The Commonwealth Times; September 30, 2026

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VOL. 73, NO. 7 SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT PRESS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY

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VCU President Michael Rao’s base salary increases to $1 million per year BRYER HAYWOOD Staff Writer

VCU president Michael Rao in attendance at the Board of Visitors meeting held on Sept. 11. CT file photo by Chiara Wells.

On Sept. 11, VCU’s Board of Visitors voted to increase President Michael Rao’s base salary to $1 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2027. The raise comes as the Board of Visitors voted in April to increase tuition by 3.9% for the 2026-2027 school year, according to a previous report by the CT. In 2025, the Board of Visitors voted to increase Rao’s base salary to $895,618, a 9% increase from the previous year, according to a previous report from the CT. “One of our Board’s most important

responsibilities is to evaluate the performance of the president and ensure that the university has the leadership it needs for the future,” Rector Steven DeLuca said at the BOV meeting on Sept. 11. In addition to increasing Rao’s salary, the Board also voted to extend his contract into 2032. The BOV included a bonus opportunity for Rao of up to 25% of his base salary. In contrast, the average salary for VCU staff was $91,149 and $77,738 for VCUHealth employees according to the CT’s analysis of payroll data.

SALARY INCREASE Continued on page 4

‘Was that the bite of ’87?’ VCU’s Doomsday presents ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s the Musical’ ELLE COTA Spectrum Editor

Did you survive five nights at Freddy’s? For audiences at the Richard Newdick Theatre in Shafer Street Playhouse, the answer came Sept. 25-27, when Doomsday VCU brought “Five Nights at Freddy’s the Musical” to the stage. The production had five performances in total, with two showings on the 26 and 27. The production was based on FNAF the Musical, created by Random Encounters in 2016, a YouTube channel created in 2011 by AJ Pinkerton, Nathan Morse and Peter Srinivasan. The musical was inspired by the 2014 horror video game “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Doomsday VCU used the original musical’s five songs and storyline while allowing the cast and creative team to make changes for the stage. The Random Encounters video runs for 30 minutes, while the stage production ran for 35 to 40 minutes due to transitions. FNAF MUSICAL Continued on page 8

The Monroe Wizard and his troupe gather to discuss their quest. Photo by Maeve Bauer.

Wizard Wednesday adding a little bit of whimsy to your week The cast of Doomsday Theater Production’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Musical” performs at a dress rehearsal at Shafer st. Playhouse, Thursday, Sept. 24. Photo by Chiara Wells.

MAEVE BAUER Executive Editor

WIZARDS

Continued on page 10

More than a market: Celebrating Latino culture in Midlothian

Protect Student Funding

Women’s soccer gets first win of the season

see SPECTRUM page 8

see OPINIONS page 12

see SPORTS page 6

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Wednesday, September 30, 2026

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Stories of the week

News

national: Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced he will be reopening a 2024 alleged “gang rape” at a Cornell University fraternity. international: An 11th body of a woman was found in Ekurhuleni, South Africa, in a series of female targeted murders, sparking fears of a serial killer or killers. South Africa has higher than average rates of femicide and violent crime toward women and children.

VCU provides preventative measures to help students navigate the ‘Red Zone’

OLIVIA RINE Staff Writer

VCU has taken several measures to combat the “Red Zone,” referring to the period where college students are at the highest risk of sexual assault at the start of fall semester classes to Thanksgiving break. Tameika McCoy, VCU survivor support advocate, said there is a large emphasis on the first 14 weeks of the fall semester, but the Survivor Support Services provide these workshops and prevention interventions throughout the entire school year. During the Red Zone, McCoy and VCU’s Survivor Support Services provide preventative measures and host awareness events to help support students. These events include workshops, Safety Day in collaboration with VCU’s law enforcement, and public outreach efforts like tabling. “We just had a workshop we call ‘Crucial Conversations,’ we just did it with athletics, where we talked about boundaries, consent, relationships and safety,” McCoy said. McCoy said that she is reaching out to the heads of fraternity and sorority organizations to implement sexual assault prevention strategies. Survivor Support Services contact groups individually to allow for strategies and prevention work for different organizations. Sur v ivor Support Ser v ices helps provide guidance for students battling the aftermath of sexual assault. McCoy said that Survivor Support Services’ assistance is available for students every step of the way, including providing physical assistance during investigative inter views, paper work and Physical Evidence Recovery Kits. “They can meet with us as little or as much as they want,” McCoy said. “I tell students all the time, if you go home, that’s okay, I’ll be here when you get back. We let them know we are completely voluntary,

but we are a support for them.” McCoy posted QR codes around the entrances to the Student Commons that lead students to the Survivor Support Services website to help guide them through the beginning of the sexual assault reporting process. “If they [students] look at the website and say, ‘you know what, I qualify for this,’ they can give us a call. Now they have someone else in their corner,” McCoy said. The VCU Police Department participates in the Start By Believing program, which occurs in April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, according to Cierra Elridge, the victim-witness coordinator for VCUPD. Each spring, VCUPD gathers pledges from students stating that they believe victims when they come forward. VCUPD also collaborates with other agencies outside of the VCU area to protect victims of sexual assault outside campus boundaries, according to Elridge. These agencies include Henrico Victim Witness, Project Empower and YWCA Richmond. “We have partnered with different agencies within the area because a lot of times our survivors, even though they may be a part of the VCU community, their assaults may take place in the city of Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield, etcetera. So we want to make sure they have all of the resources available to them,” Elridge said. As the fall semester continues, VCU is still in the Red Zone and reports of sexual assault continue to be made. Jake Burns, a VCUPD spokesperson, said that there is no definitive statistics to compare sexual assault reports this year to years prior. In 2024, there were 16 total official reports of rape on VCU Monroe Campus, according to the Safety and Security report.

In the 2026 fall semester, Burns said there have been four reported offenses so far. “The tricky part with the statistics with any kind of sexual offense is that there are so many avenues that a survivor

can report to VCU,” Burns said. “There is the police, there is Tameika [McCoy], Title IX and housing. So we can’t really speak to the numbers now because they’re very unofficial.”

VCU has placed several signs across campus bringing attention to the Red Zone, a six to ten week period when 50% of sexual assaults on campus occur. Photo by William Spencer.

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Spanberger ends policy process to ban transgender women from sports and restrooms MADELEINE BIONDI Staff Writer Gov. Abigail Spanberger withdrew a regulation-making process that began last year aiming to ban transgender women from women’s sports, bathrooms and locker rooms. Despite removing the policy on July 30, Spanberger issued no notice to the public about the action, which was discovered on a government website and publicized by RadioIQ. Ending the policy process halted an overall ban on transgender athletes, while other college and high school level regulations heavily restrict it. Spanberger stated to RadioIQ that the Department of Health’s process was not in line with its authority as determined by Attorney General Jay Jones. The Department of Health’s process began in April 2025 when three female swimmers, Réka György, Lily Mullins and Carter Satterfield, petitioned the Virginia Board of Health to ban transgender women from sports and using facilities. The petition stated, “The public health of Virginians, particularly of women and girls, demands that the Department of Health take action to prevent further harm, both physical and psychological, from males claiming or pretending to be females and gaining access to female-only athletic competitions and private spaces.” The Virginia State Board of Health unanimously voted in a 2025 meeting to move forward with regulation-making after accepting the petition, according to Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. A Virginia Department of Health analysis

concluded that 54% of the petition’s online commentators disagreed ahead of the meeting, according to WTVR Richmond. Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s board approved the petition and assigned the Department of Health to manage its progression into policy. Two months later, Youngkin issued Executive Directive 14 to ban transgender women from both women’s sports and locker rooms, according to the Library of Virginia. “I would support a bill that would put clear provisions in place that provide a lot of local ability for input, based on the age of children, based on the type of sport, based on competitiveness,” Spanberger said to ABC 7 during her 2025 campaign. Eli Coston, VCU’s Associate Chair for the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, said that university guidelines often restrict transgender inclusion dramatically even without a ban, and that inclusion requires legislative work on multiple levels. “The move was done rather quietly, so I think it came as unexpected to many, even within the political sphere,” Coston said. “Most trans girls still can’t participate in sports as they would enter more competitive levels, such as high school or college athletics.” In 2003, the International Olympic Committee designated specific restrictions on transgender college athletes, permitting their inclusion depending on a chromosomal screening and administrative approval for their sport, according to Coston. The committee states that its regulations are based on scientific

A Pride parade marches by, waving a Progress Pride flag and Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag at Gov. Spanberger’s inauguration on Jan. 17. CT file photo by Kieran Stevens. research and feedback from the Olympic Movement, according to its website. The National Collegiate Athletic Association manages the enforcement of these restrictions, while monitoring is done locally by the school’s athletics department. Its website states that regulations allow transgender women to practice but not compete in their sport. Since 2025, the Virginia High School League has restricted transgender girls from playing but allows transgender boys to petition for inclusion, according to its website. Executive Director and co-founder of local nonprofit He She Ze & We and member of the Richmond LGBTQ chapter Shannon McKay spoke on a live podcast on the fewer than 10 NCAA transgender athletes and said bans serve to perpetuate

fear rather than regulate. “Trans people don’t dominate sports and usually most trans kids don’t even participate because parents are afraid,” McKay said. Since VCU adheres to the IOC g uidelines, transgender women are prohibited from women’s teams, and transgender men are permitted to play on men’s teams. The Education Department removed official protections for transgender students established under Title IX on Sept. 28, making biological sex the only category for sex-based discrimination and eliminating gender-based discrimination definitionally. While Spanberger’s legislation prevents a ban on transgender women in sports and the use of facilities, no Virginian legislation to dictate their inclusion currently exists.

SALARY INCREASE At the BOV meeting on Sept. 11, DeLuca cited Rao’s exceptional performance as president across various university goals as justification for the pay raise. President R ao is cu r rent ly t he lon g e st-s er v i n g publ ic u n iv er sit y president in Virginia. Universit y of Virginia President Scott Beardsley earns a base salary of $1.3 million, according to Cavalier Daily. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that six university presidents made over $2 million in total compensation in 2025. Additionally, out of the 172 university presidents whose compensation d a t a w a s c ol l e c t e d , R a o r a n k s 35th in total compensation.

Victoria Castagnola, a fourth-year computer science student, said she feels that the president’s salary increase is a “punch in the gut.” “I don’t know how his day-to-day life is, maybe he does work really hard," Castagnola said. “Does he work hard enough that it justifies many VCU students struggling to pay their bills? Does he work hard enough that it justifies tuition increases and budget cuts.” Emeka Guthrie, a fourth-year business management major, said there is a disconnect between the BOV and the student body.

“There’s no actual genuine concern for the students, I think the Board of Visitors are oblivious.” VCU president Michael Rao in attendance at the Board of Visitors meeting held on Sept. 11. CT file photo by Chiara Wells.

Emeka Guthrie Fourth-year business management major

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Stat of the week

Sports

VCU women’s soccer won their first game of the season 5-0 against St. Bonaventure.

Women’s soccer drops hardfought game to Duquesne BEN MARTINDALE Sports Editor DREW CLEMENTS Contributing Writer VCU women’s soccer attempted to win their second consecutive game against Duquesne University Sunday afternoon at City Stadium, but fell short 2-1. The Dukes started the game aggressively and attempted their first shot on goal, which was saved by the Rams fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz at the 3:37 mark of the first half. “The beginning of our season was a little tough, but we’ve had a huge mindset switch on the team,” Pongratz said. “I think we’re all really taking initiative on changing the game for ourselves.” Over the next 10 minutes, VCU started to gain momentum, attempting three shots, but was unable to capitalize. As the game progressed, neither team was able to consistently impose their will on the other. At the 28:26 mark of the first half, the Dukes scored to take a 1-0 lead. VC U bat t le d bac k a nd st ay e d

GAME RESULTS 9/24/2026 VCU WSOC ! VS SBU WON 5!0

09/25/2026 VCU FH ! VS SLU WON 4!1

VCU VB ! AT LUC WON 3!2

09/26/2026 Defender Ciera Collins steals the ball during VCU’s game vs Duquesn. Photo by John Brown. aggressive, attempting five more shots over the remainder of the half, but was unable to convert. Duquesne entered halftime holding a 1-0 lead. In the second half, VCU continued to apply pressure and began to force Duquesne onto the back foot more frequently. The Rams attempted four shots to Duquesne’s one in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. In the 65th minute, VCU’s offensive pressure paid off as first-year forward Monique McEnhimer tied the game up, scoring her third goal in the last two games. “We’ve been working really hard the past few months and to be able to actually bring the results to the field is amazing,” McEnhimer said. “To be able to help my teammates by scoring and support everyone has just been amazing.”

Following the Rams’ goal, both teams ratched up their defensive pressure and neither team was able to get a clean shot on goal. With just under six minutes remaining, an accidental handball by VCU awarded Duquesne a penalty kick. Duquesne first-year midfielder Molly Kinsella drilled the penalty kick to give the Dukes the lead. VCU pushed the pace over the final five minutes, almost scoring in the 87th minute, but was unable to tie the score, losing 2-1. After the game, VCU head coach Lauryn Hutchinson emphasized the need to put together a more complete performance. “I told them after the game, we have to put a full game model together,” Hutchinson said. “From the defensive end

VCU VB ! AT LUC LOST 3!0

VCU MSOC ! VS FU LOST 2!1

09/27/2026 VCU FH - VS GU WON 2-1

VCU WSOC - VS DUQ LOST 2-1

to the attacking end, and that’s when we’re at our best.” The Rams will look to bounce back when they take on Saint Joseph’s University on Oct. 3 at Sweeney Field.

VCU men’s soccer falls to Fordham in A-10 home opener 2-1

Graduate-student midfielder Ty Johnson vs Fordham. Photo by Ashley Davis. BENNEY KOCH Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer fell to Fordham University 2-1 on Saturday at the VCU Athletic Village in their Atlantic-10 home opener. The loss drops the Rams to 0-2 in A-10 play. VCU controlled much of the possession throughout the match and outshot Fordham 11-10, but the Rams struggled to turn their control of possessions into goals. VCU had four corner kicks compared to

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Fordham’s one, but Fordham held the advantage in shots on goal, 3-2. Fordham opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a wind-aided shot made its way into the back corner of the net. Fordham struck again in the 68th minute to gain a 2-0 lead. Just 52 seconds later VCU responded when fourth-year defender Pedro Salmon scored his first goal as a Ram. Salmon headed in a corner kick from fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron, his first assist of the season. Salmon had a strong performance beyond his goal, contributing defensively while also creating opportunities for his teammates. A group of supporters from Salmon’s home country of Spain attended to watch his first goal for VCU. “I didn’t know there were people from my country in this city,” Salmon said. “It’s nice to have them here supporting me. I really appreciate it.” The Rams continued to push for an equalizer after Salmon’s goal. VCU added three shots in the remaining minutes but was unable to find another goal, while Fordham did not record another shot after taking its 2-0 lead. Salmon said the team’s focus in practice will shift toward defending after spending last week working on attacking in the final third.

Despite the result, head coach Dave Giffard said the team’s ability to control the game and create opportunities continues to show progress. “You probably had four, five balls that either rolled across in front of us or came right to a guy – that were probably better looks than we’ve had in these games so far and today none of those were taken,” Giffard said. “I thought as the game wore on ... the details in the box that we spent time on this week weren’t there.” Giffard said the loss is difficult for the team, but he does not believe the players lack the effort or commitment necessary to improve. He said that several players who had previously been playing around 20 to 25 minutes per half were forced to play the full 90 minutes because of the team’s ongoing injuries. “It’s disheartening because you want outcomes to go the way you want them to go,” Giffard said. “So we regroup, we rest. We played guys who we’ve been playing 20 minutes a half and we played some of those guys the whole game.” The Rams have now lost five consecutive games and three straight by one goal. With six A-10 matches remaining, Giffard said the team still has time to turn possessions into results before the conference season reaches its decisive stages. The Rams will travel to Dayton on Saturday, Oct. 3, for a 7 p.m. match before returning to the Athletic Village on Oct. 7 to face George Washington.

Second-year defender Parker Simkins vs Fordham. Image by Ashley Davis.

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Sports Graduate student defender Ciera Collins steals the ball during vs Duquesne. Photo by John Brown.

Ventimiglia shines in Rams victory BEN MARTINDALE Sports Editor DREW CLEMENTS Contributing Writer

VCU field hockey beat Saint Louis University in a hard-fought game on Friday at Cary Street Field. VCU head coach Stacey Bean was pleased with the team’s effort. “They stuck to the game plan pretty well,” Bean said. “Regardless of what the score was, whether we were down like we were at the beginning, or as we kind of added to the lead. We just stuck with the outlet and the press that our game plan called for. You know, it was just a matter of discipline.” The two teams battled back and forth in the opening quarter with neither team able to establish an advantage. At the 13:01 mark of the second quarter, firstyear Maddie Croghan scored to put the Billikens on the board first. A f ter the goa l, the raz or-c lose competition resumed, with both teams pushing a fast pace. The two defenses were

Women’s soccer gets first win of the season DEVYNN ALSTON Staff Writer The VCU women’s soccer team beat St. Bonaventure University 5-0 on Thursday to earn their first victory of the season. The Rams controlled possession of the ball early and consistently put pressure on the Bonnies’ defense. Within the first 15 minutes of the match, VCU attempted multiple shots. VCU broke through during the 21st minute when fourth-year forward Jazmin Jackson scored via a penalty kick, giving the Rams a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, third-year midfielder Shiori Shintaku scored to extend the lead, putting VCU up 2-0. Throughout the first half, the Rams continued to generate opportunities, but St. Bonaventure goalkeeper Callie Turpin made several saves, keeping the Bonnies within two goals heading into the half. VCU head coach Lau r y n Hutchinson praised her team for the improvements made. “First clean sheet, first three points, scoring f ive goals,” Hutchinson said. “That’s a huge testament to everything.” A lthough the Bonnies had more possession of the ball during the second half than they did in the first, it never translated into scoring opportunities. F i r s t- y e a r f o r w a r d M o n i q u e McEnhimer extended VCU’s lead during

the 68th minute and then scored again four minutes later to give the Rams a 4-0 advantage. “Just being able to score my f irst goals on this field was kind of special,” McEnhimer said. Second-year forward Isabelle Franklin added to VCU’s goal total, giving the Rams a 5-0 lead. The Rams’ defensive performance was just as important as their offensive production. VCU kept St. Bonaventure from scoring throughout the match, earning its first clean sheet of the season. Fourth-year Ishpreen Marwah said the team’s organization and communication helped the Rams maintain the shutout. “It was a long time coming,” Marwah said. “I think a big part of that was our organization and defense.” Marwah credited the entire team for maintaining their defensive discipline. “ We ’r e j u s t o r g a n i z i n g a n d communicating, when to step, when to cover, and everyone just being disciplined, not just our defense, but from the midfield and strikers as well,” Marwah said. The victory also allowed VCU to respond after allowing seven goals in its previous game against Saint Louis. “I think that for the St. Louis game, it was a big learning curve for us,” Marwah said. “I think we all realized that we needed to do better.”

highlights of the first half, neither giving an inch to the opposing team’s offense. With three seconds remaining in the first half, VCU fourth-year Josefina Ventimiglia knotted up the score at one, scoring her third goal of the season. The third quarter played out much like the first, with both teams having their moments, but neither able to pull out in front of the other. Ventimiglia’s standout afternoon continued into the final quarter, scoring her second goal of the game and giving VCU a 2-1 lead. “I couldn’t have done it without the team,” Ventimiglia said. “I think actually I scored out of a stroke that was taken by another player, so I appreciate my team because they give me the opportunities and then make it easy for me.” From that point, the Rams took control and never allowed SLU to regain

momentum. Fourth-year McKenzie White scored at the 8:18 mark of the fourth quarter and minutes later thirdyear Cameron Butler scored another goal for the Rams. VCU held their 4-1 lead for the remainder of the game, completing the comeback and earning their fourth win of the season. The victory was a big one for the Rams, who had a lot to prove following a shutout loss to Lafayette College last time out. “We came off of a rough weekend and now we’re just proving what we are worth and what we can do,” Butler said. “Our energy kept high. We got scored on right away and we immediately turned it back around and came out with the win.” VCU field hockey will match up against Georgetown at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Cary Street Field.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2026

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On This Day

On Sept. 30, 1960, ‘The Flintstones’ premiered on ABC as the first ever animated sitcom.

More than a market:

Celebrating Latino culture in Midlothian

Photo by Landon G Walker.

Photo by Landon G Walker.

DEBORAH AGUILERA Contributing Writer Music and food fill the Latino farmers market at 13900 Hull Street Road every Saturday from April 4 to Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vendors sell a variety of handmade products, foods and other goods, giving local businesses a chance to share what they offer with the community and meet new customers. RVA Bakehouse, founded by Kim Buehler in 2023, has been selling their goods at the farmers market and opened their store front in Libbie Mill last October. Stephanie Maranon-Estrada, a VCU alumna, represented RVA Bakehouse at the market on Saturday. FNAF MUSICAL FNAF the Musical followed a night guard trying to survive five nights against the animatronics before eventually teaming up with them. Cole Hurd, director of the musical and a fourth-year VCU theatre BFA student, said he grew up listening to the Random Encounters musical. He contacted Pinkerton about putting the musical on stage and, to his surprise, the creators agreed to let him produce it as long as they were credited. The production was a passion project resulting from Hurd’s longtime interest in the original video. “The biggest thing that I want as a director is to provide a space for people to direct, not only themselves, but the entire play itself cohesively rather than it be an authority figure and then lessers,” Hurd said. The production did not attempt to make itself completely consistent with the FNAF series’ later established lore, according to Hurd. “At the time, only ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ had come out as the most recent one,” Hurd said. “So, there’s no real lore established and there’s no real big story, but there’s characters, locations, ideas and concepts of the mascot horror theme.” Although the original game is horror, the musical does not take itself seriously. “Comedy 110%,” Hurd said. “It’s an absolute farce.” Wesley Lee, the puppet master and fourth-year communications arts student, made the puppets Freddy Fazbear, Chica the Chicken, Bonnie the Bunny and Foxy the Pirate Fox. The character Mr. Cupcake was made separately. Lee said the designs were developed separately from the Random Encounters source material and were instead closer to

Maranon-Estrada said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the market and the different activities happening throughout the event because there was something for everyone, regardless of age. The market offers activities such as painting, games and a moon bounce, giving families and younger visitors something to do while they browse the market. Snyder Family Farm, a family-owned business based in Keysville, attends the market weekly. The farm raises cattle, pork, chicken and turkey. Heidi Snyder and Jeremy Snyder co-founded the business together. Heidi Snyder said they started their business because they wanted better and safer food options for their family. “It’s more wholesome than what’s at the store,” Heidi Snyder said.

The couple travels to several farmers’ markets in the area to sell their products directly to customers. Heidi Snyder said this is her favorite market. “I love the people, the vibes, and we do a lot of good business here,” Heidi Snyder said. The goal of Snyder Family Farm is to share and inspire others to buy and connect with local food, Snyder said. She said she believes that consumers should know where their food is coming from. Safa Mahmood, a third-year VCU predental student, attended the market for the first time on Saturday after hearing about the event. She explored the different stands, tried food and enjoyed the live entertainment. “I really liked the atmosphere and how much there was to see,” Mahmood said.

Mahmood said the variety of vendors was one of the highlights of her visit. She said she enjoyed how the entertainment made the market feel more like a community gathering than simply a place to shop. The market was an opportunity to discover local businesses and experience something new, Mahmood said. Its welcoming atmosphere and range of activities made her interested in attending again. From food and handmade goods to clothing and other products, each stand offered something different. More information on their upcoming events can be found on latinofarmersmarketva.com.

the designs from the video game. The four main animatronics were operated as hand-and-rod puppets. One hand controlled the puppet and the other operated a rod attached to its hand. Developing the construction method was the most difficult part of the process, Lee said. They only had experience making one puppet in the past for a “Little Shop of Horrors” cosplay. “It did take me a while to figure out how to construct the puppets because this isn’t really something I do very often,” Lee said. The puppets shared the same basic construction, built from cardboard, along with different fabrics, Lee said. Foxy the Pirate Fox used longer fur to give the character a scuffier appearance. Once Lee developed the process, each puppet took about four to f ive hours to complete. The first prototype took about two days. Alix Beck, the costume designer and fourth-year theatre student, said many of the costumes came from clothing the actors already owned. Beck utilized the Suit Yourself Closet at VCU for the button-up shirts and sweaters used for the security guard characters. “It’s really just trying to find things for the cheapest I can,” Beck said. Using existing clothing allowed Beck to devote more time to costumes that required construction: Marionette and Springtrap. The Marionette costume required sewing, 3D printing and hand painting. Springtrap required several mock-ups before Beck began working with the final fur fabric, which was also Beck’s first time working with the material. Beck said the experience reinforced the collaborative nature of the production. His original costume idea for the puppeteers was mosquito net bodysuits, but the idea did not

fit the production’s vision. Instead, the final costumes represented their puppets’ base colors. “This was a very stressful, but fun experience,” Beck said. “It was definitely a lot of learning to do all at once, but I thought that it was very enjoyable too.” Lou Lane, a first-year theatre student who played Purple Guy, said she created

a backstory for her character. In Lane’s version, Purple Guy was an alien trying to understand human culture and work culture while seeking more hours as a security guard. “At first I was like, ‘Is it weird that I want Purple Guy to be an alien?’” Lane said. “Then I was like, ‘Wait, no, they said make big choices,’ and they ended up loving the idea.”

The puppeteers surrounding the security guard during Doomsday's production night.

Photo by Chiara Wells.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

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Lane auditioned for the production without knowing much about FNAF. “After I got a callback, I watched this two-hour-long video that was like the entirety of the FNAF lore and I still don’t understand it,” Lane said. In the original musical, Purple Guy referred to performer AJ, but Lane replaced those references with her own name, changing the lines to “Who’s who? It’s Lou” and “What’s goo? It’s Lou.” Lane said her experience extended beyond the character. She said the production’s supportive and lighthearted environment reminded her why she enjoys acting. “Yes, the role is important to me, yes, this show is important to me, but the community around it has been even more important,” Lane said.

The cast of Doomsday's puppeteers.

Let the good times bark at Woofstock ELLE COTA Spectrum Editor

Peace, love and plenty of paws took over 4951 Lake Brook Drive on Sept. 26 as Richmond Animal League hosted its 16th annual Woofstock festival. The event brought together animal lovers, pets, rescue organizations and potential adopters while giving RAL and its partners an opportunity to showcase animals in need of homes and raise money for the organization. Woofstock, a play on Woodstock, the music festival of the late 1960s, ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured a dog parade, agility course, live music, vendors and adoption areas. Dogs in strollers and costumes moved through the event as attendees stopped for food and pup cups. Steve Bardy, deput y director of development at RAL, said the fundraiser money supported general operations, including animal care, clinics, foster care and work with community cats through trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs. This was Bardy’s first Woofstock, but not his first dog festival. Before joining RAL, he was executive director at Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, where he worked with a similar event called Paws in the Park. Bardy has been involved with animal welfare for years, fostering over 60 puppies and a handful of kittens. He said that one of the most memorable parts of animal adoption is watching people make connections. “You will, in real time, see people fall in love with their new pet,” Bardy said. “The reaction when people see that dog or that cat and they just know that is the pet for them, is really a special moment.” Maura Varley, R AL volunteer and community outreach manager, said RAL selected dogs that would be comfortable around crowds and animals. “We had volunteers do what we call a ‘crate escape’ where we allow them to come out of the shelter and come to the venue and people were able to see their ‘adopt me’ leashes,” Varley said. “We were able to do complementary adoptions today and we just did what we do in the shelter out in the world here.” Before animals are available for adoption, RAL conducts an intake process to make sure they are healthy. Varley

said RAL animals leave with updated vaccinations, are spayed or neutered and microchipped. Va rle y at tende d Wo of stoc k for the f irst time and said that the event exceeded her expectations, with the pet parade being a highlight. Events, such as Woofstock, can expose people to animals in a way social media and shelter websites cannot, Varley said. “We do as much Facebook posting and we put stuff on the website, but until you come and see, do you really kind of see the need,” Varley said. Varley said RAL’s shelter partners, particularly organizations in rural areas, helped use the event to introduce their animals to a larger audience. She said the goal was to give animals that need homes as much exposure as possible. “We’re all in the same boat trying to do the same thing,” Varley said. Kari Soniat and Pam Pilch, co-owners of Paddy’s Friends Kitten Fosters, returned for their second Woofstock with kittens available for adoption. The pair began working together in 2023 after previous experience with rescues. Soniat and Pilch foster kittens and evaluate their temperaments to determine which environment the cats would do best in. Their adoption process includes an application, a potential veterinarian reference check, a conversation with the adopter and a meet-and-greet with the cat before reviewing medical records and completing the adoption. The rescue’s adoption fee is $150 and covers expenses including vaccinations and spaying or neutering. Soniat said the event helped them reach potential adopters who may not otherwise know about their work. “When you’re a small rescue with just two of you, we have lots of people who help us out,” Soniat said. “It’s such a great way to get our name out, hand out cards, because even if they don’t get adopted today, we always say there’s an echo effect.” Adriana Wirsch attended with her 5-year-old French bulldog, Suge. She came to support her sister, who volunteers at the Petersburg SPCA. Wirsch adopted Suge around two years ago after he struggled to get along with other dogs in his previous home.

Photo by Chiara Wells.

Wirsch also has a kitten named Harley, whom she adopted from the Goochland shelter nearly two months ago, but did not bring to Woofstock. “If I had a house with a yard, I would adopt a bunch of dogs,” Wirsch said. Another bulldog owner, Nicky Chance, brought her 3-year-old English bulldog, Athens and 2-year-old French bulldog, Auggie. She said the cooler weather gave her dogs an opportunity to spend more time outside at the festival. “They’re high maintenance, but they’re very good dogs,” Chance said. Woofstock was Chance’s first Richmond dog event, but she attends Bully Bash in Ohio each year. Chance was not looking to adopt after recently losing a dog, but she said she hopes to again one day.

Brad Howle, an attendee for the third consecutive year, came with his family and Rosie, a 3-year-old dog, believed to be a North Carolina cur-terrier mix. Howle said Rosie was adopted through the Henrico Humane Society and picked up in Powhatan. She went through a year of training to address her tendency to nip. T he e vent conc luded w it h t he announcement of the “RALender” contest winners. Pet owners entered their animals for a chance to appear in RAL’s 2027 calendar, with 13 final contestants. At the time of Woofstock , the RALender contest raised $108,000. For more information about RAL, adoptable animals, upcoming events and the RALender, visit ral.org.

Dogs posing at the 16th annual Woofstock on Sept. 23.

Photos by Alex Tenhover.

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The Commonwealth Times

RVA Spotlight

Features

Fine Arts & Flowers is back at the VMFA from Oct. 8 to 11. The exhibit will feature museum-wide floral designs inspired by the VMFA’s permanent art collection, a fashion show featuring designs created by VCUarts fashion students and more.

Gavin and his troupe of merry men

Wizard Wednesday adding a little bit of whimsy to your week

The crew of Wizard Wednesday partaking in a special quest. MAEVE BAUER Executive Editor What do a wizard, a priest, a jester, a knight and a beast all have in common? They are all members of the Monroe Wizard’s “Wizard Wednesday.” Once a week this group of adventurers gather together in Monroe Park to go out on quests throughout VCU’s campus. Gavin Paisley is a third-year VCU mechanical engineering student, but on Wednesdays he practices sorcery. Paisley started Wizard Wednesdays around two years ago, or as he put it, “many an eon ago,” after noticing a lack of magic on campus. “One day I was in my tower, looking upon the people of Monroe,” Paisley said. “And I saw upon their eyes, a lack of joy, a lack of whimsy.” Paisley started his mission alone, but eventually gathered a group of like-minded individuals who shared his passion for spreading joy and whimsy to students and other passerbys in the park. Beyond Paisley’s crew, there are people who join in each week to help accomplish quests. Community member, Jessica Dekovitch, has assisted Monroe’s mythical mob for the past three weeks and is beginning to brainstorm character ideas for herself. While exiting their last class of the

Photo by Maeve Bauer.

evening, Crow Stephens, a first-year at VCU, saw the adventurous group exploring the campus grounds and decided to join in. “I was leaving my math class and the wizard quest happened to be right outside and someone was like ‘Come with us, come with us,’ so I went along and it was really fun,” Stephens said. The Quest On Sept. 23 the crew gathered as they usually do in Monroe Park to embark on a special quest. This week, the Monroe Wizard and his trusty team were tasked with freeing the jester from the clutches of the ravenous Beastman. With sights set to defeat the Beastman, the group set out to rescue their funny friend. First, they headed to the compass, where they ran into a Goblin. The Goblin asked a riddle, which if answered correctly, would point everyone in the right direction. “What is something that can be long, but short? And can be soft and hard? And it can go inside of hole but it sits perfectly still between your bosom?” asked the Goblin. The group discussed and landed on “necklace” as the answer. The Goblin shared that they saw the Beastman take the jester past the “big horns.” The gang then embarked on a journey

The entire party after defeating the beastman.

Photo by Maeve Bauer.

The Monroe Knight blowing his horn to summon the troupe for Wizard Wednesday.

Photo by Maeve Bauer.

past the compass all the way to the courtyard between Oliver Hall and the Eugene P. and Lois T. Trani Center of Life Sciences. The group’s priest, Father Tickle, known on every other day of the week as Jones Lee, a senior at Freeman High School. had a personal attachment to this mission, having known the captured jester for many years. The two even joined the wizard’s troupe together. “Guys, I am so scared for my friend, the jester,” exclaimed Lee to the group. “He is a great guy and I really worry about him. He is great fun. Great fun. You know, I’m cooped up in the monastery like 9 months out of the year, but [the jester] come to visit.” Lee has been taking part in Wizard Wednesday for the past few weeks, but has collaborated with Paisley on creative projects for a couple years, according to Paisley. Though he and the wizard disagree from a theological standpoint, with Father Tickle being a man of God and the Monroe wizard being a man of magic, they bond over their shared joy of adventure. “I think that is what Wizard Wednesday is all about,” Lee said. “It is about adventurers coming together no matter who you are and just finding a home where you can adventure and meet people like you and have a great old time.” As the group approached the Beastman and his comical captive, the father

encouraged everyone to negotiate with the beast before resorting to violence. “We have to be civil,” Lee said. “He’s a civil Beastman. Don’t you say he’s more man than beast?” However, upon arrival, the Beastman challenged the rescuers to a duel, asking that one member of the small army battle him. The challenge was accepted by Charlotte Sutton, a first-year VCU clinical psychology student and an eternal nightwalker. She went head to head with the furious Beastman. The wizard laid out the rules and instructed the warriors to walk 10 passes from one another, turn and charge. Sutton attended two other Wizard Wednesdays prior to Sept. 23. She credits the gloomy weather for giving her the strength to duel. “The sun isn’t out,” Sutton said. “It’s been drizzling. I like the weather.” After some back and forth, Sutton took control and defeated the Beastman. The crowd cheered, and the Monroe Jester was freed. The quest ended with a reward for all adventurers, a canister of almonds and three cheers for comradery. If you are interested in joining the Monroe Wizard and his troupe on their next adventure go to @monroe_wizard on Instagram.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

VCU Rice Rivers Center aids in Atlantic sturgeon population recovery

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HAZEL LAIR Contributing Writer

The Atlantic sturgeon, a federally endangered species of fish, has made its return to the James River for breeding season, despite worries regarding the population’s dwindling numbers. Now, the number of sturgeon is back in the thousands. VCU’s Rice Rivers Center, also known as “VCU’s river campus,” has worked to tag and track the fish in order to protect the species. In 2007, scientists believed that the James River had only 300 sturgeon left, according to Smithsonian Magazine. As of last year, Rice Rivers has tagged over 2,500 separate sturgeon, confirming that the species still has hope for recovery. The Rice Rivers center has worked alongside the James River Association, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric The Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to restore the sturgeon population, according to a previous report by the CT. Researchers assist state and federal agencies on determining which habitats in the river are most important for “critical spawning, nursery and migration activities, as well as the importance of threats like collisions with large vessels and habitat loss,” according to the VCU Rice Rivers Center website. Each year, as sturgeon sense the

temperature drop in the fall, they come bounding up the James River, launching themselves into the air in a spectacular display of energy as they race toward their spawning grounds in Richmond. Another migration, a different group of the same species, occurs each spring. Their skin is covered in rows of sharp, tough scutes for protection, but adults have no known predators apart from humans. They grow to their huge proportions in the deep, cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and can live for about 60 years, dwelling near the bottom where they forage for worms and shellfish with their barbels. In the late 1800s, in a period called the “Caviar Rush,” people began fishing for sturgeon to collect their eggs, according to the New York Times Their value and popularity exploded and a century later, overfishing had collapsed the population, and their habitat was destroyed by pollution. Between 1887 and 1989, the number of Atlantic sturgeon caught per year dropped from 7 million pounds to 400. According to VCU research assistant professor Matt Balazik, this was not good news for the James River’s ecosystem. “[Atlantic sturgeon] are very important in resource transfer from the ocean to freshwater systems, the adults feed and grow offshore,” Balazik said. “When they

move upstream to freshwater areas to spawn, they are bringing tons of marinederived nutrients with them.” Balazik does a variety of work with Atlantic sturgeon at the Rice Rivers Center. Much of his work centers around a system of telemetry tags and a receiver array that works to track sturgeon numbers and their movements. “The best way to think about it is we put EZpasses inside of fish and then place tolls throughout the river and the tolls detect the EZpass when it moves by,” Balazik said. Rice Rivers posts regular updates on Facebook so people can track where sturgeon are throughout their spawning season. “The really cool thing is that researchers along the entire East Coast use the same equipment, so when VCU tags a fish in the James and it goes off New Jersey the tag gets detected by tolls up there,” Balazik said. “Most researchers send all their data into a community database and then the detections from the tags are sent back to the group that tagged the fish. It’s been a game changer in learning the behavior of these highly migratory fish.” Despite the fish being protected by the Endangered Species Act and a decadesold moratorium on fishing, there are still ongoing threats to sturgeon, including ship strikes and poor survival rates.

From left to right: Carrie Fox, Andria Greene and Matt Balazik hold three juvenile Atlantic sturgeon in the 2024 fall cohort.

“ W hen the adults come back to spawn, they are getting entrained by ship propellers, which ends up killing them,” Balazik said. “We’ve been documenting this problem since 2007 … The James River population seems to have a juvenile survival issue. We and others catch plenty of adults but rarely catch juveniles. However, we can consistently catch juveniles in other river systems outside of the Chesapeake Bay. We are not sure why, but the leading idea for most is that invasive blue catfish are devouring many eggs, larvae, and very young juvenile sturgeon.” Balazik said the center is unsure why it is difficult to catch juvenile sturgeon, but the leading belief for most is that blue catfish are eating many eggs, larvae, and very young juvenile sturgeon. “It’s looking much better compared to 30-some years ago when most experts thought the Chesapeake Bay population was functionally extirpated,” Balazik said. “There are a lot of adults out there and these fish live for decades, so they can sustain themselves with a few good spawning years every so often. It’s going to take time because the fish has a relatively long generation time compared to many animals.”

Photo courtesy of Carrie Fox.

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Opinions

Quote of the week

"Sadness can feel so unproductive." — Phoebe Bridgers

The government wants to strip your college funding and they are not hiding it MARCUS BEAVERS Contributing Writer On Sept. 3, the House of Representatives passed the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 (H.R. 4795) by a vote of 237–169. Introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the bill would prohibit higher education institutions that participate in federal student-aid programs from engaging in commercial boycotts of Israel that are not based on a legitimate business or economic reason. Additionally, any higher education institutions receiving federal funding for foreign language or international education programs must annually certify that students and faculty may participate in programs located in Israel, according to the Congress Legislature. Simply put, the bill could put VCU’s eligibility for federal education funding at risk if the university were to participate in an institutional boycott of Israel. Phillip L. Swagel, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, said that institutions who violate program agreements may lose the ability to be involved in federal student aid programs, which include Pell grants and student loans. The bill was approved by the House but still requires Senate and presidential approval before it can become law. VCU has already experienced major controversy surrounding pro-Palestinian protests, making this bill especially relevant to Richmond — and possibly to you. On April 29, 2024, VCU students held a pro-Palestinian protest near the VCU Compass, according to a previous report by the CT. 13 people were arrested, including six VCU students. Those arrested faced charges for unlawful assembly and trespassing. The aftermath especially affected PalestinianAmerican VCU graduate Serene Haddad, whose diploma was withheld for months because of a conduct violation regarding the 2024 protest. According to VCU’s School of World Studies, its study-abroad program in Israel was also suspended indefinitely, violating program participation agreements if this bill is

We will never be assimilated enough ZACHARY ROMAN Contributing Writer What does America look like to you? What should it look like? As our country becomes more divided by the day, as we barrel toward midterms that will soon feel like life or death, as the polarization of our politics continues to strain our democracy, these questions become more crucial to ask. If we as a country do not agree on the answers, how can we ever be united again? Last week, the University of Texas beat Ohio State in what was one of the most electrifying football games of the season thus far. UT’s social media page posted a photo of students celebrating the win in the stands and some of the most shocking, vile and infuriating discourse I have ever seen came out of it. Bo French, a Republican candidate for Te xas R a i l road Commissioner, retweeted the photo with the caption “I heard UT’s graduation looked like this last year. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now far worse than any of us could’ve possibly imagined.”

enacted. Reactivating the Israel study-abroad program could cause major backlash towards the university from its students. In May 2024, VCU students delivered a letter to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., concerning the Israel-Gaza genocide and the April 29 protest, according to a previous report by WTVR. Their demands included asking VCU to meet with student protesters, condemn the police response, disclose its financial and academic ties to Israel, divest from Israeli companies and U.S. companies with contracts with Israel, end certain academic and governmental relationships, drop charges against protesters, return confiscated property, along with requesting that Senator Kaine oppose further U.S. aid to Israel. Since then, the humanitarian consequences of the conflict have continued to grow. According to OCHA, Palestinian deaths in Gaza increased from approximately 37,900 in June 2024 to more than 73,000 by 2026, with a third of that being children. Many representatives used the bill to call out anti-semitism regarding the safety and scrutiny of Jewish students, while members of the House who oppose the bill have called it constitutionally questionable and unnecessary, according to IssueVoter. However, it is also important to distinguish criticism of the Israeli government from antisemitism. We need to recognize that opposing foreign policies and the Israeli government’s genocide is not opposing Judaism or their way of life. Political criticism and religious discrimination are not the same thing. The potential consequences of this bill extend beyond the political debate itself. VCU represents a significant part of the Richmond community and federal funding supports many aspects of higher education. This raises a broader question: Whose economic and academic freedom is being protected and what happens when federal funding becomes connected to a university’s political or institutional decisions? I want you to think of one person you know who could directly benefit from this bill. Now many people do you know who could potentially be affected by it?

If the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act places conditions on the federal funding available to American universities based on their institutional decisions, then we have to ask what kind of freedom is actually being protected. Is this about protecting academic freedom, protecting universities from discrimination, protecting Israel from institutional boycotts or controlling what universities are allowed to do with federal support? These issues need to stop being treated as a matter of left versus right and start being addressed as questions of what is best for the people who are actually affected. I believe myself to be a moral person, but it becomes difficult to know how to respond when the institutions we are told to trust appear to

operate according to standards that we may not agree with. Voters are repeatedly told to participate in the system in a responsible way: call your representatives, contact your local officials, sign a petition, vote, protest and make your voice heard. We stand among each other and watch as unfavorable, unconstitutional acts play out while there is nothing constitutional we can do about it. Is that not ironic? We saw this happen two years ago with Kaine, but how much power could someone have within a system that does not support them and what happens when those methods stop feeling effective? What happens when the people who are supposed to represent us no longer seem responsive to the people they represent?

The “problem” he is referring to is brown people. The photo from UT’s social media page featured mostly Indian-American students. They were wearing UT merch, celebrating the comeback w in and screaming their heads off because that is what you do at a college football game. This was Americans being Americans — nothing more. UT is a public, state university with 89% in-state students. Only 9% are international students who are not citizens of the United States. These Indian-American students are exactly that — American. French has since doubled down on these comments. He went on a radio show the Monday after the game and said statements like, “I didn’t know the game was played in India,” and “I didn’t know we were watching a cricket match,” and “The America we grew up in no longer exists.” We hear over and over again from the right: “It’s not about race — these immigrants need to assimilate. They need to adopt Western culture and customs.” Well, here you go. You got what you wanted. Second-generation immigrants, who were born and raised in Texas, doing “American” things, wearing the “right” clothes, speaking the “right” language, even cheering for and celebrating the “right” sports teams. Yet, MAGA is still complaining. They still somehow have a problem with this.

That is because it is not, has not and never will be about assimilation. It has always been about race. I want to be clear here: not everyone on the right is a “white replacement” nutjob. That is a smaller, yet growing, sect of the MAGA movement that is louder than the rest. Maybe I am being naive but I would like to believe that we do not live in a country where the 77 million people that voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election believe that. With that sa id, the cu r rent ta l k ing points f rom M AGA about immigrants are some of the most racist conversations that I have ever seen. The islamaphobia these people spread m a k e s my s tom a c h c hu r n . W he n Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York Cit y, ate r ice w ith his hands (God forbid we eat things with our hands,) conser v at ive spokesperson Cha rl ie K irk literally threw a tantrum about it. The constant fear-mongering over “Sharia law” when their own Christian Nationalists do not even want women to interact w ith each other w ithout supervision or live for long periods of time without a man, is ridiculous. When I went online trying to voice my opinion in comment sections, I was called some of the most offensive, racist things I have ever been called. Never in my life have I had my “Americanness” questioned

just because I have an immigrant mother from India. I was told to “go back to my country,” that I was a “Dalit” (the lowest rank in the Hindu caste system) and that I would always be only a “Dalit” to them. I am often in political spaces, especially online and this obviously creates strong emotions. However, I have never been more enraged, offended and disgusted by how these people treated me purely because my mom was born in a different country. My mother was born in India and lived in Lagos, Nigeria for most of her adolescence. She met my American father in her early 20s and they started their married lives with almost nothing. My mother’s f irst job in this country was waitressing at Pizza Hut. She and my father put themselves through undergraduate school while working full time. She then went to a top 25 business school in the country, graduating second in her class (the first in her class was an Indian man). She is now the CEO of her own company and she and my father have built the most textbook definition of the “American dream.” My mother has been an American citizen for longer than she has not. She has contributed more to this country economically than most Americans do in their entire lives. To call her or her children “non-American”

Illustration by Charles Zhang

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 is an insult to the very foundations of this country. Immigrants come to this country, work hard, pay their taxes, contribute to our economy and gain their citizenship, only for our country’s thank you to be disrespecting them, their families and their culture.

Illustration by Nathan Persson

According to the Pew Research Center, immigrants are just as likely to graduate with a bachelor’s degree as American-born citizens. Over 30 million immigrants are in the workforce and 52% of immigrants in this country are proficient in English, with 72% and 75% from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. Second-generation immigrants of ten m atc h or e xc e e d t he educational prowess of third (or more) generation immigrants. Forty percent of all Fortune 500 companies have a founder who was an immigrant or was the child of one. Immigrants are

also more likely to become entrepreneurs, according to NBC News. To speak directly to those previously mentioned “white replacement nutjobs”: If you are worried about being “replaced,” then do not be replaceable. Two-thirds of the U.S. population that are considered illiterate are made up of U.S. born citizens, with white people making up the largest percentage of illiterate individuals, according to the National Center For Education Statistics. No one is stealing your spots in universities or in the workforce. Those Indian-American students at UT earned those positions. They were not “stolen” from anyone. UT will

Sydney Sweeney’s Novig ad perfectly exemplifies the insidiousness of choice feminism KYLIE GRUNSFELD Opinions & Humor Editor From a marketing standpoint, it is undoubtedly genius. How do you set your product apart from hundreds of others selling the exact same thing? Strip an already controversial celebrity down to her skin, have her speak provocatively to the camera and earn your otherwise irrelevant sports trading app hordes of new users. Predictably, everyone is pissed. Both Novig, a sports-betting and prediction market app, and Sydney Sweeney knew this would be the response, and really, nobody loses — Sweeney gets to walk away with a fat check and Novig gets publicity. Well actually, somebody does lose: women. By posing sexually in an ad despite competing calls for women to behave modestly from one side and to not objectify themselves from the other, Sydney Sweeney is exemplifying choice feminism. Choice feminism dictates that a woman’s choice is inherently feminist solely because she made it. By the logic of choice feminism, Sweeney’s decision to tongue-in-cheekly sexualize herself

AI and education do not mix SYDNEY OVERTON Contributing Writer “Ask Anything.” You may see this phrase when you enter a prompt into ChatGPT or Google Gemini. What most people forget is that the time it takes to type a prompt is the same amount it takes to find the answer on your own. Everyone is looking for shortcuts instead of making an effort and doing the appropriate work. In recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more comfortable with technology. However, one specific issue has gotten out of hand: generative AI. Most people’s introduction to artificial intelligence programs was condensed and juvenile, with GPS services, video games or even simple services defaulted onto smartphones. The difference between then and now is that we did not have the unlimited access to it that we have today, nor did we use it to complete mundane tasks. That is the problem. Recently, there has been a surge in AI programs such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Meta. These programs are implemented everywhere, whether it be on social media, making an appointment over the phone, searching Google, doing assignments or even searching VCU’s website. Then, there is AI use and encouragement in classes. Students are already excessively using these programs, but recently, they are

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Opinions

automatically accept the top 5% of Texas high school graduates beginning in 2027, according to the Texas Education Agency. These students were most likely the best of the best in Texas. They were the most qualified and deserving of these spots, so they got them. If there are white people who feel that those spots were “stolen” from them, maybe they should have been more qualified. Maybe they should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and work harder. Maybe they should do what immigrants do and then they would get the jobs they think are owed to them.

Illustration by CW Johnston

to convince men to gamble their savings away is a feminist act. Except, I do not find it a feminist act at all. Even though America is a society that promotes hyper-individualism, there is no such thing as a choice that affects only you — especially when you have (whether accidentally or not) become the face of modern white conservative womanhood. According to Newsweek, several female athletes have come out against this ad. They have every right to do so — not because the ad explicitly makes a mockery of women athletes, but because it makes a mockery of women in general and by extension, any woman in any position. Sweeney did not agree to this ad so she could say female athletes are jokes, but rather, I know you want me for my body, so I will hand it to you on a silver platter and make a ton of money in the process. By doing so she has reaffirmed a belief that has always existed to push women down. Women are sex objects, they exist to bring you pleasure. Fifty-two percent of men aged 18 to 49 engage in online sports betting, according to the Research Institute at Siena University. That means 52% of men aged 18 to 49 were the target audience

of this advertisement. Novig is playing into the idea that straight American men want sexy, barely clad women to sell them their products. They are feeding into this desire, further inundating these men with depictions of perfectly proportioned, vacant-eyed, obedient women. It may have been Sweeney’s choice to do this ad, but her choice does not exist in a vacuum. Something can be simultaneously liberating for an individual and detrimental to a larger population. The more men consume this kind of media, the more they will see women as a monolith and expect their girlfriends, wives, hook-ups and others to perform the same act. When she shatters the illusion, he will punish her for it. When she dedicates her life to playing the character, she is the one who suffers. I do not believe that men possess a biological evilness or innate desire for domination through violence. I believe a series of familial, social and societal pressures demonstrate to him that his value comes from how “masculine” he can be. Part of that masculinity is believing in the female’s subordination. Ads like this, which explicitly present a woman

as a figure meant to provide pleasure and nothing else, make it that much easier for a man to believe that women are inherently docile. Sydney Sweeney is not 100% the perpetrator and she is not 100% the victim. I empathize with the fact that it must be challenging to carve out a niche for yourself in Hollywood. When women are so often made to be sexual on-screen anyway, why not take matters into your own hands and flaunt what God so graciously gave you? At the end of the day, we cannot place the responsibility of the feminist movement onto one woman’s shoulders. However, I wildly disagree with the conviction that all female choices are good female choices. Women are humans, capable of making terrible, selfish decisions just as they are capable of being strong, beautiful, autonomous and brave. We cannot pretend that Sydney Sweeney is a “good feminist” for being in this ad. At the same time, the sheer act of putting her body on display is not the work of the devil. What really matters is intent. Who is this ad meant for and why? Why are we so comfortable encouraging men to gamble while making women the butt of the joke?

being permitted or even encouraged to use it in the classroom. In my time at VCU, I have heard professors say, “If you want to use AI to do your homework, that’s fine. I’m mostly just checking it for completion.” When students hear that in classes, they think they are able to take shortcuts with almost every assignment and ultimately, they end up taking advantage of that opportunity. When we constantly take shortcuts to get simple tasks done, we lose the art of retention, interest, respect for education and basic skills. Before fire, cavemen had square and muscular jaws from chewing down on raw meat. Over time, they discovered fire and evolved. When you do not use a muscle, it stiffens. When you are not using your brain efficiently, it will adapt to what it is most comfortable to. However, this is not just an issue perpetuated by professors. It starts with the university. According to VCU’s Generative AI guidelines, faculty are required to include an AI statement in their course syllabus. The guidelines mention that faculty can decide how they wish to integrate AI into their course. They have the choice to make the change in their classroom. In some classes that I have been in, the professor’s statement seems like something mentioned once and then somewhat forgotten. Doing so, professors are making the decision to encourage younger students to stay current with the developing technology. However, this means the students who already use it for individual tasks will only continue to use it in class.

I understand that the university may not be able to change their guidelines overnight, but as students, we can stop choosing shortcuts. We can give ourselves some grace so we do not experience academic burnout. When studying, give yourself a reward system or take motivational breaks. For example, study for an hour, take a 20-minute break, then go back so it does not feel like you are cramming everything together. It is easy to ask programs to provide a summary of a textbook or write a response to a discussion post. However, it does not beat the satisfaction you feel once it is completed and you can say you understand how you did it. Most know that AI is harmful, but it is genuinely affecting education more than many realize. We have moved from chalkboards to Chromebooks. Young children in schools are no longer being taught the same literacy, mathematics or basic grammar skills. Educators in my family have shared with

me their frustration with students’ decline in reading, spelling, comprehension and typing skills. These decreases are only worsened by unreliable grading scales. Yet, neither the kids nor the teachers are to blame. Instead, it is the increase in technology. We all see it. Kids are spending their preteen years glued to TikTok. On top of this, every year of their life, Apple releases a new iPhone model. My childhood was spent outside with bikes and my first phone was a no-name flip phone. So the real question is, how can we make the next generation aware of their dependency on technology? As a young college student, you are the change. You chose to be here. You chose to spend your money on tuition. You have the desire to expand your education further. Now it is your responsibility to respect that choice.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Puzzles DROP IN ANYTIME!

Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle DROP IN ANYTIME!

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 Jeremy Venook

ACROSS 64 On-campus 71 Over again 5 Slo-mo reviewer 1 Hard work residence 74 Artist Yoko 6 Toss 6 Gym bottoms 66 Eye layer 75 Your and my 7 Word with farm or 12 “Sad to say ... ” 67 Uncountable ages 76 Alpo rival foam 16 Through 68 Cold open? 80 Edited In unisonby Patti Varol 8 Big name in small Jeremy 19 UpBy on the latest Venook 69 Green party? 81 Individual with cars news exceptional 9 Genetic messenger 70 Songs for two ACROSS 71 Over again 5 Slo-mo reviewer71 Block 64 On-campus 20 Forty winks integrity? molecule 1 Hardkits work 74lawmakers Artist Yoko 6 Toss 21 Accessory for 72 Collegeresidence sports 86 U.K. 10 Spigot Gym bottoms 87 Spots 75 for Your and my 7 Word with farm or channel new6hires 66 Eye layer electron 11 Booze 12 style “Sad to say ... ” 76 Alpo rival foam tool 23 Tacky 67 denial Uncountable ages 73 Polite clouds 12 Woodworking 16 Through 80off In unison Big name in small influenced by West 77 Avowals 68 Cold open? 89 Took 13 Head8 up 19 beach Up on culture the latest 90 Completely 81 Individual cars Coast 78 Hosted, for short lost with 14 Request 69 Green party? news exceptional and Neapolitan 9 Genetic messenger 79 Decorative pillow 91 Textbook chapter 70 Songs for two 15 Carryall for a day 20traditions? 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Greekrights letters 126 an Tubes in antique 44 Pastoral poem 118 Songwriters’ 58 Undefeated boxer tree 65 Stacking figurines motto org. 59 “We feel the same3 Cager’sradios 112 Inscribe with acid 46 Turpentine of a Canadian 4 Camden Yards track great Laila 119 Wall launch way” prog 113St.Ascot-wearing 127 Olympic 50 Dark lord of “The 60 Brace Lord of the Rings” rock 120 Easy sammie 61band? Chicken cordon __ player Owens driver of the 62 Microwave maker Mystery Machine 52 Dietary fiber 63 Portuguese DOWN 53 One-on-one contest 114 Lollygagging greeting 117 Pitching stat 1 Hasn’t 56 “Thereabouts” 64 Rely (on) 118 Songwriters’ rights 2 Keep an eye out for 57 Engine 65 Stacking figurines org. 3 Cager’s motto 58 Undefeated boxer of a Canadian prog 119 Wall St. launch 4 Camden Yards Laila rock band? 120 Easy sammie player 60 Brace

Sudoku By The Mepham Group

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Edited by Patti Varol

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Level

Level

1

2

1

2

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4

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4

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

9/30/26

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 1

Edited byVENOOK Patti Varol DROP IN ANYTIME! by JEREMY

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

© 2026 The Distributed Mepham Group. 9/30/26 © 2026 The Mepham Group. by Distributed by Tribune Content All rights reserved. Tribune Content Agency. All rightsAgency. reserved.

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