HAPPENING OUTSIDE CABELL LIBRARY: VCU Palestine protesters have joined Virginia Tech and Mary Washington and started a Gaza solidarity encampment. After speaking to a few people, they don’t seem inclined to leave anytime soon.
More to come, stay tuned for updates.
@theCT
@theCT
@VCU
@GoadGatsby
@mikekropfphoto
@SamuelParkerRTD
@sarah_hagen
Back at the Cabell Library greenspace, an eye-blackened Sereen Haddad condemned police violence that she saw as an unnecessary reaction.
When asked if they plan to rebuild the encampment, Haddad said their priority is to keep students safe, and that the movement is not stopping.
Pro-Palestine VCU students protested what they called the ongoing genocide in Gaza on Monday, April 29, by building an encampment on campus. The protest began with song and dance and ended with pepper spray, smoke bombs and 13 arrests by police.
Today a group called the “Bloodstained Men” protested the act of circumcision outside of VCU’s Edward T. Temple building.
I thought it was a front for something else at first, but after speaking to all of them, it seems they were being completely genuine
Today I followed VCU’s
@NAACPVirginia
chapter down Franklin Street as they protested
@GovernorVA
’s requests to view syllabi for classes teaching the upcoming racial literacy core curriculum requirement.
(1/?) Today I attended a pretty heated Board of Visitors meeting at
@VCU
where a very lengthy discussion was had on whether or not to implement the long-delayed racial literacy general education requirement.
@theCT
@theCT
@VCU
My phone was dead for over an hour.
- Dozens of state, city and campus police officers arrived
- At least 10 students were arrested
- The encampment is in shambles
@theCT
9:50 p.m. This is the current scene:
(1/?) Today I attended a pretty heated Board of Visitors meeting at
@VCU
where a very lengthy discussion was had on whether or not to implement the long-delayed racial literacy general education requirement.
@theCT
I think a lot of folks are boiling this down to be Youngkin's sole doing.
Let's remember that four of the 10 that voted "NO" were appointed by Democratic governors. One of them, Peter Farrell, was appointed by Northam and reappointed by Youngkin.
The polling place at the VCU student commons was not easy to find. You have to go up a staircase and take multiple turns, and there are no signs or anything pointing in the right direction
Though, one of the volunteers did say the turnout had been higher than expected
@theCT
5:30 p.m.
Hear the rallying cries of roughly 300 students holding a pro-Palestine protest at
@VCU
.
Some chants include “the people united will never be defeated.” And “Gaza, Gaza don’t you cry, Palestine will never die.”
Reviewing every food served in the new General Assembly cafeteria [PART 1]
The GA pizza has gained quite a bit of notoriety since the start of the session, but is it really that good? The answer: yeah pretty much
#valeg
50 DAYS IN: People are gathering in Monroe Park for Richmond’s 4th March for Palestine. Organized by Students for Justice in Palestine and American Muslims for Palestine.
Students did not come empty handed. There are stations for food, medicine, toiletries and even a literature wall.
“We’re here for the long run,” said organizer Link Alexio.
I think what I will miss most about our beloved Student Media Center at 817 W Broad Street is the very much undeveloped basement — or as I like to call it — the “Student Media Crypt,” which seems to be intentionally curated to make curious mass comm students piss their pants.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed three new members to VCU’s Board of Visitors at the end of June, according to a statement released by the governor’s Office.
A second email from Michael Rao has been emailed to students.
This follows yesterday’s events, where a number of student organizations protested the first email, holding a prayer outside Cabell Library.
A speaker at the protest said that Rao “apologized” to him over the phone.
VCU President Michael Rao just sent students this email about the events in Israel-Palestine titled “Condemning terrorist violence.”
It should be noted that the characterization of the things going on is still up for debate. There is a LOT of misinformation out there. Be wary.
@theCT
@VCU
8 p.m.
With the expectation that police will be arriving any minute, protesters have masked up, formed a barricade and are going over pointers on how to stay safe.
“Stay together, stay tight, we will be alright,” they chant.
@yitgordon
First thing you’ll see getting off the escalator at Ballston is this cozy little cafe called Tivoli’s. Great food and very affordable. I’d grab something there nearly every day after high school. The ladies that run the joint are also very very sweet
Despite getting denied media credentials twice, we’re still very much here and reporting. Most of what I’ve captured is on an SD card that I’ll share later, but for now, take a look at the line from earlier this morning.
@theCT
@vcucns
It is June 28 and I am at the John Marshall Courthouse to attend the trial of 11 of the 13 individuals arrested at a pro-Palestine encampment at VCU on April 29.
They are charged with trespassing and participating in unlawful assembly.
THIS WEEK — The U.S. Department of Transportation is putting over $1.7 billion into Virginia’s trains and rail services, a move that will increase daily trips and further connect Southern states to Washington, D.C., according to their website.
@theCT
4 p.m. Some students were hanging out in the same spot where the encampment was, but protest organizers instructed them to leave after folks from student affairs handed out this flyer on event policies, and when police started to show up.
@theCT
CORRECTION: Protest media liaison Sereen Haddad says the protest is not considered an encampment, but a “liberated zone.”
“An established zone where we are all here for one cause which is freedom.” Haddad stated.
@GenePark
Professional outlets in 5 years when they realize they have nobody that understands the largest entertainment industry that young people are invested in
VCU Board of Visitors members Rooz Dadabhoy and Reverend Tyrone Nelson, who were appointed by opposite Governors, and voted in opposite ways on the racial literacy requirement.
Reporting live: Hundreds of VCU students are walking out of classrooms and gathering outside Cabell Library for a planned protest in support of Palestine.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Honored to receive a 2023 ACP Best of Show Award for this article, along with our lovely design editor Solimar Santoyo!
5th place in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Reporting”
@jackglag
and I both got denied media passes for former President Donald Trump’s rally in Richmond on Saturday. Twice. Once for
@theCT
and once for
@vcucns
.
What gives man?
@realDonaldTrump
GMU’s Just Societies requirement, similar to racial literacy, gets shut down not by their Board of Visitors, but their Provost - who delayed it by one year. VCU’s provost did the same thing last year.
Today, VCU’s NAACP chapter marched around campus, protesting VCU’s abrupt delay of a required course on race/racism (CSIJ 200).
Article I wrote in August:
The provost’s office is issuing statements so
@theCT
should have an update on the situation soon
Inmates and their loved ones will not have free prison phone calls anytime soon, but lawmakers are working on legislation to keep rates low.
Me for
@virginianpilot
@vcucns
The entire time H. Benson Dendy III - a Northam appointee who's term is up at the end of June - argued that it would be a shame to reverse all of the work done by Faculty on getting the requirement implemented. He said it wasn't the Board's place to get involved.
Correction: It was 10-5. Clifton Peay was absent.
Visitors that voted "NO": Rector Todd Haymore, Vice Rector Andy Florance, Anthony Bedell, Rooz Dadabhoy, Steven DeLuca, Peter Farrell, Ellen Fitzsimmons, Dale Jones, Carmen Lomellin and P2 Sandhu.
Ever since
@GovernorVA
requested to view syllabi for the racial literacy courses in March, many have argued that Gov. Youngkin interfering would infinge on academic freedom.
See my previous article:
VCU President Michael Rao just sent students this email about the events in Israel-Palestine titled “Condemning terrorist violence.”
It should be noted that the characterization of the things going on is still up for debate. There is a LOT of misinformation out there. Be wary.
THIS WEEK — Virginia’s primaries are taking place on Tuesday, March 5 — also known as Super Tuesday — according to the Virginia Department of Elections. The VCU community shared their views on the upcoming elections.
Read the full issue:
VCU students with dining plans can no longer use the “swipe exchange” to pay for meals this fall semester, according to VCU Business Services communications specialist Anna Obermiller.
VCU students with dining plans can no longer use the “swipe exchange” to pay for meals this fall semester, according to VCU Business Services communications specialist Anna Obermiller.
Most of the board expressed confusion about the nature of the requirement. Some thought racial literacy was only one class. Others questioned the requirement's necessity.
Packed issue this week!
- VCU’s NAACP chapter protesting the sudden postponement of the racial literacy requirement
- The rams obliterated Mars Hill 110-50
- Dia de los Muertos festivities
-another banger “IRL with Arielle” column
THIS WEEK - The 2020 Census showed the U.S. population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse compared to the previous census, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census’ Diversity Index chart ranked Virginia the 14th most diverse state.
I’m at VCU President Michael Rao’s State of the University Address, where a group of pro-Palestinian students are silently protesting by holding up their hands covered in fake blood.
Ellen Fitzsimmons - a Youngkin appointee - argued that the real infringement on academic freedom would be mandating that all students take a racial literacy course.
A second email from Michael Rao has been emailed to students.
This follows yesterday’s events, where a number of student organizations protested the first email, holding a prayer outside Cabell Library.
A speaker at the protest said that Rao “apologized” to him over the phone.
“Since October seventh, 72 members of my family have been killed,” said Sereen Haddad, a Palestinian VCU student during a speech at a rally outside James Branch Cabell Library on Nov. 9.
Hundreds gathered in Monroe Park tonight to mourn the loss of life in Gaza, hold prayers and organize for upcoming protests.
The candlelight vigil was hosted by VCU’s Palestinian Student Organization.
I’ve been subscribed to the Donald Trump text alerts since the Richmond rally, and every day I grow more appalled at how weird and manipulative they are.
We need to talk more about the ways companies/governments propagate through gaming
We need to talk less about how video games are senselessly turning children into killers or something
Shell has known since the 1980s that getting rich off pumping oil out of the ground would be a disaster for the climate.
Now it's paying Fortnite influences to greenwash its role in ruining the planet
People have gathered by the dozen in Monroe Park to protest Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories
Earlier this week, VCU President Michael Rao made a statement titled “condemning terrorist violence.” In it, Rao called attacks by Hamas “savage” and barbaric.”
Stay tuned
The Board ultimately motioned to vote on the requirement tomorrow. If the Board does not vote by the end of the Friday meeting, it will be too late to implement the requirement, and it will have effetively been killed for another year.
As you can see, my slice was quite charred on the bottom (I like a good char). It wasn’t too greasy or flimsy either, overall a really solid New York slice.
Disney hands over the $67 billion Star Wars franchise to a Pakistani feminist activist
Obaid-Chinoy on the new film she will be directing for the franchise:
"We're in 2024. It's about time we have a woman shape a story in a galaxy far, far away."
Normally the Board would not have the authority to vote on curriculum changes, but Provost
@Fotis_Sot
cited similar instances from 1996 and 2008 as precedent.
The Board has the authority, the question if using that authority was the right thing to do.