Wednesday, September 30th, 2026

News

VCU President Michael Rao’s base salary increases to $1 million per year

September 30, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer On Sept. 11, the VCU Board of Visitors voted to increase President Michael Rao’s base salary to $1 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2027.  The raise comes as the board voted in April to increase tuition by 3.9% for the 2026-2027 school year, according to a previous report by the CT.  In 2025, the Board of Visitors voted to increase Rao’s base salary to $895,618, a 9% increase from the previous year, according to a previous report by the CT.  “One of our Board’s most important responsibilities is to evaluate the performance of the president and ensure that the university has the leadership it needs for the future,” Rector Steven DeLuca said at the BOV meeting on Sept. 11.  Rector Steven DeLuca said at the BOV meeting on Sept. 11 that the boards most important responsibility is to assess the performance of the president and make sure the university “has the leadership it needs for the future.” In addition to increasing Rao’s salary, the board also voted to extend his contract into 2032. It included a bonus opportunity for Rao of up to 25% of his base salary. The average salary for VCU staff

VCU Rice Rivers Center aids in Atlantic sturgeon population recovery

September 30, 2026

Hazel Lair, Contributing Writer The Atlantic sturgeon, a federally endangered species of fish, has made its return to the James River for breeding season, despite worries regarding the population’s dwindling numbers. Now, the number of sturgeon is back in the thousands. VCU’s Rice Rivers Center, also known as “VCU’s river campus,” has worked to tag and track the fish in order to protect the species.  In 2007, scientists believed that the James River had only 300 sturgeon left, according to Smithsonian Magazine. As of last year, Rice Rivers has tagged over 2,500 separate sturgeon, confirming that the species still has hope for recovery. The Rice Rivers center has worked alongside the James River Association, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric The Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to restore the sturgeon population, according to a previous report by the CT.  Researchers assist state and federal agencies on determining which habitats in the river are most important for “critical spawning, nursery and migration activities, as well as the importance of threats like collisions with large vessels and habitat loss,” according to  the VCU Rice Rivers Center website. Each year, as sturgeon sense the temperature drop in the fall, they

VCU ofrece apoyo para estudiantes navegando la “zona roja” 

September 30, 2026

Olivia Rine, Staff Writer VCU ha tomado varias medidas para combatir “la zona roja”, un término que se refiere a las primeras seis semanas del semestre, donde estudiantes están a alto riesgo de agresión sexual.   Tameika McCoy, defensora de sobrevivientes de VCU, dijo que hay mucho énfasis en las primeras 14 semanas del semestre, pero los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes tienen reuniones para prevención durante el año entero.  Durante la zona roja, McCoy y los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes tienen eventos para ayudar a estudiantes afectados. Estos eventos incluyen seminarios, un “Dia de Seguridad” en colaboración con la policía de VCU, y más esfuerzos para alcanzar al público.  “Acabamos de tener un seminario que se llama ‘Conversaciones Cruciales’ con estudiantes atletas, y hablamos sobre los límites, el consentimiento, las relaciones y la seguridad,” McCoy said.  McCoy dijo que esta hablando con los presidentes de organizaciones de fraternidades y sororidades para implementar estrategias contra la agresión sexual. Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes habla con grupos individualmentes para hablar de estrategias preventivas.   Los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes ayuda a guiar estudiantes lidiando con las secuelas de agresión sexual.  McCoy dijo que los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes están disponibles

VCU provides supportive measures to help students navigate the ‘Red Zone’

September 30, 2026

Olivia Rine, Staff Writer VCU has taken several measures to combat the “Red Zone,” referring to the period where college students are at the highest risk of sexual assault at the start of fall semester classes to Thanksgiving break. Tameika McCoy, VCU survivor support advocate, said there is a large emphasis on the first 14 weeks of the fall semester, but the Survivor Support Services provides workshops and prevention interventions throughout the entire school year.  During the Red Zone, McCoy and VCU’s Survivor Support Services hosts awareness events to support students. These events include Safety Day in collaboration with VCU’s law enforcement, and public outreach efforts like tabling.  “We just had a workshop we call ‘Crucial Conversations,’ we just did it with athletics, where we talked about boundaries, consent, relationships and safety,” McCoy said.  McCoy said that she is reaching out to the heads of fraternity and sorority organizations to implement sexual assault prevention strategies. Survivor Support Services contact groups individually to allow for strategies and prevention work for different organizations. Survivor Support Services helps provide guidance for students battling the aftermath of sexual assault.  McCoy said that Survivor Support Services’ assistance is available for students every step of the

Spanberger ends policy process to ban transgender women from sports and restrooms

September 30, 2026

Madeleine Biondi, Staff Writer Gov. Abigail Spanberger withdrew a regulation-making process that began last year aiming to ban transgender women from women’s sports, bathrooms and locker rooms. Despite removing the policy on July 30, Spanberger issued no notice to the public about the action, which was discovered on a government website and publicized by RadioIQ. Ending the policy process halted an overall ban on transgender athletes, while other college and high school level regulations heavily restrict it.  Spanberger stated to RadioIQ that the Department of Health’s process was not in line with its authority as determined by Attorney General Jay Jones. The Department of Health’s process began in April 2025 when three female swimmers, Réka György, Lily Mullins and Carter Satterfield, petitioned the Virginia Board of Health to ban transgender women from sports and using facilities. The petition stated, “The public health of Virginians, particularly of women and girls, demands that the Department of Health take action to prevent further harm, both physical and psychological, from males claiming or pretending to be females and gaining access to female-only athletic competitions and private spaces.” The Virginia State Board of Health unanimously voted in a 2025 meeting to move forward with regulation-making

‘Worthy of Importance’ Stories help fill gaps in Virginia’s Latino History

September 23, 2026

Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor Maddy Thurber, Staff Writer The Latino Virginia Oral History Project presented 70 interviews with Latino Virginians at the Hispanic Heritage celebration at the Sacred Heart Center on Sept. 16. The expansive oral history project captures the experiences of Latinos in Virginia and was conducted by VCU professors and undergraduate and graduate students, according to VCUnews. The event featured opening remarks from Catherine Ingrassia, the dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, both professors who co-led the project and students who helped conduct the interviews.  Virginia’s Latino population continues to be a significant percentage of the state’s population, with over 8.8 million in the entire state. Richmond’s population of people self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino is 226,522, or 10.7%, according to census.gov. Daniel Morales, an associate professor of history at VCU, said that despite the growing number of Latinos in Virginia and their status as the largest minority in the U.S., academic research and projects on the population are often overlooked.  “What we’re trying to show is that this is something that’s worthy of study and importance,” Morales said. “One in five Americans is Latino, they have the fastest-growing population in Virginia. It’s generally not considered

VCUarts dean steps down, university on search for replacement

September 23, 2026

Harshini Kanala, Contributing Writer  VCU School of Arts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham announced she will be stepping down from her position as dean at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. The university will conduct a national search for Higginbotham’s successor throughout the academic year, according to VCU News. Higginbotham plans to return to VCU as faculty to focus on her research and scholarship after taking a brief leave. During Higginbotham’s tenure, VCUarts ranked No. 1 in public fine arts for graduate programs and No. 2 overall in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. VCUarts received funding for the CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation and integrated the Institute for Contemporary Art into the School of the Arts. VCU approved the consolidation of several arts departments during her tenure, according to a previous report by the CT. During Higginbotham’s tenure in 2025, the school’s decision to discontinue a standalone fall commencement ceremony prompted student backlash and a petition calling for its reinstatement, according to a previous report by the CT. In March, faculty members publicly raised concerns about faculty departures, alleged racially motivated faculty termination, tenure policies and low morale within the school, with some alleging a lack

Richmond International Film Festival faces boycott from pro-Palestinian group

September 23, 2026

Hazel Lair, Contributing Writer Richmond for Palestine called for a boycott of the Richmond International Film Festival on Sept. 3, in response to controversial film screenings, collaboration with the Israeli Embassy and comments from Heather Waters, the festival’s founder and producer. Richmond for Palestine is a coalition of organizations that work toward the shared goal of supporting Palestine. In an open letter to RIFF, posted on Instagram, the group explained their motivations for calling the boycott. “For the last three years, Palestinians and Lebanese have suffered greatly under the genocidal violence of the Israeli state,” the letter stated. “For more than a century, Palestinians have been subjected to occupation and displacement at the hands of Israel … We have a moral obligation to support the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation. To that end, it’s imperative that we boycott Israeli cultural institutions, as well as cultural institutions that support and normalize the Israeli state.” The letter mentioned Waters’ recent trips to Israel and her belief that it is not committing genocide, according to Style Weekly. “It is clear that Heather Waters and RIFF endorse the dehumanization of marginalized groups worldwide,” the letter stated. One of the boycott’s demands is

VCU President Michael Rao’s base salary increases to $1 million per year

September 30, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer On Sept. 11, the VCU Board of Visitors voted to increase President Michael Rao’s base salary to $1 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2027.  The raise comes as the board voted in April to increase tuition by 3.9% for the 2026-2027 school year, according to a previous report by the CT.  In 2025, the Board of Visitors voted to increase Rao’s base salary to $895,618, a 9% increase from the previous year, according to a previous report by the CT.  “One of our Board’s most important responsibilities is to evaluate the performance of the president and ensure that the university has the leadership it needs for the future,” Rector Steven DeLuca said at the BOV meeting on Sept. 11.  Rector Steven DeLuca said at the BOV meeting on Sept. 11 that the boards most important responsibility is to assess the performance of the president and make sure the university “has the leadership it needs for the future.” In addition to increasing Rao’s salary, the board also voted to extend his contract into 2032. It included a bonus opportunity for Rao of up to 25% of his base salary. The average salary for VCU staff was $91,149 and $77,738 for VCUHealth employees according to the CT’s analysis of payroll data.  At the meeting, DeLuca cited Rao’s exceptional performance as president across various university goals as justification for the pay raise.  President Rao is currently the longest-serving public university president in Virginia.  University of Virginia President Scott Beardsley earns a base salary of $1.3 million, according to Cavalier Daily. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that six university presidents made over $2 million in total compensation in 2025. Additionally, out of the 172 university presidents whose compensation data was collected, Rao ranks 35th in total compensation.  Victoria Castagnola, a fourth-year computer science student, said she feels that the president’s salary increase is a “punch in the gut.” “I don’t know how his day-to-day life is, maybe he does work really hard, “Castagnola said. “Does he work hard enough that it justifies many VCU students struggling to pay their bills? Does he work hard enough that it justifies tuition increases and budget cuts.”  Emeka Guthrie, a fourth-year business management student, said there is a disconnect between the BOV and the student body.  “There’s no actual genuine concern for the students,” Guthrie said. “I think the Board of

VCU Rice Rivers Center aids in Atlantic sturgeon population recovery

September 30, 2026

Hazel Lair, Contributing Writer The Atlantic sturgeon, a federally endangered species of fish, has made its return to the James River for breeding season, despite worries regarding the population’s dwindling numbers. Now, the number of sturgeon is back in the thousands. VCU’s Rice Rivers Center, also known as “VCU’s river campus,” has worked to tag and track the fish in order to protect the species.  In 2007, scientists believed that the James River had only 300 sturgeon left, according to Smithsonian Magazine. As of last year, Rice Rivers has tagged over 2,500 separate sturgeon, confirming that the species still has hope for recovery. The Rice Rivers center has worked alongside the James River Association, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric The Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to restore the sturgeon population, according to a previous report by the CT.  Researchers assist state and federal agencies on determining which habitats in the river are most important for “critical spawning, nursery and migration activities, as well as the importance of threats like collisions with large vessels and habitat loss,” according to  the VCU Rice Rivers Center website. Each year, as sturgeon sense the temperature drop in the fall, they

VCU ofrece apoyo para estudiantes navegando la “zona roja” 

September 30, 2026

Olivia Rine, Staff Writer VCU ha tomado varias medidas para combatir “la zona roja”, un término que se refiere a las primeras seis semanas del semestre, donde estudiantes están a alto riesgo de agresión sexual.   Tameika McCoy, defensora de sobrevivientes de VCU, dijo que hay mucho énfasis en las primeras 14 semanas del semestre, pero los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes tienen reuniones para prevención durante el año entero.  Durante la zona roja, McCoy y los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes tienen eventos para ayudar a estudiantes afectados. Estos eventos incluyen seminarios, un “Dia de Seguridad” en colaboración con la policía de VCU, y más esfuerzos para alcanzar al público.  “Acabamos de tener un seminario que se llama ‘Conversaciones Cruciales’ con estudiantes atletas, y hablamos sobre los límites, el consentimiento, las relaciones y la seguridad,” McCoy said.  McCoy dijo que esta hablando con los presidentes de organizaciones de fraternidades y sororidades para implementar estrategias contra la agresión sexual. Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes habla con grupos individualmentes para hablar de estrategias preventivas.   Los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes ayuda a guiar estudiantes lidiando con las secuelas de agresión sexual.  McCoy dijo que los Servicios de Apoyo para Sobrevivientes están disponibles

VCU provides supportive measures to help students navigate the ‘Red Zone’

September 30, 2026

Olivia Rine, Staff Writer VCU has taken several measures to combat the “Red Zone,” referring to the period where college students are at the highest risk of sexual assault at the start of fall semester classes to Thanksgiving break. Tameika McCoy, VCU survivor support advocate, said there is a large emphasis on the first 14 weeks of the fall semester, but the Survivor Support Services provides workshops and prevention interventions throughout the entire school year.  During the Red Zone, McCoy and VCU’s Survivor Support Services hosts awareness events to support students. These events include Safety Day in collaboration with VCU’s law enforcement, and public outreach efforts like tabling.  “We just had a workshop we call ‘Crucial Conversations,’ we just did it with athletics, where we talked about boundaries, consent, relationships and safety,” McCoy said.  McCoy said that she is reaching out to the heads of fraternity and sorority organizations to implement sexual assault prevention strategies. Survivor Support Services contact groups individually to allow for strategies and prevention work for different organizations. Survivor Support Services helps provide guidance for students battling the aftermath of sexual assault.  McCoy said that Survivor Support Services’ assistance is available for students every step of the

Spanberger ends policy process to ban transgender women from sports and restrooms

September 30, 2026

Madeleine Biondi, Staff Writer Gov. Abigail Spanberger withdrew a regulation-making process that began last year aiming to ban transgender women from women’s sports, bathrooms and locker rooms. Despite removing the policy on July 30, Spanberger issued no notice to the public about the action, which was discovered on a government website and publicized by RadioIQ. Ending the policy process halted an overall ban on transgender athletes, while other college and high school level regulations heavily restrict it.  Spanberger stated to RadioIQ that the Department of Health’s process was not in line with its authority as determined by Attorney General Jay Jones. The Department of Health’s process began in April 2025 when three female swimmers, Réka György, Lily Mullins and Carter Satterfield, petitioned the Virginia Board of Health to ban transgender women from sports and using facilities. The petition stated, “The public health of Virginians, particularly of women and girls, demands that the Department of Health take action to prevent further harm, both physical and psychological, from males claiming or pretending to be females and gaining access to female-only athletic competitions and private spaces.” The Virginia State Board of Health unanimously voted in a 2025 meeting to move forward with regulation-making

‘Worthy of Importance’ Stories help fill gaps in Virginia’s Latino History

September 23, 2026

Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor Maddy Thurber, Staff Writer The Latino Virginia Oral History Project presented 70 interviews with Latino Virginians at the Hispanic Heritage celebration at the Sacred Heart Center on Sept. 16. The expansive oral history project captures the experiences of Latinos in Virginia and was conducted by VCU professors and undergraduate and graduate students, according to VCUnews. The event featured opening remarks from Catherine Ingrassia, the dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences, both professors who co-led the project and students who helped conduct the interviews.  Virginia’s Latino population continues to be a significant percentage of the state’s population, with over 8.8 million in the entire state. Richmond’s population of people self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino is 226,522, or 10.7%, according to census.gov. Daniel Morales, an associate professor of history at VCU, said that despite the growing number of Latinos in Virginia and their status as the largest minority in the U.S., academic research and projects on the population are often overlooked.  “What we’re trying to show is that this is something that’s worthy of study and importance,” Morales said. “One in five Americans is Latino, they have the fastest-growing population in Virginia. It’s generally not considered

VCUarts dean steps down, university on search for replacement

September 23, 2026

Harshini Kanala, Contributing Writer  VCU School of Arts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham announced she will be stepping down from her position as dean at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. The university will conduct a national search for Higginbotham’s successor throughout the academic year, according to VCU News. Higginbotham plans to return to VCU as faculty to focus on her research and scholarship after taking a brief leave. During Higginbotham’s tenure, VCUarts ranked No. 1 in public fine arts for graduate programs and No. 2 overall in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. VCUarts received funding for the CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation and integrated the Institute for Contemporary Art into the School of the Arts. VCU approved the consolidation of several arts departments during her tenure, according to a previous report by the CT. During Higginbotham’s tenure in 2025, the school’s decision to discontinue a standalone fall commencement ceremony prompted student backlash and a petition calling for its reinstatement, according to a previous report by the CT. In March, faculty members publicly raised concerns about faculty departures, alleged racially motivated faculty termination, tenure policies and low morale within the school, with some alleging a lack