The Commonwealth Times; February 26, 2018

Expansion and engagement: VCU celebrates its 50-year anniversary

SAFFEYA AHMED

Contributing Writer

The nation was in upheaval when VCU opened its doors in downtown Richmond in the summer of 1968.

The university’s journey as an institution began when the Medical College of Virginia opened its doors in 1838. MCV gained official status as a state institution in 1860 — it played a critical role in educating doctors and providing healthcare through the Civil War, World War I and World War II.

After MCV’s full establishment, a separate academic institution — Richmond School of Social Economy — opened in 1917. In 1939, the school changed its name to Richmond Professional Institute.

In February of 1968, the House and Senate approved the RPIMCV merger, passing the order as

“emergency” legislation, effective immediately.

VCU now celebrates its anniversary on July 1, 1968 — the day RPI officially merged with MCV.

Ray Bonis, senior research associate at VCU and co-author of a book on VCU’s history, said VCU’s formation was necessary.

“Legislators and leaders in Virginia realized that new students needed more colleges and universities to attend to in Virginia,” Bonis said. “That’s one of the reasons VCU was created. They thought the Commonwealth of Virginia needed an urban school to handle the urban problems which were developing in the mid to late-60s.”

A year full of accomplishments and adversities, the RPI-MCV merger was not the only defining event of 1968. As a nation, the United States experienced some of the best and the worst moments in

history — from the first orbital of the moon to the assassinations of key leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy to the ongoing Vietnam War.

50 years later, the United States stands at the crossroads of accomplishment and adversity yet again. The recent turmoil in Parkland, Florida and high instances of gun violence this year mirror gun violence in the United States back in 1968.

“With Donald Trump being president, we have entered an era of presidential turmoil,” Bonis said. “His brashness has inspired Americans to come out against him and his policies — kind of like the backlash we saw with the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s.”

While the fight for civil rights strongly defined 1968, the message of key leaders still resonates with students across the nation. John

Kneebone, chair of VCU’s department of history, said 1968 looks like 2018 in certain aspects — especially activism.

“We’re seeing signs of student activism today,” Kneebone said. “The 60s was a unique period in the history of higher education because students and student protests really did have an influence. We see that resonating today, as students help to set the course for an urban university that’s diverse, pluralistic and open to everybody.”

Student activism isn’t the only sector VCU continues to excel in half a century later. Mirroring 1968, VCU remains a top public university in Virginia. VCU Medical Center, now over 200 years old, is the top medical center in Virginia, according to U.S. News Health.

VCU stands as the second largest public university in Virginia after George Mason University,

according to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. Originally opening with an enrollment of 10,000 students, VCU’s expansion has increased enrollment by over 300 percent in its 50 years standing as an institution.

Averaging more than 30,000 students enrolled every year, VCU has expanded immensely since the RPI-MCV merge. Bonis said VCU’s facilities and enrollment grew the most under its fourth and longest-serving president, Dr. Eugene Trani, who played a major role in VCU’s northbound growth.

Trani served as VCU president for a little under 20 years — from 1990 to 2009. A key leader in VCU’s expansion, Trani stopped the institution’s extension south, encroaching on areas like Oregon Hill. Under his presidency, VCU developed facilities north, taking over West Franklin, West Grace,

West Broad and West Marshall Streets.

“When I arrived there were 21,000 students, and when I left there were 32,000 students,” Trani said. “That growth is really important. VCU became, at one point, the largest institution in the Commonwealth. It really solidified VCU as an anchor institution in the Richmond metropolitan area.”

Bonis said 50 years ago, no one really knew VCU as an institution; now, we’re an name known throughout the nation.

“(The impact VCU has had) is dramatic and it’s obvious. If it wasn’t for VCU, there wouldn’t be much going on in the city of Richmond,” Bonis said. “It’s been VCU that’s revitalized and helped to give energy and growth to the city.”

Dr. Grace Harris Is Remembered for ‘Her Spirit of Hope’

GEORGE COPELAND JR AND ADAM HAMZA

Dr. Grace Harris, whose life and career stretched from the roads of rural Halifax County to the halls of the Virginia State Capital, was celebrated Saturday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

Senate Panel Votes to Ban ‘Lunch Shaming’ in Virginia

IRENA SCHUNN

A Senate committee Thursday unanimously approved a bill to prohibit “lunch shaming” – the practice of singling out students who owe the school cafeteria money or cannot pay for their lunch.

As College Tuition Rises, Senate Panel Kills Bill Mandating Public Input

LIA TABACKMAN AND DEANNA DAVISON

Virginia public colleges have increased tuition by an average of 82 percent over the past decade, and students are taking out billions of dollars in loans to front rising tuition costs. But a bill requiring university trustees to hold a public comment period before raising tuition is foundering in the Senate after passing in the House of Delegates.

Richmond Sidewalk Problems Prompt Concerns

JESSICA WETZLER

After receiving multiple complaints about the conditions of sidewalks, roadways, and alleys, a Richmond City Council committee met Thursday night to express its support on moving forward to make improvements and repairs.

Virginia Teenagers May Rescue Volunteer Fire Departments

LOGAN BOGERT

A bill to allow teenagers to join volunteer fire and rescue squads may save many operations around Virginia that have seen an increase in service calls but a decrease in volunteers.

Delegate Aims to Rein in ‘Predatory Loans,’ to No Avail

SIONA PETEROUS

“You’re pre-approved!”

CashNetUSA, a Chicago-based company, exclaimed in a letter to Alexandria resident Mark Levine. “$1,000 is waiting!” Smaller print at the bottom of the solicitation noted that the annual interest rate would be 299 percent.

Levine wasn’t just any name on CashNetUSA’s direct-mail list. He’s also a state delegate. Surprised and outraged by the ad, he introduced a bill this legislative session to ban high-interest loans.

These stories are courtesy of VCU’s Capital News Service. The full stories can be found at vcucns.com.

SOPHIA BELLETTI

Behind the name plaque on Richmond mayor Levar Stoney’s desk sits a small turtle only he can see.

It was a gift from Virginia Union University president, Hakim J. Lucas. When Lucas gifted the turtle to Stoney he said “you know the only animal that sticks its neck out? A turtle.”

When Stoney sees the small turtle with the tortoise colored shell, he is reminded of what makes a strong politician.

“Good leaders stick their necks out in a time of crisis,” Stoney said.

That motto has motivated Stoney to overcome adversity and become well acquainted with the concept of being ‘first.’

Stoney was the first in his family to go to, and graduate from, college.

In 2004, he graduated from James Madison University where he was the first African American male ever elected president of the student government.

From 2014 through 2016, he served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, becoming the first African American to serve in this role and the youngest member of Governor Terry McAuliffe’s administration.

On December 31, 2016, at 35 years of age, Stoney became Richmond’s youngest elected mayor.

“It would be shocking if someone from our generation wasn’t at the helm of a city that’s on the rise like Richmond,” Stoney said. “I think in 2016 folks made it very clear they’re ready to turn the page and ready to embrace that we’re a city on the rise.”

Stoney was born in Nassau County, New York, but shortly thereafter moved to Hampton Roads. He described growing up in a situation “where you knew we didn’t have a lot, but you knew everything was always going to be okay.”

As a kid, he handled his grandmother’s finances. He was the one who would call the bank and check how much money was in the account toward the end of the month.

“When you call on a Monday and you have to get through to Saturday and find out all you have is $60 left in the account,

New program targets international students

ANYA SCZERZENIE

Contributing Writer

Navitas, a global education company with more than 120 associated colleges, recently announced a partnership with VCU to create the Global Student Success program — a move intended to make the university a more ideal destination for international study.

“VCU was chosen because of its academic reputation, diverse student body, size and location.” said Ian Day, Navitas spokesperson.

Day said enrollment will begin fall 2018. The program will include courses designed specifically for international students, which will be included in the university core requirements and courses will include language support for English Language Learner students if necessary.

VCU has 1,452 international students from 101 countries across the globe. China, India, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have the most students here.

The program is expected to bring in more international students along with global education programs, like Globe.

“We are able to meet universities where they are on the internationalization spectrum, taking into consideration existing programs,” Day said.

experience in policymaking

the adults were very, very creative around me,” Stoney said. Within his first year in office, Stoney has put a special emphasis on children and education.

Stoney proposed earlier this year to bump the meals tax at Richmond restaurants and catering businesses from 6 to 7.5-percent, starting July 1, 2018. On Feb. 12, City Council voted 7-2 in favor of the tax.

The higher meals tax would generate $9.1 million in new revenue, allowing the city to borrow $150 million to fund improvements to school facilities over the next five years.

“In the legislation we proposed,

we created a special reserve fund where the people in the City of Richmond will see the dollars that go in and the dollars that go out,” Stoney said. “That reserve fund is dedicated solely for the construction of new schools in the city of Richmond … but I do believe there will be hell to pay if the money is moved.” Last fall, Stoney sat down with restaurant owners and explained the meals tax. Stoney said research showed 70 percent of Richmond residents would support an increase in the meals tax dedicated solely to construction of new schools in the city of Richmond.

According to Stoney’s press secretary Jim Nolan, research showed half of the people who will be paying the tax don’t reside in the city and 30 percent of them live 50 miles away.

“Some of these conditions in these schools are horrible and the mayor visited every school last year so he’s seen first hand the conditions of these schools,” Nolan said.

Stoney said one of the most memorable moments during his first year in office was creating a partnership with Richmond Public Schools and a couple nonprofits to ensure 20,000 kids will have access to vision screen-

ings and receive glasses.

He said a young woman who attended the screening with her 7-year-old son found out her son had been blind in one eye for nearly seven years. That day he left with a pair glasses.

“I almost got emotional right there on the spot,” Stoney said. “That’s why we do what we do here, that’s why I got into public service — to ensure children like that get a fair shot. It was something as small as him not having a pair of glasses that was holding him back.”

“The kids can’t wait.”

In the wake of school mass shootings, VCU says they are prepared for the worst

Ever y Mass School Murder in U.S. Histor y*

LOGAN REARDON Contributing Writer

The Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida left 17 dead and 14 injured. The tragedy has shined a light on safety measures in place on campuses across the country.

In 2016 and 2017, VCU PD hosted active shooter training exercises with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to practice coordinated responses to VCU buildings, according to VCU PD spokesperson Corey Byers. VCU officers also take ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training).

Dr. Pete Blair, the Executive Director of ALERRT, said they provide training for officers to protect colleges around the country in the event of a mass shooting.

“We also train officers in how

to instruct civilians to react if that situation is to occur,” Blair said. “As time goes by, we review action reports to see what lessons we can learn and how we can prepare in the event of another mass shooting.”

According to Blair, ALERRT follows the “Avoid, Deny and Defend” method in the event of a mass shootings.

“You want to have different options for different scenarios,” Blair said. The preferred method is to avoid the situation at all costs, but if it comes down to it, denying entry into where you are is the next best solution. The most unwanted, but final option, is to defend yourself against the attacker.”

VCU PD also offers safety assessments of work and classroom spaces at the request of VCU faculty and staff members.

“These assessments are a proactive way in which police can work with concerned staff members to

help keep their buildings safer,”

Byers said. “In addition, VCU Police officers will review “Run. Hide. Fight” active shooter protective training to any group of students, faculty or staff members who request it.”

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, VCU was one of the first schools in the country to use the LiveSafe app, allowing students to send information directly to emergency officials.

VCU also created new processes for declaring an emergency lockdown to save time.

“We always encourage individuals on both campuses to sign up for text message alerts, so that they can receive directions from police on how to keep themselves safe in any incident that’s an active, ongoing threat to the community,” Byers said.

VCU has a weapons ban on campus by anyone other than in-

dividuals authorized by the university. VCU also has laws, regulations and preparedness plans in place for any hazardous situation that could take place on campus.

The Administration releases an annual “Campus Safety Report” detailing the events that occured on campus the last year, and any changes to plans or regulations to curb crime at VCU.

If an emergency occurs on campus, the emergency sirens on campus will be activated, alerting everyone to seek shelter inside. VCU’s emergency message service will also send an alert to anyone registered, updating the messages as the situation continues.

VCU urges anyone who notices something out of the ordinary to report it to VCU police immediately by phone at (804)8281234, online at police.vcu.edu, or through the LiveSafe app available for mobile devices.

“The kids can’t wait”: Stoney channels personal

Executive Editor

Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond’s youngest elected mayor at 35 years old, his focused his attention on education reform.

Drugs, alcohol, suicide: U.S. mortality rates continue to rise

SARAROSE MARTIN

News Editor

U.S. life expectancy fell for the second year in a row, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — And a VCU professor says drugs, alcohol and suicide are to blame.

In his editorial, “Failing Health of the United States,” Steven Woolf, director of the Center on Society and Health addressed the challenges Americans face that contribute to the life expectancy decrease by a tenth of a year from 2015 to 2016.

People born in 2017 are expected to live 78.6 years, which means 400,000 years of life will be lost due to the decrease — more than the years of life lost during the Iraq War — according to Bill Gardner, a professor at the University of Ottawa.

“Drug overdoses in particular account for a large increase in death rates in the United States, but the other reason for mentioning these three together is that they fit into a larger pattern of what we call stressrelated conditions,” Woolf said. Stress-related conditions refer to harmful behaviors that are often used as coping mechanisms for a strained living environment.

A 2013 study by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine found the United States is not as healthy as other countries because of social and environmental factors.

Since the late 1990s, U.S life expectancy has been below the average of other high-income countries.

“Americans are more likely to

have unhealthy behaviors such as high caloric intake and civilian ownership of firearms, risker driving practices that might explain the higher death rate from car crashes,” Woolf said. “But it wasn’t just individual behaviors.”

We found the counties in the U.S where this seems to be happening are counties with economic challenges, that have had stagnant wages, high poverty rates, (and) unemployment for many years now.

Steven Wolf, Director of the Center on Society and Health

The study found the U.S has higher disease rates for a wide variety of conditions and it identified many single factors that may contribute — specifically socio-eco-

nomic conditions, like education, income, poverty rates, income inequality as an important factor.

This supports the specific drop among middle-aged White Americans and people living in rural communities.

“We found the counties in the U.S where this seems to be happening are counties with economic challenges that have had stagnant wages, high poverty rates (and) unemployment for many years now,” Woolf said.

Americans on average have higher poverty rates, child poverty rates and income inequality. The latter is especially important in understanding this recent upsurge, Woolf said, because of a tendency in society to blame individuals for their problems. People may find themselves stuck in an environment society created.

“So we have a tendency in our society to go directly to the symptoms of the problem and try to treat those rather than the upstream,” Woolf said. “We have to sort of step back and think about the policies and conditions in communities that are driving people to these behaviors.”

The problem can be addressed through policies that invest in the middle class and improve access to education, jobs, housing and transportation, Woolf said.

“Governors and legislators are making decisions about public policies that have a big impact on the middle class,” Woolf said. “The chances of people fulfilling the American dream are now lowest for Americans, so I think we probably need to take action soon or it’s

Numbers show rise in suicides and overdoses in United States

FATAL

DRUG OVERDOSES

rose by between 2000 and 2014. 137%

SUICIDE

24%

rose by between 1999 and 2014.

64,000

In 2015 alone, more than Americans died from overdoes.

These “deaths of despair ” are disproportionately affecting white Americans, especially:

• adults aged 25-59 years

• those with limited education

• women

Over the three decades in which survival advances slowed in the US, educational performance weakened, social divides (including income inequality) widened, middle class incomes stagnated, and poverty rates exceeded those of most rich countries.

Student spearheads advocacy for food security from Richmond to Zimbabwe

Contributing Writer

Tatenda Ndambakuwa started a mentorship program in Zimbabwe, helped develop two mobile apps and wrote a children’s book to promote agricultural education and food waste awareness, all while pursuing a degree in mathematics and applied mathematics at VCU. Her studies focus on agricultural development, social entrepreneurship and food security.

Now a senior, Ndambakuwa was selected as one of the 27 students from around the world to attend the Global Food Security Symposium — an opportunity to meet with national business, policy and entrepreneurial leaders — in Washington, D.C. this March.

What inspired your advocacy for Zimbabwean children through your mentorship program?

I was looking for what I thought is the most vulnerable population.

Zimbabwe is home for me. Mbare is a suburb in Harare, (Zimbabwe’s) capital, where there is the highest population density. There’s a lot of poverty going on there. Most of the time, the parents are busy so they don’t have as much time to give to their children to help them. I think it’s very important today for all kids everywhere to have digital literacy skills.

How do you anticipate youth influencing the agricultural economies of nations to evolve?

With technology, food processing and all these easy-toprepare meals, we are becoming more far-removed from the store. And with home delivery systems, most people won’t even need to go to the store in the future. I think this is a pivotal moment in history to engage youth in agri-

culture. I think we need to use technology and the infrastructure that also engages with youth.

With the population continuing to increase, we need to start thinking about where the food is going to come from. If there is no food, there is no stability. That’s one of the reasons why I am currently writing a book on food and food waste.

After co-founding an app that analyzes Africa’s food production system, how do you see personal technology affecting agricultural stability in developing countries?

[The app is] basically the mixture of Facebook and Google for African farmers. They can share their information with other farmers and ask questions about symptoms of plants and animals. They can also get access to information from microfinance agencies, seed companies, etc.

Most people have [smartphone-like devices] to be able to use mobile money. I figured if we could use these phones for mobile money, we could use them to connect farmers who are in remote regions of countries to have access to all these resources as well.

How has your internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture influenced your outlook on the government’s role in food security?

I worked primarily on childfeeding programs and also the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). There should be an open form of dialogue, because when I am sitting in the comfort of my home, I cannot understand why this person who is seeking SNAP assistance is seeking (it).

I went to the Hill many times to hear some of these recipients talking about how they are not lazy and they don’t just want benefits from the government. They

want to have that cushion as they transition toward looking for a job. With what’s going on right now about the government wanting to change the requirements for SNAP programs, I just wish more people would get to know some of the SNAP recipients — seek out input from people who are recipients to know what their needs are and what they think.

Of course, you can find some bad apples who are recipients of this program, but to completely nullify the importance and significance of this program is a little heartless. There are many checks and balances — and of course there will always be people who maneuver around those checks and balances — but I just think the government should get to know these people better and not speak from the comfort of their tables, seats and offices.

How can VCU students help with your cause?

I am going to continue to advocate for digital literacy for every child everywhere in the world, no matter where they come from. Whichever department you are in at VCU, you use some sort of technology.

With the computer science department, there are many brilliant programmers — so there are many student startups looking for programmers and cyber security analysts. I would definitely appreciate some expertise on that.

I am actively seeking an illustrator for the book that I am writing and I know VCU has an amazing art school.

There are also people who are going hungry in the world who need food, so we can be a little more cautious to stop food waste. As college students, I know at times you are out of time and you’re busy, but for the sake of our environment let’s not waste food.

NIA TARIQ

Senior Tatenda Ndambakuwa was selected to attend the Global Food Security Symposium for her work with agricultural development and food security.

Students raise concerns about nightclub purchase

SARAROSE MARTIN

News Editor

Student and teacher advocates for adjunct pay equity are questioning the need for VCU’s purchase of a nightclub on campus last week.

VCU bought Mansion 534, on North Harrison Street, for $3.5 million. Michael Porter, a university spokesperson, said the pur-

chase is part of the university’s overall real estate acquisition. He said the property is surrounded by existing university buildings like the Siegel Center, the West Broad Street Parking Deck and the Grace and Broad Residence Centers.

Porter initially said there was no specific plan for the property when reached by the Commonwealth Times Wednesday. But on Friday, he said university plans to use the

space short-term for the School of the Arts to fill an immediate need for classroom and exhibit space.

The building was last appraised at $819,000, according to city records. The former owner, Commonwealth Holdings Group, bought the two-story, 7,100 square foot building in 2008 for $600,000.

Students For Equal Adjunct Pay said the money spent on the purchase is irresponsible when

the adjunct faculty are paid below the poverty level and student tuition increased by 3.8 percent this school year.

“They aren’t seriously considering ways of dealing with the bigger problem of adjunct equity in a way that doesn’t negatively impact the student body,” said a Students For Equal Adjunct Pay member who declined to give their name. “There have been promises

of action and effort to find a way around this problem.”

Students For Equal Adjunct Pay said they have been in contact with School of the Arts Dean Shawn Brixey and other members of the administration about adjunct pay equity.

The group is hosting an event at Mansion with Young Democratic Socialists at VCU and VCUarts AOFP Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. to

raise awareness to the issue and gain support. “From the adjuncts perspective, it feels like they’re being laughed at,” the Students For Equal Pay member said. “As a student I personally find it degrading, and for many of us in the art department, adjuncting is a very real possibility in our future.”

Sunny days. Silent libraries. Some things are just better in the summer. Get ahead of a busy semester, focus on a few classes and see what RVA has to offer in the summertime. Check which Summer Studies courses are available at summer.vcu.edu.

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

Students advocating pay equity for adjunct professors claim the $3.5 million purchase of Mansion, a nightclub near campus is an irresponsible use of university funds.

sports

Stat of the Week

Senior forward Justin Tillman had 20 points and 10 rebounds Saturday — his 14th double-double of the season.

PAY THE DAMN KIDS

The blatant hypocrisy fueling an FBI probe into college basketball recruiting practices

ZACH JOACHIM Sports Editor

Don’t you hate it when people act surprised to find out something you know they already knew?

We all despise this specific brand of hypocrisy, and yet, here we are. An ongoing FBI investigation into more than 20 major NCAA college basketball programs is set to drop the hammer on “corrupt” recruiting practices in collegiate hoops, and the country is aghast as relatively obvious reports of the “unthinkable” begin to surface.

Former coach at the University of Louisville, Rick Pitino, was run out of town amid a scandal involving paying escorts for players prior to the 2017-18 season. Sean Miller, head coach at the No. 14 University of Arizona, did not coach this past weekend. ESPN.com’s Mark Schlabach reported Friday FBI wiretaps caught Miller speaking with a representative for an agent about making a six-figure payment to land current National Player of the Year candidate, freshman forward Deandre Ayton.

Schlabach wrote three dozen teams could be penalized. Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde and Pete Thames reported Friday the FBI probe targets blue bloods such as Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Michigan State University, the University of Kansas and the University of Kentucky.

For such heinous and unspeakable behavior, these ‘corrupt’ recruiting practices were quite widespread. In reality, any-

body who knows college basketball knew this was going on beneath the surface.

“This is one agent,” said Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim in reference to the Miller report. “Imagine what all the other ones are doing. Agents have been involved with families for 30 years. We have blinders on.”

If everybody is breaking the rules, it’s not the offenders that need to be given a reality check.

It’s the rules themselves.

Let’s get one thing straight — major college basketball and football programs make big money for universities. Donor contributions, media contracts and attendance boosts generated by athletic programs are cornerstones of collegiate revenue. If you’re looking for an example of these factors manifesting in the growth of a university, look no further than right

Take me home...West Virginia...

and one RBI apiece, with Lamb stealing two bases on the day. Sev en of the nine batters for VCU tal lied at least one hit, with two pitch ers throwing at least three scoreless innings. McCarty recorded the save while graduate pitcher Brax ton Wilks took the win.

here at VCU.

The Department of Education reported an average annual revenue of $29,635,946 for NCAA Division I-A Football programs, according to Business Insider. Men’s basketball was second on the list at $7,880,290.

The maintenance of an athletic brand is essential to the monetary success of any typical modern university. You know Miller and Arizona anticipated a solid

return on a one year, $100,000 investment in Ayton. That’s how much high profile athletes make for universities.

The NCAA does not by any means wish to change this reality and stunt its own profit margins. But it seeks to punish the widespread practice of adults paying and incentivizing vulnerable kids to come play and make money for them.

That is blatant hypocrisy, and

it should make us sick. Because we all know how this inevitably ends — pay the damn players. Stop treating this like it’s not well established precedent. There is a freaking purple elephant in the room and everybody is looking the other way and it is driving me crazy.

No, I don’t have a readily available solution, you can’t pay all student athletes. But the idea that a scholarship alone is enough to compensate high profile ones at major universities is sorely outdated and grossly jaded. There is no clear answer to this conundrum, and that it why it is imperative we face reality — college players are paid. We can keep it sleazy and under the table, which results in schemes involving truly illicit behavior like at Louisville, or we can address and regulate it to the best of our abilities. We cannot stop it from happening in this era of ultracommercialized and branded college sports. At least Lonzo Ball knows what’s good. Even though, of course *cough* *cough,* he says he never accepted money during his one year stint at the University of California - Los Angeles.

No, he was just grateful for all the career opportunities his education opened up for him.

“All the money they generate for programs and stuff, it’s an unfair system,” Ball said. “Everybody’s getting paid anyway. You might as well make it legal.” Cheers, ‘Zo. At least somebody is keeping it real.

Women’s, men’s tennis dominate early slate

ADAM CHEEK

Contributing Writer

Baseball finished off the week with a 3-1 record, beating the College of William & Mary, sweeping two games against West Virginia University and losing to Illinois University to improve to 3-4 on the young season.

Illinois proved to be the Rams’ toughest opponent, as VCU fell 7-4 on Sunday to the Fighting Illini in the last of three games in Conway, S. C. Both teams scored quickly, with a run apiece in the first inning. However, Illinois held VCU scoreless until the seventh, scoring four runs of their own to put the Rams down 5-1. VCU rebounded with three runners crossing the plate in the final three innings, but Illinois added two and took home a 7-4 victory.

VCU’s weekend series against West Virginia proved to be fruitful,

as the Rams swept the Mountaineers in two games.

An 8-5 win on Saturday secured the sweep, as the Black and Gold offense struck early and often. Scoring in six of their eight innings, VCU’s offensive prowess shined Saturday night.

Sophomore infielder Paul Witt blasted a two-run shot into left field in the bottom of the sixth to cap a stellar day, with junior infielder Zac Ching adding three hits, three RBI, a run scored and a walk.

Senior infielder Mitchel Lacey reached on all five of his plate appearances, going three-for-three and also recording a walk and hit by pitch, while junior pitcher/infielder Mac McCarty recorded his third save in as many games.

The second game against West Virginia was an extra-inning thriller on Friday morning. The Black and Gold came out victorious 6-2 in South Carolina. Freshman utility player Hogan Brown was the standout star of the game, going three-for-five while doubling twice and scoring.

Lacey and senior outfielder Haiden Lamb each added two hits

The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when Lamb laced a single to the right side and scored Brown. The Mountaineers tied the game at 2-2 on a bases-loaded single after VCU padded their lead with another run, but the Black and Gold shut down West Virginia for the re mainder of the inning and game. After missing a scoring chance in the 10th, VCU exploded in the 11th inning, as sophomore infielder Brett Willett doubled off the left field wall, scoring fellow sophomore in fielders Steven Carpenter and Witt. After the Rams added two more, Wilks and McCarty sealed the win for the Black and Gold in the bot tom of the inning.

The Rams edged out a 4-3 win over William & Mary on Tuesday in Williamsburg, as sophomore Connor Gillispie recorded his first win of the year. Willett, senior in fielder Daane Berezo, and Ching each contributed two hits, while freshman Liam Hibbits rocketed a double into right-center to score Ching. This fourth run of the game proved to be the difference maker, as VCU led 4-2 going into the ninth.

After a scoreless inning for the Black and Gold at the plate, the Tribe threatened by plating a run, only to be shut down with the tying run in scoring position.

The Black and Gold finally commence their 2017-18 home schedule when they take on the University of Maryland, College Park at the Diamond Wednesday at 3 p.m. Results of Sunday’s 7 p.m. matchup with Coastal Carolina University were not final in time for publication.

JESSICA WETZLER Staff Writer

Men’s and women’s tennis each finished the week perfect after a trio of victories pushed their records to 7-2 and 8-2, respectively.

Women v. Howard

Women’s tennis breezed through its midweek match against Howard University, going into the weekend winning 7-0 without dropping a set and losing just 10 games across seven matches on Feb. 22.

After a Howard default at No. 3 doubles, junior Anna Rasmussen and freshman Melissa Ifidzhen, the reigning Atlantic 10

Co-Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 victory over Nathalie Finch and Nicole Hutchinson. This was the sixth victory in a row for the duo, and the 11th of the season —

Playing her first match at No. 1 singles this season, freshman Paola Exposito Diaz Delgado continued the VCU lead to 3-0 with a straight set victory over Ifidzhen clinched the match for the Black and Gold with a win at No. 3 singles, defeating Christina Joynes 6-0, VCU rounded out the sweep with wins by sophomore Noumea Witmus in No. 2 singles match and freshmen Marina Alcaide Bakari and Sofia Sualehe in No. 2

The women traveled to the University of Maryland, College Park Feb. 24. Down 3-1, VCU rallied to win the final three singles matches of the day and beat the Terrapins 4-3 on the road on Saturday afternoon.

After VCU dropped the doubles point, Ifidzhen got the Rams on the board and moving with a win at No. 4 singles, defeating Kate Yemelyanenka 6-2, 6-2.

The Terrapins stretched the lead 3-1 with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles. VCU won the next three matches to complete the comeback win. Rasmussen defeated Eva Alexandrova, who is ranked No. 81 in the country, at No. 1 singles 6-3, 7-6. Freshman Marina Alcaide Bakari topped Millie Stretton 7-6, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

Witmus was the only Ram to win at both doubles and singles,

defeating Anastasiia Gevel at No. 5 singles, 6-4, 7-6 to clinch the match for VCU. This is the third school from a power five conference that VCU has defeated this season. Earlier in February, the Rams beat the the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University on consecutive days. All three wins came on the road and VCU now holds a 4-0 road record this season.

Men’s tennis also flew through their afternoon match against The George Washington University on Feb. 24, collecting their second Atlantic 10 win of the season.

After a default by George Washington at No. 3 doubles, junior Arvid Noren and sophomore Javier Amantegui captured the doubles point for VCU with a 6-4 win over Chris Fletcher and Christos Hadjigeorgiou. They lead the team with eight doubles wins this season.

Another George Washington default at the No. 6 singles pushed the VCU lead to 2-0.

Freshman Inigo Torre Martin continued his strong form, collecting his tenth win of the season by defeating Amian Sahoo 6-0, 6-1 at No. 5 singles.

Amantegui clinched the match for the Rams by taking down Hadjigeorgiou in straight sets at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

Victories by Noren and juniors Victor Lima and Philip Mobius in No. 1 doubles rounded out the 7-0 win.

The women will travel to Huntington, West Virginia, next weekend to take on the University of Cincinnati and Marshall University on March 3 and 4. The men’s team fell to Penn State University 5-0 at Thalhimer Tennis Center Sunday, and return to action Friday at 2 p.m. when they host Saint Louis University.

WOMEN V. HOWARD

ILLINOIS

WEST VIRGINIA

WILLIAM & MARY

VCU swept a two-game series against West Virginia.

PHOTO BY ALI JONES

WOMEN V. MARYLAND

MEN V. GEORGE WASHINGTON

PHOTO BY MICHEL MAULDING

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSE DAVILA

An FBI investigation is looking into “corrupt” recruiting practices by over 30 college teams, according to EPSN.com.

Season-high shooting percentage propels Rams over Billikens

ZACH JOACHIM Sports Editor

Women’s basketball (7-21) split the final two games of the 201718 regular season last week. The Black and Gold defeated Saint Louis University 88-84 in a thrilling overtime affair Wednesday before falling to Davidson College 69-63 Saturday afternoon.

“Senior day” may not have featured any graduating Rams, but the last home game of the year for women’s basketball was nonetheless an emotional contest. A season-high 49.2 shooting percentage lifted VCU over St. Louis in extra time, with four Rams scoring in double figures.

Freshman guard Tera Reed poured in 24 points and grabbed six boards, her fourth 20-point performance this year. Reed leads VCU in scoring this year with 14 points per game.

Sophomore guard Nyra Williams put up a career-high 15 points to go along with a trio of steals. Williams went 7-8 from the charity stripe and drove the lane looking for contact all night, much like her teammates. VCU shot 25-37 from the line compared to the Billikens’ 15-25.

Sophomore center Danielle Hammond controlled the paint for the Black and Gold with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman guard and Richmond native Taya Robinson contributed 14 points and six boards.

A 14-3 VCU run in the third quarter looked to be the deciding factor before Saint Louis caught fire down the stretch. The Billikens scored the final 10 points of regulation to snatch a cozy senior-day victory from the Rams’ clutches. VCU responded in overtime, building an 81-73 lead with a minute and a half to play. Timely stops and high pressure free throws sealed the win for the Black and Gold.

Despite a late 7-0 run that cut the Wildcat lead to just three with a minute to play, VCU failed to pull out a win on the road in its season finale Saturday.

Robinson, who attended Huguenot High School, was sensational — the freshman guard

scored a career-high 21 points on 8-11 shooting from the floor. Per usual, Reed led the Rams’ charge, with 17 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. The Black and Gold trailed 6663 with possession and 17 seconds to go, but a turnover on a tipped inbounds pass stymied any machinations of a late rally.

Men’s basketball downs UMass, falls to Bona

VCU will be the No. 11 seed in the Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship. The Rams travel to No. 6 Saint Joseph’s University for a 7 p.m. tip Tuesday.

Men’s basketball (16-13, 8-8 A-10) last week defeated the University of Massachusetts at Amherst 82-78 on the road before falling to Saint Bonaventure University at the Stu by a final of 68-63.

In a pivotal Saturday night matchup, the Black and Gold hosted junior guard and NBA prospect Jaylen Adams and his Bonnies of St. Bonaventure, who came in with a record of 21-6. VCU fought valiantly, but ultimately fell by a final of 68-63.

A physical start to the game resulted in a plodding pace. Five minutes in, neither team had scored in double figures yet. The senior stars on both teams looked to break the initial slump. Senior forward Justin Tillman and Adams started to match threes.

Tillman hit two in a row, but Adams bested him with three consecutive treys, pushing the Bonnies lead to seven with a score of 19-12, which caused a VCU timeout.

Out of the timeout the Rams went on a 10-0 run to take the lead at 22-19. Sophomore wing De’Riante Jenkins, who was previously 0-5 from three, finally hit one from deep, which allowed the Rams to go into halftime holding a slim one point lead, 30-29. The sides combined for 20 turnovers in a hectic first half.

Senior starting point guard Johnny Williams said the Rams’ lackluster first half execution cost them.

“We must execute better and cut down on the turnovers,” Williams said.

Early in the second half, a VCU steal led to a lob from sophomore wing Isaac Vann to Tillman, which got the Stu roaring.

The Bonnies maintained a four point lead for a majority of the second half. Multiple times the Rams were able to cut the deficit to one, but were unable to get over the hump.

With just over two minutes remaining, the Bonnies led 60-57. A drive and kick from Adams to his teammate Courtney Stockard in the corner resulted in the dagger. Stockard sunk the trey, sending the Stu into stunned silence. Stockard and Adams tied for a game high on the night with 21 points apiece.

Tillman did his part for the Rams with another double-double, as he scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Coach Mike Rhoades said his Rams wasted one of their best defensive efforts.

“I was disappointed in the loss because I believed this was their best defensive effort for forty minutes all season,” Rhoades said. “I want to see how much momentum can his team build in the next seven days heading into the conference tournament.”

The Rams traveled up north to take on the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Tuesday evening. VCU gutted out an 82-78 victory over the Minutemen.

Jenkins led the rams in scoring in the first half with 11 points.

On the other side, Umass’ Luwane Pipkins, who is the A-10 conference leading scorer, was just getting started as he put up fourteen points in the first half.

The Black and Gold led 39-38 heading into the halftime break.

The key for the Rams was their ball movement in the second half.

Freshman forward Sean Mobley, who did not score, still had a major impact on the game, totaling seven assists on the night, with six of them coming in the second half.

Tillman, VCU’s Mr. Reliable, showed up big when it mattered most. Tillman put up 19 points after the halftime break to go along with a game-high 13 rebounds. Pipkins scored 24 of his gamehigh 38 points in the second half to keep the game close. But nobody else on the Minutemen scored in double figures in the second half.

VCU simply outshot Umass in the second half of the game, shooting a gaudy 62 percent in comparison to Umass’ pedestrian 42.9 percent. The Black and Gold also shot 40 percent from the three point arc throughout the entire game.

It is officially now or never for the 2017-18 men’s basketball team. With an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament out of the question, VCU must win the A-10 Tournament Championship in order to extend its coveted streak of seven consecutive appearances in the Big Dance. The Black and Gold will send off senior leaders Tillman and Williams Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when the Rams take on George Mason University in the last home game of the season. The regular season concludes Saturday afternoon with a trip to Fordham University. Both contests are must wins if the Black and Gold hope to secure a double-bye in the conference tournament.

Athletes, experts, veterans advocate art in sports

ZACH JOACHIM

Sports Editor

JESSICA WETZLER

Staff Writer

Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis says art has been an inspirational factor in his athletic career.

“When I was a kid, I’d pick up fabric paint and draw cartoon characters on my jeans and shirts,” Davis said. “I don’t know where it came from; it was just something that followed me through the rest of my life.”

Art and athletics came together Friday when 1708 Gallery welcomed “The Abstract Athlete,” the first exhibition in Richmond to feature Davis and other professional athletes who have maintained an active art career.

“The Abstract Athlete” explores work centered on the collision of art, sports and science. It features pieces by former MLB pitcher Brett Tomko, and Larry Sanders, a VCU basketball star who later played in the NBA, as well as by U.S. Army veterans such as Alicia Dietz and Joe Olney. Their artwork will be on display at the gallery, 319 W. Broad St., until March 17.

Before the opening of the exhibit, the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center hosted a symposium to discuss the benefit of art in sports. It focused on the effects that creating art has on the mind and body.

The discussion featured guest speakers including Davis, Dietz, former Kansas City Chiefs defen-

sive back Percy King and David Cifu, associate dean for innovation and system integration in VCU’s School of Medicine. “Art can follow you, and you don’t even know it’s following you. Art will always come first to me, and sports will follow,” Davis said.

“Not saying I don’t love sports; I enjoy the creative opportunities it gives me. But art is the best combination in my life.”

Within the first three minutes of the gallery’s opening, Davis’s pieces — “The Sea #1” and “The Sea #2” — sold, with proceeds benefiting the Vernon Davis Foundation for the Arts. The works feature bright-colored triangles laid over a monotone rectangular base, creating an eye-popping effect designed to have viewers diving into the deep blues and copper hues of the sea.

King’s two works use handcarved wood segments in a variety of shapes and colors. King stacks the pieces upon one another, creating a 3-D effect that interprets shadows and lines through the shapes of wood. His first piece on display, “The Boxer,” features a pair of blue boxing gloves. His second piece, “Heavy is the crown,” is a portrait of Barack Obama.

King said art is integral to his performance on the football field.

“It helps with healing, athletic performance, rest — it’s really adding an efficiency element,” King said. “I do things in a more complex and rich way. Art adds that layer of complexity to our hardworking bodies and brains.”

Cifu echoed King’s message, saying art is therapeutic for people

who have experienced mental or physical trauma.

“I’m an artist at a very small level,” Cifu said. “But maybe I’m a healing artist.”

Olney, who served in Iraq as a sergeant and combat engineer, also had one of his pieces sold within 30 minutes.

U.S. bobsledder Hillary Werth takes inspiration from the streets of New York through her painting “Escape.” The landscape features dark purple, red and yel-

low spray-painted graffiti art and textured backgrounds.

Tomko sticks to his roots in his two pieces, re-creating iconic moments in the history of MLB. His first, “The Great Bambino,” features New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth. His second, “Color Line,” depicts Brooklyn Dodgers great Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the major leagues, running the bases.

Other artists participating in the exhibit include professional soc-

cer player Jay DeMerit and painter Ridley Howard.

“The Abstract Athlete” is the name not only of the exhibit but also of an organization that brings together artists and professional athletes.

Business partners Ron Johnson and Chris Clemnar founded the group and spent two years planning the exhibit. Clemnar is a toy designer, and Johnson has been an art professor at VCU since 2003. Johnson hopes to display the ex-

hibit internationally.

For more information about the artists, see www.theabstractathlete.com. The 1708 Gallery, a nonprofit space for new art, is located at 319 W. Broad St. Its website is at www.1708gallery.org, and the phone number is 804-643-1708.

NILE MCNAIR Contributing Writer

ST. LOUIS

DAVIDSON

UMASS

ST. BONAVENTURE

Sophomore center Danielle Hammond is averaging 6.8 points and 3.5 boards per game this year.

Johnny Williams (10) and Justin Tillman will play their final home game Wednesday night.

(Left to right) Redskins tight end Vernon Davis, VCU professor David Cifu, former NFL safety Percy King.

PHOTO

PHOTO BY SHAYLA BAILEY

Self-taught artist completes salon mural in three days

ALEXANDRA ZERNIK

Contributing Writer

The figure’s long, flowing hair is the focal point of a mural completed in just three days in late January for Shockoe Salon at the corner of 22nd and East Main Street in downtown Richmond.

Christian Kyle Harrell, known to most as “Humble,” worked up to 15 hours a day to complete the work on the side of the two-story building housing the salon.

After he graduated from VCU with a religious studies degree, Harrell said he spent most of two summers in Cabell Library practicing and teaching himself art after a friend sparked his interest.

Since then Harrell has learned printmaking, fashion design, painting and how to run his own

business, The Humble Collective.

Harrell has completed a number of murals, such as the dragon on the side of Fat Dragon Chinese restaurant, and commissioned pieces, in addition to drawing every day and amassing a following.

Harrell said the process of completing this particular mural was intense. After starting the first night with a sketch, he completed 60 to 70 percent of the mural the next day.

Harrell said he only had one day to complete most of the mural because he only had access to a scissor lift, a work platform that can be raised or lowered, for one day. He only ate once that day, he said, working for about 14 to 15 hours.

Sterling Harrelson, the owner of the salon and the building, commissioned the piece after meeting

Confidence, beauty, grace,

that’s where that image came from the hair is flowing. It’s moving. There are elements of randomness to it

Christian Kyle Harrell Muralist

with Harrell and seeing his passion for the project.

“It was important for me to wait for the right artist that could share my vision,” Harrelson said. “(Harrell’s) passion and enthusiasm for this project was busting out of him. It wasn’t until I witnessed this that I knew I would commission him.”

Part of Harrell’s creative process is spending time with his clients and learning who they are as individuals. “Confidence, beauty, grace, that’s where that image came from,” Harrell said. “The hair is flowing. It’s moving. There are elements of randomness to it, which is him. He’s a wildcard in a lot of ways. He’ll say things that I don’t expect. So I threw in little pieces that you don’t expect.”

Harrell said the pairclicked instantly and a lot of the inspiration for the piece came from Harrelson himself.

“(Harrell and I) agreed that the focal point should be hair in motion,” Harrelson said. “I explained to him the origin of ‘shockoe,’ which is the Powhatan word for the sound water makes when going over rocks; so essentially Native American for rapids.”

From the beginning, Harrell said, the piece received support and excitement from the community. In addition to the many intrigued passers-by, one local accompanied the artist throughout his process. He helped Harrell fill in areas, held his ladder and kept him company despite his lack of artistic experience. A resident of the surrounding area also watched Harrell work dil-

igently and left him a note expressing her admiration for his creative talents.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more after 16 hours of working,” Harrell said. “She had a really deep respect for what I was doing.”

After its completion, both Harrell and Harrelson noticed growth in the salon’s business. Harrell received an enormous positive response to this most recent project.

“He kept us all updated on his Instagram story. After long hours and many cups of coffee, he produced something to be proud of,” said Elissa Rumford, Harrell’s coworker. “Something that Richmond will enjoy for years to come.”

Speakers discuss podcasting’s academic potential

GEORGIA GEEN Spectrum Editor

VCU African American studies instructor and host of the NPR Story Lab podcast “Do Over,” Chioke I’Anson, spoke with fellow podcast host Liz Covart, creator “Ben Franklin’s World,” on Feb. 21 at a podcasting workshop in The Valentine House.

The speakers discussed the technicalities of the industry, their careers and the future and potential of podcasts, which I’Anson said became “conceivable” with the popularity of iPods.

“I think (podcasts) could be an integral part of education,” I’Anson said. “The skills you have to learn to produce a good podcast are really just good human communication skills.”

Universities are beginning to use podcasts more as academia begins to recognize “media-type work.” I’Anson said he sees more departments using the medium for things like course trailers.

Many college students might already be familiar with the medium — according to a 2017 survey by the Edison Research Center,

27 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 had listened to a podcast within the most recent month. Overall, listeners were seen to have received more undergraduate or postgraduate education than the general public.

“(A podcast) is a piece of media that can do work for you even when you’re sleeping,” I’Anson said. “It’s now your stash of promotional materials.”

He recently taught a class called Podcasting While Black, which explored the communication strategies of Civil Rights leaders and other members of the African Diaspora. Students created their own podcasts as part of the course.

“I wanted to help the students express themselves through this medium,” I’Anson said. “The difficult thing is to figure out the difference between what’s interesting to you in the moment and what’s going to engage.”

Covart said she realized there weren’t podcasts about early U.S. history when she discovered the medium. Covart was motivated to start “Ben Franklin’s World” in part because she didn’t want to be on the “traditional” job market.

“I really loved the front-line type of work,” Covart said. “Like any good historian, I researched (podcasting) for 18 months.”

Covart’s audience, measured by total downloads, increased month to month. Now, “Ben Franklin’s World” is downloaded about 100,000 times monthly. Interviews with historians serve as the core of each episode. During part of the interview, she asks the guest hypothetical history questions, discussing what might have changed if a historical event happened in a different way.

Podcasts enable creation of niche content, Covart said. Many people listen to them alone or with headphones, making the experience feel more personal. She believes oral storytelling is one of the best ways to learn.

“For a lot of us, it’s like brain candy,” Covart said. “If you produce a weird show that connects with people, you don’t need a huge chunk of the population ( to succeed).”

By designing a show around an obscure topic, creators have a “built-in” audience that enables the creation of a digital community,

Covart said.

“People will say listeners love to be a fly on the wall,” Covart said. “No. They want to be part of the conversation, they want to participate.”

I’Anson started off with terrestrial radio, which he says is much more expensive to produce than a podcast. With some shows, the producer’s salary is the only necessary cost and there are fewer limitations on content.

“A lot of podcasts took what was great about terrestrial radio and did all that and more because they didn’t have to worry about FCC (regulations),” I’Anson said. “Podcasts are strangely more accessible than television.”

Covart didn’t have technical skills when she began working on “Ben Franklin’s World.” She said it took about 10 episodes to feel comfortable with the interview process and both speakers said it was challenging to get used to the sounds of their own voices.

“You’re going to go through those feelings,” I’Anson said. “You push through because you’re making the content.”

Christian Kyle Harrell completed the mural in three days, in part because he only had access to a scissor lift, a raisable work platform, for one day.

“Annihilation” encapsulates fear of the unknown

SAMUEL GOODRICH

Staff Writer

Script writer Alex Garland has returned with another intelligent sci-fi flick in “Annihilation,” an adaptation of the Jeff VanderMeer novel of the same name. While I can’t speak on the film’s merit as an adaptation, I can safely say this is one of the more exciting sci-fi films I’ve seen in a while and an early placeholder for my top 10 movies of the year so far.

Lena is a college professor whose military husband randomly returns home after being missing in action for more than a year. He soon falls ill as they are both transported to “Area X,” where a group of scientists are trying to stop a force field known as the “Shimmer,” which has begun growing in the southern U.S. Lena volunteers to venture into the Shimmer to find out what happened to her husband. She discovers an environment, unlike any humanity has seen, that reveals more sinister implications within.

Lena, played by Natalie Portman, is the most compelling character in the all female team sent into the Shimmer. This proves to be the film’s largest problem. When these characters start getting killed off, it’s difficult to

care about their deaths, as they are barely developed beyond a few lines of expository dialogue. While the actresses do the best with what they have, it’s apparent that they need to be featured in a few more scenes.

This isn’t to say there isn’t tension once they enter the everchanging and bizarre environment of the Shimmer. The alien environment is beautifully realized with a mixture of gorgeous special effects and horrific, bodyhorror-esque mutated animals within. Whenever the group is in danger, an uncommonly upsetting death or violently gory act usually follows.

Lena describes the environment as a dream mixed with a nightmare and this dreamlike quality is felt throughout the film.

The narrative is non-linear and at times confusing, the imagery is grotesquely bizarre and the score abstract and even unpleasant. The illusory nature of “Annihilation” continues until the end, which leaves the audience with more questions than answers. That may be the most effective part of all.

Explaining why the lack of clarification is effective would spoil what makes this film so special. Essentially, the vagueness of the narrative captures the fear of

the unknown, which the film explores and strives for. The mysteries are devices used to expose the larger questions of the ephemeral nature of humanity, how loss and life events change us, and how we handle these questions when directly confronted.

“Annihilation” will prove frustrating for most, as the ending brings few explanations. This isn’t to say there isn’t conclusion, or that you won’t get some answers, but they may not be the ones you’re looking for. Personally, the lack of conclusivity is what made me fall in love with this film.

When walking out of “Annihilation,” I was struck by how frightening the concepts and themes are. This is a sci-fi horror film where the science is the horror. There’s no alien monster or civilization with specific intent, it’s a scientific anomaly that we can barely comprehend. It’s unnatural, unfathomable and nearly incomprehensible.

And these unsettling thoughts are what will stick with audiences long after the credits have ended, as the film begins to creep into our lives and make us question ourselves and our place in the universe.

Latinx artists discuss inspirations and challenges

EMMA SUE SIMS Contributing writer

Students, graduates and professors discussed how identity inspires their art at a panel discussion hosted by the Latinx advocacy group PLUMAS at VCU on Feb. 22.

Each panelist presented work before answering questions asked by the moderator, then the floor opened for discussion. Panelists touched on themes of finding happiness, creating honor and celebrating identity.

“I’m a Latina artist. All my work is about my family that is from Puerto Rico,” said recent photo and film graduate Amarise Carreras. “I’ll mostly just talk about my experiences here in the arts and talk a lot about my identity and social issues and human rights.”

The panel focused on identity, with questions on art, inspiration and cultural background.

Guadalupe Maravilla, a sculpture and extended media professor, talked about his family and their traditions, his ancestors and how these things inspire his work.

Sculpting and painting major Davey Felix — a sophomore

from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico — is also inspired by his family. He was raised by his mother and grandmother.

“I feel like I just make art to honor them,” Felix said.

Jess Moreno-Caycho is a theater major with a concentration in costume design whose passion was handed down to her from p ast generations.

“I wear this ring and it was actually my great-grandmother’s,” Moreno-Caycho said. “She was a seamstress and my abuela gave it to me for my birthday because she knew that I like clothes and I like sewing and that I liked costumes. I think that is something that is inherent in me. That’s always something that I keep in mind.”

Backgrounds rich with history and diversity inspire these artists. But they still have to face modern political issues, such as undocumentation and the unknown fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which present challenges for their artistic fields.

“It’s getting so much harder to

be a costume designer in general,” Moreno-Caycho said. “With being undocumented, queer, embracing my brownness and then acknowledging the privileges that come with all my different identities. Having DACA, that’s such a huge privilege compared to the rest of our communities.”

Moreno-Caycho said she is thankful to have PLUMAS, a group that socializes and talks about important events happening in the world.

Panel members Haziel Andrade and Eleazar Carreon also shared their stories. Andrade said she came to the U.S. without her parents and had to live without them until they came four years later. Carreon was born and raised in Richmond but his family is from Mexico.

PLUMAS members hope to continue these discussions and welcome the public to their upcoming events. More information can be found on the group’s Facebook, PLUMAS at VCU.

Many of the artists are inspired by their families, basing their work on cultural practices and traditions.

The panel consisted of students, graduates and professors.

Jess Moreno-Caycho Theater student

ILLUSTRATION BY STECK VON

PHOTO BY SHAYLA BAILEY

PHOTO BY SHAYLA BAILEY

It’s getting so much harder to be a costume designer in general, With being undocumented, queer, embracing my brownness and then acknowledging the privileges that come with all my different identities.

opinions

Quote of the week

The crucial role of queer olympic athletes

MARY MACLEOD

Contributing Columnist

On Feb. 12, Canadian figure skaters Eric Radford and Meagan Duhamel earned the gold medal in the team skate competition in the Winter Olympics. This win was especially historic because Radford is the first openly gay man to become a gold medal champion since the inception of the Winter Olympics nearly 100 years ago.

Figure skater Adam Rippon made U.S. history when he earned a bronze medal in the free skate category, establishing him as the

first openly gay American man to medal in the Winter Olympics. Overall, there are 14 openly queer athletes from around the world competing in the Pyeongchang Games, doubling the number of out athletes who competed in the 2014 Sochi Games. The rapidly increasing visibility of gay athletes naturally raises the topics of representation and perception in sports. When discussing the global perception of gay athletes, it seems imperative to look back at the political turmoil surrounding the 2014 Sochi Olympics. On July 30, 2013, only about six months

An Ode to Self Care

from the start of the games, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin signed what is commonly known as the ‘gay propaganda law,’ also called the ‘anti gay law.’ This law was created in order to ‘protect’ Russian minors from anything that could be perceived as promoting ‘homonormativity’ and was supported by more than 100 organizations from 33 countries around the world. Despite intense backlash from global leaders, the International Olympic Committee, activists, athletes and fans, the creation of this law undoubtedly exacerbated the sense of unease and unwelcome

SHAUN JACKSON Staff Columnist

What is the best way to get in a circle of people that you want to be around without being too obvious or trying too hard? For instance, I want to surround myself with more people that I may find attractive in order to meet that potential someone. I feel like it’s the right time in my life..

You’re probably going to think I sound like your 6th grade guidance counselor when I tell you that the best thing you can do is to be authentic and be you. Forming new relationships and meeting new people can be trying, especially in the internet age where face-to-face communication is slowly becoming an anachronism. I usually find that when you are unapologetically you and organic in who you are people will want you to be in their inner circle.

I feel like often times my methods of dealing with stress have to do with satisfying myself sexually. In my past relationship that’s how I handled anything that troubled me. In your opinion do you think that’s a completely unhealthy way of dealing with the struggles of life?

While it’s not the most prudent defense mechanism against stress, it’s much better than drinking or an equally harmful vice. However, if you know this is how you react to stressors then you can begin steps to modify and change that behavior so it is no longer detrimental to you. I would suggest

for queer athletes. The Russian anti-gay law is an intense example of how too often, representation of the LGBTQ community is written off as ‘propaganda’ by those who resist recognizing the legitimacy of queer people. As the representation of queer people has increased through film, TV shows and literature, so have virulent claims by the far right that the queer community is pushing some sort of “gay agenda.” Because scripts, books and plays are created imaginatively, there is a homophobic belief all of the queer experiences portrayed must be imagined

curbing that behavior with something like exercise or anything of the like that can be as physically rewarding as it is cathartic.

I recently met someone who I feel I connected with on a deep personal level and share oddly similar life goals and views with, and as a result would like to ask out. The problem is I don’t think she would ever feel the same and even if she did, we are both at a bad time in our lives to date with traveling and post-grad plans interfering with any dating. Should I risk ruining our possible best-friendship by asking her out, or just be content with being single and developing a close friendship?

Firstly, calm down and take a deep breath. I think it’s wonderful that you have met someone who makes you feel this way and I think you owe it to yourself to maybe bite the bullet and ask her out. Realistically, you listed some pretty reasonable stuff that could totally prevent you two from dating but you haven’t even tried yet. Read what you sent back to yourself, you shut everything down before it even had a chance to begin. Give it a try, you never know what might happen.

I’ll even go as far as to say that if you two really are that close, even if she says no there’s a good chance you guys can still remain amicable even in the face of rejection.

If you’d like to send Shaun a question you can submit them via email at jacksonsk@commonwelathtimes.org or anonymously at lascivious-witch.tumblr.com/ask.

too, that they do not and can not translate into real life.

This is why queer representation in sports, especially the Olympics, is uniquely important. To see gay athletes participate and thrive is a testament to the fact that such success is not reserved for those who have historically claimed it. Despite the fact that we see these athletes through TV or phone screens, there is no doubt that their experiences, performances and lives are unequivocally real. There is no blaming their extensive media presence on politically motivated Hollywood elites, or proposing that

Dear Editor:

I believe that most of us Americans have been victims of bullying and/or some form of abuse at some time in our lives. As a former counselor and therapist, I worked with and tried to help many victims of everyday bullying, as well as various other forms of abuse.

I found that the biggest problem, issue and challenge that they dealt with was that they did not stand up to their bullies and abusers. The best question that I have ever heard a counselor or therapist ask their clients relative to this was the following:

“What parts of yourself don’t you love that allows you to let this bully or abuser to continue to mistreat and abuse you?”

This question prompted many people to finally make some serious changes in their lives and to walk away from and leave their abusers.

Sincerely, Stewart B. Epstein

P.S. I want you to know why I have submitted this letter to the editor to your newspaper.

I spent five years working as a professional counselor and therapist in the fields of Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, and Mental Illness/Mental Health. But for most of my working life, I was a college professor of Sociology, Social Work and Psychology.

I loved my students and cared very deeply about their well-being. I miss them. I miss how idealistic

they exist purely as Oscar bait.

This is not to say that the representation of queer athletes is apolitical, in fact quite the opposite. Ashland Johnson, director of public education and research for national LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, called Rippon’s performance “revolutionary” in an interview with NBC.

“Those few minutes on ice just inspired a generation of LGBTQ young people,” she said. “Even today being an out athlete is revolutionary and athletes like Adam are paving the way for the next generation of young out athletes.”

that they are and how much they want to try to make the world a better place.

A major reason why I submitted this letter to you is because I believe that the question contained within it might help some of your students, especially your female students, who are being abused and bullied by their boyfriends.

“To see gay athletes participate and thrive is a testament to the fact that such sucess is not reserved for those who have historically claimed it.” — Mary Macleod

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I loved my students and cared very deeply about their well-being. I miss them. I miss how idealistic that they are and how much they want to try to make the world a better place.

Stewert B. Epstein, former professor

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