Wednesday, October 14th, 2026

VCU students organize walkout to protest sexual violence in wake of Cornell lawsuit

October 14, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Tadek Wieczorek, Contributing Writer Around 90 people attended a walkout against sexual violence on Oct. 10, organized by the National Organization for Women at VCU and the Feminist Generation Richmond chapter. The protest follows a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against Cornell University and seven Cornell Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging she was raped and drugged by the men at a frat house in 2024, according to ABC news. The walkout’s organizers demanded that VCU be transparent about who they are holding accountable for sexual violence. Rebecca Weil, founder and president of NOW at VCU, said she organized the event on very short notice, posting about the walkout only three days before. “I am watching in anger as the institutions that are meant to protect us are failing us,” Weil said during her speech. “I’m watching as the police, as the attorney generals, as the administrators, are just now pretending to care.”  Weil said she does not believe VCU is doing enough to support students who are victims of sexual assault. “I want to make people care and I want to show not just VCU as an institution, but also the people who make up VCU,”

Richmonders honor history of Gabriel’s Rebellion at 24th annual gathering

October 14, 2026

Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor The Virginia Defenders hosted its 24th annual Gabriel Gathering on Oct. 10 to educate and honor the history of Gabriel’s Rebellion, which occurred 226 years ago.  The event took place on Oct. 10, the day that Gabriel was executed, and was used to discuss how Gabriel’s story and the lessons learned from it could be used in current justice issues today.  The event featured speakers from the Virginia Defenders and unionized workers from United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, APWU Local Retirees Chapter, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Workers United and the Political Coalition and Policy Committee.  Gabriel, historically known as Gabriel Prosser after being given the last name of his enslaver, Thomas Prosser, was born into slavery in 1776. At 23 years old, he began to plan a rebellion with over 2000 enslaved people to forcibly take the Capitol and the Virginia State Armory to bargain for the release of Governor James Monroe in exchange for freeing Virginia’s enslaved population, according to the Library of Virginia.  On August 30, 1800, the planned rebellion took a sudden turn when a severe storm forced Gabriel to delay the event. Some enslaved people who

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

Pre-medicine students need to read more poetry

October 14, 2026

Lily Holmes, Contributing Writer The pre-medical pathway is regarded as one of the most stressful academic pathways, requiring vast clinical and non-clinical volunteer experience, rigorous prerequisite classes and strong GPA and MCAT scores, all while hundreds of fellow students compete for the same prize. The pre-medicine track is also primarily known for its heavy focus on STEM courses, especially biology and chemistry subjects, that often take hours of studying outside the lecture hall to master.  Most pre-med students choose to major in biological sciences, pre-healthcare or pre-med pathways covering most of the prerequisite coursework and providing specialized, preparatory coursework, according to the American Medical Association. While these are indeed very efficient pathways, the value of a humanities major or minor cannot be overlooked.  There is no preference for major or minor in medical school applications, meaning students should choose whatever track in which they are most interested and can reliably produce strong performance.  No track has been definitively identified as the “most successful,” as the term can be defined in many different ways, and each major carries its own benefits and risks. One’s major of choice is often flexible and will not fully limit what a student can study. Many

Bad Move 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

Ghosts of Richmond: Fact, folklore or something more?

October 14, 2026

Aaliyah Sharrock, Contributing Writer With Halloween approaching, ghost stories and tales of haunted places are finding their way back in town. From historic locations surrounded by local legends to paranormal investigators searching for answers, the city’s fascination with the unexplained continues to spark curiosity among residents and visitors alike.  In Richmond, some take their interest in the paranormal further by exploring the history of reportedly haunted locations and unexplained activity.  Transcend Paranormal is a paranormal investigation team based in Richmond. Formed in 2010, they help individuals navigate and understand paranormal activity.  The team conducts investigations at alleged haunted locations. During these events, team members organize participants into smaller groups and lead them through investigations. Many participants are experienced paranormal investigators who bring their own equipment.  The group also conducts free investigations for people seeking help with reported paranormal activity in their homes or surroundings. During these investigations, Transcend Paranormal uses equipment such as K2 meters, maglites and electromagnetic field readers to help examine paranormal activity. Shenia Wong, Transcend Paranormal investigator and owner of Dunnlora Inn, joined the team about three years ago after previously working with another paranormal investigation team. Wong said the team’s supportive atmosphere, curated by Steve Dills,

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

From top recruit to Ram: An exclusive inside look with Sammy Jackson

October 7, 2026

Tyrese Perkins, Assistant Sports Editor  First-year guard Sammy Jackson is stepping into a new chapter at VCU. Wearing the black and gold may feel like a fresh start, but producing at a high level on the court is second nature.  Ranked No. 86 on the 2026 SportCenter Next 100, the 6-foot-7 prospect comes to VCU with a unique blend of size and skill at the guard position. While many know Jackson from his time playing at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his basketball journey began much earlier. “I actually didn’t grow up in Philadelphia,” Jackson said. “I grew up in Tampa, Florida and then we moved to Philly when I was 12.” Jackson said his early childhood in Tampa contributed to the lasting presence basketball has had within his life.  “We had a full-court [basketball court] in the backyard,” Jackson said. “My dad used to play in the NBA and my brothers play basketball too, so basketball has always been around me. But one day I picked up a basketball and really worked out for the first time with my dad, and then I knew that I wanted to do this for real.” Jackson said the realization went beyond

VCU students organize walkout to protest sexual violence in wake of Cornell lawsuit

October 14, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Tadek Wieczorek, Contributing Writer Around 90 people attended a walkout against sexual violence on Oct. 10, organized by the National Organization for Women at VCU and the Feminist Generation Richmond chapter. The protest follows a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against Cornell University and seven Cornell Chi Phi fraternity members, alleging she was raped and drugged by the men at a frat house in 2024, according to ABC news. The walkout’s organizers demanded that VCU be transparent about who they are holding accountable for sexual violence. Rebecca Weil, founder and president of NOW at VCU, said she organized the event on very short notice, posting about the walkout only three days before. “I am watching in anger as the institutions that are meant to protect us are failing us,” Weil said during her speech. “I’m watching as the police, as the attorney generals, as the administrators, are just now pretending to care.”  Weil said she does not believe VCU is doing enough to support students who are victims of sexual assault. “I want to make people care and I want to show not just VCU as an institution, but also the people who make up VCU,”

Richmonders honor history of Gabriel’s Rebellion at 24th annual gathering

October 14, 2026

Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer Ellie Waltman, Managing Editor The Virginia Defenders hosted its 24th annual Gabriel Gathering on Oct. 10 to educate and honor the history of Gabriel’s Rebellion, which occurred 226 years ago.  The event took place on Oct. 10, the day that Gabriel was executed, and was used to discuss how Gabriel’s story and the lessons learned from it could be used in current justice issues today.  The event featured speakers from the Virginia Defenders and unionized workers from United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, APWU Local Retirees Chapter, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Workers United and the Political Coalition and Policy Committee.  Gabriel, historically known as Gabriel Prosser after being given the last name of his enslaver, Thomas Prosser, was born into slavery in 1776. At 23 years old, he began to plan a rebellion with over 2000 enslaved people to forcibly take the Capitol and the Virginia State Armory to bargain for the release of Governor James Monroe in exchange for freeing Virginia’s enslaved population, according to the Library of Virginia.  On August 30, 1800, the planned rebellion took a sudden turn when a severe storm forced Gabriel to delay the event. Some enslaved people who

Opinion

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

Pre-medicine students need to read more poetry

October 14, 2026

Lily Holmes, Contributing Writer The pre-medical pathway is regarded as one of the most stressful academic pathways, requiring vast clinical and non-clinical volunteer experience, rigorous prerequisite classes and strong GPA and MCAT scores, all while hundreds of fellow students compete for the same prize. The pre-medicine track is also primarily known for its heavy focus on STEM courses, especially biology and chemistry subjects, that often take hours of studying outside the lecture hall to master.  Most pre-med students choose to major in biological sciences, pre-healthcare or pre-med pathways covering most of the prerequisite coursework and providing specialized, preparatory coursework, according to the American Medical Association. While these are indeed very efficient pathways, the value of a humanities major or minor cannot be overlooked.  There is no preference for major or minor in medical school applications, meaning students should choose whatever track in which they are most interested and can reliably produce strong performance.  No track has been definitively identified as the “most successful,” as the term can be defined in many different ways, and each major carries its own benefits and risks. One’s major of choice is often flexible and will not fully limit what a student can study. Many

The Rundown

Spectrum

Bad Move 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

Ghosts of Richmond: Fact, folklore or something more?

October 14, 2026

Aaliyah Sharrock, Contributing Writer With Halloween approaching, ghost stories and tales of haunted places are finding their way back in town. From historic locations surrounded by local legends to paranormal investigators searching for answers, the city’s fascination with the unexplained continues to spark curiosity among residents and visitors alike.  In Richmond, some take their interest in the paranormal further by exploring the history of reportedly haunted locations and unexplained activity.  Transcend Paranormal is a paranormal investigation team based in Richmond. Formed in 2010, they help individuals navigate and understand paranormal activity.  The team conducts investigations at alleged haunted locations. During these events, team members organize participants into smaller groups and lead them through investigations. Many participants are experienced paranormal investigators who bring their own equipment.  The group also conducts free investigations for people seeking help with reported paranormal activity in their homes or surroundings. During these investigations, Transcend Paranormal uses equipment such as K2 meters, maglites and electromagnetic field readers to help examine paranormal activity. Shenia Wong, Transcend Paranormal investigator and owner of Dunnlora Inn, joined the team about three years ago after previously working with another paranormal investigation team. Wong said the team’s supportive atmosphere, curated by Steve Dills,

Sports

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

From top recruit to Ram: An exclusive inside look with Sammy Jackson

October 7, 2026

Tyrese Perkins, Assistant Sports Editor  First-year guard Sammy Jackson is stepping into a new chapter at VCU. Wearing the black and gold may feel like a fresh start, but producing at a high level on the court is second nature.  Ranked No. 86 on the 2026 SportCenter Next 100, the 6-foot-7 prospect comes to VCU with a unique blend of size and skill at the guard position. While many know Jackson from his time playing at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, his basketball journey began much earlier. “I actually didn’t grow up in Philadelphia,” Jackson said. “I grew up in Tampa, Florida and then we moved to Philly when I was 12.” Jackson said his early childhood in Tampa contributed to the lasting presence basketball has had within his life.  “We had a full-court [basketball court] in the backyard,” Jackson said. “My dad used to play in the NBA and my brothers play basketball too, so basketball has always been around me. But one day I picked up a basketball and really worked out for the first time with my dad, and then I knew that I wanted to do this for real.” Jackson said the realization went beyond

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