Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026

ELECTION: Virginians pass redistricting measure, giving Democrats 10-1 map

April 22, 2026

Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor The people of Virginia voted on Tuesday to pass the mid-decade redistricting amendment by a nearly three point margin — allowing the General Assembly to redraw Congressional district lines in a way that favors Democrats 10-1. Virginia’s redistricting referendum was set up by Democrats, in their words, as a measure to fight President Donald Trump and his pressures to redistrict in other states to favor Republicans. With the proposal’s passage, Virginia has a new Congressional map that will take effect immediately — opening the door for Democratic challengers in previously-solid red districts across the commonwealth. Democrats spent over $64 million and Republicans spent over $21 million trying to swing the results in their favor, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Over 3 million people voted in the referendum. Alyssa Morris, a first-year art foundation student, voted “yes” on the referendum because even though people have called the new map “gerrymandered,” Republicans are guilty of doing the same in other states. “We may as well try to do that too, level out the playing field,” Morris said. Alex Keena, an associate professor who studies political representation and elections, stated that, under the new map, voters will

Latino Virginia project captures untold oral history 

April 22, 2026

Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor “[In Spanish] I feel that I have found [Richmond] needs many changes. And that there is a lot of need out there. And before, when I had recently arrived, I couldn’t see that either — because normally when we arrive we submerge ourselves in a job, in long hours, and we don’t see that.” That is the experience of Richmond resident Claudia Leolo, captured in the Latino Virginia Oral History Project, which involved conducting over 140 interviews with Virginians who share a background or heritage in Latin America. The research was led by VCU associate professor of sociology Gabriela León-Pérez and associate professor of history Daniel Morales. León-Pérez said their main goal with the interviews was to dispel myths and stereotypes about Latin American migration. “In some cases, yes, it’s because of better economic opportunities, but also it can be for family reunification for families that have been separated, it can be due to domestic violence in the country of origin, or for better educational opportunities,” León-Pérez said. Research dives into identity, diversity of experience Virginia was home to more than 1.19 million immigrant residents in 2024, according to the Migration Policy Institute, more than

All CPR dummies should have breasts

April 22, 2026

Maya Kamat, Contributing Writer The first time I learned CPR, I was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with my peers in a dimly lit classroom as an earnest gym teacher played a video about Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and chest compressions. I was watching the video intently when my friend tapped my shoulder. “They take your shirt off to put on an AED?” she said with disgust. “I would rather they just let me die.”  I remember feeling distinctly horrified. Why would she say that? How did we get to the point where the female breast had become so sexualized that women are uncomfortable with receiving life-saving care? I don’t remember what I said to my friend then, but I would say this — with the way people treat female bodies, they probably would have let her die.  Women are 27% less likely than men to receive basic CPR in out of hospital cardiac arrests, according to a 2024 study. CPR can nearly double a person’s chances of survival. All 50 states as well as D.C. have good samaritan laws that protect bystanders performing CPR. And yet, women across all racial backgrounds are consistently less likely to receive this life-saving care. As an

The courts don’t need to revoke birthright citizenship — our culture already has

April 22, 2026

Shiny Chandravel, Assistant Opinions Editor  People ask me where I’m from all the time. If you look anything like me, they ask you too.  I think people expect me to tell them my exotic stories of living in the Indian subcontinent, stories they’ve seen in movies like “Slumdog Millionaire” or in Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s viral wedding video. But the truth is much more anticlimactic. I’ve lived in Richmond my whole life, born and raised.  I’ve learned to meet people halfway with my response: “I’m from here, but my parents are from India.” For a long time, that response did the trick. It equally satisfied their curiosity, my heritage and my stubbornness to be truthful to the city I’ve spent my life calling home.  I was recently asked this question again at the hospital where I work. In my rounds, I met an older patient who, like many before him, asked me where I was from. But when I gave him my usual response, I was thrown off when he pressed his investigation.  “What do your parents do?” he asked abrasively.  I responded that my dad worked in a pharmacy while my mom was a stay-at-home mom. Hearing this,

Richmond exhibitions to check out as art comes into bloom

April 22, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Staff Writer As spring settles in and the city starts to warm up, Richmond’s art scene is stepping into the spotlight. From major museum exhibitions to intimate gallery shows and pop-up experiences, there is no shortage of creativity to explore across the city. Wander through world class collections at the VMFA Constantly changing, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosts several exhibitions at a time — from African and Indigenous art to portraits of Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward. Former fan favorites include “Frida: Beyond the Myth,” a major exhibition exploring the life and work of Frida Kahlo, alongside photography exhibitions like “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” which reflects on childhood through a series of striking images. Current exhibitions are “Views of the Tōkaidō by Utagawa Hiroshige and Kawase Hasui,”, “Titus Kaphar and Junius Brutus Stearns: Pictures More Famous than the Truth,”, “Alvin Lester: Portraits of Jackson Ward and Beyond,” and “Community and Continuity: African Art and Indigenous American Art.” Visitors can find out more about each exhibition on vmfa.museum. Experience raw local voices at Southside Contemporary Art Gallery The exhibition “Keep it 1000” brings the authentic energy of nine emerging artists to Richmond’s Southside. Featuring contemporary art, priced reasonably

Annual VCUarts fashion show will summon ‘Synergy’

April 22, 2026

Kara Haas, Contributing Writer  VCUarts fashion design and merchandising students will display their works in the theme of “Synergy” at their annual student-run fashion show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on April 28. “Synergy” conjures up movement, according to Kimberly Guthrie, associate professor and chair of the department. “The synergy that we’re focusing on is if we have the tracks between merchandising and design come together and make synergy,” Guthrie said. Design students are focusing on fabric and textiles in their garments. When designing, each student composes a own story within them, Guthrie said. “Young designers are able to start developing a design point of view or design ethos,” Guthrie said. “Inspiration can come from a fabric, a technique or a cultural moment, and then that inspiration is what starts the story.” Guthrie mentioned multiple fashion classes are involved such as a tailoring course, where students explored different pants designs. In the senior level course, they focus on the shapes and details of pants. Other classes include “Mixteco,” focusing on indigenous craft. There is also a zero-waste collection where the dresses are made from pieces of waste fabric. Students in the “CLO3D” course create designs on an online

APRIL 22 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 22, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Men’s golf at Mountaineer Invitational  VCU men’s golf competed at the Mountaineer Invitational in Bridgeport, West Virginia, finishing 14th out of 19 teams. The Rams faced a strong field that included multiple top-40 programs, with No. 36 Clemson taking the team title. Fifth-year Mason Minkel led VCU finishing tied for 26th at +3. Minkel shot rounds of 74-75-70 and was one of three Rams to record 10 birdies during the tournament. The Rams will now turn their attention to the Atlantic 10 Championships, set for April 27–29 in Orlando, Florida. Women’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU women’s tennis delivered a dominant performance at home, sweeping Duquesne 4-0 in A-10 play at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Rams controlled the match from the start, securing the doubles point before carrying that momentum into singles competition. VCU continued its strong play in singles, winning three straight matches to clinch the victory. The Rams did not allow the Dukes to score a single point in the match. The Rams will continue in A-10 play heading toward the final stretch of the regular season. Men’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU men’s tennis continued its strong performances

VCU welcomes one of highest ranked recruiting classes in program history

April 22, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country. Now, following a successful first season, Martelli and his staff welcome an exciting group of fresh faces to the fold. Ranked No. 29 in the nation according to Rivals, this year’s incoming class is one to look out for. Incoming transfers Blake Harper Blake Harper is a 6-foot-7-inch third-year guard with huge upside. In his first year, playing at Howard University, he became the first Mid-Easter Athletic Conference player to win rookie of the year and player of the year in the same season.  Harper is a proven scorer, averaging just shy of 20 points per game at Howard, making him a welcome addition to an already talented Rams backcourt. The third-year guard is coming off of a less productive season at Creighton University in which he averaged 7.7 points per game. Torey Alston Torey Alston is a third-year forward who boasts a lengthy 6-foot-8-inch frame and has exciting two-way potential. Alston averaged an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds last season at Middle Tennessee State. His highlight

The ins and outs of VCU women’s basketball after the transfer portal

April 22, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer New VCU women’s basketball head coach Chelsea Banbury joined the Rams just in time to begin recruiting for the transfer portal — which opened on April 6 and remained open until April 20.  After ending the 2025-2026 season with an unfortunate 8-23 record, Rams key fourth-year redshirt guard Mary-Anna Asare entered the portal, according to The IX Sports.  Asare is looking for a final season elsewhere after being approved for a medical redshirt. Despite Asare’s injury last season, her prior performances proved her crucial contributions on offense and defense.  During Asare’s third year, she was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second team and led the Rams with 16.0 points per game, scoring double digits in 25 out of 30 games played, according to VCU Athletics. Her skills went beyond scoring as she averaged 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The day of the portal’s closing, Asare announced her official commitment to the University of Virginia where she will complete her final year of eligibility. The loss of Asare is significant to the Rams, however their prior season without her gave them the opportunity to excel on their own.  The 6-foot-7-inch redshirt third-year forward

VCU’s lead scorer Terrence Hill Jr. commits to Tennessee

April 21, 2026

Alexis Washington, Assistant Sports Editor Second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. announced his commitment to the University of Tennessee on Sunday, following an impressive season with VCU that helped lead the program to an NCAA Tournament win. “I see myself scoring a lot, play-making a lot, whether that’s being at the one or being at the two,” Hill said in an interview with 247sports after committing to Tennessee. “But primarily going forward, I think for me to get to that next level is going to be me at that point guard spot.”  Hill was among the top 10 players in the portal, according to draftxpress, catching the interest of teams like the University of Oregon, Louisiana State University and the University of Kansas.  Hill averaged 15 points per game and 2.8 assists — both team highs for the Rams — shooting 46.6% from the field and 37% from three.  Hill quickly became a household name for the Rams following a 82-78 victory over No. 6 University of North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, drawing national attention. VCU trailed by 19 but stormed back to force overtime fueled by Hill’s performance. He finished with 34 points off the

Baseball falls short against GW; loses weekend series

April 17, 2026

Drew Thompson, Sports Editor The Rams got swept in the weekend series to George Washington University, losing 4-3, 8-7 and getting dominated 9-3 in game three.  Graduate student pitcher Everett Vaughn was credited with the game three loss after 1.2 innings pitched, four hits, three earned runs, four walks and a strikeout.  Third-year infielder Trent Adelman and redshirt first-year infielder Alec Warden both had the only multi-hit performances for the Rams in the game three loss.  Third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick and redshirt third-year utility Quinn Maher both had good games despite the game two loss. Maher drove in a career-high four runs.  Redshirt fourth-year pitcher Patrick Stietz started game one strong for the Rams, but the game broke open after he was relieved.  VCU lost 4-3 to GW on Friday to start a three game series, falling back to earth after its upset win over the University of Virginia earlier this week.  Neither team made much of an impact in the first inning, with both sides failing to get a hit.  VCU cruised through the top of the second despite redshirt fourth-year pitcher Elias Holbert hitting two batters.  The Rams started the bottom of the second with a lead-off double

ELECTION: Virginians pass redistricting measure, giving Democrats 10-1 map

April 22, 2026

Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor The people of Virginia voted on Tuesday to pass the mid-decade redistricting amendment by a nearly three point margin — allowing the General Assembly to redraw Congressional district lines in a way that favors Democrats 10-1. Virginia’s redistricting referendum was set up by Democrats, in their words, as a measure to fight President Donald Trump and his pressures to redistrict in other states to favor Republicans. With the proposal’s passage, Virginia has a new Congressional map that will take effect immediately — opening the door for Democratic challengers in previously-solid red districts across the commonwealth. Democrats spent over $64 million and Republicans spent over $21 million trying to swing the results in their favor, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Over 3 million people voted in the referendum. Alyssa Morris, a first-year art foundation student, voted “yes” on the referendum because even though people have called the new map “gerrymandered,” Republicans are guilty of doing the same in other states. “We may as well try to do that too, level out the playing field,” Morris said. Alex Keena, an associate professor who studies political representation and elections, stated that, under the new map, voters will

Latino Virginia project captures untold oral history 

April 22, 2026

Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor “[In Spanish] I feel that I have found [Richmond] needs many changes. And that there is a lot of need out there. And before, when I had recently arrived, I couldn’t see that either — because normally when we arrive we submerge ourselves in a job, in long hours, and we don’t see that.” That is the experience of Richmond resident Claudia Leolo, captured in the Latino Virginia Oral History Project, which involved conducting over 140 interviews with Virginians who share a background or heritage in Latin America. The research was led by VCU associate professor of sociology Gabriela León-Pérez and associate professor of history Daniel Morales. León-Pérez said their main goal with the interviews was to dispel myths and stereotypes about Latin American migration. “In some cases, yes, it’s because of better economic opportunities, but also it can be for family reunification for families that have been separated, it can be due to domestic violence in the country of origin, or for better educational opportunities,” León-Pérez said. Research dives into identity, diversity of experience Virginia was home to more than 1.19 million immigrant residents in 2024, according to the Migration Policy Institute, more than

Opinion

All CPR dummies should have breasts

April 22, 2026

Maya Kamat, Contributing Writer The first time I learned CPR, I was sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with my peers in a dimly lit classroom as an earnest gym teacher played a video about Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and chest compressions. I was watching the video intently when my friend tapped my shoulder. “They take your shirt off to put on an AED?” she said with disgust. “I would rather they just let me die.”  I remember feeling distinctly horrified. Why would she say that? How did we get to the point where the female breast had become so sexualized that women are uncomfortable with receiving life-saving care? I don’t remember what I said to my friend then, but I would say this — with the way people treat female bodies, they probably would have let her die.  Women are 27% less likely than men to receive basic CPR in out of hospital cardiac arrests, according to a 2024 study. CPR can nearly double a person’s chances of survival. All 50 states as well as D.C. have good samaritan laws that protect bystanders performing CPR. And yet, women across all racial backgrounds are consistently less likely to receive this life-saving care. As an

The courts don’t need to revoke birthright citizenship — our culture already has

April 22, 2026

Shiny Chandravel, Assistant Opinions Editor  People ask me where I’m from all the time. If you look anything like me, they ask you too.  I think people expect me to tell them my exotic stories of living in the Indian subcontinent, stories they’ve seen in movies like “Slumdog Millionaire” or in Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra’s viral wedding video. But the truth is much more anticlimactic. I’ve lived in Richmond my whole life, born and raised.  I’ve learned to meet people halfway with my response: “I’m from here, but my parents are from India.” For a long time, that response did the trick. It equally satisfied their curiosity, my heritage and my stubbornness to be truthful to the city I’ve spent my life calling home.  I was recently asked this question again at the hospital where I work. In my rounds, I met an older patient who, like many before him, asked me where I was from. But when I gave him my usual response, I was thrown off when he pressed his investigation.  “What do your parents do?” he asked abrasively.  I responded that my dad worked in a pharmacy while my mom was a stay-at-home mom. Hearing this,

The Rundown

Spectrum

Richmond exhibitions to check out as art comes into bloom

April 22, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Staff Writer As spring settles in and the city starts to warm up, Richmond’s art scene is stepping into the spotlight. From major museum exhibitions to intimate gallery shows and pop-up experiences, there is no shortage of creativity to explore across the city. Wander through world class collections at the VMFA Constantly changing, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts hosts several exhibitions at a time — from African and Indigenous art to portraits of Richmond’s historic Jackson Ward. Former fan favorites include “Frida: Beyond the Myth,” a major exhibition exploring the life and work of Frida Kahlo, alongside photography exhibitions like “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” which reflects on childhood through a series of striking images. Current exhibitions are “Views of the Tōkaidō by Utagawa Hiroshige and Kawase Hasui,”, “Titus Kaphar and Junius Brutus Stearns: Pictures More Famous than the Truth,”, “Alvin Lester: Portraits of Jackson Ward and Beyond,” and “Community and Continuity: African Art and Indigenous American Art.” Visitors can find out more about each exhibition on vmfa.museum. Experience raw local voices at Southside Contemporary Art Gallery The exhibition “Keep it 1000” brings the authentic energy of nine emerging artists to Richmond’s Southside. Featuring contemporary art, priced reasonably

Annual VCUarts fashion show will summon ‘Synergy’

April 22, 2026

Kara Haas, Contributing Writer  VCUarts fashion design and merchandising students will display their works in the theme of “Synergy” at their annual student-run fashion show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on April 28. “Synergy” conjures up movement, according to Kimberly Guthrie, associate professor and chair of the department. “The synergy that we’re focusing on is if we have the tracks between merchandising and design come together and make synergy,” Guthrie said. Design students are focusing on fabric and textiles in their garments. When designing, each student composes a own story within them, Guthrie said. “Young designers are able to start developing a design point of view or design ethos,” Guthrie said. “Inspiration can come from a fabric, a technique or a cultural moment, and then that inspiration is what starts the story.” Guthrie mentioned multiple fashion classes are involved such as a tailoring course, where students explored different pants designs. In the senior level course, they focus on the shapes and details of pants. Other classes include “Mixteco,” focusing on indigenous craft. There is also a zero-waste collection where the dresses are made from pieces of waste fabric. Students in the “CLO3D” course create designs on an online

Sports

APRIL 22 RECAP: How every VCU team did this week

April 22, 2026

Hayden Braun, Staff Writer Drew Thompson, Sports Editor Men’s golf at Mountaineer Invitational  VCU men’s golf competed at the Mountaineer Invitational in Bridgeport, West Virginia, finishing 14th out of 19 teams. The Rams faced a strong field that included multiple top-40 programs, with No. 36 Clemson taking the team title. Fifth-year Mason Minkel led VCU finishing tied for 26th at +3. Minkel shot rounds of 74-75-70 and was one of three Rams to record 10 birdies during the tournament. The Rams will now turn their attention to the Atlantic 10 Championships, set for April 27–29 in Orlando, Florida. Women’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU women’s tennis delivered a dominant performance at home, sweeping Duquesne 4-0 in A-10 play at the Thalhimer Tennis Center. The Rams controlled the match from the start, securing the doubles point before carrying that momentum into singles competition. VCU continued its strong play in singles, winning three straight matches to clinch the victory. The Rams did not allow the Dukes to score a single point in the match. The Rams will continue in A-10 play heading toward the final stretch of the regular season. Men’s tennis vs. Duquesne University VCU men’s tennis continued its strong performances

VCU welcomes one of highest ranked recruiting classes in program history

April 22, 2026

Ben Martindale, Staff Writer In 2025, VCU head men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. started his tenure with the Rams by bringing in the No. 46 ranked recruiting class in the country. Now, following a successful first season, Martelli and his staff welcome an exciting group of fresh faces to the fold. Ranked No. 29 in the nation according to Rivals, this year’s incoming class is one to look out for. Incoming transfers Blake Harper Blake Harper is a 6-foot-7-inch third-year guard with huge upside. In his first year, playing at Howard University, he became the first Mid-Easter Athletic Conference player to win rookie of the year and player of the year in the same season.  Harper is a proven scorer, averaging just shy of 20 points per game at Howard, making him a welcome addition to an already talented Rams backcourt. The third-year guard is coming off of a less productive season at Creighton University in which he averaged 7.7 points per game. Torey Alston Torey Alston is a third-year forward who boasts a lengthy 6-foot-8-inch frame and has exciting two-way potential. Alston averaged an impressive 13 points and eight rebounds last season at Middle Tennessee State. His highlight

The ins and outs of VCU women’s basketball after the transfer portal

April 22, 2026

Jenny Allen, Staff Writer New VCU women’s basketball head coach Chelsea Banbury joined the Rams just in time to begin recruiting for the transfer portal — which opened on April 6 and remained open until April 20.  After ending the 2025-2026 season with an unfortunate 8-23 record, Rams key fourth-year redshirt guard Mary-Anna Asare entered the portal, according to The IX Sports.  Asare is looking for a final season elsewhere after being approved for a medical redshirt. Despite Asare’s injury last season, her prior performances proved her crucial contributions on offense and defense.  During Asare’s third year, she was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second team and led the Rams with 16.0 points per game, scoring double digits in 25 out of 30 games played, according to VCU Athletics. Her skills went beyond scoring as she averaged 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. The day of the portal’s closing, Asare announced her official commitment to the University of Virginia where she will complete her final year of eligibility. The loss of Asare is significant to the Rams, however their prior season without her gave them the opportunity to excel on their own.  The 6-foot-7-inch redshirt third-year forward

VCU’s lead scorer Terrence Hill Jr. commits to Tennessee

April 21, 2026

Alexis Washington, Assistant Sports Editor Second-year guard Terrence Hill Jr. announced his commitment to the University of Tennessee on Sunday, following an impressive season with VCU that helped lead the program to an NCAA Tournament win. “I see myself scoring a lot, play-making a lot, whether that’s being at the one or being at the two,” Hill said in an interview with 247sports after committing to Tennessee. “But primarily going forward, I think for me to get to that next level is going to be me at that point guard spot.”  Hill was among the top 10 players in the portal, according to draftxpress, catching the interest of teams like the University of Oregon, Louisiana State University and the University of Kansas.  Hill averaged 15 points per game and 2.8 assists — both team highs for the Rams — shooting 46.6% from the field and 37% from three.  Hill quickly became a household name for the Rams following a 82-78 victory over No. 6 University of North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, drawing national attention. VCU trailed by 19 but stormed back to force overtime fueled by Hill’s performance. He finished with 34 points off the

Baseball falls short against GW; loses weekend series

April 17, 2026

Drew Thompson, Sports Editor The Rams got swept in the weekend series to George Washington University, losing 4-3, 8-7 and getting dominated 9-3 in game three.  Graduate student pitcher Everett Vaughn was credited with the game three loss after 1.2 innings pitched, four hits, three earned runs, four walks and a strikeout.  Third-year infielder Trent Adelman and redshirt first-year infielder Alec Warden both had the only multi-hit performances for the Rams in the game three loss.  Third-year infielder Nate Kirkpatrick and redshirt third-year utility Quinn Maher both had good games despite the game two loss. Maher drove in a career-high four runs.  Redshirt fourth-year pitcher Patrick Stietz started game one strong for the Rams, but the game broke open after he was relieved.  VCU lost 4-3 to GW on Friday to start a three game series, falling back to earth after its upset win over the University of Virginia earlier this week.  Neither team made much of an impact in the first inning, with both sides failing to get a hit.  VCU cruised through the top of the second despite redshirt fourth-year pitcher Elias Holbert hitting two batters.  The Rams started the bottom of the second with a lead-off double

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