Wednesday, October 7th, 2026

Two SGA members resign over discontentment with leadership

October 7, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Two former VCU Student Government Association members resigned from the association last month over a series of grievances. Rosalyn Harper, a former SGA senator, stated in an email that she resigned from the association because it had reached a point where staying a senator would mean complicity with a “culture of retaliation, systemic hostility and bad-faith governance.” “Student government should be an environment where emerging leaders advocate for their peers and defend the vulnerable,” Harper stated. “Instead, I found myself constantly fighting an executive board that marginalized disabled members, policed peers’ personal backgrounds, suppressed democratic dissent and weaponized microaggressions against anyone who pushed back.” Harper stated that two main incidents caused her to step down, one being the “bad-faith targeting” regarding disability accommodations last semester. She stated that she watched leadership penalize a disabled senator over dress code mandates and conceal the Judicial Board ruling that excused him. “When I advocated for accessibility, [then] Press Secretary Bowen pulled me into a private, unsanctioned meeting to audit that student’s wardrobe and dismissively suggested he purchase alternative business attire — completely ignoring the financial realities of working-class students,” Harper stated. Harper stated that the second incident was the

VCU’s first-generation student population reaches a new high

October 7, 2026

Maddy Thurber, Staff Writer VCU’s class of 2030 has the most first-generation college students in university history. The university’s current first-year profile lists the number of first-generation students at 40%, according to VCU News. VCU reported that 36.9% of freshmen were first-generation in fall 2024, compared to 36.5% in fall 2023, according to its 2024-25 annual report. Hernan Bucheli, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Global Initiatives, said VCU has taken a more “intentional approach” to reaching students who may not have a traditional roadmap to college. “We do not simply want to enroll more first-generation students, we want to create the conditions that enable academically prepared students to thrive, earn their degrees and fully realize the value of a VCU education,” Bucheli said. VCU defines first-generation students as those whose parents or legal guardians did not earn a bachelor’s degree. For these students, entering college can mean learning how to navigate higher education without family members who have gone through the experience themselves, according to VCU admissions. VCU offers support through You First at VCU, which provides programming, mentorship and opportunities for first-generation students to connect with faculty and staff. The university’s First-Generation Student Success and Research Center

Rapists are protected before women; The Cornell seven case is proof

October 7, 2026

Shiny Chandravel, Assistant Opinions & Humor Editor When I was 10, I knocked on my neighbor’s front door to play outside. Her brother opened the door and pulled up my shirt to look at my chest.  When I was 13, I downloaded Snapchat for the first time. A boy from school sent explicit images to my phone. When I was 15, a man groped teenage girls in my high school parking lot. When I was 18, a student at VCU slapped my behind. When I turned to face him, he was grinning. Growing up, I was taught that girls biologically mature faster than boys — but I do not think we are given a choice. Now I am 20, the same age that a former Cornell University student states she was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in Oct. 2024, according to BBC News. The alleged assault was reported to campus police in Nov. 2024. Now, almost two years later, the nation is solemnly observing how one of our country’s most respected institutions, an Ivy League university, reacted to reported sexual violence.   Tragically, that reaction was far from appropriate.   Two expulsions. This was the

The politics of being famous: When should celebrities speak up?

October 7, 2026

Molly Christianson, Staff Writer  A concert is supposed to be simple — people buy tickets, listen to music and spend a few hours enjoying themselves. Politics are not necessarily a part of the experience. However, for some of the biggest names in entertainment, separating a career from politics is becoming increasingly difficult.  Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour became an example of that. During a Sept. 4 performance at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore spoke on his views and told the audience “Free Palestine.” He also performed his song “Hind’s Hall,” which was written in support of Palestinians. Following the performance, some venue owners objected to Macklemore’s participation in the remaining shows and Sheeran’s promoter eventually announced that he would no longer be part of the U.S. leg of the tour. Sheeran and Macklemore are part of a much larger conversation happening in the entertainment industry. Celebrities are constantly faced with the question of whether they should use their platforms to speak about political and social issues.  Taylor Swift has also used her platform in a political manner but in a much different way. During the 2024 presidential election, Swift publicly announced that she planned to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, while

BridgeUSA brings peaceful political conversations to VCU

October 7, 2026

Siloe Brown, Contributing Writer In August, a new student-led organization called BridgeUSA at VCU was added to the university’s long list of groups. They focus on empowering students to participate in politics with confidence, including encouraging students to vote in upcoming elections and holding political debates.  BridgeUSA at VCU places an emphasis on civil political discourse and reduced political polarization with a multi-partisan approach. With 300,000 members nationally, the VCU chapter is looking to continue its growth. BridgeUSA at VCU was founded in February of 2017 at UC Berkeley and as of 2026, it has spread to schools all over the country, working to establish roots as a respectable organization for students to exercise healthy and productive political conversation skills. Lauren Zuber, a second-year student and BridgeUSA at VCU secretary, sets the group’s schedule and tracks their meeting minutes and votes.  “We promote political literacy among college students and campuses through debates,” Zuber said. Killian Korchnak, a fourth-year student and co-president of BridgeUSA at VCU, said that progress can only be made if people start understanding one another.  “We want to bring a solution where we can all move forward and hopefully have a positive outcome,” Korchnak said. Erica Powell,

Weenie wonderland: Dachtoberfest returns to Richmond

October 7, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Assistant Spectrum Editor Short legs and long backs took over Richmond as dachshunds and their owners gathered for the fifth annual Dachtoberfest hosted by the Dachshund Enlightenment Foundation.  The event brought dachshund owners, vendors and rescue organizations together for a day filled with fun costumes and exciting races.  Tanya Ryan, a VCU alumna who founded the Richmond event, said her involvement began with her husband’s childhood connection to the breed.  “My husband grew up with dachshunds,” Ryan said. “I married into it, and then I of course became the crazy dachshund lady because we have two.” Ryan’s love for the breed eventually grew into a small business and involvement with a dachshund Oktoberfest in Maryland. “When the past organizers could no longer do it, I got a phone call and they were like, do you want it?,“ Ryan said. “And I go, ‘are you kidding? Absolutely.’ I mean, it’s a big event. It’s wonderful.” Ryan took over the event in 2021, with the first Richmond Dachtoberfest beginning in 2022. Since then, participation from attendees and event organizers has continued to grow. “Participation has been booming,” Ryan said. “Not just people coming out, but taking the time to design

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 falls to GWU in second game of weekend series

October 7, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s volleyball lost 3-0 in the second match of a weekend series against The George Washington University on Saturday. According to VCU third-year setter Casin Sendir, today just was not their day. “We didn’t show up with our game,” Sendir said. “It was not our game and everyone was aware of that and we couldn’t play together.” The loss comes after the Rams won the first game of the series comfortably, 3-0. Kills from VCU third-years, middle blocker Letizia Galli and outside hitter Lara Del Core, gave the Rams a quick lead out of the gates. GWU responded by scoring twice to tie the set. The two teams remained knotted up for the next few minutes, going back and forth with neither team able to extend their lead past two points. The Rams put together their best run of the first set, scoring three points in a row to give them a 15-12 lead, but just as they had throughout the set, the Revolutionaries responded with a 3-point run of their own to tie the match at 15. GWU used their momentum to extend the lead to 18-16, forcing a VCU timeout. The Rams came

Black and Gold game gives first look at new VCU men’s basketball roster

October 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball gave fans their first look at a significantly different roster during the annual Black and Gold scrimmage on a rainy Sunday at the Siegel Center. The scrimmage marked the beginning of the Rams’ 2026-27 season after VCU went 28-8 last season, won its second consecutive Atlantic 10 championship and made NCAA Tournament history with a 19-point comeback against North Carolina in the first round. With seven players departing, including last season’s leading scorer third-year guard Terrence Hill Jr., who transferred to Tennessee, VCU will have to rely on returning players taking on larger roles and seven newcomers to make their mark. The first four-minute period showed an immediate emphasis on defense. Both teams frequently applied full-court pressure, allowing them to create turnovers and opportunities in transition. Second-year guard Nyk Lewis led his team offensively while also positively impacting the game with his playmaking abilities. The offense became more fluid as the scrimmage continued. Sammy Jackson, a 6-foot-7 first-year wing from Philadelphia, began heating up in the second period, knocking down difficult shots and helping the Gold team build a lead. Jackson finished 4-for-9 from the field on the day. Jackson is one of

VCU beats GWU in first game of weekend series

October 4, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer VCU volleyball pulled off a decisive 3-0 victory over The George Washington University at the Siegel Center Friday night, improving to 4-7 on the season.  The first set went back and forth, with VCU jumping out to an early 15-10 lead, only for GW to tie it up and keep the score close throughout the set. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core and fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova landed kills to help VCU secure the early lead.  “I think we’re really good at finding our identity right now and how we want to play as a team,” Boledovicova said. “For me it’s easy to really kill the ball if the ball is right there.” GW led for most of the second set, taking a lead back whenever VCU tied things up. Third-year MB Letizia Galli led the team with 5 blocks and kept VCU close with several key blocks throughout the set.  “I really take my position as middle blocker very seriously,” Galli said. “I try to be useful any way I can.”  Down 22-18, VCU charged back to tie at 24-24 and won the set 27-25 a few serves later.  “The difference maker was the

Bears prove too much for shorthanded Rams squad

October 3, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU field hockey matched up against the University of California on a hot October afternoon. The Rams entered the matchup battling injuries and were notably without leading scorer fourth-year Josefina Ventimiglia. The two teams got off to a quick start in the opening minutes. Each squad pressed the pace but was unable to find an opening to score. Cal got on the board first with just under five minutes remaining in the period when second-year Josefina Moyano found the back of the net.  The Rams’ defense tightened up for the remainder of the first quarter, which allowed the offense to rack up more control time, but they were unable to capitalize and tie the score. Despite falling behind early, VCU head coach Stacey Bean was pleased with her team’s effort in the first period. “I thought we came out with that energy and that attitude in the first quarter,” said Bean. “That was one of the best first quarters we played this year.” In the second quarter, Cal regained momentum and put VCU on the back foot early and often. The Rams defense stepped up and met the challenge but was consistently kept on the retreat.

Two SGA members resign over discontentment with leadership

October 7, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Two former VCU Student Government Association members resigned from the association last month over a series of grievances. Rosalyn Harper, a former SGA senator, stated in an email that she resigned from the association because it had reached a point where staying a senator would mean complicity with a “culture of retaliation, systemic hostility and bad-faith governance.” “Student government should be an environment where emerging leaders advocate for their peers and defend the vulnerable,” Harper stated. “Instead, I found myself constantly fighting an executive board that marginalized disabled members, policed peers’ personal backgrounds, suppressed democratic dissent and weaponized microaggressions against anyone who pushed back.” Harper stated that two main incidents caused her to step down, one being the “bad-faith targeting” regarding disability accommodations last semester. She stated that she watched leadership penalize a disabled senator over dress code mandates and conceal the Judicial Board ruling that excused him. “When I advocated for accessibility, [then] Press Secretary Bowen pulled me into a private, unsanctioned meeting to audit that student’s wardrobe and dismissively suggested he purchase alternative business attire — completely ignoring the financial realities of working-class students,” Harper stated. Harper stated that the second incident was the

VCU’s first-generation student population reaches a new high

October 7, 2026

Maddy Thurber, Staff Writer VCU’s class of 2030 has the most first-generation college students in university history. The university’s current first-year profile lists the number of first-generation students at 40%, according to VCU News. VCU reported that 36.9% of freshmen were first-generation in fall 2024, compared to 36.5% in fall 2023, according to its 2024-25 annual report. Hernan Bucheli, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and Global Initiatives, said VCU has taken a more “intentional approach” to reaching students who may not have a traditional roadmap to college. “We do not simply want to enroll more first-generation students, we want to create the conditions that enable academically prepared students to thrive, earn their degrees and fully realize the value of a VCU education,” Bucheli said. VCU defines first-generation students as those whose parents or legal guardians did not earn a bachelor’s degree. For these students, entering college can mean learning how to navigate higher education without family members who have gone through the experience themselves, according to VCU admissions. VCU offers support through You First at VCU, which provides programming, mentorship and opportunities for first-generation students to connect with faculty and staff. The university’s First-Generation Student Success and Research Center

Opinion

Rapists are protected before women; The Cornell seven case is proof

October 7, 2026

Shiny Chandravel, Assistant Opinions & Humor Editor When I was 10, I knocked on my neighbor’s front door to play outside. Her brother opened the door and pulled up my shirt to look at my chest.  When I was 13, I downloaded Snapchat for the first time. A boy from school sent explicit images to my phone. When I was 15, a man groped teenage girls in my high school parking lot. When I was 18, a student at VCU slapped my behind. When I turned to face him, he was grinning. Growing up, I was taught that girls biologically mature faster than boys — but I do not think we are given a choice. Now I am 20, the same age that a former Cornell University student states she was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in Oct. 2024, according to BBC News. The alleged assault was reported to campus police in Nov. 2024. Now, almost two years later, the nation is solemnly observing how one of our country’s most respected institutions, an Ivy League university, reacted to reported sexual violence.   Tragically, that reaction was far from appropriate.   Two expulsions. This was the

The politics of being famous: When should celebrities speak up?

October 7, 2026

Molly Christianson, Staff Writer  A concert is supposed to be simple — people buy tickets, listen to music and spend a few hours enjoying themselves. Politics are not necessarily a part of the experience. However, for some of the biggest names in entertainment, separating a career from politics is becoming increasingly difficult.  Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour became an example of that. During a Sept. 4 performance at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore spoke on his views and told the audience “Free Palestine.” He also performed his song “Hind’s Hall,” which was written in support of Palestinians. Following the performance, some venue owners objected to Macklemore’s participation in the remaining shows and Sheeran’s promoter eventually announced that he would no longer be part of the U.S. leg of the tour. Sheeran and Macklemore are part of a much larger conversation happening in the entertainment industry. Celebrities are constantly faced with the question of whether they should use their platforms to speak about political and social issues.  Taylor Swift has also used her platform in a political manner but in a much different way. During the 2024 presidential election, Swift publicly announced that she planned to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, while

The Rundown

Spectrum

BridgeUSA brings peaceful political conversations to VCU

October 7, 2026

Siloe Brown, Contributing Writer In August, a new student-led organization called BridgeUSA at VCU was added to the university’s long list of groups. They focus on empowering students to participate in politics with confidence, including encouraging students to vote in upcoming elections and holding political debates.  BridgeUSA at VCU places an emphasis on civil political discourse and reduced political polarization with a multi-partisan approach. With 300,000 members nationally, the VCU chapter is looking to continue its growth. BridgeUSA at VCU was founded in February of 2017 at UC Berkeley and as of 2026, it has spread to schools all over the country, working to establish roots as a respectable organization for students to exercise healthy and productive political conversation skills. Lauren Zuber, a second-year student and BridgeUSA at VCU secretary, sets the group’s schedule and tracks their meeting minutes and votes.  “We promote political literacy among college students and campuses through debates,” Zuber said. Killian Korchnak, a fourth-year student and co-president of BridgeUSA at VCU, said that progress can only be made if people start understanding one another.  “We want to bring a solution where we can all move forward and hopefully have a positive outcome,” Korchnak said. Erica Powell,

Weenie wonderland: Dachtoberfest returns to Richmond

October 7, 2026

Rachel Nicholas, Assistant Spectrum Editor Short legs and long backs took over Richmond as dachshunds and their owners gathered for the fifth annual Dachtoberfest hosted by the Dachshund Enlightenment Foundation.  The event brought dachshund owners, vendors and rescue organizations together for a day filled with fun costumes and exciting races.  Tanya Ryan, a VCU alumna who founded the Richmond event, said her involvement began with her husband’s childhood connection to the breed.  “My husband grew up with dachshunds,” Ryan said. “I married into it, and then I of course became the crazy dachshund lady because we have two.” Ryan’s love for the breed eventually grew into a small business and involvement with a dachshund Oktoberfest in Maryland. “When the past organizers could no longer do it, I got a phone call and they were like, do you want it?,“ Ryan said. “And I go, ‘are you kidding? Absolutely.’ I mean, it’s a big event. It’s wonderful.” Ryan took over the event in 2021, with the first Richmond Dachtoberfest beginning in 2022. Since then, participation from attendees and event organizers has continued to grow. “Participation has been booming,” Ryan said. “Not just people coming out, but taking the time to design

Sports

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 falls to GWU in second game of weekend series

October 7, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU women’s volleyball lost 3-0 in the second match of a weekend series against The George Washington University on Saturday. According to VCU third-year setter Casin Sendir, today just was not their day. “We didn’t show up with our game,” Sendir said. “It was not our game and everyone was aware of that and we couldn’t play together.” The loss comes after the Rams won the first game of the series comfortably, 3-0. Kills from VCU third-years, middle blocker Letizia Galli and outside hitter Lara Del Core, gave the Rams a quick lead out of the gates. GWU responded by scoring twice to tie the set. The two teams remained knotted up for the next few minutes, going back and forth with neither team able to extend their lead past two points. The Rams put together their best run of the first set, scoring three points in a row to give them a 15-12 lead, but just as they had throughout the set, the Revolutionaries responded with a 3-point run of their own to tie the match at 15. GWU used their momentum to extend the lead to 18-16, forcing a VCU timeout. The Rams came

Black and Gold game gives first look at new VCU men’s basketball roster

October 4, 2026

Benney Koch, Staff Writer VCU men’s basketball gave fans their first look at a significantly different roster during the annual Black and Gold scrimmage on a rainy Sunday at the Siegel Center. The scrimmage marked the beginning of the Rams’ 2026-27 season after VCU went 28-8 last season, won its second consecutive Atlantic 10 championship and made NCAA Tournament history with a 19-point comeback against North Carolina in the first round. With seven players departing, including last season’s leading scorer third-year guard Terrence Hill Jr., who transferred to Tennessee, VCU will have to rely on returning players taking on larger roles and seven newcomers to make their mark. The first four-minute period showed an immediate emphasis on defense. Both teams frequently applied full-court pressure, allowing them to create turnovers and opportunities in transition. Second-year guard Nyk Lewis led his team offensively while also positively impacting the game with his playmaking abilities. The offense became more fluid as the scrimmage continued. Sammy Jackson, a 6-foot-7 first-year wing from Philadelphia, began heating up in the second period, knocking down difficult shots and helping the Gold team build a lead. Jackson finished 4-for-9 from the field on the day. Jackson is one of

VCU beats GWU in first game of weekend series

October 4, 2026

Drew Clements, Contributing Writer VCU volleyball pulled off a decisive 3-0 victory over The George Washington University at the Siegel Center Friday night, improving to 4-7 on the season.  The first set went back and forth, with VCU jumping out to an early 15-10 lead, only for GW to tie it up and keep the score close throughout the set. Third-year outside hitter Lara Del Core and fourth-year middle blocker Nina Boledovicova landed kills to help VCU secure the early lead.  “I think we’re really good at finding our identity right now and how we want to play as a team,” Boledovicova said. “For me it’s easy to really kill the ball if the ball is right there.” GW led for most of the second set, taking a lead back whenever VCU tied things up. Third-year MB Letizia Galli led the team with 5 blocks and kept VCU close with several key blocks throughout the set.  “I really take my position as middle blocker very seriously,” Galli said. “I try to be useful any way I can.”  Down 22-18, VCU charged back to tie at 24-24 and won the set 27-25 a few serves later.  “The difference maker was the

Bears prove too much for shorthanded Rams squad

October 3, 2026

Ben Martindale, Sports Editor VCU field hockey matched up against the University of California on a hot October afternoon. The Rams entered the matchup battling injuries and were notably without leading scorer fourth-year Josefina Ventimiglia. The two teams got off to a quick start in the opening minutes. Each squad pressed the pace but was unable to find an opening to score. Cal got on the board first with just under five minutes remaining in the period when second-year Josefina Moyano found the back of the net.  The Rams’ defense tightened up for the remainder of the first quarter, which allowed the offense to rack up more control time, but they were unable to capitalize and tie the score. Despite falling behind early, VCU head coach Stacey Bean was pleased with her team’s effort in the first period. “I thought we came out with that energy and that attitude in the first quarter,” said Bean. “That was one of the best first quarters we played this year.” In the second quarter, Cal regained momentum and put VCU on the back foot early and often. The Rams defense stepped up and met the challenge but was consistently kept on the retreat.

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