Vol. 131, Issue 17 Thursday, April 22, 2021

MARTHA WILDING | THE CAVALIER DAILY SPEAKING UP Education and Comprehensive education Mandatory workshops Training Institutional Train student leaders Survivor Accountability ResourceS Address U.Va.’s Survivor-centered history health Improve resource services allocation Mental health External resources review of Title IX Reform office Title IX investigations Center marginalized Anonymous voices reporting OneOne yearyear ofof survivorsurvivor demandsdemands FifthFifth annualannual benefitbenefit concertconcert PagePage 33 PagePage 1010 2 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily NEWS

BOV freezes tuition for most undergraduates, This week in-brief supports digital contextualization of monuments The Board of Visitors voted to freeze tuition for most undergraduate students and support CD News Staff recommendations made by the Committee on Naming and Memorials at a meeting of the full board April 13. According to the resolution, there will be no changes to tuition and fees for the upcoming U.Va. Health, BRHD and VDH pause 2021-2022 school year for most undergraduates. Both in-state and out-of-state students who entered the College of Arts & Sciences in 2019 will still see a $2,700 increase for the 2021-2022 school year due to a 2018 decision by the Board, however. distribution of Johnson & Johnson vaccine “If there were ever a year to raise undergraduate tuition, it would be this year given the large and unexpected costs and the loss of revenues because of COVID,” University President U.Va. Health officially paused the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine follow- Jim Ryan said. “At the same time, if they were ever a year not to raise undergraduate tuition, ing the development of a rare blood clot disease in six Americans, meaning that University it is also this year given the pandemic and the financial hardship facing a lot of our students students who signed up to receive the vaccine through U.Va. Health will now receive either and their families.” Pfizer or Moderna. In a separate resolution, the Board also voted to support recommendations made by the “Vaccinations at our Seminole Square vaccination center and at community outreach Committee on Naming and Memorials, a group established by the University in February. events are expected to continue as scheduled with our existing supplies of the Pfizer and The committee was tasked with creating protocols for naming — and in some cases, renaming Moderna vaccines,” said Eric Swensen, public relations officer for U.Va. Health, in an email to — buildings on Grounds as well as making recommendations on contextualizing memorials. The Cavalier Daily. The Committee on Naming and Memorials concluded that a digital contextualization The Blue Ridge Health District also said it would stop Johnson & Johnson vaccines until of the University’s statues and memorials would help visitors and residents appreciate the further notice in a tweet. Individuals in the BRHD who were scheduled to receive the Johnson history of the University. The committee recommended the University create a “digital histor- & Johnson vaccine can reschedule their appointment for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. ical stratigraphy” that will permit students, visitors and community members to develop an The Department of Health officially paused all Johnson & Johnson vaccinations “informed perspective” on its various statues and memorials. April 13 after six women between the ages of 18 and 48 developed a rare blood clot disease within the weeks following their vaccinations. Scientists from the Food and Drug Administra- tion and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working to determine whether there is a link between the clots and the vaccine, as well as whether the vaccine should be limited to certain population groups. Over 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been adminis- tered so far in the U.S. VDH said that distribution of Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be paused until the federal 4.13 4.14 4.20 4.21 investigation is complete. APIDA student groups host panel on Asian American identity, femininity

The Alpha Kappa and Sigma Psi Zeta sororities, in collaboration with the Asian Student Union and She Writes History, hosted Professor Sylvia Chong and a panel of four students to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Asian Pacific Islander Desi American com- munities Monday night. The discourse, titled “COVID-19: The Asian American Experience” was held as aKDPhi’s annual Asian American Women’s Initiative event and Sigma’s annual VOICES event. As the event was hosted by two predominantly APIDA sororities, Chong focused her talk on the experiences of Asian American women and the intersectionality of race and gender. She defined intersectionality — first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 — as the simultaneous impacts of one’s experience with multiple identities, including race, gender and economic class. “You do not stop to think to yourself, ‘Did that car come from Gender Street or Race Street?,’” Chong said. “All you know is that you’ve been injured, and you’ve been injured pre- cisely because you’re standing where you are.” Chong then moved to discuss the Atlanta spa shootings. Much media coverage focused on whether the victims were sex workers or not, which delegitimizes them as Asian American figures and humans, Chong said. She found a similar case of misconstrued narrative building COURTESY in the Derek Chauvin trial, noting that Chauvin’s attorney focused on George Floyd’s relation University students who sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine through U.Va. Health will receive either Pfizer or to drugs rather than Chauvin kneeling on Floyd, delegitimizing Floyd as a victim. Chauvin Moderna. kneeled on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes and was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter Tuesday afternoon. Just as focus on possible drug addiction overshadows Floyd’s death, centering the issue of sex work in the Atlanta shootings undervalues the lives of the victims and foregrounds the Lauren Kim and Andy Chambers to sexuality of Asian American women, according to Chong. “How can we be Asian American females and access … the features of other forms of serve as UJC and Honor chair for 2021-22 femininity such as sexual agency at the same time that we also then protect our rights against exploitation?” Chong said. The University Judiciary Committee and Honor Committee elected third-year College The event transitioned to introduce the student panel, consisting of second-year Engineer- students Lauren Kim and Andy Chambers as their chairs for the 2021-22 academic year, ing student Vy Nguyen, fourth-year College student Kim Salac, third-year Nursing student respectively. Kim and Chambers succeed this year’s UJC chair — fourth-year Batten student Jana Mirafuente and second-year College student Sanjeev Kumar. The panelists each shared Gabby Cox — and Honor chair — fourth-year Batten student Ryan Keane. what being Asian American meant to them. Kumar shared his journey to accepting his Asian UJC investigates and holds trials for reports of violations of the University’s Standards of American identity after being told that being Indian does not mean he is Asian. Salac called Conduct while the Honor Committee focuses on reports of Honor Code violations. their Asian American identity an “active definition” and spoke on the ongoing process of University-wide elections took place March 17 through March 19 when Chambers and learning about being an Asian American woman in a predominantly white school. Kim secured positions as school representatives. Internal elections then took place afterward “I keep trying to almost unlearn this habit of centering whiteness in my Asian American among the newly elected Honor representatives March 27 and among UJC representatives identity,” Salac said. “Me being Asian American is not me being non-white. I don’t want that March 28. The transition to new committees took place in the beginning of April. to be central to my identity formation.” NEWS Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 3 U.Va. Survivors calls on University to meet unmet demands The group has detailed what must be done to meet demands for accountability, education, training and survivor resources

Emma Gallagher | Staff Writer

One year ago, U.Va. Survivors re- student body.” Title IX Policy and Procedures based leased a list of demands addressed to In an email to The Cavalier Daily, on new regulatory requirements re- University administration and the a representative from U.Va. Survivors leased by the U.S. Department of University’s Office of Equal -Oppor expressed frustration with the Uni- Education in May 2020, and the new tunity and Civil Rights focused on versity’s lack of response to the list of regulations went into effect in August increasing University accountability, demands. 2020. Passed in 1972, Title IX is a fed- education and training surrounding “We very much doubt that they eral civil rights law that protects indi- sexual assault awareness and preven- will take concrete actions in the near viduals from discrimination based on tion on Grounds. Today, U.Va. Survi- future, but we hope that these de- sex in education programs or activities vors is still calling on the University mands will be met,” the representative that receive federal financial assistance to meet these unmet demands, having said. “We don’t need anymore panels — this includes sexual harrassment, noted limited progress over the past 12 or futile discussions with administra- interpersonal violence and sexual as- months, according to student advo- tors about it since we laid out our de- sault. cates on Grounds. mands in detail.” The definition of sexual harass- “Survivors will continue to drop Emily Sanders, associate vice pres- ment recently changed so fewer in- out of classes, suffer mentally and ident for the University’s Office for cidents are covered under Title IX. physically and watch their perpe- Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, Cases that occur outside the United trators face no consequences,” the met with U.Va. Survivors last March af- States, in off-campus apartments or Instagram post, dated April 11, said. ter receiving the demands, according at events that are not part of the Uni- “Nothing is ‘Good and Great’ about to a statement to The Cavalier Daily versity’s “program or activity” are no EMMA KLEIN | THE CAVALIER DAILY the University fostering a culture of from deputy University spokesperson longer covered by Title IX. U.Va. Survivors has strived to create an inclusive environment for all survivors since being violence.” Wes Hester. Sanders plans to meet Schools are also now required to founded in 2019 Since 2019, U.Va. Survivors has with the group again before the end of investigate cases in a “manner that is strived to create an inclusive envi- the school year, Hester added. not deliberately indifferent” rather ronment for all survivors, particularly The 2019 AAU Campus Climate than the previous 60-day timeframe, The April post by U.Va. Survivors dents and includes licensed social survivors of color whose voices have Report suggests sexual misconduct meaning that investigations may take reiterated the group’s demands that workers, counselors, psychologists, traditionally been silenced. The group remains a prevalent issue at the Uni- longer. Schools can choose which the University commit to stopping nurse practitioners psychiatrists, while recently launched a website that in- versity. Thirty percent of respondents employees are mandatory reporters, sexual and interpersonal violence, the Women’s Center houses three full- cludes educational and survivor sup- said “yes” when asked “since you have whereas before most employees were fully fund mental and physical health time trauma counselors, a care manag- port resources. been a student at U.Va. has a friend mandatory reporters. Schools can also resources, address its history of sexual er who helps students access resources “We aim to cultivate a life-giving, or close acquaintance also from U.Va determine whether to use a “prepon- and interpersonal violence and com- and a resident in counseling who spe- inclusive space for survivors as we told you about an experience that hap- derance of evidence” or “clear and con- plete an external review of the Title cializes in cultural, gender, racial and work to build a University where or- pened to them that you thought might vincing evidence” as the standard in IX Office. sexual identity in mental health. ganizations like this no longer need be a form of sexual misconduct?” The cases involving sexual harassment. The post also notes the University’s Some student leaders have called to exist,” the website reads. “We op- survey also shows that 19.1 percent of “Following the release of the new shortcomings in education and train- these resources inadequate, however, erate through the knowledge that first-year students have been victims regulations, the University’s Title IX ing students, faculty and staff, assert- citing a lack of spaces dedicated solely oppressive systems, like capitalism of sexual assault or misconduct, along Office, as part of the broader Office ing that the University has not made to supporting the survivor community and patriarchy, will continue to cause with 13.9 percent of second-years, 11 for Equal Opportunity and Civil an effort to provide trauma-informed and an absence of administrative sup- interpersonal violence until they are percent of second years and 9.9 per- Rights, launched a thorough process of care and education, consent, sex and port. abolished.” cent of fourth years. evaluating the regulations and seeking trauma education or training for stu- In an email to The Cavalier Daily, The website details the Universi- According to University policy, feedback and input from the commu- dent leaders and reports on how to an executive board member of Culture ty’s history of sexual violence, explains “the University conducts ongoing pre- nity,” Hester said. handle situations of misconduct. of Respect Educators — another or- consent and the types of sexual and in- vention, awareness and training pro- This process included a new web- All incoming first-year and trans- ganization dedicated to sexual assault terpersonal violence, provides resourc- grams for employees and students to site with information about the new fer students are required to complete and gender-based violence prevention es to those looking to be allies, points facilitate the goals of this policy.” These requirements, four public listening an online Title IX training, as well as — described the inclusive atmosphere survivors towards reporting tools, as include training programs on Title IX sessions. The office also evaluated 150 alcohol awareness training. Students they would like to see at the University well as identity-based and self-help and sexual assault policy, awareness submissions through an online feed- are required to retake a refresher train- in the future. resources. programs, bystander intervention pro- back form, Hester said. ing every two years. “The first preliminary step we The group’s original demands — grams, risk reduction education and The new Title IX reporting- pro Graduate students are also offered would like taken by the University is which were released in April 2020 — primary prevention programs, among cess introduces two sets of procedures separate Title IX training to reflect the creation of neutral spaces for all garnered attention over the summer others. The University’s specific annu- — the “Grievance Process” and other their own experience. Student em- survivors of all identities,” the exec- when an anonymous Twitter account, al programs include its Alcohol Wise general “Procedures” — to respond to ployees are required to take additional utive team said. “The current policy @ExposedUVA, began tweeting about and Sexual Education Module, Do- reports and formal complaints. The Title IX training designed for faculty often forces persons of nonconform- allegations of sexual misconduct on mestic Violence Awareness Month, Grievance Process describes proce- and staff, and student athletes and ing identities to seek support from the Grounds. The account encouraged Halloween Safety, National Hazing dures for responding to reports of athletic department staff also under- Women’s Center or other gendered survivors to share their stories along Week and Substance Abuse Preven- Title IX violations while the Proce- go additional Title IX training per resources.” with the names of their alleged abus- tion Week, among others. dures section outlines procedures for NCAA policy. The representative from U.Va. Sur- ers. It has since been deleted. The post also reiterated unmet responding to reports of sexual or gen- Hester directed students to the vivors also welcomed any concerned The demands received over 1,800 demands regarding Title IX — which der-based prohibited conduct. University’s Resource and Reporting students to join their efforts. signatures following their release. include moving the Title IX office Other nationwide changes made Guide, which describes in detail the “To survivors at U.Va. we want to Despite the financial challenges from and increasing ed- to Title IX policy under the Trump support measures available to stu- say that we are here for them even posed to the University by the pan- ucation on the reporting process, new administration include live hearings dents through the University. These though the University often is not,” demic, the demands call for the Uni- regulations and anonymous reporting. and cross-examination of witnesses in measures — which may be temporary said the representative. “If any survi- versity to allocate more resources to The demands said the Title IX office’s sexual harassment cases, though the or permanent — include no-contact vors are looking for a sense of commu- sexual assault prevention and support current location on Rugby does not Biden administration has started the directives, residence notifications, ac- nity, they can join U.Va. Survivors and for survivors. provide a safe place to report sexual process of undoing the previous ad- ademic modifications and more. follow us on Instagram and attend our “The current allocation of resourc- assault due to its proximity to fra- ministration’s rules. The University also offers mental interest meeting on April 28 at 7 p.m.” es towards sexual and intimate-part- ternity houses, where sexual assaults “In addition to making significant health resources for students through Reports of sexual assault or inter- ner violence education, prevention historically have occurred, and that policy and procedure and staffing Counseling and Psychological Servic- personal violence can be reported to and recovery resources is insufficient,” the University needs to provide more changes since 2015, U.Va. has contin- es, as well as the Maxine Platzer Lynn’s the University’s Title IX Coordina- the demands said. “University admin- accessible ways to report assault, vio- ued to place a high priority on edu- Women’s Center. tor, a deputy Title IX Coordinator or istration is failing to meet their goals lence and harassment. cation, training and prevention in the CAPS serves as the primary men- using the University’s Just Report It and neglecting the majority of their The University recently revised its Title IX area,” Hester said. tal health clinic for University stu- website. 4 | www.cavalierdaily.com NEWS Community calls for Whispering Wall removal Listeners called in to demand that the Committee on Naming and Memorials remove the statue due to Hume’s Confederate background

Ava MacBlane | Senior Associate

the session echoed the sentiment that it is not enough to simply contextual- ize or rededicate the memorial. “Leaving the memorial up, regard- less of the contextualization process that might occur, is saying that ulti- mately U.Va. still stands for pander- ing to donors or alumni who see it as a tradition, even when it has negative impacts on the student body,” one graduate student said in a comment. “You can’t pretend or contextualize that impact away.” Lillian Rojas, first-year College student and Student Council repre- sentative, called in to demand that the committee remove the memorial, calling it “downright sad that stu- dents have even had to engage in this conversation” to remove a memorial dedicated to a Confederate soldier. Gabriela Hernandez, second-year College student and chair of the Stu- dent Council representative body, reiterated previous callers’ demands to completely remove the memorial, saying she found it “appalling” that the University has continued to allow TESS GINSBERG | THE CAVALIER DAILY the memorial to stand. “This structure will always serve The memorial was built in 1938 thanks to a donation from Frank Hume’s sons, John and Howard Hume. as a reminder that the racist ideals upheld by the Confederacy are also The Committee on Naming and launched a petition and letter cam- Americans alongside an inscription “If the University is claiming to ideals the University is proud to pre- Memorials hosted a two-hour lis- paign calling for the removal of the that reads “Conqueror of the North- be in support of Black students and serve,” Hernandez said, quoting from tening session Wednesday evening memorial in its entirety. On Monday, west.” The Board voted to remove wants to promote a safe and healthy, an open letter the MRC wrote to the during which members of the pub- the memorial was vandalized with and relocate the statue last fall, but welcoming environment, they should University. lic commented on the future of the red paint, an incident which the Uni- the removal date is still unclear. listen to the concerns of Black and Hibah Berhanu, chair of the MRC Frank Hume Memorial Fountain. versity is currently investigating. The Lopez said he hopes the commit- minority students on Grounds and and fourth-year College student, Over 20 individuals, including Uni- paint has since been removed. tee will further consult with the com- show their support through actions called in to discuss a racist comment versity students, alumni and mem- After the Board of Visitors voted munity before making decisions. — actions like completely taking that was left on one of MRC’s social bers of the community, called in to to rededicate or remove the memori- “None of the work of your com- down the wall,” Robertson said. media posts encouraging students to the session to appeal to the commit- al last fall, the University created the mittee has come out of the product of Robertson also read a statement attend the listening session. tee, all of whom expressed their sup- Committee on Naming and Memori- a consultation with the public or the on behalf of Nina Santana, a first- “It was blatant racism, a slur post- port for the removal of the memorial als in February to make recommen- community — not the way [the Com- year College student and Student ed under the Instagram [post],” Ber- in its entirety. dations on the naming and contextu- mittee was] composed or the way that Council representative, who echoed hanu said, choosing not to share the All eight members of the com- alization of statues, monuments and you conducted your work,” Lopez Robertson’s call to remove the Whis- comment itself because of its offen- mittee were present at the session buildings on Grounds. said. “This is your first public consul- pering Wall. sive content. “What I wanted to share and callers could dial-in to make a Michael Suarez — committee tation, but the Board of Visitors have “How can we ever be comfortable because of that is … if this monument three-minute timed public comment chair, English professor and director been already making decisions based at a school that honors white suprem- is empowering people to say blatant- or simply listen to the session. of the Rare School — opened on your recommendations.” acists?” Santana wrote in her state- ly racist things on social media, it’s The Frank Hume Memorial Foun- the event by thanking listeners and In a meeting of the full board ment. “The only way to help make just clear that it needs to go.” tain — also known as the Whispering participants for taking the time to April 13, the Board voted to sup- life at the University better for Black University and Charlottesville Wall for its unique ability to transmit share their opinions with committee port recommendations made by the students is to remove the Whispering community members continued to sound from one side of the wall to the members. committee, which suggested a digital Wall and to continue removing every call in and call for the committee to other — was erected in 1938 in honor Anthony Guy Lopez, a Class of contextualization of memorials and single memorial that protects and remove the memorial, many echoing of Frank Hume, who was a soldier 2009 alumnus and head of the Native statues on Grounds to help students, upholds U.Va.’s foundations of racism previous sentiments that the memo- and spy in the Confederate Army be- American and Indigenous Studies visitors and community members and systemic oppression.” rial embodies racism and commemo- fore he served in the Virginia House Group at U.Va., was the first caller develop an “informed perspective” Abena Appiah-Ofori, vice-chair rates a white supremacist. of Delegates. The statue was funded in the session. Lopez, who is an en- on the history of the University — of advocacy for the Minority Rights “If we’re really striving to be a by John and Howard Hume, Frank’s rolled member of the Crow Creek rather than a visual indicator like a Coalition and second-year College ‘great and good’ university, we should sons who both attended the Univer- Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, first plaque or sign, or physical disrup- student, spoke next, calling for the reexamine the legacy of racism and sity and were major donors. Located objected to the committee’s lack of tion of the historic landscape. The committee to remove the memorial. slavery on our Grounds,” one caller near Newcomb Hall and Monroe Native American members, citing committee said this would allow the “As a Black student, we’re told said. Hall, the memorial consists of a foun- that the Committee on Naming and University to represent the complex all the time that U.Va. supports us, The session lasted two hours, and tain and wall with an inscription that Memorials has no Native American and nuanced histories entwined with but that’s not possible when there’s afterwards Suarez thanked callers for describes Hume as “a devoted Virgin- representation even though many of these statues and memorials. a Confederate memorial right in the taking the “time and trouble” to call ian who served his native state in civil the monuments and memorials at the Tichara Robertson, first-year middle of Grounds,” Appiah-Ofori in. war and legislative hall.” University are directly related to Na- College student and Student Council said. “I feel like it’s a very straightfor- “We will take these inputs to our The memorial has been the subject tive American history. representative, spoke next in favor of ward situation.” deliberations,” Suarez said. of mounting public criticism because For example, the George Rogers removing the memorial. Robertson In February, Appiah-Ofori said The committee hopes to make a of Hume’s roots with the Confedera- Clark statue depicts Clark on horse- called the memorial a “glorification” she was disappointed the committee recommendation about the memori- cy — in late February, the Minority back alongside American soldiers of Hume’s life and contributions to was considering rededication, and al before the Board of Visitors meets Rights Coalition at the University towering over a group of Native the Confederate South. many of the students who spoke at again in June. NEWS Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 5 High school seniors reflect on test optional decision In January, the University announced that undergraduate admissions processes will be test-optional through fall 2023

Lauren O’Neil | Staff Writer

Last June, University President concerns for first-generation and at any disadvantage, according to High school senior Diana factor in her decision was the hope Jim Ryan announced that in re- low-income students who may not Roberts, as the University’s process Nguyen was able to take an August that applying with test scores would sponse to the COVID-19 pandemic have access to testing resources and for undergraduate admissions is ho- 2020 test, which she says helped to alleviate the stress placed on other all applications for fall 2021 admis- the continued impact of the pan- listic. create a foundation for her testing application components, such as es- sion to the University would fol- demic on the availability of testing “Students who do not submit test abilities, but ultimately decided to says and transcripts. low a test-optional policy, whereby dates for high school juniors and scores are at no disadvantage in the dedicate her focus on coming up “Part of the reason I chose to ap- applicants may opt not to submit seniors. In September and Octo- application review,” Roberts said. with creative ways to continue ex- ply with my test scores was indeed standardized test scores without ber, 337,000 students were unable to “We review applications in the exact tracurricular involvements as op- because I would’ve felt more pressure penalty. Many of the now incoming take the SAT due to closed testing same way, only without test scores.” posed to studying for standardized on other aspects of my application if University first years had to choose centers. The ACT was also forced to A lack of testing scores for ap- tests. I hadn’t, so I certainly would’ve been whether or not they wanted to sub- cancel testing for thousands of stu- plicants who decided to not submit So, despite having the opportu- more stressed about the writing por- mit these scores, and close to half dents, and many sites failed to alert tests simply meant that the admis- nity to take a test, Nguyen decided tions,” Celentano said in an email to chose not to. In the fall 2021 appli- students of last-minute testing site sions committee focused on other that applying without scores would The Cavalier Daily. cation cycle, 42 percent of the 47,827 closures. aspects of the application while encourage her growth in other are- High school senior Mohammad applicants chose not to submit test For high school senior Alp Ek- test scores were a part of the con- as and allow her to forego worrying Murad joined Celentano and Ek- scores, while 28 percent of those ad- mekcioglu, however, while the versation for applicants who went about both paying for and constant- mekcioglu in submitting test scores. mitted were students who did not test-optional policy was an unex- through with submitting them. ly rescheduling tests. Murad didn’t feel pressure to submit submit scores. pected consideration, it wasn’t an In an email to The Cavalier Dai- “When the make-up SATs were a score — he did so because his par- Callin Tatah, a high school senior extraordinary change as he had op- ly, Roberts said that test-optional constantly getting canceled after- ents encouraged him to take the test planning to major in biology, chose portunities to sit for the test. simply means that testing is not wards, it caused me to relocate my early in his junior year, which helped not to submit test scores because the him avoid testing shutdowns — but additional stress of locating an open did observe friends that underwent testing center only exacerbated her stressful application processes be- pre-existing test anxiety. For Tatah, cause of the inability to apply with the test-optional policy curbed a test scores. lot of stress when it came time to “It did alleviate stress because organize her application without I did have test scores and it made worrying about attempting to get me feel better, but I think for oth- the scores she wanted on standard- er people — one of my best friends ized tests. couldn’t take the test — and for her “I chose to apply test-optional she was extremely stressed about it,” because I honestly have the worst Murad said. test anxiety and dreaded taking the All three students feel confi- SAT/ACT,” Tatah said in an email dent in their decision to submit test to The Cavalier Daily. “Though I scores despite the challenges of the knew this would mean my GPA fall 2021 application cycle, but note and extracurriculars would have to that not all students were presented be stronger than usual, overall I felt with the same opportunities. For like without it, admissions officers both Murad and Celentano, sitting would take a little bit more time ac- for tests early and having test scores counting areas I did shine at.” as an application component greatly In this initial announcement, alleviated stress when the time came Ryan cited increasing burdens faced to submit applications, but both by families in light of the COVID-19 students also know that their deci- pandemic as the primary reason for sion was made within their particu- changing the admissions policy in an lar circumstances. effort to allow increased flexibility. With the University committed “Students and families face enor- to a test-optional plan through 2023, mous challenges as a result of the the next two years will be spent coronavirus pandemic,” Ryan said in studying the value and impact of a statement released with the deci- testing in assessing candidates. Cur- sion. “This change in our admission rently, the SAT has an “anticipated” system during a year in which all HANNAH KETT | THE CAVALIER DAILY schedule for fall test dates, and notes applicants might not have the same that the pandemic may affect these access to testing will remove at least dates. The ACT has also released a one obstacle that might otherwise “What the test-optional looked required to be offered admission concentration from the SATs to schedule for 2021 testing dates, but discourage a student from pursuing like to me … it didn’t look like a ‘sub- to the University and stressed that extracurriculars and online commu- again note that circumstances may [their] higher education aspirations.” mit if you want, submit if you don’t’ testing was never the most impor- nity college courses during the sum- change based on COVID-19. Then, in late January of this year, but more like ‘submit if you can, tant factor in the application review mer to save money,” Nguyen said in Tatah is aware of the limits of the University announced again that don’t if you can’t,’’ Ekmekcioglu said. process — applicants submit essays, an email to The Cavalier Daily. “It the test, and when it comes time the University would not require “I had an opportunity to take tests, transcripts, GPA and class rank if did put a bit more pressure [on other to decide whether or not to submit applicants for undergraduate ad- so I felt like I was obligated to sub- applicable and recommendations. aspects of my application], but these scores, applicants should be made mission to submit standardized test mit tests and it would be better to “There is no formula or equation other aspects of my application aware that standardized testing only scores — this time for those apply- submit if I had the chance to do so.” in our evaluation process, so there strongly enhanced my hard-work provides one snapshot of their po- ing through the fall 2022 and 2023 Dean of Undergraduate Admis- is not a specific weight placed on ethic, passion, significant personal tential. application cycles. sions Greg Roberts hoped the tem- each part of the application,” Rob- impacts, abilities, etc.” “To me, the SAT/ACT is only “We believe this is a reasonable porary policy change will inform erts said. “Our review considers the High school senior Elizabeth four hours out of four years of high and humane response to one pres- the University about whether stand- whole student, and we do our best Celentano decided to submit test school,” Tatah said. “The SAT/ACT sure that our prospective students ardized tests, regardless of circum- to get to know a student, personal- scores to remain consistent with really doesn’t take into account the are facing as a result of COVID-19,” stance, are a reliable and equitable ly and academically, through their traditional application content from fact that different students shine — Ryan said in the update. measure of a student’s performance transcript, essays, recommendations past years, but felt comfortable ap- so brightly might I add — in areas A variety of factors played while at the University. Those who and involvement outside of the plying test-optional if she had not that can never be fully highlighted into the decision, including equity opted not to submit scores were not classroom.” been content with her scores. One on paper.” 6 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily LIFE ASU celebrates APIDAHM with message of healing The Asian Student Union’s 32nd annual Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month emphasizes the importance of celebration and healing

Jia Williams | Features Writer

COURTESY BRENDA LIU AND YEJUNG JEONG

Every April, the Asian Student and to make them more accessible what can harm, and celebrate meanings — I’m going to be here virtual talent show that collect- Union hosts Asian Pacific Island- for students. While the events this what lifts people up,” Bapat said for you through tough situations, ed submission videos from con- er Desi American Heritage Month month may look a little different in an email to The Cavalier Daily. but also through the good times.” testants until Saturday, April 10. — a month dedicated to celebrat- from past APIDAHMs, there are “Some of our events will be from ASU’s string of events kicked The winner of the talent show ing Asian culture and educating still plenty of opportunities to a historical perspective, some of off with a more casual event April could choose an organization students on Asian American his- partake in celebrations. them from cultural perspectives 2nd dubbed “Chomp and Chill.” from a pre-compiled list of or- tory. While Asian American and “I’ve noticed that it’s most- and some from activist perspec- As an innovative alternative to ganizations or submit a different Pacific Islander Heritage Month ly Asian students in my classes tives.” the many in-person, food-relat- organization of their choosing is nationally celebrated in May that are the ones [learning from] This spring’s theme follows ed events that are typically held that ASU would donate to. Many to commemorate the first immi- home,” said Iris Wu, APIDAHM last fall’s APIDAutumn theme of during APIDAHM, students were of these organizations, including gration of Japanese people to the committee member and first-year solidarity. APIDAutumn is the invited to watch a short presenta- Stop AAPI Hate, #EnoughIsEno- United States, ASU’s APIDAHM College student. “Since they’re abbreviated fall counterpart to tion about celebratory foods in ugh, Asian Americans Advancing takes place in April to avoid con- our main audience, if we don’t APIDAHM and consists of a one- different Asian cultures like Tang Justice and the Asian American flicts with exam season and to make things accessible for them, to-two week-long celebration in Yuan — a Chinese dessert eaten Feminist Collective are dedicated allow for events throughout the who’s going to come? So we’ve also November. The same APIDAHM during the Lantern Festival. Af- to spreading awareness on Asian entire month. been thinking of ways to utilize committee members plan four terwards, they were able to spend American hate and stopping an- The four APIDAHM plan- our Zoom format.” to five events that fit under the some time chatting with their ti-Asian violence. ning committee members began The goal of this year’s- API chosen theme of the celebrations. peers. This year’s talent show — organizing the events and dates DAHM is celebration and heal- This past fall, APIDAutumn had “We also brought foods to eat which ASU hopes to turn into an over winter break via Zoom. ing, after a tumultuous year that similar events to this year’s API- as we watched,” said Yuri Kim, annual event — was won by the The committee — led by Tanay made in-person gatherings within DAHM — including poetry slams APIDAHM committee member AKAdeMiX Dance Crew. As the Bapat, ASU’s APIDAHM chair the community particularly diffi- and food-related events. and first-year College student. “It winner, AKAdeMiX could direct and third-year College student cult. Feelings of distress related to “Last year’s theme [of solidar- was more of a bonding event for which organization ASU should — scheduled eight virtual events the pandemic and the recent in- ity] was a bit heavier … we were all of us to just talk and eat dinner donate the $300 prize to, and the throughout April, ranging from crease in hate crimes toward the going through a difficult time, together.” group chose Asian Americans Ad- culturally relevant movie screen- Asian Pacific Islander Desi Amer- so we wanted to bond with each Since then, they’ve hosted the vancing Justice, a national non- ings to a meditation workshop. ican community led the planning other and stay strong,” said Nhi Celebration Slam — an event profit organization dedicated to All the events can be found on the committee to focus on something Nguyen, APIDAHM committee where students could come read advancing civil and human rights APIDAHM Facebook event page. they feel the community has been member and second-year College and write poetry celebrating of Asian Americans. All eight events will be held lacking. student. “This semester, we- de Asian culture, while also express- “Asian Student Union is also virtually this year to abide by Vir- “We believe that now, more cided to go with celebration and ing feelings about recent AAPI a political advocacy group,” Kim ginia and University guidelines than ever, we need to heal from healing because solidarity has two hate — and the A-Factor — a said. “It’s not just a cultural group, LIFE Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 7 so I think our events are aimed to I was able to empathize so hard in regards to parenting practices, spective — as its focus will entail proaching, the Mindful Morning also educate and empower Asians with characters in a film,” third- views on religion and general life the nuances of cultural shocks and event aims to explore the science by creating a more supportive year Batten student Katie Zhang priorities which I had not expect- difficulties that tend to character- behind mindfulness and stress and understanding environment. said in an email to The Cava- ed.” ize the Asian American experi- reduction. Participants will be That’s why we create such diverse lier Daily. “I felt each character’s Graduate Arts & Sciences stu- ence. On the panel is Prof. Chong, learning techniques to increase events with different activities emotions so strongly. I could feel dent Erin Burke commented on Shilpa Davé — an assistant dean greater awareness, emotional and themes.” David’s (Alan Kim) frustration at the film’s focus on a singular fam- and assistant professor of Media well-being and peace that are easy While most of the events are his halmeoni [grandmother] when ily’s problems from a non-Asian Studies, and Samhita Sunya— to integrate into their daily lives. funded by ASU fundraisers, one “In addition to finals coming event this year — a screening of up, which is obviously a stressful the 2020 film “Minari” that took time, our hope is that members of place on April 17 — was funded the Asian American community, by the Asian Cosmopolitanisms who are struggling right now due Lab within the Institute of the to the increased hate and violence Humanities and Global Cultures against us, can find healthy -out at the University. Sylvia Chong, lets to deal with personal stressors an associate director of Ameri- and anxiety,” Bapat said. “People can Studies, director of the mi- can sit behind their screens in nor in Asian Pacific American the comfort of their own place Studies and an associate profes- and not be self-conscious which sor of English, reached out to the is kind of what mindfulness and APIDAHM committee with a Buddhist roots are all about. “ grant from the IHGC to host the Similar to the planning, mar- screening. The grant paid for 250 keting for these events are done tickets that students could sign up entirely by students through the for through a Google form on AP- APIDAHM Facebook event page, IDAHM’s Facebook page. email and messaging apps. The The film’s plot follows- aKo committee has also given dates rean American immigrant fam- and information to the Universi- ily as they adjust to life in the ty Programs Council and Student United States. It emphasizes Council to put on social media themes of struggle and reliance COURTESY BRENDA LIU AND YEJUNG JEONG and newsletters sent out to a wid- on family that are common in er audience of students. the Asian experience, and pro- Despite the publicity, attend- vides a timely look into the in- ance at many ASU events has been tersection of Asian heritage and lower since the start of the pan- American culture. Compounded demic. Committee members have with the general dearth of me- observed an average of 15 to 20 at- dia exposure surrounding Asian tendees at most events compared American struggles, “Minari” has to higher turnouts for in-person made waves with the public since events. However, the committee is its release, garnering prestigious hopeful the remaining few events awards that include the Golden will produce a higher turnout, Globe Award for Best Foreign particularly after seeing the high Language Film. demand for “Minari” tickets. “I think that when we talk “I think a lot of Asian [or- about the American story, we ganizations] and organizations leave out important aspects and at U.Va. in general have not been people,” Bapat said. “Our hope having very good turnout in the is that offering tickets to screen pandemic,” Bapat said. “That -be ‘Minari’ will help tell that side ing said, I think last semester our of the story. Though it can be largest event might have been 30 uncomfortable, ‘Minari’ gives people, which was astounding people an opportunity to under- that we could do that over a pan- stand the immigrant struggle, and demic. It’s been hard, but we’ve everything that accompanies it pushed for outreach and publicity for Asians and Asian Americans.” a lot more. We’re trying, and it’s Lee Isaac Chung — the direc- COURTESY KATHERINE LI [turnout is] still small, but I think tor of the film and a first-gener- we’re doing well, given the cir- ation immigrant himself— draws cumstances.” from many of his own experiences he had to take bitter medicine. I point of view. Particularly, there an assistant professor of Middle ASU’s goal, however, remains to portray the challenges of assim- felt the tenderness between Jacob was a sense of relatability in “Mi- Eastern Studies and South Asian unchanged. Through the events ilation. Many critics note the sen- (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri nari” — the film could balance the Languages and Cultures. planned specifically for API- timental and personal nature of Han) as she washed his hair for specificity of the Yi family’s situa- The last of the events is the DAHM and events organized by the film that make it unique. him.” tion with the underlying universal Mindful Morning event, sched- the greater ASU, they hope to cre- “As a second-generation Amer- The film was also viewed and experiences of immigrants. uled for April 25. At the event, ate an environment where APIDA ican with first-generation Ameri- enjoyed by students beyond the “Some of the problems the Leslie Hubbard — the program students feel comfortable and can can parents, I was blown away by University’s Asian American family had were related to their director of student engagement promote cultural appreciation the similarities between the film community. One of these viewers, position as immigrants, but they at the Contemplative Sciences and awareness. and my own life,” Bapat said. “I third-year College student Lauren were not standing in as represent- Center — will be discussing the “I think valuing each other as think David was very well writ- Mason, was drawn to the work atives for the immigrant experi- history of meditation practices equal members of the U.Va. com- ten, in that his limited knowledge because of the great reviews she’d ence,” Burke said in an email to and demonstrating techniques for munity is an important lesson,” of both Korea and the US left him heard from friends. The Cavalier Daily. “Their expe- mindfulness that she learned stud- Wu said. “We all equally belong to navigate his identity and place.” “It was interesting to see the riences were specific to their sit- ying and living with Zen Master at U.Va. and should try to under- Bapat’s sentiments were ech- cultural, generational and gen- uation and also relatable to most Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam and stand each other a little bit more oed by other Asian Americans dered differences from the -chil people.” France. Her experience with a Zen because it’s easy to fall in with who were able to watch the drens’ perspective which was Even if students were not able Buddhist Master is what drew the people that you’re very similar to. screening. Many of the situations exemplified through the relation- to reserve a ticket to the screen- committee to Hubbard, as they But the good thing about going the characters found themselves ship between David, Anne and ing, all are encouraged to attend hoped she would acknowledge the to a school like U.Va. with people in gave the film a sense of famil- Youn,” Mason said. “There were the following APIDAHM event Buddhist origins of the practices from a billion different places is iarity to the viewers. also stark differences between — a panel on April 23 to discuss from a historical perspective. that you get a chance to meet new “I don’t remember the last time Jacob, Monica and her mother the movie from an academic per- With final exams quickly- ap people, so come to our events.” 8 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The sixth annual Africa Day celebrates resilience The Organization of African Students paid homage to various African cultures in this year’s celebration

Samuel Opuni | Staff Writer

The Organization of African Stu- dents hosted Africa Day on Friday, April 16 in the Amphitheater — an annual event that celebrates the many cultures found on the African continent. Last year, Africa Day was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The performances had been filmed at different locations and were presented on a projector. The performances included dances, fash- ion, cast member games, an homage to Africa Day 2020, a flag presenta- tion and a segment that asked what Africa Day meant to students. The theme of this year’s event was #IFARADA. Ifarada means re- siliency in Yoruba — a West African language. The theme was influenced by the many African youth move- ments that have occurred this past year. These movements have sought social and civil rights and have tak- en to social media to organize and spread their message. Their slogans have been hashtagged and were seen by people all over social media. Ex- amples include #EndSars in Nigeria, #CongoisBleeding in Congo, #Shut- itAllDown in Namibia and many more. COURTESY ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN STUDENTS Jasmine Obule, fourth-year Col- lege student and Africa Day creative Fashion was a major part of the show — the vibrant prints came from many West African countries and were worn in both traditional styles and designed into more western looks. director, wanted to draw attention to the reliance in the face of such year planning began in January. provided and brought their creativ- tiful, but she wanted to emphasize “family,” “necessary,” “dynamic” and adversity. The team met regularly over Zoom ity to the video while walking and that a lot of the prints seen in this “Umoja” — the Swahili word for “The show is titled #IFARADA to plan and coordinate how they posing in that setting,” Obule said. year’s show are West African prints unity. to show that throughout it all, the were going to film and produce Af- “We were able to record things mul- and not representative of the entire Obule said that Africa Day, while African community has remained rica Day. Okafor said the show was tiple times to make sure we were continent. A lot of the prints were informative and important, can only resilient, courageous, bold, confi- filmed over a month before Africa putting out our best work.” transferred from last year’s canceled provide a glimpse into the beauty of dent and strong,” Obule said. “We Day and the filming happened over Okafor said the team worked show. The vibrant prints came from African cultures. sought to show through our clothing the course of a weekend. hard to make sure the presentation many West African countries. They “We were able to show a glimpse and our powerful walks how bold “Everybody was booked Friday, of their work in the Amphitheater were worn in traditional styles and of Africa, the beauty of our culture, and fearless we can be. We showed Saturday, Sunday of that weekend was safe and enjoyable. There were also embroidered into more Western clothing, and people,” Obule said. through our clothing and walks that and we were awake from 6 a.m. to 10 staggered arrival times for the- au clothing. The prints were vibrant “However, it’s important to mention we are not easily intimidated.” p.m. — some people later than that,” dience and seats were also spread and incorporated red, gold, pink that this is not a representation of all In deciding whether to put on Okafor said. apart. and blue among some of the notable of Africa as this is very hard to do in the show this year, Nma Okafor, Okafor explained that organ- The night began with a celebra- colors. an hour and 10 minute show.” fourth-year College student and izing this event meant keeping up tion of the recipients of an OAS The prints were not the only ref- For those more interested in OAS president, said that the exec- with a lot of moving parts. The per- scholarship and it proceeded with erence to Africa Day 2020, the show learning more about Africa, Okafor utive board took into account the son team was composed of models, speeches from Okafor and Obule. included a tribute to last year’s Af- said that the OAS is eager to help. lack of social interaction and diffi- photographers Nathaniel Diemer There was then a presentation of the rica Day with a section called “Dear Africa Day is one of the many events cult mental health situations that and Omer Gorashi, videographers flags for the 54 countries in Africa. Africa Day 2020.” OAS produces to educate people students were facing. Africa Day was Raed Gilliam and Demetri Work- Afterward, there was a presenta- Additionally, there were dance about Africa’s numerous cultures needed to provide students a social man, and a make-up team. tion about the theme of this year’s performances from the AfroHoos — and discredit myths about the con- outlet and a break from reality. “We had to make sure that every- show — #IFARADA. Boule ex- a student dance group. tinent. Okafor stressed that the or- Okafor said the format of the one had a negative COVID-19 test plained to the audience what Ifarada In other years the intermissions ganization is open to anyone with an event was changed this year because and was quarantining correctly meant and why it was chosen. They in the live shows were performanc- interest in Africa. of the uncertainty of the pandemic. for 14 days prior to filming,” Oka- also highlighted many youth move- es by student singers and rappers, “OAS is very inclusive to Afri- The board decided that they wanted for said. “During filming, we had ments for civil rights happening on but this year, the intermissions al- cans as well as non-Africans who a video show in case they were not to make sure we fed everyone for a the continent. lowed the audience to better know are interested in learning about the able to do anything in person. Due whole weekend.” The night continued with the the models. The models played a various cultures here that we have to to the switch to a video show, the The video format allowed for different sections of the show which game where they were shown an- offer,” Okafor said. team had to take on nontradition- new ideas to the show but also had their own subtheme. other model’s baby picture and had More information about OAS al roles in addition to their regular brought forth many edits. Fashion was a major part of the to identify the person. Another in- can be found on its website www. roles. “We decided that the show would show, as demonstrated by the tra- termission saw the models describe oasatuva.org. Planning for the event normally be more interactive if models used ditional prints the models wore. what Africa Day meant to them in starts the summer before, but this the different locations they were Okafor said the prints were beau- one word. The answers included ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 9 ‘Face Me’ explore’s author’s personal intersectionality Author Olivia Keenan shares her journey of uncertainty, celebration and reclamation of self

Katelyn Ragland | Staff Writer

“Face Me: a declaration” examines ther’s cousin Carrie Severson reached dedicated the book to her siblings, with. One photo matched with the comes with being a mixed-race Black the complexities and intersectional- out to her about pitching a project and many of the pieces in the book poem “Wash” depicts a pair of feet, woman in her book. After looking at ities of identity, religion and history for Unapologetic Voice House, an are directed towards them, encour- symbolic of the religious implications this topic in the context of American through a lens that begins in uncer- independent company. aging them to embrace and celebrate of sin and the idea of washing one’s history, Keenan addresses the shame tainty and submission and transforms Although Keenan did not have a par- their identities while also praying for feet as an act of service. Similarly, most women feel about their identi- into a celebration of self. Second-year ticular project in mind, she expressed a better future for them. Weis designed the cover with Keenan ties and their bodies. This is especial- College student Olivia Keenan shares that she would love to write about her The book also commemorates to ensure that it reflected the real ly observed in her piece “Lucky You” her identity and story through this identity through race. After showing personal family traditions, such as in confrontation that comes with the with the line, “you are not the one book of poems to reclaim herself in her some poems she already had writ- the poem called “Princess Mobutu,” command of “Face Me.” who begs for forgiveness at the end of the context of the historic white pa- ten, the official process began around in which Keenan addresses her moth- Finally, Keenan detailed the main the night.” triarchy. June and July. She did most writing er and sisters by remembering a char- ideas she hopes her readers will take “I want people to read that and re- Keenan developed a love for from her home in Milwaukee and fin- acter their mother created to inspire away from this project, one of which alize that they shouldn’t feel shameful writing poetry in middle school and ished writing at the University when her children. is centered around the University and of the decisions they make and what started performing slam poetry in she came back in August. The book Overall, the book works towards its history of idolizing racist men. She their bodies are like or what it looks high school. She continued to indulge was finalized in December, and by this theme of celebration and recla- explained how the title of her book like or what they chose to do with it,” in literature and poetry in her first February it was available for presale mation, but only after addressing the seeks to reclaim some of the founda- Keenan said. year when she joined Flux Poetry and and officially released on April 6. submission and uncertainty a young, tional elements of both the Universi- “Face Me: a declaration” not only Spoken Word, a student group on Keenan described that her inspi- mixed-race Black woman faces in ty and the United States in general. observes and critiques intersectional Grounds that promotes self-expres- ration for “Face Me” came from the today’s American society. Keenan fo- “I named it … ‘Face Me: a decla- issues, but tells her story in a way that sion and creativity through the ex- controversial events occuring during cuses on a lot of intersectional issues, ration’ because of the fact that … is compelling, unique and powerful. ploration of written and performed the summer of 2020. such as race, femininity, history and the founder of the school wrote the The language is intimate and truly re- poetry. Keenan explains Flux as an or- “It was definitely just the events of religion to “cater the journey” she Declaration of Independence and flects today’s world. But the only way ganization where her voice has been this summer that catalyzed it … and went through. didn’t include people that look like to understand the full range of mean- uplifted in the best way. Not only has just the fact that also, with COVID, She also wanted to see this jour- me,” Keenan said. “So, I reclaim these ing presented in the book is to read it it provided her a safe space to speak [I had] so much time on my hands to ney reflected in the artwork for the notions of declaration and these idol- yourself, as it is truly an experience. on issues like these, but it has also re- write and then so much time to be book. Keenan collaborated with ized documents that are very imper- “Face me,” is not simply a question — inforced her desire to write about her thinking about race,” Keenan said. Caroline Weis, her close friend and fect and written by very imperfect it is a command. own identity. She also explained how her rela- second-year College student, on the men.” “Face Me: a declaration” can be Keenan’s most recent project tionship with her two younger sisters photography to ensure that the pho- Similarly, Keenan emphasizes the purchased on Amazon for Kindle and began in summer 2020 when her fa- had a major impact on the book. She tos emulated the poems they paired marginalization and treatment that in .

Making lo-fi on the low A glimpse into the life of student producer Adin Yager

Mary Kurbanov | Staff Writer

Adin Yager — 19-year-old pro- out that I could do production, I What am I gonna do?’” Yager said. big hurdle to overcome. One piece Faruque and Elie Bashkow, his abil- ducer and first-year College -stu was so interested.” “Music.” of the music industry Yager men- ity to meet and collaborate with dent — is steadily making his way Yager did not stop there. After Late March brought Yager’s real tioned should be discussed more local artists has been limited over in the lo-fi genre under the alias doing hours of research and watch- plunge into production. He spent 10 often is the knowledge of payment the past year. Luckily, the Univer- “skyswimming.” At the time of this ing endless videos on producing, he to 15 hours almost every day tinker- and how artists get compensated for sity offered Yager the possibility of article’s creation, Yager is at a stag- found a popular beat-making app ing with various beats and melodies. their production. greater production opportunities in gering 80,231 monthly listeners on called Auxy and made it his home. “I would just sit in my room “I know a ton of artists who the future through the Miller Arts and 199,200 plays on Apple “It was a really streamlined, easy all day, and my mom would get so aren’t getting paid everything that Scholars Program. music, solidifying him as an up-and- and mobile way to produce music,” mad at me because I wouldn’t come they’re owed because they didn’t “It’s looking like it’s going to be coming artist to look out for. Yager Yager said. “I could produce music down for any meals,” Yager said. know about [the business side] go- a lot of fun, and I’ll be able to meet creates and mixes beats for his audi- from anywhere, in school, in a car. From there, his potential sky- ing into [the industry],” Yager said. a lot of good people to collaborate ence, hoping to achieve even greater [If] I had earbuds, I was good to go.” rocketed. Release after release ce- The fair treatment of musicians with artistically,” Yager said. heights in the future. Moving closer to professional mented Yager’s growth in the com- by the industry is extremely impor- For those trying to follow in his But he had to start somewhere. music production, Yager discovered munity, and his outreach to other tant to Yager, and he remains pas- footsteps, Yager gives the following “My family is very musical,” Yag- the platform SoundCloud and the artists also gave him the necessary sionate about disclosing vital infor- heartfelt advice. er said. “One of my grandparents is many connections it fostered with know-how to succeed amongst the mation about the business to others. “Collaborate. Ask people. Don’t a cantor at a synagogue, my other other budding artists. After becom- competition. “There are a lot of different parts be afraid to message anybody or ask grandpa is a professional pianist ing increasingly acquainted with “I made some social media ac- of the music industry that are not anybody for help. Watch YouTube [and] my dad is a really talented the world of music over the years, counts, DMed some really famous very public,” Yager said. “In the fu- videos, just learn as much as you guitarist and pianist.” Yager knew he wanted to get seri- lo-fi artists and my idol [Kupla] ture, it would be really cool to be can. Don’t be afraid to put yourself Recalling his humble begin- ous. DMed me back within a day,” Yager able to compile information from out there,” Yager said. nings, Yager remembers his fami- When the pandemic hit and said. “He took the time to answer all people who are willing to share At the end of the day, music is ly’s influence and their inadvertent soon altered everyone’s lives, for of my questions, listened to some of and make a website or platform for completely intertwined with Yager’s push toward his own fluency in mu- Yager, it meant the perfect oppor- my music, gave me advice on what young producers or young artists to identity and sense of individuality. sical instruments. tunity to create. With hours of new- to do on marketing and labels and find.” From the days when he was making “From a young age, I took piano found free time on his hands, Yager how to get involved.” As for local influences, Yager beats on his phone to his current lessons at 5, I took drums at 8, I took to his computer to immerse For Yager, the invention of “sky- feels that he has not really had a climb to stardom, Yager has and al- took guitar at 12 and taught myself himself in the dynamic terrain of swimming” and generating song chance to test the waters quite yet. ways will be incredibly attached to ukulele,” Yager said. “I loved music, music production and release. after song was only the first step. While he has had some experience his work. but I didn’t really find a home with “As soon as the pandemic hit, Understanding the business side of in getting to know musicians in the “Everything my music is, is me,” any instrument, so when I found I was like, ‘Holy s—t. I have time. the music industry became the next Charlottesville area, such as Orion Yager said. 10 | www.cavalierdaily.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Brand New Day Benefit Concert empowers viewers Viewers of this event joined the Virginia Women’s Chorus in raising awareness for sexual assault through uplifting music

Sarah Howorth | Senior Writer

As we have all come to learn, virtu- Chorus and the spectators in the chat 1994, the group was revived and con- “You Don’t Own Me,” a slow, iconic ing began, viewers were encouraged to al concerts are a new and occasionally was infectious. Before the start of tinued to blossom under new direc- pop song originally performed by Les- donate to the Women’s Initiative, a discouraging way to carry on events in the concert, a colorful and dynamic tion. Today, the chorus performs a ley Gore in 1963. Charlottesville-based initiative that a COVID-19-safe way. However, the countdown appeared on the screen wide array of music — ranging from Much to the enjoyment of the works to provide counseling, health- Virginia Women’s Chorus has mas- along with an uplifting pop beat. Soon classical to pop — for its dedicated chat, The Academical Village People care and general support for women tered the art of the virtual music expe- after, welcoming messages and hellos listeners. In attending the chorus’ pre- made an impression with their lively in the community. rience. On April 17, the Virginia Wom- flew through the chat at an encourag- vious events and observing this event video and creative skills. The In addition to sexual assault and en’s Chorus broadcasted the “Women ing rate. alone, it is abundantly clear that the Virginia Belles performed “Rise Up,” relationship violence, the Women’s In- Against Violence: Brand New Day” The Virginia Women’s Chorus is group takes great pride in connecting a well-known tune by Andra Day that itiative also focuses on anxiety, depres- Benefit Concert on YouTube in- sup the University’s oldest women’s cho- with its University fans as well as the famously represents resilience in the sion and other forms of trauma. The port of sexual assault awareness. rus, and the organization was estab- greater Charlottesville community. face of overwhelming distress. If read- Chorus’ leadership emphasized that The Virginia Women’s Chorus was lished 1974. The group began its jour- The Virginia Women’s Chorus ers would like to experience the event the Women’s Initiative is free of charge joined by several other choruses in this ney just four years after women were kicked off the event with a gorgeous for themselves, the video is still up on and there is no appointment necessary inspiring event, including the Virginia allowed into the University without a cappella number titled, “How Can the Virginia Women’s Chorus official for those in need — the organization is Glee Club and the William & Mary restrictions, and it has been preaching I Keep Singing?” Many of the subse- YouTube page. available to help at all times. Women’s Chorus. Despite the fact women’s empowerment all through- quent performances offered an excit- During this disconnected and dif- Overall, the concert did a wonder- that the concert was a virtual event, out its presence at the school. ing contrast to the angelic rendition ficult semester, the song choices of ful job in supporting the messages of the energy of the Virginia Women’s After a brief hiatus from 1989 to of this song. No Fella A Cappella sang the Women’s Chorus have been under- Sexual Assault Awareness Month this standably lighter. The Brand New Day April. 2021 signifies the 20th anniver- Benefit Concert was a great example sary of this month-long campaign for of an event that shared its serious mes- raising widespread awareness of sexual sage with bravery and bright, uplifting assault and educating the public about music. sexual violence. Even in the times of This concert marks the fifth -Wom virtual events and concerts, the Brand en Against Violence concert, and it New Day Benefit Concert showed it also represents the fifth year of the is still possible to come together as a Virginia Women’s Chorus singing bal- community to educate ourselves and lads of empowerment and support in lend a helping hand to those around the name of this event. Before the sing- us. ADVERTISEMENT

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% 20 o YOUR MINTED GRAD STATIONERY & GIFTS USE CODE: CAVALIERS 12 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily OPINION LEAD EDITORIAL We could be happier, President Ryan The University must ensure the Board of Visitors doesn’t go back on its word to remove symbols of hate around Grounds

Recommendations by the Com- ate monuments are removed and the supremacy. It was never meant to be All Confederate statutes — such as protection of slavery and held count- mittee on Naming and Memorials Board doesn’t go back on its word to the solution. A walking tour designed the one in the cemetery — need to be less events romanticizing the Confed- were supported by the Board of Vis- eradicate symbols of hate on Grounds. through digital contextualization removed, just as other forms of ded- erate efforts after the Civil War’s end. itors on April 13. The recommenda- The committee recommended pro- without further action would allow icated to or memorialization of the This monument is a disgusting roman- tions include digitally contextualizing fessional historians, students, Char- the true history of white supremacy Confederacy must be rededicated or ticization of the nation’s past located statutes and memorials at the Uni- lottesville residents and alumni work around Grounds to remain hidden. removed as well. in a high-traffic area on Grounds and versity to create a “digital historical together on digital contextualization The contextualization of statutes The Board will meet in June regard- even shown to prospective students stratigraphy.” This aims to compile through a working group established — such as those of ing the Frank Hume Memorial Foun- during many tours of the University. a complete, “informed perspective” by Ryan. This would include creat- — should be as in your face as the tain — often referred to as the Whis- Considering Hume had no ties to the of monuments for students, visitors ing QR codes to access the history of physical monuments are. Placing QR pering Wall — following Wednesday’s University, there is no question that and community members. University statues around Grounds, such as the codes on statues and memorials rath- community listening session with the the fountain is yet another vestige of President Jim Ryan said he “couldn’t Thomas Jefferson statue in front of the er than physical contextualization is Naming and Memorials Committee. the institution’s historic glorification be happier” about this recommen- Rotunda. This would eventually devel- performative activism of the highest While the Board voted to remove of white supremacy. We urge the Uni- dation, with the committee ruling op into a “walking tour of statues and degree. This method of contextual- or rededicate the wall in September, versity to do more than just rededicate digital contextualization the most memorials.” Though the committee ization is also inherently inaccessible, the fate of the monument remains in the Whispering Wall — remove the “practicable option.”According to the noted the tour’s narrative would cov- as users would need a smartphone in question. With organizers such as the memorial and trauma its continued decision, digital contextualization of er the full history of the commission, order to access the information pro- Minority Rights Coalition adamantly presence signifies for marginalized the historic landscape allows more funding, construction and “informed vided. It reinforces the University’s calling for its removal, we believe the students. detail and flexibility given the limited treatment” of the artist for all memo- pattern of hiding — rather than taking answer is clear — the Hume Memorial The University cannot continue to space around Grounds that physical rials and statues, it isn’t enough. accountability for — its history and its must come down. perpetuate and hide its racist history. markers would intrude upon. Prof. Jalane Schmidt and Jefferson tendency to push the onus of learning Written across the Hume Memori- The Board must listen to communi- But we could be happier, Ryan School Executive Director Andrea onto students. If the historic landscape al Fountain are the words “A Memori- ty demands and remove the Frank — in a society structured on racism, Douglass demonstrate the power of made room for statues that perpetuate al To The Honorable Frank Hume — Hume Memorial Fountain. Students dismantling white supremacy calls us technology in contextualization with a racist narrative, it must now dedi- A Devoted Virginian Who Served His are forced to walk past these memori- to think beyond practicable options. the Marked by These Monuments cate room for markers to contextu- Native State In Civil War And Leg- als every day — a slab of stone should Digital contextualization is inade- audio tour of Charlottesville. How- alize them. In addition to this, there islative Hall.” The word “honorable” never take priority over the mental quate, and the University must ensure ever, this resource is a tool to push are some statues and memorials that should not be used to describe a man wellbeing and sense of belonging of student demands are met, Confeder- for removal of monuments to white even contextualization is not enough. who fought for the Confederacy and those who walk through Grounds.

THE CAVALIER DAILY THE CAVALIER DAILY MANAGING BOARD Sports Editors Production Editors Editor-in-Chief Akhil Rekulapelli Ethan Fingerhut The Cavalier Daily is a financially and editorially independent news organization Jenn Brice Sarah Pettycord Noah Holloway staffed and managed entirely by students of the University of Virginia. Managing Editor (SA) Joe von Storch Flora Kim The opinions expressed in The Cavalier Daily are not necessarily those of the students, faculty, staff or administration of the University of Virginia. Unsigned editorials represent Carolyn Lane (SA) Jude Nanaw Graphics Editors the majority opinion of the editorial board. Cartoons and columns represent the views Executive Editor Life Editors Anisha Hossain of the authors. The managing board of The Cavalier Daily has sole authority over and Zachary Pasciak Elise Kim Martha Wilding responsibility for all content. No part of The Cavalier Daily or The Cavalier Daily online may be reproduced Operations Manager Nayeon Kim Photography Editors in any form, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the editor-in-chief. Ankit Agrawal (SA) Aaron Doss Khuyen Dinh The Cavalier Daily is published Thursdays in print and daily online at cavalierdaily. Chief Financial Officer Arts & Entertainment Editors Ariana Gueranmayeh com. It is printed on at least 40 percent recycled paper. 2020 The Cavalier Daily Inc. Malcolm Mashig Kalista Diamantopoulos (SA) Tapley Borucke Loree Seitz (SA) Ava Proehl HAVE AN OPINION? EDITORIAL BOARD (SA) Darryle Aldridge (SA) Sophie Roehse The Cavalier Daily welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns. Writers must Zack Pasciak Health & Science Editors (SA) Abby Sacks provide full name, telephone number and University affiliation, if appropriate. Letters Jenn Brice Astha Kulshrestha Social Media Managers should not exceed 250 words in length and columns should not exceed 700. The Cavalier Daily does not guarantee publication of submissions and may edit all material for content Thomas Driscoll Isabel Weir Isabel Carino and grammar. Submit to [email protected] or P.O. Box 400703, Charlottesville, Hailey Yowell (SA) Alexa Clark Begum Genc VA 22904-4703 Jessica Moore (SA) Anika Iyer Translation Editors Bryce Wyles Magazine Editors Aldo Barriente QUESTIONS/COMMENTS Kyndal Harrison Lily Lin JUNIOR BOARD Vani Agarwal (SA) Diana Albarracin To better serve readers, The Cavalier Daily has a public editor to respond to questions Assistant Managing Editors Podcast Editor (SA) Maria Corvalan and concerns regarding its practices. The public editor writes a column published every week on the opinion pages based on reader feedback and his independent observations. He Isabel Barney Nabeel Raza (SA) Lucy Hoak also welcomes queries pertaining to journalism and the industry in general. The Pauline Povitsky Opinion Editors (SA) Xi Chen public editor is available at [email protected]. (SA) Hanna Preston Thomas Driscoll (SA) Weining Wang (SA) Grace Eberhardt Hailey Yowell Finance Manager (SA) Lana Kweon (SA) Bryce Wyles Jenna Carpenter FOLLOW US @CAVALIERDAILY (SA) Morgan Kemp Humor Editor Advertising Manager WWW.CAVALIERDAILY.COM (SA) Nicole Freeman Eshaan Sarup Katrina Yankovich News Editors (SA) Emily Porter Eva Surovell Cartoon Editor Maryann Xue Audrey Lewis Want to respond? Want(SA) t Avao MacBlanerespond? (SA) Caroline Abel Submit a letter to the editor to [email protected] Submit a letter(SA) to the Zach editor tRosenthalo [email protected] OPINION Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 13 Virginia must release marijuana offenders With recreational marijuana legal beginning July 1, 2021, the Commonwealth must move to release all those in prison for marijuana offenses

arlier this month, the Virgin- na offenders argue they broke the offenses from 2007 to 2016 were Black the crime, and was just on their person and harsher punishments. Combating Eia General Assembly passed a law when marijuana was illegal, and — despite Black people only making at the time of arrest. Instead of facing drug use is a marathon, not a sprint — final version of a bill to legalize- rec must therefore serve the remainder up about 20 percent of the Common- and responding to hard truths about a relapse should not lead to jail time. reational marijuana in the Common- of their sentence. They did break the wealth’s population. In 2019, marijua- racial justice, politicians resort to Alternative sentencing should be ex- wealth. While the original version of law — but the law was unjust, intend- na arrests in Virginia reached their fabricated terms that will do little to panded to cover all drug use and not the bill set the legalization date in 2024, ed to harm communities of color and highest levels in two decades — nearly reduce mass incarceration. All people stop after the first offense. We must an amendment proposed by Governor arbitrarily applied. Most of our con- 29,000 arrested. Legalization is a step incarcerated for possession and distri- stop treating drug use like a criminal Ralph Northam and approved by both temporary drug laws find their origins towards social justice, but correcting bution of marijuana — assuming no issue and start treating it for what it chambers of the legislature moved the in Nixon’s War on Drugs. Not only the historical targeting of Black people other convictions — must be freed. is — a healthcare issue. date up to July 1, 2021. The legislation ineffective and counterproductive, with arrests and incarceration must Aside from promoting social jus- The General Assembly’s move to is monumental — Virginia is the first the War on Drugs was deployed to accompany it. tice by freeing marijuana offenders, legalize recreational marijuana and state in the South to legalize recrea- create a regulated market for it in the tional marijuana. Commonwealth is undeniably a good This victory should be celebrat- It is impossible to fulfill our goal of racial justice without freeing those incarcerat- thing. Governor Northam’s commit- ed — marijuana is one of the safest ment to social justice in legalization substances out there, and legalization ed for past marijuana offenses. is exactly what Virginia needs in our has been shown to reduce overall in- contemporary period. But it is im- carceration rates and prevent violent possible to legalize marijuana under crime from drug cartels. Despite legal- uphold white supremacist values and Moderates — in a silly bid for com- Virginia must critically reevaluate the banner of social justice without ization though, the Commonwealth oppress Black Americans. In a 1994 promise — will suggest that only non- how we respond to all drug users. accounting for and actively addressing currently has no plans to free people interview, for example, one of Nixon’s violent marijuana offenders should be Mounting evidence demonstrates that the historical harm American drug incarcerated for marijuana convic- former aides admitted that the War on freed. The fact of the matter is that a incarceration is not the answer to drug policies have caused. It is impossible tions — including possession, intent Drugs was created as a tool of violence “nonviolent marijuana offender” is not addiction — treatment and rehabilita- to fulfill our goal of racial justice with- of or actual distribution and so on. against Black communities. a real category but rather a phrase of tion are. Virginia already employs the out freeing those incarcerated for past Governor Northam has said that he The racism and community harm political convenience. There is no solid first offender program, for example. marijuana offenses. wants legalization focused on social from the War on Drugs and its lasting definition of what constitutes- non A person’s first drug conviction can justice — a goal only possible if it in- policies are still felt across the coun- violent. For example, some argue it be sentenced with community service cludes freeing people incarcerated for try today. In 2017, the Virginia Crime should exclude those whose marijua- and addiction counseling. After the NOAH STRIKE is an Opinion Col- marijuana offenses. Commission found that 46 percent na crimes involved a weapon — even first offense though, people face man- umnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be Opponents of releasing marijua- of the people arrested for marijuana if the weapon had nothing to do with datory minimum prison sentences reached at [email protected].

Expand Work-Study to cover roles in SSOs Paying low-income students involved in special status organizations will make them more accessible and more inclusive of the University’s student body

igh-income students are dis- University have struggled to fit in and cellaneous activities. That’s not exactly bership in these SSOs more accessible tions to the SSO’s normal operations Hproportionately represent- be a part of an environment where easy to balance as a full-time student — pay the students. Specifically, these and simply work to level the playing ed at the University, which creates wealthier students are so grossly over- working a part-time job just to pay for funds can be provided through the field between members of all socioeco- affordability barriers for low-income represented. According to one survey a meal plan. Federal Work-Study program, which nomic demographics. While some may students seeking to integrate with of University students, over 50 percent This is concerning, as SSOs play targets recipients based on need iden- disagree with only paying students on their peers. In particular, joining spe- of FGLI students cited harassment or pivotal roles in University operations. tified through the FAFSA. Students a need-basis, this would maximize eq- cial status organizations — including discrimination regarding socioeco- They oversee student organization who qualify for Work-Study will then uity. Those who can afford to doso Student, School and Class Councils, nomic status. This takes many forms funding, represent the University receive compensation for their labor already volunteer their time to these the Honor and Judiciary Committees, — from looking physically different to prospective students and run our — with 75 percent of that funding organizations, making the marginal the University Board of Elections, Uni- due to an inability to afford the latest Honor and Judiciary systems. Given subsidized by the federal government. benefit of compensating them low. versity Programs Council and Univer- fashion trends, to being socially seg- the barriers that FGLI students face Wages from Work-Study go directly In fact, this policy would be cost-ef- sity Guide Service — is challenging regated with having to avoid groups in their ability to join these organi- towards students, and can be used at fective — between federal subsidies for students who must juggle these where they would have to constantly zations, it is not hard to assume that their discretion — just like income and the financial position of both the unpaid, time-intensive opportunities spend money to keep up with peers. they are even more underrepresented from a part-time job.The University University and many of these organi- with other responsibilities. In order to zations, the funds to pay those in need facilitate low-income student engage- will likely not be overburdensome. I ment in these important University For an FGLI student who may need to work a part-time job, the time required am also confident that the University institutions, those students ought to may make these positions [in Special Status Organizations] unattainable for some- would extend their administrative re- be paid for their work through the one otherwise interested. sources to support SSOs in adopting Federal Work-Study program. this policy as they do to departments The University is one of the least that hire Work-Study students. socioeconomically diverse public uni- Most troubling are the barriers in their membership than they are in also has discretion over which jobs Though the Work-Study program versities in the Commonwealth. Just faced by FGLI students in joining the overall student body. While SSOs count for Work-Study, and while jobs is not without its faults, expanding 2.8 percent of all students come from SSOs, which often require large time do not often release their internal de- in SSOs may be untraditional, there is it to cover roles in SSOs will make the bottom 20 percent income percen- commitments from members without mographics publicly, the fact remains nothing stopping the University from these organizations more accessible to tile. By contrast, 67 percent of the stu- a penny of compensation. Notably, that low-income students are at a clear counting them as such. If anything, the FGLI students. This would be a major dent body come from the top 20 per- positions within many of these SSOs structural disadvantage when it comes time commitment and quality of work improvement — not just in terms of cent — 8.5 percent reported household — particularly student government to taking unpaid commitments. It may be better in some SSOs than in a breaking some of the barriers in access incomes within the top one percent. — are often paid positions at colleges is thus alarming that such essential traditional Work-Study job. faced by low-income students, but also The proportion of students in the top around the country. For an FGLI stu- University functions are run by stu- Though critics may worry that pay- to ensure that University institutions one percent is the highest among pub- dent who may need to work a part- dents who may be out of touch with ing students would violate the princi- themselves are representative of the lic universities in the Commonwealth, time job, the time required may make the challenges faced by FGLI students. ple of student self-governance, using student body. and compares more to elite private these positions unattainable. Take the This may further exacerbate the Uni- Work-Study would target those being institutions like Washington and Lee. Guide Service, for example. Joining versity’s culture — which FGLI stu- paid to just those with financial need, As a result of this lack of socioec- requires a probationary semester with dents have repeatedly expressed they and would give these organizations the MATT HELLER is an Opinion Col- onomic diversity, many first-genera- three-hour weekly classes, practice struggle to fit into. flexibility to recruit normally. This tar- umnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be tion and low-income students at the tours, breakout groups and other mis- There’s a simple fix to make mem- geting would ensure minimal disrup- reached at [email protected]. 14 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily HUMOR How to break out of a writer’s block You probably can’t, but there ly destructive condition of pro- terest in the subject? Absolutely 4. Literally do anything else throw all your motivation into is no harm in trying. crastination. Common symptoms not. Did my teacher know that? I’m not joking with this. Just ignoring your block and force There is nothing on this Earth include staring at a blank Google Obviously. And, it took me prac- do something else, anything else. yourself to power through what- worse for a student or writer than doc for five hours without writ- tically forever to break out of a Take a walk until your mask gets ever assignment or creative piece suffering from writer’s block. It ing anything, an extreme lack of block and write that paper. I’m that gross moist feeling and you is troubling you. Set a schedule, is an infuriating infliction that motivation and a rainbow wheel still salty about the grade. start to think about the last time and keep to it. Forget that the can last from minutes to years. of death for a brain. If you relate Anyway, now that you’ve got you exercised. Find a hobby to concept of a writer’s block exists I suffered a writer’s block that to any of these symptoms, I hate the basics down, it’s time to get financially invest in and center and write as if your life depends lasted two years — or at least I to break it to you, but you have out of the funk. your whole personality around on it. That’s what I did for this have given myself the perception writer’s block until you immediately drop it a article. that I escaped. The winters were 3. Buy a cabin in the woods week later. And people will keep Okay, I think I’m done now. long and harsh, and my Google 2. Identify the cause of the block This is a thing authors do, I asking you, “How’s the crochet What’s my word count? document page was as blank as Everything comes from some- think, so you should do it too. kit going?” And you’ll have to my brain. thing, so you are going to want And you can’t just rent one. You search up a photo of it complet- Well, readers, today I am go- to figure out what exactly is the have to buy a cabin in some se- ed and bluff how much you have ing to list a few ways to attempt cause of the block. It can be an- cluded area of the woods. But, done when you know it’s still in- to break from this horrid condi- ything from self-doubt, burnout not too isolated that it’s like be- complete and laying underneath tion and finish that paper or sto- or the intense fear of compari- ing in a slasher horror film. You your pile of clean but also sort of ry you have been putting off for son. Or, in many cases, simply need to be able to sit at a desk dirty clothes pile. That was really the past week. the inability to construct a crea- and look longingly out the win- specific for no reason. You can’t tive subject that both entices the dow while drinking a steaming judge me. 1. Diagnose yourself reader and interests the writer. A cup of black coffee with a feather The first clear step in treating prime example is an essay I wrote quill pen in one hand and sheets 5. Suppress all thoughts and live CAMILA COHEN SUAREZ is a writer’s block is to establish that titled “Free Will and Fate Pre- of ivory white paper laid before in denial Humor columnist for The Cavalier you have writer’s block, which sented In The Odyssey and The you. This is a requirement, so If you ignore the problem, Daily. She can be reached at hu- often is confused with the equal- Iliad.” Did I have a shred of in- don’t slack off. it will eventually go away. So, [email protected]. CARTOON Allergy Season

Ria Kharosekar | Cartoonist The Cavalier Daily Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 15 PUZZLES WEEKLY CROSSWORD PUZZLE Abby Sacks | Puzzle Master * THE SOLUTION TO THIS PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEXT ISSUE Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. To abstain from, often used in legal set- tings. 4. Sport that Diego Maradona is known for. 8. The Cavalier Daily might be hit with 8 9 one of these if it published copyrighted material. 10 9. What is buried after someone dies. 11. Trump inflated the numbers of this at his inauguration. 11 12 12. Last name of man who created an on- line site with educational materials and test prep. 13. A person who is easily deceived. 13 14 15 14. The Executive Branch has ____ the laws. 16. A white, bell-shaped flower that droops down. 18. To kick someone out of school. 16 17 18 19 20. Third instruction that Bop It gives. 21. Place where two borders intersect and vehicles are inspected. 23. Place where the Graduate bar is locat- ed. 20 21 22 24. Performances of an actor. 25. Building material on the outside of houses. 26. A person who is hired to go with some- one to an event. 23 24 Down 1. Event where people choose their fantasy football teams. 2. To think someone is guilty. 25 26 3. A machine that dries clothes without heat. (two words) 5. Adjective for someone with a BMI over * SOLUTION FROM APRIL 8 ISSUE 30. S B A A L U S 6. Slang word often used in the show “Derry Girls” to mean really good. P E T E K A N J I N O O N 7. Idiom to mean something that sounds E S I T C U D familiar. S P U T U M O V E R S E A S 10. Service that someone gives when they translate for two people who speak differ- R B N N E ent languages. A D V I S O R Y S A D I S M 13. Suspended and hanging freely. O D M E P 15. In soccer, something players are award- ed when the other team commits fouls. I N c E N S E A D D I S O N (two words) O P T N O 17. Having lots of good food to eat. G R I P P E R E G I S T R Y 19. A clause in which a condition is intro- duced. U A A L P 21. To sing softly and intimately. W H I Z Z K I D O L I V I A 22. Title of book written by Elie Wiesel. A Z N E O R N O R A L O D I U M I O T A M E W N Y T O 16 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily SPORTS Meet women’s tennis sophomore Natasha Subhash The 2020 ITA National Rookie of the Year has Grand Slam aspirations — and a Grand Slam personality

Connor Lothrop | Sports Columnist

Before every match, Natasha Sub- in any game situation. Subhash has hash was, “a very sweet girl,” and “very hash, women’s tennis player and sec- shown that fight multiple times this fun to hang out with.” ond-year Commerce student, spends season, clawing her way back to vic- One of Subhash’s great joys in life 10 minutes listening to music alone. tory from first set losses three times is good food. She enjoys trying dif- “I don’t really have a specific song and only losing in straight sets once ferent restaurants around the Char- I use,” Subhash said. “But it helps me in singles on her way to a 14-3-1 re- lottesville area and especially on the focus.” cord (11-2 in ACC play). road. Maybe for another player you Subhash’s on-court mentality isn’t “She’s a foodie,” Munera said. “She could call it the calm before the the only thing reminiscent of star pro really loves trying new things, and I storm, but that doesn’t really fit the athletes. Every person reached for really think she loves food.” way the Fairfax, Va. native plays. It’s comment lauded her work ethic as One of her favorite places to go much more the calm before the clin- otherworldly. is Iron Paffles, the downtown Char- ical dismantling of whoever dares “Natasha is by far one of the hard- lottesville eatery famous for their stand across the net from her. est workers on our team,” O’Leary paffles — puff pastries cooked ona Subhash’s tennis game is founded said. “She comes in for extra individ- waffle iron and filled with just about upon control and organization, as uals [practices] multiple times per anything you can think of. those around her tell it. When asked week and is always searching for ways When she isn’t beating up on about her on-court presence, Coach to get better. I think the experience ACC competition, studying or trying Sara O’Leary describes her style of Natasha has from playing so many new pastries, Subhash does her best play as all-court and focused. matches growing up along with her to give back to the community, where “She can play aggressive and come outstanding work ethic allow her to she helps tutor younger students in to the net, she can play defense, she go out and play her matches with math and comprehension at can mix it up using slice and heavy such peace and belief in herself. She Madison House. high balls and she can easily change knows she has been in just about any On Friday, No. 11 Virginia will her court positioning,” O’Leary said. situation that could come up, and she open its ACC Tournament as the “Natasha is one of the best prob- knows she has put in the consistent fourth seed in Rome, Ga. The Cava- lem-solvers on court I would say in work. I never see Natasha panicking liers have a double-bye and will face collegiate tennis. She has the ability out on court because she is able to either Boston College, Louisville or COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS to adjust her game to a certain style stay clearheaded and problem-solve.” Duke in the tournament quarterfi- based on what her opponent doesn’t This combination of steely - men nals. The team has successfully - dis Subhash has been outstanding this season, currently ranking ninth in the country in singles like. She also has the ability to do tality and incredible work rate has patched all three opponents in ACC and winning 11 of her 13 ACC matches. this in extremely stressful and pres- led to wild early-career success for play, and Subhash beat her individual sure-filled moments.” Subhash. Even before she entered opponents from all but the latter. Af- if she could make a run to the NCAA hash plans on joining the women’s Sofia Munera, Subhash’s longtime NCAA competition, she participat- ter the ACC Tournament, the na- Tournament as an individual, Sub- pro tour. She has already participated doubles partner and third-year Col- ed in a Junior Grand Slam — a group tional bracket begins in early May. hash was non-committal. in several professional events and has lege student, agrees. of tournaments that includes the Natasha is optimistic about Vir- “I don’t really know what to ex- even played a former top-50 player in “Natasha is very organized and Australian Open, the French Open, ginia’s chance to advance through the pect from singles,” Subhash said. the world. very solid,” Munera said. “She’s very Wimbledon and the US Open — and ACC Tournament and towards the Her freshman tournament was It may not be easy, however. Being aggressive at the net, and you don’t amassed over $18,000 in prize money. national finals. canceled due to the COVID-19 out- on the tour full time is, well, a full- expect her to miss often.” Subhash has arguably been even “We’ve had too many 4-3 losses re- break, making predictions difficult. time job, Subash acknowledged. When Subhash was 4 years old, more successful since joining the cently,” Subhash said. “But I feel like However, if she’s able to keep up her “It’s always been my goal to go her father, a first-generation immi- Cavalier team. As a freshman, she once we get into the postseason train- momentum, that quote could end up pro,” she said. “But it’s grueling, a grant from India, noticed his daugh- quickly ascended to the team’s top ing and atmosphere, those will start looking very modest. non-stop grind.” ter had unnaturally good hand-eye seed and gained enough recognition to turn around.” In doubles, Subhash and Munera It’s undeniable that Subhash is coordination. He had her pick up to be named the ITA’s National and She’s absolutely right. The Cava- look promising. more than talented enough to turn a tennis racket and she hasn’t put it Atlantic Regional Rookie of the Year. liers lost three of their final four reg- “I think [Munera] and I have a re- professional after she finishes her -de down since, playing in tournaments She is just the second Virginia wom- ular season affairs by a single match, ally good chance,” Subhash said. gree, and she seems more than willing from the time she was 6 years old and an to win the national award. When only managing to beat Wake Forest in The pair have been playing- to to put in the work that could put her traveling the world to play by high asked for comment about Subhash the month of April. The team is due gether for the better part of two sea- in the upper crust of international school. winning this honor, Munera stated for some positive regression to the sons now, and their chemistry is rock women’s tennis. Subhash grew up idolizing the al- that no one was more deserving and mean, and the postseason would be a solid. Both women talked about how Those around Subhash feel like ways-in-control Belgian tennis player repeated that Subhash spent more great time for those unlucky bounces good their relationship off the court she is well set up for life after tennis, Kim Clijsters, a woman who remains time in individual practices than any- to go Virginia’s way. is and how in sync they can be togeth- too. She was recently admitted into Subhash’s favorite player to this day, one else on the team by far. Along with Subhash, the Virginia er in battle. the McIntire School of Commerce, and cool-as-a-cucumber Roger Feder- “It’s something to expect for [Na- team features the country’s current “Teamwork is very important for where she will begin taking classes er. Modeling her game after both of tasha] to get that level of recognition,” top freshman — and overall player doubles,” Subhash said. “You can put in the fall semester. O’Leary refers to these legends — who have combined Munera said. — Emma Navarro (16-1), as well as two great singles players on the court her as hardworking and an amazing for an astonishing 26 Grand Slam ti- On a tennis court, Subhash is solid contributors like Munera (7-5-1) together, but if they don’t have chem- student. tles — has brought Subhash to pro- ruthless and cold-blooded. Howev- and Rosie Johanson (16-2, No. 88 na- istry then they won’t beat a great You can watch Subhash and Vir- ject cool confidence on the court in er, once she leaves the 78-by-27-foot tionally) who are more than capable team.” ginia women’s tennis play in the any situation. rectangle, she becomes quite the op- of besting any woman across the net The pair is currently ranked 27th ACC quarterfinals Friday on ACC That accounts for only part of posite. from them. in the country in doubles, 14 spots Network Extra. Later down the road, her game, though. When she needs “Natasha is one of the nicest, Unlike the team as a whole, Sub- higher than the team’s other pairing it’s more than likely that you will one to, Subhash can draw intensity from most respectful young women I have hash, ranked ninth in the country, of Navarro-Johanson. day be watching the Virginia stalwart players like Spanish lefty Rafael Na- ever had the opportunity to coach,” enters the postseason on a hot streak. As focused as she is on Virginia’s play in Grand Slams on ESPN. dal and the late hooper Kobe Bryant. O’Leary said. “She is kind to all of her She won each of her last four singles upcoming tournaments, Subhash is Both athletes are famous for how teammates and everyone she comes matches and has come out on top in still finding time to look to -the fu locked-in they appear to be at all across, humble, hard-working.” nine of her last 10 contests dating ture. Once she finishes school, -Sub times and how much fight they have Munera agreed, saying that Sub- back nearly two months. When asked SPORTS Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 17 Previewing No. 12 women’s lacrosse versus Virginia Tech The Cavaliers will look to snap a four-game losing streak against the Hokies in their regular season finale

Connor Smith | Associate Writer

The No. 12 women’s lacrosse ered by junior attacker Lillie Kloak, game winless in ACC play and lost team will wrap up its regular season junior attacker Ashlyn McGovern four of their past five games. with a match against rival Virginia and senior attacker Taylor Regan Virginia Tech has struggled -of Tech this Saturday. The Cavaliers this season. Kloak and McGovern fensively this season, averaging (8-6, 3-6 ACC) lost four consecu- lead the team with 27 goals apiece, 10.23 goals per game. That mark is tive games, including a pair of big while Regan leads the team with more than two goals less than Vir- defeats to top-ranked North Caro- 35 points on 20 goals and 15 assists. ginia’s average of 12.57 goals per lina this past weekend. Virginia will North Carolina was able to effec- game. However, the Hokies have hope to use this game as a confi- tively contain the trio, limiting been a bit stingier on defense than dence booster before the ACC and them to just three goals and three the Cavaliers, conceding 11.77 goals NCAA Tournaments begin in the assists in two games over the week- per game, compared to Virginia’s coming weeks. end. For the Cavaliers to get back average of 12.21 goals against. Virginia began the season on the winning track, they need Virginia Tech’s offense is led strongly with five consecutive wins, more offensive production from by senior midfielder Paige Petty one of which was a 12-10 thriller their star players. and senior attacker Sarah Lubnow. against the Hokies (4-9, 0-7 ACC). However, Virginia has plenty Petty leads the team with 31 goals, Since then, ACC play picked up of balance on offense to fall back while Lubnow has tallied 41 points and the Cavaliers struggled, drop- on. The Cavaliers have five addi- on 19 goals and 22 assists this sea- ping six of their next nine games. tional players who have scored son. It will be important for the Syracuse, Notre Dame and North double-digit goals this season. Jun- Cavaliers to shut down the Hokies’ COURTESY VIRGINIA ATHLETICS Carolina — which are all teams ior midfielder Annie Dyson has 19 dynamic duo if they want to com- Virginia junior midfielder Annie Dyson runs past Virginia Tech senior midfielder Paige Petty ranked in the top five — contribut- goals and eight assists on the sea- plete the season sweep. in the rivalry’s first matchup back in February. ed to the Virginia losing streak. son, while freshman attacker Mor- The Cavaliers won the last two The Cavaliers’ recent struggles gan Schwab has 16 goals and eight meetings against the Hokies and have mainly been due to a lack of assists. Additionally, freshman haven’t lost in the series since April ing before the ACC Tournament ville. Virginia has been much bet- success on the offensive end. Vir- midfielder Mackenzie Hoeg has 14 2018. When the two teams met begins. Heading into Saturday, Vir- ter at home this season, tallying a ginia’s offense was flying high at goals, and sophomore midfielder earlier this season, Virginia over- ginia sits in sixth place in the ACC record of 6-2, compared to 2-4 on the beginning of the season, but has Kiki Shaw and freshman midfielder came an early deficit to knock off at 3-6 and is one game behind Duke the road. The game is set to begin at since slowed down. The Cavaliers Maggie Bostain have tallied 13 goals Virginia Tech 12-10 in Blacksburg. in fourth place. With a win and a 5 p.m. with coverage on ACC Net- have been held to 10 goals or less each. McGovern and Dyson came up big loss by the Blue Devils, the Cava- work Extra. in three of their past four games, On the other side of the field, in the win, as both recorded hat liers could move into fourth place something that only happened once Virginia Tech presents a nice op- tricks. by the end of the week. in the previous 10 games. ponent for Virginia to bounce back Virginia has a good opportunity Saturday’s game will take place Virginia’s offense has been pow- against. The Hokies head into this to improve its conference position- at Klöckner Stadium in Charlottes-

Virginia men’s tennis: ACC Tournament preview Which teams stand the best chance of knocking off top-seeded Virginia in this year’s ACC Tournament?

Ethan Bacica | Sports Columnist

It has certainly been an impres- injuries, this Virginia men’s tennis lately, don’t be surprised if they play a ACC bracket. on this team with three nationally sive season for Coach Andres Pedro- team should cruise through the early close one against Virginia. A fully healthy North Carolina ranked players in the starting lineup so and his No. 5 Virginia men’s tennis rounds and be looking to bring home team is the best team Virginia would — including No. 11 sophomore Henri team, as the Cavaliers have yet to lose the title. However, there is still stiff North Carolina play in this tournament. Howev- Squire. a game in the ACC this year. competition that could derail cham- North Carolina offers another po- er, even if North Carolina has a full In their only meeting of the sea- The last time Virginia lost a pionship aspirations. Which teams tential roadblock to a championship team, those players might not be at son Virginia defeated Wake Forest match was back in February to Illi- are most likely to knock off the Cav- for the Cavaliers. The Tar Heels are full strength — which could influence 5-2. Strong doubles play helped the nois in the National Team Indoor aliers? the only team in the ACC that can the outcome of the match. Cavaliers early, as the singles matches Championship Tournament. Since say they beat Virginia, defeating the were all tight and competitive — in- then, the Cavaliers haven’t looked NC State Cavaliers 4-2 on their way to win- Wake Forest cluding three matches with tiebreak- back, and they are now the winners The Wolfpack could challenge ning the 2021 National Team Indoor Wake Forest, who is perhaps the ers. of 12 straight — all in-conference. It Virginia as a sleeper team early on in Championship Tournament. most dangerous of the North Car- As the hottest team entering the is without a doubt that Virginia is the the tournament. As the fourth seed in However, injuries have plagued olina teams, has emerged as a top tournament, not including Virgin- current favorite to win its 12th ACC this year’s tournament, the Cavaliers North Carolina since then, as sopho- ACC men’s title contender alongside ia, the Demon Deacons could be a Championship. will likely see them in the semifinals. more Rinky Hijikata and senior Josh Virginia. The Demon Deacons made problem if both teams make it to the With a win against Notre Dame It is arguable that NC State of- Peck — two regulars in the starting their loudest statement of the season finals. Friday, Virginia clinched the top seed fered Virginia its most competitive lineup — have both been out for the with a road sweep of North Carolina, Despite the gauntlet of teams in in the ACC Tournament. conference match of the season. In past month. 5-2, and Duke, 4-0. the state of North Carolina and the As the first seed in the - tour their head-to-head matchup, the Without a full team, the Tar Heels Wake Forest is currently sitting at ACC, Virginia has been able to de- nament, the Cavaliers will either Cavaliers won 5-2, but the Wolfpack have lost to Virginia 6-1, and most 11-1 in conference play, with the team feat every team this year. With strong play eighth-seeded Georgia Tech or offered tough competition in singles. recently to Wake Forest 5-2, as they rising to their highest ranking of the doubles play early and gritty per- ninth-seeded Miami Friday after- Graduate student Alexis Galar- limp into the ACC Tournament. year, climbing to No. 10 in the ITA formances from singles, there is no noon to kickstart the weekend in neau is a talented No. 1 for the Wolf- Still, the country hasn’t forgotten rankings. Having earned the second reason this team can’t bring another Rome, Ga, with the semifinals and pack. An ATP-ranked player, he han- the Indoor Championship title this seed in the tournament, the Demon ACC title back to Charlottesville. finals taking place Saturday and Sun- dled Virginia graduate student Carl year, as the Tar Heels are currently Deacons are playing with plenty of day, respectively. Söderlund with two straight sets in ranked No. 3 in the ITA rankings. momentum coming into the final With the exception of an unbe- their last match. North Carolina is the highest ranked week of the regular season. lievable collapse or a set of hapless Although this team has struggled team the Cavaliers could face in the There is a plethora of talent 18 | www.cavalierdaily.com The Cavalier Daily HEALTH & SCIENCE U.Va. Health leaders reflect on one year of COVID-19 Leaders and doctors cite overall success while acknowledging a few roadblocks, such as testing limitations during summer 2020

Swati Srivastava, Astha Kulshrestha | Staff Writers

Nearly 13 months ago, COVID-19 The University began providing the test.” first hit the University as students a CDC-approved COVID-19 test Kent added that health system were asked not to return from spring when the pandemic first broke out. volunteers helped test indigent parts break March 11, 2020 and the first Dr. Melinda Poulter, director of clin- of the community five to six days per University community tested positive ical microbiology at the School of week throughout the fall. Each com- March 16. Since then, U.Va. Health has Medicine, explained that U.Va. Health munity site would administer between taken several actions in a continuous worked to bring in the CDC test first 75 and 115 tests during each two-hour and evolving response to the pandem- since the physicians saw data support- outing. ic. Now, U.Va. Health administrators ing its good performance. However, Poulter said that U.Va. Health also and physicians involved in ramping the University had to purchase the created and validated several different up COVID-19 testing and response re- specific reagents — chemical - mix tests that helped keep up with demand, flect on the pandemic and the lessons tures used to determine if a testing including a high-throughput one that learned from one year of tumultuous sample matches COVID-19’s genome could test 94 samples at once. Howev- operations. sequence — separately, which caused er, Kent acknowledged that over the Dr. Craig Kent, executive vice pres- some issues. summer, there were testing shortages. ident for Health Affairs at U.Va. and “The hard part was actually getting “There was a period of time — chief executive officer at U.Va. Health, the test components,” Poulter said in April, May, June — where there wer- was a new arrival to the University an email to The Cavalier Daily. “They en’t enough tests for everybody we on Feb. 1, 2020, just weeks before the aren’t sold as a ‘kit.’ You have to get wanted to test,” Kent said. “We had to HANNAH KETT | THE CAVALIER DAILY health administration began to realize everything separately from multiple set priorities.” the threat that COVID-19 posed. different companies then build the During this time, community “It’s an odd time to show up to lead ‘kit’ yourself.” testing remained a priority, as did Since March, hospital workers have want to be vaccinated,” Kent said. “The a health system, you know, three weeks Additionally, even when the Uni- testing of healthcare providers. How- felt the pressure associated with caring idea is to try to approach each of those before an international pandemic be- versity Health System did receive tests ever, asymptomatic individuals could for patients amid a surging pandemic. different groups with different- argu gins,” Kent said. from public health departments, there not be tested in large numbers. Kent In April 2020, some employees were ments as to why they should be vacci- According to Kent, U.Va. Health were often only enough tests for the said that the addition of saliva testing furloughed due to an $85 million defi- nated.” was aware of the virus in December, sickest or highest risk patients, which helped overcome the shortage. cit resulting from the decline of clin- Kent stressed the need to dispel but it was not until February and is what inspired Mathers and Poulter “When saliva testing became avail- ical care and related services. In No- misinformation and educate hesitant March when officials began to -real to create the University’s own test. able in large numbers, I think that was, vember, hospital workers announced communities on the safety and efficacy ize the scope of the threat COVID-19 Despite high demand for reagents in some ways, almost transformational their unionization, citing “top-down of the vaccine. U.Va. Health has already posed. and swabs across the country, Uni- because we could test large numbers approaches to management, inad- begun making efforts to reach out to After that, U.Va. Health moved versity sales representatives were able of people on a daily basis,” Kent said. equate staffing and subpar wages.” multiple groups in the surrounding quickly to keep up with the pandemic’s to secure the needed supplies for the “Since that’s been available, I think Anthropology graduate student Ida Charlottesville area. trajectory by bringing together 15 to tests, Poulter said, and soon after, the we’ve had no trouble with testing.” Hoequist said that many of these issues “A number of people from U.Va. 17 representatives from the School of University created its first functioning When saliva tests were first -an pre-dated COVID-19 but were exacer- Health have reached out to the Latinx Medicine, School of Nursing and Med- COVID-19 test. nounced Sept. 5, the seven-day testing bated by the pandemic. community, some to the Black com- ical Center to coordinate a response. “I think this was a big step toward average at the University was only 174 Less than two months later, U.Va. munity, some to our rural community,” “In some ways, it was a crisis man- managing COVID in our state and did people. Now — eight months since the Health mandated that healthcare Kent said. agement team,” Kent said. “Some of much to help out our fellow hospital test’s creation — the University’s sev- workers in inpatient units take an ad- He added that U.Va. Health is soon us would learn what was happening systems until they could get instru- en-day testing verage is 1,891 people. ditional 12-hour shift every three weeks partnering with VDH to formally around the country, some of us were ments, reagents and supplies to start Another beneficial move by U.Va. in response to a surge in cases from launch a public relations campaign to experts in virus, some of us were ex- their own testing programs,” Poulter Health at the start of the pandemic was holiday gatherings. encourage getting vaccinated. perts in operation.” said. opening a new 84-bed tower in April, Looking forward, Mathers and Overall, Kent, Mathers and Poulter At first, communities — both- lo These new tests only took 24 hours five months earlier than planned. Ac- Kent both emphasize the importance expressed their pride in U.Va. Health’s cally and elsewhere in Virginia — were to turnaround test results. By mid- cording to Kent, these new beds were of continuing to vaccinate the com- continued and past efforts regarding overwhelmed with COVID-19 pa- March, U.Va. Health was testing at a perfect for the influx of COVID-19 pa- munity and urge everyone to get the the pandemic. tients and had trouble keeping up with of 100 tests per day and was tients as they were all negative pressure vaccine when they are able to. With “I think we’ve done a superb job testing needs, according to Dr. Amy offering 50 tests per day to six hospi- rooms — which are constructed to pre- continued vaccinations, they said of keeping our community safe and Mathers, associate professor of medi- tals in Virginia and North Carolina for vent particles from escaping when the COVID-19 cases will decrease, nearing in patients that were unfortunate and cine and pathology. their doctors to use on patients that door is opened — and separated from light at the end of the tunnel. contracted COVID,” Kent said. “We’ve “I went into a nursing home and met clinical testing guidelines. This non-COVID-19 patients. “I’m pretty hopeful that with the kept them as safe as possible and I’m 95 percent of the occupants ... tested partnership continued to expand, ac- “We’ve moved all of our COVID widespread … and successful rollout of really proud of that.” positive, and that’s terrifying,” Mathers cording to Kent. patients into this new 84-bed tow- vaccinations to the larger population, Poulter also applauded the many said. “I was not licensed to practice in “At one point, we were sharing our er … a different place than where a in the coming months, is just going to volunteers who have come together to that facility ... [but] there were people tests with almost 30-some hospitals non-COVID patient is so there isn’t be critical,” Mathers said. help U.Va. Health in its response to the that needed attention.” around the state, and that was really any cross contamination,” Kent said. So far, U.Va. Health has opened a pandemic. For example, a 600-mem- Nursing home residents were hit exciting,” Kent said. Kent also said that recent data vaccination center in Seminole Square ber vaccination volunteer team was the hardest by COVID-19 due to the U.Va. Health also worked to test shows U.Va. Health ranks in the top in collaboration with the Virginia critical in administering vaccinations age of residents, close proximity with- the surrounding Charlottesville com- decile of other American academic Department of Health, and it is now during the spike in cases over the hol- in living spaces and heightened rates munity and continues to do so, Ma- medical centers in terms of COV- capable of vaccinating 2,500 to 3,000 iday season. of mortality among the elderly — Vir- thers said. ID-19 patient mortality, praising the people a day, according to Kent. All “What we have accomplished be- ginia was no exception. Within weeks “The community testing events frontline physicians who take care of Virginians aged 16 and older are cur- tween the University and the Health of the first confirmed case in Virginia, that U.Va. hosts in collaboration with the patients. According to Dr. Mitch- rently eligible for the vaccine. System has taken a village of incredibly dozens of residents died after COV- the health department are just critical,” ell Rosner, chair of the Department of However, a roadblock in the face of committed people who are willing to ID-19 spread through a nursing home Mathers said. “People here [are] figur- Medicine, U.Va. Health has cared for continued vaccination efforts has been give endlessly of their time and talents, facility in Richmond — the highest ing out how to meet the community over 1,300 patients and its overall mor- groups within the community who are and they have done it all as volunteers,” known death toll at a U.S. long-term where they are [by having the] Mount tality index — the observed mortality hesitant to receive the vaccine. Poulter said. “These people inspire me care facility at the time, The New York Zion Baptist Church [host] the testing divided by the expected mortality — is “There’s different sects of people to work harder and give more.” Times reported. event, and we’re just a guest that brings less than one. who have different reasons they don’t HEALTH & SCIENCE Thursday, April 22, 2021 | 19 Home-monitoring system aims to reduce cancer pain A University team wants to make cancer pain management more effective and personalized using the smart health system BESI-C

Samuel Opuni | Staff Writer

Nursing Prof. Virginia LeBaron, events. The smartwatches also store former Engineering Prof. John Lach data on factors like movement and and a team of graduate and under- heart rate. graduate students implemented Be- “BESI-C integrates environ- havioral and Environmental Sens- mental data via the sensors, so- ing and Intervention for Cancer to cial dynamic information via the find personalized solutions for can- beacons and personal activity and cer pain intervention. BESI-C is a self-reported pain episodes via the smart health home-monitoring sys- wearable sensor,” Gordon said. “All tem that aims to reduce cancer pain of this information helps to create by detecting it before it arises and a holistic picture of the cancer pain helps healthcare workers effectively experience.” intervene with the goal of limiting This holistic picture is referred negative patient outcomes. to as a patient’s pain profile. LeB- The project was inspired by LeB- aron explained that understanding aron’s personal and professional ex- a patient’s pain profile allows for periences. more effective and personalized in- “My clinical work as a nurse terventions to reduce cancer pain. in oncology and palliative care Because both caregivers and involved caring for many cancer patients wear the smartwatches, patients suffering with unrelieved both parties mark the patient’s pain pain,” LeBaron said in an email to events. The Cavalier Daily. “These profes- “BESI-C collects data from both sional experiences, combined with the patient and the caregiver about the personal loss of a family mem- their own experience but also about ber from cancer, prompted my their perceived experience of their interest in conducting research to partner,” LeBaron said. “This is in- improve cancer pain management.” credibly important as it will help CARA HU | THE CAVALIER DAILY When LeBaron arrived at the us better understand how to tailor School of Nursing, she connected effective interventions not only to ‘buckets’ of data exist, and who to make this system as inclusive and vised system using the BESI-Box,” with Lach who was working on Be- support and empower patients, but needs access to these data, when easy to use as possible because this LeBaron said. “Looking further into havioral and Environmental Sens- family caregivers as well.” and how and in what ways will is a system that we want people to the future, we will use the data col- ing and Intervention for Dementia, The information that BESI-C vary,” LeBaron said. “An important set up in their lives and use for the lected by BESI-C to develop, deliv- a project designed to detect early collects is of high interest to pa- goal of our NIH study will be to length of the deployment without er in real-time and test personalized agitation in dementia patients. tients and caregivers. Gordon said generate and share data visualiza- it really affecting their lifestyle and interventions, both for patients and They decided to adapt BESI-D’s that patient confidentiality was an tions with key stakeholders and talk without them noticing it’s there.” caregivers.” technology for patients with can- important factor in the design of with them about their preferences.” Martinez is motivated by the According to a University press cer and BESI-C was born. The team BESI-C — all the data collected Yudel Martinez, a fourth-year importance of BESI-C’s mission. release, pilot grants from the U.Va. that works on BESI-C — much like during this study was not identifi- Engineering student on the BESI-C “This project is trying to make Center for Engineering in Medicine the project — is interdisciplinary in able. team, explained that before the the last moments of a person’s life and the American Cancer Society that it is composed of nurses and “The interviews with the- pa pandemic, the team of nurses and the most comfortable we possibly enabled LeBaron and her team to engineers. tient-caregiver dyads identified engineers would go into patients’ can,” Martinez said. design and deploy BESI-C. This Kate Gordon is a former gradu- that privacy was the biggest con- homes to set up the system and The team has plans to expand year, LeBaron received a $3.4 mil- ate nursing student who was a re- cern,” Gordon said. “To address teach patients and caregivers how BESI-C’s reach and impact. Ac- lion grant from the National Insti- search assistant on the project. that, we did not capture raw audio to use it. Once the pandemic began, cording to LeBaron, the team is tute of Nursing Research, which is “The BESI-C system is - com — you cannot detect actual con- the team had to halt deployments analyzing feasibility and accepta- part of the National Institutes of prised of three primary compo- versations with the noise sensor. and reconfigure their system to al- bility testing data and planning to Health, that will allow the BESI-C nents — environmental sensors We did not use cameras. We only low it to be set up by patients and launch a bigger study with a larger team to expand on their work over which are designed to collect data put sensors in locations approved caregivers. The team developed the sample size. The original study ob- the next four years. about factors such as temperature, by participants and never in areas BESI-Box which allows for contact- served 5 dyads — or a pair of one LeBaron would like to see BE- noise and light; Bluetooth beacons such as bathrooms, and partici- less delivery and a simplified setup patient and one family caregiver. SI-C integrated into routine cancer which collect data about where the pants could turn off sensors at any with remote support from the team. The team plans to have 50 dyads for patient care. She hopes integration patient and caregiver are in the time or simply stop wearing Smart “We have gone through multiple the future study. will particularly help patients liv- home; and smartwatches that are Watch.” iterations because we have innovat- “For this next study, we will be ing in rural areas and help patients worn by both the patient and car- According to Lebaron, for the ed and then presented it to people recruiting patients and family car- to avoid unwanted hospitalizations. egiver,” Gordon said in an email to future, the team is focused on de- within our demographic,” Martinez egivers from the palliative care clin- The Cavalier Daily. ciding how to share data with key said. “We have found that they still ic here at U.Va. and also from a local Gordon explained that the stakeholders like patients, family have some pain points and we’re hospice program — Hospice of the smartwatch allows users to mark caregivers and healthcare providers. still in the process of fixing those Piedmont — and deploying our re- pain events and describe these “We hypothesize that different 20 | www.cavalierdaily.com ADVERTISEMENT UC050-2021_CavDaily_Print | .125” bleeds | 10” W x 12” H, Line Screen: 150 | CMYK | 1 of 4

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