The Commonwealth Times; December 4, 2017

BEST SMALL, NON-DAILY —2017 Virginia Press Association The independent press of Virginia Commonwealth University

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December 4, 2017 • Vol. 59, No. 15

NEWS GOP tax bill • 3

SPORTS Spring preview • 7

SPECTRUM VCU grads • 8

OPINIONS Adjunct pay • 11

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The Commonwealth Times

CRIME LOG

Monday, November 27

HIBA AHMAD News Editor

Destruction of Property West Main St. Deck 801 W. Main St. Pending Hit and run 10 S. Cherry St. Pending Harassment/Simple Assault Trespassing 710 W. Franklin St. Pending Theft UU Lot 1200 W. Broad St. Pending Larceny 1503 Floyd Ave. Outside Agency

Tuesday, November 28 Shoplifting 901 Park Ave. Pending Other Offenses 609 Bowe St. Pending False Pretenses/Swindle 1309 W. Broad St. Outside Agency Drug Violation 100 S. Belvidere St. Outside Agency Burglary 1110 W. Marshall St. Outside Agency Indecent Exposure S. Laurel/Cumberland St. Outside Agency

Wednesday, November 29 Alcohol Violation 1200 W. Broad St. Closed

Sexual Assault B1100 Catherine St. Pending

PHOTO BY MYLES FRANCISCO

Alcochol Violation 700 W. Broad St. Closed Hit and Run 900 W. Broad St. Pending

VCUarts adjuncts plan a day of action to demand equitable pay

Larceny 1118 Grove Ave. Outside Agency

VCUarts adjunct professors will stage a day of action Dec. 8 to demand fair pay from the School of the Arts.

They plan to hold a rally at the Compass, deliver a petition with more than 900 signatures to the Board of Visitors meeting and demand to have their wages raised for the upcoming semester.

An estimated 120 adjuncts in the No. 1 public art school in the country currently make $750 to $850 dollars per credit hour taught. They are capped at teaching two classes per semester, which means they would make an estimated $9,000 to $10,200 per year, before taxes.

The federal poverty line in the United States sits at $12,082, according the Census Bureau.

The adjuncts formed an organization called, ‘VCUarts Adjuncts Organizing for Fair Pay,’ and sent letters voicing their demands to administrators in VCUarts and President Michael Rao’s office.

The organization demands their pay be raised to $2,000 per credit hour for the spring 2018 semester, which they argue, would bring them to a competitive pay range compared to other art schools across the nation.

“Adjunct faculty currently account for the majority of instructors in the VCUarts departments, yet are still paid significantly lower than other top rated public universities in Virginia,” the letter stated.

“The University is sending a clear message to us, and the public about the value of its educators by underpaying adjuncts despite consistently increasing tuition.”

In response, Rao stated in a letter to the organization the shortfall in faculty and staff pay is a result of statewide education funding cuts.

“This issue is not new to me and my leadership team,” Rao stated.

“We recognize that our budget Over 120 adjuncts make up shortfalls create an inability to rethe faculty at the School of cruit and retain qualified adjunct the Arts.

faculty for each of our academic programs.”

Rao also asked Shawn Brixey, Dean of the School of the Arts, to put together a financial impact statement that analyzes the art school’s budget. Brixey joined the school’s administration earlier this semester.

Brixey called for a meeting with the art adjuncts to discuss their concerns. Heide Trepanier, an art adjunct in the Department of Paint and Printmaking and former VCUarts student, attended the meeting and said Brixey presented them with only one option to raise their wages.

“They are trying to contextualize the pay raise so that they would have to raise student tuition, but what that does is it pits us against the reason why we’re here — and that’s just cruel,” Trepanier said. “I don’t want to put anymore financial pressure on the students that I love.”

The organization acquired documents under the Freedom of Information Act, which outlined how VCUarts allocated their budget within the school from the 2009 to 2017.

For example, in the 2016-2017 academic year, the school had a total budget of $33,659,043. Of that, VCUarts allocated more than $32 million on educational and general expenses. The school distributed $890,000 of restricted university funds, which consist of gifts to the particular departments, investment earnings and more throughout the school.

The organization argues the school should use other funds in the school to properly pay their adjunct faculty rather than turning to raising student tuition.

The organization presented Brixey and other VCUarts administrators with research examining the average cost of living in Richmond and the federal poverty line in the United States — this led them to their suggestion of $2,000 per credit hour taught for adjuncts.

According to Trepanier, Brixey said the school will raise adjunct

pay to $1,000 per credit hour for the upcoming semester by tapping into reserve funds, per approval from the Board of Visitors. However, it was never clarified whether the funds were primarily from VCUarts or from the university.

Brixey also informed the adjuncts the school will be creating a task force that will cross examine pay for adjuncts at VCUarts against both private and public art schools in America.

The organization asked Brixey to have two art adjuncts join the task force so that they could share their experiences and research to help the school come to a decision.

VCUarts adjuncts’ pay currently falls under the poverty line in the U.S., leaving many of them homeless or working an average of three jobs, according to an art adjunct.

The adjunct, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of losing their job, said they know a number of adjuncts who are suffering because of the lack of pay.

“This is an urgent crisis. The Dean is moving into a new house, but there are a lot of adjuncts that have been homeless within the last year,” the adjunct said. “When we’re talking about equity issues, we’re not just talking about what’s fair and unfair, we’re talking about someone’s life and where they’re going to sleep at night.”

The adjunct also raised the concern of not being able to dedicate enough time to students because of the various jobs art adjuncts often work to pay bills.

“In terms of budgeting time, when a lot of us are working three jobs or have to drive to Virginia Tech the next day to teach, a lot of that does take a toll on the classroom,” they said. “I don’t think it’s fair to the career development of the students.”

Trepanier spoke out because she does not plan to return to VCU after her contract ends in December. She also has other forms of income that she relies on, but she said that’s not that case for all of her colleagues.

“People are terrified to speak up because they don’t want to lose that little bit of income that they do have,” Trepanier said. “If you eventually want a full-time job, and you go on record and they see that out on media, then schools won’t hire you because you’re a troublemaker.”

The push to increase the pay for adjuncts comes from a failing art economy.

Following the 2008 recession, consumers have stopped buying art at the rate they once did. This put a dent in the main source of income for many local artists. It resulted in more artists turning their secondary incomes — adjunct teaching and freelance work — to their main mode of survival.

However, Brixey mentioned in his statement to the art adjuncts that their positions aren't meant to be anything more than parttime positions.

"While adjunct positions at the School of Arts are not meant to substitute for full-time employment, school and university administrators are concerned about low and inconsistent adjunct compensation," Brixey stated.

Despite the decrease in compensation for artists, students continue to enroll in higher numbers to art schools across the nation.

“The students are there and I think that they know that their chances of being a successful artist are very low, but I feel like they don’t have a choice in doing what they do,” Trepanier said. “They have a calling to do art and they’re just following through with who they are.”

Though many adjuncts have voiced their discontent for what they see as an unlivable wage, they still feel committed to the university and most importantly, their students.

“I love my students and I think that all of the adjunct faculty that teach at the school do too. The only reason why they’re there are the students and that’s why we do it and that’s why we stay.”

Fuentes said.

Coogan said he hopes the program will allow students and participants to connect with one another and share their struggles to foster more mutual respect in the community.

“I hope that this program helps [the offenders] figure out a way to live a better life,” Coogan said.

“Though some are incarcerated and some are free, we’re all struggling with something.”

The course is taught by Coogan with the help of Dean Turner and Kelvin Belton who both served time at the Richmond City Jail before joining the program at the justice center. They later co-authored

the book “Writing Our Way Out: Memoirs from Jail,” with Coogan.

John Venuti, VCU police chief, said the course will be beneficial to the community because it is better for some people to have second chances than to be punished.

“In the appropriate situations, this program allows select offenders to get that second chance,” Venuti said.

The course is only available to low-level offenders, meaning felons and those convicted of violent crimes are not eligible for the plea arrangement. A code of conduct is in place for participants, with referrals to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, and on-call

VCU Police Department officer intervention or program dismissal as consequences.

The College of Humanities and Sciences is covering the expenses for the participants’ class materials with budget allocations. According to University Public Relations, the course will require no new funds or resources and will save taxpayer money by reducing court costs and eliminating the cost of incarceration.

“Collaboratively, everyone is thinking about who would be best positioned to take advantage of this opportunity, who really wants to change,” Coogan said.

Shoplifting ABC 1217 W. Broad St Outside Agency Larcency 6 N. Plum St. Outside Agency Theft 1516 West Ave. Outside Agency Drunkenness 1400 W. Marshall St. Outside Agency

VCU class gives 10 offenders a classroom sentence

Simple Assault 500 W. Broad St. Outside Agency Alcohol Violation 300 W. Main St. Outside Agency

Thursday, November 30 Theft Cary St. Gym 101 S. Linden St. Pending Larceny 301 W. Main St. Pending Sexual Battery B900 N. Lombardy St. Closed

Drug Violation Rhoads Residence Hall 710 W. Franklin St. Closed Other Offenses 900 W. Franklin St. Pending Destruction of Property 420 W. Broad St. Outside Agency Theft 1201 W. Clay St. Outside Agency

Download the VCU LiveSafe mobile phone app to report crimes anonymously.

To contact the VCU PD: (804) 828-1196.

For an on-campus emergency: (804) 828-1234.

For an off-campus emergency: 911.

ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN VEST

Drug Violation 710 W. Franklin St. Closed

NIA TARIQ Contributing Writer Instead of serving jail time, 10 petty offenders will collaborate with VCU students in a new English 366 course.

The class, which is called “Writing Your Way Out: A Criminal Justice Diversion Program” includes discussion of literature, various human rights issues and diverse experiences, all amid an atmosphere of sharing and support.

The service-learning course has been taught at The Richmond City Justice Center since 2011, in a program founded by VCU English professor David Coogan.

With the support of VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences and the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, the program is a credit-bearing opportunity for students and a more liberating alternative for criminals who are motivated to turn their situations around.

Montserrat Fuentes, dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, said she is proud of the partnership that promotes responsible citizenship behavior and rehabilitation.

“As a college, we are committed to make a difference on the lives of our community members while offering a transformative educational experience to our students,”

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Monday, December 4, 2017

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PHOTO BY SHAYLA BAILEY

Local organizers stage “Water is Life” protest in downtown RVA

More than 500 people came together to raise awareness for water safety across the United States after various oil pipelines threatened to harm major bodies of water.

EMMA GAUTHIER Contributing Writer A statewide coalition of more than 30 organizations came together Dec. 2 to host a “Water is Life” rally and concert in protest of the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP).

“We invite all who are concerned about clean water to join together to tell the story of how the

MVP and ACP pipelines are a real and certain threat to the drinking water of all the citizens of Virginia, especially those who live in Richmond,” the organizations stated in a news release.

More than 500 people assembled at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square where guest speakers, Del. Sam Rasoul (D - Roanoke), nonprofit director David Sligh and Pastor Paul Wilson rallied against the proposed pipelines.

“Water quality cannot be fully protected if these projects go forward,” Sligh said.

Rasoul spoke in opposition to the pipeline.

“This pipeline comes right through my water sewers,” Rasoul said. “Don’t touch my drinking water.”

The rally surrounded Capitol Grounds and marched from the Bell Tower to the National, where a concert was held for the protest.

MVP will span approximately 300 miles across Virginia and West Virginia. The ACP would cover 600 miles throughout Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.

The project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If the ACP is approved, 150 feet by 3,000 feet of forest will be demolished. The path of the proposed pipeline falls directly on Bill and Lynn Limpert’s property, who have plans to leave if the pipe-

line is approved.

“The pipeline is not needed for energy,” Bill said. “The fates of these pipelines can be determined by our state authorities. They must rise to the occasion and refute the governor’s repeated claims that it’s out of his hands. The next two weeks may be the most crucial times for Virginia’s environment in our generation.”

A final decision on the proposal will take place during the Virginia

Water Control Board Meetings beginning Dec. 6. It will be the the last chance to stop the proposed fracked gas pipelines.

“Our environment is going to be raped by these two pipelines,” Rasoul said. “December 8 and December 13 can either be the beginning or the end. It can be the beginning of a massive resistance, it will not be the end.”

ILLUSTRATION BY MAI-PHUONG BUI

Passage of GOP tax bill will cost grad students SARAROSE MARTIN Staff Writer A provision in the House of Representatives tax bill that could affect graduate students is in question pending a conference session following the passage of the Senate version last week. Graduate students could face significant tax increases if it becomes effective in 2018.

The House tax legislation would impact graduate students who receive tuition waivers and living stipends for teaching or research. Under the new bill, these waivers will become taxable income. According to the American Council on Education, about 145,000 graduate students receive this kind of benefit.

The Senate bill does not include any changes to tax credits or tuition waivers. However, it does include provisions that would put an extra tax on some private colleges with large endowments and eliminates certain state and local deductions.

Ravi Perry, a political science professor at VCU whose research areas include public policy, said an impact of the bill may be a severe

decrease in the number of international student applicants to the country’s graduate programs.

It could also disproportionately impact students of color, especially those in STEM programs who most often receive tuition waivers for teaching or research.

If students will be taxed on their free tuition, stipends may be used to cover the cost of taxes, eliminating money available for living expenses.

“Every single grad student that’s in any program that has a waiver, whether you’re an international student or person of color or not, it’s going to affect you equally the same way,” Perry said. “Obviously because of what we know about the generational wealth gaps between people of color and whites historically, it is likely to have a bigger impact on people of color and international students because they don’t tend to have a safety net that allows them to cover these types of unexpected expenses.”

The House Republican plan provides a $1.5 trillion corporate tax cut. It seeks to raise the minimum income threshold that people become eligible to pay income tax and also reduce tax rates for

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GHAISAR FAMILY

VCU alumnus Bijan Ghaisar killed by U.S. Park Police last month

individuals in general. President Trump has called the bill a “middle-class tax break.”

According to Perry, many universities will not be able to compensate for the money students will end up losing in taxes.

“It’s a state publicly funded university, we’re already dealing with significant budget cuts from the state,” Perry said. “Nearly 80 percent of the funding with have to come up with on our own. Public universities don’t have the funds to fill in the gaps. The VCU’s of the world won’t be able to do that.”

Alan Booth, a senior studying biology, disagrees with the extent at which some students feel they will be impacted. He said the more serious issue facing graduate students is the rise in tuition costs at universities.

“It will make paying for grad school while in grad school a little more difficult because you’ll have to make those tax payments but so many grad students are on scholarships or loans or programs,” Booth said. “It’s still serious because you’re taxing income people don’t really have. But I also think it’s become a rallying cry that’s largely overblown.”

One provision in the House tax bill include a repeal of deductibles allowing students to reduce interest on student loans up to a certain point. Another allows students or parents paying tuition to deduct expenses for higher education. The three existing tax breaks given to those paying off student loans will be merged into one. In addition, under the new tax law, tuition paid for by employers will be taxed.

“That type of detail doesn’t matter,” Perry said. “The language that we use in taxes are these breaks and it gives the impression that somehow we’re going to be saving money on taxes that is actually not clear and every case is individually different. What matters is whether or not people are going to be paying more or less.”

If the House provisions concerning students end up in the final legislation, graduate students may end up paying a few thousand more in taxes each year.

“Having been a grad student myself, I know that’s going to be nearly impossible for international students but grad students entirely to be able to handle and American education will suffer severely,” Perry said.

SARAROSE MARTIN Staff Writer VCU alumnus Bijan C. Ghaisar, 25, died Nov. 27 after U.S. Park Police in Fairfax County shot him following a hit-andrun accident. Ghaisar died 10 days after three gunshot wounds to his head resulted in significant brain damage. Ghaisar was unarmed when he was shot.

“The reason for the murder of our son has yet to be determined,” his family said in a statement to The Washington Post. “Though no reasoning could possibly justify the actions of the one or more Park Police officers involved in this unthinkable act.”

Park Police said they pursued Ghaisar’s Jeep Nov. 17 because of its involvement in a hit-and-run accident on George Washington Memorial Parkway in Alexandria.

Ghaisar was stopped in the Fort Hunt area of Fairfax County where two officers approached the car and at least one opened fire. The Park Police turned over investigation of the incident to the FBI. Two Fairfax County police officers following the Park Police captured video of the shooting.

In their statement, the family expressed hope the investigation will uncover what happened and bring justice for the loss of their son.

Ghaisar’s older sister Negeen said the family has been given no information about the incident, including the reported hit-and-run and the shooting.

Ghaisar, from McLean, was an accountant for his father’s firm, a graduate of Langley High School and a 2015 accounting graduate of VCU. His family said Ghaisar was, “a first-generation, American-born citizen of Iranian heritage, was peaceful and avidly anti-violence.

He was unarmed. He presented no threat to anyone.”

Ghaisar was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha at VCU. The Lambda Chi Chapter Alumni Association released a statement after learning of the death of their brother.

“For those of us who knew him well, Bijan embodied what we strive to see in our brothers. His passion and charisma for Pi Kappa Alpha and our brotherhood were unparalleled. We mourn his tragic passing,” the statement said. “We pray for his family in this dark time and respect their privacy as they grieve his passing.”

Rep. Don Beyer (D) also released a statement on the incident that occurred in his district. He said he will press authorities on making a decision on charges and the release of information about the case, that often takes time.

“The death of Bijan Ghaisar has been shrouded in an unacceptable level of opacity. While I recognize that the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, the public, particularly his family and friends, deserve to know what happened here, and I will continue pressing the Park Police and the FBI until we get those answers.”

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news

The Commonwealth Times

VCU alumna joins Northam's transition team works for Planned Parenthood as their communications director.

How did you get the position as Northam’s policy director?

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXSIS RODGERS

“Before I was working there, I was working at a nonprofit called Virginia 21 — They do a lot of college affordability work. I kind of got to know Clark Mercer, which is lieutenant governor’s chief of staff through my work in the organization but also through my volunteer working in Young Democrats.

They were looking for a new person who kind of brought some legislative experience but also communications experience.”

What was your role as policy director for the lieutenant governor?

Rodgers worked as a policy director for gov.-elect Northam.

Spanish, Rodgers worked for a PR firm now called Padilla before joining Virginia 21, a non-profit milAlexsis Rodgers, a 2013 VCU lennial advocacy and activism orgraduate, is on the transition com- ganization in Virginia. From there mittee for governor-elect Ralph she served as the lieutenant govNortham. After graduating with ernor’s policy director for the secdegrees in public relations and ond half of his term. She currently ZOBIA NAYYAR Contributing Writer

“We’ll track bills and make sure that legislative priorities that he cares about are advancing through the General Assembly session. We are meeting with constituents and listening to their concerns, meeting with different advocacy organizations and understanding what their positions are on certain bills.

We are making sure that we are monitoring the bills and committee hearing how certain legislators plan to vote on different bills and then in

the afternoons, we might catch up on the lieutenant governor again, and talk about more research that we did on the different pieces of legislation and kind of advise him on how the session is going so far.”

takeaway was that a lot of new Commonwealth, making sure he people came in into the democrat- is drawing attention to issues that ic process and that’s exciting and people care about. better for all of us.”

“In my day job at Planned Parenthood, we are obviously focused on healthcare and particularly reWhy is Ralph Northam the right productive healthcare access and person to govern Virginia? making sure that folks continue Why did you choose to join “He’s a doctor and the number to have the freedom to make their Northam’s campaign when he one issue that I care about right own decisions on reproductive was running for governor? now, that a lot of people care about, health choices. Dr. Northam has “I wasn’t on the campaign side, I is health care. Costs keep going up been a strong advocate and ally on was on the state government side. for young people. What you will those issues.”

Dr. Northam is an incredible pub- see in Gov. Northam is someone lic servant. He has paid attention to who is going to continue to lis- What is your role at Planned issues that matter to me like health ten to people and make sure their Parenthood as communications care access and pre- K education concerns are heard. He might not director? and he’s a really solid, honest, gen- always agree with you, but he will uine kind of guy. It was also a great always hear you out and see how “Making sure that our legislative professional opportunity for me to he can best address your concerns priorities remain the foreground of continue working in issues that I whether that’s on health care or ed- people’s minds when they were gokind of cared about.” ucation, the environment, veterans’ ing out to vote, making sure they issues.” understood the difference between the candidates and how the elecWhat about the last campaign tion would impact their access to With the election over, what are season stood out to you? healthcare and Planned Parentyou working on?

“There’s a lot of energy in this hood and making sure the legislaelection cycle that you normally “As a member of the transition tors know how to speak to our isdon’t seen in state elections. What committee, we’re helping advise sues and train them on messaging, we saw this year was that even him on policy matters that we want making sure they understand the more people were engaged even to make sure are prioritized in breadth of services that Planned though it was just a local election. the next administration. Whether Parenthood provides from sex eduObviously, last year’s elections that’s specific policy issues or even cation to abortion services to transwas a disappointment for a lot of kind of more broad priorities for gender health services.” people and they wanted to make the administration like diversity sure that they did didn’t see that and making sure that board aphappen again. So my number one pointments are reflected on the

Bed bug situation at VCU’s Cabell Library was handled “very expeditiously,” spokesperson says About two weeks ago, a student who fell asleep in a single-person booth on the second floor of VCU’s Cabell Library woke up to find what appeared to be bites from a bed bug on her arm.

Dennis Clark, an associate librarian, said the student notified a staff member at Cabell. VCU Facilities Management was subsequently informed. Clark, who oversees various functions at the library, did not provide the exact date the student reported the bites, but said it was the week of Nov. 13.

When a staff member at Facilities Management observed the booth and surrounding areas, he indicated to Clark the incident was likely a minor incident. The booth, along with nine others in the area where the student had reported being bit, was then closed off to students, Clark said.

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

FADEL ALLASSAN Managing Editor at Large

VCU called in a private contractor to come and exterminate the bed bugs found in the older chairs in the library.

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The Facilities Management staff member contacted Orkin, an exterminator company contracted with VCU. When someone from Orkin came and investigated the area Nov. 20 — the Monday the week following the student reported the bites — Clark said the investigator found “remnants” that indicated at least one bed bug had been present in four of the 10 booths in the area.

Clark said the furniture in those booths were removed and taken to a location to be heated at 140 degrees for six hours as part of a treatment last Friday while the library was closed for Thanksgiving.

VCU students weren’t notified by the university due to fear it would cause “alarm,” Clark said.

“That would be unnecessarily anxiety-provoking,” Clark said.

A spokesperson for VCU Libraries said the situation was handled “very expeditiously.”

sports

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Monday, December 4, 2017

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Stat of the Week

Sophomore guard Jailyn Maddox set a new career high last week with 20 points on 8-15 shooting against UNC Wilmington.

Now or Never I challenged them,” Rhoades said. “I said, ‘this isn’t good enough. If we don’t put up more fight, we’re going to be embarrassed in our own arena.

Mike Rhoades

ZACH JOACHIM Sports Editor

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Men’s basketball was in dire straights Saturday night at the Stu against Old Dominion University.

With 13:45 to play, the Monarchs led 59-48. The Siegel Center was silenced and RamNation wondered what was in store for their beloved Black and Gold.

Then coach Mike Rhoades lit a fire under his team.

“I challenged them,” Rhoades said. “I said, ‘this isn’t good enough.

If we don’t put up more fight, we’re going to be embarrassed in our own arena.’ These guys know I love them and they mean the world to me, but I want their best all the time.”

HAVOC followed Rhoades’ challenge. The Rams ousted their in state rivals on the strength of a 15-2 run. VCU took its first lead of the second half at 63-61 with 10 minutes to play, and finished off ODU by a final of 82-75.

With all due respect to the Monarchs, this was a must win

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for the Black and Gold. Sophomore guard Malik Crowfield (ankle) and sophomore forward Issac Vann (ankle) sat out the contest, and these key pieces were certainly missed Saturday night.

But if the Rams don’t want to actually get embarrassed in their own building next week, they’re going to need to carry over the momentum from this comeback and then some.

Because it’s now or never for VCU’s non-conference resume.

“VCU holds off ODU without Issac Vann,” tweeted CBS reporter Jon Rothstein. “Rubber about to meet the road (again) for Rams.

Next three games: Texas, at Seton Hall, Bucknell.”

It has been par for the course thus far. Men’s basketball sits at 5-3 with no bad losses to rue or impressive wins to boast. If you’ve watched VCU’s three defeats, you know they were back and forth, nail biting affairs with top-tier competition. But moral victories don’t sit well with the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

VCU needs two of these next three games to realistically expect an at large bid to the tournament.

The Atlantic 10 has struggled out of conference this season, aside from a Saint Louis University victory over Virginia Tech and University of Rhode Island win against Seton Hall University.

With one, maybe two bids prospectively coming out of the A-10, the Rams will be hard pressed to extend their streak of seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances without doing one of two things -- either making some noise with what remains of their non conference slate or winning the A-10 tournament.

The University of Texas, Seton Hall and Bucknell University are potentially resume boosting wins.

The Black and Gold should be slightly favored at home against a talented Bucknell side that made the tournament last year, but will be underdogs against Shaka Smart’s young, electric Longhorns and at a Seton Hall team that has been in and out of the top-25 this

season.

Rhoades said his team needs to tune out the noise in order to avoid stretches like the first seven minutes of the second half against ODU. “I think our guys want to win so bad for VCU and do so well for themselves that they get tight,” Rhoades said. “We’re not doing that (going forward). We’re going to play the possession we have at hand. ‘I’m not changing.’ That’s the approach we’re going to take. We’re going to take this next stretch one game at a time.”

Rhoades’ senior leader Johnny Williams, who finished with 18 points and nine assists Saturday, seemed to receive the message loud and clear, as his mind was already on the Longhorns during the postgame press conference.

“There’s always respect there, but when I’m on the court, I’m trying to kill you,” Williams said. “I don’t care if I’ve known you since I was 13 years old. It’ll be good to play against them [Texas], but we’re trying to kill them too.”

Women’s basketball drops sixth straight, Maddox sets career high RODNEY ROBINSON Contributing Writer

Women’s basketball’s comeback effort fell short on the road against the University of North Carolina at Wilmington last Thursday, as the Rams lost by a final of 83-67.

NICK VERSAW Staff Writer I can’t believe I’m just a few days away from finally graduating college. It’s felt so far away for so long. It’s been a long and, at times, difficult road, but the end is finally here, and a brand-new journey starts next week.

To be completely honest, there’s not much I’m going to miss about college. Sure, the parties were fun and I made some great relationships along the way, but I’ve always been here for one reason – to move on to what I hope to be a long and successful career.

One thing I will miss more than most, however, is my time here at the Commonwealth Times. The opportunities and relationships I have built here at the CT have been invaluable.

Over the last year-and-a-half, I’ve written nearly 40 stories for the CT. I’ve covered soccer, baseball, field hockey, golf, men’s and women’s basketball and even politics. I’ve written game recaps, feature stories, player profiles and editorials.

I’ve had the opportunity to sit in on press conferences and interview some of my favorite athletes.

I even get into games for free. As a

lifelong sports fanatic, what’s better than that?!

I kick-started my career here.

The experience I’ve gained at the CT will prove to be priceless as I head into the first stages of it.

I have no doubt that I’ll always look back at my time here at the CT and smile. I’ll miss those Tuesday evening news meetings where I ended up staying far later than needed just to talk about last night’s game or a team’s looming playoff hopes. Those are moments I’ll cherish my whole life.

All in all, I’m excited to move forward with my career, but it will be weird leaving the CT behind.

I want to sincerely thank everyone there – my editors, fellow writers, page designers, everyone – for a great 18 months. Keep doing what you do and bring home those awards every year.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once said, “One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.”

I’ve had a great deal of success as a young, budding journalist, but I would be nothing if it weren’t for the family I’ve been a part of here at the CT. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything.

I’ll never forget it.

PHOTO CASEY COLE

Nick Versaw, signing off

ILLUSTRATION BY IAIN DUFFUS

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Freshman forward Sydnei Archie attended St. Catherine’s in Richmond.

The Rams dropped their sixth straight game to start the season against UNC Wilmington. The Rams got off to a slow start in the first quarter, falling into a quick 12-2 deficit.

However, VCU went on a 12-2 run to finish the quarter and even the score. But VCU shot only 33 percent in the second quarter, allowing UNC Wilmington to extend their lead to 32-25. The Black and Gold went on a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull the score to within eight points, but the Seahawks outscored the Rams 12-4 in the final three minutes, scoring the last six points to close out the victory at home.

Defensively the Rams struggled in the second half, allowing the Seahawks to shoot 66.7 percent in the third quarter. However, the story of matchup was the bench play and turnovers for the Rams.

UNC Wilmington’s bench outscored VCU’s bench 35-10 Wednesday. VCU had to rely heavily on the starters to carry the load offensively, which made it tough to overcome a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Rams had 16 turnovers, while the Seahawks only had 8. This led to the Rams being outscored in points off turnovers, 16-8.

The Rams were led offensively by sophomore guard Jailyn Maddox and freshman guard Tera Reed. Maddox scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, and she grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.

Reed led the Black and Gold in rebounding, grabbing nine and added 17 points. Sophomore guard Nya Williams also had a strong day offensively, scoring 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Junior forward Bria Gibson grabbed eight rebounds for the Rams, but she was only limited to 17 minutes due to foul trouble.

The Rams look to snap their losing skid as they return home Wednesday, Dec. 6 to face Old Dominion University at 6 p.m.

sports

The Commonwealth Times

PHOTO BY ERIN EDGERTON

6

Senior guard Johnny Williams poured in 18 points on the strength of a career-high four three pointers Tuesday against Appalachian State.

Rams cruise to pair of wins, Shaka’s return looms Ahead of a season defining stretch, men’s basketball (5-3) took care of business last week with a pair of must-have home wins over Appalachian State University and Old Dominion University.

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

The VCU Rams won their second straight Saturday night as they knocked off the visiting Old Dominion Monarchs 82-75 following a dramatic second half comeback.

Saturday’s victory was a nailbiter from start to finish as the Rams scraped and clawed to pull out the win against their cross-state rivals.

It was all senior forward Justin Tillman, senior guard Jonathan Williams and sophomore wing De’Riante Jenkins Saturday night, as the trio combined for 69 of the Rams’ 82 points. Tillman racked up a career-high scoring tally with 28 points. Jenkins and Williams joined him in double-digits with 23 and 18 points, respectively.

The game’s first half was as even as they come, as the in-state rivals traded blow after blow before heading into the locker room all square at 41 apiece. The first period saw eight lead changes and seven ties in the game’s opening 20 minutes. Tillman went into the half with a game-high 21 points, and the Black and Gold led went into the locker room deadlocked with the Monarchs at 41-41.

The roller coaster that became the game’s second half was led by charges from Jenkins and Williams.

Coming out of the locker room, it was all ODU. Within the half ’s opening seconds, the visitors had already matched their largest lead of the night as they jumped ahead by four.

For the next six minutes, the ODU defense were effective in stifling the Ram offense as the Monarchs racked up the game’s first double-digit lead.

With 13:45 left on the clock, the

Monarchs held an 11-point advantage and looked ready to cruise to victory, but the Rams weren’t finished yet.

At just under the 13 minute mark, freshman forward Sean Mobley went to the line and converted one of two to bring the Rams back within 10.

Over the course of the next 90 seconds, Jenkins took control, nailing a layup and a pair of threes to bring VCU back within a single bucket.

Two minutes later, Williams sank the difficult and-one layup to give VCU their first lead of the second half. Over the course of the game’s final 10 minutes, the speedy senior racked up 16 points behind 11-13 shooting from the charity stripe, ensuring the Rams would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest.

“That was fun, it was a great game.

I’m really proud of our guys,” coach Mike Rhoades said. “We had a good balance. I didn’t think our pace of the game was fast enough, but there were times our our pace got us back and our style of play really helped us.”

With former Final Four coach Shaka Smart making his return to the Stu Tuesday night with Texas, Rhoades said Saturday’s win was a great example of what the Rams are capable of.

“We’re just going to keep fighting,” he added. “We’re not going to change that mentality. That’s going to be our approach and we’re going to have fun playing VCU basketball that way.”

APPLICATION STATE UNIVERSITY

The Rams bounced back from a tough outing in last week’s Maui Invitational with a 85-72 win over the visiting Appalachian State Mountaineers Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.

Tillman led all scorers with 21 points, with Jenkins, Williams and senior forward Khris Lane joining him in double-digits.

Williams racked up a season-high 18 points to go along with a wellrounded 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals on the night. The senior guard also sank 4 of 6 threes, showing the expanded versatility in the Richmond native’s game early on in the new season.

The first half was a back-andforth affair as the two teams traded punches in the game’s opening period. For the game’s opening 10 minutes, the Rams took control as they jumped out to an early 8-0 lead. At the 10:59 mark, they held a 22-14 advantage over the Mountaineers, but the visitors were not going down without a fight.

Over the next six minutes, Appalachian State clawed back, eventually taking their first lead of the night with just over five minutes remaining in the opening stanza. For the rest of the first half, the two teams traded blows as the lead switched hands 10 times in just five minutes of action.

Ultimately, the Rams headed into the locker room with a 46-45 advantage.

In the early stages of the game’s second half -- behind a 7-0 run orchestrated by Williams -- VCU would re-take control. By the 11:44 mark, the Black and Gold held a double-digit advantage as they took an 11-point lead following a pair of Williams free throws. For the rest of the evening, the Mountaineers got no closer than nine as the Rams jumped back above .500 with the victory.

“It was a gut-check game,” Rhoades said following the win. “I’m proud of our guys. Our bench really stepped up and we played great defense in the second half against a good team that can really score the ball.”

The Black and Gold, in what has become one of the most highly-anticipated contests of the year, will host Final Four head coach Shaka Smart’s return to Broad Street as they take on the University of Texas Tuesday night at the Stu.

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7

PHOTO COURTESY OF VCU ATHLETICS

Monday, December 4, 2017

ADAM CHEEK Contirbuting Writer The VCU baseball, men’s and women’s tennis, and lacrosse squads are spending the offseason preparing for their 2018 spring schedules. Lucky for the Rams, all four teams have a number of returning contributors from the spring 2017 season.

PHOTO BY JULIE TRIPP

BASEBALL

Men’s tennis commences its spring season with the VCU 4-1 Invitational Friday, Jan. 19.

Baseball is gearing up for their upcoming season with a number of returning players from a solid 2017 campaign. After posting a 2017 record of 35-22, with a stellar 19-8 record at home, the team is nearly back at full strength, having only lost a handful of seniors.

Sam Donko, an All-American closer who pitched over 50 innings in relief in 2017, exited the team’s pitching rotation, graduating after a record setting career. Brooks Vial, a starting pitcher who finished last season with a 9-4 record and 2.82 ERA, was also lost to graduation, as was Jonathan Ebersole. Described as “Mr. Everything” by coach Shawn Stiffler, Ebersole was a versatile arm who could start, relieve or close games, Ebersole was another valuable asset who Stiffler is tasked with replacing.

The team recently finished their winter workout, as well as their annual Ramsanity training, a night where the players are put through a Navy Seal-esque workout at the Diamond to build strength.

“We’re trying to work on packaging up the team to get them home safely and the guys are crushing their academics,” Stiffler said.

“We’re preparing them to go home and give them as much information for the next six weeks as possible.”

Stiffler elaborated their message on the exit meetings is strictly about academics. The players are advised to finish the semester strong and the upperclassmen are asked to show the freshmen the ropes and what to expect in the future. Meanwhile, the seniors are given weightlifting and training packets, in order to ensure they’re where they need to be.

Sophomore infielders Brett Willett, Paul Witt and Steven Carpenter are all players who have garnered high expectations from

PHOTO BY ALI JONES

Spring sports preview Stiffler. According to the coach, Witt’s natural abilities and athleticism on the field, as well as his ability to hit in the middle of the order, were what made him a staple in the lineup last season as a freshman.

Willett and Carpenter gradually entered the lineup, but Willett’s maturity and mental game and Carpenter’s versatility and toughness made them invaluable as the season progressed and waned, according to Stiffler.

Senior Sean Thompson and junior Michael Dailey will both factor into the rotation as starting right-handed pitchers. Additionally, sophomore Sam Ryan and senior Ryan Fox, both newcomers to the team, will be stellar additions at the back end of the bullpen. Freshman Mac McCarty, an infielder and starting pitcher, and junior starting pitcher Curtis Bafus are both transfers from Washington State and Stiffler is optimistic about what the new faces can bring to his already strong, experienced pitching staff.

“I’m really excited about the way the team looks this year and I think pitching is really one of our strong suits,” Stiffler said.

The coach also praised the leadership of other elder players on the team and their roles as mentors, such as Thompson, senior infielder Daane Berezo and senior outfielder Haiden Lamb. As lead-by-example players, Stiffler said they don’t have to do much for the younger class to understand what the norms are.

“The younger players see them in the classroom, doing things the right way, on the Dean’s List, and working hard,” Stiffler said. “All of a sudden they’re physically in good shape, and they’re at the field early and stay late. You’ve gotta have those kind of guys this time of year.”

TENNIS

The men’s tennis team, after winning the 2016-17 A-10 Conference Championship, will be back at full strength for their 2017-18 season when they open their official season with a Jan. 26 home match against Dayton University.

The team is stacked with eight members, including three from Spain and two from Sweden. They will face such state rivals as the University of Richmond, Old Do-

minion University, The College of William & Mary and Virginia Tech throughout the season, as well as facing powerhouses including Penn State University and North Carolina State University before taking part in the Rice University Invitational in March. Junior Victor Lima and senior Louis Ishizaka will top a deep men’s tennis side with every intention of repeating as A-10 champs.

A 16-9 record emerged from the VCU women’s tennis team’s successful 2016-17 campaign. Although the team fell 4-2 in the Atlantic 10 Championship to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, they topped Richmond in both the regular season and the A-10 quarterfinals and also took down powerhouse teams that included James Madison University and East Carolina University.

With a diverse, international lineup that includes players from Brazil, Spain, Russia, and the Netherlands, the team will begin their official season Jan. 15. The Black and God open against Florida Atlantic University and will face interstate rivals that include Old Dominion, Liberty University and Richmond, as well as star teams such as the University of Maryland and University of Pittsburgh. Junior Anna Rasmussen will look to lead a group of talented, untested underclassman.

LACROSSE

A 7-10 record in 2017 didn’t deter the Black and Gold lacrosse team from racking up goals, as they averaged over 12 goals per game and scored 212 on the season, with their largest margin of victory being 12 over Gardner-Webb University March 3.

With a cast of nearly all returning players, the team is set to improve on 2017, especially with the addition of some new faces. Although the schedule has not been set, the season will likely begin in February, with matchups against ranked teams and in-state foes along the way.

spectrum

The Commonwealth Times

On this day

The first Sunday newspaper, Britain’s Observer, was published on Dec. 4, 1791.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSE DAVILA

8

VCU grads start a ripple in editorial illustration “Whether it be a positive or a negative ripple, you have to be conscious of what content you’re putting out.”

“After graduation, once we were able to promote a little harder, at least in my experience, the jobs kept getting more steady and would kind of multiply.”

— Shannon Wright GEORGIA GEEN Staff Writer Chris Kindred and Shannon Wright are a freelancing powercouple who got their start at VCU and now are making their mark in the world of creative illustration.

“If we weren’t both bad at sculpture at the exact same time and [weren’t] at the exact workshop we wouldn’t have met,” Kindred said.

Kindred served as the first Commonwealth Times Illustrations Editor, beginning in 2013 and Wright took over in August 2015. Kindred graduated from VCU in December of 2015 and Wright followed in May of 2016. Both of them occasionally did freelance illustrations before departing VCU; now, “business is good,” Kindred said.

The two of them serve as each other’s art directors, Wright said.

This informal collaboration serves them well, as they always have a pair of “fresh eyes” to look over a piece. As their relationship has progressed, the quality of their work has improved.

“We’re not stuck in our own heads. I can very much notice how my work is improved after moving in [with Wright],” Kindred said.

Kindred has done illustrations published in The New York Times, NPR and Buzzfeed. His illustrations for The Atlantic article, “The

Nationalist’s Delusion,” has gotten widespread attention. He said he knew it was a piece that was going to be talked about.

“It didn’t pick up [attention] immediately, I saw a lot of people in journalism that I had worked with or had worked for share it and they looked back and they’re like, ‘Oh! Chris illustrated that,’” Kindred said.

The techniques Kindred used in his piece for The Atlantic show how much can be conveyed through an illustration. He said the colors and warped feel make the image foreboding and unsettling.

Illustration allows for the visualization of topics that can’t necessarily be photographed, like sexual harassment, Wright said.

“Illustrators come in and we’re able to exaggerate,” Wright said.

“We use a lot of symbolisms and metaphors.”

Wright has work published with TIME Magazine, The Guardian and BBC News. Recently, she began illustrating children’s books, which include “Betty Before X,” which is co-authored by Malcolm X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz. Another one of her projects will be published with Arthur A. Levine Books, the imprint of Scholastic Press that published Harry Potter books in the U.S. “I’m doing work that is in the

sphere of what I’ve always wanted to do, which is just observing what it means to be human,” Wright said.

Wright said she enjoys “whimsical,” slice-of-life pieces that show characters “being who they are.”

She was inspired by the expressive, multi-dimensional characters in manga and anime.

Kindred was also inspired by the over-the-top, yet heartfelt, aspects of manga — he still carries a Yu-Gi-Oh! card in his wallet.

“I read my first comic book, American comic book, and then I put it down and picked up an issue of Dragon Ball Z,” Kindred said.

In fact, Kindred and Wright speculate many illustrators of their generation were inspired by manga.

Despite the fact Wright and Kindred do different kinds of work and have developed different styles, the intersections between their personal and professional relationship benefit their careers.

“Chris’s presence as proven to be not only mentally and emotionally supportive but definitely professionally supportive too which goes back this idea of a partnership,” Wright said.

The collaboration between the pair reached beyond the benefits of a traditional art director, being that they know each other’s work, Kindred said. They go over concepts and presentation in a way that

— Chris Kindred a third party might not have time to do. “[Peer reviewing] is the strongest aspect of our relationship in our professional career. We call it being professional in our relationship,” Kindred said.

The pair’s arrival into the professional arena comes at a time when artists are using social media in new ways.

“After graduation, once we were able to promote a little harder, at least in my experience, the jobs kept getting more steady and would kind of multiply,” Kindred said.

This promotion comes in the form of social media engagement.

Many artists have turned to Twitter after a “collective exhaustion” with Tumblr, Kindred said.

Wright speculates the exodus has to do with some of the toxic tendencies of Tumblr users who degraded artists’ work. More recently, she says, algorithms on Twitter and Instagram have made it more difficult for artists to promote work.

“I feel like there’s definitely been some illustrations that I’ve done that I thought were very powerful that didn’t get the same attention as maybe a piece of fan art I’ve made,” Wright said. “Sometimes [the algorithm] screws people over, sometimes it doesn’t.”

This is one of the challenges faced by many illustrators — they

have to be their own social media managers, Kindred said. The decentralization of the industry means there aren’t a lot of protections in place for artists.

The lack of centralization brings an additional challenge for editorial illustrators. Unlike journalists, they don’t have a guiding system of ethics to turn to when sensitive moments or topics arise. “[As a result] you might be able to build an entire career on not necessarily unethical illustration, but illustration that isn’t socially responsible,” Kindred said.

Kindred said many illustrations surrounding the topic of police brutality towards Black people lacked social responsibility; many illustrators were commissioned to draw corpses. Once Black illustrators began to take a more active role in creating these pieces, Kindred said the visuals changed to represent the community as a whole, or the “depravity of the people causing the hurt.”

For Wright, constantly creating such serious work was challenging.

As a Black woman, she said she ended up with many assignments depicting the struggle of women, Black people and Black women.

“When I first got out of school, or when I was first in school, I was doing a lot of socially-conscious racially-based pieces and they’re

fine. I love taking those because a person with that experience needs to be taking those pieces in order for it to be genuine, true,” Wright said. “But after a while you get pigeon-holed into the Black artist who does Black pieces.”

There are few Black illustrators, and even fewer Black editorial illustrators. For this reason, many end up with a high number of assignments depicting the struggles of Black people, especially since most of the coverage of Black people is related to those struggles, Kindred said.

“We’re in a hard place because that is our means of income,” Kindred said. “A lot of our jobs have come through talking about that struggle. We’ve made a lot of money on mining our experiences and traumas.”

Kindred emphasizes illustrators’ work exists in context and they must be responsible for how subjects are portrayed. Wright said illustrators should be aware of the impact that their work can have because it can “ripple.”

“Whether it be a positive or a negative ripple, you have to be conscious of what content you’re putting out,” Wright said.

www.commonwealthtimes.org

9

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH HUMPHREYS

Monday, December 4, 2017

VCU student Angelique Simmon curated the “Twice as Hard” exhibit at the Anderson Gallery that focused on uplifting the work of Black, millennial artists in professional art spaces.

The Anderson embraces diversity in mediums SIONA PETEROUS Spectrum Editor The Anderson Embraces Diversity in Mediums On the evening of Dec. 1 the three floors of the Anderson Gallery slowly filled as students and non-students alike attended the gallery’s free exhibit. Unlike its previous decades of operation where one exhibit is shown throughout the gallery, Friday’s evening exhibit showcases several exhibits, from several different artists who are both new, student artists as well as professional, international artists.

A lot of the Anderson’s exhibits on display currently deal with art from the Muslim world in the contemporary time and are part of various collections which opened in early November as part of the seventh Biennial Hamad bin Khalifa Symposium on Islamic Art which is collaboration between VCU Qatar campus, the Anderson and the Virginia Fine Art Museum.

The exhibit attendees first step into when entering the gallery is “Mosque Manifesto” by artist Azra Akšamija. The Bosnian artist’s 163 page manifesto released in 2015 helped conceptualize the spatial role of Mosques, the religious center of the Muslim faith, and how they facilitate conversation between Muslims and non-Muslims alike via art.

It features a large Muslim prayer mat at the center of the room that is facing Mecca and a rainbow collored wall length display featuring Arabic numerals from 1-10 that each have a statement where Akšamija challenges a monolithic idea of what it means to be Muslim.

In the corner, tucked away are several traffic signs that depict Muslims in a more negative steretyped light.

Other exhibits include a sensory installation titled “The Things I Could Tell . . .” by renowned international artist and MIT professor, Wafaa Bilal. The large, expansive

white room is divided by a diagonal white wall which is awash with blue light that is used to mimic chromotherapy used to help PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients recover from experiencing violence..

“It’s exciting because this is the first night we were able to have his (Bilal’s) work featured in its entirety,” said Waterfall. “He’s a big shot so it’s energizing for this to be her On the evening of the reception the exhibit featured Navy veterans who both toured in Iraq and have PTSD. The husband-wife duo, Mary and Stuart Pitre, served 6 and 18 years, respectively.

“You go from having a very clear purpose to coming back and not feeling like you have any value,” Stuart said. “I personally think loss of purpose is a huge reason for the suicide rates among veterans.”

Stuart didn’t realize he may have PTSD until he was at the park watching his children play and a lady next to him asked him

how long he had been back from the war. He said that this stranger noticed the signs he may have the disorder by his actions.

“It’s not always like in the movies, people don’t always lose control,” Mary said. “It’s a shift in sense of belonging, worth and less ease in surroundings.”

Another exhibit included is the Ocean's Angel’s photography series

by Newsha Tavakolian. The Iranian photographer took photos of the the women led Kurdish resistance forces, YPJ in 2015 as they simultaneously resisted ISIS and fought to establish a Kurdish state.

“I have a huge admiration for war photographers because without them we don’t get to see the humanity of the people who are demonized in the headlines,” said University of Richmond graduate Yousra Hamid, as she looked at the haunting image of a young YPJ fighter looking deadpanned and jaded towards viewers.

Students from VCU Qatar cam-

pus worked on a fiber-based installation titled, “Prayer,” which recreates the traditional prayer mat by making it with new, contemporary fibers. One student, Mariam Rafehi, created a mat based with wool, fiber cushion and pre-felt.

“According to the scripture God made human by breathing life into mud,” Rafehi states in her artist statement. “Here as well, water washes sand, leaving it’s mark.”

The third floor of the exhibit pivoted away from the more polished, professional work focused on the diverse Muslim identities and featured a curated gallery by VCU Senior, Angelique Simmons titled “Twice as Hard.”

“I’ve done work curating parts of art shows but this was my first time creating an entire gallery show from start to finish, from the wall color to the organization of the pieces to make it aesthetically pleasing to choosing the work that would be featured,” Simmons said.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes but it

worked out and I’m proud of the work that has been featured.

Simmons said that she specifically wanted to feature the work of young, Black artists.

“There isn’t anyone featured in this exhibit under the age of 25 and there isn’t a piece of work I haven’t combed through,” Simmons said.

“Twice as Hard is meant to focus on how good work isn’t always enough to grant black people into these spaces so I wanted to create this space.”

Simmon’s exhibit was open Nov. 27 through Dec. 1.

“Honestly In the span of an hour I’ve seen various forms of arts from the Muslim world, war photography from Kurdistan, a few films and an exhibited curated by a Black student that features art created by all young black people,” said Kenya Williams. “This is really diverse and accessible.”

Holiday craftshow showcases Virgina artisans

PHOTO BY CASEY COLE

MADELINE WHEELER Staff Writer

The 13th annual Handmade Holiday Event features a variety of handmade works from Virginia based artisans.

The holiday season kicked off with the 13th annual Handmade Holiday Event hosted by the Richmond Craft Mafia on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Sunday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The organization also offered an early-bird entry on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a $5 cash entry to benefit TheatreLAB, a nonprofit performance art organization.

Each year the Richmond Craft Mafia chooses a different charity for the early bird donation; past recipients include Art 180, a nonprofit organization that provides art-related programs to disadvantaged youth, and Feedmore, a hunger-relief organization.

The event, housed at Hardywood Craft Brewery in Scott’s Addition, has been a holiday favorite for over a decade. Over 80 vendors were part of this year’s event and each day the vendors were shaken up so that visitors could see a larger variety of work.

Vendors that took part in Handmade Holiday this year included Bow Glass, vending handblown glass treasures, Scene3designs, who recycles used skateboards into everyday items and Juanita’s Adventure, specializing in graphically designed maps-turned-art prints.

DC-based Juanita Bardin-Soto runs the company, which she does on the side of her job as a photographer.

“I’ve always been obsessed with maps,” Bardin-Soto said, explaining why she started creating the prints. “This [Handmade Holiday] has a really good reputation in the craft community of being a very good show and I wanted to check it

out,” Bardin-Soto said. “I hope to do it next year as well.”

The Richmond Craft Mafia is a volunteer organization was founded in 2005 and currently has 10 members. Members of the Richmond Craft Mafia are small business owners themselves and use their free time to help run the events and organization in general.

Their events, which include Handmade Holiday and Spring BadaBing, usually draws in a crowd of over 1,000 visitors.

Vendors for the craft shows are chosen through an application process. The application for Handmade Holiday 2017 was open from late August to early October and the final decision on which craft companies were chosen fell in the hands of a jury. Money made from the application fees and booth fees from the craft shows goes towards logistics, like advertising, tent rentals, lighting and food for vendors.

More than 30 vendors of this year’s event were first timers, including Apothescary Scents, selling hand-blended perfume oils, Bright Life Toys, creating one-ofa-kind Kawaii plushies, and Happy Clay, vending handmade, surface embellished functional pottery.

Northern Virginia native Dylan McDonald attended the event for the first time this season.

“I think it’s an important show to kinda show off how much talent there is in the Richmond Area and beyond,” McDonald said. “I’m always excited to go to shows like this one and also art gallery openings to gaze at how amazing the art is around here. There is a huge amount of super creative people down here and it’s awesome. I hope to attend their [Richmond Craft Mafia] spring show as well.”

spectrum

10 The Commonwealth Times

Sam’s Take: Coming-of-age through melancholy in “Lady Bird” SAMUEL GOODRICH Staff Writer Before walking into “Lady Bird”, I knew that many critics and people I respected adored this film, yet I remained skeptical. The trailer seemed saccharine and pretentious, and I’m not usually a fan of “coming-of-age” stories.

Despite my cynical mindset, writer/director Greta Gerwig absolutely charmed me with her clever yet realistic writing and the lead performances made this simple story hit home for me, turning my viewing experience into an emotional self-reflection that I was not prepared for.

The feeling of finding out how unlikeable you can be is uncomfortably relateable.

Samuel Goodrich Staff Writer

Now, I can’t fully relate to the main character’s story. I’m not a teenage girl named Marion growing up in Sacramento, California in 2003. I never had a troublesome relationship with my mother and I never went to a Catholic high school, which led me to enroll in “cultured” colleges so that I could escape my home life.

Yet, I can still relate to the themes “Lady Bird” explores. The feeling of finding out how unlikable you can be is uncomfortably relateable. Realizing what our parents or guardians had to go through to raise us is as familiar as realizing how similar we are to them.

That last theme is a large reason why Gerwig’s film goes above and beyond other coming-of-age sto-

ILLUSTRATION BY ELLIE KIM

ries, as it focuses not only on the relationship between the teen and the parent, but we see life from the parent’s perspective multiple times and get to know them personally.

We understand what it’s like to raise Marion, just as Marion comes to the same realization.

Marion begins the film as a selfabsorbed girl looking to be taken seriously and to escape her life. Yet at heart, she’s a lost young-adult looking for guidance and purpose

in the world, like many teenagers.

Saoirse Ronan’s performance captures the complexity of the character, managing to be naive and emotional without coming off obnoxious or unlikable.

The relationship she has with her mother, played by Laurie Metcalf, is outwardly volatile but with obvious love and compassion bubbling underneath. Their arguments and discussions feel all too real, making their interactions the

highlight of the film.

In general, the writing and performances are believable as Gerwig captures the exciting awkwardness of being a teenager. The supporting actors do a great job, with their performances selling relatable situations and conversations.

The only problem with the film is when it decides to use the tired plot of leaving one’s friend to hang out with the “cool kids.”

While I think “Lady Bird” does

a good job at grounding this ridiculous cliche, the movie would have been almost perfect without its inclusion. In fact, it could have done without it entirely and instead focused on Marion’s adopted brother and his life.

Despite this issue, “Lady Bird” ends on a beautiful, melancholy note that left a real impact on me.

This final scene is able to capture the realization of understanding your parents, how they raised

you,and how awful it’s been that you’ve never fully appreciated them until now.

Obviously, not everyone can relate to this message, as everyone has a different life with different dynamics and experiences. Yet, I think “Lady Bird” can still be enjoyed even if you can’t empathise with Marion or her life--the movie will still be hilarious, intelligent, and memorable.

Movies to watch after finals have drained your life ploring the life and relationships of a troubled fashion designer in 1950s England. This is said to be Day-Lewis’ final performance before he retires and it’s guaranteed to at least be beautiful.

ILLUSTRATION BY IAIN DUFFUS

Molly’s Game (December 25)

Molly Bloom is a former U.S. skier who was investigated by the FBI in the 2000s for running illegal underground poker games across the nation that included many socialites as players. Now in 2017, Aaron Sorkin, best known for writing award-winning scripts like “The Social Network” and creating “The West Wing,” is writing and making his directorial debut with the film adaptation of this bizarre story. With an Alist cast, and Jessica Chastain as Bloom, this is looking to be one of the year’s most interesting movies.

The Post (January 12)

Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in a movie about how The Washington Post released the Pentagon Papers exposing the U.S. government’s involvement in the Vietnam war.

What else do I need to say? Hanks and Streep are fantastic actors and the subject matter is fascinating and inherently intense. Plus, Spielberg has been synonymous with movie gold for the past few years. There’s little to no chance of this being a bad movie.

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Wondering how you’re getting home for the holidays?

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termind behind “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Pacific Rim,” and his latest film looks to be his most mature.

While many VCU students It follows the love story of a mute struggle with end of the semester woman played by Sally Hawkins deadlines, winter break is almost and a humanoid aquatic creature here to take those anxieties (most- living inside a government conly) away. The end of the year also tainment facility Hawkins cleans means we’re about to be hit by a for. This strange romance looks to wave of fantastic films all vying be beautifully filmed, and told and for Oscar nominations early next is certain to have the magical realyear and audience approval in the ism Del Toro is known for. box office.

Call Me By Your Name I’m hoping to get the word out (Currently in Limited Release) about some of these films and other notable releases during the break so that you can find someSet in Italy in the 1980s, this rothing interesting to watch in be- mantic drama sees a young Italian tween vacation time and family boy falling in love with his father’s time.The one movie missing from research assistant as he discovers this list is “Star Wars: The Last his own sexuality. This movie has Jedi.” I know most of you have been making the rounds as of late already bought your tickets, so it’s and is looking to be the next big kind of redundant to suggest it. independent hit of the year if it gets a wider release. This drama The Disaster Artist has been praised for its cinema(December 8) tography and the performances from its lead actors, Armie HamWhen most people watch mer and Timothée Chalamet. DiTommy Wiseau’s infamously aw- rector Luca Guadagnino is known ful film “The Room,” they laugh for his ability to capture beauty and move on. James Franco de- and sensuality -- this movie looks cided he wanted to tell Wiseau’s to be no exception. story and how this trainwreck was Phantom Thread made. Franco directs and stars (December 25) in this comedic biopic full of big name stars who are all trying to recreate the madness that was the The last time director/writer production of this garbage fire of Paul Thomas Anderson and aca movie. tor Daniel Day-Lewis worked together, they created “There Will The Shape of Water Be Blood,” one of the most iconic (December 8) and critically acclaimed movies of the 2000s. Now they’ve joined Guillermo Del Toro is the mas- forces again to produce a film exSAMUEL GOODRICH Staff Writer

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www.commonwealthtimes.org

opinions

Monday, December 4, 2017 11

Quote of the week

“The stories I’ve told, the people I’ve met and the community that became my home—none of it would be possible without the CT.” -Hiba Ahmad

Experience vs. Education

Why adjunct professors are equal to full-time professors KATIE BASHISTA Opinions Editor

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VCUArts Adjuncts for Fair Pay is holding a Fair Pay Rally and Petition Drop Dec. 8 to advocate for equal wages for adjunct faculty in the VCUarts department.

This event has created a discussion around the treatment of adjuncts at VCU. While I can’t speak on VCUarts faculty, I want to acknowledge

the adjunct and full-time faculty in the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture.

Adjunct professors are part-time and do not receive tenure. They have lower wages and less benefits than full-time faculty and often have to work one or more other jobs to make a livable income. Over the years there has been an increase in hiring adjunct faculty because it saves universities money.

According to the American Association of University Professors, more than 50 percent of all university professors are currently part-time, which includes adjuncts, part-time lecturers and graduate assistantships.

VCU’s facts and ranking page on its website states there are 949 part-time adjunct faculty members at VCU and 2,274 full-time

faculty members.

During my time with the Robertson School, I’ve had roughly the same number of adjunct professors in the journalism program to fulltime faculty professors. For mass communications students, I believe the experience a professor has in the field matters much more than what degree they hold.

According to Dan Edmonds’ 2015 Forbes article, there are several factors that create a less beneficial learning environment for students with adjunct professors. The low wages universities pay adjunct faculty make it difficult to keep them on staff. They don’t receive the same conditions for teaching as full-time professors and their difference in pay often makes them search for second or even third jobs, reducing the amount of time they can dedicate to their students.

There is also a high turnover of adjunct professors which makes it likely a professor from a student’s freshman year will not still be there by their junior year. This can make it difficult for students to use these professors as potential job recommendations.

I find these claims don’t apply to my experience in the Robertson School. All of my journalism professors from my freshman year are still here at VCU and I’ve had the opportunity to take classes with some of those professors more than once. The professors here are passionate about making sure you do well, not only in their class, but also in regards to how you apply their

lessons in the real world.

Professors in the Robertson School, both adjunct and full-time, are more than happy to give you recommendations, offer professional advice or just serve as a confidant when you need it. I’ve personally had closer relationships with the adjunct professors in the school than I have with full-time faculty professors.

The Adjunct Project has a database where adjunct professors can report how they’re treated and what their wages are at their university.

Only one professor at VCU has reported their wage in this database for the Fall 2017 semester; an art professor making $2,550 for one 3-credit course that semester.

As an aspiring journalist, I’m inspired by most of my professors, especially those who have been in the field and have stories to tell, as they are the most rewarding. College students need guidance and we need it from someone who has been through what we will soon be putting ourselves through. Receiving both criticism and praise from these professionals makes all of the time and work we put into these classes worth it.

An individual’s passion, knowledge and dedication to the field of journalism isn’t measured by how many years they spend studying it in school. The experience adjunct professors have is more admirable and they deserve the same compensation as any full-time professor.

HIBA AHMAD News Editor My first article for The Commonwealth Times was an op-ed titled, ‘ISIS does not represent Islam’ in August 2014.

It was my first dabble in bridging the multiple parts of my identity into one cohesive person. It was also my first time taking activism to pen and paper. Now, three and half years later, I am leaving the CT with a content heart and more solidified passion for what I do.

I always struggled to bridge my activism with my work as a journalist. I’ve always been taught that in order to do great journalism you must practice complete objectivity and not allow your personal biases to filter into your reporting. I’ve learned now that it is nearly, if not completely, impossible to be indifferent in your reporting.

My activism is channelled through the stories I tell. I am handed a responsibility every time a person shares their narrative and allows me to piece together a story on their behalf. The burden to tell the truth, the whole truth, is something that many people crumble under. I think that’s why the news industry is where it is today.

I became a journalist because I saw first hand how damaging incomplete stereotypes are to any group of people. Following the Sept.

11 attacks I watched in horror as people who looked like my family and I, people who

prayed like me and people who simply fell under the harsh umbrella of Islamophobia were targeted by the media.

I vowed that whatever career I would pursue, I would relentlessly work to lift the voices of those who cannot do so themselves.

Hiba Ahmad News Editor I vowed that whatever career I would pursue, I would relentlessly work to lift the voices of those who cannot do so themselves. Whether that had been as a doctor, lawyer, teacher or what have you — I refused to let my career be just about me.

Journalism became my outlet.

Since I’ve been at VCU, I’ve told the stories of various groups of people. I’ve reported

on the infamous Muslim ban, told the story of a newly resettled Syrian refugee family and shared the terrifying reality of being an undocumented person in the States.

Every story I’ve told, I’ve taken upon myself to do the most complete and balanced job as I can. However, injustice is injustice and therefore should be addressed as such.

I will never apologize for tapping into the parts of my identity that allow me to have a greater access to a story.

As journalists, it’s our responsibility to capture and showcase humanity while also trying to remain human ourselves. Despite what the critics may say, people of color, especially women of color, will lead the way in revolutionizing the news industry because of our backgrounds.

I want to thank The Commonwealth Times and the countless people I’ve worked with in these past three and half years. This organization was the cornerstone to my undergraduate experience and for that I am eternally grateful. The stories I’ve told, the people I’ve met and the community that became my home — none of it would be possible without the CT. To any aspiring journalists out there, keep your head down and work hard. Be unapologetically yourself on an everyday basis, but especially in your reporting. You will be a better person and an even better journalist.

Peace and blessings.

ILLUSTRATION BY IAIN DUFFUS

Hiba Ahmad, signing off

farewell 2017

12 The Commonwealth Times

Farewell#1 by Steck Von

THE CT STAFF Executive Editor

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Farewell#2 by Jacque Chandler

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ABOUT THE CT The Commonwealth Times is the award-winning independent student newspaper at VCU, since 1969. The CT staff maintains all editorial and operations discretion. There is absolutely no prior review by the public, university or VCU Student Media Center administration or staff. The Executive Editor writes and manages the Operations Budget.

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Each spring, the CT staff elects the next year’s Executive and Managing Editors, who then hire the remaining staff.

ADD YOUR VOICE

Farewell#3 by Grace Hunsinger

The opinion pages of The CT are a forum open to the public. Contributions are welcome by email to Katie Bashista, by mail or in-person at 817 W. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23220. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Commonwealth Times. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The CT staff.

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