The Commonwealth Times; April 4, 2016

April 4, 2016 • Vol. 57, No. 23

The independent press of Virginia Commonwealth University Best All Around Nondaily Student Newspaper - SPJ Mark of Excellence awards (Region 2)

NEWS Trooper vigil • 3

SPORTS Baseball claims series • 5

SPECTRUM French Film Festival • 6

OPINION Accent discrimination • 9

Law enforcement nationwide honor fallen trooper at vigil SARAH KING Executive Editor Usually home to sold out VCU basketball games, there was a markedly different tone at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Friday night as green, blue, white and brown uniforms speckled the crowd of people filing into auditorium seats.

Some clutched white roses, others stared solemnly ahead. A heavy, near-tangible silence filled the Rams’ home court as the audience waited silently — the thrum of electricity and camera equipment snapping into place the only interruptions.

A woman murmured silently, her finger chasing words across a page of scripture. A few rows behind her, a man squinted his eyes shut — a drop of moisture glistening on his cheek under the florescent lights.

“We are here tonight to honor the life and service of Chad Dermyer, and I thank God for his selfless sacrifice,” said Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones after the opening prayer of the vigil held for 37-year-old Virginia State Trooper Chad Dermyer.

State trooper, gunman killed after Richmond Greyhound shootout Virginia State Police confirmed a state trooper died at the VCU Medical Center Thursday afternoon after a gunman opened fire at the Richmond Greyhound station earlier that day.

According to State Police Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Trooper Chad Dermyer, 37, died as a result of his injuries after being shot at approximately 2:40 p.m. Thursday. Two civilians are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at VCU Medical, where the suspected gunman also died Thursday.

“This is a loss that impacts us all. It should inspire prayers for the family, friends and fellow troopers who are mourning tonight, and gratitude for those who protect

PHOTO BY SARAH KING

PHOTO BY ANDREW CRIDER

SARAH KING Executive Editor

Law enforcement and emergency responders from across the city, commonwealth and country attended the April 1 vigil organized by Richmond United for Law Enforcement and United Communities Against Crime to honor Dermyer, who was fatally shot during a training exercise at the Richmond Greyhound Station on March 31.

Jones noted the sea of uniforms in the audience, and called it a visual of “how much we depend on those who have sworn to protect and serve.”

“There is a time to talk about policy, but tonight is not that night,” Jones said. “There is a time to talk about mental health, transportation security, guns — and who should, and should not, have them, but tonight is not that night.”

Major Lenmuel S. Terry spoke on behalf of the Virginia State Police Department, and thanked the many departments across the commonwealth who quickly came together to provide support during yesterday’s shooting that left Dermyer and the gunman dead and two civilians wounded.

—continued on page 3

—continued on page 3

The FBI, ATF, Homeland Security and Henrico Police were called in to help Richmond Police respond to the shooting Thursday.

The vigil was held at the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Friday.

Black Lives Matter founder visits VCU GRC renovations displace 1,100 students FADEL ALLASSAN Print News Editor

PHOTO BY BECCA SCHWARTZ

Before an audience of nearly 1,000 spectators, Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi stressed the importance of activism among at a speech at the Siegel Center last Thursday.

The New York-based writer, strategist and community activist shared with the audience details of the inception of the movement, which she said started with a hashtag after the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman in 2013.

“This was completely a historic moment, a moment where I think our consciousness as a community was shifted,” Tometi said of Zimmerman’s acquittal.

The event was sponsored by the VCU School of Social Work and coordinated by the Black Lives Matter Student-Faculty Collective in the School of Social Work. The Nigerian-American activist commended the school for bringing her on to discuss issues she felt were important.

“What’s so profound about the fact that the School of Social Work conceived of this evening and put this together is that it allows for us to have a completely different conversation about the issues of our day,” Tometi said. “A conversation that in many ways has been ceded to the right or to folks who see black people and black bodies as a problem.”

Tometi encouraged the crowd to take part in the movement and not “sit on the sidelines” as the movement took place, stressing that those who refused to speak out or take action were only reinforcing the status-quo.

Tometi is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants

and attended the University of Arizona. She is the executive director of Black Alliance for Just Immigration and has had work published by The Huffington Post, Time Magazine and The Root. In 2013, she was listed as a new civil rights leader by the Los Angeles Times and in 2014 she was given the same award by Essence Magazine.

Tometi mentioned that she believed the conversation about racial justice has already begun to take place on VCU’s campus.

In September, prominent black activist and scholar Cornel West spoke in the same stadium, encouraging VCU students and the greater Richmond community to not forget of the days that Richmond still had Jim Crow laws in place.

A month later, a group of dozens of students carried signs and chanted in the compass, outside of Shafer and the commons, urging the university’s administration to address the fact that VCU’s faculty is disproportionately less racially diverse than its student body.

“We are about to engage in a very necessary conversation and I know that this campus has already been deeply engaged in it already,” Tometi said. “So I’m just here as your cheerleader rooting you all on encouraging you all to keep the fight going.”

Lakiyla “Lala” Parker, a senior social work major who is a part of the Black Lives Matter StudentFaculty Collective said she was moved by Tometi’s speech, particularly the points that were made about how everyone can contribute to activism.

“I really liked when she addressed the different forms of action, when she said you don’t have to be a very vocal person or individual to contribute to action,” Parker said. “So often we forget the individuals behind the scenes as well. I think that is very important.”

Opal Tometi delivered a speech in front of a crowd of about 1,000 people at the Siegel Center.

FADEL ALLASSAN Print News Editor Junior Lorin Simpson said she had to scramble to find a roof to put over her head next year; her roommate, junior Jasmyn Howard, said she’s in a similar situation.

Both students have been living in on-campus residence halls since their freshman year, but were denied the chance to do so next year after not having the opportunity to enter the housing lottery before spaces were filled.

Simpson and Howard said that they know plenty of students who are facing similar circumstances — and it’s possible many students are since the university decreased the number of available on-campus beds by about 1,000.

“The reality is despite our desire, and we are continuing to build more spaces, is that we won’t be able to provide for ev-

erybody who wants to live on campus,” said Reuben Rodriguez, associate vice provost and dean of student affairs.

The reality is despite our desire, and we are continuing to build more spaces, is that we won’t be able to provide for everybody who wants to live on campus.

— REUBEN RODRIGUEZ ASSOCIATE VICE PROVOST AND DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

According to Kevin Wade, Senior Associate Director of Administrative Services, the upcoming renovations of Gladding

Residence Centers I and II and the shutdown of the Low Rise dorms on the Medical Campus caused a shortage of on-campus housing opportunities for next year and student demand for oncampus living space could not be met.

According to Wade, VCU currently has about 6,200 oncampus beds. Next year, there will be about 5,100.

Wade said about 1,100 students living in residence halls this year were told they would not be able to guarantee a stay in their space next year because the application to stay in the same room was not made available this year. These students could not do so and had to enter the housing lottery along with everyone else.

Howard said students received an email at 1 p.m. on March 16 saying that the residence halls were at capacity and application for room selection would no longer be available. For rising juniors and se—continued on page 2

Anderson Gallery faces uncertain future SOPHIA BELLETTI Staff Writer The Anderson Gallery, the former VCU School of the Arts exhibition facility, ended its four decades of exhibitions on May 18, 2015, to be replaced by the Depot and the Institute for Contemporary Art. Prior to the closure of the Anderson Gallery, it functioned as a space to present student work in annual student exhibitions for undergraduate student work and exhibited the MFA thesis shows.

Dean of the VCUarts Joseph Seipel said the closure of the Anderson Gallery was prompted by the soon-to-open ICA. “Positions that had been part of the Anderson Gallery have now been moved over to Institute for Contemporary Art,” Seipel said. “We didn’t want to duplicate efforts, so it made sense to move everything over.”

The first floor will hold the offices and break out

rooms – study areas that can be reserved – for the Arts Research Institute, an expansion of research efforts in the School of the Arts, which is launching in September 2016. Also, many of the courses that are taught through the commonwealth society will be held on the first floor.

The use of the second floor is still up for discussion, but it’s projected it will be used for research and interdisciplinary activities.

The third floor has two studios that will be used by the Communication Arts department.

Minimum renovations will be made to the Anderson due to budget costs, but Seipel said accessible bathrooms are a must.

“We don’t have a great deal of funding for it,” Seipel said. “We’ll be doing what we can with local funds.”

Some of the art previously housed in the Anderson Gallery will be stored indefinitely, including both student and professional works. A selection of these —continued on page 8

news

The Commonwealth Times

NATIONAL

Clinton, Sanders had opposing views on biomedical research Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were on opposing sides of certain types of biomedical research while they served in Congress, differences that have gained notice by scientists and advocates on the forefront of stem cell research.

Clinton has pointed to her advocacy for groundbreaking medical research, from her push for more dollars as a New York senator for the National Institutes of Health to her long support for stem cell research that could eventually lead to regenerative medicine.

Sanders, a Vermont senator, has supported stem cell research in the Senate. But advocates within the scientific community cite his voting record in the early 2000s in the House when he repeatedly supported a ban on all forms of human cloning, including one called therapeutic cloning intended to create customized cells to treat disease.

CEOs, governments speak against North Carolina law Company CEOs and municipal officials are joining other government and business leaders opposing North Carolina’s new law that prevents specific anti-discrimination rules for LGBT people for public accommodations and restroom use.

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina released Friday the names of another 10 company executives that have signed on to a letter criticizing the law and seeking its repeal, bringing the number of names to more than 120.

New executives include those from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Qualcomm and EMC Corp.

The law, approved by the Republican legislature and GOP Gov. Pat McCrory, responded to a Charlotte City Council ordinance approved in February that would have extended protections to gays and lesbians as well as bisexual and transgender people while at hotels, restaurants and stores.

Charlotte also would have allowed transgender people to use the restroom aligned with their gender identity.

Greyhound shooting. Black Lives Matter. Housing renovations. Joe Morrissey. Low-income student grants. Virginia Coalition for Common Sense.

GRC renovations displace more than 1,000 students VCU PD arrests peeping tom —continued from page 1

niors, however, the application had been scheduled to begin the following day.

Simpson said that although students were made aware of a potential a shortage of space in residence halls, she feels that Residential Life and Housing didn’t do enough to warn and prepare students for the shortage.

Wade said in anticipation of the shortage, ResLife made the lottery available only to students who lived on-campus in the current academic year.

In the lottery, about 3,000 upperclass students applied to live in on-campus housing and more than 1,400 were turned down — twice as many as last year, according to Wade’s estimate.

Rodriguez said that the university sent several emails throughout the year and instructed resident assistants to tell students that the university would face a shortage next year.

Simpson, however, said she felt

many students she knew did not comprehend that there would be significantly fewer spaces next year and that the same room sign-up would no longer be available.

“I think the most displeasing part of this was definitely how the message was relayed. They did send us emails and let us know, but if you didn’t read the entire emails it wasn’t clear,” Simpson said. “The emails talked about how happy they are to have us back and then all the way at the bottom they said “by the way, you can’t do same room sign-ups.”

Executive Director of Residential Life and Housing Curtis Erwin said his department typically reserves residence space for about 80 percent of the incoming freshman class, ResLife planned to keep that per-

centage consistent despite the fewer amount of beds available to all students.

“Research shows that, of all four classes, the freshman year is the most important as far as being able to become acclimated to VCU meeting people at the right time,” Erwin said. “So we try to hold enough beds for freshman so they can get acclimated to VCU,” To keep the number of freshmen in residence halls consistent next year ResLife plans to reorganize which residence halls are reserved as freshmen and which are reserved for upperclassmen.

Cary & Belvidere, which is currently exclusive to upperclassmen, will join Brandt, Rhoads, Cabaniss

This year there are

6,200 on-campus beds Next year there will be

5,100 on-campus beds

3,000 upperclass students

applied for on-campus housing this year

1,400 of those 3,000 were turned down; 2x as much as last year

Runaway bull caught at NY college, then saved by Jon Stewart A bull that escaped from a holding area and darted through the streets of New York City has been captured and taken to greener pastures by Jon Stewart.

Officials tell The New York Times that the black and white Angus was spotted Friday in Queens. The bull was soon corralled at York College, where students snapped pictures and took videos.

The bull was dubbed Frank Lee after a prisoner who escaped from Alcatraz. It was later taken to an animal shelter by the former “Daily Show” comedian and his wife, who are animal advocates.

LOCAL Coast Guard rescues 4 from disabled sailboat The Coast Guard says it rescued four people from a disabled sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay, three miles west of Cape Charles, Virginia.

No injuries were reported.

The Coast Guard says in a news release that it received a report Friday evening that a sailboat with two men and two women aboard had been disabled because of stormy weather. A 25-foot response boat launched from Coast Guard Station Cape Charles and towed the sailboat back to shore.

Thousands of miners rally over pensions, health benefits Thousands of miners and their supporters rallied Friday in southwestern Pennsylvania in a show of solidarity to safeguard their pensions and health benefits.

Holding signs reading “solidarity” and “We are ... One,” the marchers, organized by the United Mine Workers of America, started at Greene County Airport and ended over a mile away at the Greene County Fairgrounds.

ANDREW CRIDER Online News Editor The VCU Police Department announced on their Facebook page that a suspect in seven peeping tom cases was arrested on April 1.

Kerry L. Fields, 43, from north Chesterfield, was identified and arrested in his home. According to the VCU Police Facebook page, the department received a number of tips regarding the arrest after releasing photos of the peeping tom suspect earlier this week, which were picked up by local media outlets and their social media accounts.

Cases of peeping incidents occurred between March 10 and 17 in the Lower Fan District. Investigators have connected Fields to five additional incidents in the same apartment building.

According to the VCUPD Facebook page, Fields has not been linked to similar incidences in November that occurred in Oregon Hill.

Kerry L. Fields, 43, was arrested last Friday.

Subcommittee killed animal cruelty bills “Fightin” Joe Morrissey JESSICA SAMUELS AND EMILIO ALVAREZ Contributing Writers Fear of stolen dogs and legal redundancy caused two animal cruelty bills to be killed in subcommittee during the 2016 General Assembly session.

House Bill 38 would have granted a person civil immunity for breaking into a hot vehicle to rescue an unattended animal. The other, House Bill 958, would have made drowning animals a criminal penalty.

HB 38 was killed because the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders were worried about possible ramifications because to the wording of the bill.

“We are concerned, however, that these bills, as introduced, could lead to unintended consequences. A new trend on the rise across the United States is known as ‘dog flipping,’” said Alice Harrington, the federation’s liaison.

Dog flipping is when someone steals a prized dog breed and sells the animals online. The Animal Kennel Club began tracking this trend from 2008 to 2014 and noticed a 4.5-percent increase in the crime. The AKC also reported an increase in dog thefts. In 2008, the number of dogs stolen was 71 and in 2014, there were 637 dogs stolen.

However, some people think these concerns should not have overruled the bill.

“We think that objection is a sorry excuse at animal

protection,” said Marisa Price, a college advocacy coordinator with PETA. Even if there was the potential threat of dog flipping, animals still are being left in vehicles. Virginia Commonwealth University Police say its officers will respond to calls about animals locked in vehicles.

“Our officers will respond if there is a call for an animal in a vehicle in the VCU Police jurisdiction,” said Corey Byers, VCU public information officer.

Byers also said within the past year VCU police had four animal cruelty arrests.

Henrico Police Officer Leah Coward said the Henrico police received 131 calls about dogs locked in cars in the past year.

HB 958 was killed because of legal redundancy for adding the word “drowning” to the code of Virginia.

The bill would have been used to amend the law because the code doesn’t provide a criminal penalty for drowning of an animal. The provisions of the bill would not apply to a person who has been issued a trapping permit to use a completely submerged body-gripping trap by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Del. Mark Keam (D-Vienna), introduced the bill, but received little support from the subcommittee.

“Members of the subcommittee believed that the existing term “killing” in the Virginia Code should be interpreted to include drowning,” Keam said. “So passing my bill to add the word “drowning” would make the law redundant.”

PHOTO BY SARAH KING

Earnhardt Jr. says donating brain to science a ‘no-brainer’ Dale Earnhardt Jr. is calling his decision to donate his brain to science a “nobrainer.”

NASCAR’s most popular driver tweeted his intention earlier this week. He said Friday he plans to pledge his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation. The group works with Boston University on research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative disease that doctors believe is caused by repeated blows to the head.

and Johnson halls as freshman-exclusive housing.

GRC III, which is currently a hybrid of freshman and upperclassman housing will become exclusive to upperclassmen. West Grace South, Ackell and Grace & Broad, which are currently exclusive to upperclassmen, will have a hybrid of freshmen and upperclassmen.

In the long term, Rodriguez said the renovations of GRC are intended to increase the capacity of the residence hall to accommodate all freshmen into the Monroe Park Campus.

The university’s plan is for Cabaniss to be upperclassman and graduate-student exclusive housing, while the Low Rises, which currently serve that purpose, are demolished and replaced with a $60 million building that will consolidate the 11 Allied Health Professions programs into one building.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHESTERFIELD POLICE

AP briefs

In this section:

INFOGRPHIC BY SARAH BUTLER; PHOTO BY SARAH KING

2

Neither HB 38 or HB 958 made it to the House floor for a vote.

announces mayoral run ANDREW CRIDER Online News Editor Controversial former Del. “Fightin” Joe Morrissey became the sixth person to officially announce his candidacy for Richmond Mayor at Satellite Restaurant and Lounge on March 31.

Morrissey said in a press conference he wanted to bring knowledge and experience to Richmond, stating he believes the city has not been well managed under current Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration.

In 2015 Morrissey filed an Alford Plea ... For the next six months, Morrissey worked at the General Assembly by day and reported to jail by night.

Morrissey is no stranger to Richmond politics, and his campaign has been stained with high profile stunts — more so than any other candidate for mayor.

In 2014, Morrissey was indicted on felony charges for indecent liberties with a minor, possession and distribution of child pornography, and was reelected to the Virginia General assembly from jail.

His term was served in and out of jail after the 58-year-old delegate was convicted of sleeping with his 17-year-old secretary, who he impregnated.

The underage secretary would give birth to what is now Morrissey’s fourth child by four separate women. The scandal, which

began in 2013, made national headlines in 2014 with swearing in an on-air press conference.

In 2015 Morrissey filed an Alford Plea, a guilty plea in criminal court where a defendant in a criminal case does not admit to the criminal act and asserts innocence to avoid being convicted as a sex offender. For the next six months Morrissey worked at the General Assembly by day and reported to jail by night.

Morrissey made headlines in 2013 when he brought an AK47 assault rifle to the floor of the general assembly to advocate gun control.

Morrissey’s mayoral announcement occurred hours after a gunman at a Greyhound Bus station killed a State Trooper while leaving two civilians injured before being killed by police last Thursday.

Morrissey had originally canceled his event before eventually announcing his candidacy 30 minutes ahead of schedule by offering condolences for the victims of the shooting.

During his announcement last Thursday, Morrissey criticized the Jones administration for its late Annual Financial Report, promising to hire employees who would act efficiently.

According to staff at his private law office, Morrissey has yet to hire any major campaign staff.

In addition to Morrissey, community activist and businessman Rick Tatnall, community strategist and teacher Lillie Estes, City Council president Michelle Mosby, public school teacher Chad Ingold, former councilman Bruce Tyler and Venture Richmond President Jack Berry have also announced their candidacies.

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, April 4, 2016

State trooper, gunman killed after shootout —continued from page 1 and serve,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe in a statement after the State Police confirmed Dermyer’s death Thursday.

Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller clarified initial reports about the incident. Originally, officials stated that six were injured in the shooting, including two state troopers – one of whom was reported as deceased. Geller said the suspected shooter’s firearm was recovered.

“This is one of the saddest days I’ve seen in the city of Richmond, and I’ve been here all my life,” said City Council Member Reeva Trammell, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee.

Col. Flaherty said additional law enforcement resources from the FBI, ATF, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service and Henrico County and Richmond Police responded to the scene to assist, and the investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Mayor Dwight Jones’ office said in a statement that Jones is in constant contact with Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham. According to the statement, the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Virginia State Police, and Richmond Police officials are fully engaged and acting in a supporting role.

Following the incident Thursday afternoon, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said he spoke with Jones and Flaherty, and “offered whatever state resources may be necessary to respond to this situation.”

Flaherty said the shooting occurred during a training exercise at the bust station when Dermyer approached a male subject just inside the front doors. While speaking with the subject, the male pulled out a handgun and shot Dermyer multiple times.

As the male subject continued firing his weapon, two nearby state troopers returned fire. The subject then moved into the terminal’s restaurant and continued to

be combative as police took him into custody and EMS crews tried to render aid to him, according to Flaherty.

The suspect died at VCU Medical, and his remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Flaherty said State Police have confirmed the subject is James Brown from Illinois.

During the course of the gunfire, two adult females inside the bus terminal were also shot and both were transported to VCU Medical and are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. According to a Binghamton University press release, one of the injured civilians was a track athlete traveling to the College of William and Mary.

“Trooper Dermyer was among approximately a dozen state police troopers participating in a specialized training on criminal interdiction practices,” Flaherty said.

Dermyer is a Jackson, Mich. native who graduated from the Virginia State Police Academy in November 2014.

Flaherty said Dermyer recently transferred to the State Police Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Interdiction Unit.

Dermyer also served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, and is survived by his wife and two young children.

“Like so many brave Virginia men and women, Trooper Dermyer put on a uniform and risked his life every day to keep us safe, first as a U.S. Marine and then as a police officer. He was a husband, a father and a hero who was taken from us too soon,” McAuliffe said in a statement Thursday evening.

U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner tweeted Thursday that they are also praying for those wounded and for the first responders.

3

Police nationwide honor trooper at vigil —continued from page 1

Terry shared with the crowd a sentiment he heard years ago at a funeral and said he holds dear.

“Everyone has a date marking the day they were born, and the day they passed away,” Terry said. “What’s not important is the dates on the beginning or end of the dash — but what might be written on that dash.

I can’t say enough about all the great things Chad’s done — that could be written on that dash.”

Dermyer, a Jackson, Mich. native, graduated from the Virginia State Police academy in November 2014. He served the Chesapeake Division Area 46 Office and had recently been transferred to the Counter-Terrorism Interdiction unit. He previously served four years with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Dermyer died in State Police uniform on Thursday afternoon after being shot in the chest multiple times during a training exercise at the Greyhound bus station.

What’s not important is the dates on the beginning or end of the dash — but what might be written on that dash.

I can’t say enough about all the great things Chad’s done — that could be written on that dash.

News Editors Andrew Crider and Fadel Allassan contributed to this report.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW CRIDER

— LENMUEL S. TERRY MAJOR, VIRGINIA STATE POLICE

James Brown, 34, was an Illinois-native who is the suspected gunman who shot a state trooper multiple times in the Greyhound bus terminal last Thursday.

Bipartisan gun safety Two Va. schools recognized for group debuts in Virginia grants to low-income students SOPHIA BELLETTI Staff Writer Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Captain Mark Kelly, the Co-Founders of Americans for Responsible Solutions, joined with Virginia leaders last Tuesday at the State Capitol to announce a new bipartisan coalition, the “Virginia Coalition for Common Sense.”

Giffords and Kelly founded Americans for Responsible Solutions, which is financing the new coalition in Virginia, as well as similar groups in other states, to push for universal

pushed in Virginia with limited success. While licensed firearms dealers must run federal background checks before a sale, private sellers aren’t required to do so.

This is sometimes called the “gun show loophole” because the law allows people who meet at gun shows to sell firearms without a background check. McAuliffe’s deal will require a state police presence at shows around the state to do voluntary background checks for person-to-person sellers.

Van Cleave, an influential lobbyist at the Capitol whose organization includes 6,000 members, was not won over by arguments that a universal

We have a gun violence problem in our nation that makes us stand out in the worst of ways. We have to do better. We can and we must.

— MARK KELLY CO-FOUNDER, AMERICANS FOR RESPONSIBLE SOLUTIONS

background checks on all gun sales and other measures to keep firearms out of the hands of people who misuse them to deadly effect This was the national group’s second state-based rollout of the week, following one last Monday in Delaware. Kelly said one or two more may be coming in a matter of months.

“We have a gun violence problem in our nation that makes us stand out in the worst of ways,” Kelly said.

“We have to do better. We can and we must.”

The coalition’s members, which include gun owners, former law enforcement officials, veterans, faith leaders, domestic violence prevention advocates, prosecutors and business leaders, will urge their elected officials to advance policies that help keep guns out of unsafe hands and prevent gun tragedies while protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans to own firearms.

“Now is the time to come together, to be responsible. Democrats, Republicans, everyone,” Giffords said.

Giffords’ group targeted background check expansions as a top priority Tuesday, an idea that polls well but hasn’t stood much chance in a Republican controlled Congress.

It’s a policy Gov. Terry McAuliffe and other Democrats have also

background check and other restrictions would not stifle the rights gun owners hold under the U.S. Constitution.

“It makes it hard to get a gun,” Cleave said. “It should be extremely easy for citizens to get a gun. It’s a right.”

Cleave questioned the efficacy of laws requiring background checks on all gun sales, including those made at private gun shows, citing gun violence in Illinois, among the 17 states that require universal checks, and the District of Columbia.

The coalition’s leaders will fight for commonsense solutions that will help keep guns out of the hands felons, domestic abusers, and the dangerously mentally ill without a criminal background check.

In Virginia, criminal background checks are only required at licensed firearms dealers, not online and at gun shows. Under federal law, certain categories of dangerous individuals, known as prohibited purchasers, such as convicted felons, domestic abusers and some mentally ill, are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms.

The number of non-fatal gunshot wounds rose more than 50 percent between 2001 and 2013.

MARY LEE CLARK Contributing Writer The University of Richmond and Radford University were among 13 schools the U.S. Department of Education recognized for their efforts to expand upper-level education to low-income students in the March report.

The universities were featured in the report for their increased Pell Grant enrollment from 2008 to 2013. During that five year window, University of Richmond increased the percentage of Pell recipients from 9 percent to 20 percent. Radford raised their percentage from 17 percent to 28 percent.

“We are working hard to provide an outstanding education to Pell recipients, to graduate them in a timely manner, and to ensure that they land quality jobs after they matriculate,” said University of Richmond President Ronald Crutcher. “We are delighted that the report from the Department of Education chose to highlight our efforts.”

During the 2012-2013 year, the University of Richmond percentage of Pell recipients graduating in six years was 82 percent and the annual net price of education for low-income students ($0$30,000) was $8,599, according to The Education Trust and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

At Radford, 59 percent of Pell recipients graduated in six years and the annual net price of education for low-income students was $9,789.

By comparison, VCU falls short; the university had 52 percent Pell recipients graduating in six years, and the annual net price of education for low income students was $11,544.

VCU Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management, Luke Schultheis, explained where VCU lacks in Pell enrollment they make up for in micro-grants. These are small grants, $1,000 to $2,000, that are awarded per student who are in specific situations.

VCU has recently received recognition for this by a joint report by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (CUSU) titled “Foiling the Drop-Out Trap.”

VCU was specifically highlighted for the Graduation Funds program which targets seniors who are close to graduation but have not registered for their final semester of classes. The program reaches out to these students to help provide financial help needed to graduate.

The Dept. of Education’s report also mentioned Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s plan to raise higher education funding by about $50 million to be available as financial aid from the state as incentive for Virginia universities to enroll and graduate more underrepresented students.

The plan also includes in-state financial assistance, salary increase for Virginia higher education faculty and an online degree completion initiative for non-traditional students.

The University of Richmond and Radford University were among 13 schools recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education.

2008-2013 increase in percentage of Pell recipients 2012-2013 percentage of Pell recipients graduating in 6 years 2012-2013 annual net price of education for low-income students ($0-$30,000)

U of R 9 to 20% Radford 17 to 28% U of R 82% Radford 59% VCU 52% U of R $8,599 Radford $9,789 VCU $11,544

He leaves behind his wife and two young children.

During a press conference earlier at Virginia State Police headquarters in Chesterfield on Friday, Virginia State Police Colonel Steven Flaherty identified the gunman as James Brown, 34, of Chicago. Flaherty said Brown used a 40 caliber Beretta semiautomatic pistol when he shot Dermyer in the chest.

Two women, a 27-year-old from North Carolina and 21-year-old from New York, were also wounded in the ensuing shootout between Brown and Virginia State Police.

Flaherty said Brown had 143 rounds of ammunition and two partiallyloaded 30-round magazines left when he was arrested.

“We don’t know why he chose to assault a trooper,” Flaherty said. “Its very troubling that he would have a gun, it’s very troubling that he was out having a history that he has, that he is able to travel on a bus line.”

Brown was traveling from Raleigh to Chicago via Richmond and Washington D.C. Flaherty said the gun Brown used was purchased by someone else 13 months ago in Georgia.

Representatives from police departments in the area and across the nation also shared their thoughts and condolences at Friday’s vigil, many referring to the “family” shared by the servicemen and women who put on a uniform to go to work each morning.

“Greetings from law enforcement in the state of Alabama. My father and brother are law enforcement in Texas,” said a man in uniform who took to the podium at Friday’s vigil.

“That thin, blue line runs long and deep all across our nation,” he said to thunderous applause.

Another officer introduced herself as Mindy, a trooper from Illinois.

“The thin blue line does run thick and deep,” she said. “I lost a classmate years ago — and I still call his family every birthday and Christmas. It’s important — it’s our job — to do that and always remember his family.”

Councilwoman Reeva Trammell also offered condolences and commended the local police units, including the Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield police, for assisting the State Police yesterday before the FBI and Homeland Security arrived.

“Many of us get up in the morning with the expectation we will return to our families at the end of each day,” Jones said. “ When I look around this room, I see so many people who kiss their children in the morning, and do not know if they’ll return home at the end of the day.”

Senator Mark Warner also sent a representative to offer his prayers.

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sports

The Commonwealth Times

Stat of the Week ...

Redshirt-freshman Sky Hyatt is third in the A-10 in goals scored with 22.

Women's lax suffers second half lapse in 7-5 loss to La Salle

Freshman Bethea puts on a show at Colonial Relays

PHOTO BY BROOKE MARSH

MARCUS BLACKWELL Contributing Writer

VCU lacrosse will travel for a two game road-trip against against Duquesne on April 8 and St. Bonaventure on April 10.

RODNEY ROBINSON Contributing Writer In a tight defensive battle, women’s lacrosse fell short against conference rival La Salle University by a score of 7-5, in the Rams first ever Atlantic 10 contest at Cary Street Field.

The Rams were led by two freshman midfielders in Sky Hyatt and Sofia Edmond.

Hyatt had her second hat trick of the season on Saturday. After allowing an early goal in the first period, Hyatt would tied the game with her first goal assisted by freshman Clare Murphy.

After having a strong performance against conference foe, the University of Richmond on Friday, freshman Sofia Edmond would score two important goals in the first half giving the Rams a two goal lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first period.

The slow start in the second half proved to be the achilles heel for the Rams. After a 3-3 tie in the first half, the Explorers jumped out to a quick lead in the second. The Explorers found the net four-straight-times after the break, extending the lead to 7-4.

Goals were hard to come by in the second period for VCU. Tough defense by the Explorers held the Rams to two goals in the second period. Hyatt would go on to score two

more to trim the deficit. However it wasn’t enough to complete comeback effort.

Hyatt, an Eldersburg, Maryland native, leads the teams in goals with 22 to accompany her seven assists. She admits to the two conference losses stinging a bit, but said her team has come together to respond to adversity.

“I think we came out better as a team than we have all season,” Hyatt said. “We’ve had two tough losses back-to-back to open conference play, but we are ready to work on Tuesday and work on some of those mistakes.”

Head coach Jen O’Brien has been disappointed with the recent outcomes, but under-

stands these outcomes only provide experience for the road ahead.

"I think we had a little bit of a mental let down after a really tough, energized game against our crosstown rival to open A-10 play on Friday,” O’Brien said. “Nevertheless, we are committed to getting back to work on Tuesday to focus on our mental toughness, confidence as well as continuing to stick together as a team both on and off of the field."

Lacrosse will hit the road this weekend and embark on a two-game conference road trip taking them to separate conference opponents. They play Duquesne University on April 8 and St. Bonaventure University on April 10.

THE PRESS BOX

Mo' money no problem BRYANT DRAYTON Sports Editor

The Notorious B.I.G told us all in his 1997 classic “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems” that the bigger your wallet, the more problems you see.

Well for VCU’s Will Wade, that may be a problem he is more

than happy to deal with.

If this week in sports has taught us anything, it’s that we should have taken rec-league sports more serious when we were younger. All the times I went to my knees in circuit planks when the coach turned his head has come back to haunt me.

Wade stamped an eight-year contract extension on March 29.

The specifics of the contract have not been announced, but we all can suspect that Wade got paid.

The 33-year-old men’s basketball coach led VCU to a 25-11 record and a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament — success that blew preseason expectations out of the water.

Wade was the 38th highest paid coach in the country based upon USA Today’s coaching salaries. Although compared to Duke’s Coach K and his $7,299,666 salary, Wade’s $1 million salary looks like an average

nine-to-five. Can’t fault Shaka for leaving after learning he is the 13th highest paid coach, bringing in $2,805,000 per year.

Yet another reason why I wished I learned to dribble with my left hand. Actually, I blame my parents. I knew my basketball prowess wasn’t going to blossom in church league.

But unlike Wade and other winners cashing out with mind boggling contracts, some are still battling to receive the pay deservant of their play.

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team is coming off a recent World Cup trophy in 2015 after dismantling Japan in blowout fashion 5-2. Yet, the players have been out-spoken this week in claiming their equal pay rights have not been met.

The average professional female soccer player brings in around $37,000 per year. For men, the average is $300,000, a 40 percent difference.

Not to mention, the talent level on our men’s team pales in comparison to that of our women.

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team faced elimination from the World Cup in 2018 if they had lost to Guatemala on Tuesday. They would go on to win 4-0 with smiles and hugs. As if they actually believed for a second they could be the first team out of the

World Cup since 1986.

Five top women soccer players filed a federal complaint Wednesday against U.S. soccer, accusing them of wage discrimination.

What the women’s team has done over the years is nothing short of dominant. Their brand has gone global and the precedence they have set with winning has paid yearly dividends.

Jürgen Klinnsman, head coach for the USMNT, makes $2.5 million per year compared to USWNT Jill Ellis making $215,000 — 10 times more in pay.

For male athletes to take home almost more than double what female athletes make is a travesty to sports. U.S. Soccer will have to tame this issue immediately before they dig themselves in a grave bigger than the one they are already in.

Imagine if Wade was not paid based on his performance. His exit would come faster than it took him to get the team to actually knock down late game free throws — was that too soon?

I’m all for the USWNT to be paid more than the USMNT. Equal pay leading to equal competition between the two sides may actually be good for the sport. Our men may actually care to possess the ball to score rather than being on the defensive for 90 minutes.

It’s time for U.S. soccer to be honest about the reason behind why men’s soccer is relevant.

Sports bars across the country enjoyed serving countless pitchers for the 2014 World Cup. This was a short-lived money making expenditure, but at least the nation got off work early a couple of days.

The point for any job is to be compensated for performance.

For Wade, his performance in rejuvenating the team will make him a happy man for years to come. For the USWNT, well, it is time for them to have money problems of their own.

Bryant is a sports advocate who’s always smiling. He is a senior print and online journalism major aspiring for a career as a professional or college football columnist. Bryant currently covers high school football games for the Richmond TimesDispatch. draytonbo@commonwealthtimes.com

VCU’s men’s and women’s track and field team have been on the road the past two weekends, traveling to the University of Richmond for the Fred Hardy Invitational on March 25 and again on April 2 in Williamsburg to participate in the Colonial Relay.

At the Fred Hardy Invitational, the men participated in several events, where VCU was well represented.

Freshman Andrew Hines set a personal record in the hammer throw by sending it 47.10 meters.

In the shot put competition, sophomore Shawn Scornaienchi was also successful in recording his best outdoor mark at 13.78 meters, finishing in fifth place.

In the 400, sophomores Khalil Shepard finishing with a time of 49.39 and Nicholas Buckingham finished with a time of 49.5, placing fourth and sixth respectively.

Buckingham showed improvement, cutting more than a full second off of his previous personal best in the event.

Senior Sam Hush ran 10:03.86 in his first steeplechase in three years on his way to place third.

The Lady Rams also delivered an admirable performance at the Hardy Invitational. Sophomore Denise O'Rourke was successful in placing in two events.

O'Rourke set a personal record in the hammer throw where she placed eighth, and in the discus where she delivered a throw 45.29 meters, placing second.

The Rams also had two place in the top seven in the 400 hurdles.

Junior Erika Coleman ran 1:03.41 and took fifth, while Ashanti Jackson ran 1:04.45 and placed seventh.

Coach Jon Riley was satisfied with the Rams showing at the invitational.

"We took a smaller than usual group to the meet and saw a lot of solid performances even though the majority of our groups are training through this weekend,” Riley said. “It was a great opportunity for some of our younger athletes to get some more experience."

On Friday, VCU participated at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg. For the men’s team, freshman Devin Bethea tied for fourth in the men's long jump. He leaped 6.58m, achieving a personal record. Also freshman Nathan Williams set a personal record, finishing 11th in the 400m dash with a time of 48.86.

One of the more impressive highlights for VCU came when Andrew Hines got second place in the shot put championship with a toss of 16.06m.

For the women’s team, sophomore Taylor McCormick achieved silver for the triple jump at a personal best of 11.56m, putting her top-10 in program history.

Freshman Camora Sanders also put forth a great effort for the Rams, setting a personal record in the discus throw, tossing it 40.60m. Her throw has set her to be top-10 in program history.

Freshman Kia Carson was VCU’s star of the day, placing in the top five in the 100m and 200m dash -- both personal records -- and was part of two of VCU’s third place relay teams. Overall it was a great feat from the men and women’s teams.

Riley said he was satisfied with the way both his squads battled.

"I liked the way we persevered through the elements,” Riley said.

“Constant rain and wind did not deter our efforts this weekend. If this group continues to to work hard and trust the process, things will work in our favor."

VCU will compete next on April 9 at the George Mason Invitational next weekend.

www.commonwealthtimes.org

Monday, April 4, 2016

5

Baseball gets the nod in its first conference series After dropping consecutive midweek games, baseball got back on track by winning 2-3 in a weekend series against Dayton University.

The Rams came out on top in the Friday nightcap by a score of 9-2.

VCU’s starting pitcher Sean Thompson was dominant throughout the game. The sophomore improved his record to a conference leading 5-0, hurling six innings of shut-out ball while compiling six strikeouts, only allowing five Flyers to reach base.

A five-run third inning by the Rams gave Thompson more than enough support to come away with the victory.

Shortstop Matt Davis connected on a one-out single with the bases loaded to bring in a run and start the rally. Three critical errors

by Flyer defenders allowed the lead to swell to 5-0 and the Rams would not look back.

Centerfielder Logan Farrar led the offense with a team high three base-knocks. Davis finished with three RBI’s after adding a double in the fourth inning. Outfielder Jimmy Kerrigan continued to turn heads at the plate with a 2-3 outing that included two walks, an RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored.

Dayton turned the tables in the following midday game by defeating VCU 8-3. The loss put a blemish on the Rams previously perfect conference and weekend records.

Kerrigan had stayed comfortable at the plate. Kerrigan alongside fellow outfielder James Bunn and Davis all contributed multihit games.

Designated hitter Darian Carpenter has found his groove and

PHOTO BY ANDREW CRIDER

ZACH JOACHIM Contributing Writer

Freshman pitcher Michael Dailey has recorded a 2-0 record and three saves in seven appearances this season. In 21.2 innings pitched, he has an ERA of 2.08. continued to swing it well, going 3-4 on the day. Farrar likewise continued a hot streak as he went 2-4 with an RBI. Dayton pulled away in the top of the sixth with a two-run double

by Robbie Doring to make the score 5-2. VCU would never regain the lead.

Errors and runners left on base made the difference in this affair.

Despite 14 hits by the Rams potent offense, they failed to push

men across the plate, leaving 13 runners on.

“We need to get better at capitalizing on mistakes and situational hitting,” Kerrigan said. “It’s just a focus thing. We do a good job of staying confident.”

VCU starting pitcher Brooks Vial gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched, but only two of those runs were earned as three errors behind him allowed the Flyers to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

The Sunday rubber match of the three-game conference set was tight throughout, but the Rams got series finale by a final of 5-3.

Davis led VCU’s offense on the day, going 4-4 with an RBI. Carpenter provided two clutch hits — an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the first to score second baseman Cooper Mickelson and a sacrifice flyout that scored Kerrigan in the fifth.

Freshman Michael Dailey got

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credit for the win and continued to impress after a string of solid outings in relief. He finished with five innings pitched and gave up three runs on five hits while walking four and striking out three.

Rams reliever Sam Donk fanned five and yielded only two hits in four innings of shutout work en route to his eleventh save of the season. The junior has been masterful in late game, pressure filled situations this year.

The pair of weekend wins improves the Rams record to 18-10 overall, 5-1 in Atlantic 10 play.

Next up, head coach Shawn Stiffler and company will welcome in-state rival and defending national champions, the University of Virginia Cavaliers, on Tuesday, April 5 at the Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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sports

The Commonwealth Times

Ram in Action: Molly Barcikowski RAM IN ACTION

PHOTO BY BROOKE MARSH

SOPHIA BELETTI Staff Writer

Only a freshman, attack Molly Barcikowski is second on the team in goals scored (18) and first on the team in assists (17).

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Freshman attack Molly Barcikowski and her 22 other teammates made history by playing in VCU’s first Division-1 lacrosse game, winning 21-9 over GardnerWebb on a cold day in February.

Since then the Rams have gone 1-7.

Barcikowski, however, has been a standout player in the program.

She is second on the team in goals (18) and is leading the team in assists with 17.

“She’s an offensive quarterback on the attacking end,” said head coach Jen O’Brien. “She’s a strong lefty with really great stick work and vision.”

Barcikowski grew up in Sykesville, Maryland, a small town outside of Baltimore. She attended Liberty High School where she earned varsity letters in soccer, basketball and lacrosse.

The Sykesville native began playing lacrosse in sixth grade and played for Check-Hers Elite Lacrosse, a club program in Carroll County, MD. By her sophomore year of high school, Barcikowski realized how much she loved lacrosse and began contacting coaches about playing in college. By her junior year, she was committed to play lacrosse at VCU. Barcikowski came to VCU with the mindset of a leader for the firstyear program. Once she got to VCU, she saw that, despite being a freshman, she could still be a player her teammates could look up to.

“In the fall I wasn’t a very communicative person,” Barcikowski said. “I was more of the person that thought leading by example could get me places, but as the season went on, I realized through my teammates and my coaches that speaking up gets my leadership and points across ten times more

than staying behind the scenes and keeping things to myself.”

One of the challenges of the new program has been the lack of tradition other teams have. Barcikowski said this lack of tradition came with an upside — being the team that got to set the precedent for VCU lacrosse.

“We are the one setting the standards, expectations for years to come,” Barcikowski said. “We’re the first girls to show what we want VCU lacrosse to be about.”

As the attack, Barcikowski is the core of the offense. Barcikowski communicates what offense the team transitions into.

“When I get the ball I look to pass it more than I do to go to goal,” Barcikowski said. “I love to set up my teammates when they’re cutting and just feed them a good pass.”

She likens her game to one of a point guard in basketball. She has a pass first mentality, always looking to get her teammates in involved in the action.

“I like them to look better because I’m an unselfish player,” Barcikowski said. “If I have that lane to go I’m definitely going to go but I’m definitely going to look to pass first before going to goal.”

Barcikowski said the lacrosse team is very close knit. They spend their free time together, recognizing the importance of having a close bond on and off the field.

By the end of her four years at VCU, Barcikowski hopes to have an Atlantic 10 title.

“Since we are a first year program right now, starting as one of the leaders is only a great first step to becoming an even better leader as the years go on,” Barcikowski said.

"By my senior year, I hope to be a team captain or maybe one of the senior captains the freshman, sophomores and juniors will look up to and hopefully they will become even a better leader than I was.”

www.commonwealthtimes.org

7

On this day... in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

French Film Festival

Hundreds of patrons filed into the Byrd Theatre in Carytown all weekend to see exclusive films and features, all in French with English captions. It’s the largest French Film Festival in the U.S. JOSHUA BUCK Contributing Writer The French Film Festival, renowned for being the largest French film festival in the United States, returned to Richmond last weekend for its 24th installment and showcased a variety of acclaimed films and exclusive events.

It began with pre-festival screening of the 1971 “Out 1” from “New Wave” director Jacques Rivette, the newly-restored, 12hour epic was divided into three parts and shown across three

Sam’s Take

FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL REVIEWS SAMUEL GOODRICH Contributing Writer

consecutive nights at VCU’s Grace Street Theater.

Rivette passed away earlier this year. In his place, Pierre-William Glenn, the cinematographer who worked on the film’s 2015 restoration, was in attendance. Rivette was a part of the French “New Wave,” a 1960s film movement that greatly influenced the Hollywood films of the 1970s while producing such classics as “Breathless,” “Lola” and “Shoot the Piano Player.”

The full length version of “Out 1” has rarely been seen by the public. Shot without a script, the

HOPE

(Dir. Doris Lojkine) Taking place in 1954 Algeria, during the war with France, “Loin des hommes” tells a compelling story about brotherhood, the absurdity of war, and the mixture of world cultures.

Daru is a teacher in the Algerian desert who is also trusted by the French army to pull some favors from time to time. One day, they call on him to bring Mohamed, a farmer accused of killing his cousin, across the Atlas mountains so he may be judged and sentenced. While initially standoffish, the two form a bond during their intense and and emotionally complex journey.

The impressive cinematogra-

wildly experimental film has typically been shown in a shortened four-hour edit.

The festival’s annual master class sessions featured notable talent from both behind and in front of the camera. Actor and author Anny Romand spoke at the University of Richmond, discussing various film roles as well as what goes into the decision of becoming an actor.

Lizi Gelber offered a lecture on the art of film editing, a craft which often goes overlooked. Gelber drew from her experience in both narraphy of the film is immediately apparent, showing the beautiful desolation and humbling vastness of the desert. It can be breathtaking at times and helps to emphasize the paranoia and tension of being unable to hide in this vast land.

The lead performances by a French speaking Viggo Mortensen and Reda Kateb are fantastic, with both men able to convey an large amount of emotion in simple looks or inflections. Mortensen is especially surprising seeing as he’s an American actor who is speaking fluent French, Arabic, and at times Spanish.

Dealing with many heavy themes, “Loin des hommes” also finds time for short scenes of comedy or calm, which did

tive and documentary editing.

Gelber collaborated with director Yves Jeuland for a documentary chronicling French president Francois Holland for a six month period, that included the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

The pair presented “Un temps de Président” at a screening on Friday.

Friday also featured a showing of “Far From Men,” the meditative drama from director David Oelhoffen starring “Lord of the Rings” actor Viggo Mortenson.

Saturday showcased a screening that highlighted the unique advan-

have a tendency to feel out of place. While only one or two of these scenes were slightly jarring, they overall were welcome tension relievers in an otherwise bleak film.

As a somewhat topical commentary on the misconceptions of culture and the age old theme of “war is hell”, “Loin des hommes” is not a revolutionary film, but it is an exciting and well made film that is able to overcome it’s somewhat cliched shortcomings.

If you like the culture clash and deserts of “Lawrence of Arabia” but don’t have four hours to watch a movie.

tages of hosting the festival at the Byrd Theater. A trio of rare, hand painted films from directors Gaston Breteau and Georges Méliès were screened image by image.

These recently restored short films featured in-house narration

by Todd Schall-Vess as well as musical accompaniment from Bob Guledge on the Byrd’s historic Mighty Wurlitzer.

On Saturday evening, the Byrd hosted a free screening of the documentary “Human.” The three hour film was produced entirely by a pair of non-profits and was

UN TEMPS DE PRESIDENT (Dir. Yves. Jeuland)

Following French president François Hollande from the Summer of 2014 to the end of January 2015, “Un temps de president” shows an intimate and in-depth look into the inner workings of the French government.

While it is slow to start, the film truly takes off once it enters the autumn months, highlighting the different struggles of the government during this time frame. The best moments involve important events during that time frame, like the release of the last French captive and the Charlie Hebdo shooting. These scenes are truly powerful, showing the resilience and camaraderie of the entire French nation.

the first film to ever premiere at the General Assembly hall of the United Nations. Composed almost entirely of aerial footage and close-up interviews, it presents a groundbreaking look at the human condition.

A prevailing theme of this year’s festival was “history.” In addition to the restorations of rare and classic films, there was also a masterclass lecture by Laure Parchomenko of Cinémathèque Française. The organization focuses on film archival and the preservation of film equipment.

They also show what it’s like inside of the government, flaunting its normalcy and mundanity, which is ultimately engaging to watch. It’s fascinating to see how normal these politicians are behind the scenes, joking and struggling like everyday workers.

What is most striking about the film is how I, and many other people in the audience, kept saying that this could never be done in America. This level of vulnerability and freedom given to the director is kind of jarring to American audiences, we’re not used to seeing any government this way, much less our own. It makes for a compelling and endlessly fascinating watch.

For those who want a less dramatised “House of Cards”, mixed with European politics.

COLUMN

Anger over Opal Temeti speaking highlights tensions AUSTIN WALKER Spectrum Editor New York-based writer, activist and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Opal Temeti came to the Siegel Center to discuss activism in the world today – following in the footsteps of those before

her like Cornel West.

Temeti’s arrival was met with more than just the applause of the audience, however. Anger erupted in the comments section of a Richmond Times-Dispatch article describing her lecture, mirroring that of the national backlash that erupted following protests over the death of Trayvon Martin, Michael

Brown, Eric Garner and scores of other people of color a the hands of law enforcement officers.

Counter-protests for the Black Lives Matter movement have cropped up around the country as angry, usually-white people feel the movement values people of color over others. This is reflected in the typical response of “All

ILLUSTRATION BY SHANNON WRIGHT

PHOTOS BY ANDREW CRIDER

spectrum

Monday, April 4, 2016

of Trump supporters at his rallies as evidence of that.

“Hands Up, Don’t shoot! ...

Lives Matter.” sucker punch em,” wrote one Find for me a notable person Facebook user. within the BLM movement who “VCU should be ashamed to says that lives other than those have a spokesperson from such a of black people don’t matter, or vile hate group speaking there,” shouldn’t be preserved. wrote another.

I’m hardly surprised this anger Demonstrations by the BLM persists years after the height of movement have been countered the protests in Ferguson, history by groups such as the Klu Klux has shown that most movements Klan, the American Freedom will be met with resistance by Party and the Nationalist Sothose who are being accused, or at cialist Movement. Even white least feel as though they are.

Americans who aren’t part of Especially during discussions recognized hate groups call the about race, hyper-sensitive whites movement misguided, saying tend to respond very personally to racism and violence directed claims about systemic problems. towards African Americans “You’re saying white cops shoot doesn’t exist. black kids but I’m white and I Why is the white population wouldn’t shoot a black kid. Why in the U.S. so hesitant to accept are you calling me a racist?” is the that some of the claims by the common refrain.

Black Lives Matter movement White people must be able aren’t imaginary? Black men to acknowledge biases that they and women are still shot at a likely hold, while also being able disproportionate rate to whites, to talk about race without feeland economic disparity plagues ing like they have to stand up for black communities throughout whites who blatantly perpetuate the nation. racism.

The Survey of Income and Some of the comments on the Program Participation reported RTD article about Temeti’s arrival in 2015 that the median housetake it a step further, accusing the hold income was over $110,000 Black Lives Matter movement of for white families, and for black being little more than a domestic families it was just over $7,000. terrorist organization, and pointThings like property taxes ing to examples such as the assault dictate the quality of public

schools within districts, creating inadequate education environments for often non-white students. Gerrymandering and disenfranchisement prevent communities of color from actively participating in our country’s democracy.

“Black Lives Matter? Since When?” wrote one user.

“Tometi is the textbook example of a racist. She is promoting the interests of her racial group over those of any other,” wrote another.

Students at the University of Illinois formed the White Student Union back in 2015 to counter the apparent “terrorist threat” by Black Lives Matter protesters. Any logical basis for this anger still escapes me.

Is it the language of the group’s name that sparks the fear and anger? Is it the push for equality (because the counterprotesters perceive that equality as already existing)?

I’m hesitant to brand all opposition to Black Lives Matter as being founded in racism, but until someone can produce an argument greater than “Diversity = White Genocide” (the tagline for the American Freedom Party), then I’m going to struggle to grant the counter-protestors any legitimacy.

8

spectrum

The Commonwealth Times

Quill Theatre presents “King Lear” on 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death With the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death rapidly approaches, The Quill Theatre is commemorating the incomparably-influential playwright with a bold production of one of his many gritty works.

Their current production of “King Lear” directed

by Jan Powell at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts stars Joe Inscoe as the title character. With ticket prices ranged from $20-35, the show will run until April 23.

“King Lear” details the story of the king by which the show is titled, and how how he is resigns from his noble position and divides his land between his three daughters. The show touches on some key themes of justice, obliviousness and the importance but faults with order opposed to chaos.

Mac MacDaniel, the dramaturge coordinator at Quill Theatre, plays an essential role not only in the production of Lear, but also throughout a multitude of their productions.

MacDaniel’s said his job is really that of a theatrical consultant.

“I advise actors and directors on how to approach the textual elements of Shakespeare’s plays,” MacDaniel said.

MacDaniel said that his strengths in dramaturge play into this production especially.

“I think that if I have a strength, it is in characterization: trying to truthfully understand what makes these characters tick,” MacDaniel said. “I would definitely say that I follow A.C. Bradley, an early 20th century British critic, in his psychological approach to Shakespeare’s characters.”

Bradley is a famed scholar, whose examinations of Shakespeare’s characters have been widely commented on. He’s attributed with appreciating the depth of the characters beyond face value, adding and overall

depth to the work of Shakespeare that is translated to stage in modern day.

“Bradley always thinks of Shakespearean characters as real people who can be analyzed and understood just like any other person,” MacDaniel said.

“Shakespeare’s characters are real people to me so I always think of them in that way.”

MacDaniel’s job is to translate his understanding of these characters in a historical context and help turn that into a stellar performance by the show’s actors.

Joe Inscoe, the actor playing King Lear, also had an important role in characterization.

“I’ve had plenty of time to delve into the massive amount of material devoted to one of Shakespeare’s most complex and demanding characters,” Inscoe said. “From critical essays several centuries old to YouTube interviews of actors who’ve played the role, and directors who’ve tackled this tragedy.”

Research like this, while certainly not exclusive to Shakespearean works, is definitely a notable aspect of the 17th-century playwright’s revered scripts.

“I was astonished, at first, particularly by how many questions have never been answered definitively, and never will,” Inscoe said. “The choices left to actors and directors seem limitless.”

A definitive theme throughout the performance is the internal battle between Lear and his own madness. Inscoe was able to resonate and characterize his role through his own personal experience with dementia.

Inscoe’s father suffered from dementia, which plagued him in his final years and was very traumatic for Inscoe.

“He frequently showed wonder at re-discovering common things, as though experiencing them for the first time,” Inscoe said. “That particular event resonated loudly for me as I read ‘(King) Lear’ for the first time since college, forty years ago.”

Left: Joe Inscoe plays the title role of “King Lear.” He said he used his father’s dementia as inspiration for his character’s madness.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMY BELCHER

Richmond’s retro video game sound

Jeremy Belcher, a.k.a. F1NG3RS, performing his set during the REC-Room at the Camel.

JESSE ADCOCK Contributing Writer A retro resurgence has clasped Richmond, as video game music is increasingly finding a home outside of the screen and into popular settings.

Video game music includes mixing audio samples from video games, creating music that promotes the video game feel and chiptune, 8-bit music created using or emulating retro-gaming technology.

This new style doesn’t necessarily have to be pulled

ready to spread ideas worth sharing AUSTIN WALKER Spectrum Editor

IMAGE BY AARON SUTTER

KRISTEN LAIR-BAKER Contributing Writer

TEDxRVA

directly from a video game, according to Richmond-based artist Jeremy Belcher, who goes by F1NG3RS. He began making video game music in 2011.

“Videogame music just has this feel, like we have to go in here and kick this bosses’ ass,” Belcher said.

F1NG3RS brings the ’80s and ’90s chiptune element, and modernizes his music with hip-hop and EDM beats.

He says it makes for a really appealing blend of the two widely-different styles.

There is a large audience for this sound, evidenced by F1NG3RS’ “They Played Us Like A Damn Fiddle Remix,”

with audio from the popular Metal Gear Solid video game series, snagging close to a million views on YouTube.

“In a music environment that’s oversaturated with trap and dubstep and house, it’s nice to take a step away from that, and see old sounds in a new way, Belcher said.”

He claimed anyone who grew up playing video games feels the nostalgia, especially those who grew up in the 80’s.

Nationally, lovers of video game music are drawn to MAGFest, a festival held in Washington D.C. that celebrates video games and video game music and draws close to 20,000 fans annually.

“As far as a subgenre, it’s definitely interesting to take on piece of music and see it from a different perspective,” said Richmond-based artist and producer Hans Piñero.

Locally, the Richmond Electronic Collective draws fans of video game music. The REC holds an event monthly called the REC-Room at the Camel.

“People in this city like outdated and vintage technology,” said Richmond-based artist Alan Brymer, who works creatively as 8-Bit Mullet.

Vinyl and cassettes are huge in Richmond, and he said there’s a local audience for the retro-chiptune sound.

Brymer blends video game sounds with music he grew up listening to. His most recent release, “Electrofunk Megamash,” features funk songs from ’80s mixed with audio over 20 videogames.

Brymer said he is constantly surprised by what works together. For example, the music from level nine of a terrible game no one ever played could work in perfect harmony with a track by a Tribe Called Quest or Ice Cube.

“There’s always people playing retro music, no matter what year it is,” Brymer said.

With the final speaker lineup in place, the international conferences which allows speakers from diverse backgrounds to spread ideas and information is finding a place in Richmond at the Carpenter Theatre.

On Friday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., justice activists, artists and scientists alike will come together for a full day of lecturing, to the theme of this year’s TEDxRVA event “Artful.” The event, with a $50 ticket price, will also feature interactive exhibit by youth artists and food will be provided from a handful of sponsors.

This will be TEDxRVA’s fourth year of talks. Previous TEDx talks have happened around the city, including Virginia Commonwealth University’s own TEDxVCU event, which had its second showing in February of this year.

This year’s TEDxRVA speaker list includes Virginia Commonwealth University’s own John Freyer from the school of photography and film, as well as a performance

by VCU’s slam poetry team “Good Clear Sound.”

Other guests include a burlesque performer, special needs advocate Pam Mines and drug intervention specialist Bill Maher.

These independent talks are more frequent and accessible than the larger-scale TED events. The ticket prices for those events often reach hundreds or thousands of dollars, where TEDx events typically stay below a hundred.

Independent talks like TEDxRVA happen all around the world, with prominent members of the community coming to the stage to share interesting and entertaining talents, projects and ventures.

Tickets for this event can be found online through the TEDxRVA website, or purchased at the Carpenter Theatre’s box office at 600 E. Grace St. in downtown Richmond.

The fate of the Anderson Gallery has been sealed —continued from page 1 been moved to Cabell Library as part of a teaching collection for student study.

Seipel also noted that Cabell Library will provide better temperature and humidity control than the nearly-century-old Anderson Gallery.

“The (ICA) will be focused on arts research and entrepreneurship opportunities,” said Suzanne Silitch, director of communications for VCUarts.

I envision a wonderful future for Richmond as an art center; the cities of the country will soon look to her with pride.

PHOTO BY ANA GARVIN

— ABRAHAM ANDERSON ANDERSON GALLERY FOUNDER

The doors to the Anderson Gallery are currently open for this year’s Undergraduate Juried Fine Arts Exhibition.

VCU’s Anderson Gallery was established through a monetary gift given to the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) in 1930

by Colonel Abraham Archibald Anderson.

“I envision a wonderful future for Richmond as an art center; the cities of the country will soon look to her with pride,” Colonel Anderson said. “If in my small way, by word or work, I can help Richmond to achieve this noble result, I shall consider that I have not lived in vain.”

RPI undertook the renovation of the Ginter Mansion stable.

The administration of Richmond Professional Institute, in consultation with Colonel. Anderson,

turned the stable building into an art gallery and library.

Initially, the only change made to the exterior of the building was the installation of front doors.

Inside, the second-floor hayloft, which had high ceilings, was converted into gallery space, while first floor became

the library.

The A.A. Anderson Gallery of Art opened to the public in 1931, and its inaugural exhibition featured Colonel Anderson’s paintings. Throughout the 1930s, the Gallery maintained a full exhibition schedule and served as Richmond’s only art exhibition facility until the VMFA opened

in 1936.

Over time, several major additions changed the facade and structure of the building. In 1939, a third floor was added for use as art studios and, in 1947, the fourth floor was built.

A commemorative book about the institution is due out later this month.

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Monday, April 4, 2016

9

Ryan Daley’s return The VCU senior will drop his second album, “Winter,” by June 2016 MUKTARU JALLLOH Staff Writer

PHOTO COURTESY OF RYAN DALEY

Between writing books and running an independent creative agency, UNIT 4, VCU senior Ryan Daley is a young, up-andcoming rapper.

Daley said he is strongly influenced by hip-hop, utilizes and embraces various sounds and genres of music. Furthermore, he doesn’t hold himself to any signature sound and transcends any specific label of music.

Daley said his second album, “Winter,” is a commemoration of both the toughest period of his life thus far, and his most recent life hurdle.

“I want this album to resonate and relate to kids who have similar struggles, whether it’s divorce, the struggles of school or relationships,” Daley said.

“I thought of ‘Winter’ when going into the idea of the album.

It’s centered around my parent’s divorce and my girlfriend and I’s problems, so somewhere along those lines of heartbreak,” Daley said. “When I think of that, I think of cold, rigid weather. Also, I was born in the blizzard of 1993.”

Born in Washington, D.C., Daley said he had a tough time growing up. In addition to dealing with the challenges of the D.C. public school system, his parents’ relationship faltered as a child.

After their divorce in 2006, Daley decided to move to Arlington, Virginia with his mother.

Though he still dealt with split custody, he soon found solace in his new environment. After meet-

Ryan Daley is both a rapper and an entrepreneur, co-owning an independent creative agency called UNIT 4. He just released his second album title “Winter.”

ing new friends in middle school such as close confidant and business partner, fellow VCU senior Deonate Murphy, Daley soon got into music.

Inspired by Drake, Daley said he strives to not only have the same impact as the Toronto MC but also the enduring emotional connection he has with his fans worldwide.

I want this album to resonate and relate to kids who have similar struggles, whether it’s divorce, the struggles of school or relationships.

— RYAN DALEY INDEPENDENT RAPPER

With Daley’s second album set for release in the coming months, he said the project is a mirror full of emotions and life experiences that truly showcase his growth as an artist while also detailing struggles and challenges.

With the ascension of rappers Drake and Lil Wayne, Daley soon began to write his own raps and make his own music.

After a tumultuous first year at his father’s alma mater, Dillard University, Daley decided to join Murphy at VCU. Since then, Daley said he has seen his artistic capabilities grow.

“I really like VCU, it’s been a great four years here. I didn’t start getting involved until last year and it’s been great,” Daley said.

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During his first year at VCU in 2012, Daley released his debut project to much disappointment.

“After that, I took a step back to reorganize and figure some things out about myself and as an artist,” Daley said. “During that time, I got into graphic design and film. Now, it’s time to drop the music. Music is a big part of my life and I feel like I have a lot to say.”

One of the things Daley unabashingly talks about in his upcoming album is his relationship with his girlfriend. On the album’s most personal song, “Summer 2014 Voicemail,” Daley details the rough stretch the couple went through.

“The summer of 2014 is when my girlfriend and I decided to take a break so we could figure each other out and what we really wanted,” Daley said. “During that summer, I was really lost and heartbroken so the song talks about what I went through that summer in the form of a voicemail.”

With “Winter” slated for release in the coming months, Daley said the album will definitely be out by June on all music platforms such as Google Play, Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud.

The album will also include several music videos and be distributed and marketed by UNIT 4, a creative agency he owns with Murphy and others.

“This is a body of work that I spent two years working on so I want people to get a good grasp of who I am and what I stand for when listening to ‘Winter,’” Daley said.

opinion

10 The Commonwealth Times

Quote of the week

“

As our country becomes more diverse and accented, we must embrace those who speak with different accents.

— Justin Joseph

“

ILLUSTRATION BY NORINE KING

Accents should be celebrated, not stigmatized

JUSTIN JOSEPH Contributing Columnist Imagine moving to another English-speaking country or even another region of the United States. You might feel fortunate at first that your neighbors and coworkers speak the same language as you, but this gratitude usually doesn’t last for long. Throughout your life, you have acquired a particular method of pronunciation and specific speech patterns from your environment. Even if you move to a region where you look the same as everyone else and speak the same language, your accent will mark you as a non-native. This often leads to negative and sometimes dangerous conse-

quences.

Even though I was born and raised in the United States, I developed a particular accent as a result of growing up in an Indian American household.

Both of my parents learned English as a second language and I acquired their speech patterns at a young age. During my adolescence, I would see my accent as a curse inherited by my parents. Countless individuals would inappropriately point out my accent, demand that I “speak better English,” and blame my poor grades on group presentations on my pronunciation.

Although Americans are more accepting of other cultures and nationalities than ever before, accent discrimination still takes place. Accent-

related stereotypes result in feelings of prejudice, “accentless.” Taking an accent reduction class will and this sometimes results in discrimination and simply modify your accent to resemble one that a exclusion. Recent studies indicate that those who specific subgroup considers superior. speak in non-native accents receive poorer treatModifying one’s accent to the point that it is ment from landlords and employers. For example, completely unrecognizable will erase an important researchers at the University of Pennsylvania sign of a person’s personal history and cultural herifound that potential tenants who spoke African tage. Those who grow up with a particular accent American Vernacular English were more likely may grow to embrace it and even make it a cornerto have their housing applications rejected. Even stone of their self-identity. Our society encourages college campuses, professors and graduate assiseveryone to love themselves for who they are but tants with strong accents are rated poorly. A study those who embrace their accents encounter negative performed by Georgia State University found that consequences both professionally and socially. teachers who were non-native English speakers Most importantly, we must address the portrayal were subject to negative student biases on the Rate of certain accents in entertainment and popular My Professors website. These professors were con- culture. The use of certain accents for mocking and sistently ranked comedy only lower on the legitimizes prejuclarity scale, and Although Americans are more accepting of other dices against the other aspects cultures and nationalities than ever before, accent individuals of their teaching with non-native were ignored. accents. Even discrimination still takes place. Accent-related In most cases, these stereotypes result in feelings of prejudice, and this though accents are noticeportrayals often sometimes results in discrimination and exclusion. occur in fictional able but do not impede comuniverses, they Recent studies indicate that those who speak in munication in result in very real non-native accents receive poorer treatment from certain languages. consequences. landlords and employers. Even in college campuses, By preventing However, many societies, espethe spread of professors and graduate assistants with strong cially the United harmful stereoStates, use accents accents are rated more poorly. types and giving to enforce a social — JUSTIN JOSEPH this issue the hierarchy and proseriousness it mote stereotypes deserves, we give about particular groups. Those who speak with a all Americans a voice and allow them to embrace Southern accent are commonly judged to be less themselves for who they truly are. intelligent, and many Americans consider speakAs our country becomes more diverse and acers of African American Vernacular English — cented, we must embrace those who speak with popularly referred to as Ebonics — to be ignorant, different accents. We must be willing to work with uneducated or “ghetto.” When immigrants come those who have different speech patterns, and adto the United States to learn English as a second justments must be made when necessary. Individulanguage, their accents are the subject of ridicule als should not be stereotyped based on their accents and comedy. and we must make more of an effort to end such We must recognize that everyone has an acmisconceptions. No matter what accent or vocabucent. If an individual speaks English in a different lary an individual may speak with, they must be way than his or her peers, that person simply has considered equal. a different accent than the majority population.

Contrary to public opinion, it is impossible to be

HIBA AHMAD Contributing Columnist We often hear the argument that we cannot paint an entire population of people with the same brush — an argument shared by many groups and social infrastructures including the Black Lives Matter movement, Muslims and law enforcement. Many claim that an entire community should not be held responsible for the heinous acts of a few. The media is no exception to this claim.

First, the media is a very broad term. It is a multifaceted entity that has a range of mediums to deliver information to the public.

Blockbuster movies, small town newspapers and 30 second clips on Facebook are all apart of the changing landscape of media.

Before the Internet, there were a limited amount of TV and radio broadcasts and newspapers that the public paid attention to, therefore ratings and circulation wasn’t a problem.

Today, those same newspapers and broadcasts are battling with other news agencies who have structured the distribution of their stories through social media — a significantly faster and more popular medium.

Take The New York Times as an example of an older news agency that adapted graciously to new technology. They now

ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN BUSHNELL

boast 1.1 million print and digital subscribers — more than any news publication to this date.

This is the same agency that suffered a 50 percent decrease in advertisements 10 years ago and were on the verge of bankruptcy.

One of the ways that The Times has increased their digital readership is by partnering with Facebook to automatically publish articles to their Facebook news feeds. This means, what The Times is reporting is being pushed towards the public whether they want to be exposed to those ideas or not.

The public has to be mindful

of where they are getting their information and learn how to weave through the information that is being pushed towards them — sometimes without their consent.

To argue that the entire field of media is lacking in its reporting is unfair. Agencies like Reuters and Associated Press have journalists scattered across the world working around the clock to bring ethical, substantive and reliable stories to your screens.

Explore different media outlets outside of American media.

Al-Jazeera, Voice of America and BBC are all agencies who cover a wide range of news, including issues Americans are facing.

Al-Jazeera has expanded their prescence on social media through a new branch within their brand called AJ+. It provides short videos on an array of issues pertinent to the U.S. and overseas. It caters to the new type of news consumer who wants information at a faster rate, but with the same level of accuracy.

The stories are out there.

People are reporting on them.

As a viewer or reader, you must actively engage in the world around you. Do not just accept the information that is being thrown at across your screens.

ILLUSTRATION BY JIAQUI ZHOU

As the media changes, readers must embrace change as well

We’re subconsciously modified by music MONICA HOUSTON Opinion Editor I’ve always been considered old-school when it comes to my views on life and music has been no exception. Growing up in a home where only melodies of soul and gospel filled the rooms, becoming aware of the lyrics and moods associated with music now has become very important. Music affects the subconscious mind and the lyrics of a song are nothing other than a suggested message.

The Psychological Effects of Songs by M.Farouk Radwan, MSc. says “these suggestions are even more dangerous than normal ones because you usually listen to music while you’re busy doing something else. This allows the suggestions in the song to go directly into your subconscious mind without first being filtered by the conscious mind.”

The function of your subconscious mind is to store and retrieve data. Its job is to ensure that you respond exactly the way you are programmed.

Your subconscious mind makes everything you say and do consistent with your master program.

Music genres such as pop, R&B, hip-hop and rap have become increasingly popular with the millennial generation. Paired with these genres is the message of consumerism, which lies perfectly hidden within a capitalist society. Every type of input we receive is stored in our minds and is turned into a belief if it is repeated often enough.

Radio and television control a significant portion of mass-media. From the repetition of songs on the radio to the repetition of commercials, all about money, cars and clothes, mass-consumption is promoted in every realm. The songs and shows you watch are all strategically selected to promote

an ideology.

Michael Raduga, in his book The Phase: Shattering the Illusion of Reality, says that “during everyday life, the subconscious mind sends information based on calculations determined capabilities. However, humans neither hear or perceive these signals because they retrieve information linguistically.”

I cannot make assumptions about other genres outside of the one’s I’ve named because I do not listen to them enough to criticize. I do, however, listen to a lot of neo-soul, R&B, and hip-hop. The generations that made these genres prolific, made music that fed the soul with positive ideals of love, marriage and obtainable, prioritized success.

This generation has adopted many of the same rhythms, beats and even lyrics of these genres, but have changed the messages to promote money, clothes and side chicks — and because our society thrives on consumerism, the artists whose lyrics promote these ideals become repeated consistently, subconsciously affecting our minds. Obtaining material possessions has consumed a majority of this generation.

If I am going to listen to a certain type of music, the messages have to be consistent with the values and priorities of my life. Artists, ranging from celebrities like J.Cole and Logic to indie artists like Block Taylor, promote messages of obtainable success as well as messages of hope and inspiration. J.Cole’s “Love Yours,” Logic’s “Never Been” and Block Taylor’s “9 to 5” are not only relatable but inspire me to be hopeful. As a black student woman living in a patriarchal racist, consumerist society, messages of inspiration are vital to make it to where I want to be.

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