !ird-year Tanner Cadieux, graduate student Max Morgenstern and first-year !eo Archer all finished in the top 10 and led VCU to victory. Cadieux had the best finish for the Rams, shooting 5-under in the final round, tying for third place at 7-under for VCU. !e Rams went 14-under across the final rounds to secure the victory. 9/17 - Women’s volleyball at University of Delaware In a close matchup, VCU women’s volleyball lost to Delaware 3-2. Fourthyear middle blocker Nina Boledovicova had a career-high 19 kills, while hitting .348 on 46 attempts and contributing four blocks – leading the way for VCU. !ird-year setter Cansin Sendir also set a career-high of 60 assists, while third-year middle blocker Letizia Galli posted a team high 7 blocks. In a close fourth set, the Rams were on the verge of becoming victorious but could not stop Delaware from rallying a 27-25 win. 9/18 - Men’s cross country at CNU XC Invitational While VCU men’s cross country did not compete for a team score, the Rams had some amazing individual performances. Second-year Jonathan Hess, f inished overall in the 8K with a 26:32.9 time. In the first 8k of his collegiate career, firstyear Ethan Havran finished fifth overall with a time of 27:10.3. Second-year Jayden Curry finished 10th and right behind him was redshirt third-year Carter Smith who finished in 13th place. 9/18 - Women’s cross country at CNU XC Invitational VCU came away with a second-place finish with a team score of 66. Third-

VCU WXC - AT CNU XC INVITATIONAL 2ND PLACE / 8 TEAMS

VCU FH - AT LAS WON 3-2

VCU VB - AT UD Illustration by Zoë Luis

year Madelyn Anderson led the Rams finishing in eighth place with a 6k time of 23:54.5. Behind her was fourth-year Shreya Krishnamurthy who finished in 11th. Firstyear Simone Wilt made her college debut finishing 21st in the 6k. 9/18 - Field Hockey at La Salle University VCU field hockey opened Atlantic 10 play against La Salle, winning 2-1. While the game was tight VCU dominated throughout the match outshooting La Salle 18-10 overall and holding a 7-4 advantage in penalty corners. Redshirt third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements made six saves. !ird-year Callie Dieffenbacher’s first career game-winning goal won the game for VCU. 9/18 - Women’s Volleyball at University of Delaware In the last game of A-10 nonconference play, VCU volleyball f inished strong and won 3-1 in hard fought sets against Delaware. !ird-year outside hitter Lara Del Core led VCU with 13 kills, hitting .385 on 26 swings. Boledovicova had an incredibly efficient night also, hitting .550 on 20 attempts. !e Rams converted on a seasonhigh .393 across the match and had a great finish to their non-conference matchups.

9/19 - Women’s Soccer at Saint Louis University In their A-10 opening matchup, the Rams lost 7-1. The Billikens outshot the Rams 27-7 with 12 shots on goal to VCU’s 3. Second-year forward Isabelle Franklin scored the sole goal for VCU via an assist by first-year forward Monique McEnhimer. Fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz kept SLU from scoring on all three of their attempts in the last 25 minutes of the game, but VCU was not able to muster up a comeback. 9/19 - Men’s Soccer at St. Bonaventure University VCU was unable to win their A-10 opener against St. Bonaventure despite leading early. Third-year midf ielder Mohammed Ibrahim scored his first goal of the season only 10 minutes into the match. Despite outshooting SBU and leading the contest in corner kicks, VCU did not score again and failed to overcome St. Bonaventure, losing 2-1. 9/20 - Field Hockey at Lafayette College Lafayette took the lead in the first quarter and VCU’s offensive shortcomings kept them from being able to convert at the goal, leading to a 2-0 shutout. While Clements had five saves on Lafayette’s seven shot attempts, VCU’s inability to score kept them from having a chance in the match.

9/19/26 VCU WSOC - AT SLU LOST 7-1

VCU MSOC - AT SBU LOST 2-1

9/20/26 VCU FH - AT UL LAFAYETTE LOST 2-0

9/18/26 - 9/20/26 VCU WT - AT UD INVITATIONAL 13 WINS - 3 LOSSES

Inside the world of VCU soccer recruiting BRI MCALLISTER Contributing Writer For some VCU soccer players, the road to Richmond begins just a few miles from campus. For others, it begins thousands of miles away. VCU’s soccer programs recruit players from across the United States and around the world, bringing together athletes from different backgrounds, playing styles and experiences. For international players, the process can mean leaving behind their family, friends and familiar surroundings to pursue both an education and a soccer career. For men’s soccer head coach Dave Giffard, recruiting means getting personal, taking it slow and identifying players who can contribute to the program while fitting into the culture of the team. “I’m looking for players that have characteristics, ideally more than one, but at least one that could translate to at least one level beyond us, ideally, multiple levels beyond us,” Giffard said. “Maybe it’s not the guy that’s the safest bet and most sought out after by all these other places. It’s a guy who has tools that could potentially develop over the course of a

Midfielder Andrey Salmeron last season. Courtesy of VCU Athletics. 3.5-to 4.5-year period, being something much more than what they are now.” The men’s soccer 2026 incoming class includes international talent from Costa Rica, Spain, the Bahamas, South Africa, Portugal, Ghana, Ireland, Norway and Jamaica. For fourth-year midfielder Andrey Solomon, a player from San José, Costa Rica, recruitment to VCU began while he was playing soccer in his home country. “Since I was a kid, I always had this idea or dream to play soccer but study at the same time,” Solomon said. “I was doing a workout with my team and Coach Lucas

came straight to me like, ‘Hey Andrey!’ and I was like, ‘What? How do you know me?’” That f irst interaction became the beginning of a process that eventually brought Solomon to Richmond. His experience demonstrates how international recruiting can happen through opportunities far beyond the traditional American high school soccer pipeline. For second-year defender Bo Price, an English player on the women’s soccer team, the decision to play college soccer in the United States meant adapting to a different style of soccer while also adjusting to life

thousands of miles from home. “!e girls are so good, like they are great,” Price said. “!ey make me feel like it’s family away from home.” More than 60 of Giffard’s VCU players have gone on to play professionally during his tenure, according to the Dave Giffard Soccer Camps website. For coaches, recruiting is ultimately about finding players who can grow within the program. For international players such as Solomon and Price, the recruiting process has transformed a dream of playing soccer at a collegiate level, into a reality at VCU.

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Spectrum

On This Day

On Sept. 23, 1889, the gaming company Nintendo was officially founded in Kyoto, Japan.

Return to Renaissance: Virago Alley celebrates pre-industrial society WILDER RODRIGUEZ Contributing Writer Virago Alley, the nonprofit responsible for Richmond ’s f irst ever full-scale multicultural Renaissance faire, opened the doors to its first physical location on Sept. 4. The location is situated in Richmond’s arts district at 200 W. Marshall St. in Jackson Ward. Regularly scheduled weekly classes offered include saber and longsword lessons on Saturdays and Renaissance Era fencing on Thursdays. Beginning in October, Virago Alley will offer a wide variety of workshops including magic hat making on Oct. 18, book binding on Nov. 15 and Shaolin martial arts on Nov. 22. Amanda Robinson, founder and artistic director of Virago Alley, said the original idea for a physical location came about to provide indoor space for historic martial arts groups, but quickly expanded into a broader celebration of pre-industrial society. She said the Renaissance faire acted as the main fundraising mechanism for the goals of the organization. Robinson said that the organization’s top priority is representing lost mediums. “Given this AI generated landscape, it’s very important to us to get back into working with our hands and remembering these tangible mediums,” Robinson said.

Robinson said that Virago A lley seeks to deconstruct the Eurocentric confines that many similar organizers of Renaissance faires and historic events often find themselves in. “ This is a silk road experience, highlighting so many traditions from across the globe,” Robinson said. Ash M o o r e , Vi r a g o A l l e y ’s ma na g i ng d i rec tor, sa id t hat i n a world of mass production, having the abilit y to create persona lized crafts adds a sense of sentimentality that is no longer very common. Bizhan Khodabandeh, vice president of Virago Alley, said that they have faced challenges in representing a broad spectrum of cultures because many do not have much representation. “There aren’t that many instructors locally who are going to be teaching those weapons systems,” Khodabandeh said. There are also plans to create a process for open submissions of classes by the public, Khodabandeh said. Robinson said that the classes and initial spaces are only a small glimpse into Virago Alley’s ultimate goals. The organization plans to find a larger space to accommodate archery, as well as a full forge for black smithing and glass blowing in the future. More information can be found on Viragoalley.org and on their Instagram @viragoalley.

Medieval world characters and items. Illustrations by Viktoria Soriano

A variety of vegetables Illustration by Elby McKenzie

To beet or not to beet at 22nd annual VegFest in RVA ARIEL LEBOW Contributing Writer R ic h mond w i l l hold t he 2 2 nd annual VegFest on Sept. 26 at Byrd Park, offering a free community event for vegans, vegetarians and anyone interested in learning about plantbased diets. The festival will feature educational talks, live music, cooking demonstrations and more than 120 vendors offering prepared and fresh foods as well as non-food items.

Amanda Trenchard, lead coordinator of VegFest, found the festival while looking for ways to connect with the vegan community after her move to Richmond in 2019. “You don’t have to just be vegan or vegetarian to go and enjoy vegan food or listen to music, have a good time with your friends on the weekend,” Trenchard said. While some vendors are fully vegan, many businesses are attending to highlight their plant-based options. The vegucation tent, a booth for education provided by registered nurses on vegan

lifestyles and nutritional advice, will include seven different musical performances, according to Lynn Klanchar, entertainment coordinator for VegFest. Klanchar has volunteered at VegFest for over five years, organizing its music and performances. “We want to have something for everybody, like Mary Moore and Høly River, two bands that are aligned with environmental issues,” Klanchar said. The event’s mission is to inform people on veggie-friendly options in the city and promote interest in a lifestyle focused on

intentional cruelty-free eating, according to Klanchar. Jaq Wetter, assistant vendor coordinator at VegFest since 2025, also works as an event planner. “The most important part of VegFest is the ability to show people how approachable veganism actually is,” Wetter said. “You don’t need to learn all the ways to cook tofu right off the bat. It’s important to show people that vegan food is just food, food you’re already familiar with.” More information about VegFest is available at the VegFest website.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Spectrum

Parkgoers gathered at the Henrico County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. booth. Photo by De Smaw.

Community picnic hosted by BornOutside SADIE PORTER Contributing Writer BornOutside hosted a picnic in Monroe Park on Sept. 19, inviting everyone in the community to come as they are. The festival was a free event that combined culture and community while providing a space for creators, business owners and Richmonders to interact on a personal level. Events included a brunch, meditative practices such as sound bowls and yoga, an art show, a photo walk meetup, multiple DJ sets and a Night in Lagos themed fashion show. Lado, a festival organizer, joined in the event because of his past creative projects and organization of community events.

“I came here really trying to bring the aspects of what I bring to a party, except outside, and then make it a real communit y event where people, a l l types of people, can come out and enjoy themselves,” Lado said. In troubling times, being outside with other humans who share similar interests makes a positive impact on the mind and body, Lado said. “The biggest thing to me is community because R ichmond has all t y pes of people,” Lado said. Lado said it is important to him to get out every once in a while and meet different people. He said that everyone loves music and art and just wants to be able to chill.

Attendees browsed vendor tables and canopy tents along the walkways of Monroe Park. Photo by De Smaw.

STUDENT STAFF SPOTLIGHT

DEVAN WAGNER Job Positions: Year: Resident Assistant Junior DSA Content Creator

Small businesses, artists and DJs attended the festival to gain exposure, perform and soak in the positive energy. Jasmine Lewis, also known as J. Michelle at her business, owns and operates Plush Smiles, a teeth whitening and tooth gem business in North Chesterfield. Lewis attended to try and get more business exposure. “It’s just telling you to bring yourself, bring good energy and I think that's all that people can do right now,” Lewis said. BornOutside encourages people to come with what they have, Lewis said. “It’s right here, smack dab in the middle of VCU,” Lewis said. “It’s a free event, it’s perfect weather, it’s bringing people together just to have fun.” Angel Brown, business owner of Angels Archive, attended BORNOUTSIDE as a way to interact with fellow community members and showcase her business. Angels Archive is a vintage clothing shop specializing in early 2000s pieces.

Major: Mass Communications

“I love the community around this a rea , espec ia l ly Mon roe Pa rk , t he VCU students and also just meeting new people,” Brown said. Brow n sa id she was at t racted to the event’s uniqueness and shopping element. “ S hop pi n g s m a l l a nd s hop pi n g Bl ac k-ow ned businesses a s wel l is something that you don’t see of ten concentrated w ith festiva ls,” Brow n said. It’s important to have spaces where Black-ow ned businesses a nd Black a r tists can showcase their products and talent to a large-scale audience, Brown said. Wit h a foc u s on c re at iv it y a nd connection, BornOutside gave Richmonders an evening outside their usual routines f illed with art, shopping and embrace of community spaces.

Visitors ordered food from red-and-white striped concession stands that offered fried food, seafood, sweet treats and smoothies. Photo by De Smaw.

Devan serves as a Resident Assistant with VCU Residential Life and Housing and as a Content Creator for the Division of Student Affairs. He was recognized as a spotlight recipient for his exceptional positivity, dedication, and reliability. Devan consistently shows up as his best self and gives his all to every role, making him someone his colleagues can always count on. His passion for VCU and the university community has earned him the well-deserved nickname, “Mr. VCU.” Thank you, Devan, for bringing your positivity, passion, and VCU pride to everything you do! AUG. 2026

A vendor for Protect Black Women as shoppers walked past during the picnic in the park event. Photo by De Smaw.

A massage table and signage for Rem Soul Wellness sat on the lawn as visitors browsed nearby clothing racks in Monroe Park. Photo by De Smaw.

The Commonwealth Times

RVA Spotlight

Put on your dancing shoes with RVA Bachata on Thursday, Sept. 24, at The Lilly Pad. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., you can salsa, bachata or merengue the night away. Tickets are $5 cash or $6 credit at the door.

Features

LCD Soundsystem founder, primary songwriter and lead vocalist James Murphy under a giant disco ball, a signature set piece for the band. Photo by Burke Loftus.

Geese frontman Cameron Winter sang during his Iron Blossom performance on Sept. 20. Photo by Burke Loftus. IRON BLOSSOM Continued from front page Over the two-day event, which began in 2023, people came together around the live music. For attendees Julie Slivka and Lauren Hennessy, the festival became a part of their yearly routine. The two have been best friends for 31 years and counting, starting their friendship right next door. They have attended the festival together for three consecutive years. Slivka and Hennessy’s plans for the festival began before the lineup was announced. They bought their tickets early without knowing the artist lineup. “I guess we have to do this until we’re like 95,” Hennessy said. “This is our new thing.” Returning each year has also meant hearing something different. The festival’s music changed year to year, Hennessy said. She saw the changing music as a reflection of Richmond’s range of musical genres.

The first year felt more like bluegrass and country rock while the second year felt more folk and last year’s was more funk pop, similar to indie pop, according to Hennessy. “Every year we’ve come, I found a new favorite band, which has been amazing,” Slivka said. For the two, the festival was not only about the artists onstage, but about spending time together and being outside. “We’ve gotten rained out the last two years and we still made the best of it,” Slivka said. “You got to make your own sunshine.” Describing the event as both vibey and groovy, Slivka said the festival had a consistent atmosphere throughout the day, with its own identity that became more enjoyable as the event went on. “The world is really heavy right now and when you come here you’ve got the wide open sky and just everyone’s here for a good time and to ground themselves,” Slivka said. Raven Gagne came to the festival on slightly different terms. Gagne bought a ticket last minute after deciding to see Portugal. The Man, one of the top

performers of Sunday night. Gagne said they are usually selective about the artists they listen to, even though their music taste spans many genres. They were less familiar with much of the Sunday lineup, but still spent time listening to the different artists. Gagne compared Iron Blossom to Bonnaroo, a week-long musical festival held in Tennessee. They found Iron Blossom easier to navigate and more approachable, describing it as a smaller version of a larger festival experience. T he fest iva l ’s schedu le a l lowed attendees to see each artist without having to choose between overlapping performances, Gagne said. “I think this is a really great balance, especially for people entering into the festival scene,” Gagne said. Gagne said the festival was not overwhelming and appreciated the open space. Alan Herbertson, a first time Iron Blossom attendee, saw the festival as an extension of Richmond itself. “Richmond is one of my, if not, my

Angine de Poitrine guitarist, bassist and vocalist Khn de Poitrine playing the guitar at their Iron Blossom set on Sept. 20. Photo by Burke Loftus.

favorite city in the country,” Herbertson said. “Iron Blossom is a perfect reflection of what this city is capable of with its partnering with all the arts and a just absolutely eclectic group of people and everyone just kind of coming together and listening to some good music and enjoying the city they live in.” Herbertson was interested in LCD Soundsystem and said Phantogram was a highlight of the festival for him. The people were what stood out most to Herbertson. “ It ’s ever y wa l k of l ife, I mean R ichmond itself is represented here at this festival,” Herbertson said. “It’s every single kind of person under the sun. It’s beautiful.” W hen t he moon appea red over Midtown Green, the festival moved into the cooler hours of the evening. The grass remained covered with blankets and people and music continued from the stages until nighttime.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Features

A drone show spelled out “RVA” at Iron Blossom on Sept. 19. Photo by Burke Loftus.

Two Iron Blossom attendees smoked cigarettes as Phantogram played on Sept. 19. Photo by Burke Loftus.

Crowd watched Kevin Morby at Iron Blossom on Sept. 19. Photo by Burke Loftus.

SKORTS bassist Emma Welch played bass on her knees at the band’s performance at Iron Blossom on Sept. 19. Photo by Burke Loftus.

Geese frontman Cameron Winter during his Iron Blossom performance on Sept. 20. Photo by Burke Loftus.

The Commonwealth Times

Opinions

Quote of the week

“Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light.” — Frida Kahlo

Culture is not a seasonal product

When does celebrating a culture become selling a culture?

CATHERINE COLOMBO Contributing Writer

Hispanic Heritage Month is supposed to be a celebration of culture, history and identity. However, when September rolls around, that celebration becomes increasingly difficult to separate from commercia l ization. Brands release limited-edition products and create themed advertisements. Companies often turn cultural identity into something that can be packaged, marketed and sold. There is a fine line between celebrating a culture and using it as a marketing tool. Culture should not become something people consume for a month. Every September, the shift is noticeable. Social media feeds, advertisements and grocery shelves begin re!ecting Hispanic Heritage Month. Suddenly, products are decorated with Spanish phrases, brands highlight Hispanic-inspired collections and companies launch campaigns centered around Hispanic consumers. A lthough these efforts can seem positive, the question becomes whether

Although this month brings more attention to Hispanic culture, it is important not to stop talking about it after the month is over. That being said, companies should still participate but they need to make their participation more meaningful. Partnering with Hispanic-owned businesses, donating to Hispanic organizations and educating consumers on history and traditions are ways to contribute and make that celebration more personal. As someone in the Hispanic community, this is what makes commercialization so complicated. Hispanic culture is not something I experience only when companies decide to celebrate it. It is a part of my everyday life. It is in my family, the way we speak to each other, the foods we eat and the music we listen to. None of these things begin in September and none of them end when October arrives. When I watch these things that I am used to seeing every day celebrated for a month, it becomes confusing when they are

rarely as prominent during other months. Seeing posts being made and items being sold when Hispanic communities have been stereotyped and reduced feels fake and belittling. W here does that leave us w ith celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month? The question is not whether companies should participate, but what that participation should look like. This month should be a time to recognize and celebrate the histories and people who make up the Hispanic community. Companies have an opport unit y to be part of that celebration but that opportunity comes with responsibility. Culture is something people live every day, not something that can be packaged and sold for a month. The next time something is created for Hispanic Heritage Month, it is important to ask: Is this company supporting Hispanic communities or trying to make a quick buck?

MAYA KAMAT Contributing Writer

Medical Association. Last April, the AMA released a statement on peptides that highlighted how many of the drugs that have grown in popularity have unknown side e$ects and lack clear guidelines for usage. The people using grey market peptides are essentially experimenting with their health. When I first learned about the use of peptides in wellness spaces, I was deeply confused. RFK Jr. has done so much to undermine the effectiveness of vaccines, one of the most researched injectable treatments, yet has somehow helped bolster the surge of understudied, unregulated peptides. One of RFK Jr.’s most prominent claims is that he wants to increase transparency in drug research to prevent corruption from large pharmaceutical companies. While I do agree that drug research sponsored by pharmaceutical companies does pose a valid con!ict of interest, the answer is not approving medications without significant research. Last July, an FDA advisory committee voted to approve six new peptides for

these campaigns are actually celebrating Hispanic culture or simply finding another way to sell to Hispanic consumers. If these companies truly want to celebrate Hispanic culture, that celebration should extend beyond the checkout counter. Big brands and corporations could dedicate a portion of those sales to Hispanic-owned businesses, organizations and nonprofits. This would turn Hispanic Heritage Month from a marketing opportunity into an opportunity to invest in the communities being celebrated. But commercialization does not only a$ect how culture is sold — it can also a$ect how culture is represented. Hispanic Heritage Month is meant to recognize the many cultures, histories and contributions within Hispanic communities. Marketing often simplifies culture into recognizable things like food, music and colors. While these are meaningful parts of Hispanic culture, representation should go beyond aesthetics and include the people, histories and communities behind them.

Americans should not be experimenting with peptides That is the FDA’s job

Illustration by Zora Weir-Gertzog.

Over the last few years, peptides — short chains of amino acids — have grown in popularity within the wellness community. They are frequently promoted by celebrities, including Joe Rogan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as drugs that can boost healing, restore youth and help with weight loss. While many of these peptides are sold on the “gray market” as researchonly substances, there are many peptides that are Food and Drug Administration approved and commercially available. In fact, the most widely used peptide drug is insulin, commonly used to treat diabetes. Weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic, are also peptides. However, many of the newer peptides marketed by celebrities do not have su%cient human research to back up their e$ectiveness, according to the American

Illustration by Zoë Luis.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026!13

Opinions

compounding in an eight-to-six vote, according to PBS. Several of the panelists were added just prior to the vote and had connections to companies that would directly benefit financially from the change. According to the FDA, while the vote does not force the FDA to approve these peptides, it does help RFK Jr. in loosening regulations on drugs like peptides in the future. RFK Jr. talks about how he wants to put healthcare decisions back in the hands

Physical media has to evolve past nostalgia TORI BAKER Contributing Writer Physical media rules. You know this. I know this. It is a fantastic way to take control of your media outside the hands of corporate-run streaming. However, I have a lot of issues with the way people talk about it, because more than anything, I want physical media to survive. You cannot build a future o$ of used media alone. I love used media and I understand the simple appeal of walking into Goodwill and getting four discs for eight bucks, but I see people purchasing used media and saying they are fighting back against streaming, especially on TikTok. I enjoy that as an artistic-political stance, but that is simply not what is happening. For one, DVDs really are not that much cheaper than Blu-rays — you are just comparing used prices to new prices. The average new DVD is $20 to Blu-ray’s $23. Don’t believe me? Go and check you r loca l

of the people; however, encouraging people to try unresearched products is dangerous and irresponsible. People should have a say in their healthcare decisions, but it should be an informed decision. The average person should not have to run experiments on their own bodies — that is the job of the scientists. Americans should not have to decide if a drug is safe — that is the role of the FDA and their physician. Experts Walmart. Used Blu-rays hover at around only $2 more than their DVD counterparts. Second off, in the fight against the streaming standard, new art is just as important as the classics. Yet new art is being ignored under a deluge of nostalgia posting for old DVDs, menus and players. If you really are going to be watching DVDs in 2026 for whatever silly reason, get a Blu-ray player to watch them. The upscaling done by a Blu-ray player will be so much better than what your TV can do with 480p input. They are 30 bucks used, which is not even that much more expensive. I am not saying to never buy used DVDs, but if you are invested in physical media as an art form, you should be supporting the instances where good new physical releases are made! They do happen — Discotek, Arrow Video, Criterion and Shout Factory are all companies making quality new Blu-ray (and sometimes DVD) releases. These are releases made with care by people who want to see art get the best release possible. It has been 31 years since DVDs were first released. How are we still pressing new DVDs and expecting people to pay 20 godforsaken American smackers for them? This format can nearly run for president and we sell it as a relevant competitor format. Art is an industry and if you want that industry to remain healthy, you need to offer it t a n g ible support. Look for

study and train for years to excel at their jobs and when the government puts the responsibility of experts on the people, that specifically undermines the work of scientists and public health o%cials. It is not a surprise that the current administration continues to fan the !ames of mistrust in science within the American public but the scientif ic community needs to recognize that some of the mistrust is caused by a history of unethical

practices, corruption in the drug market and medical racism. Governmental bodies like the FDA are designed to protect the American public and their roles should not change when the administration does. The scientific community needs to step up for the American public. That starts with holding scientific research to the highest standard and prioritizing safety over profit.

Illustration by Abbos Soliev.

new releases that are quality and look for independent f ilms getting their f irst physical release. The people making the art you love need money and on a broader scale, when it comes to the major distribution companies, they are comparing disc sales to new streaming subscribers. I see new physical media shops go up in Richmond, where 90% of their catalog is VHS tapes, 8% DVD and 2% Blu-ray and I just wonder what we are doing. Are the vibes all that we should focus on? Are questions of low bitrates and !awed masters always

going to be secondary to “the vibes?” Is this sustainable? I want to see the conversation around physical media evolve past nostalgia into a conversation about art preservation. In so many ways, time is running out for these new shows, movies and music to be preserved in a way that will not go belly up when the server costs get too expensive. In a way that is not hampered by an executive deciding that 480p is “good enough.” I have a little bit of a fear that that will pass us by while we wax poetic about the “Shrek 2” menu.

Women’s clothing sizes make no sense MOLLY CHRISTIANSON Sta" Writer Illustration by Diane Tornel.

Size numbers on women’s clothing mean nothing until you try something on, and that is not OK. Shopping for women’s clothing has become less about knowing your size and more about hoping that the clothes actually fit. Instead of walking into a store and grabbing their usual size, shoppers are often expected to bring multiple sizes into the fitting room in hopes that one works. Online shopping makes this even more complicated because there are no fitting rooms. Customers have to rely on size charts, reviews, measurements and sometimes multiple returns just to find something that fits. T he problem is t h at women’s clothing sizes are not based on universal measurements. A size si x does not necessarily mean that the garment is made for one specific set of body measurements.

Different brands have their own sizing systems, patterns and ideas about how clothing should fit. You can technically know your “size” and still have no idea whether something will fit. Someone might normally buy a size six in one store, but need a four in another and an eight somewhere else. Even within the same brand, a pair of jeans, a skirt and a dress can all fit di$erently despite having the same size printed on the tag. Jeans make this especially obvious because waist, hips, length, cut and rise can all change how the same labeled size feels. A “low-rise” pair from one brand might sit completely differently from a “lowrise” pair from another. The number on the tag is really more of a label than a standardized measurement. The return of low-rise jeans adds another layer to the problem. Their comeback also brings back some of the beauty standards

that surrounded them the f irst time around. In the late ’90s and early 2000s, low-rise jeans were closely associated with the ultra-thin “heroin chic” aesthetic, where extremely thin bodies were heavily represented in fashion and popular culture. The jeans themselves did not create that standard, but they were designed and styled around a particular idea of what a fashionable body looked like. This raises a di$erent question about sizing: How much do clothing sizes re!ect the bodies that brands expect their customers to have? Vanity sizing is one example of how these numbers have changed over time. Clothing can be labeled with a smaller size than the measurements historically associated with that size, meaning a modern size eight may not correspond to the same measurements as a size eight from decades ago.

The point rema ins: We need a standardized sizing chart. I am willing to bet that the answer to why one does not exist involves money. Clothing companies are in the business of selling clothes and if changing sizes, fits and trends helps them sell more, there may be little incentive to make sizing universal. This universal sizing seems to exist more often in men’s clothing, where pants are typically labeled using waist measures instead of arbitrary “sizes.” A 32-inch waist generated size is more consistent regardless of whether the pants are from one brand or another. While there are still discrepancies between fabrics and fits, men’s clothing tends to be generally more reliable. Regardless, if the number on the tag keeps changing depending on the brand, style or year, what is it actually telling us? More importantly, why are shoppers expected to figure it out themselves?

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Comics

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

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ILLUSTRATORS Abbos Soliev

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SPECIAL THANKS To Kelsea Roper-Devincenti, for providing a tasty treat! -SMC Designers

Wednesday, September 23, 2026!15

Puzzles Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle SOUND CHECK

SOUND CHECK

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 Emma Oxford

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Edited by Patti Varol A.I. APPLICATIONS by Betsy Ochester & Andrew Gutelle

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol

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

9/23/26