AAVE is not your internet slang. It is Black culture.
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor “You talk white.” I’ve never been quite sure how I should feel when I hear that. Am I supposed to be honored or offended? I am articulate. I speak eloquently with minimal pauses and stutters. I formulate well-thought-out responses and provide my direct opinion. Words come easily to me. But I […]
Tea Time with Tagwa: Black history should not be limited to slavery
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Tea timers, happy Black History Month. This month, we highlight and celebrate the extensive success of the Black community through the nation and worldwide, spanning for centuries. However, our desire to learn and educate ourselves should not stop in March. We owe it to the Black community to teach ourselves what […]
Raising the minimum wage is long overdue
Ishaan Nandwani, Contributing Writer As a college student, I spend a lot of money every week. In addition to tuition expenses, I’m spending on food, rent and utilities, textbooks, the occasional Starbucks splurge and more. I’m grateful to attend VCU on an academic scholarship and have parental support because otherwise, such a lifestyle would not […]
Black lives should be valued far beyond February
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor It’s our favorite — and shortest — month of the year. Black History Month is upon us. White people, grab your wallets; this past year needs a hefty payment for reparations. Last year was a significant one for Black America. Our community changed the nation in unimaginable ways — that is, […]
The KKK is at our doorsteps
Thao Ho, Contributing Writer Details in this article may be upsetting to some readers. As students on a liberal campus in an urban environment, we may feel that the world of the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacy is distant, perhaps even disconnected from our day-to-day lives during the post-Donald Trump era. However, just a […]
Tea Time with Tagwa: Talk to Tagwa
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Tea timers, welcome to the new year. Like most of you, I’m hoping this one’s better. We’re already off to an exciting start — we inaugurated a new president and are waiting patiently as the promised change dawns upon us. The country is still dealing with a roaring pandemic, but vaccination rates […]
Education during the pandemic: The DOE needs to do more
Ishaan Nandwani, Contributing Writer During this pandemic, our lives have changed drastically, but as college students there’s been arguably no place we’ve felt this impact more than our education. As we’ve been ushered into an era of online classes and social distancing, we’ve experienced both the academic and mental challenges of a virtual education. Not […]
New year, new president, same rules
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Inauguration Day is finally here. Our country donned a new presidential term on Wednesday, which for many means hope of a new era. We haven’t had the greatest four years under former President Donald Trump — however exciting they may have been — so there is an expectation for change. With […]
Everything you need to know: Returning to campus and COVID-19
Ishaan Nandwani, Contributing Writer It’s a new year and a new semester. Despite the political turmoil that has permeated the past few weeks, I’m determined to make 2021 the best year possible. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still a significant danger to our community, and it is essential to be mindful of this threat as we navigate […]
Tea Time with Tagwa: It’s time to say goodbye, Mr. President
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Tea timers, I have an 8-year-old brother. I take him to the park frequently, and I’ve realized he has a bad habit of digging his feet into the sand when I say it’s time to leave. He stays put, fighting so we don’t have to go home. It’s irritating, but I must […]