Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026

Spectrum

Students advocate for disability accessibility, awareness through art, prom event 

April 8, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing Writer    VCU’s first Disability Advocacy Week occurred from March 30 to April 4 and saw students collaborate with organizations on and off campus with the goal of raising awareness for students with disabilities and the challenges they face every day. The VCU Student Government’s Disability Advocacy and Accessibility Caucus put on a week’s slate of printing, socializing and film viewing that culminated in a “Disability Prom” in the Commons Ballroom.  Fourth-year student Xavier McDaniel designed two disability focused tote bags in collaboration with Studio Two Three, along with t-shirts and posters for those who participated in the event.  “I went through archives with protest and disability signs and imagery, pulling out phrases such as ‘To Exist is to Resist’ and ‘Accessibility benefits everyone,’” McDaniel said. March 31 saw the launch of an exhibition at the Cabell Library where the works of 20 disabled artists at VCU were featured — ranging from sculpture, craft, paper, video and digital media.  “VCUarts is so big, specifically pulling off the Uncommon brand, we do push our diversity in the art brand but we do not talk about disabled artists so my idea was to talk about all the uncommon,” McDaniel said.

Third All About Palestine brings rich culture, conversation

April 8, 2026

Lelia Contee, Contributing Writer  The third annual All About Palestine event invited Richmonders to experience Palestinian culture through joy, community and resistance at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on April 4.  Inspired by Mahmoud Darwish’s poem “On this land,” this year’s theme centered on resilience and appreciating the beauty, power and steadfastness of Palestinian culture. The event featured Palestinian art and literature, authentic cuisine, vendors and educational booths. Two panels were on the schedule — during the first, “Health Under Occupation: Mind, Body and Resilience,” panelists discussed the mental and physical toll of resisting genocide, and the resilience that sustains communities from Washington, D.C. to Gaza.  In the second panel — “Culture as Resistance,” panelists discussed how culture sustains Palestinian identity, memory and belonging across generations.  “We hope that it gets people excited about learning more about our culture, the history and the deep roots that we have to our indigenous land because we’re the indigenous people of the Levant,” said Fairouz Foty, co-founder of Malikat Al Dabke. Malikat Al Dabke, or Queens of Dabke, is the first all-women’s dabke troupe that specializes in Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi dance styles in the Washington region, according to their website.  Dabke is

RVA Missed Connections recouples lost links

April 8, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Staff Writer What started as a niche corner of Craigslist has found new life on Instagram where RVA Missed Connections is turning brief, everyday encounters into something more lasting.  The account shares anonymous submissions from Richmonders hoping to reconnect with strangers they crossed paths with. Whether it was a quick glance at a coffee shop or a conversation that ended too soon, no submission is too small. Jenna Bowen was inspired to create the page based on a book she had read by Brian Francis called “Missed Connections: A Memoir in Letters Never Sent,” a book that explores missed opportunities for love through personal ads. “It’s really interesting, in the 90s he was in his twenties and in the closet,” said Bowen. “So he posts a missed a connection ad in a newspaper hoping to find love and later reconnects with the letters he received 30 years later.” Bowen said the novel made her reflect on the idea of missed chances and whether people regret not taking them.  “I read it and thought to myself, ‘Would I want to regret missing my chance at love?’ and I imagined I couldn’t be the only one,” Bowen said. While the

Students advocate for disability accessibility, awareness through art, prom event 

Spectrum Editor April 8, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing Writer    VCU’s first Disability Advocacy Week occurred from March 30 to April 4 and saw students collaborate with organizations on and off campus with the goal of raising awareness for students with disabilities and the challenges they face every day. The VCU Student Government’s Disability Advocacy and Accessibility Caucus put on a week’s slate of printing, socializing and film viewing that culminated in a “Disability Prom” in the Commons Ballroom.  Fourth-year student Xavier McDaniel designed two disability focused tote bags in collaboration with Studio Two Three, along with t-shirts and posters for those who participated in the event.  “I went through archives with protest and disability signs and imagery, pulling out phrases such as ‘To Exist is to Resist’ and ‘Accessibility benefits everyone,’” McDaniel said. March 31 saw the launch of an exhibition at the Cabell Library where the works of 20 disabled artists at VCU were featured — ranging from sculpture, craft, paper, video and digital media.  “VCUarts is so big, specifically pulling off the Uncommon brand, we do push our diversity in the art brand but we do not talk about disabled artists so my idea was to talk about all the uncommon,” McDaniel said. “I wanted to highlight that. I didn’t see any spaces for artists with disabilities who are students, faculty and staff.” Graduate students, Rachel Dixon and Kay Robertson, contributed their work for the disabled artist spotlight at Cabell Library.  Dixon showed off two photo works, “Softness and Steel” and “Sculptural Support.” Photography was an integral part of her childhood and a way to give her disability visibility.  “I wanted my pieces to express the evolution of my relationship with my AFO [Ankle Foot Orthotics],” Dixon said. “I hope viewers understand that disability is not one‑dimensional, and to see the beauty, the work and the presence of disabled people in academic spaces.” Robertson used videography to talk about navigating chronic pain — having gone through intense flares while creating their piece.  The work is a “record of survival and a reminder that moving forward, even imperfectly, is its own form of strength,” Robertson stated.  Fourth-year student Bria Devinney, president of the Association of Students with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions, was behind the idea of ending the week of events with an accessible prom that would include accommodating areas for attendees.  “I noticed that other universities had formal events, but I, in my

Students advocate for disability accessibility, awareness through art, prom event 

April 8, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing Writer    VCU’s first Disability Advocacy Week occurred from March 30 to April 4 and saw students collaborate with organizations on and off campus with the goal of raising awareness for students with disabilities and the challenges they face every day. The VCU Student Government’s Disability Advocacy and Accessibility Caucus put on a week’s slate of printing, socializing and film viewing that culminated in a “Disability Prom” in the Commons Ballroom.  Fourth-year student Xavier McDaniel designed two disability focused tote bags in collaboration with Studio Two Three, along with t-shirts and posters for those who participated in the event.  “I went through archives with protest and disability signs and imagery, pulling out phrases such as ‘To Exist is to Resist’ and ‘Accessibility benefits everyone,’” McDaniel said. March 31 saw the launch of an exhibition at the Cabell Library where the works of 20 disabled artists at VCU were featured — ranging from sculpture, craft, paper, video and digital media.  “VCUarts is so big, specifically pulling off the Uncommon brand, we do push our diversity in the art brand but we do not talk about disabled artists so my idea was to talk about all the uncommon,” McDaniel said. “I wanted to highlight that. I didn’t see any spaces for artists with disabilities who are students, faculty and staff.” Graduate students, Rachel Dixon and Kay Robertson, contributed their work for the disabled artist spotlight at Cabell Library.  Dixon showed off two photo works, “Softness and Steel” and “Sculptural Support.” Photography was an integral part of her childhood and a way to give her disability visibility.  “I wanted my pieces to express the evolution of my relationship with my AFO [Ankle Foot Orthotics],” Dixon said. “I hope viewers understand that disability is not one‑dimensional, and to see the beauty, the work and the presence of disabled people in academic spaces.” Robertson used videography to talk about navigating chronic pain — having gone through intense flares while creating their piece.  The work is a “record of survival and a reminder that moving forward, even imperfectly, is its own form of strength,” Robertson stated.  Fourth-year student Bria Devinney, president of the Association of Students with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions, was behind the idea of ending the week of events with an accessible prom that would include accommodating areas for attendees.  “I noticed that other universities had formal events, but I, in my

Third All About Palestine brings rich culture, conversation

April 8, 2026

Lelia Contee, Contributing Writer  The third annual All About Palestine event invited Richmonders to experience Palestinian culture through joy, community and resistance at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on April 4.  Inspired by Mahmoud Darwish’s poem “On this land,” this year’s theme centered on resilience and appreciating the beauty, power and steadfastness of Palestinian culture. The event featured Palestinian art and literature, authentic cuisine, vendors and educational booths. Two panels were on the schedule — during the first, “Health Under Occupation: Mind, Body and Resilience,” panelists discussed the mental and physical toll of resisting genocide, and the resilience that sustains communities from Washington, D.C. to Gaza.  In the second panel — “Culture as Resistance,” panelists discussed how culture sustains Palestinian identity, memory and belonging across generations.  “We hope that it gets people excited about learning more about our culture, the history and the deep roots that we have to our indigenous land because we’re the indigenous people of the Levant,” said Fairouz Foty, co-founder of Malikat Al Dabke. Malikat Al Dabke, or Queens of Dabke, is the first all-women’s dabke troupe that specializes in Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi dance styles in the Washington region, according to their website.  Dabke is

RVA Missed Connections recouples lost links

April 8, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Staff Writer What started as a niche corner of Craigslist has found new life on Instagram where RVA Missed Connections is turning brief, everyday encounters into something more lasting.  The account shares anonymous submissions from Richmonders hoping to reconnect with strangers they crossed paths with. Whether it was a quick glance at a coffee shop or a conversation that ended too soon, no submission is too small. Jenna Bowen was inspired to create the page based on a book she had read by Brian Francis called “Missed Connections: A Memoir in Letters Never Sent,” a book that explores missed opportunities for love through personal ads. “It’s really interesting, in the 90s he was in his twenties and in the closet,” said Bowen. “So he posts a missed a connection ad in a newspaper hoping to find love and later reconnects with the letters he received 30 years later.” Bowen said the novel made her reflect on the idea of missed chances and whether people regret not taking them.  “I read it and thought to myself, ‘Would I want to regret missing my chance at love?’ and I imagined I couldn’t be the only one,” Bowen said. While the

‘Black Queer GRITS’ exhibition opens in Richmond

April 5, 2026

Cora Perkins, Assistant Spectrum Editor A new group exhibition, “Black Queer GRITS: (Girls Raised In The South) is on view at ART 180’s Atlas Gallery until April 17.  The exhibition, created by and for Black, queer, feminine-presenting people, originally began as a dissertation project by Chandler Golden, a doctoral candidate in the VCU counseling psychology program.  “I wanted my dissertation to examine the lived experiences of SBQ [Southern, Black, queer] femmes using a method called photovoice,” Golden said. “Photovoice has people take photos that represent their experiences in hopes that it can impact their community.” It was during the eight-week period of working on her project that Golden, and nine other SBQ femmes alongside her, decided to create an exhibition from the project.  “We picked ART 180 as our primary gallery of interest because of their reputation in the community, the fact that they were located in a historically Black neighborhood, and had a variety of Black femmes on their staff,” Golden said. “All those things were very important to us because we wanted to know that where the photos were potentially shown would mirror our own commitments.” Golden has many hopes for what the exhibition will accomplish in the

Swords, guilds and what else to expect at RVA’s Ren Faire

April 1, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Staff Writer With less than a month until opening weekend, Richmond’s Ren Faire has quickly transformed from a niche idea into one of the city’s most anticipated events of the year.  Virago Alley, the host of Richmond’s first Ren Faire, has been hosting small events leading up to the big one.  First, in February with a showing of  “The Princess Bride,” at the Byrd Theatre, complete with sword fighting and a costume contest. As well as a Lunar New Year Celebration, different beer launchings with local breweries and “Gauntlets, Guilds, and a Goblet of Mead Exhibition Opening,” on April 10 at HI-RES gallery.  Set for April 18–19 at Dorey Park, the Richmond Ren Faire is designed as a “grassroots celebration created by and for Richmond,” blending history, performance and community-driven storytelling, according to viragoalley.org. At its core, the Ren Faire is not just knights and castles, but reimagining the Renaissance through a broader, more inclusive lens. Drawing inspiration from the Silk Road, organizers aim to highlight global exchange and the contributions of everyday artisans and tradespeople. One of the defining features of the Faire is its guild system. Guilds function as immersive and  interactive groups that represent different

Students bring colorful ‘Taste of Sudan’ event to campus 

April 1, 2026

Fakeha Naeem, Contributing Writer  VCU’s Sudanese Student Association hosted “Taste of Sudan,” on Saturday from 2-8 p.m. at the VCU Commons Ballroom. The yearly event has gained popularity with approximately 300-500 people in attendance this year. SSA started preparing for the event a year in advance — booking the venue, planning performances, food, skits, dance and finding the volunteers who help bring it all together each year. It all culminates into a day of celebrating the culture and traditions of Sudan. Some attendees are local, like Aseel Packry, others came from Texas and New York, and some having flown all the way from Canada.  The festival started with a patriotic song “Azza fi Hawak,” sung by the board members who wore white to represent the unity of all regions of Sudan — the East, West, North and Central. They followed it with traditional poetry delivered by Mohammad Ibrahim. “The poetry represents what it means to be a Sudanese and how proud we are to be one,” said Aya Hamid, SSA vice president and fourth-year student.  The event highlights the fashion of Sudanese weddings, the prominent colors being red and gold. Jirtig, a traditional wedding thobe in red and traditional Sudanese

GalaxyCon 2026 was gay nerd heaven

March 25, 2026

Sapphira Mohammed, Copy Editor Superman, Bumblebee, Pompompurin and Frank-N-Furter all walk into the same bar. Why? Because they just got back from GalaxyCon, obviously — the annual convention filled with some of Richmond’s finest entertainers and performers.  GalaxyCon LLC is a convention company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that organizes comic book and anime conventions in the United States. The company has hosted the convention in Richmond since 2019.  Actors, directors and entertainers from all areas of pop culture media come to the convention to speak on panels and meet fans. This year included actor Hayden Christensen from “Star Wars” and the director of “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” Edgar Wright.  Inside the exhibition hall is Artist Alley, a designated area in a convention where artists display and sell their work to convention attendees, according to GalaxyCon’s website.  Austin Vestel, a Salisbury, Maryland-based corset maker and leather worker, has been vending at conventions for 15 years. He said conventions like GalaxyCon have been a huge help to his boutique, Corset & Cogs. “I quickly learned that in a weekend, I could make what I made in an entire month in my physical location,” Vestal said. “So just getting my work

The women behind Ink Magazine: Decades of alternative art and culture

March 25, 2026

Sapphira Mohammed, Copy Editor Ink magazine is a student-run alternative publication that prints issues every semester with out-of-the-ordinary themes such as “cyber,” “sex” or “freaks.” The magazine is unlike other student publications at VCU, but its first issue was unique for a different reason — it was a newspaper created by and for African American students. Reflections in Ink was created in 1978 by the VCU student branch of the League of Black Journalists and the Black Student Alliance, according to VCU Libraries. African American students had just integrated into the college and wanted to create a newspaper based on their collective experiences, according to Marilyn Campbell, one of Reflections in Ink’s founders.  “As a media team, we sought freedom through expression — voicing our truths, reflecting our experiences and embracing the realities of our time,” Campbell stated. “As students, our purpose was to pursue academic dreams while working side jobs, volunteering to gain experience and grounding our ambitions in the lives we were living.” With technical assistance from The CT and information from the Third World Coalition, Reflections in Ink’s first issue was released in March 1978. They noted that it would be the only issue funded by student

Spectrum Editor’s fall fashion tips

October 5, 2022

Chloe Hawkins, Spectrum Editor The change in months and weather indicate that it is officially autumn season. The mourning of bathing suits and flip flops

Spectrum Editor’s list of fall movies

September 21, 2022

Chloe Hawkins, Spectrum Editor Little Women (2019) This movie is set in 19th century Massachusetts and follows four sisters: Amy, played by Florence Pugh; Josephine,