‘Adam had a big heart’: Family, university respond to death of VCU freshman
Sahara Sriraman, Contributing Writer Adam Oakes, a 19-year-old VCU freshman, was found dead this past Saturday at a residence on West Clay Street. His family says a Delta Chi fraternity hazing event resulted in Adam’s death. Courtney White, Adam’s cousin, said Adam had a huge heart and was a nurturer, which set him apart from […]
City removes belongings around Coliseum, vigil held for local homeless man
Christina Amano Dolan, Contributing Writer The city collected the belongings of Richmond Coliseum’s homeless population last week, sparking controversy on social media. Online discussion surrounded claims of the city’s failure to properly aid its homeless community. River City Medic Collective, a Richmond organization made up of various health care providers, posted about the incident last […]
College of Engineering to offer computer science doctorate program
Dylan Seay, Contributing Writer The College of Engineering will enroll the first cohort of students in its new computer science doctorate program beginning this fall, according to a university release. Krzysztof Cios, a VCU professor and chair of the university’s computer science department, worked with school faculty to establish the program, which was submitted for […]
ACLU calls for removal of fence around Marcus-David Peters Circle
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor The Virginia Department of General Services erected an 8-foot fence around Marcus-David Peters Circle on Jan. 25 in anticipation of the Robert E. Lee Monument coming down. More than a month later, both the statue and the fence remain on site. The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia called for the […]
VCU community reacts to in-person return
Sahara Sriraman, Contributing Writer VCU’s decision to allow some students back for in-person and hybrid classes on March 4 has been met with opposition by students and professors. David Coogan, an associate professor in English, said professors were given the choice when deciding to teach virtually or in person. He teaches a class in the […]
Jackson Ward Collective serves Richmond’s Black entrepreneurs, partners with VCU students
Claire Darcy, Contributing Writer On a day in the 1940s, Richmonders could take a stroll in the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood and find it lined with thriving Black-owned banks, theaters and clubs — until a plan to revitalize the city in the mid-1950s displaced the African American community. Now, three Black female entrepreneurs are working […]
‘This Bitter Conversation’: Black Theatre Association discusses social injustice in new play
Maeve Connaughton, Contributing Writer An emotionally intense play poses one question: “Should love be political?” VCU’s Black Theatre Association and Richmond Triangle Players hosted a talkback on Sunday night to discuss the themes in “This Bitter Earth” by playwright Harrison David Rivers. “This Bitter Earth” is a contemporary two-character play that focuses on race, class […]
VCU event promotes collaboration between Black and white women
Ebonique Little, Spectrum Editor Shani Barrax Moore, director of diversity and inclusion at University of North Texas, held her face mask closely to the camera on a Zoom call to convey a powerful written message — “Legalize Blackness.” “I’m here because I don’t want my two daughters to experience the same sort of oppression and […]
Spectrum editor’s list of films to watch for March 3
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (2021) This Lee Daniels-directed film captures the Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ pursuit of jazz musician Billie Holiday, whose success was muddied by drug addiction. In the 1940s, the bureau led an undercover sting operation in an effort to get Holiday to stop singing “Strange Fruit,” a protest of Black […]
A-10 tournament preview: men’s basketball to play at home
Noah Fleischman, Sports Editor Injuries and a short bench plagued men’s basketball as it split its last two games of the regular season without sophomore guard Bones Hyland and junior guard KeShawn Curry. Now, the Rams have turned the page and are set to co-host the Atlantic 10 tournament with Richmond from Wednesday to Saturday. […]