Wednesday, November 4th, 2026

Yes, yes, yes Virginia passes all three constitutional amendments

November 4, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor All three constitutional amendments were approved in Virginia in the 2026 election, all amassing over double digit percentage wins. As of 12:30 am. on Nov. 4, 62% voted yes on question 1, 57.0% voted yes on question 2 and 56.1% voted yes, on question 3 according to NBC News. Rights to reproductive care The right to reproductive amendment passed, protecting Virginians access to prenatal and postpartum care, contraception, abortion, miscarriage management and infertility treatments, according to Ballotpedia.Abortion is currently legal in Virginia up until the third trimester, but the amendment will protect the right in the state’s constitution. Jamie Lockhart, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates for Virginia, said the organization would ensure that the right becomes a reality looking ahead. “We know that getting there takes work,” Lockhart said. “We have to monitor implementation of the amendment, protect the amendment in court and educate Virginians on their rights,” Lockhart said that they are already prepared to defend the amendment in court against opponents.  “They’ve [opponents] already said that immediately following this, knowing that they were going to lose, that they were going to challenge it immediately

Democrats regain control of the U.S. House and Senate in stunning upsets 

November 4, 2026

Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor  Democrats regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, according to NBC News.  Democrats won control of the Senate with 53 Democratic seats, flipping 6 seats as of 2:19 a.m., and are projected to hold 55 seats to Republicans’ 45, according to The New York Times.  This follows historic victories for Senate seats in Texas, Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio.  Democratic candidate James Talarico defeated Republican candidate Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat in Texas to win a U.S. Senate seat in 38 years, according to The Guardian.   Democratic candidate Josh Turek defeated Republican candidate Ashley Hinson to become the first Democrat in Iowa to win a U.S. Senate seat in 12 years, according to 6 KWQC. Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton defeated Republican candidate and incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall to become the first Democrat in Kansas to win a U.S. Senate seat in 94 years, according to NBC News.  Democratic candidate Annie Andrews defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Darline Graham, who assumed the position following the passing of her brother Lindsey Graham in July, to become the first Democrat in South Carolina to win a

Section 504 saved my life

November 4, 2026

Theo Mastio, Contributing Writer At age 13, I was diagnosed with several learning disorders and mental health issues, which came as a surprise. I had always been ahead of my class in school: how could I be disabled?  It turns out being disabled and working harder than your peers is nothing new. So, they sat me down in a room with a woman that I had never met, my teachers, the vice principal and my mom. It was time to create my 504 plan. According to The Department of Education, 504 refers to the section of federal law that legally requires accommodations for anyone with a disability in a federally funded program. I received accommodations for those disabilities as a middle schooler. My therapist put it this way: paying attention, reading and learning was like running an entire football field while everyone else just ran one yard. The accommodations were supposed to level the playing field or shorten my sprint. It still required work on my part: extra classes, training, listening to these weird CDs for audio processing and learning how to manage my emotions.  The 504 meant hearing feedback from teachers on their concerns and observations. It meant finding

Everyone should host more parties!

November 4, 2026

Kylie Grunsfeld, Opinions & Humor Editor A flyer slapped together on Canva, a couple family-sized bags of chips on the counter and a playlist of early 2000s hits. You do not need much more than that to host the party of the year.  When I was a first-year student living in GRC, my dorm was the dorm of choice for my friends and I to gather in. I did not have much to offer besides a couple square feet of space, but it was important to me that there was a place for us to gather — play cards, do homework or just talk. What we were doing did not matter so long as we were in each other’s company. In my second year, despite living in a dorm I hated with leaks in the ceiling and cockroaches in the kitchen (shoutout Cary and Belvidere,) my roommates and I still invited people over whenever we could. Having friends in our place transformed it.  I once had an idea to host a poetry and music night, so I called on some friends and asked if I could use their apartment. What transpired was a few hours of community closeness that only

OOF! The Roblox Club has entered the chat

November 4, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Not every college club needs to involve networking, professional development or adding another line to a resume. Sometimes, students just want to play games and unwind.  The Roblox Club at VCU has created its own version, bringing students together through virtual games, a shared interest and taking a break from college life. The club incorporates seasonal themes into its games and events, with its first gathering held on Oct. 29 centered around a horror and thriller theme.  Haidy Abdelfattah, a third-year biology student, serves as president of the club. Her inspiration for starting the organization came from years of playing Roblox with friends and recognizing its potential to bring people together beyond the game itself.  “The feedback that I’ve gotten so far from a lot of people was that it is something that people have been waiting for and people actually are excited for and hyped about,” Abdelfattah said.  Having played Roblox since 10-years-old, Abdelfattah said its continued popularity among college students is closely tied to nostalgia and the memories associated with growing up playing the game.  Beyond the game itself, Abdelfattah said she hopes the organization gives students a sense of community and belonging.  “It’s

Unsung heroes of Richmond history

November 4, 2026

Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer  Across Richmond, volunteer organizations work to preserve and restore cemeteries. Many of the members of these restoration groups are descendants of the people buried in these cemeteries.  A number of Richmond cemeteries, especially African American cemeteries established during segregation, have been neglected and vandalized for decades.  Ryan Smith, a VCU history professor, has been teaching classes on the subject for 17 years.  Smith has worked closely with Richmond’s restoration groups, creating a website for information on Richmond cemeteries, and wrote the book “Death and Rebirth in a Southern City: Richmond’s Historic Cemeteries.” “Objects and buildings and landscapes are critical historical sources,” Smith said. The preservation of cemeteries is vital because they serve as historical records that reveal information about religion, race, gender, class and evolution of communities, according to Smith.  “If we learn about the past through the landscape around us, the condition they’re in really matters,” Smith said. “We’re losing essential historical information.”  Cemetery restoration groups not only impact the descendants of those buried in the cemeteries, but Richmond’s community as a whole, Smith said.  “The cemeteries became rallying points to create a new view of the city’s past in a way that was very

Late goal ends VCU men’s soccer season against George Mason

November 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer fell to George Mason University 1-0 on Halloween at VCU Athletic Village, ending the Rams’ season with a late goal in the regular-season finale.  The loss came on Senior Day and head coach Dave Giffard’s final game, who later announced his retirement from college coaching on Nov. 2 after 17 seasons with the program, according to VCU Athletics. The Rams entered Saturday’s matchup with a chance to keep their Atlantic 10 Championship hopes alive with a win, but the loss brought VCU’s season to a close with a 2-10-3 overall record and a 2-5-1 record in A-10 play. Both teams remained scoreless for nearly the entire match. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves, including a stop on a George Mason attempt in the 78th minute, while the Rams similarly struggled to find a breakthrough against Patriots second-year goalkeeper Angel Hernandez. With the match tied in the 89th minute, George Mason scored off a rebound from the upright, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead. VCU could not respond in the final minutes, closing out a difficult season with a loss at home. After the match, Giffard reflected on the challenges his team faced

VCU women’s basketball opens season with 67-43 win over Central Connecticut

November 3, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a 67-43 win over Central Connecticut State University tonight at the Siegel Center, starting new head coach Chelsea Banbury’s tenure off with a victory. The Rams enter this season looking to turn things around after a difficult 2025-26 campaign, where they finished 8-23 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Head Coach Banbury joins VCU after seven seasons as High Point University head coach, where she had a 140-79 career record, won four Big South regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. VCU also welcomed several new faces to its roster, including fifth-year guard Macy Spencer and fourth-year guard Lexi Flemming who transferred from High Point, alongside four first-year players. Spencer, who was named to the A-10 Preseason Second Team, led the Rams with 22 points in her VCU debut. VCU’s defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter. Third-year guard Cyriah Griffin provided an early spark off the bench, getting to the free-throw line before creating a steal and converting an easy layup on the other end. The Rams continued to capitalize on their defensive pressure, building a 30-22 lead by halftime. Griffin finished as VCU’s

VCU field hockey falls to Richmond in season finale

November 3, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer The VCU Rams dropped the regular season finale to the University of Richmond, 4-1, Friday evening at Crenshaw Field in Richmond. The first quarter kicked off with pressure from Richmond. VCU deflected an early shot out of bounds. Possession went back and forth until third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements made a diving save to keep Richmond off the board. Richmond continued their aggressive play in the second quarter, earning several penalty corners within the first few minutes. VCU fended off multiple shots, but with 7:25 remaining in the first half, the Spiders found the net to open the scoring off a rebound from a penalty corner. Richmond earned three more corners in the second quarter, and Clements made multiple saves and blocks to keep the deficit at 1-0. Early in the second half, Richmond earned three consecutive penalty corners, all saved or blocked, before Richmond was called for a yellow card. VCU earned a couple corners of their own but failed to convert. Eventually Richmond capitalized on a corner and scored with under two minutes to go in the third quarter to extend their lead to 2-0. To kick off the fourth quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman found

VCU bests Little Rock in season opener

November 2, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball opened their 2026-2027 campaign with an 82-72 victory over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Monday night at Siegel Center. The Rams won the tip and jumped out to an early 7-2 lead over the Trojans. Little Rock hit two three-point shots to cut the deficit to one seven minutes into the opening half. With 12 minutes left in the first half, Little Rock committed their seventh foul, putting VCU in the bonus for the rest of the half. VCU third-year forward Torey Alston knocked down a pair of free throws to increase VCU’s lead  to 16-12. Throughout the first half, the Rams were aggressive on the offensive end. The Rams ended the half shooting 20 free throws, totaling 48 by the end of the game.   Fourth-year guard Tyrell Ward made an and-one layup to give the Rams a seven-point lead. With eight minutes left in the first half, Little Rock cut the lead to four, making the score 23-19.  After a steal by second-year guard Nyk Lewis, third-year guard Brandon Jennings got put on the line and increased VCU’s score to six, 27-21.  Alston increased the Rams’ lead to eight points

VCU women’s soccer snaps losing streak in scoreless draw against Loyola Chicago in home finale

October 28, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer tied 0-0 against Loyola University Chicago and snapped their six-game losing streak on Sunday at the VCU Athletic Village in the Rams’ final home game of the season. The Rams battled Loyola Chicago through a back-and-forth contest, with both teams finding opportunities in the midfield but struggling to turn their attacking runs into goals. Fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz helped preserve the draw with four saves, posting her second shutout of the season. The performance brought her career total to 119 saves, moving her into 10th place in VCU women’s soccer program history. “It just means a lot to me that I was able to give a lot back to a program that’s given so much to me these past four years,” Pongratz said. “I’m very, very proud to do it with this team too.” Loyola Chicago tested Pongratz early, forcing a save in the fourth minute. The Ramblers outshot VCU 8-5 in the first half, but the Rams held firm defensively to enter the break scoreless. VCU found more success in creating opportunities after halftime, putting three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes. However, fourth-year Loyola Chicago goalkeeper Allison Deardorff kept

Yes, yes, yes Virginia passes all three constitutional amendments

November 4, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Deborah Aguilera, Contributing Writer Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor All three constitutional amendments were approved in Virginia in the 2026 election, all amassing over double digit percentage wins. As of 12:30 am. on Nov. 4, 62% voted yes on question 1, 57.0% voted yes on question 2 and 56.1% voted yes, on question 3 according to NBC News. Rights to reproductive care The right to reproductive amendment passed, protecting Virginians access to prenatal and postpartum care, contraception, abortion, miscarriage management and infertility treatments, according to Ballotpedia.Abortion is currently legal in Virginia up until the third trimester, but the amendment will protect the right in the state’s constitution. Jamie Lockhart, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates for Virginia, said the organization would ensure that the right becomes a reality looking ahead. “We know that getting there takes work,” Lockhart said. “We have to monitor implementation of the amendment, protect the amendment in court and educate Virginians on their rights,” Lockhart said that they are already prepared to defend the amendment in court against opponents.  “They’ve [opponents] already said that immediately following this, knowing that they were going to lose, that they were going to challenge it immediately

Democrats regain control of the U.S. House and Senate in stunning upsets 

November 4, 2026

Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor  Democrats regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, according to NBC News.  Democrats won control of the Senate with 53 Democratic seats, flipping 6 seats as of 2:19 a.m., and are projected to hold 55 seats to Republicans’ 45, according to The New York Times.  This follows historic victories for Senate seats in Texas, Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio.  Democratic candidate James Talarico defeated Republican candidate Ken Paxton to become the first Democrat in Texas to win a U.S. Senate seat in 38 years, according to The Guardian.   Democratic candidate Josh Turek defeated Republican candidate Ashley Hinson to become the first Democrat in Iowa to win a U.S. Senate seat in 12 years, according to 6 KWQC. Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton defeated Republican candidate and incumbent Sen. Roger Marshall to become the first Democrat in Kansas to win a U.S. Senate seat in 94 years, according to NBC News.  Democratic candidate Annie Andrews defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Darline Graham, who assumed the position following the passing of her brother Lindsey Graham in July, to become the first Democrat in South Carolina to win a

Opinion

Section 504 saved my life

November 4, 2026

Theo Mastio, Contributing Writer At age 13, I was diagnosed with several learning disorders and mental health issues, which came as a surprise. I had always been ahead of my class in school: how could I be disabled?  It turns out being disabled and working harder than your peers is nothing new. So, they sat me down in a room with a woman that I had never met, my teachers, the vice principal and my mom. It was time to create my 504 plan. According to The Department of Education, 504 refers to the section of federal law that legally requires accommodations for anyone with a disability in a federally funded program. I received accommodations for those disabilities as a middle schooler. My therapist put it this way: paying attention, reading and learning was like running an entire football field while everyone else just ran one yard. The accommodations were supposed to level the playing field or shorten my sprint. It still required work on my part: extra classes, training, listening to these weird CDs for audio processing and learning how to manage my emotions.  The 504 meant hearing feedback from teachers on their concerns and observations. It meant finding

Everyone should host more parties!

November 4, 2026

Kylie Grunsfeld, Opinions & Humor Editor A flyer slapped together on Canva, a couple family-sized bags of chips on the counter and a playlist of early 2000s hits. You do not need much more than that to host the party of the year.  When I was a first-year student living in GRC, my dorm was the dorm of choice for my friends and I to gather in. I did not have much to offer besides a couple square feet of space, but it was important to me that there was a place for us to gather — play cards, do homework or just talk. What we were doing did not matter so long as we were in each other’s company. In my second year, despite living in a dorm I hated with leaks in the ceiling and cockroaches in the kitchen (shoutout Cary and Belvidere,) my roommates and I still invited people over whenever we could. Having friends in our place transformed it.  I once had an idea to host a poetry and music night, so I called on some friends and asked if I could use their apartment. What transpired was a few hours of community closeness that only

The Rundown

Spectrum

OOF! The Roblox Club has entered the chat

November 4, 2026

Elle Cota, Spectrum Editor Not every college club needs to involve networking, professional development or adding another line to a resume. Sometimes, students just want to play games and unwind.  The Roblox Club at VCU has created its own version, bringing students together through virtual games, a shared interest and taking a break from college life. The club incorporates seasonal themes into its games and events, with its first gathering held on Oct. 29 centered around a horror and thriller theme.  Haidy Abdelfattah, a third-year biology student, serves as president of the club. Her inspiration for starting the organization came from years of playing Roblox with friends and recognizing its potential to bring people together beyond the game itself.  “The feedback that I’ve gotten so far from a lot of people was that it is something that people have been waiting for and people actually are excited for and hyped about,” Abdelfattah said.  Having played Roblox since 10-years-old, Abdelfattah said its continued popularity among college students is closely tied to nostalgia and the memories associated with growing up playing the game.  Beyond the game itself, Abdelfattah said she hopes the organization gives students a sense of community and belonging.  “It’s

Unsung heroes of Richmond history

November 4, 2026

Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer  Across Richmond, volunteer organizations work to preserve and restore cemeteries. Many of the members of these restoration groups are descendants of the people buried in these cemeteries.  A number of Richmond cemeteries, especially African American cemeteries established during segregation, have been neglected and vandalized for decades.  Ryan Smith, a VCU history professor, has been teaching classes on the subject for 17 years.  Smith has worked closely with Richmond’s restoration groups, creating a website for information on Richmond cemeteries, and wrote the book “Death and Rebirth in a Southern City: Richmond’s Historic Cemeteries.” “Objects and buildings and landscapes are critical historical sources,” Smith said. The preservation of cemeteries is vital because they serve as historical records that reveal information about religion, race, gender, class and evolution of communities, according to Smith.  “If we learn about the past through the landscape around us, the condition they’re in really matters,” Smith said. “We’re losing essential historical information.”  Cemetery restoration groups not only impact the descendants of those buried in the cemeteries, but Richmond’s community as a whole, Smith said.  “The cemeteries became rallying points to create a new view of the city’s past in a way that was very

Sports

Late goal ends VCU men’s soccer season against George Mason

November 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer fell to George Mason University 1-0 on Halloween at VCU Athletic Village, ending the Rams’ season with a late goal in the regular-season finale.  The loss came on Senior Day and head coach Dave Giffard’s final game, who later announced his retirement from college coaching on Nov. 2 after 17 seasons with the program, according to VCU Athletics. The Rams entered Saturday’s matchup with a chance to keep their Atlantic 10 Championship hopes alive with a win, but the loss brought VCU’s season to a close with a 2-10-3 overall record and a 2-5-1 record in A-10 play. Both teams remained scoreless for nearly the entire match. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves, including a stop on a George Mason attempt in the 78th minute, while the Rams similarly struggled to find a breakthrough against Patriots second-year goalkeeper Angel Hernandez. With the match tied in the 89th minute, George Mason scored off a rebound from the upright, giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead. VCU could not respond in the final minutes, closing out a difficult season with a loss at home. After the match, Giffard reflected on the challenges his team faced

VCU women’s basketball opens season with 67-43 win over Central Connecticut

November 3, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s basketball opened the 2026-27 season with a 67-43 win over Central Connecticut State University tonight at the Siegel Center, starting new head coach Chelsea Banbury’s tenure off with a victory. The Rams enter this season looking to turn things around after a difficult 2025-26 campaign, where they finished 8-23 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 conference play. Head Coach Banbury joins VCU after seven seasons as High Point University head coach, where she had a 140-79 career record, won four Big South regular-season championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances. VCU also welcomed several new faces to its roster, including fifth-year guard Macy Spencer and fourth-year guard Lexi Flemming who transferred from High Point, alongside four first-year players. Spencer, who was named to the A-10 Preseason Second Team, led the Rams with 22 points in her VCU debut. VCU’s defense forced six turnovers in the first quarter. Third-year guard Cyriah Griffin provided an early spark off the bench, getting to the free-throw line before creating a steal and converting an easy layup on the other end. The Rams continued to capitalize on their defensive pressure, building a 30-22 lead by halftime. Griffin finished as VCU’s

VCU field hockey falls to Richmond in season finale

November 3, 2026

Drew Clements, Staff Writer The VCU Rams dropped the regular season finale to the University of Richmond, 4-1, Friday evening at Crenshaw Field in Richmond. The first quarter kicked off with pressure from Richmond. VCU deflected an early shot out of bounds. Possession went back and forth until third-year goalkeeper Emma Clements made a diving save to keep Richmond off the board. Richmond continued their aggressive play in the second quarter, earning several penalty corners within the first few minutes. VCU fended off multiple shots, but with 7:25 remaining in the first half, the Spiders found the net to open the scoring off a rebound from a penalty corner. Richmond earned three more corners in the second quarter, and Clements made multiple saves and blocks to keep the deficit at 1-0. Early in the second half, Richmond earned three consecutive penalty corners, all saved or blocked, before Richmond was called for a yellow card. VCU earned a couple corners of their own but failed to convert. Eventually Richmond capitalized on a corner and scored with under two minutes to go in the third quarter to extend their lead to 2-0. To kick off the fourth quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman found

VCU bests Little Rock in season opener

November 2, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball opened their 2026-2027 campaign with an 82-72 victory over the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Monday night at Siegel Center. The Rams won the tip and jumped out to an early 7-2 lead over the Trojans. Little Rock hit two three-point shots to cut the deficit to one seven minutes into the opening half. With 12 minutes left in the first half, Little Rock committed their seventh foul, putting VCU in the bonus for the rest of the half. VCU third-year forward Torey Alston knocked down a pair of free throws to increase VCU’s lead  to 16-12. Throughout the first half, the Rams were aggressive on the offensive end. The Rams ended the half shooting 20 free throws, totaling 48 by the end of the game.   Fourth-year guard Tyrell Ward made an and-one layup to give the Rams a seven-point lead. With eight minutes left in the first half, Little Rock cut the lead to four, making the score 23-19.  After a steal by second-year guard Nyk Lewis, third-year guard Brandon Jennings got put on the line and increased VCU’s score to six, 27-21.  Alston increased the Rams’ lead to eight points

VCU women’s soccer snaps losing streak in scoreless draw against Loyola Chicago in home finale

October 28, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer tied 0-0 against Loyola University Chicago and snapped their six-game losing streak on Sunday at the VCU Athletic Village in the Rams’ final home game of the season. The Rams battled Loyola Chicago through a back-and-forth contest, with both teams finding opportunities in the midfield but struggling to turn their attacking runs into goals. Fourth-year goalkeeper Mia Pongratz helped preserve the draw with four saves, posting her second shutout of the season. The performance brought her career total to 119 saves, moving her into 10th place in VCU women’s soccer program history. “It just means a lot to me that I was able to give a lot back to a program that’s given so much to me these past four years,” Pongratz said. “I’m very, very proud to do it with this team too.” Loyola Chicago tested Pongratz early, forcing a save in the fourth minute. The Ramblers outshot VCU 8-5 in the first half, but the Rams held firm defensively to enter the break scoreless. VCU found more success in creating opportunities after halftime, putting three shots on goal in the final 10 minutes. However, fourth-year Loyola Chicago goalkeeper Allison Deardorff kept

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