In the wake of school mass shootings, VCU says they are prepared for the worst
The Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — which left 17 dead and 14 injured — has schools all over the country reconsidering their protocols for active shooter situations. Officials at VCU say they have a plan in place for if anything similar happens here. In 2016 and 2017, […]
Student spearheads advocacy for food security at VCU and abroad
Tatenda Ndambakuwa started a mentorship program in Zimbabwe, helped develop two mobile apps and wrote a children’s book to promote agricultural education and food waste awareness, all while pursuing a degree in mathematics and applied mathematics at VCU. Her studies focus on agricultural development, social entrepreneurship and food security. Now a senior, Ndambakuwa was selected […]
Expansion and engagement: How VCU came to dominate Richmond 50 years after it opened its doors
The nation was in upheaval when VCU opened its doors in downtown Richmond in the summer of 1968. The university’s journey as an institution began when the Medical College of Virginia opened its doors in 1838. MCV gained official status as a state institution in 1860 — it played a critical role in educating doctors […]
Drugs, alcohol and suicide: Mortality rates continue to rise in the U.S
U.S. life expectancy fell for the second year in a row, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — And a VCU professor says drugs, alcohol and suicide are to blame. In his editorial, “Failing Health of the United States,” Steven Woolf, director of the Center on Society and Health addressed the challenges […]
Students raise concerns about VCU purchase of Mansion nightclub
Student and teacher advocates for adjunct pay equity are questioning the need for VCU’s purchase of a nightclub on campus last week. VCU bought Mansion 534, on North Harrison Street, for $3.5 million. Michael Porter, a university spokesperson, said the purchase is part of the university’s overall real estate acquisition. He said the property is […]
In VCU visit, Martin Luther King III reflects on making long-sought “dream” a reality
In an address moderated Mayor Levar Stoney, Martin Luther King III — a community activist and son of the prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s — urged students and community members to embrace nonviolence and positivity. King reiterated his father’s message of nonviolence — especially when it comes to guns — […]
Meals tax passing leaves Richmond split on school funding
City Council passed an ordinance to increase the city’s meals tax in a 7-2 vote last Monday. The tax, which will take effect July 1, is predicted to raise $9 million in annual revenue for Richmond Public School construction and renovation over the next five years. The council voted to approve the meals tax ordinance […]
Student activists lobby for tuition equity
More than a dozen members and allies of the Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Schools, known as PLUMAS at VCU, sat in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs to call lawmakers and ask for support for tuition equity. The students urged support of House Bill 343 introduced by Del. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax) […]
VCU professor helps state negotiate with Dominion
Mark Rubin, executive director of the Virginia Center for Consensus Building at VCU, was called in by Gov. Ralph Northam and Dominion Energy to moderate the bill’s compromise. Rubin worked previously with former governor Tim Kaine on similar issues. “Mark is well-known for his experience and competence in mediating discussions on complex policy issues,” stated […]
VCU changes policy on free speech areas in the wake of Compass controversies
VCU is restricting rules on who can reserve the Compass, according to an interim policy introduced at the end of 2017. Previously, the Compass could be reserved by students or people with no affiliation with the university. But now, the plaza directly adjacent to the Compass has that distinction. Reuban Rodriguez, associate vice provost and […]