Wednesday, October 21st, 2026

How VCU students are getting involved in the midterm elections

October 21, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer  The 2026 midterm election is fast approaching. This year, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election, as well as 35 U.S. Senate seats. The election comes amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainty and conflict in Iran.  VCU students are involving themselves in various ways by informing their peers about the election prior to the midterms.  VCU Votes is a student organization with a goal of educating students about voting and increasing voter turnout and registration, Roqia Ali, a fourth-year homeland security student and executive board member of VCU Votes, stated in an email.  “Through VCU Votes, students have been helping their peers register to vote, understand what’s on their ballot, and make a voting plan,” Ali stated. “We’ve been visiting classes with first-generation students and freshmen to get them engaged and give them a chance to ask questions.” VCU Votes have also hosted a general body meeting and ice cream social to give students a chance to meet the team and get involved, according to Ali.  Kelsey Jones, VCU Votes student coalition advisor, said the organization has taken a two-part approach, including partnerships and media outreach and spreading awareness about

VCU navigates gun violence threats to protect student safety

October 21, 2026

Olivia Rine, Staff Writer There have been multiple reports recently of gunshots in and around VCU campus, including shots fired outside of Broad and Belvidere Residence Center on Oct. 8.  Jake Burns, VCU Police public relations officer, stated in an email that VCU Police enforce any weapon law violations in both the Code of Virginia and Richmond Code of Ordinances.  “These include, but [are] not limited to, laws related to unlawful possession, discharge and transportation of firearms,” Burns stated.  Burns also shared information from VCU’s Weapon Policy, which states, “Possession or carrying of any weapon is prohibited on university property in academic buildings, administrative office buildings, medical venues, clinics, laboratories, research facilities, student residence buildings and dining facilities; or while attending sporting, entertainment or educational events.” Burns stated that upon a report of an armed party at Broad and Belividere Residence Hall Oct. 8, all available units immediately examined the area and began reviewing security footage. Shortly after, the perpetrator was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, and further charges are to be expected according to Burns.  “VCU Police take the safety and well being of our community seriously,” Burns stated. “Our officers quickly respond to any incident reportedly

Is our art as ethical and impactful as we like to think?

October 21, 2026

Dakota Cupples, Contributing Writer Can we in good conscience create art that critiques systems of oppression when the same money creating and funding our art comes from the pockets of our oppressors? What are the consequences of making Elon Musk a meme? “Digger,” Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new dark comedy film, is a call for artists to consider whether art is truly an effective way to incite change. The majority of theatre and film is privately funded by investors or wealthy people who perform philanthropy to make themselves look better. Bill Gates has a foundation that gives billions to charity every year, and a portion of that goes to the arts. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only about roughly 10% of American art was publicly funded, the numbers later being inflated due to COVID-19 relief efforts, according to the National Arts Action Summit. The rest comes from sponsorships, philanthropy or personal income.  If you are planning to be a working artist today, chances are you will have to reckon with the fact that the ultra-wealthy are at least part of the reason why you can share your art with others.  Many films and TV shows have attempted political satire in recent years

Your tattoos do not make you less feminine

October 14, 2026

Kylie Grunsfeld, Opinions & Humor Editor Women online are taking to their phones in droves to announce that they regret their tattoos, warning others against getting any. This is happening as the beauty industry is actively pushing “natural” and “classic” femininity, which prioritizes clear skin, natural-looking makeup and dissolving fillers.  As tattoos become more mainstream and the percentage of those getting tattooed increases, so does the percentage of people going through tattoo removal treatments. However, I do not think it is a matter of chance that tattoo removal is most common among Millennials and Gen Z, according to Removery. Women are also more likely than men to go through removal procedures, according to New York Cosmetic, Skin & Laser Surgery Center. Tattoos throughout U.S. history have correlated with rebellion, counterculture and toughness. It is fair to say that these associations are far more linked with masculinity than femininity. Sailors and military servicemen were the first and largest group of individuals to get inked when tattooing was brought to the U.S., according to PBS. Years later, whether consciously or subconsciously, we still associate tattoos with these kinds of professions.  Tattoos on men are manly. Tattoos on women are trashy, dirty and

Inside The Bellwether Garage: How a Church Hill repair shop built a free community stage

October 21, 2026

Emma Benton, Contributing Writer On a typical day, The Bellwether Garage operates as a motorcycle repair shop in Church Hill. Once a month, Grant Mathews and Lauren Albee, owners of The Bellwether Garage, clear enough room for amps, musicians and a crowd, turning the garage and surrounding property into a free neighborhood concert space. The Bellwether Garage Sessions started in 2023 and has grown into an event that draws hundreds of people without ever charging admission. As Bellwether heads deeper into fall and toward colder weather, the series faces a new test: how to preserve the casual, open atmosphere that helped it grow while adapting to shorter days and a crowd that now extends well beyond the immediate neighborhood.  At Bellwether, the shows do not operate like a typical venue, and the garage does not separate performers from the audience with a raised stage, barricade or bar crowd. Musicians play close to the people watching them, while neighbors, families and Richmond concertgoers move through the same space. Mathews and Albee have tried to preserve that neighborhood character as the sessions have grown. They live on the property, which means every concert takes place at their home and inside a residential

Bad Movie Night Club is so bad that it’s good

October 14, 2026

Sadie Porter, Contributing Writer There is not a theater experience quite like Bad Movie Night Club. Viewers are free to react however they like without judgement from the other members. Hosting a screening every Wednesday at 8 p.m., Bad Movie Night shows some truly terrible, high camp movies.  Gabriel Kelso, a fourth-year graphic design student and the club’s founder and president, had the idea to create Bad Movie Night on a whim when he spoke to a friend about his love for bad movies.  Little did Kelso know that so many people share his niche interest and were waiting for a club like this. What constitutes a bad movie? There is a difference between a film being unwatchable versus a film that had good intentions and a substantial budget but failed to meet expectations. Bad Movie Night Club encourages viewers to set aside traditional theater etiquette and embrace the absurdity of the films. “If something particularly ridiculous happens, we’ll probably shout it out and then we talk about it afterwards,” Kelso said. Beckett Dews, a second-year English student and the club’s treasurer and social media manager, joined Kelso after he reached out in need of extra officers. As a longtime

VCU comes up short in final non-conference matchup

October 21, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s field hockey lost a hard-fought matchup to the University of Delaware on Sunday at Cary St. Field. The Rams entered the matchup having won three of their last four, including a 4-3 victory vs. Davidson College two days prior to Sunday’s matchup. The first quarter was competitive, with neither team able to punch in the opening goal. Delaware nearly broke the tie a minute and a half into the second quarter, ricocheting a shot off the upper right corner of the goal, but after review, the goal was waived off and the score remained tied at zero. The Blue Hens nearly scored again with eight minutes remaining in the quarter, but a diving save from third-year VCU goalkeeper Emma Clements foiled the Delaware attempt. Delaware’s attack-first style paid off when second-year Amanda Rattay scored to give the Blue Hens the lead. VCU started the second half with more energy and quickly put Delaware on the defensive. Three minutes later, VCU first-year Julia Spohr scored a goal of their own, evening the score at one goal apiece. In the final quarter, the two teams refused to give an inch to the other, both squads getting

Thriller finish: VCU bests Loyola University Chicago 1-0

October 14, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer defeated Loyola University Chicago 1-0 on Saturday at the VCU Athletic Village, scoring with one second remaining in regulation to secure their first win at the new facility. The Rams have dealt with persistent injuries throughout the season. VCU entered Saturday looking to build momentum in its final Atlantic 10 matchups while managing a depleted roster. Both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities in a defense-heavy first half. VCU recorded one shot on goal and Loyola had two. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves in the opening 15 minutes to keep the match scoreless at halftime. In the 52nd minute, first-year midfielder Bya Ndimubandi received a second yellow card and was sent off, forcing VCU to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite the disadvantage, VCU continued to hold off Loyola’s attack. The Ramblers outshot the Rams 20-10, but Maloney finished with three saves to earn his first shutout of the season. With the clock winding down, VCU found one final opportunity. Third-year defender Nikita Hayes sent a ball into the top of the six-yard box, where first-year midfielder Esteban Vasquez finished with a one-touch shot to score

VCU men’s soccer ties 1-1 against George Washington, injuries continue

October 14, 2026

Chase Berman, Contributing Writer  The VCU men’s soccer team tied 1-1 against The George Washington University on Wednesday. The Rams are now 1-7-3 for the regular season. The energy was high throughout the game. The Rams led possession throughout most of the first half, but a series of bad turnovers led to the Revolutionaries fighting back. However, neither team was able to score in the first half. The second half saw more action and physicality. Fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron scored his first goal of the season less than five minutes into the second half, but the Revolutionaries quickly tied the game with a goal from first-year forward Tommaso Lami. Overall, the Rams outshot the Revolutionaries 15 to 11. These shots on goal have been a major focus of VCU head coach Dave Gifford. “It’s a game of percentages and odds, right,” Giffard said. “You have seven or eight chances that could have been goals and you get one. If that number is 25 or 30 chances…you probably get three or four and you’re really comfortable.”   Third-year midfielder Mohammed Ibrahim, who contributed an assist, and Salmeron both stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. “We always have to keep that

VCU field hockey locks down the win in high scoring affair

October 14, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer  VCU field hockey defeated Lock Haven University 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Cary St. Field, improving to 7-5 on the season. VCU took an aggressive approach, launching several shots on target in the first few minutes and staying on the attack. With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman struck first, scoring off a pass from third-year Lucia Donati. “When I’m in the middle, everyone just knows their job,” Zimmerman said. “The left knows her job, the right knows her job, the middle knows her job, so just following through is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Lock Haven responded quickly, drawing back to back penalty corners and scoring on the second attempt to tie things up 1-1 at the end of the first quarter. VCU stayed on the attack into the second quarter, applying pressure and forcing multiple saves by Lock Haven. With just 35 seconds left in the second quarter, VCU struck again, with first-year Julia Spohr scoring unassisted to take a 2-1 lead into the half. VCU kept the pressure up into the second half, attempting multiple shots on goal. Lock Haven responded with a penalty corner, but VCU secured

VCU falls to La Salle in hard fought game

October 14, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer fell to La Salle University 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers’ early scoring and second-half offense proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.  La Salle graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach scored within the first 10 minutes of the match, before finding the back of the net again during the 20th minute to give the Explorers an early 2-0 lead.  VCU responded four minutes later when third-year midfielder Shiori Shintaku scored, cutting La Salle’s lead to 2-1. However, the Explorers regained their two-goal advantage at the 40-minute mark when third-year forward/midfielder Alexis Garcia scored, seeing La Salle go into the half with a 3-1 lead.  Even though they trailed, the Rams recorded five shots during the first half, with three being on target. However, VCU struggled to turn its possessions into consistent scoring opportunities.  “We really did have control a lot of the game, but then we just couldn’t get that final shot off,” VCU head coach Lauryn Hutchinson said.  VCU came out amped after halftime, as fourth-year forward Jazmin Jackson scored in the opening minute of the second half to cut the deficit to 3-2. The goal marked Jackson’s

How VCU students are getting involved in the midterm elections

October 21, 2026

Bryer Haywood, Staff Writer  The 2026 midterm election is fast approaching. This year, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election, as well as 35 U.S. Senate seats. The election comes amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainty and conflict in Iran.  VCU students are involving themselves in various ways by informing their peers about the election prior to the midterms.  VCU Votes is a student organization with a goal of educating students about voting and increasing voter turnout and registration, Roqia Ali, a fourth-year homeland security student and executive board member of VCU Votes, stated in an email.  “Through VCU Votes, students have been helping their peers register to vote, understand what’s on their ballot, and make a voting plan,” Ali stated. “We’ve been visiting classes with first-generation students and freshmen to get them engaged and give them a chance to ask questions.” VCU Votes have also hosted a general body meeting and ice cream social to give students a chance to meet the team and get involved, according to Ali.  Kelsey Jones, VCU Votes student coalition advisor, said the organization has taken a two-part approach, including partnerships and media outreach and spreading awareness about

VCU navigates gun violence threats to protect student safety

October 21, 2026

Olivia Rine, Staff Writer There have been multiple reports recently of gunshots in and around VCU campus, including shots fired outside of Broad and Belvidere Residence Center on Oct. 8.  Jake Burns, VCU Police public relations officer, stated in an email that VCU Police enforce any weapon law violations in both the Code of Virginia and Richmond Code of Ordinances.  “These include, but [are] not limited to, laws related to unlawful possession, discharge and transportation of firearms,” Burns stated.  Burns also shared information from VCU’s Weapon Policy, which states, “Possession or carrying of any weapon is prohibited on university property in academic buildings, administrative office buildings, medical venues, clinics, laboratories, research facilities, student residence buildings and dining facilities; or while attending sporting, entertainment or educational events.” Burns stated that upon a report of an armed party at Broad and Belividere Residence Hall Oct. 8, all available units immediately examined the area and began reviewing security footage. Shortly after, the perpetrator was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, and further charges are to be expected according to Burns.  “VCU Police take the safety and well being of our community seriously,” Burns stated. “Our officers quickly respond to any incident reportedly

Opinion

Is our art as ethical and impactful as we like to think?

October 21, 2026

Dakota Cupples, Contributing Writer Can we in good conscience create art that critiques systems of oppression when the same money creating and funding our art comes from the pockets of our oppressors? What are the consequences of making Elon Musk a meme? “Digger,” Alejandro González Iñárritu’s new dark comedy film, is a call for artists to consider whether art is truly an effective way to incite change. The majority of theatre and film is privately funded by investors or wealthy people who perform philanthropy to make themselves look better. Bill Gates has a foundation that gives billions to charity every year, and a portion of that goes to the arts. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only about roughly 10% of American art was publicly funded, the numbers later being inflated due to COVID-19 relief efforts, according to the National Arts Action Summit. The rest comes from sponsorships, philanthropy or personal income.  If you are planning to be a working artist today, chances are you will have to reckon with the fact that the ultra-wealthy are at least part of the reason why you can share your art with others.  Many films and TV shows have attempted political satire in recent years

Your tattoos do not make you less feminine

October 14, 2026

Kylie Grunsfeld, Opinions & Humor Editor Women online are taking to their phones in droves to announce that they regret their tattoos, warning others against getting any. This is happening as the beauty industry is actively pushing “natural” and “classic” femininity, which prioritizes clear skin, natural-looking makeup and dissolving fillers.  As tattoos become more mainstream and the percentage of those getting tattooed increases, so does the percentage of people going through tattoo removal treatments. However, I do not think it is a matter of chance that tattoo removal is most common among Millennials and Gen Z, according to Removery. Women are also more likely than men to go through removal procedures, according to New York Cosmetic, Skin & Laser Surgery Center. Tattoos throughout U.S. history have correlated with rebellion, counterculture and toughness. It is fair to say that these associations are far more linked with masculinity than femininity. Sailors and military servicemen were the first and largest group of individuals to get inked when tattooing was brought to the U.S., according to PBS. Years later, whether consciously or subconsciously, we still associate tattoos with these kinds of professions.  Tattoos on men are manly. Tattoos on women are trashy, dirty and

The Rundown

Spectrum

Inside The Bellwether Garage: How a Church Hill repair shop built a free community stage

October 21, 2026

Emma Benton, Contributing Writer On a typical day, The Bellwether Garage operates as a motorcycle repair shop in Church Hill. Once a month, Grant Mathews and Lauren Albee, owners of The Bellwether Garage, clear enough room for amps, musicians and a crowd, turning the garage and surrounding property into a free neighborhood concert space. The Bellwether Garage Sessions started in 2023 and has grown into an event that draws hundreds of people without ever charging admission. As Bellwether heads deeper into fall and toward colder weather, the series faces a new test: how to preserve the casual, open atmosphere that helped it grow while adapting to shorter days and a crowd that now extends well beyond the immediate neighborhood.  At Bellwether, the shows do not operate like a typical venue, and the garage does not separate performers from the audience with a raised stage, barricade or bar crowd. Musicians play close to the people watching them, while neighbors, families and Richmond concertgoers move through the same space. Mathews and Albee have tried to preserve that neighborhood character as the sessions have grown. They live on the property, which means every concert takes place at their home and inside a residential

Bad Movie Night Club is so bad that it’s good

October 14, 2026

Sadie Porter, Contributing Writer There is not a theater experience quite like Bad Movie Night Club. Viewers are free to react however they like without judgement from the other members. Hosting a screening every Wednesday at 8 p.m., Bad Movie Night shows some truly terrible, high camp movies.  Gabriel Kelso, a fourth-year graphic design student and the club’s founder and president, had the idea to create Bad Movie Night on a whim when he spoke to a friend about his love for bad movies.  Little did Kelso know that so many people share his niche interest and were waiting for a club like this. What constitutes a bad movie? There is a difference between a film being unwatchable versus a film that had good intentions and a substantial budget but failed to meet expectations. Bad Movie Night Club encourages viewers to set aside traditional theater etiquette and embrace the absurdity of the films. “If something particularly ridiculous happens, we’ll probably shout it out and then we talk about it afterwards,” Kelso said. Beckett Dews, a second-year English student and the club’s treasurer and social media manager, joined Kelso after he reached out in need of extra officers. As a longtime

Sports

VCU comes up short in final non-conference matchup

October 21, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s field hockey lost a hard-fought matchup to the University of Delaware on Sunday at Cary St. Field. The Rams entered the matchup having won three of their last four, including a 4-3 victory vs. Davidson College two days prior to Sunday’s matchup. The first quarter was competitive, with neither team able to punch in the opening goal. Delaware nearly broke the tie a minute and a half into the second quarter, ricocheting a shot off the upper right corner of the goal, but after review, the goal was waived off and the score remained tied at zero. The Blue Hens nearly scored again with eight minutes remaining in the quarter, but a diving save from third-year VCU goalkeeper Emma Clements foiled the Delaware attempt. Delaware’s attack-first style paid off when second-year Amanda Rattay scored to give the Blue Hens the lead. VCU started the second half with more energy and quickly put Delaware on the defensive. Three minutes later, VCU first-year Julia Spohr scored a goal of their own, evening the score at one goal apiece. In the final quarter, the two teams refused to give an inch to the other, both squads getting

Thriller finish: VCU bests Loyola University Chicago 1-0

October 14, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s soccer defeated Loyola University Chicago 1-0 on Saturday at the VCU Athletic Village, scoring with one second remaining in regulation to secure their first win at the new facility. The Rams have dealt with persistent injuries throughout the season. VCU entered Saturday looking to build momentum in its final Atlantic 10 matchups while managing a depleted roster. Both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities in a defense-heavy first half. VCU recorded one shot on goal and Loyola had two. Fourth-year goalkeeper Trevor Maloney made two saves in the opening 15 minutes to keep the match scoreless at halftime. In the 52nd minute, first-year midfielder Bya Ndimubandi received a second yellow card and was sent off, forcing VCU to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Despite the disadvantage, VCU continued to hold off Loyola’s attack. The Ramblers outshot the Rams 20-10, but Maloney finished with three saves to earn his first shutout of the season. With the clock winding down, VCU found one final opportunity. Third-year defender Nikita Hayes sent a ball into the top of the six-yard box, where first-year midfielder Esteban Vasquez finished with a one-touch shot to score

VCU men’s soccer ties 1-1 against George Washington, injuries continue

October 14, 2026

Chase Berman, Contributing Writer  The VCU men’s soccer team tied 1-1 against The George Washington University on Wednesday. The Rams are now 1-7-3 for the regular season. The energy was high throughout the game. The Rams led possession throughout most of the first half, but a series of bad turnovers led to the Revolutionaries fighting back. However, neither team was able to score in the first half. The second half saw more action and physicality. Fourth-year midfielder Andrey Salmeron scored his first goal of the season less than five minutes into the second half, but the Revolutionaries quickly tied the game with a goal from first-year forward Tommaso Lami. Overall, the Rams outshot the Revolutionaries 15 to 11. These shots on goal have been a major focus of VCU head coach Dave Gifford. “It’s a game of percentages and odds, right,” Giffard said. “You have seven or eight chances that could have been goals and you get one. If that number is 25 or 30 chances…you probably get three or four and you’re really comfortable.”   Third-year midfielder Mohammed Ibrahim, who contributed an assist, and Salmeron both stressed the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. “We always have to keep that

VCU field hockey locks down the win in high scoring affair

October 14, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer  VCU field hockey defeated Lock Haven University 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Cary St. Field, improving to 7-5 on the season. VCU took an aggressive approach, launching several shots on target in the first few minutes and staying on the attack. With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, second-year Hannah Zimmerman struck first, scoring off a pass from third-year Lucia Donati. “When I’m in the middle, everyone just knows their job,” Zimmerman said. “The left knows her job, the right knows her job, the middle knows her job, so just following through is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Lock Haven responded quickly, drawing back to back penalty corners and scoring on the second attempt to tie things up 1-1 at the end of the first quarter. VCU stayed on the attack into the second quarter, applying pressure and forcing multiple saves by Lock Haven. With just 35 seconds left in the second quarter, VCU struck again, with first-year Julia Spohr scoring unassisted to take a 2-1 lead into the half. VCU kept the pressure up into the second half, attempting multiple shots on goal. Lock Haven responded with a penalty corner, but VCU secured

VCU falls to La Salle in hard fought game

October 14, 2026

Devynn Alston, Staff Writer VCU women’s soccer fell to La Salle University 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, as the Explorers’ early scoring and second-half offense proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.  La Salle graduate student forward Justyce Hollenbach scored within the first 10 minutes of the match, before finding the back of the net again during the 20th minute to give the Explorers an early 2-0 lead.  VCU responded four minutes later when third-year midfielder Shiori Shintaku scored, cutting La Salle’s lead to 2-1. However, the Explorers regained their two-goal advantage at the 40-minute mark when third-year forward/midfielder Alexis Garcia scored, seeing La Salle go into the half with a 3-1 lead.  Even though they trailed, the Rams recorded five shots during the first half, with three being on target. However, VCU struggled to turn its possessions into consistent scoring opportunities.  “We really did have control a lot of the game, but then we just couldn’t get that final shot off,” VCU head coach Lauryn Hutchinson said.  VCU came out amped after halftime, as fourth-year forward Jazmin Jackson scored in the opening minute of the second half to cut the deficit to 3-2. The goal marked Jackson’s

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