Thursday, September 17th, 2026

‘Thank you, Mr. Paul’: BOV’s only response to parent’s concerns over police-student altercations during 2024 encampment

September 16, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor  Kayla Muñecas, Assistant News Editor VCU’s Board of Visitors provided no response to remarks and a letter from Andrew Paul, the parent of a VCU alum during the Sept. 11 meeting. Paul’s letter included a call to action demanding oversight from the Board over VCU’s use of police force on its students. However, the BOV did not issue a response to Paul or the public.  The letter posed two questions: “What oversight action has the Board of Visitors taken, if any, regarding VCU’s police attack on its own students on April 29, 2024?” and “What were the results of that oversight? Or if no action was taken, please explain why with a relevant, substantive answer.” Paul stated in his remarks that VCU has no evidence to support their claims that actions taken during the altercation were appropriate, did nothing to resolve the altercation, is undeserving of public trust, is lucky no one was more seriously killed or injured, ignored public petitions and outcry and restricted students’ self-expression. Paul said when he initially heard about the altercation, he was shocked, but understood the situation may have been blown out of proportion. The day after he heard the

VCU students raise awareness for vascular disease with new initiative

September 16, 2026

Skye Hathaway, Copy Editor  Young adults are usually not concerned about blood clots, but VCU students Sarah Ralston and Mollie Wheeler are looking to change that by working to educate college students on deep vein thrombosis.  While blood clots often affect older individuals, young people are still at risk of being affected, according to Ralston. She said it is important for students to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in order to medically advocate for themselves. Ralston and Wheeler, both second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students, created the project after meeting a father who wanted to spread awareness for DVT in young women after losing his daughter. Together, they work to teach young people about what causes DVT and how they can identify it. While putting posters up in an exam room at the Medical College of Virginia campus, Wheeler said that she and Ralston spoke to the medical director for VCU Health, who had sent two college-aged women to the hospital for DVT concerns that summer.   DVT may appear as a small patch on your leg or arm, which young people may brush off as a bruise, Ralston said. DVT most commonly occurs

Adult literacy gaps create more setbacks than we can imagine

September 16, 2026

Lilian Chineme-Ugwu, Adjunct Instructor, Department of Political Science Bridging adult literacy gaps goes beyond teaching people how to read and write. It entails addressing economic, social, civic and personal challenges, such as completing job applications, understanding prescription instructions, participating in the electoral process without assistance, making financial decisions, helping their kids with homework and processing online information without bias.  Despite the many benefits of adult literacy, some adults still lack access or opportunities to acquire basic literacy skills. Others who have the means to improve their literacy skills might sometimes face an inferiority complex, family challenges, sickness and work/life balance.  According to the literacy survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD,) 28% of adults’ scores were at Level 1 or below, which indicates low literacy competency. At Level 1, they were only able to comprehend short words and arrange or search for information with detailed instructions. People below Level 1 could only make sense of short, simple sentences.  Reports from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy consistently indicate that over 54% of American adults can read below a sixth-grade level yet only 10% who need literacy assistance are receiving support. When adult literacy gaps persist,

Anti-dating app rhetoric is anti-queer

September 16, 2026

Maritza Baptiste, Staff Writer I have seen movies and TV shows portray college as an idealistic place where love is everywhere, at  coffee shops, late-night study sessions or frat parties. While I value my education, love played a much stronger role in my college decision than I would like to admit — especially as a young, queer person. I am in my fourth year of college and I have not met anyone at a coffee shop or during a late-night study session. Even after I turned 21, I have only been approached at the club a handful of times. Most of the time, I am approached by men.  Despite these unmet expectations, my dating life is quite fruitful. I do not feel like I have missed out on a key college experience — it is just that most of my chance romantic meetings happen online. I understand the appeal of wanting to meet someone offline. Some college campuses have students who engage in “See And Be Seen,” which is intentionally spending more time outside or in public so that you can be visible and approachable to a potential love interest, according to VICE.  I think deep down we are all

Cultivar y Celebrar: La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos

September 16, 2026

Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer  La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos (LSA, en Inglés) hace una mezcla de celebraciones culturales y oportunidades sociales por el campus.  Sea estudiantes buscando reconectarse con sus raíces, descubriendo nuevas perspectivas o simplemente buscando donde pertenecen, la organización ofrece una familia en el medio de la ciudad. . Alessandra Caceres Mendoza ha sido miembro de LSA desde su primer año en VCU. Ahora está cumpliendo su último año, trabajando como co-presidenta de relaciones públicas donde supervisa las redes sociales, afiches, y eventos de la organización.  “Es mi casa fuera de casa,” dijo Caceres Mendoza.  Caceres Mendoza dijo que el propósito de LSA es crear una comunidad segura para todos. Aunque la organización fue creada para los estudiantes Latinos, aceptan estudiantes de cualquier etnicidad y raza.  LSA se mantiene ocupado durante el año, dijo Caceres Mendoza. Los miembros están muy involucrados con la organización, compitiendo en deportes juntos, organizando proyectos de servicio comunitario por Richmond, participando en carreras para caridades, viajando juntos, y yendo a eventos formales.  Fuera de sus eventos LSA tiene una programa de “Familias” para ayudar a formar conexiones. Separan a los miembros en grupos pequeños basados en sus intereses y pasatiempos. Los grupos son

Richmonders honor legacies through community

September 16, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor The recent deaths of influential figures, including Tim Curry and Dolly Parton, have been followed by something more lasting than a moment of mourning: people continuing to perform their work, celebrate their influence and find their own place and one another within the culture they helped create. A Parade For Dolly Parton On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 13, Richmonders gathered at Babe’s of Carytown for the city’s first annual Dolly Parton parade. Babe’s also hosted a Dolly Parton brunch and karaoke from 1-7 p.m. Children, grandparents and everyone in-between joined the parade, wearing blonde wigs, cowboy boots and Dolly-inspired outfits. Music played as participants walked the sidewalks while people watched and drivers honked in support. Carrie Craven, a community member, attended to celebrate Parton’s life and her advocacy for kindness, generosity and community.  Craven sported a large foam breastplate beneath a tight, shiny blue dress, paired with a hot pink ruffled slip and a white feathered wig.  Parton’s music provided personal connections for Craven. She said “9 to 5” represented female empowerment, while “Coat of Many Colors” reflected family, hardship and finding value in what others may overlook.  Craven said Parton embraced feminism while playfully

VCU Men’s Soccer finishes non-conference matchups losing to ODU 2-1

September 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer On Monday VCU men’s soccer went up against Old Dominion University in its final non-conference matchup of the season. Despite an energized effort in the second half, VCU lost to ODU 2-1. ODU scored within the first five minutes of the match. VCU responded with second-year defender Parker Simkins capitalizing on a Monarch turnover, scoring the first official goal for the Rams in the history of the VCU Athletic Village. The score would remain tied until the final minutes of the first half, when ODU headed in a go-ahead goal. The Monarchs entered halftime with a 2-1 lead. VCU controlled much of the second half offensively, finishing with 17 shots compared to ODU’s nine. The Rams were able to keep ODU on the defensive and controlled 62% of possession in the match, according to statbroadcast. Despite 11 shots on goal and hitting the crossbar twice, VCU was unable to save the tying goal. Simkins said the team’s inability to capitalize on their chances to score was ultimately what kept them from being able to make a comeback in the second half. “I think that we really controlled the game very well. We just couldn’t find that

VCU women’s tennis: United internationally

September 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer For the VCU women’s tennis team, the road to Richmond begins thousands of miles away. Since the late 1990s, VCU women’s tennis has been prominently shaped by international recruits.  Beginning with tennis legends Martina Nedelkova and Andrea Ondrisova, VCU women’s tennis established a vision to elevate its level of tennis through international recruiting. When Paul Kostin took over as head coach in 2001, international recruiting became an established part of the program. The strategy has continued to this day. Under the current head coach, Rifanti Kahfiani, the women’s tennis roster is entirely international, with players representing Ecuador, Egypt, Slovakia, Venezuela, Australia, the Czech Republic and Indonesia. “My philosophy is very simple,” Kahfiani said. “We recruit the best player that will fit our program, culture and our standard.”  Kahfiani said she has tried to recruit American players, but many choose other programs. VCU has continued to find talented international players who fit the culture she wants to build – one that values the hunger to uplift one’s self and one another. “I think first and foremost, work ethic is number one, wanting to compete and love tennis,” Kahfiani said. “The skills can be elevated, but something that

El mundo amplio de atletas de VCU

September 16, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer Antes de convertirsen en Rams, estos tres atletas de VCU construyeron sus carreras lejos de Virginia. Desde Argentina, Costa Rica y España, las experiencias de estos atletas los han seguido a Richmond.  Como el Mes de la Herencia Hispana empieza el 15 de Septiembre, Andrey Salmerón, Lucia Sotelo y Josefina Ventimiglia representan los orígenes internacionales que ahora forman parte integral del panorama deportivo de VCU.  Sus viajes a VCU fueron formados por deportes diferentes, pero cada uno llegó con años de experiencia compitiendo fuera de los Estados Unidos.  Andrey Salmerón, un centrocampista de cuarto año que viene de Costa Rica está en el equipo de fútbol. Salmeron aportó experiencia de alto nivel a VCU. Antes de unirse a los Rams, representó a Costa Rica en las selecciones nacionales sub-15, sub-17 y sub-20. Al tiempo, ayudó a que el consultor de fútbol Edson Soto ganara un campeonato nacional. Su exito continuó en VCU, donde fue nombrado Novato del Año por Atlantic 10, el primer futbolista de los Rams en obtener ese título desde 1977, según VCU Athletics. También ayudó a los Rams en ganar la temporada regular de Atlantic 10.  Lucía Sotelo es una delantera en el

The wide world of VCU athletes

September 16, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer Before becoming Rams, three VCU athletes built their sports careers far from Virginia. From Argentina to Costa Rica to Spain, these athletes’ experiences have followed them to Richmond.  As Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15, Andrey Salmerón, Lucía Sotelo, and Josefina Ventimiglia represent the international backgrounds that have become a part of the VCU athletic landscape. Their journeys to VCU were shaped through different sports and different countries, but each arrived with years of experience competing outside of the United States.  Andrey Salmerón, a fourth-year midfielder from Costa Rica, brought high-level experience to VCU soccer. Before joining the Rams, he represented Costa Rica on the U15, U17 and U20 national teams while also helping Fútbol Consultants Edson Soto win a national championship. His success continued at VCU, being named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, the first Ram’s soccer player to win that honor since 1997, according to VCU Athletics. He also helped the Rams win the Atlantic 10 regular season.  Lucía Sotelo is a fourth-year forward on the women’s basketball team. Coming from Spain, Sotelo entered VCU as a winner. She debuted with Ensino Lugo in Spain’s top division, Liga Endesa, and competed at the

Men’s soccer falls 2-0 to UCF in home opener

September 12, 2026

Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor  VCU men’s soccer matched up against the University of Central Florida on Friday. Players and fans began the game with a moment of remembrance for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.  Both teams worked the ball up and down the field for the better part of the first period, with multiple attempts made on both sides.  During the first half VCU attempted two shots, made two saves and committed four fouls. UCF scored two goals on nine shot attempts and committed one foul. With a little over 10 minutes left in the first period, UCF forward, third-year Drew Hansen scored the first goal of the game. Soon after, second-year UCF defender Hugo Vogel, with an assist from Hansen scored another point, bringing the score to 2-0.  The two teams battled it out for the rest of the half, but ultimately VCU was unable to settle the score.  VCU head coach Dave Giffard said that he was very disappointed with the first 45 minutes and hopes that his team learns from it.  “I think the part that was very disappointing was, I think we allowed some less experienced, less mature kind of psychological things to creep

‘Thank you, Mr. Paul’: BOV’s only response to parent’s concerns over police-student altercations during 2024 encampment

September 16, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor  Kayla Muñecas, Assistant News Editor VCU’s Board of Visitors provided no response to remarks and a letter from Andrew Paul, the parent of a VCU alum during the Sept. 11 meeting. Paul’s letter included a call to action demanding oversight from the Board over VCU’s use of police force on its students. However, the BOV did not issue a response to Paul or the public.  The letter posed two questions: “What oversight action has the Board of Visitors taken, if any, regarding VCU’s police attack on its own students on April 29, 2024?” and “What were the results of that oversight? Or if no action was taken, please explain why with a relevant, substantive answer.” Paul stated in his remarks that VCU has no evidence to support their claims that actions taken during the altercation were appropriate, did nothing to resolve the altercation, is undeserving of public trust, is lucky no one was more seriously killed or injured, ignored public petitions and outcry and restricted students’ self-expression. Paul said when he initially heard about the altercation, he was shocked, but understood the situation may have been blown out of proportion. The day after he heard the

VCU students raise awareness for vascular disease with new initiative

September 16, 2026

Skye Hathaway, Copy Editor  Young adults are usually not concerned about blood clots, but VCU students Sarah Ralston and Mollie Wheeler are looking to change that by working to educate college students on deep vein thrombosis.  While blood clots often affect older individuals, young people are still at risk of being affected, according to Ralston. She said it is important for students to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in order to medically advocate for themselves. Ralston and Wheeler, both second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students, created the project after meeting a father who wanted to spread awareness for DVT in young women after losing his daughter. Together, they work to teach young people about what causes DVT and how they can identify it. While putting posters up in an exam room at the Medical College of Virginia campus, Wheeler said that she and Ralston spoke to the medical director for VCU Health, who had sent two college-aged women to the hospital for DVT concerns that summer.   DVT may appear as a small patch on your leg or arm, which young people may brush off as a bruise, Ralston said. DVT most commonly occurs

Opinion

Adult literacy gaps create more setbacks than we can imagine

September 16, 2026

Lilian Chineme-Ugwu, Adjunct Instructor, Department of Political Science Bridging adult literacy gaps goes beyond teaching people how to read and write. It entails addressing economic, social, civic and personal challenges, such as completing job applications, understanding prescription instructions, participating in the electoral process without assistance, making financial decisions, helping their kids with homework and processing online information without bias.  Despite the many benefits of adult literacy, some adults still lack access or opportunities to acquire basic literacy skills. Others who have the means to improve their literacy skills might sometimes face an inferiority complex, family challenges, sickness and work/life balance.  According to the literacy survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD,) 28% of adults’ scores were at Level 1 or below, which indicates low literacy competency. At Level 1, they were only able to comprehend short words and arrange or search for information with detailed instructions. People below Level 1 could only make sense of short, simple sentences.  Reports from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy consistently indicate that over 54% of American adults can read below a sixth-grade level yet only 10% who need literacy assistance are receiving support. When adult literacy gaps persist,

Anti-dating app rhetoric is anti-queer

September 16, 2026

Maritza Baptiste, Staff Writer I have seen movies and TV shows portray college as an idealistic place where love is everywhere, at  coffee shops, late-night study sessions or frat parties. While I value my education, love played a much stronger role in my college decision than I would like to admit — especially as a young, queer person. I am in my fourth year of college and I have not met anyone at a coffee shop or during a late-night study session. Even after I turned 21, I have only been approached at the club a handful of times. Most of the time, I am approached by men.  Despite these unmet expectations, my dating life is quite fruitful. I do not feel like I have missed out on a key college experience — it is just that most of my chance romantic meetings happen online. I understand the appeal of wanting to meet someone offline. Some college campuses have students who engage in “See And Be Seen,” which is intentionally spending more time outside or in public so that you can be visible and approachable to a potential love interest, according to VICE.  I think deep down we are all

The Rundown

Spectrum

Cultivar y Celebrar: La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos

September 16, 2026

Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer  La Asociación de Estudiantes Latinos (LSA, en Inglés) hace una mezcla de celebraciones culturales y oportunidades sociales por el campus.  Sea estudiantes buscando reconectarse con sus raíces, descubriendo nuevas perspectivas o simplemente buscando donde pertenecen, la organización ofrece una familia en el medio de la ciudad. . Alessandra Caceres Mendoza ha sido miembro de LSA desde su primer año en VCU. Ahora está cumpliendo su último año, trabajando como co-presidenta de relaciones públicas donde supervisa las redes sociales, afiches, y eventos de la organización.  “Es mi casa fuera de casa,” dijo Caceres Mendoza.  Caceres Mendoza dijo que el propósito de LSA es crear una comunidad segura para todos. Aunque la organización fue creada para los estudiantes Latinos, aceptan estudiantes de cualquier etnicidad y raza.  LSA se mantiene ocupado durante el año, dijo Caceres Mendoza. Los miembros están muy involucrados con la organización, compitiendo en deportes juntos, organizando proyectos de servicio comunitario por Richmond, participando en carreras para caridades, viajando juntos, y yendo a eventos formales.  Fuera de sus eventos LSA tiene una programa de “Familias” para ayudar a formar conexiones. Separan a los miembros en grupos pequeños basados en sus intereses y pasatiempos. Los grupos son

Richmonders honor legacies through community

September 16, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor The recent deaths of influential figures, including Tim Curry and Dolly Parton, have been followed by something more lasting than a moment of mourning: people continuing to perform their work, celebrate their influence and find their own place and one another within the culture they helped create. A Parade For Dolly Parton On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 13, Richmonders gathered at Babe’s of Carytown for the city’s first annual Dolly Parton parade. Babe’s also hosted a Dolly Parton brunch and karaoke from 1-7 p.m. Children, grandparents and everyone in-between joined the parade, wearing blonde wigs, cowboy boots and Dolly-inspired outfits. Music played as participants walked the sidewalks while people watched and drivers honked in support. Carrie Craven, a community member, attended to celebrate Parton’s life and her advocacy for kindness, generosity and community.  Craven sported a large foam breastplate beneath a tight, shiny blue dress, paired with a hot pink ruffled slip and a white feathered wig.  Parton’s music provided personal connections for Craven. She said “9 to 5” represented female empowerment, while “Coat of Many Colors” reflected family, hardship and finding value in what others may overlook.  Craven said Parton embraced feminism while playfully

Sports

VCU Men’s Soccer finishes non-conference matchups losing to ODU 2-1

September 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer On Monday VCU men’s soccer went up against Old Dominion University in its final non-conference matchup of the season. Despite an energized effort in the second half, VCU lost to ODU 2-1. ODU scored within the first five minutes of the match. VCU responded with second-year defender Parker Simkins capitalizing on a Monarch turnover, scoring the first official goal for the Rams in the history of the VCU Athletic Village. The score would remain tied until the final minutes of the first half, when ODU headed in a go-ahead goal. The Monarchs entered halftime with a 2-1 lead. VCU controlled much of the second half offensively, finishing with 17 shots compared to ODU’s nine. The Rams were able to keep ODU on the defensive and controlled 62% of possession in the match, according to statbroadcast. Despite 11 shots on goal and hitting the crossbar twice, VCU was unable to save the tying goal. Simkins said the team’s inability to capitalize on their chances to score was ultimately what kept them from being able to make a comeback in the second half. “I think that we really controlled the game very well. We just couldn’t find that

VCU women’s tennis: United internationally

September 16, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer For the VCU women’s tennis team, the road to Richmond begins thousands of miles away. Since the late 1990s, VCU women’s tennis has been prominently shaped by international recruits.  Beginning with tennis legends Martina Nedelkova and Andrea Ondrisova, VCU women’s tennis established a vision to elevate its level of tennis through international recruiting. When Paul Kostin took over as head coach in 2001, international recruiting became an established part of the program. The strategy has continued to this day. Under the current head coach, Rifanti Kahfiani, the women’s tennis roster is entirely international, with players representing Ecuador, Egypt, Slovakia, Venezuela, Australia, the Czech Republic and Indonesia. “My philosophy is very simple,” Kahfiani said. “We recruit the best player that will fit our program, culture and our standard.”  Kahfiani said she has tried to recruit American players, but many choose other programs. VCU has continued to find talented international players who fit the culture she wants to build – one that values the hunger to uplift one’s self and one another. “I think first and foremost, work ethic is number one, wanting to compete and love tennis,” Kahfiani said. “The skills can be elevated, but something that

El mundo amplio de atletas de VCU

September 16, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer Antes de convertirsen en Rams, estos tres atletas de VCU construyeron sus carreras lejos de Virginia. Desde Argentina, Costa Rica y España, las experiencias de estos atletas los han seguido a Richmond.  Como el Mes de la Herencia Hispana empieza el 15 de Septiembre, Andrey Salmerón, Lucia Sotelo y Josefina Ventimiglia representan los orígenes internacionales que ahora forman parte integral del panorama deportivo de VCU.  Sus viajes a VCU fueron formados por deportes diferentes, pero cada uno llegó con años de experiencia compitiendo fuera de los Estados Unidos.  Andrey Salmerón, un centrocampista de cuarto año que viene de Costa Rica está en el equipo de fútbol. Salmeron aportó experiencia de alto nivel a VCU. Antes de unirse a los Rams, representó a Costa Rica en las selecciones nacionales sub-15, sub-17 y sub-20. Al tiempo, ayudó a que el consultor de fútbol Edson Soto ganara un campeonato nacional. Su exito continuó en VCU, donde fue nombrado Novato del Año por Atlantic 10, el primer futbolista de los Rams en obtener ese título desde 1977, según VCU Athletics. También ayudó a los Rams en ganar la temporada regular de Atlantic 10.  Lucía Sotelo es una delantera en el

The wide world of VCU athletes

September 16, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer Before becoming Rams, three VCU athletes built their sports careers far from Virginia. From Argentina to Costa Rica to Spain, these athletes’ experiences have followed them to Richmond.  As Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15, Andrey Salmerón, Lucía Sotelo, and Josefina Ventimiglia represent the international backgrounds that have become a part of the VCU athletic landscape. Their journeys to VCU were shaped through different sports and different countries, but each arrived with years of experience competing outside of the United States.  Andrey Salmerón, a fourth-year midfielder from Costa Rica, brought high-level experience to VCU soccer. Before joining the Rams, he represented Costa Rica on the U15, U17 and U20 national teams while also helping Fútbol Consultants Edson Soto win a national championship. His success continued at VCU, being named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, the first Ram’s soccer player to win that honor since 1997, according to VCU Athletics. He also helped the Rams win the Atlantic 10 regular season.  Lucía Sotelo is a fourth-year forward on the women’s basketball team. Coming from Spain, Sotelo entered VCU as a winner. She debuted with Ensino Lugo in Spain’s top division, Liga Endesa, and competed at the

Men’s soccer falls 2-0 to UCF in home opener

September 12, 2026

Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor  VCU men’s soccer matched up against the University of Central Florida on Friday. Players and fans began the game with a moment of remembrance for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.  Both teams worked the ball up and down the field for the better part of the first period, with multiple attempts made on both sides.  During the first half VCU attempted two shots, made two saves and committed four fouls. UCF scored two goals on nine shot attempts and committed one foul. With a little over 10 minutes left in the first period, UCF forward, third-year Drew Hansen scored the first goal of the game. Soon after, second-year UCF defender Hugo Vogel, with an assist from Hansen scored another point, bringing the score to 2-0.  The two teams battled it out for the rest of the half, but ultimately VCU was unable to settle the score.  VCU head coach Dave Giffard said that he was very disappointed with the first 45 minutes and hopes that his team learns from it.  “I think the part that was very disappointing was, I think we allowed some less experienced, less mature kind of psychological things to creep

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