Tea Time with Tagwa: Justice is on the way for Adam Oakes
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Tea timers, when I think of justice, I think of accountability. My mind immediately jumps to the concept of holding someone accountable for their misdoings. For the longest time, justice has felt more like a fantasy than a reality. I’ve seen countless of innocent people’s lives be ruined and justice never […]
11 indicted in connection to freshman Adam Oakes’ death
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor Eleven people were indicted on Friday in connection to the death of VCU freshman Adam Oakes, as a result of a seven-month-long investigation led by the Richmond Police Department, according to RPD spokesperson Tracy Walker. Out of the eight people arrested, seven were taken into custody by VCU Police and one […]
8 arrested, 11 indicted in connection to freshman Adam Oakes’ death
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor Eight people were arrested on Friday in connection to the death of VCU freshman Adam Oakes, as a result of a seven month-long investigation led by the Richmond Police Department, according to RPD spokesperson Tracy Walker. Out of the eight people, seven were taken into custody by VCU Police and one […]
University freezes Greek life recruitment
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor Greek life organizations gave away free goodies, taught chants to students and created email sign-up lists in anticipation of recruitment at the Student Organization Fair. One week later, the university announced a freeze on fraternity and sorority recruitment and intake. “All new fraternity and sorority member activities, including recruitment and intake, […]
Dyad Strategies review recommends new policies for Greek life
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor Dyad Strategies released an independent review of Greek life at the beginning of August to provide VCU with recommendations for Greek life on campus. The university released its internal review a few days later. Senior economics and statistics major Michael Portillo of Phi Gamma Delta said he thought the independent review […]
Family of Adam Oakes reacts to fraternity expulsion, calling for more change
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor Adam Oakes always said hello and goodbye with a hug, played basketball with his little cousins and competed in family-style fantasy football every fall, his family said. Adam Oakes was a freshman at VCU when he pledged the Delta Chi fraternity. He was found dead on Feb. 27 after a Delta […]
VCU expels Delta Chi from campus three months after freshman death
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor VCU permanently removed the Delta Chi fraternity from campus on May 28 for violating university policies in the moments leading up to the death of freshman Adam Oakes, according to VCU spokesperson Michael Porter. The Student Organization Conduct Committee Chairs found Delta Chi responsible for violating university policies dealing with COVID-19, […]
Family of Adam Oakes create nonprofit, scholarship for high school students in his honor
Anna Chen, Contributing Writer Family members of Adam Oakes launched the Love Like Adam nonprofit organization on May 26, the day after his cause of death was determined. Oakes, a freshman at VCU, was found dead on Feb. 27 at a West Clay Street residence after attending an event hosted by a university chapter of […]
VCU freshman death ruled as accidental from alcohol poisoning, chief medical examiner states
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor VCU freshman Adam Oakes died of ethanol toxicity, a type of alcohol poisoning, according to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. Spokesperson Arkuie Williams stated in an email that the manner of death was accidental. Oakes was found dead on Feb. 27 at a West Clay Street residence after attending a Delta […]
‘It was an injustice’: VCU students assess mental health impact after student deaths
Sahara Sriraman, Staff Writer The deaths of freshman Adam Oakes on Feb. 26 and junior Cody Woodson on April 5 left an impact on VCU students. Some say these tragedies harmed their mental well-being. Charlie Dil, a computer science sophomore, said they knew Woodson personally. They were teaching assistants for a computer systems class, and […]